Written Answers of 16 December 1987

SCOTLAND

  National No-Smoking Day
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the cost to public funds of National No-Smoking Day 1988.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish Health Education Group has allocated £10,000 towards the cost of National No-Smoking Day 1988.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make extra resources available to enable health boards to stockpile medical supplies and equipment, as laid out in paragraph 3.14 of his Department's circular "Emergency Planning in the National Health Service: Health Service Civil Defence Planning", SHHD/DGM(1987)41.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The question of stockpiling medical supplies and equipment, including cost implications, is presently under review. This will be a long-term project, and it is not possible at this stage to quantify the level of resources which may be involved.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list of all medical establishments which may be allocated to armed forces casualties after a nuclear attack in each of the health boards' areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No medical establishments have been specifically designated for allocation to armed forces casualties after a nuclear attack. The Health Service will provide treatment for all casualties as far as is possible in the circumstances prevailing.

  Payments by local authorities under Section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Regional or Island Authority

  £

  £ per '000 Population

  £

  £ per'000 Population

  £

  £ per 000 Population

  Borders

  3,852

  38·06

  2,689

  26·55

  3,691

  36·29

  Central

  7,332

  26·89

  6,898

  25·29

  11,135

  40·87

  Dumfries and Galloway

  4,389

  30·03

  19,198

  131·34

  3,496

  23·85

  Fife

  18,936

  55·24

  1,155,277

  3,353·61

  37,467

  108·91

  Grampian

  52,234

  105·63

  23,945

  48·15

  18,882

  37·72

  Highland

  5,552

  28·32

  4,420

  22·41

  5,572

  28·05

  Lothian

  47,401

  63·64

  47,255

  63·47

  42,425

  56·93

  Strathclyde

  233,750

  98·09

  291,532

  122·83

  386,659

  163·93

  Tayside

  10,087

  25·54

  12,795

  32·44

  13,603

  34·50

  Orkney

  718

  37·32

  1,015

  52·55

  516

  26·67

  Shetland

  25,154

  1,072·48

  28,525

  1,211·58

  7,620

  325·09

  Western Isles

  5,047

  160·13

  3,933

  125·03

  3,723

  118·02

  Scotland Total

  414,452

  80·47

  1,597,482

  310·45

  534,789

  104·12

  Sheltered Employment
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail(a) the total number of places in Scotland currently in operation under the Scottish Association for Mental Health sheltered placement scheme, (b) the number of new places to be made available in Scotland in the year 1988–89, (c) the number and proportion of places occupied by disabled people whose principal disability relates to a mental illness and (d) if he has any plans further to extend sheltered employment opportunities for people disabled by mental illness.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is as follows:

  a. the Scottish Association for Mental Health has only recently been approved as a scheme sponsor and is not sponsoring any placements in the current year;

  b. decisions on the level of central Government spending on the scheme in 1988/89 will be taken shortly, and I am not yet in a position to say how many new places will be made available in Scotland;

  c. at present there are eight severely disabled people whose principal handicap is mental illness occupying sheltered placements in Scotland, representing some 2 per cent. of the total number of placements; and

  d. the needs of the mentally ill will continue to be considered along with the other demands for sheltered employment opportunities.

  Midwives
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many newly-qualified midwives went into practice in the National Health Service in Scotland in the years ended 30 September 1985, 30 September 1986 and 30 September 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Social Work Authorities
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the figures for the last three years showing the level of expenditure incurred by each social work authority in Scotland on section 12 Social Work (Scotland) Act payments in monetary terms and per 1,000 head of population, each region.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information requested for the last three years for which figures are available is in the table.

  School Management
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now announce Her Majesty's Government's conclusions on the school management proposals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  An announcement of the Government's conclusions will be made shortly.

  Chief Inspector of Prisons (Report)
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland his annual report for 1986 and individual reports on Dumfries prison, Noranside institution and Polmont institution.

  Mr. Malcolm Rifkind
  I have received Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland's annual report for 1986 together with individual reports on his inspections of Dumfries prison, Noranside institution and Polmont institution. I have today placed copies of the reports, including my responses, in the Library, and I am sending a copy to the Members in whose constituencies the establishments are located; and to the chairman of the Scottish all-party penal affairs group and to other interested bodies. Copies may also be purchased from my Department.

  Payments by Local Authorities under section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

  1978–79 £

  1979–80 £

  1980–81 £

  1981–82 £

  1982–83 £

  1983–84 £

  1984–85 £

  1985–86 £

  Regional or Island Authority

  Borders

  2,672

  2,712

  4,509

  4,193

  1,977

  3,852

  2,689

  3,691

  Central

  6,022

  8,160

  4,226

  6,218

  7,836

  7,332

  6,898

  11,135

  Dumfries and Galloway

  5,093

  6,014

  5,463

  4,063

  3,320

  4,389

  19,198

  3,496

  Fife

  8,696

  7,608

  8,500

  10,536

  14,871

  18,936

  1,155,277

  37,467

  Grampian

  14,765

  15,648

  15,274

  28,446

  31,240

  52,234

  23,945

  18,882

  Highland

  2,744

  6,355

  5,710

  6,215

  4,612

  5,552

  4,420

  5,572

  Lothian

  56,736

  42,222

  57,572

  52,888

  57,038

  47,401

  47,255

  42,425

  Strathclyde

  175,639

  188,292

  116,320

  216,097

  195,505

  233,750

  291,532

  386,659

  Tayside

  20,373

  7,787

  8,668

  16,859

  12,599

  10,087

  12,795

  13,603

  Orkney

  —

  167

  609

  798

  979

  718

  1,015

  516

  Shetland

  4,921

  7,774

  37,008

  47,009

  39,485

  25,154

  28,525

  7,620

  Western Isles

  1,120

  1,127

  3,181

  2,956

  4,208

  5,047

  3,933

  3,723

  Scotland Total

  298,781

  293,866

  267,040

  396,278

  373,670

  414,452

  1,597,482

  534,789

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the United Kingdom mackerel catch of the current year, to the most recent date for which figures are available, was(a) landed at Lerwick, (b) landed at Ullapool, (c) landed at Mallaig, (d) landed at Peterhead, (e) landed at Fraserburgh, (f) trans-shipped at Lerwick, (g) trans-shipped at Ullapool and (h) landed at a foreign EEC port.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested on the proportions of the United Kingdom mackerel catch, to the most recent date (10 December 1987) is as follows:

  NHS (Commercial Contractors)
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the instructions given to the health boards about the use of commercial contractors in support services of the National Health Service also referred to the need to hold, in advance, discussions and consultations, with the unions representing the workers of each of those health boards.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The practical guidance on competitive tendering issued to health boards and the Common Services Agency on 11 December by the Scottish Home and Health Department indicates that, where the board's employees running an in-house service wish to bid for a contract they should be given the same opportunities to do so and be subject to the same conditions as external contractors.

  Social Work (Scotland) Act
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total expenditure by each regional social work department under section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Local authority returns relating to payments made since the reorganisation of local government were started only in 1978/79. Figures for this and subsequent years up to 1985/86 are in the table.

  Percentage of United Kingdom catch

  Total

  of which trans-shipped

  per cent.

  per cent.

  Lerwick

  0·4

  —

  Ullapool

  63·4

  59·5

  Mallaig

  0

  —

  Peterhead

  0·3

  —

  Fraserburgh

  8·0

  —

  Abroad

  13·6

  —

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the United Kingdom herring catch for the current year, to the most recent date for which figures are available, was(a) landed at Lerwick, (b) landed at Ullapool, (c) landed at Mallaig, (d) landed at Peterhead, (e) landed at Fraserburgh, (f) trans-shipped at Lerwick, (g) trans-shipped at Ullapool and (h) landed at a foreign EEC port.
  511
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested on the proportions of the United Kingdom herring catch, to the most recent date (10 December 1987), is as follows:

  Percentages of United Kingdom catch

  Total

  of which trans-shipped

  per cent.

  per cent.

  Lerwick

  40·7

  38·4

  Ullapool

  10·0

  8·4

  Mallaig

  0

  —

  Peterhead

  18·5

  12·3

  Fraserburgh

  8·2

  —

  Abroad

  8·5

  —

  Parole
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent consideration he has given to reducing the minimum qualifying period for parole to that which applies in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: I have no present plans to reduce the minimum qualifying period for parole. This is one of the matters on which I will await advice from the review of the parole system in Scotland, which, as previously announced, I intend to institute. I have now decided that the best means of doing this would be to set up such a review in the wider context of arrangements for modifying the effects of custodial sentences. I am delighted that Lord Kincraig has accepted my invitation to act as chairman of a review with the following terms of reference:-
  "To consider the present arrangements in Scotland for modifying the effect of custodial sentences and in particular:-

  (a) the objectives of the parole system, and whether it should be retained in its present or in a modified form, including any changes which should be made to:-

  (i) the current criteria for eligibility for parole;

  (ii) the current criteria for remission;

  (b) whether as an alternative or a supplement to the present arrangements, any different scheme might be introduced for the release of prisoners, for stated purposes, before the completion of the sentence ordained by the court;

  (c) whether there should be any extension of the role of the judiciary in relation to the present parole or remission systems, or in relation to any alternative arrangements for the modification of the effects of custodial sentences;

  (d) the role of the social work services in supervising convicted offenders released on licence;

  (e) the current provisions for periods spent in custody on remand to be taken into account in the determination of sentences;

  (f) whether or not powers should be conferred upon the courts to suspend sentences, or to ordain part-suspended sentences, in what circumstances and on what conditions;

  (g) the conditions which should attach to parole, remission or any equivalent scheme;

  (h) whether the conclusions reached in the context of determinate sentences have any relevance to current policy on life sentence prisoners;

  (i) the overall resource implications and cost-effectiveness of the existing systems and of any modifications or alternatives which may be suggested;

  and to make recommendations."

  The membership of the review, and arrangements for conveying evidence to it, will be announced later.

WALES

  Education Reform
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the trends of the responses from Wales to the recent consultation over the education reform proposals.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Several hundred responses to seven separate consultation documents were received. They expressed a wide variety of views which cannot be summarised in a few words. Copies of the principal responses from organisations are in the Library and the hon. Gentleman may wish to examine them and make his own assessment.

  Gwent Health Authority
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the term of office of the chairman of the Gwent health authority expires.

  Mr. Grist
  31 July 1990.

  NHS (Funds)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how the additional financial resources, recently announced by him for the Health Service in Wales, will be allocated between each of the health authorities in Wales; and whether there are any restrictions on the use of these additional funds to make up for the non-funding of wage awards suffered by health authorities over the past two years.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I announced on 4 December, at column 719, that, subject to parliamentary approval, I propose to provide £843·9 million for hospital and community health services in Wales in 1988–89. Excluding the administration costs of the artificial limb and appliance service, which will from 1 April 1988 be transferred to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority, £792·0 million will be provided for current purposes and £51·4 million for capital expenditure.

  For current spending this represents a cash increase of £46·5 million, or 6·2 per cent. over recurrent 1987–88 provision. £39·3 million will be made available to health authorities for their discretionary use, which represents a cash increase of 5·3 per cent. over their recurrent 1987–88 allocations. The balance of £7·2 million, together with a further £2 million previously earmarked for non-recurrent purposes, will be allocated for centrally financed developments. These developments, particularly the consultant expansion scheme and pyschiatric bridging finance will considerably assist authorities in meeting future service pressures.

  In addition to this extra current provision, authorities will be able to retain the cash released through their cost improvement programmes. Authorities will also be able to retain the income raised from charges for private treatment, which is expected to be in excess of £2 million next year. Health authorities are also being encouraged to develop other sources of income generation.

  Of the capital provision, £29·5 million will be made available to health authorities for their discretionary use. This amounts to an increase of 20·4 per cent. over 1987–88 capital allocations. Authorities will also be able to retain

  513
  the receipts from the sale of surplus land and buildings and this is expected to generate a further £3·1 million in 1988–89.

  The current and capital allocations to individual health authorities for next year will be as shown in the table. These allocations do not take into account further sums which will be made available following decisions to be made on centrally funded developments for 1988–89. These will be announced shortly.

  Allocation (£ million)

  Current element

  Capital element

  Clwyd

  96·103

  4·935

  East Dyfed

  60·275

  2·212

  Pembrokeshire

  22·762

  1·049

  Gwent

  115·326

  5·166

  Gwynedd

  58·128

  1·814

  Mid Glamorgan

  135·455

  5·653

  Powys

  27·172

  1·069

  South Glamorgan

  157·439

  2·711

  West Glamorgan

  100·135

  4·927

  There are no restrictions on the use of authorities' discretionary allocations, although all authorities are expected to take account of the policies and priorities for health services in Wales published by my Department in "Policies and Priorities for Health Services in Wales."

  I am also pleased to announce that a further £3·8 million will be made available for hospital and community health services in Wales in the current financial year. I shall be making a separate announcement about the distribution of these funds shortly. This additional provision brings the total cash increase for current spending on these services in 1987–88 to £750·5 million or 10·7 per cent. over 1986–87 provision. The additional money is being provided in recognition of the financial pressures which health authorities are facing at the present time and should help them to ensure that current levels of patient services are maintained without carrying forward a large burden of expenditure liabilities to 1988–89.

ENERGY

  Disconnections
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any proposals to monitor the number of disconnections of supply to gas consumers and electricity consumers following privatisation.

  Average fuel prices for households in the second quarter of 1987

  Pence per therm

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iii)

  (iv)

  Average revenue from sales of electricity

  Average revenue from sales of gas

  Average price of heating oil

  Average price of petrol

  United Kingdom1

  147·7

  43·1

  32·3

  115·4

  United States of America

  133·8

  34·5

  33·6

  45·5

  France

  2(236·8)

  2(78·0)

  50·4

  147·4

  Germany

  247·9

  2(64·1)

  33·4

  111·3

  Japan

  2(338·3)

  2(142·6)

  54·4

  161·3

  1 Data for the United Kingdom are also available for the third quarter of 1987 as follows:

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iii)

  (iv)

  United Kingdom, 1987 Q3

  3158·0

  47·3

  37·2

  115·7

  514
  Mr. Parkinson
  The numbers of disconnections made by both industries are monitored by their respective consumer councils.

  Fuel Prices
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the percentage increase for United Kingdom industrial fuel prices, coal, heavy fuel oil, gas and electricity, from 1970 to the latest available date, compared with the percentage increase in the producer price index of materials for the same period.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Percentage increase in average United Kingdom industrial fuel prices, 1970–19861

  Per cent.

  Coal

  640

  Heavy fuel oil

  696

  Gas

  392

  Electricity

  452

  Producer price index of materials2

  371

  1 1986 is the latest full year for which data are available.

  2 The producer price index of materials is not available for years before 1974. The percentage given has therefore been based on the value of the former wholesale price index (excluding crude oil and carbonising coal) in 1970.

  Source: Energy Trends.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what were the latest available comparative domestic energy prices for(a) electricity, (b) gas, (c) heating oils, (d) coke and (e) petrol for the United Kingdom on a single unit basis, such as pence per therm; and what equivalent information he has for the United States of America, France, Germany and Japan;

  (2) if he will provide comparable information relating to current United Kingdom domestic fuel prices, fuel by fuel, on a single unit basis such as pence per therm.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The latest available comparisons of energy prices, for the countries and fuels specified except coke, relate to the second quarter of 1987 and are as shown in the table. Figures for household coke are not available on a comparable basis. The latest comparable information relating to the United Kingdom is given in footnote1 to the table.
  515

  2 Quarterly data are not available. The figure show is the average for 1986, the latest period for which comparable data are available.

  3 Provisional. (Although there was no change in tariffs in 1987, this is higher than the figure for the second quarter shown in the above table because of the effect on average revenue of the seasonal pattern of demand.)

  Notes:

  (i) The prices shown above for electricity and gas are based on average revenue per unit consumed. In general these will differ from prices derived for a given level of annual consumption and type of tariff.

  (ii) International comparisons of energy prices are difficult to construct because of incompatibilities in the basic data. They require careful interpretation because of movements in exchange rates and variation in the timing of tariff revisions between countries. The above figures are based on exchange rates prevailing in the second quarter of 1987 (1986 for the figures given in parentheses).

  Source: "Energy Prices and Taxes", International Energy Agency (OECD).

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the percentage increase in United Kingdom domestic fuel prices, electricity, gas, heating oils, coke and petrol, from 1970 to the latest available date, compared with the increase in(a) the retail price index and (b) the fuel and light component of that index for the same period.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The information is given in the table:

  Percentage increase in average

  United Kingdom domestic fuel prices; 1970–19861

  percentage

  Electricity

  568

  Gas

  381

  Heating Oils

  843

  Coal and coke2

  620

  Petrol and Oil

  432

  Fuel and light

  557

  Retail Price Index3

  422

  Source: Energy Trends.

  1 1986 is the latest full year for which data are available.

  2 The corresponding figure for coke is 628 per cent.

  3 Excluding fuels.

  Subsidies
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what subsidies have been paid to energy industries since 1970; and what contributions in terms of taxation and levies have been made by those industries to the Exchequer over the same period.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The full range of data sought could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The publicly owned energy industries give details in their annual reports and accounts of the principal grants, taxes and levies in the areas for which my Department is responsible; and my Department's annual Brown Book gives taxes attributable to United Kingdom oil production. These documents are available in the Library of the House.

  Easington
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next intends to pay an official visit to the Easington constituency; and whether he will meet trades union representatives of the mining industry.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I hope to visit Easington early in the new year. I will be happy to meet representatives of the mining unions at any time.

  Fast Reactors (Exhibition)
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to fast reactors to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for an exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 8 to 12 February inclusive.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirronnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas)Official Report, 2 November column 533, if he will place in the Library a copy of the notes exchanged between the Government of Japan and Her Majesty's Government on the provision of nuclear reprocessing technology, and give an indication of the likely financial benefit to the United Kingdom of this agreement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 23 November 1987]: The United Kingdom's non-proliferation export obligations were fully met through the exchange of notes. The notes confirm that—

  1. any facility constructed using the transferred technology will be used exclusively for peaceful purposes;

  2. any such facility will be subject to measures of effective physical protection;

  3. nuclear material contained in any such facility will be placed under safeguards by the IAEA; and

  4. The transferred technology, and any equipment derived from the transferred technology, will not be transferred out of Japan without obtaining from the recipient Government the same assurances, and without the prior consent of the United Kingdom.

  Information on individual contracts is commercially confidential.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is now in a position to publish further information on plutonium in line with recommendation 13(b) of the Sizewell report.

  Mr. Parkinson
  [pursuant to the reply 30 October 1987, c. 447–48]: I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses copies of a document setting out information concerning the production of plutonium from United Kingdom civil reactors during 1986–87.

  Magnox Reactors
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will update to 31 March 1987 the information on thermal energy generated and spent fuel discharged by each of the Central Electricity Generating Board Magnox reactors given in reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy on 26 June 1987,Official Report, column 269;

  (2) if he will update to 31 March the information on the allocation of plutonium produced in the Central Electricity Generating Board and South of Scotland Electricity Board Magnox reactors given in reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy on 21 July 1986, Official Report, columns 10–11.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [pursuant to his reply 24 July 1987, c. 515–16]: I am advised by the Central Electricity Generating Board that the fuel discharged at Wylfa power station during the financial year 1986–87 was 60 tonnes of uranium and not 47 as previously stated.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  AIDS
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to issue to schools the video resource package on AIDS, which was commissioned in March.

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, has today launched the joint DES/Welsh Office resource package for schools on AIDS, "Your Choice for Life". The package will be sent free to all secondary schools with pupils in the 14 to 16 age range, to sixth form colleges, to local education authorities and to institutions providing initial teacher training. Since the package necessarily refers to aspects of sexual behaviour, it will be for the governing bodies of individual maintained schools to decide how, and indeed whether, the package should be used with their pupils. I am arranging for a copy of the package to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Primary Schools
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will repond formally to the third report of the Education, Science and Arts Committee for the Session 1985–86, entitled "Achievement in Primary Schools."

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have written to my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison), the Chairman of the Committee, enclosing a memorandum, which I am publishing today, welcoming the importance which the Committee attaches to primary education and setting out my formal response to its report. Copies of the memorandum have been placed in the Library.

  Education Reform
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science by which date applications must be received from Inner London councils wishing to opt out of the Inner London education authority under the provisions in the Education Reform Bill.
  518
  Mr. Dunn
  Subject to Parliament's approval of the provisions in the Bill, councils wishing to opt out will have to submit applications by such a date as my right hon. Friend may direct. He has decided that applications from councils wishing to assume education responsibilities from 1 April 1990 should be submitted by not later than 31 December 1988. This deadline has been advanced from that proposed in the consultation paper, "The Organisation of Education in Inner London," in response to representations that it was desirable to provide as much time as possible for councils to prepare to become local education authorities, following Parliament's approval of any orders to that effect.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total annual revenue which will be collected by Harrogate borough council from the community charge levied on individuals and from the business rate, as proposed in the Local Government Finance Bill; and what is the total revenue raised under the present system in the current financial year.

  Mr. Howard
  In 1987–88 Harrogate borough council, on its own behalf, and on behalf of the authorities which precept on it, is thought to be raising £38·6 million from local ratepayers: £16·8 million from non-domestic and £21·8 million from domestic rates. Because authorities in the area are drawing from balances these figures are £2·2 million lower than is necessary to fund reported net expenditure.

  The illustrative figures for the full implementation of the community charge in Harrogate after withdrawal of the safety net assume a total revenue raised from community charges and business rates in Harrogate of £39·6 million; £16·3 million in non-domestic rates and £23·3 million in community charges. These figures assume that there is no contribution from balances.

  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will describe the manner in which parish councils will receive grants in respect of non-domestic rateable income under the community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  Parish councils, like county and district councils, will meet their net expenditure requirements by drawing on a collection fund maintained by the district council. Into this fund will be paid the whole amount of revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates allocated to the area, which will thus be available to set equally against the expenditure of all tiers of authority. I have sent my hon. Friend an information note for parish councils on how they will be financed under the new system: copies have also been placed in the Library.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of community charge preparation costs which local authorities are likely to incur in 1988–89.

  Mr. Ridley
  It is doubtful whether local authorities will need to incur significant expenditure in preparing for the community charge as early as 1988–89. To the extent that additional costs do arise, we believe that these can be accommodated within the RSG settlement.
  519
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will break down his estimated full year total additional cost to local authorities of the community charge system by class of authority.

  Mr. Ridley
  No such breakdown is available. We expect the cost, per person of collecting the community charge to be broadly the same as the cost per hereditament of collecting domestic rates.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will break down his estimate of full year total additional costs to local authorities of the community charge system showing separately staff costs, computing, premises and other costs and capital and revenue.

  Mr. Ridley
  It is not possible at this stage to disaggregate the broad estimates given in the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Local Government Finance Bill of additional costs to local authorities of implementing the community charge. The requirement for additional staff, computer facilities and premises will vary considerably between local authorities.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from organisations representing disabled people as to disabled people's future community charge liability.

  Mr. Ridley
  We have had representations from the Spastics Society, the Voluntary Organisations Personal Social Services Group, the Disabled Drivers Association (Bournemouth and District), the Disabled Income Group and the British Limbless Ex-Servicemens Association.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has further to publicise his proposals to reform local government finance.

  Mr. Ridley
  I and my Ministers will continue to make speeches pointing out that although the hon. Member has no desire to defend the status quo, he has not seen fit to propose an alternative to put in its place.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been received from the Police Federation about the future community charge liability of police officers and their dependants, and the future of police officers' rent and rates allowances.

  Mr. Ridley
  None.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the numbers of extra staff and their professional qualifications and grades that local authorities will need to employ to implement and run the community charge system.

  Mr. Ridley
  It will be for local authorities to decide the numbers of additional staff they require, their grading and appropriate qualifications.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet had any discussions with the local authority associations, to the Local Government Training Board, or The Local Authorities' Conditions of Service Advisory Board about the staffing requirements for community charge registration and collection.

  Mr. Ridley
  Staffing is one of a number of issues which my officials will be discussing with the local authority associations in the run up to the introduction of the community charge.
  520
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of community charge cases he estimates are likely to result in increased workload for magistrates' courts on recovery of community charge debts.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have no reason to believe that the introduction of the community charge will significantly increase the workload of magistrates' courts.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he still plans to publish before the Christmas recess updated figures on the effects of his proposed changes to local government finance, taking into account the updated tax-benefit model and other data.

  Mr. Ridley
  I am writing to the hon. Gentleman.

  Consultative Council on Local Government Finance
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he plans to hold meetings of the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance after 1 April 1990.

  Mr. Ridley
  Clause 77(4) of the Local Government Finance Bill will require the Secretary of State to consult representatives of local government before making a revenue support grant report. I shall be considering in due course what consultation arrangements will be appropriate after 1 April 1990.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any representations from the tourist industry as to the problems which many European tourists face obtaining unleaded petrol in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations.

  The British Tourist Authority is represented on the unleaded petrol group which I chair and which meets regularly to review progress on the introduction of unleaded petrol.

  With some 530 petrol stations selling unleaded petrol throughout the United Kingdom, tourists should not find it difficult to obtain unleaded petrol in most areas. Information on outlets selling unleaded petrol is available from tourist bodies and the motoring organisations.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any further proposals to increase the use of unleaded petrol.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Following the adoption of the "Luxembourg Package" on 3 December by the EC Council of Environment Ministers, we will now be able to require new cars to be capable of running on unleaded petrol. This we shall do from the earliest possible dates. Unleaded petrol already benefits from a favourable excise duty differential.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, using the latest available year in each case, information available to him on the proportion of petrol sold in each of the European Community countries represented by unleaded petrol.
  521
  Mr. Moynihan
  Information on the sale of unleaded petrol in Europe has been provided by the United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association.

  The table gives data for the last full year for which information is available, and the association's estimates for the half year to June 1987.

  Country

  Unleaded petrol sales as percentage of national total

  1986

  January to June 1987

  Belgium

  neg.

  —

  Denmark

  12

  29

  Federal Republic of Germany

  11

  22

  France

  neg.

  neg.

  Greece

  neg.

  neg.

  Ireland

  neg.

  neg.

  Italy

  neg.

  neg.

  Luxembourg

  neg.

  —

  Netherlands

  neg.

  19

  Portugal

  neg.

  neg.

  Spain

  neg.

  neg.

  United Kingdom

  neg.

  neg.

  neg.=less than 0·5 per cent.

  —=no data.

  Small Business Tenancies
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there has been any follow-up work since he consulted on the current working of part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, with particular reference to its affect on small business tenancies.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend is grateful that my hon. Friend raised this issue. I am pleased to announce that in response to widespread demand the Department has today published new guidance on the workings of the main business lettings legislation for England and Wales.

  Since the 1985 review of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, part II, with particular reference to small business tenancies, the Government have, as promised, been monitoring the legislation. In consequence, my Department has revised the existing booklet, with the aim of providing clear and concise guidance on the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants under the Act, and on those issues most frequently raised by tenants and landlords.

  The new leaflet, which is complementary to the booklet, briefly outlines the basic features of the legislation and highlights potential problem areas for landlords and tenants under the Act, particularly for small business men or business women involved in business lettings for the first time. The leaflet also indicates in diagrammatic form the statutory procedures which have to be followed.

  I am sure that these publications, which will be available free from citizens advice bureaux, small firms centres, local authorities and the Department's publications store at Ruislip, will be immensely useful both to those already engaged in business lettings, he they landlord or tenant, and to those just starting up in business. These publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cash figure paid by the 522
  highest paid 10 per cent. of households under the present system towards the cost of local services; what this figure is as a percentage of the average incomes; what is the average cash figure paid by the lowest paid 10 per cent. of households under the present figure towards the cost of local services; and what this figure is as a percentage of their average income.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 15 December 1987]:On average the 10 per cent. of households with the lowest net incomes are estimated to be liable to rates of about £240 (91½per cent. of net income) before rebates. The 10 per cent. of households with the highest net incomes are similarly estimated to be liable for rates of £480 (2¼per cent. of net income). On the basis of the rebate system which will be in operation from 1 April 1988 these figures fall to average cash payments of £90 (3½per cent. of net income) and £475 (2¼of net income) respectively.

  With full implementation of community charges at present spending levels, the equivalent figures net of rebates would be £70 (2¾per cent. of net income) for the 10 per cent. of households with the lowest net incomes and £435 (2 per cent. of net income) for the 10 per cent. of households with the highest net incomes.

  These figures relate only to the locally raised contribution to local services. The 10 per cent. of households with the highest incomes overall will contribute 16 times more to the cost of local services than the 10 per cent. of households with the lowest incomes once the contribution from national taxes is taken into account.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firearms
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the Metropolitan police have carried out any further costing exercises on firearms and shotgun certificate fees since the last published figures for a similar exercise in 1981;

  (2) if he will list the respective costs or estimated costs to the Metropolitan police for the grant and renewal of both firearms and shotgun certificates under the most recent costing exercise on certificate fees.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The most recent Metropolitan police assessment of costs incurred in granting or renewing firearm and shotgun certificates is for the period 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1986. These and estimated costs for 1986–87 and 1987–88, as calculated in November 1986, are as follows:

  1985–86 £

  1986–87 £

  1987–88 £

  Firearm certificate

  Issue

  65·18

  69·92

  74·71

  Renewal with increased number of firearms

  47·77

  51·23

  54·73

  Renewal without increased number of firearms

  39·10

  41·92

  44·76

  Shotgun certificate

  Issue

  30·65

  32·97

  35·38

  Renewal

  5·59

  5·96

  6·33

  Boundary Commission (Report)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the publication date for the recommendation of the Boundary Commission in Wales as it affects county council wards in West Glamorgan.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales is reviewing the electoral arrangements of a number of counties as part of the initial review of electoral arrangements in Wales. The timing of the publication of its recommendations is a matter for the commission. I understand, however, that the commission is expecting to publish its final recommendations for West Glamorgan early next year.

  Prisoners (Statistics)
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners convicted of murder are held in custody at the present time.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 30 September 1987, the latest date for which figures are readily available, it is estimated that 1,850 prisoners were serving life sentences for murder in prison department establishments in England and Wales. Detainees during Her Majesty's pleasure and persons sentenced to custody for life are included.

  Pornography and Crime
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the findings of the Home Office and National Association of Chief Police Officers investigation on the links between pornography and violent crime are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Over a period of three months earlier this year the police, at my right hon. Friend's request, noted any evidence of a link between the commission of sexual offences and the consumption of pornography. Forty-eight instances came to light where the perpetrator of a sexual offence was known to have looked at pornographic material at some time before the commission of the offence. No causal connection was identified in any of these cases. The exercise showed how difficult it is to obtain conclusive evidence either way about a link between pornography and sexual offences.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that arrangements be improved for electoral registration officers to provide hon. Members whose constituency boundaries have been changed with copies of the electoral register for the constituency in which they were elected.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Representations of the People Regulations 1986 require the electoral registration officer for each district to supply to the hon. Member concerned as much of the district's register as relates to his constituency, so as to ensure that the hon. Member has the complete register for that constituency. The draft 1988 register for each constituency should now be available, but if the hon. Member still has not got it perhaps he will let me know.

  Passport Office
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the number of complaints received by the passport office in London for 1987, 1986 and 1985 where the passport office has lost original birth certificates.

  Mr. Renton
  I regret that the information requested is not available. In the comparatively rare instances when birth certificates submitted in support of passport applications go astray within the passport offices, replacements are provided at no cost to the applicant.

  False Passports
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the number of false passports recorded during the last 12 months and the previous 12 months.

  Mr. Renton
  In 1986, the only complete year for which figures are available, the passport department recorded 173 cases where standard British passports had been fraudulently altered in various ways, and nine cases involving counterfeit documents. In the period to 11 December 1987, 183 such alterations and 15 counterfeits were recorded.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to introduce legislation making it a criminal offence to transmit HIV infection deliberately, knowingly or carelessly.

  Mr. John Patten
  The criminal law already applies, for example, where the infection is transmitted by biting. The question of wider legislation raises difficult issues, which we are considering.

  Prisoners (Compassionate Release)
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has completed his review, in the light of the case of James Godfried, of the practice of considering requests for early release from prison on compassionate grounds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  Yes. I am placing in the Libraries of both Houses a copy of my letter of 15 December to my hon. Friend setting out the main conclusions of the review.

  Prison Accommodation
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the certified normal accommodation of the prison system is expected to be by 1 January 1990.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 12 November 1987]: By 1 January 1990 the certified normal accommodation is expected to be 45,000.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional prison places are expected to be provided(a) in new prisons and (b) in existing prisons, by 1 January 1990.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 12 November 1987]: From the start of the building programme in 1983 to 1

  525
  January 1990 an additional 7,321 prison places are expected to be provided, 3,512 in new prisons, and 3,809 in existing prisons.

  In the period 13 November 1987 to 1 January 1990 the figures are 1,984 places in new prisons and 413 places in existing prisons.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which existing prisons additional prison places are expected to be provided by 1 January 1990, and what is the timetable for their coming into use.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 12 November 1987]: The information requested is as follows:

  From 13 November 1987 to 1 January 1990 it is expected that a further 413 places will be provided at the following establishments.

  Prison building programme net accommodation gains at existing prisons

  Name/Region

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Midland

  Birmingham

  —

  —

  8

  North

  Lindholme

  250

  —

  —

  Northallerton

  —

  15

  —

  South East

  Kingston

  —

  —

  8

  Lewes

  —

  16

  —

  Norwich RC

  —

  —

  60

  South West

  Channings Wood

  —

  56

  —

  TOTALS

  250

  87

  76

  In addition, from the beginning of the programme in 1983 to 13 November 1987, 3,396 places have already been provided, making an overall total to 1 January 1990 of 3,809. Work on refurbishment schemes to improve living standards, access to sanitation and facilities is being undertaken at about 100 establishments by 1995, but not all of these will provide extra accommodation.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total capital cost at current prices of the 26 new prisons which have been or are to be built between 1983 and 1995.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 12 November 1987]: The estimated total capital cost at current prices is £870 million.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Women
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the aid funds for specific rural and agricultural projects in African countries is used to support projects orientated towards women.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Most aid projects benefit both women and men. Aid for African agriculture is likely to benefit women particularly because the majority of African farmers are women.

  We are trying to orient a number of existing projects so that they meet the particular needs of women more fully and are seeking to select new projects which meet this criterion. Changes in this direction will take time.

  United Nations Children's Fund (Exhibition)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the United Nations Children's Fund to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 25 to 29 January 1988.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the assistance currently being given by Her Majesty's Government to help alleviate the famine in Ethiopia.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Alison) on 17 November at columns 480–81 and to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 26 November at column 263. Since then I have announced a £2 million contribution by the British Government to the Ethiopian appeal launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee. This brings to about £25 million the Government's help this year with famine relief in Ethiopia.

  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what ongoing aid in excess of Her Majesty's Government's recent contributions to the Disaster Emergency Committee's appeal is programmed to meet the long-term Ethiopian need.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In the absence of reasonable prospects that the aid would be effective, Her Majesty's Government have no present plans to provide long-term financial assistance to Ethiopia from the bilateral aid programme. We will, however, continue to respond for humanitarian reasons to emergency needs, for which commitments in 1987 now total over £25 million. In addition, we maintain a programme of technical cooperation and have provided funds for rehabilitation following the 1984–85 famine; expenditure on these activities taken together came to about £2·5 million in 1986.

  Commonwealth Distance Education Initiative
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the Commonwealth distance education initiative.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  As agreed by Heads of Government at their meeting in Vancouver, the Commonwealth Secretariat will now establish a working group to develop the financial and organisational framework of a distance education network. There is much work to be done and we expect to play a full part in the working group's deliberations.

TRANSPORT

  Commuter Services
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will estimate the amount of PSO grant to British Rail that has been spent on commuter services in London and the south-east in each of the last five years.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The PSO grant requirement for British Rail's Network South-east services since 1983 has been as follows:

  £ million

  1987–88 prices

  Year

  Number

  1983

  1330

  1984–85

  317

  1985–86

  272

  1986–87

  214

  1987–88

  2232

  1 Only calendar year figure available.

  2 Forecast.

  Headphones
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce restrictions on the use of headphones(a) in moving vehicles and (b) bicycles.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There are no plans to do so. Legislation places on drivers and cyclists the responsibility of driving or cycling with due care and attention at all times. A road user who fails to do so as a result of distraction or lack of concentration because of the use of headphones is liable to prosecution.

  London Traffic
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of road accidents on the ability of traffic to travel on the roads of London; whether he routinely monitors the impact of additional accidents in London on traffic flow in London; and if he will make a statement on recent accidents in London and their impact on traffic movements.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Many roads in London carry very heavy volumes of traffic. Accidents inevitably cause disruption. The effect of accidents and other incidents is monitored by the police who are responsible for dealing with the immediate consequences. The Department and other highway authorities in London maintain regular contact with the police whose views are an important element in the planning of road improvement schemes and traffic control and surveillance systems.

  London Underground
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the occasions and locations when he has(a) visited stations and (b) travelled by train on the London Underground system in the course of his official duties over the last five years.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  No. My right hon. Friend and I make such visits as the occasion demands.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his long-term policy with respect of central Government funding of London Regional Transport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  London Regional Transport requires a high level of capital investment to modernise and increase the capacity of its services. It is our policy fully to fund that investment to the extent that it cannot be funded out of revenues and other internal resources or by attracting private capital.

  Drink-related Accidents
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the number of(a) deaths and (b) serious injuries in drink-related motor accidents at (i) Christmas time and (ii) throughout the year for each year since 1960.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Train Accidents
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give for British Rail for each year since 1979 the location of each train accident resulting in a fatality or fatalities.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The location of all train accidents involving passenger fatalities in the period 1979–86 is given in table 8 of the Department's "Report on Railway Safety for 1986", a copy of which is in the Library. During the same period a total of 33 railway staff and contractors died in train accidents, together with 45 "other persons", mostly the occupants of road vehicles involved in train accidents at level crossings. The location of these latter accidents is given in the published annual reports on railway safety. The location of all the accidents involving railway staff is not given in the reports. If the hon. Member will confirm that he requires the information, I shall write to him.

  Heathrow (Sewage Works)
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive a report on the removal of the sewage works at London Heathrow, Perry Oaks site; and whether he will list the steps to be taken before the building of terminal 5 on the cleared site.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A study commissioned jointly by BAA plc and the Thames water authority reported in July last year that the release of the Perry Oaks site was technically feasible but recommended further technical trials to determine the optimum method. Copies of the report are in the Library. I understand that the investigation of a range of options is continuing. Any proposal for the construction of a fifth terminal on the site would require planning permission.

  Airports (Expenditure Allocations)
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now announce the 1988–89 capital expenditure allocations for municipal airports and public airport companies.
  529
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have today approved capital expenditure allocations totalling £22 million. Among the major schemes for which provision has been made are:

  Birmingham
  Further development of terminal and apron capacity;

  Bournemouth
  Navigational equipment improvements;

  Bristol
  Apron and terminal extension and improvements;

  East Midlands
  Improvements in cargo handling capacity and facilities: further terminal extension;

  Humberside
  Terminal improvements;

  Leeds/Bradford
  Terminal completion (1st phase);

  Luton
  Runway resurfacing and lighting improvements, improvements to present terminal to increase capacity;

  Manchester
  Further development of existing terminal apron and taxiway capacity; domestic module; land purchase associated with second terminal;

  Newcastle
  Improved runway lighting; apron extension;

  Norwich
  New terminal building completion;

  Teesside
  Improved radar facilities.

  Some additional allocations may be made during the course of next year.

  In addition to expenditure authorised under our approvals, public airport companies are also free to invest their undistributed internal resources. These are estimated to exceed £40 million.

  Stansted Airport (Noise)
  Mr. Haslehurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is able to announce his proposals for amended noise preferential routes for aircraft taking off from Stansted.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are committed to taking various measures to mitigate noise disturbance at Stansted as air traffic builds up, including the use of noise preferential routes.

  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for aviation and shipping has today sent a consultation paper to my hon. Friend, other hon. Members with constituencies near Stansted, local authorities and the Airport Consultative Committee seeking their views on proposals for additional departure routes which have been developed in consultation with National Air Traffic Services.

  Our proposals will concentrate aircraft taking off on a small number of specified routes designed to avoid, so far as is possible, major built-up areas. Once they are fixed, we expect the routes to remain so indefinitely, so that people will know where aircraft noise may be experienced.
  530
  My noble Friend is seeking comments by 29 January and expects to announce his decisions about the new route structure during February. The new routes would come into effect next summer.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about changes proposed in the Crown Prosecution Service for determining whether charges should be brought against public figures and children.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service has no plans for changes in its approach to dealing with charges brought against public figures and children. The service has always sought to ensure that cases which involve legal complexity or public sensitivity are dealt with at an appropriate level.

PRIME MINISTER

  National Health Service
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received about the state of the National Health Service; if she will list those members of the medical profession who have made such representations directly to her; what her response has been; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of such representations, including from members of the medical profession. I have pointed out that the resources for the Health Service have increased substantially since 1979, and the amount of care we have been able to provide through the Health Service has also risen. We shall continue to seek the most cost-effective use of National Health Service resources so that the maximum number of patients can be treated.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Unleaded Petrol
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider a further reduction in the duty on unleaded petrol in order to encourage its greater use.

  Mr. Peter Lilley
  The duty differential in favour of unleaded petrol is reviewed each year in the run-up to the Budget, and Customs and Excise have recently concluded a consultation exercise. Decisions on excise duty rates are matters for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget judgment.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees have been in enterprises transferred from the public to the private sector in the United Kingdom since May 1979.

  Mr. Major
  Around 655,000 employees have been in enterprises transferred from the public to the private sector in the United Kingdom since May 1979.

  Petroleum Revenue Tax
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to introduce legislation to amend the rules for the claiming and allowance of petroleum revenue tax relief for field expenditure incurred by oil companies before the end of a chargeable period where the special safeguard relief provision reduces or cancels petroleum revenue tax payable.

  Mr. Lilley
  No. I asked the Inland Revenue to carry out a review of the interaction between the timing of claims for PRT expenditure relief and the special safeguard relief which can reduce or cancel a company's PRT liability during a number of chargeable periods once a field reaches payback (the net profit period as defined in section 111 of the Finance Act 1981). In respect of these periods it can be advantageous for a company not to claim relief for field expenditure in time for it to be allowed in the assessment for the chargeable period in which it was incurred. The expenditure is then available to be claimed against PRT liability for a later chargeable period. The safeguard relief was introduced as a special overriding relief designed to ensure that PRT—calculated after taking account of all other available reliefs and allowances—does not reduce a participator's return on capital in any chargeable period (up to a prescribed time limit) to 15 per cent. or less. It was not originally intended that further benefit should be available by deferring field expenditure claims so that expenditure incurred before the end of a chargeable period where PRT is reduced or cancelled by safeguard is claimed and allowed against profits of a later chargeable period.

  Nevertheless, the Government have decided, in the light of representations received during the review and in the current situation in the oil market, not to bring forward legislation in next year's Finance Bill to prevent extra relief from being obtained by means of deferring expenditure claims. The Inland Revenue has a choice over the timing of assessments which could also be exercised to counteract the benefit of deferring expenditure claims, but it will not use this power in these special circumstances to defer assessments for periods from payback where safeguard relief reduces or cancels liability. This decision in relation to safeguard does not have any application to the timing of assessments in other circumstances.

THE ARTS

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will announce his allocations of funding for museums and galleries during the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  Following my announcement on 5 November, at columns 848–50, of a three-year settlement of the arts budget, I can now announce my allocations to individual museums and galleries for the period from April 1988 to March 1991.

  Overall provision for museums and galleries will be £157 million in 1988–89, £160 million in 1989–90 and £164 million in 1990–91. These figures are substantially higher than the £125·6 million which appears in the relevant estimates for the present year, for two reasons. First, there is a substantial increase, rising from over £11 million in 1988–89 to almost £12 million in 1990–91, in the planned provision for museums and galleries out of the settlement
  532
  I announced on 5 November; secondly, the total includes transfers of funding to the museums and galleries and the Museums and Galleries Commission in respect of services, including superannuation and the services of the Treasury Solicitor, for which the institutions will in future pay directly from their running costs, and property rates and certain rents which have been included in the provisions for building and maintenance work. The combined effect of these changes is to give a clearer picture of the total resources which the institutions as a group are receiving from central Government through the arts programme.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of Supply Estimates at the appropriate time, I propose that the allocations to specific institutions shall be as indicated in the following table. Excluding transfers, these figures amount to an increase of 15.9 per cent. for the three-year period as a whole. They are intended to give museums and galleries a firm base on which to plan their future activities and development. By providing the largest increase in the first year, they are intended to encourage early action to strengthen the institutions' management and financial position. Apart from the figures for building and maintenance in the second and third years, referred to in the table, the figures will not be reviewed in the course of the 1988–89 expenditure surveys unless the situation changes substantially in ways that cannot be foreseen today. The Government will consider in 1988 what provision to make for the last year of that survey, that is for 1991–92; and similarly in 1989 what provision to make for 1992–93, with a view to a rolling three-year programme.

  Provision for running costs is being increased to take account of particular needs. Each institution will receive increases over and above the forward planning figures notified first in the spring of this year. I am, in particular, providing increased grants for the Tate gallery to help with the costs of the gallery in Liverpool which is to open next year; for the Imperial war museum for the costs of fitting out the new galleries which will result from its major redevelopment scheme; and for the National gallery for the running costs of the new Sainsbury wing which is due to open in the final year of the period.

  Within my allocation for running costs, I have earmarked a total of £0.57 million to help the institutions through training and in other ways to improve their management and marketing. I have also made provision within my grant-in-aid to the Museums and Galleries Commission, which I announced on 5 November, to enable the commission to assist other museums and galleries in the same way.

  I have given careful thought to the question of purchase grants and decided that I must give a higher priority to the other, more pressing needs which the institutions have represented to me and which are reflected in my allocations for running costs and building and maintenance. Purchase grants will therefore remain in cash terms at their present levels for the time being.

  My allocations to the individual institutions include for the first time provision within their grant-in-aid for building and maintenance. The building and maintenance programme for most of the institutions which is at present managed by the Property Services Agency and carried on its Vote will, as I announced in July 1986, become the responsibility of the individual institutions from 1 April next; provision for it will be made in the Office of Arts and Libraries' Vote. My allocations for this purpose will total

  533
  £48·47 million in 1988–89. This includes the increase of £6 million which I announced on 5 November would be devoted to strengthening the building and maintenance programme. I hope that the institutions will be able as a result to tackle their priority maintenance tasks and get the new system off to a good start. For 1989–90 and 1990–91 I have decided to allocate to individual institutions the bulk of the money for building and maintenance, but to keep for future allocation a margin of 25 to 30 per cent. of the total. The allocation of the margin, amounting to over £12 million in 1989–90 and nearly £15 million in 1990–91, will depend partly upon the plans which the institutions bring forward and the extent to which they can raise money for these from other sources.

  The national museums and galleries make a splendid contribution to conserving and displaying our national heritage. With the provisions I am making for the next three years and with the incentive which these provide to strengthen their financial position, I am confident that they will continue to do so, and that the institutions will welcome the firm basis which these allocations provide for their future planning and development.

  £ million

  Museums and Galleries

  1988–89

  11989–90

  11990–91

  British Museum

  Running costs

  15·665

  16·132

  16·594

  Building programme

  7·580

  5·700

  6·000

  Purchase grant

  1·400

  1·400

  1·400

  Sub Total

  24·645

  23·232

  23·994

  British Museum (Natural History)

  Running costs

  15·370

  15·772

  16·242

  Building programme

  6·740

  5·800

  5·600

  Purchase grant

  0·190

  0·190

  0·190

  Sub Total

  22·300

  21·762

  22·032

  Imperial War Museum

  Running costs

  6·318

  6·515

  6·129

  Building programme

  6·520

  2·700

  1·700

  Purchase grant

  0·100

  0·100

  0·100

  Sub Total

  12·938

  9·315

  7·929

  National Gallery

  Running costs

  5·233

  5·406

  6·208

  Building programme

  3·490

  3·300

  2·900

  Purchase grant

  2·750

  2·750

  2·750

  Sub Total

  11·473

  11·456

  11·858

  National Maritime Museum

  Running costs

  5·530

  5·678

  5·791

  Building programme

  2·510

  2·500

  2·000

  Purchase grant

  0·205

  0·205

  0·205

  Sub Total

  8·245

  8·383

  7·996

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  Running costs

  6·780

  6·996

  7·169

  Building programme

  2·690

  2·500

  2·400

  Purchase grant

  0·750

  0·750

  0·750

  Sub Total

  10·220

  10·246

  10·319

  534

  Museums and Galleries

  1988–89

  11989–90

  11990–91

  National Portrait Gallery

  Running costs

  1·996

  2·020

  2·072

  Building programme

  3·020

  1·500

  1·500

  Purchase grant

  0·310

  0·310

  0·310

  Sub Total

  5·326

  3·830

  3·882

  Science Museum

  Running costs

  11·047

  11·374

  11·652

  Building programme

  5·210

  3·400

  3·500

  Purchase grant

  0·375

  0·375

  0·375

  Sub Total

  16·632

  15·149

  15·527

  Tale Gallery

  Running costs

  6·300

  6·586

  6·766

  Building programme

  2·780

  2·800

  2·900

  Purchase grant

  1·815

  1·815

  1·815

  Sub Total

  10·895

  11·201

  11·481

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  Running costs

  12·900

  13·315

  13·716

  Building programme

  7·480

  5·400

  5·400

  Purchase grant

  1·145

  1·145

  1·145

  Sub Total

  21·525

  19·860

  20·261

  Wallace Collection

  Running costs

  1·149

  1·186

  1·217

  Building programme

  0·449

  0·400

  0·400

  Purchase grant

  —

  —

  —

  Sub Total

  1·598

  1·586

  1·617

  To be allocated later for building and maintenance work

  —

  12·100

  14·700

  Running costs, including provision for building and maintenance

  Greater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

  1·473

  1·516

  1·552

  Museum of London

  2·776

  2·855

  2·923

  Sir John Soane's Museum

  0·275

  0·295

  0·305

  Sub Total

  4·524

  4·666

  4·780

  Museums and Galleries Commission

  6·481

  6·696

  6·877

  Research and Support Services

  0·500

  0·500

  0·500

  Total

  157·302

  159·982

  163·753

  1 Individual provisions for the building programme in these two years will be increased when the full allocation is made.

  Reviewing Committee (Report)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he is able to announce the publication date of the report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Arts for the year ended 30 June.
  535
  Mr. Luce
  I have today presented the 33rd report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art for 1986–87. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of Parliament.

DEFENCE

  Exercise Firemen's Revenge
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on whose authority the decision to hold the fourth battalion of the Parachute Regiment's exercise Firemen's Revenge on civilian property in an urban area was made; and what plans there are to hold further fighting in built-up area exercises on civilian property in urban areas;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the aims of, and lessons learned from, the fourth battalion of the Parachute Regiment's exercise Firemen's Revenge.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Exercise Firemen's Revenge, which was designed to train members of the fourth battalion of the Parachute Regiment in fighting in built-up areas, was authorised by Headquarters North West District and took place at a derelict warehouse in Oldham on 19 and 20 June. The exercise was held with the full approval of the owners and of the local civil authorities, representatives of which were present during the exercise. Firemen's Revenge provided good military training value and demonstrated the importance of the full co-operation of the local civil authorities to the success of exercises of this sort. There are no further specific proposals to hold such exercises, but the Army will continue to look for suitable opportunities for training of this kind when it can be done without undue public inconvenience.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans his Department has made in the event of an AIDS epidemic among members of Her Majesty's forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is no indication that an epidemic among service personnel is likely. However, each service has a hospital which is designated as an AIDS reception centre. Patients will be treated in accordance with normal medical and nursing procedures.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current imbalance is in chemical weapons between NATO and the Warsaw pact.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Soviet Union commands the world's largest and most sophisticated chemical warfare capability. It has produced and stockpiled a wide variety of chemical agents and munitions and has a massive tonnage of nerve agents alone. No chemical weapons are declared to NATO, but by comparison the United States possesses a limited and aging retaliatory capability, which it plans to modernise. Given the overwhelming Soviet superiority, the Government place the highest priority on the negotiation of a comprehensive and verifiable worldwide ban on chemical weapons.

  ALARM
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate estimated increase in the purchase price of the air-launched anti-radiation missile caused by the problems with its motor; if there will be an inquiry into the causes of this increase in costs and if British Aerospace will be meeting this additional cost.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The increase in the purchase price of ALARM caused by problems with the rocket motor is substantial. British Aerospace is meeting a significant part of the additional costs and the programme is continuing at no financial risk to the Department. Precise details of this arrangement are a commercial matter between the Department and BAe. I do not propose to hold any further inquiry into the causes of the increase in cost.

  International Military Services
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the International Military Services office in Teheran is still open.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Yes.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rent is paid for the International Military Services office in Teheran; and to whom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information is commercial in confidence to the company.

  Overseas Territories (British Troops)
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries in which Britain currently has troops.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The countries and dependencies in which there is a British military presence are as follows:

  Ascension Island

  Belize

  British Indian Ocean Territory (Diego Garcia)

  Brunei

  Canada

  Cyprus

  Falkland Islands (including South Georgia)

  Federal Republic of Germany (including Berlin)

  Gibraltar

  Hong Kong

  Norway Sardinia

  The list excludes loan service and seconded personnel serving in a number of countries and dependencies throughout the world, and those in NATO appointments.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  South Africa
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the latest figures Mailable to him on the investment of British companies in the Republic of South Africa.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to the information published in British Business (3 July 1987). A copy of this is available in the House of Commons' Library.

  Barnsley
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in the light of the evidence published by Barnsley metropolitan district council of the dispropor-tionate fall in employment in its area, he will now extend to Barnsley development area status.

  Mr. Atkins
  No.

  Electronics
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by how much the percentage of Britain's domestic market met by imports of electronics changed between 1979 and June 1987; and what was the comparable figure in the average, best and worst performing Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Fifty-two per cent. of the United Kingdom's home demand for electronics was met by imports in 1979. This compares with 70 per cent. in the year ended 31 March 1987, the latest period for which figures are available.

  Comparable data for other OECD countries are not available.

  Estate Agents Act 1979
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will carry out a general review into the working and effectiveness of the Estate Agents Act 1979.

  Mr. Maude
  I have no immediate plans to do so.

  Mergers (Control Procedures)
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will publish the report on the review of merger control procedures.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. and noble Friend expects to publish the outcome of the review in the new year.

  Textiles (Turkey)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total percentage duty payable on exports to Turkey of a tonne of synthetic filament yarn; if he will give a breakdown of the figure by basic tariff, housing fund, municipal tax, customs charges, stamp duty, import premium and wharf dues; and if he will publish the comparable figures in each case faced by similar exports from Turkey to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  All imports to Turkey are currently subject to the following:Municipal tax — 15 per cent. of applicable import duty
  Customs charges (including stamp tax)—2 per cent. approximately of cif value
  Stamp duty—8 per cent. of cif value
  Import premium—6 per cent. of cif value
  Wharf dues—5 per cent. of the sum of the cif value plus import duty, municipal tax and stamp tax on customs declarations.

  There is no single rate of duty applicable to the goods specified in the question. Import duties levied on synthetic filament yarn range from 5 to 40 per cent. Goods covered under 51·01 (yarn made of man-made continuous fibres,
  538
  suitable for weaving, [except polyamide and polyester-based yarns of over 600 denier size]) are additionally subject to a housing fund surcharge of $50 per tonne.

  The equivalent Turkish goods may be imported into the United Kingdom free of all import duties.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total percentage duty payable on exports to Turkey of one kilogram of cotton cloth; if he will give a breakdown of the figure by basic tariff, housing fund, municipal tax, customs charges, stamp duty, import premium and wharf dues; and what are the comparable figures in each case faced by similar exports from Turkey to the United Kingdom.Municipal tax — 15 per cent. of applicable import duty
  Customs charges (including stamp tax)—2 per cent. approximately of cif value
  Stamp duty—8 per cent. of cif value
  Import premium—6 per cent. of cif value
  Wharf dues—5 per cent. of the sum of the cif value plus import duty, municipal tax and stamp tax on customs declarations.

  In addition, imports into Turkey of cotton cloth are liable to:
  Import duty

  (a) Not fashioned—20 per cent. cif or

  (b) Fashioned—30 per cent. cif and

  Housing fund—US$2 per kg.

  The equivalent Turkish goods may be imported to the United Kingdom free of all import duties.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total percentage duty payable on exports to Turkey of one tonne of synthetic staple fibre; if he will give a breakdown of the figure by basic tariff, housing fund, municipal tax, customs charges, stamp duty, import premium and wharf dues; and what is the comparable figure in each case faced by similar exports from Turkey to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  All imports to Turkey are currently subject to the following:Municipal tax — 15 per cent. of applicable import duty.
  Customs charges (including stamp tax)—2 per cent. approximately of cif value.
  Stamp duty—8 per cent. of cif value.
  Import premium—6 per cent. of cif value.
  Wharf dues—5 per cent. of the sum of the cif value plus import duty, municipal tax and stamp tax on customs declarations.

  In addition, imports into Turkey of synthetic staple fibre are liable to:
  Import duty—8 per cent. cif.
  Housing fund—US$50 per tonne.

  The equivalent Turkish goods may be imported to the United Kingdom free of all import duties.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total percentage duty payable on exports to Turkey of wool cloth; if he will give a breakdown of the figure by basic tariff, housing fund, municipal tax, customs charges, stamp duty, import premium and wharf dues; and what are the comparable figures in each case faced by similar exports from Turkey to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  All imports to Turkey are currently subject to the following:Municipal tax — 15 per cent. of applicable import duty.
  Customs charges (including stamp tax)—2 per cent. approximately of cif value.

  539
  Stamp duty—8 per cent. of cif value.
  Import premium—6 per cent. of cif value.
  Wharf dues — 5 per cent. of the sum of the cif value plus import duty, municipal tax and stamp tax on customs declarations.

  In addition, imports into Turkey of wool cloth are liable to:
  Import duty—20 per cent. cif.
  Housing fund—US$10 per kg.

  The equivalent Turkish goods may be imported to the United Kingdom free of all import duties.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total percentage duty payable on exports to Turkey of knitted wool outerware; if he will give a breakdown of the figure by basic tariff, housing fund, municipal tax, customs charges, stamp duty, import premium and wharf dues; and what are the comparable figures in each case faced by similar exports to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  All imports to Turkey are currently subject to the following:Municipal tax — 15 per cent. of applicable import duty.
  Customs charges (including stamp tax)—2 per cent. approximately of cif value.
  Stamp duty—8 per cent. of cif value.
  Import premium—6 per cent. of cif value.
  Wharf dues—5 per cent. of the sum of the cif value plus import duty, municipal tax and stamp tax on customs declarations.

  In addition, imports into Turkey of Knitted Wool Outerware are liable to:
  Import duty—40 per cent. cif.
  Housing fund—Nil.

  The equivalent Turkish goods may be imported to the United Kingdom free of all import duties.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total percentage duty payable on exports to Turkey of spun synthetic yarn; if he will give a breakdown of the figure by basic tariff, housing fund, municipal tax, customs charges, stamp duty, import premium and wharf dues; and what are the comparable figures in each case faced by similar exports from Turkey to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  All imports to Turkey are currently subject to the following:Municipal tax — 15 per cent. of applicable import duty.
  Customs charges (including Stamp tax)—2 per cent. approximately of cif value.
  Stamp duty—8 per cent. of cif value.
  Import premium—6 per cent. of cif value.
  Wharf dues—5 per cent. of the sum of the cif value plus import duty, municipal tax and stamp tax on customs declarations.

  In addition, spun synthetic yarn imported into Turkey is subject to an import duty of either 8 per cent. or 30 per cent. depending on the definition, and a housing fund surcharge of $50 per tonne.

  The equivalent Turkish goods may be imported to the United Kingdom free of all import duties.

  Credit Cards
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any figures on the number of non-payments of debts incurred through the use of credit cards; and if he will make a statement.
  540
  Mr. Maude
  No. The credit statistics published by my Department do not identify numbers of individuals encountering debt problems incurred through the use of credit cards. However, I understand that from figures produced by the major credit card companies that about 1 per cent. of their customers encounter long-term difficulties in repayment.

  Doorstep Selling
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will introduce regulations to implement the European Community directive on doorstep selling.

  Mr. Maude
  The Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts concluded away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987 were laid before Parliament today. They provide for a seven-day cooling-off period during which consumers have the right to cancel a contract for goods or services entered into during an unsolicited visit by a trader to their home or place of work. The regulations apply, with some exceptions, to cash and credit contracts worth more than £35. They will come into force on 1 July 1988.

  Unfair Trade Unit
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the budget of the unfair trade unit; how many staff are employed by this unit; and what is its publicity budget.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: The unfair trade unit is concerned with complaints about unfairly traded imports and currently employs nine staff. Its total budget for the 1987–88 financial year is £179,000. The cost of its publicity activities, which include briefings by members of the unit and the distribution of an information pack, are met from the unit's budget or the departmental budget as appropriate.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many cases the unfair trade unit dealt with in the last 12 months; how many of these cases have involved the European Community Commission; and how many of these cases have resulted in representations being made to foreign Governments by(a) the European Community Commission and (b) Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: Anti-dumping and countervailing action are the responsibility of the European Commission.

  In the last 12 months the unfair trade unit has been involved in 32 anti-dumping cases under investigation by the Commission and has responded to more than 60 inquiries about the possibility of taking anti-dumping action or countering other unfair practices.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff were employed to examine and advise on hidden trade barriers prior to the establishment of the unfair trade unit.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: Examining and advising on hidden trade barriers affecting British exports remains one of the responsibilities of the overseas trade divisions. Their staffing level was not affected by the establishment of the unfair trade unit, which deals with unfairly traded imports.
  541
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the unfair trade unit has published any of its findings.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: The results of anti-dumping investigations are published in British Business and, where appropriate, Ministers announce the result of cases taken up bilaterally.

  Inner City Task Force
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table for each inner city task

  Task force area—North Kensington

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  1,721

  1

  850

  I

  670

  5–9

  1,564

  2

  1,670

  II

  3,290

  10–14

  1,887

  3

  240

  IIIN

  2,590

  15

  393

  4

  390

  HIM

  2,290

  16–19

  1,761

  5·1

  1,660

  IV

  2,240

  20–24

  2,542

  5·2

  260

  V

  920

  25–29

  2,507

  6

  2,180

  Armed Forces

  910

  30–34

  2,231

  7

  2,200

  Retired 1

  1,350

  35–39

  1,707

  8

  340

  Retired 2

  3,100

  40–44

  1,582

  9

  2,590

  Retired 3

  1,860

  45–49

  1,418

  10

  2,400

  50–54

  1,487

  11

  1,690

  55–59

  1,472

  12

  900

  60–64

  1,083

  13

  0

  65–69

  1,096

  14

  10

  70–74

  892

  15

  10

  75–79

  684

  16

  40

  80–85

  339

  17

  1,180

  85+

  211

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  643

  23

  477

  117

  26

  0

  Owner occupied leasehold

  773

  157

  234

  373

  9

  0

  Council etc.

  3,931

  3,347

  399

  156

  29

  0

  Housing association

  3,131

  1,644

  433

  985

  69

  0

  Rent and business

  12

  0

  11

  1

  0

  0

  By employment

  120

  160

  62

  16

  2

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  802

  116

  232

  560

  126

  0

  Other rented furnished

  1,160

  44

  187

  555

  374

  0

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  13,488

  Working

  11,294

  Not working

  2,194

  Task force area—Coventry

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  3,124

  1

  210

  I

  180

  5–9

  2,809

  2

  1,330

  II

  1,420

  10–14

  3,160

  3

  80

  IIIN

  1,650

  15

  529

  4

  290

  HIM

  3,850

  16–19

  2,463

  5·1

  870

  IV

  4,120

  20–24

  3,421

  5·2

  190

  V

  1,770

  25–29

  2,647

  6

  980

  Armed Forces

  1,390

  30–34

  1,985

  7

  730

  Retired 1

  1,530

  35–39

  1,607

  8

  870

  Retired 2

  5,010

  40–44

  1,619

  9

  7,990

  Retired 3

  3,320

  45–49

  1,557

  10

  7,090

  50–54

  1,646

  11

  4,110

  55–59

  1,690

  12

  1,340

  60–64

  1,631

  13

  0

  542
  force area, drawn from 1981 census figures, showing the total population broken down by the usual census categories for age, social class, employment, housing, tenure, socio-economic group, together with a statement of any estimates of change since 1981 made by his Department.

  Mr. Kenneth Clark
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1987, c. 333]: The information requested is as follows, based on 1981 census figures. It is not possible to give an estimate of change since 1981. However, it should be noted that the data reflect local authority wards as at 1981, and some of these boundaries have since changed.
  543

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  65–69

  1,392

  14

  0

  70–74

  1,158

  15

  20

  75–79

  847

  16

  40

  80–85

  439

  17

  1,650

  85+

  263

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  5,492

  19

  5,416

  35

  22

  10

  Owner occupied leasehold

  167

  56

  110

  1

  0

  4

  Council etc.

  3,476

  1,663

  1,793

  19

  1

  15

  Housing association

  672

  258

  382

  29

  3

  0

  Rent and business

  13

  1

  12

  0

  0

  0

  By employment

  77

  3

  70

  4

  0

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  712

  32

  595

  73

  12

  0

  Other rented furnished

  469

  2

  168

  162

  137

  0

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  14,302

  Working

  10,850

  Not working

  3,452

  Task force area—Nottingham

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  1,821

  1

  400

  I

  210

  5–9

  1,720

  2

  790

  II

  1,540

  10–14

  2,014

  3

  50

  IIIN

  1,600

  15

  406

  4

  250

  IIIM

  2,730

  16–19

  1,825

  5·1

  700

  IV

  2,740

  20–24

  2,926

  5·2

  180

  V

  1,330

  Armed

  25–29

  1,968

  6

  1,490

  Forces

  910

  30–34

  1,483

  7

  460

  Retired 1

  1,860

  35–39

  1,093

  8

  530

  Retired 2

  3,060

  40–44

  1,212

  9

  5,000

  Retired 3

  2,800

  45–49

  1,227

  10

  4,390

  50–54

  1,350

  11

  1,940

  55–59

  1,374

  12

  1,210

  60–64

  1,130

  13

  0

  65–69

  1,091

  14

  0

  70–74

  1,011

  15

  0

  75–79

  702

  16

  40

  80–85

  435

  17

  1,160

  85+

  320

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  3,630

  21

  3,518

  62

  29

  0

  Owner occupied leasehold

  179

  36

  134

  4

  5

  0

  Council etc.

  3,079

  1,810

  1,221

  174

  8

  1

  Housing association

  419

  25

  326

  61

  7

  0

  Rent and business

  32

  0

  30

  0

  1

  0

  By employment

  70

  4

  63

  2

  1

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  1,420

  7

  1,260

  117

  36

  0

  Other rented furnished

  1,007

  8

  317

  344

  338

  0

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  11,538

  Working

  8,982

  Not working

  2,556

  544 545

  Task force area—Moss Side, Manchester

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  2,299

  1

  280

  I

  430

  5–9

  2,134

  2

  1,030

  II

  1,870

  10–14

  2,767

  3

  110

  IIIN

  2,100

  15

  586

  4

  710

  IIIM

  3,030

  16–19

  2,839

  5·1

  1,400

  IV

  3,180

  20–24

  4,891

  5·2

  30

  V

  1,740

  25–29

  2,869

  6

  2,000

  Armed Forces

  1,510

  30–34

  1,891

  7

  1,080

  Retired 1

  1,790

  35–39

  1,575

  8

  620

  Retired 2

  4,240

  40–44

  1,684

  9

  5,540

  Retired 3

  4,860

  45–49

  1,641

  10

  3,930

  50–54

  1,763

  11

  2,880

  55–59

  1,707

  12

  1,320

  60–64

  1,364

  13

  0

  65–69

  1,209

  14

  0

  70–74

  1,060

  15

  50

  75–79

  700

  16

  40

  80–85

  464

  17

  1,400

  85+

  254

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  1,651

  40

  1,575

  20

  16

  0

  Owner occupied leasehold

  1,097

  122

  949

  21

  5

  0

  Council etc.

  7,598

  4,570

  2,929

  91

  8

  2

  Housing association

  271

  121

  133

  13

  4

  0

  Rent and business

  28

  0

  26

  2

  0

  0

  By employment

  131

  19

  107

  2

  3

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  647

  62

  496

  58

  31

  0

  Other rented furnished

  997

  151

  214

  276

  356

  0

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  14,966

  Working

  11,237

  Not working

  3,729

  Task force area—Spitalfields

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  1,599

  1

  180

  I

  60

  5–9

  1,300

  2

  1,200

  II

  1,040

  10–14

  1,181

  3

  10

  IIIN

  1,370

  15

  235

  4

  80

  IIIM

  2,000

  16–19

  1,211

  5·1

  470

  IV

  3,060

  20–24

  2,110

  5·2

  50

  V

  1,140

  25–29

  1,528

  6

  1,130

  Armed Forces

  1,040

  30–34

  997

  7

  860

  Retired 1

  1,140

  35–39

  864

  8

  370

  Retired 2

  2,580

  40–44

  1,289

  9

  3,170

  Retired 3

  1,490

  45–49

  1,408

  10

  3,690

  50–54

  1,478

  11

  1,770

  55–59

  1,293

  12

  1,790

  60–64

  1,139

  13

  0

  65–69

  1,086

  14

  0

  70–74

  937

  15

  0

  75–79

  679

  16

  0

  80–85

  342

  17

  1,250

  85+

  184

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  153

  15

  104

  17

  17

  0

  Owner occupied leasehold

  130

  42

  57

  20

  11

  0

  Council etc.

  5,216

  4,666

  455

  59

  36

  35

  Housing association

  456

  555

  41

  44

  16

  0

  Rent and business

  24

  3

  20

  1

  0

  0

  546 547

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  By employment

  137

  81

  40

  8

  8

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  819

  243

  293

  3

  120

  1

  Other rented furnished

  393

  99

  33

  163

  162

  0

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  10,372

  Working

  8,493

  Not working

  1,879

  Task force area—Chapel Town, Leeds

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  4,386

  1

  1,620

  I

  660

  5–9

  4,291

  2

  2,350

  II

  4,190

  10–14

  5,242

  3

  90

  IIIN

  4,800

  15

  1,115

  4

  1,360

  IIIM

  7,180

  16–19

  3,759

  5·1

  3,380

  IV

  6,410

  20–24

  6,610

  5·2

  240

  V

  3,220

  25–29

  4,934

  6

  4,360

  Armed Forces

  2,440

  30–34

  3,971

  7

  1,850

  Retired 1

  3,750

  35–39

  2,978

  8

  1,430

  Retired 2

  8,310

  40–44

  3,224

  9

  12,800

  Retired 3

  15,420

  45–49

  3,278

  10

  9,360

  50–54

  3,461

  11

  6,380

  55–59

  3,464

  12

  2,330

  60–64

  2,944

  13

  0

  65–69

  3,070

  14

  0

  70–74

  2,703

  15

  50

  75–79

  1,963

  16

  0

  80–84

  1,133

  17

  3,400

  85+

  666

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  8,382

  55

  8,173

  109

  45

  1

  Owner occupied leasehold

  413

  90

  290

  28

  5

  1

  Council etc.

  10,507

  3,489

  6,469

  521

  28

  0

  Housing association

  1,089

  395

  551

  129

  14

  0

  Rent and business

  34

  2

  32

  0

  0

  0

  By employment

  168

  36

  122

  8

  2

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  1,978

  34

  1,664

  231

  49

  0

  Other rented furnished

  1,850

  44

  667

  681

  458

  0

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  29,583

  Working

  23,671

  Not working

  5,912

  Task force area—Handsworth, Birmingham

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  5,355

  1

  260

  I

  240

  5–9

  5,110

  2

  1,740

  II

  1,910

  10–14

  6,152

  3

  140

  IIIN

  2,680

  15

  1,105

  4

  320

  IIIM

  5,870

  16–19

  4,722

  5·1

  1,080

  IV

  6,620

  20–24

  5,085

  5·2

  70

  V

  2,570

  25–29

  3,953

  6

  2,200

  Armed Forces

  3,630

  30–34

  2,949

  7

  960

  Retired 1

  2,340

  35–39

  2,396

  8

  1,150

  Retired 2

  8,350

  40–44

  2,915

  9

  14,920

  Retired 3

  3,580

  45–49

  2,901

  10

  12,390

  50–54

  2,942

  11

  6,140

  55–59

  2,598

  12

  2,040

  60–64

  2,170

  13

  0

  65–69

  1,815

  14

  0

  548 549

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  70–74

  1,355

  15

  30

  75–79

  1,050

  16

  30

  80–85

  582

  17

  4,430

  85+

  360

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  6,369

  25

  6,147

  139

  58

  1

  Owner occupied leasehold

  2,163

  82

  2,026

  41

  14

  0

  Council etc.

  4,060

  1,125

  2,770

  147

  18

  1

  Housing association

  1,570

  169

  896

  478

  27

  0

  Rent and business

  18

  0

  17

  1

  0

  0

  By employment

  137

  9

  119

  8

  1

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  1,230

  80

  935

  157

  58

  0

  Other rented furnished

  967

  20

  269

  350

  328

  0

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  23,656

  Working

  17,139

  Not working

  6,517

  Task force area—Doncaster

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  3,576

  1

  1,270

  I

  530

  5–9

  3,684

  2

  2,910

  II

  3,670

  10–14

  4,599

  3

  300

  IIIN

  4,450

  15

  1,001

  4

  970

  IIIM

  8,570

  16–19

  4,366

  5·1

  2,540

  IV

  6,470

  20–24

  5,173

  5·2

  230

  V

  2,940

  25–29

  4,295

  6

  2,730

  Armed Forces

  1,470

  30–34

  4,000

  7

  960

  Retired 1

  4,280

  35–39

  3,116

  8

  2,680

  Retired 2

  9,710

  40–44

  3,115

  9

  18,390

  Retired 3

  6,200

  45–49

  3,250

  10

  10,020

  50–54

  3,601

  11

  3,260

  55–59

  4,085

  12

  2,370

  60–64

  3,466

  13

  100

  65–69

  3,199

  14

  0

  70–74

  2,544

  15

  120

  75–79

  1,832

  16

  290

  80–85

  1,066

  17

  1,160

  85+

  588

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  12,293

  4

  12,192

  66

  31

  89

  Owner occupied leasehold

  200

  13

  182

  3

  2

  129

  Council etc.

  6,568

  1,256

  5,284

  20

  8

  1

  Housing association

  170

  87

  79

  4

  0

  0

  Rent and business

  39

  0

  38

  1

  0

  0

  By employment

  340

  6

  328

  6

  0

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  2,234

  40

  2,007

  145

  42

  21

  Other rented furnished

  1,226

  3

  459

  406

  358

  23

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  28,049

  Working

  24,081

  Not working

  3,968

  Task force area—Rochdale

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  3,987

  1

  1,550

  I

  390

  5–9

  3,804

  2

  3,180

  II

  3,160

  550 551

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  10–14

  4,482

  3

  150

  IIIN

  3,460

  15

  826

  4

  640

  IIIM

  6,070

  16–19

  3,462

  5·1

  1,640

  IV

  6,280

  20–24

  4,088

  5·2

  330

  V

  2,620

  25–29

  3,580

  6

  3,150

  Armed Forces

  1.080

  30–34

  3,298

  7

  600

  Retired 1

  3,860

  35–39

  2,653

  8

  2,290

  Retired 2

  6,470

  40–44

  2,721

  9

  10,960

  Retired 3

  4,120

  45–49

  2,647

  10

  10,970

  50–54

  2,766

  11

  4,770

  55–59

  3,012

  12

  1,860

  60–64

  2,358

  13

  40

  65–69

  2,506

  14

  0

  70–74

  2,228

  15

  30

  75–79

  1,597

  16

  0

  80–85

  907

  17

  1,180

  85+

  495

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  2,284

  13

  2,260

  9

  2

  1

  Owner occupied leasehold

  7,130

  15

  7,090

  21

  2

  1

  Council etc.

  7,579

  2,954

  4,578

  34

  33

  1

  Housing association

  397

  155

  229

  7

  8

  0

  Rent and business

  54

  1

  53

  0

  0

  0

  By employment

  78

  2

  69

  6

  1

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  715

  5

  877

  16

  9

  12

  Other rented furnished

  342

  1

  194

  44

  103

  1

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  23,085

  Working

  18,789

  Not working

  4,296

  Task force area—Preston

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  1,783

  1

  60

  I

  160

  5–9

  1,591

  2

  710

  II

  990

  10–14

  1,897

  3

  0

  IIIN

  1,640

  15

  379

  4

  250

  IIIM

  2,350

  16–19

  1,637

  5·1

  450

  IV

  2,640

  20–24

  2,110

  5·2

  110

  V

  1,300

  25–29

  1,710

  6

  1,590

  Armed Forces

  790

  30–34

  1,372

  7

  500

  Retired 1

  1,700

  35–39

  1,030

  8

  590

  Retired 2

  2,970

  40–44

  1,168

  9

  4,750

  Retired 3

  2,540

  45–49

  1,189

  10

  5,570

  50–54

  1,223

  11

  2,490

  55–59

  1,276

  12

  990

  60–64

  1,219

  13

  0

  65–69

  1,285

  14

  30

  70–74

  1,204

  15

  60

  75–79

  954

  16

  40

  80–85

  507

  17

  1,220

  85+

  299

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  3,965

  8

  3,909

  44

  4

  0

  Owner occupied leasehold

  1,009

  61

  934

  7

  7

  0

  Council etc.

  2,508

  1,234

  1,214

  32

  28

  0

  Housing association

  29

  1

  20

  6

  2

  0

  Rent and business

  35

  0

  35

  0

  0

  0

  By employment

  65

  3

  57

  3

  2

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  695

  1

  582

  73

  39

  0

  Other rented furnished

  766

  10

  194

  336

  226

  0

  552 553

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  10,396

  Working

  8,129

  Not working

  2,267

  Task force area—Hartlepool

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  2,980

  1

  790

  I

  110

  5–9

  3,143

  2

  1,470

  II

  1,520

  10–14

  3,721

  3

  0

  IIIN

  2,610

  15

  819

  4

  270

  IIIM

  6,260

  16–19

  3,339

  5·1

  760

  IV

  4,850

  20–24

  3,767

  5·2

  110

  V

  2,960

  25–29

  3,095

  6

  1,600

  Armed Forces

  1,860

  30–34

  2,852

  7

  730

  Retired 1

  2,040

  35–39

  2,118

  8

  1,460

  Retired 2

  6,700

  40–44

  2,260

  9

  12,700

  Retired 3

  4,810

  45–49

  2,423

  10

  7,710

  50–54

  2,714

  11

  5,280

  55–59

  2,840

  12

  740

  60–64

  2,429

  13

  0

  65–69

  2,215

  14

  50

  70–74

  1,764

  15

  150

  75–79

  1,258

  16

  90

  80–85

  661

  17

  1,940

  85+

  403

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  4,966

  15

  4,939

  9

  3

  0

  Owner occupied leasehold

  296

  8

  286

  2

  0

  0

  Council etc.

  9,101

  1,329

  7,676

  92

  4

  3

  Housing association

  757

  139

  609

  4

  5

  0

  Rent and business

  24

  0

  24

  0

  0

  0

  By employment

  101

  11

  87

  2

  1

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  627

  12

  589

  24

  2

  0

  Other rented furnished

  293

  12

  129

  73

  79

  0

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  20,287

  Working

  15,424

  Not working

  4,863

  Task force area—Wolverhampton

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  2,891

  1

  540

  I

  250

  5–9

  2,974

  2

  1,220

  II

  1,990

  10–14

  3,363

  3

  110

  IIIN

  2,250

  15

  586

  4

  510

  IIIM

  4,050

  16–19

  2,422

  5·1

  1,470

  IV

  3,610

  20–24

  2,939

  5·2

  110

  V

  1,430

  25–29

  2,621

  6

  1,710

  Armed Forces

  1,510

  30–34

  2,170

  7

  230

  Retired 1

  1,340

  35–39

  1,681

  8

  690

  Retired 2

  5,890

  40–44

  1,666

  9

  10,090

  Retired 3

  2,340

  45–49

  1,742

  10

  5,770

  50–54

  1,837

  11

  3,320

  55–59

  1,624

  12

  1,540

  60–64

  1,455

  13

  10

  65–69

  1,298

  14

  0

  70–74

  1,185

  15

  0

  75–79

  884

  16

  20

  80–85

  499

  17

  1,510

  85+

  281

  554 555

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  5,633

  1

  5,582

  29

  15

  5

  Owner occupied leasehold

  286

  75

  203

  5

  3

  0

  Council etc.

  2,496

  1,092

  1,394

  8

  2

  1

  Housing association

  963

  72

  832

  46

  13

  0

  Rent and business

  27

  0

  26

  1

  0

  0

  By employment

  119

  2

  112

  5

  0

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  1,211

  27

  1,146

  30

  8

  0

  Other rented furnished

  704

  92

  414

  96

  118

  0

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  14,518

  Working

  11,273

  Not working

  3,245

  Task force area—Bristol

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  1,466

  1

  170

  I

  130

  5–9

  1,256

  2

  1,170

  II

  1,200

  10–14

  1,490

  3

  40

  IIIN

  1,320

  15

  328

  4

  190

  IIIM

  2,740

  16–19

  1,383

  5·1

  940

  IV

  1,890

  20–24

  1,782

  5·2

  100

  V

  1,160

  25–29

  1,473

  6

  1,260

  Armed Forces

  820

  30–34

  1,207

  7

  720

  Retired 1

  1,670

  35–39

  1,002

  8

  820

  Retired 2

  2,870

  40–44

  1,075

  9

  4,630

  Retired 3

  2,840

  45–49

  1,046

  10

  3,270

  50–54

  1,175

  11

  1,970

  55–59

  1,270

  12

  860

  60–64

  1,278

  13

  0

  65–69

  1,370

  14

  30

  70–74

  1,176

  15

  0

  75–79

  947

  16

  0

  80–85

  525

  17

  920

  85+

  385

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  2,480

  7

  2,434

  24

  15

  8

  Owner occupied leasehold

  728

  9

  706

  7

  6

  0

  Council etc.

  4,380

  2,638

  1,648

  86

  8

  0

  Housing association

  446

  156

  129

  137

  24

  0

  Rent and business

  39

  1

  37

  1

  0

  0

  By employment

  114

  11

  88

  13

  2

  1

  Other rented unfurnished

  372

  9

  269

  60

  34

  0

  Other rented furnished

  299

  1

  122

  79

  97

  1

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  9,604

  Working

  7,803

  Not working

  1,801

  Task force area—Highfields, Leicester

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  4,176

  1

  350

  I

  310

  5–9

  3,566

  2

  2,340

  II

  2,090

  10–14

  4,101

  3

  150

  IIIN

  2,850

  15

  794

  4

  390

  IIIM

  6,250

  16–19

  3,665

  5·1

  1,160

  IV

  6,160

  20–24

  5,215

  5·2

  90

  V

  1,360

  25–29

  4,197

  6

  3,040

  Armed Forces

  2,510

  30–34

  3,158

  7

  1,040

  Retired 1

  2,060

  556 557

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  35–39

  2,256

  8

  1,340

  Retired 2

  7,330

  40–44

  2,369

  9

  11,320

  Retired 3

  3,090

  45–49

  2,196

  10

  9,130

  50–54

  2,116

  11

  3,520

  55–59

  1,923

  12

  2,250

  60–64

  1,796

  13

  0

  65–69

  1,791

  14

  0

  70–74

  1,575

  15

  0

  75–79

  1,222

  16

  40

  80–85

  690

  17

  3,870

  85+

  430

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  8,094

  19

  7,988

  64

  23

  1

  Owner occupied leasehold

  324

  128

  183

  8

  5

  1

  Council etc.

  3,421

  1,320

  1,921

  175

  5

  0

  Housing association

  661

  168

  389

  78

  26

  0

  Rent and business

  20

  0

  20

  0

  0

  0

  By employment

  57

  2

  50

  4

  1

  1

  Other rented unfurnished

  1,251

  5

  1,052

  148

  46

  0

  Other rented furnished

  1,237

  5

  601

  317

  314

  0

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  21,272

  Working

  16,552

  Not working

  4,720

  Task force area—North Peckham

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  3,599

  1

  740

  I

  5

  5–9

  3,094

  2

  1,810

  II

  124

  10–14

  3,795

  3

  110

  IIIN

  398

  15

  855

  4

  520

  IIIM

  70

  16–19

  3,467

  5·1

  2,180

  IV

  243

  20–24

  4,905

  5·2

  480

  V

  123

  25–29

  4,055

  6

  4,100

  Armed Forces

  61

  30–34

  3,273

  7

  2,100

  Retired 1

  123

  35–39

  2,403

  8

  1,580

  Retired 2

  521

  40–44

  2,554

  9

  9,350

  Retired 3

  343

  45–49

  2,452

  10

  6,470

  50–54

  2,672

  11

  4,590

  55–59

  2,871

  12

  2,180

  60–64

  2,494

  13

  20

  65–69

  2,342

  14

  0

  70–74

  1,780

  15

  0

  75–79

  1,260

  16

  0

  80–85

  755

  17

  2,620

  85+

  481

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  1,226

  39

  1,060

  68

  59

  2

  Owner occupied leasehold

  297

  102

  217

  73

  7

  0

  Council etc.

  14,863

  12,179

  1,908

  698

  18

  29

  Housing association

  994

  594

  201

  185

  14

  0

  Rent and business

  45

  1

  43

  0

  1

  0

  By employment

  137

  51

  75

  9

  2

  1

  Other rented unfurnished

  1,064

  166

  486

  191

  221

  0

  Other rented furnished

  365

  13

  121

  125

  106

  17

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  24,197

  Working

  20,593

  Not working

  3,604

  558 559

  Task force area—Middlesbrough

  Age

  Population

  SEG

  Population

  Social Class

  Population

  0–4

  2,347

  1

  160

  I

  140

  5–9

  1,870

  2

  540

  II

  840

  10–14

  1,972

  3

  80

  IIIN

  1,560

  15

  396

  4

  190

  IIIM

  3,570

  16–19

  1,765

  5·1

  590

  IV

  2,340

  20–24

  3,066

  5·2

  80

  V

  1,550

  25–29

  2,452

  6

  1,180

  Armed Forces

  820

  30–34

  1,654

  7

  580

  Retired 1

  1,410

  35–39

  1,096

  8

  410

  Retired 2

  4,090

  40–44

  1,275

  9

  7,560

  Retired 3

  2,620

  45–49

  1,298

  10

  3,990

  50–54

  1,327

  11

  2,950

  55–59

  1,337

  12

  900

  60–64

  1,200

  13

  0

  65–69

  1,141

  14

  0

  70–74

  989

  15

  10

  75–79

  705

  16

  0

  80–85

  325

  17

  730

  85+

  183

  Tenure—Housing by household

  Total

  Purpose flat

  Separate entrance

  Self contained

  Non self contained

  Non permanent

  Owner occupied freehold

  4,850

  10

  4,804

  31

  5

  20

  Owner occupied leasehold

  187

  4

  180

  3

  0

  0

  Council etc.

  1,558

  564

  968

  11

  15

  0

  Housing association

  284

  55

  200

  27

  2

  0

  Rent and business

  11

  0

  11

  0

  0

  0

  By employment

  91

  10

  76

  5

  0

  0

  Other rented unfurnished

  926

  5

  898

  14

  9

  4

  Other rented furnished

  690

  7

  349

  139

  195

  0

  Employment

  Number

  Total economic active

  11,684

  Working

  8,806

  Not working

  2,878

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gulf War
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the use of chemical warfare in the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Mellor
  A report by a United Nations inspection team confirmed that chemical weapons had been used in April by Iraq against Iranian troops and civilians. It also mentions chemical weapons injuries to Iraqi troops, but it is unable to apportion blame. There were unconfirmed reports of further chemical weapons use by Iraq in October. We unreservedly condemn all use of chemical weapons, and we are in the forefront of moves to obtain a global ban on these hideous weapons.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps he is taking to seek to bring to an end the conflict in the Gulf.

  Mr. Mellor
  We continue to believe that the best hope of achieving a lasting peace in the Gulf is through the immediate implementation of Security Council resolution 598 in full. To this end, we fully support the United Nations secretary general in his efforts to obtain compliance by Iran and Iraq.
  560
  We are also playing a leading role in discussions on implementation of Security Council resolution 598 within the Security Council. Along with others, we are pressing for work to begin on enforcement measures, as agreed by the Foreign Ministers of the Five on 25 September. My right hon. and learned Friend raised this most recently with Mr. Shevardnadze on 7 December.

  Mr. Michael Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to convene a meeting of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to try to find a way of ending the Gulf war.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Five Foreign Ministers met in New York on 25 September and agreed a twin-track approach to ending the conflict via the implementation of Security Council resolution 598. The secretary general would continue his efforts to persuade Iran and Iraq to comply with resolution 598 whilst the representatives of the Five worked on enforcement measures. The representatives of the Five in New York continue to meet to monitor progress on the first track, and we seek to begin serious work on the second. We continue to believe that this approach offers the best way forward.

  E1 Salvador
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about compliance by the Government of El Salvador with the Central American regional peace accord proposed by President Arias.

  Mr. Eggar
  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.

  Soviet Union (Foreign Minister)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union; and what subjects were discussed.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I had talks with Mr. Shevardnadze on 7 December during Mr. Gorbachev's visit. In the short time available we discussed a number of questions relating to arms control, human rights, regional conflicts and Anglo-Soviet bilateral relations. I welcomed the United States-Soviet agreement on intermediate nuclear forces and the prospect of further arms control measures, but made clear that a solid improvement in East-West relations would also depend on parallel progress over human rights abuses and issues such as the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

  Bophuthatswana
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to seek to visit Bophuthatswana.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Bophuthatswana is not an independent state; it is a homeland set up by the South African Government within South Africa. My right hon. and learned Friend has no current plans for a visit to South Africa.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for the United Kingdom's relations with Afghanistan of the refugee situation in that area.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have voted in favour of successive United Nations general assembly resolutions calling for the early withdrawal of Soviet troops and the restoration of Afghanistan's independence, to enable Afghan refugees to return to their homes in safety and honour.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans any new initiative intended to lead to the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afganistan.

  Mr. Eggar
  The European Council has called on the Soviet Union to withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan in 1988 according to a fixed timetable. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reinforced the message when she met Mr. Gorbachev on 7 December. We will continue to press for withdrawal.
  562
  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of the recent meeting between the Prime Minister and Mr. Gorbachev, Her Majesty's Government intend to pursue any fresh initiatives to seek the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The European Council has called on the Soviet Union to withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan in 1988 according to a fixed timetable. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reinforced the message when she met Mr. Gorbachev on 7 December. We will continue to press for withdrawal.

  Kenya
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Kenya.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our relations with Kenya are very friendly and substantial. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is much looking forward to visiting Kenya in January as the guest of President Moi.

  EC (Deregulation)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the effect on the areas of his responsibility of the deregulation arrangements for 1992 within the EEC.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our aim is to remove the barriers to free movement of goods and services within the Community by 1992. In some cases that will involve using Community measures to outlaw restrictive practices, for example on insurance and air transport; in others, it will involve adopting a Communitywide standard in place of 12 national standards or mutual recognition of national standards. We are taking steps to ensure that where Community standards replace national ones, the regulatory burden on industry is minimised.

  UNESCO
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning United Kingdom relations with UNESCO.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have received no formal representations.

  Arms Control
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the next stage in the discussions 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.

  South-East Asia
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the American Secretary of State; and if they discussed the situation in south-east Asia.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend met Mr. Shultz this morning. They discussed a range of bilateral and international issues, but not on this occasion the situation in south-east Asia.

  Greece
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom and Greece.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Relations between the United Kingdom and Greece are good, as befits fellow members of the European Community and NATO. Regular contact is maintained at ministerial level. My right hon. and learned Friend and I both visited Greece last year and the Greek Foreign Minister paid a return visit to London last month.

  Iran
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to obtain a copy of all evidence relating to British subjects that was given to the Congressional inquiry into the Iran-Contra affair; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  No. The report of the congressional committees investigating the Iran-Contra affair contains no information to suggest that British subjects have broken United Kingdom law. There is, therefore, no reason to request a copy of all evidence relating to British subjects.

  South Africa (Diplomats)
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice is given by his Department to United Kingdom diplomats in South Africa regarding attendance at political rallies or funerals.

  Mrs. Chalker
  This is a matter for decision by Her Majesty's ambassador in the light of circumstances at the time and of British policy towards South Africa.

  Latin America
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he makes of the implications of the Group of Eight summit in Acapulco for Her Majesty's Government's relations with Latin America.

  Mr. Eggar
  As I informed the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray) on 3 December, we are studying the Acapulco declaration. It contains much that we welcome, and we hope to build on this common ground in developing our relationship with Latin America.

  Mr. Gorbachev (Visit)
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, during Mr. Gorbachev's visit 564
  to London, whether he discussed with him the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  During discussions with Mr. Gorbachev, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, called for the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan in 1988.

  Iran-Iraq War
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in attempting to bring about a ceasefire between Iraq and Iran.

  Mr. Mellor
  The secretary general has now received preliminary responses from Iran and Iraq to his detailed plan for the implementation of Security Council resolution 598, of which a ceasefire is the first and crucial element. He has had recent discussions on this with emissaries from Tehran and Baghdad. However, there is unfortunately little sign of progress. We are continuing to press for early work on enforcement measures in case the secretary general's untiring efforts are not successful.

  Chile
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Chilean counterpart regarding the safety of British citizens in Chile.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and noble Friend and I reviewed the whole range of our concerns about human rights in Chile when the Foreign Minister passed through London on 23 October. Her Majesty's ambassador in Santiago regularly raises human rights issues with the Chilean Government.

  INF Treaty
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about the implications for Britain in the intermediate nuclear forces treaty.

  Mr. Mellor
  We welcome the signing of the intermediate nuclear forces treaty. The implications are as stated in my reply today to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith).

  Arms Reductions
  Mr. Patrick Thomson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy towards Soviet proposals for conventional arms reductions in Europe.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Soviet Union has formulated no specific proposals on conventional arms reductions in Europe at the conventional stability mandate discussions in Vienna beyond general assertions of its willingness to talk seriously about conventional arms control and its readiness to contemplate the elimination of disparities "where they exist". At the MBFR talks, also in Vienna, it has shown itself interested only in unverifiable symbolic or declaratory measures which would do nothing to enhance stability and security. In the so-called Budapest Appeal of June 1986 the Warsaw pact proposed equal percentage cuts by both NATO and Warsaw pact which would do nothing to redress existing imbalances.

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implication for the United Kingdom's relations with Bangladesh of the current state of emergency.

  Mr. Eggar
  Our relations with Bangladesh are good. We regret the loss of life and the injuries suffered during the current political unrest there. We hope that political differences in Bangladesh will be resolved by democratic means.

  Mozambique
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British officers and men are currently working in Mozambique helping to train the Mozambique army; and whether it is planned to alter that number.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A 14-man British military team is engaged in training members of the Mozambican Army at Nyanga, Zimbabwe. A defence adviser is attached to Her Majesty's embassy in Maputo for planning and liaison purposes. There are no plans to alter these numbers.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Mozambique.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The United Kingdom's relations with the People's Republic of Mozambique have continued to develop positively since President Chissano succeeded the late President Machel. President Chissano paid a successful official visit to Britain in May. This has been followed by ministerial contacts culminating in my recent visit to Mozambique. We support President Chissano's efforts to bring peace and stability to Mozambique. In recognition of this, as well as of Mozambique's strategic importance in southern Africa, we have this year committed over £34 million in bilateral development aid, food and disaster relief. In addition, we undertake the training in Nyanga, Zimbabwe, of limited numbers of the Mozambican armed forces.

  Federal Republic of Germany
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when next he hopes to visit the Federal Republic of Germany.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to visit the Federal Republic of Germany on 8 February to attend a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the European Community meeting in political cooperation.

  Heads of Government Meeting (Copenhagen)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meeting of EEC Heads of Government at Copenhagen, including any agreement on plans for the future development of the Community.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday 8 December.

  President of the European Commission
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the President of the European Commission; and what matters were discussed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend recently met the President of the European Commission at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 14 and 15 December, when they discussed a number of issues concerning the future development of the Community.

  Soviet Union (Human Rights)
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made about the protection of human rights in the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend discussed human rights in the Soviet Union with Mr. Shevardnadze during talks on 7 December at Brize Norton and made clear the importance of a major improvement in Soviet performance for lasting confidence between East and West. He raised two bilateral family reunification cases and handed over updated lists of Soviet prisoners of conscience and Jewish refuseniks about whom we have received representations this year.

  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about recent developments regarding human rights in the Soviet Union; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made about human rights in the Soviet Union.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  We are monitoring Soviet human rights performance closely and are aware that substantial abuses continue. I discussed these issues with Mr. Shevardnadze at Brize Norton on 7 December. While welcoming recent steps forward in Soviet performance, I stressed the need for further major progress in this area and handed over lists of individual cases about which we have received representations.

  Soviet Union
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's current relations with the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister paid a highly successful visit to the Soviet Union in March and held talks with Mr. Gorbachev in an excellent atmosphere on 7 December at Brize Norton. My right hon. and learned Friend will be visiting the Soviet Union early next year and other high-level visits in both directions are also planned. The current health of the relationship depends on mutual respect and frank speaking, including on issues such as human rights and Afghanistan.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about future British policy towards the Western European Union.

  Mr. Mellor
  Our policy towards the Western European Union is to make it an effective forum for Foreign and Defence Ministers of member countries to discuss security and defence issues of mutual concern. An effective Western European Union will contribute to strengthening the European pillar of the Alliance. The platform on European security interests agreed at the recent Hague ministerial meeting will guide Western European Union's development for the foreseeable future.

  South Africa
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received calling for additional sanctions by Her Majesty's Government against South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Coventry South-East (Mr. Nellist) on 18 November at column 598.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding Her Majesty's Government's policy of doing no deals with international hostage-takers.

  Mr. Mellor
  A wide range of representations and comments has been made about our policy since its inception. We believe that doing deals with hostage-takers only leads to more kidnappings and violence. That is why our policy is, and will remain, one of making no substantive concessions to terrorism.

  Southern Africa
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any proposals to visit southern Africa in 1988.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to do so.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit to southern Africa by the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker).

  Mrs. Chalker
  I visited Mozambique between 28 November and 1 December, and Malawi between 1–3 December. I took advantage of a transit stop in Johannesburg for a short talk with the South African Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Kobus Meiring. In Mozambique I met President Chissano and had useful talks with Mozambican Ministers and senior officials. I visited a number of aid projects and informed the President that we had set aside £500,000 to provide non-lethal defence equipment for units deployed on the Limpopo line. In Malawi I met President Banda and informed him of our decision to make available £750,000 568
  for non-lethal defence equipment for use by Malawian troops deployed on the Nacala line in Mozambique. I visited a Mozambican displaced persons' camp and told the Malawians that we would meet the cost of providing 5,000 tonnes of food aid — £1 million — and donate further relief aid.

  Fiji
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Fijian citizens resident in the United Kingdom about the situation in Fiji.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a small number of letters from Fijian organisations and citizens resident in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's current and future relations with Fiji.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have nothing to add to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 October following the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Vancouver.

  Gulf (Navigation Rights)
  Sir Giles Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of:State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek to promote recognition of the right to freedom of navigation in the Gulf.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have consistently stressed our determination to uphold the vitally important principle of freedom of navigation in international waters and straits used for international navigation. Support for this principle in the Gulf is demonstrated tangibly by the presence of vessels from the Royal Navy and other navies. We also take every opportunity to promote widespread recognition that freedom of navigation in the Gulf is an important interest of the whole international community.

  East-West Relations
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on East-West relations.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  We welcome the results of the Washington summit and hope that the intermediate nuclear forces agreement will lead to further effective and verifiable arms control measures. The more stable and cooperative East-West relationship we want also requires Soviet respect for human rights and cooperation over regional conflicts, including early withdrawal from Afghanistan.

  Sharpeville Six
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the South African Government for clemency for the Sharpeville six; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  On 4 December, the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, acting on behalf of the Twelve, appealed to the South African Government for
  569
  clemency for the Sharpeville six on humanitarian grounds. We have also made a bilateral approach to the South African Government.

  EC (Single Market)
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrangements made in his Department in preparation for the achievement of a single market in the European Community by 1992.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are working closely with the Department of Trade and Industry and other Government Departments to achieve the early adoption of the measures necessary to complete the single European market and to promote among businesses, industry and the public, awareness of the opportunities and challenges involved.

  European Foreign Policies
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European Community partners concerning the development of common European foreign policies.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. and learned Friend gave my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor) on 18 November. On 23 November my right hon. and learned Friend attended a meeting of European Community Foreign Ministers. East-West matters, the middle east, the Iran-Iraq war and Libya's involvement in the Eksund arms shipment were discussed. The Foreign Ministers issued statements on South Africa's military incursion into Angola, on the peace process in Central America and on the elections in Haiti. Further discussions on foreign policy matters took place at the European Council held in Copenhagen on 4–5 December. Statements were issued on East-West, the middle east and Afghanistan. Copies of all these statements have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Anglo-Egyptian Relations
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-Egyptian relations.

  Mr. Mellor
  Our relations with Egypt are excellent. Our views on regional issues are very similar and we enjoy very close cultural, trade and aid ties.

  Conventional Forces (Europe)
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there have been recent developments regarding reductions in conventional forces in Europe.

  Mr. Mellor
  Reasonable progress is being made at the informal discussions in Vienna to agree a mandate for conventional stability talks covering the Atlantic to Urals area. We hope formal negotiations will begin next year. The Western aim in these negotiations will be to achieve security at lower levels by eliminating disparities and the Warsaw pact's capability for surprise attack. On the mutual and balanced force reductions talks, also in 570
  Vienna, progress has been disappointing owing to the East's refusal to respond positively to Western proposals on verification and data.

  West Bank and Gaza
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last raised with the Israeli Government the abuse of civil and human rights of Palestinian Arabs on the West Bank and Gaza.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend discussed human rights at his most recent meeting with Mr. Peres in New York on 22 September. Officials remain in close touch with the Israelis on human rights issues.

  Anglo-Argentinian Relations
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with the current state of Anglo-Argentinian relations.

  Mr. Eggar
  We continue to seek more normal relations with Argentina whilst upholding our commitments to the Falkland islanders. We regret that the Argentine Government have failed to reciprocate many of our initiatives aimed at restoring more normal relations.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on his policy on the Falkland Islands over the last three months.

  Mr. Eggar
  Our policy is to uphold our commitments to the Falkland islanders while seeking to restore more normal relations with Argentina. I regularly exchange views with interested parties and visited the islands myself from 5–9 December.

  United Nations
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much is the United Kingdom contribution to the budget of the United Nations.

  Mr. Eggar
  The United Kingdom contributes 4.86 per cent. of the regular budget of the United Nations. In the United Kingdom financial year 1986–87 the amount in question was £23,614,564.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with countries in Eastern Europe.

  Mr. Mellor
  Relations are fuller with some countries than with others. This reflects different historical and political factors, the strength of commercial, cultural and individual links, and the internal policies pursued by the respective governments.

  Anglo-French Relations
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-French relations.
  571
  Mrs. Chalker
  Anglo-French relations are excellent. We enjoy close co-operation over a wide range of issues.

  Nuclear Bases (Inspection)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provision has been made for Soviet officials to inspect nuclear bases in the United Kingdom as a result of the intermediate range nuclear forces initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Only the United States facilities at RAF Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth will be liable to inspection under the intermediate nuclear forces treaty and the associated agreements when they enter into force. The provisions agreed between the United States and the USSR in the intermediate nuclear forces treaty and its inspection protocol, will be applied in the United Kingdom under an agreement signed on 11 December between the United States and the five European basing countries, and an exchange of notes to be concluded with the Soviet Union concerning the activities of Soviet Inspectors in the United Kingdom. Copies of all these texts will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as they are available. The basing country agreement and exchange of notes will be laid before the House in the usual way.

  Cyprus
  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take fresh action through the United Nations to resolve the problem caused by the presence of Turkish troops in Cyprus.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The United Nations secretary-general has recently repeated his proposal that the United Nations force in Cyprus—UNFICYP—should verify the size of military forces on each side. We believe this would be a valuable confidence-building measure and urge both sides to accept. Meanwhile, we continue to press the Turkish Government to reduce the numbers of their troops in Cyprus.

  NATO (Foreign Ministers)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met Foreign Ministers of the other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the Foreign Ministers of NATO countries at the North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels on 11 December. The meeting was given a full and extensive briefing by Mr. Shultz on the discussions that took place at the recent United States-Soviet summit. The allies gave their full support to the INF treaty signed there.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends visiting Pakistan in the near future.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to visit Pakistan. He had the pleasure to do 572
  so last year. My noble Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is visiting Pakistan from 13–19 December.

  Anglo-Soviet Relations
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-Soviet relations.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, paid a highly successful visit to the Soviet Union in March and held talks with Mr. Gorbachev in an excellent atmosphere on 7 December at Brize Norton. My right hon. and learned Friend will be visiting the Soviet Union early next year and other high-level visits in both directions are also planned. The current health or the relationship depends on mutual respect and frank speaking, including on issues such as human rights and Afghanistan.

  Arab-Israeli Dispute
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what par the Government are playing in efforts to resolve the Arab-Israeli dispute.

  Mr. Mellor
  We continue to work actively, together with our European partners, to help all parties concerned reach agreement on the convening of an international conference under United Nations auspices.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the Spanish Government regarding Gibraltar.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the Spanish Foreign Minister in Madrid on 27 and 28 November, and again in London, on 2 December. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and the Spanish Transport Minister were also present on 2 December. These meetings resulted in agreements on cooperation in the use of Gibraltar airport, on the resumption of the ferry service between Gibraltar and Algeciras and on the improvement of arrangements at the land frontier between Gibraltar and Spain. The texts of the joint declarations containing these agreements have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. M. G. Shastri
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the French Government about Mr. Masond Ghorbanizadeh Shastri, who has refugee status in the United Kingdom, who has been deported to Gabon from France; what contact has been made with him in Gabon; if he has protested to the French Government; ent and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Mr. Gorbanizadeh Ghasari has returned to the United Kingdom. This follows the intervention of Her Majesty's embassy in Libreville, acting in response to a request from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, who has the formal protection responsibility in this case.

  Poland (Radio Broadcasts)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what he intends to do about the jamming of radio broadcasts to Poland.

  Mr. Eggar
  Following repeated representations, the Polish authorities have told us that jamming of the BBC Polish service will stop on 31 December.

  Soviet Jewry
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether during recent discussions with Mr. Gorbachev the plight of Soviet Jewry was raised.

  Mr. Mellor
  Yes. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister welcomed the recent increase in Jewish emigration, but pressed Mr. Gorbachev for further progress in this and other areas of human rights concern. My right hon. and learned Friend also raised these issues with the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr. Shevardnadze, and handed over lists of cases about which recent representations have been made to the Government.

  Mr. Ronald Li
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cause of Mr. Ronald Li's resignation as deputy chairman of the Hong Kong futures exchange.

  Mr. Eggar
  I understand that Mr. Li, together with all other directors of the futures exchange, tendered his resignation to facilitate the formation of a new board.

  Mr. Jeffrey Sun
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cause of Mr. Jeffrey Sun's resignation as chief executive officer of the Hong Kong stock exchange.

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a private matter between Mr. Sun and the stock exchange.

  Hong Kong Securities Review Committee (Report)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Hong Kong Securities Review Committee report into recent events in the territory's stock and futures market will be published; and whether it will be investigating the role of senior officials and Stock Exchange Council members immediately prior to and during the recent closure of the exchanges.

  Mr. Eggar
  The committee will use its best endeavours to submit its report by 16 May 1988, and the Hong Kong Government intend to publish it thereafter. The main task of the committee is to identify what changes are appropriate to maintain Hong Kong as an international financial centre, rather than to allocate blame for past events.

  Anglo-USA Meeting
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects he discussed at his last meeting with representatives of the Government of the United States of America.
  574
  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I met Mr. Shultz this morning. A wide range of bilateral and international topics were discussed. We value this regular frank and constructive dialogue.

  United Nations
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent increase has been made in the number of officials employed by the United Nations; what proportion of these is from the Soviet bloc; and what economies have been effected recently in the organisation and its agencies.

  Mr. Eggar
  There has been no increase; on the contrary, posts subject to geographical distribution in the United Nations Organisation have decreased by 16 per cent. since 1985. The East European group's present share of these posts is 10 per cent. We shall continue to work for greater efficiency and value for money throughout the United Nations and its agencies.

  Dependent Territories
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the review of policy towards dependent territories announced by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar), on 23 July 1986; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Following the concern expressed within the Commonwealth about the security of small states, and the suspension of ministerial government in the Turks and Caicos Islands, we have conducted a review of policy towards our five Caribbean dependent territories and Bermuda. We did so in the light of our commitment to the principle of self-determination and our determination to live up to our obligations under the United Nations charter, and our responsibilities for the good government and development of the dependent territories.

  The review concluded that we should not seek in any way to influence opinion in the territories on the question of independence. We would not urge them to consider moving to independence, but we remain ready to respond positively when this is the clearly and constitutionally expressed wish of the people.

  As a result of the review, we are, however, implementing a number of administrative measures to improve the effectiveness with which we discharge our obligations to ensure the good administration, and economic and social development of the dependent territories. The reasonable needs of the dependent territories will continue, as before, to be a first charge on United Kingdom aid funds.

  We are already undertaking a programme to improve the defences of the Caribbean dependent territories against the threat posed by drug trafficking, as part of a wider determination, in co-operation with the Government of the United States and regional governments to counter the drugs threat in the region as a whole.

  We reaffirm our commitment to the dependent territories and our determination to discharge our obligations in full.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Jim Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 14 and 15 December.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 14 December. The Council discussed the programme of work on European Community future financing and spending control before the Brussels European Council on 11–12 February. Ministers agreed to devote the next Foreign Affairs Council on 25–26 January to these issues.

  The Council adopted the advance telecommunications research programme, RACE, and approved the additional protocols to the EC-Israel co-operation agreement which take account of Spanish and Portuguese accession to the Community. The Council reached a common position subject to formal Italian approval, on a framework regulation laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactivity in foodstuffs in the event of a nuclear accident. The regulation will be adopted after the necessary procedures in the European Parliament have been completed. In parallel, Ministers agreed to adopt, initially for three months, a new regulation governing food imports following the Chernobyl accident. The duration of this regulation will be extended to 24 months when the framework regulation is formally adopted.

  The Council heard reports from the Commission on progress in the Uruguay round of trade negotiations, and on recent high level meetings with the United States and Japan.

  The sixth EC-Yugoslavia co-operation council was held at the end of the Council. A resolution on the future development of co-operation between the EC and Yugoslavia was adopted.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what measures he is taking to improve job prospects in the district council area of Easington.

  Mr. Lee
  All my Department's employment, training and enterprise measures are available in Easington. Unemployment has fallen by 608 in the Easington local authority area in the last year.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are his plans to amalgamate the jobcentre in Peterlee with the unemployment benefit office; and whether there will be redundancies.

  Mr. Lee
  The employment service has been created to provide a more effective and coherent service to the unemployed. There are no current plans to amalgamate Peterlee jobcentre and unemployment benefit office.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of job vacancies notified to the jobcentres at Seaham and Peterlee, in September, October and November.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. The number of vacancies notified to Peterlee, Seaham and Wingate jobcentres between 5 September and 2 October 576
  1987 was 436. Separate figures for Seaham and Peterlee jobcentres are not collected. Figures are not yet available for the periods 3 October to 7 November and 8 November to 4 December.

  Availability for Work
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently available for work; what were the comparable figures a year ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The most recent source of information on the availability of persons for work is the labour force survey (LFS) which estimated that in spring 1986 4,283,000 people in Great Britain were out of employment and available for work, and of these only some 2,654,000 had looked for work in the week prior to interview.

  YTS Trainees
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many YTS trainees were deaf in each of the last five years; and what percentage this represents of the total number of YTS employees in the given year.

  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission keeps a record of the number of YTS trainees with disabilities, but these are not divided into different categories of disability. No figures are available therefore on the number or percentage of YTS trainees, past and present, who suffer from hearing impairments or deafness. However, in 1986 financial support was made available so that deaf trainees could benefit from the services of commentators. During 1986–87, 90 applications were approved, and 43 applications have been approved to date in this financial year.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many YTS trainees who are deaf subsequently found work in each of the last five years; and how this compares with the job placement rate of other YTS trainees.

  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission keeps a record of the number of YTS trainees with disabilities but these are not divided into different categories of disability. Therefore, there are no figures available on the numbers of YTS trainees who suffer from hearing impairments or deafness who found work after leaving YTS.

  Job Training Scheme
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many job training scheme trainees have been deaf to the latest date for which figures are available; and what proportion this represents of the total number of trainees.

  Mr. Cope
  Information about specific disabilities of new job training scheme trainees is not available.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the job placement rate for(a) all trainees leaving the job training scheme and (b) deaf trainees leaving the job training scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available. 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.

  Noise Levels
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers are exposed to noise of 85 dB(A) and above at work.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive estimates that about 1.7 million workers may have a daily noise exposure of 85 dB(A) or more. This estimate is given in a consultative document proposing new regulations to control noise at work, published yesterday by the Health and Safety Commission.

  Unemployed People (Training)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment under the Goverment's proposals for training for the unemployed, how many(a) single persons and (b) married men are expected to receive (i) more and (ii) less than the present £67 per week average paid under the existing community programme; what percentages these are of the total; and if he will give a breakdown according to whether persons will gain or lose by multiples of £5 a week.

  Mr. Lee
  It is not possible to provide this information until the level of the premium over benefit to be paid to participants is known. We are currently awaiting the MSC's recommendations on this and other aspects of the new programme.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the balance between single persons and married persons and, within the latter category, according to the number of children in participants on the job training scheme and on the community programme; and what is the balance expected under the Government's proposals for training for the unemployed.

  Mr. Lee
  Of the information requested about current programmes, the only item currently available is that about 20 per cent. of community programme participants are married. The Government have made no detailed

  Year

  Reported occupational injuries in Great Britain, resulting in death to over 3 day abscence from work

  employees only

  employees and self-employed

  major injury to employees and self-employed

  to employees only1(thousands)

  employees and self-employed (thousands)

  1961

  1,228

  —

  ֵ

  ֵ

  —

  1962

  1,173

  —

  ֵ

  714

  —

  1963

  1,114

  —

  ֵ

  775

  —

  1964

  1,087

  —

  ֵ

  844

  —

  1965

  1,069

  —

  ֵ

  849

  —

  1966

  1,066

  —

  ֵ

  824

  —

  1967

  897

  —

  ֵ

  824

  —

  1968

  947

  —

  ֵ

  803

  —

  1969

  934

  —

  ֵ

  796

  —

  1970

  821

  —

  ֵ

  685

  —

  1971

  780

  —

  ֵ

  622

  —

  1972

  671

  —

  ֵ

  630

  —

  1973

  765

  —

  ֵ

  623

  —

  1974

  651

  —

  ֵ

  577

  —

  1975

  620

  —

  ֵ

  ֵ

  —

  1976

  584

  —

  ֵ

  553

  —

  1977

  524

  —

  ֵ

  579

  —

  1978

  —

  622

  ֵ

  581

  —

  1979

  —

  615

  ֵ

  509

  —

  19802

  —

  579

  ֵ

  407

  —

  578
  assumptions about the breakdown of those participating in the new programme. However, we expect many more married people, including those with children, will take part in the new programme.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a detailed breakdown of the expected budget of £ 1,500 million under the Government's proposed plans for training for the unemployed; if he will specify how the training element and payment to participants are broken down; and what are the comparable figures for the present job training scheme or community programme.

  Mr. Lee
  The annual budget for the new programme is expected to be just under £1·5 billion, which is the total amount provided for the current programmes the new programme is intended to replace. The actual budget for the new programme will depend on what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State finally decides should be included within it, and the programme. We are awaiting the recommendations of the Manpower Services Commission.

  Health and Safety Inspectors
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspectors resigned or left the service, and how many were recruited, in each branch of the Health and Safety Inspectorate each year since 1979; and by how much as a consequence the inspectorate was short of full establishment for each of these years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Accident Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of(a) deaths, (b) major injuries and (c) minor injuries suffered as a result of accidents at work for each year since 1960.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information is as follows:
  579

  Year

  Reported occupational injuries in Great Britain, resulting in death to over 3 day abscence from work

  employees only

  employees and self-employed

  major injury to employees and self-employed

  to employees only1(thousands)

  employees and self-employed (thousands)

  1981

  —

  503

  12,403

  435

  —

  1982

  —

  517

  12,413

  390

  —

  1983

  —

  508

  12,567

  ֵ

  —

  1984

  —

  496

  12,638

  ֵ

  —

  19853

  —

  470

  13,382

  ֵ

  —

  ֵ not available.

  1 over 3 day absences leading to claims for industrial injury benefit from DHSS, years starting on 1st Monday in June 1961–80; as notified to HSE for calendar years 1981–82.

  2 1978–80 fatalities include those to non-employees voluntarily reported.

  3 1981–85 fatalities and major injuries to employees and self-employed reported to the Health and Safety Executive or other appropiate enforcing authority under, and as defined in the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (NADOR).

  Figures for 1986–87 are provisional and were collected under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR). This introduced a wider definition of "major injuries" so that the reported 18,641 major injuries to employees and the self-employed is not comparable with previous figures. The number of fatalities was 390 and the number of over three-day absences was 144,000, both figures being for employees and the self-employed.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will print in the Official Report the text of Her Majesty's Government's advice to undertakers on the handling of bodies of AIDS victims.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive's advisory committee on dangerous pathogens has published "Advice to be given to Undertakers and Relatives" in appendix 3 of its document "LAV/HTLVIII —the causative agent of AIDS and related conditions—Revised Guidelines" (June 1986). In addition, I understand that the Health and Safety Executive has offered advice to the National Association of Funeral Directors which has produced its own code of health and safety for the funeral service. Copies of the 1986 guidelines are in the Library.

  Dependent Territories (Work Permits)
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether a decision has yet been made to continue after the current year the special annual quota of work permits for workers from the dependent territories whose level of skill is below that required by the general work permit scheme.

  Mr. Lee
  Yes. It has been decided that the quota for 1988 will be 200 — the same as this year. Within the figure of 200 no more than 150 permits will be allowed for any one territory.

  Benefit Office, Aytoun Street, Manchester
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department has taken to ensure that all the fire doors at the unemployment benefit office in Aytoun street, Manchester are working; how security locks on fire doors are to be operated in conditions of smoke; and when the fire brigade last inspected these offices.
  580
  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply.

  Routine maintenance is undertaken by the Department of Employment under the property repayment services arrangements but no alterations to fire doors may be carried out without the prior approval of the Property Services Agency. The security locks on fire doors are operated either by quick release handles or by breaking glass bolts to open the doors in the direction of the escape routes, the operations would not he hindered by conditions of smoke. In common with all other Crown premises, the unemployment benefit office in Aytoun street, Manchester, is not subject to inspection by the local authority fire brigade but is inspected on an hi-annual cycle by the Property Services Agency fire officers, the last such inspection having been carried out on 19 February 1987.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  National No-Smoking Day
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what will be the cost to public funds of National No-Smoking Day 1988.

  Mr. Needham
  £2,850.

  EC (Surplus Food)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what measurement of entitlement he expects the allocating agencies to use in the distribution of the next issue of surplus EEC food to the elderly and deprived persons in Northern Ireland;

  (2) when the next issue of surplus EEC food to the elderly and deprived will take place in Northern Ireland;

  (3) what agencies will be involved in the distribution of the next issue of surplus EEC food to the elderly and deprived persons in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  The Council of Agriculture Ministers at its meeting on 10–11 December approved a regulation whereby food from intervention stocks could be made available to the most deprived persons in the Community. The regulation does not place any obligation on member states to operate a free food scheme and it is still too early to say whether a scheme will be introduced in the United Kingdom.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Antrim, South on 12 November,Official Report, column 312, regarding planning appeal conditions, he will list all such applications where conditions have not been completed with and where enforcement action has (a) been taken and (b) not been taken.

  Mr. Needham
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, if the hon. Gentleman will let me know if he has a particular case in mind, I will be very happy to have the matter investigated and let him have a full reply.

  Citizens Advice Bureaux
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he will provide funds for the Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, on the same basis as funding provided in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he will grant funding from the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Health and Social Services to augment grants from the Department of Education (Northern Ireland) to the Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 11 December 1987]: The funding of the Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux follows the pattern of England and Wales in that the association receives 100 per cent. grant for approved expenditure from the Department of Education for Northern Ireland. This Department, acting on behalf of the Government, also provides resources to district councils who fund local citizens advice bureaux. This arrangement allows locally elected representatives to determine and respond to local needs.

  Indirect assistance is also provided to individual bureaux in the form of action for community employment (ACE) posts. These are funded by the Department of Economic Development.

  Personal Files (Access)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has begun consultations with a view to introducing provisions for access to housing records and social services records, analagous to those made in England, Wales and Scotland under the Access to Personal Files Act 1987.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: The hon. Member has been given an undertaking that provisions comparable to those contained in the Access to Personal Files Act 1987 will be made for Northern Ireland by Order in Council. Formal consultation with interested parties and bodies will take place once the proposed draft Order in Council is published.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many patients in Northern Ireland are currently awaiting admission to hospital for orphodaedic surgery; what percentage of these have been 582
  waiting (a) one year and (b) two years or more; what plans he has to enable a reduction in the waiting list; and if he will provide the same information for 1980;

  (2) how many patients in Northern Ireland are currently awaiting admission to hospital for general surgery; what percentage of these have been waiting (a) one year and (b) two years or more; what plans he has to enable a reduction in the waiting list; and if he will provide the same information for 1980;

  (3) how many patients in Northern Ireland are currently awaiting admission to hospital for ear, nose and throat treatment; what percentage of these have been waiting (a) one year and (b) two years or more; what plans he has to enable a reduction in the waiting list; and if he will provide the same information for 1980;

  (4) how many patients in Northern Ireland are currently awaiting admission to hospital for plastic surgery; what percentage of these have been waiting (a) one year and (b) two years or more; what plans he has to enable a reduction in the waiting list; and if he will provide the same information for 1980.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: The information requested is as follows:

  In-patient waiting lists: Northern Ireland

  At 30 June 1987

  Specialty

  Total Waiting

  per cent· waiting up to 1 year

  per cent· waiting over 2 years

  ENT

  4,974

  79·2

  5·4

  Plastic Surgery

  2,586

  40·0

  38·3

  Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery

  4,471

  61·8

  22·0

  General Surgery

  7,076

  70·9

  16·8

  Information on waiting times in 1980 is not available. The figures for 1981 are shown below.

  In-patient waiting lists: Northern Ireland

  At 30 June 1981

  Specialty

  Total Waiting

  per cent· waiting up to 1 year

  per cent· waiting over 2 years

  ENT

  14,285

  75·3

  12·1

  Plastic Surgery

  1,652

  53·9

  24·5

  Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery

  4,933

  40·7

  39·8

  General Surgery

  24,662

  74·4

  14·2

  1 This figure includes 100 patients for whom no breakdown of waiting time is available.

  2 This figure includes 365 patients for whom no breakdown of waiting time is available.

  In its regional strategy for 1987–92 the Department of Health and Social Services asked health and social services boards to develop programmes of management action to improve waiting lists and waiting times and to concentrate on those specialities with the greatest problems. In the strategy, boards were also asked to reduce waiting times for hip replacement operations from nine to six months.

  "Elected Representatives and the Democratic Process in Northern Ireland"
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make available in the Vote Office copies of Her Majesty's Stationery Office
  583
  publication "Elected Representatives and the Democratic Process in Northern Ireland"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 11 December 1987]: Copies of the document were placed in the Library on publication. I have now arranged for copies also to be available in the Vote Office.

  Social Fund
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the answer of 3 December,Official Report, column 693, whether he will publish a table showing the social fund loans and grants allocations for each area office expressed as a percentage of the payments made for single payments in each area office for 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 16 December 1987]: The information is as follows:

  SSO

  Single payments11986

  Social fund loans and grants 1988–89

  (3) expressed as percentage

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  £

  £

  Andersonstown

  2,298,521

  1,376,972

  60

  Antrim

  1,253,083

  663,009

  53

  Armagh

  914,911

  493,204

  54

  Ballymena

  635,425

  579,106

  91

  Ballymoney

  759,696

  414,427

  55

  Ballynahinch

  114,153

  64,378

  56

  Banbridge

  424,216

  243,790

  57

  Bangor

  413,752

  271,912

  66

  Carrickfergus

  475,163

  252,492

  53

  Coleraine

  978,351

  653,366

  67

  Cookstown

  973,415

  396,993

  41

  Corporation Street

  3,247,973

  1,644,430

  51

  Downpatrick

  556,248

  250,792

  45

  Dungannon

  1,433,018

  619,244

  43

  Enniskillen

  863,176

  463,600

  54

  Falls Road

  2,382,309

  1,146,050

  48

  Holywood Road

  1,553,183

  747,552

  48

  Kilkeel

  124,916

  89,280

  71

  Knockbreda

  621,101

  390,481

  63

  Lame

  502,590

  248,976

  50

  Limavady

  594,168

  216,849

  36

  Lisburn

  2,129,543

  1,115,912

  52

  Londonderry

  3,557,133

  1,771,140

  50

  Lurgan

  1,783,486

  1,293,382

  73

  Magherafelt

  1,834,339

  665,645

  36

  Newcastle

  302,765

  117,635

  39

  Newry

  1,849,537

  1,063,521

  58

  Newtownabbey

  1,003,436

  417,083

  42

  Newtonwnards

  338,745

  219,172

  65

  Omagh

  1,277,358

  604,443

  47

  Portadown

  861,234

  320,341

  37

  Shaftesbury Square

  1,602,659

  889,466

  55

  Shankill

  952,237

  582,529

  61

  Strabane

  1,633,498

  613,060

  38

  1 15 December 1985 to 16 December 1986.

  The allocations for 1988–89 reflect the distribution of single payments and caseloads at social security offices during the period 16 December 1986 to 28 July 1987.

  Unemployment (Young People)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many young people aged(a) 16 years, and (b) 17 years are currently unemployed; and how many are currently in their final year of schooling in Northern Ireland.
  584
  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 15 December 1987]: At 8 October 1987 there were 1,668 unemployed 16-year-olds and 3,327 unemployed 17-year-olds in Northern Ireland. It is not possible to determine how many 16 and 17-yearolds are currently in their final year of schooling. The numbers who leave school in the present school year can be assessed only after the end of the year.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the maximum net weekly incomes that would qualify for community charge rebates based, as far as possible, on the provisions of the Social Security Act 1986 and the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 for(a) a single person aged 18 to 24 years, (b) a married couple with two children under 11 years, (c) a pensioner couple aged 60 to 79:ears and (d) any person with capital in excess of £6,000, assuming community charge per adult levels of (i) £151), (ii) £175, (iii) £224, (iv) £250, (v) £275, (vi) £300, ( vii) £348, (viii) £400, (ix) £500, (x) £551 and (xi) £1,000.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 11 December 1987]: Decisions have yet to be made as to how community charge rebate entitlement will be calculated in respect of persons whose net incomes are in excess of their income support levels. The hon. Member's question is therefore hypothetical. However, if the procedures set out in the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 for calculating entitlement to rate rebate were to apply, including the 20 per cent. taper and the 50p minimum entitlement, and if the community charge rebate entitlement of partners in a couple were to be calculated by combining their community charge liabilities and assessing their needs and resources jointly, rebates would be available up to the following levels of net income:

  Level of community charge

  (a) Single person aged 18–24

  (b) Couple with two children under 11

  (c) Pensioner couple aged 60–79

  £

  £

  £

  £

  (i)

  150

  40·10

  109·67

  88·27

  (ii)

  175

  42·06

  115·99

  92·19

  (iii)

  224

  45·82

  121·11

  99·71

  (iv)

  250

  47·82

  125·11

  103·71

  (v)

  275

  49·74

  128·95

  107·55

  (vi)

  300

  51·66

  132·79

  111 39

  (vii)

  348

  55·34

  140·15

  118·75

  (viii)

  400

  59·34

  148·15

  126·75

  (ix)

  500

  67·06

  163·58

  142·19

  (x)

  551

  70·98

  171·43

  150·03

  (xi)

  1,000

  105·50

  240·47

  219·07

  Notes:

  1. It has been assumed that a single person aged 18 to 24 is entitled to a £5 earnings disregard and that a couple with two children aged under 11 are entitled to a £10 earnings disregard.

  2. Under the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 rebate is not available to persons with capital in excess of £6,000.

  3. The applicable amounts that have been used in these calculations are those for 1988–89. The applicable amounts for 1990–91, the year of the introduction of the community charge in England and Wales, will be put to Parliament for approval in the autumn of 1989, and will include compensation towards the minimum community charge payment.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Fisheries Ministers' meeting on 14 and 15 December in Brussels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Together with my right hon. Friend the Minister of State and my noble Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office, I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Brussels on 14, 15 and 16 December.

  The Council reached agreement by qualified majority on a compromise package of proposals on total allowable catches and quotas for 1988. This represents a very satisfactory outcome for the United Kingdom fishing industry and will provide a strong basis on which our fishermen can plan their fishing in the coming year. The package agreed contained welcome improvements in the opportunities originally proposed for the United Kingdom fishermen in respect of no less than 26 stocks. In almost all cases these were fully in line with the available scientific advice.

  One of our main concerns was to make the maximum progress toward securing flexibility for member states to take part of their quotas for western mackerel to the east of 4 deg. west. There were objections from a number of the member states who argued that it raised fundamental issues affecting the basis of the common fisheries policy, a point which we strenuously refuted. Despite this opposition, we were able to secure a Council declaration inviting the Commission to examine possible solutions to problems caused by changes in the migratory pattern of fish stocks, including the western mackerel stock, and to report to the Council on ways of implementing solutions by 31 March 1988. The Council undertook to consider any solution that might be proposed by the Commission by 31 May 1988. This is an encouraging development and I shall continue to press for a sensible solution to this problem.

  A number of useful conservation measures were agreed, including the continuation of this year's special measure for the protection of juvenile North sea cod in the German bight, and an extended period for the large mesh size to protect the juvenile North sea herring in the Skagerrak and Kattegat.

  The Council also adopted by qualified majority a compromise package of proposals on fish guide prices for 1988. This, together with the green currency changes already agreed, will mean a 4.7 per cent. increase in support of prices for our white fish producers. The guide price for herring will be reduced by 9 per cent. in line with the needs of the market.

  I emphasised our grave concern at the shortcomings we had experienced this year in the system of reporting of landings in other member states, leading to unexpected and premature closures of certain of our fisheries. I asked the Commission to convene a working group of experts to consider ways of improving these procedures. The Commission undertook to consider this suggestion, which was warmly supported by a number of other member states.

  In total, this Council represented a further step forward in consolidating and developing the common fisheries policy.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking about the increasing use of the word natural and other similar terms in food labelling and advertising; and if he will make a statememt.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I am certainly aware of the increasing use of the word "natural" and words and phrases which have a similar effect in food labelling and advertising and I have been concerned that some of these may be misleading the consumer. Indeed, that is why last year I commissioned the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards (LACOTS) to carry out a survey for me of the use of "natural" on food labels and in advertising so that a full assessment could be made. I am arranging for this most useful report, which clearly shows the extent of the problem to be published. The report was subsequently considered by the Food Advisory Committee (FAC) which looked into this issue in detail and I have now received the committee's advice.

  The FAC has concluded that there is a clear, and increasing, risk of consumers being misled by current practices in labelling and advertising and that, despite the protection in section 6 of the Food Act 1984 against misleading descriptions, there is a need to bring some additional control and rationality into the present situation. They considered, however, that this was not a area of labelling which readily lent itself to the precise definitions required by law, but that it was nevertheless possible to draw up some broad guidelines on the appropriate (and inappropriate) use of "natural" claims. Their view was that the food industry, with the encouragement of the enforcement authorities and consumers, might be willing to follow such guidelines on a voluntary basis and therefore put their own house in order. I am arranging for this also to be published.

  I am grateful to LACOTS for its research and to the FAC for the work it has done. The guidelines suggested by the FAC seem to me to be well thought out and therefore suitable as a basis from which the answers to problems in this area might be developed. I am therefore sending the FAC advice to representative organisations of the interests concerned to see if, in the light of it, a voluntary measure of control might be achieved.

  My colleagues in the Health and Agriculture Departments share my views on this subject and consultations with the interested organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also be undertaken.

  It should, of course, be remembered that section 1 of the Food Act 1984 ensures that nothing should be done to food which might render it injurious to health.

  Copies of the report of the LACOTS survey and of the FAC advice have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Farmers (EC Proposals)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide figures on the estimated financial and production implications of the Commission of the European Communities' proposals for farmers in the United Kingdom contained in documents numbers 8250/87, 8761/87 and ADDI to ADD4, 9066/87 and 6116/1/87.
  587
  Mr. MacGregor
  The Commission has not estimated the financial or production implications of implementing its stabiliser proposals (documents 8250/87, 8761/87 and ADD 1 to ADD 4). These would depend on a number of factors, notably the extent to which future production triggered the stabilisers. The Commission has estimated the savings which might result from the proposals in document 9066/87, in relation to mandarins only, at 10 million ecu (£7 million) per annum. There are no implications from this measure for farmers in the United Kingdom. The Commission states that the proposals on income aids in document 6116/1/87 should have no overall effect on levels of production.

  The Commission estimates that expenditure under the part EC-funded income aid scheme could be roughly 1,800 million ecu (£1,259 million) over nine years; and that expenditure on the cessation scheme (pre-pensions for farmers over 55 years of age) could be 465 million ecu (£325 million) over five years, though the Commission envisages that this expenditure would be more than offset by savings in budgetary expenditure, consequent on reduction in area farmed, of 760 million ecu (£531 million) over the five-year period. The schemes in document 6116/1/87 are all optional and the financial and production implications for farmers in any member state would depend on the extent of national take-up.

  EC (Domestic Animals)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many domestic animals coming from the member states of the European Community in 1986 were placed in quarantine under official supervision; and how many were subsequently found to be suffering from(a) rabies, (b) distemper or (c) other infectious diseases;

  (2) how many domestic animals coming from the member states of the European Community were intercepted as a result of systematic checks at United Kingdom ports and airports during 1986, their owners having attempted to evade quarantine regulations; and how many of these were subsequently found to have (a) rabies, (b) distemper or (c) other infectious diseases.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: I understand that 32 dogs, 18 cats and 17 other mammals coming from member states of the European Community were detected as a result of systematic checks at United Kingdom ports and airports in 1986, their owners having attempted to evade the quarantine requirements. Animals landed illegally may be re-exported, placed in quarantine or destroyed. None of the animals directed to quarantine were found to be infected with rabies.

  During the same period 4,738 dogs, 2,329 cats and 39,193 other mammals were landed under licence and placed in authorised quarantine premises. None of these animals were found to have rabies.

  Details of the countries of origin of these animals and the reports on the health of each animal held in quarantine are not held centrally. I regret, therefore, that the other information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

  Sheep Imports (Ireland)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sheep or lambs have been 588
  imported from the Republic of Ireland to (a) Great Britain and (b) the United Kingdom in each month since April 1986.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: United Kingdom import data do not separately identify imports into Great Britain. However, the Irish Livestock and Meat Board market bulletins give the following data for exports of fat sheep and lambs for immediate slaughter:

  1986

  1987 (to August)

  Great Britain

  577

  479

  United Kingdom

  15,476

  12,429

  Animals (Radioactivity)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what discussions he has had with the Minister of Agriculture in the Republic of Ireland about radioactivity in animals following the Chernobyl accident;

  (2) if, in view of the discovery of radioactivity levels in excess of 600 bq/kg in the Republic of Ireland, he intends to review the import of sheep and sheepmeat from the Republic of Ireland into the United Kingdom;

  (3) if officials from his Ministry have given any advice and assistance to their opposite numbers in the Irish Department of Agriculture.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: Routine precautionary monitoring by the authorities in the Republic of Ireland has identified a small number of sheep with readings of radiocaesium above the action level. My officials have had both formal and informal discussions with their opposite numbers in the Republic on this issue and have provided advice on technical and scientific matters. They have been informed of the programme of monitoring of live sheep and carcases instituted by the Irish authorities and have been assured that sheep and sheepmeat shown to be over the action level for radiocaesium will not be permitted to be exported. My officials continue to maintain contacts with the Department of Agriculture in the Republic and will respond to any further requests for advice or assistance.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Stockport Infirmary
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the planned establishment levels for medical staff at Stockport infirmary; and what are the current levels of staff in post;

  (2) if he will list the consultant posts currently vacant within the Stockport district health authority, together with the dates upon which they were first advertised.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that this information is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the chairmen of North Western regional health authority and Stockport district health authority for the information he seeks.

  Laboratory Officers
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number, full-time
  589
  equivalents, of medical scientific laboratory officers employed by each district health authority at the latest convenient date; and what were the figures in 1984 and 1980.

  Mr. Newton
  Comparable figures for 1980 are not available. The table shows the number of medical laboratory scientific officers (including unqualified grades) employed by each district health authority at 30 September 1982, 1984 and 1986:

  Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers at 30 September

  Health Authorities

  1982

  1984

  Whole-time Equivalent 1986

  Northern Region

  Hartlepool

  30

  30

  31

  North Tees

  SO

  53

  48

  South Tees

  72

  75

  75

  East Cumbria

  33

  32

  32

  South Cumbria

  29

  31

  29

  West Cumbria

  27

  28

  31

  Darlington

  33

  34

  31

  Durham

  35

  34

  35

  North West Durham

  24

  25

  24

  South West Durham

  21

  22

  25

  Northumberland

  37

  39

  41

  Gateshead

  42

  44

  48

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne (T)

  268

  282

  273

  North Tyneside

  26

  29

  30

  South Tyneside

  33

  36

  39

  Sunderland

  69

  71

  77

  Yorkshire Region

  Hull

  96

  96

  93

  East Yorkshire

  28

  29

  30

  Grimsby

  47

  52

  52

  Scunthorpe

  32

  36

  41

  Northallerton

  19

  20

  18

  York

  57

  59

  59

  Scarborough

  31

  32

  31

  Harrogate

  32

  31

  32

  Bradford

  93

  92

  89

  Airedale

  39

  38

  39

  Calderdale

  56

  56

  57

  Huddersfield

  58

  56

  57

  Dewsbury

  33

  31

  41

  Leeds Western (T)

  194

  205

  203

  Leeds Eastern (T)

  107

  115

  116

  Wakefield

  44

  45

  44

  Pontefract

  41

  41

  41

  Trent Region

  North Derbyshire

  49

  58

  63

  South Derbyshire

  110

  112

  111

  Leicestershire (T)

  161

  196

  208

  North Lincolnshire

  41

  45

  48

  South Lincolnshire

  59

  62

  58

  Bassetlaw

  28

  29

  29

  Central Nottinghamshire

  70

  71

  69

  Nottingham (T)

  212

  205

  205

  Barnsley

  50

  52

  50

  Doncaster

  56

  59

  60

  Rotherham

  55

  55

  56

  Sheffield (T)

  224

  232

  232

  East Anglia

  Cambridge (T)

  113

  108

  102

  Peterborough

  58

  57

  57

  West Suffolk

  38

  35

  53

  East Suffolk

  65

  67

  63

  Norwich

  74

  114

  83

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  50

  54

  54

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  50

  45

  47

  590

  Health Authorities

  1982

  1984

  Whole-time Equivalent 1986

  Huntingdon

  28

  47

  50

  North West Thames

  North Bedfordshire

  44

  43

  53

  South Bedfordshire

  28

  30

  33

  North Hertfordshire

  41

  42

  45

  East Hertfordshire

  36

  35

  36

  North West Hertfordshire

  54

  65

  65

  South West Hertfordshire

  39

  47

  46

  Barnet

  89

  88

  83

  Harrow

  84

  75

  74

  Hillingdon

  91

  89

  91

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  89

  88

  89

  Ealing

  43

  47

  47

  Brent

  57

  62

  60

  Paddington and North Kensington (T)

  88

  96

  89

  Riverside

  184

  175

  180

  North East Thames

  Basildon and Thurrock

  88

  82

  82

  Mid Essex

  60

  62

  68

  North East Essex

  73

  72

  69

  West Essex

  64

  56

  55

  Southend

  72

  64

  65

  Barking/Havering/ Brentwood

  154

  159

  164

  Hampstead (T)

  138

  129

  131

  Bloomsbury (T)

  103

  125

  128

  Islington

  71

  71

  68

  City and Hackney (T)

  196

  192

  190

  Newham

  64

  63

  60

  Tower Hamlets (T)

  131

  127

  123

  Enfield

  52

  52

  54

  Haringey

  96

  87

  76

  Redbridge

  50

  47

  46

  Waltham Forest

  74

  76

  71

  South West Thames

  North West Surrey

  49

  48

  47

  West Surrey and North East Hants

  48

  49

  49

  South West Surrey

  49

  51

  53

  Mid-Surrey

  49

  53

  44

  East Surrey

  62

  55

  48

  Chichester

  46

  44

  45

  Mid-Downs

  35

  60

  71

  Worthing

  50

  47

  53

  Croydon

  59

  55

  55

  Kingston and Esher

  60

  51

  50

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  39

  45

  50

  Wandsworth (T)

  67

  58

  50

  Merton and Sutton

  120

  115

  110

  South East Thames

  Brighton

  66

  67

  73

  Eastbourne

  51

  52

  52

  Hastings

  38

  37

  39

  South East Kent

  62

  61

  59

  Canterbury and Thanet

  76

  75

  70

  Dartford and Gravesham

  46

  46

  47

  Maidstone

  30

  38

  42

  Medway

  46

  50

  54

  Tunbridge Wells

  52

  58

  52

  Bexley

  29

  34

  35

  Greenwich

  106

  106

  103

  Bromley

  90

  89

  83

  West Lambeth (T)

  177

  172

  169

  Camberwell (T)

  108

  101

  99

  Lewisham and North Southwark (T)

  198

  197

  171

  591

  Health Authorities

  1982

  1984

  Whole-time Equivalent 1986

  Wessex

  East Dorset

  104

  105

  106

  West Dorset

  40

  39

  37

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  105

  114

  115

  Southampton and South West Hampshire (T)

  204

  212

  200

  Winchester

  54

  51

  54

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  41

  41

  42

  Salisbury

  48

  47

  49

  Swindon

  57

  56

  59

  Bath

  73

  69

  70

  Isle of Wight

  31

  32

  33

  Oxford

  East Berkshire

  85

  71

  71

  West Berkshire

  77

  78

  78

  Aylesbury Vale

  67

  67

  63

  Wycombe

  58

  54

  60

  Milton Keynes

  —

  33

  38

  Kettering

  63

  66

  62

  Northampton

  95

  93

  86

  Oxfordshire

  194

  204

  203

  South Western

  Bristol and Weston (T)

  122

  110

  114

  Frenchay

  50

  42

  44

  Southmead

  95

  85

  84

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  54

  56

  58

  Exeter

  71

  73

  74

  North Devon

  33

  34

  33

  Plymouth

  73

  76

  79

  Torbay

  54

  62

  66

  Cheltenham

  49

  51

  58

  Gloucester

  66

  58

  60

  Somerset

  66

  62

  62

  West Midlands

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  36

  36

  38

  Herefordshire

  33

  36

  31

  Kidderminster and District

  23

  20

  24

  Worcester and District

  54

  55

  61

  Shropshire

  82

  78

  82

  Mid-Staffordshire

  41

  42

  42

  North Staffordshire

  115

  105

  106

  South East Staffordshire

  30

  40

  47

  Rugby

  21

  22

  24

  North Warwickshire

  32

  32

  40

  South Warwickshire

  33

  34

  40

  Central Birmingham (T)

  219

  213

  211

  East Birmingham

  102

  104

  103

  North Birmingham

  60

  61

  62

  South Birmingham

  66

  65

  62

  West Birmingham

  94

  89

  93

  Coventry

  117

  112

  109

  Dudley

  102

  100

  92

  Sandwell

  82

  80

  78

  Solihull

  51

  47

  50

  Walsall

  43

  48

  50

  Wolverhampton

  64

  69

  70

  Mersey

  Chester

  42

  42

  38

  Crewe

  48

  49

  48

  Halton

  —

  —

  —

  Macclesfield

  36

  38

  39

  Warrington

  42

  47

  64

  Liverpool (T)

  263

  273

  289

  St. Helens with Knowsley

  65

  63

  61

  Sefton North

  23

  22

  23

  592

  Health Authorities

  1982

  1984

  Whole-time Equivalent 1986

  Sefton South

  98

  100

  104

  Wirral

  96

  95

  98

  North Western

  Lancaster

  38

  41

  41

  Blackpool Wyre and Fy1de

  65

  66

  69

  Preston

  74

  77

  83

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  46

  52

  52

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  35

  35

  36

  West Lancashire

  31

  29

  30

  Chorley and South Ribble

  3

  2

  2

  Bolton

  61

  64

  63

  Bury

  38

  38

  36

  North Manchester

  116

  116

  112

  Central Manchester (T)

  157

  164

  164

  South Manchester (T)

  296

  213

  200

  Oldham

  58

  59

  65

  Rochdale

  43

  39

  36

  Salford (T)

  116

  123

  114

  Stockport

  56

  57

  57

  Tameside and Glossop

  36

  37

  36

  Trafford

  56

  53

  56

  Wigan

  61

  61

  67

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest whole-time equivalent.

  Standard note throughout: — indicates Nil.

  Source: DHSS (SR7) Annual Census of NHS Non-Medical Manpower.

  Nurses (North West Region)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses are employed in intensive care ustnits in the North Western regional health authority area; and how many nurses are receiving training in the same area for work in intensive care units.

  Mr. Newton
  Nursing staff in post in intensive care units in the North Western regional health authority at 30 September 1986 totalled 600 whole-time equivalents. This included 570 whole-time equivalents in coronary care and 30 whole-time equivalents in paediatric care. Information on nurses in training is not held centrally on a regional basis.

  Nursing and Midwifery
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give for each region the number of nursing and midwifery vacancies and the relevant funded establishment, as found by the latest survey by the regional chairmen;

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of the annual surveys of nursing and midwifery vacancies by regional chairmen for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  The results of the three sample surveys of the number of whole-time equivalent funded nursing and midwifery posts vacant for more than three months at 31 March each year, carried out by the regional chairmen's secretariat on behalf of the review body, were reported in the review body's second, third and fourth reports on nursing staff, midwives and health visitors. (Cmnd. 9529, 9782 and Cm. 129).
  593
  I am advised that disaggregation by region would not be statistically valid.

  Primary Health Care
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the organisations which, during the consultation period on the Government's proposals for primary health care, proposed the introduction of charges for(a) dental check-ups and (b) sight-testing.

  Mr. Newton
  In the course of the consultation on primary care, no one suggested either these proposals or any other way of re-ordering priorities in order to help sustain the additional expenditure which many of them proposed.

  Foetal and Genetic Abnormality
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received a copy of the King's Fund forum consensus statement on screening for foetal and genetic abnormality; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  A copy of the statement from the King's Fund forum has not yet been received in the Department.

  High-titred Dried Material
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has to how many days' infectivity in high-titred dried material remains detectable under laboratory conditions.

  Mr. Newton
  Work conducted in France and in the United States has indicated that high titred HIV in a dried biological medium can retain some detectable infectivity for cell cultures for three to seven days.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services since what date his Department has been using the figure of up to 40,000 as the possible number of AIDS infections in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 26 October at column 191, the Department no longer makes an estimate of the number of people with HIV infection in the United Kingdom. Numbers of reported cases of AIDS are published monthly and numbers of reported HIV positive tests are reported quarterly.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his projection of those who are HIV positive going on to develop AIDS within five years takes into account recent data from studies into this matter undertaken in Frankfurt, and by Redfield in the United States of America.

  Mr. Newton
  In considering future numbers of cases of HIV infection and AIDS, we take account of all relevant data produced in other countries.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to for how many days the human immunodeficiency virus is potentially infectious in liquid suspensions held at room temperature.

  Mr. Newton
  Relevant experimental work on the survival of HIV conducted in the United States was reported in 1986. In liquid suspension held at room 594
  temperature with starting concentrations higher than might be expected under natural conditions, viable virus was claimed to have been recovered for up to 15 days.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask for the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any information as to the inefectivity of AIDS by droplet from children suffering from chronic lymphoid intestitial pneumonitis and pulmonary tuberculosis consequent upon AIDS infections.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no specific information on the infectivity of HIV in children with AIDS suffering from chronic lymphoid intestitial pneumonitis and pulmonary tuberculosis. The available evidence suggests HIV is not spread by droplets from these or any other cases.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will institute a weekly monitor of the number of HIV infections and AIDS cases within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  The Communicable Diseases Surveillance Centre and the Communicable Diseases (Scotland) Unit continually monitor reports of positive HIV antibody test results and cases of AIDS.

  Numbers of reported cases of AIDS, are published monthly and numbers of reported HIV positive tests are reported quarterly. We do not propose to publish the statistics more frequently because of the resources that this would involve and the fluctuations to which the figures would be subject.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, if he has any plans to improve clinical reporting of AIDS data to the communicable disease surveillance centre.

  Mr. Newton
  The current voluntary confidential system for reporting positive HIV antibody test results and cases of AIDS to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre has already provided much valuable information. The group of experts, which I mentioned in my replies to my hon. Friend on 4 December, at column 759 and today, has been considering the current surveillance systems and how any improvements could be made.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the estimate made by the Paddington and North Kensington health authority of the number of beds needed for AIDS patients in 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We keep in close touch with the regional health authorities with the largest numbers of AIDS patients. However, it is for individual health authorities to plan services for those patients in the light of guidelines issued by the Department.

  Child Benefit
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the combined value of child tax allowance after clawback and family allowance or child benefit for families at(a)half average earnings, (b) average earnings, (c) twice average earnings, and (d) five times' average earnings in the years 1957, 1965, 1975, 1985 and the latest date available.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is as follows:
  595

  Child support1 for families with two children aged 11 or under, at April 19872 values

  April 1957

  April 1965

  April 1975

  November 1985

  April 1987

  Families on:

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1/2average earnings

  3·46

  3·85

  12·01

  14·86

  14·50

  average earnings

  11·09

  13·07

  12·01

  14·86

  14·50

  2x average earnings

  16·46

  14·44

  12·01

  14·86

  14·50

  5x average earnings

  16·46

  14·44

  12·01

  14·86

  14·50

  1 The combined value of child tax allowance after clawback, and Family Allowance/Child Benefit.

  2 Based on the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices at April 1987.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost in 1987–88 and 1988–89 of a 50p increase in child benefit assuming(a) corresponding increases in supplementary benefit or income support rate and (b) no correponding increases in supplementary benefit or income support rates.

  Mr. Scott
  The cost of the increase in 1987–88 would have been(a) £300 million and (b) £240 million. In 1988–89 the cost would be (a) £270 million and (b) £210 million.

  NHS (Charges)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what income was received in the last three years for services and treatment provided by the National Health Service to those resident outside the United Kingdom but who came to Britain specifically for treatment, or were here as visitors or were here for work purposes; and if he has any plans to change the level of charges made to those who use the National Health Service who live outside the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Currie
  I am sorry I am not able to give my hon. Friend the figures he seeks. Information is not collected on the reasons why patients, resident outside the United Kingdom and treated in National Health Service hospitals, are present in the United Kingdom but not all those to whom he refers would be liable to charges. NHS charges to overseas visitors are normally reviewed annually, with revised charges applying from 1 April.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of treatment provided under the National Health Service for those resident in European Community countries outside the United Kingdom, and if he has any plans to change the level of charges made to them.

  Mr. Newton
  No comprehensive figures of costs of treatment provided under the National Health Service for nationals of other European Community member states are available.

  Under EC regulations EC nationals receiving treatment in another member state are subject to the same charges as nationals of that member state. Any alterations in charges that may be proposed for users of the National Health Service would, therefore, equally apply to them.

  Audiometry Facilities
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Health Service establishments have audiometry facilities.
  596
  Mrs. Currie
  In 1986 there were 386 National Health Service hospitals or clinics in England which performed audiometry tests. These dealt with 11,000 new in-patients and 359,600 new out-patients.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if workers exposed to noise above 85 dB(A) can obtain at present a National Health Service audiometry test within two months of a request.

  Mrs. Currie
  Any member of the public can be referred by their general practitioner for audiometry if this is appropriate. The length of time they may have to wait for an audiometry test will depend upon local circumstances.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when the European directive on noise is fully implemented, by 1 January 1990, how long a worker will have to wait between requesting an audiometry test and having a test through the National Health Service;

  (2) since the acceptance of the European noise directive, what resources Her Majesty's Government have currently made available for audiometry tests through the National Health Service and how much the Government are planning to provide in the years 1988 to 1990, inclusive;

  (3) how many staff in the National Health Service are currently undertaking audiometry tests; and how many new staff Her Majesty's Government intend to take on to meet the requirements of the European legislation.

  Mrs. Currie
  Draft proposals for implementing the directive were published by the Health and Safety Commission on 15 December. Decisions on the details of the implementation will be made when comments on the draft proposals have been received and considered.

  The funding currently allocated by health authorities for audiometry testing is not recorded centrally, nor is the precise number of medical and/or technical staff involved at any one time in audiometry testing.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if Her Majesty's Government are planning to charge workers to have audiometry tests through the National Health Service.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have no plans to charge these staff.

  Opren
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether in the light of the out-of-court settlements reached in the Opren case and the fact that the court has now adjourned sine die, he will now answer parliamentary questions on the subject of Opren; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The out-of-court settlement in the Opren case referred to by the right hon. Member is the result of
  597
  private negotiations between representatives of Eli Lilly and Company Limited, the manufacturers of the drug, and the plaintiffs concerned to which the Government defendants were not a party. The action against the Government defendants is still before the courts and, as Mr. Justice Hirst stressed in his statement on 9 December about the terms of the proposed settlement, the case is still sub judice.

  Midwives
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many newly qualified midwives went into practice in the National Health Service in the years ended 30 September 1985, 30 September 1986 and 30 September 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that this information is not centrally available.

  Kimberley Carlile
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take in the light of the report of the inquiry chaired by Mr. Louis Blom-Cooper QC into the Kimberley Carlile case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  This is a full and detailed report which deserves careful consideration by all those with responsibilities in this field; indeed, many of the recommendations to individual agencies have already been put into effect and others are under consideration.

  The Government have a major programme of work in hand which addresses a number of the recommendations. The report quite rightly emphasises the need for clarity in this complex area of law and the Government have recognised this need and their proposals are set out in White Paper "Law and Child Care and Family Services". In addition, the Chief Inspector of the SSI issued a "Dear Director" letter on 24 June which set out the powers available when access to a child is refused and further guidance is under consideration on the effect of a place of safety order.

  The Government have already established a central training initiative for child abuse. Stages one and two are well under way and address awareness and recognition, referral and handling of case conferences, in-depth training in treatment as well as a video on medical diagnosis in child sexual abuse. The report's recommendations on exchange of information will be tackled in the practice guidelines currently being drawn up.

  It would not be right for the Government to pre-empt the outcome an recommendations of other current inquiries which may have points of similarity in relation to child care procedures. These will be considered in the redrafting of "Working Together."

  Social Fund
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services upon what basis he decided the social fund allocations to individual offices.

  Mr. Scott
  As I promised in my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 23 November, at column 84, an explanation of the basis of the social fund allocations to individual offices was placed in the Library on 30 November.

  Nurses (Overtime)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what he estimates to be(a) the percentage of nurses working overtime and (b) the cost of this work to the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  The information which the hon. Member is seeking is not readily available. I will let him have a reply as soon as possible.

  RPI (Computer Error)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which pensions and benefits payable by his Department were affected by the computer error in calculating incorrect retail prices index figures; and what action he intends to take to recompense those who suffered a loss as a consequence.

  Mr. Scott
  The error in the calculation of the retail prices index has affected to varying degrees the levels of a number of social security benefits. Some benefits are not affected at all.

  I will be making an announcement to the House on the action we intend to take.

  Nurses (Outside Income)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take about the report from the Royal College of Nursing relating to nurses supplementing their income by taking other employment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I understand that the Royal College of Nursing, as part of its evidence to the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, has commissioned a survey from the Institute of Manpower Studies on, among other things, the number of nurses having a second job. We shall be studying the Royal College of Nursing's survey with the interest as soon as the evidence to the review body is exchanged.

  Heating Bills
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the basis within the new income support scheme for determining assistance with heating bills.

  Mr. Scott
  The weekly applicable amounts under the new income support scheme are intended to cover all day-to-day living expenses, including heating costs. Pensioners, sick and disabled people and families will receive premiums which take account of the extra help they may need for such things as heating costs.

  Cold Weather (Advice to Elderly)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, what action he is taking to make information available to elderly people on keeping warm during very cold weather; and what is the estimated cost of such publicity.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Government have initiated a major information campaign this winter, entitled "Keep Warm, Keep Well", to advise both elderly people and other vulnerable groups about keeping warm in cold weather.
  599
  This is a joint campaign between the Government and three leading voluntary organisations: Age Concern, Help the Aged and Neighbourhood Energy Action. It was launched on 17 November. The campaign includes a free telephone advisory help-line, a Government booklet, television public information films and newspaper advertising in both national and local press. The cost to the Department will be around £500,000 and I will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a copy of the press pack to use in his own area.

  This campaign is being run in addition to the normal publicity given by the Department to social security benefits, and by other Government Departments to issues such as energy conservation. The voluntary organisations are also issuing advisory leaflets of their own.

  I am placing copies of the booklet in the Library.

  Doctors' Records
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how he intends to speed up the method of record exchange so as to make it easier for the patient to change doctors.

  Mr. Newton
  The computerisation of patient registration data held by family practitioner committees (to be completed by March 1988) and of data held on the National Health Service central register at Southport (planned for 1990) should reduce delays in the transfer of patients' records. This will not of itself make it easier for patients to change doctors. It is, however, our aim to do this, as stated in paragraph 3.33 of the recent White Paper "Promoting Better Health" (Cm. 249).

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he proposes that collective community charge payments will be collected from occupants of designated dwellings net or gross of any rebates due to the occupants;

  (2) what representations have been made by the local authority associations about the possible difficulties of operating rebates in connection with a collective community charge scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  In preliminary discussions about the arrangements for rebating the community charge, the local authority associations have drawn attention to a number of possible difficulties in operating rebates on collective community charge contributions, including the difficulty of payments being made net of rebate entitlement. We shall be discussing these arrangements fully with the associations before making firm proposals.

  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how people with low incomes will be helped in meeting their liability for the community charge.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the proposed operations of community charge rebates and rate rebates in inner London and Waltham Forest in the period 1990 to 1994;

  (2) what arrangements he has made with the local authority associations to discuss community charge rebates.

  Mr. Scott
  Help for those with low incomes will take two forms. Community charge rebates of up to 80 per cent.600
  of the charge, depending on income and family circumstances: and compensation, built into income-related benefit levels (income support, housing benefit and family credit) towards the 20 per cent. minimum community charge payment.

  These arrangements will carry forward similar help for low-income ratepayers from next April when all ratepayers will be expected to pay at least 20 per cent. of their domestic rates bill themselves. The rate rebate scheme will provide rebates up to 80 per cent., and the income-related benefit rates will include the average amount that income support claimants will be expected to pay towards their domestic rates.

  Community Charge Rebates

  Community charge rebates will be administered by local authorities in accordance with regulations that will be laid before Parliament in due course. Rebates will be available on personal community charges and collective community charge contributions, but not towards the standard community charge. Everyone who is liable for such a community charge will be eligible to apply for a rebate, except that rebates will not be available for those students who are required to pay only 20 per cent. of the charge.

  Entitlement to community charge rebates will be based on an assessment of individuals' needs and resources. It is, envisaged that the method used for that assessment will be aligned as closely as is practicable within that set out in the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 for assessing entitlement to housing benefit, although the precise amounts used to determine entitlements will not be settled until nearer the time, and will be subject to approval by Parliament. The maximum 80 per cent. rebate will, however, be available to everyone receiving income support or with an income of an equivalent level. As with rate rebates, there will be smaller rebates according to a sliding scale for those with incomes above income support levels. It is intended that wherever possible people entitled to a rebate should receive a net community charge bill.

  Where both partners in a married couple or a couple living as husband and wife are liable for a full charge, there will be arrangements for rebating both their liabilities and the details of these are being discussed. Since non-dependent members of a household will be responsible for their own community charge liabilities, there will be no non-dependant deductions within the community charge rebate scheme.

  Discussions with the local authority associations on the details of the rebate scheme have already started, and we hope to publish draft Community Charge Rebate Regulations during the spring or early summer of 1988, following consultation. It is our intention that the regulations, in so far as they will apply in Scotland from April 1989, should be laid in the autumn. It is expected that the same regulations will apply in Wales and in most of England from April 1990, and in due course will be bringing forward separate proposals for special rebate arrangements for those local authorities in England where there will be a transition period during which certain people will be liable both for the community charge and for residential rates. The details of these arrangements will be considered separately, but during the transition period rebates will be available to help people with low income to meet both liabilities.

  Income-Related Benefit Levels
  601
  The Government have decided that there will be a once-for-all adjustment to income-related benefit levels from 1989 to help meet the 20 per cent. minimum contribution to the community charge. This adjustment will take place in April 1989, to coincide with the introduction of the community charge in Scotland. The precise amounts to be included in benefit levels will be decided nearer the time, but they will reflect the average minimum community charge payments for Great Britain as a whole.

  Claimants in Scotland will, therefore, receive compensation to cover the minimum contribution to the community charge from April 1989. And the amounts included in the income-related benefit levels will provide assistance towards the minimum contribution to domestic rates in England and Wales where the charge is not due to come in until 1990.

  Spectacles
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will take steps to ensure that the value of the voucher issued by his Department for persons to obtain spectacles from registered suppliers is of sufficient value to provide the budget-priced glasses referred to in his Department's leaflet FB19, published in February;

  (2) if he will ensure that persons being issued with vouchers by local offices of his Department for spectacles can exchange these for moderately priced spectacles at registered suppliers without being required to make any additional payment; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will list such information as is available to him on those registered suppliers of optical lenses who can supply such lenses at a price below £16.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 10 December 1987]: The Department consults interested organisations on voucher values. Any increases in those values are expected to come into effect on 1 April next year, and will take into account such developments as changes in the price of spectacles. Under changes proposed in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" (Cm. 249) vouchers will also be exchangeable for contact lenses. Spectacles, both frames and lenses, are now supplied only through the private market. Information is not therefore available about the availability of lenses at particular prices. We believe, however, that in many areas spectacles are available at or about current voucher values.

  Agency Nurses
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will supply details of the rates of fees payable to BUPA nursing and other private agencies for the supply of state enrolled nurses, state registered nurses and sisters to National Health Service hospitals in the period 1979 to date.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 11 December 1987]: The maximum payment to a nurses' agency for work undertaken by an agency nurse consists of three elements: the nurse's salary, which is calculated on the mean of the appropriate National Health Service nursing and midwifery staffs pay scale; the agency's commission which can vary; and the employer's national insurance contribution. It is for health authorities to negotiate the best possible rate of commission with nurses' agencies for the supply of staff to meet short term needs. Some authorities are negotiating more favourable rates by putting these services out to tender.

  Joint Civil/Military Medical Planning
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the arrangement for joint civil/military medical planning in England and Wales; if he will describe liaison arrangements for such planning as it is related to agreements with(a) NATO and (b) the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 14 December 1987]: Joint civil/military medical planning has been a feature of Department of Health and Social Security and National Health Service civil defence policy and planning for a number of years. Government Departments regularly consider the problems which would arise if casualties of war—British, United States or of other NATO nations—were evacuated to the United Kingdom in wartime. NHS health emergency planning officers (HEPOs) liaise with the Department, the Welsh Office and with the military on civil defence matters of joint interest. Seminars were arranged in 1986 and 1987 at the Civil Defence college to enable HEPOs and military medical planners to be briefed by central Government Departments on joint medical planning matters.

  Mortality
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will express the number of deaths in England and in Wales of those aged 65 years and over which occurred in the months October to March as a percentage of those which occurred in the previous six months, for each year since 1974–75; and if he will publish what information he has on seasonal variations in the death rate among those aged 65 years and over in(a) EEC member states, (b) Norway, (c) Sweden, (d) Iceland and (e) Finland.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 3 December 1987]: The information for England and Wales is given in table 1. Figures on the same basis for the remaining countries can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, table 2 shows data readily available for persons of all ages.

  Table 1—Number of deaths for October to March expressed as a percentage of those for the previous April to September for persons aged 65 years and over for (a) occurrences and (b) registrations England and Wales 1974–75 to 1986–87

  Percentage of occurrences

  Percentage of registrations

  1974–75

  118·4

  —

  1975–76

  125·9

  —

  1976–77

  119·8

  —

  1977–78

  118·1

  —

  1978–79

  121·2

  —

  1979–80

  115·2

  —

  1980–81

  117·4

  —

  1981–82

  121·9

  —

  1982–83

  120·1

  —

  1983–84

  115·0

  114·02

  1984–85

  122·5

  122·26

  1985–86

  124·2

  120·21

  1986–871

  ֵ

  109·91

  1 Figures for 1986–87 are not strictly comparable with those of earlier years as the January to March deaths for 1987 are provisional.

  ֵNot available.
  603

  Table 2

  Number of deaths occurring in months October to March expressed as a percentage of those occurring in the previous April to September, by country, 1974–75 to 1983–84

  Persons, all ages

  Country

  1974–75

  1975–76

  1976–77

  1977–78

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  Belgium

  115·12

  110·82

  103·50

  113·39

  110·07

  108·76

  109·04

  108·20

  110·67

  107·76

  Irish Republic1

  113·03

  117·40

  114·00

  115·50

  115·17

  113·04

  117·04

  122·62

  121·02

  52·40

  France

  115·87

  109·34

  103·79

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  114·18

  108·47

  52·51

  ֵ

  German Federal Republic

  113·81

  106·37

  101·53

  111·09

  107·19

  106·41

  106·83

  107·17

  107·04

  105·19

  Italy

  124·54

  118·76

  115·16

  114·55

  112·55

  116·14

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Luxembourg

  115·96

  116·11

  97·07

  112·41

  107·73

  106·90

  113·58

  111·79

  103·39

  109·53

  Netherlands

  110·34

  107·18

  101·27

  111·95

  106·83

  107·25

  107·02

  108·86

  106·32

  107·15

  Portugal

  132·51

  133·85

  119·71

  121·05

  116·06

  118·56

  128·24

  108·70

  127·99

  55·30

  Spain

  130·27

  119·15

  114·07

  112·14

  112·71

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Greece

  126·05

  124·60

  126·68

  120·60

  111·36

  123·20

  117·97

  114·53

  118·46

  109·53

  Denmark

  104·13

  114·91

  104·78

  109·93

  108·84

  109·46

  108·94

  107·34

  106·93

  106·73

  Norway

  110·44

  108·29

  101·13

  104·97

  109·69

  105·42

  112·88

  109·08

  104·41

  10704

  Sweden

  106·97

  111·45

  103·71

  108·71

  107·59

  106·56

  109·25

  108·41

  106·50

  124·88

  Iceland

  98·04

  103·11

  104·35

  99·59

  98·00

  97·24

  101·14

  97·00

  94·63

  107·92

  Finland

  106·57

  111·03

  104·48

  99·96

  105·18

  110·04

  107·76

  104·71

  106·00

  103·63

  United Kingdom1

  115·62

  115·64

  116·72

  115·63

  117·90

  112·70

  114·33

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  1 Percentages based on registrations rather than occurrences.

  ֵ Not available.

  Source: United Nations Demographic Yearbook, 1980 and 1985.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Staff Statistics
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many employees in the House are registered disabled.

  Mr. Beith
  Among the staff of the House for whom the Commission is responsible, there are six persons employed who are registered as disabled. Other registered disabled people work in the House, but their employment is the responsibility of agencies, such as the Department of the Environment.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many staff are employed in the House broken down by Department.

  Mr. Beith
  The numbers of staff employed in the respective Departments of the House are as follows:

  Numbers

  Speaker's Office

  112

  Department of the Clerk of the House

  145

  Department of the Serjeant at Arms

  215

  Department of the Library

  174

  Department of the Official Report

  82

  Administration Department

  83

  Refreshment Department

  235

  1 Including Chaplain.

  These figures include full-time and part-time staff.
  604
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what has been the cost of(a) training and (b) retraining House staff by category per head in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Beith
  No record was kept for training costs prior to financial year 1983–84; nor is it practicable to distinguish between training and retraining. The costs by category per head could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The statistics for staff training for the years for which records are available are as follows:

  Staff training costs

  Year

  Cost (£)

  Staff Nos1

  1987–88

  36,602·83

  2964

  1986–87

  36,767·54

  914½

  1985–86

  33,092·36

  911

  1984–85

  22,465·16

  897

  1983–84

  14,814·73

  885

  1 Actual staff numbers at the end of each Financial Year.

  2 To date.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many employees working in the House are from the ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Beith
  A programme of ethnic monitoring of staff of the House is shortly to be conducted. Until the survey has been completed and the results evaluated it is not possible to provide the figures asked for.

  PRISONERS' RELATIVES: ASSISTED VISITS SCHEME
  PRISONERS' RELATIVES: ASSISTED VISITS SCHEME
  ASIAN LANGUAGE TEACHING IN SCHOOLS
  ASIAN LANGUAGE TEACHING IN SCHOOLS
  UNIVERSITY EXTRA-MURAL ADULT EDUCATION: FUNDING
  UNIVERSITY EXTRA-MURAL ADULT EDUCATION: FUNDING
  MSC: EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND ALLOCATIONS
  MSC: EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND ALLOCATIONS
  YTS: EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND ALLOCATIONS
  YTS: EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND ALLOCATIONS
  RESEARCH: DEFINITION FOR TAX PURPOSES
  RESEARCH: DEFINITION FOR TAX PURPOSES
  FAST REACTOR PLANNING IN EUROPE
  FAST REACTOR PLANNING IN EUROPE
  MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES FUNDING 1988–91
  MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES FUNDING 1988–91
  CONVEYANCING SERVICES: LEGISLATION
  CONVEYANCING SERVICES: LEGISLATION
  FAMILY COURTS
  FAMILY COURTS