Written Answers of 3 July 1987

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  City Technical College, Nottingham
  Mr. Allen
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he estimates the first city technical college in Nottingham will be opened.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend announced on 4 June that sponsorship had been pledged for the fourth of the proposed network of city technology colleges in Nottingham. The school's sponsors wish to provide this opportunity for young people in Nottingham as soon as possible.

  Teachers (Duties)
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is his Department's definition of the duties of a school teacher in the role of accompanying children on foreign educational visits within his contract of employment under the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1987;

  (2) what is his Department's definition of the duties of a school teacher in the role of accompanying children on non-curriculum and examination related trips within his contract of employment under the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1987.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It is a matter for teachers' employers and the head teacher to define the particular duties of a teacher against the background of the duties set out in orders made by my right hon. Friend under section 3 of the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act 1987. How far paticular activities should be regarded as duties falling within a teacher's contract of employment and how far they should he treated as voluntary is a matter to be determined by reference to the particular circumstances of each case taking into account a teacher's contract of employment and any relevant instructions, guidance or policies of the teacher's employers. A teacher who engages in activities of the kind referred to by the hon. Member will have his or her normal responsibility for the pupil's discipline, health and safety.

WALES

  National Museum of Wales
  Mr. Faulds
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the establishment of the National Museum of Wales at 1 May 1984, 1 May 1985 and 1 May 1987.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Annual returns of staff employed by the National Museum of Wales relate to full time equivalent staff in post on 1 January. On this basis the numbers employed were:172

  Number

  1984

  385½

  1985

  388½

  1987

  387½

  Mr. Faulds
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the indirect expenses charged by the National Museum of Wales against the receipts raised by it from the recent exhibition of masterpieces of that museum in Japan, and as to the proportion of total funds raised represented by those expenses.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Indirect expenses amounted to an estimated £80,000, equivalent to about 40 per cent. of total receipts.

  Rates
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the accumulated reduction in rate support grant since 1978–79 in Wales at 1987–88 prices on a basis comparable with the information supplied by the Secretary of State for the Environment in response to a question from the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) in relation to rate support grant in England, 29 June, Official Report, column 43.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The reduction in rate support grant since 1978–79 in Wales at 1987–88 prices is £104·1 million on a basis comparable with the information supplied for England.

  The following table gives a breakdown of the figures:

  Reduction between

  £ million

  1978–79 and 1979–80

  14·5

  1978–79 and 1980–81

  23·8

  1978–79 and 1981–82

  45·4

  1978–79 and 1982–83

  47·3

  1978–79 and 1983–84

  72·8

  1978–79 and 1984–85

  108·9

  1978–79 and 1985–86

  140·3

  1978–79 and 1986–87

  119·4

  1978–79 and 1987–88

  104·1

  Notes:

  (i) For 1978–79 to 1980–81 rate support grant comprised needs, resources and domestic elements.

  (ii) From 1981–82 rate support grant comprises block grant arid domestic rate relief grant.

  (iii) Rate support grant figures are final for 1981–82 to 1983–84. Block grant entitlements are based on outturn expenditure for 1984–85, revised estimates of expenditure for 1985–86 and 1986–87 and budgets for 1987–88. The total domestic rate relief grant is final for all years.

  (iv)Figures are expressed in 1987–88 prices using the GDP deflator.

  Welsh Water Authority
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the most recent available figures for the number of staff presently employed by the Welsh water authority.

  Mr. Grist
  At 31 March 1987 there were 4,845 people (4,601 full-time equivalent) employed by the Welsh water authority.

  Housing Investment Allocations
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the housing investment allocations made to all housing authorities in Wales for each of the years 1978–79 to 1987–88 at 1987–88 constant prices.

  Mr. Grist
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Local Authority Employees
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the most recent available figure for the total number of persons employed on a full-time basis, or full-time equivalent, by county and district authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The total number of persons employed by Welsh county and district authorities in March 1987 was 120,418 on a full-time equivalent basis.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the most recent available figure for the total number of persons employed on a full-time, or full-time equivalent, basis by local authorities in carrying out the following functions: refuse collection, the cleaning of streets and buildings, vehicle maintenance, catering and ground maintenance.

  Mr. Grist
  The detailed breakdown of the number of persons employed by local authorities to carry out these particular functions is not available centrally. Aggregate statistics on local authority manpower levels in Wales are published in press notices issued quarterly by the Welsh

  Summary of impact of Green Paper proposals on domestic and non-domestic sectors for rating authority areas in Wales in 1987/88.

  Domestic sector

  Non-domestic sector

  Average rate bill per hereditament

  Community charge for spending at GRE

  Overspend on GRE

  Community charge with no "safely net"

  Actual rate poundage now

  National non-domestic rate poundage

  Change to NNDR poundage

  £

  £

  £ per adult

  £

  P

  P

  per cent.

  Alyn and Deeside

  329

  125

  7

  132

  228·5

  236·5

  3·5

  Colwyn

  336

  125

  19

  144

  246·1

  236·5

  -3·9

  Delyn

  327

  125

  12

  137

  233·2

  236·5

  1·4

  Glyndwr

  263

  125

  12

  138

  229·5

  236·5

  3·1

  Rhuddlan

  326

  125

  9

  134

  233·7

  236·5

  1·2

  Wrexham Maelor

  292

  125

  14

  140

  235·0

  236·5

  0·6

  Carmarthen

  220

  125

  11

  136

  239·5

  236·5

  -1·3

  Ceredigion

  232

  125

  3

  128

  236·2

  236·5

  0·1

  Dinefwr

  197

  125

  —

  125

  235·4

  236·5

  0·5

  Llanelli

  238

  125

  24

  150

  253·6

  236·5

  -6·8

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  221

  125

  1

  127

  235·2

  236·5

  0·6

  South Pembrokeshire

  255

  125

  -1

  124

  238·7

  236·5

  -0·9

  Blaenau Gwent

  202

  125

  21

  146

  238·3

  236·5

  -0·7

  Islwyn

  222

  125

  11

  137

  230·5

  236·5

  2·6

  Monmouth

  311

  125

  6

  131

  230·1

  236·5

  2·8

  Newport

  316

  125

  7

  132

  230·5

  236·5

  2·6

  Torfaen

  271

  125

  17

  142

  237·3

  236·5

  -0·3

  Aberconwy

  292

  125

  1

  127

  228·7

  236·5

  3·4

  Arfon

  198

  125

  -1

  124

  223·8

  236·5

  5·7

  Dwyfor

  225

  125

  3

  128

  228·3

  236·5

  3·6

  Meirionnydd

  218

  125

  1

  127

  219·1

  236·5

  7·9

  Ynys Mon

  256

  125

  -2

  123

  223·0

  236·5

  6·0

  Cynon Valley

  174

  125

  10

  135

  250·9

  236·5

  -5·8

  Merthyr Tydfil

  206

  125

  24

  149

  258·0

  236·5

  -8·3

  Ogwr

  266

  125

  17

  142

  260·1

  236·5

  -9·1

  Rhondda

  144

  125

  26

  151

  262·0

  236·5

  -9·7

  Rhyney Valley

  235

  125

  23

  148

  257·8

  236·5

  -8·3

  174
  Office on behalf of the joint manpower watch group and I have placed a copy of the press notice in the Library of the House.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent the proposed national educational curriculum will make provision for the teaching of the Welsh language, and of Welsh history and culture in the schools of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Government intend to ensure that the national curriculum is flexible enough to take account of the needs of children in Wales. These needs embrace the teaching of the Welsh language and teaching through the medium of Welsh, and the study of Welsh history and culture. The extent of this provision will need to be determined as part of the exercise of developing the national curriculum.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a table exemplifying community charges and non-domestic rates for each local authority in Wales, assuming that the Government's proposals for the reform of local finance had been fully in place in 1987–88, on a basis comparable with the information provided in response to a question from the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) concerning local authorities in England, Official Report, 29 June, column 44.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information is given in the following table:
  175

  Domestic sector

  Non-domestic sector

  Average rate bill per hereditament

  Community charge for spending at GRE

  Overspend on GRE

  Community charge with no "safety net"

  Actual rate poundage now

  National non-domestic rate poundage

  Change to NNDR poundage

  £

  £

  £ per adult

  £

  P

  P

  per cent.

  Taff-Ely

  254

  125

  22

  147

  259·4

  236·5

  -8·8

  Brecknock

  229

  125

  -4

  121

  225·5

  236·5

  4·9

  Montgomeryshire

  213

  125

  -18

  108

  210·7

  236·5

  12·2

  Radnor

  212

  125

  -13

  112

  213·8

  236·5

  10·6

  Cardiff

  335

  125

  -22

  103

  210·6

  236·5

  12·3

  Vale of Glamorgan

  320

  125

  -8

  117

  217·9

  236·5

  8·5

  Port Talbot

  263

  125

  56

  181

  264·3

  236·5

  -10·5

  Lliw Valley

  237

  125

  39

  164

  262·4

  236·5

  -9·9

  Neath

  252

  125

  23

  148

  253·9

  236·5

  -6·9

  Swansea

  331

  125

  46

  172

  269·5

  236·5

  12·3

  Wales

  268

  125

  11

  136

  236·5

  236·5

  —

  Notes:

  Average rate bill per hereditament

  The estimated contribution made by domestic ratepayers to authorities' rate fund expenditure, less domestic rate relief, divided by the number of hereditaments.

  Community charge fir spending at Grant Related Expenditure (GRE)

  The community charge in each area if all authorities in that area spend at their GRE ie the assessment of their need to spend. Overspend on GRE

  The difference between expenditure and GRE expressed as an amount per adult in each area.

  Community charge with no "safety net"

  Calculated as the community charge for spending at GRE in each area plus any overspend or underspend per adult, without any allowance for safety nets envisaged in the Green Paper.

  Actual rate poundage now

  The actual non-domestic rate poundage in each area in 1987–88

  National non-domestic rate poundage (NNDR)

  The average poundage paid by non-domestic ratepayers based on the actual poundages and weighted by non-domestic rateable value.

  Change to NNDR poundage

  Percentage difference between national and actual non-domestic poundages.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lords Lieutenant for England and Wales
  Mr. Arnold
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list the Lords Lieutenant for England and Wales, the dates of their appointment and their period of office.

  County

  Lord-Lieutenant

  Date of appointment

  Dale of retirement

  England

  Avon

  Sir John Wills, TD, FRICS, JP

  April 1974

  July 2003

  Bedfordshire

  Lt. Col. Hanmer Hanbury, LVO, MC, JP

  March 1978

  January 1991

  Berkshire

  Col. The Hon. Gordon Palmer, OBE, TD

  January 1978

  July 1993

  Buckinghamshire

  Commander The Hon. John Fremantle, RN (Retd.), JP

  September 1984

  January 2002

  Cambridgeshire

  Michael Bevan, Esquire

  August 1985

  August 2001

  Cheshire

  The Viscount Leverhulme, TD

  August 1949

  July 1990

  Cleveland

  The Lord Gisborough, TD

  March 1981

  July 2002

  Cornwall

  The Viscount Falmouth

  October 1977

  October 1994

  Cumbria

  Sir Charles Graham, Bt

  February 1983

  July 1994

  Derbyshire

  Col. Peter Hilton, MC, JP

  January 1978

  June 1994

  Devon

  The Earl of Morley, JP

  May 1982

  May 1998

  Dorset

  The Lord Digby, JP

  September 1984

  July 1999

  Durham

  The Lord Barnard, TD

  August 1970

  September 1998

  East Sussex

  The Most Hon. The Marquess of Abergavenny, KG, OBE, JP

  April 1974

  November 1989

  Essex

  Admiral Sir Andrew Lewis, KCB, JP

  August 1978

  January 1993

  Gloucestershire

  Col. Martin Gibbs, CB, DSO, TD, JP

  June 1978

  February 1992

  Greater London

  Field Marshal The Lord Bramall, GCB, OBE, MC, JP

  January 1986

  December 1998

  Greater Manchester

  Sir William Downward, JP

  April 1974

  December 1987

  Hampshire

  Sir James Scott, JP

  December 1982

  October 1999

  Hereford and Worcester

  Captain Thomas Dunne, JP

  1977

  October 2008

  176
  The Prime Minister
  Lords Lieutenant for England and Wales, the dates of their appointment and their period of office are:
  177

  County

  Lord-Lieutenant

  Dale of appointment

  Dale of retirement

  Hertfordshire

  Simon Bowes Lyon, Esquire, FCA

  January 1986

  June 2007

  Humberside

  Richard Bethell, Esquire

  October 1983

  March 1997

  Isle of Wight

  The Lord Mottistone, CBE

  August 1985

  December 1995

  Kent

  The Rt. Hon. Robin Leigh-Pemberton

  August 1982

  January 2002

  Lancashire

  Dr. Simon Towneley

  March 1976

  December 1996

  Leicestershire

  Col. Robert Martin, OBE, JP

  May 1965

  April 1989

  Lincolnshire

  Henry Nevile, Esquire

  November 1975

  March 1995

  Merseyside

  Wing Cdr. Kenneth Stoddart, JP

  April 1979

  May 1989

  Norfolk

  Timothy Colman, Esquire

  March 1978

  September 2004

  Northamptonshire

  John Lowther, Esquire, CBE, JP

  January 1984

  November 1998

  Northumberland

  The Viscount Ridley, TD

  January 1984

  July 2000

  North Yorkshire

  Sir Marcus Worsley, JP

  March 1987

  April 2000

  Nottinghamshire

  Sir Gordon Hobday

  January 1983

  February 1991

  Oxfordshire

  Sir Ashley Ponsonby, MC

  January 1980

  February 1996

  Shropshire

  John Dugdale, Esquire

  February 1975

  May 1998

  Somerset

  Lt. Col. Geoffrey Luttrell, MC, JP

  March 1978

  October 1994

  South Yorkshire

  Hugh Neill, Esquire, CBE, TD, JP

  1985

  March 1996

  Staffordshire

  Sir Arthur Bryan

  July 1968

  March 1998

  Suffolk

  Sir Joshua Rowley, JP

  March 1978

  December 1995

  Surrey

  Richard Thornton, Esquire, OBE, JP

  May 1986

  October 1997

  Tyne and Wear

  Sir Ralph Carr-Ellison

  July 1984

  December 2000

  Warwickshire

  Charles Smith-Ryland, Esquire

  December 1967

  May 2002

  West Midlands

  The Earl of Aylesford, JP

  April 1974

  November 1993

  West Sussex

  Her Grace Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk, CBE

  April 1975

  March 1991

  West Yorkshire

  The Lord Ingrow, OBE, TD, JP

  May 1985

  August 1992

  Wiltshire

  Col. Sir Hugh Brassey, KCVO, OBE, MC

  December 1981

  October 1990

  Wales

  Clwyd

  Sir William Gladstone, Bt, JP

  August 1985

  October 2000

  Dyfed

  Mr. David Mansel Lewis, JP

  February 1979

  October 2002

  Glamorgan

  Mid

  Mr. Douglas Badham, CBE, JP

  December 1985

  August 1989

  South

  Mrs. Susan Williams, MBE

  December 1985

  August 1990

  West

  Col. Vaughan Williams, DSO, OBE, TD

  December 1985

  October 1987

  Gwynedd

  The Marquess of Anglesey

  October 1983

  October 1997

  Gwent

  Mr. Richard Hanbury-Tenison, JP

  June 1979

  January 2000

  Powys

  Mr. Mervyn Bourdillon, JP

  July 1986

  August 1999

NATIONAL FINANCE

  VAT
  Mr. Gardiner
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to take steps to ease the cash flow problems caused for many companies whose value added tax refunds are held up by the Civil Service strike; and whether he will allow them to use their monthly pay-as-you-earn payments to the Inland Revenue to make good the shortfall.

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

  Married Couples (Tax Allowances)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to reform the system of tax allowances available to married couples.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I announced in the Budget debate that the Government would not be going ahead at this stage with the system of independent taxation with transferable tax allowances discussed in last year's Green Paper "The Reform of Personal Taxation". We are now considering whether there is a satisfactory halfway house to the approach in the Green Paper.

  EC Budget Council
  Mr. Knox
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report on the outcome of the European Community Budget Council held in Brussels on 2 July.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Budget Council considered the Community's budgetary problems in the current year in the light of the Commission's proposals for a supplementary and amending budget and the conclusions agreed by the European Council on 29–30 June. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council noted that the European Council's conclusions implied that the full amount of the prospective overspend in agricultural guarantee expenditure this year should be offset by adjusting the system for advance pyments from the Community budget to member states for this expenditure. The Commission is expected to make specific proposals shortly for discussion in the Agriculture Council on 13–14 July.

  The Council then proceeded after long deliberation to establish, subject to a waiting reserve by the Dutch delegation, a draft supplementary and amending Budget to cover the rest of the deficit in the current year as projected by the Commission amounting to some 2,100 mecu (Some £1·5 billion). The Council's proposals have five principal components.

  First, the unused margin of VAT withn this year's 1·4 per cent. ceiling, some 627 mecu net of Spanish and Portuguese refunds, would be called up. Second, savings

  179
  of 198 mecu would be made in obligatory expenditure programmes, in particular agricultural guidance, fisheries, food aid arid Mediterranean financial protocols.

  Third, the refunds of 10 per cent. of levies and duties made to member states to cover collection costs would be delayed from the latter part of this year until early next year to the extent necessary to save 400 mecu this year. The member states agreed that these payments should be delayed on a voluntary basis, if necessary, pending amendment of the relevant Council Regulation, 2891/77.

  Fourth, the 1987 instalments of the repayment to member states of the 1984 inter-governmental agreement would be deferred, saving 257 mecu in the current year.

  Fifth, the Commission's revenue projections would be increased by 651 mecu to reflect more recent estimates of revenue and expected underspends on credits in the 1987 budget and carried forward from 1986. The Council agreed that, if the adjustments to the Commission's earlier revenue projections should prove excessive, the 1984 IGA repayment instalments due in 1988 could likewise he deferred as necessary.

  Provided that the Dutch delegation lifts its waiting reserve, the Council's proposals will be submitted to the European Parliament today. The Parliament is expected to consider them during its plenary session next week.

  Finance Bill
  Mr. Gow
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if notes on clauses to the Finance Bill will be made available to hon. Members.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Yes. The notes on clauses were placed in the Vote Office earlier today.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Inner City Task Forces
  Mr. Allen
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why the inner city task forces have not spent up to their full annual budgets.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No single task force has been given a specific annual budget. The eight original task forces committed around £5 million out of their own funds on local projects of benefit to their areas in 1986–87. This spending generated the commitment of substantial additional funds from other Government, public sector and private sector sources. Five million pounds is around 70 per cent. of the maximum task force funds available for project expenditure in that year. It took time to set the task forces up and it also took time to find useful local projects to support. Most task forces did not become fully operational until the early summer of 1986. The rate of spending in future either directly out of task force funds or out of other Government programmes in task force areas will depend on the response of local business and residents to our efforts to encourage worthwhile projects.

  Upholstered Domestic Furniture
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the consultation document on the code of practice on match ignitability of components of upholstery of domestic furniture.
  180
  Mr. Maude
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply 1 gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Poole (Mr. Ward) on 1 July at column 91.

ENERGY

  British Nuclear Fuels plc
  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the sale of the REFEL plant at Springfields by British Nuclear Fuels plc to Turner and Newall Ltd. for £1·25 million; and whether British Nuclear Fuels plc has any further plans to sell off any of its other operations to private companies.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The REFEL plant at Springfields makes silicon carbide products, and is not central to BNFL's nuclear business. I am informed by the company that it decided to sell the plant in order to concentrate more fully on commercial activities vital to continued success. There will be no redundancies as a result of the sale. BNFL has no further plans to sell off any of its other operations to private companies.

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. McLoughlin
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there has been any change in the external financing limit for 1987–88 of the electricity industry in England and Wales since that announced in the 1987 public expenditure White Paper, Cm. 56-II.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The external finance limit for the electricity supply industry (England and Wales) for 1987–88 was set in the public expenditure plans at — £1,305 million. The Government have agreed with the Industry a revised limit of — £1,203 million to take account of capital expenditure which the Central Electricity Generating Board expects to incur in 1987–88 in relation to Sizewell B, now that consent to construct has been granted. The increase of £102 million will be charged to the reserve and so will not add to the public expenditure planning totals. It reflects expenditure which the hoard will incur in 1987–88 rather than in later years as a result of the timing of consent. This rephasing will not add to the overall cost of the project.

  British Coal Corporation
  Mr. Aspinwall
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the terms of the assurance about Government financial support for the British Coal Corporation given by his predecessor in an answer on 2 July 1986, Official Report, column 553, to the hon. Member for High Peak (Mr. Hawkins), apply to 1987–88 also.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Further weakening in the market has continued to put pressure on British Coal's financial position. Nevertheless British Coal still aims to achieve the objective agreed with Government of breaking even for the year 1988–89 as a whole and thereafter generating an increasing surplus on revenue account.

  Although I anticipate that this assurance should not be required indefinitely, I can confirm that, subject to Parliament's approving the necessary provisions, the Government will continue to make available funds to enable the corporation to meet its obligations as they fall due during the current financial year to 26 March 1988.

TRANSPORT

  Stray Dogs (Road Accidents)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates there are, for the last year for which figures are available, of the number of road accidents caused by stray dogs; how many people were injured as a result; and how many people were killed.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The "Stats 19" road accident report form does not record the causes of accidents.

  Information is available for personal injury accidents in Great Britain where a dog was present on the carriageway. In 1985 there were 1,221 such accidents, in which three people were killed and 1,458 were injured.

  London Docklands Light Railway City Extension
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what esimates he has made, or obtained, of the construction costs of the London docklands light railway City extension and the additional costs incurred by consequential upgrading of that part of the railway due to be opened on 30 July.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  London Regional Transport's latest budgeted cost for the project is around £135 million at outturn prices. This includes the cost of upgrading works to the Initial railway which are necessary for the effective operation of the City extension.

  Cross-Channel Ferries
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the regulations with which an operator is required to conform in operating a cross-Channel ferry.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Operators of cross-channel ferries have to comply with those regulations, contained in international conventions, applicable to passenger ships engaged on short international voyages (that is, international voyages in the course of which a ship is not more than 200 miles from a port or place in which the passengers and crew could be placed in safety).

  The principal international conventions relating to safety include—

  The 1974 Solas Convention and the 1978 protocol relating thereto incorporating the 1981 and 1983 amendments.

  The relevant chapters are:—

  Chapter I

  —General Provisions

  Chapter II-1

  —Construction—Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations.

  Chapter II-2

  —Construction—Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction

  Chapter III

  —Life-saving appliances and arrangements

  Chapter IV

  —Radio and radiotelephony

  Chapter V

  —Safety of navigation

  Chapter VII

  —Carriage of dangerous goods;

  The International Convention on Load Lines, 1966;

  The Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 and the 1981 amendments relating thereto:

  The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978.

  The requirements of these international conventions are normally incorporated in the national legislation of the flag state administration. For the United Kingdom, the principal statutory instruments relating to safe operation of cross-channel ferries are:
  182

  Title of Merchant Shipping Statutory Instrument

  S.I. number(s)

  MS

  (Certification of Deck Officers) Regulations

  1985/1306

  MS

  (Certification of Marine Engineer Officers) Regulations

  1980/2025

  MS

  (Certification of Competency as AB) Regulations

  1970/ 294

  MS

  (Official Log Books) Regulations

  1981/ 569

  MS

  (Official Log Books) (Amendment) Regulations

  1985/1828

  MS

  (Medical Examination) (Amendment) Regulations

  1985/ 512

  MS

  (Dangerous Goods) Regulations

  1981/1747

  MS

  (Dangerous Goods) (Amendment) Regulations

  1986/1069

  MS

  (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations

  1980/ 538

  1986/1066

  MS

  (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations

  1981/ 577

  1986/1072

  MS

  (Musters and Training) Regulations

  1986/1071

  MS

  (Musters) (Amendment) Regulations

  1981/ 578

  MS

  (Passenger Ship Classification) Regulations

  1981/1472

  MS

  (Fire Appliances) Regulations

  1980/ 544

  MS

  (Fire Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations

  1985/1194

  1981/ 574

  MS

  (Fire Protection) Regulations

  1984/1218

  1985/1218

  MS

  (Fire Protection) (Amendment) Regulations

  1985/1193

  MS

  (Fire Protection and Fire Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations

  1986/1070

  MS

  (Load Line) Rules

  1968/1053

  MS

  (Carriage of Nautical Publications) Rules

  1975/ 700

  MS

  (Signals of Distress) Rules

  1977/1010

  MS

  (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations

  1983/ 708

  MS

  (Automatic Pilot and Testing of Steering Gear) Regulations

  1981/ 571

  MS

  (Code of Safe Working Practices) Regulations

  1980/ 686

  MS

  (Means of Access) Regulations

  1981/1729

  MS

  (Safety Officials and Reporting of Accident and Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations

  1982/ 876

  MS

  (Safety Officials and Reporting of Accident and Dangerous Occurrences) (Amendment) Regulations

  1984/ 93

  MS

  (Health and Safety: General Duties) Regulations

  1984/ 408

  MS

  (Radio Installations) Regulations

  1980/ 529

  MS

  (Radio Installations) (Amendment) Regulations

  1981/ 582

  1984/ 346

  1984/1223

  1985/1216

  1986/1075

  MS

  (Navigational Equipment) Regulations

  1980/ 530

  1984/1203

  MS

  (Navigational Equipment) (Amendment)

  1981/ 579

  Regulations

  1985/ 659

  MS

  (Radio Installations Survey) Regulations

  1981/ 583

  Anchors and Chain Cables Rules

  1970/1453

  MS

  (Passenger Ship Construction) Regulations

  1980/ 535

  MS

  (Passenger Ship Construction) (Amendment) Regulations

  1981/ 580

  1985/ 660

  MS

  (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations

  1984/1216

  MS

  (Application of Construction and Survey Regulations to Other Ships) Regulations

  1985/ 661

  MS

  (Passenger Ship Construction) (New and Existing Ships) (Amendment) Regulations

  1986/1074

  MS

  (Closing of Openings in Hulls and in Watertight Bulkheads) Regulations

  1980/ 540

THE ARTS

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Minister for the Arts what is his best estimate of the total number of people attending museums and galleries in the United Kingdom in 1986.
  183
  Mr. Luce
  The information collected by the Museum Association suggests that some 73 million visits were made to museums and galleries in the United Kingdom in 1986.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Department Houses (Isle of Wight)
  Mr. Barry Field
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of vacant prison officers' houses, flats and dwellings on the Isle of Wight that are not required for future use; and what steps are being taken to dispose of those that are surplus to requirements.

  Mr. John Patten
  Approximately 60 prison officers' houses on the Isle of Wight are vacant, of which nine are in process of being sold on the open market. The need to retain the remainder will be reviewed and any which can be declared surplus will be sold on the open market or to prison officers under a newly introduced discount sales scheme.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will describe the new uses of the personal data that will result from a new police national computer; what additional indexes will be linked together; what is the anticipated access rates and performance of each index; and when he estimates that the new police national computer will be fully operational.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Plans for a replacement police national computer have not yet been finalised. We hope to make an announcement later this year.

  Flammable Domestic Material
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the number of (a) fires in dwellings due to the ignition of upholstery covers, (b) non-fatal casualties from such fires and (c) fatalities from such fires, separately for each year from 1980 to 1985, giving estimates where appropriate; and if he will give the same information under the same headings in relation to bedding.

  Mr. Hurd
  "Fire Statistics United Kingdom", published annually contains information on fires in dwellings attended by local authority fire brigades in which the material first ignited was upholstery or covers, or bedding. This information is in tables 27, 28, 32, 33 and 35, respectively, of the annual volumes for 1980 to 1984. Publication of 1985 information has been delayed by computer processing problems but provisional figures are:

  Materials first ignited

  Upholstery or covers

  Bedding

  Fires

  3,934

  4,844

  Non-fatal casualties

  1,186

  1,044

  Fatal casualties

  167

  129

  Sweden (Drug Trafficking)
  Mr. Gorst
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information has been sought from
  184
  the relevant United Kingdom authorities by the Swedish authorities involved in the case of Captain Simon Hayward as to whether a British subject, Mr. Gary Forbes Mitchell, recently convicted in Sweden of drug trafficking offences, had any previous convictions for similar or other offences in the United Kingdom; what reply was given to the Swedish inquiries; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) for what reasons two British police officers travelled to Sweden to interview Captain Simon Hayward, currently being held in custody by the Swedish authorties; what was the outcome of their visit; whether the officers went at the invitation of the Swedish authorities; whether they questioned or made inquiries into other British subjects while they were in Sweden; whether the Swedish authorities made any contribution to the cost of their journey; and what was the total cost to the United Kingdom taxpayer.

  Mr. Hurd
  It is not in the public interest to comment on whether information has been exchanged through Interpol nor on the reasons for or outcome of the visit to Sweden made by two British police officers. Their visit was made with the agreement of the Swedish authorities who did not contribute to the cost. The total additional cost of the visit was approximately £1,100.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Alarm Systems (Elderly and Infirm Persons)
  Mr. Fraser
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will withdraw the draft regulations under the Social Security Act which provide that the cost of alarm systems for the elderly or infirm will no longer be eligible for housing benefit.

  Mr. Portillo
  The draft regulations for the reformed housing benefits scheme to be introduced in April 1988 provide, in line with current policy, that the cost of alarm systems installed in accommodation specifically intended for elderly, sick or disabled people will be eligible for housing benefit.

  Women
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services 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.

  Mrs. Currie
  Our policies on health, personal social services and social security are designed to benefit both men and women.

  The particular needs of women are recognised and there have been many specific initiatives designed to benefit them. The maternity services advisory committee, established in 1981, produced three reports on aspects of maternity care, which have been distributed widely within the health service and to interested professional and lay organisations. The committee's advice is taken into account when authorities plan, monitor and review their maternity services. The Asian mother and baby project was launched in 1984 and involved the appointment of link

  185
  workers to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers and so improve ante and post-natal care for women from the Indian sub-continent.

  Health authorities have been required to install computerised call and recall schemes for cervical cancer and we are introducing the first nation-wide breast cancer screening system in the world.

  Particular attention has been paid to women smokers. In 1985 £4½ million was made available to the Health Education Council for a television campaign to discourage smoking among women. The Health Education Council also produced a booklet on women and smoking in late 1986. The latest voluntary agreement on tobacco advertising and promotion prohibits cigarette advertising in magazines where a third or more of the readers are young women, and one of the six new health warnings draws attention to the damage smoking during pregnancy can do to an unborn baby. Although there is considerable work still to be done, smoking amongst women has fallen from 37 per cent. in 1978 to 32 per cent. in 1984.

  The Health Education Authority, which succeeded the HEC in April 1987 and is largely funded by Government, produces a range of publications aimed specifically at women. The "Pregnancy Book," first published in 1984 by the Health Education Council, received a particularly warm welcome. The Government expect that the Health Education Authority will continue and develop this work.

  In the social security field, the Department is conscious both of the need to ensure equal treatment between men and women and of the special needs and problems of many women. Equal treatment for men and women in claiming benefits has been extended to almost all aspects of the social security system: where differences remain, they are largely favourable to women. In respect of special needs, a major recent initiative has been the introduction of statutory maternity pay from April 1987 to combine maternity allowance and maternity pay. In addition, those women who do not qualify for SMP may still continue to receive maternity allowance under new conditions designed to target help more closely on those with recent work records. The new arrangements in both cases give pregnant women greater choice about when to give up work without affecting benefit entitlement. Among the reforms of income related benefits which come into effect in April 1988 the introduction of a lone parent premium in income support will be one of the changes of particular benefit to many women. Like other aspects of the social security reforms affecting both men and women the new arrangements will be carefully monitored.

  Since October last year I have held a special responsibility for women's health. I have called together a small group of officials to look at the range of issues covered by the Department that affect women's health and to gather information on such issues.

  My ministerial colleagues and I meet many women's groups and organisations, with interests across the whole spectrum of departmental responsibilities, during the course of our duties. Where issues or policy developments of specific interest to women are under consideration we consult a wide range of interested organisations. The Department also gives funding to a number of voluntary bodies dealing with issues of specific interest to women such as the women's national cancer control campaign and the women's therapy centre, and contact with these groups helps to keep us informed of women's needs.
  186
  I am the departmental representative on the ministerial group on women's issues, which provides a formal channel for contact with the Women's National Commission. This Department contributed fully to the recently published review of the United Nations forward looking strategies for women, which was co-ordinated by the ministerial group.

  The Department is an equal opportunities employer and has adopted a programme of action in support of this policy. Included in these provisions is a wide range of equal opportunities awareness training which emphasises an appreciation of the needs of women employed within the DHSS.

  Cervical Cancer Call and Recall Schemes
  Mr. Fisher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health authorities have in operation cervical cancer call and recall schemes covering all women at risk.

  Mrs. Currie
  Cervical cancer screening for women at risk is routinely offered by all health authorities. Many have had their own call and recall system operating for many years on computer or manually.

  On 29 April 1985 we asked all health authorities to ensure that computerised call and recall systems were installed. At that time our guidance to health authorities was that they should give priority to women aged between 35–64. To date, 75 health authorities have a computerised system installed and in use.

  In February this year we asked health authorities to rationalise their existing arrangements for screening younger women by ensuring that call and recall began at age 20. Nineteen of the 75 who already have computerised systems have now met this requirement. We have told all health authorities that we expect them to meet all our requirements by the target date of 31 March 1988.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the future of exceptionally severe weather payments.

  Mr. Scott
  We are currently reviewing the exceptionally cold weather provision in the light of last winter's experience.

  Registered Mental Nurses
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many registered mental nurses are employed in each distrct health authority; what was the number in 1979; and what has been the percentage change.

  Mr. Newton
  I shall let the hon. Member have as much information as is available as soon as possible.

  Benefits
  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in the Leeds, Central constituency are currently in receipt of (a) supplementary benefit, (b) invalidity benefit, (c) housing benefit, (d) sickness benefit, (e) mobility allowance and (f) maternity benefits; and how many people have received single payments in the current financial year.
  187
  Mr. Portillo
  The Leeds, Central constituency is covered by the Department's local offices at Leeds, east, north, and north-west, but the boundaries are not conterminous. The table shows the number of people receiving benefit from those offices on the latest date for which information is available:

  At 5 May 1987

  At 2 June 1987

  Supplementary Benefit

  149,476

  —

  Invalidity and Sickness Benefit

  —

  9,640

  Maternity Allowance

  —

  719

  1 Source 100 per cent, count of cases of action.

  In the period from 8 April 1987 to 5 May 1987 there have been 3,582 awards of single payments.

  I regret that information about mobility allowance is not available and that the only information on housing benefit relates to the entire Leeds city council area, and cannot he disaggregated by constituency.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to lay claims and payments regulations covering all social security benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  Copies of draft Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations on claims for and payments of all social security benefits are today being placed in the Library. They set out the common rules which the Government intend will operate from the start of the income support and family credit schemes in April 1988. The draft regulations are being made available to assist preparations for the implemention of the schemes and will be laid before Parliament when final decisions have been taken on the income-related benefit rates in the autumn.

  The regulations which harmonise and simplify many of the existing rules governing benefit claims and payments introduce several new rules, one of which will limit to one month the period during which benefit can be suspended while the adjudication officer is deciding whether to appeal from a decision of the social security appeal tribunal. A further proposed change is that when the adjudication officer decides that payments on behalf of someone in receipt of income support may be made to a third party for housing costs, fuel costs and water charges, deductions may be made from a range of contributory and non-contributory benefits.

  The revised time limits for claiming benefits recommended in the report of the Social Security Advisory Committee in March 1987 (Cm 100) have been incorporated in the regulations and in themselves introduce a considerable simplification in the administration of the social security benefits system.

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the professional standards of private sector companies offering breast cancer screening.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 30 June 1987, c. 70]: We have received three letters on this subject.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Plastic Bullets
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been (a) killed and (b) injured by plastic bullets in the Province at the latest available date.

  Mr. Stanley
  Since the introduction of rubber baton rounds in 1970, and plastic baton rounds in 1973, 15 people have died as a result of their use by the security forces in Northern Ireland. From 17 March 1981, when records were first collated, to 31 May 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, 383 people are recorded as having been injured by them.

  Education (Costs)
  Mr. John David Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the comparative cost of educating (a) a YTP student, (b) a BTEC student and (c) a GCE O-level student in Northern Ireland's further education colleges; and if these courses have been the subject of discussion between the Northern Ireland Office and the Government of the Republic of Ireland at a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Ministerial Conference.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I shall reply to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training Schemes
  Mr. John Evans
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he will be introducing to increase the quality of the educational content of Government training schemes.

  Mr. Cope
  Training schemes run by the Manpower Services Commission are primarily designed to give people the competence to compete effectively in the labour market. Most schemes also provide opportunities for trainees to gain recognised vocational qualifications. A training standards advisory service has been established to provide independent quality audits of both youth and adult training schemes. Also, the MSC requires all providers of YTS training to become approved training organisations and there are proposals to extend this requirement to the new job training scheme. These measures are designed to improve the quality of training opportunities for young people and adults.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people, by sex, have been unemployed in the Leeds, Central constituency for (a) less than six months, (b) between six months and one year, (c) between one year and two years and (d) more than two years; and what were the figures for 1986.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library.

  Unemployed claimants—Leeds Central constituency

  10 April 1986

  11 April 1987

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Unemployed for under 6 months

  1,864

  803

  1,694

  686

  189

  10 April 1986

  11 April 1987

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  6 months–1 year

  1,028

  433

  933

  387

  1–2 years

  966

  320

  938

  322

  Over 2 years

  1,942

  445

  1,800

  432

  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of people unemployed in the Leeds central constituency, by sex, who are (a) under 25 years of age, (b) 25 to 35 years, (c) 35 to 50 years and (d) over 50 years; and what were the numbers in 1986.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library.

  Unemployed claimants—Leeds Central constituency

  10 April 1986

  11 April 1987

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Aged under 25

  1,867

  1,001

  1,652

  872

  Aged 25–34

  1,507

  377

  1,402

  365

  Aged 35–49

  1,392

  357

  1,321

  324

  Aged over 50

  1,034

  266

  990

  266

  Mr. Battle
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the Leeds, West constituency at 1 January for each year between 1979 and 1986 had been unemployed for (a) less than six months, (b) between six months and one year, (c) between one and two years and (d) over two years.

  Unemployed Claimants—Leeds West Constituency

  12 January 1984

  10 January 1985

  9 January 1986

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Aged under 25

  1,355

  840

  1,488

  804

  1,454

  847

  Aged 25–34

  1,009

  299

  1,106

  364

  1,133

  380

  Aged 35–49

  923

  243

  992

  263

  1,010

  306

  Aged over 50

  753

  214

  764

  241

  751

  265

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Mr. Peter Wright
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his discussions with the United States Government about the publication of Peter Wright's memoirs.

  Mr. Mellor
  Our discussions with other Governments are confidential.

  Women
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. Eggar
  The main needs of women thoughout the world are set out in the forward-looking strategies for the advancement of women adopted by the world conference at Nairobi in July 1985 to review and appraise the
  190
  Mr. Lee
  Following is the available information, which is also in the Library. Statistics of unemployment for parliamentary constituencies are derived from the new ward-based system, and are available only from June 1983. Figures are given for the date closest to 1 January for each year for which figures are available.

  Unemployed Claimants—Leeds West Constituency

  12 January 1984

  10 January 1985

  9 January 1986

  Unemployed for under 6 months

  2,231

  2,486

  2,494

  6 months–1 Year

  1,087

  1,000

  1,020

  1–2 Years

  1,094

  1,011

  985

  Over 2 Years

  1,224

  1,525

  1,647

  Mr. Battle
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of people unemployed in the Leeds, West constituency by sex, who were (a) under 25 years of age, (b) between 25 years and 35 years, (c) between 35 and 50 years and (d) over 50 years, respectively at 1 January for each year between 1979 and 1986.

  Mr. Lee
  Following is the available information, which is also in the Library. Statistics of unemployment for parliamentary constituencies are derived from the new ward-based system, and are available only from June 1983. Figures are given for the date closest to 1 January for each year for which figures are available.

  achievements of the United Nations decade for women. Implementation of the strategies is being monitored by the UN Secretariat and the commission on the status of women.

  Women are both agents and beneficiaries of our aid programme and their needs are taken into account in drawing up and reviewing expenditure programmes. Aid wing officials hold regular discussions with members of the women's organisations interest group of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and other women in development experts.

  Guidance on equal opportunities is a regular part of the Department's internal training. Aid wing staff also receive training in the role of women in development.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Fraser
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of his Department in relation to the self determination of the occupants of the western Sahara.

  Mr. Mellor
  We fully support efforts currently being made by the United Nations Secretary General to bring about a peaceful solution to the western Sahara dispute which takes account of the views of the people of the territory.

  Cameroons
  Mr. Fraser
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by him to the Government of the Cameroons about human rights.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have made no recent representations to the Government of Cameroons about human rights.

  Cyprus
  Sir Peter Blaker
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Cyprus.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There has been no change in Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Cyprus. We recognise only the Republic of Cyprus, of which President Kyprianou is the Head of State. We do not recognise the self-styled "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".

ENVIRONMENT

  Conservation
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the United Kingdom's next report to the European Commission detailing observance of European Community directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds will catalogue the loss and damage to annex 1 bird species and migratory bird species due to afforestation in the Caithness and Sutherland flow country.

  Compulsory Purchase Orders

  CPO Title

  Approx Area of land affected (hectares)

  Purpose for which CPO made

  1.

  Connaught Crossing

  5·96

  Highway scheme

  2.

  East Docklands No 1

  301

  Land assembly for redevelopment

  3.

  East Docklands No. 2

  5·3

  Land assembly for redevelopment

  4.

  Greenland Dock (East Country Yard)

  2·6

  Land assembly for redevelopment

  5.

  Isthmus Site

  2·54

  Highway scheme and redevelopment

  6.

  Cannon Workshops Phase II

  1·43

  Land assembly for redevelopment and highway purposes

  7.

  Garford Street

  0·53

  Land assembly for redevelopment

  8.

  Leslie's Cafe (95 Prestons Road and 51 Coldharbour)

  0·06

  Highway scheme

  9.

  Westferry Road-Emmett Street

  9·12

  Highway scheme and redevelopment

  10.

  Naval Row

  0·7

  Land assembly for redevelopment

  11.

  Westferry Circus

  6·13

  Highway scheme

  12.

  Shed 35 Link

  0·85

  Highway scheme

  13.

  Billingsgate-Prestons Road

  6·1

  Highway scheme

  14.

  Lower Lea Crossing

  16·06

  Highway scheme

  15.

  270–286 Poplar High Street

  0·13

  Highway scheme

  16.

  Isthmus Site2

  0·85

  Highway scheme

  17.

  Phase 6

  2·7

  Highway scheme

  18.

  Eastern Gateway Access Road

  20·6

  Highway scheme

  19.

  Brunswick Wharf

  7·65

  Land assembly for redevelopment

  20.

  Klein's Wharf

  0·72

  Land assembly for redevelopment

  21.

  Land to the east of West India Dock Road to the South of Marsh Wall/Market

  0·79

  Car parking for adjacent development

  22.

  Johnsons Draw Dock

  0·07

  Public open space-slipway

  Tower Hamlets and Newham (Road Traffic)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the traffic levels expected on the projected east-west main road in
  192
  Mr. Ridley
  I am well aware of criticisms which have been expressed of the possible effect on the population of some bird species of afforestation in the Caithness and Sutherland peat lands. The Government are urgently considering ways of ensuring that an appropriate balance between conservation and other land uses is achieved. The United Kingdom will, in accordance with Article 12 of Directive 79/409/EEC be reporting in appropriate terms on the general implementation of national provisions taken under the Directive.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report all compulsory purchase notices issued by the London Docklands Development Corporation showing for each the area of land, the projected use of the land, the costs to the corporation where purchase has been completed and the number of those employed who are or have been subject to displacement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The following table lists the compulsory purchase orders made by the London Docklands Development Corporation, the area of land affected (some of which is the subject of more than one CPO) and the regeneration purpose of acquisition. The remaining information is not readily available but I will write to the hon. Member shortly with more details:

  Tower Hamlets and Newham in the London docklands; what are the estimated costs of each of its sections, crossings or tunnels; and what status it will be accorded.

  Mr. Trippier
  The LDDC currently estimates that, by the year 2000. the traffic flows on the busiest section of the
  193
  network, which is in Tower Hamlets, would be about 7,000 vehicles two-way in the peak hour. The equivalent figure for Newham is about 4,000 vehicles.

  The total construction cost (excluding land) for the LDDC's road programme is £188 million at March 1986 prices. The major schemes are as follows:

  Scheme

  Cost

  £ million

  Limehouse Link Cut and Cover

  40

  Poplar Link and Connecting tunnel

  26

  Lower Lea Road Crossing

  20

  Connaught Crossing

  21

  Royal Albert Dock Spine Road

  20

  Eastern Gateway Access Road

  14

  No decisions have yet been taken on the final status of each section.

  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the main headings of gross expenditure of the London Docklands Development Corporation to date including land acquisition, publicity, consultancy, administration and local community grants, together with offsetting income from each principal source and his reasons for seeking to increase borrowing powers from £600 million to £800 million.

  Mr. Trippier
  LDDC's expenditure and receipts to 31 March 1987 are set out below. Further details will be available in the corporation's annual report and accounts 1986–87, which will be laid before the House before the recess.

  £ million

  Gross Expenditure to 31 March 1987

  Land Acquisition

  79

  Reclamation and Treatment

  78

  Other infrastructure

  128

  Community and Local Industry Support

  19

  Administration

  27

  Estate Management

  12

  Promotion and General Consultancy

  14

  Interest and Taxation

  16

  Total Expenditure

  373

  Income

  Disposal Income

  58

  Other Income

  10

  Total Income

  68

  Net Expenditure

  305

  A sum close to the present financial limit for urban development corporations of £600 million will be reached by 31 March 1988. It is therefore necessary to raise the limit provided for by statute before Estimates for 1988–89 can be presented.

  Newham (Inner Area Programme)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now publish his decision concerning the application of the London borough of Newham of December 1986 in respect of the inner area programme for the financial year 1987–88.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Pension Schemes
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take steps to provide further protection to beneficiaries of local authority pension schemes against trustees who invest the funds of pension schemes into investments involving undue risk; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will issue advice to local authorities about the investment of their pension funds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I shall answer these questions shortly.

  Council Tenants
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make it illegal for councils to evict tenants solely on the basis of allegations of racist behaviour; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Local authorities do not have powers to evict tenants solely on the basis of allegations of racist behaviour. Councils which have been concerned about cases of racial harassment have sought possession orders on grounds laid down in the Housing Act 1985: Ground 1 (breach of tenancy obligations) and Ground 2 (nuisance and annoyance to neighbours). Before granting possession orders, the courts need to be satisfied that the requirements of either ground have been met.

  Tin Mines (Uranium)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the derelict tin mines in Cornwall where mine spoil has elevated uranium concentrations.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Full information on all sites is not readily available, but it is likely that the uranium concentrations of tin-mine spoils will generally be higher than that for other earth materials in the United Kingdom.

  Radon Gas
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has budgeted for the provision of funds to schools that are found to contain a high level of radon gas within the next year.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Investigations of radon levels in schools are being undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board for the Cornwall county council, and the question of undertaking any remedial measures would be a matter for the County Council. Funds are not normally made available by central Government specifically for local authority remedial work to deal with particular problems, but rate support grant is paid in general support of local authorities' revenue expenditure. It is for the local authorities to decide their individual spending priorities.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when action will be taken on the 10 schools in Cornwall and Cornwall college at Pool which are above the recommended eventual action threshold for radon gas presence.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Cornwall county council, with the help of other agencies, will be investigating methods of
  195
  reducing radon levels in six schools during the summer holidays. The results of this work will provide the council with a basis for deciding upon any further work.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when is the recommended action to remove radon gas from a house if it is found to be above the recommended level; and what is his estimate of how much this action would cost the average household.

  Mr. Moynihan
  It is too early to give specific advice on appropriate remedial measures or their costs. The Building Research Establishment is carrying out a programme of research on remedial and preventive measures, and further guidance and advice will be given in the light of this research.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the level of millisieverts of radon gas doses found in each school in the constituency of Truro.

  Mr. Moynihan
  This is a matter for Cornwall county council, for whom the National Radiological Protection Board have measured the average concentration of radon in selected schools, including a number in the Truro constituency.

SCOTLAND

  Agricultural Advisory Service
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the agricultural advisory service in Scotland giving the number of advisers in each speciality and in each area of Scotland in 1983 and 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Following the reorganisation of the separate colleges into Scottish agricultural colleges, the structure of the advisory services formerly operated by each college has changed radically. For this reason it is difficult to make direct comparisons. The numbers of field advisers at June 1983 compared with the same month in 1987 are as follows:

  1983

  1987

  East of Scotland College of Agriculture

  24

  18

  North of Scotland College of Agriculture

  38

  30

  West of Scotland Agricultural College

  34

  21

  Totals

  96

  69

  Individual entitlements to housing support grant

  (prices current at time of payment)

  Area

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Scotland

  213,400,000

  228,200,000

  161,900,000

  104,632,870

  72,135,479

  67,211,241

  64,178,219

  44,469,760

  46,489,693

  Berwickshire

  1,304,502

  1,306,875

  1,038,356

  686,226

  648,884

  486,805

  446,429

  201,135

  261,235

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  1,725,856

  1,753,749

  1,154,679

  552,583

  373,420

  107,262

  0

  0

  0

  Roxburgh

  1,734,338

  1,971,598

  1,537,295

  1,165,695

  1,260,321

  1,265,786

  1,306,156

  951,730

  1,225,127

  Tweeddale

  289,209

  285,768

  109,055

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Clackmannan

  1,850,234

  1,818,745

  1,283,981

  689,627

  45,021

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Falkirk

  7,957,349

  7,479,143

  4,428,554

  1,494,309

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stirling

  1,929,781

  1,916,151

  1,016,562

  1,335,195

  20,431

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Annandale and Eskdale

  1,094,232

  1,452,108

  1,272,965

  1,387,048

  1,574,069

  1,673.013

  1,759,580

  1,382,490

  1,432,469

  Nithsdale

  1,147,826

  905,200

  100

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stewartry

  548,774

  676,321

  542,539

  412,797

  414,643

  359,095

  343,80

  253,704

  425,965

  Wigtown

  1,046,584

  1,154,830

  767,726

  452,325

  255,317

  200,315

  95,565

  0

  321,604

  Dunfermline

  5,391,353

  6,079,270

  2,800,067

  683,115

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kirkcaldy

  6,303,279

  6,500,216

  3,077,166

  696,260

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North East Fife

  1,586,114

  1.664,141

  979,528

  829,197

  309,583

  87,427

  0

  0

  0

  Aberdeen

  9,749,391

  10,733,105

  9,533,966

  7,089,761

  3,724,702

  3,053,523

  2,260,303

  0

  0

  Banff and Buchan

  4,966,010

  5,495,862

  4,343,622

  3,306,069

  2,437,206

  1,943,394

  1,599,685

  558,241

  794,646

  196
  The numbers of specialist advisers available across the whole of Scotland, by each specialism, are as follows:

  Specialist Area

  1983

  1987

  Crops

  55

  46

  Animals

  91

  68

  Mechanisation and buildings

  40

  33

  Soils

  16

  10

  Farm Management

  13

  11

  Economics

  38

  29

  Horticulture

  30

  22

  Veterinary Services

  32

  21

  Totals

  315

  240

  In addition to their specialist advisory work, the College staff also has teaching and R and D responsibilities under the Scottish system.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Dewar
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the numbers employed in Scotland for each year since 1979 and the number in full and part-time employment, respectively.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The latest Department of Employment estimates show the following numbers of employees in June each year :

  (thousands )

  All employees in employment

  Females in part-lime employment

  1979

  2,102

  332

  1980

  2,082

  335

  1981

  2,002

  336

  1982

  1,950

  337

  1983

  1,899

  337

  1984

  1,901

  347

  1985

  1,906

  361

  1986

  1,892

  361

  No figures are available for the number of males in part-time employment.

  Housing Support Grant
  Mr. Dewar
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the level of housing support grant paid by his Department to each local authority in Scotland in each year since 1979 in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms at 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information is given in the tables:
  197

  Area

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Gordon

  2,857,278

  2,860,784

  2,379,107

  2,240,622

  1,709,877

  1,940,317

  1,800,235

  1,838,802

  2,856,931

  Kincardine and Deeside

  1,304,561

  1,373,533

  933,388

  817,907

  972,194

  854,052

  942,305

  779,199

  1,343,829

  Moray

  4,237,483

  4,402,062

  3,552,254

  2,301,798

  1,987,151

  1,790,081

  1,509,258

  682,537

  1,144,578

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  413,089

  470,225

  435,542

  505,386

  515,570

  487,297

  497,879

  388,218

  488,244

  Caithness

  1,231,796

  1,044,456

  876,132

  817,378

  819,544

  826,248

  750,997

  663,077

  821,428

  Inverness

  2,461,414

  2,323,484

  1,631,231

  1,375,208

  1,241,308

  1,305,145

  1,510,450

  1,033,853

  1,278,116

  Locahber

  1,860,212

  1,825,267

  1,813,360

  1,383,564

  1,334,449

  1,225,816

  1,398,166

  1,441,327

  1,472,468

  Nairn

  320,089

  351,660

  251,993

  206,063

  265,393

  227,117

  218,689

  181,633

  228,168

  Ross and Cromarty

  3,889,456

  4,249,933

  4,199,542

  3,493,364

  3,091,946

  3,241,650

  3,474,516

  3,178,298

  3,493,784

  Skye and Lochalsh

  342,729

  343,792

  316,747

  316,309

  323,325

  394,993

  467,318

  586,754

  818,200

  Sutherland

  674,923

  729,163

  519,316

  477,942

  446,107

  467,987

  518,431

  522,874

  681,115

  East Lothian

  4,723,964

  5,062,507

  3,155,554

  2,079,858

  1,050,527

  392,369

  23,235

  0

  0

  Edinburgh

  11,269,405

  12,517,913

  7,869,440

  2,327,904

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Midlothian

  3,496,811

  3,334,405

  1,791,607

  906,746

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Lothian

  4,655,453

  4,796,899

  2,182,815

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Argyll and Bute

  3,410,909

  3,565,946

  2,811,692

  2,767,417

  2,554,514

  2,308,945

  2,155,278

  1,373,972

  1,849,847

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  464,877

  458,385

  193,589

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Clydebank

  3,548,652

  4,032,786

  3,285,203

  2,201,808

  1,855,408

  1,774,590

  1,778,773

  804,237

  918,555

  Cydesdale

  1,842,814

  1,651,898

  578,477

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  677,835

  670,398

  117,762

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  1,982,826

  1,812,670

  819,727

  167,191

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cunninghame

  4,800,670

  4,656,897

  2,744,500

  745,237

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dunbarton

  2,997,918

  2,805,151

  1,177,708

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Kilbride

  327,324

  340,284

  98,860

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  81,269

  Eastwood

  282,503

  303,824

  15,462

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Glasgow

  41,496,149

  49,487,984

  44,099,691

  37,292,928

  32,355,851

  32,269,404

  32,675,646

  21,891,239

  17,730,436

  Hamilton

  4,960,259

  5,015,434

  3,243,635

  1,543,988

  119,816

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Inverclyde

  5,602,776

  6,140,965

  4,443,201

  3,048,261

  1,865,250

  1,162,804

  562,537

  0

  0

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  3,584,819

  4,168,598

  1,885,952

  298,335

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kyle and Carrick

  4,422,325

  4,351,786

  2,807,798

  911,439

  447,952

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Monklands

  4,601,208

  4,359,605

  4,252,050

  3,222,528

  1,705,278

  1,956,032

  328,169

  0

  0

  Motherwell

  7,919,644

  8,193,225

  5,737,727

  3,296,551

  1,037,418

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Renfrew

  6,486,220

  6,571,032

  2,186,158

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Strathkelvin

  1,956,176

  2,401,186

  1,539,073

  1,198,935

  326,922

  2,775

  0

  0

  0

  Angus

  4,236,548

  4,372,617

  2,499,757

  1,221,795

  181,321

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dundee

  7,740,698

  8,602,017

  5,285,879

  1,820,160

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Perth and Kinross

  3,502,848

  3,118,176

  1,309,294

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Orkney Islands

  1,074,091

  1,103,278

  1,082,222

  852,422

  731,864

  779,233

  804,942

  684,343

  776,885

  Shetland Islands

  2,099,598

  1,889,843

  2,624,591

  2,654,652

  2,409,052

  2,764,219

  2,778,672

  2,934,933

  3,285,349

  Western Isles

  1,016,718

  1,247,658

  1,267,392

  1,358,959

  1,723,845

  1,863,547

  2,171,685

  2,137,164

  2,685,226

  Individual entitlements to housing support grant (at 1987–88 prices using GDP deflators)

  Area

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  SCOTLAND

  371,434,042

  334,839,770

  216,310,825

  130,347,905

  86,025,090

  76,848,856

  69,077,916

  46,470,792

  46,489,693

  Berwickshire

  2,270,555

  1,917,589

  1,387,323

  854,876

  773,826

  556,609

  480,512

  210,186

  261,235

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  3,003,944

  2,573,291

  1,542,740

  688,388

  445,322

  122,643

  0

  0

  0

  Roxburgh

  3,018,77

  2,892,942

  2,053,944

  1,452,181

  1,502,994

  1,447,291

  1,405,875

  994,556

  1,225,127

  Tweeddale

  503,384

  419,310

  145,706

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Clackmannan

  3,220,431

  2,668,660

  1,715,497

  859,113

  53,690

  11

  0

  11

  0

  Falkirk

  13,850,189

  10,974,209

  5,916,888

  1,861,557

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stirling

  3,358,886

  2,811,584

  1,358,205

  1,663,338

  24,365

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Annandale and Eskdale

  1,904,569

  2,130,690

  1,700,779

  1,727,935

  1,877,154

  1,912,911

  1,893,829

  1,444,699

  1,432,469

  Withsdale

  1,997,852

  1,328,203

  134

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stewartry

  955,17

  992,371

  724,874

  514,248

  494,482

  410,587

  359,617

  265,120

  425,965

  Wigtown

  1,821,635

  1,694,492

  1,025,741

  563,490

  304,478

  229,039

  102,861

  0

  321,604

  Dunfermline

  9,383,936

  8,920,164

  3,741,104

  851,000

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kirkcaldy

  10,791,192

  9,537,821

  4,111,330

  867,376

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North East Fife

  2,760,716

  2,441,808

  1,308,738

  1,032,984

  369,193

  99,963

  0

  0

  0

  Aberdeen

  16,969,333

  15,748,775

  12,738,110

  8,832,172

  4,441,889

  3,491,377

  2,432,866

  0

  0

  Banff and Buchan

  8,643,604

  8,064,124

  5,803,412

  4,118,583

  2,906,487

  2,222,063

  1,721,813

  583,361

  794,646

  Gordon

  4,973,244

  4,197,652

  3,178,670

  2,791,287

  2,039,112

  2,218,545

  1,937,674

  1,921,544

  2,856,931

  Kincardine and Deeside

  2,270,832

  2,015,396

  1,247,078

  1,018,919

  1,159,389

  976,517

  1,014,245

  814,261

  1,343,829

  Moray

  7,375,564

  6,459,182

  4,746,084

  2,867,498

  2,369,775

  2,046,766

  1,624,483

  713,250

  1,144,578

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  719,003

  689,965

  581,918

  629,592

  614,842

  557,172

  535,890

  405,687

  488,244

  Caithness

  2,144,006

  1,532,539

  1,170,580

  1,018,260

  977,346

  944,726

  808,332

  692,914

  821,428

  Inverness

  4,284,222

  3,409,268

  2,179,450

  1,713,185

  1,480,321

  1,492,294

  1,625,766

  1,080,374

  1,278,116

  Lochaber

  3,237,798

  2,678,230

  2,422,788

  1,723,595

  1,591,396

  1,401,589

  1,504,909

  1,506,183

  1,472,468

  Nairn

  557,132

  515,994

  336,682

  256,706

  316,494

  259,684

  235,385

  189,006

  228,168

  Ross and Cromarty

  6,769,805

  6,235,962

  5,610,910

  4,351,909

  3,687,297

  3,706,480

  3,739,778

  3,321,314

  3,493,784

  Skye and Lochalsh

  596,538

  504,449

  423,198

  394,046

  385,581

  451,632

  502,995

  613,157

  818,200

  Sutherland

  1,174,739

  1,069,907

  693,846

  595,403

  532,004

  535,093

  558,011

  546,402

  681,115

  East Lothian

  8,222,310

  7,428,259

  4,216,062

  2,591,013

  1,252,005

  448,632

  25,009

  0

  0

  Edinburgh

  19,614,998

  18,367,639

  10,514,176

  2,900,020

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Midlothian

  6,086,385

  4,892,600

  2,393,724

  1,129,592

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Lothian

  8,103,063

  7,037,356

  2,915,341

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Argyll and Bute

  5,936,868

  5,232,342

  3,756,636

  3,447,550

  3,046,383

  2,640,031

  2,319,823

  1,435,797

  1,849,847

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  809,143

  672,592

  258,650

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  74,219

  Clydebank

  6,176,617

  5,917,341

  4,389,283

  2,742,934

  2,212,665

  2,029,054

  1,914,574

  840,426

  918,555

  Clydesdale

  3,207,516

  2,423,844

  772,890

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  1,179,808

  983,681

  157,339

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  3,451,214

  2,659,746

  1,095,218

  208,281

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cunninghame

  8,355,821

  6,833,104

  3,666,863

  928,390

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dumbarton

  5,218,036

  4,116,022

  1,573,508

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Kilbride

  569,725

  499,302

  131,016

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  81,269

  Eastwood

  491,711

  445,803

  20,658

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Glasgow

  72,226,253

  72,614,133

  58,920,572

  46,458,202

  38,585,936

  36,896,608

  35,170,273

  22,876,292

  17,730,436

  Hamilton

  8,633,594

  7,359,188

  4,333,745

  1,923,445

  142,886

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Inverclyde

  9,751,929

  9,010,689

  5,936,458

  3,797,415

  2,224,402

  1,329,542

  605,484

  0

  0

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  6,239,568

  6,116,607

  2,519,777

  371,655

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kyle and Carrick

  7,697,292

  6,385,412

  3,751,434

  1,135,438

  534,205

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Monklands

  8,008,647

  6,396,885

  5,681,065

  4,014,511

  2,033,627

  2,236,513

  353,223

  0

  0

  Motherwell

  13,784,561

  12,021,988

  7,666,044

  4,106,726

  1,237,172

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Renfrew

  11,289,611

  9,641,730

  2,920,875

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Strathkelvin

  3,404,828

  3,523,280

  2,056,320

  1,493,591

  389,870

  3,173

  0

  0

  0

  Angus

  7,373,937

  6,415,978

  3,339,867

  1,522,069

  216,234

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dundee

  13,473,096

  12,621,812

  7,062,340

  2,267,500

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Perth and Kinross

  6,096,893

  4,575,326

  1,749,317

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  198 199

  Area

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Orkney Islands

  1,869,512

  1,618,849

  1,445,932

  1,061,917

  872,784

  890,969

  866,395

  715,137

  776,865

  Shetland Islands

  3,654,462

  2,772,982

  3,586,655

  3,307,871

  2,872,912

  3,160,588

  2,990,810

  3,066,998

  3,285,349

  Western Isles

  1,769,652

  1,830,699

  1,693,333

  1,692,943

  2,855,770

  2,130,766

  2,337,483

  2,233,331

  2,685,226

  Student Awards
  Mr. Dewar
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give (a) the total number of mandatory student awards paid by his Department in each academic year since 1979 and (b) the total value of those awards in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms based on 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The value of students' maintenance allowances and tuition fees paid under the Students' Allowances Scheme and the post graduate students' allowances scheme, in cash terms, and in real terms on a constant 1986–87 base (1987–88 figures are not yet available) was as follows:

  Value of awards (maintenance etc. plus tuition etc. fees)

  Academic year

  Number of students

  Actual

  At 1986–87 prices

  £ million

  £ million

  1979–80

  53,600

  86·0

  134·5

  1980–81

  55,583

  106·8

  145·1

  1981–82

  57,542

  120·6

  151·2

  1982–83

  57,863

  99·1

  116·9

  1983–84

  58,301

  101·0

  114·7

  Table 1

  Pupils and pupil/teacher ratios in education authority primary schools

  Regions

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  11986–87

  Number of Pupils

  Borders

  10,135

  9,643

  9,156

  8,686

  8,353

  8,219

  8,246

  8,213

  Central

  29,737

  28,559

  27,258

  25,850

  24,897

  24,287

  24,158

  23,754

  Dumfries and Galloway

  15,069

  14,223

  13,457

  12,799

  12,480

  12,285

  12,313

  12,321

  Fife

  36,766

  35,103

  33,733

  32,257

  31,388

  31,005

  31,105

  30,602

  Grampian

  49,831

  48,352

  47,128

  45,767

  43,827

  43,274

  43,156

  42,941

  Highland

  22,000

  21,275

  20,568

  19,822

  19,460

  19,168

  19,290

  19,394

  Lothian

  71,816

  68,112

  64,688

  61,461

  58,327

  55,745

  54,964

  54,386

  Strathclyde

  261,721

  247,143

  232,691

  219,231

  208,934

  204,311

  203,521

  203,337

  Tayside

  39,694

  37,925

  35,964

  34,278

  32,757

  31,871

  31,335

  31,298

  Pupil-Teacher Ratios

  Borders

  18·3

  18·4

  18·2

  18·2

  17·9

  18·2

  17·7

  18·2

  Central

  19·7

  19·5

  19·1

  18·6

  18·7

  18·9

  19·3

  20·4

  Dumfries and Galloway

  19·2

  19·1

  19·2

  19·4

  19·1

  19·1

  19·3

  19·1

  Fife

  21·0

  20·7

  20·6

  20·4

  19·9

  20·1

  20·2

  20·2

  Grampian

  19·0

  18·9

  18·9

  19·0

  18·8

  19·4

  19·3

  19·4

  Highland

  19·1

  19·1

  19·1

  19·0

  18·9

  18·8

  18·7

  18·8

  Lothian

  18·9

  18·5

  18·6

  19·8

  19·9

  20·1

  20·2

  20·1

  Strathclyde

  21·4

  21·6

  21·6

  21·6

  21·6

  21·6

  21·6

  21·5

  Tayside

  20·3

  20·8

  20·6

  20·6

  20·5

  20·3

  20·2

  20·0

  1 Provisional.

  Pupils and Pupil/Teacher ratios in Education Authority Secondary Schools

  Regions

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–871

  Number of pupils

  Borders

  7,351

  7,411

  7,423

  7,501

  7,417

  7,140

  6,907

  6,684

  Central

  22,236

  22,283

  22,209

  21,910

  21,479

  20,866

  20,120

  19,300

  Dumfries and Galloway

  11,403

  11,611

  11,838

  11,814

  11,569

  11,181

  10,747

  10,204

  Fife

  26,624

  26,792

  26,847

  26,665

  26,194

  25,208

  24,371

  23,606

  Grampian

  34,471

  34,444

  34,603

  34,866

  35,366

  34,635

  34,216

  33,247

  Highland

  16,113

  16,128

  16,119

  16,021

  15,958

  15,629

  15,183

  14,853

  Lothian

  52,720

  52,316

  51,515

  50,240

  48,981

  47,685

  45,415

  43,328

  Strathclyde

  203,995

  201,712

  198,957

  195,428

  189,219

  180,499

  171,505

  162,258

  Tayside

  29,666

  29,248

  29,064

  28,667

  28,131

  27,293

  26,388

  25,221

  200

  Value of awards (maintenance etc. plus tuition etc. fees)

  Academic Year

  Number of students

  Actual

  At 1986–87 prices

  £ million

  £ million

  1984–85

  59,931

  99·4

  107·7

  1985–86

  58,384

  99·5

  102·6

  1986–87

  159,117

  1102·2

  102·2

  1 Provisional.

  Notes:

  (1) In session 1982–83 the rate of tuition fees was reduced.

  (2) 1986–87 price equivalents are based on the average GDP deflator for the first quarter of each year (mid-academic: session).

  Education Statistics
  Mr. Dewar
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing (a) the total number of pupils on school rolls and (b) the pupil-teacher ratio for primary and secondary schools in each regional council area in Scotland for each academic year since 1979.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information for education authority schools is set out in the tables:
  201

  Regions

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–871

  Pupil/Teacher Ratios

  Borders

  14·2

  14·2

  14·1

  14·4

  14·0

  13·7

  13·3

  13·3

  Central

  14·2

  14·4

  14·4

  14·3

  14·3

  14·2

  13·8

  13·8

  Dumfries and Galloway

  14·2

  14·3

  14·1

  14·0

  13·4

  13·0

  13·1

  12·9

  Fife

  14·7

  14·7

  14·9

  14·7

  14·4

  14·1

  14·0

  13·6

  Grampian

  13·4

  13·4

  13·8

  13·8

  13·8

  13·6

  13·6

  13·5

  Highland

  14·0

  13·9

  13·7

  13·7

  13·6

  13·2

  12·9

  12·7

  Lothian

  13·5

  13·3

  13·4

  13·7

  13·8

  13·7

  13·4

  13·0

  Strathclyde

  15·0

  15·0

  15·0

  14·7

  14·3

  13·9

  13·7

  13·5

  Tayside

  14·0

  14·0

  13·9

  13·8

  13·5

  13·3

  12·9

  12·5

  1 Provisional.

  Sewage Disposal (Berwickshire)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will review the procedures permitting sewage disposal in the North sea above St. Abbs Head, Berwickshire.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Sewage sludge disposal at sea is strictly controlled by licence issued annually under Part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and I see no reason to review the current arrangements.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the amounts of sewage discharged off St. Abbs Head, Berwickshire, by Lothian region council, the dates of the disposal over the last five years and the location at sea where the disposal took place.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Particulars of sewage sludge disposal operations off St. Abbs Head are already available for public inspection within the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. Total amounts dumped during the months October to May in the last five years for which returns have been made are:—

  Year

  Tonnes

  1981–82

  150,584

  1982–83

  137,430

  1983–84

  139,817

  1984–85

  120,395

  1985–86

  121,395

  Detailed information about individual trips is not readily available.

  The disposal site is some 10 miles north of St. Abbs Head and is charted.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any studies have been carried out to assess the impact of the sewage disposal being dumped off St. Abbs Head, Berwickshire or the quality of the bathing water off Pease Bay.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The sea disposal of sewage sludge is strictly controlled by licence and the operations are closely monitored on an annual basis. Monitoring results indicate no foreseeable adverse consequences to the marine environment.

  The bathing water of Pease Bay is one of 20 waters included in a two-year monitoring programme over the 1986 and 1987 bathing seasons. These waters are being monitored in line with the requirements of EC Directive 76/160/EEC and my right hon. and learned Friend expects to publish the results after the end of the 1987 bathing season.

  Drunken Persons (Designated Places)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places have been designated in terms of section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980; whether he has any plans to increase the numbers of places designated; and whether any such plans include increased provision in the sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  One place has been designated, at Albyn House, Aberdeen. The provision of such facilities is a matter for voluntary organisations, who may be eligible for grant under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, or local authorities. A voluntary body called the Lothian alcohol recovery service is seeking to establish a designated place in Edinburgh and my Department is arranging to meet its representatives.

  SDA (Expenditure)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish, for each parliamentary constituency, the amounts spent on (a) industrial investments and (b) environmental improvements by the Scottish Development Agency in each year since 1983.

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

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animal Medicines
  Mr. McLoughlin
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he proposes to undertake any review of the licensing and control of animal medicines parallel to that into human medicines announced by the Secretary of State for Social Services on 11 March, Official Report, column 238.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The issues arising from the licensing and control of animal medicines range widely. In particular the criterion of safety laid down in the Medicines Act 1968 has to be taken to cover not only the safety of the treated animal but the safety of the consumer of produce from that animal, the safety of mill and farm workers who may be exposed to feed containing animal medicines over long periods and the safety of the environment generally. There have been far reaching changes in the use of animal medicines since the Act came into force which demand wider ranges of expertise for the necessarily rigorous assessments of animal medicines. We must ensure that the necessary resources are efficiently deployed.
  203
  I have therefore decided to commission an independent study to run parallel with that on human medicines. It will he carried out by Mr. Peter Cunliffe who has recently retired from the Chairmanship of the Pharmaceuticals Division of ICI, who is also involved in the parallel study on human medicines. His terms of reference will be:—
  To consider and advise on the best use of resources for the control of animal medicines under the United Kingdom and EC legislation bearing in mind

  (a) the need to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of all medicines;

  (b) the need in particular to ensure that veterinary medicines are safe not only for treated animals but also for consumers, for farm and mill workers, and for the environment generally;

  (c) the need for the licensing arrangements to be self-financing.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Favell
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on recent discussions with fellow European Economic Community Ministers on the funding of the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [pursuant to his reply, 2 July 1987, c. 154]: The European Council on 30 June agreed that the present system of funding CAP guarantee expenditure, by means of advances from the Community to national intervention agencies, should be adjusted in order to keep expenditure in 1987 within the budget provision. Discussions are proceeding on the 1988 budget and a general review of Community finances.