Written Answers of 8 December 1987

WALES

  Children (Intensive Care)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, by each health district in Wales, the amount spent on intensive care for children in 1979 and in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Abortions
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, by each Welsh district health authority, the cost of abortions in money and as a percentage of all Health Service expenditure, in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Primary Schools (Bus Transport)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if any grants are available from his Department for bus transport to Welsh primary schools in Wales where the main language of teaching is Welsh.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  No, but local education authorities have powers to provide school transport free of charge where they consider it necessary. Expenditure on such transport is eligible for rate support grant.

  Cleddau Bridge (Tolls)
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any proposals to abolish the Cleddau bridge tolls; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  This is a matter for Dyfed county council which is the owner and operator of the bridge.

PRIME MINISTER

  Bradford
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to Bradford.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Stourton Coundle
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Stourton Coundle.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Enniskillen
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement following her visit to Enniskillen.
  92
  The Prime Minister
  I found the Remembrance service which I attended in Enniskillen on 22 November a most moving occasion. I have been deeply impressed by the brave and noble response of the people of Enniskillen to the horrific murder of 11 people on Remembrance Sunday.

  This Government will never concede to those who seek to pursue their aims through violence. We shall continue to give all possible support to the security forces and to the law abiding people of the Province in resisting terrorism. We shall also strengthen co-operation on security with the Government of the Irish Republic, as agreed at my recent meeting with the Taoiseach.

  Godshill
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next intends to make an official visit to Godshill in the Isle of Wight.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 December.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with the Polish Foreign Minister.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Insurance Companies
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what measures he has of the effectiveness of the monitoring by his Department of the London Life Association Ltd. life assurance company; and whether his Department has received any report on the internal management reporting and internal control systems operated by that company;

  (2) if his Department receives, as part of its work on monitoring the financial and trading position of life and other insurance companies, regular reports from independent accountants on the adequacy of the management information systems and internal control systems in those companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  My Department monitors the financial and trading position of non-life insurance companies mainly by examining the returns which insurance companies submit each year. In the case of life insurance companies, examination of the returns is carried out on behalf of my Department by the Government Actuary's Department.

  Regulations require that there shall be annexed to each return a certificate by directors of the company which, unless such a statement cannot truthfully be made, must state
  "that for the purposes of preparing the return—

  (i) proper accounts and records have been maintained and adequate information has been obtained by the company, and

  93

  (ii) an appropriate system of control has been established and maintained by the company over its transactions and records".

  It is also a requirement that there shall be annexed to the return a report by an auditor, who must be independent and qualified, stating, inter alia,
  "in the auditors' opinion and according to the information and explanations they have received … whether it was reasonable for the persons giving the certificate to have made the statements therein."

  The most recent return for London Life Association Ltd. relates to the year ended 31 December 1986, and both the directors' certificate and auditor's report are in standard form.

  I am satisfied that the monitoring by my Department and the Government Actuary's Department of London Life Association Ltd. has been effective. Officials contacted the company in 1986 because of concern about its financial position and reviewed with the company the remedial action it was then taking. At the beginning of November this year, the company was asked for an update on its financial position and in particular about the impact of the stock market falls and my Department has been kept informed of the further remedial action initiated by the company, and continues to be in close touch with the company.

  Westminster Property Group plc
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any information on the progress of the inquiry into the affairs of Westminster Property Group plc; and whether he or the inspectors have referred any matters arising from the inquiry to the Crown prosecution service.

  Mr. Maude
  The inspectors' report on the affairs of Milbury plc and on the membership of its subsidiary, Westminster Property Group Ltd., has been received. Certain matters arising from the investigation have been considered by the Crown Prosecution Service, which has decided that no action should be taken.

  Fireworks
  Miss Fookes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will finance or organise a national training scheme for the organisers of firework displays;

  (2) if he will introduce legislation to require the manufacturers of fireworks to sponsor a national training scheme for the organisers of firework displays.

  Mr. Maude
  No. The fireworks industry already helps train organisers of major displays when requested. I am not convinced that a national training scheme is needed. Organisers should follow the instructions on the fireworks and heed the advice in the leaflet for display organisers issued by my Department.

  Timber
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will adopt trade directives or regulations which positively discriminate in favour of timber from sustainable sources; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Community's import regime for timber is in general a liberal one, and the Community is committed to the further liberalisation of trade in tropical products, including tropical timber, in the GATT Uruguay 94
  round. The Government would need to study carefully with Community partners any specific proposals from the world timber industry for positive discrimination worldwide in favour of imports from sustainable sources. Such proposals would need to be consistent with the Community's international trade obligations, which normally require non-discriminatory treatment as between like products from all suppliers.

  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure the implementation of the International Tropical Timber Organisation's policy objectives.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government support the objectives of the international tropical timber agreement and recognise that they contain provisions both to promote the expansion of trade and the encouragement of sustainable tropical forestry development.

  The United Kingdom was one of the first signatories to the agreement, and we have continued to be supportive in the work of the organisation.

  Export Controls
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when changes in strategic export controls, recently agreed in COCOM, will be introduced in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Export of Goods (Control) Order 1987 (SI. 1987/2070) published today and coming into force on 1 January 1988 includes agreed changes to strategic export controls. My Department is also publishing a booklet on these controls for the guidance and information of exporters. Copies of both the order and the booklet are being placed in the Library.

  Patents
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the expected level of throughput of patent applications through the United Kingdom Patent Office, in the light of his policy of expediting the transfer of work to the European Patent Office in Munich.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have no plans to transfer domestic applications to the European Patent Office. For a number of reasons the demand for patent services from the United Kingdom Patent Office is reducing. I am therefore considering what steps might be taken to ensure that the United Kingdom Patent Office can provide a more cost effective service which will thereby benefit United Kingdom users.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of the European regional development fund's grants made to the United Kingdom during 1987 was made to the south-west region.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: The south-west region's share of 1987 grants so far has been 6·0 per cent, but further allocations of grant in respect of 1987 remain to be made.

  Sendzimir Club
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps have been taken to ensure that the
  95
  Sendzimir Club, which controls the price of stainless steel and of which British Steel is a member, promotes an efficient, competitive market in stainless steel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: The main safeguard of an efficient, competitive market is EC and national competition law, for which the appropriate authorities are the European Commission and the Director General Fair Trading.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Ethnic Origin Survey
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when his Department will publish the report of the latest phase of the staff-in-post ethnic origin survey of the Civil Service.

  Mr. Luce
  A copy of the latest phase of the staff-in-post surveys covering London and the south east and East Anglia will be published tomorrow. Two other reports will be published at the same time. These are:

  (a) a pilot ethnic origin survey of departmental recruitment.

  (b) a joint management-trade union side response to the findings of a report by Social and Community Planning Research on school leavers attitudes to the Civil Service.

  Copies of these three reports will be placed in the Libraries of Parliament.

THE ARTS

  Libraries (Funding)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on his proposals to provide incentive funding for public libraries.

  Mr. Luce
  I am glad to announce the establishment of an incentive scheme for public libraries in England. For this, I have set aside £250,000 a year for three years, 1988–89 to 1990–91. The main objective of the scheme is to promote new developments in the provision of these services. The awards given, following open competition, will cover up to 40 per cent. of the cost of development projects and feasibility studies. I shall give priority to the support of activities which involve collaboration with other libraries and the private sector. I have placed a descriptive note on the scheme in the libraries of Parliament.

ENVIRONMENT

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the formation of new urban development corporations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave on 7 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Hayward).

  Urban Regeneration Grant
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was budgeted for the urban regeneration grant for the last 12-month period; and how much was spent.

  Mr. Trippier
  Urban regeneration grant was introduced in April 1987. £30 million of public expenditure was allocated for urban regeneration grant and urban development grant together in 1987–88. Expenditure at the end of September is estimated at £14·3 million.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses and flats were sold in each London borough from 8 May to 8 May for five years up to and including 1987; and if he will snake a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  Information on council house sales has been collected almost wholly in regular quarterly returns, and the figures in the table are those reported for the period of five years from 1 April 1982.

  Sales of dwellings by London boroughs April 1982 to March 1987

  Number

  City of London

  915

  Barking and Dagenham

  15,365

  Barnet

  3,585

  Bexley

  1,414

  Brent

  11,502

  Bromley

  3,760

  Camden

  660

  Croydon

  13,264

  Ealing

  12,511

  Enfield

  3,300

  Greenwich

  12,347

  Hackney

  1731

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,513

  Haringey

  11,950

  Harrow

  1,372

  Havering

  11,965

  Hillingdon

  11,776

  Hounslow

  2,302

  Islington

  1944

  Kensington and Chelsea

  504

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,097

  Lambeth

  1700

  Lewisham

  12,515

  Merton

  2,401

  Newham

  12,104

  Redbridge

  11,795

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,282

  Southwark

  11,545

  Sutton

  1,719

  Tower Hamlets

  1913

  Waltham Forest

  11,992

  Wandsworth

  7,627

  Westminster

  11,367

  1 Complete returns not available for whole period.

  Toxic Waste (Storage)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration is being given to proposals for the storage of nuclear or toxic waste off the North sea coast utilising existing coal mines as means of ingress; and if he will make it his policy not to adopt such proposals.
  97
  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend is not aware of any proposals to store radioactive or toxic waste off the North sea coast with access via existing coal mines. We have no policy to adopt such proposals.

  Wildlife
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he intends making a final decision on the granting of full protection under section 9(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to further wildlife species;

  (2) which animals, recommended by the Nature Conservancy Council for further protection, partial protection or full protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 quinquennial review, were not so included in his recent announcement of changes to the Act's protected lists;

  (3) if he will give reasons for the exclusion of each of those species recommended by the Nature Conservancy Council for further, partial or full protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 quinquennial review which were not so included in his recent announcement of changes to the Act's protected list.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Further to the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on Tuesday 1 December of wider protection for a total of 79 species of animals and plants under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, he is currently giving further careful consideration to the conservation case for those species recommended for protection by the NCC and not referred to in his announcement. The species concerned are the adder (vipera berus), allis shad (alosa alosa), basking shark (cetorhirius maximus), freshwater pearl mussel (margaritefera margaritefera) and 22 species of British butterflies (rhopalocera). A final announcement on these will be made in due course, when further evidence on these species has been secured and evaluated.

  Housing Improvement Grants
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the number and value of housing improvement grants in each year since 1974.

  Mrs. Roe
  The numbers and amounts of housing renovation grants paid to private owners and tenants in each year from 1974 to 1983 appear in table 7.2 of "Housing and Construction Statistics 1974–1984", and the figures for 1984 to 1986 are in table 2.18 of "Housing and Construction Statistics" part 2, No. 30: copies of these publications are available in the Library.

  Renovation and New Building (Whitehall)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated total cost of the renovation and new building works in Whitehall incorporating Richmond terrace.

  Mr. Chope
  I reported in November 1986 that the estimated cost of construction and fitting-out was £36 million. The current estimate, including contractors' claims paid to date, additional inflation and variation of price payments, is £38·6 million. The final cost will depend on settlement of the final account including claims still being negotiated.

  Housing Land
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the joint housing land availability studies which were recommended in his Department's circular 15/84.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Joint studies by local planning authorities and housebuilders which look in detail at the housing land supply situation, have now been completed for 33 structure plan areas; details are given in my Department's "Progress Report Land for Housing", published on 13 November, copies of which are in the Library.

  These studies have demonstrated their value in establishing the facts of land availability, and I hope that planning authorities and housebuilders will continue to cooperate in keeping them up to date.

  Problems have arisen in some instances over the treatment of sites which are not individually identified in the study, but may in aggregate make a significant contribution to land supply. It may be helpful to amplify the advice given in paragraph 8 of annex B to DOE circular 15/84.

  Land availability studies should not normally attempt to identify small sites of less than 0·4 ha (one acre) or infill sites; nor should they identify small sites which are not specifically allocated for development or redevelopment. But such sites, together with the conversion of larger houses into smaller units or the adaptation of nonresidential buildings for use as housing, can make a useful contribution to total housing provision and this is to be encouraged. It is reasonable therefore that land availability studies should include a realistic allowance for supply from these sources. On the basis of past experience and appraisal of future potential, the local planning authority and housebuilders should aim to agree an allowance for this in the overall assessment. Whatever allowance is made should be clearly justified by evidence of the contribution which such sites have made to housing provision in the area in recent years, and should not be overestimated.

  Larger sites of more than 0·4 ha that are likely to become available for development within the five-year period should normally be capable of being identified and should be assessed on the basis set out in the circular. While some unidentified sites of more than 0·4 ha may become available, their incidence is likely to be highly variable and their contribution to housing land supply is inherently unpredictable. To attempt to take such sites into account is likely to introduce too great an element of uncertainty into the overall assessment and no allowance should be made in the studies for this factor.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Raison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his best estimate of the total annual amount of central Government support, assuming 1987–88 budgeted expenditure, that would be required to pay for rebates on the proposed commmunity charge.

  Mr. Howard
  The cost of rate rebates is estimated, on the basis of assumptions underlying the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, to amount to £1,370 million in Great Britain next year. As indicated in the financial memorandum to the Local Government Finance Bill, the
  99
  estimated additional cost of community charge rebates in England and Wales is £130 million. This estimate is, however, sensitive to factors such as changes in the number of claimants, the level of the community charge, and the precise details of the rebates, which have not yet been determined.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he has commissioned into the feasibility of a banded community charge; and if he will publish them.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: A banded community charge is a local income tax rather than a community charge. In addition to all the disadvantages of LIT, a banded community charge would uniquely have major "earnings trap" effects, whereby a person whose income rose by £1 could find his bill increasing by as much as £400.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what maximum payment of community charge including community water charge would have been payable by pensioners on basic retirement pension income, in the current financial year, for each local authority area; and if he will express each sum payable as a percentage of the total community charge in that area.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 4 December 1987]: Water is not a local government service in England. On the basis of the 1988–89 social security arrangements, all pensioners wholly reliant on a state pension would pay only 20 per cent. of the full community charge levied by their local authority and would receive help towards that 20 per cent. through income support.

  Environment Council
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 3 December.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on Monday 7 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington).

  Storm Damage Expenditure
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he has reached following his consultation with local authorities about the exclusion of storm damage expenditure from grant penalties.

  Mr. Ridley
  On 21 October I announced that in view of the severe damage caused by the storm on 16 October the Government would make available to local authorities special financial assistance under the Bellwin rules. This meant that the Government would meet 75 per cent. of the costs of eligible works above a threshold.

  I subsequently made it clear that the threshold proposed for the operation of the Bellwin rules would apply cumulatively to any subsequent emergency for which the Government were prepared to grant special financial assistance during the course of the financial year. To help, where expenditure was not eligible for Bellwin assistance, the Government proposed to make additional capital allocations available.
  100
  I also announced that I proposed to exclude from total expenditure—in effect to relieve from grant losses—that 25 per cent. of eligible expenditure above the threshold which authorities would have to meet themselves.

  I have consulted local authorities and the associations on my proposal for a total expenditure exclusion and considered very carefully their comments.

  For 1987–88, I now propose to widen the exclusion to cover all storm-related revenue expenditure above the threshold defined for Bellwin rules whether eligible for special financial assistance or not, including revenue contributions to capital outlays made by the end of March 1988.

  I also propose to exclude from total expenditure all debt charges incurred in respect of capital expenditure on storm damage on 16 October up to the end of March 1989 in 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90, after which grant entitlement will no longer be affected by expenditure.

  I shall be consulting the local authorities and associations on these revised proposals.

  I have also been asked by local authorities to extend beyond 31 January the date by which work eligible for special financial assistance must be completed. I have therefore decided to extend the date by which work of an emergency nature must be completed to 1 March.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Redundancies
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many employees of his Department have been made redundant on grounds of redundancy or financial exigency in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Eight, four of whom are on notice which expires in May 1988

  These redundancies occurred as follows:
  1981—One part-time cleaner in a local office. Cleaning services were arranged with the major occupier of the building.
  1986 and 1987—Two typing staff. Local offices closed.
  1986—One packer, nominally on secondment to British Library at Boston Spa. Post regraded and incumbent unwilling to accept regrading.
  1987—Four security guards, all over 60, given requisite notices of redundancy in May 1988 on contracting out of service.

  Competitive Team Sports
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to seek to ensure that all state school children take part in competitive team sports.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The working group on physical education which my right hon. Friend will set up in due course will recommend guidelines for the content of physical education as a foundation subject within the national curriculum.

  Taking account also of the recommendations of the forum on school sport set up by my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to consider the place of sport in schools, we hope to ensure a balanced programme of physical education, including competitive sports within all maintained schools.

  Religious Education
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the extent to which current teaching includes instruction on Christian history and Christian values for all pupils.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Her Majesty's inspectorate provides evidence through reports of inspections on the nature and quality of religious education given in schools. All the agreed syllabuses currently in use give a central place to teaching about Christianity. Where an LEA wants to update its syllabus, it is a statutory requirement that the Church of England should be represented on the conference appointed by a local education authority for this purpose.

  Open University
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if there is to be any change in the arrangements for funding the Open University.

  Mr. Jackson
  No. The Open University will continue to be funded directly by my right hon. Friend.

  Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now appoint a chairman to the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council.

  Local Education Authorities

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  AFE bid

  Bid per student

  AFE bid

  Bid per student

  AFE bid

  Bid per student

  £000

  £

  £000

  £

  £000

  £

  Barking

  2,136

  380

  2,511

  451

  2,679

  483

  Barnet

  2,943

  423

  4,048

  582

  6,750

  989

  Bexley

  26

  70

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Brent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bromley

  62

  69

  —

  —

  90

  104

  Croydon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ealing

  912

  303

  1,211

  402

  1,797

  597

  Enfield

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Haringey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Harrow

  —

  —

  743

  766

  750

  801

  Havering

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hillingdon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hounslow

  828

  421

  134

  68

  277

  147

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  2,531

  433

  3,854

  687

  7,378

  1,313

  Merton

  124

  354

  40

  114

  —

  —

  Newham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Redbridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sutton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Waltham Forest

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Inner London

  2,935

  92

  8,757

  274

  13,875

  422

  Birmingham

  403

  59

  2,460

  353

  2,606

  369

  Coventry

  1,656

  261

  6,759

  1,051

  5,079

  788

  Dudley

  —

  —

  23

  62

  —

  —

  Sandwell

  22

  23

  —

  —

  25

  30

  Solihull

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Walsall

  120

  146

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wolverhampton

  1,910

  337

  3,784

  678

  3,966

  710

  Knowsley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Liverpool

  4,021

  466

  2,802

  323

  5,416

  653

  St. Helens

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sefton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  102
  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Following the Second Reading on 1 December of the Education Reform Bill, which makes provision for the establishment of a Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council, I have invited Sir Ronald Dearing to become the first chairman of the council. I am delighted to say that he has accepted. Sir Ronald will relinquish his present appointment as chairman of the Council for National Academic Awards next summer.

  Advanced Further Education
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much capital expenditure for advanced further education in each local education authority in England and Wales was(a) applied for and (b) spend in each of the last six years, respectively, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of their allocated advanced further education numbers.

  Mr. Jackson
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1987, c. 182]: The table sets out LEAs' bids for advanced further education capital expenditure in cash terms and on a per student basis for each of the financial years 1985–86 to 1987–88. The bids per student were calculated using the National Advisory Body target AFE student numbers (in full-time equivalents) for the year in question. Similar information for the earlier years is not available.
  103

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  AFE bid

  Bid per student

  AFE bid

  Bid per student

  AFE bid

  Bid per student

  £000

  £

  £000

  £

  £000

  £

  Wirral

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bolton

  105

  52

  200

  98

  250

  121

  Bury

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Manchester

  4,465

  370

  4,609

  374

  5,683

  450

  Oldham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rochdale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Salford

  660

  393

  198

  121

  488

  280

  Stockport

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tameside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Trafford

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wigan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Barnsley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Doncaster

  124

  134

  140

  144

  —

  —

  Rotherham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sheffield

  2,102

  230

  2,704

  290

  2,980

  315

  Bradford

  322

  194

  795

  481

  1,307

  796

  Calderdale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kirklees

  1,776

  347

  3,045

  592

  4,936

  963

  Leeds

  973

  136

  1,338

  188

  1,408

  198

  Wakefield

  120

  112

  107

  96

  188

  170

  Gateshead

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,235

  159

  3,994

  508

  5,096

  626

  North Tyneside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Tyneside

  238

  382

  168

  260

  45

  76

  Sunderland

  860

  197

  3,993

  913

  5,516

  1,268

  Isles of Scilly

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Avon

  4,125

  494

  3,796

  449

  1,787

  218

  Bedfordshire

  413

  192

  212

  97

  334

  142

  Berkshire

  372

  104

  495

  142

  400

  114

  Buckinghamshire

  910

  624

  1,104

  781

  1,090

  770

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,000

  489

  Cheshire

  21

  7

  180

  61

  196

  65

  Cleveland

  999

  242

  3,345

  827

  1,420

  357

  Cornwall

  —

  —

  220

  275

  366

  470

  Cumbria

  129

  140

  135

  136

  60

  54

  Derbyshire

  240

  84

  910

  323

  1,720

  638

  Devon

  1,751

  246

  1,884

  264

  752

  104

  Dorset

  1,314

  476

  1,426

  526

  2,410

  879

  Durham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Sussex

  1,492

  252

  2,190

  363

  5,250

  881

  Essex

  2,240

  601

  728

  194

  994

  264

  Gloucestershire

  153

  82

  454

  246

  947

  503

  Hampshire

  1,418

  131

  9,625

  873

  3,017

  273

  Hereford and Worcester

  20

  12

  22

  13

  1,049

  585

  Hertfordshire

  1,933

  311

  3,573

  585

  4,558

  727

  Humberside

  689

  200

  1,372

  390

  1,138

  328

  Isle of Wight

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  —

  —

  111

  50

  326

  145

  Lancashire

  2,155

  274

  3,684

  461

  3,202

  389

  Leicestershire

  615

  83

  2,125

  288

  3,725

  513

  Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Norfolk

  —

  —

  —

  —

  218

  156

  North Yorkshire

  46

  50

  195

  201

  214

  221

  Northamptonshire

  239

  134

  849

  448

  385

  189

  Northumberland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  1,193

  143

  1,266

  151

  1,602

  185

  Oxfordshire

  4,188

  873

  7,179

  1,513

  4,780

  980

  Salop

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Somerset

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  989

  179

  4,030

  729

  4,858

  837

  Suffolk

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Surrey

  30

  15

  406

  204

  220

  109

  Warwickshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Sussex

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wiltshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England

  61,284

  228

  109,933

  408

  126,603

  465

  104

ENERGY

  Coal Industry (Grants)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the value of total grants made to the coal industry by the Government since 1946–47 at 1987 prices.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Information on grants made to the coal industry can be obtained from the British Coal Corporation's annual report and accounts, copies of which are held in the Library of the House. To convert figures to 1987 prices one should refer to tables 114–117 (general index of retail prices—all items) of Economic Trends annual supplement 1987, a copy of which is also held in the Library.

  Electricity (Privatisation)
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, when next he meets the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board, he will discuss with him the case for the maintenance of the national grid in the event of privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I meet Lord Marshall regularly to discuss matters relating to the privatisation of the electricity supply industry. Our proposals for privatisation do not envisage the breaking up of the national grid.

  Electricity (Cross-Channel Link)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if there are any plans to pursue the possibility of a further cross-Channel link to secure the interchange of electricity between France and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The CEGB keeps this matter under regular review with Electricite-de-France. There are no plans at present for a further cross-Channel link.

  Seismic Data
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans there are for the release of seismic data.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I have no plans for releasing seismic data.

  Oil Exploration Records
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements are in hand for the public release of offshore and onshore oil exploration records held by his Department; if any changes are to be made to the time scale for the release of information on wells drilled; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Arrangements have been in existence since 1976 for the release of well data after five years. I have no plans at present to change the time scale for the release of such information.

SCOTLAND

  Tourism
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to assist the tourist industry in Fife, North-East.
  106
  Mr. Lang
  The development of the tourist industry in Fife, North-East is primarily the responsibility of the industry itself as the main beneficiary. The local authorities and the Scottish Tourist Board co-operate with the industry in a number of ways, including the partnership in the area tourist board. For its part, the Scottish Tourist Board will continue to encourage and assist development in the area, as elsewhere in Scotland, and will consider all proposals on their individual merits and in relation to the board's overall priorities. I understand that the board, in conjunction with other bodies, is currently examining tourism opportunities in the East Neuk of Fife.

  Windblow
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there will be any nature conservancy involvement in the committee dealing with windblow problems; and whether the Nature Conservancy Council will be represented on this committee.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the Forest Windblow Action Committee set up by the Forestry Commission. This committee is primarily concerned at this stage with providing advice to woodland owners on the clearing of blown timber and the orderly marketing of that timber. This being so, there is no need for the Nature Conservancy Council to be represented. The committee will be able to seek the advice of the council if nature conservation issues arise in connection with the replacement of the blown woodland.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has contingency plans to contain an epidemic of AIDS within the heterosexual population of Edinburgh in the next five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  At present there is little evidence of infection among the heterosexual population in Edinburgh, apart from intravenous drug misusers. One of the objects of the Government's public education campaign is to persuade the public to take the necessary safeguards to avoid the spread of the infection. Nevertheless, an expert working party we set up in November last year under the general manager of Lothian Health Board (the Tayler working party), in assessing the likely scale of the AIDS problem in Scotland, estimated that a small number of the heterosexual population would contract AIDS by 1991. Any estimates of the numbers developing the disease have to be treated with extreme caution, but meantime health boards have been asked to plan on the basis of the Tayler report.

  Children (Intensive Care)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, by each health authority, the amount spent on intensive care for children in 1979 and in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I regret that the information is not available.

  Forests (Tourism)
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has regarding the number of tourist visits paid to forests run by the Forestry Commission in 1986; and what information he has about any plans to develop forests further for tourism.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information is not available in the form requested, but surveys carried out in 1987 suggest that as many as five million visits are made to Forestry Commission forests on a Sunday in the peak holiday season. The commission is reviewing its recreation policies at present, giving particular consideration to how it might further encourage tourism and collaborate with other interested agencies to help meet the growing demand for countryside recreation. Three new forest parks were announced in 1987, with special provision for public access and recreation.

  Trees
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to seek to ban the export of raw logs and endangered tree species; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have no plans to ban the export of logs. I am not aware of any tree species in the United Kingdom that might be endangered through exports.

  Egg Production
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his estimate of and basis of calculation for the cost to the Scottish egg industry of adapting to EEC battery cage legislation in Scotland;

  (2) what is his Department's estimate of and basis of calculation for the costs of compliance with the additional requirements for three, two and one birds under the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987 for egg producers in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  EC directive 86/113 places inescapable obligations on all member states. The cost of compliance will vary from producer to producer according to the type of cage in use, its age, and how the space allowance and other requirements contained in the directive are to be met. No estimate of the aggregate cost to Scottish producers is available.

  The same consideration will largely apply in the context of the allowances for three, two and one birds specified in the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of Scottish egg producers who will cease egg production because they are unable to comply with the additional requirements for three, two and one birds contained within the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987; and what representations he has received on this matter.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Representations on the regulations have been made by a number of hon. Members and by the president of the National Farmers Union of Scotland. The views expressed have in some cases been critical of the additional space requirement for less than four birds and in others have condemned the retention of 108
  the cage system and complained that the space allowance is too low. No information is available on the number of egg producers who may cease production, if any.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to ensure that Scottish egg farmers are not put at a competitive disadvantage with their European counterparts in the implementation of the provisions of EEC directive 86/133/EEC, as implemented by the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  EC directive 86/113 lays down minimum standards. Other than in situations where less than four birds are housed in a cage these minimum standards will apply in the United Kingdom. In the majority of cases therefore Scottish farmers will be in an identical situation to most of their European counterparts though it is worth pointing out that in Denmark and in West Germany the minimum space allowance for four birds and more will be higher than in the United Kingdom. We shall be keeping the matter under review.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he proposes to give egg producers in Scotland as to the time at which they should comply with the provisions of the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987, implementing EEC directive 86/113/EEC, in the light of the further scientific review to be undertaken in 1993 and of the assurances given by the Government that consequential problems will be kept under continual review.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The regulations come into force on 1 January 1988. As from that date all new cages must conform: for existing cages the space allowance must be achieved by 1 January 1995. Within the seven-year lead-in period for existing cages, the timing of any change will largely be a matter for the individual producer. The Government will maintain close links with the industry on both its ongoing review and the scientific report due from the Commission by 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to monitor compliance within Europe of the provisions of the European directive 86/113/EEC, on the welfare of battery hens.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Compliance with EEC directives is a matter for individual member states and for the European Commission. In this instance article 7 requires the Commission to undertake inspection programmes within member states to ensure that the directive is complied with and uniform standards applied. The Commission is also required to produce reports on these inspections.

  Raspberries
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures to show the average acres of planting for the Glen Clova variety of raspberries in each year since 1982.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the areas of soft fruit grown commercially in Scotland is not collected on a varietal basis. The total areas of raspberries grown in each year since 1982 were:
  109

  Hectarage

  1982

  2,593·2

  1983

  2,516·9

  1984

  2,409·6

  1985

  2,332·2

  1986

  2,206·6

  1987

  2,102·9

  In 1987 some 75 per cent. of the total area was occupied by Glen Clova. The pattern of varietal production is likely to change as newer varieties become more widely available.

  Standard and O-grade Courses
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the difference in the costs of the supplies and services required to run(a) standard grade courses and (b) the O-grade courses they supersede.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No information is available centrally on the costs of specific items. In 1988–89 £6 million will be available to local authorities generally in respect of current expenditure on non-teaching costs associated with standard grade, and there is provision of £3 million for capital expenditure. In that year there will also be current expenditure of £870,000 by central Government on support for the new standard grade courses.

  Scottish Development Agency
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list at 1987 prices the real value of Government expenditure on the Scottish Development Agency for each year from 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: The information, at 1987–88 prices, is set out in the table:

  Financial year

  £ million

  1978–79

  107·3

  1979–80

  112·6

  1980–81

  117·0

  1981–82

  101·6

  1982–83

  125·5

  1983–84

  105·2

  1984–85

  90·0

  1985–86

  101·6

  1986–87

  93·0

  1987–881

  94·9

  1 Provision.

  As Government expenditure on the SDA is expressed in net terms the figures are not illustrative of total agency expenditure resources over the years. This also partly explains the variations between years.

  Roads
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the light of advice by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on the effect of any reduction in the threshold or any increase in the proportion of works required to be put out to tender on roads authorities' ability to maintain adequate direct labour organisations, he will abandon his proposals to change the present direct labour organisation tendering regime.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. Last summer a survey of Scottish roads authorities was undertaken to 110
  find out the distribution of work between the direct labour organisations and private contractors in 1985–86, which was the first fully operational year of the present system (1984–85 having been a transitional year). The survey showed that it would be practicable to reduce from £50,000 to £25,000 the threshold above which all general roads work in Scotland must be put out to tender and, on 10 April 1987, it was announced that this reduction would be put into operation from 1 April 1988, subject to a further survey of the performance of Scottish roads authorities over the period 1986–87. The Scottish Development Department is analysing this second survey and a further announcement will be made in due course.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities regarding the impact of any further reduction in the threshold or increase in the proportion of works required to be put out to tender on the ability of roads departments to retain sufficient labour with the proper expertise to cope with a severe winter emergency.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has made known to the Scottish Development Department, on three separate occasions, its opposition to increased competition for roads work undertaken by roads authorities' direct labour organisations.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training Schemes (Easington)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of places on the job training scheme in Easington for each week since it started; how many places were taken; and how many trainees have dropped out.

  Mr. Cope
  Since 1 April 1987, a total of 521 people from the Easington area have been offered the opportunity to attend an information session about the new job training scheme and it is known that 109 of these have started on a scheme.

  Trainees leave the scheme for many reasons, some to get jobs. The Manpower Services Commission has commissioned a follow-up survey to look into the destinations of trainees. The first results will be available in the new year.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of serious accidents sustained by Manpower Services Commission trainees within Easington constituency during the last three years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. The number of major injuries to YTS trainees in the Durham area over the last three years to the end of September is 29. Comparable figures for adult trainees are not available.

  MSC accident figures have been compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive on employed persons. However, the Commission's figures will include a number of accidents to trainees in educational establishments which may not have been reportable to the Health and Safety Executive had the individuals been employed.
  111
  Up to 31 March 1986, major injuries were classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980. From 1 April 1986, major injuries are classified according to severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.

  JTS (Statistics)
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many contracted managing agents for new job training schemes are:(a) local authorities, (b) public sector colleges, (c) non-profit making or voluntary organisations and (d) private sector commercial training agencies, what is the number of traineeships planned for each sector; and what is the number of those who have entered work placements for each sector, at the latest available date.

  Mr. Cope
  At 30 October 1987, there were 314 managing agents across the country, of these 41 were local authorities, 16 were public sector colleges, 55 were nonprofit making or voluntary organisations, 177 were private training agencies and 25 were from the Skills Training Agency.

  The number of contracted starts for each sector is as follows:

  Starts

  (a) local authorities

  26,544

  (b) public sector colleges

  8,850

  (c) non-profit-making or voluntary organisations

  40,295

  (d) private sector commercial training agencies

  103,681

  (e) Skills Training Agency

  18,500

  Total

  197,870

  No information is available on the number of training placements with employers in each sector.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of new job training scheme trainees have had identified in their personal action plan a recognised qualification; and how many are expected to achieve the qualification during the training period.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available. The new JTS provides long-term unemployed people with a mix of directed training and practical experience with employers which may lead to a qualification or a credit towards one. At the outset of their training, when personal action plans are drawn up, it is not always possible to identify the potential qualifications that long-term unemployed people may achieve.

  YTS (Statistics)
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the regional occupancy rates on the YTS are at the latest date, and for equivalent dates for each year since the scheme started.

  Mr. Cope
  The table shows a regional breakdown of occupancy rates on YTS at the end of September for the five years 1983–1987.
  112

  Occupancy Percentage at end September

  Region

  19831

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  South East2

  49

  68

  72

  69

  71

  London

  37

  59

  60

  54

  55

  South West

  51

  73

  80

  76

  74

  West Midlands2

  52

  73

  76

  74

  71

  East Midlands + Eastern2

  77

  76

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  52

  74

  81

  77

  82

  North West

  53

  77

  82

  78

  74

  Northern

  60

  78

  78

  79

  71

  Wales

  54

  76

  83

  78

  76

  Scotland

  49

  70

  79

  75

  73

  Great Britain

  51

  72

  77

  74

  73

  1 The 1983 figures are considerably lower than in subsequent years due to the build up of YTS in its first year. The 1983 figures also exclude about 17,000 trainees on Construction Industry Training Board schemes.

  2 From April 1986 the midlands and south-east regional boundaries were redrawn to form new south-east, west midlands and east midlands regions.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many YTS trainees left the scheme to enrol in another scheme run by a different employer or a different managing agent in the current year.

  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission's latest follow-up survey of all young people who have left a YTS scheme during the period April 1986 to May 1987 shows that, in Great Britain 11 per cent. of leavers were enrolled on another YTS scheme at the time of the surveys.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of unemployed people in(a) Burnley, (b) Pendle, (c) Rossendale and (d) Accrington travel-to-work areas at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. On 8 October 1987, the numbers of unemployed claimants in the areas requested were as follows:

  Travel-to-work area

  Unemployed claimants

  Burnley

  4,575

  Pendle

  3,322

  Accrington and Rossendale

  4,915

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Disarmament
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to sustain the disarmament process following the intermediate nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to sustain the disarmament process following the signing of the intermediate nuclear forces agreement.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to sustain the disarmament process following the signing of the intermediate nuclear forces agreement.
  113
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he intends to take to sustain the process of arms control following the intermediate range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he intends to take toward further disarmament measures, in the light of the United States of America, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics agreement on intermediate range nuclear forces.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to sustain the disarmament process following the signing of the intermediate nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to sustain the disarmament process following the signing of the intermediate range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Mellor
  NATO's priorities for arms control post-INF are for 50 per cent. cuts in the strategic arms of the United States and Soviet Union, a global ban on chemical weapons and the elimination of conventional disparities between NATO and the Warsaw pact in Europe. We shall continue actively to promote and support these objectives.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the next stage in his discussions on arms control in Geneva following the signing of the intermediate range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the next stage in the discussion on arms control in Geneva following the signing of the intermediate range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the next stage in the discussion on arms control in Geneva following the intermediate nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The bilateral Geneva nuclear and space talks between the United States and Soviet Union will continue. We look forward to the completion of a treaty providing for a 50 per cent. reduction in the strategic offensive weapons of the United States and Soviet Union. The 40 members of the conference on disarmament will continue to work towards a comprehensive global and verifiable ban on chemical weapons.

  Conventional Stability Talks
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's position on conventional stability talks.

  Mr. Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's position on conventional stability talks.

  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's position on conventional stability talks.
  114
  Mr. Mellor
  We fully support the launching of conventional stability talks covering the Atlantic to the Urals, which were first called for in the NATO Brussels declaration of December 1986. To this end we are playing an active part in informal discussions between NATO and Warsaw pact representatives in Vienna aimed at agreeing a mandate for the negotiations which it is hoped will begin in the course of next year. The establishment of a stable and secure balance of forces in Europe at lower levels will be a primary objective of the Government in these negotiations, together with the elimination of disparities and of the Warsaw pact's capability for surprise attack and offensive action.

  Peace Accord (Central America)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about compliance by the Government of Honduras with the central American regional peace accord.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Central American Presidents will be considering the question on compliance with the peace agreement at their meeting in San Jose on 15 January, on the basis of information to be supplied by the International Verification and Monitoring Commission. We await their conclusions.

  Notifiable Military Activities
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in full in the Official Report the United Kingdom's calendar of notifiable military activities for 1988, as required under the 1986 Stockholm agreement on confidence-building measures.

  Mr. Mellor
  The United Kingdom's calendar is set out below. The format follows that laid down in the Stockholm document. In accordance with the Stockholm provisions a copy of this calendar was passed through diplomatic channels to all CSCE states before 15 November. We shall, as required, individually notify the exercises at least 42 days before they commence. We shall also follow the procedure in paragraph 32 of the document for exercises undertaken without advance notice to the troops involved.

  UNITED KINGDOM ANNUAL CALENDAR OF MILITARY ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO PRIOR NOTIFICATION

  No. 1: Exercise Iron Hammer

  56.1 (Type of military activity and its designation) Field Training exercise, exercise name: IRON HAMMER.

  56.2 (General characteristics and purpose of the military activity) To exercise armoured divisions and support forces.

  56.3 (States involved in the military activity) United Kingdom, Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium.

  56.4 (Area of the military activity, indicated by appropriate geographical features and/or defined by geographic coordinates) Germany in area bounded by:

  Salzgitter

  52.08N,

  10.20E

  Gottingen

  51.32N,

  09.56E

  Bad Pyrmont

  51.59N,

  09.15E

  Beckum

  51.45N,

  08.03E

  56.5 (Planned duration of the military activity and the 14-day period, indicated by dates, within which it is envisaged to start) 21 days: start date between 28 October and 10 November 1988.

  56.6 (The envisaged total number of troops engaged in the military activity) United Kingdom element 25,000.

  115

  56.7 (The types of armed forces involved in the military activity) Armoured division.

  56.8 (The envisaged level of command, under which the military activity will take place) Divisional.

  56.9 (The number and types of divisions whose participation in the military activity is envisaged) 1 armoured division (UK).

  56.10 (Any additional information concerning inter alia, components of armed forces, which the participating State planning the military activity considers relevant) Also participating are one independent brigade (FRG) and one independent regiment (Belgium).

  Note: This exercise involves 25,000 troops but interoperation with 1 GE (German) corps is expected.

  No. 2 Exercise Teamwork

  56.1 Amphibious landing. Exercise Name: TEAMWORK

  56.2 To demonstrate and improve readiness and effectiveness of NATO forces in amphibious operations.

  56.3 United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Norway

  56.4 Northern Norway in area bounded by:

  Harstad

  68.48N

  16.33E

  Bjerkvik

  68.33N

  17.33E

  Evenes

  68.28N

  16.43E

  Salangen

  68.54N

  17.28E

  56.5 1–2 days start between 9 and 23 September 1988

  56.6 UK element 2,800

  56.7 Amphibious forces

  56.8 Brigade (in conjunction with Norwegian regional command)

  56.9 Not applicable (one UK brigade)

  56.10

  (A) Involves landing craft and support helicopters.

  (B) This exercise runs concurrently with Norwegian National exercise BARFROST.

  (C) 700 Netherland troops will operate as an integral element of the UK amphibious brigade (this number is not included in paragraph 56.6 above).

  (D) This voluntary entry is provided for information without precedent for future United Kingdom calendars.

  1 October 1986

  1 October 1987

  1 October 1988

  Posts

  Entry clearance officers

  Supervisory staff

  Entry clearance officers

  Supervisory staff

  Entry clearance officers

  Supervisory staff

  Dhaka

  17

  4·15

  22

  4·15

  23

  4·15

  Accra

  ·50

  ·50

  2·50

  ·50

  2·50

  ·50

  Lagos

  3

  ·20

  12

  3·20

  12

  3·20

  Kaduna

  ·45

  ·05

  2·45

  1·05

  2·45

  1·05

  New Delhi

  5

  1

  13

  3

  13

  3

  Bombay

  5

  1

  11

  1

  11

  1·25

  Madras

  Nil

  Nil

  2

  Nil

  2

  Nil

  Calcutta

  0·90

  Nil

  0·90

  Nil

  0·90

  Nil

  Islamabad

  18

  2·65

  26

  3·65

  27

  3·65

  Karachi

  1·25

  ·20

  7·25

  1·20

  7·25

  1·20

  Total

  51·1

  9·75

  99·1

  17·75

  10·11

  18·00

  Note: Some staff have other duties apart from their entry clearance function.

  West Bank and Gaza
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to Israel concerning the right of spouses to join their partners in the West Bank and Gaza.

  Mr. Mellor
  We regularly urge the Israeli authorities to ease their restrictions on the reunification of Palestinian families.

  Exercise Purple Warrior
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of the official from his Department embarked on HMS Ark Royal during exercise Purple Warrior.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office official was playing the part of political adviser to the joint force commanders on foreign policy matters as required within the scenario of the exercise.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for relations between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union of the presence of British mercenary forces in Afghanistan.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have no knowledge of any such forces in Afghanistan.

  Visa Control
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total cost of administering visa control in the five countries which became subject to such visa control in October 1986; what is the estimated cost of administering such visa control over the coming year; how many entry control officers were in post on 1 October 1986 and 1 October 1987; how many entry control officers will be in post on 1 October 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The figures requested concerning present and future costs of administering visa control in the five countries are not immediately available. The figures will be communicated to the hon. Member as soon as they have been collated. The number of officers, excluding United Kingdom-based and locally engaged support staff, involved in entry clearance work is as follows:

  Territorial Limits
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions there have been with other member states about the effect of the extension of the United Kingdom's territorial limits on access to United Kingdom waters by European Community fishermen; and if he will make a statement.
  117
  Mr. Eggar
  Officials have had discussions with representatives of both France and Belgium and with the European Community Commission. There is a clear difference of legal opinion about the effects on other member states' fishing rights under Community law of the Territorial Sea Act 1987 which changed United Kingdom baselines in certain areas.

  The common fisheries policy settlement secured in January 1983 provided among other things for the continuation of previous arrangements under which member states are allowed to exclude vessels of other member states from fishing within their coastal belts, subject to recognition of certain rights of access which, in the case of the United Kingdom, were restricted to parts of our six to 12 mile belt calculated from the baselines of the territorial sea. As the result of the coming into force of the Territorial Sea Act 1987 on 1 October 1987, the six
  118
  to 12 mile belt around the United Kingdom, as measured from the new baselines, moved outwards in certain areas. Whilst our view is that the parts of our coastal belt where other European Community fishermen have access were altered accordingly, it has been put to us in the discussion that this infringed access rights under Community law.

  This difference in interpretation of Community law needs to be resolved and we remain in contact with the European Community Commission and the other member states concerned. In the present circumstances and bearing in mind the importance we attach to preserving the integrity and effectiveness of the common fisheries policy in the interests of the United Kingddom fishing industry, my right hon. Friend, the Fisheries Minister has instructed our fisheries enforcement officers to refrain from taking action which might exacerbate or extend the dispute until the legal question is resolved.

TRANSPORT

  Smoke Hoods
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will raise with the chairman of the British Airports Authority the refusal of a request from a franchise operator at one of the British Airways Authority's retail outlets to sell smoke hoods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. This a matter between BAA plc and the franchise operator. BAA plc did not consult us before taking its decision.

  M6
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any major road works are planned on the M6 between where it meets the M1 and the Preston exit in 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are currently planning to carry out the following major works on part of the M6 in 1988.

  Site

  Work

  Provisional start date and duration

  J6–7

  Resurfacing

  May, for approx 2 months.

  J9–10

  Resurfacing

  April, for approx 1 month.

  J13–14

  Overlay

  August, for approx 2 months.

  J16–17

  Reconstruction/Overlay

  February, for approx 5 months.

  J29–31

  Reconstruction/Overlay

  Advance works currently underway. Main works to commence February for approx 5 months.

  There will also he various bridge works taking place which may affect the main carriageway. It is hoped to carry out at least some of the works on lane rental contracts with the aim of minimising delays to the road user.

  Mersey Tunnel
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is prepared to write off part of the capital debt of the Mersey tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority has submitted an application for special financial assistance, which the Department is considering. I cannot anticipate the outcome of that examination.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is prepared to write off part of the capital debt of the Severn bridge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  It has been the policy of successive Governments that estuarial crossings promoted on the basis that costs would be met from tolls should be paid for by users who enjoy the savings in time and money that these undertakings make possible. The Severn bridge undertaking is capable of meeting the objectives of its enabling legislation, including the repayment of its capital debt.

  Traffic Offences (Vehicle Confiscation)
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to permit the confiscation of vehicles, the drivers of which have been convicted of manslaughter or dangerous or reckless driving or driving while under the influence of drink or drugs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Confiscation of vehicles following serious motoring offences is one of the issues being examined by the road traffic law review, under the independent chairmanship of Dr. Peter North. The report is due early next year.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the chairman of British Rail about future rail links between the Channel tunnel and the north-west of England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  It is the responsibility of British Rail to plan the provision of future rail links with the tunnel. Section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act requires them to publish proposals by 31 December 1989. I understand that the board intends to consult widely during the preparation of this plan.

  Radioactive Material (Manchester Airport)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what radioactive material has been flown from or to Manchester airport; and where its destination and its departure points were, over the most recent period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There is no requirement for this Department to keep records of this traffic. I understand that the amounts of radioactive material being transported from British Nuclear Fuels sites via Manchester airport are small samples going regularly to Euratom establishments in Europe, primarily for verification purposes.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what future plans exist to fly radioactive material through Manchester airport; to what destination; and from what departure points.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I understand that British Nuclear Fuels has no plans to use Manchester airport for shipments of radioactive materials over and above the present consignments of very small sample quantities.

  London Underground
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the railway inspectorate is consulted about layout and materials when tube stations are refurbished; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Only when the refurbishment involves significant structural alterations.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the railway inspectorate was consulted before London Underground decided to erect wire cages to prevent fare evasions at automatic ticket barriers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  London Underground has no plans to erect wire cages to prevent fare evasion at existing
  121
  automatic ticket barriers or the new ones which are not yet in service, hence there is no question of it consulting with the railway inspectorate on this matter. Any temporary partition which may have been seen near the sites of new barriers has been erected for short periods during construction.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent the railway inspectorate bears in mind arguments on cost when considering proposals affecting the safety of the London Underground.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  London Regional Transport has a statutory duty to provide or secure the provision of public passenger transport services in London and in so doing to have due regard to efficiency, economy and safety of operation. In considering proposals affecting the safety of the London Underground the railway inspectorate also bears these requirements in mind.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the matters to do with safety on the London Underground on which the railway inspectorate has changed its advice to London Underground since 1979.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The railway inspectorate's main advice to London Underground is contained in the Department's published requirements for railway construction and operation, and in the remarks and recommendations of its accident inquiry reports. The advice given by these means has not changed in any significant manner since 1979. In the matter of the one-person operation of trains the inspectorate accepted, before the introduction of one-person operation on the Piccadilly line in August this year, LUL's revised detailed criteria for one-person operation in tube tunnels. On matters concerning staff safety, the inspectorate frequently gives advice or requires action under the health and safety at work legislation, and some of this advice may be varied from time to time in response to changing circumstances.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the railway inspectorate advises London Underground on safety training and safety procedures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Whilst these are primarily matters for London Underground Limited, the inspectorate has commented on them in its published accident inquiry reports. Advice is also given where necessary in furtherance of the inspectorate's enforcement duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the railway inspectorate carries out safety inspections of the London Underground; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Details of the inspectorate's safety inspection work, which covers all railways in Great Britain, including the London Underground, were given in the answer on 3 December.

  British Rail (Line Closures)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the implications for the operation by British Rail of procedures involving the closure of lines of the recent decision of the Appeal Court in relation to the Wortley Curve; and if he will make a statement.
  122
  Mr. David Mitchell
  It is in the first instance British Rail's responsibility to consider the implications of the judgment.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to refuse any application from British Rail for closure of the Wortley curve.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  No. My right hon. Friend will consider any such application on its merits.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that any public inquiry into a proposal to close the Wortley curve will have terms of reference to take account of the future social and economic effects of the closure.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  In considering any rail closure case, my right hon. Friend is already required by section 54(1) of the Transport Act 1968 to have regard to any matters which for the time being appear to him to be relevant, including any social or economic consideration.

  Railway Inspectorate
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total of professional and nonprofessional staff of the railway inspectorate in 1978–79 and in each year since.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer on 3 December.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total cost in 1978–79 prices of the railway inspectorate in 1978–79 and each year since.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I regret that reliable figures for the total cost of the railway inspectorate are unavailable for the years before 1984–85.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the railway inspectorate staff are deployed full-time on work on the London Underground.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  None, since the inspectorate is not organised in that fashion.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Wheat Exports
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the highest and the lowest restitution payment made in respect of wheat exported from the United Kingdom since 1 August.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Different levels of restitution are paid for grain exported from the open market and from intervention. In the latter case, the subsidy required to export the grain is reflected in the selling price, which also takes account of the level of the MCA. The refund itself is small and fixed; during the period since 1 August 1987 it has been less than the MCA, resulting in a charge on exports; the highest and lowest charges have been £6·26 and £2·98 per tonne respectively.

  The highest and lowest levels of refund on exports from the open market during this period have been £65·37 and £47·98 per tonne respectively (net of the United Kingdom MCA). Since these refunds apply throughout the

  123
  Community and export licences are valid for five months, it is impossible to say what levels of refund applied to exports from the United Kingdom during this period.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what evaluation his Department is making of the progress of environmentally sensitive areas;

  (2) whether he intends to produce a report on farming practices within environmentally sensitive areas;

  (3) what evidence he has about the output from farmers in environmentally sensitive areas farming in accordance with regulations issued under the Agriculture Act 1986 in relation to output from comparable farmers outside the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  We are in the process of establishing a monitoring programme for environmentally sensitive areas. This will gather and analyse information on landscape, wildlife, historic features, farming practices and socio-economic developments. Our objective will be to assess the scheme's effects on these inter-related items and, as the hon. Member suggests, to monitor output trends on agreement and non-agreement land. However, the scheme was launched only nine months ago and it is, therefore, too early to gather meaningful evidence about output trends. I hope to publish a first report, as required by section 18(8) of the Agriculture Act 1986, during the course of 1988.

  Intervention Stocks
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date Her Majesty's Government accepted responsibility for paying 25 per cent. of the cost of storing food in intervention; and what has been the cost of this contribution since that date.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: Further to my reply of 3 December at column 707, the reduction in reimbursement rates from December 1985 has marginally reduced the United Kingdom's net contribution to storage of food in intervention. For 1986 our receipts from the Community were cut by about £23 million, but our payments to the Community (net of Fontainebleau abatement) dropped by about £24 million, an overall gain of about £1 million.

  Butter
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what sale price, expressed in pence per pound, Her Majesty's Government released for sale

  Type of inspection

  Holdings visited

  Underpayments discovered

  Underpayments as percentage of holdings visited

  Test inspection

  2,577

  74

  2·9

  Inspections arising from complaints

  125

  45

  36·0

  Total

  2,702

  119

  4·4

  Mink and Coypu
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mink and coypu farms,
  124
  the 97,190 tons of butter between 1 December 1986 and 31 October 1987 under the arrangements referred to in his reply of 30 November.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: The butter referred to in my reply of 30 November was sold under two schemes, either for processing into concentrated butter for cooking at a fixed price of 12·27p per pound or for use in compound animal feed at a price, set by monthly tender, of between 2·11p and 2·19p per pound.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount of butter exported by the United Kingdom in each of the calendar years 1975 to 1986; and what total amount has been exported in 1987 up till the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: The data requested are set out in the table:

  United Kingdom Exports of Butter 1975–1987

  (Tonnes)

  1975

  3,135

  1976

  16,029

  1977

  14,504

  1978

  57,388

  1979

  61,807

  1980

  80,075

  1981

  73,169

  1982

  63,307

  1983

  53,264

  1984

  24,517

  1983

  24,926

  1986

  33,205

  11987

  92,039

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  1 January-September.

  Farm Wages
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many of the 2,900 holdings visited by agricultural wages inspectors in 1986 cases were discovered of the underpayment of wages; and what this represents as a percentage of the holdings inspected.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 4 December 1987]: Agricultural wages inspectors visit holdings either on routine test inspections or in response to complaints, the latter revealing a much higher proportion of underpayments than the former. The detailed figures for England in 1986 were as follows:

  respectively, there are at present in each region of the United Kingdom, and how many of each species are so kept.
  125
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 4 December 1987]: There are no mink farms in Wales. For other parts of the United Kingdom the position was Scotland seven, Northern Ireland one as at 1 December. By MAFF region the position in England was:

  Number

  As at

  Northern

  15

  24 November 1987

  Midlands and West

  16

  24 November 1987

  Eastern

  7

  3 December 1987

  South Eastern

  6

  31 March 1987

  South Western

  7

  3 December 1987

  Details of the numbers of mink held on these farms are not available, but it seems likely that the total number is of the order of 100,000. There are no coypu farms in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any estimates of the number of mink and coypu presently in the wild in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 4 December 1987]: Mink are now very numerous in the wild and are spread over most parts of mainland Britain; they are also well established in Northern Ireland. However, my Department has no reliable scientific data on the numbers involved.

  Coypus in the wild have been confined to East Anglia where an eradication campaign has been under way since 1981. None have been found since April 1987, but eradication cannot be confirmed until 1989 at the earliest.

  Agriculture (Code of Practice)
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his intention to implement immediately the Health and Safety Commission's new code of practice in relation to agriculture.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: My responsibilities for such codes are limited to agricultural workers employed by my Department. It is my intention to implement them in so far as they apply to particular employees.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if any special measures will be introduced when the poll tax is implemented to offset the circumstances of agricultural workers for tied cottages who at present do not pay rates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: No. Rates are payable on tied cottages under the present system and farmers frequently agree to meet this bill on behalf of their employees. In such cases, rates can be treated as taxable expenses for the employers and as taxable benefits for the employees. It is intended under the new system that employees should still be able to agree with their employers to meet the community charge.

  Food Regulations
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all regulations that have been made, and are still in force under section 13, subparagraph(b) of the Food Act 1984.
  126
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 2 December 1987]: Regulations made under section 13(2)(b) of the Food Act 1984, are made jointly with the Secretary of State for Social Services and the Secretary of State for Wales; the following deal specifically with matters referred to in paragraph (2)(b) and are still in force:
  The Slaughterhouses (Hygiene) Regulations 1977, S.I. No. 1805,
  The Fresh Meat Export (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1981, S.I. No. 454 (as amended by S.I. 1983 No. 173 and S.I. 1985 No. 216),
  The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970, S.I. No. 1172,
  The Imported Food Regulations 1984, S.I. No. 1918, The Food Hygiene (Markets, Stalls and Delivery Vehicles) Regulations 1966, S.I. No. 791 (as amended by S.I. 1966 No. 1487), and
  The Food Hygiene (Docks, Carriers, Etc.) Regulations 1960, S.I. No. 1602.

  Alternative Land Use
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to bring forward detailed proposals for the set aside of agricultural land.

  Mr. Gummer
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1987, c. 1201]: We are today publishing, jointly with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, a detailed consultation document seeking the views of interested organisations on the implementation in the United Kingdom of the Community scheme for extensification of production. We are placing copies of the document in the Library of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Strangford Lough
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take appropriate action to have produced, as a matter of urgency, a comprehensive plan for the future development of Strangford lough which will identify suitable locations for commercial marine farming, salmon farming and the holding cages for brood salmon stock, consistent with sensible conservation policies.

  Mr. Needham
  It is the intention of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland to bring forward a proposal to designate Strangford lough as a marine nature reserve and to designate the shoreline of the lough as an area of special scientific interest. The need to prepare a plan for the management of the lough in the context of these designations has been accepted and consideration is presently being given to the form of the plan. The urgency of the matter is readily accepted and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Republic of Ireland
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what subjects were discussed at his last meeting with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  I last met representatives of the Irish Government at the Intergovernmental Conference on 16 November. As noted in the joint statement issued after the meeting, a copy of which has been placed in the Library,
  127
  the discussion centered on key aspects of the security situation on which both sides agreed on the need for a very positive response.

  Sex Discrimination Act 1975
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to follow the proposed changes to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 announced by the Secretary of State for Employment on 28 October; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  Yes. I will be bringing forward legislative proposals in due course to replicate whatever changes are made in Great Britain. Likewise a consultation document on the proposed changes to the Northern Ireland legislation will be issued in the near future.

  Redundancy Payments
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if changes in the age limits for statutory redundancy payments proposed for Great Britain will also be introduced in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  Yes.

  Playgroups
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage area health and social services boards to adopt uniform policies towards the provision of grant aid for pre-school playgroups.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 3 December 1987]: In providing grant aid for pre-school playgroups health and social services boards operate within general guidelines issued by the Departmemt. However, boards are responsible for the planning, management and delivery of services within their respective areas and consequently must be free to determine needs and priorities in the light of local circumstances, including the competing needs of other client groups. Some disparity in the provision of grant aid is therefore inevitable.

  Hydraulic Rams
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications have been received by the Local Enterprise Development Unit during 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987 for grant aid to manufacture hydraulic rams; how many were successful; how many have been turned down, what was the reason for refusal; and if he will list the applications under each heading.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: I am informed that the number of applications involving the manufacture of hydraulic rams considered by the LEDU in the past four years was as follows:

  No. of applications

  No. Successful

  No. Turned Down

  1984

  1

  1

  —

  1985

  2

  1

  1

  1986

  —

  —

  —

  1987

  2

  1

  1

  128
  In the two unsuccessful cases I understand that LEDU considered that neither had sufficient prospects of commercial viability.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the total number of redundancies in the shipbuilding industry in Northern Ireland during the period from 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1986.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: It is estimated that the total number of redundancies during this period at Harland and Wolff—the only significant shipbuilding company in Northern Ireland—was some 4460.

  Flood Relief (Coal)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who made the decision to restrict the distribution of the stockpile of coal donated by British Coal for flood relief in Northern Ireland to Omagh urban and Strabane district council areas; and by what criteria these areas and individual beneficiaries were chosen and other areas and individuals excluded.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 7 December 1987]: British Coal's generous donation of coal was made on the understanding that it would be used to help those people who suffered flood damage in Strabane and Omagh, the areas most severely affected. The criterion adopted by the voluntary organisations responsible for the local distribution of coal was that supplies should be made available to every household directly affected by the flooding within the urban area of Omagh and the district council area of Strabane.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Standing Committees (Reports)
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will give instructions to Her Majesty's Stationery Office that, in future, bound volumes covering the proceedings of Standing Committees shall include a copy of the Bills debated by the Committees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lawson
  Her Majesty's Stationery Office prints Standing Committee bound volumes at the instruction of the House. Any change to the existing contents and format would therefore be a matter for the appropriate House Committee to consider.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  John Manley
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when John Manley, recently sentenced to life imprisonment by Leeds Crown court, was last examined by a Home Office doctor; what assessment was made by that doctor of Manley's condition; if the doctor's report was made available to Bradford magistrates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In reports to Bradford magistrates' court on 6 November 1986 and I December 1986 a
  129
  consultant forensic psychiatrist indicated that, in his opinon and that of other staff at his hospital, Mr. Manley should be regarded as suffering from a psychopathic disorder of an inadequate and hysterical type. He indicated, however, that although Mr. Manley had the potential for acting aggressively after he had been drinking to excess, he was a danger to himself rather than to others. The doctor last saw Mr. Manley on about 17 December 1986.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Bradford probation service was not informed when the arrangements for supervising John Manley were transferred from Lincoln to Bradford; why his records were not passed to Bradford probation service; and why he was placed in a hostel.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 9 April 1986 Mr. Manley appeared before Lincoln Crown court and was bailed to a hostel in Bradford. The decision to place Mr. Manley in the hostel was a matter for the court.

  Unfortunately, as a result of a failure in communications, the Bradford probation service was not made aware of Mr. Manley's status as a conditionally discharged restricted patient. He was, however, under the supervision of the warden of the hostel and was seen by a liaison probation officer for the hostel.

  On 28 April 1986 Mr. Manley was made subject to a probation order with a condition of residence at the hostel. His supervising probation officer learned a few weeks later that Mr. Manley was a conditionally discharged restricted patient. He made contact with Lincolnshire social services department, who subsequently sent him papers concerning Mr. Manley.

  Traffic Wardens
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the training given to traffic wardens in traffic control procedures.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The training of traffic wardens is a matter for individual chief officers of police. Detailed information about the content of local training is not held centrally. However, we are sure that chief officers understand the need for the training to give appropriate emphasis to traffic control functions.

  British Telecom
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received from the Greater Manchester police authority concerning the costs of the new maintenance provisions introduced by British Telecom; what reply has been sent; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Department has received a letter from the Greater Manchester police authority and has replied to the effect that this is a matter for agreement between the authority and British Telecom.

  DNA Blood Tests
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many DNA blood test result reports were awaiting decision at his Department on 1 January; how many such reports are currently awaiting 130
  decision; how many such reports have been received since 1 September and in how many cases a decision has been taken by his Department in the current year;

  (2) in how many cases, concerning DNA blood test result reports, a decision has been taken by his Department since 1 September; and in those cases for how long on average they had been in his Department's possession before a decision was reached.

  Mr. Renton
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to take decisions on the individual cases included in the pilot DNA study conducted by his Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; how many individual cases were included in the study; and when the study and its recommendation will be published.

  Mr. Renton
  Decisions are already being taken. The trial was intended to extend to 40 families, but the final figure is likely to be a few less than this. I expect to place a report on the outcome of the trial in the Library in the new year.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in his Department are concerned with considering DNA blood test results; and what action he is taking to increase the number of such staff; and to raise their level of qualification.

  Mr. Hurd
  A number of officers in the immigration and nationality department make various administrative checks on reports of the results of DNA tests, produced in support of immigration applications. None, however, are engaged in this work full time. I am satisfied that this work is being dealt with at the right level.

  In addition, 16 staff are employed in the forensic science service wholly, or mainly, in carrying out scientific tests on evidential material, involving DNA techniques. This is expected to increase to 22 by June 1988. I am satisfied that these officers are suitably qualified for their scientific duties.

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in the past year immigration appeal adjudicators have criticised his Department for delays in checking evidence of identity using DNA test results; in how many appeal cases in the past year his Department has applied for appeals to be adjourned; and in how many cases in the past year immigration appeal adjudicators have refused his Department's adjournment applications.

  Mr. Renton
  This information is not available but I can confirm that where DNA evidence is produced before the appellate authorities unexpectedly or at short notice it is the practice of the Department to apply for an adjournment so that checks can be made to ensure that the DNA test report is reliable, including in particular that the recommended procedures for blood sampling have been followed.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements will be made for the automatic return to France of passengers not accepted for entry into the United Kingdom who have passed through the Channel tunnel and subsequently French immigration controls.
  131
  Mr. Renton
  The arrangements which will be made for the immigration control of passengers using the Channel tunnel are still under consideration. Officials are discussing them with officials of the French Government.

  Foreign Visitors
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish rules concerning the reduction of the maximum time visitors may visit the United Kingdom; when he proposes to introduce this reduction; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  We intend to publish shortly the changes in the immigration rules which my right hon. Friend announced on 16 November in respect of visitors, au pairs, business men and certain others. The changes will come into effect on 1 February 1988.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from individuals or organisations urging that the maximum time for visitors to the United Kingdom be reduced from a year to six months; what rights of appeal visitors will have against any decision to refuse an extension beyond six months; and what discretionary powers he will have to grant extensions to visitors on compassionate grounds.

  Mr. Renton
  None. We have, however, received a large number of representations about delays in immigration casework and it was partly in response to that concern that we are taking the measures announced in the House on 16 November. Appeal rights for a person refused leave to remain as a visitor at any point will remain unchanged. As my right hon. Friend indicated on 16 November, it will always be possible for him to exercise his discretion, as at present, to allow visitors to stay for longer than the permitted maximum on compassionate grounds. The exercise of such discretion is however to be used only very sparingly and in genuinely deserving cases.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases(a) men, (b) women and (c) children, having been refused visas to visit the United Kingdom, and living in the five countries which became subject to visa control in October 1986, have applied to appeal against the refusal to grant a visa; in how many cases such appeals have been (i) withdrawn, (ii) upheld, (iii) refused and (iv) pending; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The information available centrally relates only to appeals received by the immigration appellate authorities from Bangladeshis, Indians and Pakistanis, and is given in the table. Separate information on men, women and children and information on visit appeals pending, is not available.

  Appeals to immigration adjudicators by visitors1 against a refusal of entry clearance, October 1986 to September 1987

  Number of persons

  Appeals

  Nationality of appellant

  2Received

  3Allowed

  3Dismissed

  3Withdrawn

  Bangladesh

  347

  23

  121

  25

  India

  166

  25

  44

  17

  Pakistan

  441

  23

  59

  19

  132

  1 Including students.

  2 Including appeals against a refusal of optional entry clearance prior to 15 October 1986.

  3 Including those which were received prior to October 1986.

  Bishara Smara
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Government of Israel on the recent deportation of Bishara Smara.

  Mr. Hurd
  None.

  Heathrow Underground Loop
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras of 3 December, whether the practical tests on the Heathrow underground loop referred to involved staff wearing breathing equipment; and whether the tests included simulated smoke and other hazards.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The London fire brigade has informed us that two firefighters paced the distance wearing breathing apparatus in darkness using hand-held torches. Simulated smoke was not used, but account was taken in the test of its likely effect on progress.

  Mr. Ivan Uribe
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce his decision on the case of Mr. Ivan Uribe, currently in Her Majesty's prison Armley awaiting the result of his application for asylum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  A decision on Mr. Uribe's application for asylum will be reached when the issues raised by the Court of Appeal judgment in the case of Sivakumaran and others have been resolved.

  Firearms (Kent Police)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Kent as to in what year Sterling AR 180 automatic rifles were acquired by Kent police;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Kent as to how many Sterling AR 180 automatic rifles are currently in the possession of Kent police;

  (3) whether he will call for a report from the chief constable for Kent on the use of Sterling automatic AR 180 rifles by Kent police;

  (4) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Kent as to what firearms Kent police are permitted to use in training and operational exercises;

  (5) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Kent as to from whom Kent police acquired Sterling AR 180 automatic rifles and when;

  (6) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Kent as to the means by which Sterling AR 180 automatic rifles were disposed of by Kent police.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Sterling AR 18 automatic rifles. Twelve of these were procured by Kent constabulary from a firearms dealer in 1978 for a particular anti-terrorist operation, at the conclusion of which they were destroyed. Kent
  133
  constabulary is not currently in possession of such weapons. The firearms available to Kent constabulary for use in training and operational exercises are the same as those to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 27 November at column 370.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the chief constable of Kent on investigation into the disappearance of 66 jungle carbines from the premises of QED at Borough Green, Kent.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Kent that this matter is the subject of an investigation as a complaint against the police under section 85 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. A report will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and to the independent Police Complaints Authority upon completion of the investigation.

  Prisoners (Visits)
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the special arrangements made for 134
  right hon. and hon. Members to visit prisoners apply also to members of their staff or other persons who may wish to accompany them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  The arrangements in question are personal to hon. and right hon. Members and to peers, and will only be extended to members of their staff or anyone else if the responsible Minister is satisfied that exceptional circumstances make it right to do so.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 14-year-olds leaving detention centres in 1983 were reconvicted within two years.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information specific to 14-year-olds could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Estimates of reconvictions of detention centre trainees aged 14 to 16 who were discharged in 1983 were published in table 8.3 of "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1986" (Cm. 210), copies of which are in the Library.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many(a) administrative and (b) clerical staff are employed by his Department (i) throughout the United Kingdom and (ii) in London; how many of them in each role work in connection with (1) the Health Service, (2) social security and (3) other services of his Department; how many such staff are currently employed by (a) regional and (b) district health authorities; and what is the total annual cost of all such staff.

  Mr. Portillo
  The numbers of whole-time equivalent administrative and clerical staff employed in the Department on 1 October 1987 are shown in the following table:

  Administrative

  Clerical

  Location

  United Kingdom1

  30,825

  63,201

  London pay area2

  6,500

  10,000

  Function2

  Health service3

  2,000

  2,500

  Social security

  29,000

  60,500

  1 London staff are included in the United Kingdom figures.

  2 The numbers quoted for London staff in Location and all figures in Function are estimates.

  3 Includes staff engaged on related Personal Social Services work.

  A comparable breakdown for staff employed in the National Health Service is not available. On 30 September 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, the total number of administrative and clerical staff employed by health authorities in England was estimated to be

  Number

  Regional health authorities

  7,800

  District health authorities

  95,400

  Other employing authorities

  8,100

  At a total annual salary cost of £875 million.

  Domiciliary Consultants
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to make available, on the same basis as in Scotland, information relating to the cost of domiciliary consultants in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The costs of domiciliary consultations are not currently available. However, from the statistics collected by the Department, an estimate of the cost can be made. The number of domiciliary consultations undertaken in England and Wales in the 12 months ended 30 September 1986 was 387,394. At present rates the cost in a full year is estimated to be about £13 million.

  Following the sixth report of the steering group on health services information (the Körner committee), from 1988–89 arrangements have been made for the total cost of health authorities' expenditure on domiciliary visits by consultants to be identified separately in their annual accounts.

  Cancer
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the incidence of each type of cancer as a percentage of the incidence of all types in(a) the Norwich district health authority area, and (b) nationally.

  Mrs. Currie
  The nearest available information on incidence of cancer is the registration of newly diagnosed cases of cancer. In order to avoid the problem of small numbers of registrations, the data are shown for the latest five-year period.

  Percentage distribution of registrations of newly diagnosed cases of cancer by type of cancer, persons, all ages. Usual residents of Norwich Health District (1980–81), Norwich District Health Authority (1982–84), England and Wales 1980–84

  ICD(9) category and site description

  Norwich

  England and Wales

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  140–208 All malignant neoplasms

  100·00

  100·00

  Malignant neoplasm of:

  140 Lip

  0·42

  0·14

  141 Tongue

  0·22

  0·30

  142 Major salivary glands

  0·20

  0·16

  143 Gum

  0·06

  0·07

  144 Floor of mouth

  0·12

  0·13

  145 Other and unspecified parts of mouth

  0·09

  0·16

  146 Oropharynx

  0·17

  0·17

  147 Nasopharynx

  0·07

  0·10

  148 Hypopharynx

  0·20

  0·19

  149 Other and ill-defined site within the lip, oral cavity and pharynx

  0·05

  0·08

  150 Oesophagus

  2·06

  2·06

  151 Stomach

  4·71

  5·85

  152 Small intestine, including duodenum

  0·17

  0·16

  153 Colon

  7·76

  7·39

  154 Rectum, rectosigmoid junction and anus

  4·69

  4·80

  155 Liver and intrahepatic bile ducts

  0·22

  0·50

  156 Gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts

  0·50

  0·60

  157 Pancreas

  2·89

  2·88

  158 Retroperitoneum and peritoneum

  0·20

  0·14

  159 Other and ill-defined sites within the digestive organs and peritoneum

  0·16

  0·18

  160 Nasal cavities, middle ear and accessory sinuses

  0·17

  0·18

  161 Larynx

  0·73

  0·88

  162 Trachea, bronchus and lung

  15·59

  18·21

  163 Pleura

  0·27

  0·21

  163 Thymus, heart and mediastinum

  0·05

  0·06

  165 Other and ill-defined sites within the respiratory system and intrathoracic organs

  —

  0·01

  170 Bone and articular cartilage

  0·12

  0·24

  171 Connective and other soft tissue

  0·43

  0·41

  172 Malignant melanoma of skin

  1·42

  1·10

  173 Other malignant neoplasm of skin

  13·65

  10·81

  174 Female breast

  11·27

  10·85

  175 Male breast

  10·06

  0·09

  179 Uterus, part unspecified

  10·06

  0·23

  180 Cervix uteri

  1·84

  1·98

  181 Placenta

  10·01

  0·01

  182 Body of uterus

  2·24

  1·72

  183 Ovary and other uterine adnexa

  2·45

  2·26

  137

  ICD(9) category and site description

  Norwich

  England and Wales

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  184 Other and unspecified female genital organs

  0·79

  0·51

  185 Prostate

  6·22

  4·59

  186 Testis

  0·49

  0·44

  187 Penis and other male genital organs

  10·18

  0·17

  188 Bladder

  3·17

  4·61

  189 Kidney and other and unspecified urinary organs

  1·44

  1·51

  190 Eye

  0·20

  0·16

  191 Brain

  1·29

  1·35

  192 Other and unspecified parts of nervous system

  10·04

  0·07

  193 Thyroid gland

  0·49

  0·40

  194 Other endorcrine glands and related structures

  10·06

  0·09

  195 Other and ill-defined sites

  10·07

  0·32

  196 Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes

  0·30

  0·28

  197 Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive systems

  3·14

  1·41

  198 Secondary malignant neoplasm of other specified sites

  0·85

  0·80

  199 Without specification of site

  0·42

  2·18

  200 Lymphosarcoma and reticulosarcoma

  10·18

  0·46

  201 Hodgkin's disease

  0·57

  0·63

  202 Other malignant neoplasm of lymphoid and histiocytic tissues

  1·57

  1·50

  203 Multiple myeloma and immunoproliferative neoplasms

  1·02

  1·03

  204 Lymphoid leukaemia

  0·87

  0·89

  205 Myeloid leukaemia

  1·11

  0·91

  206 Monocytic leukaemia

  10·04

  0·05

  207 Other specified leukaemia

  10·03

  0·03

  208 Leukaemia of unspecified cell type

  10·15

  0·25

  1 Based on less than 20 registrations.

  Lithotripsy
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether lithotripsy is now available in the Merseyside health authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The number of patients in Mersey requiring treatment on a lithotripter is at present insufficient to justify the regional health authority purchasing its own machine.

  North Western regional healt authority is able to offer lithotripsy to patients from the Mersey region as a supra-regional service. Patients receive treatment at the Withington hospital, Manchester.

  This arrangement works well and no patient from the Mersey region is waiting for access to the machine.

  Upholstery
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to amend the standard required for National Health Service contract upholstery from BS5852 Part 2 crib 5 to crib 7; and if he will make a statement.
  138
  Mrs. Currie
  No. It has been common practice to allow the use of flammable foam upholstery core materials protected by means of fire-retardant covering fabrics. However, fire-retardant core materials have recently been introduced and we propose to specify these for use in National Health Service premises. By removing the potential hazard of the high flammability core, the desirability of seeking covering materials with higher ignition resistance is much reduced. To raise the acceptability standard of the cover material unnecessarily would reduce choice of fabrics and invite higher costs.

  Present National Health Service flammability requirements are considerably more stringent than those set by the Upholstered Furniture (Safety) Regulations.

  Benefits
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time between being signed off sickness benefit and signing on to unemployment benefit from the receipt of the last sickness benefit and the receipt of the first unemployment benefit in cases between the Hull Britannia House and Oriel House branches of his Department and the Hull Market Place Department of Employment.

  Mr. Portillo
  The final payment of sickness benefit is normally issued by the Department's local office within two to three days of receipt of a final medical certificate. When a person claims unemployment benefit at the unemployment benefit office he is allocated a signing day according to the initial letter of his surname and the first payment of unemployment benefit is usually issued by the central computer system on the first day after he next signs on. The first payment of unemployment benefit will therefore normally be received between five and 17 days after unemployment benefit is claimed — the later the day of issue, the more days' benefit will be included. The result is to put the claimant in cycle for fortnightly payments thereafter. I am not aware of any particular difficulty arising at the Hull offices.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the total number of bed losses in National Health Service hospitals in each district health authority for each year since 1982; and how many of them were acute beds.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 24 November 1987]: The available information is given in tables which have been placed in the Library. The tables also show for the acute sector the numbers of in-patient cases treated by each health authority between the years 1982 and 1986. For England as a whole the number of in-patient cases treated has risen by 10·9 per cent.

  London Hospitals
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the cost per case treated for each of the London postgraduate hospitals in each of the last five financial years.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 26 November 1987]: The costing returns submitted to the Department show the average costs per in-patient case as follows:
  139

  Hospital

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Hospital for Sick Children

  1,457·92

  1,456·19

  1,539·90

  1,760·25

  1,930·99

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children

  660·11

  772·56

  795·05

  715·91

  796·40

  Hospital for Nervous Diseases

  1,591·08

  1,759·10

  1,875·14

  2,324·29

  2,086·11

  Moorfields Eye Hospital

  507·16

  515·53

  561·50

  575·70

  597·46

  Bethlem Royal and Maudsley1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Brompton

  1,383·63

  1,443·72

  1,517·19

  1,630·90

  1,891·91

  Brompton Frimley2

  765·10

  834·91

  1,131·03

  —

  —

  London Chest

  1,320·12

  1,488·12

  1,331·58

  1,543·86

  1,642·75

  National Heart

  2,491·17

  2,298·89

  2,501·67

  2,342·67

  2,480·83

  Royal Marsden

  1,019·06

  1,118·57

  1,181·51

  1,188·78

  1,156·96

  Royal Marsden Surrey

  969·61

  998·75

  928·87

  1,042·36

  1,060·16

  Hammersmith

  1,083·61

  1,111·64

  1,132·53

  1,182·84

  1,245·69

  Acton1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Queen Charlottes Maternity

  808·43

  802·27

  820·46

  792·40

  878·47

  Chelsea Hospital for Women

  408·70

  441·73

  448·33

  495·45

  610·72

  Eastman Dental3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Average costs per case in respect of hospitals providing long stay treatment are not meaningful.

  2 This hospital closed in December 1984.

  3 This hospital had no in-patients during the period.

  Health Districts
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which health districts in England have a higher proportion of their population over the age of 65 years than Eastbourne; and which health districts have a lower resource allocation working party target position than Eastbourne.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 30 November 1987]: The Hastings and Worthing health districts both had a higher proportion of their population over the age of 65 than Eastbourne in 1986 (the latest available population estimate). The detailed figures are as follows:

  Proportion of population over 65

  Males per cent.

  Females per cent.

  Persons per cent.

  England

  12·6

  18·2

  15·4

  Eastbourne

  20·5

  28·8

  25·0

  Worthing

  21·2

  31·3

  26·7

  Hastings

  21·0

  30·1

  25·9

  Regions use a variety of methods for calculating districts' resource allocation targets, and it is not therefore possible to draw comparisons between districts in different regions.

  District Health Authorities (Hospitals)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for each district health authority, and for each year since 1979(a) whole hospitals closed permanently and the numbers of beds lost and (b) partial permanent hospital closures and the number of beds lost.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 3 December 1987]: The hospitals approved for (a) complete closure and (b) partial closure, and the beds in each hospital, between January 1979 and December 1986, are listed in a table which has been placed in the Library. It should be noted that closure plans may be modified, delayed or even dropped after approval is obtained. Since many of these closures were the direct consequence of new hospitals opening and since others have reopened in the voluntary and private sector it is impossible to say how many beds were "lost".

  "Pregnancy Book"
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when the "Pregnancy Book", published in 1984, will be published in languages other than English; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 3 December 1987]: The Health Education Authority, which publishes the "Pregnancy Book", has no plans to issue it in languages other than English. It does, however, publish the following leaflets in five Asian languages (Gujerati, Punjabi., Urdu, Hindi and Bengali):

  A Healthy Pregnancy

  Maternal and Child Health Clinics

  Why You Need Vitamin D

  Are You Pregnant?

  Breast Feeding

  It also supports the production of videos in Asian languages. These include "Be Prepared: Be Happy", a 20-minute video in Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Gujerati, Punjabi and Mirpuri.

  Catalytic Converters
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on medical research and judgment in West Germany with regard to the effects on health of catalytic converters for motor vehicles.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 4 December 1987]: I am advised that the West German report has been examined and there is nothing to support the hypothesis that the use of catalytic converters leads to harmful health effects.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the effects on health of(a) platinum or (b) other substances produced as a result of catalytic converters in motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 4 December 1987]: I am advised that no appreciable amount of platinum would be released into the air from catalytic converters. Neither platinum nor any other substances in the quantities likely to be released from this source pose any risk to health.

  District Health Authorities (Contracts)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give details of all new contracts
  141
  awarded since 31 December 1986 by each district health authority, by hospital, for (a) portering, (b) catering, (c) laundry, (d) cleaning and (e) other ancillary work; and if he will give the estimated annual savings for each contract awarded;

  (2) if he will give the latest figures as a percentage of services put out to tender by each district health authority for (a) catering, (b) domestic services, and (c) laundry; and if he will give the estimated annual savings.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 November 1987, c. 917]: Continued good progress has been made by health authorities. As at 30 September 1987, tenders had been sought for 84 per cent. of these services, and estimated annual savings of some £103 million had been generated from contracts awarded. £27·5 million has come from 208 contracts awarded to private contractors and £75·5 million from 1,187 tenders secured by in-house organisations. Tables giving the detailed information requested have been placed in the Library.

DEFENCE

  Ethiopia (Famine Relief)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he now intends to send Royal Air Force Hecules aircraft to Ethiopia to assist in famine relief operations.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  As my hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development indicated on 30 November, the United Nations co-ordinator in Ethiopia believes that existing airlift arrangements should be sufficient to meet needs, but we are in daily contact with the United Nations in Addis Ababa and if we are requested to provide assistance through the Royal Air Force we shall consider it as a matter of urgency.

  Trident
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the increase in explosive power which Trident missiles can achieve compared with Polaris; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Since the general election in June—when the Government's policy of modernising our strategic nuclear deterrent with Trident was overwhelmingly endorsed—my Department has received less than 20 written representations from the public criticising Trident's capabilities.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he proposes to take to ensure that servicing of Trident missiles at King's bay, Georgia, will not result in job losses amongst those workers who presently service Polaris missiles at the Royal Naval armament depot, Coulport.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There will be opportunities for employment on the Trident facilities at RNAD Coulport as they progressively come on line in the early 1990s. However, this task will be less than current Polaris activity and the staffing requirement will therefore be correspondingly lower.

  Manpower levels for Trident and other future tasks at RNAD Coulport are presently under consideration, but a
  142
  high priority is already being given to establishing what alternative employment may be possible to replace that currently offered by Polaris.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current dollar cost of Trident and how it is affected by the $US/£ sterling rate of exchange.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The dollar cost included in the current estimate for the United Kingdom Trident programme of £9,265 million is $5,219 million at the exchange rate of $1·50 = £1. This rate was the one used for the annual re-costing of the defence long term programme as a part of which the cost estimate of £9,265 million was assessed.

  The Trident cost estimate is currently being reviewed with the intention of an announcement being made to Parliament by my right hon. Friend early in the new year. At that time the exchange rate applicable to the new estimate and the dollar content of that estimate will also be announced.

  Army-RUC Co-operation
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the arrangements for cooperation between the Army in Northern Ireland and the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Yes. The role of the Army in Northern Ireland is to support the RUC in the defeat of terrorism. There is constant and close co-operation between the two forces at all levels of command.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the State for Defence when he now expects the European fighter aircraft to become operational.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The European fighter aircraft is expected to become operational in the mid-1990s, subject to international agreement to the launch of full development.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated cost of the European fighter aircraft project.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Mrs. Ruddock) on 5 November, at column 888.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the development of the radar contract awarded for the European fighter aircraft project.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 10 November, at column 158.

  Youth Training Scheme
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of YTS trainees in the armed forces have subsequently enlisted in the services on a permanent basis.

  Mr. Freeman
  Up to 31 October 1987 1,839 participants in the armed services youth training scheme had
  143
  transferred to regular engagements. This represents 63·7 per cent. of the total outflow from the scheme to the same date.

  INF Agreement
  Miss Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what buttressing in nuclear weaponry Her Majesty's Government are considering in the wake of the intermediate nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Younger
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd).

  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for conventional forces deployment of an International Nuclear Forces Agreement on short and medium range nuclear weapons in Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Following the successful conclusion of an INF agreement, NATO's strategy of flexible response will continue to depend on an adequate mix of both nuclear and conventional forces. NATO's Defence Ministers at their meeting in Brussels last week (a copy of the communiqué from which is being placed in the Library) reaffirmed the importance both of maintaining effective conventional forces and of seeking to reduce conventional disparities between NATO and the Warsaw pact through arms control agreements.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will directly discuss with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ways of reducing minimum nuclear forces following the signing of the intermediate nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Heffer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will directly discuss with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ways of reducing minimum nuclear forces following on from the signing of the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo) earlier today.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates his Department has made of the number of Soviet nuclear warheads that will be eliminated as a result of the treaty to reduce the number of intermediate-range nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Precise details of our assessments are classified, but we expect that more than 1,500 deployed warheads will be eliminated.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what adjustments in nuclear weaponry Her Majesty's Government are considering in the wake of the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensatory measures Her Majesty's Government are considering in the wake of the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.
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  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what buttressing in nuclear weaponry Her Majesty's Government are considering in the wake of the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Allen Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what enhancement measures Her Majesty's Government are considering in the wake of the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what offsetting measures Her Majesty's Government are considering in the wake of the intermediate nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what adjustments in nuclear weaponry Her Majesty's Government are considering in the wake of the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensatory measures Her Majesty's Government are considering in the wake of the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what offsetting arrangements Her Majesty's Government are considering in the wake of the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd).

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what arms control and disarmament negotiations he expects to contribute directly following the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what arms control and disarmament negotiations he expects to contribute directly, following the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what new arms control and disarmament negotiations he expects to contribute directly following the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) earlier today.

  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding the implications for the United Kingdom's defence policy of the proposed treaty to reduce intermediate range nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received representations from many quarters in recent months concerning the prospective INF agreement. The majority have welcomed the agreement, as do the Government, as a significant step towards greater international security.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what implications the treaty to reduce intermediate-range nuclear weapons will have for the balance of conventional forces in Europe.
  145
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman) earlier today.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will discuss with his NATO colleagues their policy on the next stage in negotiations on arms control with the Soviet Union, following the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  We maintain a constant dialogue with our colleagues in NATO on the full range of defence and security issues facing the Alliance. NATO's arms control priorities, which are being pursued vigorously, were reaffirmed by North Atlantic Committee Ministers at their meeting at Reykjavik in June, a copy of the communiqué from which is in the Library.

  Gulf (Minesweeping)
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the Royal Navy's minesweeping operations in the Gulf.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Royal Navy's mine countermeasures vessels in the Gulf have now completed their operations off Qatar, during which they were joined by Netherlands and Belgian MCMVs. Five mines were found, bringing the total detected and destroyed by the RN MCMVs since their arrival in the region to 10.

  Weapons and Explosives (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many weapons and explosives have been seized in Northern Ireland since the start of the current year as a result of the work of the British armed forces.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Finds of weapons and explosives by the armed forces in Northern Ireland are not recorded separately from finds made by the security forces as a whole. At 26 November 1987, 250 weapons, 17,839 rounds of ammunition and 5,781 kg (12,718 lb) of explosives had been found by the security forces since the beginning of the year. In addition, 3,843 kg (8,454 lb) of explosives had been neutralised.

  NATO Information Services
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by the NATO information services and upon which principal projects in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The following amount was spent by the NATO information services for the last five years:

  Belgian francs (million)

  1£ million

  1983

  121

  1·93

  1984

  128

  2·04

  1985

  135·5

  216

  1986

  1430

  2·28

  1987

  147·3

  2·35

  1 At 3 December 1987 exchange rates.

  The NATO information programme regularly devotes resources to the following activities:

  Visitors to NATO

  Seminars and conferences

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  The NATO review

  Defence information liaison

  Non-periodic publications

  Radio, television and film

  Photographs and exhibits

  Cultural programme

  Bullying and Cruelty
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many commanding officers have been disciplined following bullying incidents and initiation rituals in their units.

  Mr. Freeman
  No commanding officer has been disciplined as a result of bullying incidents and initiation rituals in his unit. The hon. Member will recall, however, that the commanding officer of 1st Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers was removed from his command following revelations about initiation ceremonies conducted by soldiers within his battalion. Investigations related to these matters are continuing and their findings will determine any further action to be taken.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet reached a decision on whether to set up a parliamentary commissioner to investigate complaints of bullying in the Army.

  Mr. Freeman
  I wrote to the right hon. Member on 2 December. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the steps he is taking to prevent cruelty in the armed forces.

  Mr. Freeman
  The hon. Member will be aware that the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) has made a number of representations on the steps taken to prevent ill treatment or bullying in the armed forces. Other than that, there have been a number of articles in the press, several supporting the firm and open action taken against those found to be guilty of this type of unacceptable behaviour.

  Air-Sea Rescue
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the evaluation of the air-sea rescue services currently offered by the Royal Air Force, and the possibility of transferring this to Bristow's.

  Mr. Freeman
  An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

  United States-USSR (Summit Meeting)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to meet the United States Secretary for Defence to discuss the military implications of the summit meeting between President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev.

  Mr. Younger
  I am in regular contact with the United States Defence Secretary and last met him on 2 December, when we discussed a number of issues, including arms control and its military implications. If no earlier occasion arises, I hope to meet him next at the spring meeting of the nuclear planning group.

  Alarm Project
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with progress on the Alarm project.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Yes.

  Intermediate Nuclear Forces
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last consulted his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation partners about the deployment of intermediate nuclear forces in western Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Mrs. Ruddock) on 7 December.

  NATO Ministerial Meeting
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his last meeting with NATO Defence Ministers.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his last meeting with NATO Defence Ministers.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his last meeting with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Ministers.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) earlier today.

  Exercise Purple Warrior
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what lessons were learned from exercise Purple Warrior.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now in a position to make a statement on the outcome of exercise Purple Warrior.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  A full assessment of the lessons to be learnt from exercise Purple Warrior is under way and will take some time to complete. However, our initial assessments indicate that the exercise was an outstanding success.

  This has been the most ambitious national joint amphibious exercise for decades and has realised substantial gains for the United Kingdom's capability to operate outside the NATO area. Many new capabilities and procedures were exercised for the first time in a realistic operational environment. In particular, the complex command and control structure of joint amphibious operations was thoroughly tested and proven. Equally, the exercise has produced significant benefits in terms of enhanced tri-service integration and cooperation.

  The very detailed consultation process which took place between the exercise planners and the local community proved to be most successful in reducing the inconvenience caused to local residents by the exercise and minimising damage to the environment. Damage repair units and
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  suitably qualified claims assessors were on hand throughout the exercise period and are still on site to assess what repairs are necessary.

  The exercise was host for the first time on United Kingdom territory to observers under the terms of the Stockholm document. We welcomed this opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the agreement and its role in lessening suspicion and mistrust, and hence improving security in Europe.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the nature and estimated value of damage caused to military property and equipment during exercise Purple Warrior;

  (2) what was the nature and estimated value of damage caused to civilian property during exercise Purple Warrior;

  (3) how many (a) military and (b) civilian personnel were injured as a result of military operations during exercise Purple Warrior;

  (4) how many complaints have been received about disturbance or damage caused by military vehicles and troops participating in exercise Purple Warrior.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Damage to military property and equipment during exercise Purple Warrior was almost all of a relatively minor nature and was sustained mainly as a result of an accidental collision at sea, storm damage and a vehicle fire: the cost of this damage has not yet been finally assessed. Claims so far received in respect of damage to civilian property caused by exercise activity, are all minor in nature and relate mainly to land and fences: these claims are currently being evaluated and it is too soon to estimate the cost of damage caused. Fifty-eight military personnel required medical treatment during the exercise for a range of minor injuries; no civilian injuries were reported. A few complaints relating to instances of disturbance and damage caused by military vehicles and personnel participating in the exercise were received by the exercise planning staff during the exercise and dealt with locally; no similar complaints have been received by my Department since the exercise began.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been received about disturbance from low-flying aircraft participating in exercise Purple Warrior.

  Mr. Freeman
  One.

  Bomb Disposal (Northern Ireland)
  Sir Anthony Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many explosive devices have been dealt with by the Army's bomb disposal and search teams in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  In the 12 months up to 26 November 1987, Army explosive ordnance disposal teams in Northern Ireland neutralised 134 devices containing 4,238 kg (9,324 lb) of explosives.

  Tanks and Helicopters
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give his assessment of the likely changes in the balance of battlefield power between tanks and helicopters arising from changes in technology in the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
  149
  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 July at column 164.

  Strategic Defence Initiative
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an estimate of the value of strategic defence initiative orders so far won by British companies and the number of jobs they have produced.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The value of United States funded SDI work so far awarded to the United Kingdom is $45 million. This figure includes SDI contracts placed with British academic institutions and through the Ministry of Defence. Information regarding the number of jobs produced as a result of this work is not maintained by the Government.

  Stand-Off Weapons
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the strategic considerations which relate to the possible collaboration between the United Kingdom, France and the five other nations which have signed a memorandum of undertaking to develop and produce air-launched stand-off weapons.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Because of the increasing effectiveness of Warsaw pact air defences, there is a clear need in future to equip our aircraft with weapons which can be launched at a distance away from the target area. Proposals for a modular staff-off weapon have been invited which would meet this need by providing a modular family of weapons which can deliver a variety of conventional sub-munitions over a range of distances.

  Service Equipment
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what field trials are conducted for the testing of service men's personal equipment, uniform, hats, helmets and boots.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  A series of field trials is normally carried out before any new item is introduced into service, culminating in a major trial of the final prototype by service units in all relevant conditions for periods of up to 12 months.

  Mountain Rescue Work
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the number of service personnel whose duties include a significant role in mountain rescue work; and what is the estimate of the cost of maintaining this service.

  Mr. Freeman
  Virtually all of the services' mountain rescue work is undertaken by the Royal Air Force, whose mountain rescue teams comprise 25 full-time personnel and a further 158 unpaid volunteers. In addition, a great deal of such work is carried out by the RAF's search and rescue (SAR) helicopter flights. All this activity is coordinated by the RAF's rescue co-ordination centres at Pitreavie and Plymouth. To separate out the MOD's SAR activity attributable to mountain rescue would involve disproportionate cost and effort.

  Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the programme to expand the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve.

  Mr. Freeman
  Phase II of the Territorial Army expansion programme set out in "Defence Open Government Document 84/02" began formally in April 1986. The majority of the planned new units and sub-units have now formed and are recruiting.

  Military Bases (Security)
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further measures he intends to take to improve security at military bases.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Security at military bases is under constant review and improvements are made as threats or deficiencies are recognised.

  Petty Officer John Black
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the latest situation regarding the unlawful killing in Spain of Petty Officer John Black, Royal Navy, following the meetings between the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) and the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton about this matter.

  Mr. Freeman
  Officers from the Metropolitan police force travelled to Spain last month in continuation of their investigation into the death of Petty Officer Black. They have now returned. A report of their visit has not yet been received.

  NATO Nuclear Planning Group
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to attend a meeting of the NATO nuclear planning group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The next meeting of NATO's nuclear planning group will be held in Denmark next spring.

  United States Service Men
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United States service men are currently stationed in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  There are 32,000 United States service men currently assigned to locations in the United Kingdom.

  Monuments and Buildings
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amount of the defence budget in quantity and percentage terms is spent on protecting and safeguarding ancient monuments and historic buildings(a) nationally and (b) on Salisbury plain.

  Mr. Freeman
  Total expenditure within the defence budget for the protection and safeguarding of ancient monuments and historic buildings cannot be separately identified from general maintenance expenditure.
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  However, resulting from the "Salisbury Plain Training Area Archaelogical Working Party Report 1984–1985", expenditure for that area can be identified and during 1987–88 £98,500 has been allowed for and will be spent on protecting archaelogical features. PSA figures produced for 1985–86 works expenditure on the Government historic estate included an MOD element of £24 million, which related to the urban estate only.

  Pilots (Transfers)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the number of fast-jet pilots who were transferred to helicopter or fixed-wing operations in the last five years.

  Mr. Freeman
  The total number of RAF fast jet pilots transferred to helicopter or fixed wing/multi-engine operations in the last five years is 263. Details are as follows:

  Re-streamed (during training) — 238 (67 to helicopters, 171 to multi-engine)

  Re-roled (after qualifying) — 25 (7 to helicopters, 18 to multi-engine)

  EH 101 Helicopters
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Anglo-Italian EH 101 helicopter project.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The integrated civil/military EH 101 helicopter programme is in its fourth year of full development. The first flight of a prototype aircraft took place successfully at Westland on 9 October, and the unveiling of the second prototype will take place at Augusta on December 14. While some difficulties have been experienced, I am confident that the two variants in prospect for the British armed forces will represent a major enhancement to our capability in their respective fields.

  Royal Ordnance Factories
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what implications he forecasts for defence procurement of structural changes within the Royal Ordnance factories.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member of the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr. McWilliam) earlier today.

  Mine Counter-measures
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary to State for defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the modernisation of the United Kingdom's mine countermeasure capabilities.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Duffy) on 10 November, at column 348.

  Low-flying Aircraft
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints regarding low-flying aircraft he has received in relation to England, Scotland and Wales in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Between 1 January and 31 October 1987 the Ministry of Defence received 3,471 inquiries and 152
  complaints about military low flying in relation to England, 563 in relation to Scotland and 760 in relation to Wales.

  RAF Molesworth
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost to date of construction and security work at Royal Air Force Molesworth; and whether cruise missiles will be deployed there after the signing of the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It is estimated that the cost to date of construction and associated security works at RAF Molesworth is £74·4 million.

  As has been agreed jointly by the NATO allies, deployments of cruise missiles, including those into RAF Molesworth, will be suspended after signature of an INF agreement.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of work undertaken for his Department by the Property Services Agency in 1986–87.

  Mr. Freeman
  Expenditure on defence works services in 1986–87, including PSA administration costs, but excluding MOD accommodation on the civil estate, totalled £1,600 million.

  Soviet Union
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of military equipment production in the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Soviet Union does not publish figures for its production of military equipment. My Department therefore needs to make its own estimates. Such estimates are, of course, extremely difficult to make and are subject to revision as and when new information becomes available.

  Preliminary estimates, by major equipment categories, for 1986 include the following:

  Number

  Main battle tanks

  3,500

  Artillery

  3,200

  Fighter aircraft

  700

  Bombers

  45

  Helicopters

  625

  Transport aircraft

  180

  Major surface ships

  6

  Submarines

  8

  NATO (Aultbea Base)
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to change refuelling arrangements at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation depot, Aultbea supply base; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am satisfied with the refuelling arrangements at the NATO depot at Loch Ewe, Aultbea, and plan to make no changes. However, I am aware that refuelling specific classes of vessels can, in certain
  153
  circumstances, lead to fuel spillages, such as the incident which occurred at Loch Ewe on 14 August. Modifications to the vessel fuel system are being developed. Meanwhile, affected Her Majesty's ships have been reminded of the need for special care to be taken during refuelling operations.

  Cruise Missiles
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what precise stage the deployment of cruise missiles has reached at RAF Molesworth; for how long it is intended that the base shall be operational for the missiles after the signing of the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Younger
  Only one operational flight of cruise missiles has been deployed to RAF Molesworth. Details of the missile run-down in individual countries are still being discussed within NATO, but it is expected that the missiles at RAF Molesworth will be among the first weapons on the NATO side to be withdrawn following the entry into force of the INF treaty.

  Persian Gulf (Naval Deployments)
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the second group of Royal Navy Hunt class mine countermeasure vessels that are to depart for the Gulf in January 1988.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It is not our general practice to give details of the future programmes of Royal Navy ships. However, it will, of course, be necessary to relieve the ships supporting our mine countermeasures activities in the Gulf area in due course.

  Weather Radars
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the three weather radars planned for installation in Scotland will be sited.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No sites for these three weather radars have yet been selected. Proposals are likely to focus on the Hebrides, the highlands north-west of Aberdeen, and somewhere in the vicinity of Edinburgh or Glasgow, taking advantage of high ground to obtain the best results.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capability the three weather radars planned for installation in Scotland will have to detect electronic emissions.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capability the three weather radars planned for installation in Scotland will have to detect aircraft.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None.

  Although aircraft illuminated by the sweep of the rotating beam of the radar will produce echoes, the system was selected for optimum sensitivity to precipitation and has no capability to detect or recognise aircraft.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear-powered fleet submarines are currently based in the Clyde; and what plans there are to increase this number.
  154
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It is not our general practice to give details of the disposition of Royal Navy surface ships and submarines.

  NATO Base, Fairlie
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the agreement governing United States use of the NATO mooring and support base, Fairlie.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  An arrangement exists allowing the United States to deliver supplies for United States forces based in the United Kingdom through the mooring and support depot at Fairlie. The details of the arrangement are confidential.

  QED Design and Development (Contract)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts have been given to QED by his Department for supply of defence equipment to the middle east.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not our practice to give details of contracts placed with individual companies as this information is commercial in confidence. Nor do we give details of sales to individual countries.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what contracts his Department has(a) negotiated and (b) entered into with QED Design and Development Ltd. since 1980;

  (2) how many Browning pistols were the subject of the contract negotiated between his Department and QED Design and Development Ltd.; and what was the value of that contract.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not our practice to give details of contracts placed with individual companies as this information is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any contracts between his Department and QED Design and Development have required end user certification.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not our practice to give details of contracts placed with individual companies as this information is commercially confidential. End user certificates are, where appropriate, part of the export licence process and would not normally arise in a contract between the Ministry and a United Kingdom company.

  Mr. Frank Turner
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Mr. Frank Turner of Gravesend has been employed by his Department at any time since 1970.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no record of Frank Turner of Gravesend having been employed by the Ministry of Defence at any time since 1970.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the clarification of the contract requirements on his Department as delivered to Mr. Frank Turner by Colonel Hardy, acting on behalf of his Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not our practice to give details of contracts placed with individual companies as this information is commercially confidential.

  Mr. Gordon Harrold
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Mr. Gordon Harrold, of Fairborn, Harrietsham, Kent has been employed by his Department since 1970.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no record of Gordon Harrold of Fairborn, Harrietsham, Kent having been employed by the Ministry of Defence at any time since 1970.

  Sales Contracts
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish explanatory details of all instances of public expenditure incurred by his Department as a result of settlement of a sales contract due to a change of policy since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Only one case has fallen above the limit that has required individual notation in the appropriation Account: £450,000 in the account for 1982–83. This was in respect of a contract for the sale of surplus pistols to QED (Design and Development) Ltd. It would require disproportionate effort to identify any cases that may have occurred below the limit.

  International Military Services
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has plans to alter the current arrangements for his supervision of International Military Services.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No.

  Over-the-horizon Radar
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with siting an over-the-horizon radar system in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  As I said in my letter of 18 September to the hon. Member and as stated by my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Mr. Hamilton), on 8 December 1986, at column 87, the United Kingdom and the United States are collaborating in a joint programme of studies aimed at testing the feasibility of operating an over-the-horizon radar system in the United Kingdom. These studies are still continuing.

  DR. KURT WALDHEIM
  DR. KURT WALDHEIM
  GLORIA: USE IN THE ARCTIC
  GLORIA: USE IN THE ARCTIC
  ELECTRICITY: PRIVATISATION PROPOSALS
  ELECTRICITY: PRIVATISATION PROPOSALS
  HINKLEY POINT
  HINKLEY POINT
  MILBURY PLC: INQUIRY REPORT
  MILBURY PLC: INQUIRY REPORT
  PRISONERS: CELL OCCUPANCY
  PRISONERS: CELL OCCUPANCY
  PRISON CONSTRUCTION STATISTICS
  PRISON CONSTRUCTION STATISTICS
  SENTENCING IN THE CROWN COURT: STUDY
  SENTENCING IN THE CROWN COURT: STUDY
  CUSTODIAL REMANDS STUDY AND BAIL ACT 1976
  CUSTODIAL REMANDS STUDY AND BAIL ACT 1976
  BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO PENSIONERS
  BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO PENSIONERS
  PENSIONS IN THE EC
  PENSIONS IN THE EC
  POSTGRADUATE DENTAL COURSES
  POSTGRADUATE DENTAL COURSES
  NATO CONVENTIONAL ARMAMENTS PLANNING
  NATO CONVENTIONAL ARMAMENTS PLANNING