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ENERGY
Opencast Coal
Mr. Cummings : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of United Kingdom opencast coal is washed.
Mr. Baldry : This is a matter for the British Coal Corporation. However, it is generally true that opencast coal is cleaner than deep mine output and so requires less washing.
Orimulsion
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will impose a condition on the burning of Orimulsion or very heavy residual fuel oil in electricity power stations, that flue gas desulphurisation scrubbers must be installed in that power station.
Mr. Baldry : Control of emissions from power stations is a matter for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.
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Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what approaches he has received about the burning of Orimulsion in oil-burning power stations.Mr. Baldry : PowerGen advised me earlier this year of its intention to burn Orimulsion at the Ince B power station on a trial basis.
Spent Nuclear Fuels (Imports)
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what quantity of spent nuclear fuel has so far arrived at Sellafield from other countries for the purpose of reprocessing ; in how many shipments this has arrived ; from what country and on what dates ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : Over the past 25 years British Nuclear Fuels plc and its predecessors have received some 4,000 tonnes of uranium as spent fuel from Canada, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The origins, sizes and dates of arrival of individual consignments are matters for the company.
Fluidised Bed Combustion
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on progress on the research being carried out at Grimethorpe into the benefits of fluidised bed combustion technology ; and when this system is likely to be implemented nationally.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Preparations for the experimental work at Grimethorpe, which forms part of British Coal's topping cycle project, commenced in October 1989 and I understand that design work is progressing. British Coal is seeking alternative industrial funding following Ahlstrom's recent withdrawal from the project and the Department's offer of 50 per cent. support up to a maximum of £8 million remains on the table. The financing of the project will be reviewed when the position on industrial participation is clearer. Implementation of this technology would depend upon the success of its development programme. Exploitation of the topping cycle concept will also depend on sufficient confidence that it is economically competitive with other means of power generation.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Criminal Evidence
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Attorney-General if he will issue a code of practice to Government Departments on measures necessary to avoid prejudice to cases going through the courts ; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
The Attorney-General : No. The circumstances which may arise are too diverse for it to be useful to issue more specific guidance than is already available from the general law.
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Winchester Three
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Attorney-General what are the total costs of the trial of the Winchester Three.
The Attorney-General : The total amount expended on legal fees in the trial of this case was £215,287.81. To seek to quantify the administrative costs would involve disproportionate expense.
WALES
Caerphilly Castle (Catering)
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review his policy in respect of the catering arrangements at Caerphilly castle in the light of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report in respect of monopoly services at exhibition halls.
Mr. Peter Walker : The document to which I believe the hon. Gentleman refers, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on electrical contracting at exhibition halls in London, concerns the monopoly that existed in favour of restricted practices by electrical contractors tied to the major exhibition halls.
The current catering contract at Caerphilly castle was awarded through open tender for a limited term up to 22 March 1991. Terms of a replacement contract are currently under review.
Engineering Apprenticeships
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the numbers of engineering apprentice-ships in Wales in 1979, 1984 and in the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Peter Walker : This information is not held by the Department.
East Europe (Investment)
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to encourage Welsh companies to invest in east European countries.
Mr. Peter Walker : I welcome the emergence of market economies in eastern Europe, which will be to the great benefit of the people of those countries. These developments may also bring investment and exporting opportunities for Welsh companies. But there will inevitably also be risks and uncertainties and these are therefore commercial decisions for Welsh companies themselves to consider.
Deeside ITEC
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the future of Deeside ITEC.
Mr. Roberts : The future of the Deeside ITEC is a matter for the company itself. When the North East Wales training and enterprise council becomes operational the Deeside ITEC will be able to bid to the council to operate YT and ET schemes as it does with the Training Agency at present.
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Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the employees of Deeside ITEC.
Mr. Roberts : My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people have been trained in information technology by Deeside ITEC.
Mr. Roberts : This information is not held by the Department.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit the premises of Deeside ITEC.
Mr. Roberts : My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.
Health Service
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the number of nurses required and the number expected to be available in the years 1991 to 1993 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Grist : The aggregation of manpower resource plans submitted by district health authorities in 1989 indicates projected planned staffing levels (PSL) and staff in post (SIP) levels at 30 September 1991 to 1993 at the all-Wales levels as follows :
|1991 |1992 |1993
-----------------------------------------------
General Nurses
PSL |9,832|9,829|9,846
SIP |9,744|9,740|9,749
Children's Nurses
PSL |156 |157 |157
SIP |137 |138 |138
Mental Illness Nurses
PSL |2,592|2,778|2,790
SIP |2,474|2,606|2,665
Mental Handicap Nurses
PSL |871 |849 |822
SIP |840 |833 |809
Midwives
PSL |1,421|1,475|1,482
SIP |1,339|1,411|1,440
Manpower resource planning is an ongoing management process. These projections may have been revised in the light of developments since the plans were submitted. Revised projections will be available in the manpower resource plans to be submitted by authorities this year.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the funding of a paediatric orthopaedic consultant post in the area of South Glamorgan health authority.
Mr. Grist : The Welsh Office has offered South Glamorgan health authority £170,000 a year to fund an additional orthopaedic consultant under the waiting times initiative. However, it is not currently envisaged that this post should be for a paediatric specialist.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to visit the Prince of Wales hospital, Rhydlafar, near Cardiff.
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Mr. Peter Walker : I have no immediate plans to do so.
Laura Ashley Company
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amount of Government grant aid he has given annually to the Laura Ashley Company as expressed as a percentage of the moneys he has given to the Mid Wales Development Board for each of the years since 1979 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Walker : I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as the information is available and I will place a copy of my answer in the Library of the House.
Orimulsion
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on the environmental side-effects of burning Orimulsion and very heavy residual fuel oil in Pembroke power station, with and without flue gas desulphurisation.
Mr. Grist : I understand that discussions have taken place betwen Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and National Power about the possibility of burning heavy residual fuel oil at Pembroke power station. I am told that no changes to the required standards of emissions for particulate matter (including smoke) or sulphur dioxide from those resulting from current fuel would be permitted by the inspectorate. The question of flue gas desulphurisation does not arise under these circumstances.
No proposals to burn Orimulsion have been made to date.
Health and Safety
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve health and safety in factories in Wales ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : I have been asked to reply.
Responsibility for maintaining and improving health and safety standards, and complying with legal obligations, rests with employers and others concerned at the workplace. The Government have increased financial provision for the Health and Safety Commission and Executive over previously agreed levels again in 1990-91. The additional provision is £7 million excluding money transferred from the Department of Energy for nuclear safety research.
The commission's priorities for improving health and safety at work throughout Great Britain will be set out in its plan of work for 1990-91 and beyond.
PRIME MINISTER
South Africa
Q43. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on her policies towards South Africa.
The Prime Minister : We want to see the end of apartheid by peaceful means, through negotiations. We shall continue to encourage all parties to take up the opportunity now presented to negotiate a new democratic
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constitution for South Africa. Meanwhile, we are stepping up our aid programme to help prepare for the time when all South Africans can play their full part in the political and economic life of their country.Immigration
Q53. Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the implications for immigration policy of European directives which permit citizens of the overseas territories of European Economic Community nations to settle in the European Economic Community.
The Prime Minister : No. The question of who are to be regarded as its nationals for the purposes of enjoyment of the rights of free movement given in the treaty of Rome, by reason of a connection either with its metropolitan or its overseas territories, is determined by each member of state in accordance with its nationality law.
President Gorbachev
Q97. Mr. Latham : To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to meet President Gorbachev ; and what subjects she expects to discuss with him on that occasion.
The Prime Minister : I expect to meet President Gorbachev when I visit the Soviet Union in June and to discuss with him the full range of international and bilateral issues.
Telecommunications
Q107. Mr. Hood : To ask the Prime Minister if she will give details of representations she has had from churches, community groups and individuals objecting to the provisions of sexual services via the public telecommunications systems ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I have received a number of representations about premium-rate telephone services including a few from church organisations. This is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications who has already taken firm action to control these services including the closure of two services in the Manchester area. He is keeping the matter under close review.
Turkey (Human Rights)
146. Mr. Redmond : To ask the Prime Minister what discussions she had with members of the Turkish Government during her recent visit to Turkey in respect of their human rights abuses.
The Prime Minister : I discussed human rights with President Ozal when I saw him on 25 April. He stressed his Government's determination to eliminate abuses and told me that the Turkish Parliament was now in the process of setting up its own human rights commission.
Policy Unit Staff
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister whether, further to her reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 1 March, Official Report, column 277, she will provide a list showing the names and business connections of the individuals with accountancy backgrounds who have joined her policy unit since 1979.
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The Prime Minister : Those who have accountancy qualifications are Mr. D. C. Hobson, who joined the policy unit from Coopers and Lybrand, Mr. P. T. Warry who joined from Aerospace Engineering plc and Mr. I. Whitehead who joined from the Bank of Montreal Capital Markets Ltd. London.
Mr. Nelson Mandela
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Prime Minister what plans she has to meet Mr. Nelson Mandela in July.
The Prime Minister : I look forward to meeting Mr. Mandela on 4 July for talks on how the process of peaceful change in South Africa can be taken forward. Mr. Mandela will also meet my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
India
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Merionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas), of 26 April, Official Report, column 279, concerning her meeting with the Indian Prime Minister, whether any consideration was given to nuclear- proliferation control measures in the Indian subcontinent in the course of the discussions to which she makes reference.
The Prime Minister : The reply referred to by the hon. Member concerned my meeting with the Indian President during his visit to London in April. The subject of nuclear non-proliferation was not discussed.
Lance Missile
Mr. Kaufman : To ask the Prime Minister whether she continues to advocate replacement of the Lance missile.
The Prime Minister : I continue to support the alliance's position that, where necessary, all NATO's weapons, nuclear and conventional, should be kept up to date.
Rainham Marshes
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received from British Urban Development or the Music Corporation of America in respect of the proposed theme park at Rainham marshes in the London borough of Havering ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I have received recent representations on this subject. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has received numerous representations for and against the granting of planning consent for the proposed development.
Short-range Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Kaufman : To ask the Prime Minister whether she continues to advocate modernisation of land-based short-range nuclear weapons on the mainland of Europe.
The Prime Minister : I continue to support the position of the alliance that we will continue to need an appropriate mix of adequate and effective conventional and nuclear forces which, where necessary, will need to be kept up to date.
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Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.
Mr. Stern : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.
The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Poland
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters in regard to (a) the nuclear non- proliferation treaty review conference in August and (b) the possibilities of environmental assistance to clean up polluted areas were raised during his recent visit to Poland.
Iraq
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during the meetings of the working group on nuclear non-proliferation of the European political co-operation committee held during 1990, the matter of the export of nuclear capable technology and technology and equipment usable in launching nuclear weapons to Iraq has been raised ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : We raised our concern about the incident on 28 March, when a consignment of capacitors bound for Iraq was intercepted at Heathrow, at the meeting of the working group on 3 and 4 April. In subsequent discussion, partners agreed that all possible steps should be taken to ensure that barriers against proliferation are strengthened, and that export controls are adequate. The working group has also discussed the expansion of the missle technology control regime.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's knowledge of commercial interest in the Lear Fan factory in Northern Ireland expressed by Iraq or Iraq-backed companies.
Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 2 May 1990] : In the light of the charges laid against individuals, and of the continuing investigations by Customs and Excise, it would be wrong for me to comment on these matters.
Antarctic Bases
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the proposed clear-up of abandoned Antarctic bases will be funded from the sale of British Antarctica stamps ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : There are no plans to finance the clean-up of abandoned British bases in the Antarctic from the sale of British Antarctic Territory stamps. I refer the
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hon. Member to a reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science on 18 April 1990.South Georgia
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) why it has been decided to leave in situ the shells of the buildings of the old whaling station in South Georgia ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what steps have been taken to remove wastes from the old whaling station on South Georgia ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : Following discussions between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the leaseholders, Christian Salvesen plc, work is currently under way to clear up one of the stations. Further decisions will be taken following the completion of this year's work programme.
Antarctica
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for his Department details of the Australian and French proposals to declare Antarctica a wilderness reserve ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : A joint paper on the French and Australian proposals was delivered to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at 10.15 am today.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will be represented at the forthcoming meeting of the Antarctic treaty parties to discuss measures to protect the Antarctic environment.
Mr. Sainsbury : No decision has yet been taken by the Government on the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the special consultative meeting of the Antarctic treaty parties to be held later this year in Chile.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
History Teaching
Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the factual basis of history teaching.
Mrs. Rumbold : The study of history at school should be grounded on a thorough knowledge of the past. That is not at issue. The question is how to ensure that children acquire the necessary foundation of historical information. The national curriculum working group on history made its recommendations, and my right hon. Friend is consulting widely on its published report. In the light of responses he will make his proposals for attainment targets and programmes of study for school history, which will then be the subject of the statutory consultation conducted by the National Curriculum Council.
Public Relations
Mr. Grocott : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to appoint a public relations adviser.
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Mr. MacGregor : I have no plans to do so. I already have a very satisfactory head of information at the Department of Education and Science. I have always consulted widely about education policy and presentation and shall continue to do so.Brighton CTC
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn, 30 April 1990, DES 87 and 92, when he was first informed of the discovery by the city technology college trust of the commission of £200,000 charged by Mr. Revere on the purchase of the site of the Brighton city technology college ; what is the current valuation of the site ; and what will now happen to the site.
Mr. MacGregor : The existence of the commission charged by Mr. Revere was first notified to my Department by the trust in a memorandum dated 8 December. The commission was repaid by Mr. Revere to the CTC trust on 12 December and forwarded to my Department on 13 December. The future of the site and its value are now under consideration.
Academic Research Equipment
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to take action on the report of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on academic research equipment ; what representations he has received on the report and from whom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from hon. Members and a petition organised jointly by the publication "Laboratory News", the Association of University Teachers and the British Laboratory Ware Association. My right hon. Friend announced on 15 November at columns 272-76 that an additional £61 million would be made available for the science budget in 1990-91, together with planning additions for the next two years of £58 million and £59 million. He announced the allocations to the five research councils on 10 January, Official Report columns 623-24. It is for the research councils to determine how to spend the additional funds made available to them. However, in their advice to the Secretary of State on the allocations, the Advisory Board for the Research Councils advised that a high proportion of these funds should be directed to preserving the quality of United Kingdom science. The ABRC also suggested that the research councils should deploy some of these additional funds to increase equipment provision through research grants, and that funding of new research programmes and interdisciplinary research centres would also include some provision for equipment.
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