Sitting of 18 December 1987

Preamble
the House met at half-past Nine o'clock
PRAYERS
[MR. SPEAKER in the Chair]
PETITION

  Rating Reform
  9.35 am
  Dr. Norman A. Godman: With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition on behalf of my constituents in Greenock and Port Glasgow and other persons. The petition protests against the proposed implementation of the community charge, or, as it is known in Scotland, the poll tax, which is considered unfair, unjust and inequitable in my constituency and elsewhere in Scotland.
  The tax will infringe the civil liberties of the people whom I represent. Moreover, it has no support in Scotland other than within the ranks of the Scottish minority party—the Conservative party. The petition states:
  "Wherefore your petitioners pray that your Honourable House repeal the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act.
  To lie upon the Table.

Armed Forces (Pensions)
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr. David Hunt).
9.36 am
Mr. Neil Thorne: During national emergencies we rely completely on the dedication and self-sacrifice of our armed forces. Politicians are quick to praise the efforts of those who protect us at those times, particularly the professionals who provide the back bone for the reserve and conscript forces. It is therefore only right and proper that in their time of need we should do our best to help them, and now is one of those times.
Retired service men and their widows are suffering considerable financial hardship as a result of serious anomalies in the armed forces pension scheme, and those who have been retired the longest, and are therefore the oldest, have the smallest pensions. These inequities are due mainly to a system of block dates fom which the improvement becomes effective and also the impact of a temporary pay restraint policy that reduces permanently the pensions of those service men and their widows who are unfortunate enough to retire at that time.
Because service men have little choice over their dates of retirement, their pensions are calculated on a code system which covers a period from 1 April to 31 March in the following year and is designed to ensure that they receive the same rates of pension for equal rank and length of service, irrespective of their actual retiremant date in that particular code year. However, if there is a period of temporary pay restraint during the code year, the system can work fairly only if pay is maintained at a realistic level.
The Armed Forces Pay Review Body is allowed to recommend full rates of pay for the job, which are then deemed to be payments for pension purposes. That system of deeming was first used by Members of Parliament in 1976 to protect their pensions from the effects of the 1976–77 incomes policy. It was not until the 1978 code that Her Majesty's Government allowed it to be used by the armed forces, and consequently those who retired during 1976–77 code years are receiving substantially lower pensions than those of equal rank and length of service who retired before or after that date.
For example, the pension payable from 1 April 1987 to a major who retired retired under the 1977 code is £7,624, compared with £10,145 for a major who retired two years earlier. Similarly, a lieutenant-colonel who retired in 1977 receives a pension that is nearly £1,000 a year less than that received by a major who retired two years before. Such inequities also affect a widow's entitlement under the forces family pension, as she receives a proportion of her husband's pension. However, there is an even greater anomaly in widows' pensions: if her husband retired before 31 March 1973, she receives only a one-third compared to a one-half rate after that date.
A further serious anomaly is the treatment of officers who retired before 1960, whose pensions are based on a standard rate for maximum permissable reckonable service according to rank, and not on actual service. As service before the age of 21 does not count for pension purposes anyway, and because the majority served for longer periods than the reckonable maximum, it is common to find that an officer retiring in the years between 1945 and 1960 loses up to eight years of actual service in the calculation of his pension.

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Again, that affects widows' pensions. To make matters worse, all those widows are only on the one-third rate. For example, the widow of a major who retired in 1956 receives a forces pension of £1,996 a year, compared to the half-rate pension of £3,586 for the widow of a major who retired with 22 years' reckonable service in 1987.
There are further serious inequities affecting widows. The widow of a post-retirement marriage prior to 6 April 1978 does not receive a forces family pension. Yet, through his act of service, the service man "buys" an entitlement for his widow to receive a pension, irrespective of the date of his marriage. Since, by their very nature, the contributions can never be refunded, service widows' pension rights must always remain "bought".
Then there is the position of the older war widows whose husbands retired before 31 March 1973, and who are therefore not entitled to the Ministry of Defence attributable forces family pension, which is paid with no minimum service qualification required from the husband, at a rate for each rank, and is equal to 90 per cent. of the husband's full career pension. Yet what actually matters is that those women's husbands died for their country, not when they died.
That has caused an enormous gap between the financial treatment of older war widows and that of those whose husbands retired after 31 March 1973. They all receive state war widows' pension, which for the war widow of a private soldier aged over 70 is currently £3,244, and for the war widow of a major is £3,341. However, in addition, the war widow of, for example, a private soldier killed in the Falklands receives from the MOD an attributable forces family pension of £3,117, and the war widow of a major receives £8,703 a year. However, the war widow of a service man killed in the second world war, or in Korea, receives a forces family pension from the MoD only if her husband served for long enough to earn a pension. The majority did not.
There are many other anomalies. For example, on a second bereavement a widow who was receiving a forces family pension from her first husband can have her pension restored only subject to a means test. Because of the rule about post-retirement widows' pensions, that poses a real moral dilemma, and puts the widow who wishes to remarry a service man who is already retired in the position of having to decide whether it is worth marrying him and risking the loss of her forces family pension, rather than simply living with him. That cannot be right.
Moreover, because of Her Majesty's Government's refusal to allow "deeming" during a period of pay restraint, the date of retirement for service men has become a lottery. Those who retired during the first half of 1984 are particularly hard hit. This will create further bitterness, and the policy can only lead to future manning problems.
All those anomalies have been represented many times over the past 10 years to Ministers, but the Government have maintained that they cannot afford the cost of correcting them, as such correction would also have to apply throughout the public sector. However, service men, because of the conditions under which they serve, are in a special category among public servants. The code system used for calculating their pensions is unique and they are denied the averaging system used by all other public sector
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schemes, which avoids the worst effects of pay restraint on pensions. No other public-sector group is subject to the age restriction of service before 21 not counting for pension provision, and they all base pensions on actual service.
Service men's widows, especially war widows, are certainly in a special category.
All our major NATO allies treat their service men's widows more fairly than we do, with a minimum pension of one half and no restrictions on the date of marriage or retirement. The Government maintain that it is a "principle" that improvements to pension schemes cannot be made retrospective, but we are dealing with working rules and practices that should be kept under review, and updated as necessary.
In 1983, the Officers Pension Society's chairman, Admiral Sir Peter White, wrote to the Prime Minister:
"A Serviceman, when he joins, accepts that he may be required to give his life for his Country and on occasion he has to do just that. Therefore we believe we are different; we believe the public accepts that we are different, and we believe that recent events in the Falklands underline that view point."
In reply, the Prime Minister wrote on 30 November 1983:
"I respect the Officers Pension Society's view that Servicemen are, for the reasons given in your letter, in a special category among public servants."
The Officers Pension Society is continuing its campaign. The General Secretary, Major General L. W. A. Gingell, and the Assistant General Secretary, Group Captain F. Vincent, now maintain that the pattern of service life is different, involving
"Frequent moves causing difficulties of owning property, educating children, and establishing 'roots' … Frequent separations (e.g. Falklands, Northern Ireland, Belize, seagoing duty) causing family hardship and problems … Service wives find it difficult to obtain employment … Servicemen have to respond 'at the drop of a hat' to orders. There is no Trade Union … Servicemen are expected to work 24 hours a day when called on. There is no overtime pay for unsocial hours … Servicemen are expected to put their trust in the Government to protect their interests. There is no Court of Appeal … It is expected that they will give 'good and faithful military service' to the Government. They have no right to strike."
All those factors amount to the fact that service men and service women are in a different category from the remainder of the Civil Service. Arguments in the past have relied on the fact that civil servants are trying to protect the Government from having to pay out additional funds. I think that that view is wrong. We cannot possibly believe that service men are in the same category as all other civil servants.
It is particularly hard on widows of service personnel who have married after completing their service. Service men have been discouraged from marrying early. Before the last war, serving officers were not allowed marriage allowances until they were 30 years old, and since the war that has been reviewed only to 25. Married officers required accommodation, and had children to educate; they were therefore discouraged from marrying early, and many accordingly married after completing their service. Their wives are completely abandoned by the state if they retired before 1973. That is wrong, when they were holding off from marrying on behalf of the state.
The advertising for service personnel that we promote tries to encourage the belief that, by giving their working lives to the protection of the state, service men in return will be looked after by the state. I feel that they are being particularly badly let down. We say to them, "Avoid the

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rat race — come and do something much more worthwhile. Look after your country, and we shall look after you." But we are really saying, "You must watch us as employers. If you do not, you are likely to be shortchanged." That is neither fair nor reasonable. We now have an opportunity to put these matters right.
The matters to which I have referred apply to all ranks in the services. The Officers Pension Society watches carefully what happens to other retired service personnel. The effects in the period 1976–77 and, I am sad to say, in 1984–85 leave much to be desired. For example, a major who retired in 1975 would now be drawing a pension of £10,145 a year. However, if he retired in 1976 he would now be drawing only £8,472 a year, and if he had retired in 1977 he would be drawing £7,624. It is not until 1978 that the figure starts to go up again, rising to £8,768. A major who retired in 1986 would not be as well off as one who retired in 1975, because he would be drawing £9,928. That is an unfortunate situation, and, as I have said, other ranks suffer just as badly.
In that respect we should not allow ourselves to indulge in the luxury of saying that, because we have managed to get away with that, we do not have to correct it. Service personnel have a right to look to the Government to make the correction. A sergeant who retired in 1975 would now be receiving a pension of £3,986, whereas one who retired in 1977 would be receiving only £3,147.
The problem is summed up extremely well by Wing Commander, Hurst W.E.B. who has retired from the Royal Air Force and now lives in Suffolk. In February of this year he wrote:
"I am particularly unfortunate in that I completed my full term of service at the age of 55 on 31 May 1973 and would normally have retired on that date but, at that time the RAF was short of engineers and called for qualified officers to serve for an additional three years (making my total service just short of 42 years). I was pleased to do this as the Royal Air Force was my life. I had complete trust in my employer and it never occurred to me that I might be financially penalised by 'staying on' but I estimate that my volunteering to extend my service to help the RAF has cost me about £10,000, (less tax)."
That is deplorable. I urge my hon. Friend the Minister to correct it as a matter of honour.
9.52 am
Mr. Bill Walker: I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Thorne) on selecting this topic for debate, and I welcome the opportunity to say a few words. I wish to speak particularly about the situation affecting widows and war widows. I remind my hon. Friend the Minister that the wives of service men are pretty unique individuals. They are very like the wives of Members of Parliament. They are called upon to be constantly moved around. They have upsets to their domestic situation. They have enormous pressures on their families during their husbands' service careers. All of that calls for individuals of a particular type who can stand up to the problems. In addition to that they live with the constant knowledge that their husbands may be called upon any day to sacrifice their lives for their country.
Before the Falklands war few of us expected that we would be sending a task force to the south Atlantic. I remember vividly what one young marine from 45 Commando said to me. The Commando had sailed but the marines were still back at their base at Condor because they had been away on a course. He was terribly upset. The
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signal came in saying that they were to join the Commando at Ascension and the young marine was delighted. At a dinner we were holding on behalf of the marines, he turned to me and said, "We'll show them what we get paid for." By Jove, he did. He won a Military Cross. However, what is important is that he lived. Many of his colleagues did not. On a recent visit to the Falklands I photographed the war graves and sent the photographs back to the members of 45 Commando and the dependants of those who had been killed.
I remind my hon. Friend the Minister that war widows in that war were looked after much better than war widows of the second world war. The war widows of the second world war are now getting rather old, and I believe that the time has come for the nation to say that those ladies should be well looked after. We are enjoying freedom, democracy and the rule of law today because their husbands sacrificed their lives.
I should also like to deal with those widows who married when their husbands had completed their military service. My hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South explained why the services prefer young officers to be unmarried. One understands why. However, one can only say that it seems rather odd that we encourage young men not to marry and that, when they complete their service, as many of them do at an early age of between 45 and 55, and then marry, their widows do not enjoy the same pension rights as they would heve enjoyed if they had married even during the last years of their service. That anomaly should be put right.
In those circumstances, and in the short time available to me, I make a plea on behalf of those widows. There are many things I could say, because I believe that the nation owes its service men, not least those who regularly go on active service in Northern Ireland and other parts of the world, an enormous debt. It carries on for 365 days of the year, every year. It is because of that that we should look after the widows and ensure that they are never left feeling badly treated or short-changed by a nation that did not understand or, worse still, probably did not care. I believe that the Government, with their fine record of caring, particularly for the way in which they have treated the armed forces and improved pay and conditions, should look at what we can do for the widows, because that would be appreciated and understood throughout the country.
9.56 am
Miss Emma Nicholson: My interest in this important debate rises from my four years as Conservative party vice-chairman for women. Like my hon. Friends the Members for Ilford, South (Mr. Thorne) and Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) I speak on behalf of the widows. My constituency has a high number of service widows and the unfairnesses of the present system are brought to my notice almost daily.
I pay tribute, on behalf of the Officers Pensions Society, to my hon. Friend the Minister. It has unstinting praise for him, not necessarily for this readiness to unlock the purse strings but for his quick understanding which I suggested to the society was in part derived from his substantive financial background.
I ask the Minister to think about three things and I shall start with the future widows of current service men. The Green Paper on the reform of social security in June 1985 and the White Paper published in December 1985,

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speaking of pensions and women, said that changes in the national insurance widows benefit scheme should be seen against
"the background of the greater involvement of women in the work force."
As previous speakers have said, there are intolerable difficulties for the modern woman in keeping her career going when marrying into the services. I ask the Minister to bear in mind the future widows and perhaps leave some legacy within his Department when he moves on and up so that their rights will be fully looked after.
I want to put on record the great difficulty faced by post-retirement marriages when a service man dies. I know how difficult it is for the Government to pick that up because of the supposed knock-on effect. I endorse what was said by my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South when he said that the services are different.
I want to put on record a particularly poignant case. Mrs. Phillott of Tavistock married her husband after he took early retirement at Government request. He joined the Army when he was 13 and made it his life. His pride in his medals was superb. He left the Army in February 1959, not on completion of his service, which would have been November 1964. The discharge certificate states that the reason for his discharge was a reduction in the establishment. Had he served to his proper retirement age his widow — he was married and had two children—would now be receiving a pension.
Most importantly, I beg the Minister to look carefully at the case of older war widows and to help them. Deprived of their husband, perhaps after a short service during war years, they are elderly and poor. I join my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North in asking whether we cannot do better in a time of rapidly increasing prosperity under this Government. There are huge gaps between the Falklands war widows, older war widows and all service pensioners. Their case is most urgent and, as they are getting older, it is one that we must hasten to put right. I beg the Minister to help them.
10 am
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (Mr. Roger Freeman): I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Thorne) on securing this important Adjournment debate and on the eloquent and persuasive way in which he and my hon. Friends the Members for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) and Torridge and Devon, West (Miss Nicholson) have argued the case for improving the position of those who retired from the armed forces in previous years—and their widows—who do not receive pensions at the levels that are now current. I am sure that we all recognise the value of the service that they have given their country. I endorse what my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North said in respect of the service men and women whom he knows.
I should pay tribute to the various organisations which have so courteously and clearly made representations to the Secretary of State for Defence. They include the Officers Pension Society, the Royal British Legion, the War Widows Association and the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association.
I shall address the points that my hon. Friends have raised in a moment, but first I shall set out the background
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against which they should be considered. In dealing with service pensions we should recognise that there are two separate sets of provision under which benefits may be paid to ex-service men and their dependents. On the one hand there is a war pensions scheme, which is administered by the Department of Health and Social Security. It provides benefits specifically in cases when a member of the armed forces is injured or dies as a result of his service. On the other hand, there is the armed forces' own pension scheme, which is administered by the Ministry of Defence. It is the provisions of that scheme, for which I am responsible, that are under discussion today.
The armed forces pension scheme is an occupational one. It is therefore broadly similar to other public service pension schemes, although there are a number of features that are designed to reflect the somewhat difficult characteristics of service in the armed forces and the relatively short careers that apply to many. My hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South referred to those difficult characteristics and to the different nature of life in the armed forces compared with other parts of public service or civilian life. Those features are in addition to the special provision for the greater physical risks that may arise, which are provided for by the war pension scheme.
Pensions must be paid for. In this particular case there is no capital cash fund from which the costs are met. It is not like a funded pension scheme. There are no direct contributions and benefits are paid for, as they arise, from money allocated to the defence Vote each year. In that regard, it is a pay-as-you-go scheme.
I do not wish to imply, however, that service personnel are completely insulated from the cost of providing for their pensions. When setting armed forces' pay a deduction is met of about 10 per cent. — it obviously depends on the grade of service being provided—which represents the service men's pension contribution. Service men and women — officers and other ranks — are contributing to their future pension.
As with an occupational pension scheme, that for the armed forces is therefore managed in accordance with the same principles that apply to other schemes. There are two important and allied points; first, entitlements under the scheme are for any individual, and through him his dependants, derived from the rules of the scheme that are in force at the date of his retirement. Secondly, when rules are changed, those changes are not given retrospective effect. It must be obvious to my hon. Friends that, if occupational pension schemes always had to make retrospective changes, improvements would be less frequent. It is a matter of resources. The House may wish to know that the cost of the armed forces' pension scheme in the current year—1987–88—is estimated to be £1,050 million, and that comes out of the defence Vote. That figure will rise significantly over the next 10 years.
The detailed rules of the armed forces pension scheme are inevitably complex, but I should remind the House of the main features of the scheme as they stand today. They provide for a pension, which is paid immediately on retirement, for officers who have given 16 years or more of reckonable service; a pension, which is paid immediately on retirement, for other ranks who have given 22 years or more of reckonable service; deferred pensions, which are payable from the age of 60, for those who served for shorter periods, and that is subject to a minimum of five years; pensions for widows and dependent children; immediate pensions for those who are invalided from

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service on account of injury or ill health, which is subject to a minimum of five years' service; enhanced benefits where that injury or ill health is attributed to service in the forces, with no minimum qualifying period of service; and enhanced benefits for widows and dependent children for those whose death is attributed to service.
All those pensions are index-linked. Long service and invalidity pensions are calculated from representative rates of pay for each rank and on length of service given. For a full career, which is based on retirement at age 55, the pension is equivalent to half the corresponding rate of pay, with, in addition, a tax-free lump sum of three times the annual rate of pension awarded.
Many service men have to retire early, so the early rate of pensions paid for shorter periods of service is enhanced to be better than strictly proportional to the service given. That is to compensate for the short career, which may be all that is available. As I have already said, service men can retire on pension by about the age of 40—after 22 years' service, having entered the armed forces at the age of 18.
I have already said that lump sums are paid on retirement at the end of a full career. They are also paid on a similar basis where pensions are awarded for shorter periods of service, and where invaliding occurs, and additional lump sums are paid where injury or death is attributed to service.
Those, briefly, are the main benefits that are available today. However, as with other pension schemes, there have been developments over the years that have gradually introduced changes and improvements in what is provided, which have created anomalies. Among those have been, in 1960, the introduction of scales for officers linked to length of service instead of standard rates for service of at least a minimum length; in 1972, a substantial revision following the introduction of the military salary, and introducing a direct link with representative rates of pay; in 1973, to improve the benefits available for injury and for widows; in 1975, to introduce deferred pensions for short periods of service; and, in 1978, to introduce pensions for the widows of post-retirement marriages.
Against that background I shall briefly address the key points that have been raised. Many of them are associated with improvements that have been made in the past and would involve retrospection. A number of them arose from developments that were not particularly associated with the armed forces, but which formed part of general improvement of pension provision in public service schemes. For those in particular, a departure from the normal concept of non-retrospection would require corresponding action throughout the public service.
My hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South referred to the pensions trough for those who retired in certain years—the mid-1970s—and who now receive a pension less than those who retired immediately before or after them. It is acknowledged that those who retired in the period of pay retraint policies receive less by way of pension than colleagues with the same qualification of rank and service who retired earlier or later. However, they received the awards to which they were entitiled under the circumstances that applied at the time of their retirement. The variation in pensions is a result, on the one hand, of increases in basic pension awards due to index-linking, which continued to operate in full during the period of restraint on pay—there was a comparatively high rate
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of inflation at the time, so increases were significant—and on the other, for those who retired subsequently, the improvements in pay that followed restraint.
When the Government took office in 1979 the position was carefully examined to see whether it was practical to take special action to overcome the effects of pay restraint on pensions, which applied widely across the public sector. Various solutions were considered but no satisfactory arrangement could be found.
Cost was one factor—in 1979 it was estimated to be as much as £100 million. It has been suggested that the subsequent improvement in the economic situation should make it possible to overcome that. However, demands on public expenditure remain very heavy and all claims for additional expenditure, whether large or small, must be judged on the basis of priorities. The Government remain of the view that the use of still scarce resources to resolve the trough situation could not be justified.
My hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South also referred to the anomalies between those widows who receive the one-third rate pension as opposed to the one-half rate pension. In 1973 the proportion of a man's pension that would be paid to his widow was increased. For men who left the armed forces before 1 April 1973 the proportion was one third. For those who retired subsequently the proportion was increased to one half, but this applied only to that part of their service from 1 April 1973. They did, however, have the option of making direct contributions to qualify previous service for the one-half rate. To have provided the same option to men who had already left the service would have involved retrospection, with the associated additional cost to be met by the Government. Similar arrangements applied in other public service schemes.
My hon. Friend referred to the particular case of officers who retired under the code in force before 1960. At that time retirement pay was not linked to the length of service given, other than that a minimum period from the age of 21 was necessary to qualify for the standard rate. Therefore, officers served a standard length of service. When a revised structure was introduced in 1960, with scales of retired pay linked to years of service—that was a distinct and sensible improvement — the change was not made retrospective. That was in accordance with the practice at the time and the normal practice since then of not making improvements and enhancements in the occupational pension schemes retrospective. The same was true of the improvements that were made to the provisions for pensions for other ranks in the years following world war 2.
My hon. Friends have raised the question of post-retirement marriages. The Ministry of Defence, as a good employer, pays a widow's pension without any direct contribution being made by the husband. However, that does not mean that the pension is automatically earned by service. Until April 1978 the Department, in common with those responsible for all other public service schemes, considered it right to restrict the payment of a widow's pension to those who had shared at least some part of their husband's career. From 6 April 1978, again in common with other public service schemes, the armed forces have also provided for widow's pensions where marriage takes place after retirement. The pension is proportional to that earned by the husband from that date only.
Mr. Thorne: Will my hon. Friend give way?
Mr. Freeman: I have a short time left, but I shall give way.
Mr. Thorne: We sense my hon. Friend's concern about this matter and know that his reputation with the Officers Pension Society and the other societies is extremely good. In view of the anomalies I wonder whether my hon. Friend would undertake to consider the possibility of setting up an inquiry to determine whether some special arrangements should be made to help widows and those who have suffered so much from the trough, which has not affected other civil servants who have the benefit of choosing the best 12 months out of the 36-month period prior to retirement for pension purposes.
Mr. Freeman: Concern has been expressed about the war widows, especially the elderly widows. My hon. Friend is aware that that is a matter for the Department of Health and Social Security as it administers and pays the war widows' scheme. We pay a separate and additional war widows' pension for service since 1973.
I assure my hon. Friend that I shall draw this debate to the attention of my hon. and noble Friend the Minister at the Department of Health and Social Security. I shall have further meetings with him to discuss this matter—it is not a matter primarily for me, but I shall continue those discussions.
My hon. Friend asks for an inquiry to consider the anomalies created. We are all aware of the facts and an inquiry is not needed to elucidate them. The Ministry and the societies are also aware of those facts. However, I assure my hon. Friend that I shall continue discussions not only with the Officers Pension Society but with the four organisations that I have mentioned to consider what improvements can be made. I cannot hold out any hope of improvements in terms of resources, but in terms of procedures, discovery of the facts and a better understanding of the anomalies, I assure my hon. Friends that I shall give all the strength at my command and all the time that I have available to pursue the points that they have raised.

Southern Africa
10.14 am
Mr. Bernie Grant: I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss southern Africa and, more specifically, the question of the Government's approach to the problems of that region.
Let us make no mistake about it: South Africa has for many years operated a system of government that must be abhorrent to anyone who claims to espouse the causes of democracy, justice and equality. It is a regime that operates a system based on racial division and is prepared to act with unspeakable barbarity to maintain the rule of the white minority over the black majority. Moreover, in its desperation to perpetuate itself, that regime is prepared to violate almost every aspect of human rights and all conventions regarding national sovereignty and integrity in southern Africa. Therefore, we are talking about the fate of a whole continent and the lives and liberty of many millions of black people.
The facts are well known throughout the world. There is widespread national agreement, especially among black countries, that the regime must be brought to an end. As I discovered at the recent international conference at Arusha in Tanzania, the whole world is now saying, "Yes, apartheid must go." However, our Government, the supposed upholder of world democracy and freedom, say, "No, apartheid must stay."
Whenever the international community demands action to bring the system to an end, the British Government, to their shame, say no. They even collaborate with the dictators in Pretoria. The Minister must explain why that is so. Why are the Government increasingly isolated? The Government have it within their power to bring apartheid to an end. Why are they sitting back and doing nothing, while black men, women and children are being murdered, imprisoned and tortured in South Africa, Namibia and the front-line states?
Why are the Government refusing to join the international call to stop the apartheid executions? Worse than that, the Government seek to brand those 44 black people awaiting execution as terrorists and refuse to recognise the real terrorists of southern Africa — the Botha regime, its military forces and its surrogate military forces in Angola and Mozambique.
Let us put the record straight. The African National Congress is not a band of terrorist thugs. It is an organisation that represents the majority of black opinion in South Africa. It has existed for 75 years with the objective of freeing that country from the disgraceful system of apartheid. The ANC has conducted itself with great wisdom and dignity and throughout its existence its leaders have been men and women of the highest calibre and insight. Only when all other means of advance had been exhausted was the decision taken to engage in an armed struggle. Negotiations, argument and reason over half a century had failed. It became clear in 1961 that force could only be met with force. Those engaged in fighting the military might of South Africa are truly freedom fighters, and it is for the crime of trying to liberate their black brothers and sisters that many of them have now been sentenced to death.
As I said before, 44 people on death row are now awaiting death by hanging. They are guilty of no crime, other than that of fighting for their freedom and liberation

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from racism in its most extreme form—apartheid. The Government's position is scandalous. They have refused to intervene with the South African Government, to demand clemency from the racist regime. Perhaps because the Prime Minister herself is in favour of hanging, the Government have not taken this straightforward and humanitarian step.
At the United Nations Security Council on the day after Govan Mbeki's release, Great Britain refused to join a call by the Council for clemency for a young South African under sentence of death that very day. It should be noted that the United States of America voted for such clemency. Clearly, our Government are not prepared to join the United States in this matter, unlike their performance in other matters. The people of Great Britain and the world need to know why the Government are prepared to stand idly by and not lift a finger to save the people who are awaiting death by hanging.
If the Government are not prepared to intervene we need to know why. The Minister must tell us why today. Is it perhaps because of the colour of skin of those people? The Government have made representations to the Soviet Union about the plight of its dissidents. They have made representations on behalf of Polish people and others in eastern bloc countries. They have a lot to say to Mr. Gorbachev about human rights, but they say nothing to Mr. Botha about the black people whom he is consistently murdering in South Africa and southern Africa. We demand that the Government make similar representations to save the lives of black people for a change. I look forward to the Minister's reply about that.
I turn now to the release of political prisoners. Govan Mbeki was recently released. Agents of the Pretoria regime in this House hailed that as a sign of Pretoria's willingness to negotiate and of the fact that it was prepared to reform apartheid. The truth is far removed from that. I can do no better than to quote a press release from the African National Congress in this regard. It is dated 12 December, and says:
"The African National Congress vehemently condemns the restrictions that the apartheid regime in South Africa imposed today on Govan Mbeki. These restrictions, imposed under the present state of emergency, confine him to Port Elizabeth. This latest action by the Government, coming after the banning of a rally in Cape Town last month, which was to have been addressed by Mr. Mbeki, is evidence that the regime is now indirectly placing conditions on his release, which is contradictory to what the world was made to believe.
This also demonstrates the fact that the Government are not prepared to allow the chosen and accepted leaders of our people to address and speak to them freely without any hindrance or harassment from the racist authorities, thus giving the lie to Government claims that it is prepared for dialogue or any kind of negotiations whatsoever.
It is ridiculous for the Botha regime to claim that Govan Mbeki, or his actions since he was released, will affect the release of those leaders still in prison or the lifting of the current state of emergency. The responsibility of the continued incarceration of the others and the state of emergency, is that of the regime."
This is the reality surrounding Govan Mbeki's release. After 24 years in gaol he is still in prison, unable to speak freely. The only difference is that his prison is larger. The British Government have said nothing about the restrictions placed on him since his release. Let the Minister speak clearly today on that matter.
What about the other prisoners who, for more than 20 years, have been incarcerated in such prisons as Robben Island — Wilton Wkwayi, Andrew Mlangini, Elias
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Motsoaledi, Ahmed Kathrada, Raymond Mhlaka, Walter Sisulu and, of course, Nelson Mandela? We know that the Prime Minister has called for his release, but that is nothing special. Everyone calls for his release. Pop stars write songs about Nelson Mandela; it is trendy to call for his release. People print T-shirts about him. Even Chief Buthelezi, a mortal enemy of the ANC, calls for his release. So the Prime Minister's call is nothing special, and she knows it. She needs to do rather more than make a call before she can gain the respect of the House, the country and the international community.
While on the subject of Chief Buthelezi, I want to mention some of the actions of that gentleman, who appears to be a friend of the Prime Minister. She has quoted him in the House in support of her case against sanctions. Of course, he is against sanctions because, in his lust for power, he believes that, by collaborating with the Botha regime, he will reach the position in which he will reign in a Bantustan in which blacks, liberal whites, Indians and coloureds would live under his control. Sanctions are against his interest, and that is why the Prime Minister and he are at one on this issue. I must warn the Prime Minister, however, that she is in bad company. Buthelezi and his party have been responsible for some of the most outrageous attacks on ordinary people in South Africa—
Mr. Terry Dicks: What about the policemen? Who is murdering them?
Mr. Jeremy Corbyn: Why does the hon. Gentleman not shut up?
Mr. Grant: A recent report in the Financial Times on 22 November 1987 concerns the so-called factional fighting in the Natal provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg — in particular in the Edendale valley—in which 150 blacks have been killed in recent months. Buthelezi rejects the accusations by social and church workers, and I—[Interruption.]
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Harold Walker): Order. If hon. Members disagree with arguments, the usual way to rebut them is through the dialogue of debate, rather than in unseemly shouting across the Chamber. I hope that we shall have less of it.
Mr. Grant: I want to quote from the article in the Financial Times. It states that Buthelezi
"rejected accusations by social and church workers, as well as the UDF and Cosatu, that the main perpetrators of the violence are Inkatha-linked 'warriors'. But their names crop up time and time again in a stack of sworn affidavits produced in a Pietermartitzburg court this month. The affidavits, from victims of violence, not only cite individual 'warlords', they also complain of tacit police connivance with the conservative `vigilantes'. The accusations are similar to those now being brought to light in a separate court case in Cape Town. This concerns the destruction of the Crossroads squatter camp 15 months ago. Photographic and videotape evidence has been used to show police standing by or actively assisting Crossroads vigilante witdoeke as they tore down shacks and assaulted defenders of their makeshift homes …
Few of the inhabitants of the Edendale townships probably appreciate the deeper political significance of the fighting now destroying their lives and property. It could almost certainly be stopped by determined police action. The fact that fighting continues indicates that what is happening in Edendale is part of a much wider strategy aimed at weakening the ANC."
South Africa is clearly attempting to control all the sovereign front-line states in the region. Its objectives in

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doing so include that regional states refuse to permit liberation movements to operate from their territories and take steps to prevent them from operating clandestinely; that they do not develop strong economic or, more particularly, military ties with Socialist countries; that they maintain, and even deepen, their economic links with South Africa and refrain from supporting calls for sanctions against South Africa; and that they moderate their criticisms of apartheid.
To achieve those objectives, South Africa has created a number of surrogate forces which regularly enter those sovereign states illegally and kidnap, maim, rape and murder their citizens. I refer in particular to the Reconnaisance Commanders, UNITA — under the leadership of the infamous Dr. Jonas "Judas" Savimbi in Angola — the Mozambique National Resistance and Renamo in Mozambique, the LLA — the Lesotho Liberation Army — and so on. The actions of those forces have catastrophic results for the economies of the front-line states. In Mozambique alone, during a two-year period, more than 140 villages, 840 schools, 900 rural shops and 200 public health installations were destroyed. Transport networks were also bombed and destroyed. The total cost of the MN R destruction has been conservatively estimated at $3·8 billion.
Aggression and destabilisation policies by the apartheid regime in South Africa have been directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of 140,000 children under the age of five in Angola and Mozambique during the year 1986–87 alone, according to UNICEF, and for the deaths of at least 100,000 other people in Mozambique alone in the 11 years to September 1986. South Africa has been responsible for making 4·5 million people in Mozambique dependent on food aid to avoid starvation. It has deprived 2 million Mozambicans of access to health care and 315,000 school students of access to education. The loss of the economies of the nine South African Development Coordination Conference states amounts to $2,000 million annually, with accumulative damage estimated at about $18·7 million up to 1986.
The South African Government and their agents are responsible for the assassination of President Samora Machel in Mozambique on 19–20 October 1986. They are also responsible for attemps on the lives of Prime Minister Mugabe—
Sir Ian Lloyd (Havant): On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The hon. Gentleman has produced one of the grossest calumnies of any country that I have ever heard in this Chamber. He has just said something that we know to be absolutely untrue, and he should withdraw it immediately.
Mr. Corbyn: Like what?
Sir Ian Lloyd: The assassination of President Machel.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. The hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr. Grant) has not said anything that is a matter for the Chair. However, I wish to repeat a statement that has been made so often from the Chair, namely, that in referring to people outside the House, hon. Members should have regard to the fact that they cannot defend themselves. Hon. Members should therefore exercise restraint in their expressions.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Tim Eggar): I would not normally interrupt the hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr. Grant) in such a debate, but I would be grateful if he could substantiate his very serious allegation about the death of President Machel.
Mr. Grant: There is evidence that a false beacon was placed in South Africa, so that the pilots of the aeroplane carrying President Machel back to Mozambique were lured into a mountain.
Sir Ian Lloyd: The hon. Gentleman has no evidence of that.
Mr. Grant: I have. A commission of inquiry was set up, composed of officials from Mozambique, the Soviet Union and South Africa. It was supposed to investigate the tragedy, but the South African officials withdrew during the investigation and refused to co-operate further with the commission. I believe that to be clear evidence that the South African Government were directly involved in the killing of President Machel.
In addition to assassination attempts on key political figures in the front-line states, the South African Government have taken a number of other specific actions. One of the most outrageous aspects of their total disregard of international conventions and national sovereignty occurred in November, when President Botha and members of his Cabinet, concerned about the battering that their surrogate forces were encountering in Angola, decided to pay them a morale-boosting visit. It has since become known that that was not the first time that they had done so. What did the British Government do about that? Where was their condemnation of that blatant breach of international conventions? Were they silent because it involved black countries? Do they think that they are all the same and that it does not matter if a white dictator wants to stride across the borders, encouraging the maiming and murdering of black people? Perhaps the Government do not feel compelled to speak about freedom and democracy for those countries.
Where is the British Government's condemnation of the increasingly regular practice of kidnapping people in the front-line states who speak against the Botha regime? This Government's standards have slipped. Even the Tory Government of 1963 were prepared to exercise international pressure about such issues. When Dr. Kenneth Abrahams was kidnapped in Botswana, illegally transported to South Africa and put on trial, the then British Conservative Government put diplomatic pressure on the South African regime to such an extent that Dr. Abrahams was eventually released and returned to Botswana. That is not the case nowadays. Instead, this Conservative Government stay silent about kidnapping.
What have the Government said about the kidnapping of Abraham Ishmail by South African agents in Swaziland, which is a sovereign state, on 15 December 1986, and who is now being brought to trial in South Africa? What protests has the Under-Secretary made? In what way has he worked within the international community for Abraham Ishmail's release? If, as I suspect, the answer is nothing, will the Minister today undertake to make representations to Pretoria for his release? I want a specific reply to that question.
It is claimed that the Government have a policy to assist the front-line states with aid so that they can fight the war

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of economic aggression that has been launched by South Africa. The Government talk about aid to the front-line states and to the SADCC countries. The anti-apartheid movement has estimated that present aid to front-line states is only 57 per cent. of the value of the aid, at its 1979 value, when the Government took office. Therefore, there has been a reduction of about 43 per cent. in the actual aid given to those front-line states since 1979. A massive programme of aid is required. Those figures show the tremendous burden that is placed on the front-line states and on other countries by South African aggression. The Government must change their policy and give more. They must stop giving such mean-minded and miserable amounts of aid to those countries and ensure that a proper amount of finance is given to them in the form of aid.
Sanctions are a major issue. I believe, as do the Labour party, black people in Britain, black people throughout the world and leaders of all black countries, that sanctions are the only way forward. The Eminent Persons Group—eminent people drawn from all over the world—made a report to the Bahamas conference of Commonweath Heads of Government. That report was accepted by those Commonwealth Heads of Government. On behalf of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister signed a joint declaration at the end of the conference to support sanctions. However, she has since refused to implement those sanctions, and that remains her position today.
In fact, despite all the evidence showing that the imposition of sanctions is beginning to hurt South Africa, the Government have made a total about-face and do not now support sanctions. Indeed, during the past few months the South African business economy has gone on the offensive towards Britain. We have seen, for instance, the opening of an office in London by the South African coal industry to ensure that propaganda is pumped into the British economy so that more British business people will invest in South African coal and other industries.
Sanctions are the only way forward and must be applied for several reasons. One is the internal situation in South Africa. Huge numbers of black people have been massacred in towns all over South Africa by the South African police and defence forces. We have seen the brutalisation of black people by the vigilante squads and the so-called "Kitzconstabels". They are often criminals who, after only four or five weeks training, can enter the townships to harass and brutalise black people. After only four weeks training, those people have the same status as police officers in that country. Practically anyone in a uniform can seize and detain a person for 30 days. There have been examples of the railway police and the army arresting people and detaining them for 30 days.
Although there have been gross violations of democracy in South Africa, and South Africa has illegally occupied Namibia, where at least 100,000 South African troops are stationed so that there can be cross-border raids into Angola, the British Government have vetoed action to implement United Nations resolution 435, which condemns South Africa's illegal occupation of Namibia and tries to force that country out.
Therefore, there are several reasons why sanctions are the only way forward, not least because the black people of South Africa have stated that they are prepared to accept that further sacrifice to ensure their freedom. In the face of all those facts, and the attitude of the international community, I ask the Government to denounce the Botha regime, that fascist and racist regime in South Africa, and
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to denounce the cross-border raids into Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe arid other countries. I ask the Government to demand that the racist regime in Pretoria unconditionally releases the political prisoners who are held in its camps and that it removes the death penalty from those people, especially the "Sharpeville Six" who are currently awaiting the death sentence.
It is time that the Government got their act together. I pledge, as does the Labour party, to carry on the struggle uncompromisingly until we force the Government into the 1980s and force them to take action that is aimed at freeing black South Africans so that a Government will be elected in South Africa who will be non-racist, non-sexist and democratic.
10.45 am
Mr. Michael Knowles: One appreciates the reasons why the hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr. Grant) feels strongly about this subject. Indeed, many hon. Members feel the same and we had a debate on it only the other week.
I should like to comment on some of the points raised by the hon. Gentleman. As his hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield Central (Mr. Caborn) knows, I was in Southern Africa only a few weeks ago. We should not over-emphasise the influence that we, outside, tend to think that sanctions will have on the South African Government and on white public opinion in South Africa, nor fool ourselves that it is necessarily a one-way trade. There was great internal pressure for the United States to apply sanctions and to disinvest. That was done. United States companies had about 400 subsidiaries in South Africa, but that figure is now less than 200. Those companies have now sold out their major holdings. Indeed, some British companies have also done so — Barclays bank is the outstanding example. However, the result is that the United States now has little influence in South Africa. South Africans do not need to worry any more about the United States. That country has fired its big gun, but South Africa has survived.
My view is that we shall see apartheid disappear in all its forms. However, it will take a lot longer and I anticipate a long struggle ahead. I considered that last year's idea that if the African National Congress put its Spear of the Nation fighters into South Africa, that tenet, combined with sanctions, would result in the immediate crumbling of the South African state, was a mirage, and so it has proved. The view of South Africa now is—
Mr. Richard Caborn: Will the hon. Gentleman explain to the House why, after 75 years of trying to fight for freedom in South Africa, the African National Congress turned to arms 25 years ago? He is not informing the House about any alternative. The United Nations, the EEC, the Commonwealth and all international organisations, except this Government, support mandatory economic sanctions, or sanctions of some form. Will the hon. Gentleman briefly explain the alternatives to the House?
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. I hope the House will bear in mind that hon. Members would like to hear the Minister before the debate reaches its conclusion at about 11 o'clock.
Mr. Knowles: I should like to answer that point, Mr. Deputy Speaker. There is a case for putting pressure

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through economic sanctions but it must be combined with other things and one must continue to talk to all the people involved. In the end there must be dialogue and people must talk to one another. If one pushes any one of the parties into a corner, be it Inkatha, led by Buthelezi, the ANC, which Inkatha regards as an Xhosa organisation, or the whites, especially the Afrikaaners, one will not reach a settlement, one will achieve only ongoing bloodshed. I shall conclude as I wanted to speak only briefly and wish to give my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State the chance to make the Government's point.
10.48 am
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Tim Eggar): The hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr. Grant) finished his speech by requesting that the Government should get their act together. I listened to the mixture of prejudice and waffle that he came out with, and feel that he should reflect on his priorities. It does the cause that he purports to further no good to come forward with such an extreme, badly researched set of arguments. It does the reputation of the House no good either.
It is a mistake to try to look at the problems of South Africa in isolation. As the hon. Gentleman rightly said, the problems of South Africa affect southern Africa as a whole. At the heart of the problems of southern Africa is the system of separate development known as apartheid. Despite what the hon. Gentleman said, the Government's policy towards apartheid is absolutely plain. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Vancouver, apartheid is a repulsive and detestable system. The Government wish to see it ended and wish to see it ended soon.
The hon. Gentleman is not alone in objecting to racial discrimination. I do not know whether, as he claimed in a recent debate, he is
"entitled to speak on behalf of black people in the United Kingdom and in the rest of the world".—[Official Report, 13 November 1987; Vol. 122, c. 739.]
I find that assertion rather extraordinary coming from the hon. Member who had the worst personal result and the greatest swing against him of any Labour candidate in the last general election. The Government speak for the people of this country when we call for justice for black and white in South Africa, and for a peaceful end to apartheid.
In his long speech, the hon. Gentleman raised a number of specific questions and I shall seek to answer them. He referred to 44 people awaiting execution in South Africa. It is entirely typical of his superficial approach that he has not done his homework here. In the case of the Sharpeville six, the German ambassador in Pretoria called on the South African Government's deputy foreign minister on 4 December and appealed on behalf of all the member states of the European Community for clemency for those people. The European Community is currently considering other cases.
Our policy is clear. We are prepared to join appeals on humanitarian grounds where the case is clearly political and there are extenuating circumstances or grounds to doubt the fairness of the legal process. Each case is considered carefully on its own merits and we use exactly
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the same grounds for our decisions making in respect of South Africa as we do in respect of other parts of the world.
Mr. Bernie Grant: Give us some examples.
Mr. Eggar: The hon. Gentleman referred to our refusal to appeal for clemency in the case of Mr. Lapunta. That has been referred to by the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker), but we considered that case and concluded that it was a criminal case and not a political offence. On those grounds, applying the same criteria as we apply to other countries, we were not prepared to make representations.
The hon. Gentleman referred to the release of Mr. Mbeki. We have called many times for the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners and we welcomed wholeheartedly the release of Mr. Mbeki. In our view, it is entirely right that he should have been set free, but we regret the South African Government's decision to impose a restriction order on Mr. Mbeki.
The hon. Gentleman made a number of remarks about Chief Buthelezi. Many black leaders inside South Africa, including Chief Buthelezi, and the United Democratic Front, support the concept of peaceful change. In this regard, we very much regret the loss of life in the violence in Natal, as we regret the loss of life elsewhere in South Africa.
The hon. Gentleman made a number of accusations about the death of President Machel of Mozambique. The hon. Gentleman is rather ahead of the view taken by the Mozambique Government of that incident.
It is, of course, easy for the hon. Gentleman and others to call for justice to be done, but it is far less easy to achieve justice, especially in as complex a situation as exists in South Africa and between South Africa and its neighbouring states. It is easy to take refuge, as the hon. Gentleman did, in sloganising and unwarranted simplification, but no one should labour under the misapprehension that fundamental change in South Africa will come about easily or quickly. South Africa is not Rhodesia. It is not a "colonial" problem. Change has been a lamentably slow process. Indeed, it is unacceptably slow, but the pernicious and wicked doctrine of apartheid that grew up in South Africa is nevertheless being eroded. There are some changes for the better.
Nor is it enough to bewail the plight of black South Africans or rest content with describing the effects of South African Government policy on neighbouring states. The Government have always recognised that fine words are not enough. We need to persuade the South African Government that change cannot be avoided, that it is not in the long-term interest of white South Africans to avoid change and that it is in their interests to grasp the opportunity to make changes now.
To portray South Africa as a tragedy with an inevitable and unavoidable outcome is both easy and irresponsible. Peaceful change is still possible, but the warning lights are now well in sight. If fundamental changes are not made soon by the South African Government, they will in due course be forced upon them. The alternative to peaceful change is, eventually, violent change.
There are limits to what outsiders can do to help. Only those who, like the hon. Member for Tottenham, have not studied the situation closely could think otherwise. The

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reality of South African economic power must also be acknowledged. In economic terms alone, the problems of South Africa are the problems of southern Africa.
There is a more general and longer-term prudential limit to what we can do in South Africa. It would not be in the interests of those in South Africa who oppose apartheid and who look to a future in which it has been ended to inherit an economic wasteland. This is increasingly recognised by leading opponents of the South African Government. Additionally, it would not, in our view, be right or effective to bring short-term economic misery to black South Africans in the forlorn hope that such international pressures would force the South African Government to make fundamental changes.
This last point brings me to the contentious matter of sanctions. Many Labour Members believe that punitive sanctions against South Africa would force the South Africans to carry out those changes in which all of us in this House believe. We respect the view of those who hold to this view, but we do not agree with them. Indeed, we would hold that the implementation by some countries of punitive economic sanctions against South Africa has been ineffective. Some would say that it had been counterproductive.
Mr. Bernie Grant: Rubbish.
Mr. Eggar: There is a great deal of evidence that attitudes in South Africa towards genuine negotiations have not become more pliant since recent events. They have hardened. The result of the whites-only election in South Africa on 6 May produced a pronounced shift to the Right. This has done nothing to assist those in South Africa who want to see early, fundamental but peaceful change. The Government, however, believe that firm political signals as well as advocacy are required.
We have been scrupulous in implementing all the restrictive measures to which we have agreed, whether in the Commonwealth, the Twelve or the United Nations Security Council. Such signals are meant to alert the South Africans to the need for change. They are not meant to destroy the South African economy. Such a goal is no part of our policy.
The key to peaceful change in southern Africa lies with the countries of the region. For our part, we are dedicated to advancing the cause of change. We must all accept that peaceful change will not come easily. But a solution to the problems of South Africa will directly contribute to increased stability and prosperity in southern Africa as a whole. It is our firm intention to use every opportunity to facilitate and encourage change. Our policy is designed to cope with the long haul, and I assure the House that we have the commitment to carry it through.
It being Eleven o'clock, MR. SPEAKER interrupted proceedings, pursuant to Standing Order No. 11 (Friday sittings).

Retail Prices Index (Error)
11 am
The Minister for Social Security and the Disabled (Mr. Nicholas Scott): With permission, Mr. Speaker, I should like to make a statement about the Government's proposals to make extra payments to social security claimants following the recent discovery of the error in the retail prices index.
The House will know that the effect of the error has been to understate the annual inflation rate on average by about one tenth of 1 per cent. in most months since February 1986. As a result, the rates of retirement pension and other long-term benefits should, in general, have been 5p higher than they are this year and lop higher than the rates that will come into effect next April. Several benefits, including child benefit, are unaffected.
The House will know that we have already made it clear that the Exchequer will not benefit from the effects of the error on social security expenditure. In line with this principle, we intend to make special payments to the following social security recipients: retirement pensioners, supplementary pensioners, those receiving widows benefits, industrial injuries benefits, war pensions, invalid care allowance, invalidity benefit, mobility allowance, attendance allowance and severe disablement allowance. This will be followed by action to correct benefit rates for all recipients at the April 1989 uprating.
The payments will be at a flat rate of £8— slightly more than the standard £7·85 loss — to retirement pensioners, and, in line with their actual loss, £5 for mobility allowance recipients. We have arranged with the Post Office that payments will be made from the first week of February for those paid by order book. Action will be taken by the Department's local and central offices to ensure that those paid by other means — for example, through credit transfer—will also receive their money at that time.
There are a few severely disabled war and industrially injured pensioners who will lose significantly more than £8. Because this affects a comparatively small group it will be possible to make special arrangements to ensure that they are given extra compensation. Inevitably, this will take more time, but payments will be made as soon as is practicable. I also propose to pay an additional amount to those who retire or become widowed between the time the special payments are made and April 1989. These special payments will be made on an ex gratia basis, and parliamentary approval will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.
Overall we estimate that, as a result of the error, £109 million will have been underspent. The arrangements that I have described will cost rather more than £100 million. To fulfil our commitment that there should be no gain to the Exchequer, the remainder will be allocated to suitable charities.
My hon. Friend the Paymaster General is making it known today by written answer that no extra statutory payments will be made to pensioners of public service occupational schemes administered by central Government. The savings to the Exchequer arising from this decision will be added to the sum available for disbursement to charities as a result of the underspend on

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social security benefits and will bring it to between £10 and £15 million. We shall ensure that charities and benevolent associations active in support of retired public servants will be among those with an opportunity to benefit from this arrangement.
The House will recognise that, with nearly a billion social security payments a year, it would be a disproportionately complex and time-consuming operation to seek to calculate and pay exactly what each individual has lost. I feel confident that the House would wish to see this mistake corrected in a way that combined as far as possible speed of payment and fairness. I believe that our plans provide a sensible and effective way of doing this.
Mr. Robin Cook: As I have just purchased my first computer, may I begin by saying that I find it encouraging to learn that the Civil Service also makes errors with its programming.
Although the House may accept in a season of good will that such errors occur, it is extraordinary that it required a year and a half before such an error was uncovered, and remarkable that in such an important indicator as the RPI an error could remain unchecked and undetected for a year and a half, which included two uprating statements by the Department. I press the Minister for an assurance that there will be regular checks of the RPI in future, especially before uprating statements are made to the House on the basis of that indicator.
I turn to those who are being compensated as a result of the error and begin with the Minister's reference to public service pensioners. He said that the Government will compensate long-term claimants of benefit, but not short-term claimants. I presume that that is because long-term claimants are stable and can be identified and are the same people. By definition, public service pensioners are also long-term claimants of pensions and are the same people. There can be no justification for the distinction that the Minister has made between state pensioners and public service pensioners, other than the Government's distaste for civil servants.
Arrangements are being made for short-term benefit claimants. I remind the Minister that those claimants also have a benefit, which is also operated by reference to the RPI under statutory arrangements. Claimants of unemployment benefit face the same costs in purchasing bread and paying for heat as do claimants of state pensions. In October, 1·6 million unemployed claimants had been unemployed since last April. Were they to benefit from the same arrangement for compensation as pensioners, at least half that payment would go to people who have suffered because of the miscalculation, and at least half those receiving it would be people who had been unemployed for a year.
I press the Minister for a statement about the Government's future intentions. The statement tells us what the Minister intends to do to make good the past effect of the error. What does he intend to do to make good its future effect? I press the hon. Gentleman in particular for an assurance that next year's uprating statement will be calculated as though the correct level of benefit had been paid on the basis of the correct level of the RPI. I put it to him that any other assumption that
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uprates the current level of benefit that has been reduced by the error will leave the Treasury permanently better off and the claimants permanently worse off.
I turn to those claimants who are not covered by the statutory undertaking to increase their benefit by reference to the RPI, especially the 4·9 million claimants of supplementary benefit who are not pensioners. I remind the Minister that this group contains many who are long-term claimants, including single parents and carers for the disabled, who will have been in receipt of benefit throughout the period affected by the error. Their benefit is uprated by reference to the Rossi index, under informal arrangements. Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that the effect of the error in the computer programme has an even greater impact on the Rossi index than on the RPI index, and that these are the people who are frequently taken through the courts and prosecuted on any occasion on which they themselves succeed in obtaining £8 extra in payment by error? A Government who are as punctilious as this Government in reclawing the benefit that people have been overpaid, owe it to those claimants to be just as punctilious in compensating them when they have been underpaid.
Mr. Scott: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment made a statement which clearly set out the background to how the error occurred. He gave an undertaking that the retail prices index computer programme was being reviewed by the head of the Government's statistical service to ensure that the error could not happen in the future.
As I said in my statement, my hon. Friend the Paymaster General is making known in a written answer this morning the position of public service pensioners, pointing out in particular:
"The rates of pension received by retired public servants vary very widely according to their length of service and final salary when in employment. Flat rate compensation for the index error would be inappropriate. Precise compensation would have administrative costs out of proportion to the sums concerned."
I believe that that is right. I want to reflect that point in what I shall say about the number of detailed points put to me by the hon. Gentleman.
The Government have no legal obligation to come to the House today to announce our intention to make these payments. I believe, however, that we have a moral obligation in this matter. That is why we are announcing that £109 million will be available. If we were to compensate every individual who has lost any amount, however trivial, as a result of this error, the administrative costs would be out of all proportion to the benefit gained.
The Rossi index will be affected in the same way as the RPI. It will be corrected in April 1989. Of course, from April 1989 the uprating will be made on precisely the basis that the hon. Gentleman suggested.
Several Hon. Members rose—
Mr. Speaker: Order. The House knows that this is a private Member's day and I hope that, in the next 20 minutes, I shall be able to call those hon. Members who have been rising in their places. I propose to give precedence to those who did not catch my eye last Monday.
Sir Brandon Rhys Williams: May I say to my hon. Friend that I believe that in all parts of the House

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the speed and candour with which he has dealt with this embarrassing problem will be very well appreciated? May I also say that I believe that the settlement that he has made is the best that he can do in the circumstances and will be appreciated by the recipients? On public sector pensions, may I also remind my hon. Friend that, in 1974, I made the point that we were creating a privileged elite of public sector pensioners in giving them full uprating with the cost of living? Under 5 per cent. of private sector occupational schemes are able to do the same.
Mr. Scott: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his opening remarks. I believe that it was right to deal with this matter quickly, clearly and as fairly as we could, consistent with the speed of the operation. The House will have noted my hon. Friend's second point.
Mr. David Steel: Will the Minister accept that the only warm reception that will be forthcoming for the statement is bound to be from the charities for the needy and aged, which will welcome £10 million to £15 million unexpectedly coming their way because of the Minister's argument about the administrative cost of paying out money to public service pensioners? Will he be frank with the House and tell us what has been the cost to public expenditure of rectifying this error? What steps have been taken in the Department to ensure that it does not recur? Does he accept that many of us continue to believe that the RPI is not the right yardstick by which to judge payments to pensioners, bearing in mind their cost of living requirements?
Mr. Scott: That is a more general point. The Government are pledged to protect pensioners from inflation, and the RPI seems to be an entirely appropriate index to use in those circumstances. The administrative cost of making these payments will be somewhat in excess of £5 million. That is what even this broad brush approach will cost. The more precisely we target repayments to actual loss, the greater are the administrative costs. I hope that charities will not be alone in benefiting from the social security money and the money for public service pensioners. I hope that those who receive payments will benefit. The Government have no legal obligation, but I accept that they have a moral obligation.
Mr. Harry Greenway: I also congratulate my hon. Friend on the speed of the operation. Many pensioners have been to see me to tell me that they remember not getting the Christmas bonus from the Labour party when it was in government. Will bereaved pensioners be able to claim what would have been due to their deceased spouses? Could such payments be arranged?
Mr. Scott: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. I suppose that I was naive enough, bearing in mind my Christian name and the time of year, to think, on my way here, that the House would welcome the fact that the Government had come forward with these proposals. If Opposition Members want to get into an argument on party political matters and how they treated retirement pensioners and others, I must ask them to cast their minds back to 1976, when they took £1 billion out of pensions by changing the basis for forecasting. As we have come to the House with these proposals as quickly as possible, there are some details that must be incorporated, and I shall bear my hon. Friend's question in mind.
Mr. Merlyn Rees: I declare an interest as the son of a war widow and as a war pensioner myself, although I am not one of the severely wounded people to whom the Minister referred. What are the special arrangements that the Minister has in mind for them? Most of that group are likely to be very old, so how will they be informed of what the Minister has in mind?
Mr. Scott: Records are kept in the Department or in local offices, so it will be possible to analyse each case individually, as they are a comparatively small group. It is inevitable that that will take longer, but they will be entitled to a payment of £8 in any case. We shall try to establish their losses by the summer and send out individual Giro payments to those concerned.
Mr. Patrick Cormack: Is my hon. Friend aware that, although the error was regrettable, the fact that it has been detected and rectified in this manner will do much to restore the confidence in the system, which was lost during the incumbency of the previous Administration? In a year when we have experienced so many disasters, such as King's Cross and Zeebrugge, does my hon. Friend agree that the lump sum is an ideal opportunity to set up a national disaster fund?
Mr. Scott: That raises wider questions. My judgment is that, as the benefit that would otherwise flow to the Exchequer arises from the underpayment of social security benefits or public service pensions, it would be more appropriate to see, as far as possible, that the charities that benefit from the money serve the needs of those groups.
Mr. Jerry Hayes: As my hon. Friend's Department spends approximately £47 billion, it is quite remarkable, and to the great credit of civil servants, that they discovered their error at all. I welcome my hon. Friend's statement. It is sensitive and welcome. Does he agree that what the leader of the Liberal party said was quite remarkable? If he successfully proposed a pensioners' index, pensioners would lose.
Mr. Scott: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I hope that hon. Members will play a part in alerting beneficiaries to the payments. We shall publicise the payments by advertising them in the press and publicity material in local offices and elsewhere, but we should all play our part.
Mr. Frank Field: I thank the Minister for his statement. How many claimants will not get the increase although they suffer the same increase in prices as other claimants? I am sure that the House would be happy to have the figures to the nearest million. As the unemployed do not gain from the statement, would it be right for them to conclude that the payment of their benefit is not safe in the Government's hands?
Mr. Scott: I do not think that that is a fair point. I admit that this is a broad brush attempt to ensure that money that has fallen to the Government is redistributed quickly to those who have suffered. Trying to identify unemployment beneficiaries, many of whom go on and off benefit, and many of whom will have lost quite trivial amounts, would incur a disproportionate administrative cost. If the hon. Gentleman wants more detailed statistical information after the recess, I shall do my best to answer a question that he tables.
Mr. Dafydd Wigley: I am grateful to the Minister for making his statement. He referred to

1381
payments being made at a flat rate. May we assume that people who have multiple benefits, such as mobility, attendance and invalid care allowances, will get a payment for each, not just one payment? In those circumstances, the sums are not trivial. What the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) said is pertinent. If a husband or wife has died, the loss could be significant.
Mr. Scott: Anybody who is entitled to a payment in the first week in February will receive this flat rate sum. Payment will be paid in respect of any deceased spouse if there is entitlement for that week. If beneficiaries have a number of books of entitlement, they will be entitled to a flat rate payment for each book.
Mr. John Greenway: My hon. Friend and his Department deserve every congratulation on making this statement on the last day before the Christmas recess. Does not the fact that the Government, without any legal duty, but with a moral duty, have made the statement vindicate the point that we have made time and again—that we shall honour our pledge to keep the old-age pension in line with inflation?
Mr. Scott: That is exactly right. We are honouring what is a clear moral obligation in a way that combines speed with fairness. I hope that the whole House will recognise that.
Mr. Terry Davis: Given that the error caused unnecessary hardship and will cost an additional £5 million in administrative costs which would otherwise be available to alleviate poverty, will the Minister tell the House whether the error was made by a civil servant, a private consultant or a private contractor, and what disciplinary or other action will be taken as a result?
Mr. Scott: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the detailed statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, who explained the background to this. The administrative costs will be taken from the contingency reserve.
Miss Marjorie Mowlam: Can the Minister explain to the House how the money will be allocated through charities? We already have the haemophiliacs and the EEC surplus working. Will Mrs. Thatcher—
Mr. Speaker: Order. Rephrase, please.
Miss Mowlam: Will the Prime Minister dress up as Mother Christmas? How will the Government decide which charities will receive how much?
Mr. Scott: As I said in reply to an earlier question, I hope that it will be possible to develop a scheme to ensure that charities will help to direct this money to meet the needs of those who have either social security or public service pension connections. We are taking advice from the Charities Aid Foundation, which has considerable expertise about appropriate charities. Again, it may be possible when the House returns to answer a more detailed question on that point.
Dr. Norman A. Godman: The trust that pensioners and others have in the state and its agencies will have been somewhat shaken by the news of this error. If the sums to be paid are so small, why must
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it take so long to make the payments? Of the £100 million, what proportion will go to citizens so deprived in Scotland?
Mr. Scott: The money will be distributed in exactly the same way to those receiving retirement pensions and the other benefits to which I referred. Individuals will be treated on a flat rate, and pensioners will be compensated for rather more than the actual loss that they have suffered. That will be broadly true of other beneficiaries, too. We shall tackle the smaller group in particular. Whereas I can well understand a certain shaking of confidence as a result of the original error being discovered, I hope that the steps announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment to ensure that this cannot happen again will have done something to restore confidence. Above all, I hope that what I have said today and the way in which we have come to the House and announced the arrangements will restore confidence completely.
Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours: It is just not true to say that the other day a statement was made covering the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Davis) about the circumstances in which the error was found. Nowhere in the statement of last Monday is that explanation to be found, and I have the statement in my hand. Will the Minister tell us on what day the error was found, in what circumstances, and by whom?
Mr. Scott: The error was made within the Civil Service. If the House would appreciate some background, I shall provide it as briefly as I can. In 1983 it was decided to computerise the Department's compilation of the RPI to avoid a great deal of manual and clerical effort and to improve and make the process more accurate. In June 1985 it was decided to modify part of the software system to speed up the process. It was undertaken in-house, and the new procedures began to be used in February 1986. In writing the modified programme a mistake was made. Insufficient computer space was made available for calculating the price changes for certain items. As a result, the price changes were recorded as whole numbers only and the decimal places were not carried forward. Without going into inordinate length—
Mr. Campbell-Savours: When was the error found?
Mr. Scott: If the hon. Gentleman will be patient for a moment, I can tell him. It will be easy for the House to understand how the cumulative effect of that built up until we reached the annual inflation rate for this year, which continued to be underestimated by 0·1 per cent. I understand that the error was discovered and reported to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, who is responsible for this matter, late in the week prior to his coming to the House to make his statement.
Mr. Robert N. Wareing: How many unemployed people are being denied what would have been theirs by right had there not been a computer error? Will this be a convention for the future should there be further errors in the Ministry's computer? In handing out other people's money to charities, are the Government not salving their conscience for short-changing teachers, hospital workers and other public servants? Outside the House, would that not be described as crooked?
Mr. Scott: I am surprised at the hon. Gentleman's lack of generosity of spirit. I have sought to explain clearly and, I hope, patiently, why the administrative costs of seeking to reimburse everybody for any sum that they had lost, however trivial, would have led to wholly disproportionate administrative expenditure. We have come forward to make quick, generous, flat-rate payments to long-term beneficiaries, to make other arrangements for those who suffered disproportionately large losses and to ensure that no benefit flows to the Exchequer as a result of this mistake, by making money available to charities to meet the needs of those involved.
Mr. Graham Allen: I should like to congratulate the Minister on discovering this error, but I cannot do so because I have pointed this out to Ministers in correspondence on behalf of some of my constituents since I have been elected. I understand that even before that, mistakes in the RPI were being pointed out by civil servant pensioners and that no notice was taken. Is the Minister saying that those who have campaigned for many months, and perhaps years, will receive nothing? Is this not ideally a matter that should be subject to an investigation by the PAC?
Mr. Scott: That is certainly not a question for me to decide. There are two points here. The first is whether the RPI is being calculated accurately. An error has been discovered and, as my right hon. Friend said, the head of the Government's statistical service will review this to seek to ensure that it cannot happen again. I understand that some people complain about the basis of calculating the RPI. That is a second and entirely separate matter from whether the RPI has been calculated accurately at a particular time.
Mr. Bob Cryer: Will the Minister confirm that the Government do not take into account the costs of administration and of the detailed work necessary for prosecutions against people who make false claims for supplementary benefits? Will he confirm that this is the last possible day on which he could make this statement, so the Government have left it to the last possible moment? Will he confirm also that this matter has been outstanding for 21 months, yet the Government have failed to make remedial payments in time for Christmas? Many people on low incomes will face a miserable Christmas because of the Scrooge-like attitude of the Government. Instead of handing the money over to Lady Bountiful charities, why did the Minister not think of using the extra £9 million to extend television concessionary licences to more pensioners, many of whom will not be able to watch television this Christmas because they cannot afford the licence fee?
Mr. Scott: I was surprised at the attitude of the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing), but I am not in the slightest surprised at the hon. Gentleman's attitude to the timing of the statement, and I suggest that he consults his side of the usual channels.
Mr. Robin Cook: As the matter of the technical base of the mistake has arisen, will the Minister confirm that the affect of the error would have been precisely balanced out if the programme had been arranged to round up the first decimal point, rather than round it down? Might that not be a lesson for the Government in future, so that the advantage might be given to the claimant instead of being claimed by the Treasury?
Mr. Scott: It was not a rounding error. It was a mistake in the original programming. My hon. Friend will have heard the hon. Gentleman's point.

Britoil
11.30 am
Mr. Alex Salmond: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. At various times during the last few days, hon. Members have asked for a statement on the position of Britoil and the Government's golden share. The Government have replied that no full takeover bid has been made for Britoil. Since the announcement of a full takeover bid by BP, will the Government make a statement on that issue. The Chancellor gave a commitment—
Mr. Speaker: Order. The hon. Gentleman has asked for a statement. I am sure that his request will have been heard. This is private Members' time. I cannot answer the question he has asked the Government, so it is not a matter of order.
Mr. Salmond: May I continue my point of order?
Mr. Speaker: No. I have had no request for a statement. The hon. Gentleman has made his point and I am sure that it will have been heard.
Mr. Salmond: May I continue my point of order?
Mr. Speaker: No. It is not a point of order. The hon. Gentleman is seeking to elucidate information from the Government. That is not a question of order. The hon. Gentleman has made his point.
Mr. Dafydd Wigley: Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Will the Leader of the House briefly respond to the request for a statement?
Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. John Wakeham): I have heard the point of order. I know nothing of the details, but I shall certainly pursue the matter. Perhaps it can be best dealt with through the usual channels
Mr. Salmond: Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: No. The hon. Gentleman has heard the answer. The best course would be for him to have a discussion wih the Leader of the House.
Mr. Salmond: Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: Order. This is unfair on a private Members' day. The hon. Gentleman would be equally aggrieved if that happened to him. I ask him to see the Leader of the House.
We now return to the Adjournment debates. Will the hon. Members concerned divide the time between them until 12.30 pm? They will each have slightly less than half an hour.

Vietnamese Refugees
Question again proposed, That this House do now adjourn.
11.32 am
Mr. Alastair Goodlad: The Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong have been described as the forgotten people. They have not been on our television screen since the original news film about the boat people, but they are not forgotten by the House. It is right that we should be debating their plight in the Christmas Adjournment debate today. Hon. Members who have visited Hong Kong have seen the appalling conditions in which the refugees are living, and I shall not dwell on those today. Suffice it to say that living in confinement, in cramped conditions, with no privacy is not, and no one would represent it as being, a long-term solution to the unhappy situation of the refugees.
The British Government's efforts to alleviate the problem have been strenuous, but we must sustain and redouble our efforts. We have accepted nearly 20,000 Indo-Chinese refugees since 1975, and about 13,000 refugees from Hong Kong. That is the third highest number of refugees from Hong Kong in any country. This year, the Government have decided to accept for settlement 468 further named individuals, who are close relatives of those already here, and they will be resettled at the rate of about 20 a month over two years.
In addition, we are continuing to try to persuade other countries to follow suit. I hope that my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will be able to tell the House something about our success in doing so. I know that talks have been held with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and that talks have been held in Vietnam about the settlement there of those who wish to return. I hope that my hon. Friend will be able to tell the House something about their progress.
The serious refugee position in Hong Kong has recently become worse. There are now 9,331 refugees in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement and 3,119 refugees have arrived this year. This represents a 54 per cent. increase over the same period last year. By contrast, a total of 2,105 refugees have been resettled this year, which represents a 44 per cent. decrease in resettlement compared with the same period last year. The refugee population in Hong Kong has gone up from just over 8,000 at the beginning of the year to 9,387 now.
Since the introduction of the Hong Kong closed centre policy, 47 boats have opted to continue their journey from Hong Kong after arrival, with provisions of rations and other essential items—three of them this year. About 11,000 of the 13,000 refugees reaching Hong Kong since the closed camps were introduced have elected to stay, preferring them to the alternatives of going on to Taiwan, the Philippines, or perhaps to a totally unknown destination.
Although, on the scale of human suffering, the Vietnamese refugee problem in Hong Kong is not of the same horrific size as the tragedy of the millions of Afghan refugees, which the House debated last week, it is a serious and intractable problem for the Government and the people of Hong Kong and, needless to say, it is a matter of life and death to the Vietnamese people involved. The arrival of the refugees has compounded the difficulties

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posed by illegal immigration from China into Hong Kong. There have been about 630,000 legal and illegal immigrants from China in the past 10 years. That is a 12 per cent. addition to the local population. In addition since 1975, there has been a constant flow of refugees from Vietnam at a completely unpredictable rate. In the first seven months of 1979 no fewer than 66,000 arrived. Since then there have been varying numbers every year. There have been more than 3,000 already this year, an increase of more than a half over the same period last year.
The rate of resettlement has been falling. There has been a 44 per cent. drop this year. Last year a special offer was made by the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries, but they now feel that Thailand and Malaysia, which have more Vietnamese refugees than Hong Kong, should take priority in their resettlement policies. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the Hong Kong Government to predict the rate of resettlement. There are only five ongoing resettlement programmes—the United States of America, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Britain—all with stricter criteria in force than previously. The Australians, the Canadians and the Americans have made plain their view that the international responsibility is now primarily British. There are other programmes, but they are limited to accepting refugees for family reunion, and for families rescued by ships at sea flying the flags of, or owned by, traditional maritime countries. The problem is getting worse.
Hong Kong, which has a land area of only 1,000 sq km, three quarters of it barren hillside, has a population of at least 5·5 million, with a density of more than 5,000 per sq km compared with about 230 people per sq km here, and 22 in the United States of America.
The record of Hong Kong, faced with this serious problem and threat to the stability of its already crowded population, has been quite remarkable. All arrivals by boat from Vietnam have been given asylum, although some ships have been given help to continue their journey if they have opted to do so.
The House is aware that in 1982, the Hong Kong Government adopted the closed centre policy, which it has described as a humane deterrent. Refugees are housed in closed centres awaiting resettlement, and are given basic facilities and necessities, but conditions are grossly overcrowded. People are told about the policy when they arrive, and given assistance to move on to other destinations if they so wish. Hong Kong has also provided a place of new settlement as well as temporary asylum, and has accepted the permanent resettlement of about 14,500 Indo-Chinese refugees since 1975.
Following the British Government's decision in 1985, the Hong Kong Government have accepted more refugees. The criteria which the Hong Kong Government apply are that refugees should be long-stayers in Hong Kong, that is to say that they have been in Hong Kong since before July 1982; secondly, that they should be ethnic Chinese; thirdly, that they should be financially independent; and fourthly, that they should not meet the resettlement criteria of other resettlement countries. Those are strict criteria, and perhaps a relaxation of the first and last of them might be an acceptable way of allowing more resettlement cases at a rate that the Hong Kong Government feel could be accommodated by the colony.
The people and authorities of Hong Kong have given temporary asylum to over 110,000 Vietnamese since 1975. Throughout that period, the voluntary agencies have been
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doing the most essential and distinguished work. I know that the House will wish to pay tribute to the dedicated individuals who carry out that work.
The efforts have been remarkable. Not one refugee has been turned away. Hong Kong is the only place in south-east Asia to introduce a policy of local resettlement, an extremely courageous thing to do, given the difficulties of illegal immigrants from China, with which it already has to cope. It is the only place of first asylum in the region to contribute financially towards the cost of its refugees. Since 1979, the cost to the Hong Kong Government of looking after the Vietnamese refugees has been over US ․86 million. The voluntary agencies in Hong Kong have spent about US$10 million, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to whom this country is a substantial contributor, has spent about US$40 million. The current cost of caring for refugees is over US$20 million a year, of which the Hong Kong Government is contributing three quarters, the UNHCR about US$4·5 million and the voluntary agencies about US$1 million. By contrast, in the other countries of first asylum in the region, the Governments insist that the UNHCR meets the full cost.
The problem is part of the wider difficulty posed by the many millions of people fleeing from cruel and repressive Communist regimes in several parts of the world. We in this country have accepted a large number of refugees for resettlement. I think that the whole House will accept that, because of our constitutional relationship with Hong Kong, we have the unique duty to take the lead in accepting refugees for resettlement here as part of the overall programme. I believe that an important gesture would be for Her Majesty's Government to accept some long-stay refugees with no family links here, and who do not therefore fall within the family reunion principles. I hope that that will be emulated by other countries.
Integral to the solution is persuading other countries, as well as Australia, Canada and the United States, to share in the solution to the problem. Many people, of whom I am one, believe that Hong Kong has never had a fair share of the resettlement places on offer. I know that the UNHCR gives priority to the resettlement of refugees from Hong Kong and has asked many Governments to help. First and foremost must be those in the region—Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and perhaps Japan. They have accepted for temporary asylum some 35,000 boat refugees from Vietnam at the moment, which is up by over 1,000 this year, but given the substantial land areas, particularly in the Malaysian, Indonesian and Philippine archipelagos, there must be a case for their accepting refugees for permanent resettlement. Of course, there are difficulties—delicate ethnic balances, precedence for other refugee groups, and so on — but those countries must contribute to the solution. They will have to do so eventually, and they should do so now.
The Hong Kong Government's decision to introduce the closed centre policy probably had the effect of reducing the number of refugees leaving Vietnam for Hong Kong, although the numbers were already declining. The decision highlights a dilemma. If a country has a Government who are oppressive and cruel, as in Vietnam and, of course, in Afghanistan at the moment, where over half the population are refugees, can the international community

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assimilate everybody who wishes to move across international frontiers for a better life? The answer to that question is no.
On the other hand, there are people who clearly fulfil specific refugee criteria, and for whom it is our duty to find places of permanent resettlement. That problem, which is facing the Hong Kong Government in an acute form, is one that we in this country share with them.
The causes of the problem lie in Vietnam and are beyond our control — they are religious harassment, compulsory military service, political education camps, in which people sometimes spend many years, shortage of food and consequent malnutrition. People who manage to escape from the country and risk their lives and those of their families in open boats deserve every sympathy. The early refugees were all genuine — people in danger of their lives or their liberty because of their religion, political beliefs or race. Subsequently, emigration was no doubt stimulated by accounts of better conditions. It is not helpful to anybody to suggest to the millions of people living in Vietnam that all they have to do is to go somewhere else for a better life. It is not a practical proposition. The only possible course is a steady policy of erosion of the number of genuine refugees awaiting resettlement. At the moment, sadly, we are going backwards rather than forwards.
The British Government have said that this country's willingness to take further refugees from Hong Kong will be decided in the light of the willingness of other resettlement countries to respond to Hong Kong's need, and in the light of all the other circumstances at the time. I ask my hon. Friend the Minister to tell us what has been the outcome of the Government's pressure on other countries to take more refugees from Hong Kong and of the conversations with Vietnam.
I hope that my hon. Friend will spell out to the House how our own willingness to accept refugees for settlement is evolving. One of the constraints is the capacity of the voluntary agencies, primarily the Ockenden Venture and Refugee Action, in accommodating refugees. They do a distinguished job, and I hope that my hon. Friend will reassure the House that they will continue to enjoy the necessary financial support from the Government for doing so.
The Government have said that the principal determinant for the rate of resettlement in the United Kingdom is the availability of accommodation for refugees. I need hardly remind my hon. Friend and the House of the number of empty houses, particularly outside the south-east. I hope that my hon. Friend will elaborate on the current availability of suitable accommodation.
The need to alleviate the plight of the Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong is compelling and urgent. The means are available and I hope that my hon. Friend can tell us that the will is undiminished.
11.45
Sir Philip Goodhart: I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) for the humane way in which he has introduced this subject. I am sure that we all echo the tribute that he has paid to the Hong Kong Government for the way in which they have tackled the problem and to the charities that have done so much to alleviate suffering.
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A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to visit again a closed centre in Hong Kong where some 1,676 people were detained in an area about the size of the Holland Park comprehensive school. The staff who looked after them were clearly humane, and relations between the staff and the inmates were remarkably good. The inmates' health was good and there seemed to be less crime than one might expect to find in an English village of comparable size. On the other hand, the overcrowding is becoming much worse. When I was there 12 months before, there were double bunks, and this year triple bunks were being introduced. The average length of stay in the camps is now three and a half years and some of the children approaching school age have never set foot outside the camps. That cannot be right.
Like my hon. Friend, I recognise that we are in a cleft stick. If we open the camps in Hong Kong, and if the West accepts many more Vietnamese boat people for resettlement, the number of people setting out from Vietnam will almost certainly increase. In the summer we saw a major increase in the number of refugees trying to come to Hong Kong because of the mistaken belief that in Washington the Secretary of State had announced a relaxation of American policy, allowing in more immigrants.
What can we do? I echo the comments made by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury. We must try to persuade other countries in south-east Asia, and in the Philippines, in particular, to accept some of the refugees from overcrowded Hong Kong until such time as the harsh regime in Vietnam softens its stance sufficiently to allow those people living in the camps to return.
11.48 am
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Tim Eggar): I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) for giving the House an opportunity to consider this very important issue. I welcome the opportunity to put the Government's view on record and to explain what we are doing to resolve this tragic problem. I shall do my best in the limited time available to answer some of the points that have been raised. If there are any outstanding matters that I cannot cover, I will write to my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury and to my hon. Friend the Member for Beckenham (Sir P. Gooodhart).
Since 1975 a vast number of people have left Indo-China. The reason is very simple. They have fled the Communist oppression. More than 1·5 million people have left their homes to seek sanctuary overseas and more than 1 million of them are Vietnamese. More than 35,000 Vietnamese await resettlement in refugee camps in the region and some 9,400 are in Hong Kong. That is a human tragedy of appalling proportions and one which only international action can resolve. I should state that the only comparable refugee problem is that of the Afghan refugees trying to escape from Communist oppression.
In July 1979 it was a British initiative that led to a conference in Geneva designed to tackle the worsening crisis of the boat people. It was agreed that group refugee status would be conferred on those leaving Indo-China by boat. That was an important step forward. Asylum would be offered by those countries where boat people first arrived to allow time to arrange resettlement in third countries. For years that British-initiated system worked well, taking the south-east Asian region as a whole. The

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rate of resettlement declined after 1980, but until recently it had more than kept pace with the declining rate of arrivals. The change came this year.
While the pace of resettlement continued to decline, the rate of arrivals increased. Many are accepted as refugees in places of first asylum, but then not by other countries for resettlement. That is often because their motivation for leaving Vietnam is perceived—with some justification, I must say — to be economic rather than political. However, the implications of those people for the places of first asylum are obvious. The places of first asylum bear an increasingly heavy burden.
Hong Kong is only too aware of that. From 1979 until this year the number of Vietnamese refugees in camps in Hong Kong fell. However, the numbers are again on the increase. My hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury quoted the figures, which tell their own story. That trend extends wider than Hong Kong. It is a regional problem that demands an international solution.
We hear much of the suffering caused by natural disasters. What is shocking about the refugee problem is that it is entirely man-made. It is important to make it absolutely clear—as both my hon. Friends the Members for Eddisbury and for Beckenham did—that the root cause of the refugee problem in Indo-China lies in Hanoi. It lies in the repressive policies of a Government who maintain the fourth largest army in the world while continuing to devote their scarce resources to the military occupation of Cambodia and yet lamentably fail to provide a decent life for their own people. That is a sad commentary on Communist priorities.
My hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury drew attention to the efforts of successive British Governments to resettle Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong. He referred to some of the figures, and I believe that they deserve to be repeated. Since 1975, we have accepted some 20,000 Indo-Chinese refugees, and nearly 13,000 of them were Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong. That is a substantial commitment which reflects our special responsibilities for the territory. It is an honourable record, especially when we take into account the pressures that we also face to settle immigrants from other parts of the world.
My hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury referred to the resettlement offer that we made in 1985. Further to that, in May this year, as he also noted, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced that we would accept a further 468 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong with relatives in this country. So far this year, 150 refugees have been resettled under this programme. The pace at which it is being implemented will facilitate the reception of the refugees by the voluntary agencies and their absorption into the community. We are also making a financial commitment to the upkeep of the refugees in Hong Kong through contributions to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and to a voluntary agency working in the camps. I associate the Government with the remarks made by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury about the major role placed by voluntary agencies.
My hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury asked about the availability of suitable accommodation in this country. The resettlement of refugees in Britain is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, but my understanding is that in one way or another the reception of refugees puts considerable
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demands on local resources. We judge that a gradual flow of around 20 people a month is to be most easily handled. The voluntary agencies here at home have an important role to play, and the Government ensure that they receive adequate financial support.
I should also pay tribute to the contribution of the Hong Kong Government. My hon. Friend has noted Hong Kong's particular generosity in offering local resettlement. I believe that that is a significant and praiseworthy contribution by a small and overcrowded territory. However, I note that my hon. Friend has suggested some relaxation of the criteria applied, and, of course, I shall draw that to the attention of the Hong Kong Government.
The contribution of Hong Kong does not end there. My hon. Friend has also noted the generous financial contribution made by the Hong Kong Government, and their readiness to accept every refugee who seeks help. That is a humanitarian record of which the Hong Kong Government can be justly proud.
I said that an international commitment was required. My hon. Friend asked about the progress that we have made in urging other Governments to accept refugees from Hong Kong. We keep in close touch with all the Governments who in the past have taken refugees from Hong Kong, and we are deeply grateful for the contribution that they have made. We are now urging them vigorously to follow our recent initiative, and agree to accept more refugees. We also work closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and my hon. Friend is quite right in saying that he gives priority to the resettlement of refugees from Hong Kong. He is in contact with many Governments who seek his advice w hen allocating their refugees resettlement quotas.
Our diplomatic campaign for further resettlement places for refugees from Hong Kong is a major priority for us, but let no one underestimate the difficulties. Some replies give us cause for encouragement: some additional places have been offered as a result of our representations. Often, however, the response is disappointing. I have already said that some resettlement countries now apply more restrictive criteria when considering Vietnamese for resettlement. Yet those refugees have all been accepted in good faith, and without distinction, by places of first asylum on the basis of the consensus reached at the 1979 Geneva conference.
We acknowledge with gratitude the contributions that the resettlement countries have already made, but I assure the House that we shall be redoubling our efforts to persuade them to show even greater generosity in the future. As I said earlier, we consider that our latest decision to accept a further 468 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong with family ties here represents a significant continuing commitment to Hong Kong, given the immigration pressures that we face from elsewhere.
While I deeply sympathise with Hong Kong's problems, and with the plight of the refugees themselves, I have to say that at this stage our resettlement commitments have been extended as far as possible. I do not think that at present we can announce any further moves.
Both my hon. Friends the Members for Eddisbury and for Beckenham have referred to the possibility of permanent resettlement for Vietnamese refugees in the south-east Asia region. We have considered the idea carefully in the past, and have also taken informal

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soundings of the Governments who might be involved. I have to say that that has led us to conclude that no country in the region would be receptive to the idea of accommodating large numbers of refugees from Hong Kong.
When my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced a new intake of Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong, he made it clear that we do not consider resettlement alone to be the answer to the territory's refugee problems. As I said, the key lies with Vietnam. We shall keep up our support for the orderly departure programme, which offers one mechanism to reduce the pressure for illegal departures. We are pleased that that programme has started again to allow departures to Britain. So far this year, 162 Vietnamese have arrived in Britain under the programme.
My hon. Friend referred to those who wish to return to Vietnam with the consent of the authorities there. I understand that a handful of refugees in Hong Kong have elected to return to Vietnam, and have been accepted back by the authorities, but the number is very small.
There can be no doubt that the long-term solution to the problem is the creation of acceptable conditions for the return to Vietnam of those who have left for essentially economic reasons. Our view is increasingly shared by other Governments. We are in contact with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. We are in contact with the main resettlement countries. There is now active international discussion of the possibility of returning to Vietnam under suitable safeguards—I should stress that—those who do not meet the criteria of refugees. At the same time we have intensified our bilateral contacts with the Vietnamese authorities.
So far, those approaches have not borne fruit. I regret that we have found no new willingness on the part of the Vietnamese authorities to accept back those who have left, other than on a very limited case-by-case basis. It will be difficult to reach acceptable and agreed arrangements covering those who do not meet the criteria of refugees. I can assure the House that there can be no question of returning them to a punitive reception in Vietnam. We cannot expect quick results, but I believe that international perceptions are changing in a way which will over time facilitate that development. We shall continue to play an active part, in full recognition of our special responsibility for Hong Kong.
I hope that this debate has enabled the House to understand in rather greater detail the problem of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong and the efforts that we are making to resolve it. I have explained the main aspects of our policy but the most important thing is that over the longer term we must seek a lasting international solution to the Indo-Chinese refugee problem as a whole. We are under no illusion that progress here will be quick or easy. It is linked to the pace of international discussions, and it needs a change of heart in Hanoi itself, but we must all recognise the need for a durable solution to a continuing human tragedy. It is an objective that we shall continue to pursue with determination.

National Health Service (London)
12.1 pm
Mr. Jeremy Corbyn: This debate on the crisis in London's Health Service comes at an important time. For understandable reasons the debate is shorter than it might have been, and that is regrettable.
Earlier this week we had a statement from the Government on health spending in Britain and how they are planning to increase it to cope with the present crisis. Many of us were sceptical when the statement was made and, having had a couple of days to look at the details and the figures and do calculations for our own areas, I can reveal that the amount allocated for the four Thames regions—if all the money was spent in London alone—would meet only half the needs of the crisis. In fact, the four Thames regions cover far more than Greater London.
Because of the background to the debate, it is worth putting on record the fact that the levels of health spending in this country, despite all the best efforts of the Government in their huge propaganda machine, are woefully inadequate when compared to any other industrial country that is seeking to run a proper Health Service. The figure for this country of total health spending per capita is $161, compared to $232 in Australia, $220 in West Germany and $141 in Japan. Therefore, only Japan comes lower than the level in this country. One can make many more comparisons which will always show that health spending in Britain is significantly lower than in any other comparable country.
There are three early-day motions on the Order Paper today concerning London's health emergency. All three are in the names of the London group of Labour Members, all of whom have signed them. The first
"deplores the closure of 590 acute beds in inner London and a total of 1,000 hospital acute beds across London since May 1987, and the crisis of funding imposed by cash limits on London's health service which will result in increased suffering and hardship for Londoner".
It calls for more money for London. However, that money has not been forthcoming.
The second motion, which is in many ways just as important, deals with the loss of rate support grant to London local authorities, which has undermined the quality and level of service of community care and social services that local authorities provide. The motion reflects the real nature of the Government's policies for London. It calls on Her Majesty's Government to restore the loss of £4·4 billion in rate support grant and to make a further £35 million available to allow district health authorities to avoid further cuts in health facilities. There is a close correlation between the two.
The third of our emergency motions deals with staffing in London. There is a crisis in Health Service staffing in London because of low pay, privatisation and a loss of morale. That is a measure of the low regard that the Government have for Health Service staff in London. We are calling on the Government to make substantial improvements in the 5·5 per cent. offer for London weighting and to fund the Thames region sufficiently to enable it to pay any new offer to health authority staff.
Those of us who have been involved with the Health Service for a long time—for many years I was a full-time official of the National Union of Public Employees, and I am sponsored by it in the House—know full well that the consequence of the Government's not funding

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health authority pay awards is that it creates a false division between Health Service staff and the needs of patients, when in reality they are very much the same. We resent the way in which these divisions have been brought about.
The crisis that we face is that, despite the money that the Government announced this week, which is inadequate, we are facing an immediate series of cuts in London over the Christmas period. Camberwell health authority is closing 110 beds at King's College hospital for two weeks; Wandsworth health authority is closing nine wards for two weeks—the number of beds in each ward varies; Islington health authority is closing the Royal Northern hospital, which is located in my constituency, and moving patients to the Whittington hospital from 18 December until 4 January. Additionally, there is an attempt to close the hospital altogether.
Merton and Sutton health authority is closing eight wards for two weeks, one of which will be permanently closed thereafter; Brent health authority is closing six wards for an unspecified period. Again, there is concern that those wards will not reopen. Barnet health authority, in which the Prime Minister's constituency lies, is closing Victoria maternity hospital because of nurse shortages. It is £1 million overspent and the Victoria maternity hospital will be closed indefinitely pending consultation on its permanent closure. That is an activity that we have seen increasingly within the Health Service.
Since the beginning of this year the number of beds lost in London health authorities is staggering. I shall not quote every example, but Brent health authority has lost 50 beds, Harrow 32, Hillingdon 75, Paddington 92, Bromley 58, West Lambeth 137, Hampstead 112, and Haringey 127. Haringey health authority no longer has any acute services within the borough. There has been a process of cut and closure in every hospital in the borough of Haringey. The nearest emergency services are at the North Middlesex hospital, which lies just inside the borough of Enfield.
On 26 November, the day that the House was last debating the crisis in the Health Service, the London Evening Standard reproduced an excellent report from London Health Emergency. It outlined a few of the problems. Bloomsbury health authority has a budget of £137 million and has not overspent. That has been achieved by the authority saving £1·3 million by freezing vacancies and other such matters. Hammersmith and Queen C'harlotte's, which has a budget of £46 million, is overspent by £700,000. The main cause of that is the underfunding of pay awards and the need to upgrade kitchens and dining rooms. Greenwich, which has a budget of £65 million, is overspent by £250,000, and even to achieve that figure it had to introduce savings of £750,000. In effect, the cut is £1 million on a budget of only £65 million. That is an enormous cut in one year.
In the current year we have lost almost 1,000 beds. That must be considered against the background of what has happened in the Health Service in London since 1979. The Minister is always keen to quote the state of the Health Service under the last Labour Government, but we must consider the success of the Conservative Government in providing for the health needs of the people of London. In 1979 there were 64,736 National Health Service beds in National Health Service hospitals in London. The great achievement of the Government has been to reduce that figure to 52,708.
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If anyone were to consider the cuts that have taken place in the past eight years in particular health authorities he would be astounded. Let us take one or two at random. The City and Hackney district health authority had 1,990 beds; it now has 1,686. Waltham Forest district health authority had 3,311 beds, and that number has been reduced to 2,407. Barnet district health authority had 2,841 beds and that number has been reduced to 2,324. In my authority—the figures are available only from 1982 because of Health Service restructuring—the number of beds has gone down from 1,177 to 866. It is one of only three authorities in London which have fewer than 1,000 beds available for their populations. Those figures are a measure of the disaster that faces the Health Service in London.
The Minister has spoken of the problems of Health Service spending in London, but there are a number of confusing aspects. London is covered by the four Thames regions—there is no London health authority. I believe that it would be better if there were such an authority, because I am fed up with the idea of inner-London health spending always being compared with spending in outer-suburban areas. I have absolutely no wish to see the home counties suffering health cuts, but I believe that the way in which the RAWP formula has been operated by the Government has resulted in the biggest cuts taking place in some of the Thames regions.
In fact, the sub-regional RAWP movements have resulted in a permanent process of cuts, closure and decline in every inner-London health authority. Although we do not want cuts anywhere else, we ask the Government to recognise that there are enormous health needs within London. We are not indulging in special pleading for London at the expense of other parts of the country: we are seeking a cash increase that will help the people of London. It is important that that is on the record.
In the years between 1982–83 and 1985–86, the North East Thames health authority, which covers my constituency, has lost 0·9 per cent. in real terms in capital revenue allocations. It has also suffered as a result of the sub-regional RAWP figures.
It is also important to consider the regional var: ations in hospital costs for in-patients. The costs in London are considerably higher than those in any other part of the country. That is why London weighting is available for staff and why we ask the Government to take proper account of the increased costs in London. Building costs, land costs and transport costs are all higher in London. The efficiency of any service—the ambulance service, or anything else—is markedly less in London because of the continuous, inevitable congestion.
Let us consider the costs for hospitals with more than 300 beds. In the North West Thames regional health authority, the cost per patient per day is £108·97. The equivalent figure for the Oxford authority is £99·72, arid for the West Midlands, regional health authority it is £95·86. The average in England is £99·63. The costs for acute beds in those regions are as follows. The cost in the North West Thames health authority is £81·80. The cost in the west midlands is slightly higher than average and the average for the whole of England is £79·79. It is important that the Government should take account of those figures.
When the Minister made his statement this week, he said that, as a result of the total increased allocation for extra services in the Thames regions, the North West Thames health authority would receive £4·7 million, North

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East Thames health authority £6 million, South East Thames health authority £5·3 million and South West Thames health authority £4·3 million. We should compare those figures with the needs identified in our early-day motion, which require £38,257,000. That sum is needed to avoid the immediate acute crisis that faces the London Health Service. That is a measure of how far we have still to go, and of how little we have achieved so far.
There is a serious staff crisis in the London Health Service. There have been large numbers of job losses because of a process of privatisation and of deliberately keeping vacancies in the Health Service. Anyone who visits a London hospital from year to year can see how bad the situation is becoming. One sees the generally scruffy appearance of the entrance areas to so many hospitals. People have to wait a long time. One comes across cases of double bedding—or hot bedding, as it is called—whereby patients are shuffled from bed to bed at enormous speed. In some hospitals people are treated in the corridor.
A case was reported recently in a well written article by a constituent of mine in The Guardian. My constituent's son broke an arm. She would be the first to admit that she is a relatively comfortably off person, in that she has access to a car. When she took her son to the local Whittington hospital she found that he could not be admitted even though the X-rays were done there, so he had to be taken to the Edgware hospital, to which she was able to drive him, and after a four-hour wait he was admitted. Others, who are not so lucky, have to rely on ambulance services, which are so overstretched that they cannot meet these demands.
I wish to give some figures about the Paddington health authority — an inner-city authority. There has been a long-term plan of reduction of facilities at St. Mary's W2 hospital, which has now finally been closed. There have been reductions in service at St. Charles's hospital, and everything has been centralised in St. Mary's on the Praed street site. The effect of that is to make travelling more difficult for everyone and to create a large, impersonal hospital. The privatisation of the staff there has resulted, at St. Mary's in Praed street, in 60 catering jobs and 280 domestic jobs being lost, and the privatisation at St. Charles's hospital has resulted in the loss of 170 domestics. Bringing in the company Mediclean has resulted in a different atmosphere, which is hostile to the needs and aspirations of staff, and in considerable difficulties for union organisation and representations.
Before I allow the Minister time to reply, I want to draw his attention to one or two other matters. I shall deal first with the London ambulance service, which was the subject of a lengthy debate following the passage of the Consolidated Fund Bill, during which we were able to show that the service is finding it increasingly difficult to meet the needs of the people of London—especially for emergencies. On the night of the King's Cross fire, about 40 ambulances were unavailable for service. I would be the first to praise the heroism of the police, station, fire and ambulance staff, but it is not good enough to shed crocodile tears in the House about the needs of the London emergency ambulance service if, at the same time, funding is not provided so that the ambulances can do the job properly. Many people are fed up with Ministers going
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around hospitals after disasters like ghouls, when they are not prepared to pay the money that is needed to avoid such accidents in future.
The problems of the service are compounded by a general shortage of staff and controllers, which in turn leads to enormous stress among the staff. Ambulance staff are not particularly well paid. Anyone who has watched them at work will realise the terrifying stress of trying to drive an emergency patient through London's traffic, knowing full well that there is another emergency after that—and another after that—with the attendant fears that one might arrive too late because of the traffic and the shortage of ambulances in the first place. That must be understood.
The unions concerned, NUPE and COHSE and others, produced a report on ambulance stress.
In 1980 the London ambulance service covered a total of 9,101,000 miles. That has been reduced by 1987 to 8,238,000. In every area fewer emergency ambulances are available, even though they are working efficiently and hard. Emergency ambulance miles covered have kept up, but at the expense of non-emergency services and by increasing the use of hired cars, minicabs and volunteer drivers, which is an unacceptable way of doing things.
Islington health authority is in an inner-city area and is facing a long-term cut in health standards. The Friern Barnet psychiatric hospital is to close and its patients will be forced into the community. The social services department is worried that it will be unable to meet the needs of those people, in the same way as Camden and Haringey are also unable to meet them. The Royal Northern hospital is closing temporarily over Christmas and will close permanently soon after that. The Southwood hospital is also to close.
People in my constituency are greatly worried that the Health Service is becoming increasingly unable to cope with the needs of patients. Indeed, in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) the lack of funding for the elderly assessment centre at Bart's hospital is causing great concern, and we look forward to an announcement from the Minister that he will support that venture.
Health is much more than a series of statistics, although that is the only way in which one can present it in the House. Health means the knowledge that the Health Service is available for all those who need it, at the time that they need it. In London, that is increasingly no longer the case. Waiting lists become longer and longer, small hospitals are closed and large hospitals are closing wards and operating theatres. There is great concern among the staff, who either leave or continue to work in such appalling conditions that we wonder why they stay in the employment of the health authority.
The announcement this week of some increase in funding shows how scared the Government are over the increasing protests about the level of health spending. They have been frightened by publicity and by letters from leading doctors. They now realise that every family knows that there is something badly wrong with our hospitals, wherever they may be throughout the land. We need a large increase in Health Service spending in London, and we need it very quickly, to stave off the crisis that we are facing this Christmas.
However, it must go further than that. Barbara Young, the spokesperson for the hospital managers, has said that any money often comes too late to stave off ward closures.

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The Minister could do us a good turn today by announcing that he is prepared to alleviate the crisis in London by giving the Health Service the money that it needs, now.
12.22 pm
Sir Brandon Rhys Williams: I listened carefully to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn), who put a powerful case. He drew attention to problems that are well known, but unfortunately he did not suggest the solutions. When tackling the problems of the Health Service, we must take a long-term view as to where the money can be found. We cannot constantly print it, as the previous Labour Government did, to meet demand, and to reallocate the money from other areas is always a controversial issue.
A long-term solution must be found, but where the short-term emergency in London is concerned, the hon. Gentleman was unfortunate in that his debate has come just after a statement that has gone some considerable way towards meeting it. Indeed, the existence of the emergency is not denied by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health.
Outsiders—I speak for myself, as I am an outsider to the Health Service—meet experts in the Health Service who can generally put an absolutely convincing case for what needs to be done, backed by figures and arguments that leave one in no doubt of the justice of their case. However, the next expert one meets will probably say the exact opposite. We are then left in doubt about what action to recommend.
I want to make one recommendation that is especially relevant to London. We are handicapped by the regional structure in making long-term plans. I am not suggesting that we should embark on yet another reorganisation, and I certainly do not suggest that we should set up a health ILEA. However, I noted the hon. Gentleman's comments about organisation in London, and there is a serious element of truth in his statement that we are unable to plan for London as a whole. The Department should undertake a review of the major London hospitals, especially the teaching hospitals and the great specialist institutions. It should be recognised that they are of service to the whole country and, in some cases, to the world. They are not merely of service to the region in which they happen to be located.
I feel that decisions have been taken about those major institutions based simply on the regions in which they are located, and not in the best interests of London as a whole. That problem cannot be tackled except by the Department. I put forward that problem for my hon. Friend's consideration and hope that, in due course, a satisfactory solution will emerge.
12.25 pm
The Minister for Health (Mr. Tony Newton): I shall, necessarily, have to reply briefly and shall not attempt to pick up all of the points made by the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) and by my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington (Sir B. Rhys Williams), partly because, as the hon. Member for Islington, North has acknowledged, some of his comments on the London ambulance service have been the subject of recent debate and discussion in the House. However, I should like to comment on some of the major points made by the hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friend.
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I observe gently and in no spirit of aggression that part of the hon. Gentleman's speech complained about what he called privatisation, but what I call competitive tendering in relation to certain support services in London hospitals. Given that on our estimate competitive tendering has saved about £100 million throughout the country, money which has been left in the Health Service and has therefore been available for spending on patient care services, all the problems that the hon. Gentleman has discussed would be £100 million worse if we had not pursued those competitive tendering policies.
Mr. Corbyn: The Minister is just using statistics.
Mr. Newton: Well, if we are to argue about who is using statistics contentiously, I may have one or two comebacks against the hon. Gentleman.
Mr. Corbyn: We have more
Mr. Newton: I think I shall quote statistics because I noticed that, when referring to the additional sums that I announced on Wednesday for health authorities throughout the country for the current year, 1987–88, and for next year, 1988–89, the hon. Gentleman selectively picked only one element in the increased funding for the current year for the Thames regional health authorities. In doing so, the hon. Gentleman virtually halved the amounts that they will actually receive. I should like to put on record the fact that for 1987–88 what I announced on Wednesday means an additional £11·4 million for the North West Thames regional health authority, £9·6 million for the North East Thames regional health authority and £7 million for the South West Thames reginal health authority.
I acknowledge that part of that money—sizeable only in relation to South East Thames — is related to the storm damage that occurred in what has become known as the hurricane of last month. Nevertheless, even allowing for that, those are substantial sums. The hon. Gentleman left out of his own statistics the fact that they include significant sums in recognition of the acute pressures that AIDS has placed on some of the Thames regional health authorities, especially the North West Thames regional health authority, which covers the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington. Within the totals that I have already given, from Wednesday North West Thames has received an additional £6 million for AIDS, North East Thames £2·5 million and South East Thames £1·5 million.
I should make the point that those are immediate additions to the money that is available for regional health authorities for 1987–88. I should like briefly to remind the hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friend that for next year, 1988–89, the four Thames regional health authorities will receive respectively an additional £68 million for North West Thames, £62 million for North East Thames, £51 million for South East Thames and £40 million for South West Thames. No doubt we could argue almost for ever about whether those sums are precisely right, but they ate substantial additional sums for those Thames regional health authorities.
I refer to the comments of the hon. Member for Islington about hospital beds in London and the RAWP process. As a Member concerned with North East Essex regional health authority, I am conscious that there are different perspectives on such matters. Indeed, for the first

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10 years that I was a Member for Parliament for part of Essex, my constituents complained endlessly and, in my view, understandably, that despite the fact that the population was steadily moving out of London into Essex and, for that matter, into Kent, Hertfordshire and the other counties that surround London, Health Service money continued to be spent in London and on maintaining beds in London. The population, often, in my case, from east and north London, that had moved out to Essex was not getting the provision that it deserved.
Again, there is plenty of scope for argument about the pace and scale of change, but there is no serious room for argument that, against a background in which the population is moving fom within London to outside London, there must necessarily be consequences for the pattern of health service provision—
Mr. Corbyn: The population is stabilising.
Mr. Newton: It is showing signs of stabilising. That, in turn, will be taken into account in our policies as they develop. We are reviewing the so-called RAWP formula. Among the matters which we are examining is whether social deprivation, which affects all constituencies, is weighted sufficiently. As I observed in the House the other day, for every group of Members that says to me that urban deprivation is not sufficiently recognised, there is another that says that rapid growth of population is not sufficiently recognised—
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Dr. Brian Mawhinney): Hear, hear.
Mr. Newton: —as, no doubt, is the case in Peterborough and in the Oxford region—
Mr. Corbyn: The hon. Gentleman worked in a hospital.
Mr. Newton: There is a sizeable chunk of new hospital there. Perhaps for Hansard purposes, I should make it clear that my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) is the subject of these interventions.
We shall take account of all these factors—including "rural scatter", as it is described in Cornwall. We shall, of course, take account of legitimate concerns.
The comments of the hon. Member for Islington, North on some aspects of hospital activity over the Christmas period, especially the Royal Northern hospital, were pretty misleading. It is well known that, apart from anything else, many patients do not care to go into hospital over
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Christmas and that there is a drop in the demand for elective surgery. Many people, if offered an operation over the Christmas period, would say that they would rather wait.
The Royal Northern hospital will close over Christmas, but as part of the health authority's normal reduction in service over that period rather than because of any effort to save cash. This year, for the first time and on medical advice, the health authority is concentrating in-patient services at the Whittington hospital — where my appendix was taken out some 13 or 14 years ago —rather than maintaining a reduced service at both hospitals. Out-patient services will continue to be provided at the royal northern during that period.
The hon. Member for Islington, North did slightly less than justice to his cause, in his comments on the closure of the Royal Northern, without acknowledging that the background to a consideration of that hospital's future is that fact that building has just started at the Whittington on a £16 million new development. It is proposed that all acute services will be transferred to the Whittington following the completion in 1991 of phase one of the redevelopment of the hospital, which started only last month.
I accept that there may always be arguments about what the total number of beds should be, but it is not reasonable to refer to proposals for closure of an old hospital without recognising that a great new hospital is being developed close by, which inescapably means considering the pattern of services.
The hon. Member for Islington, North and my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington referred to the planning of London health services. I have some sympathy with the view—which I think was highlighted by the report of the King Edward's hospital fund for London, which was published about a year ago after a get-together of the 12 inner-London health authority chairmen—that there is a need for further work to be done. We have set up a working party with the four regional health authorities and representatives of the inner London chairmen's group to examine the issues that have been raised. I take note of the suggestions made by the hon. Member for Islington, North and my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington. We expect to receive a report shortly, which we shall of course consider carefully.
I have rattled along a little, but I hope that I have commented on the important points raised by the hon. Member for Islington, North and my hon. Friend for Kensington.

Northern Ireland Schools
12.33 pm
Mr. James Kilfedder: On this the last day that the House will sit in 1987, it is salutary to look back on what has happened in the last 12 months. I shall confine my remarks to Northern Ireland, and I think with sorrow of all those who have been murdered or maimed by terrorists in the last 12 months. I make no distinction between the types of terrorists, and I certainly make no distinction between the victims on the basis of religion.
In the past 48 hours we have had to contemplate a mindless atrocity in Londonderry, when randomly placed bombs caused death, grief, destruction and injury to many, including children. The Enniskillen atrocity gained international headlines. It made a massive impact which aroused the anger of Protestants and Catholics throughout Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, particularly among the younger generation.
I do not want the marvellous spirit of good will to be dissipated, but that is all too easy in the heartrending situation in Northern Ireland. We must therefore call a halt to the present political stalemate, which generates despair, uncertainty and hatred.
As we look back today on the events of 1987, we must consider what can be achieved in the new year. No doubt there will be atrocities, death and destruction—all that the terrorists have to offer—but we should counter that with sensible proposals. The new year must be accepted as a year of challenge by us all. We should see what each of us can do to overcome the divisions in our community. Each of us should attempt to bridge the cruel divisions between Protestant and Catholic. Politicians must give a lead in that regard.
For many years I have fought against the religious apartheid that exists in our education system. It divides people in their formative years when they should be learning together, playing together, laughing together and, I suppose, but only occasionally, crying together. It is unbelievable that children are divided even at kindergarten. If they are sent to separate schools, it is inevitable that children at one school will regard as alien children of a different religion in another school. Such division is indefensible and infringes the inherent rights of the child.
So far I have not succeeded in ending that unnatural division, but I shall continue to advocate integration. I have also argued that teacher training colleges — the state college at Stranmillis and the Catholic colleges of St. Mary and St. Joseph — should be amalgamated and placed under the aegis of the university. The opposition won the day when I suggested that. The opportunity to bring teachers within a non-sectarian university atmosphere was missed.
The Minister who is to reply to the debate has proposed that Protestant and Catholic teachers spend part of their training in schools of the other tradition. It is a sensible proposal, and I cannot understand how anybody could object to it. It is only a modest step, but it could herald a new approach to the educational division in Northern Ireland. Once trainee teacher exchanges took root, the people involved might not want the process to stop at that, and we may yet witness the dismantling of the religious divide in education.
In the meantime, how else can we foster good community relations in schools? Schools which accept
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children of a religion which is not the majority religion should be encouraged and given financial incentives. Lagan college was established in 1981 with 28 pupils. It now has about 500, an equal number of whom are Protestant and Roman Catholic. I thank the Minister for the support that he has given that integrated school. Others have been established or are being established. Some are primary schools, and I believe that there are two secondary schools.
What else have the Government done? I should like to give an example of a major blunder. The Rudolf Steiner school in my constituency at Holywood prides itself of providing education for children of any or no religious denomination. The school was naturally appalled—as I was — to hear how it was described in a recent Government publication cumbersomely entitled:
"Religious Equality of Opportunity and Employment—Guide to Effective Practice".
In that publication, which was produced, not by the Department of Education, but by the Department of Economic Development, the school was described as a Protestant school. When the school protested, and I protested on its behalf, we were told that it had to be labelled as either Roman Catholic or Protestant. Thus—this is the reasoning behind the decision of the Department of Economic Development—a prospective employer can tell when an applicant for a job is Protestant or Roman Catholic.
The document was issued to about 40,000 employers. I protested to the Minister at the Department of Economic Development, and in reply he said:
"systems need to be put in place to identify the perceived religious affiliation (not the actual belief) of job applicants and of existing employees … the school would under the present system be reclassified as 'Not Known' when the list is revised and updated."
What bureaucratic nonsense. The religious affiliations of the school are well known. It is non-denominational, and I would have thought it simple for the Government to denote the school in their publication as "nondenominational". To do otherwise is to repudiate the tremendous effort made by the Rudolf Steiner school and its staff to make all its pupils aware of and sympathetic to others in the world, regardless of colour, creed or race. I demand that the Department of Economic Development send out a correction forthwith to all those who received the original misleading and damaging document.
I know that the Minister has committed himself to a vigorous programme for reconciliation within the present school system, and I praise him for his efforts to stimulate conserted action, but I shall leave it to him in his reply to set out the Department's strategy for community relations in schools. All the initiatives to bring about reconciliation must be designed to encourage pupils to realise that they live in a land which has a long, rich and varied history — which, despite religious and political differences, they all have much in common.
I do not merely desire better community relations to stop there. I see Northern Ireland in the context of the United Kingdom, which, despite the occasional political crisis on the mainland, can be regarded as a nation of great toleration. I mentioned that in a debate only a short time ago. I would not limit the initiative to the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland schoolchildren must be faced with the fact that they are all young Europeans. It is in that context that we must bring them to face the realities in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.

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Many centuries ago, there was a famous school of learning at Bangor in my constituency. It welcomed students from all over Europe, and 1,300 years ago it was destroyed by the barbaric hordes who had already pulled the blanket of darkness over the rest of Europe. Students came to Bangor to learn there what they could not learn elsewhere in Europe.
Northern Ireland has always had a good education system. I was interested to read in the press that the Minister, on a visit to the famous Ulster folk and transport museum at Cultra in my constituency, saw a notice issued in November 1863 headed, "General Lesson", hanging in a reconstructed school house. I understand that the Minister commended the message and asked that it go out to all teachers. It is worth quoting, and I shall quote just two parts of it. I remind the House that "General Lesson" was issued in November 1863 and hung in all school houses in Ireland. It said:
"Christians should endeavour, as the Apostle Paul commands them, to live peaceably with all men, … even with those of a different religious persuasion.
Our saviour Christ, commanded his Disciples to love one another. He taught them to love even their enemies, to bless those that cursed them, and to pray for those who persecuted them. He himself prayed for his murderers."
That declaration has a relevant message for today. Does it not remind us of the fine words used by Mr. Gordon Wilson immediately after the Enniskillen atrocity, when his daughter and others were slaughtered, when he said that he forgave her murderers? Not all of us can aspire to such Christlike forgiveness. None the less, we must all strive to bring people together in Northern Ireland and to show that we can live together. If we cannot do that, the alternative is what the IRA says, that we die together. The message from the House, from all Unionists and Ulster politicians, must be that we should all live together.
There is no point in overlooking the sectarian slaughter. There is no advantage in trying to avoid mentioning the sectarian hatred that manifests itself from time to time. Divisions exist. We must do our best to heal the wounds that are there. The future belongs to the young people of Northern Ireland. Better community relations in schools in Northern Ireland will mean a better future for Northern Ireland. We all have a part to play, not least the Ulster politicians. Everyone, young and old, can help to bring the community together. It is an enormous task.
Northern Ireland is not the only part of the world where there are religious and political divisions in one form or another. In certain instances, those divisions are far worse than in Northern Ireland. Bad as the situation is, thank God the position there has not reached the level in the Lebanon and Sri Lanka. However, let us see what steps we can take to achieve consensus as far as it is humanly practicable. Let us also strive towards establishing some form of government in the Province that has the support of all reasonable and decent people in the community. By our example in 1988 and in the years thereafter we can encourage better community relations, not only among the young, but among all the people of Northern Ireland.
12.47 pm
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Dr. Brian Mawhinney): The hon. Member for North Down (Mr. Kilfedder) has done the House a great service by allowing us to have a short debate
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on this important subject. I thank him for the kind personal comments that he made about me in my role as Education Minister.
The hon. Gentleman properly set the importance of this subject against the background of terrorist activity and killing, which we have seen for too many years in the Province, and which reflects the extreme edge of the divisions that characterise Northern Ireland society.
The hon. Gentleman referred to 1988 as the year of challenge. I wish that I had thought of that phrase. He will forgive me if I use it on other occasions after today. The challenge is the effort that the Government and everyone in the community must make to seek to improve community relations in Northern Ireland and to bring about greater harmony and reconciliation. No one should underestimate the difficulties or suppose that there are easy solutions.
I assure the House that the Government are fully committed to the task of improving community relations. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has emphasised his intention of being directly and personally involved in helping to tackle Northern Ireland's community relations problems. For my part, as the Minister responsible for the newly established central community relations unit, and for the Department of Education, which has the major statutory role in Northern Ireland for community relations, I have emphasised my personal commitment to encouraging and supporting efforts directed at improving those relations, which fundamentally influence the quality of life in the Province. I make that commitment clear again today.
The hon. Gentleman referred to the segregated system of education in Northern Ireland, under which Roman Catholic and Protestant children are educated in separate schools; not, I must add—and as the hon. Gentleman well knows—by legal requirement, but in practice. He mentioned the unfortunate omission of the Rudolf Steiner school from the Department of Economic Development publication. I say "omission", because it was in the publication, but in an inappropriate category and I regret that. I note the representations that the hon. Gentleman quite properly made on behalf of his constituents. I am happ to confirm to him today that Rudolf Steiner is a nondenominational school, and I accept his point and join him in stressing that that is part of the strength of that school.
I know that many people believe that the segregation that characterises Northern Ireland society and which starts in our schools could be ended if young people in Northern Ireland could be educated together and could meet during their school days and thereby understand each other better. I have much sympathy with that view. I also accept the sense of frustration experienced by some people who believe that faster progress could be made in setting up integrated schools.
I recently met representatives of the two major sponsoring bodies for integrated education in Northern Ireland, and I fully understand their aspirations. I assured them of my personal interest in their work and of the Government's willingness to give sympathetic consideration to proposals for integrated schools which can demonstrate viability and achieve appropriate educational standards.
It is Government policy that integrated education should be encouraged where there is local support for it. Fundamentally, parents have a statutory right to have children educated in accordance with their wishes, with the

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proviso that that must be compatible with the provision of efficient instruction and avoid unreasonable public expenditure. On the other hand, there can be no question of forcing integration on parents. However, where parents collectively indicate their desire for integrated education and have demonstrated that the demand is sufficient to justify the creation of a new grant-aided school, the Government have taken a generous line in providing support. I assure the hon. Gentleman that I shall continue that generosity of spirit, which is the necessary precursor of generous financial support. I note in passing the hon. Gentleman's interesting suggestion that financial incentives might have some part to play in seeking to move people together in schooling.
The best evidence for that is the growing number of integrated schools that have been established, of which three have now been recognised for grant aid— Lagan college, Hazelwood primary school and the Forge primary School. As the hon. Gentleman said, other proposals are under consideration and he will know that recently I met representatives of the governors of Hazelwood college. We agreed together that I would consider their application for grant-aid status in the first half of next year.
The proposals in the Education Reform Bill include an extension of parental choice of schools and of parental influence in the management of schools. I have already announced my policy in Northern Ireland on extending parental choice and my intention to introduce proposals for legislation in support of that policy. In terms of parental influence, the consultative paper for Northern Ireland that I expect to produce early next year, will include consideration of the parental choice and influence aspects of the Education Reform Bill against the background of our present divided educational system.
None the less, despite Government support and the enthusiasm of parents, the integrated education movement will touch only a small percentage of the school population. Even an increase on a scale undreamed of by the most ambitious advocate would leave the vast majority of this and succeeding generations in separate schools. That being the case, I have given the highest priority to supporting those measures that will encourage and provide support for contact and joint activities undertaken by schools and youth organisations on each side of the sectarian divide.
Central to the steady improvement of community relations is my Department's education for mutual understanding programme, which I have determined shall be a major priority in Northern Ireland schools, colleges and youth clubs. To complement that programme I recently initiated the cross-community contact scheme to encourage new contact programmes between schools, colleges and youth groups across the religious divide, and I have allocated £250,000 for each of the next three years to fund the new programme.
My aim is that an ever-increasing number of Protestant and Catholic children should have the opportunity to meet and co-operate in curricular and extracurricular activities. I am pleased to say that those programmes, and the funding for them, are in addition to the existing range of community relations activities organised by the education and library boards and by the Northern Ireland Council for Educational Development.
The activities that have arisen from those initiatives take many forms, depending on local circumstances, but the fundamental characteristic of them all is that young
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people from across the religious divide agree on a common goal and come together on a regular basis to plan a common approach, to share the work in progress, to enjoy each other's company and to establish friendship. The ready response of Northern Ireland's teachers to community relations initiatives is particularly heartening. Clearly, they accept community relations as a part of their responsibility, and I can assure them that their efforts will receive all the support that f can give, through our education system, to the work of co-operation and reconciliation.
To assist teachers in these difficult and often—alas—uncharted areas, I asked the Northern Ireland Council for Educational Development to give priority to the preparation and publication of a guideline on education for mutual understanding for teachers at primary and secondary levels, which will be published next year. In addition, all the members of the inspectorate have a responsibility to support and evaluate communiity relations projects throughout the education system. Recently I have had four inspectors deployed more directly on community relations work. They will spend an increasing amount of their time in promoting education for mutual understanding in schools and colleges. Already they have initiated a major development in primary schools.
I noted in particular the hon. Gentleman's remarks about the teacher training colleges. While he will not expect me this morning to go into debates that have been held in the past, and to review decisions that have already been made, I am very grateful to him for his support for the initiative that I announced recently. Much of the responsibility will rest on the assessment by teachers of the circumstances that exist in individual schools, and how they can best be exploited in support of community relations programmes.
As I have said, this is difficult territory, which requires a clear understanding of the objectives and an ability to translate them into a practical programme. Much effort has already gone into in-service training programmes, and that continues to be given priority. There is a need, however, for teachers in intitial training to be brought into contact — I share the hon. Gentleman's concern about this — and I have therefore recently asked the two colleges to produce a joint policy statement on education for mutual understanding, so that their student teachers will share a common comprehensive programme.
I should like to see Protestant and Catholic student teachers being brought together at their initial training stage, and then following up that cross-community contact by arranging some of their teaching practice in schools with a religious background different from their own. I want to see them grasp the nettle of encouraging Protestant teachers to learn some of the ethos of maintained schools, and to allow Roman Catholic teachers to gain some experience of what it is like in controlled schools. By their initial teacher training, young students should be provided with the practical reality of learning alongside those who may differ religiously and politically from themselves. If we can achieve that, we shall help to generate better community understanding and go some way towards helping to create a society in which the "them and us" syndrome is dispelled.
In addition to all those projects, I have recently enhanced the support given to the various voluntary bodies which are active in, and committed to, improving

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community relations in schools. Additional funds have been given to both the Corrymeela and the Columbanus communities, and to the joint work of the Protestant Council of Churches and the Catholic Irish Commission for Justice and Peace.
All too often good relationships between the two communities in Northern Ireland depend upon avoiding any issue that might be regarded as divisive. I believe that we should seek those areas of common ground that serve to bring our two communities together. We need to concentrate our minds on what we have in common, not always on those things that divide us. I believe that the voluntary bodies that have received support can help in that regard.
Alongside the improving educational standards and increasing parental choice and influence, nothing is more important in our schools than helping to promote community understanding and tolerance. That is our agenda for 1988, or, as the hon. Member for North Down said, it is our challenge. I can tell him and the House that I intend to pursue it vigorously. We owe that to ourselves and, even more, we owe it to our children.
I wish to end by quoting from the "General Lesson". I am intrigued and gratified that the paragraph that I have chosen to quote, and will quote again for emphasis, is that which the hon. Member for North Down has already read into the record. If it was true of our schools over 100 years ago, how much more true is it now that Christians should endeavour
"to live peaceably together with all men … . even with those of a different religious persuasion."?
Northern Ireland is a religious country with a signficant majority of people to whom their Christian faith is very important. I have quoted the challenge of the Apostle Paul. It is the challenge of common decency, and it is the challenge of 1988. I can assure the hon. Member for North Down that we aim to rise to that challenge and would be grateful for his help in seeking so to do.
I wish the hon. Member for North Down, you, Mr. Deputy Speaker and other hon. Members in the House the compliments of the season.

Poverty (Bradford)
1.1 pm
Mr. Max Madden: By any yardstick, Bradford is revealed as a city of past prosperity and present poverty. Deprivation and disadvantage are acute and, in many ways, are becoming more serious. Any reduction in unemployment is always welcome. However, in Bradford unemployment represents a deep social and economic scar. Men and women who want to work and know that they could help in doing the important work that needs to be done in Bradford are denied their right to work. There are more than 25,000 men and women without work. That represents 12 in every 100 people of working age. A total of 21 in every 100 16 to 19-year-olds —nearly 4,000 of our youngsters—are unemployed.
In Bradford, West, my constituency, unemployment is the highest in the city, at nearly 17 per cent. In University ward, also part of my constituency, unemployment rises to 29 per cent. and youth unemployment soars to 70 per cent. That is undoubtedly a reflection of the many difficulties that black and Asian youngsters have in securing employment.
Bradford council has published an important review of the link between poverty, health and disadvantage. An earlier report said:
"Poverty is no longer confined to individuals and small pockets in the district. It is affecting whole communities, and affecting them selectively … Parts of the District are becoming virtually 'poverty zones' with few working people, low incomes and many dependants while other parts are remaining relatively prosperous."
Many people are existing in unrelieved, grinding poverty. They now represent a sullen and hostile subculture that is largely becoming alienated from the rest of the community. Bradford is facing a housing crisis. The city's director of housing in a letter to me this month commented on the Government's latest housing proposals. He said:
"I am deeply concerned at the possible implications for housing in Bradford."
There are some 2,700 houses in multiple occupation —homes for 20,000 people. Most are in disrepair and lack fire safety measures and amenities and most do not have planning approval. There are 7,600 people on the council waiting list and since 1968 some 8,000 council homes have been sold. Some 33,000 homes are defective. Bradford has the highest rate of overcrowding in west Yorkshire and there are more than 1,500 homeless people. There are nearly 34,000 housing benefit claimants in the private sector and 25,700 in the public sector, which represents about one third of all households in the city. In a report to the council last month, the director of housing said:
"Our problems have been and will continue to be depressed incomes and depressed house prices arising from the depressed economy."
Some 118 schools were built before 1914, which represents 40 per cent. of all schools in the city. In almost half of the district's schools, 30 per cent. of the pupils are entitled to free school meals. In 23 schools more than 60 per cent. of their pupils take free school meals. The council estimates that next April 6,000 children in the city will lose the discretionary free school meal that they have hitherto been taking.

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The infant mortality rate in Bradford is twice the national average. There are 30,000 children under the age of five years but only 500 public nursery places.
Bradford is known as low-pay city and west Yorkshire suffers from being the lowest paid region in Britain. Men and women in full-time employment in Bradford receive appallingly low wages. More than half of all full-time women workers and three quarters of part-time women workers are low paid. Nationally, two thirds of all low-paid workers are women. Some 5·5 million adult women —one quarter of the work force—are earning less than the decency threshold. They will be expected to pay the same poll tax as someone who may be earning more in a month than they earn in a year.
The poll tax—the Tory tax—will have a devastating effect on Bradford. It has been estimated that, if it had to be paid this year, the poll tax would mean that everyone over 18 years of age in Bradford would have to pay £238. More than 209,000 citizens in Bradford would lose as a result of the poll tax, and 113,000 of those—41 per cent. — will be paying an extra £100 in poll tax compared with their current rates payments.
In the inner-city wards, which are represented by my hon. Friends the Members for Bradford, North (Mr. Wall) and Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer), who are here today, 90 per cent. of the constituents would lose under the poll tax; 65 per cent would be losing more than £100. In University ward, to which I referred earlier, 94 per cent. of my constituents would be losing under the poll tax and 82 per cent. would be losing more than £100.
The number of people over the age of 85 years in Bradford is estimated to be due to increase by 28 per cent. in the next 10 years. The number of elderly of ethnic minority origin will increase nearly fivefold over the same period. Yet in October the chair of Bradford social services committee wrote to the Secretary of State for Social Services about Bradford's 49 per cent. reduction in block allocation. Councillor John Godward said that there was continuing serious concern about the inadequate level of the capital allocation being made for Bradford, and that it was enduring serious social problems, especially in the care of the very elderly.
Last month Bradford launched a campaign against the cold and distributed up to 10,000 easy-to-read thermometers to vulnerable elderly people, along with help packs that could save lives in emergencies. Yet this week, an Energy Minister, who no doubt glides from comfortable centrally heated home to well heated lavish office and to this place by chauffeur-driven car, had the effrontery to tell me in reply to a parliamentary question that the average increase in a pensioner's expenditure to meet next year's electricity price increase would be no more than 30p or 35p per week.
This week, information was revealed about the expenditure figures for the social fund. That fund is in two parts, grants and loans, and replaces the existing single payments scheme. Unlike the present system of grants, new loans must be repaid by those receiving them through their weekly benefits. The expenditure figures show that there will be a shift of resources from areas such as Bradford to the more prosperous areas in the south-east and East Anglia. That is a dramatic and substantal shift.
In recent years the poor people of Bradford have depended to a great extent upon single payments. However, changes in the regulations have led to a substantial reduction in the number of payments made. In
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1985–86 48,000 payments were made, but this year just 5,000 have been made. I have received figures showing the amount of resources received from the Government for single payments covering the three Bradford DHSS offices. Those figures show that, between 1984–87, more than £10 million was paid by the Government to meet claims for single payments at those offices—£4 million to the Bradford, east office, £2·7 million to the Bradford, south office, and £3·7 million to the Bradford, west office.
However, it is clear from the social fund figures published this week that, although expenditure for 1986–87 amounted to more than £3 million, the expenditure for the current year has been savagely reduced to £500,000. Indeed, we are aware that the allocated social fund expenditure for 1988–89 will be £1·7 million. Therefore, when all the figures are swept away and the statistics put to one side it means that some of the poorest people in Bradford, many struggling to bring up families, will face acute hardship and will be robbed of about £2 million.
Therefore, our hard-pressed local economy, with depressed demand for goods and services, shops closing down because of lack of business, firms going bankrupt and new businesses finding it extremely difficult to start off, will lose almost £2 million that would otherwise have been spent by the poor people directly in the city to help themselves and the business community.
I was recently informed by the Bradford citizens advice bureau that there had been two recent cases when the DHSS had refused a lump sum urgent needs payment to buy a cooker on the grounds that the claimants could buy hot food with their personal allowances. I was so concerned about that that I tabled a written question and the Minister who is to reply to today's debate replied:
"The Department's staff are instructed to advise claimants of refusal of a single payment for a cooker by the issue of a special form (Form BO3D). This gives a general explanation of the reasons for refusal, explains the right of appeal to an independent tribunal and refers to the Citizens' Advice Bureau and the local law centre as sources of help and advice in appealing. It also offers a more detailed explanation of the decision if the claimant requests it."—[Official Report, 14 December 1987; Vol. 124, c. 403–4.]
There are many problems involved in such an approach. One of them is that, because of the enormous pressure of work faced by the Bradford citizens advice bureau, it has had to reduce its opening hours from 30 to 20 a week. The manager of the unit, Shirley Ginever, in a recent letter to me — copied to the chief executive of Bradford council—was extremely concerned about this and desperately anxious to try to increase resources to enable more staff to devote more time to the problems of the poor, who are facing acute hardship in our city. She said:
"I would add that the Debt Counselling Unit of the bureau is also under great strain. In anticipation of the increase in demands particularly regarding housing debt, after April 1988, we are trying to raise funds to open a housing debtline telephone consultancy service for statutory and voluntary agencies and the public to use".
I say to the Minister, who, in parliamentary replies, freely advises people facing difficulties to go to citizens advice bureaux, that he should ensure that sufficient resources are provided for the citizens advice bureaux in Bradford and in other cities throughout the country to enable them to deliver their advice.

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On 15 January, at Bradford university, a conference is being organised, entitled, "A Hole in the Safety Net?—Responses to the Social Fund". The conference material states:
"In April 1988 the second part of the social fund will come into operation, replacing supplementary benefits single payments with a discretionary system of primarily repayable loans. Its introduction, along with other recent and current changes in social security benefits, represents a dramatic contraction of the rights and living standards of claimants".
That is absolutely right, and it is right that the conference should be concerned.
One of the nastier aspects of the Social Security Act 1986, which comes into force next April, will mean that claimants who are refused their applications for cookers and other urgent personal needs will have no right of appeal. The existing right is inadequate. When I passed on to Shirley Ginever of the CAB the Minister's reply about two claimants who had experienced refusal, she made the point — rightly — that the current waiting period for appeals is seven months. That is to be contrasted with the position after next April, when the right of appeal will be swept completely away.
There will be a series of reviews, but what point is there in administrative review when every DHSS office in Bradford and the rest of the country will be cash-limited? They will allocate less and less money on a monthly basis, and the social fund manager will be held responsible for ensuring that the allocation that each office receives is not overspent. What purpose is there in reviews being made to line management of DHSS offices—even if they were to find in favour of the claimant— when the social fund manager will say, "Hold on a minute—the money is nearly overspent for this month. We cannot grant this application from a claimant who has been refused."
We are now beginning to see the full implications of the Social Security Act 1986, which was passed well before the last general election. The Government did not want the public to see the true implications that that nasty measure would have for them. In Bradford and many other cities, it will mean that people suffering from acute hardship—men and women struggling to bring up families—will not be living, they will merely be existing. Their needs will not be met, because the Government have directed that far less money shall be spent than was the case in the past. That is a public scandal, which will do grievous damage to my hard-pressed, poor city of Bradford.
1.19 pm
Mr. Bob Cryer: I endorse everything that has been said by my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden). The Low Pay Unit has produced figures for unemployment, which is the basic source of poverty in this country, showing that in November the official rate in Bradford, South was 10·4 per cent., slightly less than in September. However, the official figures understate the true level of unemployment because they relate only to those in receipt of unemployment benefit. Those who are unemployed and looking for work, but who cannot claim benefit, are excluded from the total.
Since 1979 the Government have made 22 changes in the way in which the official figures are collected, and the independent unemployment unit calculated that the true level in Bradford, South—calculated on the same basis as in earlier years—is now 6,123, or 12·5 per cent., with
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much greater pockets of unemployment. Many people in Bradford this Christmas will have as a background debts to either the gas or electricity boards. Some pensioners who cannot afford a television licence and do not qualify for a concession will be without even the cheer of television over Christmas.
The Government's economic and social policies make the prospect for the poor worse, not better. I call on the Government to provide proper long-term jobs and to abandon their Social Security Bill, which will result in further cuts and an even gloomier prospect for the poor of Bradford and elsewhere.
1.21 pm
Mr. Pat Wall: The city of Bradford has many fine buildings and is surrounded by magnificent scenery, but inside its boundaries and within the travel-to-work area there is enormous poverty. Bradford is part of the West Yorkshire region, which has the lowest pay levels of any of the nine industrial regions in Britain. The average wage in Yorkshire and Humberside is £193 a week, almost £70 a week less than the average for the south-east. Families in the south-east spend on goods and services an average of £60 a week more than do families in the Bradford area.
In the Bradford intermediate area — the travel-to-work area — which includes Shipley, Bingley, Pudsey, Cleckheaton, and across to Kirklees, unemployment now runs at more than 30,000, despite the recent small reduction. That is 3 per cent. above the national average. One in six of the unemployed are under 20, and 40 per cent. have been unemployed for more than one year. One third of the population of Bradford receive some form of state benefit, and 60,000 are on supplementary benefit. In July 1986, only 30 per cent. of Bradford school leavers found a job, and fewer than 10 per cent. of Asian children found one.
Through the use of the multiplier, over a three-year period the Government have forced Bradford ratepayers to pay £110 each in rates because Bradford was not allowed the full entitlement of grant. It is a human issue, because it deals with people.
My hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) referred to local citizens advice bureaux. Last year's report stated:
"However, the largest increase in volume of work is that which has passed through the debt counselling unit—an unbelievable 40,718 inquiries. It was said last year that the enormous stresses and practical difficulties of trying to exist on a low-fixed income continue to underpin many of the problems brought to us, which increasingly have a debt angle. The large number of restrictive changes introduced in the benefits system over the last year … have undoubtedly accelerated this trend, making it nigh on impossible for those on benefit to make ends meet without any supplementary income; as the possibilities to increase claimants' income decrease, so the need for debt work grows more and more common. This is not to say that it is no longer possible to increase benefit take up. A survey of callers to the bureau in one week this year showed that a massive 76 per cent. were reliant on benefits; 50 per cent. of all callers were reliant on Supplementary Benefit."
That is a sign of the enormous human suffering in Bradford.
During my maiden speech I commented that the Government could talk about popular people's capitalism but it was a hollow joke for tens and tens of thousands of people living in misery and poverty. They have a fin

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tradition of work, and all that they ask for is the right to use their abilities to work and to bring up their families with some decency.
1.24 pm
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Michael Portillo): The House will appreciate that it will be difficult for me to do justice to this subject in the six minutes that are left to me. However, I should like to say that, in common with other cities, Bradford is benefiting from the Government's economic policies, which have brought industrial production to its highest level ever. Since 1980, manufacturing productivity has grown faster in this country than in any of the other major countries of the industrialised world.
The benefits have been felt in Bradford. The latest figures, those for November 1987, show that unemployment is the Bradford travel-to-work area is 25,000—that is a fall of 5,000, or 16·6 per cent., over the year before. That compares well with the decline in unemployment in the country as a whole, which has been about 17·6 per cent. over the same period. Measured in terms of employees, employment and the unemployed, the unemployment rate in Bradford is only 1 per cent. higher than the comparable national figure.
None the less, the Government recognise that there are particular difficulties in Bradford and a need for employment initiatives in that city. Currently, 4,680 people in Bradford participate in the community programme. Under the employment allowance scheme, 1,885 people are benefiting in the Bradford area. Since the scheme was started in 1983, a cumulative total of 6,000 people have been placed by the scheme.
The hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) referred to housing. I am sure he will be aware that substantial allocations are being made available to Bradford for housing purposes. The initial housing investment programme allocation for 1987–88 was £12·9 million. This has been supplemented by additional allocations amounting to £190,000 for housing defects and £80,000 for a project to combat homelessness. Additional housing resources have also been made available through the Government's Estate Action team. In 1986–87, an additional £1·5 million was made available to Bradford through estate action — the largest allocation for any authority in Yorkshire and Humberside and as much as 3 per cent. of the resources available nationally.
I know that the hon. Gentleman referred to the housing difficulties, but I should point out that Bradford council did not make full use of its main housing allocation in 1986–87. Every other authority in Yorkshire and Humberside supplemented its housing allocation with expenditure financed by capital receipts in 1986–87; Bradford did not. Some authorities doubled their allocations by using receipts. That does not reflect a high priority for housing investment in Bradford by the city council.
The hon. Gentleman referred also to the ending of free school meals for certain categories of claimants. He will know that under the family credit system, which, by the way, is backed by an extra £220 million expenditure from the Government over and above what is spent on family income supplement, free school meals will no longer be available. However, the amount of money that is being put into the family credit scheme to compensate for the loss of free school meals is higher than the average payment
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that people will have to make for school meals. There will be more children in families receiving family credit than the present total who receive free school meals under both the family income supplement and the discretionary schemes.
The hon. Gentleman made considerable play about the social fund. I should point out to him that the amounts paid in single payments this year up to November, in the three Bradford offices amount to £1·1 million over roughly a seven-month period. The amount of money that will be made available for the social fund for the coming year is £1·8 million, which is broadly in line with current expenditure on single payments.
The hon. Gentleman is worried about the effect on the local economy of the decline from the peak numbers of single payments in previous years. I remind him that £200 million extra is being put into the income support scheme, over and above supplementary benefit; £200 million is being put into the income support scheme for transitional protection; and more than £200 million extra is going into the family credit scheme. Therefore, if the hon. Gentleman is doing calculations of the effects on the local economy, he will want to bear those points in mind.
The hon. Gentleman is concerned about how the allocation for the social fund has been made. He will be aware that there are substantial regional variations in the sums paid out in single payments, and those variations cannot be explained by reference to any obvious indicators of need. If we had allocated the social fund budgets to individual local offices, simply on the pattern of past single payment expenditure, we would have perpetuated these inequalities. We were concerned to distribute the money more fairly in future than had been the case in the past.
That is why the allocation has been based on the past pattern of single payments and with some consideration to the underlying needs of the area, as measured by the caseload of people claiming supplementary benefit. If the hon. Gentleman is concerned to see that in greater detail, he will no doubt be aware that there is a note in the Library which explains very carefully how that allocation has been made.
Although there will not be a formal appeals procedure unde the social fund, it is our intention that there should be a review procedure. The first part of that review procedure involves the claimant in contacting the local office and asking for a review. On contacting the local office, the claimant will be invited to an interview withthe social fund officer, who will have the opportunity to explain his decision to the claimant. The claimant will have the opportunity to make his or her case to the social fund officer and to be accompanied by an adviser on that occasion. If the claimant is still not satisfied with a negative decision, the case can be referred to a line manager in the office and, above that, to a social fund inspector. The work of the social fund inspector will be overseen, as the hon. Gentleman knows, by the social fund commissioner.
When this matter was considered in another place, Lord Denning, contrasting those arrangements with some of the arrangements in the past, said:
"I have had experience of all these appeals up to the appeal tribunal. They have even come as far as my court. The machinery is far too elaborate, too long, too costly, with too many insurance commissioners and the like. It is all very well to have that elaborate structure in the pursuit of justice, but if it is too elaborate, it ought to be replaced by simpler machinery."

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Lord Denning went on to say:
"I see this new proposal … as being simple, fair and just machinery." —[Official Report, House of Lords, 24 July 1986; Vol. 479, c. 426.]

Oceanography
1.31 pm
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: I appreciate the opportunity offered by the debate to draw the attention of the House and particularly of my hon. Friend the Minister responsible for civil science policy and the research councils to the excellent and frequently pioneering work undertaken at the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Deacon laboratory in my constituency, where, for almost half a century, a group of distinguished, committed scientists have studied the oceans.
The oceans cover seven tenths of the earth's surface. They modify our climate, offer numerous tapped and untapped resources and regulate the cycling of natural and man-made materials. Britain is a maritime nation. As it is an island, the oceans surrounding our country have played a major part in our history. We have depended on the seas for trade, defence, fishing and, more recently, offshore oil and gas. We have also used the seas for recreation and frequently as a way of disposing of industrial and domestic wastes.
The Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Deacon laboratory, which I have the privilege of representing, is among the foremost laboratories specialising in the study of the seas and deep oceans. This year, the European Year of the Environment, the institute was renamed the Deacon laboratory after Dr. George Deacon, the first director of the National Institute of Oceanography. He remained director for 22 years, during which time the institute became a world leader in the subject. The institute's work is based on the fundamental studies of the physics, biology and geology of the marine environment. Many scientific discoveries, technological developments and advances in instrumentation have been initiated there.
The ISDL is part of the marine sciences directorate of the Natural Environment Research Council. The NERC receives a grant in aid from the science budget. Funds are allocated from the science budget to the research councils on the advice of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils. Internal funding allocations within the research council are a matter for the council itself.
In recent years, there have been fundamental changes in NERC, with the organisation being streamlined and reorganised in line with Government policy. They have introduced many long overdue reforms. There has been more selectivity in research areas, increased emphasis on commercially viable projects and greater co-operation between industry and science. All these are important to the maintenance of a healthy scientific community.
Earlier this year, the distinguished Chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, Lord Sherfield, visited the institute. In its first report, his Committee called on the Government to promote science as a means of achieving economic recovery. The Government responded to the report in July this year in a paper entitled "Civil Research and Development". Although it is made clear in the document that the Government do not intend to fund applied research, which is the responsibility of industry, there is a clear recognition by the Government of the need for public funding of more basic research for the generation of highly trained manpower, to underpin industry's needs and to provide social benefits in health and the environment.

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The report states:
"Advances in science and technology and the early exploitation of those advances are essential to national success."
It continues:
"Public expenditure on science and technology serves various objectives: the advancement of knowledge, support for policy formalation and implementation, improvement of technology, improvement of health and the environment, support for procurement decisions and support for statutory duties. Government support for basic science and enabling technology, particularly in the universities, is intended to lead to the development of knowledge and the acquisition of skills; these have a major impact on the United Kingdom's economy and position in world markets. The Government agrees that it should be a major national priority to focus the effort of the scientific community and industry on increasing the economic effectiveness of our national investment in science and technology. The challenge is to target scientific and technological resources without constraining individual creativity and to co-ordinate related parallel R and D programmes without divorcing them from the individual objectives they are meant to serve."
Government action is already seeing clear signs of success. We have witnessed an increased awareness of the marketable aspects for research within the scientific community. The universities and polytechnics have made dramatic progress in working closely with industry. In my area, the university of Surrey works closely with local industry generating more than any other university from private sources, having recently opened its own research park. Within the NERC, duplication and waste have been reduced, resulting in greater economic efficiency.
Many would argue, however, that now is the time for a reappraisal of the financial assistance for basic research in the natural sciences. Only this week in the New Scientist there is a leader headed "Bring back real science". The editorial argues:
"It is impossible for every researcher to work on subjects that offer short-term economic benefits. Someone has to do the research that will one day turn into technology. This country's poor record of innovation does not mean that Britain should shut up shop on science. If anything, industry deserves the chop. After all, it is industry that has failed to build on past successes in science. Why clobber research done for its own sake?"
Although there is clearly an important part for the private sector, it is important to re-evaluate the part of Government in funding basic research in the natural sciences.
I should like my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to consider some of the major developments that have been pioneered by the institute. Over the past 20 years, a major achievement has been the development of the Gloria deep ocean survey device. In 1986, the institute was awarded the Queen's award for technological achievement for the development, construction and operation of this long-range, side-scan sonar system. Gloria was developed at the IOS to meet the needs of research scientists, but it proved to have considerable commercial potential. It is a unique facility to provide sound pictures of the ocean floor extremely quickly and relatively cheaply. It maps the sea floor geologically to find areas of potential commercial exploitation. It is currently under contract in the United States to scan the 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
It took Gloria 102 days to map the 200-mile EEZ off the Pacific coast. More than 200 new isolated mountains were discovered, including five volcanoes bigger than Mount St. Helens. A canyon hundreds of miles long was found that carries sediment west from Monterey bay. Vast
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ripples in the sediment off Oregon and Alaska showed for the first time how currents from land combine to change the sea bed.
The economic implications of this remarkable development are numerous. Apart from identifying resources in the sea bed, the survey, by highlighting mountainous areas, can give guidance for cable-laying companies. An underwater cable costs $1 million to mend. In the Pacific, fishing is a major source of revenue. By locating isolated sea mounts, it is possible to make predictors for the fishing industry. With a growing number of exclusive economic zones being declared, many states, especially small islands in the Pacific, will have increased the area of their national sovereignty 100-fold or more. Even large states such as the Untied States and Indonesia have doubled their area. By acquiring such vast new territories, coastal states are inevitably concerned to see what resources lie there and how they can be exploited. For many, such resources offer a vital means of boosting their national economy, ensuring supplies of strategic minerals or improving their fisheries.
The success of the United States survey with the Gloria technique led to inquiries from many other countries about surveys of their EEZs using the same technique. The institute established an agreement with Marconi Underwater Systems Limited by which it transfers the technology. Early next year, the British oceanographic vessel Charles Darwin, which is owned and operated by the NERC, will carry out Gloria surveys in Indonesian waters for one month. Other engineering initiatives include Tobi, the towed sonar vehicle, PUPPI, the pop-up pori pressure instrument, DOBS, the digital ocean bottom seismograph, and Fido, the deep ocean particle sampler and counter. The institute is splendid not only at developing these new initiatives—it also finds splendid names for them.
There are vast economic returns to be gained from exploring and exploiting the world's sub-sea resources. In January 1986, the Department of Trade and Industry launched a resources from the sea programe. It has been estimated that vast potential markets worth more than £160 billion are available to United Kingdom firms which explore and exploit the world's sub-sea resources. It is important that British industry seizes the enormous commercial opportunities available from developing advanced marine systems and equipment for exploration and exploitation of the oceans.
If the United Kingdom could capture between 5 and 10 per cent. of the world market, it would be a significant wealth and job-creating sector, possibly up to the present size of the British motor vehicle and component industry.
Another area where previously fundamental work has shown a strong commercial application is wave research. Wave data collected during the past 25 years have been invaluable for the construction of offshore structures. Engineers who design oil platforms must be sure that their creations will survive the worst waves. Forecasts for 50 years in advance are needed and estimates have to be extremely reliable. An under-estimation of the highest wave results in damage—whereas an over-estimation of merely 1 m can add more than £1 million to the cost of the platform. As with Gloria, research which was initially regarded as non-commercial has proved extremely beneficial and productive in the private sector.
Among other important projects for the future are those on climatology, which could have a powerful

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influence on the spread of famine in Third-world countries, the study of pollutants and the implications of dumping waste at sea and the effects on the oceans of burning fossil fuels. All those subjects have long-term social and environmental effects on civilisation as we know it.
These have been difficult times for the institute, as available financial resources have been constrained and staff numbers are falling. The cruise programme, for example, had to be seriously constrained. As the NERC has faced reduced funding, resources have been transferred to the universities and polytechnics. The NERC and the marine science and technology directorate have made every effort to restructure their organisations.
Establishments have been encouraged to seek compensatory income from commissioned work. Financial constraints have been faced by the IOS as a result of a major decline in income from commissioned research. Rising scientific costs associated with the growing sophistication of science mean that the budget is unable to pay for what it used to buy. We must also consider the implications of the new pay structure negotiated by the unions with the Treasury, which has resulted in significant and, for them, welcome pay increases for scientific grades, which are well above the current level of inflation. My hon. Friend the Minister will be well aware of the distinction between level funding and level value, as he drew attention to it clearly in 1985 in a debate on Government policy for science.
There is concern at the institute that long-term planning is deeply influenced by its inevitable dependence on Government and NERC grants. Increasingly it tends to be limited to essential research for commercial projects. Recruitment constraints have caused difficulty in the pursuit of some commercial contracts and the number of overall projects being turned down because of financial problems is on the increase.
The institute has made every effort to restructure and to streamline the facility as much as possible. However, I have had representations from constituents who are deeply worried about the future. The eminent director of the institute, Sir Anthony Laughton, recently said:
"Our ability to pursue long-term goals has been deeply compromised. It is hard to see how the achievements of the past can be repeated. All of which creates tremendous difficulties in motivating and retaining our highly skilled scientists."
My hon. Friend will appreciate that, as I am in regular contact with many constituents who work at this distinguished institute, I wish to take this opportunity to pass on their anxieties.
Another particular matter which has frequently been raised with me is the concern that oceanography will be too easily linked with astronomy and nuclear physics. In a recent letter, a group of constituents who work at the institute stated:
"Nuclear physics and astronomy are both regarded as areas of 'big' science whose level of funding is at least three times that of oceanography and furthermore neither of them has as great a commercial and practical impact on the nation's economic well being as oceanography. The implication of the report seems to be that government spending should be cut in each of these three areas; we at IOSDL view this possibility with grave disquiet."
I can do no more than take this opportunity to highlight the excellence of the work undertaken at the
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institute and my pride at representing this dedicated and talented group of individuals. I want to pass on to my hon. Friend the real commitment that has been shown by all the members of the staff to reorganise and streamline and to work with the private sector. Inevitably, at a time of turbulence and change there are effects on morale. There is an anxiety that the force of recent strictures on science will lead to too short-term a view of science funding. I am passing on the view of my constituents that long-term science must be given the priority that it needs.
Finally, I can do no better than quote my hon. Friend's conclusion in his debate two and a half years ago. Having rightly pointed out the concern about the balance of our national investment in defence rather than in civil science, he said:
"I urge the Government to think again about their policy for science. The central theme of much of their thinking, quite rightly, is to seek to improve the translation of scientific ideas into profitable business. I do not seek to criticise this emphasis, but I do not believe that it makes resources irrelevant—whether the total quantum of resources or the pattern of its distribution."—[Official Report, 14 June 1985; Vol. 80, c. 1170.]
1.48 pm
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Robert Jackson): First, I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) on raising this important subject. She made an excellent speech and gave such a good survey of the subject that I scarcely need to speak.
Oceanography is vital for any nation with a coastline, particularly for Britain with its long history of maritine activity. The debate is timely because this week two important events should ensure that British oceanography and the wider topic of marine science has a strong and vibrant future. On Monday 14 December the Natural Environment Research Council published its new strategy for marine sciences, and earlier today my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the terms of reference and the membership of the co-ordinating committee for marine science and technology which is to be chaired by Sir John Mason.
The National Environment Research Council document, "The Challenge — NERC Strategy for Marine Science" shows clearly how Britain is benefiting from the results of marine research and development in past years. It emphasises Britain's dependence on knowledge about the sea for her defence and her economic and social well-being. My hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West drew attention to a number of those developments. She mentioned Gloria, the splendidly named long-range sonar device for mapping the ocean floor, which can map an area the size of Wales in a single day. As my hon. Friend said, it has obtained an important contract from the United States to map the United States exclusive economic zone.
My hon. Friend also mentioned the importance of wave and current research for North sea oil platforms. It has been estimated that such research has saved about £1 billion in the development of North sea oil, whereas the cost of wave research has been only about £500,000. That demonstrates the tremendous leverage that such research can produce.
My hon. Friend did not mention flood prediction and its importance in the construction of the Thames barrier, so vital for the protection of people in London. There has

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also been progress in understanding climate and the way in which the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, thus helping to balance the so-called greenhouse effect. Britain has also played a key role in analysing the cycle through which nature moves in terms of its influence on the climate, through the NERC ocean flux study led from the Plymouth marine laboratory. The Government are well aware of that progress and consider that Britain is well served by the marine research community, and look forward to its substantial contributions continuing.
The NERC strategy is designed to maintain British marine science and technology alongside the rest of the world leaders by undertaking a balanced programme of basic and strategic research. I give my hon. Friend that assurance. That research will be undertaken at universities and polytechnics and at the council's own laboratories, including the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Deacon laboratory in my hon. Friend's constituency — she referred to the dedication and commitment of the staff there.
The core of the NERC research programme comprises five major projects, which address subjects that offer great promise of yielding substantial benefit in the late 1990s and in the early years of the next century. Those five projects are the North sea project, the biogeochemical ocean flux study, the fine resolution Antarctic model, the unmanned autonomous submersibles development and the world ocean circulation experiment. I look forward to seeing the acronyms that spring from those projects. A common theme of those five projects is the need to predict the movements of the oceans, as they affect such matters as wind, waves, tides — for ports — storm surges for protection against flooding, and mineral resources under the sea.
A major factor in selecting those five core projects is the continuing exponential growth in computing power, which increases by a factor of 10 every five years and offers a prospect of novel forms of ocean prediction by the end of the century, touching such things as water quality in coastal waters and large-scale currents and life in the sea, some of which control climatic change. The five projects on which the council decided to focus its strategy address problems that have to be solved before operational forecasting systems can be designed to achieve potential benefits. In future, NERC will devote a large fraction of its resources to the five core projects identified in its strategy.
In addition to the core projects, the NERC strategy includes a broad programme of additional strategic research to be carried out at the NERC laboratories. Those will be carried out as science budget funds, and commissioned work from various Government Departments, permit. To achieve its research strategy, NERC maintains a wide panoply of facilities including four major marine laboratories, two of which are devoted to oceanography — one is the institute in my hon. Friend's constituency. It maintains a fleet of research ships and a national pool of equipment for use at sea providing data, remote sensing and computing services.
My hon. Friend referred to resources, which are of central importance. I agreed with her analysis. She quoted back at me some words of mine in an earlier debate. It is plain that we must maintain a basic and strategic research capability. It is also plain that, to maintain our position, public funds must be invested in long-term, basic and strategic research. On the other hand, we must recognize
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that opportunities for high quality research have also grown since 1979. I have shown the way in which that has happened. They have been growing at a much greater rate than the funds that are available. The more science we have, the more science we can do, and the more it will cost.
However, there is a limit to what can be afforded and the research councils must consider their priorities within the totals made available. It is essential for high priority work to be funded at a satisfactory level. That is crucial. It cannot be achieved if we adopt a policy of simply spreading the available resources, whatever they may be, over too many projects. We must realise that Britain is not the only country that is undertaking research in this and other areas, so our plans must also take into account work that is being done elsewhere. In suitable cases, we must work for collaboration or co-ordination on an international basis as the best way to proceed. It seems to me that the NERC strategy for marine science, which it has adopted as an independent research council, is an excellent example of all those points. It is a consideration of priorities that take into account national needs and work that is being carried out elsewhere. The council should be congratulated on those most important recent initiatives.
So far, I have been talking about the work of the NERC, but the Science and Engineering Research Council—which has the equally unattractive acronym of SERC—is also involved in the technology of exploiting the oceans' resources. Some years ago it set up a marine science and technology directorate to focus its activities on this area. The directorate has now transferred to the private sector, although SERC still provides support for academic research grants. Other Government Departments have specific interests in research in that area, too, some commissioning work from NERC on the basis of their judgment of their needs. My hon. Friend referred to some of the implications of that for the Deacon institute. I noted what she said with sympathy. I take on board the points that she made about that commissioned research.
With that diversity of interests at stake in oceanography, it is important to have a national strategy to achieve the right balance between basic and applied research. My hon. Friend's speech addressed that theme. The key to that is the co-ordinating committee for marine science and technology, the membership of which was announced earlier today. It will report to the Government through the Secretary of State for Education and Science and will be supported by a secretariat within NERC.
That is only a part of the Government's overall strategy for scientific research and development. It includes obtaining and disseminating accurate information through the annual review of Government-funded R and D and, very importantly, the new co-ordinating arrangements announced by the Government in July this year, of which an important component is the establishment of the Advisory Committee for Science and Technology — another acronym, ACOST. In the past Britain's national research and development effort has perhaps been too much dispersed, a little too fragmented. Now at last machinery is in place which we hope can achieve better coherence and co-ordination.
Returning to oceanography, I am confident that Britain can continue to rely on the basic and strategic research community in that area to provide the necessary underpinning of the country's requirements right into the next decade. My hon. Friend deserves our appreciation for

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raising this important matter on the Floor of the House. I think we can join in wishing the research community well, especially her constituents at the Deacon laboratory.

Coal Board Housing
1.58 pm
Mr. Alan Meale: Hon. Members will be aware of the concerns that I have raised about British Coal housing in recent times. The debate gives me a chance to pay tribute to hon. Members on both sides of the House, particularly my hon. Friends the Members for Ashfield (Mr. Haynes), for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) and for Pontefract and Castleford (Mr. Lofthouse), and on the Conservative Benches I see the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart), who I hope will be able to contribute to the debate.
I should like to outline a little of the background to this subject. Since the 1970s British Coal has dispensed with over 68,000 of its 80,000 houses in the coalfield communities. Most of those houses have been sold to the tenants, local authorities and housing associations. However, some have been sold to what can only be described as bad housing directorates, property and land speculators. That has caused terrible turmoil for the tenants living in those houses. Almost a year ago to the day, auctions took place in the Connaught and Hilton hotels in London, where whole communities were auctioned off and houses sold without the knowledge of the tenants. Indeed, some properties went to Spanish and Greek purchasers, and that cannot be satisfactory.
Some of the sadness is revealed in the fact that more than 90 per cent. of the tenants remaining in those houses are over retirement age. Indeed, 90 per cent. are over retirement age in the county that I represent. A recent document published by the Nottinghamshire Federation of Coal Tenants describes in detail some cases in my area which highlight the plight of the tenants as a result of the privatisation of their properties. I commend that document to the Minister.
Some of the tenants involved include Mr. Bob Stoddard, who left the industry in 1977. He was a miner for 30 years and had to leave the industry on health grounds. May and Ted Gelsthorpe are in their 80s and have lived in their Coal Board house for more than 56 years. Mr. Stan Bruce, who is 83, has lived in his present home for 64 years. Mary Penfold is in her late 60s and has lived in her home since 1926. Arthur Wilton is in his 80s and was a miner for 52 years. None of those people want a mortgage or to buy their own homes, even if they could find a mortgage broker who would raise or offer them money. They do not want the insecurity in old age that that would offer.
It is a sad fact that British Coal has dispensed with its responsibilities to the tenants in my constituency in Nottinghamshire. Some 11,500 houses have been sold in the past few years, with the remaining 2,000 or so ready to be sold to another company. My concern in raising the matter today is that a deal is under way between British Coal and an organisation called the Lancaster housing association. That is a fine sounding name. However, I want to explain in this short debate today that the name of that organisation does not exactly match the amount of responsibility that the association will have to accept for those elderly tenants in the near future.
I have examined some of the documents relating to that association, and I commend them to the Minister. The last registered accounts for the organisation were registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies as long ago as

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1982. The association's board members have no expertise in housing management. The board of directors includes a retired stockbroker as chairman, a baker and a catering manager. One wonders whether it also includes a candlestick maker and a butcher.
The association is so small that it is currently based on someone's home. At present it manages only 27 properties. I spoke to the director, and he admitted openly that it is a very small association. It is not an association that one would at first glance consider suitable to take on 1,860 houses occupied by elderly tenants. It does not employ any staff. It relies completely on volunteers. That may be all very well in respect of 27 units, but it is not satisfactory for nearly 2,000. Nor is the association registered with the Housing Corporation which is the national body that lays down the regulations and guidelines to monitor organisations to ensure that standards are adhered to.
As I pointed out, I have already spoken to Mr. Henshaw, who admitted that it is a very small outfit. He also admitted that the main source of repayment of the £9 million-plus offered for the properties is the sale with vacant possession of the properties. I can well imagine that Mr. Henshaw, with his stockbroking abilities, has the expertise to gain the best possible price for the properties and thereby pay back the money, but it is an enormous sum, and an enormous number of properties will have to be taken off the rented market for that to be achieved.
Mr. Henshaw also admits that he has, to a large extent, been used as a pawn by British Coal against the consortium of housing associations that have established themselves, according to the proper standards and guidelines, to look after the tenants. Worse still, British Coal has negotiated a very good deal for itself, in two respects. First, it has managed to persuade the friendly society to take on board all the employees of British Coal currently looking after the properties, which means that it will have no problems over redundancies and so forth. Secondly—this is of serious concern to me, and to other hon. Members in the area—it has added a clause to the contract of sale, stating that it will not be under any obligation to repair any subsidence damage that has occurred prior to the date of sale.
I have a Bill down for debate on 12 February about subsidence damage, which is prevalent in Nottinghamshire — especially in north Nottinghamshire. In my constituency a school and a hospital have closed, and thousands of houses have been damaged, because of subsidence. It is inconceivable that serious subsidence damage will not have occurred in any of 1,860 homes. British Coal has not been honest with its broker or with the organisation. Moreover, the deal will seriously harm the future security of the elderly tenants. Given the large amount of money involved in repayment, they will be unlikely to obtain the expensive repairs necessitated by subsidence damage.
That is not the only respect in which British Coal has not been entirely honest in its dealings. The consortium of housing associations is made up of a good many organisations, including the East Midlands housing association, the Northern Counties housing association, the Leicester housing association, the Nottinghamshire community housing association and others. They have the backing of all the local authorities, and, indeed, of the Nottinghamshire Federation of Coal Board Tenants, which has been striving for security for the tenants. The consortium has repeatedly been refused permission by
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British Coal to become deeply and sincerely involved in finding a financial solution. I have a letter that makes it plain that it was willing to negotiate upwards its offer of £7 million. I should like the Minister to look at that.
Finally, let me put to the Minister some questions to which I should like detailed replies. Will the Minister give an assurance that British Coal will sell houses only to organisations and associations which have the financial strength and reserves to meet fully any future contingencies, and which can fulfil their obligations and responsibilities as a landlord? It should be borne in mind that, in the Nottinghamshire area, over 2,000 properties are involved. Will he also give an assurance that any new landlord would manage and maintain the properties in accordance with the standards laid down by the National Federation of Housing Associations for housing management in a document published this year?
Will the Minister instruct British Coal to resume its negotiations with the consortium of housing associations, which is prepared to negotiate at a higher figure than has already been suggested? Will the Minister intervene in the current negotiations between British Coal and the Lancaster housing association? The aim of that would be to investigate and establish whether the Lancaster housing association, which currently manages only 27 houses, has the capacity and the resources to fulfil its landlord obligations and responsibilities to the 1,400 tenants whose homes are subject to the first part of the bid that I have mentioned. Does the Minister agree that it would he an advantage to sell the remaining British Coal houses to local landlords with proven track records, rather than to remote organisations which are not familiar with the area or the people?
Will the Minister instruct British Coal to reduce the asking price of the 1,830 properties from its current £9·5 million to a sum within the reach of the consortium that will allow it to go ahead and purchase the properties, thus bringing peace of mind and security to the thousands of British Coal tenants within the Nottinghamshire area? Alternatively, will he make representations to his hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning to provide direct financial assistance to the consortium so that it can purchase the properties?
Will the Minister make representations to the Minister for Housing and Planning for money to be made available to local authorities to enable them to reinstate the properties which are subject to the Housing Defects Act 1984 and which have been purchased after the cut-off date? That should include properties purchased by local authorities and sitting tenants. Will the Minister ensure that he investigates the contract clause inserted by British Coal, which I mentioned earlier, which denies any responsibility for subsidence damage that may occur in any of the properties concerned?
This is a serious subject, and I have already said that I hope that the hon. Member for Sherwood will participate briefly. I also see in the Chamber my hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford, who I know has serious concerns in this matter. I hope that he can also participate.
Over 3,500 elderly ex-miners or miners' widows live in those properties in Nottinghamshire. They do not want or need a mortgage. They need security in their old age. They need to be looked after. It is the responsibility of British Coal to look after them. Those people were promised that during the time they worked and slaved in the industry.

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Now British Coal is seeking to get rid of its responsibility and cast them aside. I ask the Minister to talk seriously to British Coal in order to provide a solution that will offer security to those people in their old age. The Minister should offer them a future and reopen the negotiations with the consortium.
2.12 pm
Mr. Andy Stewart: I thank the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) for allowing me the time to speak in his Adjournment debate. We may be poles apart in our political philosophy but we are united today behind the Nottinghamshire Federation of Coal Tenants. The hon. Member for Mansfield has outlined, in a short time, what has happened. I can tell you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that if the debate ran for three hours there would still be hon. Members queuing up to tell the House about the difficulties and tragedies that have befallen the tenants of British Coal.
It is supposed to be the season of good will to all. However, British Coal's housing policy makes Scrooge look like a philanthropist. Tonight I am the guest at a pensioners' Christmas party. They are constituents who have given their lives to the coal industry. What sort of a party will it be when they hear that British Coal is preparing to sell their homes to a rooky housing association from London, whose credentials are very suspect?
Let me ask the Minister; how can the Lancaster housing association, with only 27 houses, have the expertise to manage 1,800 homes 150 miles away in Nottinghamshire? How can it afford £9·4 million, when the experts say that the offering price of a socially acceptable landlord would be £6·5 million? The only way that it can make it pay is by asset-stripping. We have not experienced this sort of problem in Nottinghamshire before and, having read the book, "Pits and Mortar", we are more determined than ever not to allow it.
The past chairman of British Coal, Sir Ian MacGregor, had his critics, but his word was his bond. I am sorry to say that that is no longer the case at Hobart house. North Nottinghamshire Members of Parliament were given a promise that they would be consulted before any deal was done, yet to date no invitation has arrived on our desks. However, we have been informed that an agreement has been reached.
I ask the Minister to use what powers he has to postpone this proposed deal and to allow the housing consortium, which has the blessing of the Housing Corporation — in other words, this Government — and the local district councils, with whom they have worked for many years, to resume negotiations. Both organisations are prepared to give a grant of £1 million to bring this about.
As a result of British Coal's dismissive attitude towards the housing consortium personnel, Roy Lynk, the president of the Union of Democratic Mineworkers, is prepared to take the chair if and when negotiations start. I want to hear a statement from the Minister that will enable the elderly people who have given their working lives to the coal industry to have a happy Christmas and a worry-free future. The way that British Coal has treated my constituents and their Members of Parliament is nothing short of a disgrace. In the light of this experience
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I should like to send a message to Mr. John Walsh, who wishes to become the next president of the NUM: do not bother; British Coal deserves Scargill.
2.17 pm
Mr. Geoffrey Lofthouse: I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) for allowing me the opportunity to express my concern, as I have on previous occasions, about this matter.
The nothing short of callous attitude of British Coal over the sale of these houses should be highlighted and the Minister should take action.
In Castleford travel-to-work area and the Wakefield metropolitan district, houses have been sold off to new owners in London, 200 miles away, of whom the tenants are not aware. Within days, ownership was transferred.
In the Townville estate in Castleford, an ex-miner, who has no possibility of purchasing his property, after a lifetime in the industry, has been cast aside and left at the mercy of those landlords. The landlords have not bothered to repair the houses but, rather kindly, they have provided a few tools and a bit of material and told the tenants on the estate to get cracking.
There is a serious problem in this matter with regard to the Housing Defects Act 1984. On that same housing estate, the Wates-type houses are defective. Some 70 ex-miners bought houses on that estate, which consists of 400 properties. Now, because the houses are defective, they are not an attractive proposition on the market and because the new tenants of the rest of the houses are neglecting those houses — many of which are now empty and boarded up — the properties that the ex-miners purchased are worthless. The council cannot act in accordance with the 1984 Act because the value of the properties is far less than the amount it would take to repair them.
In Wakefield metropolitan district area, there are 800 British Coal houses left to sell. Will the Minister have discussions with his hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning to enable the local authorities to use some of their assets, gained through the sale of council houses, to purchase those properties rather than allow them to be purchased by racketeer landlords? As a result of those discussions, will some assistance be offered to the housing associations that are interested in those houses?
The current tenants are retired miners — many of them elderly—who, when they retired, did not enjoy the attractive redundancy payments that have been enjoyed by miners for the past two or three years. They are in a hopeless situation and are living more or less in squalor. British Coal and the Government have an obligation to those people. I hope that the Minister will do all in his power to persuade the Minister for Housing and Planning to assist local authorities such as Wakefield to purchase the remaining British Coal houses.
British Coal gave itself a three-year period in which to dispose of its housing stock. It has 10 months left and it is hell-bent on getting shot of those houses and selling them to whoever it can. In some areas it appears that some people are moving in to buy those properties in the hope of making conditions so difficult for the tenants that they will move out as quickly as they can. Therefore, the buyer has got prime building land and, despite the value of the properties, has not paid the true price for that land.
2.21 pm
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Michael Spicer): I begin by paying tribute not only to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) who raised this matter, and to the hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Mr. Lofthouse), but to my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart) who has also spoken today. The House will be aware that my hon. Friend has, for many weeks, worked tirelessly to ensure that there is a satisfactory outcome of this matter for his constituents. In answer to the hon. Member for Mansfield—given the shortage of time available to me, my answer must necessarily he brief — I have to say straight away that the sale of British Coal houses is a matter for both the ethical and commercial judgment of British Coal.
For some weeks my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood and Labour Members have made me aware of their understandable concern to secure the future wellbeing of those who are presently British Coal's tenants. This short debate has served to underline their concern.
I have spoken to Sir Kenneth Couzens, deputy chairman of British Coal, to ensure that the concerns of parliamentary colleagues are known to him. He has given me his assurance that the British Coal Corporation is making every effort to ensure that in this case, as with the disposal of all its properties, the sale is made to a responsible landlord.
Furthermore, Sir Kenneth Couzens has written to a number of hon. Members with interests in Nottinghamshire in the following terms:
"the Lancaster Housing Association, which is a registered charity and member of the national federation of housing associations, has now agreed to buy 1,821 Nottinghamshire houses at prices reflecting current market values. They have told our Area Office that they intend to establish a local office to manage these properties and will continue to offer houses to sitting tenants, with the possibility of 100 per cent. mortgages. They have also said they would welcome meetings with the tenants' associations and discussions on how to deal with repairs and general management."
As the hon. Member for Mansfield said, British Coal has sold 76,000 of its houses since 1976, which represent about 85 per cent. of its original total stock. Seventy per cent. of them have been bought at half the market value by sitting tenants and, to answer the hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford, 20 per cent. have been bought by local authorities.
I understand that the organisation to which British Coal intends to sell the 1,800 houses which are the subject of today's debate has satisfied British Coal as to its financial support. That organisation has been registered as a charity for 20 years. It is listed with the Registrar of Friendly Societies, to whom it is obliged to submit annual reports and accounts, and it is a long-standing member of the Federation of Housing Associations. The hon. Member for Mansfield commented on the way in which the accounts had been registered. The Registrar of Friendly Societies has confirmed that the association has regularly returned its accounts, which are up to date.
The hon. Members who have raised this matter are wholly within their rights to do so, but they too must concede that British Coal has a public duty—it is the recipient of large sums of public money—to achieve at least a fair market price for its houses. An independent valuation carried out in the past few weeks by a firm of local surveyors estimated the value of the houses in question at slightly more than the sum that British Coal
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seemed likely to achieve. Every opportunity has been given to the alternative bidder to increase his offer, and he chose not to do so.
Mr. Andy Stewart: If I may refresh the Minister's memory, the negotiations were to take place, and the person speaking for British Coal said, "Unless you put on £9·5 million, you are wasting your time." So the consortium had to leave, because it did not have £9·5 million. The letter saying that British Coal would negotiate if asked is on record.
Mr. Spicer: There have been many allegations about who wants to offer how much and who does not. However, this is a negotiation entered into freely between British Coal and various people who have made various offers. All I can tell my hon. Friend is that no revised offer above the original £7·3 million made by the alternative bidder has been received by British Coal.
Mr. Stewart: I went a fortnight ago to British Coal and asked if it would see the housing consortium yet again. I was told, "No, Sir, we do not want to see it ever again."
Mr. Spicer: My hon. Friend has put that statement on record, but negotiations require one side to come forward with an alternative offer. I must repeat to my hon. Friend that offers made to him are not offers made to British Coal. I have received a categorical assurance that no revised offer above the £7·3 million has been received by British Coal. This is a free country, and it would be perfectly open to organisations to make such an offer, but I repeat, for the third time, that no such offer has been received.
Mr. Meale: I beg to differ from the Minister. Once again, he is being misled by British Coal. There seems to be a problem between British Coal in Nottinghamshire and the Housing Corporation. I have a letter, dated 7 December, which states that British Coal is prepared to continue negotiations with the consortium after 4 December. I shall pass on that letter to the Minister. There is a problem. The consortium is willing to bid, and I beg the Minister at least to stall the sale until we can get back on stream.
Mr. Spicer: The hon. Gentleman has made his point. Others have heard other allegations and suggestions that have been made about offers that might be floating around. In a negotiation procedure that has gone on for many months, it is up to someone who wishes to bid up on an offer to come forward, and not to run around to the hon. Member for Mansfield or to my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood saying that he might or might not be coming forward.
It is a straightforward matter: in a negotiation, one puts forward another offer, if one wishes to. No alternative offer has been made. In these circumstances, British Coal is clear that it is right to settle for the higher offer. When the transaction has taken place, tenants will continue to be fully protected under the landlord and tenant and fair rent legislation.
It was absolutely appropriate for hon. Members to raise the matter and I hope that, in the short time that was available to me, I have answered their points satisfactorily.
It being half past Two o'clock, the Motion on the Adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put.

Cystic Fibrosis Sufferers
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—[Mr. Neubert.]
2.30 pm
Mr. Ivan Lawrence: In 1968, the Labour Government reintroduced prescription charges, but undertook to exempt as many of the chronically sick as could be readily identified. With the co-operation of the medical profession, a list of exempted illnesses was drawn up. The rules laid down were that such illnesses should be a permanent condition, and be clearly identifiable and require continual medication, in most cases by replacement therapy. There was, of course, exemption for children up to the age of 16 and for pensioners over 65.
There can be little doubt that had cystic fibrosis been considered in 1968 it would have been placed on the list of exempted illnesses. It was not considered, for the simple reason that in 1968 very few children with cystic fibrosis lived past the age of 16—that was the tragedy. Since then, the miracles of modern science have ensured that most cystic fibrosis sufferers, if diagnosed early, live well past the age of 16 and, it is hoped, live life with normal expectancy.
It is therefore in fairness to and concern for those afflicted that I raise the subject today. I ask my hon. Friend the Minister to ensure that a Conservative Government, who have shown more practical concern for the sick in our society than any Government in this nation's history, should soften their hitherto hard heart on this issue and add cystic fibrosis to the list of prescription-exempted illnesses. In that way, sufferers between the ages of 16 and 65 will be relieved of the additional problems of having to find the money to pay for their prescriptions.
This is the third time that I have raised this matter in Adjournment debates—I did so first in 1979 and again in 1985. The last time that I raised the matter I declared a general interest as an unofficial, unpaid parliamentary adviser to the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust, which position I believe I still enjoy. I also declared a personal financial interest because I have a daughter—now aged 19½, but 16 in 1985 — who sadly suffers from cystic fibrosis. As she was and is a student, I would have benefited in the foreseeable future from the addition of cystic fibrosis to the list of exemptions. Unhappily, my daughter has since contracted diabetes — as almost 12 per cent. of cystic fibrosis sufferers do — and she is therefore eligible for free prescription charges because of that affliction. I now no longer have a personal financial interest to declare in accordance with the rules of the House.
Cystic fibrosis is a condition in which mucous glands secrete abnormal amounts of mucous. Two areas of the body are affected. The first is the digestive system, because the mucous clogs and restricts the flow of digestive enzymes and the pancreas does not function properly or does not function at all. Proteins and fats are not properly digested and the child does not flourish. The necessary treatment for that malfunction is an expensive, high-protein diet and a large quantity, in capsule and concentrated form, of powdered pigs' pancreas with every meal. My daughter used to take up to 10 capsules with each meal. They do the work that the human pancreas is unable to do.
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The second area is the lungs. Abnormally thick mucous builds up in the bronchial tubes and seals in bacteria and viral infection, which if not cleared causes progressive deterioration leading to lung failure and often, alas, to death.
Treatment requires physiotherapy for about 20 minutes at least twice a day. Indeed, in some cases as long as 12 hours a day must be spent in physiotherapy. Intensive courses are necessary to clear the lungs of such children during school holidays to get them fit again for the start of the school term. In addition, the illness requires sufferers to take antibiotics, to use decoagulating atomisers and sometimes to sleep in mist tents at night.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic illness that children inherit from their parents, who usually do not have the faintest idea that they are carriers of the gene and that they have a one in four chance of producing cystic fibrosis in their children. One in 20 of the population carry the defective gene and there is a one in 625 chance of carriers marrying. There are thought to be 5,600 sufferers today in the United Kingdom. That number increases at the rate of between 200 and 300 per year. There are 2,400 sufferers over the age of 16, and it is they who are covered by this debate.
When my daughter was born, cystic fibrosis usually killed children in the first year of their lives. Now, as a result of the wonderful work done by doctors, scientists, nurses and parents, most cystic fibrosis children reach adulthood in reasonably good health. Therefore, there is even more need for the medication to be made available on prescription than when I last asked the Government to do so two and a half years ago.
I should like to pay tribute to the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust, which is the organisation representing sufferers of cystic fibrosis and their parents. That charity, which celebrates its silver jubilee in 1989, is adorned by the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Mrs. Angus Ogilvy, and is dedicated to raising money to fund medical and scientific research projects into the causes, treatment and, hopefully, the cure of cystic fibrosis. There are currently about 45 projects in hospitals and universities all over the country.
The trust provides education, comfort and morale-boosting support to those whose suffering may, in some cases, be even greater than that of their cystic fibrosis children—the parents. With the trust's help, we are now close to discovering the faulty gene, which is why a cure may soon be possible. That was unthought of when I addressed the House on earlier occasions. The Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust is an outstanding example of how excellent work can be done to relieve disability without state aid.
The burden of care and responsibility falling upon parents, who sometimes have more than one cystic fibrosis child, to keep their children alive and enable them to enjoy as near normality in their lives as possible, is great. To relieve such parents and their children as they grow into adulthood of the additional worry of having to meet the relentless cost of prescription charges, even with the considerable help of the season ticket formula, which has been reduced to the present £35 per year, must be a highly desirable aim, which I am sure will claim the support of all hon. Members.
What would that cost? The Association of Cystic Fibrosis Adults estimates that about 800 adults pay prescription charges, at a total cost of about £51,000 a year. Therefore, the amount involved is peanuts and would

1435
be unlikely to cause the Chancellor one sleepless night. There can he positively no objection to the relief of that prescription charge on the grounds of cost.
Why, then, have the Government been so reluctant to help at least until now? When my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) was Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security he gave some insight into the problem when he responded to my debate in October 1979.
He explained that the medical profession had to agree any decision. He said:
"Speaking as a layman I have a great deal of sympathy with the call to add cystic fibrosis to the list, and I would hope that the medical profession, if it were asked, would agree that it seems to satisfy the normal criteria for inclusion …
What I have had to ponder over is whether I should ask the doctors to add cystic fibrosis to the list and I have seriously considered doing so, as I personally think that if as many CF patients had survived to adulthood when the list was originally drawn up, that condition might well have been included."
My hon. Friend went on to explain why he would not immediately take the step for which I was asking. He said:
"If one advanced the boundary a little further to include cystic fibrosis, one would also in justice have to conduct a more general review of the whole scheme, and probably put in those who have phenylketonuria or coeliac disease. Therefore, one has to take a slightly broader view of the exemptions than my hon. Friend would like … If I seek to add this condition to the list, can I really defend not going further? Should not I consider whether the list of exempt conditions is the best way of helping the chronic sick, and is it right to go on trying to improve the list as my hon. Friend would wish in a rather piecemeal way, instead of seeking an alternative, within the resource constraints imposed by our present financial circumstances, to help more of the chronic sick?"
I agree. If we can help everybody, there is no point in worrying about helping a few.
My hon. Friend said:
"If I have decided to make no approach to the representatives of the medical profession at present it is because I feel that we must first see whether it is possible to work out some fairer way within our present financial constraints to help all the chronic sick with the costs of drugs they need than this present method of listing specified medical conditions."
But, said my hon. Friend—here a glimmer of light was offered to me—
"If we conclude that there is no better way than the present, I will return again to the request of my hon. Friend that we should consider, with the representatives of the medical profession, whether the list is fully up to date and whether there is a case for adding cystic fibrosis to it and perhaps some other similar conditions."—[Official Report, 25 October 1979; Vol. 972, c.688–91.]
I went away happy, or as happy as it was reasonably possible to be in the circumstances. If the Government could not see their way clear to helping everyone, they would look again to see whether cystic fibrosis sufferers at least could be further helped. Nothing happened. Did the Department conclude that there was "no better way than the present"? Did the Department return to consider cystic fibrosis? Did the representatives of the medical profession say no?
I raised the matter again on 24 May 1985 on the Adjournment. This time my hon. Friend and adversary was the new Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security, the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Mr. Patten). He was most sympathetic, and said:
"We all want to do what we can to help, but the case for free prescriptions for that group of people must be seen, I am
1436
afraid, within the wider context of the whole range of services provided by the NHS, the resources available, and the resources that exist to improve those services. I am well on the way to accepting my hon. and learned Friend's point that cystic fibrosis deserves very strong consideration. Alas, however, I am not at all convinced of the argument that it could be considered in isolation."
Yes, we had been over that ground. My hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton had told us that he would find out whether everyone could be helped and, if not, would look again at the case for cystic fibrosis sufferers.
Had that happened? Apparently not. My hon. Friend the new Under-Secretary of State explained that the list was kept under review and added:
"it was last discussed with representatives of the medical profession as long ago as 1976, when cystic fibrosis was one of the conditions considered. But the General Medical Services Committee, representing the medical profession, did not at that stage come to an agreement over the addition of any conditions to the list."—[Official Report, 24 May 1985; Vol. 79, c. 1328–29.]
That was 1976—nothing had happened after my debate in October 1979. I had wasted my breath, and so had my hon. Friend the Minister.
I asked for the matter to be reconsidered, and I was told by my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon of the answer given by the Secretary of State on 11 March 1985, stating that the case for cystic fibrosis exemption would be looked at again, that the reexamination was taking place in the Department at that very time and that it was hoped that it would be completed before the end of the year. Was it? With what result?
Presumably, the answer was, "No, we cannot help everyone with a permanent illness because it would be too costly." Incidentally, how much would it cost? Presumably the answer was, "No, we cannot give special exemption to cystic fibrosis sufferers because that would be unfair to others." By now, the case for exempting cystic fibrosis sufferers must be as well known as it is undoubtedly compelling.
I shall briefly restate the case. Cystic fibrosis would have been on the exemption list if it had been considered in 1968. Ministers have agreed to that. Cystic fibrosis meets all the criteria for exemption. Ministers have agreed to that. The amount of money that it would cost the Government to extend the list to cover cystic fibrosis would be negligible. Ministers have agreed to that. There is no rule which states that smaller groups cannot be helped until the entire larger group can be helped, but the list of cases where the Government have helped to the extent that they are able is getting quite long.
We have exempted, for example, some old-age pensioners from having to pay the television licence fee if they live in warden-controlled accommodation. We have added to the list of drugs that doctors can prescribe on the NHS as the case for their inclusion has become more compelling. I could go on.
The case for adding cystic fibrosis to the list of exemptions gets stronger every year as the splendid doctors and researchers who, with the help of parents and the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust, care for children with cystic fibrosis, bring them to adulthood and give them the prospect of a longer and normal life. They face the additional burden of a prescription charge which others in like circumstances simply do not have to pay.
As this is the very last debate before Christmas, and as the Minister who is to reply is my Member of Parliament, my friend and my much admired colleague who has done

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so much to relieve the plight of the sick since she has assumed her present office, I am more confident than ever before that my plea will not fall on deaf ears.
I wish you, Mr. Speaker, my hon. Friend, the servants of this great House of Commons and all my colleagues on both sides of the House a very happy Christmas and a healthier new year.
2.48 pm
Mr. Tim Janman: I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Minister for allowing me to butt into 30 seconds of her time. I should like to say a few words of support for what my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) has said.
I am fortunate in that I have no personal connection with anyone who suffers from cystic fibrosis although a small number of my constituents do. Apart from that, I have no interest to declare in the matter.
There is an extremely good case for extending the exemption to cystic fibrosis sufferers and I should like to re-emphasise the three main reasons. First, there is a genuine anomaly here, which has been caused since 1968, and purely on medical advance. Secondly, the cost to the Treasury of the Government doing something to alleviate the problem is extremely small—some £51,000 in a year. Thirdly, although it is difficult to make judgments in these matters, I think that there have been some exemptions in various areas of social policy which, if one took a hard look, one could say were less deserving than this in some ways.
My hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton has stated the strong case for exemption being extended to cystic fibrosis sufferers lucidly and eloquently. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Minister for allowing me a few moments and I hope that she will give strong and urgent consideration to the excellent case advanced by my hon. and learned Friend.
2.49 pm
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mrs. Edwina Currie): First, I congratulate my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on his success in the ballot and welcome the support of my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Janman) for my hon. and learned Friend in this debate.
Today we have an opportunity once again to raise the question of exemption from prescription charges for suffers of cystic fibrosis, as my hon. and learned Friend did in 1979 and 1985. I am following in honoured footsteps as I attempt to answer him, but I doubt whether I have any better news for him than had my predecessors, despite his kind personal remarks, which I appreciate.
My hon. and learned Friend rehearsed well the nature of cystic fibrosis, its causes as far as they are known and the daily difficulties facing any sufferer from the condition and family concerned.
About 250 affected children are born every year. About 70 per cent. survive until the age of 16, about half to the age of 30 and a few are now in their 40s. That leaves us at present with about 3,200 children and 2,400 adults in the United Kingdom. The commonest occurrence now appears in Scotland and the incidence of live births of
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cystic fibrosis children seems to be decreasing from about four per 10,000 live births in 1977 to 2·9 in 1984, which is the latest figure that I have.
My hon. and learned Friend drew attention to the increasingly successful treatments now available and I join him in paying tribute to the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust. It is a model of its kind, uniting and assisting victims and their families, offering authoritative and well founded information and initiating research of the most productive nature. I understand that there is now an Association of Cystic Fibrosis Adults under its aegis, which was established earlier this year.
Between my hon. and learned Friend, my hon. Friend and me there is no need to rehearse the history of how it comes about that diabetics get free prescriptions, but cystic fibrosis sufferers do not. This is a new Parliament, so it may help other hon. Members if I set out the background of the discussions nearly 20 years ago when the then Labour Government discovered for the second time in their history that they could not manage without prescription charges. Indeed, in all the 40 years of the NHS, scripts have been free only for brief periods, first at the beginning and then in the mid-1960s.
When prescription charges were reintroduced in 1968, a list of specified medical conditions was drawn up as a means of exempting some of the chronically sick. We were told that such a scheme could operate only with the full co-operation of general medical practitioners. Their representatives made it clear that they could agree to exemptions only for readily identifiable medical conditions that called automatically for continuous, lifelong medication and, in most cases, for replacement therapy.
The comment of my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Mr. Patten) still stands. He said:
"A doctor would not wish to enter into a debate with a patient about whether his condition was severe or permanent enough to attract exemption. Yet such arguments would be inevitable if ill-defined or complex diseases were added to the list or conditions were added that were so variable in their prognosis or treatment that exemption would not always be justified. The doctor would have to make, and defend, difficult judgments between two patients at different stages of the same disease, and that could put at risk the important relationship between doctor and patient: a relationship where we tread rather delicately and tend to leave as much as possible, quite properly, to the medical profession's ethical views."—[Official Report, 24 May 1985; Vol. 79, c. 1330.]
On that occasion my hon. Friend reported that a review was under way, which was announced on 11 March 1985, and that review was concluded in 1986. I read the paper submitted to the Minister of State at the time and it took into account the large number of conditions which are no longer killers and which require lifetime medication. I suffer from one of them, asthma, and I shall depend on drug therapy for the rest of my life.
There is also a question of those with short-term terminal illness—the House will recall that the question was raised at the Conservative party conference some little while back — where an extensive range of expensive drugs may be needed, albeit for palliative treatment. As medical science advances the list will undoubtedly grow.
I agree entirely with my hon. and learned Friend that had children with cystic fibrosis been surviving beyond the age of 18 in large numbers 20 years ago, that disease would undoubtedly have been on the list in the first place.
Mr. Lawrence: Do either of the examples that my hon. Friend gave us involve replacement therapy, which is one of the fundamental conditions that is required, and which applies to cystic fibrosis?
Mrs. Currie: If my hon. and learned Friend will listen to the points that I have to make, he may feel that we would no longer rely heavily on some of the points which were made 20 years ago to make our case.
I agree that, had survival been possible, this disease would probably have been on the list, but it was not put on the list. Two reviews since then have both concluded that no revision of the list should be made for cystic fibrosis or anything else. I know how deeply that will disappoint my hon. and learned Friend and his supporters, and I share his feelings, but having looked into the matter with some care, I come to the conclusion that my predecessors were not wrong.
The basis for exemptions for prescriptions is arbitrary and does not reflect current medical thinking. Nor does it parallel exemptions from dental charges, nor the rules for vouchers for spectacles, which are different again. I shall not begin to attempt to defend the rules and exemptions that we have now, but the principle to which we think it is wise to cling is that no one should be denied treatment or drugs on financial grounds. If a person or his family cannot pay, the prescription is free. That applies to all receivers of supplementary benefit or family income settlement, and indeed some others on low incomes. As a result, some three quarters of all prescriptions are issued free. After the social security reforms in April, those "passports" will continue, but we expect around twice as many families to qualify for family credit as for family income supplement than is the case at present. Therefore, the proportion of exempt subscriptions will probably increase.
We go a little further in this country and we encourage those on long-term medication to purchase pre-payment certificates. The charge for them is £35 a year, or 67p a week, or £12·50 for four months, which represents a significant saving for anyone requiring multiple prescriptions. The procedure for obtaining those exemption certificates at the moment is slow and fiddly. The Cheshire family practitioner committee has been telling me about its pioneering scheme for making the certificates available directly at pharmacists' premises. I have asked officials to look into the matter and advise whether we should change regulations for the whole country in that way. It would certainly help patients and be administratively simpler.
Of course, we do not expect people to pay the full cost of their drugs, except those for very mild conditions, which we took off the NHS list two years ago. The state recognises its responsibility in that important way. The flat rate charge of £2·40 covers, on average, only 45 per cent. of the cost of a typical prescription. In 1986, the latest year for which detailed figures are available, 322 million prescription items were dispensed in England, which is 22 million more than in 1980. We expect the figure to rise to 334 million this year. Of those, 246 million—that is, 76 per cent.—are exempt and 15 million—that is, 4·9 per
1440
cent.—are covered by pre-payment certificates, so there is almost certainly more scope for pre-payment certificates to be purchased.
It follows that only 60 million out of 322 million, or around 18 per cent., attract the charge at the time of dispensing. In 1968, when charges were reintroduced, only about 42 per cent. were dispensed free of charge. The total cost in 1986–87 of drugs in the Health Service was £1·8 billion, and that included dispensing costs. The charges raised £145 million or 8 per cent. I think that that will help to answer some of the questions that were put to me by my hon. and learned Friend.
My hon. and learned Friend who, as he says, is my constituent, is also a very dear friend. When I first arrived in the House in 1983, he offered me friendship and kindness, for which I shall be eternally grateful. My heart goes out to him and his family as he speaks of his personal experience of cystic fibrosis. Perhaps we are all lucky to be living in this country. My family in America suffered catastrophic financial consequences from the severe diabetes of my aunt whose needs rapidly outran all insurance cover. It took years to pay off all the medical bills.
Most of the other care and treatment that my hon. and learned Friend mentioned — the diagnosis, the physiotherapy, the support of the GP, the consultants, any necessary hospital treatment, and so on — are all provided without assessment or payment in this country. Indeed, over 92 per cent. of the cost of health care for all of us is provided by the state in Britain, and that is the highest proportion in the free world.
Perhaps I can comfort my hon. and learned Friend by saying that we all hope that in the years to come cystic fibrosis will be brought under control, as diabetes, epilepsy and asthma now largely have been, so that sufferers can lead normal lives, take their place as workers and taxpayers and look forward to old age. If the report in The Times of 30 November 1987 is anything to go by, I understand that
"Scientists at Celltech, the British biotechnology company have identified a naturally occurring enzyme which will be I he basis of a new drug to help sufferers of the condition."
The enzyme is called human gastric lipase, and if all goes well, the product will be generally available by 1994. However, we are some way off at present.
I hope that my hon. and learned Friend will permit me to offer him and his family, you, dear Mr. Speaker, and all those here who are still listening, the compliments of the season and a very happy new year.
Mr. Speaker: Before I adjourn the House, I should echo the remarks of the Under-Secretary of State and wish all hon. Members and the staff of the House, who serve us so faithfully and well, a very happy Christmas.
Question put and agreed to.
Adjourned accordingly at Three o'clock, till Monday 11 January 1988, pursuant to the Resolution of the House of 8 December.

DEFENCE

  Effluent Treatment (Cardiff)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the levels of(a) beryllium and (b) natural or depleted uranium in the effluent discharges from Atomic Weapons Establishment Cardiff, formerly Royal Ordnance Factory, in the years between 1962 and 1987; and if he will publish an estimate of the likely discharge levels of these materials following the commissioning of the new effluent treatment plant.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I shall write to the Hon. member.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the reasons for installing an improved effluent treatment plant at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Llanishen, Cardiff; when he expects the new plant to be commissioned; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The existing effluent treatment plant at the atomic weapons establishment, Cardiff, reduces the beryllium waste content to a consistently low level. It continues to operate effectively and there is no reason for its immediate replacement. Like most items of plant, however, the costs of maintenance increase with time and there are therefore plans to reduce the existing effluent treatment plant in due course by plant of at least equal efficacy.

  Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment Vessel
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to arrange a decision on the placing of an order for AOR 2; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I am pleased to be able to announce that agreement has been reached with Swan Hunter Shipbuilders on a contract for the second auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel. This follows the preferential opportunity given to the company to bid for this order as announced by my right hon. Friend in the House on 24 April 1986 at column 434. Construction is expected to begin next year.

  AWRE Aldermaston
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the contracting-out of processing and handling work at AWRE Aldermaston.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There has been no contracting-out of any part of the manufacturing process at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston. Contractors are, however, involved in the provision of services and construction of facilities at the establishment.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has of the annual cost of(a) paying and (b) equipping the forces stationed in the Falkland Islands; what estimate he has of annual transport costs; and what estimate he has of the cost in the current financial year of (i) new building and equipment, (ii) maintenance and (ii) staffing on Ascension Island.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The additional cost to the Defence budget of maintaining a garrison in the Falkland Islands in 1987–88 is £141 million. This includes all extra costs relating to the Falklands garrison, whether the costs are incurred on the islands themselves or elsewhere, such as Ascension. It excludes those personnel, equipment and other costs which would be incurred in the absence of the Falklands commitment; these are not identifiable without disproportionate cost and effort.

  RAF Bases (Alert States)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions(a) RAF Molesworth, (b) RAF Greenham common and (c) all RAF bases have been in each of the categories of alert over the past year.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  For security reasons, it is not our normal practice to give details of alert states.

  French Defence Minister
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent discussion with the French Defence Minister., with particular reference to the possible joint development or purchase of an air-launched stand-off nuclear missile to replace free-fall bombs.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend met his French colleague, M. Giraud, in London on 14 December as part of the normal series of exchanges between the two countries. They discussed a wide range of defence issues. Their talks included consideration of each country's requirements for an air-launched stand off missile. It was agreed that further studies should be undertaken to identify where the British and French requirements were similar and assess what merit there might be in collaboration.

  The procurement of a replacement for Britain's current theatre nuclear weapon, the free-fall bomb, is a long-term undertaking. A number of options are open to us and no decisions have yet been taken.

  Surplus Firearms
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why pistols sold to QED by his Department and shown in the appropriation accounts for 1982–83 as being the subject of a £450,000 settlement, were not subject to the nationally agreed policy referred to in the reply of 14 December,Official Report, column 346, relating to the disposal of surplus firearms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The contract for the sale of pistols to QED (Design and Development) Ltd. pre-dated the current policy. The settlement arose from the cancellation of the contract in the light of the change of policy.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Strangers Gallery
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Lord Privy Seal if he will bring forward proposals to allow note-taking in the Strangers Gallery by members of the public; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  No. Visitors attend the Strangers' Gallery in order to listen and observe proceedings of the House. In accordance with the resolution of the Services Committee, 21 January 1981, I do not believe that it would be appropriate to allow note-taking when records of our proceedings are widely available, both in Hansard and in the national press.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Vietnam
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how Her Majesty's Government will respond to the request by the Government of Vietnam for humanitarian assistance for the victims of Typhoon Mary No. 6.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We shall not be making a bilateral contribution in response to the request. The European Community would, however, be prepared to consider providing humanitarian assistance through nongovernmental organisations.

  Ethiopia
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the recent $22 million Ethiopian emergency appeal made by UNICEF.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We shall consider the UNICEF appeal against other emergency needs in Ethiopia.

  Famine Relief
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that the recent £2 million contribution to the Disasters Emergency Committee will be spent on famine relief to benefit starving people, especially women and children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Her Majesty's Government's contribution to this appeal is being used to respond to specific requests from the charities represented on the committee: the British Red Cross Society, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, and the Save the Children Fund. In considering such requests we are concerned to ensure that the aid provided will benefit those most in need, half of whom are children.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to release grain and other surplus food from European Community intervention stores for dispatch to Ethiopia to alleviate the famine there.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  European surpluses are being used to help meet famine needs in Ethiopia. This year the European Community has pledged 154,000 tonnes of 754
  cereals, mostly from within Europe, for this purpose. In addition, from our own bilateral food aid programme, Britain is providing 37,000 tonnes of cereals, of which 30,500 tonnes are being purchased within Europe.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the likely effect of the recent efficiency unit proposals on his Department.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The efficiency unit's report on improving management in Government is still being considered by Ministers.

  Rural Postal Services
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Post Office to discuss rural postal services.

  Mr. Butcher
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster meets the chairman of the Post Office from time to time to discuss matters of current interest but has no specific plans to discuss rural postal services.

  Kingrosia Park, Clydach
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will now reply to the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Gower relating to the problems experienced by the residents of Kingrosia park, Clydach, following a company going into liquidation.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I greatly regret that the letter which the hon. Member for Gower sent in May has been lost. It was not clear at that time which Department should answer and the letter appears to have been lost in transit. If the hon. Member writes to me again, I shall ensure that he receives a prompt reply from the right Department.

  Northumberland (Rural Post Offices)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, when he next meets the chairman of the Post Office, he will discuss with him the consequences of the proposed downgrading of Northumberland's rural post offices to community offices.

  Mr. Butcher
  The introduction of community offices in Northumberland is an operational matter for the Post Office Board, and I am asking the chairman to write to my hon. Friend about this.

  ERG Group (Takeover)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will refer the proposed takeover by Granada of the ERG Group, including Servicescope, to the Monopolies and Merger Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The proposed acquisition by Granada of the ERG Group is currently being considered by the Director General of Fair Trading. My right hon. and noble Friend will make his decision whether to refer the proposal to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in the light of the director general's advice.

  Racal-Vodaphone
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he proposes to reclaim for the purposes of reallocation the 40 GSM channels granted on a temporary basis to Racal-Vodaphone; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  All the channels in question have now been released by Racal-Vodafone.

  British Steel Corporation
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy to include in any legislation for the privatisation of the British Steel Corporation a provision precluding the purchase of the corporation by foreign buyers; what consideration he has given to the position of the corporation's subsidiary Universe Engineers Steels in this regard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  We shall consider whether there is a case for restricting ownership in relation to BSC, but no decisions have yet been taken. The ownership of private sector firms in which BSC has holdings is a matter for the shareholders.

  National Girobank
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he intends to offer National Girobank for sale as a share issue open to the general public; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he expects to raise any money from the sale of Girobank in any of the next three financial years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 December at column 335.

  Inner-city Initiative
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the estimated outturn expenditure figures for 1987–88 for each of the inner-city initiatives announced by he Government since 1983.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My Department's budget provides finance for the special budgets of the city action teams and for the top-up funds of the inner-city task forces. Provision for the special budgets of the CATs is £5 million in 1987–88. I expect this to be fully committed to projects in the city areas they cover. The top-up budget of the inner-city initiative is £14 million this year, and I expect a substantial proportion of it to be spent on or committed to projects in the 16 task force areas. It is too soon to estimate the outturn of expenditure but I expect that not all available top-up funds will actually be spent in 1987–88 because half of the task forces have only started work during 1987 and we need to be sure that the money is committed to projects addressing the employment and enterprise aims of the initiative. The flow of programmes and approval is now speeding up rapidly and we are entering into substantial future commitments. The hon. Member may wish to ask similar questions of my colleagues with urban policy responsibilities about the budgets for their Department's programmes.

  British Steel
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has on the amount spent by British Steel in advertising in 1986–87 and the projected spend in 1987–88, and what plans he has to use public money to advertise British Steel in the current or in the next financial year.

  Mr. Atkins
  Expenditure on advertising by the British Steel Corporation about its products or activities is a matter for the board. No decisions have yet been taken on the funding of advertising relating to the corporation's privatisation.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with the chairman of the Post Office about the future of postal services.

  Mr. Butcher
  I have had discussions in recent weeks with the chairman of the Post Office about various matters concerning the future of postal services.

  Patent Office
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will consider Sheffield for the relocation of the Patent Office.

  Mr. Butcher
  I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Members for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) and for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) on 10 December 1987 at column 239.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Registered Homes Tribunal
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will give the names of the chairs of the Registered Homes Tribunal.

  The Attorney-General
  The chairmen of the Registered Homes Tribunal are:

  His Honour B. H. Gerrard

  W. Morris Jones

  J. C. R. Fieldsend

  G. F. Harwood R.

  H.Christie

  Mrs. M. Rutherford

  Mr. Jeremy Warner
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received from the International Press Institute about the Law Lords' decision that Jeremy Warner, business correspondent of The Independent, must disclose confidential sources of information.

  The Attorney-General
  I have received a letter from the director of the International Press Institute about the recent House of Lords decision which concerned Mr. Warner. In that letter he protested over what he said was governmental interference with the free press. Such an allegation is unfounded. Mr. Warner was asked, by independent inspectors appointed under section 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986 to carry out investigations
  757
  into possible offences under the insider dealing legislation, to identify his source of information for two articles which he had published. His refusal to answer those questions was referred by the inspectors to the court for the court to inquire into the refusal under section 178 of that Act. The court is empowered to punish someone who so refuses as if he were in contempt of court unless he has a reasonable excuse. The House of Lords held that Mr. Warner did not have a reasonable excuse in this case, essentially on the ground that the information which the inspectors required from him was necessary for the prevention of crime.

  Kimberley Carlile
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Attorney-General what action the Director of Public Prosecutions is taking concerning a recommendation of the report of the commission of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Kimberley Carlile that an inquiry should be set up as to why the prosecution of Mr. Hall and Mrs. Carlile was so long delayed.

  The Attorney-General
  Notwithstanding the recommendation in its report, the commission did not itself inquire into the reasons for the delay which it alleged. The Crown prosecution service was not represented at the inquiry; it was given no notice that this matter was in issue, nor was it afforded any opportunity to comment on any of the conclusions or recommendations in the report before it was published.

  The Director of Public Prosecutions has inquired into the sequence of events, which was as follows. The defendants were charged with murder on 10 June 1986, two days after Kimberley's death. Mrs. Carlile's legal advisers did not agree to a formal committal for trial, but exercised their right to make legal submissions on 15 September 1986 when both defendants were committed for trial to the Central Criminal Court. In November 1986 the court itself fixed 5 May 1987 for the start of the trial. In the meantime, the London borough of Greenwich had begun wardship proceedings, and the question arose whether those proceedings should be heard before or after the trial; Mr. Justice Wood later ruled that they should be heard after the trial. It was plainly desirable that the trial should take place as soon as possible. Accordingly, on 26 January 1987 prosecuting councel instructed by the Crown prosecution service applied to the Common Serjeant to bring the date of trial forward. This application was refused on the grounds that a vital prosecution witness was unavailable to give evidence in parts of March and April and no court could be found for the trial at any other time before 5 May. The trial did begin on 5 May and concluded on 15 May 1987.

  The director is satisfied that in all the circumstances the Crown prosecution service was in no way to blame for the lapse of time between the charging of the defendants and their trial.

ENERGY

  Electricity Requirement
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the projected electricity requirement in 1977 for the 10-year period 1977–1987; and what have been the actual usage figures during the past 10 years.
  758
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the Electricity Council. I shall ask the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Domestic Fuel Charges
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in equalising the burden of domestic electricity charges as between different regions; if he will tabulate information available to him on the changes in prices in each board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the Electricity Council and I shall ask the chairman to reply to the hon. Member.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report the names of his advisory committees, together with an indication of those whose members are required to sign a declaration under, or who have otherwise had drawn to their attention, the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.

  Mr. Parkinson
  My Departmental advisory bodies are:

  The Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power;

  The Offshore Energy Technology Board;

  The Offshore Industry Liaison Committee;

  The Offshore Safety and Technology Board; and

  The Renewable Energy Advisory Committee.

  These bodies may generally be expected to have access to official information: where relevant, their members therefore either have their attention drawn to the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, or are asked to make an appropriate declaration.

  Central Electricity Generating Board
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to how many people work in the generation development and construction division of the Central Electricity Generating Board; and at what locations.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board, and I shall ask the chairman to reply to the hon. Member.

  Electricity Supply
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if his Department has made any studies or employed any external consultants, or has any plans to do so, to assess the economic and technical feasibility of linking the United Kingdom national electricity distribution grid to Iceland via cables, for the import of electricity generated in Iceland for use in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The supply of electricity in bulk is the responsibility of the electricity generating boards. I understand that, at present, the Central Electricity Generating Board has no plans to commission any feasibility studies.

  Mr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to meet the general manager of the Icelandic Power Company, Mr. Halloor Jonatansson, to
  759
  discuss the prospects of a power cable link-up between Iceland and the national grid, for the import of power generated in Iceland to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The supply of electricity in bulk is the responsibility of the electricity generating boards. I understand that representatives of the Icelandic Power Company have had informal discussions with the Central Electricity Generating Board. The board is keeping the possibility of a cable link under review.

  Electricity Supply Industry (Revenue Collection)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received the third response by the electricity supply industry to the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the revenue collection systems of four area boards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I have now received from the Electricity Council, on behalf of all area boards, its third response to the report of the MMC published in January 1985 on the revenue collection systems of the East Midlands, South Eastern, North Eastern and South Western area electricity boards (Cmnd. 9427). I am placing copies of the response in the Library of the House.

  This final response notes the progress made and the conclusions reached in reviewing the MMC's recommendations since my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) announced receipt of the second response on 29 July 1986, at columns 361–62. In particular,—each area board has now set itself targets for reducing meter reading, billing and collection costs. Progress in achieving the targets is monitored regularly as is performance between boards;

  —a detailed study indentifying 'best practices' in revenue collection procedures has been completed and all boards are responding positively to its conclusions;

  —detailed methods of allocating revenue collection costs based on national accounting guidelines are operated for the purposes of both management cost control and inter-hoard comparisons. All boards have reviewed their allocation practices to ensure that they comply with these guidelines.

  The industry is continuing to keep revenue collection practices under review and the response concludes by noting that privatisation may bring about further changes in these.

  The MMC's report and the response of the industry to its recommendations have been a valuable contribution to improving efficiency.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Student Grants
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will announce the level of student grants for the year 1988–89.

  Mr. Jackson
  Subject to Parliament's approval of the necessary regulations, the main rates of student grant will be increased by 4 per cent. in the 1988–89 academic year. In England and Wales the new rates will be as follows (rates for 1987–88 are show in brackets):
  760

  Undergraduate (£)

  Postgraduate (£)

  Hall or lodgings

  (i) London

  2,425 (2,330)

  3,630 (3,492)

  (ii) Elsewhere

  2,050 (1,972)

  2,975 (2,859)

  Parental home

  1,630 (1,567)

  2,160 (2,070)

  The threshold for parental contributions, and the points on the contribution scale at which the rate of contribution changes, will be uprated on average by about 6·5 per cent. Parents whose residual income is below £9,900 will not be assessed for a contribution. The minimum contribution will be increased from £40 to £50 and the maximum, which in general applies only to parents with more than one child in receipt of grant, will rise from £4,600 to £4,900.

  The full parental contribution scale for 1988–89 will be as follows:

  Residual income £

  Contribution £

  9,900

  50

  10,000

  64

  11,000

  207

  12,000

  350

  12,600

  435

  12,700

  455

  12,800

  475

  12,900

  495

  13,000

  515

  14,000

  715

  15,000

  915

  16,000

  1,115

  17,000

  1,315

  18,000

  1,515

  18,400

  1,595

  18,500

  1,620

  19,000

  1,745

  20,000

  1,995

  21,000

  2,245

  22,000

  2,495

  23,000

  2,745

  24,000

  2,995

  25,000

  3,245

  26,000

  3,495

  27,000

  3,745

  28,000

  3,995

  29,000

  4,245

  30,000

  4,495

  31,000

  4,745

  31,620

  14,900

  1 Maximum.

  Notes:

  1. For 1988–89 the level of contribution will be assessed at £1 in £7 for residual incomes from £9,900 to £12,600; then £1 in £4 to £18,400; and £1 in £4 thereafter. (In 1987–88 it is assessed at £1 in £7 for residual incomes from £9,300 to £11,800; then £1 in £5 to £7,300; and £1 in £4 thereafter.

  2. The contribution payable may be less than the amounts shown on the scale, particularly at its top end and where the contribution is in respect of one award-holder only. This will depend on the amount of grant against which the contribution has to be set and whether any of the assessed contribution is offset by alowances for other dependent children.

  Primary Schools
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to respond to the Third Report on the Select Committee on Education, Science and Arts on achievement in primary schools, Session 1985–86, H.C. 40-I.
  761
  Mr. Dunn
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 16 December at column 517.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is(a) the number of primary schools in England and Wales, and (b) the number of children of primary school age in England and Wales.

  Mr. Dunn
  The number of maintained primary schools in England in January 1987 was 19,432 and the number of children of primary school age was 3,389,261.

  The corresponding figures for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average number of computers in primary schools in England and Wales.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  There are, on average, two microcomputers in each primary school in England and Wales.

  Science Teachers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many additional science teachers are estimated to be required, if his plans for city technical colleges and the core curriculum go ahead in their present form.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The establishment of city technology colleges will lead to a small increase in demand for teachers of science, mathematics and CDT. But once established their success may well attract back into the profession science teachers who have left, while also stimulating new entrants. It is too early to give a precise estimate of the demand for additional science teachers generated by our proposals for the national curriculum. We are already planning for the national curriculum to be introduced within an overall pupil to teacher ratio at its lowest ever level of 17:1 by 1989. Within that context, schools and local authorities must ensure that they make the best use of the skills and specialisms of the existing teacher force. For our part, the Department will be monitoring likely demands closely so as to arrange future intitial teacher training allocations on the basis of satisfying the needs of the national curriculum.

  Student Statistics
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students are in the final year of a science degree in the current year; what proportion that figure is of the total number of students in their final year; and what is his best estimate of the total number of students over the next three years.

  Mr. Jackson
  In 1986–87 it is estimated that there were 24,200 final year full-time and sandwich students in Great Britain on science first-degree courses, 21 per cent. of all final year first-degree students.

  Projections of fiscal year students are not available. The total number of science graduates, including those from part-time courses, in Great Britain in 1985–86 was 24,800, 21 per cent. of all first-degree graduates, and is projected to increase to 25,800, 26,800 and 26,100 in 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89 respectively.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money he has allocated for investment in city technology colleges in accordance with clause 80 of the Education Reform Bill; and what is the maximum percentage of the capital and current expenditure that his Department is prepared to pay.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government's plans allow for public expenditure on the CTC programme, both current and capital, of £4 million in 1987–88 rising to £33 million in 1989–90. My right hon. Friend expects a substantial proportion of capital costs to be met by th private sector. He will provide an annual per capita grant to each CTC in line with costs in an LEA maintained school in similar circumstances.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated outturn expenditure on city technology colleges for 1987–88, and what was the outturn for 1986–87.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  There was no expenditure provision for city technology colleges in 1986–87. For 1987–88 provision has been set at £4 million, including running costs within the Department. Final outturn will be within this figure but will depend on progress with building work in the first two CTCs and it is too early to make any estimate.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the progress to date of the recommendations relevant to his Department contained within the report of the working group on services for people with epilepsy.

  Mr. Dunn
  A joint circular was published by DES and DHSS in July 1986 which drew the attention of education, health and social services authorities to this report. The recommendations on educational matters are directed not at my right hon. Friend, but at local education authorities. It is for individal LEAs to consider the recommendations of the report.

  Consultative Documents (Responses)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the names of local authorities and representative bodies concerned with education and other institutions from whom he has received representations in response to his consultative documets entitled(a) "Admission of Pupils to Maintained Schools", (b) "Financial Delegation to Schools", (c) "Collective Worship in Schools", (d) "Academic Tenure and Related Matters", (e) "The National Curriculum 5–16", (f) "Maintained Further Education: Financing, Governance and Law", (g) "The Organisation of Education in Inner London", (h) "Regulations on the Keeping and Disclosure of Pupil Records", (i) "Accounting and Auditing in Higher Education" and (j) "Grant Maintained Schools".

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  We have had some 20,000 responses to the main consultation papers. These include responses from 82 local education authorities and from a very wide range of representative bodies, including all the main teachers' associations, the National Confederation
  763
  of Parent-Teacher Associations, the National Association of Governors and Managers and Church bodies. We have also received responses from some 400 school governing bodies and in relation to some of the consultation papers from more than this number. To list all these responses in the form requested by the hon. Member could be done only at disproportionate cost. My Department has, however, placed in the Libraries of the House copies of all responses to the consultation papers other than those from individuals.

  Capital Programmes
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what decisions he has now made in respect of the capital programmes of local education authorities for 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) on 19 November at column 611.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each local education authority in England (i) the pupil to teacher ratios, (ii) per capita expenditure and (iii) O and A-level pass rates, for each of the years 1974 to the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dunn
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the names of his advisory committees, together with an indication of those whose members are required to sign a declaration under, or who have otherwise had drawn to their attention, the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The following bodies act as advisory committees to the Secretary of State for Education and Science:

  Advisory Board for the Research Councils (ABRC)

  Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils

  Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education

  Interim Advisory Committee on Teachers Pay

  National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education

  Open University Visiting Committee

  University Grants Committee

  Visiting Committee for Cranfield Institute of Technology

  Visiting Committee for the Royal College of Art

  Voluntary Sector Consultative Council

  Schools Curriculum Working Groups (Science, English, Maths)

  National Advisory Council for the Youth Service.

  Of these bodies, only the ABRC requires members to sign a declaration that their attention has been drawn to the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was(a) Government and (b)
  764
  local authority spending on education, including higher education, expressed per household for 1979 and for 1986–87 at (i) current prices, (ii) 1979 prices and (iii) 1987 prices.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is as follows:

  Expenditure (£) per household1

  Cash terms

  1978–79 prices2

  1986–87 prices2

  1978–79 expenditure

  —by Central Government4

  53

  53

  103

  —by Local Authorities4

  391

  391

  761

  1986–87 expenditure

  —by Central Government3

  104

  54

  104

  —by Local Authorities4

  754

  388

  754

  During this period the relevant number of households increased from 16·8 million to 17·9 million.

  1 Estimated mid-year count of households in England.

  2 Cash terms have been converted into 1978–79 and 1986–87 prices using the Gross Domestic Product (Market Prices) Deflators.

  3 Total Department of Education and Science central government spending excluding research councils (from Public Expenditure White Paper).

  4 Total Department of Education and Science local authority current and capital spending (from Public Expenditure White Paper).

  Sir David Phillips
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to obtain a transcript of the speech to the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee by Sir David Phillips FRS, relating to the funding of university research.

  Mr. Jackson
  Sir David Phillips has sent my right hon. Friend the text of his speech, and I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.

  University Research
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he hopes to make a statement on the funding of university research.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend announced on 3 December the Government's revised expenditure plans for universities and the science budget. He is currently considering advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on the allocation of the science budget and he will make a statement on that as soon as possible.

  The Government are also considering the recommendations in the ABRC's discussion document "A Strategy for the Science Base" and the many comments on them received during the recently concluded consultative exercise. My right hon. Friend will announce the Government's conclusions on policy for the science base in 1988.

  Co-ordinating Committee on Marine Science and Technology
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now set out the composition and terms of reference of the Co-ordinating Committee on Marine Science and Technology, announced in Cmnd. 9861.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The new Co-ordinating Committee on Marine Science and Technology will include
  765
  representatives of relevant Government Departments, research councils and independent members reflecting the broad range of activities the committee will address.

  The chairman will be Sir John Mason, CB, Dsc, FRS.

  Other members from outside Government will be:

  Admiral Sir Lindsay Bryson, FRSE, FEng. — Chairman, Marine Technology Directorate Ltd.

  Dr. D. L. Georgala, CBE — Industrial Consultant, Laboratory of the Government Chemist.

  Mr. D. E. Lennard — Managing Director, Ocean Thermal Conversion Systems Ltd.

  Prof. Tom Patten, CBE, FEng, FI Mech E, FRSE—Chairman, Seaboard Lloyd Ltd.

  Prof. Ernest Naylor DSc., FIBiol — Lloyd Roberts Professor of Zoology, University College of North Wales, Bangor.

  Sir David Smith, FRS — Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh University.

  One further member, from an industrial background, is to be appointed later.

  Departmental members will be drawn from the Department of Trade and Industry, Energy, Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, Transport; and the Ministries of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, and of Defence.

  The committee will have assessors from the Department of Education and Science, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Cabinet Office.

  The committee's terms of reference will be:
  To co-ordinate Government-funded and related activities in marine science and technology, advising and reporting to the Government through the Secretary of State for Education and Science, and in particular to:

  i. develop a national strategic framework, having regard to available resources and taking full account of the responsibility of Departments, research councils and industry in developing their own strategies;

  ii. draw attention to areas, or potential areas, of duplication, overlap or omission;

  iii. identify and consider the relative priority of fields of major scientific, technological or economic promise;

  iv. promote the role of the United Kingdom in the European Community and other international collaboration; and

  v. monitor progress within the national strategic framework.

  The Committee is expected to meet for the first time in January 1988.

  Capital Allocations
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the amount available for capital expenditure on schools and further education establishments in 1988–89, including the voluntary aided sector.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Local education authorities have today been informed of their allocations of prescribed expenditure for 1988–89, and of the allocations for capital spending by the governors of voluntary aided and special agreement schools in their area. The allocations, which include an element of £55 million for new school improvement projects, are as follows:
  766

  Education captial expenditure 1988–89 Allocations for each local education authority

  LEA

  Capital expenditure at county and controlled schools and further education establishments £000s

  Capital expenditure by the governors of aided and special agreement schools£000s

  Greater London

  Barking

  1,639

  15

  Barnet

  2,000

  1,109

  Bexley

  1,234

  617

  Brent

  2,532

  467

  Bromley

  403

  30

  Croydon

  1,595

  40

  Ealing

  1,174

  971

  Enfield

  1,318

  383

  Haringey

  2,330

  50

  Harrow

  1,643

  25

  Havering

  692

  70

  Hillingdon

  918

  350

  Hounslow

  1,242

  26

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,695

  —

  Merton

  1,023

  —

  Newham

  3,061

  4

  Redbridge

  3,719

  60

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  277

  —

  Sutton

  627

  —

  Waltham Forest

  5,498

  11

  Inner London

  17,767

  1,641

  Metropolitan Districts

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  4,407

  1,847

  Coventry

  6,155

  53

  Dudley

  1,555

  535

  Sandwell

  767

  5

  Solihull

  700

  638

  Walsall

  907

  36

  Wolverhampton

  1,849

  27

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  1,136

  720

  Liverpool

  2,323

  652

  St. Helens

  1,211

  2,823

  Sefton

  1,450

  293

  Wirral

  2,330

  290

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  1,212

  3,432

  Bury

  467

  1,052

  Manchester

  9,269

  2,585

  Oldham

  2,822

  2,218

  Rochdale

  1,440

  1,762

  Salford

  3,430

  745

  Stockport

  2,878

  50

  Tameside

  716

  90

  Trafford

  471

  5

  Wigan

  3,508

  385

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  342

  12

  Doncaster

  421

  50

  Rotherham

  699

  48

  Sheffield

  7,189

  518

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  10,457

  86

  Calderdale

  3,619

  —

  Kirklees

  1,486

  45

  Leeds

  4,626

  —

  Wakefield

  3,573

  70

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  1,933

  884

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  3,917

  105

  767

  LEA

  Capital expenditure at county and controlled schools and further education establishments £000s

  Capital expenditure by the governors of aided and special agreement schools£000s

  North Tyneside

  2,129

  329

  South Tyneside

  2,527

  106

  Sunderland

  4,583

  224

  Non-Metropolitan Counties

  Isles of Scilly

  39

  —

  Avon

  4,277

  436

  Bedfordshire

  1,630

  —

  Berkshire

  5,567

  492

  Buckinghamshire

  6,152

  1,932

  Cambridgeshire

  4,314

  345

  Cheshire

  4,829

  515

  Cleveland

  3,673

  170

  Cornwall

  6,413

  145

  Cumbria

  4,858

  429

  Derbyshire

  10,777

  1,155

  Devon

  6,262

  619

  Dorset

  4,052

  1,421

  Durham

  1,415

  150

  East Sussex

  9,815

  2,091

  Essex

  20,317

  831

  Gloucestershire

  5,302

  536

  Hampshire

  16,550

  288

  Voluntary aided and special agreement schools Major projects to start in 1988–891

  Expenditure (£ thousands)

  Local Education Authority

  Name of School

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Enfield

  St. Matthew CE

  183

  63

  —

  Enfield

  St. George RC

  150

  400

  15

  Havering

  Sacred Heart of Mary

  70

  650

  50

  Redbridge

  St. Anthonys

  50

  500

  20

  ILEA

  St. Johns CE

  136

  356

  46

  ILEA

  St. Thomas RC

  127

  35

  —

  ILEA

  Sacred Heart RC

  770

  676

  37

  Dudley

  Oldswinford Hospital

  420

  660

  170

  Liverpool

  King David Phase 1

  150

  26

  6

  St. Helens

  Newton St. Marys RC

  60

  60

  —

  Sefton

  St. Johns CE Primary

  90

  455

  122

  Wirral

  Plessington RC Phase 3

  200

  1,100

  1,100

  Bolton

  St. Josephs RC, Horwich

  38

  133

  19

  Bury

  Ramsbottom St. Joseph RC

  46

  161

  23

  Manchester

  St. Andrews CE

  29

  156

  6

  Manchester

  Didsbury CE Primary

  31

  168

  8

  Rochdale

  St. Vincent de Paul

  42

  147

  21

  Rochdale

  RC Secondary Reorganisation

  540

  849

  75

  Salford

  Christ The King RC

  75

  75

  —

  Wigan

  St. Ambrose Barlow RC

  150

  160

  —

  Sheffield

  Notre Dame Phase 2

  318

  220

  —

  Sheffield

  All Saints

  200

  170

  —

  Bradford

  Bingley Grammar

  17

  165

  38

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  St. Cuthberts RC Comprehensive

  40

  434

  237

  North Tyneside

  St. Anselms

  188

  434

  228

  South Tyneside

  St. Bedes, Jarrow

  100

  200

  33

  Berkshire

  Newbury, St. Nicholas CE

  250

  250

  —

  Buckinghamshire

  High Wycombe, St. Augustine

  163

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  Shelford CE

  100

  75

  —

  768

  LEA

  Capital expenditure at county and controlled schools and further education establishments £000s

  Capital expenditure by the governors of aided and special agreement schools £000s

  Hereford and Worcester

  2,892

  61

  Hertfordshire

  5,525

  467

  Humberside

  7,077

  1,315

  Isle of Wight

  1,663

  839

  Kent

  7,134

  386

  Lancashire

  12,809

  21,298

  Leicestershire

  7,419

  1,036

  Lincolnshire

  3,897

  125

  Norfolk

  4,021

  253

  North Yorkshire

  3,937

  100

  Northamptonshire

  3,190

  132

  Northumberland

  955

  178

  Nottinghamshire

  2,461

  203

  Oxfordshire

  4,673

  682

  Shropshire

  4,465

  265

  Somerset

  2,764

  559

  Staffordshire

  7,469

  955

  Suffolk

  7,014

  246

  Surrey

  4,859

  1,660

  Warwickshire

  1,375

  715

  West Sussex

  3,053

  1,644

  Wiltshire

  3,215

  35

  England

  369,000

  55,298

  769

  Expenditure (£ thousands)

  Local Education Authority

  Name of School

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Cambridgeshire

  Elton CE

  200

  30

  —

  Cheshire

  Bishop Bluecoat

  35

  485

  139

  Cheshire

  St. Benedict RC

  150

  310

  49

  Cornwall

  St. Unys CE

  100

  50

  —

  Cumbria

  Preston, Endmoor CE

  30

  320

  130

  Devon

  Torquay, Cuthbert Mayne

  137

  —

  —

  Dorset

  Poole, St. Aldhelms CE

  200

  600

  250

  East Sussex

  Hastings, Sacred Heart RC

  250

  50

  —

  Essex

  Shenfield, St. Marys CE

  109

  120

  5

  Gloucestershire

  St. Gregory RC

  141

  226

  28

  Gloucestershire

  Pates Grammar Phase 2

  154

  104

  —

  Hampshire

  Gosport, St. Johns

  100

  75

  —

  Hertfordshire

  Bishop Stortford, St. Mary RC

  120

  225

  15

  Humberside

  Beverley Grammar

  180

  114

  —

  Lancashire

  Penwortham, St. Mary Magdalen Preston RC Secondary

  40

  80

  —

  Lancashire

  Reorganisation Preston RC Primary

  300

  1,000

  250

  Lancashire

  Reorganisation

  220

  20

  —

  Leicestershire

  Wigston, All Saints CE

  283

  31

  —

  Northumberland

  Morpeth, St. Roberts RC

  118

  326

  50

  Nottinghamshire

  St. Edmund Campion RC

  21

  191

  11

  Shropshire

  Bitterly CE

  265

  91

  —

  Somerset

  Taunton, Holy Trinity CE

  150

  220

  28

  Suffolk

  Bury, St. Edmunds, St. Louis

  85

  105

  70

  Warwickshire

  Kineton CE

  200

  65

  —

  West Sussex

  East Grinstead, St. Peters RC

  170

  440

  30

  1 Expenditure for 1988–89 is included in the Governors column of the main list.

  Capital Allocation (Calderdale)
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what decision he has reached now that he has received Calderdale's bid for capital allocation for 1988–89, concerning the £1·2 million needed to implement the Commission for Racial Equality's proposals.

  Mr. Dunn
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry).

  Calderdale's allocation for 1988–89 is 92 per cent. higher than its original allocation for 1987–88.

  Alllocations in respect of prescribed expenditure are unhypothecated and it is up to Calderdale local education authority to decide how to use the resources available.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will announce his decisions on provision for polytechnics and colleges in 1987–88 and on the distribution of the advanced further education pool and voluntary sector quantum for 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have today written to the chairman of the committee of the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education (NAB) in response to the committee's advice on the disposition of student numbers in polytechnics and colleges in 1988–89, and on the basis for distributing the advanced further education quantum of £781 million and the voluntary sector quantum of £56·7 million which I announced in the House on 3 November and the direct grant agricultural colleges quantum of £3·87 million. I have accepted that advice in full.
  770
  Following my announcement that the resources available for polytechnics and colleges in 1988–89 would be 9 per cent. up on the current year, NAB recommends that student access should be further expanded. The plans for 1988–89 provide for over 7,000 more places and an increase in recruitment of over 3 per cent. compared to the targets set in 1987–88. That is fully adequate to meet known demand. Within the total, the targets allow for further increases in enrolments in the priority areas of science, engineering, technology and design.

  As in previous years, the greater parts of the advanced further education quantum and of the voluntary sector and direct grant agricultural colleges quantums are being allocated in relation to target student numbers. The allocations make allowance for the differential costs of provision between subjects. They supplement the level of funding per student in respect of those institutions where higher education exceeds a quarter of total provision. This is in recognition of the greater costs associated with a concentration of higher education.

  The allocations announced today include just under £25 million for a range of selective initiatives in areas of high priority and institutions of recognised strength. This expenditure supports the following purposes:
  —£1·91 million to meet the recurrent costs of the continuing participation by eight polytechnics in phase 2 of the engineering and technology programme;
  —£9·81 million to fund applied research of relevance to industry;
  —£1·05 million to support the launch of new courses in manufacturing systems engineering;
  —£4·89 million to continue the funding of new courses in science and engineering, particularly conversion courses which will equip those with non-science backgrounds to enter advanced courses in the

  771
  technologies, and for the development of new courses of teacher training in shortage subjects for nontraditional students;
  —£2·27 million to provide for an increase in technicians in support of high technology courses;
  —44·17 million to maintain the expansion of continuing education and professional updating (PICKUP);
  —£560,000 to provide continuing support for research in the biotechnology field;
  —4250,000 to support course development in selected centres of hotel and catering work.

  £300,000 is also being allocated to support selective work in the voluntary colleges in the teacher training field and £50,000 is being allocated to the direct grant agricultural colleges to support PICKUP.

  Letters are today being sent to local education authorities with copies for their institutions notifying them of my decisions. Copies of my letter to the NAB committee chairman, and of a note explaining the method by which the three quantums for 1987–88 are being distributed, together with full details of the allocations, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Inner London Education Authority
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what decision he has taken on the application from the Inner London education authority for re-determination of the expenditure level for 1988–89 which he set in July; and what maximum he proposes to prescribe for the Inner London education authority's precept in that year.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Having considered the Inner London education authority's application, I have decided to re-determine the expenditure level for 1988–89 at £970 million, £15 million higher than the level I set in July. The addition is specifically to assist the authority to meet the one-off costs of making the substantial reduction in its spending which is urgently needed. I have therefore, following consultation with the authority, imposed a requirement that the additional £15 million should be used only for the purpose of meeting obligations to staff who leave the authority by reason of redundancy or in the effective discharge or efficient exercise of the authority's functions. I have today notified the authority of these decisions. I have also notified it of my proposal to prescribe a maximum precept for 1988–89 of 80.56p, which would on the latest information available enable the authority to raise £970 million. The proposed precept maximum is 0.8p more than the current year's precept, an increase of 1 per cent. I have given the authority until 12 January to inform me whether it accepts the proposal.

  Teachers (Training)
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what support he will provide for the in-service training of teachers in 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I announced on 7 August my intention of making available grant of £119 million in 1988–89 to support local education authorities' expenditure in-service training for teachers and certain other groups in the education service. Authorities have responded with proposals for expenditure of £290 million, compared to £265 million this year; a 9 per cent. increase.772
  They have also made proposals for further developing their arrangements for managing training, so that training can be increasingly accurately matched to staff development needs.

  I have decided to confirm the grant to he made available at the levels provisionally indicated to local education authorities in August, with some minor adjustments in the light of later indications of authorities' intentions for certain categories. I have taken no decision, however, in respect of one authority, Tameside, which has yet to submit full proposals. In two cases, Haringey and Liverpool, I am not satisfied with progress with the development of arrangements for managing training, and I am therefore attaching specific conditions to their grant.

  Teachers (Pensions)
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to make any changes to the arrangements whereby teachers can cover for pension purposes periods when they are on strike.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  At present teachers who go on strike can safeguard their pensions using arrangements designed to protect teachers whose pensionable employment is interrupted for other reasons. They can elect under what are known as "current added years" arrangements to maintain pension cover during their absence by paving the employer's and employee's contributions which would have been paid if pensionable employment had continued — at present 15·45 per cent. of salary. The cost of pensions increase (index-linking) is borne by the Exchequer. I have come to the conclusion that teachers who decide to withdraw their services by striking should no longer be able to take advantage of these arrangements. Under amendment regulations which I have today issued for consultation to representatives of the local authorities, and teachers, I propose to restrict the opportunities that teachers who go on strike will in future have for covering their absences for pension purposes.

  The effect of the amendments I am introducing will not prevent teachers altogether from covering these absences. To do so, however, they will need to meet the full cost (including pensions increase) under what are known as "past added years" arrangements. The regulations specify a minimum period of 30 days which may be covered in this way, except at the point of retirement when teachers will be able to cover any period by deduction of contributions from their lump sums.

  Governors
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he intends to take in preparing to select governors for the polytechnics and other colleges of higher education to be transferred from local authority control under part 11 of the Education Reform Bill.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Subject to the successful passage of the Education Reform Bill, I would wish to appoint the new boards of governors as soon as possible after Royal Assent, so that they have time to make preparations before assuming full responsibility for the conduct of their institutions. I shall look to a number of sources for
  773
  suggestions for the independent lay members; other members will be nominated by the bodies identified in the Bill. The director or principal is also to be a member.

  It is in the general interest that the transfer is as smooth as possible. Preparations are needed on a contingency basis before the Bill is passed. I am therefore taking steps to establish a small, informal group for each institution to help with identification of possible governors and to offer advice to the institution as it prepares for incorporation. Each group might have about five to six members, plus the director or principal. It would be desirable to include some members of the existing governing bodies. We are writing to chairman of the present governing bodies, and to the directors or principals of the institutions concerned, seeking their help in identifying suitable people.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the high commissioner regarding the actions of Greek Cypriot women who recently crossed into the Turkish occupied area of Cyprus to express their opposition to the division still existing in the island of Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The High Commission has sent a full report on the demonstration that took place on 22 November. We understand that about 150 women, and some men, crossed the United Nations' buffer zone and reached the Turkish-Cypriot controlled area of Cyprus where they sat down and spent some hours, before being persuaded to return voluntarily by members of the United Nations' Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

  Member's Correspondence
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now reply to the letter sent to him on 5 October by the hon. Member for Gower, regarding problems relating to a constituent residing in Langland, Swansea.

  Mr. Eggar
  A reply was despatched on 13 November. A copy will be sent to the hon. Member.

  Middle East
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the implications for the peace process in the middle east and observance of human rights of the recent disturbances on the West Bank and in Gaza, and the temporary closure of Bethlehem university; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We take every appropriate opportunity to stress to the Israelis the importance of respecting human rights in the occupied territories.

  Food (Radiation)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent European Community agreement on radiation levels in food in an emergency.
  774
  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Spicer) on 16 December, at column 575.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to receive all members of representive delegations from Hong Kong on future visits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The reception of a delegation by ministerial colleagues is a matter for consideration on a case by case basis in the light of the composition of the delegation and its purpose.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the Hong Kong Government concerning direct elections in 1988; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the principle of direct elections in Hong Kong commencing in 1988;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the progress of political reform in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Eggar
  Development in representative government in Hong Kong, including the question of the possible introduction of direct elections to the Legislative Council, is at present under review by the Hong Kong Government on the basis of an extensive survey of local opinion. The outcome of the review will be recorded in a Hong Kong Government White Paper following consultation between ourselves and the Hong Kong Government.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will meet a delegation from Hong Kong in 1988 to discuss direct elections and political reform; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the results of recent opinion polls conducted in Hong Kong on the Sino-British agreement to return Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty.

  Mr. Eggar
  A recent opinion poll in Hong Kong on attitudes to the joint declaration recorded that 28 per cent. of respondents considered it very good or quite good for the people of Hong Kong, while 45 per cent. considered it good in some ways and not so good in others.

  Uranium (Pakistan)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he possesses on the capability of Pakistan to produce weapons-grade enriched uranium at Golra.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have seen a press report on this subject and remain concerned at claims that Pakistan can produce weapons-grade enriched uranium at any site in Pakistan. However, we lack the evidence to be able to confirm or deny such reports. The Government of Pakistan have repeatedly assured us that their nuclear programme is purely for peaceful purposes. We have consistently urged Pakistan in turn to sign the NPT.

  Mr. Mordecai Vanunu (Trial)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there has been any request by defence or prosecuting counsel for any official
  775
  representations to be deposited on behalf of Her Majesty's Government in relation to, and if any member of the British embassy staff in Israel has been present at, the trial of Mordecai Vanunu.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have received no such request, nor has any member of Her Majesty's embassy in Tel-Aviv attended Mr. Vanunu's trial.

TRANSPORT

  Passenger Transport Authorities
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the final expenditure levels and the proposed maximum precepts for the joint board passenger transport authorities for 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Channon
  I am today formally notifying the passenger transport authorities (PTAs) of the maximum precept levels I propose to prescribe in 1988–89, and of my decisions on applications for redetermination of expenditure levels where these were submitted.

  Following my determination of expenditure levels (ELs) for each PTA on 23 July, five of the six authorities, the exception being South Yorkshire, submitted applications for redetermination under section 3(4) of the Rates Act 1984. My decisions on redetermination have been in the light of those applications and of further information provided by the PTAs.

  I have decided not to increase the expenditure levels for the Greater Manchester and the Tyne and Wear PTAs, but that the expenditure levels of the Merseyside, West Midlands and West Yorkshire PTAs should be redetermined at a greater amount. In the case of Merseyside, the figure also takes account of my decision that the current power to capitalise interest charges on the Mersey tunnel debt, which expires on 31 March 1988, should be extended for only six months to 30 September 1988. The expenditure levels as now determined and the maximum precept limits which I propose for each authority are:

  Expenditure level

  Proposed precept limit

  £ million

  Pence

  Greater Manchester

  80·0

  15·58

  Merseyside

  64·1

  26·50

  South Yorkshire

  41·5

  30·35

  Tyne and Wear

  53·5

  9·58

  West Midlands

  65·0

  10·74

  West Yorkshire

  59·1

  24·82

  I have asked the authorities to inform me by 15 January 1988 whether they accept the proposed maximum precept levels.

  London Stations (Escalators)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why prohibition notices were posted by the Railways Inspectorate on 10 escalators at four London stations in the first week of December.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  A delayed prohibition notice was served on London Underground Ltd. on 10 December in respect of escalator machine rooms at four stations. This was because work requested by an inspector had not been completed to the inspector's satisfaction.

  Notting Hill Gate (Fire)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the management of London Regional Transport as to why no member of the London Underground staff alerted the fire brigade to a fire at Notting Hill Gate station on 10 December.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Two incidents occurred at Notting Hill Gate station on 10 December 1987, neither of which was reportable to the Department. In the first a train arrived at the station with a dragging brake. The passengers were detrained and the train departed empty. A member of the public had meanwhile telephoned the fire brigade, which arrived but was not required. In the second a passenger reported smoke at the station but nothing was found and the brigade was not called.

  King's Cross (Fire)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the full terms of reference of the King's Cross inquiry.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The investigation is being held under section 7 of the Regulation of Railways Act 1871 which sets out its terms of reference.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report the names of his advisory committees, together with an indication of those whose members are required to sign a declaration under, or who have otherwise had drawn to their attention, the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.

  Mr. Channon
  The advisory committees for which I am responsible are:

  Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites

  Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee

  Landscape Advisory Committee

  Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk road Assessment

  The members of the standing advisory committee on the carriage of dangerous goods in ships are required to sign a declaration under the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.

  Motor Cyclists (Leg Protection)
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for how long his Department has been carrying out research into leg protection for riders and passengers of two-wheel vehicles; what is the amount of time expended on such research in man hours; and what is the cumulative cost so far of this research.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The estimated cost of leg injuries from motor cycle accidents is some £186 million per year.

  The Transport and Road Research Laboratory carried out the first accident studies relating to motor cycles in 1970. These showed the need for leg protectors and a prototype design of protectors was exhibited as part of the first experimental safety motor cycle in 1979. The present in-depth study of leg protection began in 1982. Some of the work has been contracted out to Brunel university and to industry.

  The research time spent specifically on leg protection has been 8½ man years (13,000 man hrs) at TRRL and 3½

  777
  man years (5,000 man hrs) at Brunel. The engineering support for this research has been considerable and the cumulative cost of all the work is about £1·25 million at 1987 prices.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to initiate the process of raising tolls on the Severn bridge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have not taken any decisions about increasing the tolls.

  M1 (Repairs)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total expenditure at constant prices on repairs to the M1 motorway for each year from 1970.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information requested is not available for years before 1979. Figures for expenditure, at constant prices, on structural repairs to the M1 from 1979 onwards are as follows:

  Financial Year

  Expenditure £ million (GDP at 1985/86 prices)

  1979–80

  10·9

  1980–81

  14·7

  1981–82

  21·6

  1982–83

  32·4

  1983–84

  31·4

  1984–85

  29·0

  1985–86

  20·4

  Final figures for 1986–87 are not yet available.

  National Bus Company
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish full details of each National Bus Company subsidiary disposed of to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Fifty five National Bus Company subsidiaries have been sold since sales began in July 1986, 31 to their own managements or employees. The details are as follows:

  Management/employee buy-outs

  Badgerline Ltd.

  Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company Ltd.

  Cambus Ltd.

  Cheltenham and Gloucester Omnibus Company Ltd.

  The City of Oxford Motor Services Ltd.

  Devon General Ltd.

  Eastern Counties Omnibus Ltd.

  East Kent Road Car Company Ltd.

  The Eastern National Omnibus Company Ltd.

  East Yorkshire Motor Services Ltd.

  Hastings and Districts Transport Ltd.

  Luton and District Transport Ltd.

  The Maidstone and District Motor Services Ltd.

  Midland Fox Ltd.

  Midland Red Coaches Ltd.

  Midland Red West Ltd.

  Milton Keynes City Bus Ltd.

  National Welsh Omnibus Services Ltd.

  The Northern General Transport Company Ltd.

  Northumbria Motor Services Ltd.

  Potteries Motor Traction Company Ltd.

  Provincial Bus Company Ltd.

  The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Ltd.

  778

  Southdown Motor Services Ltd.

  South Midland Ltd.

  The South Wales Transport Company Ltd.

  Trent Motor Traction Company Ltd.

  Wessex National Ltd.

  West Riding Automobile Company Ltd.

  Wilts and Dorset Bus Company Ltd.

  The Yorkshire Traction Company Ltd.

  Third Party Purchases

  Alder Valley South Ltd.

  Ambassador Travel (Eastern Counties) Ltd.

  Alder Valley Engineering Ltd.

  The Berks Bucks Bus Company Ltd.

  Bristol Engineering Ltd.

  Bristol Omnibus Company Ltd.

  Carlyle Works Ltd.

  Cumberland Motor Services Ltd.

  Eastern National Engineering Ltd.

  H & D Distribution Ltd.

  Hampshire Bus Company Ltd.

  Kent Engineering (NBC) Ltd.

  Midland Red South Ltd.

  National Holidays Ltd.

  NTE Coaches Ltd.

  Pilgrim Coaches Ltd.

  Shamrock and Rambler Coaches Ltd.

  Southdown Engineering Services Ltd.

  United Automobile Services Ltd.

  United Counties Engineering Ltd.

  United Counties Omnibus Company Ltd.

  Voyage National SA

  West Yorkshire Road Car Company

  Western National Ltd.

  The National Bus Company in its annual report and accounts published on 27 October forecast that sale of all 72 subsidiaries will be completed before the statutory deadline and that total proceeds will exceed the book value of assets. A report will be made to the House in due course on the aggregate proceeds of sale.

  London Underground (Fires)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fires occurred on London Transport Underground which had some effect on passenger service in each of the years 1957 to 1975; and if he will give details of where and when these occurred.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Details of all serious fires on London Underground during the period quoted are given in published reports, copies of which are in the Library. Lists of minor fires, in the detail requested, are being compiled and will be made available to the formal investigation into the King's Cross fire. It will be the responsibility of the investigation to establish the cause of the accident and the circumstances surrounding it.

  Airports (Rateable Values)
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on(a) the rateable values and (b) the rates payable of airports within the British Airports Authority and Manchester airport in each year since 1983.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The full information requested is not held systematically by the Department of Transport. In particular no data are available on rateable values of the airports concerned. However, the prospectus for the offer for sale of BAA plc stated that rents and rates paid in respect of BAA airports for the years 1983–87 were as shown, and that rates accounted for about 95 per cent. of these sums.
  779

  Year ended 31 March

  £ million

  1983

  17

  1984

  19

  1985

  20

  1986

  22

  1987

  23

  Figures in respect of rates paid by Manchester international airport are available only for the years ended 31 March 1984 and 31 March 1985: £2,538,000 and £2,836,000 respectively.

  I suggest that the hon. Member contacts the airports concerned direct for the remaining information he has sought.

  Air Transport (Smoke Hoods)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Civil Aviation Authority has now announced the results of its consideration about the provision of passenger smoke hoods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) chairman announced on 16 December that the authority has decided that it should not at present make smoke hoods a mandatory requirement for British airlines and that the issue will be kept under active review. Civil aviation safety regulation is the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority.

  A19
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of the continuing high accident rate on the Al9 in the Easington district council area, he will bring forward his plans to install crash barriers so that such work can begin immediately.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Two contracts for the provision of central reserve safety fencing on the A19 in Easington district have been let. Work is expected to commence in January 1988.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received asking for the dismissal of the chairman of London Regional Transport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  None, apart from the hon. Gentleman's.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will dismiss the chairman of London Regional Transport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Certainly not.

  Secondhand Cars
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he proposes to combat the sale of unroadworthy secondhand cars; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Together with my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for corporate and consumer affairs, I had a useful 780
  discussion on 15 December with the Director General of Fair Trading and a range of local authority, motor trade and consumer organisations about this problem.

  We agreed the desirability of amending section 60 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 to make it easier for trading standards officers to deal with sellers of unroadworthy vehicles. We are also exploring further the possible extension of trading standards officers' powers to inspect cars on garage forecourts.

  Buyers of second-hand cars would be well advised to arrange a pre-sale inspection. An up-to-date MOT certificate is a guide to the condition of the main safety features such as brakes, steering and lighting.

  Civil Aviation Authority
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the external financing limit for the Civil Aviation Authority.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The external financing limit for the CAA for 1987–88 has been reduced from £15·3 million to £1 million. This reduction is made possible by extra receipts accruing on en route navigation charges mainly due to higher traffic levels than forecast.

  Direction Signs
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the report on the review of direction signs will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The report on the review of direction signs is being published today and I have placed a copy in the Library, together with a copy of a letter which is being sent to those who commented. The report concludes that our present system of directional traffic signs is basically sound and still applicable to today's traffic conditions. However, it considers that there is scope for improving the application of current principles to ensure that signs are properly sited and there is continuity and consistency of information on them. We accept these conclusions of the report, and have already begun revising the traffic signs manual and related advice. In addition, arrangements are being made for a demonstration project at Guildford. I consider that good, clear signing is essential for road safety as well as making journeys easier for travellers.

  The report makes a number of recommendations for change. Those for a system of tourist attractions are already being implemented and I am pleased with the progress being made. In addition, it recommends elimination of the confusing distinction between signs on non-primary routes and those on local routes by using only signs with black borders in both cases. These and other changes will be considered in the context of current revision of the traffic signs regulations.

  The report also recommends development of standards for variable traffic signs so that the potential of these can be fully exploited in today's conditions. We accept this recommendation.

  I would like to make it clear that the report does not recommend the replacement of traditional fingerpost signs on minor rural roads where traffic is light and speeds are low. These and other similar historic signs can be a valuable enhancement of the local environment where they are compatible with modern traffic conditions.
  781
  We consider that the improvements and changes needed can be implemented without imposing an undue burden on local authorities if phased in with other expenditure which will be needed anyway to establish and renew signs. The report envisages a 10-year programme of implementation involving about £1 million a year extra expenditure by local authorities but at this stage we consider it premature to specify a timetable for completion of the action arising.

  We will be happy to consider any comments which anyone may have on the outstanding recommendations of the report and the views of the local authority associations on cost implications will be particularly welcome. It would be helpful if these could be submitted by Monday 29 February 1988.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lawyers (Civil Service)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps she is taking to ensure that Government lawyers are included in key policy-making decisions.

  The Prime Minister
  It is for Ministers to seek legal advice from within the Government legal service on these matters.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister how many vacancies for qualified lawyers have arisen in the Civil Service over the past year; how many have been filled; and what information she has on the reasons for the shortfall.

  The Prime Minister
  In the period 1 January 1987 to 30 November 1987, 104 vacancies for lawyers arose in the Government legal service and appointments were offered to 49 applicants.

  The position in the Crown prosecution service is more complex, as the total complement of lawyers was increased during the relevant period. On 1 December 1986 there were 363 vacancies. In the period ending 30 November 1987 a further 306 vacancies arose, of which 178 were newly created posts and 128 resulted from retirements, resignations and deaths. In the same period, 180 vacant posts were filled, leaving 489 vacant on 30 November 1987.

  Increasing demand for the services of lawyers has stimulated competition for lawyers of the quality required by the Government legal service and the Crown prosecution service.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment she has made of the effects on the work of Government Departments of unfilled vacancies among lawyers in Government service.
  782
  The Prime Minister
  Unfilled vacancies result in increased work loads for members of the Government legal service, and it is the Government's policy to fill these vacancies as soon as possible.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she received from the recent delegation from Hong Kong concerning direct elections and the joint declaration; what response she has made; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a letter from the recent delegation from Hong Kong and a reply will be sent in due course.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment she has made of the extent of the loss of confidence and self-respect amongst civil servants, referred to in the speech by Sir Robert Armstrong at the recent seminar organised by the Royal Institute of Public Administration; to what factors she attributes this lack of confidence and self-respect; what steps are being taken to alleviate the problem; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Sir Robert Armstrong's remarks were made in a talk in which his main concern was to describe all that has been achieved in terms of improvements of management and efficiency in the Civil Service, and to praise the dedication and loyalty with which these changes have been carried through. As he said, there is and always will be more to do, as needs change and systems develop. But I warmly endorse his statement that we have in this country a Civil Service which is second to none in professionalism and integrity, and which, by virtue of accepting and giving effect to these changes, is entitled to the recognition that it is also a Civil Service second to none in efficiency and effectiveness.

  Earl of Leven
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will advise Her Majesty The Queen to terminate the appointment of the Earl of Leven as Lord Lieutenant of Nairnshire.

  The Prime Minister
  The nature of the communication between the Prime Minister and the Sovereign on such matters is confidential and is never disclosed.

ENVIRONMENT

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has regarding the state of the construction industry in the first nine months of 1987.

  Mr. Trippier
  Output and new order figures for the first three quarters of 1987 indicate a healthy trend of strong growth, spearheaded by the private industrial and commercial sectors. For the third quarter of 1987, output figures of £6,321 million, 9 per cent. up on the same period in 1986, were the highest for 10 years. Total new orders, in the third quarter of 1987, stood at £5,574 million, 47 per cent. higher than the same quarter in 1986. Evidence of skills training and material shortages indicates that the industry is still adjusting to the higher levels of demand.

  Bruntlandt Commission
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response Her Majesty's Government are making to the World Commission on Environment and Development report "Our Common Future," chaired by Mrs. Bruntlandt.

  Mr. Moynihan
  When the report, "Our Common Future", was launched in London in April, the Government immediately praised its forthright message that there would have to he a new era of economic growth if the world's environment was to be safeguarded. The Government's positive response to the report was summarised in greater detail by our permanent representative to the United Nations during a general assembly debate in October. I am arranging for copies of this speech to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received regarding the liability of full-time volunteers for the community charge; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make it his policy that full-time volunteers, such as community service volunteers, who have only a subsistence income and are not entitled to supplementary benefit, will not have to pay the full community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  I have received a number of representations about the liability of full-time volunteers for the community charge. Full-time volunteers will be eligible to apply for rebates of up to 80 per cent. of their community charge. Those with incomes equal to or below the level of income support will receive the maximum rebate.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish, for every London borough, metropolitan district and non-metropolitan district, the proportion of income which would be taken by the community charge in 1987–88 consistent with his figures of 17 November for community charges with no safety net,Official Report, column 484, single person with a gross income of (a) £3,000, (b) £4,000, (c) £5,000, (d) £7,500, (e) £10,000, (f) £15,000, (g) £20,000, (h) £30,000, (i)
  784
  £50,000, and (j) £100,000, on the assumption in each case that the individual was not entitled to any social security support.

  Mr. Howard
  The proportion of gross income which would be taken, in each case, would be the community charge divided by gross income.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish, for every London borough, metropolitan district and non-metropolitan district, the proportion of income which would he taken by community charge in 1987–88 consistent with his figures of 17 November for community charges with no safety net,Official Report, column 484, for a married couple whose joint gross income was (a) £4,000, (b) £5,000, (c) £7,500, (d) £10,000, (e) £15,000, (f) £20,000, (g) £30,000, (h) £50,000, and (i) £100,000, on the assumption in each case that the couple were not entitled to any social security support.

  Mr. Howard
  The proportion of gross income which would be taken, in each case, would be two times the community charge divided by joint gross income.

  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the effect of a banded community charge for people with moderate incomes, as compared with a local income tax and Her Majesty's Government's proposal for a flat-rate community charge.

  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the pay, the banded charge bill, and the range of the Government's community charge for a third-year student nurse, a newly qualified nurse, a teacher with five years' experience, and an experienced police constable, with 15 years' experience respectively, in Cambridgeshire.

  Mr. Howard
  In moving Second Reading of the Local Government Finance Bill, my right hon. Friend set out the drawbacks we see in a handed community charge — including the likely effect on those on moderate incomes.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how his proposals to replace the commercial rate with a unified business rate will affect payments from the landlords of holiday flatlets.

  Mr. Howard
  Holiday flatlets are likely to be regarded as domestic property under clause 50 of the Local Government Finance Bill, which provides that property is domestic if it is used wholly for the purposes of living accommodation. They would not therefore he rated. Instead it is likely that the standard community charge would be payable under clause 3 of the Bill.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Repori the recent letter from the Data Protection Registrar concerning the community charge, and his response.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today placed in the Library copies of the Registrar's letter of 17 November and my response of 4 December.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what advice he will be giving to prisoners just before their release as to their responsibility to pay the community charge from their first day of freedom;

  (2) what advice he will be giving to homeless persons which describes their responsibility to pay the community charge.
  785
  Mr. Howard
  There will be widespread publicity about the responsibility of every adult to register and pay for the community charge. We shall be considering with the local authority associations what advice needs to be given to specific groups of people about their liability.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he is having with leaders of London borough councils to reduce the number of people from their area who are at present living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  It is for local authorities to decide how to meet their duties under part III of the Housing Act 1985. Additional resources of £13·6 million were recently allocated to London authorities to help them reduce their recourse to bed and breakfast.

  Housing Revenue Accounts
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list in rank order the deficits or balances for the housing revenue account of each English local authority for each of the last five years for which figures are available, together with the percentage of each council's housing revenue account which these figures represent;

  (2) if he will list the total rent arrears accruing to the housing revenue account of each English local authority in each of the past five years for which figures are available, together with the percentage of the total rent bill which these figures represent, and the council's position in rank order of all English authorities.

  Mrs. Roe
  I regret that the information is not available in the form required. I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Housing Statistics
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of homes owned by each English district council which have been empty for(a) up to two months, (b) two to four months, (c) four to six months, (d) six to nine months, (e) nine months to one year, (f) one year to two years and (g) two years or more, in each of the last five years for which figures are available, and the percentage of each council's housing stock these figures represent.

  Mrs. Roe
  Local authorities report the numbers of their empty council dwellings in their annual housing investment programme returns. These figures appear in the columns listed below of the "HIP1 All items prints", which are available in the Library.

  I shall write to my hon. Friend providing the corresponding percentages of the authorities' stock as soon as possible.
  786

  Vacant local authority dwellings1 at 1 April: England

  Vacant for more than:

  All vacant

  6 months

  1 year

  2 years

  Total LA slock

  1983

  A89

  n.a.

  A99

  n.a.

  All

  1984

  A89

  n.a.

  A99

  n.a.

  All

  21985

  A19

  n.a.

  A29

  A39

  All

  1986

  A99

  n.a.

  A109

  A119

  All

  31987

  A98

  A108

  A118

  A128

  A11+A16

  Notes:

  n.a. Information not collected.

  1 Vacant includes dwellings closed and those acquired for demolition.

  2. "HIP4 All items print" in 1985.

  3. 1987 figures included any dwellings owned by an authority outside its own area; in previous returns these were not included.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the special £25 million allocation for homelessness has been given to Waltham Forest; how many homeless people there are in Waltham Forest; what criteria were used in the distribution of this money; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The extra resources were targeted to reduce homelessness and in particular recourse to bed-and-breakfast accommodation. In the third quarter of 1987 Waltham Forest LBC accommodated 190 homeless households. At the end of that quarter it had no one in bed and breakfast. None of the extra resources were allocated to Waltham Forest LBC.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the numbers of people who will be homeless during the fortnight of 18 December to 1 January.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No estimate is made of future homelessness acceptances by local authorities under the Housing Act 1985.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of persons in board-and-lodging accommodation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  At 30 September 1987 there were an estimated 11,240 households temporarily accommodated in bed and breakfast by English local authorities under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest available figures for the number of people who are homeless.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In the third quarter of 1987 local authorities in England accommodated an estimated 28,700 households under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985.

  LDDC (Arts Centre)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library the details of the consultancy remit from the London Docklands development corporation to Mr. Jeremy Wallington concerning a potential arts centre in the royal docks, together with a copy of his report and a statement of the cost to the London Docklands development corporation.
  787
  Mr. Trippier
  The LDDC appointed Mr. Jeremy Wallington as a consultant on I May 1987 to explore the possible development of the K-S warehouses in the royal docks including their use for leisure, community and cultural purposes. The warehouses are owned by the corporation. The consultancy contract cost £13,000 plus the usual expenses. The consultant's report to the corporation contains commercially confidential information provided by the private sector and it would therefore be inappropriate to place the report in the Library.

  Inner Cities
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure that the inner-city initiatives Her Majesty's Government undertake reflect fully the potential for involving the construction industry in the manufacture, distribution and installation of energy-efficient equipment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 27 November 1987 at column 357. The Government's inner-cities initiatives provides the construction industry with a range of new opportunities.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the names of his advisory committees, together with an indication of those whose members are required to sign a declaration under, or who have otherwise had drawn to their attention, the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.

  Mr. Ridley
  The following are described as advisory bodies to my Department in the HMSO annual publication "Public Bodies 1987".

  Black Country Limestone Advisory Panel

  Building Regulations Advisory Committee

  Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council

  Local Government Boundary Commission for England

  London and Metropolitan Government Staff Commission

  New Towns Staff Commission

  Property Advisory Group

  Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee

  Regional Councils for Sport and Recreation

  Royal Fine Art Commission

  Members of the Property Advisory Group have the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act drawn to their attention.

  Housing Subsidy
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the housing subsidy figures for urban programme areas in England for 1985–86 and 1986–87.

  Mrs. Roe
  Payments of housing subsidy to urban programme authorities in respect of 1985–86 and 1986–87 are as follows:

  Housing subsidy 1985–86

  Housing subsidy 1986–87

  £

  £

  Manchester

  0

  0

  Salford

  4,283,388

  4,180,553

  788

  Housing subsidy 1985–86

  Housing subsidy 1986–87

  £

  £

  Liverpool

  15,223,441

  15,923,419

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  2,657,475

  686,823

  Birmingham

  0

  0

  Bolton

  0

  0

  Oldham

  2,297.924

  2,303,841

  Rochdale

  1,062,349

  772,441

  Knowsley

  42,177

  0

  Wirral

  0

  0

  Sheffield

  0

  0

  North Tyneside

  0

  0

  South Tyneside

  0

  0

  Sunderland

  2,612,410

  7,793,528

  Coventry

  0

  0

  Sandwell

  0

  0

  Wolverhampton

  0

  0

  Bradford

  0

  0

  Leeds

  0

  0

  Hackney

  31,120,440

  32,413,686

  Islington

  38,646,050

  38,741,371

  Lambeth

  46,060,190

  44,421,555

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  11,914,655

  10,559,741

  Tower Hamlets

  19,070,008

  19,515,310

  Wandsworth

  13,567,113

  14,251,305

  Brent

  20,367,975

  27,423,525

  Middlesbrough

  2,111,611

  1,901,435

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  0

  0

  Blackburn

  2,415,024

  1,740,882

  Leicester

  0

  0

  Nottingham

  0

  0

  Block Grant
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the estimated outturn block grant figures for 1987–88.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the estimated outturn figures for urban development corporation spending for 1987–88.

  Mr. Trippier
  The estimated outturn public expenditure by English urban development corporations for 1987–88 is £133·4 million.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the cost of enterprise zones; and if he will show separately his estimate of the cost of(a) rate relief and (b) other tax reliefs.

  Mr. Trippier
  The latest estimate of the cost of enterprise zones will be available shortly with the publication of both the report by consultants and also the annual monitoring report.

  Council Houses
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of local authority dwellings(a) which were vacant and available for letting, (b) which come into management through new buildings, (c) which come into management through acquisition or following modernisation or conversion and (d) which

  789
  became available for letting for other reasons (i) in Greater London, (ii) in metropolitan areas outside London, (iii) in non-metropolitan areas in the south-east, (iv) in English non-metropolitan areas and (v) in English local authority areas, for each year from 1 April 1981.

  Thousands

  1981–821

  1982–831

  1983–841

  1984–851

  1985–86

  1986–87

  (a) Dwellings vacant and available for letting at the beginning of the year2

  Greater London

  9·0

  8·3

  7·4

  6·7

  5·7

  5·4

  Other metropolitan

  13·2

  16·4

  13·6

  12·2

  10·8

  11·5

  Non·metropolitan in the South East3

  4·2

  4·8

  4·8

  4·3

  5·0

  4·6

  Non·metropolitan (all)

  12·8

  14·4

  15·2

  14·5

  14·6

  12·9

  England

  35·0

  39·1

  36·2

  33·4

  31·1

  29·8

  (b) Newly built dwellings coming into management during the year

  Greater London

  12·1

  5·8

  4·5

  3·1

  2·9

  1·7

  Other metropolitan

  9·1

  4·4

  4·9

  5·2

  4·1

  2·5

  Non·metropolitan in the South East3

  7·0

  5·6

  6·9

  7·4

  6·0

  6·1

  Non·metropolitan (all)

  18·4

  16·5

  18·3

  18·0

  14·5

  13·6

  England

  39·6

  26·6

  27·7

  26·7

  21·5

  17·8

  (c) Dwellings coming into management during the year following acquisition, modernisation or conversion

  Greater London

  4·3

  3·5

  3·3

  3·5

  3·5

  3·2

  Other metropolitan

  4·4

  3·5

  5·2

  5·1

  4·6

  5·2

  Non·metropolitan in the South East3

  1·0

  1·5

  1·3

  1·5

  1·8

  1·6

  Non-metropolitan (all)

  4·0

  4·5

  5·3

  6·5

  6·1

  6·8

  England

  12·7

  11·5

  13·8

  15·1

  14·3

  15·2

  (d) Other dwellings becoming available during the year (including dwellings vacated by existing tenants)

  Greater London

  70·1

  64·2

  65·1

  62·0

  60·6

  57·1

  Other metropolitan

  132·6

  145·0

  140·8

  146·0

  156·0

  156·3

  Non-metropolitan in the South East3

  54·9

  62·2

  59·6

  60·6

  63·1

  68·6

  Non-metropolitan (all)

  181·9

  211·1

  200·4

  204·4

  209·1

  206·9

  England

  384·6

  420·2

  406·3

  412·4

  425·7

  420·3

  Notes:

  1 Includes information reported by the Greater London Council.

  2 As reported in the relets section of the HIP returns.

  3 The standard region comprising the non-metropolitan districts in the Department of the Environment administrative Eastern (excluding East Anglia) and South Eastern regions.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the building of new local authority dwellings for rent.

  Mrs. Roe
  There should no longer be a presumption that local authorities themselves should take direct action to meet new or increasing demands for housing. The future role of local authorities will essentially be a strategic one identifying housing needs and demands, encouraging innovative methods of provision by other bodies to meet such needs, maximising the use of private finance, and encouraging interest in the revival of the independent rented sector.

  Housing (Homeless Persons) Act
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to repeal the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act.

  Mrs. Roe
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Derbyshire County Council
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the numbers employed by Derbyshire county council in each year from 1979, up to the present year.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to my hon. Friend.
  790
  Mrs. Roe
  Following are estimates derived from local authorities' annual housing investment programme returns:

  Planning
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require every planning applicant to advertise at his cost the planning proposal on site.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. Apart from statutory requirements for notification and publicity, I believe that it is best left to local planning authorities to decide the extent of local publicity which is desirable in the individual case.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes that he, his planning inspectorate and local planning authorities, when assessing the impact of proposed retail developments, should take account of effects on a significant part, although not all, of a city centre, in the context of his recently circulated draft guidance which refers to assessing impact on town or city centres as a whole.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  New retail development can influence patterns of shopping and other activities throughout a city or town centre; it would be of doubtful utility to attempt to assess the possible effects on one area within such a centre.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what data and criteria considering planning applications and planning appeals use, where the impact of major retail development proposals on existing
  791
  shopping centres has to be taken into account; and what action he is taking to ensure that up-to-date and suitable data are available.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The relevant considerations are set out in a statement by the then Secretary of State on 5 July 1985, at columns 277–8, and quoted in the consultation paper on major retail development that I issued on 17 September. I understand that local authority representatives are preparing a paper for this Department on the need for further data on retailing.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he will give and what action he will take to deal with competing speculative proposals for major retail developments in an area which artificially raises site values, so preventing their redevelopment for other uses which do not command the same land values.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I do not intend to interfere with the ability of developers and others to acquire land on such terms as they consider satisfactory.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take to ensure consistency in the treatment of all major retail developments proposals, so that they follow planning guidance, whether they are located in an enterprise zone, simplified planning zone or an area covered by a normal planning regime.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  It is inherent in the concepts of enterprise zones (EZ) and simplified planning zones (SPZ) that they are subject to different planning regimes from that which applies elsewhere. Whether a particular EZ or SPZ scheme grants permission for major retail development depends on the precise terms in which the scheme is framed.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he takes of the knowledge and advice of such bodies as Age Concern, the Disability Alliance and the National Consumer Council, in determining the needs of the less mobile so as to ensure that these are adequately represented and safeguarded in his planning guidance on major retail developments to local authorities.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The draft planning guidance that we issued on 17 September drew attention to the needs of less mobile people for access to shopping facilities. Sections 29A and 29B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 impose a duty on local planning authorities to draw applicants' attention to their responsibilities under legislation relating to disabled persons when granting permission for retail and other types of development.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to ensure that his planning guidance to local authorities on major retail developments is sufficiently up to date; and what steps he will be taking to ensure that that guidance is updated to take account of changing circumstances and retail pressures.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  On 17 September we issued a consultation paper seeking comments on a proposed new statement of planning policy on major retail development. We are now considering the comments received, with a view to publishing the final version shortly. Planning guidance is revised as necessary.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to change the present systems of control over imported hazardous wastes in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The present system, which requires prenotification of the movement of special wastes to be sent to the appropriate waste disposal authority, will be extended as part of the implication of EC directive 84/631 on the transfrontier shipment of hazardous waste. We intend to implement the directive as soon as possible.

  Easington
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Easington of 11 November regarding grant-related expenditure allocations and safety nets relating to Easington district council.

  Mr. Chope
  I have written to the hon. Member today.

  Housing Investment Programme
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make the allocations to local authorities for their housing investment programme in 1988–89.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend announced on 3 November 1987 that gross provision for capital expenditure by local authorities on housing in 1988–89 will be £3,048 million —£313 million higher than previous plans. This increase, which will enable local authorities to spend more on renovating their existing stock, has been made possible by the continuing success of the right to buy which has provided local authorities with a growing source of spending power to supplement their capital borrowing.

  The gross expenditure provision allows for a total housing investment programmes (HIP) allocation of £1,150 million. This represents new borrowing consents for local authorities. Each housing authority is today being informed of its initial HIP allocation for 1988–89. Copies of the letters to local authorities and the schedule of initial allocations have been placed in the Library and the Vote Office.

  The local authority associations have been consulted about the distribution of HIP allocations. After considering their comments, and bearing in mind his obligation to make allocations in relation to need, my right hon. Friend has decided to make the distribution on the following basis:
  — £1,118·5 million is available for main HIP allocations. Every authority will receive at least 75 per cent. of its corresponding allocation for the current year.
  — £11·5 million is available for the homes insulation scheme of which £8 million will be distributed with the main HIP allocations. £2·5 million will be reserved for further allocations under the scheme in accordance with demand and the remaining £1 million will be used to defray local authorities' administrative costs.
  — £20 million is being reserved for additional allocations at a later date to authorities which face particular difficulties in meeting their obligations under the housing defects legislation.

  Special provision has also been made, within the gross expenditure total, for additional allocations totalling £140 million under the estate action scheme. This represents an

  793
  increase of 87 per cent. over provision for the current year, and reflects the early successes of estate action in assisting authorities to bring new life to run-down estates.

  Only the initial allocations are being made today. The letters being sent to local housing authorities describe the procedure under which they can apply for additional allocations.

  Housing Costs
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures showing the total United Kingdom costs of Government support for housing costs, at 1987 prices, in each year since 1979, distinguishing between (i) assistance to supplementary benefit recipients, (ii) rent rebates and allowances, (iii) rate rebates, (iv) mortgage interest relief, (v) improvement and thermal insulation grants, (vi) central Government subsidies to local authority and new town housing, and (vii) rate fund contributions to local authority housing; and what is the total charge since the financial year 1979–80 in real terms.

  Central Government Support for Housing Costs in the United Kingdom

  £ million (1986–87 prices)1

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  (i) Supplementary benefits3

  1,532

  1,742

  2,519

  1,480

  452

  511

  663

  2n/a

  (ii) Rent rebates and allowances4

  455

  499

  742

  1,136

  2,736

  3,041

  3,197

  3,644

  (iii) Rate rebates4 5

  350

  407

  524

  593

  1,316

  1,451

  1,522

  1,607

  (iv) Mortgage interest tax relief (including option mortgage scheme)6

  2,722

  3,065

  2,946

  2,740

  3,078

  3,827

  4,636

  4,500

  (v) Improvement and thermal insulation grants7

  268

  244

  275

  331

  483

  620

  663

  714

  (vi) Subsidies to local authorities, new towns and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive7

  2,430

  2,509

  1,630

  980

  656

  717

  737

  831

  Other central government voted housing expenditure7 8

  1,012

  900

  793

  1,175

  1,545

  1,468

  1,326

  1,154

  Total9

  8,769

  9,366

  9,429

  8,437

  10,267

  11,636

  12,744

  12,451

  Notes:

  1 Using GDP deflator.

  2 n/a=information not available for that year.

  3 Includes figures for housing requirements in supplementary benefit, housing benefit supplement and water charges paid with housing benefit. Data for housing requirements in supplementary benefit are derived from SB assessments (which may be higher than amounts paid). Figures for this element are annualised from caseload samples in a particular week. Figures for other elements are from local authority claims data. Figures for supplementary benefit are not yet available for 1986–87, so this element has been excluded from the overall change figure given in the answer.

  4 Prior to 1982–83 help with rent and rates for supplementary benefit claimants was included in their benefit assessment.

  5 Information on the level of rate rebates in Northern Ireland is not available for the years 1979–80 to 1982–83. This element has been excluded from the overall change figure given in the answer.

  6 Option mortgage subsidy absorbed into mortgage interest tax relief (MIRAS) from April 1983. Does not include the cost of interest relief for landlords.

  7 Figures are outturn as published in appropriation accounts. Excludes voted expenditure in Scotland prior to 1982–83 because estimates and appropriation accounts were in a different format and comparable figures cannot be provided other than at disproportionate cost. Figures for voted expenditure in Scotland have been excluded from the overall change figure given in the answer. Outturn in 1986–87 is net of appropriations in aid (£43 million to the vote in England). There were no appropriations in aid in earlier years.

  8 Excludes the small amount of voted expenditure on housing schemes under the urban programme.

  9 Figures in the table may not sum due to rounding.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1987–88 by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what are the estimated expenditures in each area for 1988–89;
  794
  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: The available estimates of central Government support for housing costs in the United Kingdom for the years 1979–80 to 1986–87 (at 1986–87 prices), including items (i) to (vi), are set out in the table. Revenue transfers between the general rate fund and housing revenue accounts (rate fund contributions) are at the discretion of the local authorities concerned. In England and Wales such transfers are taken into account in the calculation of block grant, which is paid on authorities' revenue spending generally and is not hypothecated individual items of expenditure. In Scotland transfers are similarly taken into account in the determination of housing support grat for each authority. There are no rate fund contributions in Northern Ireland.

  There was an increase in real terms of just under 70 per cent. in the total of Government support for housing costs between 1979–80 and 1986–87 (excluding items for which no information is available in the relevant years—see table and notes as follows).

  (2) what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by his Department on press and public relations for (a) 1987–88 and (b) 1988–89.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The latest estimate of expenditure for paid publicity and the associated staff costs, for my Department, including PSA, for 1987–88 is £4·6 million. Figures giving a breakdown between advertising and promotional material are no longer kept separately. Provision for 1988–89 has not yet been set.

  Acid Rain
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's latest assessment of the effect of acid rain on Britain's trees.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 December 1987, c. 16]: My Department is considering closely the results of the Forestry Commission's 1987 survey of United Kingdom tree health. The survey alone does not provide direct evidence for a role for acid deposition in tree health. However, the reported reduction in crown density of coniferous species and the condition of deciduous species underlines the continued need for studies aimed at identifying possible damage mechanisms as well as continuing the surveys to improve understanding of the trends in tree health. The Forestry Commission will be carrying out further analyses early next year. My Department is consulting scientists, including those engaged in the Department's research programme, and my noble Friend the Minister for Environment, Countryside and Water will be chairing a meeting to discuss the 1987 survey with a number of interested organisations in January.

THE ARTS

  Mansfield Society of Artists
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Mansfield Society of Artists to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Luce
  I understand that, under under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 21 to 25 March 1988.

  Yorkshire Watercolour Society
  Sir Marcus Fox
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Yorkshire Watercolour Society to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 1 to 5 February 1988.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Wind Power
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what experiments in wind power have been carried out in Northern Ireland; and to what factors he attributes the absence of wind power generating units in the Province.

  Mr. Viggers
  Northern Ireland Electricity is presently undertaking a study of the benefits of wind-powered electricity generation but there have been no practical experiments.
  796
  The Industrial Development Board has provided a research and development grant to a Northern Ireland company to manufacture a wind turbine for installation elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

  The absence of wind-power generating units is largely attributable to the need to be satisfied on the long term reliability and economics of such installations.

  Southern Education and Library Board
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish the names of the Southern education and library board's select list of contractors;

  (2) how many building contractors have been added to the Southern education and library board's select list; and how many have been removed in each of the years from 1980 to 1987; and if he will name them;

  (3) how often the select list of contractors has been reviewed by the Southern education and library board's selective tendering panel in each of the years from 1980 to 1987;

  (4) if he will publish the names of the Southern education and library board's selective tendering panel;

  (5) if he will publish the names and qualifications of the consultants who have advised the Southern education and library hoard's selective tendering panel in the last five years;

  (6) if the Southern education and library board's selective tendering panel will, in future, advise contractors why they have been excluded from the select list;

  (7) if he will publish the names of the firms of architects and designers employed by the Southern education and library board in the last five years;

  (8) what criteria are used by the Southern education and library board's selective tendering procedure in (a) selecting contractors and (b) excluding contractors from the select list.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Joint Consultative Committee for Building
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members of the Joint Consultative Committee for Building (NI).

  Mr. Needham
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Belfast Area Plan
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will meet alliance party councillors to discuss the Belfast area plan; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if, in the light of the failure of some councils to agree their conclusions within the time limits, he will accept submissions from individual parties on the Belfast area plan;

  (3) if he will postpone the deadline for council submissions on the Belfast area plan, in the light of delays caused by the Enniskillen bombing incident and the Christmas holiday.

  Mr. Needham
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Education Maintenance Allowances
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the numbers in receipt of education maintenance allowances in each education and library board area in each year since 1980.

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  Belfast

  167

  235

  271

  244

  221

  229

  230

  200

  North-Eastern

  248

  360

  397

  432

  491

  206

  218

  209

  Southern

  693

  920

  1,002

  924

  717

  482

  389

  370

  South-Eastern

  208

  247

  291

  238

  190

  155

  140

  130

  Western

  887

  1,024

  1,083

  1,036

  750

  630

  568

  580

  1 Estimated.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what information is available to indicate the value of education maintenance allowances in each year since 1980;

  (2) what information is available to indicate the assessment thresholds for education maintenance allowance in each year since 1980;

  (3) what figures are available to indicate the real value of education maintenance allowance in each year since 1980 as a percentage of its value in (a) 1980, (b) 1983 and (c) 1987;

  (4) if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to education maintenance allowance.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The maximum payable by way of educational maintenance was £510 per annum in 1980, increasing to £570 in 1981 and to £595 in 1982.

  In 1983 the maximum level was changed to £494 in recognition of the fact that supplementary benefit payments were automatically reduced by a sum equal to the amount by which educational maintenance exceeded that figure. The maximum level remains at £494.

  The assessment threshold for education maintenance was £3,470 in 1980, rising to £3,970 in 1981 to £4,325 in 1982 and to £4,645 in 1983 at which level it remains.

  The following are the comparative values of the years since 1980, expressed in percentage terms, with a value of 100 given to 1980, 1983 and 1987 respectively:

  1980

  1983

  1987

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  1980

  100

  103

  103

  1981

  94

  115

  116

  1982

  90

  121

  121

  1983

  70

  100

  100

  1984

  67

  96

  100

  1985

  64

  92

  100

  1986

  60

  86

  100

  1987

  58

  84

  100

  The future of the scheme in Northern Ireland is under review and I will make a statement when this has been completed.

  Single Payments
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to indicate the time taken to process claims for different categories of single payments in each of the social security offices in Northern Ireland at present.
  798
  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is as follows:

  Mr. Needham
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Staffing and Overtime Payments (Social Security Offices)
  Mr Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he is giving to making extra staff or overtime available to social security offices where pressure of work is adding delays to the processing of cases.

  Mr. Needham
  The position on workloads generally, including those in the social security offices, is monitored on a continuous basis and resources are deployed accordingly. Consideration is being given as to what extra resources may be needed to deal with the most recent increase in single payment claims in the social security offices.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the number of people receiving invalid care allowance in Northern Ireland, the number of married women in Northern Ireland now receiving the allowance, the number of those who have received payments for arrears of benefit and the number of claims still to be processed.

  Mr. Needham
  At 15 December 1987 the number of people receiving invalid care allowance was 3,297, of whom 2,598 were married. Some 1,307 claims had still to be processed at that date. Information about the number of married woman who received arrears of benefit is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what staffing arrangements were made to accommodate invalid care allowance claims from married women; and whether such arrangements have any effect on the processing of attendance allowance claims.

  Mr. Needham
  Attendance allowance and invalid care allowance (ICA) are independent benefits and are administered together by the attendance allowance branch of DHSS. Since August 1986, the staff complement of the branch has been increaed by 34 staff, of which 22 were allocated to deal with the influx of claims for ICA from married women and 12 to cope with the continuing increase in attendance allowance claims. The substantial increase in the volume of claims together with the
  799
  inexperience of additional staff had an adverse effect initially on the time taken to process attendance allowance cases. While the position has now shown a marked improvement the provision of additional resources is being considered in order to ensure the further improvement of clearance times for both benefits.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what figures are available to indicate the number of claimants, by benefit, who have deductions made from their benefit in respect of their spouse's receipt of invalid care allowance;

  (2) what figures are available to indicate the number of married women claiming invalid care allowance who received no actual payments, or reduced payments, in respect of arrears for invalid care allowance claims due to their husband's receipt of other benefits over the period for which arrears would otherwise have been paid.

  Mr. Needham
  This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Allowances (Claims)
  wMr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the length of time taken to process claims for(a) attendance allowance, including cases which go to appeal and (b) invalid care allowance in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The average times taken to process attendance allowance and invalid care allowance claims are at present 14·4 weeks and 10·5 weeks respectively.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in any negotiations with leaders of political parties in Northern Ireland, he will make it his policy to consider proposals for a demonstrably better and more widely acceptable arrangement for ordering the structures of government in Northern Ireland and relationships with the Republic of Ireland, in place of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Tom King
  The Government remain committed to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. At the same time, I have made clear that we are very ready to consider constructive proposals which can command widespread support. Our policy is to seek an agreed basis on which greater responsibility can be devolved to elected representatives in Northern Ireland.

  Police Forces (Army Uniforms)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the answer of 15 December, if he will specify, in relation to the purchase by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland of British-style military uniforms(a) the number of invoices, (b) the date of each invoice, (c) the means by which each was paid and (d) the means and in whose property the items were transported to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Arterial Drainage Schemes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if Her Majesty's Government will extend 800
  to the drainage division of the Department of Agriculture, Northern Ireland, the policy adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1985 of publishing details of the methodology for the cost-benefit appraisal of arterial land drainage schemes, and the requirement for arterial drainage authorities to make available summary details of cost-benefit appraisals of arterial drainage schemes to the public on request.

  Mr. Viggers
  Details of the methodology now used for the cost benefit appraisal of arterial drainage schemes will be published by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland early in 1988. The methodology is broadly similar to that already published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and deposited in the House of Commons Library on 9 July 1985. Summary details of cost benefit appraisals of future arterial drainage schemes will be made available to the public on request.

  Mr. Chan Hok Chun
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when Mr. Chan Hok Chun was deported from the United Kingdom; how many times he was interviewed by police officers in relation to allegations made against Royal Ulster Constabulary officers and others in Belfast; and if Mr. Chan Hok Chun has been asked to supply any further information since he was deported.

  Mr. Stanley
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the investigations or allegations against the Royal Ulster Constabulary, about which he last wrote to the hon. Member for Bradford, West on 23 June, to be concluded; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Remand and Bail Statistics
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average number of days on remand for both scheduled and non-scheduled offences together and the total number of persons remanded in custody before trial for both scheduled and non-scheduled offences together; and what was number of bail applications refused for(a) scheduled offences, (b) non-scheduled offences and (c) both together in the first half of 1987.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 11 December 1987]: In the first six months of 1987, 874 persons were remanded in custody, 235 bail applications were refused in respect of persons charged with scheduled offences, and 110 in respect of persons charged with non-scheduled offences. The average length of time spent on custodial remand for those who were tried in the period and who were in custody at the date of the trial was 122 days.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were remanded in custody before trial for(a) scheduled offences, (b) non-scheduled offences and (c) both together in the first half of 1987.
  801
  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 11 December 1987]: Eight hundred and seventy-four persons were remanded in custody during the period, 501 of whom were charged with scheduled offences and 373 with non-scheduled offences.

  Firearms (Deaths)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show how many persons in Northern Ireland have been killed by firearms in each of the last five years to the current year at the latest available date; of these, how many were killed by (i) legally held weapons, (ii) illegally held weapons and (iii) legally held weapons stolen from their owners; and for each year and category of weapons, how many persons died as a result of action taken by (a) the Army, (b) the Ulster Defence Regiment, (c) the Royal Ulster Constabulary and its reserves, (d) the Irish National Liberation Army, (e) the Provisional Irish Republican Army, (f) the Official Irish Republican Army,

  1883

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987 (to end November

  Renewals granted

  17,016

  30,066

  22,463

  17,933

  25,814

  Renewals refused

  79

  88

  61

  43

  47

  New applications refused

  336

  313

  326

  308

  263

  New applications granted

  3,714

  4,011

  4,222

  3,895

  3,211

  Information as to the type of firearm requested on each application is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Royal Ulster Constabulary officers and of what ranks and at what annual costs for(a) salary, (b) overtime and (c) other costs attributable to their duties are engaged at Royal Ulster Constabulary headquarters on the processing of firearms certificates at the present time; and what were the comparable numbers and costs five years ago.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 15 December 1987]: Five Royal Ulster Constabulary officers are engaged at RUC headquarters on processing firearms certificates. Their ranks are superintendent, chief inspector, inspector, sergeant and constable. The same number and ranks of officers were engaged in this work five years ago. The total annual cost for salaries, including allowances and overtime, in 1986–87, was £115,700. Additional costs for superannuation, accommodation and allied services were £41,900. The corresponding costs in 1981–82 were £84,800 and £20,500.

  Students (Republic of Ireland)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by how much the allocation of funds to the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund has increased as a result of the obligation to meet the costs of educating students from the Republic of Ireland; and under what subhead these funds are listed in the Northern Ireland Estimates.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 15 December 1987]: I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students from the Republic
  802
  (g) the Ulster Volunteer Force, (h) the Ulster Defence Association, (i) other Republican terrorist organisations and (j) other Loyalist terrorist or paramilitary organisations.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 15 December 1987]: I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Firearms Certificates
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show how many firearms certificates have been (a) renewed, (b) refused on application for renewal, (c) new applications refused and (d) new applications granted in each of the last five years in Northern Ireland; and in each case and year what types of firearms were listed on the applications for firearms certificates.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 15 December 1987]: The information is as follows:

  of Ireland are at present attending degree granting courses in Northern Ireland; how many of these have the costs of their education course met in whole or in part from United Kingdom funds; and what assessment he has made of the impact of this influx on the number of (a) Northern Ireland and (b) other United Kingdom students attending such courses.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 15 December 1987]: I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations office of his Department; and what is the number planned to be employed at this point in 1988.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The number of staff currently employed in the information service is as follows:

  Northern Ireland Office (London)

  Northern Ireland Office (Belfast) and Northern Ireland Departments

  Information Officer Grades

  3

  16

  Clerical and Secretarial Support Staff

  3

  15

  There are no plans at present for change in staff levels.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1987–88 by his Department on(a) television

  803
  advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what are the estimated expenditures in each area for 1988–89.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The total figures for all forms of advertising in the Northern Ireland Departments in 1987–88 is estimated at £3,373,848. For 1988–89 estimated spending, detailed decisions on expenditure by media have not yet been taken but we expect the overall publicity figure to be £3,616,000.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by his Department on press and public relations for(a) 1987–88 and (b) 1988–89.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report a table to show for Northern Ireland as a whole the level of community charge which would raise sums equal to that raised by rates in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" proposals do not apply to Northern Ireland. We have decided to monitor the development of the proposals in England and Wales before deciding whether or to what extent they should he applied in Northern Ireland. The monitoring exercise has not involved the calculation of the equivalent community charges and thus the figures requested are not available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Council Districts (Valuations)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report a table to show the net annual valuation of each of the council districts in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Ratepayers
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a table to show how many ratepayers there are in each council district in Northern Ireland and how many electors there were in each such district in each of the last five years;

  (2) if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show sums raised from (a) local rates and (b) regional rates in each of the council districts in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Battery Hens
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report the changes from current regulations which will arise as a
  804
  result of the application of the statutory rule 1987 No. 425 Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987; and if he will indicate the consultations that have taken place with the industry concerned before their introduction and what effect the application of these regulations will have on the number of battery hens kept in Northern Ireland at the present time and on the profitability of battery hens.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The principal change is the setting of minimum space requirements for battery hens effective for new cage installations from 1 January 1988 and for existing cage installations from 1 January 1995. All other requirements set by the regulations were already the subject of welfare codes and the Welfare of Livestock (Intensive Units) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1978 SR No. 360.

  The industry was consulted at various stages of the basic European Community draft legislation and subsequently on the preparation of the Northern Ireland subordinate legislation.

  The immediate impact on numbers and profitability of battery hens is negligible. As the standards required apply to the entire community there should not he any adverse effect peculiar to Northern Ireland.

  Explosive Devices
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) on how many occasions anti-terrorist officer teams from the Republic of Ireland have dealt with explosive devices in Northern Ireland in(a) 1985, (b) 1986 and (c) 1987 to date;

  (2) on how many occasions anti-terrorist officer teams from the United Kingdom have dealt with explosive devices in the Republic of Ireland in (a) 1985, (b) 1986 and (c) 1987 to date.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Procedures exist whereby in the course of clearing suspected or actual explosive devices on or near the border ammunition technical officers from the British and Irish armies may by invitation cross the border to facilitate their duties. These procedures have been highly useful and have been operated, but it would not be in the interests of security to give further details of incidents.

WALES

  History Curriculum
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whom he intends to consult outside his Department in the preparation of a history curriculum for schools in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  We expect to consult widely. The Education Reform Bill proposes that we should be required to consult the new Curriculum Council for Wales and any other person with whom consultation appears to me to be desirable.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to the document submitted by the English Historical Association on 2 February containing a proposed history curriculum for Britain; and what representations he has received about this document.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Historical Association's proposals were addressed to my right hon. Friend the
  805
  Secretary of State for Education and Science, but I understand they were subsequently withdrawn in view of the national curriculum provisions of the Education Reform Bill.

  Nevertheless, we have received one representation about the Historical Association's document from the Association of History Teachers in Wales.

  Urban Aid
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the schemes within the Dyfed county council area which have been granted urban aid in each of the past five years and in 1988–89.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Patent Office
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had regarding the possible transfer of the Patent Office to Swansea.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  None. I have, however, offered all assistance to my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who is seeking suitable accommodation for the Patent Office in or near Cardiff.

  Agriculture (Assistance)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has as to the amount of Government, European Community and other sources of finance and assistance made available for agriculture in(a) Wales and (b) Dyfed, in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Agricultural grants and subsidies paid in Wales in each of the past three financial years are estimated as follows:

  £ million

  1984–85

  103·9

  1985–86

  109·7

  1986–87

  121·3

  Note: These figures exclude some items of expenditure which benefit farmers, such as expenditures on animal disease, research, advice and education.

  Corresponding figures are not readily available for Dyfed.

  Housing Revenue Account
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in rank order the deficits or balances for the housing revenue account of each Welsh district for each of the last five years for which figures are available, together with the percentage of each council's housing revenue account which these figures represent.

  Mr. Grist
  Local authorities are prevented from recording a deficit on the housing revenue account (HRA) by schedule 14, part IV (paragraph 4) of the Housing Act 1985. However, contributions are made from the rate fund (RFC) to the HRA, primarily to prevent a shortfall between income and expenditure on the HRA. Details of these contributions are as follows:
  806

  1982–83

  RFC to HRA

  Total Expenditure

  Balance as percentage of total Expenditure

  Torfaen

  1,298,196

  9,647,727

  13·5

  Rhymney Valley

  1,279,005

  12,088,235

  10·6

  Rhondda

  1,206,571

  6,158,308

  19·6

  Cynon Valley

  961,455

  5,967,705

  16·1

  Blaenau Gwent

  827,697

  14,535,959

  5·7

  Taff Ely

  778,656

  8,754,414

  8·9

  Wrexham Maelor

  777,799

  10,378,168

  7·5

  Cardiff

  759,511

  26,536,315

  2·9

  Merthyr Tydfil

  538,985

  7,474,736

  7·2

  Ogwr

  431,000

  11,851,972

  3·6

  Ynys Mon

  368,114

  5,217,937

  7·1

  Islwyn

  291,488

  7,755,640

  3·8

  Swansea

  262,300

  15,220,263

  1·7

  South Pembroke

  253,775

  3,273,486

  7·8

  Brecknock

  212,141

  3,253,733

  6·5

  Vale of Glamorgan

  194,940

  8,311,688

  2·3

  Carmarthen

  147,484

  4,100,876

  3·6

  Neath

  125,925

  6,088,843

  2·1

  Ceredigion

  125,000

  4,374,924

  2·9

  Colwyn

  100,000

  2,641,777

  3·8

  Monmouth

  57,068

  5,947,551

  1·0

  Dinefwr

  38,985

  2,128,935

  1·8

  Alyn and Deeside

  27,897

  4,071,276

  ·7

  Arfon

  25,000

  4,570,790

  ·5

  Meirionnydd

  13,506

  2,110,984

  ·6

  Preseli Pembs

  1,676

  5,801,482

  ·0

  Port Talbot

  240

  6,172,440

  ·0

  1983–84

  RFC to HRA

  Total Expenditure

  Balance as percentage of total Expenditure

  Rhondda

  1,286,326

  6,323,223

  20·3

  Wrexham Maelor

  913,982

  11,163,469

  8·2

  Swansea

  780,200

  16,331,653

  4·8

  Cardiff

  750,000

  26,395,110

  2·8

  Merthyr Tydfil

  624,079

  7,432,180

  8·4

  Torfaen

  435,485

  9,838,861

  4·4

  Cynon Valley

  331,427

  5,240,758

  6·3

  Ynys Mon

  324,337

  5,349,926

  6·1

  Taff Ely

  301,557

  9,039,293

  3·3

  Islwyn

  275,000

  7,537,601

  3·6

  Ceredigion

  200,000

  4,701,510

  4·3

  Newport

  182,000

  18,896,416

  1·0

  Vale of Glamorgan

  177,668

  8,582,170

  2·1

  Carmarthen

  148,122

  4,357,749

  3·4

  Blaenau Gwent

  139,093

  15,466,512

  ·9

  Brecknock

  124,128

  3,281,084

  3·8

  Meirionnydd

  83,317

  2,258,274

  3·7

  Monmouth

  61,348

  6,439,246

  1·0

  Montgomeryshire

  60,036

  3,468,764

  1·7

  Neath

  59,820

  6,297,237

  ·9

  Glyndwr

  39,682

  2,906,142

  1·4

  Arfon

  25,000

  4,888,135

  ·5

  Alyn and Deeside

  11,845

  4,435,207

  ·3

  Preseli Pembs

  1,517

  6,091,256

  ·0

  Port Talbot

  240

  7,442,660

  ·0

  1984–85

  RFC to HRA

  Total Expenditure

  Balance as percentage of total Expenditure

  Rhondda

  1,243,202

  6,569,290

  18·9

  Wrexham Maelor

  576,162

  11,856,567

  4·9

  807

  1984–85

  RFC to HRA

  Total Expenditure

  Balance as percentage of total Expenditure

  Swansea

  550,300

  17,863,485

  3·1

  Torfaen

  438,083

  10,285,627

  4·3

  Rhymney Valley

  335,657

  12,013,840

  2·8

  Monmouth

  301,317

  6,309,947

  4·8

  Taff Ely

  299,857

  9,273,141

  3·2

  Vale of Glamorgan

  200,398

  9,974,374

  2·0

  Cynon Valley

  159,495

  5,506,175

  2·9

  Carmarthen

  152,362

  4,699,672

  3·2

  Merthyr Tydfil

  139,756

  7,516,305

  1·9

  Ynys Mon

  100,684

  5,372,225

  1·9

  Brecknock

  76,577

  3,344,241

  2·3

  Neath

  59,820

  6,496,239

  0·9

  Blaenau Gwent

  53,327

  14,439,193

  0·4

  Meirionnydd

  34,513

  2,299,377

  1·5

  Alyn and Deeside

  19,529

  4,685,771

  0·4

  Arfon

  11,000

  4,984,024

  0·2

  Dinefwr

  6,252

  2,432,883

  0·3

  Preseli Pembs

  1,564

  6,225,912

  0·0

  Port Talbot

  240

  6,842,560

  0·0

  1985–86

  RFC to HRA

  Total Expenditure

  Balance as percentage of total Expenditure

  Rhondda

  1,401,655

  7,130,406

  19·7

  Delyn

  445,659

  5,669,612

  7·9

  Merthyr Tydfil

  289,640

  8,194,456

  3·5

  Wrexham Maelor

  272,040

  13,085,185

  2·1

  Cynon Valley

  256,268

  5,989,515

  4·3

  Torfaen

  185,648

  10,196,725

  1·8

  Brecknock

  155,528

  3,505,319

  4·4

  Carmarthen

  152,880

  5,181,979

  3·0

  Swansea

  105,100

  18,519,632

  0·6

  Vale of Glamorgan

  87,436

  11,566,657

  0·8

  Islwyn

  75,227

  8,280,268

  0·9

  Arlon

  29,000

  5,233,773

  0·6

  Alyn and Deeside

  25,181

  4,861,553

  0·5

  Dinefwr

  12,166

  2,570,371

  0·5

  Preseli Pembs

  1,635

  6,746,141

  0·0

  Port Talbot

  240

  7,837,817

  0·0

  1986–87 (provisional)

  RFC to HRA

  Total Expenditure

  Balance as percentage of total Expenditure

  Rhondda

  927,711

  6,878,214

  13·5

  Delyn

  524,363

  5,819,289

  9·0

  Wrexham Maelor

  342,119

  12,651,623

  2·7

  Torfaen

  231,356

  18,485,541

  1·3

  Ynys Mon

  215,000

  5,763,404

  3·7

  Swansea

  181,144

  19,209,883

  0·9

  Carmarthen

  152,669

  5,192,181

  2·9

  Brecknock

  122,985

  3,499,793

  3·5

  Islwyn

  91,820

  8,624,947

  1·1

  Lliw Valley

  89,283

  6,880,619

  1·3

  Meirionnydd

  59,277

  2,911,710

  2·0

  Arfon

  30,000

  5,418,167

  0·6

  Alyn and Deeside

  21,548

  5,032,379

  0·4

  Cynon Valley

  6,681

  6,106,841

  0·1

  Preseli Pembs

  1,452

  6,937,540

  0·0

  Port Talbot

  240

  8,592,725

  0·0

  Empty Houses
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of housing properties owned by each Welsh district council which have been empty for(a) two months, (b) four months, (c) six months, (d) nine months, (e) one year and (f) two years or more in each of the last five years for which figures are available and the percentage of each council's housing stock these figures represent.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is only available for dwellings vacant for six months or more. The figures are given in the tables.

  Number of local authority dwellings vacant for more than 6 months (as at 1 April)

  Welsh Districts

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Aberconwy

  16

  27

  18

  10

  —

  Alyn and Deeside

  6

  14

  28

  10

  9

  Arfon

  6

  5

  9

  —

  10

  Blaenau Gwent

  —

  —

  3

  10

  3

  Brecknock

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cardiff

  106

  80

  42

  42

  40

  Carmarthen

  —

  —

  —

  17

  10

  Ceredigion

  —

  5

  2

  —

  —

  Colwyn

  —

  3

  6

  1

  —

  Cynon Valley

  36

  41

  1

  18

  70

  Delyn

  10

  7

  14

  14

  7

  Dinefwr

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  Dwyfor

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Glyndwr

  13

  30

  26

  —

  —

  Islwyn

  20

  20

  16

  —

  —

  Llanelli

  —

  —

  26

  —

  38

  Lliw Valley

  2

  12

  14

  —

  —

  Meirionnydd

  7

  9

  3

  8

  13

  Merthyr Tydfil

  9

  11

  14

  9

  21

  Monmouth

  —

  8

  —

  2

  3

  Montgomeryshire

  11

  29

  20

  5

  —

  Neath

  26

  112

  41

  —

  —

  Newport

  31

  8

  2

  20

  75

  Ogwr

  10

  21

  28

  —

  —

  Port Talbot/Afan

  32

  55

  9

  26

  12

  Preseli

  18

  20

  12

  10

  3

  Radnor

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Rhondda

  15

  16

  3

  —

  —

  Rhuddlan

  2

  1

  2

  —

  —

  Rhymney Valley

  —

  3

  6

  6

  1

  South Pembrokeshire

  —

  1

  1

  1

  5

  Swansea

  16

  —

  —

  10

  —

  Taff-Ely

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  Torfaen

  —

  41

  10

  13

  19

  Vale of Glamorgan

  21

  33

  11

  15

  17

  Wrexham Maelor

  113

  139

  224

  77

  61

  Ynys Môn

  —

  8

  8

  5

  9

  Wales

  526

  765

  601

  329

  427

  Sources: Housing investment programme returns 1983, 1984 and 1985.

  Relets enquiry statistical returns 1986 and 1987.

  —Nil or negligible.

  Percentage of local authority dwellings vacant for more than 6 months (as at 1 April)

  Welsh districts

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Aberconwy

  0·5

  0·8

  0·6

  0·3

  —

  Alyn and Deeside

  0·1

  0·2

  0·5

  0·2

  0·2

  Arfon

  0·1

  0·1

  0·2

  —

  0·2

  Blaenau Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  0·1

  —

  Brecknock

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cardiff

  0·4

  0·3

  0·2

  0·2

  0·2

  Carmarthen

  —

  —

  —

  0·5

  0·3

  Ceredigion

  —

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  —

  Colwyn

  —

  0·1

  0·2

  —

  —

  809

  Welsh districts

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Cynon Valley

  0·6

  0·7

  —

  0·3

  1·3

  Delyn

  0·2

  0·1

  0·3

  0·3

  0·1

  Dinefwr

  —

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  —

  Dwyfor

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Glyndŵr

  0·4

  0·9

  0·8

  —

  —

  Islwyn

  0·3

  0·3

  0·2

  —

  —

  Llanelli

  —

  —

  0·3

  —

  0·5

  Lliw Valley

  —

  0·2

  0·3

  —

  —

  Meirionnydd

  0·3

  0·4

  0·1

  0·4

  0·6

  Merthyr Tydfil

  0·1

  0·1

  0·2

  0·1

  0·3

  Monmouth

  —

  0·1

  —

  —

  0·1

  Montgomeryshire

  0·2

  0·6

  0·4

  0·1

  —

  Neath

  0·4

  1·7

  0·6

  —

  —

  Newport

  0·2

  0·1

  —

  0·1

  0·5

  Ogwr

  0·1

  0·2

  0·3

  —

  —

  Port Talbot/Afan

  0·4

  0·7

  0·1

  0·4

  0·2

  Preseli

  0·3

  0·3

  0·2

  0·2

  —

  Radnor

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·1

  Rhondda

  0·3

  0·3

  0·1

  —

  —

  Rhuddlan

  0·1

  —

  0·1

  —

  —

  Rhymney Valley

  —

  —

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  South Pembrokeshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·2

  Swansea

  0·1

  —

  —

  0·1

  —

  Taff-Ely

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Torfaen

  —

  0·3

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  Vale of Glamorgan

  0·3

  0·4

  0·1

  0·2

  0·2

  Wrexham Maelor

  0·7

  0·8

  1·4

  0·5

  0·4

  Ynys Môn

  —

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  0·1

  Wales total (LA)

  0·2

  0·3

  0·2

  0·1

  0·2

  Sources: Housing investment programme returns 1983, 1984 and 1985.

  Relets inquiry statistical returns 1986 and 1987.

  — Nil or negligible.

  Pupil Costs
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much each education authority in Wales spends per pupil per year on(a) textbooks, (b) materials and supplies, (d) computers, (d) video recorders, (e) video cameras, (f) television sets and (g) papers and reprographics.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Information in the form requested is not available. However, provisional information on the cost per primary and secondary pupils combined on text and library books together with educational equipment, stationery and material in respect of 1986–87 is as follows:

  At outturn prices £

  Clwyd

  34·6

  Dyfed

  31·8

  Gwent

  37·6

  Gwynedd

  43·4

  Mid Glamorgan

  39·2

  Powys

  40·7

  South Glamorgan

  38·5

  West Glamorgan

  44·5

  Housing Revenue Accounts
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total rent arrears accruing to the housing revenue account of each Welsh district authority, in each of the last five years for which figures are available, together with the percentage of the total rent bill which these figures represent and the council's position in rank order of all Welsh authorities.
  810
  Mr. Grist
  I shall write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Education Authorities
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all local education authorities in Wales in rank order of expenditure per secondary pupil per year, starting with the highest spending authority, together with their position in the table of examination results for school leavers achieving five or more O-levels at grades A to C or CSE grade 1 in the latest year for which both sets of figures are available.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information for 1985–86 is as follows:

  Expenditure per pupil1

  School leavers examination results2

  West Glamorgan

  1,301

  25·5

  Powys

  1,235

  25·7

  Gwent

  1,203

  22·9

  Clwyd

  1,131

  27·1

  Gwynedd

  1,125

  25·6

  Dyfed

  1,124

  32·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,120

  20·5

  South Glamorgan

  1,092

  28·0

  1 Net institutional recurrent expenditure for secondary schools at outturn prices.

  2 Percentage of all leavers from maintained schools who attained 5 or more O levels (grades A to C) or CSE Grade 1.

  Cystic Fibrosis
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy free of charge for cystic fibrosis sufferers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The majority of cystic fibrosis sufferers are children aged under 16 years who are exempt from prescription charges. Some older patients may qualify for exemption under arrangements set out in the leaflet P11 available from post offices, chemists and DHSS offices. National Health Service prepayment certificates are also available to anyone who is not exempt from charges and these can lead to considerable savings.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has, following the fatal accident involving a schoolboy at Queensferry, to improve road safety on the A494-A550 dual carriageway Ewloe to Shotwick.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Proposals currently programmed to improve pedestrian safety on the A494-A550 Ewloe to Shotwick trunk road comprise:

  (1) Improved pedestrian crossing facilities at Plough lane overbridge and the closure of all gaps in the central reservation between Ewloe and Queensferry.

  (2) A new pedestrian crossing facility near Sealand RAF camp.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve road safety at the junction of the A55 expressway, Hawarden bypass, and the A494 following the death of a cyclist in November; and if he will make a statement.
  811
  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The most recent recorded fatal accident involving a cyclist at this location was in April 1987.

  Measures to improve safety for cyclists at this busy interchange are currently being considered.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, in the light of recent fatal and other accidents on the B5127 Mold Ewloe road, he will review all aspects of safety with a view to reclassifying this road as a trunk road; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Clwyd county council has responsibility for all matters relating to the B5127 Mold to Ewloe road. The volume and type of traffic carried would not justify trunk road status.

  Land Authority for Wales
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much land is owned by the Land Authority for Wales in each district authority area in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  I have asked the chairman of the Land Authority for Wales to write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Land Authority for Wales has owned any land outside Wales at any time since its establishment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The authority's statutory functions relate only to the acquisition of land in Wales.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the progress to date on each of the recommendations relevant to his Department contained within the report of the working group on services for people with epilepsy.

  Mr. Grist
  The report of the working group was issued in Wales in November 1985 for consultation to health, social services and education authorities and to a wide variety of other bodies. Generally, it is for health and local authorities to consider what scope there may he for taking forward the working group's recommendations, but we are considering whether any further action could usefully be taken at the all-Wales level.

  Post-Chernobyl Emergency
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the report he has received from the Welsh branches of the Country Landowners Association on his Department's handling of the post-Chernobyl emergency.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  No. The publication and distribution of the report is a matter for the Country Landowners Association.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report the names of his advisory committees, together with an indication of those whose members are required to sign a declaration under, or who have otherwise had drawn to their attention, the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.
  812
  Mr. Peter Walker
  The advisory committees which report to me are:

  Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees

  Agriculture Advisory Panel for Wales

  All Wales Advisory Panel on Development of Services for Mentally Handicapped People

  All Wales Committee on Drug Misuse

  Ancient Monuments Board for Wales

  Committee for the Welsh Scheme for the Development of Health and Social Research

  Committee on Opportunities for Volunteering

  Committee for Under Fives Initiative

  Hill Farming Sub Committee for Wales

  Historic Buildings Council for Wales

  Housing Management Advisory Panel for Wales

  Library and Information Services Council (Wales)

  Local Government Boundary Commission

  Place Names Advisory Committee

  Wales Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education

  Welsh Committee for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education

  Welsh Committee for Postgraduate Pharmaceutical Education

  Welsh Dental Committee

  Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board

  Welsh Medical Committee

  Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee

  Welsh Optical Committee

  Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee

  Welsh Scientific Advisory Committee.

  Of these advisory committees only the members of the Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board are required to sign a declaration under the Official Secrets Act.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are unemployed in(a) Ynys Môn, (b) Gwynedd and (c) Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  At 12 Novevember 1987, there were 4,254: 13,232 and 145,455 unemployed claimants respectively in Ynys Môn, Gwynedd and Wales.

  Weighbridge, Deeside
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessments he has made of the impact upon road safety of the construction of a public weighbridge, off the B5127 Mold-Ewloe road, adjacent to the A494 roundabout at Ewloe, Deeside, and the consequent presence of heavy lorries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The weighbridge site at Ewloe roundabout is one of the network of sites that the Department is developing on the major road network and at the main ferry ports to enforce the United Kingdom legislation of vehicle weights. Sites are selected in consultation with the local planning and highway authorities and police so that all the relevant considerations such as road safety can be taken into account.

  Drug Advisory Committees
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much each of the drug advisory committees received in the last financial year.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Central funding for projects to combat drug misuse is made

  813
  available both to district health authorities and voluntary organisations. The sums approved for 1987–88 are as follows:

  £

  Clwyd Council for Drug Abuse

  3,867

  Dyfed Council on Alcoholism and Drugs

  8,360

  Gwynedd Drugs Council

  7,838

  Ogwr DASH

  5,225

  The Children's Society

  14,075

  SWAPA

  30,255

  Youth Link Wales

  19,400

  CWVYS

  15,150

  Clwyd Health Authority

  129,348

  East Dyfed Health Authority

  73,224

  Gwent Health Authority

  116,764

  Gwynedd Health Authority

  78,285

  Mid Glamorgan Health Authority

  112,342

  Powys Health Authority

  30,675

  South Glamorgan Health Authority

  131,901

  West Glamorgan Health Authority

  51,577

  Total

  828,286

  Drug Advisiory Committees (New Projects)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give extra cash for new projects in Wales as bid for by the drug advisory committees additional to recurrent expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Our officials have these bids under consideration and decisions on applications will be made public early in the new year.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will grant £60,000 for new anti-drug projects to the Clwyd drug advisory committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Clwyd health authority has bid for £43,600 for new projects and the merit of this bid is being considered along with the others received from district health authorities and voluntary organisations in Wales.

  Nursery Schools
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was(a) the total public expenditure on local authority day nurseries, local authority playgroups and grants to the voluntary sector for provision for under-fives for each year from 1975 to 1985 and (b) the total public expenditure on these services as a percentage of gross domestic product for each of these years.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: I shall write to the hon. Lady and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what account he takes of a person's attitude towards the privatisation of the Health Service when considering appointments to the membership of health authorities in Wales; and whether knowledge of a person's attitude to this matter, or their general political attitude, is sought by his Department before it makes such appointments.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Most members of health authorities are appointed directly by
  814
  county and district councils or by my right hon. Friend after formal consultation with professional and other organisations connected with the Health Service. Our aim in filling the remaining generalist places is to achieve a balanced membership which will act corporately and responsibly to ensure that an authority's actions will be in the best interests of the people of the district it exists to serve.

  Gwynedd Health Authority
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what clarification or discussion he has had with Deloitte Haskins and Sells management consultants with regard to paragraph 53 of its final report on the financial position of Gwynedd health authority on the authority's financial position over the past two years and the underfunding of pay awards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The factorss identified in the paragraph referred to have applied to other health authorities in Wales and there is no evidence therefore that the authority has been unfairly treated. Gwynedd health authority has benefited from the second highest rate of revenue growth of all Welsh health authorities—37 per cent. in real terms—since 1978–79, and has thus been better placed than most to meet demographic and inflationary pressures. Authorities must budget for such pressures within available resources and therefore any increases in pay and prices above their expectations must have consequences for the level of patient activity that can be afforded. Authorities participate in the Whitley pay bargaining machinery and cannot be insulated from the effects of pay settlements they have negotiated.

  As far as the review body awards are concerned, the Government have in past years contributed to the excess cost of these awards over the allowance for inflation in authorities' allocations. This year, Gwynedd benefited from a contribution of £1·3 million towards the cost of these awards which, together with the allowance for inflation in the authority's allocation means that 96·7 per cent. of the cost of the awards has been met from specific funding.

  Welsh Language (Ministerial Broadcast)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the interview broadcast by BBC Radio Cymru with the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Conwy (Mr. Roberts) on Sunday 13 December at 1 pm, on the subject of a new Welsh Language Act, represented Government policy.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: My comments simply sought to amplify the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Delyn (Mr. Raffan) on 10 December, at column 215.

SCOTLAND

  Post Mortems
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the cost in(a) fees to consultants and (b) payments to health boards for post mortems done under fiscal licence in National Health Service hospitals for each year since 1980.
  815
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I regret that the information is not available.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list the items of personal data that a community charge officer will need to hold in order to compile the community charges register.

  Mr. Lang
  The community charges register in Scotland will contain the names, addresses and dates of birth of people liable to pay the community charges, the dates from which they are liable, the names and addresses of responsible persons in terms of section 17(6) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, and certain further details relating to students. In addition, the community charges registration officer will need to make inquiries about residents who will shortly attain the age of 18, and about people who may be exempt from personal community charge liability, though these details will not appear on the register.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how he will decide on eligibility for home improvement grants when, with the abolition of domestic rates, there will he no rateable valuations of domestic properties.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 provides for the construction, from 1 April 1989, of references in enactments to the rateable value of domestic subjects. For the longer term, the improvement and repairs grant system in Scotland will be reformed as outlined in the White Paper "Housing: The Government's Proposals for Scotland" (Cm. 242), published on 11 November 1987. Under that reform, the present eligibility test based on rateable value will be replaced by a straightforward test of household resources.

  Free Food
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland have received during the last 12 months free food distributed from surpluses which the Council of Ministers approved for such release.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information in the form requested is not available, but some 2,000 tonnes of butter and a similar quantity of cheese, 96 tonnes of beef, 1·4 million litres of milk and a small quantity of concentrated butter was distributed to needy people in Scotland under the previous EC scheme.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) which organisations in Scotland are in charge of future free food distribution following the permanent scheme for food surpluses recently approved in the European Community by the Council of Ministers;

  (2) how many people in Scotland he estimates will receive free food in 1988, according to the recently approved permanent scheme for food surpluses in the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The implications of the scheme recently adopted by the Council of Ministers are being carefully considered by the Government in consultation with the main charitable organisations. A financial ceiling 816
  of £69 million for the Community as a whole in 1988 will limit the quantities distributed and hence the numbers of recipients.

  Bus Services
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received since deregulation was introduced about the quality of bus services in(a) Scotland and (b) Glasgow; and how many of them referred to (i) the frequency of the service for any specific line, (ii) the frequency of the service in general, (iii) price increases and (iv) the problems of elderly people in rural areas.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The following table shows the number of representations received by the Scottish Development Department since deregulation clay 26 October 1986 about the quality of bus services generally and by category.

  Representations about the quality of bus services

  Number

  All Scotland

  135

  Glasgow

  20

  Representations referring to:

  i. frequency of the service for any specific line (including withdrawals)

  64

  ii. frequency of the service in general (including withdrawals)

  23

  iii. price increases

  6

  iv. problems of elderly people in rural areas

  2

  Four petitions about specific routes and about the effects of deregulation in general have also been received.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he plans to take any action in relation to services for people with epilepsy, in the light of the report of the working group on services for people with epilepsy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The working group's report was prepared for DHSS and the Welsh Office in 1984 and related to services in England and Wales only. Services in Scotland for people with epilepsy are provided by health boards and social work and education authorities as appropriate.

  Anaesthetists
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the shortage of anaesthetists and the availability of epidural anaesthetics.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provision of anaesthetic services is a matter for health boards taking into account local needs and priorities. The number of consultant anaesthetists in Scotland has risen from 216 in 1979 to 270 in 1986, an increase of 25 per cent. I am not aware of difficulties in the recruitment of anaesthetists.

  Advice on the provision of epidural analgesia was contained in a report by the National Medical Consultative Committee on Obstetric Anaesthesia and Analgesia in Scotland which was issued to health boards in 1985.

  Newbattle Abbey College
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the period and terms of the review of the status of Newbattle Abbey college; and what consultations took place.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The justification for continued Government support for Newbattle Abbey college, as for all non-departmental public bodies, is reviewed from time to time in the light of changing circumstances, and my Department's knowledge of current educational developments. No specific external consultation took place.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what help he envisages his Department giving to Newbattle Abbey college in its consideration of the implications of its withdrawal of grant.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Officials of the Scottish Education Department are ready to discuss the implications with the board of governors or the trustees of the college, but it will be for the Newbattle interests to identify areas where they think the Department can help.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the withdrawal of grant from Newbattle Abbey college.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Following a review of the case for continued financial support for the college from the Scottish Education Department, an official of the Department wrote to the chairman of the board of governors on 10 December 1987 advising him of the intention to withdraw grant with effect from the end of the academic year 1988–89. The following is the text of the letter:The Secretary of State has been reviewing the case for continued support for Newbattle Abbey College through grants from the Scottish Education Department and I am writing to give notice that he intends to withdraw the grant with effect from the end of academic year 1988–89.
  In reaching conclusions as a result of this review, the Secretary of State has taken into account the opportunities which now exist for adults to obtain qualifications for entry to higher education. In contrast to the time when Government support for Newbattle was first introduced, there are now many more opportunities available for mature students to gain qualifications enabling them to participate in higher education. For example, most adults have reasonable access to further education colleges and, in many areas, schools where they may acquire, on a full or part-time basis, entrance qualifications to higher education institutions; and the Open College with its blend of broadcasting and the more traditional methods of learning, should increase opportunities for access to vocational education and training. In addition, the Open University offers adults without formal qualifications the chance to proceed direct to part-time degree courses if they wish to do so and finally, the Universities and Central Institutions are showing increasing readiness to admit to degree courses mature students without normal entry requirements, as part of their policy of widening access. Indeed, latest statistics show that in 1985–86, there were about 6,000 mature entrants to higher education in Scotland—almost a of the total. With these developments, together with the much more widespread use of distance learning methods, it is no longer evident that the residential environment of Newbattle is as necessary for mature entrants to higher education as it once was nor is it evident that the residential opportunity is now widely sought after by students from all over Scotland. I understand that typically some 30 per cent. of Diploma students come from England and the great majority of the remainder from Lothian or elsewhere in the Central belt. All of these factors reduce the case for continued Government support for the adult education provision at Newbattle Abbey College.
  818
  Against this background, the Secretary of State has to consider whether the taxpayers' money provided for Newbattle can be justified in the light of the other demands on the resources available for education in Scotland. The centre piece of the Newbattle programme is the 2-year Diploma in Liberal Studies, taken by some 30–40 students per year. Since 1979, the grant made available for Newbattle has increased from £162,000 to £359,000 in the 1986–87 financial year; an increase in real terms of 33 per cent. In addition, the Scottish Education Department has provided annually substantial sums for student tuition and residential fees; these came to approximately £100,000 in the 1986–87 financial year. For the future, the College's own estimates suggest that running costs are likely to continue to rise well in excess of the current inflation rate and further substantial capital sums will be required to maintain the College buildings in an adequate state of repair if it is to continue in its present role.
  The Secretary of State believes that he has a duty to ensure that public funds are used to best effect and he doubts whether that is now the case at Newbattle, as circumstances have changed over the years. He has therefore asked me to give you notice of his intention to withdraw Government support for the College at the end of the 1988–89 academic year. This will allow students who entered the College in the current session to complete their 2-year diploma courses. The Secretary of State has asked me to emphasise that the funds released by withdrawal of support from the College in 1989 will be devoted to encouraging wider access to further and higher education in Scotland in ways more relevant to current needs.
  The Secretary of State appreciates that this news will come as great disappointment to the Board of Governors and to the staff. He has therefore also asked me to assure you that his decision should not in any sense be regarded as an adverse reflection on the achievements of Newbattle over the last 50 years; if is rather recognition that the College's job has largely been done and the opportunities now widely available in the Scottish education system for encouraging access to higher education have greatly diminshed the demand, and need, for the services now offered by the College in its current form.
  Finally, I should emphasise that if the Governors so wish, the Department's officials would be very glad to assit in every way possible with their consideration of the implications of withdrawal of grant.
  No doubt there will be public interest in the contents of this letter. I will arrange for it to be released to the Press tomorrow afternoon, once you have had time to tell the Governing Body, staff and students of its content.
  I have sent a copy of this letter to each of the Trustees of the College.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the names of his advisory committees, together with an indication of those whose members are required to sign a declaration under, or who have otherwise had drawn to their attention, the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The advisory bodies to which I make appointments are listed in "Public Bodies 1987" which was recently published by the office of the Minister for the Civil Service. Comprehensive information of the kind requested is not readily available but I can tell the hon. Member that members of the following bodies are asked to sign a declaration in connection with the Official Secrets Act:

  Boundary Commission for Scotland

  Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland

  Scottish Economic Council

  Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board

  Secretary of State's Advisory Panel of Economic Consultants

  Members of the following bodies have the Act drawn to their attention:

  819

  Parole Board for Scotland

  Local Review Committees for Her Majesty's Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions

  Visiting Committees to Detention Centres and Young Offenders Institutions

  Economic Advisers
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all his economic advisers who are paid from public funds.

  Mr. Rifkind
  My chief economic adviser is Dr. R. G. L. McCrone, secretary, Scottish Development Department, who is supported by a staff of 22 economists. In addition, I receive advice from my advisory panel of economic consultants drawn from economists working in the Scottish universities which meets on average some two or three times a year.

  Electricity Boards (Performance)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet agreed new performance aims for the Scottish electricity boards.

  Mr. Lang
  After consultation with the boards I have agreed new cost reduction performance aims for the two-year period to March 1989. The aim for generation and transmission activities is for the boards jointly to reduce controllable unit costs in real terms by 5·7 per cent. by March 1989. Over the same period the South of Scotland Electricity Board will aim to reduce its controllable unit costs of distribution in real terms by 4 per cent. and the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board will seek to reduce this element of its costs by 1 per cent.

  Student Allowances
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about levels of student allowances and parental contributions for session 1988–89.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I propose to increase the main rates of allowances by 4 per cent. in the 1988–89 academic year. The new rates for Scottish students will be as follows (rates for 1987–88 are shown in brackets):

  £

  Student in the parental home

  1,500

  (1,442)

  Student living away from home

  —outside London

  1,990

  (1,915)

  —in London

  2,365

  (2,273)

  Students in receipt of maintenance allowances will be eligible for reimbursement of travelling expenses in excess of £54 included in the main rates.

  While the main rates of allowance have been increased by 4 per cent., in line with inflation, the threshold for parental contributions, and the points on the contribution scale at which the rate of contribution changes, will be raised at the higher rate of about 6·5 per cent. on average. Residual income is broadly the parents' gross income after deduction of those allowances permitted for income tax purposes. Parents earning a residual income of less than £9,900 will not be assessed for a contribution. The minimum contribution will be increased from £40 to £50 and the maximum, which in general applies only to parents with more than one child in receipt of grant, will rise from £4,600 to £4,900.

  The full scale is as follows:
  820

  Residual Income £

  Contribution £

  9,900

  50

  10,000

  64

  11,000

  207

  12,000

  350

  12,600

  435

  12,700

  455

  12,800

  475

  12,900

  495

  13,000

  515

  14,000

  715

  15,000

  915

  16,000

  1,115

  17,000

  1,315

  18,000

  1,515

  18,400

  1,595

  18,500

  1,620

  19,000

  1,745

  20,000

  1,995

  21,000

  2,245

  22,000

  2,495

  23,000

  2,745

  24,000

  2,995

  25,000

  3,245

  26,000

  3,495

  27,000

  3,745

  28,000

  3,995

  29,000

  4,245

  30,000

  4,495

  31,000

  4,745

  31,620

  14,900

  1 Maximum.

  Notes:

  1. For 1988–89 the level of contribution will be assessed at £1 in £7 for residual incomes from £9,900 to £12,600; then £1 in £5 to £18,400; and £1 in £4 thereafter. (In 1987–88 it is assessed at £1 in £7 for residual incomes from £9,300 to £11,800; then £1 in £5 to £17,300; and £1 in £4 thereafter.)

  2. The contribution payable may be less than the amounts shown on the scale, particularly at its top end and where the contribution is in respect of one award-holder only. This will depend on the amount of grant against which the contribution has to be set and whether any of the assessed contribution is offset by allowances for other dependent children.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further resources he is making available in 1987–88 for the National Health Service in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend is making a further £7·6 million available to the hospitals and community health service programme for 1987–88. The extra money is intended to help with reducing waiting lists, upgrading facilities for the mentally ill and mentally handicapped, enhancing equipment in acute hospitals and in combating the AIDS problem.

  Personal Files (Access)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has begun consultations with a view to making regulations on access to(a) housing records and (b) social services records under the Access to Personal Files Act 1987.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: It is hoped to consult on regulations by the spring of next year for both housing and social services interests.

  Urban Programme Areas (Housing Subsidy)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the housing subsidy figure for the Scottish equivalents of urban programme areas for 1985–86 and 1986–87.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The table lists the amount of housing support grant aid to those housing authorities within whose boundaries there are areas eligible for urban programme assistance.

  Housing Support Grant paid

  Area

  1985–86 £ million

  1986–87 £ million

  Roxburgh

  1·306

  8·952

  Clackmannan

  —

  —

  Falkirk

  —

  —

  Stirling

  —

  —

  Nithsdale

  —

  —

  Wigtown

  0·096

  —

  Dunfermline

  —

  —

  Kirkcaldy

  —

  —

  Aberdeen

  2·260

  —

  Banff and Buchan

  1·600

  0·558

  Inverness

  1·510

  1·034

  East Lothian

  0·023

  —

  Edinburgh

  —

  —

  Midlothian

  —

  —

  West Lothian

  —

  —

  Clydebank

  1·779

  0·804

  Cunninghame

  —

  —

  Dumbarton

  —

  —

  Glasgow

  32·676

  21·891

  Hamilton

  —

  —

  Inverclyde

  0·563

  —

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  —

  —

  Kyle and Carrick

  —

  —

  Monklands

  0·328

  —

  Motherwell

  —

  —

  Renfrew

  —

  —

  Strathkelvin

  —

  —

  Angus

  —

  —

  Dundee

  —

  —

  Perth and Kinross

  —

  —

  Table 2: Local authority tenants in Scotland receiving rent and rate rebates by region

  (Thousands)

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Scottish Regions

  Rent rebate

  Rate rebate

  Rent rebate

  Rate rebate

  Rent rebate

  Rate rebate

  Borders

  9·8

  8·9

  8·7

  8·7

  9·0

  9·4

  Central

  29·2

  32·1

  28·6

  31·3

  29·6

  32·2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  12·9

  13·0

  12·4

  11·7

  12·6

  11·9

  Fife

  31·4

  34·9

  29·6

  34·4

  33·2

  39·4

  Grampian

  34·0

  34·0

  33·4

  33·3

  34·2

  34·9

  Highland

  13·1

  13·5

  13·4

  13·8

  13·5

  13·9

  Lothian

  60·6

  72·9

  55·8

  65·8

  56·6

  68·0

  Strathclyde

  263·6

  348·7

  286·1

  335·8

  296·5

  348·5

  Tayside

  46·7

  50·3

  38·2

  41·7

  38·3

  41·5

  Scottish Islands

  3·2

  3·2

  3·4

  3·2

  3·2

  3·2

  Development Corporations

  68·0

  —

  67·4

  —

  71·4

  —

  Note: Figures are derived from local authority claims for housing benefit subsidy. For 1984–85 and 1985–86 they are based on final claims, subject to revision after audit. The 1986–87 figures are based on mid-year claims, and will be subject to revision when final claims are received.

EMPLOYMENT

  Industrial Noise
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will be able to provide an

  Housing Costs
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide the total number of Scottish local authority tenants in receipt of assistance with housing costs, by region and for Scotland as a whole, in the years from 1981 to 1986 inclusive.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information readily available is confined to rent and rate rebates and does not include help with rent and rates provided through supplementary benefit prior to the introduction of housing benefit in 1982–83. On this basis the information for Scotland as a whole is given in table 1. I regret that a breakdown into regions is not available for all the years requested, but the information that is available is given in table 2.

  Table 1

  Local authority tenants Scotland receiving rent and rate rebates

  Year

  Rent rebate (thousands)

  Rate rebate (thousands)

  1980–81

  237

  305

  1981–82

  284

  342

  1982–83

  457

  535

  1983–84

  565

  (note 4)

  1984–85

  573

  611

  1985–86

  577

  580

  1986–87

  598

  603

  Notes:

  1. Figures for 1980–81 are derived from Scottish Office statistics for the former rebate and allowance scheme.

  2. Figures for 1983–84 onwards are based on local authority claims for housing benefit subsidy.

  3. The 1982–83 figures include rent and rate rebates paid to certain tenants included in the partial start of the housing benefit scheme in November 1982.

  4. It has not been possible to isolate the number of local authority tenants receiving rate rebates in 1983–84, though the subsidy returns indicate a total figure in excess of 580,000.

  answer to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Newbury for answer on 17 November relating to industrial noise.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I am replying to my hon. Friend today.

  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current permitted
  823
  noise limits for industrial premises; whether there are any plans to reduce them; and what EEC regulations cover industrial noise.

  Mr. Nicholls
  At present specific legal limits on noise exposure apply in only a few sectors of industry. For industry generally an advisory code of practice published by the Health and Safety Executive recommends what action should he taken when daily personal noise exposure exceeds 90dB(A) or the peak sound pressure exceeds 600 Pascals.

  The Health and Safety Commission published proposals for new legislation on 15 December which would require certain action at a daily personal noise exposure of 85dB(A), and additional protective measures at 90dB(A) or a peak sound pressure of 200 Pascals. The proposals would enable the United Kingdom to comply with EC directive 86/188/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to noise at work. Other EC directives are concerned with noise at the operator's position on certain items of new industrial machinery.

  Job Training Scheme
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for the new job training scheme for each of the Manpower Services Commission areas in Greater London, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, the Birmingham and Solihull Manpower Services Commission area and for Great Britain as a whole (i) the

  Table I

  MSC—London region

  North London

  East London

  South London

  West London

  Inner London North

  Inner London South

  Number of entrants in latest available period (October)

  289

  123

  61

  143

  221

  313

  Cumulative entrants since scheme started (April-October)

  1,018

  729

  739

  645

  997

  1,466

  Cumulative

  (a) Male

  640

  459

  473

  372

  379

  1,045

  (b) Female

  378

  270

  266

  273

  618

  421

  (c) Length of time out of work

  1. 6–12 months

  478

  327

  355

  307

  501

  667

  2. Over 12 months

  251

  158

  195

  172

  290

  396

  3. Over 24 months

  289

  244

  189

  166

  206

  403

  Declared ethnic background

  1. White

  464

  379

  427

  287

  484

  603

  2. Black/African,

  Caribbean descent

  277

  142

  132

  120

  374

  503

  3. Indian Sub-Continent descent

  126

  119

  65

  124

  65

  71

  4. None of those

  108

  64

  82

  71

  80

  149

  5. Not declared

  43

  25

  33

  43

  44

  140

  (e) Declared disability

  16

  25

  33

  14

  24

  38

  Entered practical experience placements in October

  53

  105

  14

  22

  60

  55

  In practical experience (not cumulative total) placements at latest date (end October)

  153

  202

  71

  75

  448

  759

  Cumulative leavers

  637

  386

  394

  530

  478

  541

  824
  number of entrants in the latest available period, and the number of cumulative entrants since the scheme started, (ii) a breakdown of entrants showing how many were (a) male, (b) female, (c) the length of time they had been out of work, (d) their ethnic background and (e) whether or not they had any disabilities, (iii) the number of trainees in the latest available period who entered work placements, and the cumulative total of how many are in work places at the latest available date, (iv) the number of trainees who left the scheme in the latest available period, and the number of cumulative leavers since the scheme started and (v) for all those trainees who have left the scheme how many (1) found work, (2) failed to attend, (3) went on to another course of training or education, (4) completed the course, (5) left for sickness or (6) went back into unemployment.

  Mr. Cope
  Information about all entrants to the new job training scheme is collated by MSC on an area basis and the information is set out in the tables.

  As for leavers from the scheme, a return from managing agents seeking information on the reasons for leaving was first requested in October. Data from this return are known to be incomplete so far and will not be comparable between areas and managing agents in all places. The data do not provide reliable information about job entry rates or other trainee destinations. This information will be gathered by an independent follow-up survey of all trainees early in the new year. Managing agent returns will be considered in the light of that information.
  825

  North London

  East London

  South London

  West London

  Inner London North

  Inner London South

  October leavers—none cumulative

  307

  110

  65

  151

  117

  127

  Notes:

  1. Due to difficulties in data collection some of the information given above is incomplete.

  2. In the main, new Job Training Scheme trainees undertake individually designed packages of training and practical experience, flexible in nature and of varying length. The Scheme does not offer courses as such and trainees may and do leave at any time to pursue other opportunities.

  Table 2

  MSC—Merseyside and Manchester areas

  MCR central

  MCR East

  MCR North

  Merseyside

  Number of entrants in latest available period (October)

  348

  243

  186

  310

  Cumulative entrants since scheme started (April-October)

  1,408

  850

  933

  1,719

  Cumulative

  (a) Male

  1,256

  680

  733

  1,237

  (b) Female

  351

  170

  200

  432

  (c) Length of time out of work

  1. 6–12 months

  586

  327

  340

  498

  2. Over 12 months

  369

  223

  238

  427

  3. Over 24 months

  648

  296

  355

  794

  (d) Ethnic Background

  1. White

  1,191

  723

  760

  1,500

  2. Black/African, Caribbean descent

  99

  19

  11

  4

  3. Indian Sub-Continent descent

  64

  29

  34

  8

  4. None of these

  217

  64

  91

  181

  5. I prefer not to say

  36

  15

  37

  21

  (e) Disabled Persons

  79

  13

  52

  37

  Entered practical experience placements in October

  132

  100

  92

  91

  In practical experience placements at latest date (end October)

  344

  190

  213

  377

  Cumulative Leavers

  883

  515

  576

  1,059

  October leavers—none cumulative

  203

  170

  139

  261

  1. Due to difficulties in data collection some of the information given above is incomplete.

  2. In the main, new Job Training Scheme trainees undertake individually designed packages of training and practical experience, flexible in nature and of varying length. The Scheme does not offer courses as such and trainees may and do leave at any time to pursue other opportunities.

  Table 3

  MSC—Birmingham, Solihull and Great Britain

  Birmingham and Solihull

  Great Britain

  Number of entrants in latest available period (October)

  424

  11,331

  Cummulative entrants since scheme started (April-October)

  1,943

  54,744

  Cuulative

  (a) Male

  1,321

  37,995

  (b) Female

  622

  13,215

  (b) Length of time out of work

  1. 6–12 months

  129

  21,124

  2. Over 12 months

  95

  12,272

  3. Over 24 months

  200

  17,810

  (d) Ethnic background

  1. White

  261

  41,009

  2. Black/African Caribbean descent

  58

  2,912

  3. Indian Sub-Continent descent

  55

  2,101

  4. None of those

  36

  3,835

  5. I prefer not to say

  14

  1,509

  (e) Disabled persons

  10

  1,820

  Entered practical experience placements in October

  117

  3,908

  In practical experience placements at latest date (end October)

  423

  14,382

  826

  Birmingham and Solihull

  Great Britain

  Cumulative leavers

  1,072

  30,669

  October leavers

  280

  8,285

  Notes:

  1. Due to difficulties in data collection some of the information given above is incomplete.

  2. In the main, new Job Training Scheme trainees undertake individually designed packages of training and practical experience, flexible in nature and of varying length. The Scheme does not offer courses as such and trainees may and do leave at any time to pursue other opportunities.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, for each new job training scheme —contracted managing agent in the Greater London area, what are the monthly figures since the start of the scheme for entrants during each period, showing how many(a) were male and female, (b) were six to 12 months unemployed, above and below the age of 25 years, (c) were 12 to 24 months unemployed, above and below the age of 25 years, (d) were unemployed for 24 months or more, above and below the age of 25 years, (e) were disabled, (f) were of ethinic minority origin and (g) entered work placements; how many leavers there were in each period; and of those how many (i) found work, (ii) failed to attend, (iii) went to further education course or other training, (iv) completed the

  827
  new JTS course, (v) left because of sickness and (vi) left for other reasons; and what are the latest cumulative figures for entrants and leavers.

  Mr. Cope
  It is not MSC policy to publish comparative information on the performance of individual managing agents.

  New Workers Scheme
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the decision to cease the recruitment of applicants to the new workers scheme.

  Mr. Lee
  Since the announcement on 3 November this year of the scheme's impending closure, my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) and the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) have both raised questions on the subject. I refer the hon. Member to my replies in the Official Report, 6 November, at column 725, and 7 December, column 31, respectively. A reply to the hon. Member's recent letter to me about the scheme's closure will be with him shortly.

  YTS
  Miss Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) major and (b) minor accidents have occurred in the last five years to participants on YTS schemes in Cleveland.

  Mr. Cope
  Between 1 April 1983 and 30 September 1987 there were 28 major and 208 minor accidents to YTS trainees in the Cleveland area. Independent research into accidents on YTS has shown that the injury rate for YTS trainees in no higher than the rate for employed young people.

  MSC accident figures for YTS have been compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive for employed people. However, the Commission's figures include a number of accidents, in particular road traffic accidents during scheme time and accidents to trainees in education establishments, which may not have been reportable to the executive had the individuals been employed.

  Up to 31 March 1986 major injuries were classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980. From 1 April 1986 major injuries have been classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1985.

  Miss Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places are currently available for males and females on YTS schemes; how many are estimated to be available to meet demand for YTS in summer 1988; and if he will break these figures down by local authority and region.

  Mr. Cope
  On 31 October 1987, there were approximately 540,000 available YTS places open to young people of either sex, of which 431,000 were filled. No local or regional breakdown for 1988 is yet available but the Government have provided additional resources for YTS to enable a further 27,000 places to be made available nationally.
  828
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what circumstances 16 and l7-year-olds on the two-year YTS schemes are required to work on Christmas day; and whether, in those circumstances, they are entitled to overtime payments and a day off in lieu.

  Mr. Cope
  All YTS trainees are entitled to bank and public holidays or to paid time off in lieu. Trainees should be asked to attend on Christmas day only when regular employees do so and as part of the normal practice of the organisation. Any payments to trainees additional to the standard YTS allowance are at the discretion of training providers.

  Federation of Business and Professional Women (Exhibition)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the United Kingdom Federation of Business and Professional Women to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have received no formal application for this but I would he pleased to give support to the exhibition.

  Chief Adjudication Officer
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each of the recomrnendations made in the second report of the chief adjudication officer which affect his Department the action which has been taken to implement them.

  Mr. Lee
  Six recommendations in the 1985–86 annual report of the Chief Adjudication Officer (CAO) related to my Department. The recommendations together with a summary of the response given by my Department to the CAO, are as follows:

  Recommendation 9
  "While fully recognising the manpower constraints to which the Unemployment Benefit Service is subject, I can only observe that a better use of AOs time, through adequate support staff to pursue enquiries necessary for deciding claims etc. should pay considerable dividends. I, therefore, recommend again that such support should be improved".

  Response
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 3 December at column 673.

  Recommendation 10
  "Improvement in the quality of decision-making is unlikely to occur if the number of decisions expected from each AO is as high as at present. I, therefore, recommend again that DE carry out a review of the time allowance".

  Response

  A Management services survey in November 1986 formed the view that there was not sufficient evidence to justify an approach to the Treasury for an increase to the time allowances. However, the number of adjudication officers has increased from 345 in April 1986 to over 500 currently, an increase of 45 per cent. while work load has increased by substantially less.

  Recommendation 11
  "I regard it as important that RASs should have the capacity to continue casework monitoring and also adjudication on trade disputes. I, therefore recommend that DE should make available within each Region, adequate resources to enable the RAOs to continue these functions".

  Response

  Instructions were issued in March 1987 to regional adjudication officers and sector adjudication managers

  829
  setting out the arrangements for monitoring the quality of adjudication officers' decisions and appeal submissions. These were agreed with the office of the CAO. The Department believes that adequate resources are available to perform the tasks referred to in the recommendation.

  Recommendations 18, 19 and 25
  "I think it important that DE should utilise the very considerable knowledge and experience which we can offer on training. I, accordingly, recommend that DE bring OCAO fully into discussions on the training needed by DE AOs and in the preparation of course material".
  "I recommend that the Birmingham DE trainers should play a full part in the future development of training material".
  "I recommend that DE Sector Adjudication Managers (HEO/AOs) should be required to examine at regular and frequent intervals appeal submissions prepared by each of their AOs".

  Response

  These recommendations have been implemented.

  TVAM (Dispute)
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the assistance of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has been sought in resolving the dispute between the management of TVAM and the Association of Cinematograph, Television and Allied Technicians over manning levels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I understand that both parties have briefed ACAS, which is keeping in touch and will remain available to help to resolve the dispute.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any proposals to make it more attractive for building trades employers to finance, in part or in whole, formal training courses for their employees at institutions of further education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. The Government provide considerable support for initial training through YTS and various adult training schemes administered by the Manpower Services Commission. The industry benefits from this support but the main responsibility for the training of building trades employees lies with their employers, individually and through the construction industry training board. The board operates a levy/grant scheme which aims to spread the costs of training across the industry.

  However, the Manpower Services Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Education and Science and Inland Revenue, is preparing to issue, early in 1988, a guide to tax reliefs for employers' expenditure on education and training.

  Stratford Colour Company Ltd.
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when Stratford Colour Company was last inspected by health and safety inspectors; what advice the inspectors gave; to what degree their recommendations were complied with; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Stratford Colour Company Ltd. at Maryland Road, London, E15, was last visited by an inspector of the Health and Safety Executive on 8 May 1987. The purpose of the visit was to check whether the 830
  company had complied with three improvement notices issued by an inspector on 16 February 1987. The terms of these notices required the company to improve (a) monitoring of concentrations of lead in air, (b) records of assessment of exposure to lead, and (c) records of maintenance of measures to control lead, in order to meet the requirements of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980.

  The inspector found that all notices had been complied with.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the measures introduced by the Government to encourage small firms since 1979.

  Mr. Cope
  I will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested and will place a copy of my letter in the Official Report.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the names of his advisory committees, together with an indication of those whose members are required to sign a declaration under, or who have otherwise had drawn to their attention, the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.

  Mr. Lee
  The list of Department of Employment group advisory committees is given on pages 15 to 17 of the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1987." There are two committees whose members are required to sign the Official Secrets Act, the Manpower Services Committee for Scotland and the Manpower Services Committee for Wales. There are no other advisory committees whose members are required either to sign a declaration under or have the provisions of section 2 drawn to their attention.

  Family Expenditure
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average expenditure per household in 1979 and 1986–87 at(a) current prices, (b) 1979 prices and (c) 1987 prices on (1) electricity, (2) gas, (3) telephone charges, (4) water supply, (5) public transport and (6) prescription charges.

  Mr. Lee
  The information requested is shown for 1979 in the table.

  Average weekly household expenditure (£s)

  United Kingdom: 1979

  Current prices

  June 1987 prices

  Electricity1

  2·51

  4·60

  Gas1

  1·52

  2·79

  Telephone

  1·09

  1·99

  Water2

  0·18

  0·33

  Public Transport3

  1·49

  2·73

  Prescriptions4

  0·03

  0·06

  Source: Family Expenditure Survey.

  1 Includes both account payments and slot meter payments (less rebates).

  2 Excludes sewerage charges.

  3 Includes both season and non-season ticket expenditure.

  4 Includes charges for National Health Service appliances.

  831
  Full information for 1986 will not be available until after the publication of the report of the 1986 family expenditure survey at the end of the year. I will forward the 1986 data to the hon. Member then.

  Bracken
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what advice his Department gives to farm workers and the public about the harmful effects of bracken on people and animals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the enforcing authority for the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 which places duties on employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare of persons at work and those who may be affected by work activities. HSE inspectors give advice on health and safety matters, including the effects of bracken during the course of their visits.

  The agricultural development and advisory service of MAFF provides advice concerning the harmful effects of bracken on farm animals.

  It is known that in some circumstances bracken can be toxic to animals which eat it.

  The significance of the toxic properties of bracken for people is currently being considered by the relevant Government Departments.

  Industrial Language Training Service
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy towards maintaining a viable local education authority-based industrial language training service for the foreseeable future.

  Mr. Cope
  In the light of the issues raised in the review of the industrial language training service and subsequent consultations, I am considering its management and funding after the current financial year. I have agreed to the request of the local authority associations that I meet them to hear their views before reaching a decision.

  Unemployment Policy
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the major changes of policy announced by him since June.

  Mr. Norman Fowler
  [holding answer 16 December 1987]: The following is a list of some of the major policy announcements made in the last six months. On 30 June I wrote to the chairman of the MSC to explain the changes I had decided to make to programmes run by the MSC, to consult the commission on the proposed transfer of some functions from the MSC to the Department of Employment and to inform the MSC of certain changes I intended to make to its composition. Following consideration of the commission's response on 23 July I informed the chairman of the MSC on 31 July of my intention to go ahead with the transfer of functions from the MSC to the Department of Employment. I announced the creation of the employment service on 23 October.

  The Employment Bill was published on 23 October.

  My hon. Friend the Minister of State announced on 29 October his intention, as soon as legislative time is
  832
  available, to increase the age limit up to which women can receive a statutory redundancy payment from 60 to 65 years.

  On 13 November, following observations made by the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee, I announced a review of the Skills Training Agency.

  In a statement on 18 November I announced the establishment from September 1988 of a unified training programme for unemployed adults by bringing together the community programme, the job training scheme and a number of other training programmes for adults.

  On 2 December I gave details of the appointment of Lloyds Merchant Bank Ltd. to act as my advisers and report to me early in the new year about options for transferring Professional and Executive Recruitment out of the public sector.

  In a joint announcement on 9 December, I invited all major higher education institutions to apply for MSC funding in order to bring enterprise to the centre of their activities.

  On 10 December I issued a consultative document entitled "Restrictions on the Employment of Young People and the Removal of Sex Discrimination in Legislation".

  On 14 December I announced new procedures for ensuring that claimants to unemployment benefits are available for work.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations office of his Department; and what is the number planned to be employed at this point in 1988.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Sixty people are presently employed in the information division of my Department. It is anticipated that 67 people will be employed in the division in a year's time.

  Note: These figures are likely to change following the transfer of staff from the employment group of the MSC to the Department of Employment.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations office of the Manpower Services Commission; and what is the number planned to be employed at this point in 1988.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Sixty one and a half people are presently employed in the press and public relations office of the Manpower Services Commission. It is anticipated that 571/2 will be employed in a year's time.

  Note: These figures are likely to change following the transfer of staff from the employment group of the MSC to the Department of Employment.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1987–88 by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what are the estimated expenditures in each area for 1988–89.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The total estimated spending by this Department for 1987–88 is as follows:
  833

  £ Million Expenditure Department of Employment

  £ million

  Television

  2·8

  Radio/Newspaper

  0·5

  Outdoor

  3·3

  Other Promotional Material

  4·7

  Total

  11·3

  Notes:

  The figures for radio and newspaper advertising are not available separately.

  The estimated expenditure for this Department for 1988–89 has not yet been approved and a detailed budget breakdown is not therefore available at present.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1987–88 by the Manpower Services Commission on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what are the estimated expenditures in each area for 1988–89.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The latest estimated spending as requested for 1987–88 is as follows:

  £ million

  Television Advertising

  15·0

  Radio Advertising

  —

  Press Advertising

  15·3

  Other Promotional Material

  11·1

  Total

  32·2

  1 This figure includes a small element for radio advertising not separately identifiable.

  The expenditure levels for 1988–89 have not yet been set.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by his Department on press and public relations for(a) 1987–88 and (b) 1988–89.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The estimated expenditure by this Department on press and public relations for 1987–88 is £1·17 million.

  The estimated expenditure for this Department for 1988–89 has not yet been approved and a figure is not therefore available at present.

  Note:

  The above figures represents general administrative expenditure relating to costs for staff, accommodation and for regional services.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by the Manpower Services Commission on press and public relations for(a) 1987–88 and (b) 1988–89.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The estimated expenditure by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) on press and public relations for 1987–88 is £1·22 million.

  The estimated expenditure for the MSC for 1988–89 has not yet been approved and a figure is not therefore available at present.

  Note:
  The above figure represents general administrative expenditure relating to costs for staff accommodation and for regional services.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Animals (Cruelty)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many reported cases of cruelty to animals have led to(a) prosecution and (b) conviction for each of the last five years;

  (2) how many reported cases of cruelty to animals involving equines led to (a) prosecution and (b) conviction for each of the last five years;

  (3) how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have been made under the Animals Act 1911 for each of the last five years;

  (4) how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have been made under the Animals Act 1911 for each of the last five years for cases involving equines;

  (5) how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have been made under the Animals Act 1911 for each of the last five years in relation to tethering of equines;

  (6) how many reported cases of cruelty to animals there have been for each of the last five years;

  (7) how many reported cases of cruelty to animals for each of the last five years involved equines.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The only readily available information relates to all court proceedings in respect of offences relating to cruelty to animals and is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary tables, Vol 1", copies of which are in the Library, under offence classification 108. Those proceedings under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 are given in the table below. Details of the animals involved in such offences and the circumstances of the offence are not collected centrally.

  Defendants proceeded against and found guilty of offences under the Protection of Animals Act 1911

  England and Wales

  Year

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  1982

  820

  728

  1983

  839

  747

  1984

  875

  764

  1985

  989

  848

  1986

  1,026

  875

  Equines
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate how many deaths of equines have occurred in each of the last five years in which illegal or incorrect tethering was a contributory factor;

  (2) if he will estimate how many equines have died for each of the last five years as a result of either illegal or incorrect tethering.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Such information is not collected centrally.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received(a) in favour of, and (b) opposed to proposed legislation on Sunday trading.
  835
  Mr. Renton
  Since 20 November 1986, when my right hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Waddington) answered a similar question from the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor), at column 297, we have received 248 written representations broadly in favour of Sunday trading and 147 against.

  Prisoners (Drugs)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates have been charged with drug misuse and trafficking while in prison and have appeared before a prison governor or board of visitors, in each of the last three years.

  Mr. John Patten
  In 1986 about 1,670 charges of possessing, delivering or receiving controlled drugs were dealt with by governors or boards of visitors in prison department establishments in England and Wales. Information for earlier years is not available.

  Wandsworth Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of vacancies for prison officers at Wandsworth prison on 31 October.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 31 October the difference between the authorised staffing level for a 39-hour week and staff in post for prison officers was 87. This is based on the existing criteria for manning, to be replaced under Fresh Start. The revised criteria are still the subject of discussion between the prison department and the local branch of the Prison Officers Association.

  Remand
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time a person is held in prison on remand awaiting trial.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information on the average time spent on remand in prison department establishments is published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales", table 2(a) of the latest issue, for 1986, Cm. 210, copies of which are in the Library.

  Court of Appeal (Statistics)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of how many of the cases he has referred to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1)(a) of

  1987 (to 1 December)

  Number of persons to whom granted

  Grounds on which granted

  Pardons and remissions granted

  Total

  Males

  Females

  On grounds affecting the original conviction

  On account of technical irregularities in conviction or sentence

  As a reward for assistance to the authorities

  Medical or other compassionate grounds

  Other cases

  Free pardons

  136

  128

  8

  32

  4

  —

  —

  —

  Remission of imprisonment

  61

  52

  9

  —

  1

  26

  18

  16

  of youth custody

  15

  9

  6

  —

  —

  5

  6

  4

  of detention in detention centre

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  of fines

  19

  7

  1

  8

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1 includes 1 company.

  836
  the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 in the years 1982 to 1987 in respect of conviction and sentence, the appeals were (a) allowed and (b) disallowed by the Court of Appeal;

  (2) how many cases he referred to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1)(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 in the years 1982 to 1987 (a) in respect of conviction and (b) in respect of sentence.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information is as follows:

  Reference to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1) (a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968

  (a) In respect of conviction:

  Year

  Number of cases referred

  Number of defendants involved

  Results

  Appeals allowed

  Appeals dismissed

  1982

  4

  7

  4

  —

  1983

  3

  3

  3

  —

  1984

  12

  14

  3

  26

  1985

  4

  4

  2

  2

  1986

  4

  4

  1

  3

  11987

  36

  13

  2

  —

  1 To 1 December 1987.

  2 Three cases abandoned.

  3 Four cases awaiting determination.

  (b) In respect of sentence:

  Year

  Number of cases referred

  Number of defendants involved

  Results

  Appeals allowed

  Appeals dismissed

  1982

  2

  2

  2

  —

  1983

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1984

  3

  3

  2

  1

  1985

  4

  4

  4

  —

  1986

  13

  13

  12

  1

  11987

  227

  28

  19

  —

  1 To 1 December 1987.

  2 Seven cases awaiting determination and one abandoned.

  Free Pardons and Remission
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases he has recommended to Her Majesty the Queen(a) a free pardon, (b) remission of imprisonment, (c) remission of detention and (d) remission of fine in the years 1981 to 1987.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information for the years 1981 to 1986 is contained in the "Criminal Statistics: England and Wales: Supplementary Tables Vol. 4: 1981 to 1986", copies of which are in the Library. The available information for the year 1987, as at 1 December is as follows:

  Wrongful Convictions
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what and how many ex gratia payments he has made in respect of wrongful conviction in the years 1982–1987.

  Year

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  Number of awards

  7

  3

  1

  8

  8

  9

  Individual payments (£)

  24,275

  19,500

  6,000

  9,500

  31,500

  22,450

  20,519

  8,500

  —

  7,900

  52,000

  35,400

  12,602

  14,500

  —

  13,000

  5,000

  20,000

  8,345

  —

  —

  5,000

  20,500

  34,000

  2,000

  —

  —

  5,000

  10,350

  2,150

  25,000

  —

  —

  121,000

  10,250

  10,500

  18,000

  —

  —

  5,000

  18,510

  27,156

  —

  —

  —

  45,150

  5,000

  66,650

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,250

  1 To 30 November 1987.

  Note: The information relates to the date in which the final award was made in each case; some sums include an interim payment which may have been made in an earlier year.

  Independent Television Companies
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, when he next meets the chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority, he will discuss with him the criteria the authority uses in determining whether an individual television company is conforming to its franchise conditions when it is unable to provide a full programme service as a result of an industrial dispute; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  This is a contractual matter for the authority.

  North Wales Constabulary
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allocate additional funds to the North Wales constabulary to enable the Police Authority to avoid rural station closures and to enhance existing rural provision, bearing in mind the financial difficulties of the Clwyd and Gwynedd county councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is for the North Wales police authority to decide what resources should be made available to its force. The Home Office meets 51 per cent. of whatever the authority spends on the police, and block grant from the Welsh Office makes a further contribution from central Government funds. I understand from the chief constable that the police authority has agreed to provide finance to recruit up to its full police establishment of 1,316 by the end of this financial year.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will visit the headquarters of the North Wales constabulary to discuss with the North Wales Police Authority policing and police strengths; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend hopes to include a visit to the headquarters of the North Wales constabulary in his programme of engagements for the coming year.
  838
  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is as follows:

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the new computer applications and services that will arise from the replacement for the police national computer.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Department is about to undertake a survey of all users of the police national computer to determine their requirements for a new PNC. This survey will form the basis for decisions about whether any new applications are required and, if so, what should be their nature and scope.

  Nationality Applications
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken for an application for British nationality to be processed; and if he will establish procedures to absolve the need for applicants who are visa nationals to obtain re-entry visas should they travel abroad.

  Mr. Renton
  The average time taken to complete applications for citizenship granted in November 1987 was six months for registration and 15 months for naturalisation. But the ending on 31 December 1987 of certain registration entitlements has resulted in a very large number of applications and it is not possible to give a reliable estimate of the average time likely to be taken to complete applications now being received.

  We are not prepared to exclude visa nationals from the re-entry visa requirement purely on the ground that they are applicants for British citizenship. However, nationals of Pakistan and Commonwealth citizens normally requiring visas who are settled in the United Kingdom, including applicants for British nationality, do not need a re-entry visa before travelling abroad, and can obtain a passport stamp to confirm that they are exempt from the visa requirement.

  Mr. Andrew Jennings
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the
  839
  Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to what disciplinary action he has taken in respect of the senior officers who authorised surveillance of the then BBC journalist Mr. Andrew Jennings while he was conducting an investigation into police corruption in 1985;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the number of occasions in the last five years when surveillance operations against journalists by the Metropolitan police have been authorised; and what estimate of the cost of these operations has been made by the Commissioner in each of these years;

  (3) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many Metropolitan police officers were involved in the surveillance operation in 1985 on the then BBC journalist Mr. Andrew Jennings; how many man hours and overtime hours were spent on the operation; which CID department carried out the operation; and how much the operation cost.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It has been the long-standing policy of successive Governments not to confirm or deny that surveillance measures have been authorised. We do not intend to depart from the policy.

  I understand that the commissioner has decided that no disciplinary action is justified against any police officer as a result of Mr. Jennings' complaint which was investigated under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority.

  Detective Superintendent Anthony Lundy
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers are involved in conducting the investigation led by Chief Constable Peter Wright into allegations about police corruption made in a television programme in November 1986;

  (2) what reasons were given to him by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for the suspension of Detective Superintendent Anthony Lundy from the Metropolitan police in July; which police force has been designated to investigate the matter; and when a report on the case is expected.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The commissioner is not required to consult my right hon. Friend before he suspends one of his officers and did not do so before Mr. Lundy was suspended. I understand, however, that the decision to suspend was based on the report received in July 1987 of an internal inquiry conducted by the Metropolitan police. That report was made available to Mr. Peter Wright, chief constable of the South Yorkshire police, so that account could be taken of it in the wider investigation which he was conducting into allegations made in a television programme. The size of Mr. Wright's investigating team has varied, in accordance with the extent and complexity of the inquiries being conducted at any particular time, from 18 officers to four. His investigation has been conducted under the supervision of the independent Police Complaints Authority.

  Scotland Yard (Senior Officers)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made for Metropolitan police officers of the rank of deputy assistant commissioner and above to remain in contact with Scotland Yard at weekends.
  840
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that area deputy assistant commissioners and their deputies are provided with radio pagers. Their private address and telephone numbers are retained in the central command complex and contingency arrangements exist for urgent contact to be made. Similar arrangements exist for deputy assistant commissioners and more senior officers in other operational posts.

  Citizenship (Registration)
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the interpretation of the phrase "since 1st January 1973" on the front page of his Department's Form R, "Application for Registration as a British Citizen"; what advice his Department has given about the meaning to be attached to that phrase; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Representations have been received from several hon. Members and others including the Leeds city council, the Leeds community relations councils and the Greek Cypriots' Association of Fulham-Hammersmith. We have explained that the words in question were chosen in an attempt to describe simply in a leaflet for guidance, which makes it plain that the law on registration is in the British Nationality Act 1981, a complicated part of the requirements. If misunderstood, the words used would tend to encourage rather than discourage applications.

  DNA Tests
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the reliability of DNA tests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The applicability of DNA testing in Home Office areas of responsibility continues to be examined. We plan to publish in the new year the results of a pilot study in a number of immigration cases.

  King's Cross (Fire)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many police were deployed at King's Cross on the night of the recent major fire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that about 200 Metropolitan police officers were engaged in duties at the scene of the fire and in various support capacities during the night.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many fire appliances were deployed to deal with the King's Cross Underground station fire.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am informed by the London Fire Brigade that the initial attendance despatched to the fire consisted of four pumping appliances and one turntable ladder:Subsequently a total of 30 appliances, including the initial attendance, were used together with a number of specialist appliances and ancillary vehicles. After some hours a relief force of 15 pumping appliances took over
  841
  from the original attendance and a further relief of eight such appliances took over in the early hours of the morning of 19 November.

  Kent Police (Rifles)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the chief constable of Kent as to why the Kent Police Authority retained for five years Sterling automatic rifles which were purchased for an anti-terrorist operation in 1978.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand that for several years after 1978, there was judged to be a possibility of further international conferences in Kent which might require similar operations to the one referred to by the hon. Member. The weapons in question were retained until the possible need for them was considered to have passed.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the chief constable of Kent as to whether Sterling automatic rifles were used in training exercises in the Kent area in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983, respectively.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand that while these weapons were in the possession of Kent constabulary they were used from time to time for training purposes. If any weapon is held by a police force, its officers must be given the appropriate training before the issue of the weapon can be authorised.

  Restaurant Staff (Attacks)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the number, by district, of reported attacks on restaurant staff in 1986 and for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I understand from the commissioner that the available information, which may be incomplete,

  Direct Revenue Costs of Pension Reliefs

  Relief for:

  1985–86

  £ billion 1987–88

  current prices

  1987–88 prices

  1987–88 prices

  Employers' contributions to occupational pension schemes1

  3·3

  3·5

  2·9

  Employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes

  1·5

  1·7

  1·6

  Retirement annuity premiums2

  0·40

  0·40

  0·45

  Lump sum payments3

  1·1

  1·2

  1·2

  Investment income of occupational pensions schemes3

  3·9

  4·2

  4·1

  1 on the basis that employers' contributions are not taxable as a benefit in kind of the employee.

  2 including premiums paid by self-employed and others. It is not possible to estimate the costs of exemption of investment income related to retirement annuity contracts.

  3 assuming relief at the basic rate of income tax.

  The total cost of the reliefs cannot be calculated by adding the costs of the individual reliefs as this would imply a considerable degree of multiple taxation. Income tax receipts in 1987–88 are expected to be about £40 billion.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table setting out for the
  842
  indicates that about 120 offences of violence against the person by members of the public on staff of cafes or restaurants are recorded each year. The numbers in most districts are small and so subject to wide variation.

  M1 Convoy (14 December)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Buckinghamshire as to the nature of the cargo being conducted southward on the M1 on 14 December by three police patrol cars and on board two Ford transcontinental lorries, registration numbers KMH 304W and KMH 303W; why police patrol cars were necessary; what was the risk to other traffic; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the cargo was a valuable load which justified police protection as a precaution against possible theft. The nature of the load was not in any way hazardous and presented no threat to the public or other traffic.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Pensions
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the estimated costs at current and at constant prices of private pension income tax reliefs in 1960, 1970, 1980, 1985 and the latest year for which the figures are available, distinguishing between employers', employees' and self-employed contributions, tax-free lump sums and other reliefs, and also showing the costs as a proportion of income tax revenues.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Readily available estimates of the direct revenue costs of pension reliefs are given in the table.

  latest year for which figures are available the estimated amounts by which income tax liability is reduced on account of private pension income tax reliefs, assuming taxpayers with gross annual earnings in the ranges under £5,000, £5,000 to £10,000, £10,000 to £20,000, £20,000 to £30,000, £30,000 to £50,000, £50,000 to £100,000 and over £100,000.
  843
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Estimates for 1987–88 are as follows:

  Range of total earned income

  Number of taxpay-ing units' receiving relief for contributions to occupationalpensions schemes or retirement annuity policies

  Average reduction in income tax liability, on account of individuals ' contributions to occupational pensions schemes and retirement annuity policies

  £

  (thousands)

  £

  0–5,000

  280

  60

  5,000–10,000

  2,500

  100

  10,000–20,000

  4,510

  180

  20.000–30,000

  1,060

  370

  30,000–50,000

  345

  870

  50,000–100,000

  75

  2,300

  over 100,000

  10

  6,400

  1 Married couples are treated as one unit.

  Sir William Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the single person's allowance to £3,110.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The direct revenue cost at 1988–89 levels of income of increasing the single person's allowance to £3,110 is estimated to be £2·2 billion. The cost assumes the wife's earned income allowance and the single age allowance are increased by the same cash amount and is compared with indexation of the current income tax bands and allowances to 1988–89 levels as in table 4·1 of the 1987 Autumn Statement.

  Take-home Pay
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of real take-home pay for a married man on male average earnings since 1978–79.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Since 1978–79, real take-home pay has risen by almost 24 per cent. for a married man on average earnings. Average earnings are those for men in all occupations paid at adult rates, working a full week whose pay is unaffected by absence.

  Taxation
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the estimated increased yield from lowering the higher tax rate to 60 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that it is not possible to isolate the effect of reducing the top rates of income tax, but the proportion of tax paid by the top 1 per cent. of taxpayers in 1978–79 (part of whose income was liable at rates of 60 per cent. or more) was 11·2 per cent. In 1987–88, the top I per cent. are estimated to pay 13·5 per cent. of the yield.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received seeking a reduction in the basic rate of income tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the proportion of taxation receipts in 1987–88 to be derived from capital gains tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  About 11/2 per cent. including corporation tax on capital gains realised by companies.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the professional information technology staff in the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, respectively, including programmers, systems analysts and managers, are based in London and the south east.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In the Inland Revenue, 25 per cent. of the professional information technology staff are based in London and the south-east.

  At 16 December 1987, 98 per cent. of the professional information technology staff employed in Customs and Excise were based in London and the south-east.

  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the trainees for professional information technology posts within the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, respectively, are(a) female and (b) more than 30 years of age.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In the Inland Revenue, 35 per cent. of the trainees for professional information technology posts are women. Of these women trainees, 29 per cent. are more than 30 years of age.

  At 16 December 1987 20 per cent. of the trainee professional information technology staff employed in Customs and Excise were women, 8 per cent. were women more than 30 years of age and 26 per cent. of all trainees were more than 30 years of age.

  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the professional information technology staff in the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, respectively, including programmers, systems analysts and managers, are(a) female and (b) more than 30 years of age.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In the Inland Revenue 25 per cent. of the 1,250 professional information technology staff are women; 14 per cent. of the women are more than 30 years of age and 67 per cent. of all the staff are more than 30 years of age.

  At 16 December 1987, 17 per cent. of all professional information technology staff employed in Customs and Excise were women, 9 per cent. were women more than 30 years of age and 68 per cent. of all staff were more than 30 years of age.

  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many professional level information technology staff are employed by the Inland Revenue and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, respectively, including programmers, systems analysts and managers, and how many trainees there are for such posts.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Inland Revenue employs approximately 1,250 professional level information technology staff at the levels of executive officer to unified grade 3. Of these approximately 250 are trainees.
  845
  At 16 December 1987 Customs and Excise employed 467 professional information technology staff, of which 50 were trainees.

  Latin America
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received regarding the indebtedness of Latin American countries.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on this subject, most of them part of a campaign by War On Want.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the revenue yields in 1987–88 from corporation tax on companies' capital gains, indicating the extent to which the estimate has been affected by the falls in share prices in recent months.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  About £800 million. Receipts in 1987–88 relate to disposals in earlier years and are therefore unaffected by the recent falls in share prices.

  Overseas Assets
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to the answer of 9 December,Official Report, column 165, he will indicate what information of any kind is available as to the current or recent pound sterling value of British-owned assets held abroad.

  Mr. Major
  Figures for the level of United Kingdom overseas assets at the end of 1986 may be found in the United kingdom balance of payments (Pink Book) 1987 edition. The latest issue of the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin contains information on United Kingdom banks' assets overseas as at the end of June 1987. Data on flows of United Kingdom investment overseas during the first three quarters of 1987 were included in the quarterly balance of payments press notice published by the Central Statistical Office on 15 December 1987.

  Retail Prices Index (Error)
  Sir William Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the effects of the retail prices index error on occupational and public service pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he will take to compensate public service pensioners who have suffered any loss as a result of the miscalculation of the retail prices index.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what adjustments will be made to Civil Service pensions arising from the computer error on the retail prices index; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  Some private sector occupational schemes provide benefit increases which to a greater or lesser degree reflect changes in the cost of living. Others do not. In the small minority of private schemes where benefit increases are linked to the retail prices index it will be for those responsible to decide how, if at all, they should react to the small error in the index. For public service official 846
  pensioners, the Government will, after the recess be laying an order which will reflect in the normal way the order made in November uprating social security benefits from 11 April next. As for the statutory social security uprating, the rate of increase in these official pensions will be 4.2 per cent. These pensioners will suffer no permanent loss in their pension rates, as their pension levels from 1 April 1989 will be what they would have been if the error in the index had not occurred.

  The rates of pension received by retired public servants vary very widely according to their length of service and final salary when in employment. Flat-rate compensation for the index error would be inappropriate. Precise compensation would have administrative costs out of proportion to the sums concerned. Many public service pensioners are also national insurance retirement pensioners and will receive compensation on that account. The Government will not, therefore, be making any ex gratia payments to members of public service schemes that they administer, including the parliamentary scheme and the schemes for the judiciary, the Civil Service, the National Health Service, the armed forces and teachers. For other public service schemes, including those for local government, the police and the fire service, the issue will be considered by the relevant Government Departments, in consultation with the public authorities concerned.

  In informing the House of the error in the index on 11 December, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment made clear that the Exchequer should not benefit from its effects on social security expenditure. On the same basis, we do not intend that the Exchequer should benefit from the effects of the error on the public service pensions the Government administer—a sum of £5 million or more. Like the comparable sum arising on social security, this will be available for allocation to suitable charities, including those active in support of retired or needy members of the public services. Details of the arrangements will be announced later.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he will take to correct the entitlements of those who hold, and those who have disposed of, national savings and gilt-edged index-linked securities, owing to the miscalculation of the retail prices index.

  Mr. Lilley
  The prospectuses for index-linked gilts and national savings instruments state that the relevant index for calculating interest and redemption values is the general index of retail prices maintained and issued monthly by the Department of Employment and published in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes. In the case of an index-linked gilt the index figure applicable to any month is the figure issued seven months prior to the relevant month and relating to the month before that prior month. In the case of index linked national savings, the relevant figure is the index issued in the immediately preceding calendar month.

  The amounts paid to the holders of index-linked gilts and national savings instruments have been calculated strictly in accordance with this formulation. The question of retrospective adjustment does not therefore arise.

  Government Data Network
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the anticipated level of savings necessary to justify .proceeding with the construction of the Government data network.

  Mr. Brooke
  The network will proceed only if it represents value for money over the life of the project.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how Her Majesty's Customs and Excise will utilise the Government data network to obtain vehicle data.

  Mr. Brooke
  There is no intention for the police national computer (PNC) to use the proposed Government data network (GDN). If the current Customs and Excise departmental data network is replaced by the GDN, the interface between the PNC and the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer (CEDRIC) will be retained, to enable vehicle data to he transferred to selected CEDRIC terminals.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Wray
  to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his reply of 14 December,Official Report, column 374, how many people in Scotland were working, for each year since 1983, in (a) industrial cleaning, (b) computer services and (c) road haulage.

  Mr. Major
  I regret that the information is only available for 1984, from the census of employment. In September 1984 the number of employees in employment in Scotland in industrial and commercial cleaning services totalled 15,000, in computer services 2,800, and in road haulage 19,400.

  Business Expansion Scheme
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report, those companies that raised more than £500,000 under the business expansion scheme during its first year of operation and the amount raised in each case.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In 1983–84, 44 companies raised £500,000 or more under the business expansion scheme and the total amount raised was £51 million. I regret that I am unable to list those companies as details of the use of the scheme by individual companies are obtained by the Inland Revenue on a confidential basis.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cumulative amount of revenue lost to the Exchequer as a result of tax relief granted under the business expansion scheme to individuals investing in companies involved in (i) farming and (ii) property development, until their eligibility under the scheme was withdrawn by the Finance Acts 1984 and 1985.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The revenue cost of relief for individuals investing under the business expansion scheme in companies involved in (i) farming in 1983–84 was £10 million and in (ii) property development in 1983–84 and 1984–85 was £25 million. Each of these trades became eligible for relief again from 18 March 1986 but information on investments made after this date is not yet available.

  Government Revenue
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net contribution to Government revenue from(a) external financing limits, (b) tax, and (c) dividend income from (1) The Central Electricity Generating Board, The North of Scotland Hydro-Electricity Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board, (2) British Steel, (3) the water authorities, (4) British Gas and (5) British Telecom.

  Mr. Major
  Government revenue in 1986–87 from tax and dividends for the industries named was as follows:

  Tax

  Dividends

  (a)Electricity Supply Industry1(England and Wales)

  0

  0

  North of Scotland Hydro-Electricity Board

  0

  0

  South of Scotland Electricity Board

  0

  0

  Total Electricity

  0

  0

  (b)British Steel

  0

  0

  (c)The Water Authorities

  0

  0

  (d)British Gas2

  3913

  0

  (e)British Telecom2

  3494

  4252

  1 Separate figures for the Central Electricity Generating Board are not kept centrally.

  2 Both these industries are in the private sector. British Telecom was privatised in November 1984; British Gas in December 1986.

  3 Tax paid as in annual report and accounts. Gas includes gas levy.

  4 Dividends payable as in annual report and accounts.

  2. These figures do not include interest payments made by industries on loans from the Exchequer, or interest on the Exchequer's debenture stock in British Gas and preference shares in British Gas and preference shares in British Telecom.

  3. The following industries of those named in the question had negative external financing in 1986–87:

  £ million

  Electricity Supply Industry (England and Wales)

  -1,325

  North of Scotland Hydro-Electricity Board

  -12

  British Gas Corporation

  -684

  Negative external finance represents either a repayment of outstanding Government or market debt held by the industry, or an increase in their deposits with the public sector. All the other industries had positive external finance.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate(a) the capital gains tax and (b) the corporation tax yield in 1986–87 from (i) gains in quoted shares and (ii) gains in unquoted shares; and if he has any estimate of expected revenues in 1987–88.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  With regard to the first part of the question I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, South (Mr. Bright) on 8 December 1987 at columns 68–69. Revenues in 1987–88 from capital gains tax and corporation tax on capital gains realised by companies are estimated to be £1,300 million and £800 million respectively.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received seeking an alteration to the rules relating to mortgage interest tax relief; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My right hon. Friend continues to receive a number of representations on mortgage interest relief. The level of relief has to be fixed each year and will be considered in framing the Budget proposals.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, by range of income, estimates for 1987–88 of the number of tax units receiving mortgage interest tax relief, the average value per mortgagor and the total cost of the relief.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Provisional estimates are given in the table. These are based on projections to 1987–88 of information in the 1984–85 survey of personal incomes and the 1985 family expenditure survey. The estimates include mortgages formerly under the option mortgage scheme which are now subsumed within MIRAS.

  Tax Unit1 receiving mortgage interest relief by range of total income 1987–88.

  Range of total income £000

  Numbers receiving mortgage interest relief2(thousands)

  Average value of relief to mortgagor (£)

  Total cost of relief (£ million)

  Under 4

  650

  370

  240

  4 to 5

  100

  380

  40

  Fifty per cent, of average male earnings (£113·65 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent, of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent, of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent, of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent, of gross earnings

  1978–79

  Income tax

  7·91

  15·90

  17·0

  4·42

  8·89

  9·5

  0·00

  0·00

  0·0

  -1·88

  -3·78

  -4·1

  NIC

  3·02

  6·07

  6·5

  3·02

  6·07

  6·5

  3·02

  6·07

  6·5

  3·02

  6·07

  6·5

  Total

  10·93

  21·98

  23·6

  7·44

  14·96

  16·0

  3·02

  6·07

  6·5

  1·14

  2·29

  2·5

  1979–80

  Income tax

  8·95

  15·54

  16·4

  5·20

  9·03

  9·5

  0·00

  0·00

  0·0

  -2·80

  -4·86

  -51

  NIC

  3·55

  6·16

  6·5

  3·55

  6·16

  6·5

  3·55

  6·16

  6·5

  3·55

  6·16

  6·5

  Total

  12·50

  21·70

  22·9

  8·75

  15·19

  16·0

  3·55

  6·16

  6·5

  0·75

  1·30

  1·4

  1980–81

  Income tax

  11·78

  17·58

  17·9

  7·33

  10·94

  11·2

  0·00

  0·00

  0·0

  -1·21

  -1·81

  -1·8

  NIC

  4·43

  6·61

  6·7

  4·43

  6·61

  6·7

  4·43

  6·61

  6·7

  4·43

  6·61

  6·7

  Total

  16·21

  24·20

  24·7

  11·76

  17·55

  17·9

  4·43

  6·61

  6·7

  3·22

  4·81

  4·9

  1981–82

  Income tax

  13·95

  18·68

  19·1

  9·51

  12·73

  13·0

  1·58

  2·12

  2·2

  -0·35

  -0·47

  -0·5

  NIC

  5·65

  7·56

  7·7

  5·65

  7·56

  7·7

  5·65

  7·56

  7·7

  5·65

  7·56

  7·7

  Total

  19·60

  26·24

  26·9

  15·16

  20·30

  20·8

  7·23

  9·68

  9·9

  5·30

  7·10

  7·3

  1982–83

  Income tax

  14·58

  18·23

  18·5

  9·50

  11·88

  12·1

  0·48

  0·60

  0·6

  -1·44

  -1·80

  -1·8

  NIC

  6·89

  8·62

  8·8

  6·89

  8·62

  8·8

  6·89

  8·62

  8·8

  6·89

  8·62

  8·8

  Total

  21·47

  26·85

  27·3

  16·39

  20·49

  20·8

  7·37

  9·22

  9·4

  5·45

  6·81

  6·9

  1983–84

  Income tax

  15·35

  18·34

  18·0

  9·53

  11·38

  1·11

  0·00

  0·00

  0·0

  -2·65

  -3·17

  -3·1

  NIC

  7·70

  9·20

  9·0

  7·70

  9·20

  9·0

  7·70

  9·20

  9·0

  7·70

  9·20

  9·0

  Total

  23·05

  27·54

  27·0

  17·23

  20·58

  20·2

  7·70

  9·20

  9·0

  5·05

  6·03

  5·9

  1984–85

  850

  Range of total income £000

  Numbers receiving mortgage interest relief2 (thousands)

  Average value of relief to mortgagor (£)

  Total cost of relief (£ million)

  5 to 6

  140

  410

  50

  6 to 7

  210

  420

  80

  7 to 8

  270

  450

  120

  8 to 9

  370

  470

  170

  9 to 10

  480

  480

  230

  10 to 12

  1,150

  540

  600

  12 to 15

  1,600

  560

  890

  15 to 20

  1,900

  580

  1,100

  20 to 25

  730

  580

  410

  25 to 30

  330

  810

  270

  Over 30

  470

  1,170

  550

  Total

  8,400

  570

  4,750

  1 Single persons and married couples.

  2 Including about 500,000 non-taxpayers.

  Personal Incomes
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report figures on personal income, treating child benefit as negative income tax and using 1987–88 prices, but otherwise on the same basis as those provided to the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) in the Official Report, 27 March, columns 310–38.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 16 December 1987]: The information is given in the following tables.
  851

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  Income tax

  16·18

  18·40

  17·5

  9·55

  10·86

  10·3

  0·00

  0·00

  0·0

  -3·71

  -4·22

  -4·0

  NIC

  8·33

  9·47

  9·0

  8·33

  9·47

  9·0

  8·33

  9·47

  9·0

  8·33

  9·47

  9·0

  Total

  24·51

  27·87

  26·5

  17·88

  20·33

  19·3

  8·33

  9·47

  9·0

  4·62

  5·25

  5·0

  1985–86

  Income tax

  17·05

  18·31

  17·2

  9·84

  10·56

  9·9

  0·00

  0·00

  0·0

  -3·96

  -4·25

  -4·0

  NIC

  8·93

  9·59

  9·0

  8·93

  9·59

  9·0

  7·54

  8·10

  7·6

  8·93

  9·59

  9·0

  Total

  25·98

  27·89

  26·2

  18·77

  20·15

  18·9

  7·54

  8·10

  7·6

  4·97

  5·34

  5·0

  1986–87

  Income tax

  17·92

  18·64

  16·8

  10·56

  10·98

  9·9

  0·00

  0·00

  0·0

  -3·64

  -3·79

  -3·4

  NIC

  9·60

  9·98

  9·0

  9·60

  9·98

  9·0

  6·62

  6·88

  6·2

  9·60

  9·98

  9·0

  Total

  27·52

  28·62

  25·8

  20·16

  20·97

  18·9

  6·62

  6·88

  6·2

  5·96

  6·20

  5·6

  1987–88

  Income tax

  18·09

  18·09

  15·9

  10·98

  10·98

  9·7

  0·00

  0·00

  0·0

  -3·52

  -3·52

  -3·1

  NIC

  10·23

  10·23

  9·0

  10·23

  10·23

  9·0

  7·05

  7·05

  6·2

  10·23

  10·23

  9·0

  Total

  28·32

  28·32

  24·9

  21·21

  21·21

  18·7

  7·05

  7·05

  6·2

  6·71

  6·71

  5·9

  Seventy-Five per cent. of average male earnings (£170·48 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1978–79

  Income tax

  15·56

  31·29

  22·4

  12·07

  24·27

  17·3

  5·28

  10·62

  7·6

  5·66

  11·38

  8·1

  NIC

  4·52

  9·09

  6·5

  4·52

  9·09

  6·5

  4·52

  9·09

  6·5

  4·52

  9·09

  6·5

  VAT

  1·79

  3·60

  2·6

  1·66

  3·33

  2·4

  2·01

  4·04

  2·9

  1·81

  3·64

  2·6

  Other indirect

  6·19

  12·44

  8·9

  7·13

  14·33

  10·2

  8·20

  16·48

  11·8

  6·92

  13·92

  9·9

  Total of above

  28·05

  56·41

  40·3

  25·37

  51·02

  36·5

  20·01

  40·23

  28·7

  18·91

  38·03

  27·2

  Domestic rates

  2·38

  4·80

  3·4

  2·35

  4·72

  3·4

  2·89

  5·80

  4·1

  2·37

  4·77

  3·4

  Total

  30·44

  61·21

  43·7

  27·72

  55·75

  39·8

  22·89

  46·03

  32·9

  21·28

  42·79

  30·6

  1979–80

  Income tax

  17·15

  29·77

  20·9

  13·40

  23·26

  16·3

  6·17

  10·71

  7·5

  5·40

  9·37

  6·6

  NIC

  5·33

  9·25

  6·5

  5·33

  9·25

  6·5

  5·33

  9·25

  6·5

  5·33

  9·25

  6·5

  VAT

  3·33

  5·78

  4·1

  3·03

  5·26

  3·7

  3·62

  6·28

  4·4

  3·37

  5·86

  4·1

  Other indirect

  7·04

  12·23

  8·6

  8·02

  13·91

  9·8

  9·16

  15·91

  11·02

  7·87

  13·67

  9·6

  Total of above

  32·85

  57·03

  4·01

  29·78

  51·69

  36·3

  24·28

  42·15

  29·6

  21·98

  38·15

  26·8

  Domestic rates

  2·84

  4·92

  3·5

  2·79

  4·83

  3·4

  3·42

  5·94

  4·2

  2·81

  4·89

  3·4

  Total

  35·69

  61·95

  43·5

  32·56

  56·53

  39·7

  27·70

  48·10

  33·8

  24·79

  43·04

  30·2

  1980–81

  Income tax

  21·63

  32·29

  21·9

  17·19

  25·66

  17·4

  9·26

  13·82

  9·4

  8·65

  12·91

  8·8

  NIC

  6·65

  9·93

  6·7

  6·65

  9·93

  6·7

  6·65

  9·93

  6·7

  6·65

  9·93

  6·7

  VAT

  4·09

  6·10

  4·1

  3·77

  5·63

  3·8

  4·44

  6·63

  4·5

  4·10

  6·12

  4·2

  Other indirect

  8·26

  12·34

  8·4

  9·39

  14·01

  9·5

  10·66

  15·92

  10·8

  9·18

  13·70

  9·3

  Total of above

  40·63

  60·65

  41·2

  37·00

  55·22

  37·5

  31·02

  46·30

  31·5

  28·58

  42·66

  29·0

  Domestic rates

  3·71

  5·54

  3·8

  3·62

  5·40

  3·7

  4·37

  6·53

  4·4

  3·65

  5·45

  3·7

  Total

  44·34

  66·18

  45·0

  40·61

  60·62

  41·2

  35·39

  52·82

  35·9

  32·23

  48·11

  32·7

  1981–82

  Income tax

  24·89

  33·32

  22·7

  20·45

  27·38

  18·7

  12·52

  16·76

  11·4

  10·59

  14·18

  9·7

  NIC

  8·48

  11·35

  7·7

  8·48

  11·35

  7·7

  8·48

  11·35

  7·7

  8·48

  11·35

  7·7

  VAT

  4·53

  6·06

  4·1

  4·11

  5·51

  3·8

  4·80

  6·43

  4·4

  4·55

  6·09

  4·2

  Other indirect

  9·61

  12·87

  8·8

  10·89

  14·57

  9·9

  12·38

  16·58

  11·3

  10·80

  14·46

  9·9

  Total of above

  47·51

  63·61

  43·4

  43·93

  58·81

  40·1

  38·19

  51·13

  34·9

  34·41

  46·08

  31·5

  Domestic rates

  4·56

  6·10

  4·2

  4·45

  5·96

  4·1

  5·43

  7·27

  5·0

  4·50

  6·02

  4·1

  Total

  52·06

  69·71

  47·6

  48·38

  64·77

  44·2

  43·62

  58·39

  39·9

  38·91

  52·09

  35·6

  1982–83

  Income tax

  26·39

  33·00

  22·4

  21·31

  26·65

  18·1

  12·28

  15·35

  10·4

  10·37

  12·97

  8·8

  NIC

  10·33

  12·92

  8·8

  10·33

  12·92

  8·8

  10·33

  12·92

  8·8

  10·33

  12·92

  8·8

  VAT

  4·68

  5·86

  4·0

  4·25

  5·32

  3·6

  5·01

  6·27

  4·2

  4·74

  5·93

  4·0

  Other indirect

  10·01

  12·52

  8·5

  11·39

  14·24

  9·7

  13·04

  16·30

  11·0

  11·27

  14·10

  9·5

  Total of above

  51·42

  64·29

  43·6

  47·28

  59·12

  40·1

  40·66

  50·84

  34·4

  36·72

  45·91

  31·1

  Domestic rates

  4·98

  6·23

  4·2

  4·89

  6·12

  4·1

  6·01

  7·52

  5·1

  4·94

  6·18

  4·2

  Total

  56·40

  70·52

  47·8

  52·18

  65·24

  44·2

  46·67

  58·36

  39·5

  41·65

  52·08

  35·3

  852 853

  Seventy-five per cent. of average male earnings (£170·48 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1983–84

  Income tax

  28·18

  33·66

  22·0

  22·35

  26·70

  17·4

  12·05

  14·40

  9·4

  10·17

  12·15

  7·9

  NIC

  11·54

  13·79

  9·0

  11·54

  13·79

  9·0

  11·54

  13·79

  9·0

  11·54

  13·79

  9·0

  VAT

  5·20

  6·21

  4·1

  4·75

  5·67

  3·7

  5·63

  6·72

  4·4

  5·30

  6·34

  4·1

  Other indirect

  10·95

  13·09

  8·5

  12·45

  14·87

  9·7

  14·32

  17·11

  11·2

  12·31

  14·71

  9·6

  Total of above

  55·87

  66·74

  43·6

  51·09

  61·03

  39·8

  43·54

  52·01

  33·9

  39·32

  46·98

  30·7

  Domestic rates

  5·04

  6·03

  3·9

  4·96

  5·93

  3·9

  6·09

  7·28

  4·8

  5·02

  6·00

  3·9

  Total

  60·91

  72·77

  47·5

  56·05

  66·96

  43·7

  49·63

  59·29

  38·7

  44·35

  52·98

  34·6

  1984–85

  Income tax

  30·06

  34·18

  21·7

  23·42

  26·63

  16·9

  11·86

  13·49

  8·5

  10·16

  11·55

  7·3

  NIC

  12·49

  14·20

  9·0

  12·49

  14·20

  9·0

  12·49

  14·20

  9·0

  12·49

  14·20

  9·0

  VAT

  6·22

  7·07

  4·5

  5·88

  6·69

  4·2

  6·82

  7·76

  4·9

  6·23

  7·09

  4·5

  Other indirect

  11·61

  13·20

  8·4

  13·22

  15·04

  9·5

  15·25

  17·34

  11·0

  13·12

  14·93

  9·5

  Total of above

  60·38

  68·66

  43·5

  55·02

  62·57

  39·7

  46·42

  52·79

  33·5

  42·01

  47·77

  30·3

  Domestic rates

  5·34

  6·07

  3·8

  5·25

  5·97

  3·8

  6·43

  7·31

  4·6

  5·33

  6·06

  3·8

  Total

  65·72

  74·73

  47·4

  60·27

  68·54

  43·4

  52·85

  60·10

  38·1

  47·34

  53·83

  34·1

  1985–86

  Income tax

  31·94

  34·29

  21·5

  24·73

  26·55

  16·6

  12·01

  12·89

  8·1

  10·93

  11·73

  7·3

  NIC

  13·40

  14·39

  9·0

  13·40

  14·39

  9·0

  11·91

  12·79

  8·0

  13·40

  14·39

  9·0

  VAT

  6·90

  7·41

  4·6

  6·51

  6·99

  4·4

  7·70

  8·26

  5·2

  6·82

  7·32

  4·6

  Other indirect

  12·24

  13·14

  8·2

  13·94

  14·96

  9·4

  16·28

  17·48

  10·9

  13·79

  14·80

  9·3

  Total of above

  64·47

  69·22

  43·3

  58·58

  62·89

  39·3

  47·90

  51·42

  32·2

  44·94

  48·25

  30·2

  Domestic rates

  5·73

  6·16

  3·9

  5·65

  6·07

  3·8

  6·97

  7·48

  4·7

  5·71

  6·13

  3·8

  Total

  70·21

  75·38

  47·2

  64·23

  68·96

  43·1

  54·87

  58·91

  36·9

  50·65

  54·38

  34·0

  1986–87

  Income tax

  33·39

  34·73

  20·9

  26·03

  27·07

  16·3

  13·01

  13·53

  8·1

  11·83

  12·30

  7·4

  NIC

  14·40

  14·98

  9·0

  14·40

  14·98

  9·0

  13·12

  13·65

  8·2

  14·40

  14·98

  9·0

  VAT

  7·44

  7·74

  4·7

  6·98

  7·26

  4·4

  8·17

  8·49

  5·1

  7·25

  7·54

  4·5

  Other indirect

  13·25

  13·78

  8·3

  14·98

  15·58

  9·4

  17·52

  18·22

  10·9

  14·91

  15·51

  9·3

  Total of above

  68·48

  71·23

  42·8

  62·40

  64·90

  39·0

  51·82

  53·89

  32·4

  48·39

  50·32

  30·2

  Domestic rates

  6·44

  6·70

  4·0

  6·34

  6·59

  4·0

  7·81

  8·12

  4·9

  6·37

  6·63

  4·0

  Total

  74·93

  77·93

  46·8

  68·74

  71·49

  42·9

  59·63

  62·01

  37·3

  54·76

  56·95

  34·2

  1987–88

  Income tax

  33·44

  33·44

  19·6

  26·32

  26·32

  15·4

  13·73

  13·73

  8·1

  11·82

  11·82

  6·9

  NIC

  15·34

  15·34

  9·0

  15·34

  15·34

  90

  13·98

  13·98

  8·2

  15·34

  15·34

  9·0

  VAT

  8·16

  8·16

  4·8

  7·60

  7·60

  4·5

  8·76

  8·76

  5·1

  7·82

  7·82

  4·6

  Other indirect

  13·90

  13·90

  8·2

  15·58

  15·58

  9·1

  18·12

  18·12

  10·6

  15·46

  15·46

  9·1

  Total of above

  70·84

  70·84

  41·6

  64·84

  64·84

  38·0

  54·58

  54·58

  32·0

  50·43

  50·43

  29·6

  Domestic rates

  7·04

  7·04

  4·1

  6·89

  6·89

  4·0

  8·46

  8·46

  5·0

  6·90

  6·90

  4·0

  Total

  77·88

  77·88

  45·7

  71·73

  71·73

  42·1

  63·04

  63·04

  37·0

  57·33

  57·33

  33·6

  Hundred per cent. of average male earnings (£227·30 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1978–79

  Income tax

  23·22

  46·69

  25·0

  19·73

  39·67

  21·3

  12·32

  24·77

  13·3

  13·32

  26·78

  14·4

  NIC

  6·03

  12·12

  6·5

  6·03

  12·12

  6·5

  6·03

  12·12

  6·5

  6·03

  12·12

  6·5

  VAT

  2·46

  4·95

  2·7

  2·37

  4·76

  2·6

  2·78

  55·8

  3·0

  2·43

  4·88

  2·6

  Other indirect

  7·54

  15·15

  8·1

  8·48

  17·05

  9·1

  9·49

  19·09

  10·2

  7·91

  15·90

  8·5

  Total of above

  39·25

  78·91

  42·3

  36·61

  73·61

  39·5

  30·62

  61·56

  33·0

  29·68

  59·69

  32·0

  Domestic rates

  2·87

  5·78

  3·1

  2·70

  5·44

  2·9

  3·08

  6·19

  3·3

  2·79

  5·61

  3·0

  Total

  42·12

  84·69

  45·4

  39·32

  79·05

  42·4

  33·70

  67·75

  36·3

  32·47

  65·30

  35·0

  1979–80

  Income tax

  25·35

  44·01

  23·2

  21·60

  37·50

  19·8

  14·16

  24·58

  13·0

  13·60

  23·61

  12·4

  NIC

  7·10

  12·33

  6·5

  7·10

  12·33

  6·5

  7·10

  12·33

  6·5

  7·10

  12·33

  6·5

  VAT

  4·60

  7·98

  4·2

  4·36

  7·58

  4·0

  5·01

  8·70

  4·6

  4·53

  7·86

  4·1

  Other indirect

  8·67

  15·06

  7·9

  9·65

  16·75

  8·8

  10·69

  18·56

  9·8

  9·13

  15·85

  8·4

  Total of above

  45·72

  79·37

  41·8

  42·71

  74·15

  39·1

  36·96

  64·16

  33·8

  34·36

  59·65

  31·4

  Domestic rates

  3·43

  5·96

  3·1

  3·22

  5·59

  2·9

  3·65

  6·33

  3·3

  3·33

  5·77

  3·0

  Total

  49·15

  85·33

  4·50

  45·93

  79·74

  4·20

  40·61

  70·50

  37·2

  37·68

  65·42

  34·5

  854 855

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1980–81

  Income tax

  31·49

  47·00

  24·0

  27·05

  40·38

  20·6

  19·11

  28·52

  14·5

  18·51

  27·63

  14·1

  NIC

  8·87

  13·24

  6·8

  8·87

  13·24

  6·8

  8·87

  13·24

  6·8

  8·87

  13·24

  6·8

  VAT

  5·65

  8·43

  4·3

  5·41

  8·07

  4·1

  6·13

  9·15

  4·7

  5·52

  8·23

  4·2

  Other indirect

  10·21

  15·24

  7·8

  11·33

  16·92

  8·6

  12·44

  18·57

  9·5

  10·70

  15·97

  8·1

  Total of above

  56·22

  83·91

  42·8

  52·66

  78·60

  40·1

  46·55

  69·49

  35·4

  43·59

  65·07

  33·2

  Domestic rates

  4·51

  6·73

  3·4

  4·20

  6·27

  3·2

  4·67

  6·98

  3·6

  4·34

  6·48

  3·3

  Total

  60·73

  90·64

  46·2

  56·86

  84·87

  43·3

  51·23

  76·46

  39·0

  47·93

  71·55

  36·5

  1981–82

  Income tax

  35·84

  47·98

  24·6

  31·39

  42·03

  21·5

  23·46

  31·41

  16·1

  21·53

  28·83

  14·8

  NIC

  11·31

  15·14

  7·8

  11·31

  15·14

  7·8

  11·31

  15·14

  7·8

  11·31

  15·14

  7·8

  VAT

  6·29

  8·42

  4·3

  5·96

  7·98

  4·1

  6·71

  8·98

  4·6

  6·14

  8·23

  4·2

  Other indirect

  11·87

  15·89

  8·1

  13·15

  17·61

  9·0

  14·44

  19·33

  9·9

  12·54

  16·79

  8·6

  Total of above

  65·31

  87·44

  44·8

  61·81

  82·76

  42·4

  55·92

  74·86

  38·3

  51·53

  68·98

  35·3

  Domestic rates

  5·54

  7·42

  3·8

  5·17

  6·92

  3·5

  5·80

  7·76

  4·0

  5·34

  7·15

  3·7

  Total

  70·85

  94·86

  48·6

  66·98

  89·67

  45·9

  61·71

  82·63

  42·3

  56·87

  76·13

  39·0

  1982–83

  Income tax

  38·19

  47·75

  24·3

  33·11

  41·40

  21·0

  24·09

  30·12

  15·3

  22·17

  27·72

  14·1

  NIC

  13·77

  17·22

  8·7

  13·77

  17·22

  8·7

  13·77

  17·22

  8·7

  13·77

  17·22

  8·7

  VAT

  6·50

  8·13

  4·1

  6·16

  7·71

  3·9

  6·98

  8·73

  4·4

  6·40

  8· 00

  4·1

  Other indirect

  12·38

  15·48

  7·9

  13·76

  17·18

  8·7

  15·16

  18·95

  9·6

  13·09

  16·36

  8·3

  Total of above

  70·84

  88·58

  45·0

  66·78

  83·50

  42·4

  60·00

  75·02

  38·1

  55·42

  69·30

  35·2

  Domestic rates

  6·05

  7·56

  3·8

  5·67

  7·09

  3·6

  6·41

  8·02

  4·1

  5·85

  7·32

  3·7

  Total

  76·89

  96·14

  48·8

  72·45

  90·59

  46·0

  66·41

  83·04

  42·2

  61·27

  76·62

  38·9

  One hundred per cent. of average male earnings (£227·30 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1983–84

  Income tax

  41·00

  48·98

  24·0

  35·18

  42·03

  20·6

  24·88

  29·72

  14·5

  23·00

  27·48

  13·5

  NIC

  15·39

  18·39

  9·0

  15·39

  18·39

  9·0

  15·39

  18·39

  9·0

  15·39

  18·39

  9·0

  VAT

  7·20

  8·60

  4·2

  6·85

  8·19

  4·0

  7·80

  9·32

  4·6

  7·12

  8·51

  4·2

  Other indirect

  13·55

  16·19

  7·9

  15·02

  17·94

  8·8

  16·65

  19·90

  9·7

  14·30

  17·08

  8·4

  Total of above

  77·14

  92·16

  45·1

  72·44

  86·54

  42·4

  64·72

  77·32

  37·9

  59·81

  71·46

  3·50

  Domestic rates

  6·12

  7· 31

  3·6

  5·74

  6·86

  3·4

  6·49

  7·76

  3·8

  5·94

  7·10

  3·5

  Total

  83·26

  99·47

  48·7

  78·18

  93·40

  45·7

  71·22

  85·08

  41· 6

  65·76

  78·55

  38·5

  1984–85

  Income tax

  43·93

  49·96

  23·7

  37·30

  42·42

  20·2

  25·73

  29·26

  13· 9

  24·04

  27·34

  13·0

  NIC

  16·65

  18·93

  9·0

  16·65

  18·93

  9·0

  16·65

  18·93

  9·0

  16·65

  18·93

  9·0

  VAT

  8·29

  9·43

  4·5

  8·14

  9·26

  4·4

  9·27

  10·55

  5·0

  8·79

  10·00

  4·8

  Other indirect

  14·32

  16·29

  7·7

  15·93

  18·12

  8·6

  17·68

  20·10

  9·6

  15·18

  17·26

  8·2

  Total of above

  83·20

  94·61

  45·0

  78·03

  88·73

  42·2

  69·33

  78·84

  37·5

  64·66

  73·53

  35·0

  Domestic rates

  6·48

  7·37

  3·5

  6·08

  6·91

  3·3

  6·85

  7·79

  3·7

  6·30

  7·17

  3·4

  Total

  89·67

  101·97

  48·5

  84·10

  95·64

  45·5

  76·18

  86·63

  41·2

  70·97

  80·70

  38·4

  1985–86

  Income tax

  46·83

  50·28

  23·6

  39·62

  42·54

  20·0

  26·90

  28·88

  13·6

  25·82

  27·72

  13·0

  NIC

  17·87

  19·19

  9·0

  17·87

  19·19

  9·0

  17·07

  18·33

  8·6

  17·87

  19·19

  9·0

  VAT

  9·20

  9·87

  4·6

  9·01

  9·67

  4·5

  10·35

  11·11

  5·2

  9·65

  10·37

  4·9

  Other indirect

  15·10

  16·21

  7·6

  16·79

  18·03

  8·5

  18·77

  20·15

  9·5

  15·96

  17·13

  8·0

  Total of above

  89·00

  95·55

  44·8

  83·29

  89·42

  42·0

  73·09

  78·47

  36·8

  69·30

  74·40

  34·9

  Domestic rates

  6·94

  7·46

  3·5

  6·53

  7·01

  3·3

  7·41

  7·96

  3·7

  6·74

  7·24

  3·4

  Total

  95·94

  103·01

  48·3

  89·82

  96·44

  45·3

  80·50

  86·43

  40·6

  76·05

  81·64

  38·3

  1986–87

  Income tax

  48·86

  50·82

  22·9

  41·50

  43·16

  19·4

  28·48

  29·62

  13·3

  27·30

  28·39

  12·8

  NIC

  19·21

  19·98

  9·0

  19·21

  19·98

  9·0

  17·50

  18·20

  8·2

  19·21

  19·98

  9·0

  VAT

  9·94

  10·34

  4·7

  9·71

  10·09

  4·5

  11·16

  11·60

  5·2

  10·33

  10·74

  4·8

  Other indirect

  16·41

  17·07

  7·7

  18·14

  18·87

  8·5

  20·38

  21·19

  9·5

  17·36

  18·05

  8·1

  Total of above

  94·42

  98·20

  44·2

  88·56

  92·10

  41·5

  77·51

  80·61

  36·3

  74·20

  77·17

  34·8

  Domestic rates

  7·81

  8·13

  3·7

  7·33

  7·63

  3·4

  8·32

  8·66

  3·9

  7·54

  7·85

  3·5

  Total

  102·24

  106·33

  47·9

  95·89

  99·73

  44·9

  85·84

  89·27

  40·2

  81·74

  85·01

  38·3

  1987–88

  Income tax

  48·78

  48·78

  21·5

  41·67

  41·67

  18·3

  29·07

  29·07

  12·8

  27·17

  27·17

  12·0

  856 857

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  NIC

  20·46

  20·46

  9·0

  20·46

  20·46

  9·0

  18·64

  18·64

  8·2

  20·46

  20·46

  9·0

  VAT

  10·94

  10·94

  4·8

  10·62

  10·62

  4·7

  12·08

  12·08

  5·3

  11·24

  11·24

  4·9

  Other indirect

  17·31

  17·31

  7·6

  18·97

  18·97

  8·3

  21·20

  21·20

  9·3

  18·13

  18·13

  8·0

  Total of above

  97·48

  97·48

  42·9

  91·72

  91·72

  40·4

  80·99

  80·99

  35·6

  77·00

  77·00

  33·9

  Domestic rates

  8·56

  8·56

  3·8

  7·99

  7·99

  3·5

  9·03

  9·03

  4·0

  8·20

  8·20

  3·6

  Total

  106·04

  106·04

  46·7

  99·72

  99·72

  43·9

  90·02

  90·02

  39·6

  85·20

  85·20

  37·5

  One hundred and fifty per cent. of average male earnings (£340·95 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1978–79

  Income Tax

  38·53

  77·47

  27·7

  35·04

  70·46

  25·2

  27·64

  55·58

  19·9

  29·63

  57·57

  20·6

  NIC

  7·80

  15·68

  5·6

  7·80

  15·68

  5·6

  9·05

  18·20

  6·5

  7·80

  15·68

  5·6

  VAT

  3·87

  7·77

  2·8

  3·86

  7·75

  2·8

  4·24

  8·53

  3·0

  3·72

  7·47

  2·7

  Other indirect

  10·36

  20·82

  7·4

  11·31

  22·75

  8·1

  11·97

  24·07

  8·6

  9·97

  20·04

  7·2

  Total of above

  60·55

  121·75

  43·5

  58·01

  116·64

  41·7

  52·90

  106·38

  38·0

  50·11

  100·76

  36·0

  Domestic rates

  3·90

  7·83

  2·8

  3·45

  6·93

  2·5

  3·44

  6·92

  2·5

  3·66

  7·37

  2·6

  Total

  64·45

  129·58

  46·3

  61·45

  123·57

  44·1

  56·35

  113·30

  40·5

  53·78

  108·13

  38·6

  1979–80

  Income Tax

  41·74

  72·46

  25·5

  37·99

  65·95

  23·2

  30·55

  53·04

  18· 6

  29·99

  52·06

  18·3

  NIC

  8·78

  15·24

  5·4

  8·78

  15·24

  5·4

  10·66

  18·51

  6·5

  8·78

  15·24

  5·4

  VAT

  7·27

  12·63

  4·4

  7·17

  12·46

  4·4

  7·76

  13·47

  4·7

  6·96

  12·08

  4·2

  Other indirect

  12·11

  21·02

  7·4

  13·10

  22·74

  8· 0

  13·70

  23·79

  8·4

  11·78

  20·45

  7·2

  Total of above

  69·90

  121·35

  42·6

  67·04

  116·39

  40·9

  62·67

  108·80

  38·2

  57·51

  99·84

  35·1

  Domestic rates

  4·70

  8·15

  2·9

  4·13

  7·18

  2·5

  4·09

  7·11

  2·5

  4·41

  7·65

  2·7

  Total

  74·60

  129·51

  45·5

  71·18

  123·56

  43·4

  66·77

  115·91

  40·7

  61·91

  107·49

  37·8

  1980–81

  Income tax

  51·20

  76·42

  26·0

  46·76

  69·80

  23·7

  38·82

  57·94

  19·7

  38·22

  57·05

  19·4

  NIC

  11·14

  16·63

  5·7

  11·14

  16·63

  5·7

  13·30

  19·85

  6·7

  11·14

  16·63

  5·7

  VAT

  8·93

  13·33

  4·5

  8·85

  13·22

  4·5

  9·51

  14·20

  4·8

  8·50

  12·68

  4·3

  Other indirect

  14·31

  21·36

  7·3

  15·43

  23·04

  7·8

  16·00

  23·88

  8·1

  13·89

  20·73

  7·0

  Total of above

  85·58

  127·74

  43·4

  82·19

  122·67

  41·7

  77·63

  115·87

  39·4

  71·74

  107·09

  36·4

  Domestic rates

  6·20

  9·25

  3·1

  5·42

  8·10

  2·8

  5·27

  7·87

  2·7

  5·79

  8·64

  2·9

  Total

  91·78

  136·99

  46·6

  87·61

  130·77

  44·5

  82·90

  123·74

  42·1

  77·53

  115·73

  39·3

  1981–82

  Income tax

  57·72

  77·28

  26·4

  53·28

  71·33

  24·3

  45·35

  60·72

  20·7

  43·42

  58·13

  19·8

  NIC

  15·50

  20·75

  7·1

  15·50

  20·75

  7·1

  16·96

  22·71

  7·7

  15·50

  20·75

  7·1

  VAT

  9·92

  13·28

  4·5

  9·78

  13· 09

  4·5

  10·52

  14·09

  4·8

  9·44

  12·64

  4·3

  Other indirect

  16·54

  22·14

  7·6

  17·83

  23·87

  8·1

  18·55

  24·83

  8·5

  16·14

  21·61

  7·4

  Total of above

  99·68

  133·45

  45·5

  96·38

  129·04

  44·0

  91·38

  122·34

  41·8

  84·50

  113·13

  38·6

  Domestic rates

  7·58

  10·15

  3·5

  6·65

  8·90

  3·0

  6·53

  8·75

  3·0

  7·09

  9·49

  3·2

  Total

  107·26

  143·61

  49·0

  103·03

  137·94

  47·1

  97·91

  131·09

  44·7

  91·59

  122·62

  41·8

  1982–83

  Income tax

  61·80

  77·27

  26·2

  56·72

  70·92

  24·0

  47·70

  59·64

  20·2

  45·78

  57·24

  19·4

  NIC

  19·25

  24·07

  8·2

  19·25

  24·07

  8·2

  20·66

  25·83

  8·8

  19·25

  24·07

  8·2

  VAT

  10·25

  12·82

  4·3

  10·10

  12·63

  4·3

  10·92

  13·66

  4·6

  9·80

  12·25

  4·1

  Other indirect

  17·24

  21·56

  7·3

  18·56

  23·21

  7·9

  19·40

  24·25

  8·2

  16·82

  21·03

  7·1

  Total of above

  108·54

  135·72

  46·0

  104·63

  130·83

  44·3

  98·68

  123·39

  41·8

  91·65

  114·59

  38·8

  Domestic rates

  8·24

  10·30

  3·5

  7·26

  9·08

  3·1

  7·20

  9·01

  3·1

  7·73

  9·66

  3·3

  Total

  116·78

  146·02

  49·5

  111·89

  139· 90

  47·4

  105·88

  132·40

  44·8

  99·37

  124·26

  42·1

  One hundred and fifty per cent. of average male earnings (£340·95 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1983–84

  Income Tax

  66·65

  79·62

  26·0

  60·83

  72·67

  23·7

  50·53

  60·36

  19·7

  48·65

  58·12

  19·0

  NIC

  21·15

  25·27

  8·2

  21·15

  25·27

  8·2

  23·09

  27·58

  9·0

  21·15

  25·27

  8·2

  VAT

  11·36

  13·57

  4·4

  11·22

  13·40

  4·4

  12·14

  14·61

  4·7

  10·90

  13·02

  4·2

  Other indirect

  18·95

  22·63

  7·4

  20·34

  24·30

  7·9

  21·33

  25·48

  8·3

  18·43

  22·01

  7·2

  858 859

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  Total of above

  118·10

  141·09

  46·0

  113·54

  135·64

  44·3

  107·09

  127·93

  41·8

  99·13

  118·42

  38·6

  Domestic rates

  8·34

  9·97

  3·3

  7·36

  8·79

  2·9

  7·29

  8·71

  2·8

  7·85

  9·38

  3·1

  Total

  126·45

  151·06

  49·3

  120·90

  144·43

  47·1

  114·38

  136·65

  44·6

  106·98

  124·80

  41·7

  1984–85

  Income Tax

  71·68

  81·51

  25·8

  65·05

  73·97

  23·4

  53·48

  60·82

  19 ·3

  51·79

  58·89

  18·7

  NIC

  22·50

  25·59

  8·1

  22·50

  25·59

  8·1

  24·98

  28·41

  9·0

  22·50

  25·59

  8·1

  VAT

  12·63

  14·36

  4·5

  12·86

  14·62

  4·6

  14·17

  16·12

  6·1

  14·13

  16·07

  5·1

  Other indirect

  19·99

  22·73

  7·2

  21·59

  24·55

  7·8

  22·53

  25·63

  8·1

  19·47

  22·14

  7·0

  Total of above

  125·79

  144·18

  45·7

  122·00

  138·73

  44·0

  115·17

  130·97

  41·5

  107·89

  122·69

  38·9

  Domestic rates

  8·35

  10·06

  3·2

  7·80

  8·87

  2·8

  7·70

  8·75

  2·8

  8·33

  9·48

  3·0

  Total

  135·64

  154·24

  48·9

  129·80

  147·60

  46·8

  122·86

  139·72

  44·3

  116·23

  132·17

  41·9

  1985–86

  Income Tax

  76·60

  82·24

  25·7

  69·39

  74·50

  23·3

  56·67

  60·84

  19·0

  55·59

  59·68

  18·7

  NIC

  23·85

  25·61

  8·0

  23·85

  25·61

  8·0

  26·80

  28·77

  9·0

  23·85

  25·61

  8·0

  VAT

  14·02

  15·05

  4·7

  14·26

  15·31

  4·8

  15·71

  16·87

  5·3

  15·60

  16·75

  5·2

  Other indirect

  21·11

  22·67

  7·1

  22·78

  24·45

  7·6

  23·80

  25·55

  8·0

  20·51

  22·02

  6·9

  Total of above

  135·58

  145·56

  45·5

  130·28

  139·87

  43·8

  122·98

  132·04

  41·3

  115·55

  124·05

  38·8

  Domestic rates

  9·48

  10·18

  3·2

  8·38

  8·99

  2·8

  8·30

  8·91

  2·8

  8·92

  9·58

  3·0

  Total

  145·06

  155·74

  48·7

  138·65

  148·86

  46·6

  131·28

  140·95

  44·1

  124·47

  133·62

  41·8

  1986–87

  Income Tax

  79·81

  83·00

  24·9

  72·45

  75·35

  22·6

  59·42

  61·80

  18·6

  58·25

  60·58

  18·2

  NIC

  25·65

  26·68

  8·0

  25·65

  26·68

  8·0

  28·81

  29·96

  9·0

  25·65

  26·68

  8·0

  VAT

  15·18

  15·79

  4·7

  15·41

  16·02

  4·8

  16·91

  17·59

  5·3

  16·79

  17·46

  5·2

  Other indirect

  23·03

  23·96

  7·2

  24·76

  25·75

  7·7

  25·86

  26·90

  8·1

  22·49

  23·39

  7·0

  Total of above

  143·68

  149·43

  44·9

  138·26

  143·80

  43·2

  131·00

  136·24

  40·9

  123·18

  128·11

  38·5

  Domestic rates

  10·68

  11·11

  3·3

  9·42

  9·80

  2·9

  9·32

  9·69

  2·9

  10·00

  10·40

  3·1

  Total

  154·36

  160·54

  48·2

  147·68

  153·59

  46·1

  140·32

  145·94

  43·8

  133·18

  138·51

  41·6

  1987–88

  Income Tax

  79·47

  79·47

  23·3

  72·35

  72·35

  21·2

  59·76

  59·76

  17·5

  57·85

  57·85

  17·0

  NIC

  26·55

  26·55

  7·8

  26·55

  26·55

  7·8

  30·69

  30·69

  9·0

  26·55

  26·55

  7·8

  VAT

  16·81

  16·81

  4·9

  17·01

  17·01

  5·0

  18·47

  18·47

  5·4

  18·48

  18·48

  5·4

  Other indirect

  24·51

  24·51

  7·2

  26·15

  26·15

  7·7

  27·13

  27·13

  8·0

  23·78

  23·78

  7·0

  Total of above

  147·33

  147·33

  43·2

  142·07

  142·07

  41·7

  136·05

  136·05

  39·9

  126·65

  126·65

  37·1

  Domestic rates

  11·77

  11·77

  3·5

  10·33

  10·33

  3·0

  10·14

  10·14

  3·0

  10·95

  10·95

  3·2

  Total

  159·11

  159·11

  46·7

  152·39

  152·39

  44·7

  146·19

  146·19

  42·9

  137·61

  137·61

  40·4

  Two hundred per cent. of average male earnings (£454·60 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1978–79

  Income tax

  54·74

  110·07

  29·5

  50·51

  101·07

  27·2

  42·95

  86·36

  23·1

  43·94

  88·35

  23·7

  NIC

  7·80

  15·68

  4·2

  7·80

  15·68

  4·2

  12·06

  24·25

  6·5

  7·80

  15·68

  4·2

  Total

  62·54

  125·75

  33·7

  58·31

  117·24

  31·4

  55·01

  110·61

  29·6

  51·74

  104·03

  27·9

  1979–80

  Income tax

  58·53

  101·61

  26·8

  54·39

  94·42

  24·9

  46·95

  81·51

  21·5

  46·39

  80·53

  21·2

  NIC

  8·78

  15·24

  4·0

  8·78

  15·24

  4·0

  14·21

  24·67

  6·5

  8·78

  15·24

  4·0

  Total

  67·31

  116·85

  30·8

  63·17

  109·67

  28·9

  61·16

  106·18

  28·0

  55·17

  95·78

  25·2

  1980–81

  Income tax

  72·91

  108·83

  27·7

  66·99

  99·99

  25·5

  58·53

  87·36

  22·3

  58·45

  87·24

  22·2

  NIC

  11·14

  16·63

  4·2

  11·14

  16·63

  4·2

  17·74

  26·48

  6·8

  11·14

  16·63

  4·2

  Total

  84·05

  125·46

  32·0

  78·13

  116·62

  29·7

  76·27

  113·84

  29·0

  69·59

  103·87

  26·5

  1981–82

  Income tax

  85·04

  113·85

  29·1

  78·59

  105·22

  26·9

  68·01

  91·05

  23·3

  68·73

  92·02

  23·6

  NIC

  15·50

  20·75

  5·3

  15·50

  20·75

  5·3

  22·61

  30·27

  7·7

  15·50

  20·75

  5·3

  Total

  100·54

  134·61

  34·5

  94·09

  125·97

  32·2

  90·62

  121·33

  31·1

  84·23

  112·77

  28·9

  1982–83

  Income tax

  89·27

  111·62

  28·4

  82·50

  103·16

  26·2

  71·31

  89·16

  22·7

  71·56

  89·48

  22·7

  NIC

  19·25

  24·07

  6·1

  19·25

  24·07

  6·1

  27·54

  34·44

  8·7

  19·25

  24·07

  6·1

  Total

  108·52

  135·69

  34·5

  101·75

  127·23

  32·3

  98·85

  123·60

  31·4

  90·81

  113·55

  28·8

  860 861

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1983–84

  Income tax

  94·99

  113·48

  27·8

  87·22

  104·20

  25·5

  76·18

  91·01

  22·3

  75·04

  89·65

  21·9

  NIC

  21·15

  25·27

  6·2

  21·15

  25·27

  6·2

  30·78

  36·77

  9·0

  21·15

  25·27

  6·2

  Total

  116·14

  138·75

  34·0

  108·37

  129·46

  31·7

  106·96

  127·78

  31·3

  96·19

  114·91

  28·1

  1984–85

  Income tax

  102·96

  117·08

  27·8

  94·12

  107·03

  25·4

  81·23

  92·37

  22·0

  80·86

  91·95

  21·9

  NIC

  22·50

  25·59

  6·1

  22·50

  25·59

  6·1

  33·30

  37·87

  9·0

  22·50

  25·59

  6·1

  Total

  125·46

  142·67

  33·9

  116·62

  132·62

  31·5

  114·53

  130·24

  31·0

  103·36

  117·54

  27·9

  1985–86

  Income tax

  110 ·68

  118·83

  27·9

  101·07

  108·51

  25·5

  86·45

  92·81

  21·8

  87·27

  93·70

  22·0

  NIC

  23·85

  25·61

  6·0

  23·85

  25·61

  6·0

  35·73

  38·36

  9·0

  23·85

  25·61

  6·0

  Total

  134·53

  144·43

  33·9

  124·92

  134·12

  31·5

  122·18

  131·18

  30·8

  111·12

  119·30

  28 ·0

  1986–87

  Income tax

  116·37

  121·03

  27·3

  106·22

  110·47

  24·9

  90·37

  93·99

  21·2

  92·02

  95·70

  21·6

  NIC

  25·65

  26·68

  6·0

  25·65

  26·68

  6·0

  38·41

  39·95

  9·0

  25·65

  26·68

  6·0

  Total

  142·02

  147·70

  33·3

  131·87

  137·15

  30·9

  128·78

  133·93

  30·2

  117·67

  122·38

  27·6

  1987–88

  Income tax

  119·22

  119·22

  26·2

  107·90

  107·90

  23·7

  90·45

  90·45

  19·9

  93·40

  93·40

  20·5

  NIC

  26·55

  26·55

  5·8

  26·55

  26·55

  5·8

  40·91

  40·91

  9·0

  26·55

  26·55

  5·8

  Total

  145·77

  145·77

  32·1

  134·45

  134·45

  29·6

  131·36

  131·36

  28·9

  119·95

  119·95

  26·4

  Three hundred per cent. of average male earnings (£681·90 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1978–79

  Income tax

  102·89

  206·88

  37·0

  96·54

  194·11

  34·7

  77·06

  154·95

  27·7

  89·09

  179·13

  32·0

  NIC

  7·80

  15·68

  2·8

  7·80

  15·68

  2·8

  15·04

  30·24

  5·4

  7·80

  15·68

  2·8

  Total

  110·69

  222·57

  39·8

  104·34

  209·80

  37·5

  92·10

  185·19

  33·1

  96·89

  194·82

  34·8

  1979–80

  Income tax

  106·83

  185·46

  32·6

  100·58

  174·61

  30·7

  83·49

  144·94

  25·5

  92·58

  160·72

  28·2

  NIC

  8·78

  15·24

  2·7

  8·78

  15·24

  2·7

  17·30

  30·03

  5·3

  8·78

  15·24

  2·7

  Total

  115·61

  200·70

  35·3

  109·36

  189·85

  33·4

  100·79

  174·98

  30·7

  101·36

  175·96

  30·9

  1980–81

  Income tax

  133·40

  199·12

  33·8

  125·99

  188·06

  32·0

  102·39

  152·83

  26·0

  117·45

  175·31

  29·8

  NIC

  11·14

  16·63

  2·8

  11·14

  16·63

  2·8

  21·78

  32·51

  5·5

  11·14

  16·63

  2·8

  Total

  144·54

  215·75

  36·7

  137·13

  204·69

  34·8

  124·17

  185·34

  31·5

  128·59

  191·94

  32·6

  1981–82

  Income tax

  155·15

  207·72

  35·4

  147·74

  197·80

  33·8

  117·43

  157·22

  26·8

  137·88

  184·60

  31·5

  NIC

  15·50

  20·75

  3·5

  15·50

  20·75

  3·5

  29·07

  38·92

  6·6

  15·50

  20·75

  3·5

  Total

  170·65

  228·47

  39·0

  163·24

  218·55

  37·3

  146·50

  196·14

  33·5

  153·38

  205·35

  35·0

  1982–83

  Income tax

  163·55

  204·50

  34·6

  155·09

  193·92

  32·8

  124·31

  155·44

  26·3

  144·15

  180·24

  30·5

  NIC

  19·25

  24·07

  4 ·1

  19·25

  24·07

  4·1

  35·78

  44·74

  7·6

  19·25

  24·07

  4·1

  Total

  182·80

  228·57

  38·7

  174·34

  217·99

  36·9

  160·09

  200·17

  33·9

  163·40

  204·31

  34·6

  1983–84

  Income tax

  173·76

  207·58

  33·9

  164·05

  195·98

  32·0

  133·30

  159·25

  26·0

  151·87

  181·43

  29·6

  NIC

  21·15

  25·27

  4·1

  21·15

  25·27

  4·1

  39·62

  47·33

  7·7

  21·15

  25·27

  4·1

  Total

  194·91

  232·85

  38·0

  185·20

  221·25

  36·1

  172·92

  206·58

  33·7

  173·02

  206·70

  33·7

  1984–85

  Income tax

  188·89

  214·80

  34·0

  177·84

  202·23

  32·0

  143·37

  163· 04

  25·8

  164·58

  187·15

  29·7

  NIC

  22·50

  25·59

  4·1

  22·50

  25·59

  4·1

  42·48

  48·31

  7·7

  22·50

  25·59

  4·1

  Total

  211·39

  240·39

  38·1

  200·34

  227·82

  36 ·1

  185·85

  211·34

  33·5

  187·08

  212·74

  33·7

  1985–86

  Income tax

  203·47

  218·45

  34·2

  191·45

  205·55

  32·1

  153·54

  164·84

  25·8

  177·65

  190·73

  29·8

  NIC

  23·85

  25·61

  4·0

  23·85

  25·61

  4·0

  45·29

  48·62

  7·6

  23·85

  25·61

  4·0

  Total

  227·32

  244·06

  38·2

  215·30

  231·15

  36·2

  198·83

  213·47

  33·4

  201·50

  216·33

  33·8

  862 863

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1986–87

  Income tax

  217·42

  226·12

  34·0

  204·73

  212·92

  32·0

  160·54

  166·96

  25·1

  190·53

  198·16

  29·8

  NIC

  25·65

  26·68

  4·0

  25·65

  26·68

  4·0

  48·70

  50·65

  7·6

  25·65

  26·68

  4·0

  Total

  243·07

  252·80

  38·0

  230·38

  239·60

  36·0

  209·24

  217·61

  32·7

  216·18

  224·83

  33·8

  1987–88

  Income tax

  228·84

  228·84

  33·6

  215·67

  215·67

  31·6

  161·31

  161·31

  23·7

  201·17

  201·17

  29·5

  NIC

  26·55

  26·55

  3·9

  26·55

  26·55

  3·9

  51·10

  51·10

  7·5

  26·55

  26·55

  3·9

  Total

  255·39

  255·39

  37·5

  242·22

  242·22

  35·5

  212·41

  212·41

  31·1

  227·72

  227 72

  33·4

  Five hundred per cent. of average male earnings (£113·56 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1978–79

  Income tax

  234·37

  471·25

  50·5

  226·44

  455·31

  48·8

  157·63

  316·95

  34·0

  218·41

  439·61

  47·1

  NIC

  7·80

  15·68

  1·7

  7·80

  15·68

  1·7

  15·60

  31·37

  3·4

  7·80

  15·68

  1·7

  Total

  242·17

  486·93

  52·2

  234·24

  470·99

  50·5

  173·23

  348·32

  37·3

  226·21

  454·84

  48·8

  1979–80

  Income tax

  225·28

  391·10

  41·2

  217·78

  378·07

  39·8

  165·36

  287·07

  30·3

  209·78

  364·19

  38·4

  NIC

  8·78

  15·24

  1·6

  8·78

  15·24

  1·6

  17·55

  30·47

  3·2

  8·78

  15·24

  1·6

  Total

  234·06

  406·34

  42·8

  226·56

  393·32

  41·5

  182·91

  317·54

  33·5

  218·56

  379·43

  40·0

  1980–81

  Income tax

  279·78

  417·61

  42·6

  270·89

  404·34

  41·2

  206·31

  307·95

  31·4

  262·35

  391·59

  39·9

  NIC

  11·14

  16·63

  1·7

  11·14

  16·63

  1·7

  22·28

  33·26

  3·4

  11·14

  16·63

  1·7

  Total

  290·92

  434·24

  44·3

  282·03

  420·97

  42·9

  228·59

  341·20

  34·8

  273·49

  408·22

  41·6

  1981–82

  Income tax

  323·28

  432·82

  44·3

  314·39

  420·92

  43·1

  240·18

  321·56

  32·9

  304·53

  407·72

  41·7

  NIC

  15·50

  20·75

  2·1

  15·50

  20·75

  2·1

  31·00

  41·50

  4·2

  15·50

  20·75

  2·1

  Total

  338·78

  453·57

  46·4

  329·89

  441·67

  45·2

  271·18

  363·07

  37·2

  320·03

  428·47

  43·9

  1982–83

  Income tax

  342·03

  427·67

  43·5

  331·87

  414·97

  42·2

  252·82

  316·12

  32·1

  320·93

  401·29

  40·8

  NIC

  19·25

  24·07

  2·4

  19·25

  24·07

  2·4

  38·50

  48·14

  4·9

  19·25

  24·07

  2·4

  Total

  261·28

  451·74

  45·9

  351·12

  439·04

  44·6

  291·32

  364·26

  37·0

  340·18

  425·36

  43·2

  1983–84

  Income tax

  364·42

  435·35

  42·6

  352·77

  421·43

  41·3

  268·75

  321·06

  31·4

  340·59

  406·88

  39·8

  NIC

  21·15

  25·27

  2·5

  21·15

  25·27

  2·5

  42·30

  50·53

  4·9

  21·15

  25·27

  2·5

  Total

  385·57

  460·62

  45·1

  373·92

  446·70

  43·7

  311·05

  371·59

  36·4

  361·74

  432·15

  42·3

  1984–85

  Income tax

  396·48

  450·86

  42·9

  383·21

  435·77

  41·4

  291·86

  331·89

  31·6

  369·95

  420·69

  40·0

  NIC

  22·50

  25·59

  2·4

  22·50

  25·59

  2·4

  45·00

  51·17

  4·9

  22·50

  25·59

  2·4

  Total

  418·98

  476·45

  45·3

  405·71

  461·36

  43·9

  336·86

  383·07

  36·4

  392·45

  446·28

  42·4

  1985–86

  Income tax

  427·27

  458·73

  43·0

  412·85

  443·25

  41·6

  314·16

  337·29

  31·7

  399·05

  428·43

  40·2

  NIC

  23·85

  25·61

  2·4

  23·85

  25·61

  2·4

  47·70

  51·21

  4·8

  23·85

  25·61

  2·4

  Total

  451·12

  484·33

  45·5

  436·70

  468·85

  44·0

  361·86

  388·50

  36·5

  422·90

  454·04

  42·6

  1986–87

  Income tax

  461·39

  479·86

  43·2

  446·16

  464·02

  41·8

  333·79

  347·15

  31·3

  431·96

  449·25

  40·5

  NIC

  25·65

  26·68

  2·4

  25·65

  26·68

  2·4

  51·30

  53·35

  4·8

  25·65

  26·68

  2·4

  Total

  487·04

  506·53

  45·6

  471·81

  490·69

  44·2

  385·09

  400·50

  36·1

  457·61

  475·92

  42·9

  1987–88

  Income tax

  493·50

  493·50

  43·4

  477·69

  477·69

  42·0

  348·06

  348·06

  30·6

  463·19

  463·19

  40·8

  NIC

  26·55

  26·55

  2·3

  26·55

  26·55

  2·3

  53·10

  53·10

  4·7

  26·55

  26·55

  2·3

  Total

  520·05

  520·05

  45·8

  504·24

  504·24

  44·4

  401·16

  401·16

  35·3

  489·74

  489·74

  43·1

  864 865

  Seven hundred per cent. of average male earnings (£1,591·10 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1978–79

  Income tax

  387·10

  778·35

  59·6

  378·32

  760·69

  58·2

  270·44

  543·78

  41·6

  369·99

  743·94

  57·0

  NIC

  7·80

  15·68

  1·2

  7·80

  15·68

  1·2

  15·60

  31·37

  2·4

  7·80

  15·68

  1·2

  Total

  394·90

  794·03

  60·8

  386·12

  776·38

  59·4

  286·04

  575·14

  44·0

  377·79

  759·63

  58·2

  1979–80

  Income tax

  356·44

  618·79

  46·6

  348·94

  605·77

  45·6

  271·16

  470·74

  35·4

  340·94

  591·89

  44·6

  NIC

  8·78

  15·24

  1·1

  8·78

  15·24

  1·1

  17·55

  30·47

  2·3

  8·78

  15·24

  1·1

  Total

  365·22

  634·04

  47·7

  357·72

  621·02

  46·8

  288·71

  501·21

  37·7

  349·72

  607·13

  45·7

  1980–81

  Income tax

  437·46

  652·97

  47·6

  428·57

  639·70

  46·6

  337·37

  503·57

  36·7

  420·03

  626·95

  45·7

  NIC

  11·14

  16·63

  1·2

  11·14

  16·63

  1·2

  22·28

  33·26

  2·4

  11·14

  16·63

  1·2

  Total

  448·60

  669·60

  48·8

  439·71

  656·33

  47·8

  359·65

  536·83

  39·1

  431·17

  643·58

  46·9

  1981–82

  Income tax

  498·36

  667·22

  48·8

  489·47

  655·32

  47·9

  393·80

  527·23

  38·6

  479·61

  642·12

  47·0

  NIC

  15·50

  20·75

  1·5

  15·50

  20·75

  1·5

  31·00

  41·50

  3·0

  15·50

  20·75

  1·5

  Total

  513·86

  687·98

  50·3

  504·97

  676·07

  49·4

  424·80

  568·74

  41·6

  495·11

  662·87

  48·5

  1982–83

  Income tax

  530·91

  663·84

  48·2

  520·75

  651·14

  47·3

  414·29

  518·02

  37·6

  509·81

  637·46

  46·3

  NIC

  19·25

  24·07

  1·7

  19·25

  24·07

  1·7

  38·50

  48·14

  3·5

  19·25

  24·07

  1·7

  Total

  550·16

  687·91

  49·9

  540·00

  675·21

  49·0

  452·79

  566·16

  41·1

  529·06

  661·53

  48·0

  1983–84

  Income tax

  569·62

  680·49

  47·6

  557·97

  666·57

  46·6

  439·42

  524·95

  36·7

  545·79

  652·02

  45·6

  NIC

  21·15

  25·27

  1·8

  21·15

  25·27

  1·8

  42·30

  50·53

  3·5

  21·15

  25·27

  1·8

  Total

  590·77

  705·76

  49·4

  579·12

  691·84

  48·4

  481·72

  575·48

  40·2

  566·94

  677·29

  47·4

  1984–85

  Income tax

  618·48

  703·31

  47·8

  605·21

  688·22

  46·7

  478·08

  543·66

  36·9

  591·95

  673·15

  45·7

  NIC

  22·50

  25·59

  1·7

  22·50

  25·59

  1·7

  45·00

  51·17

  3·5

  22·50

  25·59

  1·7

  Total

  640·98

  728·90

  49·5

  627·71

  713·81

  48·5

  523·08

  594·83

  40·4

  614·45

  698·73

  47·4

  1985–86

  Income tax

  665·47

  714·46

  47·9

  651·05

  698·98

  46·9

  515·61

  553·57

  37·1

  637·25

  684·17

  45·9

  NIC

  23·85

  25·61

  1·7

  23·85

  25·61

  1·7

  47·70

  51·21

  3·4

  23·85

  25·61

  1·7

  Total

  689·32

  740·07

  49·6

  674·90

  724·59

  48·6

  563·31

  604·78

  40·5

  661·10

  709·77

  47·6

  1986–87

  Income tax

  717·47

  746·18

  48·0

  702·24

  730·34

  47·0

  555·04

  577·25

  37·2

  688·04

  715·58

  46·1

  NIC

  25·65

  26·68

  1·7

  25·65

  26·68

  1·7

  51·30

  53·35

  3·4

  25·65

  26·68

  1·7

  Total

  743·12

  772·86

  49·7

  727·89

  757·02

  48·7

  606·34

  630·61

  40·6

  713·69

  742·25

  47·8

  1987–88

  Income tax

  766·26

  766·26

  48·2

  750·45

  750·45

  47·2

  590·51

  590·51

  37·1

  735·95

  735·95

  46·3

  NIC

  26·55

  26·55

  1·7

  26·55

  26·55

  1·7

  53·10

  53·10

  3·3

  26·55

  26·55

  1·7

  Total

  792·81

  792·81

  49·8

  777·00

  777·00

  48·8

  643·61

  643·61

  40·5

  762·50

  762·50

  47·9

  One thousand per cent. of average male earnings (£2,273·00 a week in 1987–88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1978–79

  Income tax

  618·17

  1,242·96

  66·6

  609·39

  1,225·31

  65·7

  475·02

  955·13

  51·2

  601·06

  1,208·56

  64·8

  NIC

  7·80

  15·68

  0·8

  7·80

  15·68

  0·8

  15·60

  31·37

  1·7

  7·80

  15·68

  0·8

  Total

  625·97

  1,258·65

  67·5

  617·19

  1,240·99

  66·5

  490·62

  986·50

  52·9

  608·86

  1,224·26

  65·6

  1979–80

  Income tax

  553·18

  960·34

  50·6

  546·68

  947·32

  49·9

  453·85

  787·90

  41·5

  537·68

  933·43

  49·2

  NIC

  8·78

  15·24

  0·8

  8·78

  15·24

  0·8

  17·55

  30·47

  1·6

  8·78

  15·24

  0·8

  Total

  561·96

  975·58

  51·4

  554·46

  962·56

  50·7

  471·40

  818·37

  43·1

  546·46

  948·68

  50·0

  1980–81

  Income tax

  673·98

  1,006·01

  51·3

  665·09

  992·74

  50·6

  561·28

  837·79

  42·7

  656·55

  979·99

  50·0

  NIC

  11·14

  16·63

  0·8

  11·14

  16·63

  0·8

  22·28

  33·26

  1·7

  11·14

  16·63

  0·8

  866 867

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  Total

  685·12

  1,022·63

  52·1

  676·23

  1,009·37

  51·5

  583·56

  871·04

  44·4

  667·69

  996·62

  50·8

  1981–82

  Income tax

  760·98

  1,018·83

  52·2

  752·09

  1,006·93

  51·5

  646·55

  865·63

  44·3

  742·23

  993·73

  50·9

  NIC

  15·50

  20·75

  1·1

  15·50

  20·75

  1·1

  31·00

  41·50

  2·1

  15·50

  20·75

  1·1

  Total

  776·48

  1,039·58

  53·2

  767·59

  1,027·68

  52·6

  677·55

  907·13

  46·4

  757·73

  1,014·48

  51·9

  1982–83

  Income tax

  814·23

  1,018·10

  51·7

  804·07

  1,005·40

  51·1

  684·37

  855·73

  43·5

  793·13

  991·72

  50·4

  NIC

  19·25

  24·07

  1·2

  19·25

  24·07

  1·2

  38·50

  48·14

  2·4

  19·25

  24·07

  1·2

  Total

  833·48

  1,042·17

  53·0

  823·32

  1,029·47

  52·3

  722·87

  903·87

  45·9

  812·38

  1,015·79

  51·6

  1983–84

  Income tax

  877·42

  1,048·20

  51·3

  865·77

  1,034·28

  50·6

  730·98

  873·26

  42·7

  853·59

  1,019·73

  49·9

  NIC

  21·15

  25·27

  1·2

  21·15

  25·27

  1·2

  42·30

  50·53

  2·5

  21·15

  25·27

  1·2

  Total

  898·57

  1,073·46

  52·5

  886·92

  1,059·55

  51·9

  773·28

  923·79

  45·2

  874·74

  1,045·00

  51·2

  1984–85

  Income tax

  951·48

  1,081·99

  51·4

  938·21

  1,066·90

  50·7

  794·52

  903·50

  42·9

  924·95

  1,051·82

  50·0

  NIC

  22·50

  25·59

  1·2

  22·50

  25·59

  1·2

  45·00

  51·17

  2·4

  22·50

  25·59

  1·2

  Total

  973·98

  1,107·58

  52·6

  960·71

  1,092·49

  51·9

  839·52

  954·67

  45·4

  947·45

  1,077·41

  51·2

  1985–86

  Income tax

  1,022·77

  1,098·07

  51·5

  1,008·35

  1,082·59

  50·8

  855·61

  918·60

  43·1

  994·55

  1,067·77

  50·1

  NIC

  23·85

  25·61

  1·2

  23·85

  25·61

  1·2

  47·70

  51·21

  2·4

  23·85

  25·61

  1·2

  Total

  1,046·62

  1,123·68

  52·7

  1,032·20

  1,108·19

  52·0

  903·31

  969·81

  45·5

  1,018·40

  1,093·38

  51·3

  1986–87

  Income tax

  1,101·59

  1,145·68

  51·6

  1,086·36

  1,129·84

  50·9

  922·78

  959·71

  43·2

  1,072·16

  1,115·07

  50·2

  NIC

  25·65

  26·68

  1·2

  25·65

  26·68

  1·2

  51·30

  53·35

  2·4

  25·65

  26·68

  12

  Total

  1,127·24

  1,172·35

  52·8

  1,112·01

  1,156·51

  52·1

  974·08

  1,013·06

  45·6

  1,097·81

  1,141·75

  51·4

  1987–88

  Income tax

  1,175·40

  1,175·40

  51·7

  1,159·59

  1,159·59

  51·0

  986·99

  986·99

  43·4

  1,145·09

  1,145·09

  50·4

  NIC

  26·55

  26·55

  1·2

  26·55

  26·55

  1·2

  53·10

  53·10

  2·3

  26·55

  26·55

  1·2

  Total

  1,201·95

  1,201·95

  52·9

  1,186·14

  1,186·14

  52·2

  1,040·09

  1,040·09

  45·8

  1,171·64

  1,171·64

  51·5

  Two thousand per cent. of average male earnings (£4,546·00 a week in 1987·88)

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  1978–79

  Income tax

  1,388·41

  2,791·69

  74·8

  1,379·63

  2,774·04

  74·3

  1,236·34

  2,485·93

  66·6

  1,371·30

  2,757·29

  73·9

  NIC

  7·80

  15·68

  0·4

  7·80

  15·68

  0·4

  15·60

  31·37

  0·8

  7·80

  15·68

  0·4

  Total

  1,396·21

  2,807·38

  75·2

  1,387·43

  2,789·72

  74·8

  1,251·94

  2,517·29

  67·5

  1,379·10

  2,772·97

  74·3

  1979–80

  Income tax

  1,208·98

  2,098·84

  55·3

  1,201·48

  2,085·82

  55·0

  1,106·35

  1,920·67

  50·6

  1,193·48

  2,071·93

  54·6

  NIC

  8·78

  15·24

  0·4

  8·78

  15·24

  0·4

  17·55

  30·47

  0·8

  8·78

  15·24

  0·4

  Total

  1,217·76

  2,114·08

  5·57

  1,210·26

  2,101·06

  55·4

  1,123·90

  1,951·14

  51·4

  1,202·26

  2,087·17

  55·0

  1980–81

  Income tax

  1,462·38

  2,182·80

  55·6

  1,453·49

  2,169·53

  55·3

  1,347·95

  2,012·00

  51·3

  1,444·95

  2,156·78

  55·0

  NIC

  11·14

  16·63

  0·4

  11·14

  16·63

  0·4

  22·28

  33·26

  0·8

  11·14

  16·63

  0·4

  Total

  1,473·52

  2,199·43

  56·1

  1,464·63

  2,186·16

  55·7

  1,370·23

  2,045·25

  52·1

  1,456·09

  2,173·41

  55·4

  1981–82

  Income tax

  1,636·38

  2,190·85

  56·1

  1,627·49

  2,178·94

  55·8

  1,521·95

  2,037·64

  52·2

  1,617·63

  2,165·74

  55·4

  NIC

  15·50

  20·75

  0·5

  15·50

  20·75

  0·5

  31·00

  41·50

  1·1

  15·50

  20·75

  0·5

  Total

  1,651·88

  2,211·60

  56·6

  1,642·99

  2,199·70

  56·3

  1,552·95

  2,079·15

  53·2

  1,633·13

  2,186·50

  56·0

  1982–83

  Income tax

  1,758·63

  2,198·97

  55·9

  1,748·47

  2,186·26

  55·5

  1,628·45

  2,036·19

  51·7

  1,737·53

  2,172·58

  55·2

  NIC

  19·25

  24·07

  0·6

  19·25

  24·07

  0·6

  38·50

  48·14

  1·2

  19·25

  24·07

  0·6

  Total

  1,777·88

  2,223·04

  56·5

  1,767·72

  2,210·33

  56·2

  1,666·95

  2,084·33

  53·0

  1,756·78

  2,196·65

  55·8

  1983–84

  Income tax

  1,903·42

  2,273·90

  55·7

  1,891·77

  2,259·98

  55·3

  1,754·85

  2,096·41

  51·3

  1,879·59

  2,245·43

  55·0

  NIC

  21·15

  25·27

  0·6

  21·15

  25·27

  0·6

  42·30

  50·53

  1·2

  21·15

  25·27

  0·6

  868 869

  Single

  Married no children

  Married both working

  Married two children

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  £ per week

  £ per week 1987–88 prices

  Per cent. of gross earnings

  Total

  1,924·57

  2,299·16

  56·3

  1,912·92

  2,285·24

  55·9

  1,797·15

  2,146·94

  52·5

  1,900·74

  2,270·69

  55·6

  1984–85

  Income tax

  2,061·48

  2,344·25

  55·7

  2,048·21

  2,329·16

  55·4

  1,902·96

  2,163·98

  51·4

  2,034·95

  2,314·08

  55·0

  NIC

  22·50

  25·59

  0·6

  22·50

  25·59

  0·6

  45·00

  51·17

  1·2

  22·50

  25·59

  0·6

  Total

  2,083·98

  2,369·83

  56·3

  2,070·71

  2,354·74

  56·0

  1,947·96

  2,215·16

  52·6

  2,057·45

  2,339·66

  55·6

  1985–86

  Income tax

  2,213·77

  2,376·75

  55·8

  2,199·35

  2,361·27

  55·4

  2,045·54

  2,196·14

  51·5

  2,185·55

  2,346·46

  55·1

  NIC

  23·85

  25·61

  0·6

  23·85

  25·61

  0·6

  47·70

  51·21

  1·2

  23·85

  25·61

  0·6

  Total

  2,237·62

  2,402·36

  56·4

  2,223·20

  2,386·88

  56·0

  2,093·24

  2,247·35

  52·7

  2,209·40

  2,372·06

  55·7

  1986–87

  Income tax

  2,381·99

  2,477·32

  55·8

  2,366·76

  2,461·48

  55·5

  2,203·18

  2,291·35

  51·6

  2,352·56

  2,446·71

  55·1

  NIC

  25·65

  26·68

  0·6

  25·65

  26·68

  0·6

  51·30

  53·35

  1·2

  25·65

  26·68

  0·6

  Total

  2,407·64

  2,504·00

  56·4

  2,392·41

  2,488·16

  56·1

  2,254·48

  2,344·71

  52·8

  2,378·21

  2,473·39

  55·7

  1987–88

  Income tax

  2,539·20

  2,539·20

  55·9

  2,523·39

  2,523·39

  55·5

  2,350·79

  2,350·79

  51·7

  2,508·89

  2,508·89

  55·2

  NIC

  26·55

  26·55

  0·6

  26·55

  26·55

  0·6

  53·10

  53·10

  1·2

  26·55

  26·55

  0·6

  Total

  2,565·75

  2,565·75

  56·4

  2,549·94

  2,549·94

  56·1

  2,403·89

  2,403·89

  52·9

  2,535·44

  2,535·44

  55·8

  Notes to tables:

  Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the tax units have no other tax reliefs apart from the standard allowances. Earners, including working wives, are assumed to pay class I NI contributions at the contracted in rate. The figures for NI contributions are financial year averages.

  2. Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. The levels of average earnings in each year are given below:

  £ per week

  1978–79

  92·80

  1979–80

  109·30

  1980–81

  131·40

  1981–82

  145·90

  1982–83

  157·40

  1983–84

  171·00

  1984–85

  185·00

  1985–86

  198·50

  1986–87

  1213·40

  1987–88

  2227·30

  1 Assuming growth of 7½ per cent. on 1985–86.

  2 Assuming growth of 6½ per cent. on 1986–87.

  3. The two-earner married couple is assumed to have joint earnings of the various multiples of average earnings. In calculating disposable income it is assumed that the joint earnings are split between husband and wife in the ratio 60:40.

  4. For the married couple with two children child benefit is treated as a negative income tax. For this purpose, financial year averages are used for child benefit.

  5. The estimate of indirect taxes are derived from the 1985 family expenditure survey and are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved. Estimates cannot reliably be made outside the income rate for which figures are shown. There are also quite wide variations in spending patterns between households with similar incomes and compositions and, because of sampling variation, there can be substantial differences between the estimates obtained from different family expenditure surveys.

  Incomes
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total amount of taxable(a) cash and (b) non-cash personal income for the last five years for
  870
  which figures are available; and if he will give what information he has regarding the different types of taxable non-cash remuneration.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Personal Income (Taxation)
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the tax expenditures cost if(a) the first £500 per person per year and (b) the first £750 per person per year, counting husbands and wives separately, of investment income occupational pension and other personal income other than earned income were free of tax; and what rates of tax on the balance of such income would be necessary in order to make the change revenue neutral.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The direct revenue cost at 1988–89 levels of income of making the first £500 and the first £750 of personal income other than earnings tax free would be about £1½ billion and £2 billion respectively. Additional rates of 4 per cent. and 5½ per cent. would have to be charged on the balance of such income to make the proposed changes revenue neutral.

  Tax Reliefs and Allowances
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in 1987–88 and 1988–89 of restricting(a) personal allowances and (b) mortgage interest tax relief to the standard rate of tax only.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The direct revenue yield at 1987–88 levels of income of restricting personal allowances to the basic rate is estimated to be £810 million; the yield at 1988–89 levels of income, assuming indexation of the current income tax bands and allowances to 1988–89 levels as in table 4.1 of the 1987 Autumn Statement, is estimated to be £950 million. The estimates make no allowance for possible changes in taxpayers' behaviour.
  871
  The direct revenue yield in a full year at 1987–88 levels from restricting mortgage interest relief to the basic rate is estimated to be £330 million. This estimate makes no allowance for the effect of any consequential changes to the distribution of outstanding mortgages. It would be premature to provide estimates of the direct revenue yield at 1988–89 levels since this will depend on the mortgage interest rate and the level of mortgages outstanding in that year.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report figures relating to tax reliefs and allowances on the same basis as in his reply

  Reductions in income tax liabilities in 1987–88 compared with the indexed 1978–79 tax regime

  Upper 50 per cent.1

  Lower 50 per cent.1

  Amount

  Average per tax unit2

  Amount

  Average per tax unit2

  £ million

  £ per year

  £ million

  £ per year

  Increase in personal allowances

  2,500

  240

  1,470

  140

  Abolition of reduced rate band

  -1,720

  -170

  -1,130

  -110

  Decrease in basic rate

  6,190

  600

  1,790

  170

  Increase in higher rate threshold

  400

  40

  —

  —

  Changes in higher rate thresholds

  800

  80

  —

  —

  Abolition of higher rates above 60 per cent.

  590

  60

  —

  —

  Abolition of Investment Income Surcharge

  810

  80

  20

  2

  Total

  9,570

  920

  2,150

  200

  Notes: Source of income tax reduction(+)/increase(-).

  In the table, the effect of each change has been calculated on the assumption that each of the previous changes has already been made.

  1 Based on 20·9 million single people and married couples expected to pay tax in 1987–88 and excluding a further 900,000 who would pay tax under the revalorised 1978–79 regime. All information is in terms of tax units i.e. married couples are counted as one and their incomes combined.

  2 By reference to the numbers paying tax in 1987–88.

  Tax Liability
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the reduction in annual liability to(a) capital gains tax and (b) capital transfer tax in 1987–88 as compared

  Reduction, compared with indexed 1978–79 regime, in:

  Taxpayer Numbers (thousands)

  Total

  Average

  1978–79

  1987–88

  Liability (£ million)

  Liability1 (£)

  Indexed Regime

  Regime

  Capital Gains Tax

  1,200

  1,800

  650

  200

  Capital Transfer Tax/Inheritance Tax

  250

  3,800

  70

  30

  1 Calculated for the number of taxpayers under the 1978–79 indexed regime.

  The figures for capital gains tax exclude capital gains realised by companies and taxed within corporation tax.

  In each case the 1987–88 tax base is taken as given. It is not possible to determine to what extent changes to the taxes between 1978–79 and 1987–88 may have affected the levels of transfers and disposals.

  Taxable Incomes
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families with children are estimated to have taxable incomes below the income tax threshold; and what proportion this represents of all families with children.

  Mr. Normon Lamont
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: In 1987–88 it is estimated that some 1·6 million
  872
  to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher), Official Report, 5 May, columns 325–8, for the following income groups: top 50 per cent. and bottom 50 per cent.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Estimates are given in the table for the upper 50 per cent and lower 50 per cent. of tax-paying single people and married couples analysed by total income liable to tax. The table shows the reduction in income tax liabilities, in a full year at 1987–88 income levels, under the 1987–88 income tax regime compared with the 1978–79 regime indexed to 1987–88 levels by reference to statutory formula.

  with the 1978–79 indexed regime, specifying in each case the total and average reduction per taxpayer as well as the number of taxpayers in each year.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The information requested is given in the table:

  families, about 23 per cent. of the total number of families with children, have taxable incomes below the income tax threshold.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations office of his Department; and what is the number planned to be employed at this point in 1988.

  Mr. Peter Brooke
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The number of press and public relations staff employed in my Department on 1 December 1987 was 11. The planned complement for press and public relations staff at this point in 1988 is 11.
  873
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1987–88 by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what are the estimated expenditures in each area for 1988–89.

  Mr. Peter Brooke
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The estimated expenditure for 1987–88 is £35,000, none of which is likely to be on television and radio advertising. Detailed decisions on expenditure by the media in 1988–89 have not yet been taken but overall publicity expenditure is provisionally budgeted at £36,500.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by his Department on press and public relations for(a) 1987–88 and (b) 1988–89.

  Mr. Peter Brooke
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The estimated expenditure on press and public relations for 1987–88 is £597,900 and provisional budgeted expenditure for 1988–89 is £606,500.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has in respect of(a) the number of people in England and Wales paying income tax, (b) the number of spouses of (a) and (c) the number of people in England and Wales who are not paying income tax and are not the spouses of those paying taxes.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: In 1985–86, the latest year for which information by country is available, about 17·7 million single persons and married couples resident in England and Wales were liable to income tax, of whom about 9·4 million were married couples. This excludes members of Her Majesty's forces and the Merchant Navy. Records are not kept enabling fully comparable information to be compiled for non-taxpayers, but at mid-1985, the total population over 16 resident in England or Wales numbered about 39·7 million.

  Households (Statistics)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide figures for 1979 and 1985 showing, on an equivalent income basis, the proportion of each of the following household types in each quintile of(a) original and (b) post-tax income, as defined in the

  United Kingdom expenditure under the main farm capital grant schemes in 1986–87

  United Kingdom

  Less favoured areas

  Non-less favoured areas

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Agriculture Improvement Scheme

  22·9

  18·2

  4·7

  Farm/Agriculture and Horticulture Development Schemes

  51·4

  26·4

  25·0

  Agriculture and Horticulture Grant Scheme

  37·6

  22·9

  14·7

  Northern Ireland Agricultural Development Programme

  9·1

  9·1

  —

  TOTAL

  121·0

  76·6

  44·4

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the rate of take-up of each
  874
  annual articles in Economic Trends on the effects of taxes and benefits (i) one adult with children, (ii) two adults with children (iii) non-retired without children and (iv) retired.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: I regret that the information requested is not readily available and estimates could be made only at disproportionate cost.

  However, some of the information, not adjusted to an equivalent income basis, may be found in the Economic Trends articles to which the hon. Member refers. The proportion of the household types listed in each quintile group of both original and post-tax income in 1985 may be calculated from the information given in table 7 of the appendix to the article published in the November 1986 edition of Economic Trends. Similar data for 1979 are given in table 7 of appendix 3 to the article published in the January 1981 edition, but based on original income only; post-tax was introduced as a separate income definition for the first time in the December 1984 article. Some analysis of incomes in 1985 adjusted to an equivalent income basis was published in Economic Trends in July 1987; however this was based on disposable income rather than original or post-tax income.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  EC (Food)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the total amount which will be expended by the EEC on the storage, export and destruction of food in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Expenditure met from the 1987 Community budget on storage, export and withdrawal of produce from the market is estimated to be approximately £8 billion. Expenditure in November and December 1987 (estimated to be £1·6 billion) will be met by member states which will be reimbursed from the 1988 budget.

  Capital Grants
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the total United Kingdom expenditure on each of the major capital grants schemes for agriculture in 1986–87;

  (2) what was the total United Kingdom expenditure on major capital grant schemes for agriculture in the less favoured areas and non-less favoured areas, respectively.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information is as follows:
  875
  of the main capital grant schemes for agriculture in 1986 in less favoured areas and non-less favoured areas, respectively and for the United Kingdom and England and Wales, respectively.

  Mr. Gummer
  The agriculture improvement scheme is the only scheme now open to new applicants. Information on take-up under both elements of the scheme in 1986–87 is as follows:

  United Kingdom

  England

  Wales

  European Community measures

  Number of plans approved

  9,191

  4,219

  2,253

  National measures

  Number of claims paid

  4,632

  1,474

  649

  I regret that full information is not currently available distinguishing between take-up inside and outside the less favoured areas.

  Food Aid
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he is having with local authorities regarding the future distribution of food surpluses according to the permanent scheme approved by the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Gummer
  At present, I am consulting the main charitable organisations. I will consult more widely if this becomes appropriate.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what charities he is consulting for the purpose of free food distribution in accordance with the permanent scheme for European Community food surpluses approved by the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am consulting the following organisations:

  Age Concern

  British Red Cross Society

  Church Army

  Help the Aged

  National Council for Voluntary Organisations

  National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations

  Royal Association of Disability and Rehabilitation

  Royal British Legion

  Salvation Army

  Social and Pastoral Action

  Catholic Bishops Conference, England and Wales

  Women's Royal Voluntary Service

  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland are conducting separate consultations in those countries.

  Bee Officers
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to change the number of bee officers employed by his Ministry in 1988.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  From 1988 we shall be confining inspection of bees to colonies where foul brood is suspected or which have recent history of the disease. As a result the number of bee officers will be reduced to about 30.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of agricultural land in the United Kingdom will be covered by environmentally sensitive areas when the second phase comes into operation.

  Mr. Gummer
  It will not be possible to provide a definitive figure until the planned new areas in Scotland and Northern Ireland have been designated. The 12 per cent. areas covered by designated orders in England and Wales comprise 4 per cent. of the agricultural area of England and Wales.

  Research and Development
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) which outside bodies will be consulted during the review of research and development in his Department; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when the review of research and development in his Ministry will be completed; and if he will make the findings of the review public;

  (3) whether there will be public consultation about the findings of the review of research and development in his Ministry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The examination of the balance of our research and development programmes which we are conducting, in addition to the normal review procedures outlined in my reply to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. McLeish) on 19 November at column 656, is part of the general process of policy formation. It will not involve any formal consultation outside agricultural departments, though we may be seeking views on an informal basis. This is a study being undertaken within Government which it would not be appropriate to publish. I shall consider at a later stage what subsequent consultations may be necessary.

  Bracken
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations he is undertaking to control bracken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I would first refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to Lord Campbell of Croy on 5 November in another place. My Department has recently completed a comparison of herbicide application methods on bracken and is presently studying the effects of large-scale bracken control on hillsheep and grouse production, conservation and the landscape. The Department is also funding research by the Agricultural and Food Research Council into vegetation management, weed control and environmental issues, which includes work on bracken. I would also point out that some of my Department's in-house and external research on weed control generally would be applicable to bracken.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what methods for controlling bracken he currently advocates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Methods advocated for controlling bracken depend on the scale of the problem and the nature of the terrain.
  877
  Where cultivation is possible, summer ploughing and subsequent tillage for two seasons can eradicate bracken. Where ploughing is not possible mechanical methods such as cutting or slashing twice a year or repeatedly crushing young fronds for several years will control but not eradicate bracken. These methods are useful in only limited circumstances.

  The most popular method advocated is the use of herbicides. These can be applied to small areas by knapsack and other hand-held applicators. Tractor-mounted sprayers can be used on areas that are not too steep or rocky. Larger areas, especially if steep or uneven, are normally sprayed by helicopter.

  Grant aid is available for bracken control under the agricultural improvement scheme. This covers control by mechanical means (excluding ploughing and cultivating), chemical control by spraying, and follow-up treatment to promote the growth of other vegetation and discourage further bracken growth. The rate of grant is 15 per cent. in the lowlands and 30 per cent. in less favoured areas.

  Fertiliser
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has of the value of nitrogenous fertiliser wasted by farmers each year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have made no such estimate. My Department encourages farmers to assess the requirements of each crop for nitrogen fertiliser in accordance with good husbandry practice and to restrict application to those times when the crops can utilise the nitrogen.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the names of his advisory committees, together with an indication of those whose members are required to sign a declaration under, or who have otherwise had drawn to their attention, the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My Department's advisory committees are listed in "Public Bodies 1987" published by HMSO which is available in the Library of the House. Among these committees, members of the Reading Cattle Breeding Advisory Committee sign a declaration under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act and members of the Food Advisory Committee and the Steering Group on Food Surveillance have their attention drawn to it.

  Drainage
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures exist to protect ratepayers against the possibility of unwise expenditure in the event of a drainage authority proceeding with a drainage scheme without having sought grant-aid from his Department, or having sought but failed to obtain grant-aid from his Department.

  Mr. Gummer
  Most land drainage schemes are carried out by the water authorities. Decisions are taken by specialist regional or local land drainage committees which consist of persons expert in the subject with, in addition,878
  a built-in majority of members of the constituent councils whose ratepayers fund the expenditure. The committees take account of all aspects of the proposals, including economic worthwhileness.

  In certain parts of the country, smaller drainage schemes may also be carried out by internal drainage boards accountable to the ratepayers who elect him. In addition, the boards are subject to the overall supervision of the relevant water authority.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will describe the procedures for the environmental scrutiny of arterial land drainage schemes in the event of a drainage authority deciding not to apply for grant-aid from his Department; and, in the event of such a decision by a drainage authority, what are the procedures for resolving objections from conservation bodies, statutory or voluntary, to a potentially environmentally damaging scheme.

  Mr. Gummer
  In implementing their statutory obligations under the Water Act 1973 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 drainage authorities consult widely with the relevant organisations concerned with conservation from the earliest planning stages of proposed works. The aim of these consultations is not only to avoid damage but to further and enhance sensitive features and wildlife consistent with authorities' statutory drainage responsibilities. I am not aware that in recent years any potentially environmentally damaging scheme has gone ahead in my area of responsibility in the face of objections from conservation bodies.

  Poultry Industry
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that competitive conditions for the poultry industry are uniform throughout the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I am satisfied that the competitive conditions are reasonably fair. My Department keeps a careful watch on the situation throughout the Community, and where disadvantages for the United Kingdom industry are discovered we try to have them removed as speedily as possible.

  Intervention Stocks
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total cost of putting produce into intervention in each of the past 10 years; and what percentage of(a) the European Community agricultural budget and (b) the total European Community budget these figures represent.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The costs associated with purchases into intervention are borne by member states and are not available. The costs to the EC of storing intervention produce (including private storage) and reimbursing member states for losses on sale from intervention over the past 10 years were:

  Year

  Mecu

  £ million

  Per cent. of CAP budget

  Per cent. of total EC budget

  1978

  1,689

  1,121

  19

  15

  1979

  1,654

  1,074

  15

  12

  879

  Year

  Mecu

  £ million

  Per cent. of CAP budget

  Per cent. of total EC budget

  1980

  1,617

  979

  14

  10

  1981

  1,631

  908

  14

  9

  1982

  1,818

  1,014

  14

  9

  1983

  2,893

  1,697

  17

  12

  1984

  3,561

  2,079

  19

  13

  1985

  4,427

  2,603

  22

  16

  1986

  5,555

  3,599

  24

  16

  1987

  3,948

  2,761

  16

  10

  Sources:

  1978–1986—EAGGF Guarantee Annual Report

  1987 EC budget-covers actual expenditure to end October 1987

  Note: The full cost of disposing of surplus produce also includes other expenditure on export refunds, withdrawal and subsidies for disposal on the Community Market. Budget provision for this cost in 1987 amounted to some 17,390 mecu (£12,160) which is respectively 72 per cent. of the CAP budget and 48 per cent. of the total EC budget.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the Press and Public Relations Office of his Department; and what is the number planned to be employed at this point in 1988.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The number of staff in the press branch of the information division and related posts in the regions is 32 and is expected to be the same in 1988.

  Nephrops
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make it his policy to make representations against the conservation proposal being proposed by the European Community to reduce the landing size of nephrops from 85mm to 58mm; if he will instead consider a derogation for the Irish sea to allow the minimum size of 58mm to be confined to that sector of the market; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 15 December 1987]: At the Fisheries Council meeting on 14–16 December 1 argued that a reduction in the minimum landing size for nephrops should be made for the Irish sea and west of Scotland stocks only and in any case that the present minimum landing size for nephrops in the North sea should be maintained. No decision was taken on this matter, which was referred, along with the other elements of the Commission's proposals on technical conservation measures, for further examination at official level.

  Employment (Set-aside Policies)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment of the effect of set-aside policies on employment has been made by his Department; and what other studies he is aware of which deal with the matter.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: I shall be examining this and other effects as part of ongoing monitoring of the scheme when it is implemented.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement explaining the operation of stabilisers in the common agricultural policy reforms proposed by the Commission, and what effect they will have on the availability of export rebates for food not taken into intervention.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 26 November 1987]: The Commission's proposals are generally for guarantee threshold mechanisms. These relate support to specified quantities. There are no proposals affecting the availability of export refunds. Effective stabilisers should reduce the need to export surpluses and should have a beneficial effect on export refund expenditure.

  Sheep
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will place in the Library the details of the monitoring results of sheep for radioactivity in north, south and west Yorkshire since 1 October, in a similar form to that used in the publication "Radionuclide Levels in Food, Animals and Agricultural Products";

  (2) if he will place in the Library the results of the monitoring of sheep for radioactivity in Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear since 1 October, in a similar format to that used for the 1987 publication "Radionuclide Levels in Food, Animals and Agricultural Products."

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The results of monitoring of live sheep For radiocaesium levels in Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear since October 1987 are being placed in the Library of the House. They are in the format of previous replies that I have given on live monitoring data. It is not appropriate to give this data in exactly similar form to that used in the publication "Radionuclide Levels in Food, Animals and Agricultural Products" since that publication did not include any data on live monitoring. I believe that this different format of grouping the individual results in flocks gives the reader a better picture of the results from the monitoring of live sheep.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average bed occupancy rate by region in National Health Service hospitals for the last date for which figures are available; and what are the comparative figures for the previous five years.

  Mrs. Currie
  The table gives the information requested about bed occupancy (the average number of occupied beds as a percentage of the available beds for all specialties).

  The health services information steering group (chaired by Mrs. Körner) recommended in its first report that a more useful measure is patient throughput, the annual number of patients per available bed. These are also given in a table.
  881

  Percentage bed occupancy by Regional Health Authority, 1981–1986

  Health Authority

  Year

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Northern

  79·3

  78·0

  78·5

  78·7

  79·5

  79·6

  Yorkshire

  80·4

  78·7

  79·0

  78·0

  78·6

  78·4

  Trent

  79·4

  78·3

  78·7

  78·4

  78·5

  77·9

  East Anglian

  79·4

  79·0

  78·7

  78·3

  79·1

  78·4

  North West Thames1

  83·5

  82·4

  82·3

  82·4

  83·0

  83·5

  North East Thames1

  83·7

  82·6

  83·2

  83·3

  84·7

  84·3

  South East Thames1

  81·7

  80·9

  80·6

  80·9

  81·9

  81·5

  South West Thames1

  85·3

  85·1

  84·3

  84·4

  84·7

  84·4

  Wessex

  80·7

  79·3

  79·2

  78·8

  79·9

  79·0

  Oxford

  79·4

  79·1

  79·7

  79·1

  79·5

  79·0

  South Western

  80·7

  80·3

  80·2

  80·0

  80·3

  78·9

  West Midlands

  80·6

  79·7

  80·2

  80·3

  80·6

  80·5

  Mersey

  82·2

  82·1

  83·0

  83·7

  83·8

  82·9

  North Western

  81·4

  80·1

  80·5

  80·6

  81·4

  80·2

  Special Health Authorities1

  74·0

  75·4

  75·4

  76·2

  76·2

  77·8

  England

  81·3

  80·4

  80·6

  80·5

  81·1

  80·6

  1 Figures are not comparable over the whole period, due to NHS restructuring in 1982.

  Annual number of patients per available beds 1981–1986

  Health Authority

  Year

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Northern

  15·9

  15·2

  16·5

  17·3

  18·2

  19·0

  Yorkshire

  16·1

  15·9

  17·5

  18·2

  19·3

  20·5

  Trent

  16·5

  16·4

  17·8

  18·6

  19·7

  20·5

  East Anglian

  16·8

  16·5

  17·7

  18·7

  20·0

  20·4

  North West Thames1

  15·5

  15·3

  16·1

  16·9

  17·6

  18·3

  North East Thames1

  16·7

  17·5

  18·3

  19·1

  20·1

  20·4

  South East Thames1

  17·0

  17·2

  18·1

  19·3

  20·6

  21·4

  South West Thames1

  13·1

  13·1

  13·9

  14·7

  15·5

  16·4

  Wessex

  17·3

  17·3

  18·2

  19·1

  20·2

  21·3

  Oxford

  20·4

  20·3

  21·6

  22·4

  23·7

  24·5

  South Western

  15·2

  15·5

  16·4

  17·6

  18·6

  19·6

  West Midlands

  16·4

  16·8

  17·9

  19·1

  20·1

  20·9

  Mersey

  14·2

  14·3

  15·8

  16·9

  17·9

  18·8

  North Western

  18·1

  18·1

  19·3

  20·1

  21·3

  22·0

  Special Health Authorities1

  27·2

  27·2

  27·7

  28·2

  29·5

  30·3

  England

  16·4

  16·4

  17·5

  18·5

  19·5

  20·3

  1 Figures are not comparable over the whole period, due to NHS restructuring in 1982.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the current bed availability by district health authority for Nottinghamshire as at the latest date and the comparative figures for each year since 1979;

  (2) how many beds are available in each unit of the district health authorities in Nottinghamshire; and what are the comparable figures for 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in tables 1 and 2. The number of in-patient cases treated by health authorities in Nottinghamshire has increased by 28 per cent. between 1979 and 1986 from 115,198 to 147,511.

  Table 1

  Average daily number of available beds in National Health Service hospitals in Nottinghamshire in years 1979 and 1986

  Hospital

  1979

  1986

  Bassetlaw District Health Authority

  Retford and District Hospital

  95·0

  74·0

  Victoria Hospital

  110·0

  84·5

  Bassetlaw District Hospital

  198·0

  319·5

  Central Nottinghamshire Health Authority

  Mansfield and District General Hospital

  177·0

  168·2

  Newark General Hospital

  72·0

  59·2

  Kings Mill Hospital

  422·3

  437·4

  Forest Hospital

  87·8

  71·0

  Newstead Hospital

  125·4

  137·6

  882

  Hospital

  1979

  1986

  Victoria Hospital

  266·6

  159·3

  Debdale Hall Recovery Hospital1

  37·0

  —

  Langwith Lodge

  29·2

  28·5

  Berry Hill Hospital

  40·0

  36·3

  Ransom Hospital

  60·0

  58·0

  Newark Hawtonville Hospital

  130·0

  116·0

  Balderton Hospital

  362·0

  269·4

  Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital

  187·9

  177·5

  Nottingham Health Authority

  The Cedars Rehabilitation Unit1

  32·5

  —

  Nottingham City Hospital

  917·8

  1,084·4

  The Firs Maternity Hospital1

  40·0

  —

  The Coppice Hospital

  164·0

  161·0

  Mapperley Hospital

  116·0

  5·6

  St. Francis Hospital

  500·8

  312·8

  Ellerslie House1

  24·0

  —

  Sherwood Hospital1

  322·9

  —

  Basford Hospital

  103·1

  104·0

  St. Anns Hospital

  77·5

  69·0

  Nottingham General Hospital

  423·4

  230·9

  Highbury Hospital

  244·3

  190·5

  Ruddington Hall Hospital1

  36·5

  —

  Saxondale Hospital

  662·8

  399·0

  Nottingham Eye Hospital1

  58·9

  —

  Nottingham Hospital for Women1

  157·5

  —

  University Hospital

  315·7

  1,236·9

  1 Due to hospital closures or hospital mergers figures for 1986 are not available.

  883

  Table 2

  Average daily number of available beds, Nottinghamshire Health Authorities

  Health Authority

  Year

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Bassetlaw

  403

  408

  412

  424

  424

  419

  433

  478

  Central Nottinghamshire

  1,997

  1,967

  1,949

  1,934

  1,888

  1,851

  1,794

  1,718

  Nottingham

  4,198

  4,088

  4,041

  4,029

  4,000

  3,958

  3,931

  3,794

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Health Service beds are allocated for the use of military personnel(a) currently and (b) for use in the event of nuclear war; and what funding arrangements exist.

  Mrs. Currie
  Military personnel are admitted to NHS hospitals if necessary, in particular where they require specialised treatment not provided by service hospitals. There is no specific allocation of beds for this purpose, nor do special funding arrangements exist.

  In the event of war in Europe it is expected that NHS hospitals would receive military casualties evacuated to this country, as well as those sustained on United Kingdom soil. Plans are not made on the basis of specific allocation of beds. In the aftermath of a nuclear attack, surviving Heath Service hospitals would be supported by emergency medical centres, but according to the scale of the attack evacuation of casualties to the United Kingdom might not be possible.

  Accident and Emergency Units
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, by district health authority, and by year the accident and emergency units closed since 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that the information is not collected centrally.

  Nurses
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much it costs to train a nurse.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 23 November, at column 81.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the median level of earnings for nurses in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the median level of earnings for nurses expressed as a proportion of average earnings in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  Information is not available in the form requested. However, data on mean average earnings for the years 1983–84 to 1986–87 are set out in the table. Information is not available for earlier years on a comparable basis.

  All Qualified Nurses1

  Staff Nurses

  Ward Sister

  Average Gross Earnings2

  £pa

  £pa

  £pa

  £pa

  1983–84

  7,368

  6,733

  8,812

  8,306

  1984–85

  7,970

  7,422

  9,474

  8,916

  1985–86

  8,555

  7,938

  10,175

  9,631

  1986–87

  9,440

  8,981

  11,208

  10,371

  884

  Notes:

  1 Source: DHSS—Excludes Nursing Auxiliaries and Students/Pupils.

  2 Source: Department of Employment — New Earnings Survey. Figures relate to all full employees on adult rates, excluding those whose pay was affected by absence.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what timetable he envisages for the extension of prescribing powers to nurses, as outlined in the primary care White Paper;

  (2) how he intends to proceed in investigating the issues surrounding the concept of the nurse practitioner, as outlined in the primary care White Paper.

  Mr. Newton
  The Department will be consulting the relevant professional advisory groups in the near future about the professional and ethical issues involved in nurse prescribing and will be looking at the other issues involved in more detail during the coming year. It is not possible to give firm timetables or detailed plans at the moment.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many nurses are employed nationally in intensive care units;

  (2) how many nurses nationally are receiving intensive care training;

  (3) what is the estimated number of nurses needed nationally in intensive care units.

  Mr. Newton
  The total number of nursing staff employed in intensive and coronary care units in England at 30 September 1986 was 6,250 whole-time equivalents, an increase of some 74 per cent. over September 1981. Information supplied by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health visiting shows that in the year ended 31 March 1987, 563 nurses entered specialist post basic training in intensive and coronary care nursing, an increase of some 14 per cent. over the previous year. Information is not available centrally on which an estimate of the number of nurses needed nationally in such units could be made. It is for individual health authorities to determine their requiremets for nurses in their intensive care units in the light of local needs and priorities and the resources which can be allocated to those needs. Information for the rest of the United Kingdom is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many student nurses did not complete their training in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Newton
  Information about student and pupil nurses who did not complete their training is given in the table. It includes those who failed their examinations and assessments as well as those who left training.
  885

  Number of students and pupils discontinuing basic nurse training: Year ending 31 March: England

  Students

  Pupils

  Total

  11983

  3,910

  2,210

  6,120

  1984

  2,870

  1,660

  4,530

  1985

  3,960

  2,130

  6,100

  1986

  2,490

  950

  3,440

  1987

  2,880

  980

  3,860

  1 Actual figures for England for 1983 are not available but have been assumed to be 95 per cent. of those for England and Wales.

  (1) All figures rounded to the nearest 10.

  (2) Due to rounding the total may not be equal to the sum of the constituent parts.

  Source: English National Board

  Mrs Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the estimated number of nurses needed in intensive care units in the West Midlands regional health authority.

  (29 how many nurses are receiving intensive care unit training in the west midlands region;

  (3) how many nurses are employed in intensive care units in the West Midlands regional health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  It is for regional and district health authorities to determine the number of nurses needed in intensive care units. However, the latest information held centrally shows that on 30 September 1986 the following whole-time equivalent nurses were employed in intensive care units in the west midlands:

  Whole Time Equivalent

  Intensive Care General Nursing

  600

  Paediatric Intensive Care

  20

  During the year ending March 1987, 28 nurses undertook the English National Board course 100 in intensive therapy nursing and six undertook course 124 in coronary care nursing. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the West Midlands regional health authority for any additional information she requires.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to when the next round of pay negotiations for nursery nurses is planned to begin.

  Mr. Newton
  The pay of nursery nurses is determined on the advice of the Independent Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives and Health Visitors, which will be reporting its recommendations to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the spring.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give his latest projection for the next five years for the number of nurses who will qualify each year for (i) England and (ii) each regional health authority; and if he will provide comparable figures for the number of nurses who currently leave each year and the number who he anticipates will leave in each of the next five years.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 16 December 1987]: I regret that not all the information requested is available. Information supplied by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting on the number of nurse learners completing basic nurse training in 1987 and projections to 1990 based on actual intakes to training is shown in the table.
  886

  Number of nurse learners completing basic nurse training England

  Year ended 31 March

  Registered Nurse Training

  Enrolled Nurse Training

  1987

  17,678

  6,426

  19881

  15,750

  4,080

  19891

  15,250

  3,510

  19901 2

  15,120

  (4)

  1 Estimated figures assuming current wastage rates.

  2 Estimates possible for only three years for registered nurses and two years for enrolled nurses from 1987 (latest available figures on intakes to training).

  Information about the numbers of nurses who leave the NHS in England is not collected centrally, but the most commonly accepted estimate for qualified nurses and midwives is 10 per cent. per annum. This figure includes retirements, those leaving to have a family and those leaving for non-NHS nursing employment. They are not therefore all lost to the profession. On that basis an estimated 23,700 in wholetime equivalent terms left the NHS in England in 1986–87.

  After allowing for wastage and failure to practise on qualification, around 22,650 learners completed training and entered the NHS in the year to 31 March 1987. It is estimated that about 7,100 qualified staff in wholetime equivalent terms returned to the NHS in that year. It is not possible to provide the further projections requested; it is for individual health authorities to plan their intake to nurse education and training each year in the light of the latest available plans and information on service developments, labour market conditions, wastage and rate of return to NHS nursing.

  NHS (Administration)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to reduce the number of administrators in the National Health Service to a level below that obtaining in 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  Since 1979, administrative and clerical staff numbers have risen from 103,000 to 111,400 (September 1986). This reflects increases in clinical support staff, such as medical secretaries, ward clerks and the like, which increased from 22,680 to 35,589 between 1982 and 1986. Their employment has released medical and nursing staff from clerical duties to spend more time directly caring for patients.

  We are well aware of the need to monitor closely both numbers of administrators and management costs. This has been done for a number of years. While not seeking to impose artificial ceilings, this has nevertheless encouraged health authorities to exercise restraint in these areas. The policy has been successful over the years in maintaining management costs at less than 5 per cent. of total NHS turnover. (Turnover is defined as total revenue and capital expenditure and revenue and capital income.)

  Expenditure (Kettering)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list total expenditure on(a) current account and (b) capital account derived from central Government sources in the Kettering district health authority in each year since the authority was established.
  887
  Mrs. Currie
  Following is the information requested derived from the annual accounts of the Kettering health authority since its establishment on 1 April 1982:

  Revenue Expenditure

  Capital Expenditure

  £ million

  £ million

  1982–83

  25·7

  0·7

  1983–84

  26·8

  1·0

  1984–85

  29·5

  1·4

  1985–86

  30·8

  1·3

  1986–87

  32·7

  1·2

  Note:

  The figures for capital expenditure include sums in respect of capital schemes within the district recorded in the accounts of the Oxford regional health authority. Revenue and capital expenditure is incurred by the latter authority for the region as a whole is excluded.

  Housing Benefit Supplement
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of claimants in receipt of housing benefit supplement in each local authority in Britain; and of these how many receive a housing benefit supplement each week of(a) under £2, (b) £2 up to £5, (c) £5 up to £10 and (d) over £10.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information on the level of housing benefit supplement paid by benefit band width is not available. Information obtained from the housing benefit subsidy claims submitted by local authorities for the 1985–86 year and indicating the total number of housing benefit supplement claims made in each authority during that year has been placed in the Library.

  Region and Health District

  Health Scheme

  Works cost £

  Start date

  Actual or Estimated completion date

  Number of beds

  Number of operating theatres

  Northern RHA

  Northumberland

  Blyth community hospital and health centre

  4,211,371

  10 December 1984

  3 June 1987 A

  78

  —

  Fenham blood transfusion service centre

  3,537,500

  31 May 1983

  30 June 1985 A

  —

  —

  Newcastle

  Freeman hospital

  2,865,079

  4 March 1985

  31 August 1987 A

  —

  —

  South Cumbria

  Furness general scheme 1 phase 2

  1,496,159

  8 December 1980

  24 May 1983 A

  —

  —

  South Cumbria

  Furness general scheme 2 phase 1

  6,080,209

  6 April 1986

  5 September 1988 E

  —

  —

  Hartlepool

  Hartlepool DGH scheme 2 phase 1

  44,886,628

  26 January 1981

  24 May 1984 A

  90

  —

  Hartlepool

  Hartlepool DGH scheme 3 phase 1

  2,391,391

  14 January 1985

  14 April 1987 A

  104

  —

  Hartlepool

  Hartlepool DGH scheme 3 phase 4

  1,900,440

  14 November 1983

  31 January 1985 A

  —

  —

  South Tyneside

  Jarrow community hospital

  3,314,250

  21 November 1983

  14 August 1986 A

  82

  —

  South Tees

  Middlesbrough general hospital

  1,565,825

  9 September 1985

  10 April 1987 A

  120

  —

  North Tyneside

  North Tyneside scheme 1 phase 1

  10,364,538

  14 April 1980

  13 December 1983 A

  334

  6

  North Tyneside

  North Tyneside scheme 2 phase 1

  4,137,500

  8 January 1985

  5 August 1987 A

  84

  —

  Gateshead

  Queen Elizabeth Gateshead scheme 3 phase 1

  6,139,179

  0 September 1981

  26 April 1985 A

  200

  6

  Gateshead

  Queen Elizabeth Gateshead scheme 3 phase 2

  1,762,698

  10 January 1983

  9 October 1984 A

  —

  —

  South Tees

  South Cleveland general scheme 2 phase 1B

  6,143,060

  28 May 1985

  30 January 1988 E

  150

  —

  South Tees

  South Cleveland general scheme 2 phase 1C

  1,034,004

  9 December 1985

  3 March 1987 A

  —

  —

  South Tyneside

  South Shields general scheme 3 phase 1

  12,011,032

  24 January 1987

  25 January 1990 E

  342

  5

  Northumberland

  St. Georges hospital boilerhouse

  1,213,183

  29 June 1987

  29 December 1988 E

  —

  —

  South Cumbria

  Westmoreland DGH scheme 1 phase 1

  15,410,127

  7 September 1987

  7 September 1990 E

  340

  2

  Yorkshire RHA

  Bradford

  Bradford royal infirmary wards/theatres (nucleus)

  2,311,000

  10 September 1984

  12 September 1986 A

  56

  4

  888
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are proposed to be taken to advise claimants of housing benefit in receipt of housing benefit supplement of its abolition next April; and what guidance is being given to local authorities paying housing benefit supplement to claimants as to how they should advise such claimants.

  Mr. Portillo
  The general publicity on the social security reforms has made it quite clear that housing benefit supplement will cease from April 1988. We are, however, still considering whether any additional information will be required for all claimants, including recipients of housing benefit supplement, during the transitional period.

  Hospital Building
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the hospital schemes costing over £1 million which have started on site since May 1979, giving in each case(a) the date of start on site, (b) the actual completion date or the present intended completion date, (c) the number of beds involved, (d) the number of operating theatres involved, (e) the cost or estimated cost and (f) the health district.

  Mrs. Currie
  The latest information held centrally, which covers all health building schemes, is set out in the table. The costs shown are for building and engineering works only; design fees and equipment costs will increase these sums by about 30 per cent.
  889

  Region and Health District

  Health Scheme

  Works cost £

  Start date

  Actual or Estimated completion date

  Number of beds

  Number of operating theatres

  East Yorkshire

  Bridlington new community hospital

  11,154,408

  14 January 1985

  23 October 1987 A

  219

  1

  East Yorkshire

  Castle hill hospital

  1,085,285

  28 May 1985

  12 March 1987 A

  60

  —

  Northallerton

  Friarage hospital phase 1 (nucleus)

  4,885,608

  30 April 1984

  1 September 1986 A

  171

  —

  Scunthorpe

  Goole new community hospital

  9,705,353

  20 May 1985

  16 December 1987 E

  166

  1

  Leeds Western

  High Royds hospital upgrading of six wards

  1,089,421

  2 June 1986

  2 November 1988 E

  177

  —

  Pontefract

  Pontefract day surgical unit

  1,198,622

  24 August 1987

  17 February 1989 E

  12

  2

  Leeds Eastern

  Regional blood transfusion centre seacroft phase 1

  2,131,162

  2 April 1984

  00 June 1986 A

  —

  —

  Regional distribution centre

  2,932,116

  1 September 1986

  5 October 1987 A

  —

  —

  Regional secure unit Wakefield

  1,390,204

  15 February 1982

  13 February 1984 A

  48

  —

  Scarborough

  Scarborough DGH phase 1 (nucleus)

  6,237,086

  7 November 1983

  25 July 1986 A

  161

  —

  Scarborough

  Scarborough geriatric day hospital and wards

  1,226,924

  25 May 1987

  26 November 1988 E

  48

  —

  Scunthorpe

  Scunthorpe DGH phase 3A service centre

  4,100,387

  9 January 1984

  8 August 1986 A

  —

  —

  Scunthorpe

  Scunthorpe DGH phase 3B A and E block

  2,720,815

  15 September 1986

  10 October 1988 E

  —

  —

  Scunthorpe

  Scunthorpe DGH phase 4A(2) four storey block

  2,176,140

  20 July 1987

  18 August 1989 E

  —

  —

  Dewsbury

  Staincliffe DGH energy centre

  3,262,108

  26 July 1982

  14 June 1985 A

  —

  —

  Dewsbury

  Staincliffe DGH pathology department (Extns and Imps)

  1,182,265

  9 March 1987

  13 March 1989 E

  —

  —

  Dewsbury

  Staincliffe DGH phase 1 (nucleus)

  13,190,622

  8 January 1985

  3 August 1988 E

  306

  4

  Trent RHA

  Bassetlaw

  Bassetlaw DGH phase 1

  4,696,449

  28 May 1980

  21 July 1983 A

  134

  2

  Bassetlaw

  Bassetlaw DGH phase 2

  4,413,608

  30 June 1986

  22 September 1989 E

  170

  2

  North Derbyshire

  Bolsover community hospital development

  2,765,308

  20 May 1985

  13 July 1987 A

  72

  —

  North Derbyshire

  Calow DGH site additional laundry facilities

  1,143,819

  26 November 1984

  4 June 1986 A

  —

  —

  North Derbyshire

  Chesterfield and North Derby Royal hospital phase 2B

  6,198,578

  21 October 1985

  00 November 1988 E

  168

  4

  North Derbyshire

  Chesterfield DGH phase 2A MI provision

  1,957,141

  3 September 1984

  28 April 1986 A

  —

  —

  Leicestershire

  Coalville community hospital

  3,288,219

  14 October 1985

  16 October 1987 A

  96

  —

  South Derbyshire

  Derby city phase 1

  11,862,209

  2 August 1982

  20 December 1985 A

  242

  4

  South Derbyshire

  Derby Royal infirmary—phase 2

  8,436,949

  23 January 1984

  2 October 1986 A

  180

  —

  South Derbyshire

  Derby Royal infirmary—phase 2 kitchen and dining

  1,092,929

  19 June 1985

  29 June 1987 A

  —

  —

  Doncaster

  Doncaster Royal infirmary childrens unit

  3,335,582

  20 October 1986

  6 November 1988 E

  88

  —

  Leicestershire

  Glenfield DGH phase 1

  10,630,644

  22 September 1980

  13 April 1983 A

  200

  4

  Leicestershire

  Glenfield DGH phase 2

  12,647,836

  11 May 1987

  7 April 1990 E

  258

  4

  Trent RHA

  South Lincolnshire

  Grantham and Kesteven accident and emergency and x-ray

  1,220,923

  November 1984

  14 July 1986 A

  14

  —

  Southern

  Ilkeston community hospital

  4,556,638

  5 March 1984

  16 April 1987 A

  72

  1

  South Lincolnshire

  John Spalding

  1,035,514

  21 January 1985

  16 June 1986 A

  56

  —

  Barnsley

  Kendray hospital—phase 1—redevelopment

  1,974,579

  January 1982

  9 December 1983 A

  104

  —

  Central Nottinghamshire

  Kings Mill—mortuary and histopathology

  1,110,069

  13 April 1987

  22 July 1988 E

  —

  —

  Central Nottinghamshire

  Kings Mill DGH phase 1A

  1,441,063

  29 March 1982

  6 April 1984 A

  —

  —

  Central Nottinghamshire

  Kings Mill DGH phase 2

  2,751,813

  21 May 1984

  7 July 1986 A

  120

  —

  Central Nottinghamshire

  Kings Mill DGH phase 3 enabling works

  3,347,301

  27 January 1986

  1 November 1987 E

  —

  —

  Leicestershire

  Leicester general MIU

  2,698,182

  2 June 1980

  17 November 1982 A

  160

  —

  Leicestershire

  Leicester royal infirmary phase 4B

  15,751,965

  26 October 1987

  1 July 1990 E

  465

  —

  North Lincolnshire

  Lincoln county phase 1

  9,037,589

  20 July 1981

  20 July 1984 A

  112

  4

  North Lincolnshire

  Lincoln county phase 1A and 1B

  3,240,841

  14 May 1984

  20 June 1986 A

  100

  —

  North Lincolnshire

  Lincoln county phase 1C—MIU

  2,510,954

  4 February 1985

  5 December 1986 A

  90

  —

  Doncaster

  Montagu Mexborough wards and theatres

  2,028,992

  3 February 1986

  4 July 1988 E

  56

  3

  Sheffield

  Northern general geriatric

  5,781,100

  28 October 1985

  20 December 1987 E

  196

  —

  Sheffield

  Northern general phase 1C

  5,691,383

  31 January 1983

  3 May 1985 A

  236

  —

  890 891

  Region and Health District

  Health Scheme

  Works cost £

  Start date

  Actual or Estimated completion dale

  Number of beds

  Number of operating theatres

  Nottingham

  Notts City mortuary and histopathology

  1,054,610

  24 October 1983

  16 September 1985 A

  —

  —

  South Lincolnshire

  Pilgrim hospital (Boston)—phase 3— MIU

  2,678,084

  22 October 1984

  6 July 1987 A

  116

  —

  South Lincolnshire

  Pilgrim hospital (Boston) support services

  1,019,158

  6 April 1987

  30 September 1988 E

  —

  —

  Rotherham

  Rotherham DGH phase 1 (Moorgate) laundry

  1,641,316

  25 July 1983

  20 December 1984 A

  —

  —

  Rotherham

  Rotherham DGH phase 2

  6,375,346

  8 September 1980

  5 May 1983 A

  178

  —

  Sheffield

  Sheffield childrens phase 1 development

  4,908,127

  14 April 1986

  September 1988 E

  49

  3

  Leicestershire

  Towers hospital Leicester

  1,404,744

  30 June 1980

  26 March 1983 A

  60

  —

  Bassetlaw

  Victoria Mansfield—phase 1

  2,002,667

  7 January 1985

  4 October 1988 E

  84

  —

  East Anglian RHA

  Cambridge

  Addenbrookes geriatric unit

  3,864,130

  4 August 1980

  3 March 1983 A

  208

  —

  Cambridge

  Addenbrookes operating theatre extension

  1,273,967

  30 March 1981

  25 March 1983 A

  —

  2

  West Suffolk

  Bury St. Edmunds new central store

  1,251,170

  20 October 1986

  29 May 1987 A

  —

  —

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  Chatterton House Kings Lynn— phase 2

  1,761,836

  10 February 1986

  July 1987 A

  48

  —

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  Great Yarmouth DGH phase 2

  4,078,713

  1 February 1982

  15 November 1984 A

  240

  4

  Huntingdon

  Hinchingbrooke hospital Huntingdon phase 3

  10,677,970

  20 August 1979

  10 January 1983 A

  227

  7

  Huntingdon

  Hinchingbrooke hospital Huntingdon phase 4

  1,052,989

  7 September 1981

  14 February 1983 A

  —

  —

  Ipswich

  Ipswich phase 1 Heath Road wing (nucleus)

  6,223,133

  14 April 1980

  13 April 1983 A

  308

  6

  Ipswich

  Ipswich phase 3 Heath Road wing (nucleus)

  3,810,340

  30 September 1985

  7 December 1987 E

  56

  4

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  London Road Kings Lynn contract 2

  1,167,419

  16 June 1987

  2 October 1988 E

  24

  —

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  North Cambridgeshire major development

  1,587,668

  12 August 1985

  1 May 1987 A

  48

  —

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  Northgate—Conversion of Maternity unit to geriatric

  1,182,199

  8 June 1987

  2 January 1989 E

  48

  —

  Peterborough

  Peterborough 2nd DGH phase 1

  12,908,108

  27 February 1984

  11 December 1987 E

  284

  4

  Peterborough

  Peterborough district opd/pathology

  1,606,710

  9 May 1983

  11 March 1985 A

  —

  —

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  Queen Elizabeth Kings Lynn stage 1

  1,481,907

  3 October 1983

  29 April 1985 A

  120

  —

  Cambridge

  Regional blood transfusion centre

  1,009,847

  28 May 1985

  11 November 1987 A

  —

  —

  Cambridge

  Rosie maternity—Cambridge

  4,700,000

  3 August 1981

  17 June 1983 A

  104

  —

  St. Andrew's regional forensic psychiatric unit

  1,288,039

  17 May 1982

  26 September 1983 A

  —

  —

  West Suffolk

  West Suffolk Bury St Edmunds stage 1

  2,150,253

  30 January 1984

  23 August 1985 A

  48

  North West Thames

  RHA

  Barnet

  Barnet General Hospital

  1,482,591

  1 September 1981

  19 September 1983 A

  —

  —

  North Bedfordshire

  Bedford general rehabilitation facilities

  1,542,287

  16 June 1986

  18 December 1987 E

  —

  Brent

  Central Middlesex pathology department

  1,617,064

  8 October 1984

  31 October 1986 A

  —

  —

  Brent

  Central Middlesex psychiatric unit

  2,869,322

  18 November 1985

  16 November 1987 E

  90

  —

  Riverside

  Charing Cross Hospital medical oncology

  1,716,164

  1 September 1981

  29 April 1983 A

  —

  —

  Riverside

  Charing Cross Hospital north block

  3,616,324

  1 September 1981

  1 May 1984 A

  —

  —

  Riverside

  Chiswick conversion to psychogeria-trics

  1,438,799

  1 June 1985

  1 September 1986 A

  —

  —

  Ealing

  Clayponds geriatric unit (nucleus)

  3,216,151

  1 February 1987

  14 October 1988 E

  72

  —

  Ealing

  Ealing maternity unit

  3,543,101

  9 June 1986

  15 February 1988 E

  55

  —

  Barnet

  Edgware General Hospital

  1,362,200

  28 October 1985

  1 July 1988 E

  —

  —

  North West Hertfordshire

  Gossoms end day unit

  1,763,928

  23 February 1987

  10 October 1988 E

  —

  —

  North West Bedfordshire

  Hemel Hempstead phase 1—main block redevelopment

  5,906,036

  14 November 1983

  27 February 1987 A

  84

  3

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  Hounslow and Spelthorne district store

  1,284,865

  1 November 1985

  28 October 1986 A

  —

  —

  North Hertfordshire

  Lister maternity unit (nucleus)

  2,579,632

  8 February 1982

  10 February 1984 A

  76

  —

  North Hertfordshire

  Lister residential accommodation

  1,168,775

  12 March 1984

  10 June 1985 A

  —

  —

  South Bedfordshire

  Luton and Dunstable kitchen and dining room

  1,497,058

  4 September 1981

  9 August 1983 A

  —

  —

  892 893

  Region and Health District

  Health Scheme

  Works cost £

  Start date

  Actual or Estimated completion date

  Number of beds

  Number of operating theatres

  Hillingdon

  Mount Vernon medical block

  1,194,000

  18 May 1987

  16 December 1987 E

  100

  —

  North West Hertfordshire

  North West Hertfordshire district office accommodation

  1,263,191

  15 July 1985

  5 September 1986 A

  —

  —

  North London blood transfusion centre—enabling works

  2,838,332

  1 June 1987

  14 October 1988 E

  —

  —

  North London blood transfusion centre

  4,610,588

  1 June 1987

  14 October 1988 E

  —

  —

  Paddington and North Kensington

  Paddington and North Kensington divisional store 6

  1,344,605

  10 February 1986

  7 December 1986 A

  —

  —

  Queen Elizabeth II reorganisation of acute facilities phase 1

  2,240,080

  3 August 1987

  26 November 1989 E

  —

  —

  Ealing

  Regional secure unit Ealing Hospital

  1,440,323

  8 May 1984

  7 January 1986 A

  40

  —

  North West Herts

  St. Albans city hospital geriatric unit

  1,617,046

  19 April 1982

  29 February 1984 A

  84

  —

  North West Herts

  St. Albans city hospital residential accommodation

  1,019,215

  18 July 1983

  12 November 1984 A

  —

  —

  North West Herts

  St. Albans redevelopment of main phase

  5,859,553

  17 November 1986

  31 January 1989 E

  —

  4

  Paddington and North Kensington

  St. Charles' hospital

  3,155,802

  19 April 1982

  16 January 1985 A

  116

  —

  Paddington and North Kensington

  St. Mary's W2 phase 1A

  2,529,389

  27 April 1981

  26 April 1983 A

  60

  —

  Paddington and North Kensington

  St. Mary's W2 phase 1B

  20,397,915

  22 November 1982

  15 April 1987 A

  338

  —

  South West Herts

  Watford (Shrodells wing) phase 3

  13,464,151

  24 September 1979

  17 February 1984 A

  368

  12

  South West Herts

  Watford (Shrodells wing) residential

  1,050,267

  25 May 1983

  28 November 1984 A

  —

  —

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  West Middlesex geriatric unit

  1,487,256

  14 December 1981

  12 December 1983 A

  84

  —

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  West Middlesex geriatric unit (completion weeks)

  1,245,353

  1 August 1983

  10 September 1984 A

  84

  —

  North East Thames

  RHA

  Barking

  Barking elderly care services development

  4,324,131

  May 1987

  February 1989 E

  124

  —

  Mid Essex

  Broomfield phase 5

  7,359,641

  6 April 1981

  23 November 1984 A

  8

  4

  Mid Essex

  Broomfield ward block

  2,716,089

  3 September 1984

  15 June 1987 A

  224

  —

  North East Essex

  Clacton community hospital phase 2

  1,052,952

  1 December 1986

  19 April 1988 E

  48

  —

  North East Essex

  Clacton district phase 1 stages 1 and 2

  2,887,330

  14 February 1983

  13 February 1985 A

  46

  —

  North East Essex

  Colchester DGH phase 2

  10,990,807

  16 March 1981

  1 October 1984 A

  286

  4

  North East Essex

  Colchester DGH phase 3 residential

  2,565,700

  29 November 1982

  March 1985 A

  —

  —

  Bloomsbury

  Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

  1,772,303

  September 1981

  December 1983 A

  —

  —

  Barking

  Harold Wood phase 1

  7,477,330

  6 February 1984

  5 January 1987 A

  112

  3

  Barking

  Harold Wood phase 2 school of nursing

  1,506,326

  6 May 1986

  13 January 1988 E

  —

  —

  Barking

  High Wood—extension to laurels

  1,885,327

  27 April 1987

  12 August 1988 E

  60

  City and Hackney

  Homerton hospital phase 1

  13,225,741

  1 June 1982

  19 March 1986 A

  428

  4

  Tower Hamlet

  London hospital (Mile End)

  5,182,249

  2 February 1987

  1 May 1989 E

  144

  —

  Newham

  Newham Hospital phase 1 (nucleus)

  8,597,602

  10 September 1979

  8 September 1982 A

  293

  4

  Newham

  Newham Hospital phase 2 (nucleus)

  3,944,691

  21 February 1983

  May 1985 A

  121

  —

  Haringey

  North Middlesex Boiler House & Works Department

  2,188,319

  22 May 1985

  26 July 1987 A

  —

  —

  Haringey

  North Middlesex Geriatric & Catering

  4,017,277

  17 March 1986

  16 June 1988 E

  96

  —

  Southend

  Rochford Geriatric Wards

  3,969,527

  June 1986

  27 June 1988 E

  96

  —

  Haringey

  St. Ann's Geriatric Unit

  3,479,760

  3 August 1987

  31 March 1989 E

  96

  —

  Haringey

  St. Ann's MI day hospital and ESMI

  1,310,522

  6 October 1986

  1 March 1988 E

  80

  —

  West Essex

  St. Margaret's—Epping (mental handicapped)

  1,046,140

  21 January 1985

  1 November 1986 A

  —

  —

  Islington

  Whittington redevelopment phase 1

  10,876,344

  2 November 1987

  13 August 1990 E

  244

  —

  South East Thames

  RHA

  South East Kent

  Archery House—MH unit

  3,325,387

  31 January 1983

  28 June 1985 A

  96

  —

  Bromley

  Bassetts Residential Centre—MH services

  3,656,071

  15 October 1984

  19 February 1987 A

  —

  —

  Bromley

  Bethlem Royal Hospital (SASS)

  1,032,404

  29 November 1982

  25 May 1984 A

  30

  —

  South East Kent

  Buckland DGH

  2,358,469

  9 January 1984

  9 March 1987 A

  —

  —

  Camberwell

  Crystal Palace (Bowley Close)—MH centre

  2,992,182

  25 November 1985

  3 August 1987 A

  72

  —

  894 895

  Region and Health District

  Health Scheme

  Works cost £

  Start date

  Actual or Estimated completion date

  Number of beds

  Number of operating theatres

  Eastbourne

  Eastbourne new DGH phase 2

  12,009,727

  23 June 1986

  31 December 1988 E

  140

  —

  Canterbury

  Faversham Hospital Geriatric Wards

  1,052,664

  2 March 1987

  2 June 1988 E

  24

  —

  Hastings

  Hastings DGH pre-phase works

  2,555,581

  23 June 1986

  22 December 1987 E

  —

  —

  Canterbury

  Isle of Thanet DGH—Margate wing interim development

  1,700,899

  12 May 1986

  17 August 1987 A

  28

  —

  Maidstone

  Kent & Sussex—Tunbridge Wells phase 1

  4,935,417

  19 April 1982

  5 November 1984 A

  14

  —

  Maidstone

  Kent & Sussex—Tunbridge Wells phase 2

  1,886,990

  25 June 1985

  8 June 1987 A

  97

  —

  Camberwell

  Kings College—children's ward

  1,255,542

  5 January 1981

  18 February 1983 A

  —

  —

  Lewisham & Southwark

  Lewisham DGH phase 1A

  6,032,680

  8 February 1982

  27 March 1986 A

  —

  4

  Lewisham & Southwark

  Lewisham DGH phase 1B

  2,723,583

  17 January 1983

  3 June 1987 A

  —

  —

  Maidstone

  Maidstone DGH phase 1 (nucleus)

  10,769,425

  28 April 1980

  20 April 1983 A

  262

  —

  Maidstone

  Maidstone DGH phase 1A (nucleus)

  1,916,815

  23 January 1984

  2 September 1985 A

  112

  —

  Maidstone

  Maidstone DGH staff residences

  1,432,417

  4 January 1982

  12 July 83 A

  —

  —

  Medway

  Medway DGH phase 3B

  13,393,204

  6 October 1986

  14 June 1989 E

  186

  —

  Medway

  Medway DGH residential

  1,155,205

  7 November 1983

  8 March 1985 A

  —

  —

  Bromley

  Orpington phase 1

  6,194,928

  9 June 1980

  16 December 1983 A

  300

  —

  Bexley

  Queen Mary's Sidcup—extension to maternity department

  1,368,901

  8 Februrary 1982

  23 March 1984 A

  —

  —

  Bexley

  Queen Mary's Sidcup—pathology

  1,057,898

  13 January 1986

  16 November 1987 E

  —

  —

  SE Kent

  RVH Folkestone phase 2

  1,888,782

  2 March 1987

  25 November 1988 E

  —

  —

  Eastbourne

  Seaford Health Centre

  1,200,638

  13 January 1986

  17 July 1987 A

  —

  —

  W Lambeth

  St Thomas' Hospital—south wing

  8,714,167

  1 June 1987

  31 May 1989 E

  129

  —

  W Lambeth

  Thamesmead main health centre

  1,902,850

  13 December 1982

  8 July 1985 A

  —

  —

  SE Kent

  William Harvey

  1,049,676

  1 March 1982

  11 January 1984 A

  —

  —

  SW Thames RHA

  Mid-Downs

  Crawley Hospital phase 4

  1,242,346

  13 October 1986

  April 1988 E

  46

  —

  Croydon

  Croydon/Mayday ante-natal & PG med centre

  1,171,364

  31 October 1983

  29 April 1985 A

  —

  —

  Croydon

  Croydon/Mayday DGH (Nucleus)

  8,519,504

  17 September 1979

  10 December 1982 A

  330

  8

  Croydon

  Croydon/Mayday DGH geriatric & rehabilitation unit

  1,316,349

  21 May 1984

  13 December 1986 A

  63

  —

  E Surrey

  Dene Hospital development Caterham

  1,279,502

  21 November 1983

  20 August 1985 A

  —

  —

  W Surrey

  Greenfield mentally handicapped conversion

  1,507,462

  14 September 1981

  13 September 1983 A

  72

  —

  NE Hants

  Harrowlands—unit for younger disabled

  1,335,925

  30 June 1986

  7 December 1987 E

  20

  —

  Mid-Downs

  Horsham Hospital mental illness unit

  2,020,488

  August 1987

  April 1989 E

  54

  —

  Mid-Surrey

  Manor Hospital kitchen & staff dining room

  1,034,999

  4 May 1982

  3 August 1984 A

  —

  —

  Mid-Surrey

  Manor Hospital MH units

  1,266,536

  13 September 1982

  May 1984 A

  —

  —

  Mid-Downs

  Mid Sussex phase 1

  18,557,421

  14 July 1986

  20 September 1989 E

  330

  4

  SW Surrey

  Milford Hospital Waverley

  1,184,848

  9 April 1984

  8 October 1985 A

  —

  —

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  Queen Mary's Roehampton phase 1

  3,131,584

  19 April 1982

  April 1984 A

  20

  3

  East Surrey

  Redhill residential

  1,718,909

  20 July 1981

  20 April 1983 A

  —

  —

  South West Surrey

  Royal Surrey County Guildford phase 2

  13,612,790

  1 September 1986

  30 November 1989 E

  151

  —

  South West Surrey

  Royal Surrey County Guildford teaching unit

  1,259,621

  30 January 1984

  22 November 1985 A

  —

  —

  Wandsworth

  St. Georges block H phase 2A

  16,953,738

  4 June 1984

  21 September 1987 A

  360

  6

  Wandsworth

  St. Georges blocks G2 and F phase 2

  9,904,806

  9 November 1981

  9 May 1985 A

  —

  —

  Merton/Sutton

  St. Helier maternity unit alterations

  1,011,322

  12 October 1981

  10 October 1983 A

  —

  —

  Wessex RHA

  Winchester

  Andover Community Hospital

  3,076,639

  15 October 1984

  24 August 1987 A

  78

  2

  West Dorset

  Blandford Community Hospital development—phase 1

  1,917,861

  23 June 1982

  19 April 1984 A

  50

  —

  East Dorset

  Bournemouth DGH—phase 1 (nucleus)

  14,140,611

  6 August 1984

  1 April 1988 E

  289

  4

  East Dorset

  Bournemouth DGH—phase IB (residential)

  3,407,483

  13 January 1986

  23 November 1987 E

  —

  —

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  Havant health centre

  1,366,310

  25 January 1982

  February 1984 A

  —

  —

  Salisbury

  Odstock Hospital rehabilitation and catering

  1,026,779

  July 1981

  September 1983 A

  —

  —

  896 897

  Region and Health District

  Health Scheme

  Works cost £

  Start date

  Actual or Estimated completion date

  Number of beds

  Number of operating theatres

  Salisbury

  Odstock Hospital spinal injuries unit

  3,297,929

  26 August 1981

  21 October 1983 A

  50

  —

  East Dorset

  Poole General Hospital—ESMI assessment unit/day hospital

  3,827,121

  20 July 1987

  19 July 1989 E

  112

  —

  East Dorset

  Poole General Hospital—maternity extension

  1,472,447

  1 October 1987

  2 October 1987 A

  24

  —

  Winchester

  Royal Hampshire County Winchester —phase 4 (nucleus)

  8,943,857

  8 December 1982

  16 May 1986 A

  278

  4

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  Royal South Hampshire Southampton—phase 3

  9,956,350

  17 October 1983

  15 December 1986 A

  20

  Bath

  Royal United Bath—operating theatres

  4,773,673

  28 November 1985

  7 March 1989 E

  —

  8

  Bath

  Royal United Bath—residential accommodation

  1,539,876

  11 April 1984

  10 July 1985 A

  —

  —

  Bath

  Royal United Bath—ward block

  3,962,201

  6 February 1984

  31 January 1987 A

  168

  —

  Bath

  St. Andrew's redevelopment—phase 1A

  1,161,282

  18 August 1986

  20 November 1987 E

  48

  —

  Bath

  St. Ann's Canford Cliffs—extension contract 1

  2,188,660

  19 October 1987

  19 July 1988 E

  100

  —

  Bath

  St. Martin's Bath geriatric wards

  1,936,354

  27 May 1987

  8 March 1989 E

  96

  —

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  St. Mary's Portsmouth

  6,611,853

  24 August 1987

  24 November 1989 E

  4

  8

  Isle of Wight

  St. Mary's—Isle of Wight—phase 3B (nucleus)

  15,895,327

  28 October 1985

  February 1989 E

  87

  4

  Swindon

  Swindon laundry

  2,055,465

  14 July 1982

  14 May 1984 A

  —

  —

  West Dorset

  West Dorset DGH phase 1

  10,480,035

  30 April 1984

  22 May 1987 A

  134

  2

  Oxford

  Wycombe

  Amersham operating theatres

  1,333,653

  18 May 1981

  24 June 1983 A

  —

  3

  East Berkshire

  heatherwood MI/EMI

  3,754,584

  15 April 1985

  16 November 1987 E

  75

  —

  Wycombe

  High Wycombe pathology

  1,053,300

  12 December 1983

  5 July 1985 A

  —

  —

  Oxfordshire

  Horton operating theatres

  1,274,086

  19 January 1981

  15 April 1983 A

  —

  3

  Oxfordshire

  Horton phase 3A geriatric

  1,367,696

  14 July 1986

  5 November 1987 E

  53

  —

  Oxfordshire

  John Radcliffe hospital—phase 3

  3,138,810

  26 May 1987

  25 November 1988 E

  58

  —

  Kettering

  Kettering—new theatres: Spencer ward

  1,361,953

  20 July 1987

  15 January 1989 E

  10

  3

  Milton Keynes

  Milton Keynes DGH—MI unit

  2,422,087

  18 May 1987

  14 April 1989 E

  50

  —

  Milton Keynes

  Milton Keynes DGH—phase 1

  12,622,800

  6 October 1980

  12 September 1983 A

  265

  4

  Northampton

  Northampton DGH phase 2B

  1,761,364

  9 February 1981

  18 June 1982 A

  120

  —

  Northampton

  Northampton DGH phase 3

  1,603,784

  16 May 1983

  17 May 1985 A

  —

  —

  Aylesbury Vale

  Stoke Mandeville—pathology

  1,132,346

  5 October 1987

  3 February 1989 E

  —

  —

  Aylesbury Vale

  Stoke Mandeville—X-ray

  1,149,659

  6 January 1986

  10 July 1987 A

  —

  —

  East Berkshire

  Wexham Park—EMI/MI

  2,196,819

  4 July 1983

  6 February 1986 A

  70

  4

  East Berkshire

  Wexham Park—Maternity unit

  4,485,975

  26 October 1981

  27 July 1984 A

  130

  2

  East Berkshire

  Wexham Park—MODS pathology, pharmacy and X-ray

  1,185,104

  8 July 1985

  27 November 1987 E

  —

  —

  East Berkshire

  Wexham Park—Paediatric department and stores

  2,155,847

  31 May 1983

  11 February 1985 A

  43

  —

  East Berkshire

  Wexham Park—Rehabilitation unit

  1,311,482

  19 November 1986

  17 August 1988 E

  —

  —

  East Berkshire

  Wexham Park—Residential

  1,452,561

  16 September 1985

  3 June 1987 A

  —

  —

  South Western RHA

  Bristol and Weston

  Bristol Eye Hospital

  4,024,429

  12 July 1982

  23 April 1985 A

  78

  3

  Exeter

  Butler Clinic—Langdon Hospital, Dawlish

  1,052,022

  7 July 1980

  1 April 1982 A

  30

  —

  Cheltenham and District

  Charlton Lane Development phase 1A

  1,178,217

  22 September 1986

  21 September 1987 A

  50

  —

  Cheltenham and District

  Cheltenham General phase 1A

  1,856,192

  28 June 1982

  22 June 1984 A

  —

  —

  Cheltenham and District

  Cheltenham General phase IB

  6, 614,327

  19 August 1985

  21 June 1988 E

  120

  2

  Cheltenham and District

  Cirencester Memorial Replacement and ESMI beds

  3,482,447

  6 January 1986

  December 1987 E

  74

  1

  Plymouth

  Derriford DGH Tower Block fitting out

  2,897,107

  December 1984

  16 January 1987 A

  —

  —

  Frenchay

  Frenchay DGH boiler house

  1,237,757

  28 October 1985

  1 May 1987 A

  —

  —

  Frenchay

  Frenchay DGH phase 1

  6,240,327

  7 July 1986

  26 May 1989 E

  188

  —

  Frenchay

  Glenside sub-regional secure unit

  1,510,016

  5 January 1987

  5 July 1988 E

  —

  —

  Gloucester

  Gloucester Royal phase 4B

  3,840,926

  7 April 1986

  13 January 1989 E

  —

  3

  Gloucester

  Gloucester Royal phase 4C

  1,182,507

  1 December 1980

  11 June 1982 A

  56

  —

  Frenchay

  Hannam Hall redevelopment phase I

  1,090,551

  30 November 1981

  10 September 1983 A

  —

  —

  898 899

  Region and Health District

  Health Scheme

  Works cost £

  Start date

  Actual or Estimated completion date

  Number of beds

  Number of operating theatres

  Southmead

  Hortham Hospital—engineering improvements

  1,245,695

  2 November 1981

  28 October 1983 A

  —

  —

  Exeter

  P.E.O.H. boiler house and renewal of eng. services

  1,084,000

  23 January 1984

  29 November 1985 A

  —

  —

  Exeter

  Royal Devon and Exeter (Wonford) Acute Geriatric

  1,197,000

  6 August 1984

  16 April 1986 A

  56

  —

  North Devon

  South Molton Hospital Geriatric and GP Unit

  1,402,950

  24 February 1986

  6 April 1988 E

  28

  —

  Southmead

  Southmead Hospital—central delivery suite

  1,109,458

  23 May 1983

  22 February 1985 A

  —

  1

  Southmead

  Southmead pathology phase 1

  3,059,730

  16 March 1987

  27 March 1989 E

  —

  —

  Chel and District

  Tewkesbury General Hospital

  1,472,853

  28 July 1986

  12 February 1988 E

  —

  —

  Torbay

  Torbay DGH maternity unit

  2,358,298

  2 August 1982

  28 September 1984 A

  68

  —

  Torbay

  Torbay MI unit

  2,279,300

  26 November 1984

  18 August 1986 A

  60

  —

  Somerset

  West Somerset (Musgrove Park) DGH phase 1

  5,876,191

  8 November 1982

  10 October 1986 A

  150

  2

  Bristol and Weston

  Weston-super-Mare New Hospital

  11,007,359

  6 September 1982

  18 April 1986 A

  252

  4

  Somerset

  Williton New Geriatric Hospital

  1,703,010

  24 November 1986

  26 August 1988 E

  56

  —

  West Midlands RHA

  Oxfordshire

  Bradwell new geriatric unit (nucleus)

  4,263,207

  15 April 1985

  30 October 1987 A

  96

  —

  Bromsgrove

  Bromsgrove Redditch DGH contract 3 (residential)

  1,208,783

  1 February 1984

  31 July 1985 A

  —

  —

  Bromsgrove

  Bromsgrove Redditch DGH PH 1 contract 2 (nucleus)

  15,110,938

  1 November 1982

  11 April 1986 A

  393

  4

  Hereford

  Bromyard community hospital

  2,404,991

  16 June 1986

  15 May 1988 E

  20

  —

  South East Staffordsh ire

  Burton (outwoods) psychiatric/ temporary maternity

  2,025,483

  22 September 1986

  2 April 1988 E

  68

  —

  South East Staffordshire

  Burton on Trent DGH (central production unit)

  1,837,120

  13 October 1986

  27 May 1988 E

  —

  —

  North Staffordshire

  Cheadle new geriatric unit

  3,262,718

  1 October 1984

  3 July 1987 A

  81

  —

  North Staffordshire

  City General Stoke nurses' training school

  1,174,319

  July 1983

  23 November 1984 A

  —

  —

  North Staffordshire

  City General Stoke surgical accommodation (nucleus)

  13,563,581

  11 March 1985

  4 September 1988 E

  278

  —

  Dudley

  Dudley-Guest rehabilitation unit

  1,148,576

  6 April 1987

  6 October 1988 E

  —

  —

  Dudley

  Dudley Road maternity extension

  1,413,377

  20 August 1984

  28 March 1986 A

  —

  —

  Dudley

  Edward Street-psychiatric/geriatric

  4,644,341

  1 September 1986

  20 December 1988 E

  96

  —

  North Warwickshire

  George Elliot Nuneaton phase 2 (nucleus)

  4,434,122

  27 July 1984

  7 November 1986 A

  56

  —

  North Birmingham

  Good Hope phase 1

  2,976,656

  9 April 1984

  2 June 1986 A

  —

  4

  North Birmingham

  Good Hope phase 2

  4,452,493

  6 January 1986

  15 March 1988 E

  —

  —

  North Birmingham

  Good Hope phase 3A

  1,595,346

  7 July 1986

  3 January 1988 E

  138

  —

  Walsall

  Goscote (new kitchen and dining room)

  1,491,125

  14 January 1985

  February 1987 A

  —

  —

  Herefordshire

  Hereford County-acute psychiatry unit

  1,742,748

  17 January 1983

  25 February 1985 A

  60

  —

  Kidderminister

  Kidderminister DGH phase 5 (nucleus)

  2,668,371

  17 February 1982

  24 October 1984 A

  96

  —

  Wolverhampton

  New Cross Wolverhampton wards and theatres (nucleus)

  2,043,354

  15 June 1981

  13 June 1983 A

  56

  4

  Wolverhampton

  New Cross Wolverhamton wards 1 and 2 (nucleus)

  3,111,025

  7 February 1983

  10 May 1985 A

  —

  —

  Worcester

  Newtown Worcester ESMI unit

  1,380,526

  23 February 1981

  31 May 1983 A

  —

  —

  North Staffordshire

  North Staffordshire royal infirmary boiler house

  1,119,279

  26 March 1984

  13 December 1985 A

  —

  —

  North Staffordshire

  Pelsall ambulance training centre

  1,315,814

  14 November 1983

  14 May 1985 A

  —

  —

  South Birmingham

  Rubery Hill regional psychiatric in-tensive care unit

  3,889,096

  12 February 1985

  17 July 1987 A

  100

  —

  Central

  Birmingham

  Queen Elizabeth Birmingham—phase 1 and 2

  1,653,089

  2 May 1983

  28 January 1985 A

  —

  —

  Birmingham

  Queen Elizabeth Birmingham—phase 3 contract1

  1,335,514

  7 April 1986

  31 July 1988 E

  —

  —

  Wolverhampton

  Royal Wolverhampton—new boiler house

  1,229,048

  September 1982

  March 1984 A

  —

  —

  Sandwell

  Sandwell DGH maternity dept. clinic

  1,860,214

  September 1992

  September 1984 A

  —

  —

  Rugby

  St. Cross Rugby maternity

  1,149,922

  8 December 1980

  6 December 1982 A

  30

  —

  Mid Staffordshire

  St. Georges Stafford phase 2

  2,133,676

  1 June 1981

  January 1984 A

  —

  —

  Shropshire

  Telford DGH phase 1

  18,322,673

  26 November 1984

  31 August 1988 E

  338

  4

  900 901

  Region and Health District

  Health Scheme

  Works cost £

  Start date

  Actual or Estimated completion date

  Number of beds

  Number of operating theatres

  Shropshire

  Town wharf residential accommodation

  1,041,821

  8 July 1985

  6 March 1987 A

  —

  —

  Walsall

  Walsall phase 4a and 4b (nucleus)

  14,480,519

  7 January 1985

  7 September 1988 E

  297

  4

  Coventry

  Walsgrave Radiotherapy treatment unit

  2,985,362

  12 November 1984

  6 February 1987 A

  —

  —

  South Warwickshire

  Warwick DGH—phase 1 (nucleus)

  4,594,686

  17 June 1985

  6 March 1988 E

  135

  4

  Dudley

  Wordsley—obstetrics

  4,565,889

  19 November 1984

  25 October 1987 E

  —

  —

  Mersey RHA

  Liverpool

  Alder Hey child heath institute

  4,556,420

  18 March 1985

  April 1988 E

  —

  1

  Liverpool

  Alder Hey new boiler house

  1,242,265

  30 April 1984

  29 July 1985 A

  —

  —

  Liverpool

  Broadgreen cardiology-cardio-thoracic unit

  1,336,000

  27 November 1979

  26 November 1981 A

  —

  —

  Liverpool

  Broadgreen development phase 1 (nucleus)

  8,623,560

  6 January 1986

  31 March 1988 E

  292

  —

  Wirral

  Clatterbridge medical unit (Nucleus)

  2,514,576

  October 1986

  4 October 1988 E

  109

  —

  South Sefton

  Fazakerley hospital acute MI unit

  1,727,745

  11 May 1987

  8 July 1988 E

  125

  —

  Halton

  Halton DGH phase 2 (nucleus)

  6,020,514

  22 February 1982

  18 August 1984 A

  232

  2

  Halton

  Halton hospital residential accommodation

  1,078,333

  April 1984

  September 1985 A

  —

  —

  Macclesfield

  Macclesfield development (nucleus)

  8,717,398

  21 January 1980

  24 June 1883 A

  208

  4

  Liverpool

  Mossley Hill ESMI unit

  1,490,845

  January 1985

  19 December 1986 A

  30

  —

  Southport and Formby

  North Sefton DGH Southport phase 1 (nucleus)

  16,590,435

  29 May 1984

  25 March 1988 E

  301

  4

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  Rainhill regional secure unit

  1,792,049

  19 January 1981

  7 June 1983 A

  51

  —

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  Regional stores

  2,182,000

  30 April 1984

  11 January 1985 A

  —

  —

  Southport and Formby

  Southport infirmary—new main block

  1,499,667

  26 January 1981

  26 July 1982 A

  30

  4

  Wirral

  St. Catherine's Birkenhead redevelopment phase 1

  2,913,000

  21 October 1985

  27 November 1987 E

  112

  —

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  St. Helens phase 2

  1,787,651

  2 February 1987

  13 November 1987 E

  —

  —

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  St. Helens redevelopment phase 1 boiler house

  2,884,915

  7 April 1986

  7 February 1988 E

  —

  —

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  St. Helens redevelopment phase 1 Geriatric

  1,072,085

  23 November 1981

  21 December 1983 A

  60

  —

  Warrington

  Warrington DGH phase B (nucleus)

  4,293,354

  17 March 1986

  25 March 1988 E

  204

  —

  North Western RHA

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  Blackpool Victoria phase 4

  2,880,493

  15 February 1984

  15 May 1986 A

  112

  3

  Bolton

  Bolton DGH boiler house

  1,698,141

  22 November 1982

  22 August 1984 A

  —

  —

  Bolton

  Bolton DGH ESMI and geriatric unit

  3,048,210

  14 June 1982

  10 September 1984 A

  152

  —

  Bolton

  Bolton DGH MIU

  1,412,462

  15 July 1985

  29 September 1986 A

  48

  —

  Burnley Pendle and Rossendale

  Burnley general Reedyford—HSDU and replace pharmacy

  1,442,245

  21 January 1985

  November 1987 E

  —

  —

  Burnley Pendle and Rossendale

  Burnley general phase 3

  4,152,174

  18 June 1984

  4 July 1986 A

  168

  3

  Burnley Pendle and Rossendale

  Burnley general younger disabled unit

  1,177,100

  15 April 1985

  5 December 1986 A

  26

  —

  Chorley and South Ribble

  Chorley DGH geriatric unit

  1,279,114

  29 June 1987

  25 December 1988 E

  48

  —

  Chorley and South Ribble

  Chorley regional store

  1,532,960

  9 February 1987

  25 October 1987 A

  —

  —

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  Clifton community hospital

  4,287,923

  17 June 1985

  16 November 1987 E

  96

  —

  Bury

  Fairfield boiler house

  1,351,725

  15 January 1984

  15 October 1985 A

  —

  —

  Bury

  Fairfield catering and HSDU

  2,273,991

  29 April 1985

  23 September 1987 A

  —

  —

  Bury

  Fairfield phase 1

  4,135,797

  5 July 1985

  1 February 1988 E

  102

  —

  Black, Wyre and Fylde

  Fleetwood ESMI

  1,979,862

  22 November 1983

  22 January 1986 A

  56

  —

  Salford

  Hope Hospital Salford phase 1

  11,678,323

  1 October 1979

  13 May 1983 A

  83

  7

  Wigan

  Leigh Infirmary 2nd MI unit

  1,828,633

  6 June 1983

  5 June 1985 A

  60

  —

  Wigan

  Leigh Infirmary HSDU substation and roadworks

  1,118,420

  15 December 1983

  15 December 1985 A

  —

  —

  Salford

  Manchester Royal Infirmary—MIDU

  1,550,062

  8 August 1983

  23 November 1984 A

  —

  —

  Salford

  Manchester Royal Infirmary ESMI unit

  1,968,751

  16 August 1982

  27 February 1984 A

  56

  —

  Salford

  Manchester Royal Infirmary phase 1

  2,342,719

  16 July 1979

  10 October 1981 A

  112

  2

  Salford

  Manchester Royal Infirmary phase 2

  17,607,188

  14 July 1986

  5 January 1990 E

  280

  10

  902 903

  Region and Health District

  Health Scheme

  Works cost £

  Start date

  Actual or Estimated completion date

  Number of beds

  Number of operating theatres

  Salford

  Manchester Royal Infirmary service complex

  3,688,541

  1 September 1986

  23 September 1988 E

  —

  —

  Oldham

  Oldham DGH ESMI unit

  1,303,946

  4 January 1982

  3 January 1984 A

  56

  —

  Oldham

  Oldham DGH HSDU

  1,141,825

  7 April 1986

  9 October 1987 A

  —

  —

  Oldham

  Oldham DGH phase 1

  12,808,854

  11 February 1985

  16 March 1988 E

  308

  7

  Oldham

  Oldham DGH temporary accommodation

  1,082,689

  8 March 1982

  4 November 1983 A

  —

  —

  Black, Wyre and Fylde

  Park Hospital geriatric and rehabilitation

  2,644,171

  13 June 1983

  27 February 1986 A

  96

  —

  Salford

  Prestwich Hospital adolescent secure unit

  1,394,679

  16 March 1981

  15 February 1983 A

  20

  —

  Salford

  Prestwich Hospital adult secure unit

  1,457,464

  15 February 1982

  13 December 1985 A

  88

  —

  Lancaster

  Queen Victoria Hospital—phase 1

  1,610,851

  10 September 1984

  13 May 1986 A

  48

  —

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  Queen's Park Blackburn phase 1 paediatric

  3,126,709

  6 June 1984

  18 March 1987 A

  102

  —

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  Regional blood transfusion centre

  2,924,912

  23 May 1983

  11 May 1984 A

  —

  —

  Rochdale

  Rochdale ESMI

  1,819,294

  1 June 1984

  15 December 1985 A

  568

  —

  Wigan

  Royal Albert Edward Infirmary Wigan boiler house

  1,095,484

  22 February 1982

  21 November 1983 A

  —

  —

  Wigan

  Royal Albert Edward Infirmary Wigan phase 1

  4,192,677

  14 March 1983

  23 April 1986 A

  112

  4

  Lancaster

  Royal Lancaster Infirmary phase 2

  2,776,604

  1 September 1981

  26 February 1984 A

  46

  —

  Preston

  Royal Preston Accident

  1,059,501

  26 February 1984

  1 July 1985 A

  12

  —

  Preston

  Royal Preston Administration and Accommodation

  1,883,993

  11 October 1982

  12 January 1984 A

  —

  —

  Preston

  Sharde Green—Maternity and Gynaecology

  1,128,000

  3 September 1985

  1 October 1985 A

  —

  —

  Stockport

  Stepping Hill Manufacturing Pharmacy

  1,226,061

  16 August 1982

  13 February 1984 A

  —

  —

  Tameside and Glossop

  Tameside General Geriatric Unit

  2,031,216

  26 November 1984

  29 August 1986 A

  72

  —

  Tameside and Glossop

  Tameside General phase 2

  11,389,978

  16 July 1984

  30 November 1987 E

  139

  3

  Trafford

  Trafford Regional Store

  1,833,449

  9 February 1987

  25 November 1987 A

  —

  —

  Wigan

  Whelley Hospital phase 1

  3,067,628

  26 May 1987

  24 November 1989 E

  72

  —

  Non RHA

  Blood Products Manufacturing Unit Els tree

  13,845,000

  1 May 1983

  31 December 1987 E

  —

  —

  Central Public Health Laboratory Colindale

  14,418,380

  13 April 1981

  20 January 1985 A

  —

  —

  Centre for Applied Microbiology Porton Down

  3,109,134

  13 June 1983

  25 February 1985 A

  —

  —

  Clare Hall Biotechnology Building

  1,745,600

  29 July 1985

  30 January 1987 A

  —

  —

  Clare Hall Project

  12,371,867

  21 November 1983

  30 January 1987 A

  —

  —

  Eastman Dental Hospital

  1,343,936

  12 September 1983

  30 June 1984 A

  —

  1

  Grays Inn Road Audiology and Hearing Aid Centre

  1,843,150

  16 February 1981

  November 1982 A

  —

  —

  Great Ormond Street boiler plant replacement

  2,191,736

  18 August 1986

  30 June 1988 E

  —

  —

  Hammersmith Hospital redevelopment phase 1

  12,377,300

  September 1985

  31 March 1988 E

  60

  8

  London Chest Hospital

  1,491,330

  29 July 1981

  4 July 1983 A

  10

  —

  Maudsley Hospital redevelopment phase 1A

  2,245,012

  1 June 1987

  10 October 1988 E

  75

  —

  Moorfields Eye Hospital—City Road development phase 1

  4,619,291

  4 January 1982

  10 May 1985 A

  30

  4

  National Heart and Chest Centre Brompton phase 1

  17,967,623

  2 March 1987

  25 July 1989 E

  196

  7

  Royal National Orthopaedic Spinal Unit and Residencies

  1,350,372

  28 January 1982

  28 March 1983 A

  —

  —

  Bioplan Ltd.
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the date on which he intends to announce any details arrived at between Bioplan Ltd. and district health authorities; if he has any knowledge of 904
  district health authorities, apart from Oxford and Salford, who have been negotiating with Bioplan Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Collaboration between health authorities and private providers helps make the maximum use of health care skills and resources. It is for health authorities to explore and if they so decide, enter into collaborative
  905
  arrangements with companies such as Bioplan. We are not aware of any discussions between Bioplan and English authorities other than Salford and Oxford; these would in any case be local management matters. However we welcome innovative projects which provide cost-effective ways of improving health care.

  Residential Care
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services for each social service authority, what is the population aged 75 years and over and the number of people in residential care homes for the elderly and disabled provided by(a) the local authority, together with the percentage change since 1979, (b) the voluntary sector, together with the percentage change since 1979, and (c) the private sector, together with the percentage change since 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  The 1985 mid-year estimates of the population aged 75 and over for each local authority are published in table 2.1 of "Local Authority Vital Statistics VS12 PP1 No. 8". Numbers of supported residents in local authority homes for the elderly and younger physically handicapped people (including those residents in another local authority area) are published in "Residential Accommodation for the Elderly and for Younger Physically Handicapped People: Local Authority Supported Residents". Numbers of people resident in private and voluntary homes are published in "Residential Accommodation for the Elderly and Younger Physically Handicapped People: All Residents in Local Authority, Voluntary and Private Homes"—the earliest data relates to 1983. All these publications are available in the Library.

  Benefits (Seaham and Peterlee)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of retirement pensioners who have drawn supplementary benefit from the Seaham and Peterlee office within the Easington constituency over the last five years.

  Mr. Portillo
  The table sets out the information requested.

  Number of people over pension age receiving a supplementary pension

  Local office

  Peterlee

  Seaham

  10 May 1983

  680

  1,534

  8 May 1984

  910

  1,779

  8 May 1985

  900

  1,820

  7 May 1986

  1,000

  2,041

  5 May 1987

  1,044

  2,075

  Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.

  Medicines (Exemption from Licences)
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time taken in each of the last three years by his Department to process applications under article 3 of the Medicines Exemption from Licences (Manufacture and Assembly Temporary Provisions) Order 1972; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  No such applications under that order have been received in each of the last three years by the Department.

  Doctors and Dentists (Easington)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many general practitioners were practising within the Easington constituency in the years 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1985–86;

  (2) how many dentists were in practice in the Easington constituency over the years 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that records are not collected centrally on a constituency basis. I would refer the hon. Member to Durham family practitioner committee, which may be able to provide the information he seeks.

  Chiropody (Easington)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Health Service patients received chiropody treatment within the Easington constituency during the years 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information is not collected by parliamentary constituency. The number of patients treated by the chiropody service of Durham district health authority, which covers Easington, is given in the table.

  Chiropody service—Durham District Health Authority

  Year

  Persons treated

  1982

  8,126

  1983

  8,018

  1984

  8,437

  1985

  8,463

  1986

  7,909

  The figures include persons treated by the health authority (including voluntary organisations acting on behalf of the authority) and the school health service. They exclude hospital patients. Figures for the latter are not available.

  Emergency Medical Supplies
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue guidance on the criteria health boards should use in making decisions on allocating resources to stockpile medical supplies in peacetime for possible use in an emergency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  A working group of officials within the Department is considering stockpile requirements for medical supplies for possible use in emergencies. The cost of providing stores of essential items is likely to be high and so may have to be built up over a period of time. Guidance will be issued following completion of the study.

  Industrial Injury Benefits
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for industrial injury benefits over the last five years have been refused on the grounds that there was no industrial accident, but it was a case of injury by process.

  Mr. Scott
  This information is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Cataracts
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the average waiting period for patients awaiting the removal of cataracts.

  Mr. Newton
  In 1985, the latest year for which information is available centrally, the estimated median interval between the time a patient was placed on the waiting list and admission to a National Health Service hospital in England for operation on an eye lens was 16 weeks.

  Number of patients treated in years 1982 to 1986—all specialties

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Hartlepool General Hospital

  Discharges and deaths

  8,069

  9,200

  10,705

  13,108

  13,779

  Day cases

  2,551

  2,639

  2,535

  3,507

  3,758

  Out-patient attendances

  53,820

  56,913

  65,010

  71,646

  71,273

  Dryburn Hospital

  Discharges and deaths

  12,543

  13,795

  14,106

  14,908

  14,974

  Day cases

  1,825

  2,464

  2,469

  2,698

  3,262

  Out-patient attendances

  101,030

  104,384

  106,549

  106,480

  107,935

  Sunderland Royal Infirmary

  Discharges and deaths

  7,154

  7,912

  8,204

  7,935

  8,526

  Day cases

  690

  938

  975

  1,137

  1,245

  Out-patient attendances

  80,360

  85,124

  93,792

  97,663

  94,630

  Sunderland General Hospital

  Discharges and deaths

  25,269

  26,950

  27,898

  28,857

  28,286

  Day cases

  1,709

  2,503

  2,566

  2,991

  3,751

  Out-patient attendances

  122,157

  128,920

  131,829

  135,758

  140,601

  Source: SH3 1982–1986.

  Waiting Lists (North-East)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were on the waiting lists for(a)

  Number of patients on in-patient waiting list at 31 March for years 1982 to 1987 (latest available)

  District Health Authority

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Hartlepool

  1,237

  1,770

  1,812

  1,670

  1,405

  1,661

  Durham

  922

  1,270

  1,018

  801

  820

  1,032

  Sunderland

  3,516

  5,254

  4,411

  3,851

  3,890

  3,659

  Source: SBH 203: In Patient Waiting List

  AIDS
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to review Her Majesty's Government's policy on AIDS, in the light of the conclusions concerning the incidence and means of transmission of the disease contained in the book by Dr. Patrick Dixon entitled "The Truth about AIDS", a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  This book contains no new facts concerning incidence of AIDS or means of transmission of HIV infection that cause us to question the current policy on AIDS.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his policy towards

  Patients (North-East)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients were treated in(a) Hartlepool general hospital, (b) Sunderland general hospital, (c) Sunderland royal infirmary and (d) Dryburn hospital, Durham during the years 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1985–86.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Hartlepool health authority, (b) Sunderland health authority and (c) Durham district health authority during the years 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is given in the table.

  AIDS, in the light of the proposals put forward by the Christian Medical Fellowship, a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. Newton
  I am aware of the fellowship's leaflet "Ten proposals on AIDS". The Government consider AIDS a most serious threat to health and have given priority to the development of a flexible and responsive strategy to meet the growing challenge of this new disease. It comprises four parts:public health measures, such as screening blood donations and a system of monitoring the spread of AIDS and HIV; public education, so that people can learn how to avoid HIV;
  research into vaccines against HIV infection and anti-viral therapies for those who are infected; and
  development of services for those with AIDS or HIV infection.
  909
  As my right hon. Friend made clear when he addressed the United Nations general assembly on 20 October, we are also laying stress on the need for international cooperation in this field.

  Southend General Hospital
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many letters he has now received from the general public on the proposed closure of the radiotherapy unit at Southend general hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have received about 35,800 letters from members of the public.

  Mentally Handicapped Babies
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has any information about the likely number of people waiting who are willing to adopt mentally handicapped babies.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information is not available in the form requested. There are many adoption agencies seeking adoptive parents for children of all ages with special needs, including children who are mentally handicapped.

  Energy-saving Heaters
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to enable claimants in receipt of benefit and allowances to have an energy-saving heater installed in their homes.

  Mr. Portillo
  Single payments for heaters are available to supplementary benefit claimants if they, or a member of the assessment unit, are over pension age or chronically sick or disabled. Claimants who are moving into unfurnished accommodation for good reason, or who have been receiving supplementary benefit for at least 12 months, may also be able to qualify for help. The amount payable is £30, which claimants are free to spend on a suitable heater of their own choice.

  Wythenshawe Hospital
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now designate Wythenshawe Hospital as the country's fourth heart transplant unit; and if he will make a statement about funding of the unit.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the right hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Minister for Health's statement on allocations to health authorities on 16 December 1987, at columns 1093–94.

  The heart transplant programme at the Wythenshawe hospital will receive central funding of £183,000 in 1988–89, its first year of designation.

  Milk Tokens
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the holding answer on 19 November, whether there is to be any change in the provision of milk tokens issued to childminders and playgroups by his Department under the welfare food service (milk for young children in day care) scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  No.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will reply to the letter sent to him on 8 October by the hon. Member for Gower on behalf of a constituent residing in Pontarddulais.

  Mr. Portillo
  I replied to the hon. Member on 14 December.

  Pensioners (Milton Ernest)
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the recent post office closure, he will pay weekly pensions by post to pensioners in Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that alternative post office facilities for encashment of pensions are available at Bletsoe and Oakley sub-post offices, both approximately one mile from Milton Ernest.

  Post Mortems
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of post mortems done at the request of the coroner in National Health Service hospitals in each year since 1980.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that the exact information requested is not available from the registration of deaths. However, the table shows the available statistics on the number of deaths occurring in National Health Service hospitals certified by coroners following post mortem which can be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Number of deaths occurring in National Health Service hospitals certified by coroners following post mortem England and Wales 1986

  Place of death

  Number

  National Health Service psychiatric hospitals

  1,409

  Other National Health Service hospitals and institutions for the care of the sick

  55,752

  TOTAL

  57,161

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the cost in(a) fees to consultants and (b) payments to health boards for post mortems done at the request of the coroner in National Health Service hospitals for each year since 1980.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that this information is not available centrally.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current inclusive cost of maintaining community health councils; and how many full-time and part-time people are employed by them.

  Mrs. Currie
  The total cost of community health council expenditure in 1986–87, the latest available figure, was £7.2 million. This figure includes staffing, premises and other costs.

  Regional health authorities are responsible for the number and grading of community health council staff.

  No information is held centrally on how many full and part-time staff are employed by community health councils.

  Day Nurseries
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department collects statistics on trends in local authority day nursery places.

  Mrs. Currie
  Yes. The Department collects information annually on the number of local authority day nursery places which is published in "Children's Day Care Facilities at 31 March, England" (A/F/6), copies of which are available in the Library. Figures are given for each local authority for the most recent year; the national trend over a 10-year period is given in table 2.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to arrange that National Health Service sight tests include testing with an ophthalmoscope to ensure that glaucoma is detected if present.

  Mrs. Currie
  I understand that the examination of the eye with an ophthalmoscope is normally carried out as part of the NHS sight test.

  Whooping Cough Vaccine
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children received the petussis whooping cough vaccine in each of the years 1983 to 1986; and what are the latest figures available for 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information available is given in the table. Figures for the first quarter of 1987 are not yet available.

  Completed primary courses of whooping cough vaccination Including multiple vaccines containing a whooping cough element

  Thousands

  Years

  England and Wales

  England

  1983

  425

  407

  1984

  410

  392

  1985

  434

  414

  1986

  500

  476

  Invalidity Pensioners
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many(a) men and (b) women invalidity pensioners are claiming for an adult dependent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 November, at column 468. Of the 366,300 invalidity pensioners referred to in that reply, 364,600 were men and 1,700 women.

  North Middlesex Hospital
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to refuse the request

  Average monthly expenditure on single payments

  Office

  Period

  Average monthly amount £

  Leytonstone ILO

  30 July 1986–21 October 1986

  63,807

  Leytonstone ILO

  29 July 1987–20 October 1987

  30,370

  912
  from Haringey district health authority for permission to close the North Middlesex hospital cancer treatment unit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  We are currently considering a proposal from the North East Thames regional health authority to close the radiotherapy unit at the North Middlesex hospital. No decision has yet been taken.

  Waltham Forest Health Authority
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the deficit for(a) 1987–88 and (b) 1988–89 currently anticipated by Waltham Forest health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  Regional health authorities are responsible for monitoring their districts' financial positions and the Department does not routinely collect such information in-year or for future years. The hon. Member may wish to approach the chairman of the North East Thames regional health authority, which may be able to assist with the information he seeks.

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will reverse the current policy in operation at St Bartholomew's hospital of refusing referrals in certain circumstances of out-of-district cases.

  Mrs. Currie
  This is essentially a local matter in which we have no plans to intervene.

  Paracetamol
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to give greater publicity to the damage which can be caused to liver and other functions by paracetamol, in particular as respects pregnant mothers and babies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I am advised that paracetarnol in recommended dosage is not harmful to the normal population, pregnant women, or children. Labels specify the dose and warn that it is not to be exceeded, because of the risk of damage to the liver from taking too much.

  All medicines should be treated with respect and pregnant women should consult their doctors about medication.

  Single Payments
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average monthly outturn expenditure on single payments over an equivalent period(a) before and (b) since August for (i) Waltham Forest and (ii) Great Britain.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is given in the table.
  913

  Office

  Period

  Average monthly amount £

  Walthamstow ILO

  30 July 1986–21 October 1986

  54,267

  Walthamstow ILO

  29 July 1987–20 October 1987

  22,740

  Great Britain

  30 July 1986–21 October 1986

  29,278,084

  Great Britain

  29 July 1987–20 October 1987

  15,172,926

  Note: The above information is provisional and subject to amendment.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the sum estimated to be spent on single payments in public expenditure projections in each of the last five years; and how much was so spent.

  Mr. Scott
  Estimates of expenditure on supplementary pensions and allowances were shown in the public expenditure White Papers for each of the last five years, copies of which are available in the Library. In the past, projections for single payments expenditure have not been separately identified. Infomation on single payment expenditure outturn figures were contained in my reply to the hon. Member of Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) on 17 November, at column 526.

  Mentally Handicapped Persons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has issued to assist mentally handicapped persons exercise their rights of subject access under the Data Protection Act; when he expects to produce an order under section 21(9) of the Act; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Mentally handicapped people capable of managing their own affairs have the same right of access to personal data as do other people. We have advised interested organisations that anyone acting under an order of the Court of Protection or under an enduring power of attorney has an automatic right to apply for subject access on behalf of individuals who are incapable of managing their own affairs by reason of mental disorder.

  Applications by persons so authorised can be made whether or not an order under section 21(9) of the Act were to come into force. Consideration is therefore being given as to whether there is any need for an order to be made.

  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department is sponsoring any research into the emotional consequences of pregnancy, delivery and fostering and adoption procedures on mentally handicapped parents.

  Mrs. Currie
  No.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Nigel Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, what was the maximum time lapse in each hour of operation of the London Ambulance Service control room between the initiation of a call from the emergency switchboard of British Telecom to oral response, for each hour between 0900 and 2400 on Saturday 12 December.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is shown in the following table. The table also shows the total calls received in each hour and the average time to answer the call.
  914

  Maximum

  Average

  Number of calls

  0900–1000

  3·25

  0·63

  84

  1000–1100

  3·28

  0·63

  116

  1100–1200

  4·49

  1·04

  157

  1200–1300

  8·13

  1·45

  137

  1300–1400

  9·42

  1·45

  122

  1400–1500

  6·36

  0·83

  118

  1500–1600

  7·29

  1·66

  128

  1600–1700

  4·53

  1·04

  78

  1700–1800

  5·08

  1·87

  119

  1800–1900

  2·31

  0·63

  92

  1900–2000

  7·56

  1·25

  98

  2000–2100

  8·15

  1·45

  88

  2100–2200

  6·25

  0·83

  72

  2200–2300

  6·57

  1·04

  94

  2300–2400

  3·56

  1·25

  116

  The figures for maximum time to answer calls are misleading due to a fault in the LAS' telephone equipment which is currently receiving attention. It is British Telecom policy that its exchange operators try another line to control after a 30-second delay has occurred. The original line, though cancelled at the exchange end, continues to produce a signal in the control room and it is invariably these abandoned calls which produce the maximum times.

  British Telecom is progressively dealing with this problem on the existing equipment and consideration is being given to bringing forward a new automatic call distribution system for the London Ambulance Service planned for July 1988.

  National Health Service Expenditure
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was Government spending on the National Health Service per household for 1979, and for 1986–87, at(a) current prices, (b) 1979 prices and (c) 1987 prices, showing the number of households taken as the base for each.

  Mr. Newton
  The figures requested are as follows:

  Public spending on the National Health Service per household (Great Britain)

  £ cash

  1978–79 prices

  1986–87 prices

  1978–79

  385

  385

  749

  1986–87

  876

  450

  876

  The number of households is estimated at 19·6 million for mid-1978 and 20·8 million for mid-1986. Household data are estimated by the Department of the Environment using past census trends and population data supplied by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Agency Staff
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each year since 1979, for England, Wales and Scotland, the total expenditure on
  915
  agency staff by the regional health authority at (a) current prices, (b) constant prices, and (c) expressed as a percentage of health authorities' budgets.

  Mr. Newton
  Figures for England for the years 1979–80 to 1982–83 derived from the annual accounts of regional and district health authorities and those of their predecessor authorities, are shown in the table.

  Revenue expenditure on non-National Health Service staff (agency, etc.)

  As shown in annual accounts (£000)

  At 1986–87 prices2 (£000)

  As a percentage of total revenue expenditure

  Regions

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  Northern

  180

  656

  555

  436

  300

  921

  710

  520

  0·05

  0·15

  0·11

  0·08

  Yorkshire

  311

  350

  299

  1,244

  518

  491

  382

  1,484

  0·08

  0·07

  0·05

  0·21

  Trent

  810

  674

  514

  812

  1,348

  946

  657

  969

  0·18

  0·12

  0·08

  0·12

  East Anglian

  668

  1,050

  1,162

  1,373

  1,112

  1,474

  1,486

  1,638

  0·35

  0·43

  0·43

  0·48

  North-West Thames

  12,871

  16,321

  15,671

  12,035

  21,425

  22,916

  20,040

  14,357

  2·86

  2·81

  2·41

  1·90

  North-East Thames

  12,161

  14,959

  14,593

  13,862

  20,243

  21,004

  18,662

  16,536

  2·49

  2·35

  2·08

  1·73

  South-East Thames

  8,731

  10,805

  10,618

  9,474

  14,534

  15,171

  13,578

  11,302

  1·85

  1·79

  1·60

  1·35

  South-West Thames

  8,840

  11,005

  10,192

  8,401

  14,715

  15,452

  13,034

  10,022

  2·45

  2·36

  1·98

  1·58

  Wessex

  1,023

  857

  862

  1,130

  1,703

  1,203

  1,102

  1,348

  0·38

  0·25

  0·22

  0·27

  Oxford

  1,732

  1,485

  1,184

  1,131

  2,883

  2,085

  1,514

  1,349

  0·77

  0·52

  0·38

  0·34

  South-Western

  813

  848

  931

  1,103

  1,353

  1,191

  1,191

  1,316

  0·24

  0·20

  0·20

  0·22

  West Midlands

  2,126

  1,907

  1,669

  1,376

  3,539

  2,678

  2,134

  1,641

  0·40

  0·28

  0·16

  0·17

  Mersey

  620

  659

  467

  388

  1,032

  925

  597

  463

  0·22

  0·18

  0·11

  0·09

  North-Western

  325

  660

  488

  1,284

  541

  927

  624

  1,532

  0·07

  0·11

  0·07

  0·18

  Regions Total

  51,211

  62,236

  59,205

  54,049

  85,246

  87,384

  75,711

  64,477

  0·98

  0·92

  0·79

  0·68

  Special Health Authorities1

  4,030

  5,912

  5,439

  5,227

  6,708

  8,301

  6.955

  6,235

  4·25

  4·79

  3·88

  3·47

  TOTAL

  55,241

  68,148

  64,644

  59,276

  91,954

  95,685

  82,666

  70,712

  1·04

  0·99

  0·85

  0·73

  1 Special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals. (Boards of governors prior to 1982–83.)

  2 Figures have been expressed at 1986–87 prices by the use of the gross domestic product deflator.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the cost of housing benefit for elderly people in Scotland, for each year since 1982;

  (2) what was for each year since 1982 the total cost of housing benefit in Scotland.

  Mr. Portillo
  The table provides the information requested on housing benefit expenditure on the basis of the latest available information from local authorities' subsidy claims. I regret that separate information on the cost of housing benefit for elderly people is not available.

  £ million

  1982–83

  42

  1983–84

  384

  1984–85

  436

  1985–86

  515

  1986–87

  576

  1987–88

  664

  Notes

  1. The figures cover local authorities' total benefit expenditure and costs of administering the housing benefit scheme.

  2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest £1 million.

  3. The figures for 1982–83 and 1983–84 reflect the fact that housing benefit was partially introduced from November 1982, and fully from
  916
  Comparable information for the years 1983–84 to 1986–87 is held in the Library.

  Information about Wales and Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  April 1983. The apparent large increase in expenditure in 1983–84 arose primarily from the reclassification of what was formerly supplementary benefit expenditure.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many households(a) in total,(b) by tenure and (c) by household type are expected to receive (a) more and (b) less housing benefit by up to £1 a week, £1 to £2 a week, £2 to £3 a week, £3 to £4 a week, £4 to £5 a week and £5 plus a week as a result of the main changes to the scheme to be implemented in April 1988 based on the most recent caseload statistics available.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 3 December 1987]: The information is in the tables. These tables are from the same model and in the same format as those in the "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income-Related Benefits", published in October 1987. A copy of this is in the Library. They illustrate the structural impact, rather than the cash position at the point of change, and include estimates for changes brought about by the new capital rule and by the minimum 20 per cent. contribution to domestic rates. These tables should be read in conjunction with those in the "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income-Related Benefits", as many of those whose housing benefit entitlement will decrease may be wholly or partially compensated by increased entitlement to income support or family credit.
  917

  Structural change in housing benefit—all cases

  (thousands)

  Client Group

  Gains

  Total gainer

  No change

  Total losers

  Losses

  £5+

  4–5

  3–4

  2–3

  1–2

  £1

  £1

  1–2

  2–3

  3–4

  4–5

  £5 +

  Pensioners 80 +

  *

  *

  10

  40

  30

  30

  110

  120

  490

  170

  230

  60

  10

  *

  20

  Pensioners 60–79

  20

  20

  20

  50

  170

  200

  480

  660

  2,410

  630

  1,090

  320

  130

  50

  190

  Sick or disabled

  10

  20

  20

  10

  10

  10

  80

  30

  130

  40

  60

  20

  *

  *

  10

  Lone Parents

  Full time work

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  60

  *

  10

  10

  *

  10

  30

  —Not full time work

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  10

  610

  70

  420

  90

  10

  10

  20

  —Total

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  10

  680

  70

  430

  100

  10

  20

  50

  Couples with children

  —Full time work

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  10

  10

  *

  330

  20

  60

  60

  30

  40

  120

  —not full time work

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  10

  20

  740

  80

  510

  140

  10

  *

  *

  —Total

  10

  *

  *

  *

  *

  10

  30

  30

  1,070

  110

  560

  190

  40

  40

  120

  Others

  —Full time work

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  10

  10

  140

  20

  40

  20

  20

  *

  30

  —Not full time work

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  10

  90

  780

  180

  370

  110

  20

  10

  80

  Total

  50

  40

  60

  110

  220

  240

  720

  960

  5,690

  1,220

  2,780

  820

  250

  130

  500

  Structural change in housing benefit—all cases

  (thousands)

  Type of tenure

  Gains

  Total gainer

  No change

  Total losers

  Losses

  £5+

  4–5

  3–4

  2–3

  1–2

  £1

  £1

  1–2

  2–3

  3–4

  4–5

  £5 +

  Local authority rented

  30

  30

  50

  90

  160

  150

  510

  420

  3,050

  500

  1,730

  390

  90

  50

  290

  Private rented

  10

  10

  *

  20

  30

  30

  110

  190

  790

  250

  310

  70

  40

  20

  100

  Owner occupiers

  *

  *

  *

  *

  30

  60

  100

  350

  1,850

  470

  740

  360

  110

  60

  110

  Total

  50

  40

  60

  100

  220

  240

  720

  960

  5,690

  1,220

  2,790

  820

  250

  130

  500

  Notes:

  (1) These estimates are based on the Family Expenditure Survey (FES) simulation model.

  (2) The estimates exclude the effect of Family Credit calculations.

  (3) The estimates are not adjusted for differential take-up.

  (4) Some totals may not add due to rounding.

  (5) An asterisk indicates less than 5,000 cases.

  Family Practitioner Service
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown by programme of family practitioner service expenditure for 1986–87 and their latest estimate for 1987–88 for England, including administration costs.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested in respect of the family practitioner services in England is set out in the following table:

  Family Practitioner Services (England)—Net cost

  £ million

  1986–87

  1987–88 (Estimate)

  General Medical Services

  1,131

  1,236

  Pharmaceutical Services

  1,639

  1,827

  General Dental Services

  521

  571

  General Ophthalmic Services

  128

  148

  FPS Administration

  94

  99

  Payments to British Telecom for priority fault repair

  —

  1

  Compensation payments to pharmacists on withdrawal from contract

  —

  4

  Net FPS

  3,513

  3,886

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the total cost in the last full year for which figures are available, for England and Wales, of the 70 per cent. direct reimbursements to unrestricted principals in general practice under the ancillary staff scheme for ancillary staff salaries and a breakdown of the cost for each family practitioner committee.
  918
  Mr. Newton
  The total cost during 1986–87 of the 70 per cent. reinbursement of ancillary staff salaries for England and Wales was £126 million. The breakdown for each family practitioner committee is as follows:

  Ancillary Staff—70 per cent. Salaries—1986–87

  Family Practitioner Committee

  £ million

  Avon

  1·829

  Barking and Havering

  0·607

  Barnet

  0·761

  Barnsley

  0·446

  Bedfordshire

  1·572

  Berkshire

  2·422

  Birmingham

  2·403

  Bolton

  0·512

  Bradford

  0·924

  Brent and Harrow

  1·163

  Bromley

  0·801

  Buckingham

  1·655

  Bury

  0·356

  Calderdale

  0·435

  Cambridgeshire

  1·896

  Camden and Islington

  1·004

  Cheshire

  2·257

  City and East London

  1·189

  Cleveland

  1·363

  Coventry

  0·690

  Cornwall

  1·763

  Croydon

  0·659

  Cumbria

  1·366

  Derbyshire

  2·110

  Devon

  2·776

  Doncaster

  0·650

  Dorset

  2·059

  919

  Family Practitioner Committee

  £ million

  Dudley

  0·559

  Durham

  1·795

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  1·426

  Enfield and Haringey

  1·145

  Essex

  3·622

  Gateshead

  0·509

  Gloucester

  1·649

  Greenwich and Bexley

  0·951

  Hampshire

  4·817

  Hereford and Worcester

  1·877

  Hertfordshire

  3·064

  Hillingdon

  0·470

  Humberside

  2·020

  Isle of Wight

  0·408

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  1·096

  Kent

  4·059

  Kingston and Richmond

  0·913

  Kirklees

  0·762

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  1·647

  Lancashire

  2·607

  Leeds

  1·700

  Leicestershire

  2·171

  Lincolnshire

  1·679

  Liverpool

  0·909

  Manchester

  1·070

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  1·375

  Newcastle

  0·784

  Norfolk

  2·373

  Northamptonshire

  1·550

  Northumberland

  0·877

  Nottinghamshire

  1·964

  Oldham

  0·255

  Oxfordshire

  1·879

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0·896

  Rochdale

  0·353

  Rotherham

  0·398

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  0·689

  Salford

  0·477

  Shropshire

  1·085

  Sandwell

  0·504

  Sefton

  0·624

  Sheffield

  1·184

  Solihull

  0·594

  Somerset

  1·423

  Staffordshire

  2·162

  Stockport

  0·638

  Suffolk

  2·017

  Sunderland

  0·561

  Surrey

  2·880

  Sussex (East)

  1·863

  Sussex (West)

  1·604

  Tameside

  0·439

  Trafford

  0·465

  Tyneside (North)

  0·378

  Tyneside (South)

  0·340

  Wakefield

  0·751

  Walsall

  0·456

  Warwickshire

  1·492

  Wigan

  0·564

  Wiltshire

  1·519

  Wirral

  0·754

  Wolverhampton

  0·469

  Yorkshire (North)

  2·142

  England

  119·411

  Wales

  Clwyd

  0·814

  Dyfed

  0·951

  Gwent

  0·929

  Gwynedd

  0·728

  Mid Glamorgan

  1·204

  Powys

  0·355

  South Glamorgan

  0·866

  West Glamorgan

  0·913

  920

  Family Practitioner Committee

  £ million

  Wales

  6·760

  £126·171

  England and Wales Total

  million

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for England and Wales for each year since 1979 the total family practitioner committee expenditure(a) under the ancillary staff scheme and (b) the cost of providing premises under the rent and rate scheme, with an indication of the costs adjusted for general price inflation.

  Mr. Newton
  Family practitioner committee expenditure since 1979–80 under the ancillary staff scheme (including related staff, national insurance contributions and training costs) and the rent and rate direct reimbursement scheme were as follows:

  Year

  Ancillary Staff

  Rent and Rate Scheme

  Cash

  At 1986–87 Prices1

  Cash

  At 1986–87 Prices1

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1979–80

  52

  86

  20

  34

  1980–81

  68

  95

  26

  37

  1981–82

  81

  104

  32

  40

  1982–83

  92

  110

  38

  46

  1983–84

  106

  121

  47

  54

  1984–85

  119

  130

  54

  59

  1985–86

  133

  137

  63

  64

  1986–87

  145

  145

  74

  74

  1 Adjusted in line with the GDP deflator at market prices.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give, for the last year for which figures are available, the total for England and Wales and a breakdown for each family practitioner committee, of(a) the number of general practice premises and (b) the amount directly reimbursed to unrestricted principals in general practice for the cost of providing premises under the rent and rates scheme.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested on the number of general practice premises in England and Wales is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total amount directly reimbursed to unrestricted principals in England and Wales during 1986–87 under the rent and rates scheme was £74 million. The breakdown for each family practitioner committee is scheduled in the table.

  Family Practitioner Committee

  Practice accommodation. Rent—rates payments £ million

  Avon

  1·108

  Barking and Havering

  0·718

  Barnet

  0·614

  Barnsley

  0·250

  Bedfordshire

  0·980

  Berkshire

  1·612

  Birmingham

  1·487

  Bolton

  0·256

  Bradford

  0·538

  Brent and Harrow

  0·989

  Bromley

  0·543

  Buckingham

  1·316

  Bury

  0·153

  921

  Family Practitioner Committee

  Practice accommodation. Rent—rates payments £ million

  Calderdale

  0·254

  Cambridgeshire

  1·119

  Camden and Islington

  0·768

  Cheshire

  1·302

  City and East London

  1·053

  Cleveland

  0·585

  Coventry

  0·486

  Cornwall

  0·698

  Croydon

  0·381

  Cumbria

  0·551

  Derbyshire

  1·130

  Devon

  1·582

  Doncaster

  0·197

  Dorset

  1·257

  Dudley

  0·262

  Durham

  0·797

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  1·280

  Enfield and Haringey

  0·937

  Essex

  2·594

  Gateshead

  0·267

  Gloucester

  0·950

  Greenwich and Bexley

  0·673

  Hampshire

  2·323

  Hereford and Worcester

  0·767

  Hertfordshire

  2·615

  Hillingdon

  0·311

  Humberside

  0·896

  Isle of Wight

  0·187

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  1·112

  Kent

  2·361

  Kingston and Richmond

  0·627

  Kirklees

  0·374

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  1·052

  Lancashire

  0·993

  Leeds

  1·096

  Leicestershire

  1·146

  Lincolnshire

  0·828

  Liverpool

  0·550

  Manchester

  0·565

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  0·726

  Newcastle

  0·421

  Norfolk

  1·333

  Northamptonshire

  0·766

  Northumberland

  0·337

  Nottinghamshire

  0·983

  Oldham

  0·115

  Oxfordshire

  0·740

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0·910

  Rochdale

  0·220

  Rotherham

  0·222

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  0·393

  Salford

  0·266

  Shropshire

  0·450

  Sandwell

  0·344

  Sefton

  0·355

  Sheffield

  0·612

  Solihull

  0·321

  Somerset

  0·873

  Staffordshire

  0·991

  Stockport

  0·308

  Suffolk

  1·319

  Sunderland

  0·151

  Surrey

  1·556

  Sussex (East)

  0·996

  Sussex (West)

  1·268

  Tameside

  0·238

  Trafford

  0·219

  Tyneside (North)

  0·151

  Tyneside (South)

  0·153

  Wakefield

  0·518

  Walsall

  0·372

  Warwickshire

  0·792

  Wigan

  0·314

  922

  Family Practitioner Committee

  Practice accommodation. Rent—rates payments £ million

  Wiltshire

  0·794

  Wirral

  0·342

  Wolverhampton

  0·314

  Yorkshire (North)

  1·380

  England total

  70·053

  Wales

  Clwyd

  0·440

  Dyfed

  0·645

  Gwent

  0·522

  Gwynedd

  0·319

  Mid Glamorgan

  0·869

  Powys

  0·237

  South Glamorgan

  0·631

  West Glamorgan

  0·341

  Wales total

  4·004

  England and Wales total

  74·057

  Bills (Payment)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent guidance he has given on the payment of bills from suppliers.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department does not issue specific guidance to health authorities on the payment of bills from their suppliers. However, the Department does require health authorities to have sound procedures and systems for making all their payments and expects them to pay their suppliers in accordance with contract or custom.

  Anaesthetists
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the shortage of anaesthetists and the availability of epidural anaesthetics.

  Mr. Newton
  It is for health authorities to decide how many medical anaesthetic staff are required to meet their plans for the provision of anaesthetic services within the resources available to them. We are satisfied that there are at present adequate numbers of doctors training in anaesthetics to meet planned developments in these services but the position is closely monitored by the joint planning advisory committee. Epidural analgesia is available through all consultant obstetric departments. However, this service can be provided only by doctors trained and experienced in its administration and in resuscitation. Where the facility is not available, other forms of analgesia are used.

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now announce the result of the application from Quest for a Test for Cancer, received on 31 July, for funding clinical trials of cervical smear testing using an integrated microdensitometer.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Rev. M. Smyth) on 17 December.
  923
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing a national breast cancer screening service to provide screening for all women over 16 years of age at least once every three years.

  Mrs. Currie
  The national breast cancer screening service, which we are introducing over the next three years, is based on the conclusions in the report of a Government appointed working group, chaired by Professor Sir Patrick Forrest. The report concluded that the effectiveness of screening by mammography has so far been demonstrated only for women aged 50 and over and recommended that the priority for any screening programme should be to offer an initial screen to as many woman as possible aged 50–64 years.

  We expect to spend about £55 million in the period 1987/88 to 1989/90 to set up the computerised call and recall screening service for all women in the age group 50–64, with a service, on request, for women of 65 and over.

  Gold Purchases
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total value of gold purchases by the National Health Service for each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will outline the arrangements for the purchase of gold for use by dentists.

  Mrs. Currie
  General dental practitioners purchase products for dental use in alloy containing gold direct from commercial dental laboratories. In the case of community and hospital dentists the purchase of these products or the materials to make them in hospital dental laboratories, is the responsibility of district health authorities in accordance with local arrangements.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what alternatives to the use of gold of similar durability for dental purposes have been considered by his Department.

  Mrs. Currie
  A wide range of gold and precious metal alloys is used in the manufacture of dental products. In particular, a number of alloys with specifications ranging from no gold content at all to one with at least 45 per cent. fine gold content is recommended as suitable for bonding with porcelain in the manufacture of certain types of bridges and crowns. The Department has commissioned research to evaluate the effectiveness of these alloys in the bonding process, and to identify alternatives of similar clinical efficacy.

  Leaflet G11
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many copies of leaflet G11/July 1987 were printed; what was the cost; how many are still in stock; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  A total of 3,000,000 leaflet G11/July 87 was printed. There are still 1,301,000 in stock. The cost of printing was £36,720.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the progress to date on each of the recommendations relevant to his Department contained within the report of the working group on services for people with epilepsy.

  Mr. Scott
  In July 1986 this Department and the Department of Education and Science issued a joint circular to draw the report to the attention of health, social services and education authorities. It was our intention that the report would stimulate discussion on the scope for improvement and be of assistance to both professional staff involved in the treatment and care of people with epilepsy and to managers and planners in the organisation of local services. It is for individual health and local authorities to consider the recommendations and decide the scope for adopting them in the light of existing services, availability of resources and local priorities.

  Cancer Treatment
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of the long-term treatment of cancer patients as a result of their cancer not being detected at an early stage.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department has not made any such estimate. Our priority is to encourage the prevention and early detection of cancer wherever possible because of the benefit this has for patients.

  Nottinghamshire Ambulance Service
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what information he has as to how many miles were covered in each year since 1979 by the Nottinghamshire Ambulance Service in(a) emergency services, (b) non-emergency services, (c) mini-cabs and (d) volunteer drivers;

  (2) how many emergency equipped ambulances have been available in Nottinghamshire for each year since 1983.

  Mrs. Currie
  The available information is given in the table. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Nottingham health authority for more detailed information as his authority is responsible for managing the Nottinghamshire ambulance service.

  Ambulance services: 1979 to 1986

  Number of patient miles—Emergency and non-emergency cases

  Nottinghamshire ambulance service

  Emergency cases (thousands)

  Non-emergency cases (thousands)

  1979

  498·3

  1,668·6

  1980

  712·3

  2,041·1

  1981

  770·1

  2,043·1

  1982

  822·1

  2,051·8

  1983

  793·9

  2,449·5

  1984–85

  751·4

  2,183·0

  1985–86

  763·0

  2,123·9

  Source: 1979 to 1983 Department of Health and Social Services. 1984–85, 1985–86 York Health Authority.

  National Health Service Consultants
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual cost of consultants' contracts for each district health authority in Nottinghamshire.

  Mrs. Currie
  The 1986–87 annual account of district health authorities within Nottinghamshire records consultants' pay as follows:

  District Health Authority

  Medical (£000's)

  Dental (£000's)

  Nottingham

  7,465

  116

  Central Nottinghamshire

  1,974

  0

  Basset law

  863

  3

  The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairmen of the health authorities concerned for information on 1987–88.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to whether any consultants employed by health authorities in Nottinghamshire are partners or beneficiaries in private homes allocated patients under the Government's community care policy.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that we have no such information.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants are employed by district health authorities in Nottinghamshire on contracts; and how many of these work full-time and part-time for the National Health Service.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department collects manpower information on consultants according to employing authority. Regional health authorities hold the contracts of consultants for non-teaching district health authorities (in this case Bassetlaw and Central Nottinghamshire). Central figures are available for the total number employed by regional health authorities but these are not broken down by district. Contracts for consultants in teaching districts are held by the district health authority concerned (in this case Nottingham) and are thus available centrally. The figures for Nottingham are given in the following table. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Trent regional health authority for more detailed information on the other two districts.

  Consultants at 30 September 1986 in Nottingham (T) DHA

  Whole-time

  Part-time

  Medical

  Number

  92

  8·4

  Whole-time equivalent

  84·7

  72·0

  Dental

  Number

  2

  2

  Whole-time equivalent

  1·2

  1·7

  Note: Excludes honorary and locum staff.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if the system for employing consultants has been reviewed by the Government since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  A new consultants' contract was introduced in 1980 following negotiations between the Health Departments and the profession. The longstanding arrangement whereby consultants' contracts are held by regional health authorities (apart from those working in 926
  teaching districts) was examined prior to the 1982 restructuring and again in 1983 during the management inquiry but it was decided not to make any changes.

  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what control regional and district managers have over the case of the time and resources used by hospital consultants; when the terms of contracts of consultants were last reveiwed; and under what circumstances the National Health Service authorities may dispense with the services of a consultant.

  Mr. Newton
  Health authorities are responsible for ensuring that consultants fulfil the terms of their contracts and that they organise services to patients in the most efficient and effective way. The present form of consultants' contract, which health authorities are expected to follow closely, was introduced in 1980 as a result of negotiations between the health departments and the profession. Like most other staff, consultants are appointed without term; they can be dismissed on the same grounds (eg. capability, conduct or redundancy) as other NHS staff. Where serious allegations of professional misconduct or professional incompetence are made against a consultant and the outcome might be dismissal, health authorities follow the procedures set out in circular MH(61)112 which makes provision for the establishment of an investigating panel with a legally qualified chairman.

  District Health Authorities
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much has been paid in the last eight years on special duty payments for nurses in each district health authority in Nottinghamshire;

  (2) how many residential units for National Health Service staff there have been in each district health authority in Nottinghamshire for each of the years from 1979 onwards;

  (3) how many nurses have left each of the district health authorities in Nottinghamshire for each year since 1979;

  (4) whether any beds or wards will be closed over the Christmas period due to staff shortages or any other difficulties in each of the district health authorities in Nottinghamshire;

  (5) what was the estimate of the annual running costs contained in the initial feasibility study on the building of the Queen's medical centre, Nottingham; and what have been the annual running costs since its completion.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that the information the hon. Member seeks is not held centrally. I suggest that he should direct his inquiries to the chairmen of the Nottingham, Bassetlaw and Central Nottinghamshire district health authorities.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many appointments he has made to each district health authority in Nottinghamshire since 1983.

  Mrs. Currie
  Appointment of members to district health authorities is the responsibility of the regional health authority.

  The Secretary of State has made three appointments to district health authorities in Nottinghamshire since 1983:

  Mrs. V. A. Dickinson was appointed chairman of Bassetlaw health authority on 1 April 1986.

  Mr. L. Teeman was appointed chairman of Central Nottinghamshire health authority on 1 April 1986.

  927

  Mr. D. H. White was appointed chairman of Nottingham health authority on 1 April 1986.

  Waiting Lists
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out, region by region, the March hospital urgent in-patient waiting list in each district, together with the number of urgent cases waiting more than a month, and the percentage the latter represents of the former.

  Mr. Newton
  A table giving the information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out, region by region, for March, the hospital non-urgent waiting list in each health district together with the number waiting more than a year, and the percentage the latter represents of the former.

  Mrs. Currie
  A table giving the information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give, region by region, the March waiting lists for(a) general surgery, (b) trauma and orthopaedics, (c) ear, nose and throat surgery, (d) opthalmology and (e) gynaecology for each district, together with the percentage change from the figures for March 1986.

  Mr. Tony Newton
  A table giving the information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional resources he proposes to make available to(a) Hartlepool district health authority, (b) Sunderland district health authority and (c) Durham district health authority to enable the existing waiting lists to be reduced.

  Mr. Newton
  Hartlepool, Sunderland and Durham district health authorities have each been allocated additional resources from the waiting list fund for 1987–88 as follows:

  District

  Allocation (£)

  Additional patients planned

  Hartlepool

  67,000

  200 in-patients

  Sunderland

  302,400

  900 in-patients

  1,900 outpatients

  Durham

  43,830

  240 inpatients

  400 outpatients

  We shall shortly be asking regional health authorities for bids for 1988–89 projects to be supported through the national £30 million waiting list fund.

  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in computerising hospital waiting lists; and which regional or district authorities are experimenting with these procedures.

  Mr. Newton
  This information is not held centrally. Health authorities are currently engaged in a major programme of computerisation of their patient information systems. These will be capable of including information on waiting lists.

  Health Authorities (Fund Raising)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on Government plans to allow health authorities to raise additional fumds for patient care.

  Mr. Newton
  Clause 4 of the Health and Medicines Bill, currently being considered in committee, creates new opportunities for health authorities to generate extra resources to improve health care. I refer my hon. Friend to what I said concerning this clause during the debate on Second Reading on 7 December 1987 at columns 41–42. I have no further statement to make at this stage.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what amounts have been allocated to each office of his Department in Nottingham from the social fund for the first year and each subsequent year for which projections are available.

  Mr. Scott
  Information on the social fund allocations to local offices for 1988–89 was contained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 4 November at columns 774–781. Allocations for future years have not yet been decided.

  Hospital Management System
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received any representations from hospital managers regarding the integration of the medical professionals into the general management system.

  Mr. Newton
  Officials have frequent contact with health authorities about many aspects of general management, including the role of doctors in general management.

  Sir Roy Griffiths
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he or his ministerial colleagues last had discussions with Sir Roy Griffiths, the deputy chairman of the National Health Service Management Board; what subjects were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  My right hon. Friend and I hold regular meetings with Sir Roy Griffiths over the whole range of subjects covered by Sir Roy in his capacity as deputy chairman of the National Health Service management board and as Government adviser on National Health Service management.

  Health Care
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list separately what information he has as to the proportion of gross domestic product spent by the state and by private medicine on health care in each of the countries within the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has to the percentage of gross national product in other countries spent on health care(a) from private sources, (b) from state resources and (d) as a total from all sources.
  929
  Mrs. Currie
  The latest information available (1984) is as follows:

  Proportion of GDP spent on:

  Public health

  Private health

  Total health

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  EEC countries:

  Belgium

  5·7

  0·5

  6·2

  Denmark

  5·3

  1·0

  6·3

  France

  6·5

  2·6

  9·1

  Germany

  6·4

  1·7

  8·1

  Greece

  3·6

  1·0

  4·6

  Ireland

  6·9

  1·1

  8·0

  Italy

  6·1

  1·1

  7·2

  Luxembourg

  —

  —

  16·4

  Netherlands

  6·8

  1·8

  8·6

  Portugal

  3·9

  1·6

  5·5

  Spain

  4·2

  1·6

  5·8

  United Kingdom

  5·3

  0·6

  5·9

  Others:

  Australia

  6·6

  1·2

  7·8

  Austria

  4·4

  2·8

  7·2

  Canada

  6·2

  2·2

  8·4

  Finland

  5·4

  1·2

  6·6

  Iceland

  6·5

  1·4

  7·9

  Japan

  4·8

  1·8

  6·6

  New Zealand

  4·4

  1·2

  5·6

  Norway

  5·6

  0·7

  6·3

  Sweden

  8·6

  0·8

  9·4

  Switzerland

  —

  —

  17·8

  United States

  4·4

  6·3

  10·7

  Source: Table 1 "Financing and Delivering Health Care" — OECD 1987.

  1 1982.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the percentage of the United Kingdom's gross national product spent on health care; and what is the United Kingdom's ranking within the European Community in relation to such spending.

  Mr. Newton
  The percentage of the United Kingdom's gross domestic product spent on health care in 1986 is estimated at 6·2. The latest comparative figures for the European Community are for 1984 when the United Kingdom's percentage of GDP spent on health care was slightly lower, giving a ranking of ninth in the European Community.

  In terms of per capita health expenditure in 1980 (using either market exchange rates or health purchasing power parities for comparison) the United Kingdom ranked seventh in the European Community.

  But such comparisons take no account of the effectiveness or efficiency with which these resources are used. It is generally acknowledged that the United Kingdom gets better value for money than some other countries.

  Foreign Health Services
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to state-run health services in other countries with regard to(a) the number of administrative staff employed per 10,000 of the population, (b) the number of other non-medical staff employed per 10,000 of the population, (c) the number of nurses employed per 10,000 of the populaton, (d) the number of beds per 10,000 of the population, (e) the average length of stay of in-patients and (f) the number of doctors employed per 10,000 of the population.
  930
  Mr. Newton
  Information in the precise form requested is not available. In particular no distinction is made in available statistics between state-run and other health services. However, I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the following tables in two publications by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development, "Measuring Health Care 1960–1983" and "Financing and Delivering Health Care" (Paris 1985 and 1987 respectively), which are available in the Library. The relevant tables are, in "Measuring Health Care", Table D.8 numbers of nurses and Table H.1 population; In "Financing and Delivering Health Care", table 18 on public sector and total health expenditure, table T.27 on bed numbers, table T.31 on average lengths of stay and table T.34 on numbers of doctors. In connection with these tables I would particularly draw my hon. Friend's attention to chapter 2 of the second publication which stresses the difficulties inherent in making inter-country comparisons because of differences of definition and so on from country to country.

  In relation to administrative and non-medical staff numbers I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to tables 508(a) to (d) in volume 1 of "Eurocare: European Health Care Analysis" (Health Econ, Basle) which I am arranging to place in the Library.

  Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the turnover of staff employed as medical laboratory scientific officers by health authorities and the blood transfusion service for the most recent available year.

  Mr. Newton
  Information on turnover of staff is not available centrally.

  At 30 September 1986 there were 14,620 (whole-time equivalent) medical laboratory scientific officers in post in the National Health Service in England. Medical laboratory scientific officers working in the blood transfusion service cannot be separately identified from those employed in health authorities.

  Amniocentesis (Statistics)
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women had amniocentesis during 1986; in what proportion foetal abnormality associated with mental handicap was detected; how many terminations were carried out as a result; and at what stage of pregnancy.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information about amniocentesis is not collected on the notification form and I regret therefore it is not possible to provide the information requested.

  Claims (Transitional Protection)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an estimate of the total number of claimants next April who will receive transitional protection(a) above and (b) below £10 per week.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that at the point of change next April around 40,000 income support claimants will receive a normal transitional addition of £10 per week or more and that 1·38 million will receive a normal transitional addition of less than £10 per week.

  Drugs (Abuse Reactions)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his answer of 27 November,Official Report, column 355, he will give the names of the two drugs for which there has been a possible failure to disclose serious suspected adverse drug reactions; for how long the investigations have been continuing; what form they are taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Neither of the investigations has yet reached a conclusion so it would be improper for me to name at this time the drugs concerned. The investigations, which began, respectively, in 1986 and very recently, are being carried out by correspondence and, where necessary, meetings and interviews.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his answer of 27 November,Official Report, column 355, on past suspected underreporting of adverse reactions, his officials make a note of such cases as they occur in addition to recording the operation in the product file; and how many such files are there.

  Mr. Newton
  Any information relevant to the licensing of a particular medicinal product is recorded on a file designated for that product; there are no separate files concerned specifically with the investigation of alleged under-reporting of adverse drug reactions. Licences have been issued for over 50,000 medicinal products, including some 39,000 licences of right issued when licensing began in the United Kingdom in 1971. Separate files, sometimes with many volumes, are held for all product licence and clinical trial applications made since 1971 as well as for many of the product licences of right.

  Vaccine Damage
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many awards were made under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 in each of the years 1979 to 1986; and what are the latest figures available for 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is set out in the table:

  Vaccine Damage Payments

  Year

  Number of awards

  1979

  349

  1980

  255

  1981

  74

  1982

  43

  1983

  42

  1984

  29

  1985

  26

  1986

  15

  19871

  10

  1 To 17 December 1987.

  Abortion
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally handicapped women have had terminations during 1986; for what reason; and at what stage in the pregnancy.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that information is not available in the exact form requested from the notification of 932
  abortions. However, the tables show for 1986 the number of notifications of abortion carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 where mental retardation of the woman was mentioned, by statutory grounds and gestation in completed weeks.

  Number of notifications of abortion carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 where mental retardation of the woman was mentioned,gestation in completed weeks. Residents and non-residents.

  England and Wales 1986

  Number

  Under 13 weeks

  14

  13 and over weeks

  6

  Total

  20

  Number of notifications of abortion carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 where mental retardation of the woman was mentioned, by statutory grounds. Residents and non-residents.

  England and Wales 1986

  Number

  Grounds 2 (alone or with others)1

  18

  Other grounds

  2

  Total

  20

  1 Grounds 2: the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.

  Nurses' Homes
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his proposals for the privatisation of nurses' homes.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Thorne) on 15 December at columns 495–97.

  Passport Checks
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what consultations he has had with representatives of the ethnic minority communities concerning the introduction of automatic passport checks for claimants; and what assessment he has made of the implications of this practice for good race relations;

  (2) why the "Income Support Manual" instructs his Department's staff to inspect immigration documents, including passports, of those claimants who have come to live in the United Kingdom during the past five years, and whether this represents a change from the current supplementary benefit procedures.

  Mr. Scott
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Hepatitis B
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what encouragement he is giving health care workers in high-risk areas to seek vaccination against hepatitis B;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to encourage district health authorities to formulate a policy of immunisation for health care workers, in view of the prevalence of hepatitis B in each district of individual hospitals.
  933
  Mrs. Currie
  The current guidance of hepatitis B vaccination, contained in the memorandum "Immunisation Against Infectious Diseases" issued by the Health Departments on the advice of the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), sets out categories of health care workers at high risk of contracting the disease, and health authorities are expected to ensure that those workers are vaccinated.

  The JCVI has recently been reviewing on this vaccination, and we hope to be able to promulgate its revised guidance at an early date, together with our own advice to health authorities on the action they should take.

  Social Workers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work offers to trining bodies on training in child care for social workers.

  Mr. Newton
  I understand that the council has recently completed a survey of child care teaching in courses leading to the award of the certificate of qualification in social work and to the certificate in social services, and that council staff have been reviewing with course tutors their teaching about child care with special reference to child abuse.

  The council has drawn up plans to provide a series of training workshops for all course tutors and practice placement supervisors to ensure that teaching is based on current knowledge of child development. Plans have also been made to involve experts from social work and other relevant disciplines to further the teaching of skills of observation of young children and communication with children of all ages. The council is in contact with departmental officials about the resource requirements of these plans.

  The council recognises that much child abuse work requires advanced skills and knowledge that cannot be adequately covered on a basic qualifying course and is planning the development of post qualifying programmes in child care in all parts of the United Kingdom.

  CCETSW has also submitted proposals to the Government for extending the basic training to three years, and these specify the child care knowledge and skills which all newly qualified social workers should be expected to have. We are giving urgent consideration to these proposals.

  Pensions
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the percentage increase in the state retirement pension, the pensioners' price index, and the retail prices index since:(a) 1983, (b) 1979 and (c)

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is in the table. The dates shown are those when upratings of retirement pension took effect.
  934

  Percentage increases in state retirement pension, pensioners' prices index and retail prices index to April 1987

  (a) since November 1983

  (b) since November 1979

  (c) Since July 1974

  Retirement pension

  (single)

  16·0

  69·5

  295·0

  (couple)

  16·1

  69·6

  295·3

  PPI

  (single)

  14·3

  63·1

  260·2

  (couple)

  14·6

  63·2

  258·0

  RPI

  175

  69·0

  266·1

  Donor Organs
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now publish the report by Sir Raymond Hoffenberg into the shortage of donor organs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I have today placed copies of the report in the Vote Office.

  Ministers welcome the report as a most helpful document. Our transplant programmes are already successful; for instance, the United Kingdom has more patients with a functioning kidney graft than any other country in Europe (nearly 7,000). However, this success has generated a need for more donor organs as increasing numbers of patients are considered suitable for this form of surgery. For this reason it is essential that the number of organ donors increases. The medical royal colleges' report rightly recognises that there is no single answer to the problem of improving the supply of donor organs. Many factors contribute to the shortfall and the report makes recommendations covering a number of areas.

  The key recommendation is that each health authority should have an operational policy for organ donation, including procedures for identifying potential organ donors and recording the numbers so identified. The royal colleges believe that effective procedures would be preferable to a statutory system of required request such has been enacted in the United States of America. We accept this proposal, and with the health authorities are considering how such procedures might best be developed.

  The report also recognises the value of good publicity. Many health authorities already have good arrangements for promoting donation, but we will be considering ways of extending the current initiatives, in the context of our discussions with the National Health Service.

  The report contains many other recommendations. Some, such as the suggestion that district health authorities be reimbursed for the cost incurred in providing donor organs, are already being studied. Other recommendations affect bodies such as the royal colleges themselves and the European Community. The Department will be continuing consultations with the various bodies concerned to progress the ideas contained in the report.

  Alphafetoprotein
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services at what stage of pregnancy the alphafetoprotein pregnancy test is offered to women in each of the health regions.
  935
  Mrs. Currie
  When an alphafetoprotein test on blood is offered this is usually at around 16 weeks of pregnancy. The information requested on regions is not held centrally.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total of severe weather payments paid by benefit offices in the Nottingham, North constituency in 1986–87; if he will break down this figure by week of payment; and if he will estimate the total number of claimants involved.

  Mr. Scott
  The total and weekly number of exceptionally cold weather payments made by local offices in the Nottingham, North constituency — David lane, Shakespeare street and Station street—last winter is in the table. Figures are not available for the number of individuals receiving payment, but the great majority of successful claimants will have received £5 in respect of each of the two weeks for which help was available in the Nottingham area.

  Number of Exceptionally Cold Weather Payments made by local offices in the Nottingham, North Constituency by week of payment in the winter of 1986–87

  Payment made in Week commencing

  Number of £5 Weekly Payments made

  20 January 1987

  1,426

  27 January 1987

  8,169

  3 February 1987

  3,065

  10 February 1987

  1,301

  17 February 1987

  539

  24 February 1987

  288

  3 March 1987

  103

  10 March 1987

  232

  17 March 1987

  79

  24 March 1987

  52

  31 March 1987

  51

  7 April 1987

  70

  14 April 1987

  20

  21 April 1987

  2

  28 April 1987

  119

  5 May 1987

  310

  12 May 1987

  36

  19 May 1987

  2

  26 May 1987

  28

  2 June 1987

  —

  9 June 1987

  2

  16 June 1987

  2

  Total

  15,896

  Low Calorie Diets
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish the report on very low calorie diets from the Chief Medical Officer's Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy.

  Mrs. Currie
  The COMA report, "The Use of Very Low Calorie Diets in Obesity", is being published today. Copies have been placed in the Library. I understand that it is the first international scientific report on the use of very low calorie diets (VLCD) and I welcome it wholeheartedly. I know it has been awaited with great interest in medical and scientific circles worldwide and is a notable British first.

  The report's recommendations are far-reaching but balanced and moderate reflecting the authors' disinterested, methodical approach to a difficult task. I shall study them carefully.
  936
  The Government are taking immediate action on the recommendation to institute discussions with the United Kingdom manufacturers of VLCD about a code of practice, along the lines suggested by the COMA report.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is yet in a position to make a statement, based on legal advice from the independent adjudication authorities, concerning the definition of regular care in respect of existing invalid care allowance legislation; and if he will make a statement on the related freezing of backdated ICA payments.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 10 December 1987]: The independent chief adjudication officer has issued guidance to adjudication officers deciding claims to invalid care allowance (ICA) about the statutory requirement that claimants must be "regularly … engaged in caring". There has never been any doubt that this requirement is satisfied where the claimant is providing 35 or more hours of care for an AA recipient every week, or virtually every week. The new guidance has confirmed that the requirement is also satisfied where the claimant provides 35 or more hours care weekly throughout the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays for an AA recipient who is otherwise normally away from home at, for example, a special school. Care undertaken during other visits home will also qualify, provided the basic weekly requirement of 35 or more hours is satisfied. Isolated or infrequent spells of care will not qualify.

  Claims that have been held pending this guidance will now be submitted for adjudication, and will be eligible for arrears in the same way as other ICA claims.

  Health Authorities (Finance)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health authorities have not been able to fix a balanced budget position for the current financial year.

  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total current size of the reported deficit of the 14 regional health authorities in the present financial year; and what year-end total is implied by this figure if no additional cut-backs are made in expenditure.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates he has of possible overspending in the current financial year by each of the regional health authorities; and what proposals he has to deal with this problem.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answers 4 December and 16 December 1987]: The expenditure of health authorities, like that of Government Departments, is controlled in cash terms against cash limits. Regional health authorities' spending is therefore routinely monitored in cash terms. Regions are expected to maintain their spending within their cash limits this year. Under the normal conventions of Government accounting, authorities are expected to manage their working balances—that is, cash, stocks, debtors and creditors — at a sensible level. Regional health authorities are responsible for monitoring their districts' positions. The Department has not up to now routinely collected figures on the income and expenditure

  937
  position of health authorities in-year, but the National Health Service management board has this autumn reviewed with regional health authorities their current estimates of total expenditure levels for this year on both cash and on an income and expenditure basis, in the latter case covering not only authorities' views on likely trends in their working balances, but also the extent to which continuing expenditure was being financed by short-term savings.

  As I announced in the House on 16 December, this monitoring revealed an immediate problem in the current year. In the light of this we have made an additional £75 million available to English health authorities, together with a further £13·3 million to offset the costs of damage caused by the severe weather on 16 October. Regular formal monitoring of the income and expenditure position of authorities is to be introduced.

  Benefit Statistics
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what budgets have been allocated under the social fund for 1988–89 to each of his Department's offices situated in(a) Liverpool, (b) Knowsley, (c) Sefton, (d) St. Helens, (e) Wirral, (f) Clwyd and (g) Gwynedd;

  (2) how many claimants received payments of supplementary benefit from his Department's offices situated in (a) Liverpool, (b) Knowsley, (c) Sefton, (d) St. Helens, (e) the Wirral, (f) Clwyd, and (g) Gwynedd during 1986; and at what total cost in each case;

  (3) what estimate he has of the number of claimants likely to be receiving income support payments from Department of Health and Social Security offices situated in (a) Liverpool, (b) Knowsley, (c) Sefton, (d) St. Helens, (e) the Wirral, (f) Clwyd, and (g) Gwynedd after April 1988; and at what estimated total cost in each case.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: Local offices which serve the areas requested are as follows. Their boundaries are not conterminous.

  (a) Liverpool—

  Liverpool—

  Belle Vale

  Breckfield

  City

  Edge Hill

  Garston

  Norris Green

  Toxteth

  West Derby (part)

  (b) Knowsley—

  Liverpool—

  Huyton (part)

  Kirkby

  West Derby (part)

  Widnes (part)

  (c) Sefton—

  Liverpool—

  Bootle

  Crosby

  Southport

  (d) St. Helens—

  Liverpool—Huyton (part)

  St. Helens

  Warrington (part)

  (e) Wirral—

  Birkenhead North

  Birkenhead South

  938

  Wallasey

  (f) Clwyd—

  Colwyn Bay (part)

  Rhy1

  Wrexham

  (g) Gwynedd—

  Anglesey

  Caernarfon

  Colwyn Bay (part)

  Porthmadog/Dolgellau

  The allocation of social fund budgets to these offices was contained in my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and the Disabled's reply to my Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 4 November at columns 774–781.

  The table sets out the number of claimants who received payments of supplementary benefit at each of these offices during 1986.

  Number receiving payment of supplementary benefit

  Office

  Number

  Birkenhead—

  North

  11,802

  South

  8,747

  Liverpool—

  Belle Vale

  6,600

  Bootle

  7,521

  Breckfield

  7,248

  City

  3,656

  Crosby

  7,156

  Edge Hill

  5,046

  Garston

  5,829

  Huyton

  8,818

  Kirkby

  10,596

  Norris Green

  3,983

  Toxteth

  6,997

  West Derby

  6,259

  St. Helens

  12,650

  Southport

  8,620

  Wallasey

  7,686

  Warrington

  14,344

  Widnes

  10,416

  Wales—

  Anglesey

  6,356

  Caernarfon

  5,680

  Colwyn Bay

  7,719

  Porthmadog/Dolgellau

  5,982

  Rhyl

  13,107

  Wrexham

  19,246

  Source: 100 per cent. count of cases, this data is provisional and subject to amendment.

  I regret that no information is available on either total benefit expenditure or estimated numbers of income support recipients for the individual areas.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all those hospitals in England for which closure proposals have been referred to him for decision following local consultation procedures, during the past four years; and if he will indicate for each one whether closure was approved, refused or whether a decision is still pending.
  939
  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 10 December 1987]: The table lists the information available about hospitals in

  District/Special health authority

  Health Building

  Closure

  Proposal referred to Secretary of State

  Approved

  Refused

  Maidstone

  Preston Hall Hospital

  PC

  January 1983

  Postgraduate Board of

  Hospital for Sick Children, Tadworth

  PC

  March 1983

  Governors

  Court, Surrey

  Hospital

  Wirral

  Cleaver Hospital

  TC

  June 1983

  Brent

  Leamington Park Hospital

  TC

  August 1983

  Frenchay

  Wendover Maternity Hospital

  TC

  August 1983

  Camberwell

  St. Giles' Hospital

  TC

  August 1983

  Barnet

  West Hendon Hospital

  TC

  September 1983

  Haringey

  Prince of Wales Hospital

  TC

  November 1983

  Wandsworth

  South London Hospital for Women

  TC

  November 1983

  Queen Charlotte's BG

  Convalescent Home, St. Leonard's-on-Sea

  TC

  November 1983

  Norwich

  Home Place Convalescent Home

  TC

  December 1983

  Norwich

  Longacre Maternity Home

  TC

  December 1983

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  St. John's Hospital

  TC

  December 1983

  Hammersmith SHA

  Community Health Centre, The Curve, Westway

  N/A

  January 1984

  Milton Keynes

  Westbury Maternity Home

  TC

  January 1984

  Wigan

  Ashton Hospital

  TC

  February 1984

  Liverpool

  Newsham General Hospital

  TC

  March 1984

  Liverpool

  Princes Park Hospital

  TC

  March 1984

  Tower Hamlets

  Mildmay Mission Hospital

  TC

  March 1984

  Wakefield

  Snapethorpe Hospital

  TC

  March 1984

  Wakefield

  Pinderfields General Hospital

  PC

  March 1984

  Bradford

  Thornton View

  TC

  April 1984

  Bradford

  Shipley

  TC

  April 1984

  Brent

  Wembley Hospital

  TC

  May 1984

  Waltham Forest

  Lugano Nursing Home

  TC

  May 1984

  Waltham Forest

  Harts Hospital

  TC

  May 1984

  Paddington and North Kensington

  Chepstow Lodge

  TC

  June 1984

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  West London Hospital

  PC

  June 1984

  City and Hackney

  The Mothers

  TC

  June 1984

  City and Hackney

  The German

  TC

  June 1984

  City and Hackney

  St. Matthew's

  TC

  June 1984

  Worcester and District

  St. Wulstan's Hospital

  TC

  June 1984

  Chester

  Ellesmere Port

  PC

  June 1984

  Brent

  Central Middlesex Hospital

  PC

  July 1984

  Salisbury

  Westminster Memorial Hospital

  PC

  July 1984

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Charing Cross Hospital

  PC

  August 1984

  Newham

  St. Andrew's Hospital

  PC

  October 1984

  East Yorkshire

  Woodgates Maternity Home

  TC

  November 1984

  Liverpool

  Heswall Hospital

  TC

  November 1984

  Bury

  Ainsworth Hospital

  TC

  November 1984

  East Hertfordshire

  Hertford County Hospital

  PC

  December 1984

  Liverpool

  Sir Alfred Jones Memorial

  PC

  January 1985

  Liverpool

  Newsham Hospital

  PC

  January 1985

  Gateshead

  Whickham Cottage Hospital

  TC

  February 1985

  North Bedfordshire

  Park Hospital

  TC

  February 1985

  Mid-Downs

  Horsham Hospital

  PC

  February 1985

  South West Surrey

  Haslemere and District Hospital

  PC

  February 1985

  Preston

  Fullwood Continuation Hospital

  TC

  March 1985

  Leeds Eastern

  Marguerite Hepton Hospital

  TC

  May 1985

  Leeds Western

  Grassington Hospital

  TC

  May 1985

  Victoria

  Westminster

  PC

  May 1985

  South Warwickshire

  Monroe Devis Maternity Home

  TC

  June 1985

  National Heart and

  Brompton Hospital, Frimley

  TC

  July 1985

  Chest Hospitals

  SHA

  North Warwickshire

  Colchester Holiday Home

  TC

  September 1985

  Salford

  Salford Royal Hospital

  PC

  September 1985

  Airedale

  Wharfedale Children's Hospital

  TC

  September 1985

  Greenwich

  Dreadnaught Seaman's Hospital

  TC

  November 1985

  Greenwich

  St. Nicholas

  TC

  January 1986

  Gateshead

  Norman's Riding Hospital

  TC

  January 1986

  South West Durham

  Holywood Hall

  TC

  January 1986

  940
  England for the four years up to December 1986, the la test date for which information is currently held. Partial as well as total closures are listed.
  941

  District/Special health authority

  Health Building

  Closure

  Proposal referred to Secretary of State

  Approved

  Refused

  North Tyneside

  Moor Park

  TC

  May 1986

  Waltham Forest

  Forest Hospital

  TC

  July 1986

  Northumberland

  Silverton House

  TC

  August 1986

  Paddington and North Kensington

  St. Mary's (Harrow Road)

  TC

  August 1986

  Wandsworth

  St. James' Hospital

  PC

  September 1986

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  New Cross Hospital

  TC

  December 1986

  Shropshire

  Oswestry and District Hospital

  PC

  Decision outstanding

  TC = Total Closure

  PC = Partial Closure

  N/A = Not applicable—no beds involved.

  Gloucester Family Practitioner Committee
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement regarding the current level of services provided by the Gloucester family practitioner committee;

  (2) how many general medical practitioners have been employed by the Gloucester family practitioner committee for each of the most recent five years for which figures are available;

  (3) how much the Gloucester family practitioner committee has spent on revenue services for each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will express the figures in actual and in constant 1987 prices;

  (4) how many general dental practitioners have been under contract to the Gloucester family practitioner committee for each of the most recent five years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 11 December 1987]: Following is the information requested:

  1982–83 £ million

  1983–84 £ million

  1984–85 £ million

  1985–86 £ million

  1986–87 £ million

  Revenue expenditure1 on Family Practitioner Services (actual):

  27·61

  29·22

  32·12

  34·03

  37·77

  Revenue expenditure1 on Family Practitioner Services (1986–87) prices):

  32·93

  33·32

  35·09

  35·05

  37·77

  Revenue expenditure2 on Family Practitioner Committee administration (actual):

  —

  —

  —

  0·41

  0·43

  Revenue expenditure2 on Family Practitioner Committee adminstration (1986–87 prices):

  —

  —

  —

  0·43

  0·43

  Notes:

  1 Includes medical, dental, pharmaceutical and opthalmic services·

  2 Figures not available before 1985–86 when FPCs became independent of District Health Authorities·

  The performance of this FPC is due to be reviewed by my noble Friend, on 22 January, 1988.

  Nurseries and Playgroups
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was(a) the total public expenditure on local authority day nurseries, local authority playgroups and
  942

  General Medical Practitioners1

  Number

  1 October 1982

  261

  1 October 1983

  266

  1 October 1984

  269

  1 October 1985

  279

  1 October 1986

  294

  Notes:

  1 Number of unrestricted principals under contract with the Family Practitioner Committee (FPC).

  General Dental Practitioners2

  Number

  30 September 1982

  163

  30 September 1983

  167

  30 September 1984

  168

  30 September 1985

  175

  30 September 1986

  181

  Notes:

  1 Number of principals carrying out majority of their general dental services work under contract with the FPC.

  grants to the voluntary sector for provision for under fives for each year from 1975 to 1985 and (b) the total public expenditure on these services as a percentage of gross domestic product for each of these years.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The table shows net current expenditure in England for the years 1975–76 to 1985–86.
  943

  (£000's)

  (1) Year

  (2) Day nurseries

  (3) Playgroups

  (4) Local authority grants (included in cols· 2 & 3

  Central grants

  (6) Total of cols· 2,3 &5

  (7) As percentage of United Kingdom GDP

  1975–76

  24,351

  1,909

  633

  93

  26,353

  0·02

  1976–77

  30,135

  2,388

  903

  164

  32,687

  0·03

  1977–78

  33,496

  2,662

  860

  183

  36,341

  0·02

  1978–79

  37,654

  2,965

  1,089

  213

  40,832

  0·02

  1979–80

  44,153

  3,888

  1,638

  219

  48,260

  0·02

  1980–81

  58,099

  4,543

  2,400

  278

  62,920

  0·03

  1981–82

  66,228

  5,377

  2,415

  305

  71,910

  0·03

  1982–83

  73,082

  5,790

  2,797

  355

  79,227

  0·03

  1983–84

  79,450

  5,591

  4,032

  1,048

  86,089

  0·03

  1984–85

  84,743

  6,300

  4,788

  2,309

  93,352

  0·03

  1985–86

  86,097

  6,841

  N/A

  2,320

  95,258

  0·03

  Notes:

  The GDP figures used are the average of GDP (income), GDP (expenditure) and GDP (production). The GDP figure is for the United Kingdom as a whole.

  The central grants shown comprise the Pre-school Playgroups Association, the voluntary Liaison Committee for Under Fives and the under fives initiative. Other voluntary organisations are also concerned with children under five, but it is not possible to identify their expenditure on under fives separately.

  From 1982–83, chold-minding is included in grants from local authorities.

  From 1983–84, central grants for the under fives initiative are included.

  Rates
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount of rates or payments in lieu of rates, paid(a) by each regional health authority and (b) in respect of other National Health Service property not attributable to any particular regional health authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 19 November 1987]: The following are provisional, that is, as yet unaudited, figures derived from 1986–87 annual accounts submitted to the Department:

  Expenditure on rates/payments in lieu of rates

  £000

  Regions1

  Northern

  13,360

  Yorkshire

  13,065

  Trent

  20,817

  East Anglian

  7,449

  North West Thames

  11,709

  North East Thames

  15,025

  South East Thames

  11,280

  South West Thames

  9,599

  Wessex

  7,888

  Oxford

  7,427

  South Western

  9,131

  Number of cases on in·patient waiting list with national ranking by percentage change—NHS Hospitals England

  District health authority

  September

  March

  Change September 1982 to March 1987

  1982

  1987

  Number

  Percentage

  Rank

  Milton Keynes1

  6

  2,614

  2,608

  43,466·7

  1

  Halton

  7

  141

  134

  1,914·3

  2

  Islington

  1,098

  2,826

  1,728

  157·4

  3

  Huntingdon

  471

  922

  451

  95·8

  4

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  3,127

  5,863

  2,736

  87·5

  5

  East Surrey

  1,257

  2,327

  1,070

  85·1

  6

  West Essex

  2,555

  4,645

  2,090

  81·8

  7

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  5,335

  9,341

  4,006

  75·1

  8

  Bexley

  1,123

  1,953

  830

  73·9

  9

  Dartford and Gravesham

  2,916

  4,846

  1,930

  66·2

  10

  Harrogate

  1,274

  2,059

  785

  61·6

  11

  944

  £000

  West Midlands

  14,618

  Mersey

  10,465

  North Western

  12,939

  Other NHS Bodies/Authorities2

  Special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals

  1,991

  Family Practitioner Committees

  1,291

  Prescription Pricing Authority

  423

  Dental Estimates Board

  100

  1 Includes expenditure by regional and district health authorities.

  2 Excludes certain NHS bodies and authorities, etc. (eg the Central Blood Laboratories Authority) whose annual accounts do not separately identify their expenditure on rates or payments in lieu of rates.

  District Health Authorities (Patient Treatment)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each district health authority(a) the total numbers of people waiting for treatment in September 1982, (b) the total numbers of people waiting for treatment in March 1987, (c) the percentage change represented by (b) over (a) ordering that list so that the district with the biggest increase is first and that with the largest decrease is last.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 3 December 1987]: The information requested is given in the table.
  945

  District health authority

  September

  March

  Change September 1982 to March 1987

  1982

  1987

  Number

  Percentage

  Rank

  City and Hackney

  4,586

  7,140

  2,554

  55·7

  12

  Kidderminster and District

  1,070

  1,585

  515

  48·1

  13

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  4,474

  6,488

  2,014

  45·0

  14

  Mid Essex

  3,246

  4,672

  1,426

  43·9

  15

  Bloomsbury

  9,632

  13,446

  3,814

  39·6

  16

  Redbridge

  1,719

  2,392

  673

  39·2

  17

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  1,475

  2,052

  577

  39·1

  18

  Waltham Forest

  3,271

  4,504

  1,233

  37·7

  19

  West Suffolk

  2,027

  2,762

  735

  36·3

  20

  West Lambeth

  6,038

  8,111

  2,073

  34·3

  21

  North Warwickshire

  1,944

  2,576

  632

  32·5

  22

  South East Staffordshire

  2,026

  2,679

  653

  32·2

  23

  Worcester and District

  2,651

  3,477

  826

  31·2

  24

  Tower Hamlets

  6,003

  7,865

  1,862

  31·0

  25

  Hillingdon

  6,009

  7,867

  1,858

  30·9

  26

  Wolverhampton

  3,677

  4,802

  1,125

  30·6

  27

  Herefordshire

  2,272

  2,945

  673

  29·6

  28

  Lancaster

  1,784

  2,312

  528

  29·6

  29

  Eastbourne

  2,552

  3,298

  746

  29·2

  30

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  3,708

  4,763

  1,055

  28·5

  31

  South West Surrey

  2,385

  3,005

  620

  26·0

  32

  North West Surrey

  2,315

  2,915

  600

  25·9

  33

  Rochdale

  2,342

  2,933

  591

  25·2

  34

  Winchester

  2,309

  2,880

  571

  24·7

  35

  Airedale

  1,686

  2,100

  414

  24·6

  36

  Kettering

  2,848

  3,546

  698

  24·5

  37

  East Dorset

  4,361

  5,424

  1,063

  24·4

  38

  St· Helens and Knowsley

  3,288

  4,074

  786

  23·9

  39

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  1,688

  2,088

  400

  23·7

  40

  Paddington and North Kensington

  2,813

  3,459

  646

  23·0

  41

  West Berkshire

  3,256

  3,999

  743

  22·8

  42

  Central Manchester

  5,358

  6,543

  1,185

  22·1

  43

  Cheltenham

  1,782

  2,157

  375

  21·0

  44

  Trafford

  1,301

  1,542

  241

  18·5

  45

  Chorley and South Ribble

  651

  770

  119

  18·3

  46

  Canterbury and Thanet

  4,136

  4,889

  753

  18·2

  47

  Wycombe

  1,134

  1,333

  199

  17·5

  48

  Southend

  3,248

  3,788

  540

  16·6

  49

  Bromley

  1,931

  2,242

  311

  16·1

  50

  Leicestershire

  7,177

  8,278

  1,101

  15·3

  51

  Rotherham

  3,871

  4,461

  590

  15·2

  52

  Bristol and Weston

  7,142

  8,213

  1,071

  15·0

  53

  East Cumbria

  3,323

  3,796

  473

  14·2

  54

  Greenwich

  2,362

  2,687

  325

  13·8

  55

  Hastings

  2,547

  2,882

  335

  13·2

  56

  Swindon

  2,825

  3,194

  369

  13·1

  57

  Maidstone

  2,190

  2,461

  271

  12·4

  58

  Northallerton

  623

  699

  76

  12·2

  59

  Sandwell

  1,721

  1,927

  206

  12·0

  60

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  6,831

  7,644

  813

  11·9

  61

  Basildon and Thurrock

  5,888

  6,541

  653

  11·1

  62

  Peterborough

  3,770

  4,176

  406

  10·8

  63

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  4,117

  4,546

  429

  10·4

  64

  West Birmingham

  4,269

  4,699

  430

  10·1

  65

  South Birmingham

  6,878

  7,569

  691

  10·0

  66

  Leeds Western

  4,330

  4,758

  428

  9·9

  67

  Somerset

  4,949

  5,436

  487

  9·8

  68

  Brent

  1,737

  1,903

  166

  9·6

  69

  East Suffolk

  3,097

  3,381

  284

  9·2

  70

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  313

  2,521

  208

  9·0

  71

  North Deven

  1,558

  1,693

  135

  8·7

  72

  Bradford

  6,663

  7,172

  509

  7·6

  73

  South West Hertfordshire

  1,986

  2,136

  150

  7·6

  74

  Exeter

  4,436

  4,737

  301

  6·8

  75

  South Cumbria

  1,152

  1,217

  65

  5·6

  76

  Stockport

  4,430

  4,668

  238

  5·4

  77

  Shropshire

  8,441

  8,842

  401

  4·8

  78

  Brighton

  3,863

  4,022

  159

  4·1

  79

  Medway

  3,273

  3,393

  120

  3·7

  80

  North Hertfordshire

  3,155

  3,267

  112

  3·5

  81

  South West Durham

  803

  831

  28

  3·5

  82

  West Lancashire

  2,433

  2,495

  62

  2·5

  83

  North Staffordshire

  8,862

  9,058

  196

  2·2

  84

  West Dorset

  2,015

  2,057

  42

  2·1

  85

  Isle of Wight

  1,349

  1,368

  19

  1·4

  86

  946 947

  District health authority

  September

  March

  Change September 1982 to March 1987

  1982

  1987

  Number

  Percentage

  Rank

  South Bedfordshire

  2,382

  2,415

  33

  1·4

  87

  Ealing

  1,489

  1,504

  15

  1·0

  88

  Mid Surrey

  2,150

  2,157

  7

  0·3

  89

  Enfield

  3,068

  3,074

  6

  0·2

  90

  Southport and Formby

  1,373

  1,360

  -13

  -0·9

  91

  Salisbury

  4,770

  4,717

  -53

  -1·1

  92

  Plymouth

  5,897

  5,800

  -97

  -1·6

  93

  Leeds Eastern

  6,169

  6,064

  -105

  -1·7

  94

  Hull

  7,050

  6,911

  -139

  -2·0

  95

  Barnet

  3,628

  3,545

  -83

  -2·3

  96

  Oldham

  5,071

  4,925

  -146

  -2·9

  97

  East Berkshire

  8,244

  7,905

  -339

  -4·1

  98

  Wigan

  4,677

  4,458

  -219

  -4·7

  99

  York

  2,710

  2,575

  -135

  -5·0

  200

  Salford

  5,371

  5,101

  -270

  -5·0

  1·01

  Riverside

  5,888

  5,590

  -298

  -5·1

  1·02

  South Lincolnshire

  4,428

  4,190

  -238

  -5·4

  103

  North East Essex

  3,510

  3,296

  -214

  -6·1

  104

  Chester

  2,940

  2,759

  -181

  -6·2

  105

  Bolton

  3,348

  3,138

  -210

  -6·3

  106

  North Bedfordshire

  2,657

  2,421

  -236

  -8·9

  107

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  9,080

  8,217

  -863

  -9·5

  108

  Hartlepool

  1,841

  1,661

  -180

  -9·8

  109

  Liverpool

  8,553

  7,704

  -849

  -9·9

  110

  Chichester

  2,786

  2,464

  -322

  -11·6

  111

  Northumberland

  1,896

  1,668

  -228

  -12·0

  112

  Mid Downs

  2,621

  2,288

  -333

  -12·7

  113

  Preston

  5,287

  4,586

  -701

  -13·3

  114

  Camberwell

  3,388

  2,913

  -475

  -14·0

  115

  Wandsworth

  3,239

  2,768

  -471

  -14·5

  116

  Calderdale

  1,166

  996

  -170

  -14·6

  117

  Harrow

  1,370

  1,168

  -202

  -14·7

  118

  Gateshead

  1,661

  1,412

  -249

  -15·0

  119

  Gloucester

  4,959

  4,214

  -745

  -15·0

  120

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  5,238

  4,434

  -804

  -15·3

  121

  Oxfordshire

  7,003

  5,901

  -1,102

  -15·7

  122

  Walsall

  3,324

  2,740

  -584

  -17·6

  123

  South Warwickshire

  3,194

  2,631

  -563

  -17·6

  124

  Worthing

  3,756

  3,058

  -698

  -18·6

  125

  Croydon

  3,093

  2,518

  -575

  -18·6

  126

  Newcastle

  11,524

  9,363

  -2,161

  -18·8

  127

  Merton and Sutton

  3,639

  2,946

  -693

  -19·0

  128

  Pontefract

  2,569

  2,079

  -490

  -19·1

  129

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  4,194

  3,364

  -830

  -19·8

  130

  Southern Derbyshire

  6,322

  4,991

  -1,331

  -21·1

  131

  South Manchester

  8,120

  6,408

  -1,712

  -21·1

  132

  Scarborough

  2,200

  1,724

  -476

  -21·6

  133

  Doncaster

  6,132

  4,686

  -1,446

  -23·6

  134

  Darlington

  3,140

  2,397

  -743

  -23·7

  135

  Rugby

  864

  659

  -205

  -23·7

  136

  Kingston and Esher

  3,194

  2,418

  -776

  -24·3

  137

  Wirral

  4,714

  3,564

  -1,150

  -24·4

  138

  Sheffield

  14,678

  11,051

  -3,627

  -24·7

  139

  Sunderland

  4,889

  3,659

  -1,230

  -25·2

  140

  Bury

  979

  731

  -248

  -25·3

  141

  West Cumbria

  1,870

  1,396

  -474

  -25·3

  142

  East Yorkshire

  1,924

  1,429

  -495

  -25·7

  143

  Cambridge

  6,708

  4,945

  -1,763

  -26·3

  144

  Newham

  2,222

  1,638

  -584

  -26·3

  145

  Tunbridge Wells

  6,220

  4,566

  -1,654

  -26·6

  146

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  3,294

  2,404

  -890

  -27·0

  147

  North Derbyshire

  3,511

  2,520

  -991

  -28·2

  148

  East Hertfordshire

  1,847

  1,325

  -522

  -28·3

  149

  Dudley

  5,441

  3,889

  -1,552

  -28·5

  150

  Central Birmingham

  7,635

  5,427

  -2,208

  -28·9

  151

  Wakefield

  3,216

  2,241

  -975

  -30·3

  152

  South Tyneside

  1,047

  727

  -320

  -30·6

  153

  Durham

  1,489

  1,032

  -457

  -30·7

  154

  Solihull

  2,278

  1,578

  -700

  -30·7

  155

  Central Nottinghamshire

  7,154

  4,955

  -2,199

  -30·7

  156

  Bath

  8,079

  5,570

  -2,509

  -31·1

  157

  Crewe

  5,128

  3,512

  -1,616

  -31·5

  158

  North Lincolnshire

  4,129

  2,819

  -1,310

  31·7

  159

  Torbay

  2,368

  1,602

  -766

  -32·3

  160

  Mid Staffordshire

  2,440

  1,648

  -792

  -32·5

  161

  948 949

  District health authority

  September

  March

  Change September 1982 to March 1987

  1982

  1987

  Number

  Percentage

  Rank

  Barnsley

  3,934

  2,600

  -1,334

  -33·9

  162

  Huddersfield

  3,308

  2,175

  -1,133

  -34·3

  163

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  3,698

  2,411

  -1,287

  -34·8

  164

  South East Kent

  3,946

  2,564

  -1,382

  -35·0

  165

  East Birmingham

  4,600

  2,865

  -1,735

  -37·7

  166

  Scunthorpe

  4,609

  2,832

  -1,777

  -38·6

  167

  Warrington

  3,037

  1,864

  -1,173

  -38·6

  168

  Northampton

  6,793

  4,144

  -2,649

  -39·0

  169

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  3,542

  2,148

  -1,394

  -39·4

  170

  North Tyneside

  1,721

  1,043

  -678

  -39·4

  171

  Nottingham

  10,988

  6,625

  -4,363

  -39·7

  172

  Grimsby

  2,355

  1,400

  -955

  -40·6

  173

  Frenchay

  5,855

  3,458

  -2,397

  -40·9

  174

  Haringey

  1,708

  1,004

  -704

  -41·2

  175

  Norwich

  10,980

  6,377

  -4,603

  -41·9

  176

  Tameside and Glossop

  2,866

  1,645

  -1,221

  -42·6

  177

  North West Hertfordshire

  2,697

  1,544

  -1,153

  -42·8

  178

  Coventry

  8,759

  4,813

  -3,946

  -45·1

  179

  South Sefton

  6,332

  3,409

  -2,923

  -46·2

  180

  North Manchester

  4,726

  2,528

  -2,198

  -46·5

  181

  South Tees

  10,319

  5,519

  -4,800

  -46·5

  182

  North West Durham

  1,325

  683

  -642

  -48·5

  183

  Aylesbury Vale'

  6,450

  3,300

  -3,150

  -48·8

  184

  Southmead

  2,958

  1,415

  -1,543

  -52·2

  185

  North Birmingham

  2,723

  1,300

  -1,423

  -52·3

  186

  North Tees

  1,958

  930

  -1,028

  -52·5

  187

  Bassetlaw

  1,185

  535

  -650

  -54·9

  188

  Dewsbury

  1,181

  429

  -752

  -63·7

  189

  Macclesfield

  2,302

  760

  -1,542

  -67·0

  190

  Hampstead2

  1,979

  ֵ

  —

  —

  1 The waiting list for Milton Keynes was formerly held by Aylesbury Vale health authority but was taken over by Milton Keynes health authority in 1984 following the development of Milton Keynes general hospital· The above table shows a comparable reduction in the Aylesbury Vale figures·

  2 As no March 1987 figures available for Hampstead health authority this authority has been excluded from the national ranking·

  950