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Aflatoxin
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the scientific evidence held by his Department on whether aflatoxin is a human carcinogen ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Dorrell : The most recent scientific publications held by the Department on the human carcinogenicity of aflatoxins are : 1. WHO (1979). Environmental Health Criteria 11, Mycotoxins. World Health Organisation, Geneva.2. Linsell A, (1982). Carcinogenicity of Mycotoxins. Environmental Carcinogens Selected Methods of Analysis. Volume 5--Some Mycotoxins. Egan H, Stoloff L, O'Neill IK, Scott P, Castegnaro M, Bartsch H, Davis W (Eds.). International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon. 3. IARC (1987). Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans. Suppl. 7, 82-88. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon.
4. IARC (1988). Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. 44. --International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon. 5. Ivana Dvorackova (1990). Aflatoxins and Human Health. Published by the CRC Press, Florida.
Wheelchairs
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements there are for the repair of wheelchairs for a disabled person staying away from his or her home area ; and whether he will provide a list of approved repairers for each regional health authority.
Mr. Dorrell : As individual contracts are negotiated by health authorities, a list of approved repairers is not held centrally. All contracts with approved repairers cover work on NHS-supplied wheelchairs for both resident users and those visiting the area. Visitors may, however, need to contact the local disablement services centre to obtain details of the appropriate approved repairer.
Perinatal and Infant Mortality
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the rates of perinatal mortality and infant mortality for Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham in 1981 and for the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Dorrell : The table lists the perinatal and infant mortality rates for the London borough's of Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham in 1981 and 1990.
Perinatal and infant mortality rates for the London Boroughs
of
Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham, 1981 and 1990
1981 1990
|Perinatal|Infant |Perinatal|Infant
-------------------------------------------------------------
Greenwich |11.8 |16.0 |7.1 |8.2
Wandsworth |10.6 |10.1 |7.2 |7.8
Lewisham |14.5 |14.0 |9.7 |7.3
Source:
Local authority vital statistics, Series VS number 8, 1981.
VS1 statistics, 1990.
Registered Homes Act
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of owners of private care or nursing homes who had their registrations cancelled under the Registered Homes Act 1984 during 1990.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Department has been notified of 30 residential care home owners and 16 nursing home owners who had their registrations cancelled during 1990.
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Diabetes
Mr. Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department plans to take to recognise World Diabetes Day on 27 June and to implement the measures agreed in the St. Vincent declaration of October 1989.
Mr. Dorrell : The Department's chief medical officer has sent a message of encouragement to mark World Diabetes Day. The recommendations in the St. Vincent declaration for the care of people with diabetes in Europe have been incorporated in the Government's Green Paper "The Health of the Nation". We have invited comments on these with a view to the possible development of targets for this country.
GP Lists
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average general practitioner list size ; and what it was in 1978-79.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : At 1 October 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, the average general practitioner list size in England was 1,942. The corresponding figure for 1979 was 2, 286.
Food Additives
Sir Russell Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes to publicise the adverse effects on many children of sodium salt of benzoate (E211) in view of its use as a preservative in many popular branded drinks.
Mr. Dorrell : None. Sodium benzoate (E211) is a permitted preservative listed in schedule I of the Preservative in Foods Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 533). The levels of sodium benzoate in foods are strictly controlled. Studies commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of a number of additives, including sodium benzoate, have found the overall incidence of intolerance reactions to be very low. As its presence as an additive in food must appear on the product label those who consider themselves adversely affected can avoid foods containing this preservative.
Pregnancy
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of ectopic pregnancies in each of the last 25 years for which figures are available.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 13 June 1991] : The figures for each year since 1979 are given in the table.
Estimated number of
episodes where
Ectopic pregnancy (
ICD 633)
is the principal
diagnosis.
Ordinary admissions
and day cases, NHS
hospitals
Year |Total
--------------------
1979-85<1>
1979 |4,240
1980 |3,892
1981 |4,253
1982 |4,344
1983 |4,841
1984 |4,965
1985 |4,788
1987-90<2>
1987-88 |4,941
1988-89 |5,570
1989-90 |6,928
<1> Source:
Hospital In-Patient
Enquiry. Ordinary
admissions only
until 1985, NHS
hospitals for
England and Wales
until 1982, post
1982 England only.
<2> Source:
Hospital Episode
Statistics. Figures
for 1987-88 onwards
are provisional,
based on incomplete,
ungrossed data and
may be subject to
revision following
analysis.
EMPLOYMENT
Labour Statistics
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the unemployment figures for Waveney in (a) May 1987 and (b) May 1991 as a whole and as a percentage of the work force ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : In May 1991 the number of unemployed claimants, not seasonally adjusted, in the Waveney parliamentary constituency was 3, 423. This compares with 5,847 in May 1987, a fall of 41.5 per cent. Official unemployment rates are not available for parliamentary constituencies. The smallest areas for which unemployment rates are calculated by the Department are travel-to-work areas. These are broadly self-contained labour markets in which at least 75 per cent. of the people who work in the area, live in the area and vice-versa.
TUC Publications
Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will obtain a copy of the Trades Union Congress booklet, "Working Women," and place a copy in the Library, marking the passages which were considered by his Department as tendentious ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if he will list the Trades Union Congress publications designed for education or training courses to which he has objected being part of courses which attract financial support from his Department ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : The Government have always made it clear that they are not prepared to provide financial support under the trade union education and training grant for booklets which engage in political controversy. The booklet "Working Women" contained a number of passages which were openly critical of Government policy. When these passages were drawn to the attention of the TUC, it agreed that they were not appropriate in a booklet financed by public money. Since the TUC has now withdrawn the booklet, no purpose would be served by placing a copy in the Library.
TRANSPORT
Drink-Driving
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the 1991 research findings on the 1990-91 anti -drink driving advertising campaign.
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Mr. Chope : Copies of the 1991 research findings on the Department of Transport's 1990 anti-drink driving advertising campaign have been placed in the Library.
Orange Badge Scheme
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to implement the draft regulations published in April 1990, pursuant to the review of the orange badge parking scheme for persons with disability.
Mr. Chope : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 21 March at column 212 .
Public Transport
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to increase the use of public transport and to reduce traffic congestion.
Mr. Chope : The Government are supporting massive investment to improve facilities on British Rail and the London Underground, and are giving grant to two new light rail systems. A network of priority red routes is proposed in London to keep traffic moving. A working group has been set up with the bus industry, the local authorities and the police to encourage bus use and the development of bus priority measures. We are also commissioning wide-ranging research into urban traffic congestion, including the possibility of road pricing.
Road Proposals Display, Tower Hamlets
Ms. Gordon : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for displaying the proposals for the East India Dock road/Canning Town bridge and A13 flyover scheme at a venue in Tower Hamlets.
Mr. Chope : We are investigating the possibility of displaying our proposed exhibition at the Aberfeldy estate after it has been shown at the Mayflower centre, Canning Town.
Network SouthEast
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment he has approved for British Rail services on the Eltham and New Eltham lines of Network SouthEast.
Mr. Freeman : My right hon. and learned Friend announced approval on 19 June of investment in 188 Networker vehicles at a cost of £127 million. He had previously announced approval for 86 Networker vehicles on 13 May at a cost of over £67 million ; 400 class 465 Networker vehicles for Kent link routes were approved in August 1989. The first of these is due to be delivered to British Rail in September this year. The new trains will begin to come into service on Kent link routes, which include Eltham and New Eltham, during the first few months of 1992.
London Transport (Salaries)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what percentage the salary of (i) the chairman and (ii) the board of directors as a whole of London Transport increased in the year 1990-91 on 1989-90 ; and what is the projected percentage increase in 1991-92 on 1990-91.
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Mr. Freeman : The salary of the chairman of London Transport was increased by 25 per cent. and that of the deputy chief executive by 13.7 per cent. from 1 April 1990 ; these increases reflected additional responsibilities each had previously assumed. Other board members received increases of 8.5 per cent. or 8.6 per cent. My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet considered proposals for pay increases for members from 1 April 1991.M40
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the present surface texture of the grooved concrete surface of the M40 between junctions 1 and 2 measured by the sand patch method ; and what was the value of the surface texture in 1973.
Mr. Chope : The sand patch method of measuring texture is not appropriate to grooved concrete surfaces. The specification for measuring grooved concrete is to measure the depth of the grooves. On the M40 between junctions 1 and 2 the average depth is 3.6 mm. The records from 1973 are no longer available.
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the consultants' report on the proposed widening of the M40 between junctions 1 and 4 ; when public consultation will begin ; and whether the consultants' terms of reference include the submission of measures to ameliorate the noise nuisance from this stretch of motorway.
Mr. Chope : We expect the consultants to submit their preliminary report appraising the options for increasing the capacity of this length of motorway towards the end of this year. That appraisal will include measures to mitigate the effects of the improved road on the local environment. A decision on the preferred widening option is expected to follow in the spring of 1992. The procedures to be followed from that stage will depend on the scale and nature of the works proposed.
Maritime Safety
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which countries are signatories to the international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers 1978.
Mr. McLoughlin : There are now 82 countries which are signatories to the international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers 1978. I have placed International Maritime Organisation circular STCW/circular 76, which lists the countries concerned together with circulars 77, 79, 80, 81, 82 and 84 which give the most recent accessions, in the Library.
Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of foreign ships inspected in British ports in each of the last five years under the provisions of the 1982 memorandum of understanding to secure compliance of ships with international standards and indicate (a) how many ships were found to have deficiencies, (b) under which flag those ships with deficiencies were flying, (c) how many ships were detained pending the correction of deficiencies and (d) what financial penalties were imposed.
Mr. McLoughlin : The numbers of foreign ships inspected under the provisions of the memorandum of understanding on port state control 1982 were as follows :
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|Number
---------------------
1986 |2,439
1987 |2,250
1988 |1,839
1989 |1,692
1990 |2,118
(a) The numbers of the above found to have deficiencies were :
|Number
---------------------
1986 |1,309
1988 |915
1989 |1,003
1990 |1,272
(b) Deficiencies were found on ships flying the following flags during 1989 and 1990 :
Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Antilles (Netherlands), Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma (Myanmar), Canada, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Faeroes, Finland, France, German Democratic Republic, German Federal Republic, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korean Republic, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, St. Vincent and Grenadier, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Togo, Turkey, USA, USSR, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zaire.
(c) the numbers of foreign ships detained were :
|Number
---------------------
1986 |18
1987 |17
1988 |37
1989 |44
1990 |79
(d) Financial penalties cannot readily be measured but usually comprise three main elements : the often considerable loss of revenue arising from delays in sailing, the cost of repairs and the cost of any further inspection to ensure that repairs have been satisfactorily carried out.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate has been made of the impact of the introduction of catalytic converters on total emissions of carbon dioxide from motor vehicles. Mr. Chope : Catalytic converters, which are essential to meet our future air quality objectives, can lead to an increase in fuel consumption and thus CO emissions. But this effect will be offset by improved engine control systems which will be required to be fitted to new petrol-engined cars from the end of 1992.
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to respond to the recommendation of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities that his Department should commission a study of a Berne gauge line from the channel tunnel to the midlands and north-west, to be able to carry a mixture of containers, demountable bodies, and road trailers ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Freeman : The Select Committee's report was debated in another place on 4 March. During the debate my noble Friend, Department of the Minister of State, Transport, said that it was clear that the cost of converting a rail route or routes to a continental gauge would be very high and that British Rail's initial strategy of using small- wheeled wagons for the larger continental containers was the right one. He added that the Government might consider whether a gauge conversion study related to the longer-term future would be sensible. So far we have not seen any case for such a study.Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to bring forward legislation to provide financial support to British Rail for routes to and from the channel tunnel which are safe, environmentally acceptable and fast.
Mr. Freeman : We have no plans to amend section 42 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987, which prohibits Government subsidy for international rail services. We are prepared to consider subsidy for any non-user benefits arising from the use by commuter services of a rail link between the channel tunnel and London.
Marchioness Inquiry
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the recommendations of the marine accident investigation branch inquiry into the Marchioness disaster, indicating which have been accepted and implemented, which have been accepted and not yet implemented and the date by which he intends that they should be implemented ; and which have not been accepted and the reasons for such rejection.
Mr. McLoughlin : All 27 recommendations listed in the marine accident investigation branch report into the collision between the Marchioness and the Bowbelle were accepted on 24 July 1990 by the then Secretary of State. A copy of the recommendations was placed in the Library at that time. Action on 14 of the recommendations (Nos. 1-3, 6-11, 14, 16, 18, 23 and 25) has been completed. Action to implement the remaining recommendations is well advanced and will be completed as quickly as is practicable. Two of these recommendations (Nos. 26 and 27) require the Department to establish and maintain monitoring processes to ensure that the substance of the report's recommendations continues to be borne in mind in future developments ; and this has been set in place.
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken to review and, where necessary, to improve the procedures of the communications and emergency services as a result of lessons learnt about the Marchioness disaster.
Mr. McLoughlin : The procedures for communications between ships, the Port of London Authority (PLA) and the emergency services are contained in PLA's combined accident procedure (POLACAP) instructions. Two full- scale POLACAP emergency exercises have been held recently and the lessons learnt have been incorporated in the POLACAP instructions.
The PLA general directions for navigation have been amended to require :
1. Ships to be equipped with a VHF radiotelephone capable of communicating with the harbourmaster.
Column 394
2. Ships to maintain a continuous watch on the VHF channel appropriate to the part of the Thames in which they are operating. 3. Ships to be fitted with vertical emergency aerials if main aerials are lowered when passing under bridges.4. Ships of more than 40 metres length to be provided with telephone or portable handset communications between the navigating bridge and the lookout forward.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Mobile Abattoirs
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further review the Chief Veterinary Officer has made of the use of mobile abattoirs in remote areas since the answer to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight, Official Report , 17 January 1990, columns 290-91 .
Mr. Maclean : Veterinary staff are working closely with the Humane Slaughter Association to assist it in the development of a mobile abattoir. Any such abattoir will be required to meet the proposed single market standards.
Food Imports
Sir Richard Body : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of food imports into the United Kingdom came from (a) EEC countries in 1970 and (b) from the original Six in 1990.
Mr. Curry : In 1970, 13 per cent. of United Kingdom imports of food, feed and drink by value were from the original six members of the European Community ; the comparable figure for 1990 was 43 per cent.
Hedges
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what circumstances officials of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service charge for advice on the planting and management of hedges.
Mr. Curry : General advice on conservation matters, including advice on hedgerows, is available free of charge from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service. A charge would be made, at a rate agreed between ADAS and an individual client, for detailed advice specific to a site, including survey and evaluation work and the provision of planting and management programmes.
Export Refunds
Mr. Illsley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage change between 1991 and 1990 in export refunds for foodstuffs containing cereals ; what is his policy on the level of export refunds on such foodstuffs ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Curry : Export refunds for processed products containing cereals are derived by applying to the basic refunds, set each month by the Cereals Management Committee, co-efficients related to the cereal content of the processed product. The basic refunds for the principal grains and some example products determined for June 1990 and 1991, and the percentage increase for each, are set out in the table. Full details of export refunds on processed products applying in June 1991 are set out in EC regulation 1461/91 (OJ L138 of 1 June 1991) available in the Library of the House.
Column 395
@
ecu/tonne |June 1990|June 1991|Per cent.
|increase
|1990-91
----------------------------------------------------------------
Wheat |74.05 |102.93 |39
Wheat Pellets |75.53 |104.99 |39
Barley |72.41 |90.22 |25
Rolled or Flaked Barley |108.62 |135.33 |25
Maize |97.29 |127.47 |31
Maize Groats |175.12 |229.45 |31
Government policy is to seek to ensure that export refunds for processed products containing cereals are set at a level which adequately compensates processors for the cost of their cereals raw materials.
Farm Budget
Mr. Illsley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish details of the overall farm budget agreed for 1991-92 with the comparable figures for 1990-91.
Mr. Curry : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 13 June 1991, Official Report, col. 669- 70.
Blue Ear Pig Disease
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 17 June, Official Report, column 21, on blue ear pig disease, if he will list in which counties his veterinarians are, or have been, on detached duty as a result of the disease ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : During the current outbreak of blue eared pig disease, detached duty for veterinary staff in the field has so far been confined to Humberside. During the period of disease control 14 other veterinary field staff have had periods of detached duty in this county.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the counties where pigs from the area restricted as a result of blue ear disease have been sent in the last two months ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : The counties which have been identified, as a result of the tracing of movements since 1 March, as having received pigs from infected and suspect holdings in the large restricted zone around Humberside are :
Cambridgeshire
Cheshire
Co. Durham
Cumbria
Devon
Essex
Gloucestershire
Lancashire
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Norfolk
North Yorkshire
Perth
Somerset
Suffolk
Tyne and Wear
Warwickshire
West Yorkshire
Wiltshire
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 17 June, Official Report, column 21, on blue ear pig disease, if he will list the number of veterinarians on detached duty, and their usual place of work within his Ministry ; and if he will make a statement.
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