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Sir Geoffrey Howe : The Refreshment Department's policy with regard to the use of environmentally friendly products and recycled paper is in line with that of the House. The Department is not responsible for the manufacture of the wrapping and packaging materials it receives but does have plans to use biodegradable carrier bags when current stocks are exhausted.
PRIME MINISTER
Whisky Look-alikes
Mr. Sims : To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, she raised the subject of the appropriate steps to resolve the issue of whisky look-alike products.
The Prime Minister : During my visit to Japan I told the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Kaifu, of the concern in the United Kingdom about the sale of whisky look-alikes in Japan. Mr. Kaifu responded helpfully, saying that action would be taken to ensure that such products were clearly perceived as being different from genuine whisky. I understand that the Japanese authorities have given guidance to the trade to this effect. Our embassy in Tokyo continues to monitor the market situation closely.
Advisers
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her advisers, their terms and length of appointment and salaries.
The Prime Minister : My current advisers, who are not career civil servants, are :
G. D. Bourne
Sir Percy Cradock
A. Dunlop
Professor B. Griffiths
G. Guise
H. Harris-Hughes
Mrs. A. Ponsonby
I. K. Whitehead
The conditions of service are broadly the same as those for established civil servants. The appointments may be terminated at the end of the current Administration ; following a general election ; or if the Minister who appointed them moves on. It is not our practice to reveal the salaries of advisers as they are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential.
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister what are her plans regarding appointing a successor to Professor Walters as her economic adviser ; and if she will make a statement.
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The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister how many advisers who were not career civil servants, indicating whether part time or full time, she had in 1979-80 ; and how many in each year since.
The Prime Minister : I have had the following number of advisers in the policy unit since 1979 :
Year |Full-time|Part-time ---------------------------------------- 1979 |2 |- 1980 |2 |- 1981 |2 |- 1982 |4 |- 1983 |11 |- 1984 |11 |- 1985 |8 |- 1986 |7 |- 1987 |4 |- 1988 |6 |- 1989 |6 |-
In addition Sir Percy Cradock has been my foreign affairs adviser since 1984. Professor Alan Walters was my economic adviser from 1981 until 1983 on a full-time basis and this year on a part-time basis. I have also had a personal assistant full-time from 1979 until 1986 and part-time since then.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list all her current advisers who are not career civil servants, giving their date of appointment and fees.
The Prime Minister : My current advisers in the policy unit are :
|Appointed
-------------------------------------------
Professor B. Griffiths |1985
G. Guise |1986
G. D. Bourne |1988
A. Dunlop |1988
I. K. Whitehead |1988
H. Harris-Hughes |1989
In addition Sir Percy Cradock has been my foreign affairs adviser since 1984. Mrs. A. Ponsonby has been my personal assistant since February.
It is not the Government's practice to reveal the salaries of advisers as they are individually negotiated in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost of the Prime Minister's advisers who were not career civil servants in 1979-80 and each succeeding year.
The Prime Minister : The total expenditure on the salaries of my advisers since 1981 is as follows (the figures for earlier years are no longer available).
Year |£ ------------------------------------------ 1981 |35,762.50 1982 |75,569.25 1983 |<1>167,126.97 1984 |145,022.52 1985 |188,654.82 1986 |210,746.87 1987 |239,459.46 1988 |215,379.85 <2>1989 |141,142.00 <1> In 1983 the CPRS was abolished and a few members became ministerial advisers. <2> To date.
Commonwealth Conference
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister how many Ministers and Government officials, respectively, accompanied her at the Commonwealth conference in Malaysia.
The Prime Minister : I was accompanied at the Commonwealth conference in Malaysia by the Foreign Secretary and his party, three officials from my office and 24 support staff (including secretaries, a duty clerk and security personnel).
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost of her visit to Malaysia for the Commonwealth conference.
The Prime Minister : Information on the cost of this visit is not yet available.
Prime Minister's Office
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost of the Prime Minister's Office in 1988-89 ; and what is the estimated cost for 1989.
The Prime Minister : The total cost of my Office in 1988-89 was £6, 553,712 (1). The latest estimate of the total cost for 1989-90 is £7, 003,500 (1).
Note : (1) Salaries and wages, notional pension liability, administration costs and the grant-in-aid to the Chequers trust are included. My salary as a Cabinet Minister is excluded, as are my pay and allowances as a member of this House.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total number of staff in the Prime Minister's Office in 1988-89 ; and what is the estimated total for 1989.
The Prime Minister : The total number of staff in 10 Downing street during 1988-89 was 67. At present the number of staff is 68.
Japan (Visit)
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Prime Minister whether any Conservative party official accompanied her on her recent trip to Japan.
The Prime Minister : Four Conservative officials accompanied me to Japan for the International Democratic Union conference.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
British Council
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much per copy it cost to produce the report of the British Council for the reporting years 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89.
Mr. Sainsbury : The British Council annual report and accounts for 1986-87 cost £1.96 per copy and the report had 64 pages. In 1987-88 the cost per copy was £2.23 and there were 36 pages. In 1988-89 the cost per copy was £3.41 and there were 72 pages.
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Chile
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to send observers to the forthcoming elections in Chile.
Mr. Sainsbury : We have no plans to send any official British Government observers to the forthcoming elections in Chile.
Antarctica
Mr. Summerson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps were taken at the Antarctic meeting in Paris to protect the Antarctic environment ; what was the outcome of debate on the Franco-Australian proposals ; what steps were taken by the British delegation to protect the Antarctic environment ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : In line with our view that all possible concrete and practical steps should be taken to protect the Antarctic environment, building on the measures already adopted under the Antarctic treaty, including the Antarctic minerals convention, the meeting adopted an unprecedented number and range of environmental recommendations. These dealt with waste disposal ; the prevention and control of, and response to marine pollution ; environmental monitoring ; improved descriptions and management plans for specially protected areas (SPAs) ; the amendment of article VIII of the agreed measures for the conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora to provide for management plans for SPAs ; new sites of special scientific interest, the establishment of specially reserved areas, the establishment of multiple-use planning areas. The concentration of the siting of stations, the use of Antarctic ice, the role of Antarctica in understanding and monitoring global change, including the ozone layer, the charting of Antarctic waters, and co-operation to improve scientific productivity in Antarctica. Of the 14 recommendations covered in this list, 12 resulted from the initiatives of, and close collaboration between, the United States and the United Kingdom delegations.
The meeting also considered the Franco-Australian proposals, as well as other proposals submitted by the Chilean, New Zealand, Swedish, United Kingdom and United States delegations, relating to comprehensive measures for the protection of the Antarctic environment. While none of those proposals was endorsed by the meeting, it was agreed that meetings should be held next year : (
(i) to explore and discuss all proposals relating to the further elaboration, maintenance and effective implementation of a comprehensive system for the protection of the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems, aimed at ensuring that human activity does not have adverse environmental impacts or compromise the scientific, aesthetic or wilderness values of Antarctica ; and
(ii) to explore and discuss all proposals relating to article 8(7) of the convention on the regulation of Antarctic mineral resource activities, relating to the issue of liability.
The venue or venues of these two meetings, and their timing, are to be decided through diplomatic channels.
We are very satisfied with the results of this meeting which carry forward protection of the Antarctic environment. At next year's meetings our representatives will continue to support the process of further strengthening the system for protecting the Antarctic
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environment. The outcome of the Paris meeting reinforced our view that the early entry into force of the minerals convention, with its strict environmental standards and procedures, remains an important objective as a necessary element in the overall system for protection of the Antarctic environment.I will deposit a copy of the report of the meeting in the Library of the House when it becomes available.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions he will now take to comply with the Antarctic treaty convention in respect of (a) the removal of rubbish and sewage from British bases, (b) the preservation of fish stocks and (c) the proposed environmental convention due to be held in Santiago in 1990 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury [holding answer 31 October 1989] : I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Summerson) today about the XVth Antarctic treaty consultative meeting held earlier this month in Paris, which covers part (c) of his question. In answer to parts (a) and (b) :
(a) the British Antarctic survey is taking steps to ensure that it will be able to comply with the mandatory code for waste disposal in the Antarctic, adopted at Paris, when it enters into force ; and (
(b) the preservation of fish stocks is a matter for the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources meeting in Hobart from 6- 17 November, and was not dealt with at Paris.
Council of Ministers
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
Mr. Maude : The Foreign Affairs Council meets on 6 November and again on 27-28 November. At the earlier meeting the Council will discuss progress in the Lome renegotiation in the light of the outcome of the ACP/EC ministerial negotiating meeting in Luxembourg on 27-29 October. There will be a further ACP/EC ministerial negotiating meeting on the Lome renegotiation towards the end of November in Brussels but dates have yet to be confirmed. A meeting of the EC/Egypt Co-operation Council will be held on 6 November in the margins of the FAC. Also on 6 November the FAC will consider proposals for further assistance to Poland and Hungary. The Council will discuss follow up to the Audio-Visual Conference which took place in Paris from 30 September to 2 October. The Council will consider the adoption of the Commission's proposals to renew generalised tariff preferences in 1990, to include Poland and Hungary in decisions for 1990 GSP schemes, subject to the Ministers' agreement to their inclusion in the GSP. The Council is also expected to discuss economic and monetary co- operation, and free movement of people. The FAC may also take stock of recent developments in its trade relations with third countries.
A further meeting of the FAC will be held on 27-28 November, when it will discuss preparations for the Strasbourg European Council and the future of the Communities relations with eastern Europe ; a meeting of the EC/Yugoslavia Co-operation Council will take place in the margins of FAC. The Council may also discuss the Commission's draft negotiation mandate for second stage
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EC/GCC agreement. The Council is expected to discuss preparation for the 19 December EC/EFTA ministerial meeting. The ministerial meeting will review progress in recent discussions between the Commission and EFTA on closer economic co-operation. The Council will discuss the present state of play and prospects for the current round of multilateral trade negotiations taking place in Geneva under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Japanese cars and EC/US relations may also be considered.The Telecommunications Council meets on 7 November when the Presidency is hoping to reach a common position on the ONP directive, the pan-European paging directive and recommendation and high definition television. Discussion is likely on liberalisation of telecom services, ONP directive and recommendation on pan-European radio paging, common action on HDTV in CCIR, external aspects of telecoms policy, use of ECU in European telecoms accounting, new R & D in broad band telecoms and postal Europe.
The Consumers Council on 9 November is expected to consider some key questions arising from the draft directive. The Presidency will seek member states' views in an orientation debate on the future of this proposal. Proposals for future representation of consumers at Community level (an oral communication from the Commission) will be presented orally. This may take the form of an informal lunch meeting. A draft Council resolution outlining future priorities will be considered and the Commission may also give an oral presentation of its three year future programme. The European home and leisure accident surveillance system (EHLASS) is also likely to be discussed at the Consumer Council on 9 November.
The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 13 November to discuss stage 1 of Economic and Monetary Union including the revised decisions on economic convergence and co-operation between the central banks of the member states. There will also be a discussion on the longer term, which will consider the report of the high level group and the Chancellor's paper on an alternative approach to that in the Delors report. The discussion of taxation of savings will focus on measures to combat tax evasion. ECOFIN is expected to discuss a further report on indirect taxation on rates and technical systems for both VAT and excise duties and on budgetary consequences. There will also be a discussion on, and the probable adoption of a draft directive co-ordinating regulations on insider dealing across the Community, thereby establishing standards and providing for collaboration in the exchange of relevant information.
The Health Council is scheduled to meet on 13 November. The agenda will include the tobacco labelling directive, which requires member states to introduce legislation to ensure that standardised health warnings are printed on packets of tobacco products : the tobacco tar yields directive, which sets a maximum limit of 15 mg of tar per cigarette by 1992 and 12 mg tar/cigarette by 1995 ; tobacco advertising directive, which concerns advertising of tobacco products in the press and by means of bills and posters. The directive places restrictions on the content of advertisements, and requires them to include health warnings. Also to be considered are the 2nd action against cancer programme 1990 to 1994. This continues and expands work carried out under the first cancer programme with the aim of reducing projected cancer
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mortality by 15 per cent. by the year 2000 through prevention campaigns, information, training and research. A solemn declaration on AIDS policy and conclusions on measures for the prevention of addiction and the care of drug addicts are expected. The Health Council will discuss a Presidency note urging meetings on a regular basis to discuss the problem of the movement of health professionals around the Community in view of the overall surplus of trained doctors and the shortage of nurses, and oral conclusions urging acceleration of work on European self-sufficiency in blood and blood products. The mutual recognition of pharmaceutical products will be discussed, in particular a note from the Presidency and possibly written conclusions on the current situation and problems and conclusions asking the Commission to report on developments so far and to make recommendations for future action to encourage the use of the European emergency health card. The question of a standard European number for calling emergency services will also be discussed.The Industry Council meets on 14 November. The textiles sub-group will be looking at the effects of the Uruguay round, the setting up of a monitoring body or observatory to improve statistics on the sector and possibly an exercise to improve the transparency of state aids to this sector. The Council will discuss how the Community should respond to United States proposals to eliminate all state aid to shipbuilding by the end of 1991. Cars and HDTV ars also likely to be discussed.
The Budget Council will meet on 14 November to consider the second reading of the 1990 draft budget and the amending letters. The Agriculture Council will meet on 20 and 21 November to discuss the reform of the agricultural structures regulations and the cereals co-responsibility levy. It may also discuss milk quotas, veterinary checks, bovine somatotropin, and pigmeat.
The Development Council will meet on 21 November. The Council will adopt conclusions arising from an evaluation of Community aid to Asia and Latin America, the period 1976 to 1988, and will consider annual guidelines for the Community's aid programme to Asia and Latin America for 1990. The Council is expected to adopt a resolution on priorities and the future direction of the Community's food aid programme, and will adopt conclusions based on a Commission paper on the implementation of the Community's aid control programme. The Council will adopt conclusions on desertification based on a Commission paper on action taken in this field since 1986, and will have a free-ranging discussion on other environmental issues, specifically the management and conservation of tropical forests. The council will also review progress on the current renegotiation of the Lome convention.
The Internal Market Council on 23 November will discuss a number of measures relevant to the completion of the single market. The Fisheries Council will meet on 27 November to discuss prices, inspection and surveillance, processing and marketing of fisheries products and possibly EC/Greenland and EC/USSR relations and 1990 TACS and quotas.
The Environment Council is scheduled to meet on 28 November. The Presidency is hoping for a political agreement on the terms of reference for a European
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environment agency to co-ordinate and analyse environmental information from existing national and regional networks for Commission and member states' use. There is likely to be a detailed discussion of the proposal concerning the protection of habitats and of wild fauna and flora and an attempt to resolve some of the outstanding difficulties. Early exchanges of views are expected on the proposal to protect waters from nitrate pollution and on the proposal to guarantee the public freedom of access to data on the environment.The Social Affairs Council is due to meet on 30 November, when Ministers will discuss health and safety directives on work place requirements, work equipment and personal protective equipment. In the field of vocational training the Council will also discuss Eurotech II, and the medium term guidelines for education and training the Community. The establishment of a employment observatory may also be discussed.
WALES
Disabled People
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many disabled people are currently in local authority, health authority, voluntary and private sector homes in Wales.
Mr. Grist : The number of disabled people in local authority, voluntary and private sector homes in Wales is shown in the table :
as at 32 March 1988
Category of resident<1> |Residents in local |Residents in private and|Total residents
|authority homes |voluntary homes
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elderly |7,067 |6,497 |13,564
Younger
physically
handicapped |99 |198 |297
Blind |- |101 |101
Mentally ill |288 |258 |546
Mentally
handicapped |676 |699 |1,375
Alcohol
dependence |- |48 |48
Total |8,130 |7,801 |15,931
<1> These categories are as defined under Sections 21 and 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948 and under section 1 of the
Registered Homes Act 1984.
Learning Difficulties
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will conduct a detailed HMI survey on further education provision to assess the demand for and availability of provision for students with learning difficulties.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : Her Majesty's inspectors are currently undertaking a survey of the provision for students with special educational needs in the Welsh further education colleges.
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Common Land
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has received a copy of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation's report on common land ; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards commons.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : I have received a copy of the report "Wildlife importance of common land" prepared by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation (RSNC) under contract to the Nature Conservancy Council. I understand that there is another report, "A Future for Wildlife on our Commons" published by the RSNC itself, which I have not been sent. The Government are considering our future policy on common land.
Water Supply
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report (a) the number of people in Wales who receive water from supplies granted relaxations to the aluminium standard under section 20(5)(b) of the Water Act 1989, (b) the location of each supply, by county and (c) the number of people served by each of those supplies.
Mr. Grist : Under section 20(5)(b) of the Water Act 1989, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has accepted undertakings from Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig relating to the aluminium parameter in respect of the water treatment works shown in the following table :
Location and water |Estimated population
treatment works |served
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd
Bylchau |2,350
Cynwyd |3,230
Glascoed |30,270
Meifof |1,470
Trecastell |9,700
Alwen |108,750
Bretton |12,640
Cilcain |9,640
Dyfed
Bontgoch |22,050
Strata Florida |21,750
Bolton Hill |53,780
Hotwells |590
Preseli |41,450
Valley Court |10,870
Capel Dewi |21,150
Bryncoch |15,870
Dyfed and West Glamorgan
Bryngwyn |87,580
Felindre |311,500
Powys
Llanwrtyd Wells |1,470
Llandeilo Graban |5,880
Portis HL |3,820
Hereford and Worcester
Byton |2,645
Broomy Hill |99,330
Gwent
Cwmtillery |36,150
Nantybwych |10,580
Georgetown |10,000
Craig Dhu |7,940
Rhymney Bridge |18,220
Gwent and Mid Glamorgan
Pontsticill |164,300
South Glamorgan and Mid Glamorgan
Cantref |133,700
Llwynon |22,600
Mid Glamorgan
Hendre Bailey<1> |3,530
Penderyn BH |2,940
Maerdy HL and LL |37,030
Gwynedd
Abergynolwen |290
Total Population |1,325,065
<1>Currently not in supply.
Note.-Population figures have been derived by Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig from the
average daily output of the works when in use, and therefore represent the
potential number of customers.
Toxic Waste Imports
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the ports in Wales currently registered for the import of toxic waste and the amount of such waste imported through each of those ports for the last 10 available years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : The available information on imports of
special/hazardous waste through Welsh ports, based on returns made by waste disposal authorities, is shown in the table :
Tonnes Port of entry |1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Briton Ferry (Neath) |2,300 |15,000.0 |12,360 Fishguard |50 |0 |0 Holyhead |124 |383.5 |221 Newport |3,082 |448.0 |0
Health Service (Information Technology)
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the information technology requirements under the proposals of the National Health Service White Paper for (a) acute hospitals, (b) general practitioner practices that opt to control their own budgets and (c) general practitioner indicative prescribing budgets ; and for each, what assessment he has made of (i) capital equipments costs and (ii) manpower costs.
Mr. Grist : The Information and IT implications of the White Paper for all levels of the NHS have been subject to a detailed and widespread consultation and review. The results will be published shortly in the form of a Strategy of Wales which will include recommended core strategic systems for each tier. The implementation costs are currently under examination.
Renal Unit (Wrexham)
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to receive a case from the Clwyd health authority containing a justification for a renal unit in Wrexham.
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Mr. Grist : I understand that the authority will be presenting its case in response to consultation which is presently taking place on the report of the evaluation of renal services in Wales.
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when, as a result of a request from the Clwyd health authority, he decided to decline funding to the authority for a renal unit in Wrexham ; and when, subsequently, he invited the authority to present to him a case containing a clear justification.
Mr. Grist : Funding by the Welsh Office was considered inappropriate and the authority was invited to present a detailed case for the regional designation of the unit on 24 January 1989.
Cash Limits
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to the cash limits for class XVII and to his Department's provision for running costs in the current financial year.
Mr. Peter Walker : Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the following changes will be made.
The cash limit on class XVII vote 2 is to be reduced by £1,499,000 from £90,947,000 to £89,448,000 reflecting (i) a decrease of £1,500, 000 in the public dividend capital provision for the Welsh Development Agency and (ii) a token £1,000 Supplementary to open a new subhead to make a special contribution to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. The reduction in the provision for public dividend capital will enable a corresponding increase to be made in the agency's non-voted borrowing facility with the National Loans Fund and assist in meeting the higher demand for capital investment loans from small businesses in Wales.
The cash limit for class XVII, vote 5 is to be increased by £2,260, 000 from £266,711,000 to £268,971,000. The increase covers the transfer of responsibility for payment of grants in respect of hostel deficits from the Secretary of State for Social Security (£20,000), an increase to the grant-in-aid for the Wales Tourist Board to be met from existing but unallocated public expenditure provision (£100,000) and an increase for the carry forward of 1988-89 capital underspends under the end year flexibility scheme (£2,140,000).
The cash limit for class XVII, vote 8 is to be increased by £5,000, 000 from £830,510,000 to £835,510,000. The additional provision is required to help meet the cost of implementing the National Health Service Review proposals contained in the White Paper "Working for Patients".
The cash limit for class XVII, vote 9 is to be increased by £1,786, 000 from £46,271,000 to £48,057,000. This increase covers the take up of 1988-89 capital and running costs underspends under the end year flexibility scheme (£317,000 and £205,000 respectively) and makes provision for the running cost implications of the National Health Service review (£1,000,000), for the statutory audit of National Health Service activities in Wales (£200,000) and for the administrative cost of introducing two new grant regimes (£64,000). The Department's running costs limit is to be increased by £1,469,000 from £44,688,000 to £46,157,000.
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In accordance with the reply by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 26 October 1989 to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones), the cash limit on class XVII, vote 13 is being increased by £276,000,000 from £1,000 to £276,001,000. This increase provides for the establishment of an appropriate capital structure for Welsh Water plc.The cash limit changes total £283,547,000. Allowing for the cash limit reduction on vote 2 (£1,499,000), the total of the cash limit increases is £285,046,000. Of this sum, the increase in respect of the capital structure of Welsh Water and compensation by the residuary company (£276,000,000) will be met from the privatisation proceeds programme ; the increases on account of end-year flexibility (£2,662,000), the National Health Service Review (£6,000,000) and the administration costs of National Health Service Audit and the new grants regimes (£264,000) will be charged to the Reserve and the increases for hostel deficit grants (£20,000) and the Wales Tourist Board (£100,000) are covered by my existing PES resources. These increases will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Set-aside
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the factors he took into account when announcing on 27 July Official Report, column 950, his decision to maintain the rates of payment for set-aside unchanged.
Mr. Curry : I see no reason to alter rates of payment which have attracted a good level of uptake in two successive years.
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