Written Answers of 7 April 1987

ENVIRONMENT

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Mikardo
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the houses and flats built on land owned by the London Docklands Development Corporation which were sold between July and December 1986 were sold to persons on the housing waiting list of the London boroughs of Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Newham.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 1 April 1987, at column 553.

  Commercial and Industrial Premises (Revaluation)
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to lay the order regarding the revaluation of commercial and industrial premises in England.

  Dr. Boyson
  My right hon. Friend today laid the two orders needed to provide for a revaluation of non-domestic properties in England and Wales, to take effect in 1990. This will be the first such revaluation since 1973. It will generally assist businesses in those areas and sectors of the economy which have been most affected by the recession. They have been carrying an unfair share of the rates burden in recent years.

  The revaluation is timed to coincide with the introduction of the proposed uniform non-domestic rate poundage. This will remove the present distortions in non-domestic rates. The uniform rate will then increase no faster than the rate of inflation, giving businesses the benefit of stable and predictable rate burdens.

  Research and Development
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's planned expenditure on research and development for 1987–88; and what are the main areas of research selected by his Department under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Mr. Ridley
  My Department plans to spend £51·4 million on research and development for 1987–88. All the Department's research and development is selected in accordance with the customer-contractor principle, as defined by Lord Rothschild in his report to the Government in 1971, with the exception of the "discretionary" programme of the director of the Building Research Establishment.

  The areas of research covered by the Department's research programme are; environmental protection, water, countryside, planning, local government, housing and building and construction.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Freud
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of council houses (a) sold and (b) built in Fenland district council and East Cambridgeshire district council in the last five years.

  Mr. Tracey
  The reported sales of dwellings by the authorities and completions of dwellings for the authorities appear in the following issues of -Local Housing Statistics", which are available in the Library.

  Sales of Council Dwellings

  Financial years

  issue number

  1981–82

  63

  1982–83

  67

  1983–84

  75

  1984–85 and 1985–86

  79

  Completions of New Dwellings

  Calendar years

  issue number

  1981, 1982, 1983

  73

  1984

  77

  1985

  78

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Ridley
  The information is as follows:

  Friday 13 March—Swindon

  Wednesday 18 March—Cleveland

  Friday 20 March—Newton Abbot

  Agricultural Land (Development)
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has made to the request by the National Association of Local Councils to grant an extension of time for the consideration of his Department's circular on development involving agricultural land.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I shall send my hon. Friend a copy of my reply to the National Association of Local Councils' request. There has been very lull public discussion of the matter since the draft circular was published on 9 February and I see no reason to extend the usual two-month consultation period.

  Redundant Hospital Sites
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy for the future use of redundant hospital sites in the green belt.

  Mr. Ridley
  In the next few years many older hospitals, especially those for the mentally ill or mentally handicapped, will no longer be needed. A number of these hospitals are located in the green belts. The Government have been considering how planning for the future of these redundant hospitals can best be handled having regard to green belt policy as set out in DOE circular 14/84.

  Local planning authorities are responsible for considering the future of individual sites. When it is known that particular sites are likely to become redundant, it will often be appropriate to bring forward policies or proposals

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  for the future use of those sites when considering alterations to structure or local plans. Some planning authorities are already doing this. Because there are a number of sites in several areas my Department has prepared guidelines to assist local planning authorities in preparing policies for the sites and in dealing with any planning applications relating to them. I and my inspectors will have regard to the guidelines when dealing with any planning appeals or structure plan alterations which come to me for decision.

  Many of the sites share common characteristics. The original hospitals are often large groups of buildings and were typically built between 50 and 150 years ago. Many ancillary buildings for different purposes have been added since. The hospitals are often on the edges of built-up areas and stand in large open grounds.

  In planning for the future of these buildings and their sites the aim should be to use them for purposes compatible with the green belt as set out in circular 14/84, which can include institutional uses. The size, layout and form of the buildings may, however, make them unsuitable for such purposes. In such cases it will be necessary to consider whether, in the terms of the green belt circular, "very special circumstances" exist that would warrant the change of use of the buildings or the construction of new buildings.

  In some cases it may be possible to convert the existing buildings for housing or other uses, perhaps with some demolition of ancillary buildings. But if that is not a practical solution the future of the buildings and the site, and the possibility of redevelopment, will need to be carefully considered. Putting the sites to beneficial use will be preferable to allowing the buildings to remain empty and the site to become derelict. Those are special circumstances that may warrant a change of use or new development. Planning permission will be required if there is to be a change of use of the existing buildings or if new buildings are to be put up.

  Whatever the future use of the site it should be planned with careful regard to its contribution to the green belt and to the amenity of the area—for example, landscaped grounds and mature trees should be preserved and maintained and opportunities should be sought to open up parts of the site to public access.

  Guidelines for the future use of redundant hospital sites in the Green Belt

  i. Re-use of the existing buildings for purposes within the accepted green belt categories (as set out in DOE circular 14/84) is the preferred option, especially where the buildings are of architectural and historical importance. There may in particular be scope for re-use by institutions.

  ii. However, if there is little or no prospect of viable re-use within those categories, other uses are preferable to allowing the buildings to remain empty or grossly underoccupied. The aim should be to achieve redevelopment for other suitable uses by conversion of the existing buildings.

  iii. If the existing buildings, or part of them, are unsuitable for conversion, redevelopment should not normally occupy a larger area of the site nor exceed the height of the existing buildings. The location of the new buildings should be decided having regard to the main features of the landscape and the need to integrate the new development with its surroundings (for example it may be more appropriate to site new development closer to existing developent).

  iv. The amenity value of the site should be retained or enhanced where practical by preserving mature trees
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  and keeping or laying out landscaped areas, and if possible opening them to public access with adequate provision for their maintenance.

  v. Redevelopment should not normally involve additional expenditure by the public sector on the provision of infrastructure (for example on roads and sewerage) nor should it overload local facilities such as schools and health care facilities.

  vi. Local planning authorities should where appropriate include policies on these lines in their development plans.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any changes to announce to his Department's 1986–87 cash limits.

  Mr. John Patten
  The cash limit for local authorities' capital expenditure (DOE/LA1) has been increased by £0·5 million from £2,368·12 million to £2,368·62 million. This increase follows a transfer from the Department of Energy towards additional costs of the homes insulation scheme and a corresponding reduction in the cash limit for Class VI, Vote 2.

  Sports Grounds (Safety)
  Mr. Lawler
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what alterations to the November 1985 building regulations have been made following the recommendations contained in paragraph 3.90 of the final report of Mr. Justice Popplewell into safety at sports grounds;

  (2) what guidance has been issued to local authorities, sporting bodies and other interested organisations regarding the criteria applied by the November 1985 building regulations to the construction of sports stands, including the materials which may be used; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  [pursuant to his reply, 3 April 1987, c. 635]: The Building Regulations 1985 require buildings (which include covered sports stands) to be built so that the structure adequately resists the spread of fire and maintains its stability in fire for a reasonable period.

  The approved documents supporting the regulations give guidance on the measures that should be taken to achieve adequate fire resistance. Additional guidance is being incorporated into the approved documents as part of the current review of the technical requirements of the regulations, particularly to improve precautions in new single storey stands.

  Also the "Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds" (the green guide) issued by the Home Office in October 1986 advises that new stands should incorporate from the start comprehensive measures for safety including adequate structural resistance to fire, fire resisting separation from any spaces below or communicating with the stand, escape routes which are planned to keep people well clear of the smokey gases produced by a fire, a roof geometry which should restrict smoke and flame travel along the underside of the roof and internal finishes which have low flammability. In particular, the guide gives advice on the fire risk associated with the existence of voids under the seating in stands which should be excluded if practicable, or completely sealed off to stop litter accumulating in them.
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  Copies of the guide were sent to local authorities, independent tire authorities, certified sports grounds and all major sporting organisations; and are available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

TRANSPORT

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Frank Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the numbers of people killed in motor car accidents in each of the last five years; and if he will divide these figures according to whether the person killed was (a) a driver, (b) a passenger or (c) a pedestrian.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Information for the years 1975 to 1985 is given in table 5 of "Road Accidents Great Britain (the Casualty Report) 1985." A copy is in the Library. Results for 1986 will not he available before May 1987.

  Fatalities in car accidents

  Car drivers

  Car passengers

  Pedestrians

  1985

  1,253

  808

  1,258

  1984

  1,237

  942

  1,310

  1983

  1,198

  821

  1,362

  1982

  1,472

  971

  1,217

  1981

  1,346

  941

  1,265

  1980

  1,339

  939

  1,272

  1979

  1,479

  950

  1,374

  1978

  1,525

  1,044

  1,600

  1977

  1,429

  1,012

  1,492

  1976

  1,441

  1,079

  1,561

  1975

  1,417

  1,027

  1,550

  Thames Crossing
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what study he has given to plans for a new vehicular crossing of the Thames in London between Chelsea and Putney.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have no such plans. Consultants carrying out the west London assessment study will be considering a wide range of possible options for dealing with problems in the area, which could include a new crossing, when they move on to stage 2 of the study later this year.

  North Circular Road
  Sir George Young
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to announce the result of the public inquiry completed in 1985 on the proposed widening of the north circular road between Popes Lane and the A40.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport are still considering the inspector's report. I cannot yet say when a decision will be announced.

  Roade (Bypass)
  Mr. Michael Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had any proposal from Northamptonshire county council for the construction of a bypass to Roade.
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  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A proposed bypass to Roade is included in Northamptonshire's 1987–88 transport policies and programme submission to the Department for construction after 1992.

  Light Dues
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total revenue received from light dues on shipping in the United Kingdom, and the cost to his Department of collection, in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The revenue in 1985–86 was £41,749,852. The costs of collection are not met by my Department but by the general lighthouse fund : in 1985–86 these costs were £203,874.

  Research and Development
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's planned expenditure on research and development for 1987–88; and what are the main areas of research selected by his Department under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Mr. Moore
  My Department plans to spend £29·803 million gross (£27·537 million net) on research and development in 1987–88. The main areas of research are highways, road and marine safety, land transport, prevention of marine pollution, and work on repayment for the Overseas Development Administration of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. All research undertaken by my Department is commissioned under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Moore
  I made the following official visits in the United Kingdom during March 1987:

  2 March

  Launch of Eurotunnel publicity train at Paddington station,

  London.

  3 March

  Visit to British Caledonian at Gatwick airport.

  4 March

  Launch of new Highway Code at Coteford school, Pinner.

  13 March

  Visit to Kings Lynn to open new BR travel centre and tour Kings Lynn port.

  18 March

  Opening of M5/M42 southern extension, Bromsgrove (Hertfordshire).

  20 March

  Visit to Ashford, Kent at invitation of borough council to see Channel tunnel related development plans and mock-up of the Eurotunnel car shuttle train.

  27 March

  Visit to Sussex police headquarters at Lewes, to see traffic management systems and enforcement in operation.

  Coach Terminals (London)
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Westminster, North (Mr. Wheeler) 17 November, Official Report, columns 20–21, if he will make a further statement about the future of London coach terminals.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  On 17 November I announced that I was considering what could be an appropriate form of inquiry to enable the arguments for a single hub terminal compared with the merits of a number of smaller terminals to be properly aired in public. I understand that London Regional Transport is proposing to submit a planning application for a new coach terminal, to be developed at Paddington, in accordance with the report of its own transportation consultants.

  I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, who is satisfied that the planning aspects of any proposed coach terminal development will involve issues of more than local importance, and that he should himself deal with any application made in this respect by LRT. He will therefore shortly issue a direction under section 35 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 to the Westminster city council, requiring the council to refer any such application to him. A public local inquiry will be held with appropriately wide terms of reference, which will allow the consideration of both single and multi-site solutions, at which interested persons may attend and give their views.

  The Government would wish to see the maximum possible private setor involvement in the financing and operation of any new coach terminal, or terminals, in London. No decision has yet been taken on the provision of public sector finance.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing those black and Asian civil servants who hold the rank of executive officer and above (a) in the immigration services and (b) in the remainder of his Department.

  Mr. Hurd
  The information available relates to those members of the staff of the Department who responded to the recent surveys of ethnic origins. Of those respondents, in the immigration service grades (all of which are equivalent to executive officer or above) six were black and 15 were of Asian origin. Outiside the immigration service grades, the equivalent figures from these voluntary responses for staff at the rank of executive officer or above were 26 black and 42 Asian.

  Police Stations (Merseyside)
  Mr. Alton
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the location of manned police stations (a) closed down and (b) opened, on Merseyside, since 1970.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable that, since 1974 when the Merseyside police was formed, one new manned police station, at Copy lane, Bootle, has been opened. No police stations have been closed except for the purpose of replacement by a new station.

  Animals (Experiments)
  Mr. McTaggart
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report how many establishments are registered for the purposes of experiments of a non-medical nature using animals.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are some 450 establishments at which licensed experimentation involving animals is carried out. Our records do not distinguish between extablishments on the basis of the nature of the experimental work they carry out.

  Rescue Services (Working Group)
  Mr. Redmond
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to the written answer of 10 March, Official Report, columns 122–23, if he will list the titles and grades of the Home Office representatives on the working group considering guidance on rescue services;

  (2) if he will list the titles and employing authorities of the local authority representatives on the working group considering guidance on rescue services;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the basis for choosing representatives to the working group considering guidance on rescue services from both the Home Office and local authorities.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Membership of the working group comprises : the Co-ordinator of Volunteer Effort in Civil Defence (grade 5) (Chairman); the Home Office Civil Defence Adviser (grade 7); representatives at grade 7 and senior executive officer level from the Fire and Emergency Planning Department, a Regional Fire Adviser; a grade I Inspector of Fire Services; and local authority representatives comprising one nominee each from the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, the County Emergency Planning Officers' Society and the Association of Civil Defence and Emergency Planning Officers. Members of the working group represent Home Office policy interests, and operational interests concerned with emergency planning.

  Research and Development
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's planned expenditure on research and development for 1987–88; and what are the main areas of research selected by his Department under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Mr. Hurd
  It is estimated that £16·4 million will be spent on research and development in 1987–88. The main areas of research to which the Rothschild principles apply are police services, fire prevention, civil defence, prisons, forensic science, telecommunications, criminal justice, community services, immigration and nationality, race relations and equal opportunities. Further details are given in the "Annual Review of Government Funded R & D", copies of which are in the Library.

  Citizenship
  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to introduce a concessionary rate for those people above retirement age who are seeking to register for British citizenship; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Waddington
  No: such a concession would lead to the cost of the service being spread over fewer applicants and so to an increase in the fee.

  Financial Management Initiative
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the effect on his Department of' the financial management initiative.

  Mr. Hurd
  The financial management initiative forms part of the Government's continuing effort to improve the management of resources and obtain value for public money, and its effects are increasingly indistinguishable within those wider improvements. While much remains to be done, I believe that there has been a significant change of attitude and managements style within the Home Office, with much greater attention being paid to the costing of policies and functions and the setting of clear objectives and targets.

  Among the developments designed to strengthen accountable management in the Home Office in recent years have been : the establishment of the annual performance review, in which line managers and senior officials assess performance against previously declared objectives, and identify fresh objectives for the year ahead; the establishment of cost and responsibility centres around the office, to improve accountability in resource allocation; the provision of increased training in financial management; improved information about costs and output to provide a better basis for management and control; progress towards the introduction of clearer objectives and performance indicators in relation to local authority services and the greater use of accountants and other specialists.

  The head of the immigration and nationality department, and all prison regional directors and governors, have been allocated individual budgetary responsibility, and work is in hand to extend this principle to other parts of the Home Office. Some of these improvements are reflected in the targets and performance measures in the public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 56) and the evidence which the permanent secretary gave to the Public Expenditure Committee on 17 December 1986. Examples of better value for money in 1986–87 have been : the targets which were set and met for containing, and slightly reducing, in real terms the cost per inmate of operating prisons, and for reducing prison industry losses by over 20 per cent.; the targets for improvement in the procurement field which are forecast to result in savings of the order of £10 million; and the civilianisation of over 680 posts in police forces, permitting more effective deployment of police officers.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon
  Brown asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Hurd
  I made the following official visits during March :

  March 4

  NUJ Conference on the future of broadcasting.

  Association of Chief Police Officers/International Police Exhibition and Conference launch.
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  March 5

  Birmingham Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

  March 11

  Gaming Board.

  March 13

  Leicestershire Probation Service.

  March 18

  BIS Applied Systems.

  Royal College of Defence Studies.

  March 19

  South Yorkshire Police.

  March 23

  William Hill Organisation.

  March 25

  Overseas Women's Club.

  Tamils
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the original 64 Tamil refugees are currently in detention; if he will list the locations of the detainees and the number per centre, giving a breakdown by sex; and if he will list the dates and numbers of those given temporary admission.

  Mr. Waddington
  On 6 April, 32 of the 64 Sri Lankans who sought entry on arrival on 13 February were still detained in the following places:

  Location

  Male

  Female

  Harmondsworth (10)

  1

  9

  Foston Hall (12)

  12

  —

  Latchmere House (10)

  10

  —

  Temporary admission was authorised for 32 on the following dates:

  Date

  Number

  13 February 1987

  6

  13 March 1987

  7

  20 March 1987

  16

  24 March 1987

  1

  31 March 1987

  2

  Nuclear Disasters
  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cumbria as to, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Chapel cross (a) what evacuation time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of the most populated 22½ deg sector from the power station out to (i) five miles, and (ii) 10 miles, (b) what time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of the population within (i) five miles, and (ii) 10 miles of the power station, (c) what time estimates have been made for the evacuation of the population of Carlisle, (d) what time estimates have been made for the evacuation of high risk groups from Carlisle, (e) what time estimates have been made for the evacuation of low mobility groups from Carlisle, and (f) what time estimates have been made for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets to the population of Carlisle; and if he will arrange for the basis and calculation of any such time estimates to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I shall reply as soon as possible.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Chris Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the Metropolitan police 1986 force strategic appraisal.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the force appraisal is one of a number of internal management documents prepared as the basis for discussion of future force strategy. It is not intended for publication.

  Maguire Case
  Mr. Heffer
  asked 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 the conclusions of the internal Scotland Yard inquiry instigated last March by the present Commissioner designate of the Metropolitan police, Mr. Peter Imbert, into the Maguire case; and what part Mr. Imbert himself played in interrogations of those subsequently convicted for the Guildford and Woolwich pub bombings.

  Mr. Mellor
  I understand that there has been no formal internal inquiry by the Metropolitan police into the Maguire case. Following a meeting with Mr. Robert Kee in March last year,>Mr. Imbert asked one of his officers to examine case papers in advance of the publication of Mr. Kee's book. The Metropolitan police subsequently assisted our review of the case by responding to specific questions which we put to them : their responses are full reflected in the memorandum on the case which was placed in the Library on 20 January.

  Mr. Imbert, who was then a superintendent serving in the bomb squad, assisted in 1974 in the questioning of Carol Richardson, Paul Hill, Garard Conlon and Patrick Armstrong about the Woolwich pub bombing.

  Canine Faeces
  Mr. Sims
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the pilot scheme to test the effectiveness of the byelaws relating to the removal of canine faeces.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 2 September 1985 new byelaws came into force in four local authority areas which made it an offence for a person in charge of a dog to fail to remove any faeces it might deposit in designated parks, recreation grounds and open spaces. The authorities were the London borough of Barking and Dagenham, Gosport borough council, North-West Leicestershire district council and Rochester-upon-Medway city council. Gosport and Rochester-upon-Medway also adopted similar new byelaws for footways and grass verges adjacent to the carriageways of highways. The four local authorities conducted a pilot scheme to test the effect of the new byelaws.

  We have placed in the Library a copy of a report prepared by a steering committee of officers from these authorities and Home Office officials which has been monitoring the scheme. The report concludes that, because the parks and other controlled areas are now much cleaner than before the scheme began, similar byelaws should now be offered as models for adoption by other local authorities in England and Wales. It is also clear from the report that the success of the scheme has depended on the willingness of the local authorities concerned to allocate
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  the resources necessary for publicity, waste disposal and enforcement, and above all on the hard work they have all put into making the byelaws work.

  Taking account of the results of the pilot scheme we have now considered in greater depth whether to offer the new byelaws as models for adoption by other local authorities. In reaching our decision we have applied the tests of whether it is both reasonable and necessary to subject dog owners to these byelaws, whether such an obligation is capable of enforcement and whether if enforced it is likely to be unreasonably oppressive in its operation.

  Applying these tests we have concluded that the proposed new byelaws for parks, recreation grounds and open spaces should be made available to local authorities as model byelaws, provided there is somewhere else people can exercise their dogs without having to clear up after them. There is s strong case for allowing local authorities to apply these controls to such areas if they wish to do so. The alternative could, in rural areas, be local areas of countryside. We hope that before deciding which areas should be controlled local authorities will ensure that their proposals are well publicised in their localities and will where appropriate consult local organisations of dog owners and other residents. We would not approve the new byelaws for areas such as heaths and woodlands and areas used by horses and grazing animals, because it would be unreasonable to expect people to clear up after their dogs there. We are willing to allow the new byelaws for the whole of parks which are completely, or almost completely, used as children's play areas and sports grounds, even if they are not enclosed, and even though alternative areas do not exist.

  Different considerations however apply to the proposed new model byelaws for footways and grass verges. It would be an unreasonable burden on a dog owner to expect him on pain of prosecution to comply with the new byelaws whenever he took his dog out for a walk. We have also concluded that there would be grave difficulties associated with the enforcement of these new byelaws. We can also foresee the risk of serious disputes between dog owners and other users of footways and grass verges. We have therefore decided that we are not prepared to confirm further the new byelaws as in the pilot scheme in so far as they relate to footways and grass verges, but district and borough councils will continue to be able to adopt and enforce the existing model byelaws which make it an offence for a person in charge of a dog to permit it to foul such areas.

  Local authorities can do much by enforcing the revised byelaws for footpaths and applying the new byelaws to some parks and recreation areas. They can also promote campaigns to encourage dog owners to comply with the law. A number of local authorities have done so, and in the longer term public education of this kind is more effective than recourse to the criminal law. We are therefore issuing a circular to local authorities to draw their attention to the valuable experience gained from the pilot scheme and the criteria which will be applied in considering applications for the new and revised byelaws. We hope that this will assist councils to deal effectively with the fouling of public areas by dogs. We are also inviting the local authority associations to submit comments and suggestions relating to the details of the operation of the byelaws.
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  We are grateful to the four local authorities which conducted the pilot scheme for making this action possible.

  Immigration
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce selective immigration controls on embarkation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  In the context of our membership of the European Communities I have decided that we can introduce simpler and more rapid procedures for the control by immigration officers of passengers leaving the country without impairing the overall effectiveness of immigration control. Arrangements will shortly be introduced for the selective control on the embarkation of British and other EC nationals. Arrangements will be made to ensure that immigration officers continue to assist in the identification of wards of court and others whom the police and other agencies wish to identify. I have no plans to introduce selective embarkation controls for other nationals or to introduce selective immigration controls for any passengers seeking to enter this country.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Tebbit
  My sole official visit in March, excluding my constituency engagements and engagements as chairman of the Conservative party, was to address the annual lunch of the Central and West Lancashire chamber of commerce on 10 March in Blackpool.

ENERGY

  Research and Development
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his Department's planned expenditure on research and development for 1987–88; and what are the main areas of research selected by his Department under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Department plans to spend £217 million on R and D and related work in 1987–88. Details are set out in the Supply Estimates (Class VI, Vote 2, sections C1 and D1).

  The Department has no in-house R and D facilities. It operates on a customer-contractor basis as far as that is possible on all the work that it funds.

  Financial Management Initiative
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on the effect on his Department of the financial management initiative.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department has implemented a range of measures to improve management and value for money.

  Budgets for programme expenditure on research and development and industrial support, totalling some £250
  134
  million in 1987–88, have been fully devolved to managers in divisions, and line managers have also been given devolved responsibility for elements of administrative expenditure.

  The Department's management information systems have been developed and refined to assist the top management in its annual review of divisions' objectives, priorities and resources.

  Targets and output measures are being progressively developed, wherever possible; for example the Department has achieved a target of securing a 50 per cent. contribution by non-Government participants in funding offshore safety R and D; and the Energy Efficiency Office has a target to achieve energy savings of 3 million tonnes of coal equivalent by June 1988 through the energy efficiency demonstration scheme.

  Initiatives taken in the Department to improve management and efficiency has resulted in important savings; for example, accommodation costs have been reduced by nearly £1 million since 1984–85, and savings amounting to over £0·5 million were secured in the first nine months of 1986–87 on the Department's purchasing of goods and services. Departmental manpower has been reduced by some 20 per cent. since April 1979.

  Dungeness A Power Station (Geological Fault)
  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the investigations by the Central Electricity Generating Board, into the geological fault discovered near Dungeness A power station, to be complete.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The CEGB has advised me that at present there is no evidence of any threat to the continued operation of either the A or B stations as a result of the geological fault. Further investigations of the site are being undertaken, and the CEGB hopes to complete the work this summer. I am advised that it is likely to take up to six months to complete the analysis.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I made no official visits outside London in March.

  Oil and Pipelines Agency
  Mr. Proctor
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the Oil and Pipelines Agency has published its first year's accounts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The agency submitted its first report and accounts to me today. These cover the 13 months ended 31 December 1986. I have laid copies before both Houses.

  The accounts show that the agency had a successful first 13 months operations, in which it made an operating profit of just over £6 million. The agency also substantially completed its duty under the Oil and Pipelines Act 1985 to realise the surplus net assets which it inherited from the British National Oil Corporation. Details are given in the notes to the accounts. As shown there, I have determined, with the approval of the Treasury. that the agency should

  135
  retain an amount of £2,380,000 as its initial capital. This is £380,000 more than the figure shown in the public expenditure White Paper published in January (Cm. 56-II, page 407). This increase was agreed following discussions with the agency during preparation of its accounts, and reflects the need to treat as a capital item the costs which the agency incurred in establishing itself in smaller offices.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Medical Research
  Mrs. Roe
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total amount of public money devoted to medical research since 1979.

  Mr. Walden
  The information is as follows:

  Financial year

  £ million

  1979–80

  91·8

  1980–81

  108·1

  1981–82

  143·7

  1982–83

  151·6

  1983–84

  159·3

  1984–85

  162·6

  1985–86

  169·2

  1986–87

  176·4

  The figures shown for the years 1979–80 and 1980–81 are on a different basis from those shown for later years. Before 1981–82 figures exclude the Health Department's commissioning funds for biomedical research because these figures cannot be identified separately. In 1981–82 these funds were transferred to the Medical Research Council and are included in that year and the subsequent years shown.

  The figures include the Medical Research Council's grant-in-aid and expenditure on medical research by the DHSS and the Scottish Home and Health Department.

  Expenditure on medical research in universities and medical schools is excluded. Information about such expenditure is not collected.

  GCSE
  Mr. Baldry
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the NAS/UWT on the GCSE examination; if he has any plans to alter the funding that has been made available by the Government to local education authorities for this examination; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Discussions were held with NAS/UWT in March as part of the Government's early monitoring of GCSE resourcing. The NAS/UWT's representations were based on a sample survey conducted in the early weeks of GCSE courses. For 1987–88 the Government have made further substantial provision for the GCSE, as detailed in my right hon. Friend's reply of 31 March, at column 447 to my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett). We will continue to monitor the needs of the GCSE and to make appropriate provision.

  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from local education authorities about late arrival of materials necessary for the teaching of GCSE in schools.
  136
  Mrs. Rumbold
  A small number of local education authorities earlier reported difficulties in taking up their 1986–87 education support grant allocations for GCSE books and equipment, but current indications are that these allocations have been fully taken up before the close of the financial year.

  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of schools in England have now received all necessary materials for the teaching of the GCSE.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Her Majesty's Inspectorate has reported that, on average, the material resources available in schools are sufficient at this stage. There is concern, however, about the disparity of resources between individual schools. The Government's planned provision for £115 million expenditure on GCSE in 1987–88 will enable local education authorities to meet in full their assessment of further GCSE needs of schools in that year.

  Teachers (Statistics)
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his Department's estimate of the number of qualified teachers in (a) all subjects and (b) science and technology subjects who are presently not employed but are of employable age.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information is held by the Department on qualified teachers in England and Wales who are not in teaching posts. However, it does not distinguish those who are not employed from those who are in non-teaching employment. The latest date for which information is readily available in 1984. There were then some 400,000 qualified teachers aged under 60 who were recorded as being out of teaching service: 150,000 graduates and 250,000 non-graduates. Information on subjects of teachers' qualifications is not recorded for non-graduates. The majority of out-of-service teachers with qualifications in craft, design and technology of engineering would be likely to come into this category. Among the 150,000 graduates were 87,000 whose last service had been in secondary schools or establishments of further education and 18,000 of those had a science of technology subject recorded as the main specialism in their degree.

  Women Graduates
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial help is available to women science and technology graduates wishing to return to work.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Graduates who wish to train as teachers will be eligible for mandatory awards for study leading to the post-graduate certificate of education from local education authorities. If they study to become secondary mathematics, physics or technology teachers, they will attract a £1,250 tax-free national bursary in addition to the award.

  Discretionary and postgraduate training awards for other courses may be available from LEA's or research councils respectively.

  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what courses sponsored by his Department are provided to re-equip women science and technology graduates to return to work after leaving to start a family.
  137
  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government have made available £6·4 million to higher education for specially designed courses to increase the supply of teachers in shortage subjects, including physics and craft, design and technology.

  These courses are open equally to men and women graduates. Some have been specially designed to include part-time study and distance learning with women graduates returning to teaching after starting a family in mind.

  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to attract women science and technology graduates back into teaching after they have left the profession to start a family.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We are trying hard to attract women science and technology graduates back to teaching. Expenditure on updating courses will qualify for grant under the new in-service training scheme. New forms of training are being designed which will allow part-time and distance learning study which should be especially helpful for women. Discussions with local authorities about more flexible employment practices are taking place.

  The Government are involved in a number of publicity initiatives, and the new teaching as a career unit will encourage women teachers to return to the profession.

  St. Mary's Parish Church School, Stockport
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give his reasons for agreeing to the closure of St. Mary's parish church school, Stockport.

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend agreed with the educational and financial case for the school's closure put forward by Stockport education authority.

  Research and Development
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his Department's planned expenditure on research and development for 1987–88; and what are the main areas of research selected by his Department under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Mr. Walden
  The Department's expenditure through the science budget, which funds the research councils, is planned to be £675 million in 1987–88. It is estimated that a further £710 million will be spent in 1987–88 on research in universities from UGC grants and tuition fee income. In addition, the Department has a small budget — £13 million in 1987–88—from which it commissions research into educational matters.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  My principal official visits during March were :

  Tuesday 10 March:

  Workbase Adult Literary Initiative Polygram Operations Limited, Walthamstow
  138
  Friday 13 March:

  The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh

  Wednesday 18 March:

  Manchester Business school

  Monday 23 March:

  Wells Cathedral school

  Wednesday 25 March:

  Visit to Durham LEA

  Friday 27 March:

  BP research centre, Sunbury-on-Thames

  Monday 30 March:

  Visit to Kent LEA

  Teachers (Special Qualifications)
  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is available to his Department on the numbers of teachers in each local education authority with special qualifications relevant to the teaching of pupils with statements under the Education Act 1981, other than teachers employed full-time in special schools; if he will publish what information is available for the last year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  [pursuant to his reply, 2 April 1987, c. 579–82]: The printed table gave incorrect figures for Somerset and omitted the authorities of Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex and Wiltshire.

  Pursuant to my reply of 23 March, column 32, individual teachers' records held by this Department for pension purposes include information on some special qualifications for teaching children with handicaps. Not all of the qualifications covered carry a salary benefit so there may be some under-recording. The latest available information is for 31 March 1985 and is given for each local education authority in England.

  Full-time teachers with special qualifications for leaching children with handicaps

  England: maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools 31 March 1985 (provisional)

  Teaching in

  Special classes

  Other classes

  Total

  Barking

  4

  3

  7

  Barnet

  5

  9

  14

  Bexley

  8

  3

  11

  Brent

  4

  5

  9

  Bromley

  10

  3

  13

  Croydon

  5

  6

  11

  Ealing

  6

  5

  11

  Enfield

  2

  3

  5

  Haringey

  2

  8

  10

  Harrow

  7

  4

  11

  Havering

  3

  6

  9

  Hillingdon

  2

  9

  11

  Hounslow

  4

  4

  8

  Kingston

  3

  0

  3

  Merton

  1

  1

  2

  Newham

  2

  2

  4

  Redbridge

  3

  4

  7

  Richmond

  0

  3

  3

  Sutton

  1

  3

  4

  Waltham Forest

  0

  4

  4

  ILEA

  18

  96

  114

  Birmingham

  13

  33

  46

  Coventry

  7

  16

  23

  139

  Teaching in

  Special classes

  Other classes

  Total

  Dudley

  6

  5

  11

  Sandwell

  7

  11

  18

  Solihull

  7

  7

  14

  Walsall

  6

  8

  14

  Wolverhampton

  16

  13

  29

  Knowsley

  3

  5

  8

  Liverpool

  3

  33

  36

  St. Helens

  4

  12

  16

  Sefton

  3

  11

  14

  Wirral

  2

  10

  12

  Bolton

  0

  5

  5

  Bury

  4

  7

  11

  Manchester

  0

  6

  6

  Oldham

  0

  5

  5

  Rochdale

  7

  8

  15

  Salford

  5

  5

  10

  Stockport

  7

  4

  11

  Tameside

  3

  4

  7

  Trafford

  5

  2

  7

  Wigan

  2

  5

  7

  Barnsley

  5

  7

  12

  Doncaster

  4

  9

  13

  Rotherham

  7

  4

  11

  Sheffield

  13

  21

  34

  Bradford

  6

  9

  15

  Calderdale

  0

  8

  8

  Kirklees

  9

  8

  17

  Leeds

  0

  20

  20

  Wakefield

  0

  3

  3

  Gateshead

  2

  11

  13

  Newcastle

  6

  24

  30

  North Tyneside

  4

  6

  10

  South Tyneside

  4

  9

  13

  Sunderland

  7

  4

  11

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  Avon

  6

  59

  65

  Bedfordshire

  3

  23

  26

  Berkshire

  13

  22

  35

  Buckinghamshire

  1

  24

  25

  Cambridgeshire

  3

  36

  39

  Cheshire

  33

  16

  49

  Cleveland

  1

  27

  28

  Cornwall

  16

  13

  29

  Cumbria

  14

  5

  19

  Derbyshire

  27

  35

  62

  Devon

  5

  35

  40

  Dorset

  9

  9

  18

  Durham

  4

  19

  23

  East Sussex

  10

  25

  35

  Essex

  26

  25

  51

  Gloucestershire

  4

  29

  33

  Hampshire

  16

  36

  52

  Hereford and Worcester

  18

  23

  41

  Hertfordshire

  10

  11

  21

  Humberside

  27

  37

  64

  Isle of Wight

  3

  3

  6

  Kent

  12

  39

  51

  Lancashire

  24

  27

  51

  Leicestershire

  31

  37

  68

  Lincolnshire

  16

  16

  32

  Norfolk

  12

  13

  25

  North Yorkshire

  9

  23

  32

  Northamptonshire

  20

  16

  36

  Northumberland

  8

  10

  18

  Nottinghamshire

  15

  23

  38

  Oxfordshire

  9

  13

  22

  Shropshire

  5

  9

  14

  Somerset

  15

  17

  32

  Staffordshire

  18

  17

  35

  Suffolk

  10

  19

  29

  Surrey

  25

  19

  44

  Warwickshire

  10

  13

  23

  West Sussex

  7

  16

  23

  Wiltshire

  4

  14

  18

WALES

  Marginal Land
  Mr. Best
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many farmers on Anglesey have applied for reconsideration of marginal land status; how many decisions have now been made; how many decisions have allowed an increase in marginal land; on what grounds applications have been refused; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  The position on representations and decisions concerning farmers on Anglesey is as follows:

  Number

  Number of representations against exclusion from the less favoured area

  314

  Number of decisions made and conveyed to the farmer

  119

  Number of representations accepted for inclusion in United Kingdom case to European Commission provided that economic and demographic tests are satisfactory:

  10

  Number of representations rejected on:

  (a) non contiguity grounds

  46

  (b) land quality grounds

  48

  (c) lack of defensible boundary grounds

  15

  Mr. Best
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the various extra grants and advantages available to farmers who have marginal land; and how many of these involve funding by (a) his Department and (b) the European Commission.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  Hill livestock compensatory allowances (HLCAs) are payable to specialist beef and sheep farmers within the less favoured area. LFA sheep farmers eligible for the sheep annual premium (SAP) also benefit from advance part-payments of that premium. The European Commission funds approximately 25 per cent. of HLCA expenditure and 100 per cent. of SAP expenditure.

  LFA farmers are eligible for higher rates of grant on certain capital investments. Such grants have been provided under the agriculture and horticulture grant scheme and two European schemes (the farm and horticulture development scheme and the agriculture and horticulture development scheme). The European schemes attract 25 per cent. funding from the European Commission. The agriculture improvement scheme has now replaced the earlier schemes. With some exceptions, it also offers higher rates of grant in the LFA. LFA farmers are also able to benefit from grant assistance towards the provision and development of on-farm tourism and craft facilities. The European element of this scheme is funded by the European Commission at the rate of 25 per cent., except for the young farmer supplement where the rate is 50 per cent.

  The agriculture and horticultural co-operation scheme 1985 offers forage co-operatives in the LFA grant of 25 per cent. towards the cost of forage machinery and 15 per cent. towards the cost of tractors. This scheme is totally funded by the United Kingdom Government.

  Dairy farmers in the LFA receive a concession on the co-responsibility levy on milk. In 1986, non-LFA producers paid 2 per cent. of the target price, 0·364p per litre, whilst LFA producers paid 1·5 per cent. of the target price, 0·273p per litre, on the first 60,000 kg of milk.
  141
  Mr. Best
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales by whom the requirements as to boundaries of marginal land have been laid down; what representations he has made to the European Commission about such boundaries; whether grants presently available to farmers are payable on the basis of (a) farm boundaries or (b) any other features of delineation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  For land to be granted less favoured area status it must meet physical, economic and demographic criteria laid down by the European Commission. Each member state has discretion to set its own requirements in the determination of the boundary of land meeting these criteria. In the United Kingdom Ministers have decided that to facilitate administration, the LFA boundary shall normally be defined by hard natural or man-made physical features in the landscape. Thus the LFA boundary may encompass whole farms or part farms. In the latter case, the extra financial assistance associated with LFA status is payable on that part of the farm falling within the boundary.

  Mr. Best
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if all farms in respect of which applications have been made for redesignation of marginal land have been or will be visited by his officials.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  Following the enlargement of the less favoured area in 1984, it was announced that farmers could make representations against exclusion but only with regard to land immediately adjacent to the existing LFA boundary or pockets of non-adjacent land extending to at least 1,200 hectares in size. All land subject to representations and falling within either category has been or will be inspected by my officials.

  Mr. Best
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales by what amount marginal land may be increased in Wales, as a percentage of the total, under European Community directives; if he will identify the European Community directives; what representations he has made to the European Commission about any increase in this percentage; what are the financial implications for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  There are no restrictions under EC directives concerning a limit by which the LFA in Wales may he extended, and, consequently, no representations to the European Commission on this subject have been necessary. The financial implications of any extension to the LFA cannot be assessed until the current representations exercise is completed.

  National Art Collections
  Mr. Faulds
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what specific undertakings he has received from the Court of Governors and Council that adequate manpower resources and operating funds will in future be provided by those bodies to ensure that the Welsh national art collections are curated and conserved to the professional standards observed by other national museums funded by British taxpayers; and whether he will place a set of the relevant documents in the Library.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  In the context of the proposals for the extension and upgrading of the Cathays park building announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last December, discussions are taking place between the 142
  museum authorities and the Welsh Office about the staffing and other needs of the art department to establish what provision is needed for the care and display of the art collection. In the meantime action has already been taken to improve the management of the art department and conservation facilities.

  National Museum of Wales (Japanese Exhibition)
  Mr. Faulds
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the £200,000 fee payable for the exhibition of masterpieces from the national museum of Wales at present touring Japan is intended to meet the museum's costs in preparing for the exhibition and undertaking the necessary research and work in preparation of photographs and catalogue material; and if he will place a set of detailed accounts in the Library.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  About half the receipts represent a contribution towards the costs incurred by the museum, including estimated apportioned costs of the time of museum staff for which detailed accounts are not kept. The museum's annual accounts are placed in the Library of the House.

  NHS (Manpower Steering Group)
  Dr. Roger Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is now in a position to report on the findings of the Health Service manpower steering group; what manpower supply problems have been brought to the group's attention; and what recommendations and results have ensued.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  The manpower steering group (MSG) was set up last year as a sub-committee of the executive committee of the Health Policy Board. Its establishment and terms of reference were announced in circular WHC(86)8, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House. MSG has given early attention to the development of a comprehensive manpower strategy for the NHS in Wales. This will be published shortly. The group is also giving consideration to issues of manpower supply in a variety of staff, groups including medical, nursing, finance and the therapies. This work has only just begun, and it is too early to say when recommendations will be made to the executive committee.

  Potato Industry
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the state of the potato industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  Yes. If market prices are depressed, I believe that support arrangements will provide growers with a reasonable level of fall-back support.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  ECGD (Computers)
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the costs of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's computerisation programme and anticipated future developments.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The costs of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's computerisation operations and
  143
  developments were £4,952,000 in 1986–87 and are estimated to be £6,628,000 in 1987–88. These figures include staff, operation and full capital costs.

  Japan
  Mr. Faulds
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of Japan's trading practices, the Government will give their support to the European Community Commission proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No. 217684 on protection against dumped or subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have nothing to add to my reply on this subject to the hon. Member on 17 February 1987 at column 523.

  Homelocators (UK) Ltd.
  Mr. Frank Cook
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if the Director General of Fair Trading now has sufficient evidence to seek an assurance under Part III of the Fair Trading Act 1973 from the national directors of Homelocators (UK) Ltd., Mr. Dank and Mr. Jones, and from their associate franchise holders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  This is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading, and I will ask him to write to the hon. Member direct.

  Research and Development
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's planned expenditure on research and development for 1987–88; and what are the main areas of research selected by his Department under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Mr. Butcher
  My Department plans to spend £415 million in support of research and development in 1987–88.

  Of this total, £44 million is for the running of the Department's four research establishments, the National Physical Laboratory, the National Engineering Laboratory, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and the Warren Spring Laboratory, where the customer-contractor principle helps to direct work undertaken on a number of industrially relevant subjects.

  The remainder of the Department's expenditure will support R and D across a range of industrial sectors with the largest shares being accounted for by information technology and advanced electronics and aerospace.

  Financial Management Initiative
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the effect on his Department of the financial management initiative.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Department has introduced a large number of reforms aimed at increasing efficiency and achieving better value for money since the FMI was launched in 1982. In the early stages the reforms could be clearly attributed to the FMI, but with the passage of time, and consistent with the main thrust of the FMI, its effects 144
  have become increasingly indistinguishable from the Department's improvements in management and value for money generally.

  The Department has achieved a more structured approach to decision taking through the annual activity and resource management review, greater attention to evaluation and the widespread adoption of work programmes, objectives and targets which are approved by DTI Ministers. Greater and better management awareness of costs has been secured by the establishment of responsibility cost centres, deputy secretary running cost budgets, the provision of management information systems, more comprehensive training, and the introduction of performance measures where practicable.

  Austin Rover (Information Exchange)
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his reply of 30 March, Official Report column 358, what guidance was given by his Department between December 1985 and February 1986 to Austin Rover about exchanging information with the Ford Motor Company.

  Mr. Channon
  As I informed the hon. Member in my answer on 30 March, at column 358, Ford and the Rover Group Board agreed to open exploratory talks in December 1985. My Department was kept informed in broad terms of progress in these talks, but the specific information exchanged was a matter for the judgment of the commercial parties.

  Strategic Mineral Stockpile
  Mr. Bendall
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further disposals from the strategic mineral stockpile will be effected during 1987–88; and on what basis the sales will take place.

  Mr. Channon
  Plans are being made for the disposal in 1987–88 of about one quarter of the present contents of the strategic mineral stockpile.

  The material will be offered for sale on a competitive tender basis, in the first instance to those companies for which the material was purchased. No price preference will be given. Disposals will continue to take place in a manner which seeks to avoid undue disruption of the market.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon
  Brown asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Channon
  On Saturday, 14 March I visited Worcester. On Monday, 16 March I visited Brough, Hull and Scunthorpe.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Soviet Jews
  Mr. Mason
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give his estimate of the numbers of Soviet Jews who were allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union during the month of March.
  145
  Mr. Renton
  Four hundred and seventy. This is the highest monthly total for some years. We hope this encouraging trend will continue.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I had no official engagements outside London during March, apart from official visits overseas.

  Other Foreign and Commonwealth Ministers had the following engagements outside London during March:

  Mr. Renton addressed the World Veterans Federation conference in Brighton on 9 March.

  Mrs. Chalker attended a briefing lunch for businessmen on the EC internal market at a Heathrow hotel on 2 March.

  Lady Young spoke at King's school, Canterbury on 4 March.

PRIME MINISTER

  Crown Estate Commissioners
  Mr. Kennedy
  asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to alter the existing ministerial responsibilities for the Crown Estate Commissioners; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Engagements
  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her offical engagements for Tuesday 7 April.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her offical engagements for Tuesday 7 April.

  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her offical engagements for Tuesday 7 April.

  Mr. Amess
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her offical engagements for Tuesday 7 April.

  Mr. Greenway
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her offical engagements for Tuesday 7 April.

  Mr. David Atkinson
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her offical engagements for Tuesday 7 April.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her offical engagements for Tuesday 7 April.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I am attending a dinner to mark the 30th anniversay of the Institute of Economic Affairs.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her offical visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  The Prime Minister
  I visited north Wales on Friday 13 March.

  Nuclear Weapons (Modernisation)
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Prime Minister what is her policy towards the modernisation of British nuclear weapons in the light of the study by the Bradford School of Peace Studies, a copy of which has been sent to her.

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) on 24 March, at column 162

EMPLOYMENT

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General if he will list the numbers (a) entering apprenticeships (b) in apprenticeships and (c) completing apprenticeships in each of the industries for which industrial training boards have operated in each year since 1964.

  Mr. Trippier
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General what was the level of Exchequer support for apprenticeships at current and constant prices in each of the years from 1964 to 1985.

  Mr. Trippier
  Information is not available for the financial years 1964–65 to 1974–75. Between 1975–76 and 1982–83, support was provided in the form of premium grants for first year apprentices and grants for award holders, as well as support for redundant apprentices and unplaced award holders, as follows:

  Year

  At cash price

  At constant price (1985–86 base)1

  £ million

  £ million

  1975–76

  18·9

  51·0

  1976–77

  36·0

  85·7

  1977–78

  38·9

  81·4

  1978–79

  37·8

  71·5

  1979–80

  24·0

  38·8

  1980–81

  33·2

  45·3

  1981–82

  36·0

  44·7

  1982–832

  38·7

  44·8

  1 Prices adjusted by the GDP Deflator

  2 For financial years 1983–84 and 1984–85, expenditure covering residual payments for apprentice training under these schemes which commenced prior to September 1983, and continued support for redundant apprentices, was as follows:

  Year

  At cash price

  At constant price (1985–86 base)

  £ million

  £ million

  1983–84

  20·3

  22·5

  1984–85

  3·2

  3·4

  Since September 1983 substantial support for long duration training including apprenticeships has been provided through the youth training scheme. It is not possible to identify the direct level of Exchequer support on a comparable basis with the table.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Leigh
  asked the Paymaster General what are the month-by-month unemployment figures for the constituency of Gainsborough and Horncastle since June

  147
  1983; and if he will state for each figure what percentage this represents of the work force of the Gainsborough and Horncastle constituency.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. The table gives the number of unemployed claimants in the Gainsborough and Horncastle parliamentary constituency between June 1983 and February 1987. This comparison is affected by changes in the method of collection and compilation of the data. Equivalent estimates of the work force are not available.

  Unemployed claimants in Gainsborough and Horncastle Parliamentary Constituency

  Number

  June 1983

  3,597

  July

  3,573

  August

  3,397

  September

  3,593

  October

  3,479

  November

  3,551

  December

  3,603

  January 1984

  3,775

  February

  3,810

  March

  3,749

  April

  3,690

  May

  3,632

  June

  3,534

  July

  3,722

  August

  3,731

  September

  3,875

  October

  3,729

  November

  3,820

  December

  3,846

  January 1985

  4,065

  February

  4,105

  March

  3,964

  April

  3,980

  May

  3,918

  June

  3,846

  July

  3,947

  August

  3,871

  September

  3,946

  October

  3,852

  November

  4,014

  December

  4,152

  January 1986

  4,358

  February

  4,369

  March

  4,252

  April

  4,172

  May

  4,197

  June

  4,175

  July

  4,276

  August

  4,113

  September

  4,182

  October

  3,964

  November

  4,028

  December

  4,018

  January 1987

  4,233

  February

  4,260

  Mr. Leigh
  asked the Paymaster General what are the month by month unemployment figures for the town of Gainsborough since June 1983; and if he will state for each figure what percentage this represents of Gainsborough's work force.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in 148
  the wards of Gainsborough, East, Gainsborough, North and Gainsborough, South-West from June 1983 to February 1987. This comparison is affected by changes in the method of collection and compilation of the data. Equivalent estimates of the work force are not available.

  Unemployed claimants in Gainsborough

  Number

  June 1983

  1,282

  July

  1,285

  August

  1,182

  September

  1,253

  October

  1,253

  November

  1,278

  December

  1,298

  January 1984

  1,352

  February

  1,359

  March

  1,340

  April

  1,333

  May

  1,304

  June

  1,260

  July

  1,306

  August

  1,310

  September

  1,350

  October

  1,321

  November

  1,347

  December

  1,349

  January 1985

  1,399

  February

  1,372

  March

  1,346

  April

  1,340

  May

  1,319

  June

  1,296

  July

  1,284

  August

  1,248

  September

  1,289

  October

  1,363

  November

  1,406

  December

  1,456

  January 1986

  1,499

  February

  1,472

  March

  1,442

  April

  1,393

  May

  1,420

  June

  1,401

  July

  1,391

  August

  1,340

  September

  1,359

  October

  1,412

  November

  1,437

  December

  1,431

  January 1987

  1,493

  February

  1,465

  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General if he will show from the 1986 labour force survey the number of people in Great Britain who are economically active and (a) in employment, (b) unemployed and (c) others on Government training schemes, broken down (i) by ethnic origin and (ii) by age in five-year age bands and the comparable figures from the 1984 and 1985 labour force surveys.

  Mr. Lee
  Preliminary labour force survey results for the spring of 1986, together with comparable estimates from the 1984 and 1985 surveys, on the employment status of the economically active by ethnic origin and age are shown in the following table:
  149

  Economically active persons in Great Britain—employment status, ethnic origin and age (thousands)

  Ethnic origin

  Economically active

  In Employment

  4 Unemployed

  Employees and self employed

  On Government employment and training schemes

  19841

  White

  24,895

  21,948

  295

  2,652

  Non-White

  1,042

  812

  16

  213

  Of which:

  West Indian/Guyanese

  293

  217

  5

  67

  Indian

  371

  311

  5

  56

  Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  128

  83

  5

  44

  Other

  249

  202

  5

  46

  All Ethnic Origins3

  26,304

  23,072

  315

  2,916

  Age

  16–19

  2,432

  1,690

  227

  515

  20–24

  3,541

  2,903

  34

  604

  25–29

  3,004

  2,342

  12

  390

  30–34

  2,838

  2,532

  10

  296

  35–39

  3,277

  3,002

  5

  267

  40–44

  2,724

  2,502

  5

  216

  45–49

  2,534

  2,355

  5

  174

  50–54

  2,349

  2,182

  5

  162

  55–59

  1,991

  1,816

  5

  171

  60–64

  1,205

  1,104

  5

  98

  65–69

  237

  222

  5

  15

  70 and over

  171

  163

  5

  5

  All Ages

  26,304

  23,072

  315

  2,916

  19851

  White

  25,257

  22,302

  373

  2,582

  Non-White

  1,013

  792

  18

  203

  Of which:

  West Indian/Guyanese

  299

  227

  10

  62

  Indian

  304

  248

  5

  52

  Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  137

  95

  5

  42

  Other

  272

  223

  5

  46

  All Ethnic Origins1

  26,533

  23,343

  396

  2,814

  Age

  16–19

  2,440

  1,685

  290

  464

  20–24

  3,643

  3,033

  41

  568

  25–29

  3,116

  2,713

  17

  387

  30–34

  2,845

  2,541

  10

  294

  35–39

  3,342

  3,062

  5

  274

  40–44

  2,809

  2,602

  5

  202

  45–49

  2,573

  2,369

  5

  197

  50–54

  2,298

  2,130

  5

  161

  55–59

  1,986

  1,820

  5

  157

  60–64

  1,084

  999

  5

  83

  65–69

  245

  228

  5

  18

  70 and over

  171

  162

  5

  5

  All Ages

  26,533

  23,343

  396

  2,814

  19861

  White

  25,308

  22,345

  377

  2,585

  Non-White

  1,071

  841

  17

  213

  Of which:

  West Indian/Guyanese

  283

  214

  5

  61

  Indian

  352

  289

  5

  61

  Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  139

  97

  5

  40

  Other

  297

  241

  5

  52

  All Ethnic Origins3

  26,657

  23,341

  399

  2,827

  Age

  16–19

  2,409

  1,674

  264

  471

  20–24

  3,665

  3,024

  62

  579

  25–29

  3,221

  2,787

  20

  414

  30–34

  2,898

  2,590

  11

  297

  35–39

  3,329

  3,048

  12

  268

  40–44

  2,928

  2,715

  5

  205

  45–49

  2,559

  2,374

  5

  180

  50–54

  2,279

  2,114

  5

  160

  55–59

  1,945

  1,786

  5

  151

  60–64

  1,041

  956

  5

  80

  150 151

  Ethnic origin

  Economically active

  In Employment

  4Unemployed

  Employees and self employed

  On Government employment and training schemes

  65–69

  232

  216

  5

  17

  70 and over

  151

  147

  5

  5

  All Ages

  26,657

  23,341

  399

  2,827

  1 Estimates relate to the spring of each year and to resdient in private households.

  2 Preliminary results.

  3 Includes those who did not state their ethnic origin.

  4 Those persons without a job who were looking for work in the survey reference week or prevented from seeking work by temporary sickness or holiday, or who were waiting for the results of a job application or waiting to start a job they had already obtained.

  5 Less than ten thousand.

  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General if he will provide a breakdown of the latest national unemployment figures according to standard under 18, 18 to 24, 25 to 44, and 45 years plus age groupings, by the standard under 26, 26 to 52, 52 to 104, 104 to 156, 156 to 208, 208 to 260, and 260 plus weeks duration of unemployment groupings as a total, and by sex; and how these figures compare to those of 11 April 1985.

  Mr. Lee
  Unemployment analysed by age and duration for the United Kingdom is published in table 2.6 of the Employment Gazette, a copy of which is in the Library. The most recent data relate to 8 January 1987, which are published on page S25 of the March 1987 Gazette. Figures for 11 April 1985 on page S31 of the June 1985 Gazette.

  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will list, for each year of the age range 16 to 25, the number and proportion of those in school, work, further education, higher education, community programmes, or other specified schemes;

  Spring 1986

  Thousands

  Less than a week

  1 week but less than 4

  4 weeks but less than 12

  12 weeks but less than 26

  26 weeks but less than 52

  Total

  Manufacturing

  117

  29

  41

  26

  47

  260

  Services

  462

  98

  177

  71

  171

  988

  Other

  55

  1

  11

  1

  24

  108

  Not specified

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  13

  Total

  635

  138

  230

  109

  258

  1,370

  1 Cell size less than 10,000.

  Equivalent figures on expenditure are not currently available.

  The Manpower Services Commission's study of funding of vocational and education and training should provide more information on training expenditure, both public and private, in all industry sectors. This study is due to report in spring 1988.

  Vocational Qualifications (JTS)
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General what steps he has taken to make available recognised vocational qualifications for those on the job training scheme.
  152
  (2) what was the number and percentage rate of unemployment among 16 and 17-year-olds (a) nationally, (b) by ethnic origin, (c) by region and (d) by sex at the latest available date and for September, January and June in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Lee
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General if he will estimate the numbers of people receiving training for less than a week, 1 to 4 weeks, 4 to 12 weeks, 12 to 26 weeks, and 26 to 52 weeks, in each of the industries in the standard industrial classification; and what is his estimate of training expenditures, private and public, on training in each of those industries.

  Mr. Trippier
  Preliminary results from the 1986 "Labour Force Survey", which are not separately available by public and private sector, indicate that the following people in employment were receiving job-related training lasting up to a year in the four weeks before the survey interview.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Managing agents are required to ensure that every trainee entering new JTS has the opportunity to gain a recognised vocational qualification or credits towards one.

  Professionally Qualified Women
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General what is his Department's estimate of the number of professionally qualified women who are not presently working and who could potentially be attracted back into work.

  Mr. Lee
  Preliminary labour force survey results for the spring of 1986 estimate that 184,000 women of working age (ie 16 to 59) with a degree or equivalent qualification were either unemployed or economically inactive in Great Britain.
  153
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General, if he will estimate, for the latest available date the total known annual amount of income received by individuals; of this, how much is paid (a) in wages and salaries to employees, (b) through other forms of remuneration deriving from employment, (c) from the profits of or remuneration of self-employment, (d) by way of interest, dividends and

  £ million

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  Total of which

  200,178

  221,221

  242,535

  261,473

  281,427

  308,426

  (a) Wages and salaries including pay in cash of HM Forces

  117,151

  125,441

  134,302

  143,926

  153,288

  166,612

  (b) Income in kind and employers' contributions

  20,201

  22,740

  24,113

  26,137

  27,060

  28,738

  (c) Income from self-employment 1

  13,862

  15,291

  17,291

  19,551

  22,442

  24,240

  (d) Rent, dividends and interest (gross receipts)

  13,605

  13,889

  15,828

  15,562

  17,401

  21,986

  (e) State retirement pensions, widows benefit etc

  10,946

  12,846

  14,231

  15,325

  16,314

  16,999

  (f) Other Social Security benefits and other grants from general government 2

  12,968

  16,509

  20,160

  22,060

  23,955

  26,414

  (g)(i) Other current transfers

  1,448

  1,620

  1,815

  2,082

  2,290

  2,450

  (ii) Pensions and other benefits from life insurance and pensions

  9,997

  12,885

  14,795

  16,830

  18,677

  20,987

  1 After deducting interest payments, depreciation and stock appreciation.

  2 Includes family benefits, supplementary benefit, unemployment benefit other social security benefits and remission of rent.

  Source: Derived from tables 4.1 and 4.4 of "United Kingdom National Accounts" 1986 edition.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General how many out of the total number of those still trading six months after completing the enterprise allowance scheme had been unemployed for more than a year at the time of their entry into the scheme; and how this figure compares with that available at the end of 1985.

  Mr. Trippier
  The first 18-month survey of the enterprise allowance scheme which reported in 1986 showed that 24 per cent. of those still trading six months after completion of the enterprise allowance scheme had been unemployed for more than a year at the time of their entry to the scheme. The figure for 1985, which related to survivors at the 15-month point, was 27 per cent.

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Paymaster General if, pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, columns 171–2, concerning the numbers of full-time and part-time workers, he will provide an estimate of the median and quartile earnings in each case, together with his forecast of the percentage increase from April 1986 in earnings in the financial year 1987–88.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information on the median and quartiles of earnings is published in table 19 of part A of the 1979 "New Earnings Survey" report and in table 34 of part B of the 1986 "New Earnings Survey" report. Copies of these reports are available in the Library.

  The latest information from the average earnings index indicates that in the 12-month period ending in January 1987 the underlying earnings increase was 7·5 per cent. Forecasts are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
  154
  other benefits of investment, (e) in non-state pensions, annuities and similar payments, (f) in social security benefits including the remission of rent and rates through housing benefit, free prescriptions, and similar remissions or (g) in any other way; and how all these figures compare with the previous year's estimates.

  Mr. Lee
  Information is not available in the form requested. The table shows the latest estimates of the nearest equivalent items which are available.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Paymaster General if, pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, columns 171–2, concerning the number of full-time and part-time workers, he will provide figures showing the number of males and females on full-time adult rates divided between manual and non-manual workers, together with their average, median and quartile earnings.

  Mr. Lee
  In April 1979 it was estimated that there were 1·6 million full-time manual adult female employees and 3·6 million full-time non-manual adult female employees. Comparable estimates for adult males are not available.

  Estimates of the earnings in April 1979 of manual and non-manual adults are published in table 15 of part A of the 1979 "New Earnings Survey" report.

  Estimates for April 1986 of the numbers and earnings of full-time manual and non-manual employees on adult rates are published in table 29 and 30 respectively of part B of the 1986 "New Earnings Survey" report.

  Copies of these reports are available in the Library.

  Research and Development
  Sir David Price
  asked the Paymaster General what is his Department's planned expenditure on research and development for 1987–88; and what are the main areas of research selected by his Department under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Financial Management Initiative
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Paymaster General whether he will make a statement on the effect on his Department of the financial management initiative.
  155
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The financial management initiative (FM I) covers a wide range of reforms aimed at improving financial management. It is integral to our efforts to secure improved value for money generally.

  Within my Department introduction of the FMI has been given top priority by senior management. Managers at all levels now have responsibility for setting and reviewing running costs budgets and where relevant for programme budgets. Increasing use is being made in budgeting and planning of challenging but realistic value for money targets and measurement of output and performance. Top management regularly reviews the performance of all parts of my Department.

  Some of these improvements can be seen in the targets, output and performance measures and value for money savings in the public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 56); the second report of the Treasury-Cabinet Office joint management unit (JMU) on the implementation of the efficiency unit's report on consultancy, inspection and review services in Government departments and the JMU's progress report on action following the multi-departmental review of budgeting.

  Other major examples of better management contributing to improvements in value for money are TRES, a two-year programme for introducing computer terminals for improving and making more cost-effective the payment of unemployment benefit and work on benefit inquiries, which will be completed at the end of this year, achieving over 1,900 staff savings worth some £1 5 million a year. These savings should cover the costs of the programme within about four years. The 1986 efficiency scrutiny on value for money in the community programme—which has a programme budget of about £1 billion a year—had as its main recommendation the aim to improve the outputs of the programme (for example, improving the employment prospects of participants and achieving the maximum possible benefit to the Community) and this is being carried forward actively. In addition, the Department attaches importance to developing the management skills and experience of its staff through training and management development programmes to ensure that staff can identify and implement improvements in value for money.

  Training and Job Creation
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General if he will list each of the schemes currently run by the Manpower Services Commission and the Department of Employment in the area of training and job creation, together with expenditure on each scheme for the last year and estimated expenditure for the next five years, and together with the number of places on each scheme and the number of people expected to benefit from each scheme.

  Mr. Lee
  The employment, training and enterprise measures run by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission are listed in the "Action for Jobs" booklet. Details of provision for last year and planned provision for these measures for the period up to 1989–90 are contained in chapter 3.7 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1987–88 to 1989–90", volume II (Cm. 56-II), a copy of which is in the Library. Beyond this period, plans are received annually. On 28 January I announced a further expansion of certain programmes which will increase my Department's total provision 156
  beyond that shown in Cm. 56-II without adding to public expenditure. A detailed breakdown of all this provision for 1986–87 and 1987–88 is contained in class VII of the "Government's Supply Estimates 1987–88", volume 227-VII. All of this provision is subject to parliamentary approval.

  Training Allowances
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General if he will give the number of people over 18 years who receive training allowances through the Manpower Services Commission to support them in their training; and how this figure compares with each of the last eight years.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  16-Year-Olds
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General if he will list his estimates of the number of 16-year-olds in the nation in each of the next 10 years.

  Mr. Lee
  The following table lists the projected numbers of people in Great Britain aged 16 at the end of June each year from 1987 to 1996, as given by the 1985-based projections of the Government Actuary's Department:

  Population aged 16 at mid-year Great Britain

  Thousand

  1987

  850

  1988

  797

  1989

  748

  1990

  697

  1991

  673

  1992

  648

  1993

  630

  1994

  630

  1995

  683

  1996

  709

  Wages
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General what was the average wage of (a) 16 to 17-year-old women and men, (b) 18 to 20-year-old women and men and (c) over 21-year-old women and men in 1979, 1984 and 1986; what was the unemployment figure for each group in 1979, 1984 and 1986; and what was the percentage rise over the periods.

  Mr. Lee
  The information from the "New Earnings Survey" in April each year is as follows:

  Average gross weekly earnings (£) of full-time employees in Great Britain whose pay was unaffected by absence

  Percentage Increase

  Age

  1979

  1984

  1986

  1979–84

  1984–86

  Males

  Under 18

  40·3

  63·3

  72·7

  57·1

  14·8

  18 to 20

  61·9

  101·0

  113·5

  63·2

  12·4

  21 and over

  101·4

  181·6

  210·7

  79·1

  16·0

  Females

  Under 18

  36·6

  58·6

  72·1

  60·1

  23·0

  18 to 20

  48·7

  82·3

  93·3

  64·0

  13·4

  21 and over

  65·3

  121·2

  141·8

  85·6

  17·0

  Following is the available information about unemployment which is also in the Library. The table

  157
  shows the numbers of unemployed registrants in the under 18, 18 to 19 and over 20 years age groups in Great Britain on 5 April 1979.

  The table also shows the numbers of unemployed claimants in the same age groups in Great Britain on 5 April 1984 and 10 April 1986. However, direct comparison of the figures between these dates is not possible because of changes in the method of collection and compilation of the data.

  Unemployed Registrants in Great Britain—5 April 1979

  Number

  Age under 18 years

  73,257

  Age 18 to 19 years

  117,467

  Age over 20 years

  1,089,084

  Unemployed Registrants in Great Britain

  5 April 1984

  10 April 1986

  Age under 18 years

  155,580

  181,336

  Age 18 to 19 years

  353,654

  301,820

  Age over 20 years

  2,478,392

  2,715,713

  Skillcentres (Entrants)
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General if he will provide, for the last two years, a breakdown of entrants into skillcentres according to marital status by (a) under 24 years, (b) 25 to 44 years and (c) 45 plus years of age groups; and if he will give for each grouping the further breakdown according to the to-open and to-close status of the centres.

  Mr. Trippier
  Of 23,000 skillcentre trainees sponsored by the Manpower Services Commission's vocational education and training group who started training between 1 April 1986 and 27 December 1986, some 8,000 were less than 25 years of age when they started training, and 15,000 were aged 25 years or over.

  The other information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost in the case of VETG-sponsored trainees, and is not available in the case of industry-sponsored trainees. There are no present plans to open or close skillcentres.

  Youth Training Scheme
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General how many young people entered the youth training scheme in 1986; how many places they occupied; and how these figures compare with 1985.

  Mr. Lee
  The table shows the available information; it is not possible to provide all the information in the precise form requested.

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Starts

  align="right">1405,938

  1397,581

  Contracted places

  2378,242

  379,488

  Average occupancy

  align="right">370 per cent.

  384 per cent.

  1 The figure for YTS starts includes some individuals who entered more than one YTS programme during the course of the year and therefore slightly overstates the number of individuals participating in the scheme as a whole.

  2 As the information is not available for 1985–86, the figure for that year is an estimate.

  3 These figures show the average number of young people actually in training during the period as a percentage of contracted places. For 1985–86 this figure is an estimate.

  Area Manpower Boards
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General which area manpower boards have no members who are from ethnic minorities; what is the proportion of ethnic minorities in the general population in the area they serve; and how these figures have changed over the last two years.

  Mr. Lee
  Up-to-date information on the proportion of ethnic minorities in the general population in the areas served by area manpower boards is not available. The rest of the information requested is as follows. Currently 29 of the 58 boards have no member representing ethnic minorities as compared with 36 of the 55 boards in 1985.

  AREA MANPOWER BOARDS WITH NO MEMBERS (FULL OR CO- OPTED) REPRESENTING ETHNIC MINORITIES.

  SOUTH EAST REGION

  March 1985

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  Kent

  Surrey

  Sussex

  Essex

  Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire

  February 1987

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  Kent

  Surrey

  Sussex

  Essex

  SOUTH WEST REGION

  March 1985

  Dorset and Somerset

  Devon and Cornwall

  February 1987

  Dorset and Somerset

  Devon and Cornwall

  Gloucester and Wiltshire

  WEST MIDLANDS REGION

  March 1985

  Shropshire, Hereford, Worcester

  Staffordshire

  Wolverhampton and Walsall

  February 1987

  Hereford and Worcester

  Staffordshire

  Shropshire

  EAST MIDLANDS REGION

  March 1985

  Norfolk and Suffolk

  Derbyshire

  Lincolnshire

  February 1987

  Norfolk and Suffolk

  Nottinghamshire

  YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE REGION

  March 1985

  North Yorkshire

  Humberside

  South Yorkshire

  February 1987

  North Yorkshire

  Humberside

  NORTH WEST REGION

  March 1985

  Cheshire

  Cumbria

  159

  February 1987

  Cheshire

  Cumbria

  NORTHERN REGION

  March 1985

  Cleveland

  Durham

  North Tyne

  WALES

  March 1985

  Gwynedd

  Dyfed and West Glamorgan

  Clwyd and Powys

  Gwent

  Mid and South Glamorgan

  February 1987

  Gwynedd

  Dyfed and West Glamorgan

  Clwyd and Powys

  SCOTLAND

  March 1985

  Highlands and Islands

  Grampian and Tayside

  Central and Fife

  Glasgow

  Lanarkshire

  Renfrewshire

  Ayrshire

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Lothian and Borders

  February 1987

  Highlands and Islands

  Grampian and Tayside

  Central and Fife

  Glasgow

  March 1985

  February 1987

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Full members

  (a) Black/other ethnic minority

  8

  (0·8)

  21

  (2·0)

  (b) Women

  82

  (8·2)

  153

  (14·4)

  Co-opted members

  (a) Black/ethnic minority

  19

  (1·9)

  27

  (2·5)

  (b) Women

  14

  (1·4)

  20

  (1·9)

  Co-opted members with voting rights1 (a) Black/ethnic minority

  3

  (0·3)

  1 Following the review of Area Manpower Boards in October 1985 co-opted members do not have voting rights.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Paymaster General if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  On Wednesday 4 March and Friday 13 March, I visited the north Peckham and Bristol 160

  Lanarkshire

  Renfrewshire

  Ayrshire

  Dunfries and Galloway

  Lothian and Borders

  Notes:

  (1) The number of boards was increased by three to 58 in July 1986 as follows:

  The Leicestershire-Northamptonshire board was split into two boards, one covering Leicestershire, one covering Northamptonshire.

  The Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester board was split into two boards one covering Shropshire, one covering Hereford and Worcester.

  The Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire board was split into two boards one covering Buckinghamshire, one covering Hertfordshire.

  (2) The number of MSC regions was increased by one (midlands) in July 1987. Boards shown in east midlands in March 1985 were, in fact, in other regions, but they are listed in this way for convenience and case of reference.

  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Paymaster General how many members of area manpower boards are (a) black or other ethnic minority origin, (b) women and (c) young people under 25 years; and, in each case, how many are full members, co-opted members with voting rights, and co-opted members without voting rights; and what proportion these represent of total membership, together with the comparable figures from two years ago.

  Mr. Lee
  Information on the age of area manpower board members is not available. The breakdown of area manpower board membership by black/ethnic minorities and women in March 1985 and February 1987 is as follows (with proportions against total membership shown in brackets):

  inner city task force areas. On Tuesday 10 March, I launched the new enterprise training in the YTS, in Reading.

  My political engagements during the month took me to Nottinghamshire, Clitheroe, Liverpool, Truro, Derby, Cheshire and Torquay.

  Construction Industry Training Board
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General what recent representations he has received concerning the future of the Construction Industry Training Board's involvement in the youth training scheme.

  Mr. Trippier
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 38]Since the beginning of the year I have received representations on this subject from the Construction Industry Training Board and from the Federation of Master Builders.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the letter which he has recently received from Mr. Derek Gaulter of the Construction Industry Training Board on the subject of the Construction Industry Training Board's involvement in the YTS; and if he will also arrange for his reply to that letter to be published.

  Mr. Trippier
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 38]No. This was a private exchange of correspondence.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General how many trainees have so far been affected in each year by the involvement of the Construction Industry Training Board in the YTS.

  Mr. Trippier
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 38]The numbers of trainees who have started on the Construction Industry Training Board scheme are as follows:

  Number

  1983–84

  18,980

  1984–85

  17,884

  1985–86

  17,742

  1986–87

  19,317

  Total

  73,923

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General how many trainees the Construction Industry Training Board have proposed to involve in future years on their YTS.

  Total YTS starts

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1 year Entitlement 1986–87

  2 year Entitlement 1986–88

  Scotland:

  North

  389

  343

  346

  34

  317

  East

  1,012

  1,013

  974

  49

  808

  West

  1,519

  1,189

  1,223

  88

  1,133

  North

  805

  800

  743

  22

  815

  Yorks & Humberside

  1,936

  1,856

  1,822

  72

  1,856

  North West

  2,033

  1,993

  1,928

  86

  2,077

  East Midlands

  1,333

  1,258

  1,294

  62

  1,218

  West Midlands

  1,675

  1,601

  1,529

  91

  1,758

  East Anglia

  1,294

  1,043

  1,031

  42

  1,108

  Greater London

  2,009

  1,748

  1,859

  180

  1,809

  South East

  935

  995

  998

  73

  1,114

  South

  1,427

  1,440

  1,541

  121

  1,550

  West

  1,340

  1,414

  1,335

  111

  1,452

  Wales

  1,097

  1,074

  1,014

  66

  1,106

  18,804

  17,767

  17,637

  1,097

  18,121

  162
  Mr. Trippier
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987. c. 38]The Manpower Services Commission has received a proposal for some 21,500 YTS places for the hoard's 1987–89 two-year programme.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the record of the Construction Industry Training Board's past involvement in the YTS.

  Mr. Trippier
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 38]The Construction Industry Training Board has made a valuable contribution to YTS. The Government hope that the board's contribution to YTS will continue and be developed.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the placement record of youngsters who have taken part in the Construction Industry Training Board's YTS.

  Mr. Trippier
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 38]By 14 October 1986, 17,742 young people had started the board's 1985–86 one-year YTS programme. Of those, 3,486 had left the scheme prematurely, including 1,607 who left because they had found employment.

  Some 12,967 young people had completed the scheme, of whom the board estimate that about 91 per cent. had been placed in employment.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General how many individual construction companies have so far been involved in the Construction Industry Training Board's YTS.

  Mr. Trippier
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 38]The Construction Industry Training Board estimates that the number of construction companies which have participated so far in YTS is between 21,000 and 23,000 in total.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General if he will give a regional breakdown for each of the years for which the scheme has existed of the number of youngsters taking part in the Construction Industry Training Board's YTS.

  Mr. Trippier
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 38]The information is as follows:
  163

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1 year Entitlement 1986–87

  2 year Entitlement 1986–88

  19,218

  Bircham Newton Tring Centre

  176

  177

  105

  18

  81

  99

  18,980

  17,884

  17,742

  19,317

  Moss Side Task Force
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department in the Moss Side task force area;

  (2) if he will give details of actions taken by the Moss Side task force since it was established;

  (3) if he will give details of the budget allocated to the Moss Side task force during 1986–87; how much will be spent by 31 March and on what projects; and what will happen to any unspent funds after 31 March;

  (4) if he will give details of the budget to be allocated to the Moss Side task force during 1987–88;

  (5) if he will give details of the Moss Side task force's relationship with the local community, including the extent to which their views are taken into account and influence decisions on how the task force's budget is allocated.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [pursuant to his reply, 27 March 1987, c. 294–95]I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his earlier questions on 28 November 1986 at columns 391–92, in which I made a full statement on the activities and progress of the Moss Side and Hulme task force. Since that time, the task force has continued to make useful progress in developing initiatives centred on employment, enterprise and training.

  I regard the close involvement of the local residents in the work of the task force as extremely important and it is focused through a steering group of local residents and workers, and councillors. The task force ensures that this group is aware of all projects and project ideas. The group discusses each funding proposal before any submission is put to me and I pay strong regard to its views.

  No set budget has been allocated to the Moss Side and Hulme task force or any other inner city task force. Task force projects are financed out of the budgets of Government and Manpower Services Commission topped up as necessary out of the central project fund, of the inner cities initiative. Central unit funds are subject to the normal Treasury rules. on annuality, in common with the rest of my Department.

  During 1986–87, it is anticipated that projects sponsored by the task force will spend more than £747,000 in public funds including about £200,000 from the task force top-up funds. These projects include support for (a) positive action for training in housing (PATH), a 12-month training scheme aimed at increasing employment opportunities for black people in housing associations; (b) Prince's Youth Business Trust, which supports business start-up by young people; (c) Selcare trust, a community programme engineering workshop; (d) the Northern Black Business Association.

  For 1987–88 the task force is currently working up and progressing those initiatives mentioned in my reply of 28 November, including the establishment of managed workshops in association with a large private sector
  164
  company; and a number of more recent proposals. Discussions are continuing with a wide range of local organisations, including the university of Manchester and the chamber of commerce and with private sector employers in the area about ways in which employers and others can help the task force to meet its objectives. A number of initiatives are being jointly pursued, including the possibilities of local procurement, training and land development.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Occupational Pension Schemes
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax treatment will be given, in the light of the proposal that pension rights accruing under the new free-standing additional voluntary contributions shall not be commutable into a tax-free lump sum, to existing additional voluntary contributions paid under an employer's occupational pension scheme.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Tax relief is given for additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) to a pension scheme in order to assist members to top up their expected pension benefits and thereby provide themselves with an improved level of income in retirement.

  This is why my right hon. Friend proposed in his Budget that benefits derived from the new "free-standing" AVCs, which will start next October, should not be commutable into a tax-free lump sum.

  Where AVCs are paid under existing arrangements within an employer's occupational scheme, part — in many cases all—of the benefit is at present normally commuted. In order that such in-scheme AVCs should not enjoy an unfair competitive advantage over "freestanding" AVCs, we shall be bringing forward proposals under which the benefits of new AVCs will not be capable of commutation.

  This provision will not apply, however, to AVCs paid (i) to an occupational scheme which provides lump sum and pension benefits in fixed proportions, thereby making it impossible for the whole AVC benefit to be taken as a lump sum or (ii) to an existing scheme by a member who is paying, or has in the past paid, AVCs to that scheme in respect of current service.

  Customs Clearance Facilities
  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce a scheme for Customs clearance at Leeds/Bradford airport, and at the Leeds container base; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  Customs clearance facilities already exist at Leeds/Bradford airport and at the Leeds container base. An application for direct input facilities to the Customs computer from those locations has been made by the
  165
  Yorkshire DTI group. However, because of the current limitations on capacity of the Customs computer system and because of the need to cater for major changes to Customs procedures which must come into operation on 1 January 1988, it is unlikely that direct input facilities can be introduced at Leeds/Bradford airport and Leeds container base until after that date.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Lawson
  None.

  Financial Services (VAT)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the yield in 1987–88 of extending value added tax to all financial services at present exempt under (a) European Economic Community rules and (b) otherwise; and if he will provide a breakdown by service.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987]: There are considerable technical difficulties in determining the value of the supplies to which value added tax would apply, and I regret that it is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the potential revenue yield.

  South Africa (Military Equipment)
  Mr. Caborn
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of all cases in which prosecutions or Customs compounding have taken place in relation to the supply of arms and related material to South Africa since the adoption of United Nations Security Council resolution 418, 1977.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 3 April 1987, c. 630]This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Caborn
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken following the discovery by Her Majesty's Customs officials on 27 February 1986, that cargoes on board the MS St. Maguire at Felixstowe described as agricultural machinery bound for a company known as M & I Engineers Pty, Pretoria, South Africa, were in fact components of 140mm howitzers being exported in breach of the United Nations mandatory arms embargo; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 3 April 1987, c. 630]I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the MS St. Magnus rather than MS St. Maguire. That case involved exports of field guns by Clement Shaw Ltd. and was compounded by Customs and Excise under section 152 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

  Mr. Caborn
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action will be taken by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to investigate allegations that the MV Lady Anita exported 140 howitzers from Felixstowe on 28 November 1984 which were destined for South Africa in breach of the United Nations mandatory arms embargo.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 3 April 1987, c. 630]Following investigation by Customs and Excise, this case was compounded under section 152 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.
  166
  Mr. Caborn
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the results of the investigation into Clement Shaw Ltd in relation to possible breaches of the United Nations mandatory arms embargo; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 3 April 1987, c. 630]The case involved the export of field guns and spare parts to South Africa. It was compounded by Customs and Excise under section 152 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

THE ARTS

  Acceptances in Lieu of Tax
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  asked the Minister for the Arts if any further items have been accepted in lieu of tax in the year ended 31 March 1987.

  Mr. Luce
  I am pleased to announce that a further three items have been accepted in lieu of tax:

  Item

  Amount of tax satisfied £

  Sidereal clock by Matthew Boulton

  440,000

  'Portrait of a Girl on a Sofa' by Philip Wilson Steer

  55,000

  A painting by Giacometti, and two drawings by Cezanne and Toulouse-Lautrec

  206,250

  The acceptance of the sidereal clock by Matthew Boulton has been allowed by the provision of extra funds from the Contingency Reserve, to which I referred in an earlier reply on 19 February, at column 737, together with resources from the annual AIL Vote.

  Allocation of the above items will be announced in due course.

  I am also pleased to announce that the Portland archive, acceptance of which. I notified to the House on 25 March 1986, at columns 427–28, has been allocated in accordance with the wishes of the executors to the following five institutions: Bodleian library, Oxford; British library; Hampshire record office; Nottinghamshire record office; and Nottingham university library.

  Acceptance in Lieu (Stratford Mill)
  Mr. Faulds
  asked the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received regarding (a) the completeness of the information made available to the chairman and all members of the Museums and Galleries Commission in their consideration of the proposal to accept in lieu Stratford Mill by John Constable, (b) the role of the commission in the valuation of the painting and (c) the commission's recommendation concerning the recipient of the picture; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  I have received five letters concerning the acceptance in lieu of tax of the Constable painting "The Young Waltonians", also known as "Stratford Mill"; each letter raised some of the points raised by the hon. Member.

  When this painting was offered to the nation I received advice from the chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission, which included independent valuations given by two separate expert advisers to the Government. They both confirmed the valuation of £10 million. I have full confidence in the advice which was given to me by the

  167
  various parties, but the final decisions on acceptance and allocation were, of course, mine. This was the most valuable item ever accepted in lieu of tax, and it was clear that speed and discretion were essential. The enhanced provisions announced by my predecessor in 1985, allowing for calls on the Contingency Reserve, have enabled the acquistion of this major work of art, central to our heritage. It has been allocated to the National Gallery, in accordance with the strongly expressed wishes of the executors of the deceased owner, and is already on public display there.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  RUC (Discrimination)
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by whom, in the case of those full-time and part-time women reserve police offers who were adjudged to have been discriminated against by the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland, the cost of meeting the compensation awards and legal costs of both plaintiffs and the Chief Constable will be met; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The cost of compensation awards and legal costs of both plaintiffs and the Chief Constable will be met by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland. I have no more up-to-date information than that given to my hon. Friend on 6 April 1987 in response to his earlier questions. I have therefore nothing more to add to that reply.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Conservation
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for South Shields on 20 January 1987, Official Report, column 495, whether a voluntary conservation body which has received aid from public funds to purchase land within an environmentally sensitive area, but which is not receiving any aid from public funds for the management of that land, will be eligible to receive payments made under the environmentally sensitive area arrangements;

  (2) pursuant to the answer of 20 January, Official Report, column 495, whether a voluntary conservation body which is receiving aid from public funds for the management of land lying within an environmentally sensitive area, will be eligible to receive payments made under the environmentally sensitive area arrangements;

  (3) pursuant to the answer of 20 January, Official Report, column 495, in what circumstances he will refuse to enter into management agreements with voluntary conservation bodies in relation to land lying within environmentally sensitive areas which is owned or managed by those bodies.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  As I said in my answer of 20 January, each such application will be considered individually. It may be necessary to refuse to enter an agreement where the body concerned has received or is continuing to receive public funds for purposes which substantially overlap with the purposes of the environmentally sensitive area. This could in principle occur where the funds in question represented a contribution either to land purchase or to land management.
  168
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to the answer of 20 January, Official Report, column 495, whether a voluntary conservation body which has received aid from public funds to purchase land lying within an environmentally sensitive area, and which subsequently repays the moneys received, will be eligible to receive payments made under the environmentally sensitive area arrangements.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  If a conservation body were contemplating such a course of action we would be prepared to consider it constructively.

  Farmers (Income)
  Sir Peter Hordern
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average income of a dairy farmer in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The estimated average net farm income of dairy farms in the United Kingdom during each of the last five years for which data are available is as follows :

  Average net farm income of dairy farms

  (£'000 per farm)

  1981–82

  10·0

  1982–83

  12·4

  1983–84

  8·3

  1984–85

  8·5

  1985–86

  10·2

  Source The Farm business Survey in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Note: Figures given are the latest obtained from the survey for the year in question.

  Research and Development
  Sir David Price
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's planned expenditure on research and development for 1987–88; and what are the main areas of research selected by his Department under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  My Department's planned expenditure on research and development in 1987–88, on a full cost basis, is £111·4 million. Of this total, £58·8 million will be commissioned under the Rothschild principles with outside contractors, primarily the Agricultural and Food Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council, the food industry's research associations, and the universities.

  The main areas of research comprise:

  £ million

  Agriculture and horticulture

  39·8

  Food

  14·9

  Fisheries

  1·8

  Protection of the aquatic environment

  0·3

  River and coastal engineering

  2·0

  In addition, my Department funds the trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, through a grant-in-aid; of this, it is estimated that £4·9 million will be devoted to R and D in 1987–88.

  The remaining £47·7 million represents the cost of R and D conducted within the Department's Agricultural

  169
  Development and Advisory Service, food science laboratories and fisheries laboratories, and central administration costs.

  The allocation of funds between areas of research is guided by the recommendations of the Priorities Board for Research and Development in Agriculture and Food; and in the case of fisheries and protection of the aquatic environment, by consultation with the industry and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland to co-ordinate a national programme.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Jopling
  I paid two official visits outside London in March. The first was to open the new production complex of Middlebrook Mushrooms in Selby on the 27th and the second to a dinner organised by Cumbria National Farmers Union on the 28th.

  Cruelty to Animals
  Mr. John
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has yet received notification of any decision taken by the EEC Commission indicating its response to a complaint lodged by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in February 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

DEFENCE

  Research and Development
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's planned expenditure on research and development for 1987–88; and what are the main areas of research selected by his Department under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Planned defence expenditure in 1987–88 on research and development is £2,346 million. Customer-supplier arrangements apply throughout defence research. The major fields of activity are as follows:

  MF A—Air Vehicles, Aerodynamics, Structure and Materials

  MF B—Gas Turbines

  MF C—Navigation and Avionics

  MF D—Space

  MF E—Ships and Submarines, Signature Reduction, Human Factors

  MF F—Ships Systems

  MF G—Undersea Warfare and Countermeasure Systems

  MF H—Rocket Propulsion, Explosives and Weapons Materials

  MF J—Conventional Weapons, Armaments and Command and Control

  MF K—Military Vehicles and Army Engineering Equipment

  MF L—Chemical and Biological Defence

  MF M—Guided and Air-Launched Weapons

  MF N—Tri-Service Electronic Systems

  MF P—Electronic Components

  MF Q—Electronic Technology

  NAAFI Hostel, West Germany (Police Search)
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence who authorised the search of the NAAFI hostel at Salamanca barracks, Soest in West Germany on 10 February 1987; what evidence there was to justify this search; what was the outcome of the search; what guidelines the Royal Military police operate under when dealing with civilians: and if NAAFI employees in Germany are subject to the same discipline as service personnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  The search of the NAAFI hostel at Salamanca barracks, Soest in West Germany on 10 February was authorised by the commanding officer of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps in his capacity as Station Commander, Soest. It was considered justified as a result of witness evidence received to the effect that stolen goods were held on the premises. This allegation was also considered pertinent to an inquiry being undertaken into offences committed at the NAAFI HQ in Soest in 1986. Nothing of evidential value was found during the search. The Royal Military police operate under the following guidelines when dealing with civilian personnel:

  (a) The Manual of Military Law 1972.

  (b) Queens Regulations for the Army 1975.

  NAAFI personnel are subject to the same disciplinary processes as are applicable to United Kingdom based civilians and their dependants who are attached to, or are employed by, the armed forces in Germany. The provisions of the service discipline Acts apply to civilians in a modified form.

  Magilligan Ranges
  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement indicating which proposed developments or activities in the area of Magilligan ranges would lead to restrictions on access to Magilligan Point.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are no plans for further restrictions on public access to Magilligan Point.

  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement indicating which future planned or possible activities or developments by the Ministry of Defence and Crown forces in the area of Magilligan ranges are part of, or related to, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation programmes.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are no plans to develop facilities at Magilligan range for use by NATO forces.

  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement indicating the total acreage of land purchased by his Department over the past 30 months in the area of Magilligan ranges in County Derry.

  Mr. Freeman
  A total of 561 acres of land has been purchased by the Ministry of Defence over the past 30 months, in this area.

  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement indicating what pieces of land have been bought by his Department in the area of Magilligan ranges since July 1986.

  Mr. Freeman
  The only land purchase by the Ministry of Defence since July 1986 was of an area of land extending to 235 acres in the vicinity of Ballymagoland Oughtymore in August 1986.

  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement indicating whether his

  171
  Department is presently involved in or contemplating approaches or negotiations to purchase further lands in the area of Magilligan ranges in County Derry.

  Mr. Freeman
  The existing dry training area at Magilligan does not fully meet the needs of the units which have to use it. Some informal approaches have therefore been made to local landowners about the possibility of acquiring adjoining land, although there are no firm plans for an extension at present.

  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement indicating what proportion of Benowen beach is treated by his Department as part of its range area in Magilligan; and what are the restrictions on access to that beach.

  Mr. Freeman
  The 4½ miles of beach between Benowen beach Sangar and Magilligan Point Sangar are closed to the public when firing on the range is in progress. Firing takes place between 8 am and 4 pm on every day of the week. However, the beach is open to the public during a six-week period in the summer, between the last week in June and the first week of August, when the range closes down.

  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement indicating his Department's policy on possible tourist developments in the Magilligan-Benowen area and particularly Magilligan Point.

  Mr. Freeman
  The only concern of the Ministry of Defence is to ensure that any developments are compatible with defence requirements, such as range safety areas.

  Leave (Equestrian Events)
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent leave is granted to (a) officers, (b) warrant officers, (c) non-commissioned officers, and (d) other ranks with regard to participation in equestrian events.

  Mr. Freeman
  When applying for leave under normal rules, personnel are not required to state the purpose for which they wish to take leave. Special leave may exceptionally be granted to officers and other ranks in certain circumstances, for example when an individual has been selected to represent his country at a competitive sport.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Younger
  On 3 March I made official visits to the British Aerospace sites at Warton and Preston, and to the Pilkington Research and Development Establishment, Latham.

  Greenham Common (Vehicle Transfer)
  Mr. Skinner
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information he has as to why 10 Dodge Ram support vehicles were transferred from Greenham common to Alconbury on 1 April; and to what use they will he put;

  (2) what information he has as to the purpose for which United States service personnel were transferred from Greenham common to Alconbury on 1 April.
  172
  Mr. Stanley
  I shall answer shortly.

  Armed Forces (Brutality)
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many courts martial have been held since 1979 concerning allegations of maltreatment or brutality in the armed forces.

  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c. 382]Courts martial are held under the terms of the service discipline Acts. These make it an offence for an officer, warrant officer or non-commissioned officer to strike or otherwise ill-treat a person of inferior rank : the relevant provisions are contained in section 36A of the Naval Discipline Act 1957, section 65 of the Army Act 1955 and section 65 of the Air Force Act 1955. Numbers of courts martial convictions for offences under these sections since 1979 are as follows:

  Royal Navy and Royal Marines1

  Army

  Royal Air Force

  1979

  —

  29

  3

  1980

  1

  6

  5

  1981

  1

  8

  2

  1982

  Nil

  3

  1

  1983

  Nil

  17

  1

  1984

  5

  8

  2

  1985

  —

  15

  3

  1986

  —

  4

  4

  1 Figures for 1985 and 1986 have not yet been collated.

  Note: Figures for 1979 arc not available.

  Details of courts martial not resulting in convictions could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1979 his Department has held an internal inquiry concerning maltreatment and brutality in the armed forces.

  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c. 382]Internal inquiries can take a number of forms and no central records are kept of the numbers held. However, the number of cases since 1979 where inquiries have led to disciplinary proceedings and convictions under the terms of section 36A of the Naval Discipline Act 1957, section 65 of the Army Act 1955 or section 65 of the Air Force Act 1955 are as follows:

  Royal Navy and Royal Marines1

  Army

  Royal Air Force

  1979

  —

  92

  4

  1980

  1

  67

  11

  1981

  8

  59

  4

  1982

  2

  36

  2

  1983

  15

  42

  2

  1984

  10

  63

  4

  1985

  —

  62

  8

  1986

  —

  50

  5

  1 Figures for 1985 and 1986 have not yet been collated.

  Note: Figures arc not available for 1979.

  Armed Forces (Cruelty and Brutality)
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence in how many cases in each of the last four years disciplinary proceedings have been taken because of unfair, cruel or brutal treatment in the armed forces.
  173
  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his reply, 23 March 1987, c. 2]Disciplinary proceedings are brought under the terms of the service discipline Acts. These make it an offence for an officer, warrant officer or non-commissioned officer to strike or otherwise ill-treat a person of inferior rank: the relevant provisions are contained in section 36A of the Naval Discipline Act 1957, section 65 of the Army Act 1955 and section 65 of the Air Force Act 1955. Numbers of convictions following disciplinary proceedings under these sections in the last four years are as follows:

  Royal Navy and Royal Marines1

  Army

  Royal Air Force

  1983

  15

  42

  2

  1984

  5

  63

  4

  1985

  —

  62

  8

  1986

  —

  50

  5

  1 Figures for 1985 and 1986 have not yet been collated.

  Details of disciplinary proceedings not resulting in convictions could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

SCOTLAND

  Paper Mill (Irvine)
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is taking to ensure that United Kingdom companies are given their proportion of the supply of materials for the Finnish investment at Irvine.

  Mr. Lang
  My Department and that of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who also has an interest in this matter, are taking all possible steps to ensure that United Kingdom companies win a fair proportion of the supply of materials for the paper mill currently being built at Irvine. We have secured undetakings from Caledonian Paper plc, the Finnish company concerned, that British companies are given a full and fair opportunity to bid for orders. We have ensured that Caledonian Paper is fully aware of the existence and abilities of relevant United Kingdom companies; that contacts have been facilitated between

  Tayside

  Grampian

  Year

  Gross NHS expenditure1 at cash prices £m

  At 1985–86 prices as measured by GDP deflator £m

  Gross NHS expenditure1 at cash prices £m

  At 1985–86 prices as measured by GDP deflator £m

  1980–81

  119·718

  163·244

  110·133

  150·173

  1981–82

  130·440

  161·949

  120·031

  149·025

  1982–83

  139·313

  161·275

  130·279

  150·817

  1983–84

  147·606

  163·583

  140·170

  155·342

  1984–85

  156·199

  165·936

  150·652

  160·043

  1985–86

  163·452

  163·452

  163·292

  163·292

  1Comprising expenditure on hospital and community health services, family practitioner services and capital.

  Redundancies
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the number of times the Manpower Services Commission has been informed of redundancies taking place in numbers greater than 10 employees since 1979 in each of the four Scottish cities.
  174
  United Kingdom companies and Caledonian Paper; that Caledonian Paper regularly supplies information about its current needs; and that the United Kingdom companies concerned are made fully aware of these needs so that they may maximise their chances of success in tendering. 'We have also impressed on United Kingdom companies that while we are happy to provide as much assistance as possible in this form the final decision is one for the commercial judgment of Caledonian Paper.

  Breast Cancer Screening
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of Slate for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the setting up of regional centres for breast cancer screening as recommended by the Forrest report;

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that Tayside health board has the staff, resources and finance to carry out breast cancer screening as recommended in the Forrest report.

  Mr. John MacKay
  My noble Friend the Minister of State announced on 25 February that £1 million will be made available in 1987–88 to enable a start to be made in Scotland on the implementation of the Forrest report's recommendations. About 10 breast cancer centres will be required in Scotland; and we shall shortly be approaching health boards to discuss where the first two or three centres should be established.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women have been screened in total in Scotland in the past five years for breast cancer; and what percentage of the female adult population they comprise.

  Mr. John MacKay
  This information is not available.

  NHS (Grampian and Tayside)
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent on the National Health Service in both Grampian and Tayside health boards in each year since 1980; and if he will express these figures also using a gross domestic product deflator for prices.

  Mr. John McKay
  The information is as follows:

  Mr. Lang
  The following table shows the number of reports of redundancies involving 10 or more workers confirmed as occurring over the period January 1980 to December 1986.
  175

  Local Authority District

  Number of Reports

  City of Aberdeen

  411

  City of Dundee

  316

  City of Edinburgh

  413

  City of Glasgow

  1,119

  Notes:

  (1) the above figures may be subject to amendment as the statistics for 1986 are still provisional;

  (2) the estimates relate to Jobcentre areas located wholly or partly within the 4 local authority districts.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the change in the number of people employed in manufacturing industry in each of the four Scottish cities since 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  The estimated numbers of those working in manufacturing plants with over 10 employees in each of the four Scottish cities in 1979 and 1985 are shown in the table. These estimates are taken from the regional data system. No reliable information is available from this source for plants with less than 10 employees. The estimates for 1985 are provisional.

  City

  Employment 1979

  Employment 1985

  Aberdeen

  20,400

  17,000

  Dundee

  29,200

  15,900

  Edinburgh

  38,500

  31,200

  Glasgow

  91,800

  59,800

  Victim Support Schemes
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the victim support schemes his Department is currently assisting in Scotland; and if he will indicate the level of finance involved.

  Mr. John MacKay
  Grant has been paid to the Scottish Association of Victim Support Schemes since it was formed in March 1985; in the financial year 1986–87 grant offered amounted to £26,000 revenue and £1,500 capital with a further £2,000 capital being made available to upgrade computer facilities. An additional revenue grant of £15,000 has been offered to the Association for each of three years commencing in 1986–87 to assist specific projects. It is intended to offer the Association revenue grant of £38,000 for the financial year 1987–88.

  School Leavers
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school leavers in (a) Dundee,(b) Aberdeen, (c) Glasgow and (d) Edinburgh have never had a job since leaving school.

  Mr. Lang
  The table shows the number of unemployed claimant school leavers under 18 years of age in each of the specified local authority districts as at 12 February 1987.

  City

  Number of unemployed school leavers

  City of Dundee

  587

  City of Aberdeen

  337

  City of Glasgow

  4,501

  City of Edinburgh

  1,060

  176
  Note: An unemployed school leaver is defined as a person under 18 years of age who has not entered employment since completing full-time education.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of people currently unemployed in each of the four cities in Scotland; what percentage unemployment rates these represent; and how many people have been unemployed for one year or more in each case.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is not available in the precise form requested.

  On 8 January, the total number of unemployed claimants and those who had been unemployed for more than one year in each of the 4 Scottish cities was as shown in the table below.

  Number of unemployed claimants

  Area

  Total

  More than one year

  Aberdeen Local Authority District

  12,218

  2,686

  Dundee Local Authority District

  15,448

  6,686

  Edinburgh Local Authority District

  28,903

  11,035

  Glasgow Local Authority District

  78,707

  39,015

  Unemployment rates are not available for local authority districts.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of people unemployed in each of the four cities in terms of the primary manufacturing, services and construction sectors.

  Mr. Lang
  I regret that information on the number of unemployed according to the industry in which they last worked is no longer available. The industrial analysis of unemployed registrants was discontinued in May 1982.

  Job Vacancies
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the number of job vacancies in each of the four Scottish cities; and what is the Scottish total of job vacancies.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is not available in the precise form requested.

  On 6 February 1987 the total number of job vacancies notified, and remaining unfilled, at jobcentres located within the four Scottish cities and the Scotland total as a whole was as shown in the table below.

  Area

  Unfilled Job Vacancies

  City of Aberdeen Local Authority District

  1,389

  City of Dundee Local Authority District

  369

  City of Edinburgh Local Authority District

  1,483

  City of Glasgow Local Authority District

  2,211

  SCOTLAND

  15,200

  The figures provided do not represent the total number of vacancies in the economy. It is estimated that only around one-third of all vacancies nationally are notified to jobcentres.

  Rates (Abolition)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with, and what advice was received from, the Data Protection Registrar in relation to the proposed abolition of rates in Scotland.

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what items of personal data will be collected by local government to administer the proposed abolition of rates in Scotland.

  Mr. Ancram
  The Abolition of Domestic Rates etc. (Scotland) Bill provides that the entry in the community charges register for each person liable to pay the personal community charge will specify his or her name, address, date of birth, and the date from which such liability begins. The Secretary of State may also prescribe other matters which are to appear on the register. Only the addresses and names appearing on the register will be available for public inspection.

  Glasgow District Court
  Mr. McTaggart
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average delay in hearing cases at Glasgow district court; and if there are any proposals to increase staff employed at the court.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The approximate period between pleading diet and trial diet at Glasgow district court in custody cases is three weeks; in non-custody cases the period is 31 to 32

  Central government direct grant (recurrent)

  Scottish central institutions 1979–80—1987–88 (£ million)

  Central institutions

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–831

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987—88

  Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology

  3·763

  5·073

  5·477

  7·226

  8·119

  8·432

  29·172

  29·999

  10·642

  Paisley College of Technology

  3·483

  4·814

  5·252

  6·694

  7·294

  7·784

  28·399

  29·076

  9·443

  Dundee College of Technology

  2·227

  3·094

  3·032

  4·061

  4·351

  4·676

  24·993

  25·536

  5·756

  Glasgow College of Technology3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  24·721

  29·897

  10·337

  Napier College of Commerce and Technology3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25·944

  214·054

  14·498

  Scottish College of Textiles

  0·711

  0·972

  1·190

  1·471

  1·709

  2·011

  1·883

  22·025

  2·087

  Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art

  1·515

  2·028

  2·100

  2·608

  2·798

  2·897

  3·028

  3·180

  3·337

  Edinburgh College of Art

  1·649

  2·241

  2·446

  2·815

  3·145

  3·272

  3·443

  3·619

  3·742

  Glasgow School of Art

  1·462

  2·020

  2·216

  2·648

  2·812

  2·985

  3·120

  3·330

  3·474

  Queen Margaret College

  1·512

  2·158

  2·338

  2·928

  3·127

  3·248

  3·506

  3·662

  3·807

  Queen's College Glasgow

  1·093

  1·462

  1·535

  1·962

  2·150

  2·298

  2·490

  2·625

  2·755

  Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

  0·722

  0·993

  1·151

  1·263

  1·395

  1·482

  1·554

  1·673

  2·058

  Micro Electronics Development Centre

  —

  —

  0·144

  0·207

  0·271

  0·316

  0·318

  0·346

  0·418

  Leith Nautical College

  1·020

  1·407

  1·462

  1·604

  1·710

  1·628

  1·612

  1·684

  40·645

  Total

  19·157

  26·262

  28·343

  35·487

  38·881

  41·029

  63·418

  70·706

  72·999

  1 The significant increase between 1981–82 and 1982–83 reflects the reduction in tuition fees paid by home students by 50 per cent.

  2 Figures include grant allocated under the Switch to Technology Programme. (£1·7 million has been earmarked for Switch Phase III in 1987–88 but not yet allocated).

  3 Napier College of Commerce and Technology and Glasgow College of Technology joined the Central Institution Sector on 1 September 1985, and the figures reflect recurrent grant from the Scottish Education Department.

  4 LNC will transfer to the local authority sector with effect from 1 August 1987.

  178
  weeks before a stipendiary magistrate and 14 weeks before a justice of the peace. The number of staff employed at the court is a matter for the district council.

  Lead Piping
  Mr. McTaggart
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many grant applications have been approved for the replacement of lead piping in the Glasgow area in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Ancram
  The table shows the numbers of grant applications for the replacement of lead plumbing approved by Glasgow District Council.

  Grant applications approved

  Year

  Number of approvals

  1982

  Nil

  1983

  1,783

  1984

  1,466

  1985

  Nil

  Complete figures for 1986 are not yet available.

  Education (Direct Grants)
  Mr. McTaggart
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the level of direct grants to each central institution of education in Scotland for each year since 1979.

  Mr. John MacKay
  The latest available information is contained in the tables.
  179

  Central Government Direct Grant (Capital)

  Scottish Central Institutions 1979–80—1986–87 (£ million)

  Central Institutions

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Robert Gordons Institute of Technology

  0·845

  0·985

  1·210

  2·322

  2·362

  2·009

  32·215

  32·982

  Paisley College of Technology

  0·411

  11·345

  12·233

  11·225

  10·876

  11·209

  1 30·915

  31·237

  Dundee College of Technology

  0·492

  0·431

  0·534

  1·009

  0·953

  0·443

  30·750

  30·560

  Glasgow College of Technology

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2 30·438

  30·496

  Napier College of Commerce and Technology

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2 30·297

  35·313

  Scottish College of Textiles

  0·158

  0·553

  0·791

  0·101

  0·345

  0·178

  0·050

  30·231

  Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art

  0·343

  0·175

  0·190

  0·057

  0·088

  0·127

  0·200

  0·029

  Edinburgh College of Art

  0·099

  0·092

  0·131

  0·039

  0·118

  0·255

  0·088

  0·003

  Glasgow School of Art

  0·310

  0·201

  0·201

  0·295

  0·094

  0·302

  0·203

  0·029

  Queen Margaret College

  0·360

  0·296

  0·763

  0·663

  0·253

  0·121

  0·215

  0·015

  Queen's College Glasgow

  0·113

  0·201

  0·403

  0·346

  0·466

  0·201

  0·043

  0·190

  Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

  0·041

  0·415

  0·184

  0·443

  1·158

  2·085

  3·649

  6·119

  Leith Nautical College

  0·273

  0·144

  0·059

  0·015

  0·010

  0·020

  0·009

  —

  Total

  3·445

  4·838

  6·699

  6·515

  6·723

  6·950

  9·072

  17·204

  1 Includes capital expenditure on Microelectronics Development Centre

  2 Napier College of Commerce and Technology and Glasgow College of Technology joined the Central Institution Sector on 1 September 1985

  3 Figures include grant allocated under the Switch to Technology Programme

  4 £15·9 million, including £3·8 million under the Switch to Technology Programme is available to be allocated in 1987–88

  180

  Jedburgh Abbey
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the original budget estimate and the estimated final cost of completion of the Jedburgh abbey excavation and visitors' centre; and when he expects it to be officially open to the public.

  Mr. Ancram
  The original budget estimate for the Jedburgh abbey visitors' centre, the excavation and associated works was £537,000. The final cost is estimated at £582,000. I intend to open the visitors' centre officially on Monday 18 May. The abbey, with the improvements as they have been completed, has of course been open continuously to the public throughout.

  NHS (Staff Shortages)
  Mr. Steel
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the most recent available total expenditures by each health board or agency nursing to fill staff shortages.

  Mr. John MacKay
  This information is not held centrally.

  Roads
  Mr. David Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the motorway and trunk road construction contracts with a works cost of £1 million or more which his Department intends to award in 1987–88, showing in each case the total value of the contract and the expenditure likely to be incurred in that year.

  Mr. Ancram
  Contracts for the following major schemes, each estimated to cost over £1 million, are expected to be let in 1987–88:

  Estimated Total Cost1 £ million

  A7

  Middleton Bypass

  1·9

  A75

  Castle Douglas Bypass

  3·9

  A75

  Glenluce Bypass

  3·8

  A77

  Balsalloch to Balcreuchan

  3·8

  M8

  Starlaw Junction, Livingston

  1·8

  M80

  Stepps Bypass (Advance Works)

  5·1

  A82

  Auchendennan to Arden (Loch Lomond)

  1·7

  A82

  Luss to Camus Nan Clais (Loch Lomond)

  7·5

  A830

  Polnish to Lochailort

  2·5

  A9

  Dornoch Firth Approach Roads (South)

  6·0

  A9

  Dornoch Firth Approach Roads (North)

  2·5

  A9

  Dunbeath Bridge

  3·1

  A92

  East Fife Regional Road, Stage III

  12·2

  A92

  East Fife Regional Road, Stage IV

  5·1

  A92

  Ellon Bypass

  3·7

  A92

  Tipperty

  2·2

  A94

  Candy to Stonehaven

  3·0

  1 Includes works, land and professional fees.

  Start dates during the year, and hence likely expenditure in the year, are dependent on the completion of statutory procedures and monitoring of expenditure on schemes in progress. Depending on these factors, it might prove possible to bring some additional schemes into the programme for 1987–88.

  Tourism
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those tourism-related projects in Glasgow for
  182
  which the Scottish Development Agency has made grants available in each of the last five years; how many jobs have been created in each project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The Scottish Development Agency has not contributed grant finance to any projects solely related to tourism in Glasgow. However the agency has made finance available to a number of projects in which tourism is one of the benefits to be derived: these include the Glasgow garden festival, the Scottish exhibition and conference centre and several projects funded under the local enterprise grants for urban projects scheme. It is not at present possible to estimate the impact of these projects on tourism employment.

  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of overseas tourists visiting Glasgow in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Information from the international passenger survey is as follows:

  Trips

  1981

  160,000

  1982

  180,000

  1983

  220,000

  1984

  200,000

  1985

  260,000

  Note: The sample size for Glasgow in the international passenger survey is 600. Thus, variations from year to year may be due [o sampling errors rather than any real change in visitor numbers.

  The regeneration of Glasgow through various action programmes, the opening of the Burrell Collection and the Scottish exhibition and conference centre have provided an impetus to the growth of tourism. A further boost is expected next year when the garden festival will be held in Glasgow and in 1990 when Glasgow is the European city of culture.

  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs were created in tourism in Glasgow for each of the last five years; and if' he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  This information is not available.

  Inverclyde Initiative
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow can expect an answer to his letter dated 9 March relating to the Inverclyde initiative.

  Mr. Lang
  I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 3 April.

  Housing
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dwellings in (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector in (i) Scotland and (ii) Edinburgh, respectively, were classified as unfit at the latest available date.

  Mr. Ancram
  The classification "unfit" is not used in Scotland. The nearest equivalent classification is of houses below the tolerable standard as defined in section 14 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1974.
  183
  The table shows the BTS figures as supplied to the Department by district councils in their annual returns for 31 March 1986.

  Number of BTS houses at 31 March 1986

  (i) Scotland

  (ii) Edinburgh

  (a) Private sector

  39,001

  6,041

  (b) Public sector

  2,234

  —

  (c) Not stated1

  15,250

  —

  (d) Total

  56,485

  6,041

  1 It may be assumed that most of these cases lie in the private sector.

  South of Scotland Electricity Board
  Mrs. McCurley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what response has been made by the South of Scotland electricity board to the report on the board by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission which was published in 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have received the initial response of the South of Scotland electricity board to the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission published on 20 August 1986. It gives the board's comments on the Commission's findings and describes the action it is taking to meet the recommendations. Copies of the board's response have been placed in the Library of the House.

  I welcome the Commission's findings that the board is not pursuing any course of conduct against the public interest and that the board is a well run organisation managing its core function of generating, transmitting and distributing electricity efficiently and effectively. The Commission found that the board's finances are soundly run, that the management structure and information systems are satisfactory and that the board sets itself tight targets for reducing costs and improving efficiency.

  The Commission drew attention to some areas where there is scope for improving performance, particularly in billing and debt collection, manpower levels and appliance retailing. The board in its response has described a number of steps being taken which should result in a significant reduction in billing costs and bad debts over the next few years. It has not accepted all of the Commission's recommendations on manpower levels but has indicated that they are reviewing and systemising a number of current procedures and have described their strategy for matching manpower requirements with work load. I shall be keeping in touch with the board's thinking as it develops. I welcome the board's confirmation of its commitment to putting appliance retailing activities on to a profitable basis. Further discussion will be required with the board about how profitablility should appropriately be measured and reported upon and the board's strategy should their endeavours prove unsuccessful.

  The Commission made important recommendations about fuel purchasing and tariff structure. I welcome the positive evidence in the response of the progress being made in the board's commercial dealings with British Coal against the background of its strategy to balance the short-term advantages offered by fluctuating fuel prices with long-term security of supply. On tariffs, the board has undertaken to carry out a review and further discussion is necessary to determine the scope and objectives of this exercise. I am asking the board to keep me regularly informed about progress in this important area.
  184
  The Commission also made a number of useful recommendations on investment appraisal procedures, quality control and aspects of the arrangements for electricity trading with the CEGB which the board is taking steps to implement.

  My Department will be maintaining close contact with the board on the follow-up to the report and the board will report to me again on progress achieved at the end of the year.

  Nuclear Disasters
  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Strathclyde police as to, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Hunterston (a) what evacuation time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of the most populated 22½ deg sector from the power station out to (i) five miles, and (ii) 10 miles, (b) what time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of the population with (i) five miles, and (ii) 10 miles of the power station, (c) what time estimates have been made for the evacuation of the population of Glasgow, (d) what time estimates have been made for the evacuation of high risk groups from Glasgow, (e) what time estimates have been made for evacuation of low mobility groups from Glasgow, and (f) what time estimates have been made for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets to the population of Glasgow; and if he will arrange for the basis and calculation of any such time estimates to be placed in the Library;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Dumfries and Galloway as to, in the event of a civil nuclear disaster at Chapel Cross (a) what evacuation time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of the most populated 22½ deg sector from the power station out to (i) five miles, and (ii) 10 miles, (b) what time estimates have been prepared for the evacuation of the population with (i) five miles, and (ii) 10 miles of the power station, (c) what time estimates have been made for the evacuation of the population of Dumfries, (d) what time estimates have been made for the evacuation of high risk groups from Dumfries, (e) what time estimates have been made for evacuation of low mobility groups from Dumfries, and (f) what time estimates have been made for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets to the population of Dumfries; and if he will arrange for the basis and calculation of any such time estimates to be placed in the Library;

  Mr. Lang
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Forestry
  Mr. Rogers
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the predicted average yield class of the forestry plantations established in the flow country of Sutherland and Caithness in the last five years.

  Mr. John MacKay
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 53]The predicted average yield class of these plantations is 12, which compares favourably with yield classes in many other parts of Scotland.

  Mr. Rogers
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what response the Forestry Commission has made to the findings regarding the internal rates of return from various forestry plantations outlined in Appendix 4 of the recent

  185
  report by the National Audit Office on Forestry Commission objectives and achievements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John MacKay
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 53]The National Audit Office review of Forestry Commission objectives and achievements is being considered by the Committee of Public Accounts. It will be for the Government to respond to such recommendations as may be made by the Committee in its report to Parliament.

  Mr. Rogers
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the average windthrow hazard class of the land in the flow country of Sutherland and Caithness approved for afforestation in the last five years.

  Mr. John MacKay
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987,c. 53]The estimated averge windthrow hazard classification of this area is 4–5, on a rising scale of 1–6. This is fairly typical of upland areas in other parts of Scotland.

  Motoring Offences (Deaths)
  Mr. Milian
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases in each of the last 10 years, in which a driver has been charged with careless driving, a death was involved in the charge.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 53]I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Mr. Millan
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases of disposal of charges relating to causing death by reckless driving in each of the last 10 years the sentences have been passed in the sheriff court and the High Court respectively.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 53]The information requested is given in the table:

  Persons against whom a charge of causing death by reckless driving was proved

  Scotland

  High Court

  Sheriff Court

  1976

  1

  44

  1977

  4

  39

  1978

  0

  25

  1979

  1

  29

  1980

  1

  33

  1981

  1

  24

  1982

  3

  24

  1983

  2

  24

  1984

  0

  19

  1985

  1

  27

  11986

  2

  24

  1These figures are provisional.

  "Rural Scotland"
  Dr. Owen
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much it cost his Department to produce the document "Rural Scotland"; how many copies have been printed and what were their production costs; and how many he expects to be issued to the public.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 April 1987, c. 52]The time spent by officials of my Department in the preparation of "Rural Scotland" cannot be identified separately from their other duties. No estimate of the overall cost to my Department of producing the document can therefore be provided.
  186
  A total of 20,000 copies were printed at a cost of £12,350. Subject to demand, apart from those copies required for parliamentary, press and official use, I expect all the copies to be issued to the public.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Mentally Handicapped Persons
  Mrs. Shields
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to ensure that before any hospital for the mentally handicapped is closed down full provision for care in the community is made for discharged patients.

  Mrs. Currie
  Mentally handicapped people should not be discharged from hospital until their needs have been assessed and arrangements have been made for those needs to be met appropriately. The closure of hospitals should be a consequence of residents being suitably accommodated in the community and not vice versa.

  Cumberlege Committee
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to make a statement outlining Her Majesty's Government's reactions to the conclusions of the Cumberlege committee report.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government are currently considering the views that emerged during the consultation on the primary care and community nursing reviews, including the report of the Select Committee on Social Services, and expect to be responding to the Select Committee shortly.

  Personal Pensions
  17. Mr. Gerald Bowden asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further proposals he has to encourage the take-up of personal pensions.
  Mr. Major
  The introduction of freestanding additional voluntary contributions in October and the earlier start for personal pensions in January 1988, both announced by the Government last month, have attracted great interest. We will be taking steps later this year to explain the new pensions choices and opportunities that will be available as a result of last year's Social Security Act. It will be for the personal pensions providers themselves to sell their products.

  AIDS
  Mr. Roger King
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had with Church leaders on the campaign to combat AIDS.

  Mr. Newton
  We have had several very helpful meetings and a range of other contacts with religious leaders to discuss the problem of AIDS and measures to prevent its spread. They have been both understanding and constructive and we look forward to continuing and building upon this relationship.

  Mr. Stern
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received in response to the television series on AIDS.

  Mr. Newton
  We are aware of only one letter received by the Department related directly to the recent
  187
  programmes produced by the television broadcasting authorities. However, we understand that research undertaken by the authorities themselves has shown a generally very favourable response.

  Mr. Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on measures proposed and being taken to prevent the spread of AIDS.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Berkshire, East (Mr. MacKay) earlier today.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people died from AIDS during 1986 and in 1987 to date.

  Mr. Newton
  The number of deaths due to AIDS which were reported to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre in 1986 is 153. By 28 February 1987 another 84 AIDS cases were reported as having died.

  Dr. Michael Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what National Health Service funds are being diverted away from existing services in order to provide care and nursing facilities for AIDS patients; what effect this will have on hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Allocations to health authorities in England in 1987–88 provide for an increase of £631 million, 1·5 per cent. above forecast general inflation. This includes £25 million under the waiting list initiative, which is expected to produce about 100,000 additional operations. They will also retain the benefit of cash released through their cost improvement programmes, which are planned to achieve £150 million in the current year. The estimated cost of hospital care of patients with AIDS in England in 1987–88 is £12 million to £24 million, of which £4·4 million has been provided centrally to the three regions which together treat some 75 per cent. of cases.

  Homeopathy
  Mr. Alton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision exists at present for, and what plans there are to extend, the homeopathy service on Merseyside.

  Mrs. Currie
  I am sorry that I cannot give the hon. Member the information he seeks. It is not available centrally. The provision of homeopathy services on Merseyside is the responsibility of Mersey regional health authority. The hon. Member may therefore wish to contact the regional chairman.

  Nurses
  19. Mr. Geraint Howells asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about nurses leaving National Health Service employment in order to begin private sector nursing employment.
  Mr. Newton
  We have not received any on this specific issue, and nurses are free to work where they choose. However, in the light of the United Kingdom Central Council's project 2000 proposals, we will be discussing with representatives of the private health care sector the ways in which its contribution to nurse training can be expanded.
  188
  Sir Russell Johnston
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the most recent figure, or estimate, he has for the number of agency nurses working in National Health Service hospitals.

  Mr. Newton
  The number of agency nursing and midwifery staff employed in England at September 1985 was 4,120 in wholetime equivalent terms; about 1·0 per cent. of the total nursing and midwifery staff at that date.

  Mr. Silvester
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses are currently employed in the north-west region; and how many were employed in 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  The provisional figure from the latest census of nurses and midwives, including agency nurses, is 37,800 whole time equivalents. The corresponding figure for 1979 was 32,200. That is an increase of 5,600 or 17·7 per cent. It compares with an increase of 12·2 per cent. over the same period for all health authorities in England.[These figures are taken from the DHSS Annual census of NHS non-medical manpower.]

  Mr. Pavitt
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to stem the flow of qualified nurses now leaving the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  Information about nurses leaving the National Health Service is not collected centrally but the latest available information shows that the number of qualified nursing and midwifery staff in the National Health Service in England continues to increase: by a further 2·8 per cent. between September 1984 and September 1985. We do however recognise that the situation will vary between location and specialty, and a number of initiatives aimed at improving recruitment and retention have been taken.

  The position in London is currently the subject of a review commissioned by the National Health Service Management Board. The Department is also currently undertaking a special enquiry into nurse recruitment and retention problems across the country with the aim of identifying management action which may be required to overcome recruitment difficulties. The management and staff sides of the Nursing and Midwifery Staff negotiating council are reviewing nursing clinical grading structure and are aiming to develop a structure which is appropriate to current and future needs. A joint DHSS/NHS group is examining equal opportunities, with specific reference to management of the career break. Additionally health authorities have been asked to consider increasing male recruitment, making greater efforts to recruit mature entrants, organise "Back to Nursing" campaigns, establish nurse banks and give more opportunities for flexible working arrangements, part-time working and job sharing.

  Finally, in addition to consultation on the "Project 2000" proposals on future nurse education and training published by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, the Department has set up a major feasibility study into the extended use of the youth training scheme in the National Health Service. A feature of this study, which is purely exploratory, is to look at the way such training might facilitate entry to professional nurse training and thus help to alleviate recruitment difficulties.

  Mr. Stevens
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much nurses' pay has increased in real terms since the pay review body was set up.
  189
  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friend to point (c) of my reply to him today.

  Mr. Weetch
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current position with regard to nurses leaving the profession; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that information about nurses leaving the profession is not collected centrally. However, we are aware of some work undertaken by the Institute of Manpower Studies which suggests that about 10 per cent. of qualified nurses and midwives leave the National Health Service each year. On that basis — that is including retirements, and including those not lost to the profession but going to undertake further post-basic training or other nursing employment—some 23,000 in wholetime equivalent terms left the National Health Service in England in the last year. At the same time, however, some 7,000 returned to nursing after a break, in addition to those newly qualified nurses who joined the National Health Service.

  Mr. Redmond
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses have been employed within the National Health Service in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Amess) on 20 March at column 661.

  Pensioners (Heating Allowance)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the number of pensioners who are in receipt of a heating allowance.

  Mr. Major
  It is estimated that nearly 1·5 million pensioners were in receipt of a heating addition in 1984, the latest year for which information is available.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Wainwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of supplementary benefit claimants in Colne Valley constituency for the current year and for 1979.

  Mr. Lyell
  In February this year approximately 17,000 claimants were receiving supplementary benefit from the Huddersfield local office which serves the constituency of Colne Valley. The equivalent figure for February 1979 was 10,000.

  Leicestershire District Health Authority
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Leicestershire district health authority regarding financial provision under the National Health Service; and what reply he has sent.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have not received any such representations from Leicestershire health authority. We would expect any such representations to be made to the Trent regional health authority.

  Heart Disease
  Mr. Spencer
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the heart disease prevention campaign, "Look After Your Heart".
  190
  Mrs. Currie
  We are planning, in association with the Health Education Authority, to launch the campaign on 22 April. The aim during the initial phase will be to increase public awareness about the main risk factors associated with coronary heart disease. The campaign will involve the support and co-operation of many sectors of society, including the National Health Service, industry and commerce, community and voluntary organisations, and the educational service. A particular feature will be community-based "healthy cities" programme which has already brought together health and local authorities in initiatives to promote heart disease prevention programmes, and will be developed further during the course of the campaign.

  The national launch will be supported by a series of booklets on aspects of coronary heart disease. Six million copies have been printed for distribution direct to the public. A publication will give detailed statistics about the deaths and illness attributable to coronary heart disease and illustrate its financial consequences. Substantial coverage through the mass media, both nationally and locally, has been arranged for the early months of the campaign. An advertising campaign on television is planned for the autumn. The national campaign is intended to serve as a focus for the very many local initiatives already planned to draw the public's attention to the dangers of coronary heart disease and ways to avoid the main risks.

  In the longer term the campaign's objective is to achieve a significant reduction in the very high rates of death from coronary heart disease.

  Drugs (Expenditure)
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what percentage in real terms National Health Service expenditure on drugs has increased over the last five years.

  Mr. Newton
  The increase in real terms of expenditure on National Health Service drugs in England between 1980–81 and 1985–86 was 21 per cent.

  Pensions
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he next expects to raise the level of pensions for women over the age of 60 years and men over the age of 65 years.

  Mr. Major
  The level of state retirement pensions was last increased from 6 April of this year. The next increase will take effect in April 1988.

  Mr. Speller
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for the year 1979 and for the most recent year for which figures are available the number of those receiving a pension by reason of age together with the single and married rates of pension payable.

  Mr. Lyell
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 3 November 1986 at columns 355–57. The numbers of people in receipt of retirement and supplementary pensions on the dates for which information is available and which are the most relevant for the years specified are as follows:
  191

  Numbers

  Retirement Pension1

  November 1978:

  8,775,480

  September 1986:

  29,853,540

  Supplementary Pension only

  December 1978:

  107,000

  February 1986:

  294,500

  The weekly rates of benefit applicable from 6 April 1987 are as follows:

  £ per week

  Basic retirement pension (full-rate)

  Single

  39·50

  Married couple

  63·25

  Non-contributory pension3

  Single

  23·75

  Married couple

  37·95

  Supplementary pension scale rates4

  Single

  38·65

  Married couple

  61·85

  1 Includes non-contributory pensions for people over 80, pensions paid to people overseas and those who receive graduated pension only.

  2 Latest dates for which information is available.

  3 Paid to those people over 80 who are not in receipt of a contributory pension or whose pension is payable at a rate lower than that of the non-contributory pension.

  4 Excludes any weekly additional requirements which might be payable.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will reconsider the decision to change the rule relating to the assessment of pensions from inflation to wages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  We have no plans to alter the existing statutory requirement which ensures that pensions are up-rated by an amount at least equivalent to the relevant percentage rise in price inflation.

  Mr. Sayeed
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will compare the current state pension with contributions made to it by (a) all pensioners, (b) pensioners up to 70 years of age, (c) pensioners between 70 and 75 years of age, (d) pensioners between 75 and 80 years of age, (e) pensioners between 80 and 85 years of age, and (f) over 85 years of age during their working lives after allowing for (i) inflation and (ii) average rates of return on investments.

  Mr. Major
  National insurance contributions finance all contributory benefits; there is no separate pension contribution. The cost of pensions and other benefits is financed on a pay-as-you-go basis, and there is no actuarial relationship between the level of contributions paid during an individual's working life and the pension he or she receives. In particular, many employments were not insurable for pension purposes prior to the introduction of the national insurance scheme in 1948. The method of calculating entitlement to basic pension means that pensioners who were not in insurable employments prior to 1948 can receive full basic pension for fewer years of contribution than those who were insurable before that date. For all these reasons, I regret that it is not possible to give all the information requested.

  From the week beginning 6 April 1987, the basic single person's retirement pension will be £39·50 and the married
  192
  couple's pension £63·25. An addition of 25 pence a week is paid to pensioners aged 80 or more. Those who do not have title to a contributory retirement pension may be entitled to a non-contributory pension of £23·75 for a single person and £37·95 for a married couple.

  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in light of the coming into force of the Sex Discrimination Act 1986 in November 1987, he will review the five-year age difference in eligibility for the basic state retirement pension; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  The Sex Discrimination Act 1986 has no bearing on the question of pension age. The Government will however continue to examine ways of achieving greater equality in this area.

  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average basic, graduated and earnings-related retirement pension awarded to women aged 60 years and men aged 65 years respectively in each year since 1978, including the guaranteed minimum pension for contracted out employees.

  Mr. Major
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c. 412]The tables show pensions in payment to women aged 60 and men aged 65 at a given date in each year. The figures thus represent awards made within the previous 12 months to those in receipt of each pension component. The average rate of notional additional component incorporates both additional pension and guaranteed minimum pension, and includes inherited entitlements.

  Table 1: Women aged 60

  £ per week

  Date

  Average basic pension

  Average rate of graduated pension

  Average rate of notional additional component

  November 19781

  15·49

  0·37

  —

  November 1979

  17·70

  0·41

  0·51

  November 1980

  19·68

  0·49

  0·92

  November 1981

  20·85

  0·55

  1·56

  September 19822

  20·22

  0·56

  2·04

  September 1983

  21·63

  0·63

  2·90

  March 19843

  21·79

  0·64

  3·24

  September 1985

  24·60

  0·70

  4·38

  September 1986

  26·46

  0·76

  5·38

  Table 2: Men aged 65

  Date

  Average basic pension

  Average rate of graduated pension

  Average rate of notional additional component

  November 19781

  19·14

  1·04

  —

  November 1979

  23·12

  1·25

  0·72

  November 1980

  26·92

  1·49

  1·33

  November 1981

  29·39

  1·66

  2·19

  September 19822

  29·32

  1·68

  2·90

  September 1983

  32·49

  1·87

  4·16

  March 19843

  33·64

  1·95

  4·75

  September 1985

  35·47

  2·11

  6·69

  September 1986

  38·30

  2·30

  8·65

  1 Figures for women aged 60 and men aged 65 not available for 1978. These figures represent average amounts in payment to women aged 60–64 and men aged 65–69.

  2 The reduction in the average rate of basic pension payable in 1982 is attributable to a change in the composition of the retiring population. Men aged 65 at the date of the count were, on average, entitled to a slightly lower proportion of the full standard rate of basic

  193
  pension than those retiring in earlier years. Among women aged 60, a higher proportion were entitled to pension on their own contributions, but their percentage rate of entitlement was smaller. The average rate in payment was thus reduced. From 1982, the annual count ceased to be made at the end of November. The November 1981 and September 1982 figures are thus based on the same rates of benefit, since no uprating intervened.

  3 September 1984 figures not available.

  Source: Retirement Pensions Biannual Enquiry.

  Maternity Allowance
  Mr. Evans
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he has made for publicising changes in the maternity allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lyell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South-West (Mr. Madel) on 10 March, at column 160.

  Severe Disability Premium
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the proposed level of severe disability premium.

  Mr. Major
  The proposal is to set it at the same level as invalid care allowance. That rate is currently £23·25; the actual rate payable from April 1988 would be determined nearer the time.

  Home Visitors
  Mr. Dykes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider issuing new guidelines for local authorities and other public and private agencies promoting home-visitor programmes for single parent families with infant age children and related similar groups.

  Mrs. Currie
  We intend to issue fresh guidance on the provision of day care services for pre-school children, which would include the subject of appropriate support for families in the home. The timetable for its issue is linked to the parliamentary timetable for introducing legislation on all the proposals in the White Paper "The Law on Child Care and Family Services".

  Trade Unions (Meetings)
  Mr. Canavan
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what subjects he discussed at his last meeting with trade union representatives of employees in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies to him on 23 February at column 106 and 5 March at column 673.

  Free Prescriptions
  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to review the free availability of prescriptions or dental treatment to students or other people under the age of 19 years who are on low incomes.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have no plans at present to change the arrangements under which young people get free prescriptions or dental treatment because of their age or 194
  educational status. We are considering the recommendations of an efficiency scrutiny which examined the arrangements for determining entitlement on the grounds of low income to exemption from or help with charges for prescriptions and dental treatment.

  Health Education Authority
  Mr. Livsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what conditions will govern the making of statements about government health policy by members of the newly constituted Health Education Authority.

  Mr. Newton
  None, as far as the Government are concerned.

  Hospital Beds (Utilisation)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which regional health authority has the best utilisation of beds and which has the worst; and by how much those authorities have improved their performance since 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  Inter-regional comparisons should be treated with some caution given the differing age structure and range of provision. however, information in terms of the number of in-patient cases treated for each available bed in 1985, the latest year for which figures are available centrally, is given in the table.

  In-patient cases treated per available bed, NHS hospitals

  1985

  1979

  Percentage change 1979–1985

  Acute specialties

  Highest throughput in 1985, Oxford RHA

  38·6

  31·6

  +22

  Lowest throughput in 1985, Yorkshire RHA

  34·4

  27·6

  +25

  All specialties

  Highest throughput in 1985, Oxford RHA

  23·7

  18·4

  +29

  Lowest throughput in 1985, SW Thames RHA1

  15·5

  11·9

  +30

  1 Figures are not strictly comparable because of the effects of NHS restructuring in 1982.

  Social Fund
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish guidelines for the operation of the social fund.

  Mr. Major
  Draft directions and guidance were sent to interested organisations on 25 March, and I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 25 March at column 211. The final version of the directions and guidance will be published nearer the introduction of the second phase of the social fund in April 1988.

  Mr. Fisher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to indicate the criteria on which budgets for local offices will be set for the social fund.

  Mr. Major
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Sheffield.. Heeley (Mr. Michie), for Barking (Ms. Richardson) and for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) earlier today.

  Unemployed Persons (Mortgage Interest Payments)
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much he expects to save by the changes in the regulations on payment of mortgage interest for the unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  The estimated saving from the recent changes to the regulations on the amount included in supplementary benefit for mortgage interest for new claimants under 60 is £38 million in the year 1987–88, based on the latest available information.

  Pensioners (Incomes)
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate his Department has made of the percentage increase in real terms of pensioners' incomes from savings since 1979.

  Mr. Major
  Pensioners' incomes from savings grew in real terms by 52·5 per cent. between 1979 and 1985, the latest date for which figures are available.

  Note: Figures are obtained from the Family Expenditure Survey and relate to pensioner tax units i.e. single pensioners and married couples where the husband is over 65.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to implement section 7 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement about the Government's intentions in relation to sections 5 and 6 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Major
  I discussed how best to proceed towards the further implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act with representatives of the local authority associations on 24 February. It was agreed that urgent discussions at official level should proceed to determine more realistic estimates of the costs of those parts of the Act which have resource implications, including sections 5, 6 and 7. I agreed to meet the associations to review progress in May.

  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is considering further proposals to help the disabled; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  The Government will continue to seek opportunities to build upon their record of improved provision for disabled people. The full results of the survey of disabled people being carried out by the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys are expected to be published in 1988 and will provide us with evidence relevant for a review of benefit provision for sick and disabled people.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further representations he has received on the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Major
  Since my reply to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) on 1 April at column 521 another 33 written representations have been received
  196
  from organisations or individuals relating to implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Kidney Dialysis Machines
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many self-care kidney dialysis machines are available to National Health Service patients.

  Mrs. Currie
  I understand that self-care kidney dialysis is practised only in the Wessex region. For further details my hon. Friend may wish to contact the Wessex regional health authority.

  NHS (Capital Investment)
  Mr. Watts
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total of capital investment in the National Health Service in Slough since 1979–80; and what was the comparable investment in the period 1974–75 to 1978–79.

  Mrs. Currie
  I understand from Oxford regional health authority and East Berkshire district health authority that the total health authority capital invested in hospitals, health clinics and health centres in the town of Slough since 1979–80 was £23,486,000. The capital invested in the period 1974–75 to 1978–79 was £1,919,000. Both figures are at 1985–86 price levels and exclusive of expenditure on major medical equipment, computer equipment and ambulances.

  Limited List Prescribing
  Mr. Hirst
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings have resulted to date from the operation of the limited list of medicines on prescription; and how these savings have been used.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mr. Galley) on 23 March at column 75.

  Pregnant Women (Questions)
  Mr. Madden
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to change the current advice issued to liable relative officers regarding questions asked of young pregnant women.

  Mr. Lyell
  There are no plans to change the current instructions. We have no evidence that these instructions are not being adhered to.

  Hip Operations
  Mr. Douglas
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest convenient figures for those awaiting hip operations.

  Mr. Newton
  I am sorry I cannot give the hon. Member the information he seeks. Information available centrally on in-patient waiting lists is categorised according to specialty of consultant but not according to the intended method of treatment.

  Warnock Report
  Mr. Patrick Nicholls
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received about the conclusions of the Warnock report.
  197
  Mr. Newton
  The health departments have so far received a small number of comments about the issues on which the consultation document "Legislation on Human Infertility Services and Embryo Research" invites views by the end of June. We also continue to receive a wide range of views about research involving human embryos.

  Income Support
  Mr. Kennedy
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the financial implications for claimants aged under 25 years of age of the proposed income support scheme.

  Mr. Major
  The precise effects will not be known until the rates of income support are set later this year. Some general illustrations are shown in table 11B of the technical annex to the White Paper "Reform of Social Security (Cmnd. 9691), a copy of which is in the Library.

  NHS (Capital Expenditure)
  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will report progress on the programme of capital expenditure works in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Fowler
  I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply shortly.

  Community Care
  Mr. Alton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those categories of public expenditure relevant to Sir Roy Griffiths' "Review of Community Care Policies".

  Mrs. Currie
  We expect the review to concentrate on the contribution to community care of public expenditure on health services, local authority social services and social security, but it is not precluded from considering any relevant public expenditure.

  Pensioners (Electricity Expenditure)
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information his Department has collected on the proportion of expenditure by pensioners on the state pension which goes on electricity.

  Mr. Major
  The latest available information shows that pensioners' expenditure on electricity in 1985 represented 4·3 per cent. of their total average weekly expenditure.

  Note: Figures are derived from the 1985 Family Expenditure Survey and are for all pensioner income units, i.e. single pensioners and couples where the man is over 65.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Hannam
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the numbers on the waiting lists for operations in the Exeter health district for each of the years 1975 to 1986.

  Mr. Newton
  I am sorry I cannot give my hon. Friend the information he seeks in precisely the form requested. Information available centrally on inpatient waiting lists is categorised according to the specialty of the consultant but not according to the intended method of treatment. The available information on the numbers awaiting admission to surgical specialties is given in the table.
  198
  Exeter district health authority will receive £40,000 in 1987–88 from the first year's allocation of the hospital waiting list fund, which was announced by my right hon. Friend on 17 February. This will provide for increased day surgery to treat an extra 700 patients all of whom are at present on the waiting list.

  Numbers of cases on inpatient waiting list for acute surgery in National Health Service hospitals in Exeter district health authority

  Position at

  Total cases on list

  31 December 1974 1

  3,859

  31 March 1976

  3,606

  31 March 1977

  3,165

  31 March 1978

  3,381

  31 March 1979

  3,810

  31 March 1980

  3,331

  31 March 1981

  3,329

  31 March 1982

  3,410

  31 March 1983

  4,474

  31 March 1984

  4,184

  31 March 1985

  4,084

  31 March 1986

  4,614

  1 Figure for March 1975 not available therefore number at 31 December 1974 given.

  Mr. Alton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people on Merseyside are waiting for (a) hip operations, (b) knee joint operations, (c) kidney treatment and (d) eye operations.

  Mr. Newton
  I am sorry I cannot give the hon. Member the information he seeks. Information available centrally on in-patient waiting lists is categorised according to the specialty of the consultant but not according to the intended method of treatment. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the Mersey regional health authority for the information required.

  Nutrition Education
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to procure advice from outside experts in the field of nutrition education, in the light of the winding-up of the Joint Advisory Committee on Nutrition Education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  My right hon. Friend looks for advice in the field of nutrition from the chief medical officer's committee on the medical aspects of food policy. The joint advisory committee on nutrition education is a body established jointly by the Health Education Council and the British Nutrition Foundation. It is for the new Health Education Authority to determine the source of any professional advice it may require.

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
  Mr. O'Brien
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the expenditure of the Yorkshire regional health authority for the past five years on (a) revenue and (b) capital.

  Mr. Newton
  Following are the total expenditure figures recorded in the annual financial accounts of the Yorkshire regional health authority and those of district health authorities (area health authorities for 1981–82) within that region:
  199

  Hospital and community health services

  Revenue £ million

  Capital £ million

  1981–82

  547·8

  50·9

  1982–83

  583·4

  52·6

  1983–84

  619·6

  51·4

  1984–85

  657·6

  51·6

  1985–86

  699·5

  72·8

  Expenditure on family practitioner services is excluded although the figures for the years 1981–82 to 1984–85 include a small element representing family practitioner committees' administration expenses.

  Food (Radiation Contamination)
  Mr. Butterfill
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures are currently being taken under European Community Council Regulations to check the levels of radiation contamination of food imported into the United Kingdom; and with what results.

  Mr. Newton
  European Council Regulation EEC No. 1707/86 of 30 May 1986 set out maximum permitted levels of radiocaesium for imports of food into the Community on an emergency basis following the Chernobyl nuclear accident. The arrangements have been extended to 31 October 1987 by Council Regulation EEC No. 624/87 pending further scientific evaluation.

  The regulation requires certification or testing of food imports from third countries. In the 10 months to March

  Table 1

  Current expenditure by health authorities analysed by function

  1985–86

  1984–85

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  per cent.

  A. Patient care services

  i

  Medical Staff Services

  901·9

  9·39

  820·0

  8·98

  ii

  Nursing Staff Services

  3,284·8

  34·18

  3,092·2

  33·85

  iii

  Other Direct treatment Services and Supplies

  864·8

  9·00

  810·2

  8·87

  iv

  Diagnostic Departments

  531·2

  5·53

  483·6

  5·30

  V

  Other Medical and Para Medical Services, Ambulance Services etc

  765·1

  7·96

  722·4

  7·90

  Total

  6,347·8

  66·06

  5,928·4

  64·90

  B. General Services

  i

  Unit Administration and Clerical Support Services

  575·0

  5·98

  542·7

  5·94

  ii

  Medical Records

  105·9

  1·10

  99·8

  1·09

  iii

  Training and Education

  53·3

  0·55

  50·5

  0·55

  iv

  Catering

  355·1

  3·70

  354·1

  3·88

  V

  Domestic/Cleaning

  404·0

  4·20

  417·6

  4·57

  vi

  Portering

  149·3

  1·55

  146·4

  1·60

  vii

  Laundry

  63·9

  0·66

  64·1

  0·70

  Viii

  Linen Services

  121·2

  1·26

  114·8

  1·26

  ix

  Transport

  46·9

  0·49

  44·7

  0·49

  X

  Engineering maintenance

  270·6

  2·82

  262·7

  2·88

  xi

  Energy and Utility Services

  319·9

  3·33

  329·4

  3·61

  xii

  Building Maintenance

  165·0

  1·72

  167·0

  1·83

  xiii

  Grounds and Gardens

  21·8

  0·23

  22·3

  0·24

  xiv

  General Estate Expenses

  173·0

  1·80

  164·4

  1·80

  XV

  Miscellaneous Services and Expenses

  (0·4)

  —

  3·7

  0·04

  Total

  2,824·5

  29·39

  2,784·2

  30·48

  C. Other

  i

  Headquarters Administration

  374·4

  3·90

  361·4

  3·96

  ii

  Other Services and Expenses

  62·7

  0·65

  60·8

  0·66

  200
  a large number of samples have been tested. All but 18 were below the levels set out in the regulation. The 18 consignments concerned have been refused entry into the United Kingdom.

  I am placing a copy of the results of the monitoring in the Library.

  NHS (Expenditure)
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the annual National Health Service expenditure, in money and percentage terms, was spent on (a) pay and related costs, (b) drugs, medicines and bandages, (c) medical equipment, (d) hospital building and maintenance, (e) administration and (f) general services, catering, laundry. and so on for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  The tables show the analysis of health authorities' current expenditure by function (table 1) and subjectively (that is, by type) (table 2) for 1984–85 and 1985–86. Total capital expenditure by the health authorities whose current expenditure is included in the tables was £795·4 million (1984–85) and £891·9 million (1985–86).

  For the years 1979–80 to 1983–84 I refer my hon. Friend to the replies given him by my right hon. and learned Friend, the then Minister for Health, (Mr. Clarke) on 18 January 1984 at cols. 251–54 and 21 December 1984 at cols. 413–14.
  201

  1985–86

  1984–85

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  per cent.

  Total

  437·1

  4·55

  422·2

  4·62

  D.Total

  9,609·4

  100·00

  9,134·8

  100·00

  Note: The figures are derived from the annual accounts submitted to the Department by health authorities for 1984–85 and 1985–86. They include all current expenditure except that on the family practitioner services, the expenses of the Dental Estimates Board and Prescription Pricing Authority and the costs of other special health authorities providing NHS central services.

  Table 2

  Current expenditure by health authorities analysed subjectively (i.e. by type)

  1985–86

  1984–85

  £ million

  Per cent.

  £ million

  Per cent..

  A.Pay

  NHS staff salaries and wages

  7,007·8

  72·93

  6,697·9

  73·32

  Non-NHS staff (agency etc.)

  105·4

  1·10

  78·5

  0·86

  Chairmens remuneration

  2·2

  0·02

  2·0

  0·02

  Total

  7,115·4

  74·05

  6,778·4

  74·20

  B.Non-pay

  Drugs

  296·6

  3·09

  278·8

  3·05

  Medical gases

  10·8

  0·11

  10·9

  0·12

  Dressings

  51·8

  0·54

  50·0

  0·55

  Medical and surgical equipment—purchases and maintenance contracts

  333·5

  3·47

  306·0

  3·35

  X-Ray equipment, film and materials—purchases and maintenance contracts

  53·8

  0·56

  51·6

  0·57

  Patients' appliances

  73·3

  0·76

  63·0

  0·69

  Laboratory equipment, instruments and materials— purchases, maintenance contracts and services

  87·1

  0·91

  80·5

  0·88

  Provisions—purchases and contract catering

  182·9

  1·90

  178·0

  1·95

  Staff uniforms and patients clothing

  48·3

  0·50

  44·5

  0·49

  Fuel, light and power

  294·5

  3·06

  139·1

  1·52

  Laundry—equipment, materials and contracts

  13·1

  0·14

  12·7

  0·14

  Cleaning—equipment, materials and contracts

  52·1

  0·54

  39·4

  0·43

  Engineering maintenance—equipment, materials and contracts

  112·0

  1·17

  110·3

  1·21

  Building maintenance—equipment, materials and contracts

  87·4

  0·91

  91·8

  1·00

  Grounds and gardens maintenance—equipment, materials and contracts

  6·0

  0·06

  5·8

  0·06

  Computers— purchases, maintenance and licensing fees

  29·2

  0·30

  21·9

  0·24

  Office equipment

  28·8

  0·30

  31·1

  0·34

  Printing, stationery and postage

  73·6

  0·77

  70·6

  0·77

  Telephones—rental etc. and call charges

  75·6

  0·79

  70·2

  0·77

  Transport—fuel and oil, maintenance—equipment, materials and contracts
  etc.

  57·9

  0·60

  53·7

  0·59

  Travelling, subsistence and removal expenses

  163·1

  1·70

  152·8

  1·67

  Rates

  147·5

  1·54

  137·0

  1·50

  Contractual arrangements for patient care

  44·3

  0·46

  39·5

  0·43

  Other expenses

  359·8

  3·74

  495·7

  5·43

  Total

  2,683·0

  27·92

  2,534·9

  27·75

  C.Total pay and non-pay

  9,798·4

  101·97

  9,313·3

  101·95

  Less direct credits (staff lodging charges, canteen and other sales etc.)

  189·0

  1·97

  178·5

  1·95

  D.Total

  9,609·4

  100·00

  9,134·8

  100·00

  Note:—The figures are derived from the annual accounts submitted to the Department by health authorities for 1984–85 and 1985–86. They include all current expenditure except that on the family practitioner services, the expenses of the Dental Estimates Board and Prescription Pricing Authority and the costs of other special health authorities providing NHS central services.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to restore the number of beds available in National Health Service hospitals to 1979 levels.

  Mrs. Currie
  No. Our main concern is people, and services arid treatments provided for them, not beds. Improvements in the cost effective use of resources have
  202
  enabled treatments to increase since 1979, despite bed reductions. We now (1985 figures) care for well over 6 million in-patient cases—almost 1 million more than in 1979; nearly 374½ million, that is 3⅓ million more, outpatient attendances and nearly 1 million, that is over ⅓million more, day cases.

  COMA
  Sir Anthony Grant
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give in the Official Report the names of the members of the working group of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy on dietary matters, together with their qualifications and interests in nutrition and dietary matters.

  Mrs. Currie
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the COMA working group on very low calorie diets. Details are as follows:

  CHAIRMAN :

  Professor H. Keen, Professor of Human Metabolism, Unit for Metabolic Medicine, United Medical and Dental Schools of Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital, London. MBBS 1948; FRCP London 1970; MD London 1971. Medical and Scientific Secretary of Medical Research Society and British Diabetic Association. Author, 'Blood Vessel Disease in Diabetes Mellitus' 1971; 'Complications of Diabetes' 1982; Papers on Epidemiology of Diabetes, Diabetic Angiopathy, Insulin Infusion Techniques, Associated Metabolic Disorders etc.

  MEMBERS :

  Ms. C. Bowyer, Senior Dietician, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, St. Georges Hospital, London. State Registered Dietician. Secretary and Treasurer, Association for the Study of Obesity. Member of Dietetic Committee of Anorexic Aid. Chapters and papers on obesity, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa.

  Dr. D. Craddock, General Practitioner, Croydon, Surrey. MB Chem B 1944; D Obst RCOG 1950; MD Liverpool 1967; FRCGP 1977; Hawthorne Prize, BMA 1968. Author, 'Obesity and its Management' : 'A Short Text Book on General Practice'; Chapters and papers on other medical subject.

  Dr. J. S. Garrow, Director, Nutrition Research Group, Medical Research Council, Clinical Research Centre, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow. Professor-elect Chair of Nutrition at St. Bartholomews Hospital Medical College. MB ChB 1952, MD 1957, PhD St. Andrews 1961; FRCP Ed 1976; Mem Assn Phys & Med Research Society; Chairman, Association for the Study of Obesity. Author, 'Energy Balance and Obesity in Man' 1978; 'Zero Muddler for Unprejudiced Sphygmomanometry' Lancet 1963; 'Treat Obesity Seriously' 1981.

  Professor M. G. Marmot, Professor of Community Medicine, University College London and Middlesex Hospital Medical School. B Sc(Med) Sydney 1967, MBBS 1969, MPH University of California 1972, Ph D University of California 1975, MFCM 1984. Author, papers on Heart Disease Epidemiology and Social Factors in Disease and Ethnic Differences in Health.

  Dr. J. F. Munro, Consultant Physican, Eastern General Hospital and Edenhall Hospital, Musselburgh, Midlothian. MB Ch B (hons) Ed 1960; FRCP Ed 1971. Author, papers on Management of Obesity, Diabetes and Bacterial Infection and Use of Antiobesity agents in Treatment of Obesity.

  Professor T. Silverstone, Professor of Clinical Psychopharmacology, University of London at St. Bartholomews Hospital Medical College. MA, BM Bch 1958; DM Oxf. 1968, FRCP Lond. 1976; FRC Psych 1973. Author, Drug Treatment in Psychiatry, Editor, Drugs and Appetite 1987, papers on clinical Psychopharmacology and Human Feeding Behaviour.

  NHS (Staff Accommodation)
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what authority the sale of nurses' accommodation has been carried out in the last two years; what is the current status of the relevant circular which
  204
  was issued and then withdrawn in 1986; if he will publish the findings of the review then initiated; and what general objectives and precise targets he now has for the sale of nurses' accommodation in the next year.

  Mr. Newton
  Although the National Health Service Acts do not include a specific power to dispose of surplus land and property, Treasury counsel has advised that there is an inherent power. Circular HC(86)8 issued in 1986 advises authorities on the implementation of a previous circular, making it clear that they should not implement any part of their plans for rationalising property holdings where this involved giving staff notice to quit. Neither circular has been withdrawn. We expect shortly to consult on the outcome of the review of the conditions on which staff occupy residential accommodation initiated last year. Our general objectives for the next year are that authorities should continue to dispose of any properties they judge to be surplus to local requirements, wherever practicable by selling them to the current occupants at the generous discounts available; ensure that the remaining stock is fully utilised; and bring up to a reasonable standard any of the remaining properties which are in a poor state of repair and decoration. We have not set any precise targets within these general objectives.

  Handicapped People (Respite Care)
  Mr. Evennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to alter the provision of short-term respite care for the handicapped in England and Wales.

  Mr. Major
  We recognise the potential value to families with a handicapped member and to the handicapped person of respite or short-term care. This can be provided in the family's own home, by substitute families or in residential accommodation (often in small units in the community) run by health or local authorities or by private or voluntary organisations. It is for individual health authorities and local authorities to determine in the light of local needs and priorities the appropriate level and pattern of services within available resources. The National Institute for Social Work's working party, under the chairmanship of Lady Wagner, is currently reviewing the role of residential care (including respite care) and the range of services given in statutory and independent residential establishments and considering what changes are required to enable the residential care sector to respond more effectively to changing social needs. The working party's report is expected in early 1988.

  Freefone Service
  Mr. Wallace
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of calls received by his Department's Freefone service during the past year.

  Mr. Lyell
  The Department's Freefone service dealt with 680,259 calls during the 12-month period 11 February 1986–9 February 1987.

  Benefits
  Sir Russell Johnston
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost in benefits of an individual male and an individual female unemployed person in each of the past five years.
  205
  Mr. Major
  Based on an analysis of unemployment benefit recipients the estimated average benefit cost of male and female unemployed beneficiaries is given in the table :

  Year

  Male £

  Female £

  1982–83

  2,122

  1,769

  1983–84

  2,270

  1,910

  1984–85

  2,422

  2,070

  1985–86

  2,645

  2,290

  1986–87

  2,744

  2,399

  Note The estimates cover unemployment benefit, supplementary benefit and housing benefit. They do not include other benefits that may be in payment, for example child benefit.

  Mr. Alton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of supplementary benefit claimants and the total sum paid in the six Liverpool constituencies in 1979 and in the current year.

  Mr. Lyell
  The six Liverpool constituencies are covered, for supplementary benefit purposes, by 11 of the Department's offices; but their boundaries are not conterminous. The numbers of people receiving supplementary benefit from those offices on 10 February 1987, the latest date for which information is available, were 138,287 and 20 February 1979 were 90,515.

  I regret that information about the total sum paid is not available.

  Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.

  Documents (Reproduction)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what basis photocopying of HN(87)13 is restricted to health authorities only.

  Mrs. Currie
  HN(87)13 may, in common with all health notices and circulars, be photocopied or reproduced in any other form by any of the bodies to whom it is addressed. In this instance an earlier form of copyright waiver was used in error.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what authority health authorities and community health councils may reproduce copies of HC(87)7: Resource Assumptions and Planning Guidelines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Reproduction of health circulars is covered by Crown copyright, as are all Government publications. As one of the aims of publishing circulars is to reach as wide an audience as possible the legal right is not enforced. To emphasise this, circulars will in future state that they may be freely reproduced by all those to whom they are addressed.

  Runaways (Definition)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will redefine the term runaway, for his Department's purposes, as a young person, aged under 17 years or in local authority care, who has either left home or residential care of his or her own accord but without agreement, or who is forced to leave, and is missing for one or more nights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department does not have a formal definition of the term runaway.

  Research and Development
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's planned expenditure on research and development for 1987–88; and what are the main areas of research selected by his Department under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Mr. Newton
  I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

  Speech Therapy (Exhibition)
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to speech therapy to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  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 June 1987 to 5 June 1987.

  Insulin
  Mr. Carter-Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements and facilities are made available to diabetic patients to enable them to store their insulin in an efficient manner; if he will make a statement on the problems faced by low income patients in maintaining the insulin in good order; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  No special arrangements are necessary for storage. The shelf life of insulin at room temperature is one month. It may be stored for longer periods if kept refrigerated. Patients who keep insulin at room temperature may need to make arrangements with their doctor or pharmacist for smaller and more frequent supplies. Diabetics are exempt from prescription charges.

  Maternity Payments
  Mr. Barron
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the Rother Valley constituency claimed maternity grant in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Major
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  The Rother Valley constituency is covered by the Department's local offices at Rotherham north and Rotherham south, although their boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The numbers of claims for maternity grant received at the two Rotherham local offices during the 1986 calendar year were as follows:

  Number

  Rotherham North

  769

  Rotherham South

  2,577

  Mr. Barron
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in the Colne Valley constituency claimed maternity grant in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Major
  Information is not available in the form requested.
  207
  The Colne Valley constituency is covered by the Department's local office at Huddersfield, although its boundaries are not conterminous with the constituency. The number of claims for maternity grant received at the Huddersfield local office during the 1986 calendar year was 2,651.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list his official visits throughout the United Kingdom during the month of March.

  Mr. Fowler
  During March, I undertook the following outside engagements:

  Friday 13 March — Visit to Bromsgrove hospital, Bromsgrove

  Wednesday 18 March — Regional health authority Chairmen's meeting, Oxford.

  Speech to Office of Health Economics 25th anniversary dinner, London

  Thursday 19 March—Address to Financial Times pensions conference, London

  Monday 23 March—Opening of conference "Future Trends in AIDS", London

  Wednesday 25 March—Opening of conference "Caring for AIDS Sufferers in the Community", London

  Friday 27 March — Opening of new emergency ward, Grantham hospital, Grantham

  Blood Products
  Mr. Frank Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the date when his Department gave instructions that all Factor VIII blood products should be heat treated.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 23 March 1987, c. 82]Manufacturers of Factor VIII initially developed heat treatment techniques to prevent the transmission of hepatitis. These techniques were found to inactivate HIV during 1984 and heat-treated Factor VIII was available for clinicians in the United Kingdom to prescribe on a named patient basis from the end of 1984.

  All imported Factor VIII released for use in the United Kingdom since January 1985 has been heat-treated. From April 1985 heat-treated Factor VIII has also been produced by the blood products laboratory at Elstree.

  Mr. Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is yet in a position to answer the question from the hon. Member for Birkenhead, 23 March, Official Report, column 82, concerning heat treatment of blood products, to which a holding answer was given.

  Mr. Newton
  I replied to the hon. Member today.

  NHS directly employed staff: 30 September 1982

  Numbers and Whole-time Equivalents1

  Region

  Medical2 and Dental

  Nursing3 and Midwifery

  Administrative and Clerical

  Ancillary

  Others4

  Total

  1.Northern RHA

  Number

  3,500

  30,000

  6,800

  14,400

  8,000

  62,600

  Whole time equivalents

  2,700

  26,400

  6,100

  11,400

  7,500

  54,000

  NHS (Pay Bill)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total wage and salary bill of the National Health Service for 1985–86, broken down by (a) medical and dental, (b) nurses and midwives, (c) administration and clerical, (d) ancillary and (e) other staff; what was the average pay level for each category; and what the percentage change in the average pay level from 1984–85.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Staff group

  (1) Expenditure 1985–86 Financial year £ million

  (2) Average pay level £ thousand

  (3) Change in average pay since 1984–85 Financial year Per cent.

  Medical and Dental

  1,024

  23·8

  6·3

  Nurses and Midwives

  3,210

  8·1

  8·6

  Administration and Clerical

  773

  7·5

  4·7

  Ancillary

  902

  6·5

  4·7

  Other staff

  1,133

  9·6

  n.a.

  Total

  7,042

  Notes:

  (1) Figures in column 1 are for hospital and community health services in England. They are derived from the summarised accounts of health authorities and include employers' national insurance and superannuation contributions but exclude agency staff.

  (2) Figures for "other staff" in column 1 cover professions allied to medicine, professional and technical staff Whitley B, scientific and professional staff, maintenance staff and ambulance men.

  (3) The figures shown in column 3 include pay increases awarded during the financial year 1985–86. In some cases these were paid in full from February 1986.

  n.a. = Not appropriate.

  National Health Service (Staff)
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give, for regional health authority, SHA and district health authority in England and for each year since 1982, the numbers of staff in the following groups (a) medical and dental, (b) nursing and midwifery, (c) adminstrative and clerical, (d) ancillary, (e) other employees and (f) total employees in terms of: (i) the actual number of employees and (ii) whole-time equivalents.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1987, c. 331]The table gives the information requested for each regional health authority in England, and a total for the London Postgraduate SHAs, for each of the years 1982 to 1986 inclusive. Figures for district health authorities are not readily available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  209

  Region

  Medical2 and Dental

  Nursing3 and Midwifery

  Administrative and Clerical

  Ancillary

  Others4

  Total

  2. Yorkshire RHA

  Number

  3,900

  34,300

  8,300

  17,600

  9,800

  73,900

  Whole lime equivalents

  3,000

  30.000

  7,100

  13,300

  8,600

  62,000

  3.Trent RHA

  Number

  4,400

  40,400

  10,500

  22,500

  11,300

  89,000

  Whole time equivalents

  3,500

  35,400

  9,000

  16,600

  10,200

  74,700

  4.East Anglian RHA

  Number

  2,000

  16,600

  4,500

  7,900

  4,900

  35,900

  Whole time equivalents

  1,500

  14,400

  3,900

  6,000

  4,200

  30.000

  5.North West Thames RHA

  Number

  4,400

  34,000

  10,000

  15,200

  8,400

  72,000

  Whole time equivalents

  3,300

  29,100

  8,500

  12,400

  7,100

  60,400

  6.North East Thames RHA

  Number

  5,300

  39,500

  11,800

  19,600

  10.600

  86,700

  Whole time equivalents

  4,100

  35,100

  10,100

  16,000

  9,500

  74,800

  7.South East Thames RHA

  Number

  4,500

  37,300

  11,400

  18,700

  10,000

  81,900

  Whole time equivalent

  3,400

  31,600

  9,400

  15,000

  8,600

  67,800

  8.South West Thames RHA

  Number

  3,400

  29,100

  7,900

  13,200

  7,400

  61,000

  Whole time equivalents

  2,500

  25,000

  6,500

  10,500

  6,200

  50,700

  9.Wessex RHA

  Number

  2,900

  25,400

  6,600

  11,800

  6,700

  53,400

  Whole time equivalents

  2,100

  21,600

  5,500

  8,700

  5,800

  43,800

  10.Oxford RHA

  Number

  2,700

  19,700

  5,900

  8,000

  5,700

  42,000

  Whole time equivalents

  1,800

  16,700

  4,700

  6,300

  4,700

  34,200

  11.South Western RHA

  Number

  3,400

  31,400

  8,200

  14,000

  8,600

  65,600

  Whole time equivalents

  2,600

  26,100

  6,800

  10,600

  7,500

  53,600

  12.West Midlands RHA

  Number

  5,600

  47,100

  12,700

  22,500

  13,200

  101,200

  Whole time equivalents

  4,200

  41,100

  10,800

  16,800

  11,800

  84,700

  13.Mersey RHA

  Number

  2,800

  25,600

  6,300

  12,600

  6,700

  53,900

  Whole time equivalents

  2,200

  22,500

  5,300

  9,400

  5,900

  45,200

  14.North Western RHA

  Number

  4,900

  42,200

  11,600

  19,300

  11,700

  89,600

  Whole time equivalents

  3,800

  37,000

  9,800

  14,900

  10,600

  76,200

  20.London PG SHAs

  Number

  1,600

  5,800

  2,000

  2,800

  2,000

  14,200

  Whole time equivalents

  1,000

  5,200

  1,800

  2,400

  1,900

  12,300

  England total5

  Number

  55,300

  458,200

  128,400

  220,200

  127,600

  989,600

  Whole time equivalents

  41,500

  397,100

  108,800

  170,500

  112,700

  830,600

  Source: DHSS Annual Censuses of Medical and Non-Medical Manpower.

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 100 (numbers and whole-time
  equivalents).

  2 Includes permanent (whole-time, part-time and honorary) staff and locums.

  3 Includes agency staff.

  4 Includes Professional and technical, professions allied to medicine, scientists,
  works, maintenance and ambulance staff.

  5 Includes London Ambulance Service, Dental estimates board and Prescription
  Pricing Authority staff.

  NHS directly employed staff: 30 September 1983

  Numbers and Whole-time Equivalents1

  Region

  Medical2 and Dental

  Nursing3 and Midwifery

  Administrative and Clerical

  Ancillary

  Others4

  Total

  1.Northern RHA

  Number

  3,700

  30,500

  6,900

  14,200

  8,000

  63,300

  Whole time equivalents

  2,800

  26,800

  6,200

  11,200

  7,500

  54,50

  2.Yorkshire RHA

  Number

  3,900

  34,200

  8,300

  17,400

  9,800

  73,600

  Whole time equivalents

  3,000

  29,800

  7,100

  13,100

  8,600

  61,700

  3.Trent RHA

  Number

  4,500

  40,300

  10,500

  22,000

  11,500

  88,900

  Whole time equivalents

  3,600

  35,200

  9,000

  16,200

  10,400

  74,400

  4.East Anglian RHA

  Number

  2,000

  16,800

  4,700

  8,000

  5,000

  36,600

  Whole time equivalents

  1,500

  14,500

  4,100

  6,000

  4,300

  30,500

  5.North West Thames

  RHA

  Number

  4,500

  33,100

  10,100

  14,800

  8,400

  70,900

  Whole time equivalents

  3,300

  28,700

  8,500

  12,100

  7,200

  59,700

  6.North East Thames RHA

  Number

  5,300

  40,100

  11,800

  18,800

  10,500

  86,500

  210 211

  Region

  Medical2 and Dental

  Nursing3 and Midwifery

  Administrative and Clerical

  Ancillary

  Others4

  Total

  Whole time equivalents

  4,000

  35,200

  10,200

  15,400

  9,500

  74,400

  7.South East Thames RHA

  Number

  4,700

  37,000

  11,400

  18,000

  10,000

  81.100

  Whole time equivalents

  3,500

  31,500

  9,400

  14,500

  8,600

  67,400

  8.South West Thames RHA

  Number

  3,400

  29,500

  8,100

  12,800

  7,600

  61,300

  Whole time equivalents

  2,500

  25,200

  6,600

  10,200

  6,300

  50,800

  9.Wessex RHA

  Number

  2,800

  26,000

  6,800

  11,700

  6,800

  54,100

  Whole time equivalents

  2,000

  22,000

  5,600

  8,600

  5,900

  44,200

  10.Oxford RHA

  Number

  2,700

  19,700

  5,900

  7,900

  5,700

  41,800

  Whole time equivalents

  1,900

  16,600

  4,700

  6,100

  4,700

  34,000

  11.South Western RHA

  Number

  3,500

  30.800

  8,300

  13,700

  8,700

  64,900

  Whole time equivalents

  2,600

  26,100

  6,900

  10,300

  7,500

  53,400

  12.West Midlands RHA

  Number

  5,700

  46.800

  13,100

  22,100

  13,500

  101,200

  Whole time equivalents

  4,200

  40,800

  11,100

  16,500

  12,000

  84,600

  13.Mersey RHA

  Number

  2,800

  25,600

  6,300

  12,100

  6,700

  53,500

  Whole time equivalents

  2,200

  22,300

  5,300

  8,900

  6,000

  44,800

  14.North Western RHA

  Number

  5,000

  42,400

  11,600

  18,900

  11,900

  89,800

  Whole time equivalents

  3,900

  37,100

  9,800

  14,600

  10,900

  76,300

  20.London PG SHAs

  Number

  1,600

  5,500

  2,000

  2,800

  2,100

  14,000

  Whole time equivalents

  1,000

  5,200

  1,900

  2,400

  1,900

  12,400

  England total5

  Number

  56,100

  458,300

  129,600

  215,300

  128,800

  988,000

  Whole time equivalents

  42,300

  397,100

  110,000

  166,200

  113,900

  829,400

  Source: DHSS Annual Censuses of Medical and Non-Medical Manpower.

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 100 (numbers and whole-time
  equivalents).

  2 Includes permanent (whole-time, part-time and honorary) staff and locums.

  3 Includes agency staff.

  4 Includes Professional and technical, professions allied to medicine, scientists,
  works, maintenance and ambulance staff.

  5Includes London Ambulance Service, Dental estimates board and Prescription Pricing Authority staff.

  NHS directly employed staff: 30 September 1984

  Numbers and Whole-time Equivalents1

  Region

  Medical2 and Dental

  Nursing3 and Midwifery

  Administrative and Clerical

  Ancillary6

  Others4 6

  Total

  1.Northern RHA

  Number

  3,600

  30,600

  7,100

  13,600

  8.200

  63,000

  Whole time equivalents

  2.800

  26,700

  6,300

  10,700

  7,700

  54,200

  2.Yorkshire RHA

  Number

  3,500

  34,300

  8,500

  16,200

  10,200

  72,800

  Whole time equivalents

  2,700

  29,900

  7,300

  12,100

  9,000

  61,000

  3.Trent RHA

  Number

  4,600

  40,700

  10,900

  20,700

  12,000

  88,800

  Whole time equivalants

  3,700

  35,500

  9,300

  14,900

  11,000

  74,500

  4.East Anglian RHA

  Number

  2,000

  17,500

  4,800

  7,500

  5,200

  37,000

  Whole time equivalents

  1,500

  15,000

  4,100

  5,500

  4,500

  30,700

  5.North West Thames RHA

  Number

  4,400

  33,600

  10,100

  13,600

  8,500

  70,100

  Whole time equivalents

  3,300

  28,700

  8,400

  11,000

  7,200

  58,600

  6.North East Thames RHA

  Number

  5,300

  41,000

  11,600

  16,900

  10,900

  85,700

  Whole time equivalents

  4,100

  35,300

  10,100

  13,900

  9,800

  73,100

  7.South East Thames RHA

  Number

  4,800

  37,100

  11,200

  15,700

  10,300

  79,100

  Whole time equivalents

  3,500

  31,100

  9,300

  12,500

  8,900

  65,300

  8.South West Thames RHA

  Number

  3,400

  29,500

  7,800

  11,400

  7,500

  59,600

  Whole time equivalents

  2,500

  24,900

  6,400

  9,000

  6,300

  49,100

  9.Wessex RHA

  Number

  3,000

  26,300

  6,900

  11,100

  7.000

  54,300

  Whole time equivalents

  2,200

  22,300

  5,700

  8,000

  6,200

  44,300

  10.Oxford RHA

  Number

  2,800

  20,200

  6,100

  7,400

  5,900

  42,400

  Whole time equivalents

  1,900

  17,000

  4,900

  5,700

  5,000

  34,500

  11.South Western RHA

  212 213

  Region

  Medical2 and Dental

  Nursing3 and Midwifery

  Administrative and Clerical

  Ancillary6

  Others4 6

  Total

  Number

  3,500

  31,000

  8,200

  12,800

  8,800

  64,300

  Whole time equivalents

  2,600

  26,200

  6,800

  9,500

  7,700

  52,800

  12.West Midlands RHA

  Number

  5,600

  47,200

  13,100

  20,700

  13,800

  100,500

  Whole time equivalents

  4,300

  41,000

  11,200

  15,200

  12,300

  84,000

  13.Mersey RHA

  Number

  2,800

  25,300

  6,400

  11,300

  6,900

  52,700

  Whole time equivalents

  2,200

  21,900

  5,400

  8,200

  6,200

  44,000

  14.North Western RHA

  Number

  5,000

  42,800

  11,500

  17,600

  11,800

  88,700

  Whole time equivalents

  3,900

  37,300

  9,700

  13,600

  10,800

  75,400

  20.London PG SHAs

  Number

  1,600

  5,300

  1,900

  2,400

  2,000

  13,200

  Whole time equivalents

  1,100

  4,900

  1,700

  2,100

  1,800

  11,600

  England total5

  Number

  56,100

  462,400

  130,100

  199,000

  131,400

  978,800

  Whole time equivalents

  42,300

  397,500

  110,300

  152,200

  117,000

  819,300

  Source : DHSS Annual Censuses of Medical and Non-Medical Manpower.

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 100 (numbers and whole-time
  equivalents).

  2 Includes permanent (whole-time, part-time and honorary) staff and locums.

  3 Includes agency staff.

  4 Includes Professional and technical, professions allied to medicine, scientists,
  works, maintenance and ambulance staff.

  5 Includes London Ambulance Service, Dental estimates board and Prescription
  Pricing Authority staff.

  6 Not adjusted for transfer of Operating Department Assistants from Ancillary to
  Professional and Technical staff group on 1 April 1984.

  NHS directly employed staff: 30 September 1985

  Numbers and Whole-time Equivalents1

  Region

  Medical and Dental2

  Nursing and Midwifery3

  Administrative and Clerical

  Ancillary6

  Others4 6

  Total

  1.Northern RHA

  Number

  3,700

  31,000

  6,900

  13,000

  8,200

  62,900

  Whole time equivalents

  2,800

  27,100

  6,100

  10,000

  7,700

  53,800

  2.Yorkshire RHA

  Number

  3,900

  34,800

  8,300

  15,400

  10,400

  72,600

  Whole time equivalents

  2,900

  30,200

  7,000

  11,300

  9,200

  60,600

  3.Trent RHA

  Number

  4,700

  42,000

  10,600

  19,700

  12,400

  89,400

  Whole time equivalents

  3,800

  36,700

  9,000

  14,000

  11,300

  74,800

  4.East Anglian RHA

  Number

  2,100

  18,300

  4,700

  6,600

  5,300

  37,100

  Whole time equivalents

  1,600

  15,500

  4,000

  4,900

  4,600

  30,600

  5.North West Thames RHA

  Number

  4,500

  33,800

  9,500

  11,900

  8,500

  68,100

  Whole time equivalents

  3,400

  28,500

  7,800

  9,600

  7,300

  56,500

  6.North East Thames RHA

  Number

  5,500

  41,500

  11,400

  15,500

  10,800

  84,700

  Whole time equivalents

  4,200

  34,600

  9,800

  12,600

  9,700

  70,800

  7.South East Thames RHA

  Number

  4,600

  37,200

  10,900

  14,300

  10,200

  77,200

  Whole time equivalents

  3,500

  30,800

  8,900

  11,400

  8,900

  63,400

  8.South West Thames RHA

  Number

  3,500

  29,600

  7,400

  9,500

  7,500

  57,600

  Whole time equivalents

  2,500

  24,700

  6,000

  7,600

  6,400

  47,200

  9.Wessex RHA

  Number

  3,000

  26,800

  6,600

  10,500

  7,100

  54,000

  Whole time equivalents

  2,100

  22,800

  5,400

  7,600

  6,300

  44,200

  10.Oxford RHA

  Number

  2,900

  20,300

  5,900

  6,500

  6,000

  41,600

  Whole time equivalents

  2,000

  16,900

  4,700

  5,000

  5,100

  33,600

  11.South Western RHA

  Number

  3,500

  31,700

  8,100

  11,900

  9,000

  64,200

  Whole time equivalents

  2,600

  26,700

  6,700

  8,800

  7,800

  52,600

  12.West Midlands RHA

  Number

  5,700

  48,600

  13,000

  19,900

  14,000

  101,200

  Whole time equivalents

  4,400

  42,100

  11,000

  14,400

  12,600

  84,400

  13.Mersey RHA

  Number

  2,900

  25,800

  6,300

  10,600

  6,900

  52,500

  Whole time equivalents

  2,300

  22,200

  5,300

  7,600

  6,200

  43,600

  14.North Western RHA

  Number

  4,900

  43,200

  11,100

  16,800

  11,900

  88,000

  Whole time equivalents

  3,900

  37,700

  9,400

  12,800

  10,900

  74,700

  20.London PG SHAs

  Number

  1,600

  5,600

  6,700

  2,100

  2.000

  18.000

  Whole time equivalents

  1,000

  5,000

  6,300

  1,800

  1,900

  16,000

  214 215

  Region

  Medical and Dental2

  Nursing and Midwifery3

  Administrative and Clerical

  Ancillary6

  Others4 6

  Total

  England total5

  Number

  57,000

  470,300

  131,300

  184,200

  132,800

  975,500

  Whole time equivalents

  43,000

  401,200

  111,000

  139,400

  118,300

  812,900

  Source : DHSS Annual Censuses of Medical and Non-Medical Manpower.

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 100 (numbers and whole-time
  equivalents).

  2 Includes permanent (whole-time, part-time and honorary) staff and locums.

  3 Includes agency staff.

  4 Includes Professional and technical, professions allied to medicine, scientists,
  works, maintenance and ambulance staff.

  5 Includes London Ambulance Service, Dental estimates board and Prescription
  Pricing Authority staff.

  6 Not adjusted for transfer of Operating Department Assistants from Ancillary to
  Professional and Technical staff group on 1 April 1984.

  NHS directly employed staff: 30 September 1986 (Provisional)

  Numbers and Whole-time Equivalents1

  Region

  Medical2 and Dental

  Nursing3 and Midwifery

  Administrative and Clerical

  Ancillary6

  Others4 6

  Total

  1, Northern RHA

  Number

  3,700

  29,100

  7,100

  12,500

  10,400

  62,800

  Whole time equivalents

  2,800

  27,300

  6,300

  9,200

  7,800

  53,500

  2.Yorkshire RHA

  Number

  4,000

  n.a.

  8,300

  13,900

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Whole time equivalents

  3,000

  30,300

  7,000

  9,900

  9,400

  59,600

  3.Trent RHA

  Number

  4,700

  42,600

  10,500

  18,700

  12,600

  89,100

  Whole time equivalents

  3,800

  37,100

  8,900

  13,000

  11,500

  74,300

  4.East Anglian RHA

  Number

  2,100

  18,700

  4,800

  6,100

  5,500

  37,200

  Whole time equivalents

  1,600

  15,600

  4,000

  4,500

  4,800

  30,500

  5.North West Thames RHA

  Number

  4,400

  33,700

  9,500

  9,700

  8,400

  65,700

  Whole time equivalents

  3,300

  28,700

  7,700

  7,800

  7,300

  54,800

  6.North East Thames RHA

  Number

  5,400

  35,700

  11,400

  13,600

  10,800

  76,900

  Whole time equivalents

  4,200

  34,100

  9,800

  11,100

  9,700

  68,800

  7.South East Thames RHA

  Number

  4,700

  36,300

  11,000

  12,800

  10,100

  74,900

  Whole time equivalents

  3,500

  30,200

  8,900

  10,100

  8,900

  61,600

  8.South West Thames RHA

  Number

  3,500

  29,500

  7,400

  8,100

  7,600

  56,000

  Whole time equivalents

  2,500

  24,400

  5,900

  6,400

  6,400

  45,700

  9.Wessex RHA

  Number

  2,900

  27,300

  6,600

  9,400

  7,200

  53,300

  Whole time equivalents

  2,100

  23,100

  5,400

  6,600

  6,300

  43,500

  10.Oxford RHA

  Number

  2,900

  20,500

  5,900

  6,000

  6,000

  41,300

  Whole time equivalents

  2,000

  16,900

  4,700

  4,500

  5,100

  33,200

  11.South Western RHA

  Number

  3,600

  32,200

  8,200

  11,200

  9,100

  64,300

  Whole time equivalents

  2,600

  27,000

  6,700

  8,100

  8,000

  52,400

  12.West Midlands RHA

  Number

  5,800

  49,400

  13,400

  18,700

  14,300

  101,600

  Whole time equivalents

  4,400

  42,500

  11,300

  13,200

  12,800

  84,200

  13.Mersey RHA

  Number

  2,800

  26,200

  6,300

  9,600

  7,000

  52,000

  Whole time equivalents

  2,200

  22,300

  5,300

  6,700

  6,300

  42,900

  14.North Western RHA

  Number

  5,100

  43,500

  11,400

  15,500

  11,700

  87,100

  Whole time equivalents

  4,000

  37,800

  9,600

  11,600

  11,000

  74,100

  20.London PG SHAs

  Number

  1,700

  4,800

  1,800

  1,500

  1,800

  11,600

  Whole time equivalents

  1,200

  4,800

  1,700

  1,500

  1,800

  10,900

  England Total5

  Number

  57,300

  n.a.

  226,000

  167,300

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Whole time equivalents

  43,300

  402,100

  111,400

  124,300

  120,000

  801,000

  Source : DHSS Annual Censuses of Medical and Non-Medical Manpower.

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 100 (numbers and whole-time equivalents).

  2 Includes permanent (whole-time, part-time and honorary) staff and locums.

  3 Includes agency staff.

  4 Includes Professional and technical, professions allied to medicine, scientists, works, maintenance and ambulance staff.

  5 Includes London Ambulance Service, Dental estimates board and Prescription Pricing Authority staff.

  6 Not adjusted for transfer of Operating Department Assistants from Ancillary to Professional and Technical staff group on 1 April 1984.

  n.a.= not available.
  216

  NHS (Pay)
  Mr. Stevens
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much nurses pay has increased in real terms (a) between the implementation of the Halsbury award in 1974 and May 1979, (h) since May 1979 and (c) since the establishment of the pay review body in 1984.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1987, c. 260]The information is as follows:—

  a. Between 1974 and 1979 nurses' pay fell by 21 per cent. in real terms;

  b. Since 1979 nurses' pay has increased by 23 per cent. in real terms; and

  c. Since 1983 nurses' pay has increased by 10 per cent.in real terms.

  The percentage real increase reflects the percentage cash increase for the pay round year (1 August to 31 July) deflated by the RPI increase in the pay round year in the 12 months to July.

  Mr. Stevens
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the gross pay of stair nurses and ward sisters was in (a) 1974 after the implementation of the Halsbury award (b) May 1979, (c) in 1984 prior to the establishment of the pay review body and (d) following the 1986 pay award.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1987, c. 260]Information in the form requested is not available. The basic salary scales for staff nurses and ward sisters at the dates requested are given in the following table. Staff in these grades are eligible for additional payments mainly for working overtime and unsocial hours. Currently average earnings (excluding London weighting) of full-time staff nurses and ward sisters are estimated to be about 17 per cent. and 14 per cent. respectively greater than basic pay.

  Basic Salary Scales as at:—

  Grade

  May 1974 (a) £

  May 1979 (b) £

  May 1984 (c) £

  May 1986 (d) £

  Staff Nurse

  (a) Min

  1,692

  3,150

  4,998

  6,475

  (b) Max

  2,202

  3,813

  6,094

  7,750

  Ward Sister

  (Nursing Sister II)

  (a) Min

  2,262

  3,888

  6,321

  8,070

  (b) Max

  3,000

  4,949

  8,163

  10,800

  Mr. Stevens asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much the pay of (a) consultants, (b) house officers and (c) general practitioners, has increased in real terms (i) between February 1974 and May 1979 and (ii) since May 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1987, c. 260]Based on the rates of pay effective on the dates specified, the changes in doctors' pay in real terms were:—

  February 1974 to May 1979 per cent.

  May 1979 to March 1987 per cent.

  House Officer

  +13·6

  +24·5

  Consultant

  -19·5

  +19·2

  General Practitioner (intended net remuneration)

  -10·5

  +17·0

  218
  Mr. Pavitt
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the present pay scales for National Health Service nursing officers, ward sisters and radiographers.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 27 March 1087. c. 305]The current basic salary scales for senior nurses 6–8, ward sisters and radiographers are given in the following table.

  Salary scales as from 1 July 1986

  Grade

  Salary scales

  Minimum £

  Maximum £

  Senior Nurses1

  6

  10,880

  12,480

  7

  9,765

  12,190

  8

  9,350

  11,300

  Ward Sister

  Nursing Sister II

  8,070

  10,800

  Radiographers

  Superintendent I

  13,195

  14,560

  Superintendent II

  11,935

  13,195

  Superintendent III

  11,020

  11,935

  Superintendent IV

  9,625

  11,020

  Senior I

  9,625

  11,020

  Senior II

  8,045

  9,625

  Radiographer

  6,695

  8,045

  Teaching Grades

  Principal 24+

  15,470

  16,835

  Principal I

  14,105

  15,470

  Principal II

  13,195

  14,560

  Senior Teacher

  12,775

  14,105

  Teacher

  11,935

  13,195

  Student Teacher

  7,025

  8,045

  1 Senior Nurses in pay grades 6–8 equivalent to obsolete grades of Senior Nursing Officer and Nursing Officer.

  Nurses (Pay)
  Dr. Glyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what assessment he has made of the financial position of nurses in the National Health Service, with particular regard to their ability at current pay levels, to obtain suitable accommodation; what representations he has received on this subject from nurses in Berkshire; what discussions he has had with the nurses and midwives negotiating bodies; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will expedite his consideration of the recommendation of the review body on nurses' pay; if he will make it his policy, in reaching his conclusions on those recommendations, to allow health authorities sufficient flexibility to enable them to implement a higher pay increase in areas where recruitment and retention is especially difficult; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 27 March 1987, c. 306–7]Although we are aware of suggestions that housing costs are affecting the ability of some health authorities in parts of London and the home counties to fill key nursing posts, we have not received any representations on this issue from nurses in Berkshire, or from the staff side of the nursing and midwifery staffs negotiating council. The review body reports to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. I am sure that my hon. Friend would not expect me to anticipate its recommendations or the Government's response to them.

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