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Film Production
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to encourage United Kingdom-based film production.
Mr. Brooke : There is nothing I can usefully add to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 25 January, Official Report, column 135.
BBC Efficiency Improvements
Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the BBC's efficiency improvements in his review of the royal charter ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : Last year, I appointed the independent consultants, Touche Ross, to examine efficiency and economy measures in the BBC, as part of its study on the level of the television licence fee. I welcome its conclusion that the BBC has pursued opportunities to make savings and efficiency improvements in a vigorous and effective manner. The BBC is taking further measures to improve its efficiency. We are taking account of the BBC's continuing efforts to operate more cost-effectively in developing our proposals for the corporation's future.
Sports (Promotion)
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action he is taking to link sports clubs with schools to promote games' coaching and team sports ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : On 16 February, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State held a consultative conference on sport in schools involving representatives of both sport and education. One of the issues discussed was how to improve the provision of team sports by strengthening the links between clubs and schools, and we are now considering the ideas put forward.
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Channel 4 Licence
Sir Michael Neubert : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will review the conditions which are attached to the licence for Channel 4 to broadcast.
Mr. Brooke : The licence conditions for Channel 4 are a matter for the Independent Television Commission. I have no plans to review the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1990 on the financing of Channel 4.
United Kingdom Broadcasters
Mr. Jenkin : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the success of United Kingdom broadcasters in the international broadcasting market.
Mr. Brooke : I congratulate British broadcasters on their success in selling programmes abroad. I hope they will build on these achievements in the years ahead.
SCOTLAND
Cottage Hospital Closures
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland under what legislation he is consulted before a cottage hospital may be closed ; and if he will give details of the procedure laid down.
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend is consulted in accordance with the requirements of NHS circular 1975(GEN)4 before a hospital may be closed : the procedure laid down is that the health board should consult all bodies with a valid interest, in time to allow all comments to be considered and taken into account before the board takes a final decision, and before any proposals, revised where appropriate, are submitted to my right hon. Friend.
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department first received information from Tayside health board that it wished to close Meigle cottage hospital.
Mr. Stewart : The Scottish Home and Health Department was first informed of a proposal to close Meigle cottage hospital in 1963, when a review of Meigle's future was undertaken by the Eastern Regional hospitals' board. The first formal submission seeking approval to close was received by the Department in July 1991.
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the proposals received by his Department in the years 1987 and 1988 about the plans of Tayside health board to close Meigle cottage hospital.
Mr. Stewart : No formal submission seeking approval to close Meigle cottage hospital was received in this period. The only reference to possible future closure was in the health board's strategic plan "Strategy for Health Care in Tayside for the 90's", published in July 1988.
Women (Statistics)
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a ranking by region of the percentage of families headed by a female lone parent.
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Mr. Stewart : The information is not readily available in precisely the form requested. However, two closely related statistics have been derived from published 1991 census tables. The information is shown in the table.
The term "female lone parent households" is used here to describe households with one female aged 16 or over and one or more children under 16, not necessarily related. The term "lone parent families" is used here to describe families with dependent children headed by a lone parent--male or female.
1991 Census: Female lone parent households and lone parent families
Scotland
Region Female lone Lone parent
parent families
households as a as a percentage
of all
households
|Percentage |Rank |Percentage<1>|Rank
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borders |2.4 |10 |6.3 |11
Central |3.9 |4 |8.5 |5
Dumfries and
Galloway |2.8 |8 |7.1 |7
Fife |4.0 |3 |8.6 |4
Grampian |2.9 |7 |6.4 |10
Highland |3.3 |6 |7.7 |6
Lothian |3.8 |5 |8.8 |3
Strathclyde |4.9 |1 |11.0 |1
Tayside |4.3 |2 |9.8 |2
Orkney |2.1 |12 |6.1 |12
Shetland |2.6 |9 |7.0 |8
Western Isles |2.1 |11 |6.6 |9
<1> Based on a 10 per cent. sample of census returns.
Sources: 1991 Census Report for Scotland (tables I, 40 and 89).
1991 Census Definitions Volume.
NHS Help Line
Mr. Donohoe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has established a help line to assist patients with inquiries relating to the operation of the national health services in Scotland.
Mr. Stewart : Yes. The NHS helpline was set up in October 1992 to provide the public with a wide range of information about the NHS in Scotland.
Assisted Places Scheme
Mr. Donohoe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made as to whether his Department has assessed how many of those pupils currently covered by the assisted places scheme would have entered private education without the support offered by the scheme.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The number of such pupils is impossible to assess accurately but they must be very few. Over 80 per cent. of the families of pupils receiving assisted places in 1993-94 have incomes below £18,000 per annum, and about 45 per cent. have incomes below the £9,522 threshold which entitles a pupil to a free place. Such families would not be able to meet school fees without assistance.
Mountain Rescue
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the cost to Grampian, Tayside, Highland and Strathclyde regions in 1979, 1989 and 1992 and the latest available date for police involved in mountain area search and rescue activity ;
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(2) what was the cost to Grampian and Tayside Health Boards and other Scottish health boards in 1979, 1989, 1992 and the latest available date for ambulance and other emergency services involved in mountain area search and rescue activity.Mr. Stewart : The cost of ambulance and other emergency services involved in mountain rescue activities does not fall on health boards.
Forestry
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a summary of the report of the forestry review group as a basis for public consultation before reaching his decisions.
Sir Hector Monro : The report of the forestry review group is, and will remain, confidential to Ministers. There will, however, be consultation on the options preferred by Ministers before matters are taken forward. The form and timing of consultation will depend on the conclusions which Ministers draw from the advice which they have received from the review group.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much revenue was received by the Treasury in each year since 1981 from the sale of Forestry Commission land in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales.
Sir Hector Monro : Receipts from the sale of Forestry Commission land during the year ended 31 March 1993 were £5 million, Scotland ; £3.1 million, England and £1.8 million, Wales.
A breakdown of the receipts in previous years by country is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total receipts from sales throughout Britain are as follows :
Year Ended |Total Receipts 31 March |£ million --------------------------------------------- 1982 |6.9 1983 |14.6 1984 |23.6 1985 |22.1 1986 |17.0 1987 |14.7 1988 |13.1 1989 |12.4 1990 |13.0 1991 |12.0 1992 |14.5 1993 |9.9
All receipts from the sale of Forestry Commission land under the disposals programme are surrendered to the Treasury.
Dounreay
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what level of public consultation there has been or will be into allowing increased levels of radioactive discharge from Dounreay reprocessing plant ;
(2) if a full enviromental impact assessment has been made into the consequences of allowing increased radioactive discharge from Dounreay reprocessing plant ; and if he will make a statement ; (3) what research has been undertaken and consultation held into the impact on fish and the fishing industry
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through allowing increased radioactive discharge from the Dounreay reprocessing plant ; and if he will make a statement.Sir Hector Monro : AEA Technology has applied to the chief inspector, HM industrial pollution inspectorate, for revised waste disposal authorisations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 in respect of the Dounreay site. Copies of the application have been made available to the public in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
The application provides an assessment of the environmental impact of the proposed discharges including the possible effects on marine food stuffs. If, however, the chief inspector considers that he requires further information in order to determine the application he is entitled to seek such information from the applicant or such others sources as he sees fit.
Before granting an authorisation in respect of the disposal of radioactive waste on or from the Dounreay site the chief inspector is required by the Act to consult such local authorities, relevant water bodies and other public or local authorities as appear to him to be proper to be consulted by him.
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the levels of radioactive discharge from Dounreay reprocessing plant in the current year ; and what are the estimated levels in each of the next five years.
Sir Hector Monro : Information about radioactive discharges from Dounreay is available in a series of statistical bulletins published by the Scottish Office entitled "Radioactive Waste Disposals from Nuclear Sites in Scotland". The most recent bulletin provides information for the period 1988 to 1992 and copies are in the Library. A further bulletin covering the period 1989 to 1993 is in preparation and will be published as soon as possible.
Levels of discharge in future years are dependent on the outcome of the application which AEA Technology has made to the chief inspector, HM industrial pollution inspectorate for revised waste disposal authorisations.
Rail Freight
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with British Rail regarding the sale of freight sidings at Crianlarich and Oban ; what is his Department's position on the matter ; and if he will make a statement regarding the policy his Department is adopting in order to encourage the development of rail freight in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with British Rail regarding the sale of freight sidings at Crianlarich and Oban. Government policies are designed to encourage freight to transfer from road to rail where it makes economic and environmental sense to do so. The existing freight facilities grant scheme, administered in Scotland by the Scottish Office, provides targeted financial assistance to capital projects which demonstrably help the environment by switching traffic from road to rail. The scheme is being enhanced and the changes will take effect from 1 April 1994.
A new grant scheme to be administered by the Department of Transport on a Great Britain basis is being introduced from 1 April, under which contributions can be
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made towards track charges for freight traffic where it can be demonstrated that such traffic could not be attracted to rail without it.Roads
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums he intends to spend on road improvements between Stranraer and Dumfries over the next three years ; and when he expects the remainder of that road to have been improved.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : As is customary, my right hon. Friend will shortly be announcing those major trunk road schemes on which, subject to completion of statutory procedures and available resources, it is intended to commence construction next year and, provisionally, in the subsequent two years. In recent years more than £85 million has been spent on schemes to improve the A75, including a number of bypass schemes to relieve communities along the route. The recent review of Scotland's key roads confirmed that these improvements have substantially eliminated the operating difficulties on the route.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of vehicles in each different category counted by his Department using the Stranraer-Dumfries road at maximum, minimum and
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average flows ; what is his estimate of the average speed of vehicles on that road ; and what were the figures five and 10 years ago.Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Automatic traffic counters on the A75 located at Carsluith and Castle Douglas have been used to obtain an estimate of the maximum, minimum and average annual traffic flows in 1993. The traffic flows obtained are indicated in tables 1 and 2. Table 1, Carsluith, shows that the maximum annual two-way daily flow occurs in August and is 5,825, the minimum daily flow is in January and is 2,897 with an average annual daily flow for this site of 4,241.
Table 2, Castle Douglas, shows that the maximum annual two-way daily flow occurs in August and is 8,185, the minimum daily flow is in January, 5,498, with an average annual daily flow for this site of 6,563.
Information regarding traffic speeds has been obtained from the A75 Carsluith site. This information was retrieved on 28 February and 2 March 1994 and is summarised in table 3. Speed data was not available for five or 10 years ago.
An analysis of the historic traffic flows on the A75 between Stranraer and Dumfries has been carried out. Tables 4, 5, 6 and 7 show how traffic volumes have changes over the period from 1982 to 1992 at various locations along the route. In summary during the period 1982 to 1992 traffic volumes increased by between 18 per cent. and 30 per cent. depending on location.
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Table 1
A75 Carsluith
Month |Pedal |Motor |Cars |Buses |LGV |HGV |All
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January |0 |1 |1,979 |16 |212 |689 |2,897
February |0 |2 |2,149 |17 |251 |802 |3,221
March |0 |2 |2,258 |19 |275 |903 |3,457
April |0 |4 |3,027 |30 |329 |961 |4,351
May |0 |7 |3,052 |29 |315 |867 |4,242
June |0 |7 |3,365 |37 |399 |871 |4,679
July |0 |8 |4,080 |49 |495 |813 |5,445
August |0 |9 |4,472 |41 |477 |826 |5,825
September |0 |5 |3,475 |39 |384 |951 |4,854
October |0 |3 |2,967 |27 |320 |929 |4,246
November |0 |2 |2,181 |21 |280 |920 |3,404
December |0 |3 |2,207 |20 |253 |821 |3,304
Annual average daily flow |0 |5 |3,001 |30 |340 |866 |4,241
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Table 2
A75 Castle Douglas
Month |Pedal |Motor |Cars |Buses |LGV |HGV |All
|cycles |cycles |vehicles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January |0 |10 |4,147 |17 |376 |948 |5,498
February |0 |8 |4,483 |19 |420 |1,062 |5,992
March |0 |7 |4,585 |20 |476 |1,172 |6,260
April |0 |7 |5,382 |31 |517 |1,117 |7,054
May |0 |6 |5,126 |33 |546 |1,075 |6,786
June |0 |10 |5,867 |37 |688 |1,282 |7,884
July |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
August |0 |9 |6,274 |40 |713 |1,149 |8,185
September |0 |10 |5,876 |38 |648 |1,310 |7,882
October |0 |10 |5,392 |28 |536 |1,224 |7,190
November |0 |16 |4,423 |19 |480 |1,197 |6,135
December |0 |14 |4,632 |21 |416 |1,062 |6,145
Annual average daily flow |0 |10 |4,877 |29 |513 |1,135 |6,563
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*
Table 3
Vehicle Type |Average speed
|km/hr
------------------------------------------
Motor cycles |75
Cars |97
LGV |93
HGV |84
Bus |85
All vehicles |87
Table 4: Census Point Location DTP10745 A.75 2.8 km south east of A751 CP Number |DTP10745 |DTP10745 ------------------------------------------- Route |A0075 |A0075 Year |1982 |1992 Pedal cycles |30 |7 Motor cyles |25 |7 Cars |2,500 |2,987 Buses |50 |54 LGV |400 |408 HGV |400 |624 All vehicles |3,300 |4,080
CP Number |DTP10745 --------------------------------------------------------- Route |A0075 Year |1987 All vehicles |3,347 Traffic Growth (per cent.) 1982-1987 |1
1982 to 1992 difference in traffic (per cent.) CP Number |DTP10745 --------------------------------------------------------- Route |A0075 Year |1992 Pedal cycles |-23 TWMV |-18 Cars |487 Buses |4 LGV |8 HGV |224 All vehicles |780 Traffic Growth (per cent.) 1982-1992 |19
Table 5 Census point location: DTP20749, A75, 600m west of B733 CP Number |DTP20749 |DTP20749 ------------------------------------------- Route |A0075 |A0075 Year |1982 |1992 Pedal Cycles |0 |15 Motor Cycles |61 |53 Cars |1,825 |2,353 Buses |30 |38 LGV |283 |453 HGV |691 |611 All vehicles |2,890 |3,508
CP Number |DTP20749 ------------------------------------------------------- Route |A0075 Year |1987 All vehicles |3,466 Traffic growth 1982-87 (per cent.) |17
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1982 to 1992 difference in Traffic CP Number |DTP20749 ------------------------------------------------------- Route |A0075 Year |1992 PC |15 TWMV |-8 Cars |528 Buses |8 LGV |170 HGV |-80 All vehicles |618 Traffic growth 1982-92 (per cent.) |18
Table 6
Census point location: DTP00740, A75,
1.5km south west of A71
|Number
----------------------------------------
CP number |DTP00740|DTP00740
Route |A0075 |A0075
Year |1982 |1992
Pedal cycles |0 |3
Motor cycles |32 |14
Cars |2,061 |3,432
Buses |34 |29
LGV |287 |334
HGV |638 |560
All vehicles |3,052 |4,369
|Number
----------------------------------------------------
CP number |DTP00740
Route |A0075
Year |1987
All vehicles |3,326
Traffic growth percentage 1982-87 |8
1982 to 1992 difference in traffic
|Number
----------------------------------------------------
CP number |DTP00740
Route |A0075
Year |1992
PC |3
TWMV |-18
Cars |1,371
Buses |-5
LGV |47
HGV |-78
All vehicles |1,317
Traffic growth percentage 1982-92 |30
1982 to 1992 Difference in Traffic Route, year, vehicle |DTP10740 and percentage difference ---------------------------------------------------------------- Route |A0075 Year |1992 Pedal Cycles |-4 TW Motor Vehicle |-16 Cars |1,461 Buses |-9 Light Goods Vehicle |319 Heavy Goods Vehicle |271 All Vehicles |1,484 1982-1992 (per cent.) |25
Traffic Growth Route, year, vehicle |DTP10740 and percentage growth ---------------------------------------------------------------- Route |A0075 Year |1987 All Vehicles |5,079 1982-1987 (per cent.) |11
Traffic Growth Route, year, vehicle |DTP10740 and percentage growth ---------------------------------------------------------------- Route |A0075 Year |1987 All Vehicles |5,079 1982-1987 (per cent.) |11
Child Care
Ms Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spends on child care ; on what provision the sum is spent ; how many children receive the child care ; and if he will make a statement about child care.
Mr. Lang : The Scottish Office has its own on-site nursery at East Craigs, Edinburth which is registered for 15 full-time places and operates on a mix of full and part-time attendance. Those using the facility meet its running costs with accommodation costs being met by my Department. The Scottish Office takes occupancy of a major new building at Victoria quay, Leith in the autumn of 1995. Our plans for this building include a 30 to 35 -place nursery.
Additionally, staff in my Department can place children in the central holiday play scheme, in Edinburgh. The facilities are available to staff on a full repayment basis although my Department makes a small contribution of around £500 to the play scheme to help with the cost of outings. Discussions are also taking place about a similar play scheme in the Glasgow area.
Prisoners (Criminal Proceedings)
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases a commissioner has been appointed under section 33 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 in (a) the sheriff court and (b) the High Court to date ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 16 February 1994] : There have been no appointments in either sheriff court or High Court proceedings to date.
Imports
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of European imports to Scotland are transported directly by (a) sea and (b) air to Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 2 March 1994] : Imports in 1992 from EC countries to Scotland directly at seaports were 2,736 thousand tonnes, and at airports 2,000 tonnes. Total imports from Europe to Scotland are not available, therefore the requested percentages cannot be derived.
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Royal Fine Arts Commission
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the members of the Royal Fine Arts Commission, their place of residence, and the remuneration paid to each.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 2 March 1994] : The information is given in the table. No remuneration is paid to members of the commission, but expenses are payable.
Hon. Lord Prosser, QC, (Chairman) --Edinburgh
Professor Gordon Benson--London
Miss Kirsteen Borland--Cardross, Dumbarton
Mr. William A. Cadell--Linlithgow, West Lothian
Mrs. Kathleen Dalyell--Linlithgow, West Lothian
Dr. Deborah Howard--Cambridge
Mr. Gerald Ogilvie-Laing--Conon Bridge, Ross and Cromarty Mr. Allen S. Matheson--Glasgow
Professor Tom Ridley--West Linton, Borders
Mr. Robert R. Steedman--Cupar, Fife
Professor Robin G. M. Webster--Aberdeen
Mr. H. Roland Wedgwood--Edinburgh
Consultants
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of (a) finished consultant episodes and (b) private patient finished consultant episodes in Scotland in each year since 1989- 90.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 3 March 1994] : Activity in Scotland is not recorded in the form of finished consultant episodes. The number of discharges for finished consultant episodes in Scotland is therefore not centrally available.
The following table sets out acute sector hospital discharges for NHS patients. Figures on private patients are not routinely collected.
Patient category
Financial year |Private |Other |Total
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989-90 |1,301 |868,743 |870,044
1990-91 |1,430 |898,013 |899,443
1991-92 |1,567 |929,852 |931,419
1992-93 |1,209 |995,572 |996,781
Private Health Treatment
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the total income from private patients in the NHS in Scotland in each year since 1989-90 ;
(2) what was the income from private treatment of each trust hospital in each year since 1990-91.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 3 March 1994] : I refer the hon. Member to the reply about the total income which I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 10 February 1994 at column 340.
The first two NHS trust hospitals in Scotland were set up from April 1992 and the income from private patients was as follows :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slaughterhouses
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed in slaughterhouses in each year since 1985. Mr. Stewart [holding answer 4 March 1994] : The information requested, for the years available, is set out in the table :
Year |Employees in
|employment in
|Slaughterhouses
------------------------------------------------
1984 |1,500
1987 |1,400
1989 |1,200
1991 |1,500
Source: Census of Employment, NOMIS
EMPLOYMENT
Health and Safety Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy that section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 shall no longer be used as a reason for not disclosing information to the public ; and if he will make a statement on the implications for the Health and Safety Executive of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) would not normally withhold information where it is allowed to disclose it. Section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 prohibits the disclosure of information without the consent of the person providing it, except where disclosure would be for the purposes of the functions of the HSC, the Health and Safety Executive or other enforcing authorities. The HSC makes full use of these exceptions to the prohibition.
Under the provisions of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 the HSE is obliged to make available environmental information in those areas where it has environmental responsibilities, subject to withholding any information that falls within one or more of the exempted categories in regulation 4.
Northumberland Training and Enterprise Council
Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what Government grants were given to the Northumberland training and enterprise council in each year since 1990.
Miss Widdecombe : The table lists funding given to Northumberland training and enterprise council since 1990.
Year |Budget |Additional
|performance-
|related
|funding
|£ million |£ million
----------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |<1>7 |n/a
1991-92 |15.3 |n/a
1992-93 |14.9 |2.0
1993-94 |14.2 |0.5
<1> TEC operated from September 1990.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Fish Farms (Pollution)
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list those pesticides, including dichlorvos, she has so far identified as major toxic chemicals polluting the North sea from United Kingdom fish farms ; and if she will make a statement on their control and their effect on the biodiversity of the North sea.
Mr. Soames : All veterinary medicines and pesticides are subject to strict approval arrangements which take into account their potential effect on the environment. All direct discharges, including from fish farms, containing potentially toxic substances are controlled through a system of consents.
We have no evidence of chemicals used in fish farms affecting the biodiversity of the North sea. In line with ministerial North sea agreements, the United Kingdom is acting to reduce the discharge of the most toxic and polluting substances, including dichlorvos, to the North sea. A full quality status report on the North sea will be published by the Oslo and Paris Commissions later this year for the North sea conference ministerial meeting in 1995.
In addition, the Ministry carries out a programme of monitoring of the aquatic environment for a range of metals and organic compounds in fish, shellfish, seawater and sediments. The results are published annually.
Blackcurrants
Mrs. Lait : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action she is taking to ensure a level playing field in the market for blackcurrants in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Jack : The main competition for United Kingdom blackcurrant growers comes from Eastern Europe. Trade is governed by agreements between the European Community and Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. These provide for minimum import prices for fresh and frozen blackcurrants from these countries and were initially the subject of faulty implementing legislation by the Commission. Following strong pressure from the United Kingdom, including an intervention by my right hon. Friend the Minister with Commissioner Steichen, the legislation now reflects the Europe agreements and gives the Commission the power to manage the market as provided for in them.
Regional Flood Defence Committees
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the current chairmen of the regional flood defence committees of the National Rivers Authority are farmers and landowners.
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