Written Answers of 1 July 1987

EMPLOYMENT

  Women's Needs
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the main needs of women in the policy areas within the sphere of his Department's activities; what has been done to identify and quantify these needs and to monitor services delivery; what consultation is carried out with women to ensure their views are adequately represented; and what training is given to his staff to raise their appreciation of the needs of women.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government consider that in the employment field the main need of both women and men is the creation of new jobs. The Department of Employment's activities are directed to achieving this through deregulation and the development of the enterprise economy. Women as well as men have benefited from the employment, training and enterprise measures offered by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission, on which we have already spent in excess of £10 billion since 1979.

  The Government nevertheless recognise that women have in the past been disadvantaged in the labour market and in consequence have special employment needs. Our equal opportunities polices are designed to address those needs and are described in detail in "The Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women—A Review". This document was published in April 1987 and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  We are fully apprised of women's views through the normal process of consultation and through our regular contacts with the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Women's National Commission and women's voluntary organisations. The Advisory Committee on Women's Employment exists to advise Employment Ministers on all aspects of our policies affecting women in the labour market, and my Department is also represented on the interdepartmental ministerial group on women's issues.

  Training for staff at all levels within the Department of Employment group incorporates coverage of equal opportunities. Some courses have separate modules which specifically concentrate on the equal opportunities dimension, for example, a course for MSC "field" staff who have day-to-day responsibility for running programmes. This training ensures that staff fully understand the group's equal opportunities policy and the practical implications of that policy for the provision of services and for the group as employer.

  Enterprise Allowance and Community Programme
  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the criteria for the award of (a) enterprise allowance and (b) a community programme place.
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  Mr. Cope
  The purpose of the enterprise allowance scheme is to help those unemployed people who would like to set up business on their own but are deterred from doing so because they would lose their entitlement to unemployment or supplementary benefit. To help ensure that the purpose of the scheme is met, applicants must he aged at least 18 and under 65 and have been unemployed and actively seeking work for at least eight weeks. Additionally, applicants must be directly or indirectly in receipt of unemployment benefit or supplementary benefit, have £1,000 available to invest in their proposed business, plan to work full time and be free from any restrictions on their employment in Great Britain.

  The proposed business must be new, suitable for public support, be based in England, Scotland or Wales, and remain in the overall control of the applicant.

  The community programme provides opportunities for long-term unemployed people to gain work experience on projects of community benefit. It is open to those aged 18 to 24 who have been unemployed for six out of the last nine months and those aged 25 to 62 who have been unemployed for 12 out of the last 15 months.

  In addition, all applicants must have been continuously unemployed for the two months before they apply, and be directly or indirectly in receipt of an appropriate state benefit.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Grylls
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been lent by the banks to small firms under the Government's loan guarantee scheme; what is the number of firms involved; and what is the average amount of each loan and the losses to date under the scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  Bank lending of £586 million has been assisted by the scheme up to 31 May 1987. The average amount of each loan was £32,800. About 17,800 guaranteed loans were made to over 16,000 firms. The cost of claims net of premiums and other receipts has been £109 million.

  Television Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the impact on employment opportunities in the television manufacturing industry in the light of the recent purchase of the Ferguson Group by Thomson.

  Mr. Lee
  It is too early to assess the effect of the purchase. Decisions on employment levels are of course for the manufacturing companies themselves.

  Window Cleaners
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many times inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive have visited commercial window cleaners in the last five years.

  Mr. Cope
  I regret that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many accidents involving window cleaners have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the last five years;
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  (2) how many fatal accidents involving window cleaners have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the last five years.

  Mr. Cope
  18 fatal injuries to window cleaners were reported to the Health and Safety Executive during the five years 1981 to 1985. Provisional records show two fatalities in 1986. The provisional number of non-fatal injuries reported to HSE in the 12 months from April 1986 was 26. The number of accidents prior to 1986 is not readily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. Accidents which occur at premises not subject to inspection by HSE are reportable to local authorities.

  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what safety measures the Health and Safety Executive recommend to window cleaners;

  (2) what measures are being taken by the Health and Safety Executive to improve safety for window cleaners.

  Mr. Cope
  Guidance note GS 25 "Prevention of Falls to Window Cleaners", published by the Health and Safety Executive in 1985, provides technical advice for window cleaners on safety matters. It also gives advice on the legal duties of employers, employees, the self-employed and persons in control of premises under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

  The Health and Safety Executive and local authority environmental health departments are currently taking a joint initiative in north London to promote safety for window cleaners. Factory inspectors and environmental health officers are visiting the head offices of window cleaning firms and sites to provide advice and take enforcement action where appropriate.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Ms. Harman
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been denied unemployment benefit since November 1986 because they are not available for work because they have an adult or a child to care for during working hours.

  Mr. Lee
  Some claimants to unemployment benefit have always been disallowed benefit by independent statutory adjudicating authorities in accordance with longstanding legal rules adopted by successive Governments because they were not available for work. Departmental records do not identify the reasons which lead to claimants being disallowed benefit on the grounds that they are not available for work.

PRIME MINISTER

  Civil Servants (Radio and Television Programmes)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Prime Minister what plans Her Majesty's Government have for permitting or facilitating members of the Civil Service to speak or appear on radio or television programmes.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have no plans to change the present guidance on the appearance of civil servants on radio or television programmes. Civil servants are permitted to take part in broadcasts, so long as they do not engage in discussion of politically controversial matters. Whilst, therefore, they may in certain circumstances describe and explain Government policies, it is for Ministers to justify those policies and to defend them in party political terms.

  European Council (Budgetary Controls)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the application of the strict budgetary controls agreed at the European Council meeting of 4 December 1984; and if she is satisfied with the progress made in budgetary control.

  The Prime Minister
  As I said in the answer which I gave my hon. Friend on 18 November last, column 85, the control of European Community spending is a constant battle. In all discussions on this subject in the Community the Government have insisted, and will continue to insist, on the paramount need to improve budget discipline and management, taking account of the Council's conclusions of December 1984.

  I also refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made today.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Playgrounds
  Ms. Quin
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of playgrounds in schools are made of concrete.

  Mr. Dunn
  This information is not available. The large majority of school playgrounds are made either of asphalt, or of concrete over which a tarmacadam surface is laid.

  Ms. Quin
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what studies have been made about the feasibility of introducing substances safer than concrete to be used in playgrounds, including wooden blocks.

  Mr. Dunn
  In 1978 my Department sent to all chief education officers, for information, a copy of a Department of Environment circular letter advising authorities of the need for improved safety in children's playgrounds and including a technical appendix on the characteristics of various impact-absorbing surfaces that were considered for use beneath park playground apparatus. Wooden blocks were not mentioned; wood chips, although soft, were regarded as being difficult to maintain and clean. Local education authorities were invited to consider at the time whether any of the advice contained in the letter was felt to be applicable to school playground areas, particulary where climbing apparatus was being installed.

  Natural Environment Research Council
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what help he proposes to give the Natural Environment Research Council to enable it to maintain research at the grant-aided Freshwater Biological Association Laboratories.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend allocates funds each year to the Natural Environment Research Council and other research councils, after the Government have determined the overall funding available. In reaching this decision he takes account of advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils. Within the sum provided, the council is expected to determine its own priorities for the support of relevant research within its own establishments and grant-aided institutions.

  Women's Needs
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the main needs of girls and women in the policy areas within the sphere of his Department's activities; what has been done to identify and quantify these needs and to monitor services delivery; what consultation is carried out with women to ensure their views are adequately represented; and what training is given to his staff to raise their appreciation of the needs of girls and women.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The main needs of girls and women in education are equal opportunities for study to enable them equally to benefit from the advantages education confers. My Department, drawing on advice from Her Majesty's Inspectorate, has identified areas of the curriculum in schools and of higher education in which there has been a historically low participation by girls and sought to increase it, monitoring the results by statistical means. Opportunities for consultation exist through liaison with the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Women's National Commission. Staff in relevant branches of the Department are made aware of the need to bear in mind the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and ensure that the needs of women are taken into account in policy formulation and administration.

  Schools (Change of Character)
  Mr. Stern
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to seek to alter the arrangement under which local education authorities apply to him for permission to cease to maintain or to change the character of a school; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to alter the existing statutory arrangements.

  East Devon College of Further Education
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why his decision as to phase 2 of the East Devon college of further education, promised for the end of March, is still outstanding; and whether he will announce it without further delay.

  Mr. Dunn
  This project was submitted by Devon LEA as a candidate for the local authority further and higher education major building programme 1988–89. It is under consideration, together with the bids submitted by other LEAs in England. The delay in responding to LEAs' bids is regretted and an announcement will be made as soon as possible. However, my right hon. Friend will not be in a position to inform LEAs of their capital expenditure allocations for 1988–89 until the end of this year.

TRANSPORT

  Motorways (Maintenance)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport by what date he expects the maintenance work currently in progress at and near junction 10 of the M1 motorway to be completed.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The contractor hopes to complete the work by mid-October.
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  Mr. Greg Knight
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider restricting heavy commercial vehicles to the nearside lane only when, due to maintenance work, motorways are reduced to two-lane traffic.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This would not be advisable. It would lead to one lane being heavily overused and the other operating at under capacity.

  All heavy goods vehicles would necessarily have to run at the speed of the slowest vehicle. This could lead to frustration on the part of their drivers, and in turn lead to risk taking and excessive speeds when they reached the end of the works. We consider it is safer to have two lanes running more or less equally, rather than one running much faster than the other.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to minimise disruption to holiday traffic on motorways due to maintenance and repair work being carried out during this summer.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  All lane closures are carefully planned to keep delay and inconvenience to a minimum. The Department's agents work to national guidelines in respect of layout and spacing between works.

  We have substantially increased the number of contracts let on a "lane rental" basis whereby contractors can earn bonuses for early completion. This has proved successful in reducing the time of occupation for works to be carried out.

  In areas known to be heavily trafficked throughout the summer holiday period, such as the south-west, only essential works are carried out at this time. Wherever practicable works are lifted from all major holiday routes at peak periods such as bank holidays.

  M4 (Partial Closure)
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport for how long it is intended to close the London end of the M4 motorway at night; and whether there is any way by which one lane of it each way could be left open.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Alternative closures of the east bound and west bound carriageways at the London end of the M4 motorway are expected to continue until Friday 17 July. The maintenance work being undertaken is the replacement of bridge expansion joints. Safety considerations require the whole carriageway in one direction to be closed while the work is in progress.

  Motorways (Service Areas)
  Mr. Forth
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate the Government's general policy on the development of new service areas on motorways and other trunk roads in England.

  Mr. Channon
  Our general policy for motorways is to secure service areas at strategic points roughly 30 miles apart. There are 41 such areas already open in England. A further 19 are planned. The aim is to provide the consumer with an adequate range of choice and good value for money, while upholding the highest standards of road safety and securing a return to the Exchequer. Save in exceptional circumstances, we believe that this is best achieved by promoting full and fair competition between
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  firms providing such services, subject to our having adequate control over the initial development and subsequent use of sites.

  Our general policy for trunk roads is to continue to rely on private initiative for the identification, development and management of such sites. It is essential for road safety and traffic reasons to exercise strict control over the new developments which involve formation or an intensified use of accesses to such roads. It is, nevertheless, apparent that there are roads on which there are not at present adequate facilities for motorists. We believe that these needs will best be met in general by a comprehensive provision of services on single sites rather than a spread of individual facilities. It is intended to promote discussions with the local authority associations and the private sector on the identification of such sites and the sort of provision to be made on them.

  We believe that these policies represent the most effective way forward to meeting the future needs of motorists on our motorways and trunk roads. I am placing in the library a fuller statement of these policies.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Voting
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each parliamentary constituency in Greater Manchester, how many people were granted postal votes; how many applications for postal votes were refused; how many postal votes returned too late to be included in the count; what percentage of postal votes were valid and what representations he has received from returning officers about the new procedure for postal votes.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information is being obtained in respect of each constituency in the United Kingdom on the number of persons shown on the absent votes lists as entitled to vote by post, on the number of postal ballot papers returned before the close of the poll and on the number of those ballot papers included at the start of the count. This information will be published in "Election Expenses" around the end of the year. We have not yet received all the postal ballot papers returns from the constituencies in the Greater Manchester area and I shall write to the hon. Member when they are complete. Information is not collected centrally on the number of applications for postal votes which were refused, nor are electoral registration officers obliged to record this information. We have received a number of suggestions for ways in which the new absent voting procedures could be improved and we shall take these into account in our review of these procedures.

  Immigration
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of different waiting times for interviews by the immigration service according to the geographical area in the United Kingdom of residence of the interviewee.

  Mr. Renton
  The position varies in different areas of the United Kingdom, subject to the type of interview required, and comprehensive information is not readily available. During the peak period of traffic through the ports priority is given to immigration control on entry. Other 90
  urgent interviews, however, continue to be undertaken during the peak summer months. At the end of the summer season, additional immigration service resources are devoted to outstanding cases.

  Crime (Use of Knives)
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has any plans to institute a campaign against the selling and carrying of knives for offensive purposes; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what legislative steps are being proposed regarding the sale of certain types of knives which can be used for offensive and criminal purposes; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations have been made to him by the police and other authorities regarding the sale of knives which can be used for offensive and criminal purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received a number of representations from the police representative organisations, police consultative groups, local authorities, hon. Members and members of the public about the availability of offensive weapons, including knives, and their use in crime. We have also received reports of the local initiatives to increase awareness among the public about the dangers of these weapons, which we welcome and support.

  As my right hon. Friend announced to hon. Members yesterday, we have already set in hand a study of how the law relating to the possession of knives and other sharp bladed instruments might be reinforced. He will be considering urgently how best to take matters forward in the light of that study.

  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the figures relating to the use of knives in criminal offences which have occurred in England and Wales in the past five years and the overall percentage increase in this period.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information on the use of weapons other than firearms in recorded notifiable offences is not collected centrally, except in respect of offences of homicide. Statistics of homicides are published each year in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" (table 4.3 in the volume for 1985, Cm. 10)

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Footwear Industry (Trade Exhibitions)
  Mr. Fry
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will ask the British Overseas Trade Board to reconsider its decision to reduce its support for trade exhibitions in North America on behalf of the British footwear industry.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The BOTB has decided not to support the footwear industry in 1987–88 at the National Shoes Fair in New York, as it has done in previous years. Even though it supports some 330 events each year, involving some 7,000 British companies, the BOTB cannot meet all the demands for such assistance. It has, therefore, to balance the needs of well-established sectors in a particular market with those of newcomers. As part of its extensive North American programme the board is supporting a number of other shows which include footwear, and if
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  circumstances permit it to add new events to the programme during the year, it will take full account of the footwear industry's views.

  Japan (Sales Duty)
  Mr. Fry
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to which British industries, when trading with Japan, face a 60 per cent. duty on all sales to that country once the tariff quota is exceeded.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Leather, leather goods and footwear are the only industries falling into this category.

  Furniture (Fire Resistance)
  Mr. Ward
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to ban the use of polyurethane foam in domestic furniture in view of the toxic fumes created when fire occurs.

  Mr. Maude
  No. As with the burning of most organic substances, the main toxic gas produced by burning polyurethane foam is carbon monoxide.

  I am today issuing a consultation document setting out a draft code of practice on ignition resistance of upholstered furniture.

  Recent developments in polyurethane technology offer foams which, when used in furniture, appear to burn less rapidly and with the production of less smoke and toxic gas. I believe that the way forward is to encourage the use of these better types of foam filling in furniture manufacture as quickly as possible, rather than banning a material which has many excellent qualities.

  Mr. Ward
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will make it his policy to bring commercial recovering of domestic furniture within the law relating to fire resistance of domestic upholstered furniture;

  (2) when he intends to introduce regulations leading to a higher standard of fire resistance in domestic upholstered furniture; and if he will make a statement on the standards to be introduced.

  Mr. Maude
  I am today issuing a consultation document setting out a draft code of practice on ignition resistance of upholstered furniture. A number of options are proposed in that document : I am satisfied that all would provide for a degree of improved safety in their various ways, whether by requiring the use of match resistant covering fabric or by requiring the use of more fire-resistant foam or other filling.

  Following consultation, I propose to make new regulations to replace those made in 1980 and amended in 1983 in order to make mandatory the code of practice.

  The mandatory code of practice approach offers a direct way of dealing with loose covers and commercial recovering of furniture within the same regulations, which a mandatory match test for complete items of furniture cannot do.

  Mr. Ward
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy to extend the controls relating to fire resistance of domestic furniture to beds and other everyday items currently outside the law.

  Mr. Maude
  I intend to make use of the general safety requirement in the Consumer Protection Act 1987 to set 92
  an acceptable standard of fire resistance for beds and mattresses. This will be done by approval of the British standard specification for the ignition resistance of mattresses when this is finalised. Equally, if other standard specifications are prepared indicating a minimum level of fire resistance for other everyday domestic items, I shall consider approving these also.

  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce legislation to ensure that fire safety regulations for furniture sold for use in the home are stringently applied; if he is satisfied that there are adequate safeguards to ensure that toys are not inflammable; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 June 1987, c. 58]: It is for local authorities to enforce regulations cons rolling the fire safety of upholstered furniture made under the Consumer Safety Act 1978, whose provisions have now been subsumed in the Consumer Protection Act 1987. There is no need for additional enforcement legislation. The present Toy (Safety) Regulations are inadequate in respect of the flammability requirements. The draft European directive on toy safety, which will considerably extend those requirements, was accepted in principle by the Council of Ministers on 10 June and is now before the European Parliament. If the directive is adopted, regulations to implement the directive will be introduced in due course.

  Children's Nightwear
  Mr. Ward
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to alter the law regarding the material of, and the warnings concerned with, children's nightwear.

  Mr. Maude
  No. The Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985 came into force on 1 March this year. Children's nightdresses, dressing gowns and bathrobes (except bathrobes made from cotton terry towelling) for children must pass a strict flammability test. Other nightwear garments for children and adults must carry a permanent label showing their flammability performance.

  The Nightwear (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1987 defer until 1 September of this year the coming into force of the requirements of the 1985 regulations with respect to the labelling of garments for babies under the age of three months.

  Ferguson Group
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he received about the sale of the Ferguson Group by its owners, Thorn EMI, prior to its public announcement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The company informed my Department of the proposed sale at the same time as it made its public announcement.

  Television Sets (Production)
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the prospect for the mass production of televisions in the United Kingdom, in the light of the recent purchase of the Ferguson Group by Thomson.
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  Mr. Butcher
  The implications of the proposed acquisition of Thorn EMI Ferguson by Thomson Grand Public will depend upon future decisions by Thomson on how it will run the business. Although Ferguson is the single largest manufacturer in the United Kingdom, there are nine other major companies established in television manufacture here, several of which are expanding their production. Plans by at least two additional companies to enter production are also well advanced.

  Lawnmowers (Noise)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many power lawnmowers have been checked by the officers appointed by his Department to establish whether the noise they make is consistent with the Lawnmowers (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert Atkins
  The Lawnmowers (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations 1986 do not make provision for appointing officers to carry out checks to establish whether the noise powered lawnmowers make is consistent with them.

  The regulations came into force on 18 November 1986 and introduce into United Kingdom law the European Community article 100 directive on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to the permissible sound power level of lawnmowers (84/538/EEC). The directive has to be applied as from 1 July 1987 and our regulations were introduced in advance of that date in order to give manufacturers and importers opportunity to obtain reports on the tests carried out on each type of lawnmower for the purpose of self-certification in readiness for marketing on or after 1 July 1987. I am aware that some of the nine appointed test laboratories have been making such reports for some time, but as the manufacturers apply direct to the test laboratory my Department does not get involved or record the numbers involved.

  The regulations empower the Secretary of State to carry out checks on the manufacturers continuing production, but no such checks have as yet been made.

  Director General of Telecommunications (Report)
  Mr. Lawrence
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has yet received a report by the Director General of Telecommunications for the year 1986, as required under section 55 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

  Mr. Butcher
  Yes. The third report by the Director General of Telecommunications is being published today. It covers the period 1 January to 31 December 1986. Copies of the report have been laid before each House of Parliament.

  Consumer Council
  Mr. Stern
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the Consumer Council held on 10 June.

  Mr. Maude
  The Council reached agreement on a directive to harmonise legislation prohibiting products which, usually as a novelty, are made or packaged to appear like food or drink, and could be dangerous, especially to children. The Council also reached agreement 94
  in principle on a directive to provide common rules for toy safety throughout the community. Formal adoption will not take place in June, however, as the European Parliament's opinion is still awaited.

  The Council reached agreement on resolutions responding to reports by the Commission on consumer access to justice, and on a possible general obligation at community level to produce and market only safe goods. The Commission will be undertaking further work on both subjects.

  The Council also recorded conclusions on the fundamental elements which should form the basis for a settlement of the proposed unit pricing directives; and agree that a Commission proposal for a child safety information and awareness campaign should be examined further.

ENERGY

  Women's Needs
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the main needs of women in the policy areas within the sphere of his Department's activities; what has been done to identify and quantify these needs and to monitor services delivery; what consultation is carried out with women to ensure their views are adequately represented; and what training is given to his staff to raise their appreciation of the needs of women.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Officials in my Department act in accordance with the Government's commitment to the policy of equal opportunities for men and women. Staff receive training on equal opportunities for men and women as part of normal management training. We also seek to ensure that women are represented on advisory and consultative bodies on energy matters.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  European Community Development Council
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Community Development Council on 21 May.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The United Kingdom was represented at official level. Conclusions were adopted welcoming the Commission's intention to propose a Community programme to combat AIDS in developing countries, in close co-ordination with the World Health Organisation's special programme on AIDS. Conclusions were also adopted on the importance of improving public awareness of development issues, and on the value of the private sector in development.

  It was agreed there should be detailed debates on the situation in sub-Saharan Africa, on the evaluation of previous aid and (at the United Kingdom's suggestion) on the environmental aspects of development projects at the next Council.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the speed with which Inland Revenue offices deal with taxpayers' affairs.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Over the last 18 months there has been a significant improvement in the time taken to reply to taxpayers' inquiries, and most of the annual cycle of other work is being completed on time.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has of the effect on retailers of the delay arising from the break-down of the value added tax computer at Shoeburyness in the repayments of moneys due to them; if he will take steps to ensure the earliest possible repayment of such moneys; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lawson
  I shall let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

  EC Budget (United Kingdom Contribution)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total net contribution made by the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community in each of the previous five years; and if these figures take account of the transfer from European Economic Community to national responsibility of expenditure on agricultural policies like the disposal of butter surpluses.

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

  Liverpool Freeport
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is satisfied with the working of the Liverpool freeport; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he has assessed what effects the Manx freeport will have on the Liverpool freeport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

WALES

  Cartrefle College
  Dr. Marek
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what decisions were made regarding the future of Cartrefle college at the last meeting of the committee of the Welsh Advisory Board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  At its last meeting the WAB committee considered a report by a joint UGC/WAB working group which recommended the phasing out of initial teacher training at Cartrefle college which is part of the North East Wales institute of higher education. The committee advised that before final decisions are taken the Clwyd local education authority should be consulted to give it and NEWI an opportunity to comment on the implications for the institute of implementing the working group's recommendation. This is being done.

  Charity-owned Farms
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will estimate how many charity-owned farms there are in Wales, and in each county in Wales, and which charities are involved;

  (2) how many charity-owned farms exist within the present environmentally sensitive areas in Wales; arid which charities are involved.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Records are not kept of the number of charity-owned farms in Wales and there is no information available on which to base an estimate.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the position of tenants of charity-owned farms in relation to the environmentally sensitive areas scheme in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The position of tenants of charity-owned farms in relation to the environmentally sensitive area scheme in Wales depends on the particular circumstances of the tenancy agreement and each case would be treated on its merits.

  A possible conflict would arise only if the charity that owns the land has received public money in connection with the purchase or management of the land.

  If the tenant pays a full agricultural rent and has a normal tenancy agreement there should be no reason why he could not qualify for an ESA management agreement. lf, however, the tenancy agreement requires him to farm in an environmentally sensitive way, and in return he pays a lower rent, it would be necessary to consider carefully whether the further benefit of ESA payment would be justified.

  Lead Plumbing
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of properties in Wales with lead plumbing; and what proportion of the total this figure represents.

  Mr. Grist
  The latest available estimate derived from the 1981 Welsh house condition survey is that there were 294,000 dwellings with drinking-cooking water pipes made of lead, representing 27 per cent. of the total stock.

SCOTLAND

  Illegal Fishing (River Forth)
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from James Mackie, Her Majesty's Inspector of Fisheries, about an incident involving illegal drift net fishing in the Forth, in the early hours of Friday 26 June; and what action he proposes to take.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no representations from Mr. James Mackie regarding illegal fishing in the Forth on 26 June 1987.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his estimate of the number of canvassers required for house visits in Lothian region in order to collect the information required for the proposed community charge;
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  (2) what is his estimate of the costs of collection in Lothian region of the community charge from fully rebated persons;

  (3) what estimate he has made of the cost in Lothian region of updating the proposed community charge register each month;

  (4) what is his estimate of the cost of a postal canvass in Lothian region of all persons above 18 years of age to establish and register for the proposed community charge.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has made no such estimates.

  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sanctions he proposes against any individual over 18 years of age who fails to notify the authority applying a community charge of a change of abode.

  Mr. Lang
  The arrangements for the imposition of civil penalties in these circumstances are set out in section 18 of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc (Scotland) Act 1987.

  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to reimburse Lothian region for the salaries of the extra staff needed to implement his community charge proposals in Lothian region.

  Mr. Lang
  The costs to be incurred by local authorities in implementing the community charge will be taken into account when determining provision for relevant expenditure and aggregate exchequer grant for 1988–89. The distribution of provision and grant amongst local authorities is based upon the client group approach to assessment of relative expenditure need, which is developed in consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

ENVIRONMENT

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Fry
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received seeking legislation based upon the proposals contained in the Green Paper on air pollution control.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We have received 442 responses to the proposals in the consultation paper reviewing air pollution control legislation in Great Britain. Where they gave permission, copies of these replies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and of the Department to which the response was sent.

  Women's Needs
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the main needs of women in the policy areas within the sphere of his Department's activities; what has been done to identify and quantify these needs and to monitor services delivery; what consultation is carried out with women to ensure their views are adequately represented; and what training is given to his staff to raise their appreciation of the needs of women.

  Mr. Ridley
  The policies of my Department meet the needs of men and women equally. Specific measures taken by my Department which are of particular benefit to women are set out in the Government response to the 98
  United Nations "Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women", published on 29 April. The views of women on these measures and policies are welcome and my Department actively consults women's organisations in appropriate cases. Equal opportunities training, including that designed to raise awareness of the needs of women, is included in all my Department's main management courses.

  Local Government Boundary Commission
  Mr. Arnold
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the timetable of work of the Local Government Boundary Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Under the Local Government Act 1972 the commission has to review every 10 to 15 years the areas and boundaries of counties, London boroughs and metropolitan districts, and the boundaries of the City of London. The current round of these reviews has to end by 31 March 1992. Reviews of non-metropolitan districts and consideration of districts' reviews of parishes may be at any time, as necessary. In addition, the commission has to review the electoral arrangements for counties, London boroughs and districts, every 10 to 15 years from its last report on the area concerned. Subject to these statutory requirements and to any direction under powers conferred by the Act on the Secretary of State the commission has discretion to, and does set its own timetable.

  Stoke Gabriel (Public Inquiry)
  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will postpone the public inquiry under section 119 of the Highways Act 1980 in relation to footpath No. 2 (Part) Stoke Gabriel, Public Path Diversion Order 1986, as requested in the letter from the hon. Member for South Hams to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 23 May, following representations from the Stoke Gabriel parish council.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No. It is considered that a postponement at this late stage may be prejudiced to other objectors who have already made arrangements to attend. Should any party wish to pursue the question of a delay, they would have the opportunity at the opening of the inquiry to request the inspector to adjourn to a later date.

  Rates (Collection)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what actual or estimated percentage of rate income to local authorities in England and Wales is expended in its collection.

  Mr. Howard
  The cost of rate collection was about 1·2 per cent of rates paid in England and Wales in 1986–87.

  Spectrum Arena, Warrington
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any proposals on the future of the Spectrum Arena, Warrington, what discussions he has had with the Warrington and Runcorn development corporation; and what information he has as to whether the Spectrum Arena has been offered for sale to Warrington borough council.
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  Mrs. Roe
  My right hon. Friend has not received any proposals on the future of the Spectrum Arena, or had any discussions on the matter, subsequent to the closure of the arena last year. The arena is currently available for purchase, following the discontinuance earlier this year of negotiations with a prospective buyer. It is open to the borough council to make an offer.

  Albert Dock, Liverpool
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to visit the Albert dock, Liverpool.

  Mr. Trippier
  I visited the Albert dock in Liverpool on 22 June 1986 as part of a tour of the Merseyside Development Corporation's designated area. My right hon. Friend hopes to visit Merseyside in the near future.

  Merseyside Development Corporation
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the working of the Merseyside Development Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am very satisfied with the working of the Merseyside Development Corporation. In 1981 the corporation was set up to secure the regeneration of 350 hectares of derelict docklands. Its progress has been spectacular. 166 hectares have been reclaimed, including the site of the acclaimed Liverpool international garden festival in 1984. 120,000 m3 of buildings have been refurbished for new uses, including the largest grade I listed building in the country, the Albert dock; factory units have been provided in Bootle and at the Brunswick business park in the South docks, and Wapping warehouse is being refurbished to provide flats; all in partnership with the private sector or other agencies. This successful partnership is bringing new uses and a new pride to the docklands, creating a climate of confidence in which people are prepared to invest.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to expand the Merseyside Development Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  We have no plans to expand Merseyside Development Corporation at present.

  Merseyside Task Force
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is satisfied with the working of the task force on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he has any plans to expand the task force on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Merseyside task force deals with a range of functions appropriate to a regional office of my Department, including housing matters, derelict land grant, the urban programme and the funding of the Merseyside Development Corporation. It is involved also with local authorities, the Housing Corporation and private companies in promoting special initiatives to tackle particular problems in the area. There is close collaboration at local level with the Department of Industry MSC, and other Government Departments.
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  The task force continues to make an important contribution to the Government's policies aimed at securing the regeneration of the area.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the likely level of uniform business rate which is to be established in consequence of the measure outlined in the Gracious Speech; and whether he estimates that business ratepayers in Essex and Southend on Sea, respectively, will pay more or less in rates as a direct consequence of the proposed reform.

  Mr. Howard
  The average non-domestic rate poundage in 1987–88 in England is 224·1p. Had a national non-domestic rate been fully introduced this year at that level the rate poundage in Southend would have increased by 1½per cent. In the rest of Essex changes would have ranged from an increase of 5 per cent. in Chelmsford to a reduction of 22 per cent. in Harlow.

  These figures do not take into account the effect of the revaluation on non-domestic rates, timed to come into effect in 1990.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from borough treasurers about the administration of the proposed community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  The Association of District Council Treasurers and the Society of Metropolitan Treasurers responded to the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714). Both accepted the need to reform local government finance, but expressed concern about the proposal for a community charge, partly on administrative grounds. It was because of such concerns that the Government published on 15 December 1986 a document setting out how the community charge will work.

  A number of other representations were received from borough treasurers writing on behalf of their councils. A summary of all the responses to the Green Paper was placed in the Library on 15 December.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the likely cost to local authorities of collecting a community charge as opposed to domestic rates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I shall answer this question shortly.

  LDDC (Job Statistics)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will tabulate for the latest convenient date the number of jobs (a) transferred from outside, (b) newly created and (c) displaced or lost in each of the three boroughs within the area of the London Docklands Development Corporation since its inception, together with their respective totals.

  Mr. Trippier
  A total of 7,897 jobs have been created between the establishment of the corporation in July 1981 and 31 March 1987. These can be broken down as follows:
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  Borough

  Number of jobs

  Newham

  1,895

  Southwark

  1,192

  Tower Hamlets

  4,810

  TOTAL

  7,897

  Of these, 5,059 jobs were in establishments transferred from outside the UDA and 2,838 were created in new enterprises. A breakdown by borough is not available.

  In the answer given by my hon. Friend the former Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 6 April 1987, at column 26, he explained that an estimated 85 docklands firms have been relocated outside the area; 20 of these were from Newham, 32 from Southwark and 33 from Tower Hamlets. A total of 3,355 jobs have been notified by the MSC as lost between 1981 and 31 March 1987 as a result of firm closures or other redundancies. Information by borough is not available.

  Housing
  Mr. Allen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether the major reform of housing legislation foreshadowed in the Queen's Speech will include measures to empower local councils to sell off council estates, or parts thereof, to private companies; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what information he has about the number of local councils which, under current legislation, have disposed of council estates, or parts thereof, to private companies; and if he will list the authorities concerned.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Local authorities may dispose of housing and housing land with the consent of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. A general consent has been granted for the disposal of vacant housing for owner-occupation; disposals of tenanted housing, other than to sitting tenants, require special consent. Consents were granted, in 1983 and 1984, for the disposal of the Cantril Farm estate by Knowsley borough council to the Stockbridge Village trust and of the Strinesdale estate by Oldham borough council to the Irwin Group.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  EC Policies
  Mr. Knox
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further proposals he intends to place before his European Community partners for the development of Community policies.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Community's most urgent priority is to agree measures to ensure the control of expenditure. We shall play a leading role in the discussions which will now continue to introduce stabilising mechanisms for agricultural commodities and on the application of budgetary discipline to all the Community's expenditure.

  Iraq
  Mr. Madden
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to meet the ambassador of Iraq in London to discuss Anglo-Iraqi relations.
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  Mr. Mellor
  The ambassador of Iraq will be calling on me on Wednesday 8 July.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy regarding the sale of arms to terrorist forces.

  Mr. Mellor
  It is our firm policy not to sell arms to terrorist forces.

  Blowpipe Missiles
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had during his visit to refugee camps in Pakistan in April 1986, about the provision of Blowpipe missiles to Afghan persons or organisations opposed to the Kabul regime; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) on 7 May 1986, during my visit to the Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan I listened to representations from the refugees on the situation in Afghanistan and made clear our view that the key to peace is the immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops. As regards arms supplies, I have nothing to add to my statement on 26 June in the foreign affairs debate.

  Australia
  Mr. Baldry
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Australia.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend visited Australia from the 22 to 28 April. Relations continue to be excellent. We look forward to celebrating together the bicentennial anniversary of European settlement in 1988.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs if he will make a statement concerning relations with Ethiopia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I visited Ethiopia from 9 to 11 April and had frank and open discussions with members of the Government. I drew attention to the European Community statement of 21 July 1986 in favour of a peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region and the encouragement of local agricultural production to prevent further famine. We have made clear our concern for human rights in Ethiopia.

  Washington
  Mr. Boyes
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to make an official visit to Washington.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no firm plans at this stage, but would expect to visit Washington in due course as part of his regular series of meetings with Mr. Shultz.

  British Council
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to increase the resources available to the British Council.

  Mr. Alexander
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to increase the funding of the British Council.

  Mr. Eggar
  The British Council's requirements are considered, in the context of other priorities, in the annual public expenditure survey.

  Arms Control
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress concerning arms control.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning British policy on intermediate nuclear forces.

  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet the United States Secretary of State to discuss arms control issues.

  Mr. Bellingham
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning North Atlantic Treaty Organisation policy in intermediate nuclear forces.

  Mr. Burt
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British priorities for arms control negotiations.

  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation position on arms control.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  There has been significant progress in recent weeks in the United States/Soviet negotiations on intermediate range nuclear missiles. The Reykjavik meeting of the North Atlantic Council last month called on the Soviet Union to accept global elimination of United States and Soviet longer and shorter range intermediate nuclear forces missiles. NATO Ministers also confirmed the direction of future arms control negotiations; 50 per cent. cuts in strategic weapons; global elimination of chemical weapons; and an agreement to redress imbalances in conventional weapons.

  On conventional weapons, informal contacts between NATO and Warsaw pact representatives have been under way in Vienna since mid-February on the terms of reference for new talks on conventional stability covering the Atlantic to the Urals. Steady progress is being made.

  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the United States Government about a treaty banning intermediate nuclear forces from Europe.

  Mr. Mellor
  The United States Government is in close and regular contact with ourselves and other partners in NATO about the negotiations on intermediate nuclear forces. As part of the process my right hon. and learned Friend, discussed the INF negotiations with Mr. Shultz last month at the economic summit in Venice and at the 104
  North Atlantic Council in Reykjavik. We support the United States proposal for global elimination of US and Soviet longer and shorter range intermediate nuclear missiles.

  Mr. Wallace
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress at the arms control negotiations in Geneva.

  Mr. Mellor
  As indicated in my earlier reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Forman) there has been useful progress in recent weeks in the US/Soviet negotiations on intermediate range nuclear missiles. In the strategic arms reduction and space-defence groups significant difficulties remain. The United States has recently tabled a new draft START treaty. Both sides have made new proposals on space-defence which were discussed between Mr. Shultz and Mr. Shevardnadze in Moscow in April.

  Argentina
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contacts Her Majesty's Government has had with the Argentine Government, directly or through intermediaries.

  Mr. Eggar
  Following my right hon. and learned Friend's statement on 29 October 1986, we have been exchanging with the Argentine Government, via the United States Government, some informal ideas relating exclusively to the co-ordination of fisheries management in the south-west Atlantic in the interests of conservation and avoidance of incidents.

  EC (Finance)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the future financing of the European Economic Community.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

  South Africa
  Mr. Caborn
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with South Africa.

  Mr. Michael
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will assess Her Majesty's Government's policy towards relations with the Government in South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our relations with South Africa remain overshadowed by the issue of apartheid. We continue to seek an early end to this totally unacceptable system and its peaceful replacement by a non-racial, representative system of government.

  Mr. John Carlisle
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the Government of South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our policy towards South Africa remains unchanged. We seek an early end to the
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  unacceptable system of apartheid and its peaceful replacement by a non-racial, representative system of government.

  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made regarding detentions of trade unionists in South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have continued to make known to the South African Government our concern about detentions without charge, most recently on 28 May. On 19 December 1986 Her Majesty's ambassador in Pretoria raised the individual cases of nine trades unionists.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to bring about the peaceful reunification of Cyprus.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We believe that the United Nations Secretary-General is best placed to achieve a peaceful, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus. His mission of good offices is supported by all parties to the dispute. We actively support his initiative. He has publicly declared the role we have played.

  Central America (Costa Rica Proposals)
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have given to Dr. Arias of Costa Rica's peace proposals for the conflict in central America.

  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with President Arias of Costa Rica about the situation in central America.

  Mr. Eggar
  We welcomed this effort by President Arias to reactivate the Contadora peace process and strengthen democracy.

  Chile
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on Chileans formerly resident in the United Kingdom who are currently detained without trial in Chile.

  Mr. Eggar
  Her Majesty's embassy in Santiago is aware of one such case. I am writing to the hon. Member with details.

  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the ambassador of Chile; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Eggar
  The last substantive meeting was on 18 February when the ambassador accompanied Chilean special envoy Ambassador Daza at his call on my right hon. and learned Friend. The discussion was specifically about human rights in Chile.

  Mr. Galloway
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken in response to the recent spate of killings in Chile attributed to Government forces.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has asked our ambassador in Santiago to seek further information 106
  on the recent shootings there. We shall be monitoring developments closely. We deplore violence from whatever source.

  Middle East
  Mr. Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on arms sales to the middle east.

  Mr. Mellor
  As with our arms sales policy to other parts of the world, all arms sales to the middle east are considered individually on their merits. Each transaction is subject to strict export licencing procedures. Full account is taken of the foreign policy implications of such a sale, the regional and local tensions, and the human rights record of the country involved. We do not allow the export of arms which are likely to be used for internal repression or to violate human rights.

  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy with regard to the middle east.

  Mr. Mellor
  We remain committed to the search for a just and comprehensive settlement of the Arab/Israel dispute, based on the right of Israel to secure existence and the right of the Palestinians to self-determination. We believe that an international conference remains the most practical way forward.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends taking any initiatives in conjunction with the United Kingdom's European Economic Community partners to try to resolve questions relating to the Palestinians; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he intends taking to pursue the decision of European Economic Community Ministers to convene an international peace conference on the middle east.

  Mr. Mellor
  As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said on 26 June, we and our European partners firmly support the principle of an international conference. This remains in our view the most practical way forward to negotiations between the parties that are directly concerned. We remain in close touch with the parties and will continue to encourage them to agree arrangements for a conference.

  Iran
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British relations with Iran.

  Dr. Michael Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Iran.

  Mr. Mellor
  The recent deterioration in relations with Iran was not of the United Kingdom's making.

  Our position is that Iran must understand that any constructive dialogue with us can only prosper on a basis

  107
  of reciprocity and provided the British diplomatic presence in Tehran is allowed to do its job without hindrance and with its safety assured.

  The hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friend will know that my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs set out our position more fully in his speech to the House on 26 June.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Frank
  Cook asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's responsibilities in relation to the control of arms exports as they affect Her Majesty's Government's foreign policy.

  Mr. Mellor
  The export of arms is controlled by the Export of Goods (Control) Order which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. However, my Department is consulted over all export licence applications so that the foreign policy aspects of arms sales can be fully considered. In deciding whether to approve individual export licence applications my Department pays particular attention to those exports which might exacerbate regional or local tension or contribute to violations of human rights.

  As the hon. Member knows, special rules are announced from time to time in relation to certain countries.

  Fiji
  Mr. Vaz
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's relationship with the current administration in Fiji.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I. expressed our deep concern about the military coup in Fiji on 14 May, calling for a return to parliamentary democracy. The Governor-General has assumed sole executive authority in Fiji. We have maintained normal contact with him through our high commissioner in Suva. Our normal commercial and trading relations continue as does our aid programme.

  US Congressional Hearings
  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any of the staff of the British embassy in Washington are attending the congressional hearings on the Iran-Contra affair; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  No staff are attending on a regular basis.

  Korea
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Korean Government concerning democracy and human rights.

  Mr. Wall
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of the Republic of South Korea regarding recent human rights violations.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have been following closely developments in the Republic of Korea and hope that the dialogue 108
  between the parties can be constructively resumed. The Korean Government are aware of the importance we attach to human rights and democracy.

  EC Research Programme
  Sir Russell Johnston
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom will remove its objection to the European Community 1987–91 framework research programme.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are considering whether or not the conditions can be met for such an agreement.

  Foreign Minister's Council
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Economic Community Foreign Ministers Council meeting on 29 June.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

  Soviet Union
  Mr. Beith
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet his counterpart from the USSR to discuss Anglo-Soviet relations.

  Mr. Mellor
  Mr. Shevardnadze has invited my right hon. and learned Friend to visit the Soviet Union. He hopes to take up the invitation later this year when, of course, Anglo-Soviet relations would be discussed. He may also meet Mr. Shevardnadze at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in the autumn.

  Southern Africa
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the objectives of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards southern Africa.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards southern Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our policy towards Southern Africa was set out in the most Gracious Speech from the Throne to both Houses of Parliament and elaborated in my right hon. and learned Friend's speech in the foreign affairs debate on 26 June.

  UNESCO
  Mr. William
  Powell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about British representation at UNESCO.

  Mr. Eggar
  Our observer section in Paris continues to monitor developments. There is as yet no clear indication of the fundamental and far-reaching reforms which are necessary if UNESCO is to work effectively in the spirit which inspired its foundation.

  Venice Summit
  Mr. Patrick
  Thompson asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Venice summit.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I accompanied my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the economic summit held in Venice from 8 to 10 June. Copies of the statements issued at the summit have been placed in the Library of the House.

  This was the ninth summit I have attended, and was a very businesslike and successful meeting. It dealt with seven principal issues: economic policy, trade and protectionism, agriculture, developing countries and debt, East-West relations, terrorism and Iran-Iraq.

  On economic policy, we acknowledged the positive developments over the past year. Growth has continued into its fifth year, inflation continues to fall, interest rates are generally declining, and exchange rates have reached more appropriate levels. But we recognised that the world economy still faced a number of challenges: large external imbalances, continued high unemployment, large public sector deficits, and interest rates that are still too high in real terms. We welcomed the clear undertakings by both surplus and deficit countries to reduce imbalances and the agreement recorded in the economic declaration on strengthened arrangements for multilateral surveillance and greater co-ordination of our economic policies to strengthen the world economy. We also agreed to continue to co-operate closely to foster stability of exchange rates.

  We noted with concern rising protectionist pressures, and reaffirmed our commitment to maintaining and strengthening the multilateral open trading system through the Uruguay round of the GATT. We agreed to table a wide range of substantive proposals in Geneva over the coming months. Progress in the Uruguay round will be kept under close political review. We regarded a strong credible GATT as essential to the well-being of all trading nations, and the best defence against mounting protectionist pressures.

  Building on the agreements reached at Tokyo last year and in particular at the OECD ministerial in May, we gave a clear commitment to work together to adjust agricultural policies in the light of world demand, both at home and trhough comprehensive negotiations in the Uruguay round. We also agreed to refrain in the meantime from actions which would worsen the negotiating climate and damage trade relations.

  The amount of time that we devoted to discussing the problems of developing countries, in particular debt, reflects the importance that we and all summit countries attach to the economic progress and stability of those countries. While underlining the continuing appropriateness of the case by case strategy, with its central roles for the IMF and World Bank, we recognised that the problems of sub-Saharan Africa were unique and deserved special treatment. The Chancellor's initiative for granting debt relief to those of the poorest developing countries undertaking adjustment efforts was given broad support, and we welcomed the proposal by the managing director of the IMF to increase substantially the resources of the structural adjustment facility, which lends on very concessional terms to the poorest countries.

  Statements were made on various political issues.

  On East-West relations, we reaffirmed our commitment to peace and security at lower levels of arms, noting with
  110
  satisfaction that the dialogue on arms control had intensified. We sought to encourage political solutions to regional conflicts, to secure improvements in human rights and to build confidence and trust between governments and peoples.

  Building on the initiative we launched at Bonn in 1985, we issued a strong statement on terrorism, reiterating our belief that, whatever its motives, it had no justification. We welcomed the progress made in international co-operation against terrorism, and in particular the initiative taken by France and Germany to convene a ministerial meeting earlier this year.

  We also urged the earliest possible negotiated end to the war between Iran and Iraq, both of whom have suffered grievously from this long and tragic conflict.

  I should like to pay a warm tribute to the skilful and effective chairmanship of the Italian President of. the Council of Ministers, Signor Fanfani, and to the Italian Government for their excellent arrangements.

  The United Kingdom played its full part in achieving a successful summit which has further strengthened our countries' determination to work closely together for the common good.

  African National Congress
  Mr. Hunter
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what dialogue he has established with black South African politicians and spokesmen other than representatives of the African National Congress.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We maintain contact with a wide cross section of black South African opinion.

  Israel
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with relations between the United Kingdom and Israel.

  Mr. Mellor
  Yes.

  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent visit to London by the Foreign Minister of Israel, Mr. Shimon Peres.

  Mr. Alton
  asked the Secretay of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr. Shimon Peres.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and Learned Friend had useful discussions with Mr. Peres about keeping up the momentum towards peace, including the prospects for an international conference.

  BBC External Services
  Mr. Doran
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will increase the grant to the British Broadcasting Corporation external services to enable the BBC to restart a regular service for the Caribbean; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  British Broadcasting Corporation external service programmes are widely rebroadcast by local radio stations in the Caribbean: priorities for external broadcasting by the BBC are reviewed regularly.

  NATO (Arms Control)
  Mr. Thorne
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the recent meeting of the North Atlantic Council took to reinforce North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's united position on arms control negotiations.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  As I told the House on 26 June, the conclusions reached at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Reykjavik were a notable fulfilment of our efforts to promote a real improvement in East-West relations. The United Kingdom was one of the main architects of the agreement reached at Reykjavik on the double zero option on intermediate nuclear forces. We have also played a central role in preparations within the Alliance for negotiations on achieving a better conventional balance. The Reykjavik communiqué confirmed the Alliance's arms control policies that were set out last December. A copy of the communiqué has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Grenada
  Mr. Graham Allan
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with Grenada.

  Mr. Eggar
  We enjoy close and friendly relations with Grenada.

  United States (Court Judgment)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States of America about the implications for the prospect of a settlement in central America of its non-compliance with the judgments given on 27 June 1986 in the International Court of Justice on complaints brought by Nicaragua.

  Mr. Eggar
  We regularly discuss important issues, including the situation in Central America, with the United States Administration and they are well aware of our views.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to visit Saudi Arabia which he last visited in January 1986. Since then he has twice met the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, most recently when he accompanied King Fahd to Britain on the occasion of the state visit. There are regular exchanges of high level visitors between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, which reflects the excellent state of our relations. I am myself hoping to visit Saudi Arabia later this year.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to pay an official visit to the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no current plans to visit the Falkland Islands.

  Malta
  Mr. Mills
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Malta.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Relations are excellent. Following Dr. Fenech Adami's Nationalist party victory at the 9 May elections, we look forward to a further strengthening of the traditional friendship that exists between our two countries.

  USA
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to pay an official visit to the United States of America.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no firm plans at this stage, but would expect to visit the United States of America in due course as part of his regular series of meetings with Mr. Shultz.

  Cultural Relations
  Mr. Dykes
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on cultural relations with other countries.

  Mr. Eggar
  Cultural diplomacy is a valuable part of our continuing promotion of British interests and values worldwide: our policy was set out in some detail in a memorandum to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  European Community
  Mr. Skinner
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet other European Economic Community Ministers regarding the future of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I shall meet other EC Foreign Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 20–21 July.

  London-Frankfurt Bus Service
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has received to the reference by Her Majesty's Government to the Commission under article 14 of regulation EC 517/72 of the refusal by the German Government to authorise a British bus company to run a scheduled service between London and Frankfurt; when the reference was made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We referred this case to the Commission for a decision, as provided for under article 14 of regulation EC 517/72, on 4 May. I raised it with Mr. Clinton Davis, the Commissioner responsible, on 23 June and stressed the need for an early resolution. The Commission has now convened a meeting of representatives of the three Governments concerned—Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom — to consider the issues involved.

  Bermuda
  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between Her Majesty's Government and Bermuda.

  Mr. Eggar
  Relations are excellent.

  Mr. Terry Waite
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the position of Mr. Terry Waite.

  Mr. Mellor
  Although there have been many conflicting rumours about Terry Waite's whereabouts since his disappearance on 20 January, we still have no firm leads or hard information.

  We are doing all we reasonably can to try to discover his whereabouts, as well as the fate of other British citizens held in Lebanon.

DEFENCE

  Exercise Purple Warrior
  Ms. Ruddock asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what will be the dates of Exercise Purple Warrior; what is the purpose of Exercise Purple Warrior; and which units of Her Majesty's armed forces will be taking part in Exercise Purple Warrior;
  (2)whether Exercise Purple Warrior will involve units of the Territorial Army and the Home Defence Force;
  (3)whether the use of ground defence areas will be simulated during Exercise Purple Warrior;
  (4)whether Exercise Purple Warrior is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation exercise; and if he will make a statement
  (5)whether any local authorities or civil organisations will be participating in Exercise Purple Warrior;
  (6)whether the scenario for Exercise Purple Warrior will be made public; and if he will make a statement.
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Exercise Purple Warrior is a national, tri-Service exercise planned to take place in south-west Scotland between 4 and 19 November. Although, for reasons of economy, the exercise will be held in the United Kingdom, it is not a home defence exercise and so will not involve forces in that role nor units of the Territorial Army nor will it simulate the use of ground defence areas. Local authorities and other civil organisations will not be taking part in it.

  The aim of the exercise will be to develop our concept for joint operations outside the NATO area to protect British interests. Details of the scenario remain classified but the exercise will involve the amphibious landing in Western Galloway, Arran and Kintyre of 3 Commando Brigade and 5 Airborne Brigade, to be supported by an airborne assault by a Parachute Battalion Group. Some 39 vessels led by HMS Ark Royal and HMS Illustrious and approximately 30 RAF aircraft will be taking part. Altogether some 20,000 men will be involved in the exercise, of which some 10,000 will take part ashore.

  Every effort will be made to minimise any inconvenience to the public and to the environment and full consultations have been held with the regional and district councils for the area, the local polce forces and with
  114
  national governmental and environmental bodies, including the Nature Conservancy Council and the Forestry Commission. Private landowners and local community, environmental and fishing groups are also being consulted closely.

  Exercise Purple Warrior will be an observable exercise under the Stockholm agreement: invitations to send observers will be issued to all states participating in the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe

  Cruise Dispersal Exercises
  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects cruise dispersal exercises to begin at Molesworth; and whether he will consider halting them whilst the INF talks are going on.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It is not the practice to give details of training exercises conducted by nuclear missile units.

  We have no plans at present to alter existing arrangements relating to the deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom. The NATO countries concerned, including the United Kingdom, have made it clear that in the absence of a concrete INF arms control agreement with the Soviet Union, they will continue the deployment of LRINF missiles as scheduled. It is NATO's firm determination over the deployment of cruise and Pershing which has brought the INF talks to their present hopeful stage.

  Thorn-EMI Factory, Bulwell
  Mr. Allen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reasons for and the effects upon the United Kingdom's defence of the closure of the Thorn-EMI factory in Bulwell, Nottingham, a principal supplier of nerve gas detection equipment to his Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I will answer shortly.

  Trident
  Mr. Allen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what costs, at 1987 prices, would be incurred at each stage, if the United Kingdom withdrew from its contractual commitments with the United States of America on (a) the Trident submarines and (b) the nuclear weaponry to be carried by Trident.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Her Majesty's Government remain firmly committed to the United Kingdom Trident project, and have no plans to withdraw from any of their related contractual commitments, either in the United States of America or elsewhere.

  Mr. Allen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated cost, at 1987 prices, of the Trident programme; and how this compares with the first estimate given to the House.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  As announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 27 January this year, the current estimate for Trident is £9·265 million, at 1986–87 prices and £= $1·50. This represents a real reduction of some £738 million compared with the original 1982 estimate, over and above the savings resulting from the decision to process missiles in the United States.
  115
  Mr. Allen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence by which date he anticipates the Trident submarine will be armed and on patrol.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  As has been stated on a number of occasions previously, Trident is planned to enter service in the mid-1990s.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Elderly Persons (Mortality Statistics)
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the total number of deaths among those aged (a) 60 to 69 years, (b) 70 to 79 years and (c) 80 years and over for each complete six-month period from 1 April 1977 to 31 March 1987, for England and Wales.

  Mrs. Currie
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Data for the period 1 January to 31 March 1987 have not yet been processed.

  Number of deaths registered in six month periods from 1 April 1977, persons aged 60–69, 70–79 and 80 and over years, England and Wales

  Period

  Age-group in years

  60–69

  70–79

  80 and over

  1 April 1977–30 September 1977

  56,243

  87,194

  83,608

  1 October 1977–31 March 1978

  62,822

  101,675

  100,466

  1 April 1978–30 September 1978

  54,448

  87,894

  82,065

  1 October 1978–31 March 1979

  61,382

  104,655

  103,526

  1 April 1979–30 September 1979

  52,658

  88,841

  83,997

  1 October 1979–31 March 1980

  58,348

  101,304

  100,062

  1 April 1980–30 September 1980

  52,526

  88,774

  85,433

  1 October 1980–31 March 1981

  57,706

  101,403

  104,203

  1 April 1981–30 September 1981

  51,003

  87,722

  86,298

  1 October 1981–31 March 1982

  57,808

  104,422

  110,338

  1 April 1982–30 September 1982

  51,151

  88,023

  88,605

  1 October 1982–31 March 1983

  57,482

  103,202

  110,941

  1 April 1983–30 September 1983

  50,765

  88,331

  90,264

  1 October 1983–31 March 1984

  54,512

  98,956

  106,859

  1 April 1984–30 September 1984

  49,190

  87,007

  91,720

  1 October 1984–31 March 1985

  55,657

  102,670

  117,664

  1 April 1985–30 September 1985

  48,927

  88,249

  96,511

  1 October 1985–31 March 1986

  54,149

  102,276

  121,568

  1 April 1986–30 September 1986

  49,216

  87,831

  96,419

  1 October 1986–31 March 1987

  not available

  Trade Unions (Nursing Homes)
  Mr. Rowe
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nursing homes in England and Wales are owned or managed by trade unions affiliated to the Trades Union Congress; how many beds are contained in them; and how many patients received treatment in them in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Currie
  Registration and inspection of nursing homes and hospitals in the independent sector is statutorily delegated to district health authorities. I regret that this information is not collected centrally.

  Immunisation Programme
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards the provision by nurses of pre-school immunisation services.
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  Mrs. Currie
  Vaccines can be administered by a nurse on the direction of a doctor if the nurse is authorised to do so by her employing authority. Local policy on this matter is for health authorities to determine.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards pre-school immunisation programmes in the light of the survey of pre-school immunisation programmes in England and Wales carried out by the public health laboratory service communicable disease surveillance centre on behalf of the disabilities study unit, a copy of which has been forwarded to him.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department has just received a copy, which will be studied with care. We understand a summary was submitted to the last meeting of the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation, which advises Ministers on immunisation matters.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy that all district health authorities should appoint a single person with direct responsibility for the immunisation programme.

  Mrs. Currie
  Health authorities were asked to do this in a circular (HN(85)19/HN(FP)(85)21) sent in August 1985 and reminded about the need to do so in a CMO/CNO letter (CMO(86)13/CNO(86)12) last year. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to establish a formal training programme for immunisation in every district to target all service providers, including general practitioners.

  Mrs. Currie
  Effective training of revelant National Health Service staff and general practitioners in immunisation is clearly very important. Central Government, health authorities, the health professions and the training bodies all have a part to play.

  Handicapped Children (Calderdale)
  Mrs. Mahon
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why vital treatment for children living in Calderdale, suffering from cerebal palsy and other handicaps, has been cut.

  Mrs. Currie
  We understand that because of recuitment difficulties, in particular several vacancies occuring at the same time, and the planned absence of a member of staff on a training course, Calderdale health authority has recently been unable to offer its usual community physiotherapy service to children with physical disabilities. We are assured, however, that the health authority believes the problem to be a temporary one and is confident that the situation will shortly improve. Meanwhile, steps have been taken to provide the service in alternative ways to suit the patients and their families.

  If the hon. Member would like to contact the chairman of Calderdale health authority, I am sure he would be happy to discuss with her the action being taken to overcome the current problems.

  Conductive Education
  Mrs. Mahon
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to introduce conductive education, similar to that available in Hungary, for all children who need it.

  Mrs. Currie
  It has not been clearly established that the system of conductive education practised at the Peto institute in Hungary would be appropriate in the United Kingdom. However, the Government are aware of the current interest in conductive eduction in this country, and the Department of Health and Social Security and the Department of Education and Science are jointly funding a survey by the Spastics Society into the extent to which some aspects of the system are being used in the United Kingdom. An application has been received from Birmingham university for assistance towards the cost of a four-year evaluation of the conductive education project being established in Birmingham by the National Foundation for Conductive Education, and this is being considered by both Departments.

  Human Embryo Experiments (Legislation)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to introduce the promised legislation on human embryo experimentation.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 30 June, at columns 80–81.

  Abortions
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of abortions which have so far been performed under the Abortion Act 1967; if he will indicate the total number of abortions performed under this Act in emergency to save the life of the mother; and if he will express the latter figure as a percentage of the former.

  Mr. Newton
  The total number of notifications of abortions to resident and non-resident women, carried out under the Abortion Act 1967, from 27 April 1968 to 31 December 1986 in England and Wales is 2,632,414. Of these, 123 were performed in emergency in order to save the life of the pregnant woman, which represents 0·005 per cent. of all abortions.

  Provisional figures for abortions in the March quarter 1987 are due to be published in September 1987.

  Christmas Bonus
  Mr. Allen
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present value in real terms of the first £10 Christmas bonus to pensioners paid in 1972.

  Mr. Portillo
  £44·29 at December 1986 prices.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies have been undertaken in his Department regarding the effect of the proposed community charge on those with low incomes.

  Mr. Scott
  Illustrations of the relationship of the community charge to different household income bands 118
  were provided in the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714). Officials from this Department assisted in the preparation of those illustrations.

  Income Support Scheme
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to lay regulations for the 1988 income support scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  The regulations to implement the income support scheme next April will be laid before Parliament when final decisions have been taken on the benefit rates in the autumn.

  I am today placing in the Library copies of two sets of draft regulations; the Income Support (General) Regulations, and the Income Support (Transitional) Regulations. These set out the rules the Government intend will operate from next April. They are being made available in draft to assist preparations for the implementation of income support.

  The draft Income Support (General) Regulations set out the intended rules on conditions of entitlement, treatment of resources and the structure of applicable amounts of benefit payable to particular groups of claimants. They replace four complete sets of regulations and parts of others in the current supplementary benefit scheme. The rates of benefit included in the draft regulations are illustrative only. They are mainly those used in the technical annex to the White paper "Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 9691) published in December 1985. The illustrative rates do not take account of the Government's decision to compensate claimants for the average value of the minimum contribution to domestic rates they will be expected to meet from April 1988. This will be included in the final rates.

  Consistent with the objective of a common approach to the income-related benefits, many of the provisions mirror those in the draft Housing Benefit Regulations issued to local authorities in May and also placed in the Library. Discussions have continued with the disability organisations on detailed aspects of the treatment of disabled people.

  The draft Income Support (Transitional) Regulations provide for the changeover to the new scheme. As well as a number of mainly technical administrative matters, they provide transitional protection for claimants continuing to satisfy the conditions of entitlement who would otherwise face a reduction in support at the time of change. Normally, this will be based on a comparison between their benefit income in the week before the change (enhanced for householders by the average value of the domestic rates contribution) and their benefit entitlement after the change. Claimants without a permanent address will transfer immediately to the appropriate age-related personal allowance. There will be further transitional protection for claimants receiving large amounts by way of the domestic assistance addition. The benefit of recipients of housing benefit supplement will be reassessed in the same way as other standard housing benefit cases.

  These two draft sets of regulations will be complemented by further regulations covering claims and payments for social security benefit generally. These regulations will contain changes in the way that benefit is paid to income support recipients. From April, claimants under pension

  119
  age will normally be paid for the same period in arrears as applies in the national insurance benefits that income support will supplement or replace. Arrangements in the transitional regulations will ensure that existing claimants will continue to receive benefit without any change in the intervals between payments.

  Family Credit Scheme
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to lay regulations for the 1988 family credit scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  The regulations to implement the family credit scheme next April will be laid before Parliament when final decisions have been taken on the relevant rates in the autumn.

  I am today placing in the Library copies of two sets of draft regulations: the Family Credit (General) Regulations and the Family Credit (Transitional) Regulations. These set out the rules the Government intend will operate from next April. They are being made available in draft to assist preparations for the implementation of family credit.

  The draft Family Credit (General) Regulations set out the intended detailed rules on the qualifying conditions, the treatment of resources, and the relevant amounts, etc. to be used in the calculation of entitlement to family credit. The amounts shown are illustrative only: they are those used in the technical annex to the White Paper "Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 9691) published in December 1985. The final amounts will not be decided until the autumn when the general uprating of social security benefit is announced. Consistent with the objective of a common approach in the new income-related benefits, many of the provisions mirror those in the draft Income Support (General) Regulations, and in the Housing Benefit Regulations issued to local authorities in May, both of which have also been placed in the Library.

  The draft Family Credit (Transitional) Regulations provide for the changeover from family income supplement to the new scheme. They provide for existing FIS recipients who are not excluded under the new capital rules to receive family credit, calculated on the earnings and other circumstances at the time of the claim for FIS, and for the award to last for the remainder of the period for which FIS would have been payable but for the introduction of the new scheme, that is up to 51 weeks. They also provide transitional protection for such claimants in the event that the amount of their family credit entitlement is less than the total of the FIS they were receiving before the changeover, plus an additional amount for each child reflecting the fact that FIS families were also entitled to free school meals and free welfare milk.

  These draft Family Credit Regulations will be complemented in due course by regulations covering the rules on claims and payments for social security benefits generally. These regulations will provide that in two-parent families family credit should normally be claimed by, and paid to, the mother. It is also intended to provide that, in line with income support, family credit will be paid weekly in arrears. The transitional regulations will provide that there will be no break in weekly payments for existing recipients of FIS in the transition to family credit.

  Disabled Drivers (Cash Allowances)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to encourage disabled drivers of cars and three-wheelers loaned under Departmental vehicle schemes to switch to one of the cash allowances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I am anxious that disabled drivers who still have departmental vehicles should appreciate the advantages of choice and ownership they would enjoy if they switched to one of the cash mobility allowances and used it to obtain a car. I am grateful to the disabled drivers' organisations which have expressed willingness to give independent advice to those considering making this switch.

  Drivers transferring to the mobility allowance or the war pensioners' mobility supplement are able to use it to obtain cars privately or through Motability. Drivers of invalid three-wheelers who wish to buy departmental cars will be able to do so if surplus cars are available. War pensioner drivers of Departmental cars have been able to buy them for a lump sum at preferential prices since November 1983, and I now intend to enxtend this arrangement to civilian drivers of departmental vehicles. To encourage the remaining drivers in both groups to switch to the appropriate allowance a scheme of extended payments is to be introduced. A purchaser of a departmental car will be able to buy it by foregoing all or part of the allowance until it is paid for.

  The Department will meet certain costs in connection with the adaptation of cars for civilian drivers of Departmental vehicles who switch to the mobility allowance on or after 1 July 1987 and obtain a car through Motability. This parallels provisions which already apply to war pensioners.

  Any drivers who switch to the mobility allowance and then find they are unable to pass a driving test will be able to revert to a three-wheeler. Repairs of remaining three wheelers will be arranged through the Disablement Service Authority, acting as the agent of DHSS.

  No replacement cars will be supplied to civilian drivers after March 1989, thus bringing them into line with war pensioners, whose loan cars have not been replaced since 1983.

  Ambulance Service (London)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement concerning the recent disruption to emergency ambulance services in east London and the reasons for reductions in non-emergency ambulance services in the Greater London area.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 30 June 1987, c. 76]: We are not aware of any disruption to emergency ambulance services in east London. We also understand that the London Ambulance Service is meeting all non-emergency ambulance demands that it receives.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  EC Payments
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek clarification from the European Economic Community Commission on whether the 19 million lire paid by the Italian authorities to

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  organisations linked to the Mafia organisation, for the alleged delivery of non-existent fruit juice to bodies including North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters in Sicily, qualified for reimbursement by the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  or asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the additional sums which will be spent by his Department in the current year in making payment for, or advancing money subject to payment in the future by the European Economic Community, for policies previously funded directly by the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Commission has estimated that the 1987 budget for the EAGGF guarantee section falls short of requirements by some 4·1 billion ecu (£2·9 billion). No decision has yet been taken on how the budget shortfall should be dealt with. If it were decided that guarantee payments should be funded nationally once the budget was exhausted, additional provision would be needed for the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce to make up the shortfall in EC receipts. The amount concerned cannot be estimated with any accuracy at this stage.

  Intervention Stocks
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the various amounts of particular foodstuffs held in private and public intervention stocks within the European Economic Community; and if he will also publish the comparable totals for each commodity at the same time in each of the previous five years.

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

  EC (Food and Wine Exports)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the amount of food and wine exported by the European Economic Community to the Soviet Union and East Europe, respectively, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.
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  Mr. MacGregor
  The information relating to 1986 is set out in the table.

  European Community exports to the Soviet Union and the eastern bloc 1986

  '000 tonnes

  To Soviet

  To eastern

  Union

  bloc1

  Wheat

  4,990

  623

  Barley

  1,510

  811

  Wheat flour

  2—

  8

  Rice

  2—

  7

  Malt

  0

  2—

  Whole milk powder

  10

  5

  Skimmed milk powder

  0

  1

  Condensed milk

  2—

  2—

  Butter (including butteroil)

  105

  18

  Beef and veal

  141

  70

  Pigmeat

  2—

  1

  Poultrymeat

  23

  2—

  Raw sugar (converted to white equivalent)

  7

  2—

  Refined sugar

  2—

  2—

  Olive oil

  12

  2—

  Wine

  4

  130

  1 German Democratic Republic, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania.

  2 Denotes trade under 500 tonnes.

  Source: EUROSTAT.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the estimated spending on the common agricultural policy in 1987 and in each of the previous four years.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The information requested is as follows :

  Year

  CAP expenditure (mecu)

  1983

  16,637

  1984

  19,093

  1985

  20,549

  1986

  23,104

  11987

  24,174

  1 Budget provision.

  BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) STATUS
  BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS) STATUS
  A.20 IMPROVEMENT: COSTS
  A.20 IMPROVEMENT: COSTS