To ask the Attorney-General how many repossession orders in favour of building societies or other lending institutions were made by Wandsworth county court in 1979, 1990 and 1991.

The 1979 figures are not available. The total number of mortgage possession actions entered, suspended orders and orders made during 1990 and 1991, in each county court in England and Wales, is contained in two lists which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts as not all of the orders made will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession. At this stage, the 1991 figures are provisional and therefore liable to revision in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will supply the figures of the numbers of Ministry of Transport test certificates for both heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles that have been reported stolen over the last five years from heavy goods vehicle and private vehicle testing stations.

The numbers of heavy goods and public service vehicle testing certificates reported as stolen in each of the last five years are as follows:

	HGV test certificates
Year	Motor vehicle test certificates	Trailer test certificates	PSV test certificates
1987	3,499	1,189	1,077
1988	111	48	0
1989	0	0	0
1990	0	0	250
1991	1,160	1,005	505
Total	4,770	2,242	1,832

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the steps that are taken to ensure the fitness of applicants for black cab licences in London; what action he is considering to tighten the scrutiny procedure; and if he will make a statement.

On my behalf, the Public Carriage Office of the Metropolitan police already carries out stringent checks on the suitability of applicants for taxi drivers' licences in London, including a criminal record check. It also carries out further checks on each driver every three years when his or her licence is due to be renewed. It is difficult to know what effective additional checks might reasonably be carried out.I am satisfied that the present procedures do ensure, as far as possible, that licensed cab drivers are suitable for the task they undertake, although no such system can give a 100 per cent. guarantee.There is at present no regime for the licensing of minicabs or minicab drivers in London. I have commissioned a working party to make recommendations on the framework needed to ensure that users of taxis and minicabs in London can travel in reasonable safety and security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of measures to reduce pollution of the Bristol channel by the dumping of refuse or the pumping out of bilges by vessels in transit.

Standards for the discharge of oil and garbage from ships are set by international convention and implemented by domestic legislation which applies to all ships in United Kingdom waters. The Department's marine surveyors monitor compliance with the regulations as part of their responsibilities when they go on board ships to undertake port state control inspections. In addition the marine pollution control unit's surveillance aircraft regularly overfly all United Kingdom waters, including the Bristol channel, to check for infringements which may also be reported by ships in the area.The Department recently completed research into the shore provision of reception facilities for oil and garbage. Although the report of the findings is still being considered, indications are that such provision is adequate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 5 November 1991, Official Report, columns 23–24 on British Rail's duties in respect of access to its services by disabled people, whether British Rail is permitted to make arrangements to exclude wheelchair accessible taxis from Eltham station.

It is for the courts to interpret the law. My advice is, however, that what British Rail is alleged to be doing at Eltham station is not contrary to the London Cab and Stage Carriage Act 1907. I am, however, disturbed to learn that its effect may be to reduce the transport opportunities open to disabled people, and I am writing to the chairman of British Rail about it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the percentage change in British Rail rail investment between (a) 1964 to 1970, (b) 1970 to 1974, (c) 1974 to 1979 and (d) 1979 to 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

The percentage changes in real terms for the given periods were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish, or give references to, the latest report into the problem of over-height road vehicles, or their loads, hitting bridges, overhead structures, or the roofs of tunnels; and what methods are currently in use or are being developed to deter or prevent their use of approaches to such obstructions.

The recommendations of a joint British Rail and Department of Transport working party were published in 1988 in a report, entitled "A Strategy for the Reduction of Bridge Bashing", published by HMSO.The Department has made progress with implementing the working party's recommendations. Last month I announced proposals for increasing driver awareness of the height of the vehicle, and the award of contracts worth £1 million for warning systems at 15 high-risk low bridge sites. Other measures include better road signing and road improvements to increase the headroom at some low bridges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of the Transport and Road Research Laboratory pilot study of traffic origins and destinations prepared for the Cradlewell bypass project, Newcastle upon Tyne.

In autumn of 1991 the Transport and Road and Research Laboratory carried out the "before" part of a study to improve understanding of traveller responses to road improvements at a total cost of £109,000. This study forms part of a larger research project being undertaken by the Department of Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the number of accidents due to blind spots involving lorries over 12 tonnes, first used before 1 October 1988, in each of the last three years.

The statistics requested are not available. It is almost impossible to prove that a blind spot was the cause of any particular road accident.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how a long-term finance lease by British Rail would be capitalised for public expenditure purposes.

Leased assets will be capitalised for external financing limit—EFL—purposes in the same way as if they had been bought. The capitalisation of such leases follows standard accounting practices applying to all similar business undertakings whether in the private or public sector. Leasing is a form of borrowing, and the Government need to ensure that BR borrows according to its means; hence it is brought within the same EFL control as all other borrowing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of road improvements at the M42–A45 junction adjacent to the Birmingham exhibition centre.

Good progress is being made on a number of planned highway improvements at this junction. Statutory orders will soon be published for the construction of a new dedicated slip road from the M42 northbound to the A45 westbound. Design work is well underway on a scheme to improve access from the national exhibition centre to the M42 northbound. Work will also begin soon on a scheme to improve the roundabout itself.An extra camera has been installed to improve television surveillance of traffic conditions at the junction and new motorway gantry signs will be erected later this year on the approaches to it. In the longer term the M42 is to be widened and consultants have been asked to investigate the options for improved access to the NEC and other facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects continuous TV surveillance to be installed in Rotherhithe tunnel for traffic control;(2) when he expects work to be put in hand to improve ventilation in the Rotherhithe tunnel.

Management of the Rotherhithe tunnel—including ventilation and TV surveillance—is a matter for the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Southwark. I understand that discussions are taking place on the need to install surveillance equipment in the tunnel, linked to the new east London traffic control centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made representations to the European Community for lorries weighing over 12 tonnes, and used prior to 1 October 1988, to be obliged to be fitted with additional close proximity mirrors on their near-side, and, if the articulated type, also fitted with additional wide-angle mirrors.

The directive which requires the fitment of additional close proximity mirrors and, in some cases, additional wide-angled mirrors has applied to new lorries since 1 October 1988. The Government have not sought a retrospective requirement that vehicles manufactured before that date be fitted with such mirrors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend the MOT test to require all lorries over 12 tonnes to be fitted with additional close proximity mirrors on their near-side and, if articulated, to be fitted also with additional wide-angle mirrors.

No. It would not be reasonable to require vehicles manufactured before 1 October 1988 to be fitted in such a way in the absence of any proven road safety benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider amending the construction and use regulations for motor vehicles to prohibit the use of fluorolastomel or veton.

As no danger arises from the use of fluorolastomel or veton in the normal course of construction or use of motor vehicles, there is no reason to amend construction and use regulations to prohibit these materials. There is only a risk from these materials if they have been subjected to high temperatures. For motor vehicles this is only likely to be a problem when scrapping burnt out vehicles. Health and safety inspectors are aware of the risks and give appropriate advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what standby assets are specifically allocated for contingencies by British Rail InterCity, French and German railways;(2) if he will issue a general directive to British Rail to seek to reduce InterCity train cancellations, even if this involves a lower utilisation of capital assets;(3) if he will tabulate the cancellation records of British Rail InterCity and the French and German railways;(4) if he will meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss the relationship between the improved financial results on InterCity and the increase in the number of InterCity train cancellations.

As part of the quality of service objectives agreed between the Government and British Rail, InterCity already has an objective to operate 99·5 per cent. of its scheduled services. The actual performance achieved in recent years is as follows:

	Percentage of scheduled services
1987–88	99·5
1988–89	99·0
1989–90	98·0
1990–91	97·5

Not all cancellations are due to rolling stock problems. I understand that crew shortages, particularly in the south-east, have been a major factor in the recent decline in performance.It is a management matter for BR to judge how much spare capacity is needed for maintenance and other contingencies. The Department does not hold information on this or on the performance of French and German railways in this area.I have no reason to believe that there is any direct link between InterCity's financial performance and the rate of cancellations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the television advertising campaigns and all other publicity campaigns costing over £100,000 to be carried out by his Department in February, March, April, May or June of the current year.

My Department currently proposes to carry out a child road safety publicity campaign in April. Further road safety publicity campaigns in the period to June are under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) why he proposes to reduce the Helmsdale auxiliary coastguard complement to seven; and if he will make a statement;(2) what changes he proposes to make to the present roles of the Helmsdale auxiliary coastguard.

The recently completed sector and auxiliary coastguard review defined the Coastguard's coastal commitments and reviewed the availability, readiness and training of coastguard personnel to meet current requirements. It concluded that the present day coastguard needs modern bases from which to operate. The present complement at the Helmsdale auxiliary coastguard station is 11 members. Their present roles will not change, and the premises currently occupied will not be released. Equipment utilised by the team is to remain unchanged, except that the Land Rover presently in use will be replaced by a modern 4WD Vauxhall Brava in March 1992. The complement will be reduced by four members initially, however a further two will he recruited in the Dunbeath area to the north in order to fulfil the initial response requirement between Helmsdale and Wick. It is anticipated that these changes will be implemented by the end of the financial year 1992–93.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road improvement schemes and their estimated time of completion that are being planned for the A21 trunk road.

[holding answer 21 February 1992]: The road improvement schemes in the national programme for the A21 trunk road are as follows:

• Tonbridge bypass to Pembury bypass
• Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst improvement
• Lamberhurst bypass
• Lamberhurst to Flimwell improvement
• Hurst Green bypass
• Silver Hill improvement

These schemes are at varying stages of development. Their completion will depend on progress that can be made with the design, statutory and other procedures and the availability of funds.In addition, there are a number of smaller scale works in the regional programme, mostly aimed at improving safety and traffic flow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in relation to the tender secured by Travis Morgan to act as advisers on the proposed route of the Leicester eastern bypass, if he will state the total number of companies who submitted unsuccessful tenders and, where possible, their names and addresses.

[holding answer 21 February 1992]: Two companies submitted unsuccessful tenders. They were Sir Owen Williams and Partners, 41 Whitcomb street, London, WC2H 7DT; and Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners, Earley House, London road, Reading, Berkshire RG6 1BL.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what appraisal he has made of transport needs to and within each of the national parks.

[holding answer 21 Feburary 1992]: My right hon. and learned Friend's responsibility is for the trunk road network, which forms a small proportion of the transport infrastructure serving national parks. The Government's policy remains as stated in the 1987 White Paper:

"In National Parks the Government is committed to ensuring that no new trunk routes will be constructed or an existing road upgraded unless there is a compelling need which cannot be met by any reasonable alternative means."

Policy for trunk roads in national parks in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.Other transport needs are a matter for local authorities, passenger transport executives, and British Rail, in consultation with the national park authorities where appropriate.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what new tasks have been assumed by the civil service in the past year; and if he will make a statement.

As departmental and agency reports show, the civil service is responding to a wide range of new tasks flexibly, effectively and efficiently. The question of functions and priorities is constantly under review.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what measures he is taking to counteract racial discrimination in the civil service; and if he will make a statement.

We continue to implement the servicewide programme for action on race, introduced in May 1990. There has been an increase in ethnic minority representation among staff. Copies of a recent report on progress have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last visited the Royal Academy; and if he will make a statement.

I visited the Royal Academy on 15 January when I formally opened the Andrea Mantegna exhibition and was a guest there at the Japan festival gala one month later. I have also again seen the Mantegna exhibition, and very splendid it was too. I am delighted to congratulate the Royal Academy on its magnificent and almost entirely self-sufficient work of refurbishment and pleased that the Government were able to contribute to the renovations via the museums and galleries improvement fund.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what is (a) the current number of employees and (b) the current funding for the natural history museum.

There are currently 672 staff in post at the natural history museum. In 1991–92 the museum will receive £27·8 million grant-in-aid.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will meet the Association of London Authorities to discuss public library provision.

Yes. The association should first write to me outlining its points for discussion.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will meet representatives from the Association of District Councils to discuss library provision.

Yes. The association should first write to me outlining its points for discussion.

To ask the Minister for the Arts when he next intends to meet the chairman of the arts council for Wales to discuss funding.

I meet the chairman of the Welsh Arts Council from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest. I met the chairman in May and October last year and look forward to meeting him again in the near future.

To ask the Minister for the Arts how many people visited the national museums and galleries in the last year for which figures are available.

I was delighted to see that it is estimated that more than 21 million people visited the 11 national museums and galleries for which I am responsible during 1991.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what arrangements his Department has to assess the effect of proposed regulations affecting museums, art galleries and theatres prior to implementation; and if he will make a statement.

The Office of Arts and Libraries carefully monitors the likely impact any proposed regulations might have on museums, art galleries and theatres before their implementation. The number of such regulations is, however, small.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to review the number of routine checks by Customs officials at Scottish airports; and if he will make a statement.

Routine checks by Customs officers are becoming less of a feature of customs work at all ports and airports as a result of that department's strategy of more flexible deployment of staff based on intelligence and assessment of risk and concentrating on drugs, obscene material, instruments of terrorism and other high priority smuggling targets.The strategy is kept under constant review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the honesty system employed by Customs and Excise at Cardiff airport.

The arrangements at Cardiff international airport are part of Customs' strategy to provide a more flexible deployment of staff according to intelligence and assessment of risk and targeted on the key areas of drugs, instruments of terrorism, pornography and so on. We aim to allow honest travellers the freest movement through our frontiers.Customs will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the approach but it is too early to make an assessment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of collecting income tax from Scottish-based taxpayers; and how this relates to the Inland Revenue's calculations of the late 1970s.

Information specific to taxpayers resident in Scotland is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of Scottish-based income tax which is collected via computer-based offices; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which computers make the collections easier and less costly to collect.

No information is available on total income tax collected in Scotland as opposed to the liabilities of those resident there. Computerisation projects are subject to rigorous investment appraisal before approval to proceed is given. In the 10 years to 1991 a reduction of 6,260 Inland Revenue staff is attributable to computerisation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Abergavenny chamber of trade concerning the uniform business rate; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a letter.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider introducing capital allowances for equipment installed as part of an energy efficiency drive.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of people paying tax in each year since 1978–79, giving the numbers on basic rate and higher rate tax.

Latest estimates are given in table 1.5 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1991".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the number of taxpayers divided into basic rate and higher rate, and by sex, in the United Kingdom.

Estimates at 1991–92 levels of income are as follows:

	Number of taxpayers million
Basic rate men	14·2
Higher rate men	1·4
Basic rate women	9·3
Higher rate women	0·2
TOTAL	25·1

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in 1992–93 of an increase in the single person's tax allowance of (a) £50, (b) £100, (c) £150, (d) £200, (e) £250 and (f) £300, giving the numbers taken out of tax in each case, in the United Kingdom.

Estimates are given in the table.

Increase in personal allowance1£	Exchequer cost in 1992–932£ million	Exchequer cost in full year2£ million	Numbers taken out of tax thousands
50	260	330	100
100	510	650	190
150	770	970	300
200	1,020	1,300	400
250	1,270	1,620	480
300	1,520	1,940	570
1 Including the personal allowances for the over-65s and over-75s.
2 Over and above statutory indexation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the effect on revenues in 1992–93 of freezing the married couples allowance instead of index-linking it.

A yield of about £180 million in the first year and £230 million in a full year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further plans he has to relocate civil service staff to the regions; what performance assessment he has made of the civil servants in the north-west; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 4 December 1991, Official Report, columns 163–64, to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway). Under the Government's relocation policy, it is for Departments and agencies to review the location of their work regularly and systematically, with the intention of finding sites offering better value for money. Departmental Ministers will announce their own decisions on significant relocations on completion of the essential processes of assessment and consultation.Performance assessments of civil servants are made by their line managers within the department or agency in which they work. These assessments are neither collected nor analysed on a regional basis.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made to reduce the number of civil servants.

I refer my hon. Friend to table 4.13 of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1991 Autumn Statement", Cm. 1920, presented to the House last month, which shows that civil service manpower fell by 171,000 between 1978–79 and 1991–92.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants from Departments and agencies other than the Scottish Office are based in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 21 February 1992, at columns 308–10.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements his Department has to assess proposals for regulations on competitive tendering and their effect on existing small firms; and if he will make a statement.

My Department well appreciates the effects of changes of policy on small firms. When assessing proposals for regulations on competitive tendering, full consideration is given to the impact upon small firms. My Department consults the Department of Employment, which has responsibility for Government policy on small firms. Minimising the costs of regulation for business is an important part of the Government's programme to create the conditions to promote prosperity.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received in favour of treating training as an investment qualifying for an investment allowance against corporation tax.

I have not received any such representations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of taxpayers earned over £55,000 a year gross in each of the past five tax years.

Estimates are readily available for both 1990–91 and 1991–92. About three quarters of 1 per cent. and just under 1 per cent. of taxpayers respectively are estimated to have gross earnings from employment and self-employment of over £55,000 in these years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those taxes which have to be renewed annually by resolution of the House.

Income tax and corporation tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the amount of revenue that would accrue to the Government from fiscal drag if the tax system were simply indexed in the 1992 Budget, in the United Kingdom.

The amount of real fiscal drag that accrues to the Government in any one year depends on the rate of growth of the economy and on the composition of demand. But on average over a cycle it might be expected to raise the ratio of tax receipts to GDP by about 0·2 percentage points per year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, in the latest year for which information is available, is the total number of people in receipt of a disability benefit who pay income tax; and how many pay VAT.

The latest estimates for 1991–92 of the numbers of people in receipt of a disability benefit who pay income tax are as follows:

	Thousands
Invalidity benefit	220
Severe disablement allowance	20

These estimates are based on Department of Social Security estimates of the total numbers in receipt of each benefit and information on taxpayers derived from the results of the 1990 family expenditure survey. The figures are, therefore, provisional. VAT is chargeable on a wide range of consumer expenditure and it seems likely that everybody has to pay some during the course of a year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the amount of revenue brought in by each tax inspector in a year; and what is their average salary.

In the year to 31 March 1991 the average yield of inspectors of taxes in local offices involved in counter evasion and avoidance and technical review work was £700,000. A figure for average salary is not available, but the average overall cost of such an inspector was £32,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was for each year of the years of the existance of the business expansion scheme, the total amount invested in BES, the total cost to the Exchequer, and the percentage and amount of BES money invested, and associated cost to the Exchequer, in residential and assured tenancy schemes.

The business expansion scheme was extended to include investment in private rented housing in 1988–89. The latest estimates are as follows:

	Amounts invested			Cost of income tax relief
	Total of which investment in private rented housing			Total of which in respect of investment in private rented housing
	£ million	amount £ million	percentage	£ million	£ million
1983–84	105	—	—	50	—
1984–85	148	—	—	75	—
1985–86	157	—	—	85	—
1986–87	169	—	—	95	—
1987–88	201	—	—	120	—
11988–89	420	368	88	150	130
11989–90	211	160	76	75	55
11990–91	320	280	88	120	105
1 provisional estimates.

Information is not yet available for 1991–92.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date his answer of 25 November 1983, Official Report, columns 316–17 showing the proportion of taxation levied on capital, labour and other.

[holding answer 19 February 1992]: In the table, taxes on capital include corporation tax, North sea taxes and royalties, income tax on rent, dividends, interest and so on, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, development land tax, and national non-domestic rates. Taxes on labour include income tax on earned and self-employment income—including pensions and benefits to the unemployed—and employer's and employees' national insurance contributions. Other taxes—mainly taxes on expenditure and community charge—are not allocated.On this basis the figures for 1990–91 are as follows:

Percent
Capital	Labour	Other	Total
19·4	44·0	36·6	100·0

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of people receiving mortgage tax relief are first-time buyers.

[holding answer 21 February 1992]: Information on the proportion of all those receiving mortgage tax relief who were first-time buyers when the mortgage was taken out is not available. Almost 50 per cent. of those mortgages taken out in the year ending September 1991 were for first-time buyers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what conditions and at what rate he expects to initiate the taxation of invalidity benefit; if he proposes at the same time to review the taxation liability of the invalidity benefit supplement to the retirement pension; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 21 February 1992]: It remains the Government's intention to bring invalidity benefit into taxation when operationally possible. When taxation is introduced the benefit will form part of the recipient's taxable income and will therefore be taxed at the taxpayer's marginal rate. The Government have no intention of changing the tax treatment of the addition to retirement pension given to those previously entitled to the invalidity allowance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy relating to European Community legislation with regard to duty on (a) vin doux naturel and (b) vin de liqueur compared with still table wine.

[holding answer 20 February 1992]: The UK excise duty bands of wines and made-wines are based solely on alcoholic content. These constitute neutral and objective demarcations between alcoholic drinks of different strengths. I see no reason to make any fiscal distinction between fermented and distilled alcohol and will seek to retain our existing arrangements in future EC negotiations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the members of the board of the Royal Mint, together with the ranges of pay applicable to their position and any appropriate qualifications.

[holding answer 20 February 1992]: The members of the management board of the Royal Mint, their current ranges of pay, including performance-related pay, and appropriate qualifications are:

Member and Relevant Qualification	Pay Range £
Mr. A. D. Garrett MA Deputy Master and Comptroller (Chief Executive)	up to 166,000
Mr. D. C. Snell FCMA MBCS Director of Finance and Corporate Services (Deputy Chief Executive)	242,724 to 47,921
Mr. A. R. W. Lotherington Sales Director	2337,928 to 49,671
Mr. R. D. Burchill MSc C.Eng MIEE Director of Operations	234,667 to 46,122
Mr. B. D. Williams Marketing Director	226,622 to 41,120
Mr. C. J. J. Boyle FIPM Director, Human Resources and Establishment Officer	226,622 to 41,120
Mr. S. G. Cameron MC Non-Executive Director	43,000
Mr. J. Burnett-Stuart BA Non-Exective Director	43,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make contact with Mr. Mazn Abu Shriff about responsibility for the Lockerbie air disaster; and if he will make a statement.

No. I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 14 November. A thorough three-year investigation into the Lockerbie disaster by the Dumfries and Galloway police revealed no evidence to suggest that any other countries or groups were behind the attack on Pan Am 103.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the television advertising campaigns and all other publicity campaigns costing over £100,000 to be carried out by his Department in February, March, April, May or June of the current year.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is continuing its campaign of consular publicity. For the period in question new versions have been commissioned of films on drug smuggling and holiday medical insurance, made for free showing on TV as public service announcements and aimed at viewers planning holidays overseas. The cost of producing the films will be around 160,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Spanish Government on the problems likely to be encountered by Scottish fish processors as a result of industrial action by Spanish customs officers.

I have had no discussions with the Spanish Government about the industrial action by Spanish customs agents. The embassy in Madrid is monitoring the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the television advertising campaigns and all other publicity campaigns costing over £100,000 to be carried out by his Department in February, March, April, May or June of the current year.

The Welsh Office does not plan to run any television campaigns. At present the Department plans to run the following three publicity campaigns:—

• Education—including teacher shortage
• Industry—including Enterprise Wales
• Road Safety.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise with President Bush the circumstances of involvement of non-Libyans in the Lockerbie bombing.

We remain in close contact with the United States over the Lockerbie bombing. We and the United States authorities share the view that there is no evidence to suggest that any countries other than Libya were responsible for the Lockerbie bombing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) hospitals and (b) clinics in the Greater Manchester area he has visited in the last year.

My Ministers and I regularly visit hospitals and clinics in the course of our official duties and I last visited hospitals and clinics in the Greater Manchester area on Tuesday 12 March 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he issues to regional health authorities about adding cataract patients to the waiting list when it may be many months from diagnosis to preparedness for an operation for medical reasons.

Guidance on the management of waiting lists, issued by the Royal College of Surgeons in July 1991, states that patients should only be placed on a waiting list when they are clinically ready to undergo surgery. This advice is reiterated in departmental guidance which was issued to all health authorities at the same time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements his Department has to assess the effect of proposed regulations made by his Department affecting companies involved in the procurement process; and if he will make a statement.

Where regulations are planned which are likely to impact on the business sector a compliance cost assessment is prepared wherever possible in order to provide an indicative guide to costs and other effects. The Department seeks wherever possible to reduce the burden of regulations or other Government procedures on the business sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has evaluated the effect on national health service patients of any changes to dentists' fee structures; and if he will make a statement.

The health departments have been consulting dentists' representatives on dental remuneration. The health departments and the general dental services committee have now agreed to re-examine the detailed elements of the levels of fees. They will simultaneously begin a more fundamental review of the dental remuneration system, as recommended by the doctors and dentists review body.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the television advertising campaigns and all other publicity campaigns costing over £100,000 to be carried out by his Department in February, March, April, May or June of the current year.

Television advertising campaigns during February are:

• Solvents Misuse
• Nursing Regional

Other planned publicity campaigns likely to cost over £100,000 from February to June are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table to show for England the number of local government electors on each of the 1985 to 1990 electoral registers, together with the estimated resident population for the mid point of each preceding year, including those aged 17 years and over, and 63 per cent. of those aged 16 years.

Numbers of local government electors on the 1985 to 1990 registers have been published in annual volumes of "Electoral Statistics"—series EL nos. 13 to 17— copies of which are available in the Library. I have arranged for the requested resident population estimates to be prepared and sent to the hon. Member, and a copy will then be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will begin a review into the adequacy of hospital services in Parkside health authority.

[holding answer 11 February 1992]: We are satisfied that Parkside health authority is fulfilling its statutory duty to provide a comprehensive health service for its residents, within the resources available. We do not intend to institute an inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements his Department has to assess the effect of proposed new regulations affecting small firms and enterprises; and if he will make a statement.

In line with the deregulation initiative and in common with other Government Departments, all regulations proposed or approved by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment are assessed for their impact on business. Details of these assessments are provided to the deregulation unit in the DTI and are publicly available. Because of my responsibilities for small firms, I take a keen interest in the impact on small firms of regulations proposed by other Government Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has made to those companies who impose an age limit of 50 years on job applicants to ensure people above this age group do not suffer discrimination.

The Department regularly urges employers to give proper recognition to the qualities that older workers possess. They should abandon arbitrary age limits in recruitment and treat everyone on their merits. To assist this process, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced on 11 February that we propose to set up an advisory group on older workers. The group will have an important role to play in the identification and dissemination of good practice in the employment of older people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East, Official Report, 22 April 1991, column 366, concerning wages councils.

The information requested is not yet available but will be available during March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all the television advertising campaigns and all other publicity campaigns costing over £100,000 to be carried out by his Department in February, March, April, May or June of the current year.

No television advertising campaigns are planned by the Department between February and June this year. Other publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000 planned for this period are jobclubs, national training awards, high technology national training, employment action, and learning technologies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessments have been carried out of the impact of food aid on markets for locally produced food, on the development of the marketing system and on the prices that farmers receive in the Commonwealth of Independent States.

EC food aid is being sold through free market mechanisms so as to bolster the development of a market infrastructure which will greatly assist the development of distribution systems and thus benefit local producers. No formal assessment has yet been carried out of the impact of this on emerging markets, as the process of providing food aid on a large scale is as yet in its infancy, and time is needed to assess its full effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total level of counterpart funds raised from the sale of food aid from all western donors in the Commonwealth of Independent States; and what mechanisms exist within the Overseas Development Administration, the EC and other bodies to monitor the use of these counterpart funds.

Unofficial estimates suggest that over 400 million roubles may be generated by the sale of food so far delivered under the European Community's 200 mecu (£140 million) food aid package for Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. These counterpart funds will be used to provide direct aid for needy groups such as families and pensioners—an approach which we endorse. The fund will be monitored by the Community task force which currently oversees the entire food aid operation. We are pleased to see that more staff have been made available to the European Commission in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his plans for assistance to the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Discussions on future assistance were held between the Government and the Turks and Caicos Islands—TCI—Government on 13 and 14 February.Her Majesty's Government have agreed to provide nearly £24 million to the TCI Government over the three financial years beginning in 1992–93.Of this, £18 million in bilateral funds and £1 million in regional funds will be used in support of projects agreed between the two governments in accoreance with the TCI Government's "Progress through Partnership" policy. It is anticipated that a further £4 million will be forthcoming over the same period for activities in support of the basic functions of government. Funds will also be used to clear part of the debt of the TCI Government inherited during the winding up of the national airline.This is the largest aid package the United Kingdom has provided to TCI and is designed to assist the TCI Government in their policy of moving rapidly towards economic self-sufficiency.Her Majesty's Government have agreed to further talks with the TCI over the next few years to monitor the progress of this aid in meeting the objective of economic self-sufficiency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what extra money has been given to Suffolk county council to cover the teachers' salary award for 1992–93; and what advice he has given to the authority on how to meet the gap between its budget and its teachers' pay bill;

The Government are paying additional grant to authorities in England of £56·5 million to help them cover the cost of the increase in teachers' pay recommended by the school teachers review body. Suffolk's share will be some £677,000. The Government's view is that with this additional support LEAs should have adequate headroom within the 1992–93 local authority finance settlement to cover the cost of the teachers' award in full, provided that they exploit their scope for making efficiency savings. It is for individual local authorities and schools with delegated budgets to determine spending priorities, including the number of teachers to be employed. In determining education's share of the overall 1992–93 settlement, the Government took account of the expected growth in pupil numbers nationally; and individual authorities' shares reflect the latest information available about the distribution of school pupils between authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had from geologists at the British Geological Survey about funding for palaeontology in Edinburgh.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what discussions he has held with the National Skating Association regarding the need to replace the first-class coaching facilities lost to skating by the closure of the Richmond ice rink; and what proposals he has to ensure the future level of national and international skating skills in this country;(2) what steps he has taken to assess the effects of the closure of the Richmond ice rink upon the development of the sport of ice skating in the United Kingdom and the training of future international competitors; also upon the public of the loss of these facilities for recreational use; and what steps he is taking to safeguard these interests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions have been held with the London borough of Richmond to plan a replacement of ice skating facilities in that area.

Despite the closure of Richmond ice rink I understand that training facilities are available elsewhere. I welcome, however, the feasibility study, by a subsidiary of the National Skating Association and funded by the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, into a proposed national ice training centre.Discussions are still taking place between the London borough of Richmond and the London Edinburgh Trust which owns the former ice rink, concerning an alternative site for an ice rink in the borough. It is for the National Skating Association to consult with the London borough of Richmond and others as appropriate, and I have not, therefore, held discussions with either body.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about any agreement between the Agricultural and Food Research Council's institute of animal health arid the animal health authority of Argentina including the costs involved.

The Pirbright laboratory of the AFRC institute for animal health—IAH—has agreed in principle to undertake a collaborative programme of research with the Centro de Investigacion en Ciencias Veterinarias—CICV—of Argentina's Institute de Virologia del Institute Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria subject to agreement of suitable funding arrangements. The research will investigate the role of carrier animals in the epidemiology of foot and mouth disease, for which Pirbright is the European and world reference laboratory. The Argentine Government are considering whether to support the project. The CICV and IAH are also seeking support from the Commission of the European Communities as part of its scheme to promote bilateral scientific co-operation between laboratories in the Community and countries in Latin America, Asia and the Mediterranean.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when Her Majesty's inspectors last visited Stratford school; and if the report was published.

Two HMIs paid a routine visit to Stratford school on 4 December 1991. As with all such visits, there will be no published report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much financial support he has given to Stratford school in the past 12 months.

The annual maintenance grant for the financial year 1991–92 is some £1·5 million. In the last 12 months we have paid further sums amounting to some £100,000 for capital and special purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current pupil roll at Stratford school; and what proportion are resident in the borough of Newham.

I understand that there are currently 570 pupils on roll at the school, of whom fewer than 2 per cent. are resident outside Newham.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he intends to take in respect of Stratford school.

We shall continue to monitor the situation at the school and make further use of our powers to act when appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has taken to date to deal with the current difficulties at Stratford school; and what has been the effect.

My Department has communicated with the school on a range of matters. My right hon. And learned Friend has used his powers to intervene to ensure the reinstatement of the headteacher. He has also appointed Mrs. Daphne Gould and Mr. Eric Bolton as additional governors to the school. We have made it clear that we are keeping in close touch with the situation and we will not hesitate to use our powers further in the interests of the education of the pupils at the school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many qualified physical education teachers left training colleges in each of the last five years; and what is his Department's estimate for the number still in teaching.

The table shows the numbers of students specialising in PE who successfully completed an initial teacher training course in England and Wales, in each year from 1985 to 1989, together with the number of these who were teaching in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools sector in England and Wales on 31 March 1990.

	ITT complelers with main subject PE	Of whom: teaching on 31 March 1990
1985	654	369
1986	781	466
1987	661	428
1988	687	454
1989	571	394
Total	3,354	2,111

The remainder includes those who have not taught since qualifying or have left teaching, as well as those who are teaching in other sectors such as independent schools, or teaching outside England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has made to the report by the Institution of Structural Engineers "Appraisal of Sports Grounds", a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

I received the institution's report with interest. I understand that it has been warmly welcomed by the Home Office, within whose responsibility sports ground safety falls, and whose "Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds" it complements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria were used in determining the outcome of Liverpool education authority's bid for funds to develop provision for children with dual sensory impairmants; how many bids from the north-west were successful; and if he will make a statement.

Bids under the grants for education support and training programme to encourage the development of regional provision for deaf-blind children were assessed against the criteria set out in the Department's published guidance. Bids were to be made on a regional basis, with at least three local education authorities per bid unless geographical constraints made this impossible in practice. The successful bids were those thought most likely to secure lasting benefits both locally and nationally. Geographical representation was not a selection criterion, and none of the successful bids involved authorities in the north-west.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many letters he has received on the subject of GCSE coursework; and how many of these have supported his proposed changes in the extent of coursework.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received a large volume of correspondence on this subject. The correspondents have expressed a range of views.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all the television advertising campaigns and all other publicity campaigns costing over £100,000 to be carried out by his Department in February, March, April, May or June of the current year.

Publicity campaigns costing over £100,000 cover the following areas:

A touring exhibition, "Time for School", which was launched in January will continue during February and March.

A campaign of information for companies about tax relief on business gifts and charitable giving to educational institutions—February/April.

Information for parents about the National Curriculum —February/March.

Information for parents about testing at age 7 and 14—May/June.

In addition, the professional, industrial and commercial updating programme will continue to support and encourage colleges, polytechnics and universities to improve and increase their provision to meet the training needs of employers and their employees.

No television campaigns are planned for these months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to pay Mr. David Mogie, a student at Sunderland polytechnic, his bursary of £1,500; and if he will make a statement.

A cheque for the first instalment of the bursary was dispatched from this Department to Sunderland polytechnic on 29 January. The second instalment of £750 will be paid in April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the drop-out rate from A-level courses in England and Wales each year from 1985.

Comprehensive information on A-level drop-out rates is not readily available. However, estimates of the percentage of 16-year-olds commencing A or AS level courses at schools in England who were no longer pursuing those courses a year later are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table of local education authorities whose attainment test results at seven years were published showing in each case (a) those who included all seven-year-olds in the tests, (b) those who excluded special needs pupils, (c) those who excluded statemented or excluded pupils, (d) those who excluded pupils with a mother tongue other than English, (e) those who excluded other categories of pupil with an indication of which other category was so excluded and (f) those who made no return of which categories of pupil were excluded.

With the exception of pupils with statements of special educational needs, and some others temporarily excepted from the provisions of the national curriculum under section 19 of the Education Reform Act, all pupils coming to the end of key stage 1 of the national curriculum were required to be tested in the core subjects last summer.Some LEAs and schools chose to include pupils with statements of special educational needs in the tests. The reply which I gave to the hon. Member for the City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg) on 10 February,

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial arrangements were made for the former chairman and chief executive of the National Curriculum Council upon his departure from office last year.

Mr. Duncan Graham received financial compensation of just over £100,000 in respect of loss of income and pension benefits on the early termination of his contract of employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children attend city technology colleges, grant-maintained schools and grammar schools and use the assisted places scheme.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1992, c. 373–74]: Latest estimates suggest that more than 105,000 pupils now attend grant-maintained schools in England, and that this is expected to rise to some 160,000 next term. Nearly 8,000 pupils are in city technology colleges and in excess of 27,4000 pupils receive support under the assisted places scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the cost of the review of the fairs and promotions branch of his Department being carried out by Price Waterhouse.

Price Waterhouse is not carrying out a review of my Department's fairs and promotions branch.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice and assistance his Department offers companies to introduce life cycle analysis in product planning and development.

Life cycle analysis—LCA—is a system for assessing the environmental impact of products at all stages of their life from the winning of raw materials through to the eventual disposal of the product. Although the methodology for assessing these impacts is still developing, many individual companies are turning to LCA to assist them in understanding where the main environmental impacts of their products occur. My officials actively encourage companies in this direction.My Department has been involved in a number of presentations to business audiences to explain the relationship between LCA and the setting up of an EC-wide official ecolabelling scheme for consumer products. This official scheme will use a "cradle to grave" analysis as the underpinning requirement for assessing the environmental criteria to be applied to products which may attract a label.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how his statement to the House on 17 February, Official Report, column 27, about agreement with European Commissioner Bruce Millan affects the RENAVAL programme in Plymouth, and other Devon county council programmes dependent on EEC part-funding including RECHAR.

[holding answer 21 February 1992]: I expect the RENAVAL programme now to proceed satisfactorily. Devon is not eligible for RECHAR grants, which are for coalfield areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department next plans to hold seminars on changes to United Kingdom export controls to prevent proliferation; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of the export control seminars his Department sponsored for industry in 1991.

[holding answer 21 February 1992]: Five DTI non-proliferation seminars are planned for this year, the first in Manchester on 23 March.The seminars held last year were well received by industry. I am satisfied that they made a valuable contribution to highlighting awareness about the risks of clandestine procurement activities and explaining export controls.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the production in court of the offender's previous criminal record.

We receive representations from time to time on this subject, about which my hon. Friend wrote to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 4 February.