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Mr. Gill : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will request the chairman of the Shropshire health authority to respond promptly to the letter from the hon. Member for Ludlow dated 22 March relating to Broseley hospital.
Mr. Freeman : I understand that the district general manager for the Shropshire district health authority wrote to my hon. Friend on 3 April in the absence of the chairman on holiday.
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he now expects to reach a decision on the proposed removal of the neurosciences unit from the Brook hospital, Woolwich.
Mr. Mellor : Within a matter of days.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give for each district health authority the percentage increase, and the national ranking of that percentage increase, in the gross demand waiting list figures between March and September 1988 for (a) obstetrics and gynaecology, (b) trauma and orthopaedics, (c) paediatric surgery, (d) cardiothoracic surgery, (e) general surgery, (f) ear, nose and throat and (g) all specialties ;
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(2) if he will give for each district health authority the percentage increase, and the national ranking of that percentage increase, in the gross demand waiting list figures between September 1987 and September 1988 for (a) obstetrics and gynaecology, (b) trauma and orthopaedics, (c) paediatric surgery, (d) cardiothoracic surgery, (e) general surgery, (f) ear, nose and throat and (g) all specialties ;(3) if he will give for each district health authority the percentage increase, and the national ranking of that percentage increase, in the waiting list figures between September 1983 and September 1988 for (a) obstetrics and gynaecology, (b) trauma and orthopaedics, (c) paediatric surgery, (d) cardiothoracic surgery, (e) general surgery, (f) ear, nose and throat and (g) all specialties ;
(4) if he will give for each district health authority the percentage of people on hospital waiting lists in September 1988 waiting 12 months or more, and the national ranking of that percentage, for (a) obstetrics and gynaecology, (b) trauma and orthopaedics, (c) paediatric surgery, (d) cardiothoracic surgery, (e) general surgery, (f) ear, nose and throat and (g) all specialties ;
(5) if he will give for each district health authority the percentage of people on hospital waiting lists in September 1988 waiting six months or more, and the national ranking of that percentage, for (a) obstetrics and gynaecology, (b) trauma and orthopaedics, (c) paediatric surgery, (d) cardiothoracic surgery, (e) general surgery, (f) ear, nose and throat and (g) all specialties ;
(6) if he will give for each district health authority the number of people on hospital waiting lists in September 1988, and the national ranking of that number, for (a) obstetrics and gynaecology, (b) trauma and orthopaedics, (c) paediatric surgery, (d) cardiothoracic surgery, (e) general surgery, (f) ear, nose and throat and (g) all specialties ;
(7) if he will give for each district health authority the notional time to clear the waiting lists in September 1988, and the national ranking of that notional time, for (a) obstetrics and gynaecology, (b) trauma and orthopaedics, (c) paediatric surgery, (d) cardiothoracic surgery, (e) general surgery, (f) ear, nose and throat and (g) all specialties ;
(8) if he will give for each district health authority the number on the waiting list for day admissions in September 1988, and the national ranking of that number, for (a) obstetrics and gynaecology, (b) trauma and orthopaedics, (c) paediatric surgery, (d) cardiothoracic surgery, (e) general surgery, (f) ear, nose and throat and (g) all specialties ;
(9) if he will give for each district health authority the percentage of people on waiting lists for day admissions in September 1988 waiting six months or more, and the national ranking of that percentage, for (a) obstetrics and gynaecology, (b) trauma and orthopaedics, (c) paediatric surgery, (d) cardiothoracic surgery, (e) general surgery, (f) ear, nose and throat and (g) all specialties ;
(10) if he will give for each district health authority the percentage of people on waiting lists for day admissions in September 1988 waiting 12 months or more, and the national ranking of that percentage, for (a) obstetrics and gynaecology, (b) trauma and orthopaedics, (c) paediatric surgery, (d) cardiothoracic surgery, (e) general surgery, (f) ear, nose and throat and (g) all specialties.
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Mr. Mellor [holding answer 22 March 1989] : The information requested has been placed in the Library. Reasons for the variations between districts in the number of cases on individual waiting lists include the size and age structure of the population and the extent of local development of specialised services. Not all health authorities have these specialties.
Mr. Heddle : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he anticipates announcing his conclusions of the review into restrictive trade practices policy.
Mr. Maude : Within the next few months.
Mr. Heddle : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the impact of the publication, "Home Sweet Home," a guide for first-time buyers, issued by the Office of Fair Trading ; and whether he has any plans to make its availability more widely known through an advertising campaign in the national and regional press, and in magazines and journals specifically catering for the first-time buyer age- group.
Mr. Forth : I am advised that this publication has been well received by the public. One million copies of the edition applicable to England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 200,000 copies of the edition applicable to Scotland have been distributed.
The question of publicity for the leaflet is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. I will ask him to write to my hon. Friend.
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what additional measures are being taken to reduce the burden of licensing requirements under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts.
Mr. Atkins : My Department is today laying a set of regulations under section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 which will further reduce licensing requirements, in line with intentions expressed in the White Paper "Releasing Enterprise" (Cm 512), published in November 1988.
The regulations are designed to exempt certain low-power radio devices for industrial and non-industrial use from licensing requirements : induction, telemetry and telecommand, speech communications, field disturbance, alarm and general purpose devices. This covers a wide range of devices, including certain industrial remote control equipment and some security and burglar alarms, to domestic items such as garage door openers, and children's toys. This is a far-reaching piece of deregulation, affecting industrial, retail and scientific users, and the general public. It is estimated that a further 25,000 licences will no longer be required. For the present the new arrangements will not apply in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, but free, once-and-for-all licences will be issued for devices which would otherwise be exempt.
The regulations are due to come into force on 1 May 1989.
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Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases ; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.
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Mr. Forth [holding answer 4 April 1989] : My Department's expenditure on consultants employed to improve the efficiency of the Department in the financial year 1988-89 is estimated to be £6,749, 000, of which £3,612,000 is for computer consultancy contracts excluding hardware and software purchases. Expenditure on management consultants is not recorded separately from other consultancy spend. The following is the list of management or computer consultancy contracts awarded for the 1988 calendar year :
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Firm |Subject of assignment ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- London Transport International |South American Transport Study Data Dictionary Systems Ltd. |Draft ISO Standard Study Organisation and Systems Innovations Ltd. |Export System Application Study Logica (UK) Ltd. |Vanguard Studies ISC Electronic Systems Ltd. |Vanguard Study Plessey Co. |Cellular Radio Study Coopers Lybrand and Associates |Single Advisory Service Ernst and Whinney Ltd. |Single Advisory Service KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock |Foreign Inward Investment Agencies Review ICL (UK) Ltd. |Mail Network Project Policy Studies Institute |Britain in 2010 Chesking Consultants |VLSI Computer Aided Design Study Wellace Ltd. |Civil Spectrum Review City and Corporate Counsel Ltd. |Japan '88 Campaign Support KMPG Peat Marwick McLintock |Shipbuilding Study Organisation and System Innovations Ltd. |Vanguard Study Arthur D Little Ltd. |Vanguard Study KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock |Vanguard Study Langton Ltd. |Vanguard Study Hoskyns Group Ltd. |Vanguard Study P A Consulting Group |Vanguard Study CAP Industry Ltd. |Vanguard Study Scicon Ltd. |Vanguard Study Price Waterhouse and Co. |Vanguard Study Marketing Solutions Ltd. |OSI Studies Pinnacle Ltd. |OSI Studies Technology Appraisals |OSI Studies Coopers Lybrand and Associates |Vanguard-VADS Study Baker and Smith Ltd. |Vanguard-Development Programme P A Computers and Telecommunications Ltd. |Software Engineering Projects J Westgate (Consultants) Ltd. |OSI Standardisation Logica (UK) Ltd. |OSI Standardisation CAP Industry Ltd. |OSI Standardisation Taylor Hitec Ltd. |FAMOS Secretariat British Computer Society |Alvey Software Engineering Evaluation Touche Ross and Co. |MVDS Feasibility Study Metra Consulting Group Ltd. |Exports Publication Level-7 Ltd. |OSI User Instructions National Computing Centre Ltd. |Software Industry Research CAP Industry Ltd. |Standards Unit Survey Benchmark Research Ltd. |System Integration in the Manufacturing Environment Economic and Social Research Council |Science and Technology Indications Deloitte Haskins and Sells |OSI Methodology Development Pieda Ltd. |Inward Investment Study National Computing Centre Ltd. |OSI Secretariat ERA Technology Ltd. |Database Feasibility Study Resource International PLC |Saudi Arabian Consultancy Project PA Computers and Telecommunications Ltd. |Fifth Channel Study The Welding Institute |Eureka Project P-E Computer Services Ltd. |Switched Network Project CAP Industry Ltd. |EDI Standards Study PA Technology |Biotechnology Equipment Study National Computing Centre Ltd. |Focus Suppliers Committee KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock |Single European Market Baxter Eadie Ltd. |Letter Post Study Racal-Decca Ltd. |Aeronautical Public Correspondence Study KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock |Higher Education and Industry Guide Lighting Industry Federation Ltd. |Germany Focus Exercise Communications Studies and Planning Ltd. |Space Directory Resources Computing Centre Ltd. |Focus Project Coopers and Lybrand |Technology Feasibility Study Benchmark Research Ltd. |Engineering Computers Survey WS Atkins and Partners |Overseas Project Study KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock |OSI Opportunity Studies Racal Research Ltd. |Security Study Arthur Young |Single Telephone Enquiry Point PA Consulting Group |Industrial Products and Services Database Study Coopers and Lybrand |BOTB Export Services Study Clemdale Associates Ltd. |Policy Planning British Aerospace Plc |Networks Project 3i Consultants Ltd. |Enterprise Initiative Ovum Ltd. |Expert Systems Study Custom Data Systems Ltd. |Radio Masts System PA Cambridge Economic Consultants Ltd. |Inner Cities Initiative P-E Computer Services Ltd. |Insolvency Service Computer Project Taylor Hitec Ltd. |Management of FAMOS initiative Andrew Irving Associates |Business and Education Campaign Wang (UK) Ltd. |Datalink Project Institute of Logistics and Distribution Management |Rapid Transit Freight Study Logica (UK) Ltd. |EDI Study P-E Computer Services Ltd. |Company Information Study National Computing Centre Ltd. |IT Standards Study Coopers and Lybrand |Management Information Study British Security Industry Association Ltd. |Design Against Crime Project Commonwealth Science Council |Expert Systems Project Marketing Solutions Ltd. |OSI Technology Transfer Project Marketing Solutions Ltd. |OSI Opportunity Study Segal Quince Wicksteed |Evaluation of Consultancy Initiatives March Consulting Group |Maintenance Programme Systems Designers Scientific |Expert Systems Case Studies Research Associates (Stone) Ltd. |Evaluation of Planning Studies Leslie Hays and Associates |Regional Enterprise Evaluation National Education Resources Info Service |Telephone Scheme for Schools Civil Aviation Authority |Digital Cellular Radio Study P-E Inbucon Ltd. |Petrochemicals, Oil and Gas Study KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock |Management Best Practice Awareness IFS (Conferences) Ltd. |"Inside UK Enterprise" Administration Technical Audit Ltd. |"Quality Assessed UK Companies" Register Sherwood Locum Ltd. |Computer Disaster Recovery Study Segal Quince Wicksteed |Inward Technology Transfer Review Coopers and Lybrand |Vanguard Sector Development Study Eosys Ltd. |Vanguard Sector Development Study Booz Allen and Hamilton Ltd. |Vanguard Development Study Marketing Solutions Ltd. |Open Systems Project National Computing Centre Ltd. |Software Standards Study Logica (UK) Ltd. |Software Standards Study Brameur Ltd. |Software Standards Study Organisation and System Innovations Ltd. |Vanguard Study Booz Allen and Hamilton Ltd. |Vanguard Study Touche Ross and Co. |Trial Frequency Planning Organisations Study Securicor Communications Ltd. |Mobile Radio Technology Trials Price Waterhouse |Management and Change Study CMG Information Services Public Sector Ltd. |Computer System Security Analysis Advanced Robotic Research Ltd. |Advanced Robotic Programme Support Association for the Advancement of British Biotechnology |Bioprocess Equipment Technoeconomic Evaluation Information Technology PLC |Computer System Evaluation Sussex Research Associates Ltd. |Technology Review Study Tolson and Co. |Promotion in North America Life Cycle Management Systems |Trade Marks Services Bikerdike Allen Partners |Fire and Building Regulations Review CAP Industry Ltd. |OSI Network Coopers and Lybrand |Satellite Earth Observation Study Infologistix Ltd. |Central Enquiry Point Study KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock |Vanguard Studies Arthur Anderson and Co. |Vanguard Studies ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd. |Pollution Control Equipment Study Smith Associates Ltd. |Columbus Polar Platform Quo-Tec Ltd. |New Market Study Electrical Contractors Association |Single Market Study International Data Corporation |Inward Investment Targetting W S Atkins and Partners |Chemical Process Plant Study British Federation of Printing Machinery and Supplies Ltd. |Electronic Publishing Strategic Market Study R H Pickering and Associates |Petrochemicals Study W S Atkins Management Consultants |Metals Study
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will review the decision on the publication of the report on the acquisition of House of Fraser plc in light of the recent publication of documents relating to the acquisition ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) when he now expects to receive the report of the serious fraud squad on the material contained in the report on the acquisition of House of Fraser plc ; and if he will make a statement.
(3) if he will invite the inspectors who produced the report into the acquisition of House of Fraser plc to review their powers under section 436 of the Companies Act 1985, in light of the publication of papers relating to the acquisition since the report was submitted to him ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : No. My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State has made it abundantly clear that the inspectors' report will be published at the earliest possible moment consistent with the even-handed administration of justice.
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Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what initiatives he intends to put to the European Council of Research Ministers in Brussels on 14 March.
Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.
I represented Her Majesty's Government at the meeting of the Community's Council of Ministers (Research) in Brussels on 14 March. The Council adopted the following four programmes within the overall provisions of the Community's 1987 to 1991 framework programme for research and development :
JOULE, a programme of research in the field of non-nuclear energy and efficient use of energy supplies, with Community funding of 122 million ecu (£79 million) over 39 months.
BRITE/EURAM, a programme of research in the field of manufacturing technologies, advanced materials, and aeronautics with Community funding of 499 million ecu (£324 million) over three years. The large facilities programme to provide wider access by European researchers to large-scale European scientific facilities and to contribute to the cost of
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enhancements to those facilities. The programme will provide Community funding of 30 million ecu (£20 million) over four years. A third five-year programme (1989 to 1993) of research and technological development for the European Atomic Energy Community in the field of decommissioning of nuclear installations, including the treatment of specific wastes, and decontamination and dismantling techniques. The programme will provide Community funding of 31.5 million ecu (£20.5 million).The Council also adopted common positions on the following six Community programmes :
DOSES, a programme over four years with Community funding of 4 million ecu (£2.5 million) in the field of research into statistical expert systems :
FLAIR, a programme with Community funding of 25 million ecu (£16 million) over five years in the field of food linked agro-industrial research ;
EUROTRA, an extension of the programme to develop a machine translation system of advanced design, with Community funding of 7 million ecu (£4.2 million) ;
MAST, a programme of research in basic and applied marine science. The programme is to run over a three-year period with Community funding of 50 million ecu (£32.5 million) ;
MONITOR, a programme on forecasting and assessment in science and technology, and evaluation of research and development programmes. The programme will receive Community funding of 22 million ecu (£14 million) over four years ;
VALUE, a programme to promote the dissemination and utilisation of results from Community scientific research. The programme will receive Community funding of 38 million ecu (£25 million) over a five-year period.
The Council also held a preliminary exchange of views on the mid-term review of the 1987 to 1991 framework programme for research and development.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to ensure that when the Scottish Grand Committee sits in the Scottish Assembly building, the notice at the public entrance gives details of the time the public can enter ; and if he will ensure that the public are given access to wait in the cloakroom area until admitted to the gallery, and that such admission to that area be from 10 am.
Mr. Rifkind : At present members of the public are normally admitted to meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee in the Crown Office building from 10.20 am but are allowed to enter earlier at officials' discretion if the weather is inclement. I have decided that in future members of the public will be admitted to the public gallery from 10 am. The notice at the public entrance will so indicate.
Mr. Brazier : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tree preservation orders have been made in each region in Scotland (a) for individual trees and (b) for groups of trees or woods, and what area is covered by the latter case.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Information concerning the numbers of preservation orders or their area is not held by the Scottish Development Department.
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Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what debt Scottish Homes has inherited from the Scottish Special Housing Association ; and if he will show a breakdown by amount and interest rate.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Scottish Homes inherited the total amount of loans outstanding to the Scottish Special Housing Associaion as at 31 March 1989, which totalled £596 million. The breakdown by amounts and interest rates are as follows :
Interest rate |Loan outstanding --------------------------------------------------- 2.500 |2,530,826.84 3.000 |12,951,131.11 3.125 |511,402.14 3.750 |2,555,008.26 4.000 |3,939,574.13 4.250 |13,019,915.31 5.000 |2,541,755.50 5.125 |1,683,873.58 5.375 |1,704,769.61 5.500 |9,966,733.13 5.625 |4,120,670.15 5.750 |7,232,054.02 6.000 |27,287,559.17 6.250 |1,407,179.75 6.375 |1,214,675.39 7.375 |10,412,689.91 7.750 |6,536,406.52 8.125 |3,735,625.90 8.250 |7,936,655.77 8.875 |4,934,512.12 9.000 |6,727,927.57 9.125 |11,860,970.95 9.250 |22,707,207.68 9.375 |4,629,167.17 9.500 |23,990,296.06 9.750 |15,994,104.90 9.875 |2,899,460.35 10.375 |965,176.17 10.500 |28,446,130.63 10.625 |5,494,428.86 10.750 |24,344,310.20 11.000 |29,741,832.19 11.125 |15,256,405.17 11.500 |7,535,106.16 12.375 |7,645,554.56 13.000 |19,053,159.71 13.125 |20,771,610.44 13.500 |28,404,386.56 13.750 |25,026,871.38 13.875 |23,669,144.80 14.000 |23,443,179.14 14.125 |7,724,149.82 14.250 |67,806,283.50 14.375 |17,118,260.15 14.625 |8,353,939.69 15.875 |6,539,888.91 16.375 |13,926,504.30 |------- |596,298,475.33
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek a report from the chief constable of Strathclyde region on what steps he intends to take to investigate the bugging of various residences and establishments in Helensburgh by David Coughlin.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : No.
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Mrs Golding : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the excuses given by employers in the midlands who were discovered in 1988 to have been paying wages below the statutory minimum.
Mr. Nicholls : Specific information could be provided only at disproportionate cost, but such underpayment as occurs can often be attributed to ignorance or inadvertance.
Mrs. Golding : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the names and addresses of those employers in the midlands who on check in 1988 were found to be paying wages below the statutory minimum.
Mr. Nicholls : No. The inspectorate treats all its inquiries and investigations as confidential and the results are disclosed only to those involved.
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of trainees on employment training (a) in London and (b) nationally have been placed with employers for 60 per cent. of their time for work experience.
Mr. Nicholls : The information requested on the percentage of trainees placed with employers for 60 per cent. of their time for work experience is not available. It is estimated that at any one time 17 per cent. of trainees in London and 21 per cent. nationally are on placements with employers.
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers' organisations have requested the abolition of the wages councils ; and if he will list them.
Mr. Nicholls : It is not the Department's practice to reveal the content of submissions made by individual organisations. The employer organisations which responded to the Government's consultation document on wages councils were listed in the reply given to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 23 March, Official Report , column 798 . As that reply shows, 37 out of 68 employer organisations supported abolition.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the average total gross payments per week to workers in the national dock labour scheme and the average total gross payments per week for all employees in Great Britain.
Mr. Nicholls [holding answer 6 April 1989] : The average total gross payments per week to workers in the dock labour scheme was £341.83 in March 1989. The latest available estimate of average total gross payments per week for all full time, adult employees in Great Britain was £234 in January 1989.
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Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the total amount spent on vocational education and training (a) from public expenditure, (b) by employers and (c) by the armed services in each year since 1970 in cash and at 1988 prices.
Mr. Cope [holding answer 4 April 1989] : The Manpower Services Commission was established in 1974 and expenditure figures can be provided only from the financial year 1974-75 onwards.
The total expenditure on vocational education and training by the Manpower Services Commission and the Training Commission was as follows :
|Cash value |At 1988 prices |£ million |£ million ------------------------------------------------------------ 1974-75 |96.4 |318.5 1975-76 |171.7 |468.2 1976-77 |256.0 |598.1 1977-78 |292.0 |625.3 1978-79 |373.6 |728.6 1979-80 |451.4 |735.1 1980-81 |560.4 |810.4 1981-82 |749.1 |981.7 1982-83 |868.5 |1,087.8 1983-84 |1,049.5 |1,249.0 1984-85 |1,144.1 |1,283.5 1985-86 |1,256.9 |1,352.7 1986-87 |1,441.4 |1,491.5 1987-88 |1,613.1 |1,613.1
Records of the annual amount spent by employers and by the armed forces on vocational education and training are not kept by the Training Agency. However, a survey carried out for the Training Agency indicated that employers spent a total of some £18 billion on training over the 12 months to the summer of 1987, of which the armed services spent some £2 billion. Comparable figures are not available for earlier years.
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received any representations about the introduction of a quota scheme for cereals.
Mr. MacGregor : The Government have received representations from trade organisations and individuals both for and against the introduction of a quota scheme or similar compulsory output restrictions for cereals. I am opposed to any such supply control arrangements for cereals, which would tend to ossify production patterns, to penalise efficient enterprises and would be very difficult to administer fairly throughout the European Community.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which member states have proposals, following the agreement by the EEC Council of Agriculture Ministers to measures to comply with the ruling by the European Court of Justice in the Mulder case, to allocate milk quota to producers who were involved in an EEC non-marketing scheme which expired between 1 October 1983 and 31 December 1988.
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Mr. Donald Thompson : A Council regulation providing for milk quotas to be made available to former milk producers who took part in the 1977 non-marketing of milk and dairy herd conversion schemes, and who completed their obligations after 31 December 1983, was published in the Official Journal on 29 March. It is directly applicable in all member states. Publication of a further Commission regulation, laying down detailed rules on the handling of applications by member states, is expected shortly.
In the United Kingdom application forms will be available from divisional offices of my Ministry and of the Welsh Office Agriculture Department, and from the Agriculture Departments of Scotland and Northern Ireland. The closing date for applications will be 28 June 1989.
Mr. Onslow : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects to introduce his salmon dealer licensing scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Donald Thompson : Work on the scheme is still in hand and I cannot give a firm indication of our proposed timetable at this stage. Nevertheless, the Government recognise the importance of the proposals which will be presented as soon as possible.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of river and ground water pollution by silage effluent.
Mr. Ryder : As well as offering 50 per cent. grants for silage effluent facilities, the highest in the European Community, my Department provides free initial advice to farmers on pollution avoidance and is helping the Department of the Environment prepare regulations on minimum standards for silage plant. We fully support tough action by the water authorities over prosecutions of farmers who pollute rivers.
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Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of all herds confirmed as including cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy had (a) one animal, (b) two animals, (c) three animals and (d) more than three animals, infected.
Mr. Donald Thompson : Up to 31 March, the percentage of herds with confirmed BSE cases in each category is as follows :
(a) herds with 1 confirmed case--72.2 per cent.
(b) herds with 2 confirmed cases--15.4 per cent.
(c) herds with 3 confirmed cases--6.2 per cent.
(d) herds with more than 3 confirmed cases--6.2 per cent.
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the results of the vote in the International Whaling Commission on the United Kingdom resolution against current Japanese research whaling.
Mr. Donald Thompson : The United Kingdom was seriously concerned about the current Japanese feasibility programme of whaling for scientific purposes. We therefore proposed a resolution in the International Whaling Commission calling on Japan to refrain from carrying out its programme until the various doubts had been resolved. I am pleased that the resolution has been supported by 16 of the 32 members of the International Whaling Commission eligible to vote, with only four votes against and four abstentions. We however required 17 votes for the resolution to take effect. Nevertheless the result very clearly demonstrates the unease and concern of the large majority of the International Whaling Commission members who chose to vote about whether the Japanese programme is fully justified and has fully satisfied criteria for sound scientific research. We consider that Japan should pay firm heed to this concern and will continue to work through the International Whaling Commission to this end.
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