Written Answers of 13 July 1987

PRIME MINISTER

  Arms Export Control Procedures
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Prime Minister for what reason it is not the practice of Her Majesty's Government to answer parliamentary questions about the operation of arms export control procedures in relation to individual countries; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Successive Governments have agreed that it would not be in the public interest to disclose details of the operation of arms export control procedures.

  British Telecom
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Prime Minister if she will give the total cost to each public service and each department of British Telecom's decision to end free emergency fault repair cover and replace this by total care and prompt care schemes.

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Inner-city Initiatives (Cabinet Office)
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report the grades and estimated annual costs of the staff of the Cabinet Office dealing with inner-city initiatives, and show for each post whether the present occupant was (a) a member of the Cabinet Office staff on 11 June 1987, (b) in another Department on 11 June 1987 or (c) employed elsewhere and, in such cases, where.

  The Prime Minister
  Since the beginning of July, one official at grade 3, two at grade 7 and a senior personal secretary have been temporarily detached from their duties in other Departments and seconded to the Cabinet Office to work on urban policy issues. The annual costs of such officials are £98,524. In addition, a number of other officials in the Cabinet Office spend some of their time on matters relating to urban policy issues in the course of their regular duties.

  Lebanon (Hostages)
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the action being taken by Her Majesty's Government to bring about the release of Mr. Terry Waite and other persons held captive by terrorist groups in Lebanon.

  The Prime Minister
  We are pursuing every reasonable lead, through our staff in Beirut and elsewhere and by maintaining close and regular contact with those concerned at Lambeth palace, to try to establish the whereabouts of Mr. Waite, as well as the fate of the other British hostages held in Lebanon.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Family Law
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Attorney-General when he intends to bring into force the Family Law Reform Act 1987.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor intends to bring the Family Law Reform Act 1987 into force when the necessary resources are available.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Attorney-General on what basis the figure of 70 per cent. of households qualifying for legal aid, mentioned on page 9 of the recent White Paper on legal aid, was calculated; what proportion of households has been covered by the legal aid scheme for each year since 1979; and if the basis of calculation has been changed at any time over the past eight years.

  The Attorney-General
  It is not possible to calculate with precision the percentage of the population eligible for legal aid. The figure of 70 per cent., which has remained broadly constant throughout the past eight years, is an estimate only. It is based on a comparison between the qualifying levels of income for legal aid for different compositions of households and figures published by the Department of Employment for household incomes. This method has been used throughout the last eight years.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Housing Executive
  Mr. McGrady
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the policy of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive with regard to the repair or replacement of steel-framed windows in its houses.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chairman that the information is not readily available; I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Warrenpoint Harbour Authority
  Mr. McGrady
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the plans of the Warrenpoint harbour authority with regard to the expansion or development of the harbour area in Warrenpoint.

  Mr. Needham
  I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Action for Community Employment
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the list of sponsors of action for community employment schemes which was made available to ACE sponsors in 1986 for the elections to the Northern Ireland Federation of ACE sponsors.

  Mr. Viggers
  I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish a table showing the average

  317
  household bill for water rates for each regional water authority in Northern Ireland for each year separately between 1979 and 1987;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing the figures for the numbers of households where water supplies have been disconnected, showing, where possible, the reasons for disconnection for each year separately between 1979 and 1987.

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

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Batiste
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants are employed by his Department in (a) London and the south-east, (b) the south-west, (c) the midlands and (d) the north of England; and what is the budgeted expenditure of his Department for the current year in each of these regions.

  Mr. Butcher
  The number of Department of Trade and Industry staff in post at 1 April 1987 were as follows:

  Number

  London

  8,669

  South West

  194

  Midlands

  442

  North of England

  865

  Other (Wales and Scotland)

  2,443

  Total

  12,593

  Most of the Department's spending programmes are addressed to national objectives, and budgets are not therefore set on a regional basis. The Department's budget for regional support in the assisted areas in the current year is £230 million. Expenditure in the different regions will depend on their respective demand from eligible projects under the relevant schemes. Last year, such expenditure totalled £356 million. A regional breakdown of the bulk of this expenditure (regional development grants and the main programme of regional selective assistance) is as follows, on the basis of spend in DTI regions (aggregated where appropriate):

  £ million

  London and the South East

  —

  South West

  20·5

  Midlands (East and West Midlands)

  20·4

  North of England (North East, North West and Yorks and Humberside)

  277·9

  Total

  318·8

  Textile and Carpet Companies (Aid)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he has had with the European Commission about the grant of state aid in breach of the treaty of Rome to textile and carpet companies in other European Economic Community countries.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Government have made a number of respresentations to the European Commission concerning the fair and even-handed enforcement of the state aids rules in the textile sector.
  318
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has yet received information on whether the Belgian Government have now complied with the Commission decision of 27 June 1984 and the European Court judgment of 9 April 1987 concerning the required repayment of aid of £3·7 million by a subsidiary of Deaulieu, a Belgian carpet manufacturer.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No information has been received to date. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Electricity Safety (Exhibition)
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to safety with electricity to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Maude
  Arrangements have been made for such an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall to take place from Monday 2 November to Friday 6 November 1987.

  Regional Development Grant
  Ms. Quin
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement as to the reasons for the decline in regional development grant assistance to the north-east of England, as detailed in the reply to the right hon. Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) on 2 February 1987, Official Report, column 501.

  Mr. Atkins
  I will reply to the hon. Lady as soon as possible.

  Financial Services Act
  Mr. Tim Smith
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the implementation of the Financial Services Act; and, in particular, when he expects to exercise the functions of sections 119 and 120 of the Act.

  Mr. Maude
  Following transfer of the relevant powers, the SIB has received two applications, from the Financial Intermediaries, Managers and Brokers Regulatory Association and the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation, for recognition under section 9 of the Act. The SIB is in discussions with other potential applicants and further applications are expected shortly. Copies of the rules and supporting material submitted by FIMBRA and IMRO have been sent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and forwarded to the Director General of Fair Trading. My right hon. Friend will consider whether to give leave under section 120 for the recognition of these SROs when he has received a request to do so from the SIB and the report on their rules from the Director General. Now that the power to grant recognition has been transferred to the SIB my right hon. Friend has no powers exerciseable under section 119 in advance of a recognition order being made.

  Satellite Research (Surrey University)
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his funding of Surrey university satellite research.

  Mr. Butcher
  Surrey university has a good record of achievement in space research. My Department, through the British National Space Centre, is currently funding one
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  research activity there in the field of high technology thermoplastic polymers for space structures. A number of other possibilities are under discussion.

  Steel Industry (Redundancy Pay)
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations have been made to the EEC Commission to ensure that applications under article 56 of the European Coal and Steel Community programme for payments to redundant steel workers are approved without delay.

  Members of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission as at 10 July 1987

  Name

  Position

  Background

  Salary

  £

  Sir Godfray Le Quesne

  Chairman

  The Law

  64,739

  Mr. H. H. Hunt

  Deputy Chairman

  Management Consultancy

  22,670

  Mr. D. G. Richards

  Deputy Chairman

  Accountancy

  26,070

  Mr. R. G. Smethurst

  Deputy Chairman

  Economics

  22,670

  Sir James Ackers

  Member

  Industry (management)

  9,128

  Mr. C. C. Baillieu

  Member

  Industry (management)

  9,128

  Mr. L. Britz

  Member

  Trade Union affairs

  9,128

  Mr. M. B. Bunting

  Member

  Industry (management)

  9,128

  Mr. K. S. Carmichael CBE

  Member

  Accountancy

  9,128

  Sir Robert Clayton CBE

  Member

  Industry (management)

  9,128

  Mr. P. H. Dean

  Member

  Industry (management)

  9,128

  Mr. A. Ferry MBE

  Member

  Trade Union affairs

  9,128

  Mr. P. S. G. Flint

  Member

  Industry (lawyer)

  9,128

  Mr. D. G. Goyder

  Member

  The Law

  9,128

  Miss A. M. Head

  Member

  Unit trusts

  9,128

  Mr. J. D. Keir QC

  Member

  Industry (lawyer)

  9,128

  Mr. L. Kelly

  Member

  Industry (management)

  9,128

  Mr. M. S. Lipworth

  Member

  Insurance

  9,128

  Professor S. C. Littlechild

  Member

  Economics

  9,128

  Miss P. K. R. Mann

  Member

  Advertising

  9,128

  Mr. S. McDowell CBE

  Member

  Economics

  9,128

  Mr. L. A. Mills

  Member

  Trade Union affairs

  9,128

  Mr. B. C. Owens

  Member

  Industry (management)

  9,128

  Professor R. Rees

  Member

  Economics

  9,128

  Mr. N. L. Salmon

  Member

  Industry (management)

  9,128

  Mr. D. P. Thomson

  Member

  Banking

  9,128

  Mr. C. A. Unwin MBE

  Member

  Trade Union affairs

  9,128

  Mr. S. Wainwright CBE

  Member

  Banking and Finance

  9,128

  Mr. R. Young

  Member

  Industry (management)

  9,128

  Notes:

  (1) Under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible for maintaining a panel from which additional members may be appointed to take part in any investigation into a newspaper merger.

  (2) Similarly, under section 13(10) of the Telecommunications Act 1984 the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is required to appoint not less than three additional members to the Commission to assist in any investigation under the Act.

  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the cost of running the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and whether he will itemise this over the past four years.

  Mr. Maude
  The cost of running the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in the current year and over the past four years is estimated to be:

  £'000s

  1983–84

  Outturn

  1,879

  1984–85

  Outturn

  2,029

  1985–86

  Outturn

  3,404

  1986–87

  Provisional outturn

  3,317

  1987–88

  Estimated provision

  3,563

  International Digital Communications (Merger)
  Sir Geoffrey Pattie
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any information relating to the
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  Mr. Atkins
  I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission
  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the members of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission giving their occupations and/or professional background and their remuneration.

  Mr. Maude
  The information requested is as follows:

  proposed merger between International Digital Communications and International Telecommunications of Japan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  Her Majesty's Government understand that commercial discussions are still continuing in Japan. Her Majesty's Government have consistently made clear their expectation that the issues be given a fair and objective appraisal, and are continuing to watch the situation very closely.

  Clydesdale Bank
  Mr. Salmond
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in view of the importance of the Clydesdale bank to the Scottish financial sector and the Scottish economy as a whole, he will refer its sale to the National Australia bank to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for investigation.
  321
  Mr. Maude
  The proposed sale of the Clydesdale bank to the National Australia bank is being considered by the Director General of Fair Trading, who is responsible for advising my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the question of reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. It would not be appropriate for me to prejudge the Director General's advice by commenting further at this point.

  Fire Retardant Upholstery
  Mr. Stern
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to introduce legislation to require that upholstery materials used in caravans and caravanettes manufactured in the United Kingdom be made of fire retardant materials.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no current legal requirements for the flammability of upholstery materials in road vehicles. We are trying to get European agreement to a standard as a basis for introducing such requirements in coaches where large numbers of people could be at risk in the event of a rapidly spreading fire resulting from a road accident. There are no plans at present to extend such requirements to other types of road vehicle such as caravans and caravanettes.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Boys' Education
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for initiatives to encourage boys into non-traditional fields of study and employment following the initiatives to encourage girls into the non-traditional fields of science and engineering.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  None.

  Education (Finance)
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing such information as he has about how the main cost of public education is financed, respectively, by central, state or local government in each European Economic Community member state.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  This information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  ACCESS Courses
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of (a) women and (b) men registered on ACCESS courses.

  Mr. Dunn
  This information is not collected by my Department.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest cost per pupil of the assisted places scheme.

  Mr. Dunn
  The average cost to my Department per assisted place pupil is £1,759 for the 1986–87 school year.

  Speech Therapy
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many posts for speech therapists remained unfilled at special schools in inner London at the most recent convenient date;

  (2) how many special schools in inner London are currently estimated to be without an adequate level of speech therapy.

  Mr. Dunn
  The information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to increase the number of places available for the training of speech therapists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Registration to practise as a speech therapist follows study for a degree in a relevant discipline recognised for the purpose by the College of Speech Therapists. It would be for the National Health Service as principal employer of speech therapists to approach providing institutions if it were considered that numbers on appropriate courses were insufficient.

  Educational Visits
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue guidelines to local education authorities as to the recommended ratio of adult escorts to school pupils during educational visits and school journeys; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to issue such guidelines. It would be impracticable to lay down specific ratios since much depends on the nature of the particular visit, the pupils' previous experience, and the type of terrain to be encountered on individual journeys.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary, secondary and special school pupils lost their lives during educational visits and school journeys in 1986.

  Mr. Dunn
  This information is not collected by my Department.

  Birkbeck College
  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will meet a delegation from the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs to discuss the future funding of Birkbeck college.

  Mr. Jackson
  I am ready to consider any requests to meet delegations. However, the funding of Birkbeck college within London University is a matter for the university itself which will, I understand, be reviewing the matter following various current inquiries.

TRANSPORT

  Bus Routes
  Mr. Hardy
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to review the operation of the Transport Act with particular regard to the operation of new bus routes along roads which have not previously been used for this purpose and where residents have objections.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Transport Act 1985 both provide remedies
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  in cases where roads are unsuited to bus operation. The expansion of the bus services into new areas has been of great value to many people who do not have access to a car.

  Air Passenger Safety (Smokehoods)
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the Civil Aviation Authority expects to report on its research into the use of smokehoods to protect air passengers from smoke and fumes.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Civil Aviation Authority is wholly responsible for the regulation of aviation safety. I understand that it expects to issue a decision on the use of smokehoods by the end of the year when it has completed its current research and consultations.

  November 1982

  June 1983

  November 1984

  July 1986

  1SS

  2R

  SS

  R

  SS

  R

  SS

  R

  percent.

  percent.

  percent.

  percent.

  Rear seat

  Baby (under 1 year)

  213

  30

  648

  45

  423

  49

  429

  55

  Small Child (approx 1–4 years)

  2,083

  40

  3,568

  27

  2,526

  34

  2,433

  42

  Medium Child (approx 5–9 years)

  1,599

  12

  1,985

  9

  1,492

  12

  1,971

  19

  Large Child (approx 10–13 years)

  405

  2

  517

  3

  582

  6

  732

  12

  1 SS = Sample size ie Numbers of children observed.

  2 R = Proportion restrained.

  Two other continuing studies by TRRL have highlighted the benefit of the use of child restraints in cars. An early study showed that the use of child restraints reduces the risk of overall injury by two thirds. The second study, which reported in May this year, showed that in the zero to four age group the use of child restraints reduces the risk of death by about three quarters.

  Current wearing rates are likely to be higher following national and local publicity including the BBC "That's Life" campaign. The rates are likely to deteriorate unless parents of new born children are constantly reminded of the benefits of installing and using restraints.

  Mr. Martlew
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has as to what proportion of registered cars have rear anchorage points but no rear seat belts;

  (2) if he will introduce regulations requiring the retrospective fitment of rear seat belts for cars registered between January 1981 and April 1986.

  Rear car seat occupants by severity of injury and seat belt use: Great Britain: 1985

  Severity of injury

  Seat belt in use

  Seat belt not in use

  Seat belt not fitted

  Child restraint in use

  Child restraint not in use

  Child restraint not fitted

  Restraint unknown

  Total

  Fatal

  7

  10

  240

  4

  —

  14

  58

  333

  Serious

  111

  164

  3,342

  51

  23

  240

  702

  4,633

  Slight

  692

  595

  14,498

  542

  183

  1,941

  2,743

  21,194

  Total

  810

  769

  18,080

  597

  206

  2,195

  3,503

  26,160

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Martlew
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will provide details of the latest research into the effectiveness of seat belt and child restraint use in reducing the severity of injury of children in cars;

  (2) what information he has as to the proportion of children who are currently restrained in the rear of cars.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Surveys published by the Department's Transport and Road Research Laboratory show that between 1982 and 1986 the overall wearing rate for all child occupants in the rear of cars has increased from 26 per cent. to 31 per cent. The highest increase is for those under one year old. The results of the surveys were as follows:

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  About half the cars currently registered have rear anchorage points but no rear seat belts. The great majority of these were first registered between April 1982—when rear anchorages became a mandatory requirement—and April 1987 when rear seat belts became a mandatory requirement. It is not planned to require the retrospective fitment of rear seat belts to these or earlier registered vehicles.

  We do encourage the fitting and use of rear restraints for children and adults.

  Accident Statistics
  Mr. Martlew
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many rear-seat passengers were injured in road accidents during 1986; and if he will provide details of injury severity and restraint use.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The position of vehicle occupants is recorded only for cars. Information for 1985, the latest year available, is as follows:

  Tactile Crossings
  Mr. Allen
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what kinds of tactile designs are used for tactile crossings to help the blind; and if he will take steps to standardise them.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  A tactile paving design specifically for use at pedestrian crossings has been developed by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory in close consultation with organisations representing disabled people, including those who are visually handicapped.

  Advice on the design, purpose and layout of the tactile surface was issued to highway authorities in the Department's disability circular DU 1/86 of 13 October 1986. That advice emphasises that the surface recommended should remain distinct from those surfaces used for other purposes.

  Woolwich Ferry
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied with the current level of service on the Woolwich ferry; and what steps he is taking to improve it.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  As I said in my answer to the hon. Member on 23 June 1986 at column 61, Greenwich borough council is operating the Woolwich ferry as our agent and questions on its day-to-day operation should be addressed to the council.

  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish the consultant's report on the future of the Woolwich ferry.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I expect to receive the consultants' final report very soon now. I shall then decide what steps to take.

  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet representatives of the London borough of Greenwich and the staff of Woolwich ferry to discuss its future operations.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  When I have considered the findings and recommendations of the consultants' final report I shall discuss these with the London borough of Greenwich. It is for Greenwich to have discussions with its work force.

  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport on how many days since 1 April the Woolwich ferry has been subject to disruption; and how many scheduled crossings have been lost.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Up to 8 July, disruption has occurred on 93 days. Around 6,600 crossings have been lost.

  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate the numbers of staff employed on the Woolwich ferry in each grade at the most recent convenient date together with the comparative numbers at the same date in 1986, 1985 and 1984.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The staff are employed by the London borough of Greenwich. Questions about staff numbers should be addressed to the council.

  We assumed responsibility for the ferry on 1 April 1986 at which date, Greenwich took over the following complement, which is still operative.
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  Number

  Ferry Operatives

  Captain

  5

  Mate

  5

  Engineer

  6

  Leading Deckhand

  6

  Deckhand

  15

  Relief Deckhand

  9

  Shipkeeper

  10

  C/H Traffic Controller

  6

  Traffic Controller

  6

  Relief Traffic Controller

  6

  Car Park Attendant

  2

  Ferry Workshops

  Electrician Chargehand

  4

  Plumber

  2

  Fitter Chargehand

  1

  Fitter

  5

  Shipwright Chargehand

  1

  Shipwright

  4

  Boilermaker

  2

  Painter Chargehand

  1

  Painter

  2

  Semi Skilled Engineering Workers

  18

  Management/Administration

  Assistant Director

  0·5

  Ferry Manager

  1

  Assistant Ferry Manager

  1

  Manager Maintenance and Technical Support

  1

  Workshop Manager

  1

  Assistant Workshop Manager

  1

  Electrical Engineering Assistant

  1

  Marine Engineer

  1

  Vehicle Controller

  0·4

  Senior Administrative Officer

  1

  Administrative Assistant

  1

  Bonus Clerk

  1

  Administrative Assistant/Typist

  1

  Senior Storekeeper

  1

  Stores Assistant

  2

  Stores Clerk

  2

  We have no comparative figures prior to abolition.

  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the current level of service on the Woolwich ferry; and what has been his response.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have received two letters from members of the public. Questions on the day-to-day operation of the ferry are a matter for the London borough of Greenwich as the Department's agent.

  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what comments he has received from the London borough of Greenwich about the consultant's report on the future of the Woolwich ferry.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The London borough of Greenwich contributed to the review by consultants of the Woolwich ferry. We will discuss the final report with Greenwich.

  M1 (Roadworks)
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport (I) what roadworks are currently being undertaken on the M I motorway between London and Leicester; how long they are expected to last; what further roadworks are planned for this stretch of motorway; whether he will take steps to reduce the delay caused to motorists during the

  327
  carrying out of such works; and whether he proposes to install any additional motorway lighting on the M 1 between London and Leicester;

  (2) what roadworks are currently being undertaken on the M 1 motorway between Leicester and Scotland; how long they are expected to last; what further roadworks are planned on this stretch of motorway; whether he will take steps to reduce the delay caused to motorists during the

  Site

  Scheme

  Start—Finish dates

  J4–5

  Resurfacing

  August 1987–October 1987

  J101

  Overlay

  May 1987–October 1987

  J12–131

  Safety Fence and carriageway renewal

  October 1987–January 1988

  J14–151

  Reconstruction/overlay

  August 1987–January 1988

  JI6–171

  Central Reserve Reconstruction (Reserve Scheme)

  February 1988–March 1988

  JI91

  Construction of Junction for M1–A1 link

  Spring 1988–Autumn 1988

  J23–241

  Reconstruction/overlay

  July 1987–September 1987

  J24–R1 Trent

  Reconstruction/overlay

  October 1987–November 1987

  J231

  Reconstruction/overlay

  February 1988–March 1988

  J251

  Reconstruction/overlay (Reserve Scheme)

  February 1988–April 1988

  J39–40

  Carriageway renewal

  September 1987–December 1987

  1Lane Rental

  Further work will take place in future years, with about 5 per cent. of the route renewed each year. Minor repairs and routine maintenance will also take place from time to time. All reasonable measures will be taken to reduce delays to the road user, including the use of lane rental contracts.

  Additional lighting is proposed between the end of existing lighting near Newport Pagnell and the Buckinghamshire-Northamptonshire boundary to the north. There are no current proposals for lighting the M1 between Leicester and Leeds.

  North Circular Road (Ealing)
  Sir George Young
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he proposes to announce his decision on the public inquiry into the route of the north circular road through Ealing; and what is the reason for the delay;

  (2) when he received the inspector's report on the local public inquiry held from December 1983 to June 1984 on proposed improvements to the north circular road from Pope's lane in Hounslow to Hanger lane in Ealing; when he expects to publish it; why publication has been delayed; and what representations he has received from the local population about this matter.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The inspector's report was received in April 1985. It raised difficult issues which are taking some time to resolve and which my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport are considering. I hope that an announcement can be made before too long, at which time the report will be published. I have not received representations about the delay from local people.

  Sir Barney Hayhoe
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will publish the traffic count in respect of the section of the north circular road between Hanger lane and Chiswick roundabout and roads linking thereto in west London both before and after the opening of the M25, together with counts of traffic now using the
  328
  carrying out of such works; and whether he proposes to install any additional motorway lighting on the M I between Leicester and Scotland.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The following roadworks are currently being undertaken or planned for the remainder of 1987–88 on the M1 between London and Leeds ( where M1 terminates).

  M25 itself in the same sector; and what plans he has for updating counts of traffic flows since the opening of the M25.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I shall write to my right hon. Friend.

  M42 (Northern Section)
  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the northern section of the M42 is to be completed.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The M42 motorway is now complete and open to traffic from the M5 (southern turn) to Appleby Magna, Leicestershire. An extension northwards to the M I near the east midlands airport will be a dual carriageway all-purpose trunk road, the A42.

  Construction of the first section, the A42 Measham and Ashby bypass, will start on 3 August and take about two years to complete. Construction of the final section, the A42 Castle Donington north, will start in 1989, subject to the completion of the outstanding statutory procedures.

  Remould Tyres
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department obtained samples of remould tyres produced by Arvoland Ltd. referred to in his Department's Press Notice No. 51 dated 30 January 1987; and if he will make a statement on the current situation regarding the recall of remould tyres.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department obtained Arvoland tyres independently from three retail outlets and tested these at the Rubber and Plastics Research Association in August 1986. Further tyres were subsequently supplied directly to RAPRA by Arvoland, as part of a programme agreed with the Department to demonstrate improved product quality, between October and December when the firm went into receivership.

  Arvoland and their receivers have co-operated with the Department in recalling or destroying remould tyres following the launch of a recall campaign in November 1986. It is believed that few, if any, tyres remain on sale.

  Road Accident Statistics
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of fatal road accidents involved drink in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In 1985, at least 1,400 road deaths—over one quarter —were associated with excess alcohol. In these accidents one or more road users were found to have a blood alcohol content over 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres, the legal limit for drivers. Further details will appear in "Road Accidents Great Britain" ("The Casualty Report") later this year.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of serious accidents involved drink in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We do not know. We do know that in 1985, 6·4 per cent. of serious accidents involved a driver who failed the breath test or failed to provide a sample. This figure does not include accidents where the driver was not tested. It does not include drivers who had consumed alcohol but were below the legal limit.

  Burscough Curves Rail Extension (Southport)
  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is considering plans to reopen the Burscough curves rail extension to Southport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  No.

  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received any representations on the reopening of the Burscough curves rail extension to Southport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I received a written representation last August from my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Dover) but I have not been approached yet by the hon. Member for Southport.

  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if there have been any consultations between his Department and British Rail on whether to restore the Burscough curves rail extension to Southport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  No.

  Railways (Reopening)
  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he employs when deciding whether to reopen a rail link.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  It is for British Rail to consider the case for re-opening any rail link. Ministers would only wish to be involved in major investment proposals. As a general rule, we expect proposals for additions to the existing rail network to achieve at least a real return of 7 per cent. We would support any worthwhile investment which offered a sound prospect of improving the railways' finances.

  Tourist Attractions (Signposting)
  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many visitors a tourist resort has to attract per year before it can apply to have further words added to local road and motorway signs to attract more people.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Individual tourist attractions which are open for casual visits by the general public may be signed from motorways using the new white on brown 330
  tourist signs if they attract over 150,000 visitors per year, are situated within 20 miles of the nearest motorway junction, have adequate car parking and are open for more than 50 days per year.

  Places providing accommodation and facilities fpr pre-booked customers are not eligible for white on brown tourist signs; if they also cater for casual visitors then their eligibility for signing will be considered on the basis of the number of casual visitors. Where a town, or a rural area, has a number of smaller attractions which in total have 150,000 visitors a year then a white on brown sign may be erected on the motorway directing drivers to an information hoard just off the motorway where they can stop and obtaim details of the various attractions in the area. Major holiday resort towns which are of sufficient traffic importance are already signed from motorways as primary destinations on the standard white on blue signs. The criteria for signing tourist attractions and resorts on local roads are a matter for the local highway authority.

  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he employs for the designation of a tourist attraction or resort on motorway signs.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The criteria and arrangements for the white on brown tourist signing are set out in circular Roads 3/86. To be eligible for tourist attraction signing from a motorway, the attraction must have over 150,000 visitors a year, be within 20 miles of a motorway, have adequate parking and be open for at least 50 days in the period 1 April to 31 October each year. Caravan parks, camp sites, youth hostels and hotels are not eligible for motorway signing.

  Places providing accommodation and facilities for pre-booked customers are not eligible for white on brown tourist signs; if they also cater for casual visitors then their eligibilty for signing will he considered on the basis of the number of casual visitors. Resort towns, historic towns, or rural areas, which have a number of smaller attractions which in total meet the criteria for motorway signing, may be signed with a white on brown sign on the motorway directing drivers to an information board just off the motorway where they can obtain details of the individual attractions in the area. The individual attractions may be signed as approporiate on the local roads.

  Mr. Neil Allison (Member's Correspondence)
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth might expect a reply to his letters of 26 January, 4 March and 6 May, all of which refer to Mr. Neil Allison of Kenilworth.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I have today written to my hon. Friend to explain the reasons for delay and to send a substantive reply to his query.

  Merchant Shipping (Formal Investigations)
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Christchurch of 6 July, Official Report, column 15, he will now list those formal investigations ordered under section 55 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 which he was including, in his answer of 29 June, Official Report, column 26, as being analogous with his stated policy on non-prosecution in the case of the Herald of Free Enterprise.
  331
  Mr. David Mitchell
  In the past 10 years there have been 11 formal investigations held under the Merchant Shipping Acts, as follows:

  Vessel

  MFV Rotche/MFV Stroma II

  1978

  July 1977

  MV Hero

  1979

  November 1977

  MFV Boston Sea Ranger

  1979

  December 1977

  MFV Do It Again

  1979

  January 1979

  MV Kurdistan

  1981

  March 1979

  MV Pool Fisher

  1980

  November 1979

  MV Union Star and RNLB Solomon Browne

  1983

  December 1981

  MV Grainville

  1983

  December 1981

  MV European Galeway/MV Speedlink Vanguard

  1983–84

  December 1982

  Marques

  1985–86

  June 1984

  MV Herald of Free Enterprise

  1987

  March 1987

  In the case of the Stroma II and Rotche, a prosecution was brought but the formal investigation was not held until after the criminal proceedings had been completed. It would riot he fair to the parties involved for me to comment on whether or not criminal offences were thought to have been committed in the remaining cases, but in none of them did the Department initiate any prosecution.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iran
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will outline the action which he has initiated at the United Nations to protest about the arbitrary execution of members of the Baha'i faith in the Islamic Republic of Iran; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  For the last five years, including 1987, we have co-sponsored the resolution on human rights in Iran at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. These resolutions urged the Iranian Government to respect the human rights standards set out in the instruments to which it is party. The resolutions also established and renewed the appointment of the commission's special representative on Iran, including a specific mandate to investigate the treatment of Baha'is.

  In 1985 and 1986 we also co-sponsored the resolutions on human rights in Iran at the United Nations General Assembly.

  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweath Affairs (1) if he will raise with the United Nations Human Rights Commission allegations of the use of an electric guillotine to cut off fingers of prisoners during 1986 in the Islamic Republic of Iran detailed in a recent report by Amnesty International;

  (2) if he will raise with the United Nations Human Rights Commission allegations of stoning to death of at least eight people during 1986 in the Islamic Republic of Iran detailed in a recent report by Amnesty International;

  (3) if he will raise with the United Nations Human Rights Commission allegations of the use of torture, including floggings and mock executions in the Islamic Republic of Iran detailed in a recent report by Amnesty International.

  Mr. Mellor
  For the last five years, including 1987, we have co-sponsored the resolution on human rights in Iran 332
  at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. At the next session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in February 1988, we will again make clear our continued abhorrence of all violations of human rights in Iran.

  Diplomatic Representation
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of British diplomats remaining in British interests sections of friendly powers accredited to the Syrian Arab Republic, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the People's Socialist Libyan Arab Jamahirya; and what are the equivalent number of persons purporting to be diplomats from those same countries currently based in friendly embassies in Britain.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There are three diplomatic staff in the British interests section of the Australian embassy in Damascus, one in the British interests section of the Italian embassy in Tripoli and one in the British interests section of the Swedish embassy in Tehran. There are three diplomatic staff in the Syrian interests section of the Lebanese embassy in London, one in the Libyan interests section of the Saudi Arabian embassy and one in the Iranian embassy.

  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list all known examples of involvement in terrorist incidents since 1974 of persons purporting to be diplomats accredited to the embassies in London of the Syrian Arab Republic, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the People's Socialist Libyan Arab Jamahirya, indicating in each case whether any diplomats subsequently returned to their country of origin at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Mr. Mellor
  In April 1984, the staff and occupants of the Libyan people's bureau in St. James's Square were expelled following an incident in which WPC Yvonne Fletcher was murdered by a shot fired from the people's bureau.

  Following the arrest of Nezar Hindawi in April 1986, the Syrian Ambassador was asked to waive the diplomatic immunity of three attaches on his staff to enable police to question them about their involvement with Hindawi. When the Syrian authorities refused to meet our request, we informed the Ambassador that we required the attaches to be withdrawn within seven days.

  On 24 October 1986, following the conviction of Nezar Hindawi, we announced that the United Kingdom was breaking off diplomatic relations with Syria. The Ambassador and the remaining seventeen members of his staff were given seven days in which to leave the country.

  Spain
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have reported to United Kingdom consular staff that they have been (a) physically assaulted and (b) robbed in Spain in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Eggar
  I regret that the statistics requested are not available. Only in serious cases, or those in which consular officers are requested to take follow-up action, are records
  333
  kept. Even for those it would require a disproportionate amount of time to provide figures in the categories requested.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have died in Spain in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is not mandatory for the deaths of British nationals overseas to be registered at our consulates, but the numbers of deaths of British nationals in Spain which have been so registered over the past five years are as follows:

  Number

  1982

  295

  1983

  401

  1984

  429

  1985

  350

  1986

  416

  Figures relating to the deaths specifically of British citizens are not kept separately, but they are likely to represent a very high proportion of the figures given.

  Blowpipe Missiles
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on representations made to Her Majesty's ambassador in Moscow by the Soviet Government on Monday 6 July about the supply of Blowpipe missiles to Afghan guerillas; and if he will list each of the specific allegations put to Her Majesty's ambassador and his reply to each.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Soviet Foreign Ministry made an oral statement to Her Majesty's ambassador in Moscow on 6 July. He undertook to report to London.Pravda published the statement on 8 July.

  State Security
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions officials at the British embassy in Washington have had with representatives of the United States National Security Agency about the possibility of legal action to prevent publication of Peter Wright's book "Spycatcher" in the United States.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave to him on 3 and 10 July.

  Iran—Iraq War
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his meeting with representatives of the League of Arab States on 9 July regarding the war between Iran and Iraq.

  Mr. Mellor
  At their request, a delegation from the Arab League, led by the Foreign Minister of Jordan, visited London on 9 July to discuss the Iran-Iraq conflict. Similar delegations have visited the capitals of the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. They had talks with my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

  We emphasised our deep concern over the continuation of the conflict, which threatens the stability of the region and freedom of navigation in the Gulf.
  334
  The delegation expressed gratitude for our continuing efforts in New York, and all were agreed on the value of current United Nations activity aimed at an early mandatory Security Council resolution.

  King of Morocco
  Mr. Alton
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to whether the King of Morocco, or any member of his party, will be meeting representatives of any armaments manufacturers at any stage during his state visit beginning on 14 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Representatives of a large number of British companies, including some with interests in arms manufacture, have been invited to functions during King Hassan's state visit.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will offer his services as a mediator between the Polisario Front and Morocco, with a view to ending the conflict in Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. We fully support the efforts already being made by the UN Secretary General to bring about a peaceful solution to the Western Sahara dispute.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members (Bleepers)
  Mr. Barry Field
  asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will consider issuing hon. Members with a world-wide wrist bleeper to enable Parliament to be recalled during the recess in the case of a national emergency.

  Mr. Wakeham
  No. The Services Committee considered the question of radiopaging in its second report of 1986–87 (HC207). The Committee recommended against the House providing its own radiopaging service, but expressed the view that Members who wished to subscribe to such a service in connection with their parliamentary duties should be free to do so out of their office allowance.

  My hon. Friend will no doubt wish to leave word as to his whereabouts with my right hon. Friend the Patronage Secretary before he goes away.

ENERGY

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Skinner
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to meet the chairman of British Coal about the future of the industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Orme
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Coal to discuss the future of the industry.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I had an initial meeting with the chairman on 29 June, and intend to meet him regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

  Mr. Hannam
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next plans to meet the chairman of British Coal to discuss coal prices.
  335
  Mr. Parkinson
  I intend to meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

  Mr. Ashby
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to lay orders under sections 6 and 7 of the Coal Industry Act 1987.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I hope to do so shortly.

  Mr. Barron
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Coal; and what issues were discussed.

  Financial Support to the Coal Industry (£ million)

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Total

  Deficit and Operating Grants

  189

  175

  455

  386

  875

  2,225

  50

  290

  4,645

  Social Grants

  62

  79

  120

  134

  270

  189

  513

  594

  1,961

  Pneumoconiosis

  —

  1

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Total Grants1

  251

  255

  577

  521

  1,146

  2,414

  563

  884

  6,611

  RMPS

  16

  16

  49

  81

  191

  202

  566

  614

  1,735

  Total Support2

  267

  271

  626

  602

  1,337

  2,616

  1,129

  1,498

  8,346

  1 Figures are on an accruals basis.

  2 This represents total Government support for the industry and includes RMPS amounts paid direct to redundant mineworkers.

  In addition the Government has supported the following levels of capital investment by the coal industry.

  £ million

  1979–80

  661

  1980–81

  807

  1981–82

  812

  1982–83

  842

  1983–84

  702

  1984–85

  371

  1985–86

  660

  1986–87

  650

  Total

  5,505

  Mr. Knox
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the increase in labour productivity in the coal mining industry compared with 1983–84.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton).

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has yet had the opportunity to meet the chairman or board members of British Coal to discuss the future of the coal mining industry.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I intend to meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his plans for the coal industry.

  Mr. Rogers
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the future of the coal industry.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The objectives agreed between the Government and the chairman of British Coal, Sir Robert Haslam, were announced to the House on 11 March. They remain valid.

  Mr. Hardy
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to privatise British Coal during the lifetime of the present Parliament.
  336
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My right hon. Friend I met the chairman on 29 June, and intend to meet him regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

  Mr. Sumberg
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of the Government's financial support to British Coal for each financial year since 1979–80.

  Mr.Michael Spicer
  The information requested by my hon.Friend is as follows.

  Michael Spicer
  We have no such plans.

  Central Electricity Generating Board
  Dr. Michael Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he last had a meeting with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I have met the chairman once since joining the Department and will be meeting him on a regular basis in future.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Meale
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to promote the development of combined heat and power.

  Mr Peter Morrison
  We are continuing to promote combined heat and power through the energy efficiency demonstration scheme and the energy efficiency survey scheme. We are also contributing to the cost of the studies in the lead cities.

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to meet representatives of the Combined Heat and Power Association.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I have no immediate plans to meet representatives of the Combined Heat and Power Association.

  Gas Bill Vouchers
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when gas bill vouchers are to be dispatched; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The gas vouchers will be dispatched this week to qualifying shareholders who were on the register on 30 June. Some 1·2 million of the present 3 million shareholders chose vouchers; around 1·8 million chose the share bonus alternative.

  North Sea Oil
  Mr. McCartney
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on future prospects for the North sea oil industry.

  Mr. Waller
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the effects of the recent stability of world oil prices at higher levels on United Kingdom continental shelf oil production and new offshore development.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The signs are that development activity is beginning to pick up again in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea; many oil companies are now concentrating on the longer term and looking on the North sea as a priority area, as clearly demonstrated by the response to the recent 10th round of licensing.

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. Stern
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he plans to publish a consultation document on the privatisation on the electricity industry.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  We are engaged in widespread consultation and will bring forward our proposals as soon as our consideration of the important issues involved is complete.

  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the future of the electricity generating industry.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) earlier today.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board to discuss the construction of new power stations.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I met the chairman of the CEGB recently and we discussed a wide range of issues. Applications for consent to the construction of power stations are a matter for the CEGB and I have received no applications either for coal-fired or nuclear stations.

  Mr. Hayward
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to introduce a regulatory system for prices in the electricity supply industry when it is privatised.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Proper regulation will certainly be necessary and will depend on the structure of the privatised industry, which is currently under consideration.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to make competition a priority when determining his plans for the privatisation of electricity.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Yes.

  Mr. Ashton
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the future of the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The Government are working to secure a very successful future for the electricity supply industry in the private sector. We are urgently tackling the important issues involved, and consulting widely, and will bring forward proposals as soon as this work is complete.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Couchman
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what potential for improved energy efficiency in industry and commerce he can identify following Energy Efficiency Year.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Energy Efficiency Year was successful because it raised awareness of the cost-effective benefits of improved energy efficiency. Action already under way in industry and commerce is now leading to savings of over £500 million a year and we estimate that further annual savings of £2 billion are still possible through the introduction of cost-effective measures. This can be achieved only if managers and their staff continue to realise that the benefits of increased energy efficiency flow straight to the bottom line—benefiting customers and shareholders alike.

  Offshore Licences
  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received concerning the 10th offshore licence awards announced on 18 May.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I have received no formal representations, but many successful applicants in the 10th Round have expressed satisfaction.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Eadie
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are his plans for privatisation in his Department's area of responsibility.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I shall be bringing forward proposals for privatisation of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales.

  Offshore Energy Technology Board
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if his hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Energy will continue to chair the Offshore Energy Technology Board.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Yes.

  Nuclear Power Reactors
  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the number of foreign and United Kingdom civil nuclear power reactors, respectively.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The data are as follows:

  Nuclear reactors connected to the grid at end-December 1986

  Reactors (No)

  Capacity (GW)

  United Kingdom

  38

  10·2

  Rest of World

  359

  263·5

  Source: IAEA

  Tidal Barrages
  Mr. Alton
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans for the future development of tidal barrages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Secretary of State announced in July 1986 a major extension for the United Kingdom's tidal energy programme. The programme of work on the
  339
  Severn and Mersey tidal barrages and supporting generic studies are well under way and good progress is being made.

  Coal-fired Power Stations
  Mr. Beith
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to introduce new coal-fired power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  It is for the CEGB to put forward applications for new power stations. I have received no application in respect of a coal-fired station, and it would be inappropriate for me to make a statement.

  Fast Reactor Technology
  Mr. Wallace
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in the European collaborative programme on the development of fast reactor technology; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Joint work programmes have been agreed for over 80 R & D topics and work on these is being taken forward in member countries.

  Radioactivity
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has about recent problems experienced by French nuclear reactors involving leaks of radioactive material.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Nothing significant has been reported to Her Majesty's Government under the bilateral agreement with France about recent problems at French nuclear reactors. Details of these problems are freely available, and are to be found in a bi-monthly bulletin published by the French Ministry of Industry titled "Bulletin Sur La Sûreté des Installations Nucleaires".

  British Gas
  Mr. Leigh
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on the recent performance of British Gas in relation to profits and standing charges.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Privatisation has brought new opportunities to the company and reinforced incentives for efficiency to the benefit of customers and shareholders alike. British Gas has announced profits on an historic cost basis of £1,293 million before tax.

  At the same time, a 4·5 per cent. tariff reduction has been announced, with both rates per therm and standing charges being reduced.

  The reduction passes on to tariff customers the lower gas purchase prices now forecast by British Gas, as well as efficiency gains, as required by the new regulatory system whose operation is monitored by OFGAS.

WALES

  Public Libraries
  Mr. Ray Powell
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will publish a table showing the level of expenditure on public libraries in Wales in each financial year since 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is as follows:340

  Net expenditure on public library services fall Wales)

  £'000

  1978–79

  9,693

  1979–80

  11,009

  1980–81

  12,915

  1981–82

  14,120

  1982–83

  15,337

  1983–84

  16,233

  1984–85

  16,823

  1985–86

  17,327

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

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The December 1986 sample census figures show that the Welsh beef breeding herd has increased by 4·9 per cent. compared with December 1985 and there was an encouraging increase of 11·4 per cent. in the number of heifers in calf intended for the beef rearing herd.

  The agreement obtained at the December 1986 Agriculture Council secured the beef variable premium scheme, under which £5·3 million was paid to producers in Wales in 1986–87, for a further two years, and took steps to cut back intervention. These changes will bring the regime more into line with market realities and provide producers with greater assurance for the longer-term stability of the sector. In addition, specialist beef producers continue to beneft from the suckler cow premium (increased to £33·40 per eligible animal for 1987–88) which was worth £3·5 million in Wales in 1985–86.

  Out-Patient Waiting Lists
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what factors he attributes the 35 per cent. increase in the hospital out-patient waiting lists in Wales between 1979 and 1986.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of people on hospital outpatient waiting lists is determined by two factors: the number of patients referred to out-patient clinics and the number of people seen and thereby removed from the lists. The number of new out-patients seen during 1986 was greater than the number seen in 1979 by 17·7 per cent. The number on out-patient waiting lists rose despite this, because the rate of increase of referrals was faster than the rate of increase of out-patients seen.

  Water Rates
  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the average household bill for water rates for each regional water authority in Wales for each year separately between 1979 and 1987.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested for the Welsh water authority is as follows:

  Average domestic bill for unmeasured consumers (cash terms/

  £

  1979–80

  49·08

  1980–81

  60·38

  341

  £

  1981–82

  66·76

  1982–83

  81·34

  1983–84

  86·35

  1984–85

  92·77

  1985–86

  103·91

  1986–87

  114·01

  1987–88

  122·61

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the figures for the numbers of households where water supplies have been disconnected, showing where possible the reasons for disconnection for each year separately between 1979 and 1987.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is as follows:

  Household disconnection for non-payment in Welsh Water Authority area

  Number

  1984–85

  90

  1985–86

  350

  1986–87

  950

  Information on household disconnections prior to 1984–85 is not held centrally.

  Radiation (Monitoring)
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied with the extent and effectiveness of radiation monitoring conducted by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Yes. Monitoring of radiocaesium levels in sheep is being undertaken on a regular basis at a number of locations both inside and around the boundaries of the restricted areas. In addition, where a producer wishes to move sheep out of the restricted area for marketing or flock management purposes, the sheep concerned are individually live monitored and those that are above the action level are marked to prevent their slaughter.

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the scientific advice available to his Department on radio-caesium levels in hill land; and if he will give an indication of the latest advice available to him about the time period for which levels are likely to remain high enough to necessitate restrictions on sheep and lamb movements.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 28 April 1987, at column 67. The programme of research and monitoring is continuing and results will be published in the normal way.

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish details of all radiation measurements conducted by his Department on grassland and sheepmeat since 1 January.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The available data has already been published and copies placed in the Library of the House.

  Sheep Movement Restrictions
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total value of compensation paid to date to farmers who have been affected by restrictions on movements of sheep and lambs.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  To date, some £2·7 million has been paid to producers in Wales affected by the restrictions on the movement and slaughter of sheep and lambs following the Chernobyl incident.

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of farm holdings and the number of sheep and lambs currently affected by the order restricting movements; in how many cases restrictions have been extended, and for what reason; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  There are roughly 335 holdings with over 200,000 sheep and lambs within the restricted areas. Restrictions have been reintroduced in an area west of Llanuwchllyn where monitoring has identified readings above the action level in some sheep.

DEFENCE

  Export Sales
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries of the world to which the United Kingdom has exported arms since May 1979.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  A list of 121 countries with which contracts for military equipment were signed since May 1979 and which were notified to the Ministry of Defence is as follows. As such, the list, although substantially correct, may not be comprehensive, because not all private orders, particularly those of a minor nature, are notified to the Defence Export Services Organisation.

  Algeria

  France

  Angola

  Gabon

  AR Yemen

  Gambia

  Argentine

  Ghana

  Australia

  Greece

  Austria

  Grenada

  Bahamas

  Guinea (Conakry)

  Bahrain

  Guyana

  Bangladesh

  Honduras

  Barbados

  Hong Kong

  Belgium

  Iceland

  Belize

  India

  Benin

  Indonesia

  Bolivia

  Iran

  Botswana

  Iraq

  Brazil

  Israel

  Brunei

  Italy

  Burkina Fasso

  Ivory Coast

  Burma

  Jamaica

  Cameroon

  Japan

  Canada

  Jordan

  Chad

  Kenya

  Chile

  Kuwait

  Colombia

  Lebanon

  Cyprus

  Lesotho

  Czechoslovakia

  Liberia

  Denmark

  Libya

  Dominican Republic

  Luxemburg

  Ecuador

  Malagasy

  Egypt

  Malawi

  Eire

  Malaysia

  Ethiopia

  Maldive Islands

  Fiji

  Mali

  Finland

  Mexico

  FR Germany

  Morocco

  343

  Mozambique

  Singapore

  Nepal

  Somalia

  Netherlands

  Spain

  New Zealand

  Sri Lanka

  Niger

  St. Vincent

  Nigeria

  Sudan

  Norway

  Surinam

  Oman

  Swaziland

  Pakistan

  Sweden

  Panama

  Switzerland

  Papua New Guinea

  Syria

  Paraquay

  Tanzania

  PDR Yemen

  Thailand

  Peru

  Togo

  Philippines

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Poland

  Tunisia

  Portugal

  Turkey

  PR China

  UAE

  Qatar

  Uganda

  Republic of Korea

  Uruguay

  Romania

  USA

  Rwanda

  Venezuela

  Saudi Arabia

  Yugoslavia

  Senegal

  Zambia

  Seychelles

  Zimbabwe

  Sierra Leone

  Intermediate Nuclear Forces
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has assessed the implications for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's policy of flexible response of the present intermediate nuclear forces discussions.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 6 July, at column 58

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the number of nuclear weapons (a)possessed and (b) operated under dual key arrangements by the United Kingdom in each of the following ranges: (i) 0 to 500 km, (ii) 500 to 1,000 km, (iii) 1,000 to 5,500 km and (iv) 5,500 km and above; and if he will further subdivide each category into land, sea and air-based systems.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Details on the number of United Kingdom nuclear warheads is classified, as is the number of United States nuclear weapons assigned to United Kingdom nuclear delivery systems. However, unclassified information about United Kingdom nuclear forces is summarised in paragraph 404 of volume I of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1986" (Cmnd 9763). I also refer the hon. Member to annex A, volume 1, of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987" (Cmnd 101-I), in particular figures 15 and 16, which show NATO's nuclear systems according to range.

  Naval History
  Mr. Trotter
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement as to the extent to which naval history is taught at Dartmouth; and if he will take steps to ensure that young officers are adequately instructed as to the traditions of the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Freeman
  The naval history course at Britannia Royal naval college, Dartmouth, is taught during the first term of naval general training. The term is 14 weeks in length and the course is made up of 14 lectures, followed by a written examination.
  344
  Proposals currently under consideration would increase the amount of time available for the teaching of naval history, and allow a more strategic and thematic approach to be adopted.

  Training will continue to include instruction in the values and traditions of the Royal Navy. They are, and will continue to be, an essential part of the training of young officers at Dartmouth.

  Jaguar and Tornado (Accidents)
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, South of Tuesday 30 June, Official Report, column 51, how many civilians have been killed or injured and what is the value of property damaged in Jaguar and Tornado aircraft accidents since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No civilian injuries or fatalities resulted from the accidents referred to in my answer of 30 June. As the hon. Member will be aware, the Ministry of Defence makes every effort to ensure that members of the public do not suffer loss or material damage as a result of Royal Air Force operations. Anyone so affected is encouraged to submit a claim for compensation under long-standing procedures. A complete record of compensation claims for the period in question cannot be compiled at such short notice. However, since 1982, claims to the value of £30,000 have been settled as a result of Tornado and Jaguar accidents. Claims originating from recent accidents are still under consideration.

  Army Cadet Corps (Inner Cities)
  Sir John Farr
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to establish an Army Cadet Corps unit in Leicester and in other inner-city areas.

  Mr. Freeman
  I will answer shortly.

  El Salvador (Training Facilities)
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any plans to extend training facilities to any further cadets or forces personnel from El Salvador and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are no current applications for military training assistance from the Government of El Salvador.

  Stornoway Airport
  Mr. Macdonald
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to extend or to reduce housing provision at Stornoway airport; what plans there are for the future military development of Stornoway airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are no current plans to increase or decrease married quarter holdings at RAF Stornoway, as the existing houses are expected to be able to cope with the planned manning levels. There are no plans to extend the development or increase the military usage of Stornoway airport.

  Type 23 Frigate
  Mr. Frank Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to ask for tenders for the next batch of type 23 frigates.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Decisions on further follow-on orders for type 23 frigates will be made when appropriate.

  Defence Expenditure
  Mr. Bevan
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish his response to the first report from the Defence Committee on "Expenditure on Major Defence Projects: Accountability to the House of Commons", H.C. 340, Session 1986–87; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Younger
  Yes. The Committee has already been notified that I shall arrange for the first defence equipment project report to be submitted to it in 1988. I note that the Committee's proposal in paragraph 33 of its report concerning highly classified projects is addressed to its successor Committee.

EMPLOYMENT

  Women
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment (a)what data are available to indicate that women who may wish to work part-time also wish to be eligible for fewer and lesser employment rights and benefits than women working full-time and (b) whether he will list the data.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I know of no such data, but there is some evidence that current employment protection legislation, including that intended to protect part-time workers, deters employers from creating new jobs.

  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the statistical information which illustrates that the YTS has revolutionised the opportunities girls have to obtain vocational qualifications as stated in the Home Office report: "The Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women: A Review."

  Mr. Nicholls
  YTS is a two-year equal opportunity training scheme aiming to provide trainees of both sexes with vocational qualifications. Suitable qualifications are being identified on behalf of the Manpower Services Commission by a YTS certification board. These qualifications are progressively coming on stream in YTS. Until the board has completed its work and a full range of qualifications is available in YTS, it is not possible to provide reliable statistical data on the general impact of qualifications across YTS. The latest information applicable to one-year YTS indicates that the acquisition of qualifications is equally divided between males and females. The fact that YTS provides widespread and equal opportunities means that the scheme has broken new ground for opening up opportunities for girls.

  Employment and Family Commitments
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department is monitoring the
  346
  extent to which parental leave and flexible working arrangements, designed to help parents combine employment and family commitments, are being adopted by employers in response to the Government's encouragement, rather than a statutory obligation, to do so.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department is not aware of any surveys on the extent to which employers and employees have agreed arrangements specifically for the purpose of helping working parents to combine employment and family commitments. However, it closely monitors all research carried out into the general question of flexible working patterns, and has itself commissioned and carried out studies yielding relevant information.

  Training (Disabled People)
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give the number of disabled people who have applied for places on the new job training scheme; and if he will express this number as a percentage of the total number of applicants to the scheme;

  (2) if he will give the number of disabled people who have been accepted for places on the new job training scheme; and if he will express this number as a percentage of the total number of people accepted on the scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  Information on the number of disabled people who have applied for places on the new job training scheme is not available. However, research carried out during the pilot stage of the scheme showed that 13 per cent. of trainees had a health or disability problem. A comprehensive follow-up survey of trainees is planned to take place later in the year.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will outline any measures, including any special funding arrangements, available to ensure that disabled people derive maximum benefit from the job training scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  Arrangements have been made to ensure equality of opportunity in the new job training scheme for people with disabilities. Managing agents have a contractual commitment to provide equal opportunities in their scheme regardless of sex, race or disability and will in due course have to satisfy the criterion on equal opportunities for approved training organisation status. The scheme design allows training programmes to be drawn up according to the particular needs and abilities of individuals, including people with disabilities.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how the criteria for a place on the job training scheme co-ordinate with criteria for other programmes, including the youth training scheme, community programme and new workers scheme, with regard to disabled people.

  Mr. Cope
  The new job training scheme is open to all those aged 18 or over who have been signing at an unemployment benefit office for at least the last six months. It is one of a number of MSC programmes which provide a wide range of opportunities for people with disabilities.

  The eligibility criteria programmes vary and overlap depending on the objectives of the individual programmes. Specialist careers officers or the disablement resettlement officers, as appropriate, help disabled people to decide on the opportunities most suitable for them.
  347
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the voluntary organisations of and for disabled people which were consulted prior to the introduction of the job training scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission consulted a wide range of organisations, including the voluntary sector and organisations dealing with disabled people, before the national extension of the new job training scheme in April 1987. The scheme has also been considered at length by the commission and its advisory bodies.

  Four-day Week
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of full-time employees in (a) manufacturing, and (b) service industries whose terms of employment allow them to work a four-day week.

  Mr. Lee
  Information from which to produce such estimates is not available. Some national collective agreements specify the number of days per week to be worked and details of these are included in the Department's publication "Time Rates of Wages and Hours of Work", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Crown lintel Classification Scheme
  Mr. Gregory
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what results there are to date following the introduction of the crown hotel classification scheme; and how many hotels have failed to meet the specification.

  Mr. Lee
  To date, over 9,800 applications for registration under the crown classification scheme have been received by the English tourist hoard. According to English tourist hoard figures, less than 20 have failed to meet the criteria for registration.

  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to extend the crown rating system to all hotels, guest houses and holiday flats.

  Mr. Lee
  This is a matter for the English tourist board. However, I understand that, as well as the existing voluntary crown classification scheme covering all serviced accommodation and the rose award grading and classification scheme for holiday parks, the board is planning to introduce a verification scheme for self-catering accommodation before the end of the year.

  Tourism
  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what criteria grants are provided for tourist projects such as the building of new local accommodation or the funding of tourist attractions.

  Mr. Lee
  The English tourist board can provide financial assistance under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 to help with the capital cost of tourism projects in England which would not otherwise be able to go ahead, either at all or in the planned form or timescale. Projects must be commercially viable and make a positive contribution to employment and to the tourism potential of the area concerned.

  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what help he provides for private enterprise schemes within the tourist industry; and if he will make a statement.
  348
  Mr. Lee
  Private sector tourism projects are eligible for consideration under the section 4 scheme of selective financial assistance run by the English tourist board. In 1986–87, the ETB approved offers of assistance totalling £14 million, the major part of which went to private sector schemes. Private companies can also benefit both directly and indirectly from marketing activities carried out by the ETB and the regional tourist boards in England and, overseas, by the British Tourist Authority.

  YTS
  Mr. Gregory
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the most recent statistics for the number of YTS places taken up in tourism-related jobs.

  Mr. Lee
  There is no precise definition of tourism-related YTS places, but in 1985–86, the most recent year for which information is currently available, there were around 8,600 starts in Great Britain on YTS places which were classified to the hotel and catering industry, which includes tourist accommodation. In addition, the Association of British Travel Agents and a number of individual tour operators run YTS schemes offering over 2,000 places for young people wishing to train in the travel industry.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD)

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate in £ sterling of the average cost per head in the United Kingdom of the United Kingdom contribution to the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The United Kingdom contributes to the EC budget as a whole, rather than to individual items of expenditure, at approximately 20 per cent. abated by the Fontainebleau mechanism.

  The 1987 budget provides for expenditure of 24,174 mecu (£16,670 million) under the common agricultural policy. The forecast of United Kingdom receipts from the CAP in 1987–88 is £1,399 million.

  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1987, c. 121]: A note setting out the volume of Community intervention stocks and private storage stocks, including those of foodstuffs, on the latest available dates has been deposited in the Library of the House, and updated monthly, since January 1985. The most recent note was deposited on 1 July. Comparable information on EC stock levels in years previous to 1985 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Intervention Stores
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent on

  349
  maintaining European Economic Community food intervention stores in London by borough in each of the past four years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1987, c. 221]: I regret that records are not kept in a form which enables this information to be readily extracted. Expenditure on storage and related costs in the United Kingdom was

  £000

  1983–84

  48,623

  1984–85

  57,655

  1985–86

  124,595

  1986–87

  1128,521

  1Provisional.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Ministerial Responsibility
  Mr. Franks
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list his precise responsibilities for the organisation, management and overall efficiency of the Home Civil Service.

  Mr. Luce
  I would refer my hon. Friend to the recent MPO report "The Challenge of Change in the Civil Service", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  General Medical Council
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service if the Lord President of the Council is satisfied with the operation of paragraph 60 of the General Medical Council (Preliminary Proceeding Committee and Professional Conduct Committee) (Procedure Rules) Order of Council 1980, (S.I., 1980, No. 858) concerning transcripts of proceedings of the professional conduct committee of' the General Medical Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  Yes. My right hon. and noble Friend is satisfied that the General Medical Council's procedure conforms with the rule approved by the Privy Council.

  Central Unit on Purchasing
  Sir David Price
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service if the Government intend to retain the Central Unit on Purchasing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  The joint Cabinet Office/Treasury central unit on purchasing was set up in 1985 for a period of three years. Its future will be reviewed nearer to the end of the three-year period.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Income Tax (Childminding Costs)
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the tax expenditure costs of allowing working mothers to put their childminding costs up to a maximum of £35 a week against income tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The cost of relief for the childminding costs of working mothers would depend on a number of factors such as whether the relief would be 350
  available only for children of pre-school age or for older children as well; whether the relief would be given against the total income of a married couple or would be restricted to the income of the working mother; the treatment of relief for payments made to relatives and the extent to which relief was in practice taken up by mothers.

  As an illustration, if all working mothers of children aged under five received relief on child-minding expenses of £35 per week, the direct revenue cost, in a full year at 1987–88 levels, would be about £350 million. This assumes that, for a married woman, relief would be available against her and her husband's joint income for tax purposes. In practice, the cost would be dependent on the level of take-up of the relief.

  British Petroleum plc
  Mr. Wallace
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made for the further sale of Government-held shares in British Petroleum plc; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I announced on 18 March at column 1011 that, subject to market conditions, the Government will sell their remaining shareholding in British Petroleum during this financial year. The proceeds will be received in instalments, of which the first will be in 1987–88. The Government have appointed N M Rothschild and Sons Ltd. as their main financial advisers and are discussing arrangements for the sale with them and with British Petroleum. Further announcements will be made in due course.

  Free Ports
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans Her Majesty's Government have to extend free ports.

  Mr. Brooke
  None at present. The Government will review the future of free ports at the end of the five-year trial period.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the working of free ports; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  Yes. The free ports regime was established for a five-year trial period to see whether the benefits forecast by the designated operators can be realised. To date, some free ports have made substantial progress; others have been less successful. We will continue to monitor the experiment over the remainder of its five-year life.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs have been created at the Liverpool free port at the latest date.

  Mr. Brooke
  Approximately 100 new jobs in manufacturing and distribution have been created at Liverpool free port.

  Personal Incomes
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table indicating, on the basis of the most recent information available, what the average pre-tax per capita personal income is in each of the standard regions of the United Kingdom; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.
  351
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The estimates of the average pretax personal income per head, in each of the standard regions for each year since 1979 are as follows:

  Region

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  United Kingdom

  3,040

  3,594

  3,941

  4,315

  4,646

  4,971

  5,368

  North

  2,781

  3,345

  3,724

  4,122

  4,344

  4,489

  4,946

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,849

  3,393

  3,661

  4,082

  4,348

  4,420

  4,941

  East Midlands

  2,941

  3,458

  3,800

  4,187

  4,512

  4,886

  5,128

  East Anglia

  2,870

  3,426

  3,731

  4,175

  4,564

  4,919

  5,291

  South East

  3,441

  4,072

  4,511

  4,852

  5,276

  5,692

  6,114

  Greater London

  3,671

  4,314

  4,796

  5,206

  5,691

  6,106

  6,631

  Rest of South East

  3,284

  3,908

  4,322

  4,617

  5,004

  5,421

  5,778

  South West

  2,940

  3,520

  3,832

  4,233

  4,571

  4,908

  5,171

  West Midlands

  2,944

  3,388

  3,618

  3,963

  4,237

  4,620

  5,012

  North West

  2,890

  3,426

  3,760

  4,114

  4,384

  4,735

  5,129

  England

  3,093

  3,659

  4,013

  4,382

  4,721

  5,058

  5,455

  Wales

  2,753

  3,243

  3,482

  3,857

  4,082

  4,256

  4,710

  Scotland

  2,882

  3,403

  3,766

  4,179

  4,537

  4,841

  5,240

  Northern Ireland

  2,503

  2,895

  3,183

  3,595

  3,769

  4,058

  4,341

  Pensioners
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of disregarding for tax purposes the first (a) £5 per week, (b) £10 per week and (c) £20 per week of occupational pensions for pensioners over 65 years of age.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The full-year costs at 1987–88 levels are estimated to be about £150 million, £290 million and £510 million, respectively. These estimates are on the basis that a wife with a pension in her own right would be entitled to a separate tax exemption.

  Customs Officers (Dispute)
  Mr. Waller
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the effects of the dispute involving customs officers in terms of delays to goods imports.

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

  Coinage
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the consultation process in relation to the proposed changes in the coinage; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time employees in the Civil Service have terms of employment that allow them to work a four-day week.

  Mr. Brooke
  The terms of employment for full-time civil servants are such that, wherever practicable, it is standard practice for the conditioned hours to be worked over a live-day week. However, it is possible for 352
  departmental managements to agree to the conditioned hours being worked over a different period. There is no central record of the number of civil servants who may be covered by agreements which allow them to work a four-day week.

THE ARTS

  North-west Region
  Mr. Stott
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he plans to meet the director of North-West Arts to discuss the level of financial support in the north-west for arts education projects.

  Mr. Cunliffe
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the director of North-West Arts to discuss the level of funding for community arts projects in the northwest.

  Mr. Luce
  I met the director of North-West Arts during my tour of the region last April, when I visited several arts education projects and community arts centres.

  Mrs. Wise
  asked the Minister for the Arts how much is spent on the arts per capita in the north-west.

  Miss Lestor
  asked the Minister for the Arts how much is spent on the arts per capita in the north-west.

  Mr. Luce
  The Policy Studies Institute's publication "Facts about the arts 2" gives the following information:

  Local authority expenditure per head on arts, museums and galleries by region, 1983–84: North-West £1·84.

  Arts Council expenditure per head by region, 1984–85: North-West £0·78.

  These are the latest figures available.

  Mr. Eastham
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the director of North-West Arts to discuss the level of expenditure per head on the arts in the north-west.

  Mr. Andrew F Bennett
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last visited North-West Arts to discuss the level of arts funding in Manchester.

  Mr. Luce
  On 9 and 10 April.

  Northern Region
  Ms. Armstrong
  asked the Minister for the Arts how much is spent on the arts per capita on the northern region.

  Ms. Quin
  asked the Minister for the Arts how much is spent on the arts per capita in the northern region.

  Mr. Luce
  The Policy Studies Institute's publication "Facts about the arts 2" gives the following information:

  Local authority expenditure per head on arts, museum and galleries by region, 1983–84: Northern £2·27.

  Arts Council expenditure per head by region, 1984·85: Northern £1·13.

  These are the latest figures available.

  National Book Committee
  Mr. Buchan
  asked the Minister for the Arts if he has any plans to meet the chairman and secretary of the National Book Committee.

  Mr. Luce
  I shall be meeting the chairman (Lady David) and other representatives from the literary world at the reception I am giving on 22 July.

  British Film Institute
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the director of the British Film Institute to discuss its future funding.

  Mr. Luce
  I met the director of the British Film Institute when I visited the John Paul Getty Conservation Centre, Berkhamstead, on 31 March.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the expenditure on cinema exhibitions by the British Film Institute.

  Mr. Luce
  The BFI made available £842,590 for cinema exhibitions in 1986–87, as follows:

  £472,590 funded directly by the BFI.

  £225,000 via Regional Arts Associations.

  £120,000 cinema capital funding.

  £25,000 Regional exhibitions.

  South-west Region
  Ms. Primarolo
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the director of South West Arts to discuss the level of financial support for community arts in Bristol.

  Mr. Luce
  I met the director of South West Arts during my visit to the region on 19 March and we discussed a wide range of topics, including community arts.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Hannam
  asked the Minister for the Arts how much is spent on the standards of physical access to the arts for the disabled.

  Mr. Luce
  No national figures are available. The Arts Council has published a code of practice in which theatres and other arts bodies are encouraged to do all that they can to improve such access, and other funding bodies are acting similarly.

  Museums
  Mr. Butler
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he has any plans to seek to alter the powers of museums to dispose of items that are duplicated, surplus to requirements, or not salient to the aims of the museums concerned.

  Mr. Luce
  Most of the national museums and galleries which I sponsor already have limited statutory powers to dispose of items from the collections but I will bear in mind the point made by my hon. Friend.

  Glasgow
  Mr. Maxton
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he plans to meet the Scottish Arts Council to discuss additional funding for the arts in Glasgow.

  Dr. Godman
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he plans to meet Glasgow city council to discuss additional funding for the arts in Glasgow.

  Mr. Luce
  I expect to meet the chairman of the Scottish Arts Council when I visit the Edinburgh festival in August. No doubt we shall discuss the funding of the arts in Scotland.

  Public Libraries
  Mr. Haynes
  asked the Minister for the Arts how many public libraries have closed since 1979.

  Mr. Barron
  asked the Minister for the Arts how many public libraries have closed since 1979.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  asked the Minister for the Arts how many public libraries have closed in England and Wales since 1979.

  Mr. Luce
  The total number of service points in England increased from 13,948 in 1979–80 to 17,236 in 1985–86. The number of static libraries decreased from 3,638 to 3,411 over the same period. The reduction has occurred mainly in small libraries opening less than 10 hours a week, reflecting in part a general trend to replace small branches, which provided a very limited service, with mobiles and with larger branches covering a wider area. Responsibility for public libraries in Wales rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Public Library Book Funds
  Mr. Madden
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he will publish details of the level of financial support for public library book funds in England since 1979.

  Mr. Luce
  Support for public library book funds in England is a matter for the local authorities. Statistics published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and supplemented by information obtained by my office, indicate the following level of funding:
  355

  £ million

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Expenditure on books

  38·3

  40·2

  44·0

  49·9

  54·3

  56·2

  60·7

  Number of authorities responding

  108

  106

  108

  108

  108

  107

  108

  Statistics for 1986–87 are not yet available.

  Mrs. Mahon
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the Library Association to discuss the level of funding for public libraries.

  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the Library Association to discuss the level of financial support for public library book funds.

  Mrs. Walley
  asked the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received from the Library Association about the level of financial support for public library book funds.

  Mr. Luce
  I last met a formal delegation from the Library Association on 13 January 1986 when our discussions included funding for public libraries. I have since met and corresponded with individual officers of the association on this and other subjects on a number of occasions.

  Business Sponsorship
  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement about the progress of the business sponsorship incentive scheme for the arts.

  Mr. Luce
  The business sponsorship incentive scheme continues to be successful. It has brought £12·4 million new money into the arts and over 400 businesses have sponsored the arts for the first time.

  As I announced in the House on 12 March, at column 494, I intend to continue the scheme in 1988–89.

  Films and Television
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  asked the Minister for the Arts what steps he is taking to help preserve classic works of films and television.

  Mr. Luce
  The British Film Institute maintains the national film archive, and, thanks particularly to the great generosity of private donors, it has recently been able to open a new conservation centre at Berkhamsted. In all, the institute spent £5·2 million on the building of the centre and the transfer and preservation of film in 1986–87. Negotiations are in progress about extending the television coverage of the archive. The national heritage memorial fund donated £62,000 to the archive in 1986–87, specifically for the preservation of classic films.

  Tourism
  Sir David Price
  asked the Minister for the Arts if he regularly meets representatives of the tourist industry to discuss matters of mutual interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  I am always happy to meet representatives of the tourist industry to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  My officials regularly attend meetings of the heritage committee of the British Tourist Authority and keep closely in touch with tourism initiatives.
  356

  Wales
  Mr. Rogers
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the Welsh Arts Council to discuss future arts funding for Wales.

  Mr. Morgan
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he plans to meet the Welsh Arts Council to discuss the level of arts funding in Cardiff.

  Mr. Luce
  I met the chairman of the Welsh Arts Council shortly after his appointment last year and have no immediate plans for another meeting. The level of arts funding in Cardiff is a matter for the Welsh Arts Council.

  Per Capita Expenditure
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Minister for the Arts how much is spent per capita on the arts in Wales, England and Scotland.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Minister for the Arts what is the level of arts expenditure per head in Wales.

  Mr. Luce
  Central Government and local authority expenditures per capita on the arts in 1983–84 are shown in the Policy Studies Institute's publication "Facts about the Arts 2", as follows:

  Central Government

  Local Authorities

  Total

  £

  £

  £

  England

  3·6

  3·6

  7·2

  Wales

  5·0

  1·9

  6·9

  Scotland

  4·1

  5·2

  9·3

  These are the latest figures available.

  Royal Shakespeare Company
  Mr. Fisher
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the governors of the Royal Shakespeare Company to discuss its future funding.

  Mr. Luce
  I met the chairman, Mr. Geoffrey Cass, recently and discussed with him matters of mutual interest including the company's financial position; but the level of funding to the RSC is a matter for the Arts Council. and I understand that the two bodies are in discussion on the matter.

  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received about the future funding of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

  Mr. Luce
  I have received some representations, but would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question from the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair) earlier today.

  Scotland
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he plans to meet the Scottish Arts Council to discuss the level of future funding for theatre in Scotland.
  357
  Mr. Luce
  I expect that the subject will be discussed when I meet the chairman of the Scottish Arts Council during my visit to the Edinburgh international festival in August.

  London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he will publish a table showing the level of arts funding by each London borough.

  Mr. Luce
  Details of the estimated expenditure of local authorities on leisure and recreation services are published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in the annual booklet "Leisure and Recreation Statistics". No records in more detail are available to my office.

  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the director of Greater London Arts to discuss the level of arts funding by London boroughs.

  Mr. Boateng
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he plans to meet the director of Greater London Arts to discuss the level of arts funding by London boroughs.

  Mr. Luce
  On 12 May last.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  asked the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received about cuts in arts funding in London boroughs.

  Mr. Luce
  I have received a few representations, especially on the decision of Tower Hamlets to cut out all funding for the arts.

  Arts Marketing Scheme
  Mr. Maples
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether independent museums and galleries are eligible for the arts marketing scheme.

  Mr. Luce
  The arts marketing scheme is open to arts organisations, including museums and galleries, in receipt of Government or local authority funding. The primary purpose of the scheme is to encourage better marketing of the subsidised arts, but where regional or group marketing initiatives are involved applications which include independent museums and galleries may be considered.

  Wales (Theatre Companies)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the Welsh Arts Council to discuss the future of forming theatre companies in Wales.

  Mr. Luce
  I met the chairman of the Welsh Arts Council shortly after his appointment last year and discussed a wide range of matters with him.

  Regional Opera
  Mr. Ashby
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Arts Council to discuss regional opera.

  Mr. Luce
  I meet the chairman regularly, and opera provision is among the subjects we discuss.

  Northern Regional Arts Association
  Miss Mowlam
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the director of Northern Arts to discuss the funding of the Northern Regional Arts Association.

  Mr. Luce
  In Newcastle, last week.

  Payroll Giving Scheme
  Mr. Rowe
  asked the Minister for the Arts what plans he has to increase awareness of the payroll giving scheme among arts organisations.

  Mr. Luce
  My office has published a guide to the scheme for arts bodies, "Payroll Giving; making it work for the arts", explaining how it operates and what they can do to encourage payroll donations. This has been widely distributed amongst arts organisations, national museums and galleries, regional arts associations, and those individuals who had requested the previous OAL guide "New Tax Benefits for the Arts". My office has also arranged to distribute 3,000 copies of the leaflet in the Arts Council's bulletin this month. Action now rests with arts charities themselves to take advantage of these new benefits.

  Public Libraries (Community Services)
  Mr. Illsley
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the level of expenditure by public libraries on community services.

  Mr. Luce
  No statistics are currently available on the amount spent by public libraries on "community services". The publication by my office of a model costing system for public libraries, which I announced on 7 July, at column 15, should enable library authorities to cost the specific services they provide.

  National Gallery
  Mr. Knox
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he next plans to meet the director of the National Gallery to discuss the proposed extension.

  Mr. Luce
  I have no immediate plans to do so but I and my officials keep in close touch with the National Gallery over this important development.

  Yorkshire
  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the director of Performing Arts to discuss the funding of community arts projects in Yorkshire.

  Mr. Luce
  I met the director of Yorkshire Arts during my visit to Leeds on 2 April, and discussed the funding of the arts in Yorkshire, including the provision made for community arts.

  Leeds
  Mr. Battle
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has about the level of employment in the arts in Leeds.

  Mr. Luce
  The Regional Arts Association is aware of over 400 people employed in the arts in Leeds on a regular basis. In addition, several hundred people are engaged on short-term contract work. The major arts employers in the city are Opera North, Leeds Playhouse and the Leeds Art Gallery.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Retirement Pensioners (Television Licences)
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his estimate of the number of retirement pensioners holding (a) a colour and (b) a black and white television licence;

  (2) what estimates are available to him of the cost of introducing (a) a 50 per cent. colour television licence fee and (b) a 50 per cent. black and white television licence fee for all retirement pensioners.

  Mr. Renton
  The latest available estimates of pensioner households with television licences, which are for 31 December 1985. are given in the following table. The estimated annual losses of revenue from introducing 50 per cent. colour and monochrome television licence fees for pensioner households, assuming no change to the current accommodation and residential care concessionary scheme or in the pattern of television ownership, would he of the order of £160 million and £7 million respectively.

  Estimated number of pensioner households1 with television licences

  United Kingdom

  Thousands of households

  Colour

  Monochrome

  Total

  Number of households covered by the current accommodation and residential care scheme

  350

  50

  400

  Number of households with full-rate licences

  5,500

  800

  6,300

  1 Households containing one or more pensioners.

  Police Interviews (Tape Recording)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on tape recording statements; and how soon he expects all statements made to the police by suspects to be tape recorded.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Following the completion of successful field trials last year, my right hon. Friend indicated his desire to see tape recording introduced on a nationwide basis by 1991. Provision has been made in the police capital works programme to enable forces to undertake necessary building work and to purchase appropriate equipment. The need to carry out such work, to provide some further training for the officers who will do the interviewing and to ensure that local arrangements are introduced when other agencies in the criminal justice system are also ready for them, requires that this introduction should be phased. I understand that in a number of force areas, the tape recording of interviews is already taking place in accordance with locally agreed arrangements and that it is working well.

  General Election
  Mr. Forth
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give, for the general election of 11 June, details of those candidates whose election addresses were queried or rejected, for the purpose of Post Office delivery, by head postmasters.
  360
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information of this kind is not recorded centrally. If my hon. Friend has some particular incident in mind, I should be pleased to hear from him.

  Immigration
  Mr. Fraser
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the working of the immigration rules relating to marriage.

  Mr. Renton
  The operation of the immigration rules, including those relating to marriage, is kept under regular review.

  Magistrates Courts (Fines and Fees)
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total income from fines and fees collected by magistrates courts in 1985–86.

  Mr. John Patten
  The total income from fines and fees collected by magistrates courts in England and Wales in 1985–86 was £143,146,000.

  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total income from fines and fees collected by magistrates courts since 1985–86.

  Mr. John Patten
  The total income from fines and fees collected by magistrates courts in 1986–87 in England and Wales was £159,045,000; and for the first quarter of 1987–88 it was £43,850,000.

  Syrian Embassy (Bomb Incident)
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any Arab terrorists were subsequently identified by police inquiries as responsible for the incident on 3 June 1985 when a bomb was placed outside the Syrian embassy in London; and whether any charges were subsequently brought against any person or persons.

  Mr. Hurd
  No one has been charged in connection wit h this incident. A suspect was arrested by the Italian authorities on 2 July 1985 in Rome in connection with the investigation of a number of terrorist offences throughout Europe. He was questioned by the Metropolitan police about the bomb at the Syrian Embassy in London on 3 June 1985. He has since been charged with an offence under Italian law and is at present awaiting trial in Italy.

  Zircon Satellite
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the number of officers still working full-time on the case of disclosure of material relating to the Zircon satellite.

  Mr. Hurd
  I am informed that there are no Metropolitan police officers still working full-time on the case.

  Crime
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of homicides involved drink in the last year for which figures are available;

  (2) what proportion of rapes involved drink in the last year for which figures are available.
  361
  Mr. John Patten
  Information on the use of alcohol in connection with notifiable offences is not collected centrally.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extensions of detention requested by the police under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 have been personally considered and granted or refused by (a) the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (b) a junior Minister for the Home Department, (c) a Home Office official, (d) the Secretary of State for another Department and (e) a junior Minister for another Department.

  Mr. Hurd
  Of the requests by the police for extensions of detention under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 made to the Secretary of State for the Home Department(a) my predecessor and I have personally considered 161 and granted 159 (b) a Minister of State or Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department considered 14 and granted 13 and (c) (d) and (e) none were decided by a Home Office official, or Secretary of State or junior Minister for another Department.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there are any plans to publish in his Department's quarterly statistics on the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts the numbers of complaints made against the police in relation to the Prevention of Terrorism Act which are made available to the Prevention of Terrorism Act Commissioner.

  Mr. Hurd
  No.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons excluded under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts were originally detained in London.

  Mr. Hurd
  I shall reply as soon as possible.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons excluded under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974, 1976 and 1984 were excluded direct from prison after completing a prison term.

  Mr. Hurd
  I shall reply as soon as possible.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to decide whether a person requesting a review of his exclusion order made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974, 1976 or 1984 is granted one.

  Mr. Hurd
  All exclusion orders now in force have been made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1984. Orders made under this Act have a three-year life. Each order is reviewed about six months before it expires before I decide whether to make a new order on the expiry. In considering a request for a review of an exclusion order before that time, I take into account the factors which led to the making of the order and the time which has elapsed since it was made.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons whose exclusion order made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary
  362
  Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 and revoked during the three-year comprehensive review process had attended an interview with the Metropolitan police.

  Mr. Hurd
  The information requested is not readily available.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals were successfully contacted from 1984 in connection with the comprehensive review of exclusion orders made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 that were still in force.

  Mr. Hurd
  The information requested is not readily available, I will reply as soon as possible.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many excludees had attended interviews with a Home Office adviser prior to having their exclusion order revoked as a part of making representations against their order within the specified period following removal under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 and 1984.

  Mr. Hurd
  Only under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 has someone who made representations against his exclusion order following removal from Great Britain or Northern Ireland of the United Kingdom had a right to an interview with an adviser. There have been six completed cases of representations, against exclusion orders made in Great Britain under that Act, following removal. In two of these cases, in both of which the excluded person had had an interview with an adviser, the Home Secretary revoked the exclusion order.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were initially offered an interview with a Home Office adviser as part of the representations against their exclusion order under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974, 1976 or 1984; and how many declined to attend.

  Mr. Hurd
  Twelve people were offered interviews with a Home Office adviser as part of the representations made against their exclusion order made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974. None declined to attend. Under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 there was, and there is under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984, a statutory right for a person who has been served with notice of the making of an exclusion order to include in his or her representations against the order a request for a personal interview with an adviser. Under the 1976 Act, if the excluded person had not been removed with his consent from Great Britain or Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom, he or she had to be granted a personal interview with the adviser. Under the 1984 Act, this right extends to a person who has been removed.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals held under the international provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 and against whom an extension of detention was authorised by the Secretary of State were (a) subsequently charged with an offence or (b) deported under the Immigration Act 1971.

  Mr. Hurd
  I shall reply as soon as possible.
  363
  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of international terrorism there have been in (a) the Metropolitan police area, and (b) the rest of Britain during the following periods: (i) 1 January 1981 to 29 March 1984, and (b) since 30 March 1984 to the latest date for which figures are available.

  1981

  May—December 1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  January—June 1987

  Shooting incidents

  —

  1

  —

  3

  2

  3

  —

  Bombing incidents exploded

  9

  3

  4

  6

  2

  2

  —

  neutralised or failed to explode

  1

  2

  1

  4

  4

  —

  5

  Arson attacks

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Kidnappings

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Hi jacking of aircraft

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals arrested on suspicion of involvement in international terrorism since 30 March 1984 were arrested under the ordinary criminal law rather than the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 in (a) the Metropolitan police area, and (b) the rest of Britain.

  Mr. Hurd
  The number of persons suspected of involvement in international terrorism who are arrested under other legislation than the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 is not recorded, and could not readily be obtained.

  Ceremonial State Events (Traffic Congestion)
  Dr. Marek
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on measures taken to minimise traffic congestion arising as a result of ceremonial state events occurring on weekdays.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am informed by the Commissioner that, prior to such events, the police plan alternative routes in consultation with other agencies, and that advance warning of likely congestion is given through signs and notices to the local media, motoring organisations and local businesses etc. On the day of the event, alternative routes are marked by the police and motoring organisations; police officers are posted to direct traffic; and local radio stations are given information on delays.

  Citizenship
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to exempt from liability to pay the fee for people in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income support to enable them to register as British citizens before the deadline of 31 December.

  Mr. Renton
  No. The Government believe that it is right that those who wish to become British citizens should meet the cost of their registration. The cost of exemptions for some groups would increase the costs to be borne by other applicants.
  364
  Mr. Hurd
  Statistics in the form requested are not available. The following table sets out the terrorist incidents which have taken place in Great Britain since 1981. These do not include incidents apparently caused by extremist nationalist or anarchist groups based in Great Britain, or by extremist animal rights activists.

  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider allowing people in receipt of supplementary benefit and family income supplement to be allowed to pay the fee for British citizenship in instalments beyond the deadline of 31 December.

  Mr. Renton
  I am not persuaded that it would be right to introduce such a system, which would increase costs and the time taken to finalise registration applications. Those who wish to apply for the relevant registration entitlements still have until the end of December to make arrangements to meet the cost of the fee, which has been held at £60 since April 1986.

  Hit-and-Run Drivers (Sentencing Policy)
  Mr. Litherland
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to increase the maximum sentence available to the courts on conviction of hit-and-run drivers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The road traffic law review, which was set up by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, is examining the scope and definition of road traffic offences and the penalties available. We have no plans to change existing legislation before considering its report, which is expected towards the end of the year.

  Detained Persons (Police Cells)
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many male and female prisoners were being held in police cells in England and Wales on each of the following dates: (a) 29 June, (b) 30 June, (c) 1 July, (d) 2 July, (e) 3 July, (f) 4 July, (g) 5 July, (h) 6 July, (i) 7 July and (j) 8 July.

  Mr. John Patten
  The only reliable figures available are obtained from a weekly census on Fridays. On 26 June, the number of prisoners being held in police cells in England and Wales was 411 males and 95 females; on 3 July, 511 males and 109 females; and on 10 July, 553 males and 95 females.

  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were held in police cells in areas outside the Metropolitan police district during the period 29 June to 8 July.
  365
  Mr. John Patten
  The only reliable figures available are obtained from a weekly census on Fridays. The number of prisoners held in police cells in areas outside the Metropolitan police district on 26 June and 3 and 10 July were 185, 264 and 311 respectively.

  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which police districts prisoners were held in police cells during the period 29 June to 8 July.

  Mr. John Patten
  Prisoners were held in police cells by each of the following police forces at some time during the period 29 June to 8 July:

  Avon and Somerset

  Bedfordshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Cheshire

  City of London

  Derbyshire

  Essex

  Gloucestershire

  Greater Manchester

  Hampshire

  Kent

  Lancashire

  Merseyside

  Metropolitan

  Northamptonshire

  North Wales

  Nottinghamshire

  South Yorkshire

  Staffordshire

  Suffolk

  Thames Valley

  West Mercia

  West Midlands

  West Yorkshire

  Wiltshire

  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners are currently being held in police cells in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 10 July 1987, 648 prisoners, most of whom would have been untried, were held in police cells in England and Wales.

  >Prospective Employees (Police Information)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will initiate inquiries to see whether information is ever provided by the police to employers in relation to the recruitment of individuals;

  (2) what instructions he has issued to the Metropolitan police about provision of information to the Economic League or its officials.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The principles governing the disclosure of police information to potential employers and others are set out in section 17 of the consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters and Home Office circular 45/1986. A joint departmental circular issued on 17 July 1986 (Home Office circular 44/1986) sets out the arrangements for checks on people seeking positions in local authorities that give substantial access to children. Copies of these circulars are in the Library. We see no need to issue separate guidance to the Metropolitan police on these arrangements, which do not allow for the disclosure of information to private organisations such as the Economic League.

  Economic League
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he hopes to publish the results of his inquiry into contacts between the police and the Economic League;

  (2) why he chose the North Yorkshire police to investigate complaints about contacts between the Economic League and the North Yorkshire police;

  (3) how many police forces were included in his inquiry into contacts between the police and the Economic League;

  (4) how many officials of the Economic League were interviewed in the course of his inquiry into the League; what League records were examined; and whether access was refused to any such records.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It was considered sensible for the North Yorkshire police to undertake this investigation, since the claims about contacts were made in the course of an interview at the regional office of the Economic League in Skipton and were not specifically directed against that force. Since no evidence was found to support these claims, the investigation was not extended to other forces. Six officials of the League were contacted in the course of the inquiry. Records of names were examined; access to other records was not refused.

  The outcome of the inquiry was announced in an answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 30 June 1987, at column 55–56.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the most recent date available, what was the total prison population for England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 10 July 1987, the total prison population for England and Wales was 50,381. This does not include the 648 prisoners held in police cells.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, at the most recent date available, how many remand prisoners were being held in custody in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 31 May 1987 about 11,200 untried or convicted unsentenced prisoners were held in custody in England and Wales. This included 355 prisoners held in police cells, most of whom would have been untried.

  Charity Commission
  Mr. Cash
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the report of Sir Philip Woodfield's efficiency scrutiny of the Charity Commission.

  Mr. Hurd
  We are placing copies of the report in the Libraries of both Houses and are arranging for copies to be sent to those who gave evidence to the scrutiny team. Arrangements are being made for printed publication by HMSO so that the report will be available more widely.

  I should like to thank Sir Philip Woodfield and his team for the contribution they have made to this important issue.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Microwave Therapy
  Mr. Steel
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the rules governing the administration of microwave therapy to patients;

  (2) if he has any plans to change the rules governing the administration of microwave therapy to patients; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The administration of microwave therapy to patients is a matter for the professional practitioners, the physiotherapists. The rules governing this treatment are those of professional practice which are incorporated in training approved by the appropriate professional body — the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. We are not aware of any plans to change the rules.

  The Department has given some consideration to possible dangers arising from unintentional exposure due to the electric and magnetic fields which inevitably surround operating microwave equipment. Work is currently in progress on defining possible risks and setting limits for exposure but to date there is no evidence to suggest that there is any significant risk, provided all persons not receiving treatment remain outside the immediate zone of influence of the operating microwave equipment.

  Departmental Forms (Lewisham)
  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the reason for the delay in supplying an order of his Department's invalid care allowance claim forms, supplementary benefit, mobility allowance and attendance claim forms and leaflets to Lewisham social services department; and what is the average time in which such orders are processed.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that an order was dispatched to Lewisham on Monday 6 July. Over the past few months the demand for leaflets, particularly bulk orders, has been very high and remains at a high level. This increase in requests has affected the normal working of the leaflets unit and has created substantial delays, sometimes running into several weeks.

  I am aware of the many problems this delay can cause. Discussions are currently taking place on various options to overcome these difficulties and include the option to use an outside agency to help clear the backlog of orders. As soon as a decision has been reached it will be implemented quickly.

  per cent.

  November

  July

  April

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  11986

  11987

  Basic pension 2

  single person

  11·4

  19·5

  16·5

  9·0

  11·0

  3·7

  5·1

  7·0

  1·0

  2·1

  married couple

  11·4

  19·6

  16·5

  9·0

  11·0

  3·7

  5·1

  7·0

  1·0

  2·1

  Retail price index

  8·1

  17·4

  15·3

  12·0

  6·3

  4·8

  4·9

  5·5

  1·7

  4·4

  Index of average earnings3

  13·3

  19·1

  17·9

  11·3

  8·3

  7·3

  6·5

  8·6

  5·9

  5·9

  368

  Hip Operations (Waiting Times)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list district health authorities where the waiting time for hip replacements is less than six months.

  Mr. Newton
  I am sorry I cannot give the hon. Member the information he seeks. Reliable estimates at district health authority level cannot be made from the sample information held centrally.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why there is only one telephone line for each half of the alphabet for all inquiries about the payment of invalid care allowance; what is the average delay in paying back claims; and what improvements he intends to institute to ensure that cases receive their entitlement as quickly as possible.

  Mr. Scott
  Five telephone lines are available for inquiries of the invalid care allowance unit at Preston which currently takes an average of 19·2 weeks to process a backdated claim. We are taking all practical steps to reduce this period.

  Cumberlege Report
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to publish a response to the Cumberlege report entitled "Neighbourhood Nursing—A Focus for Care".

  Mr. Newton
  We are still considering the issues which emerged from the consultations on the community nursing review, and will respond as soon as possible.

  Retirement Pension
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures. for each year since 1978, comparing the annual percentage increases in the basic state retirement pension, for each of a single person and a married couple, with increases in ( a) the retail prices index, (b) the index of average earnings and (c) the net earnings (after income tax and national insurance contribution) at average earnings of a single person and a married couple.

  Mr. Scott
  The table shows the increase at uprating dates in each year for each of the items specified.
  369

  November

  July

  April

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  11986

  11987

  Net earnings (Male manual workers)

  single person

  16·4

  21·4

  13·3

  6·8

  6·0

  7·0

  8·5

  6·2

  45·9

  48·3

  married man

  15·8

  20·7

  13·5

  6·4

  6·3

  7·4

  8·8

  6·3

  45·7

  7·6

  Net earnings (all adult males)

  single person

  16·0

  22·2

  16·9

  8·1

  6·3

  7·5

  9·0

  6·8

  46·5

  48·4

  married man

  15·2

  21·3

  17·0

  7·8

  6·7

  7·8

  9·2

  6·9

  46·4

  47·9

  1 Increase since previous uprating date.

  2 Differences in the percentage increases in the pension for a single person and a married couple in 1979 and 1986 are due to rounding.

  3 Average earnings index, whole economy, seasonally adjusted.

  4 Based on provisional earnings figures for July 1986 and April 1987.

  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now supply the information requested by the hon. Member for Walsall, North as to the amount paid in £ sterling equivalent in state pension to the retired in other European Economic Community countries and the amount currently paid out in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Scott
  There is nothing I can usefully add to my reply to the hon. Member on 8 July at column 171

  Supplementary Benefit
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new claims for supplementary benefit were submitted and accepted during each year since 1980; and how many dependants as well as claimants were involved in each case.

  Mr. Portillo
  The table shows the total number of claims for supplementary benefit, and the total number where a payment was made, in each year since 1980. (These include repeat claims made by the same person; there are no separate figures on the numbers of people who made claims.) I regret that no figures are available on the numbers of dependants involved.

  Claims made

  Payments made

  1980–81

  5,488,399

  4,004,964

  1981–82

  5,653,331

  4,073,740

  1982–83

  5,995,965

  4,374,982

  1983–84

  6,031,233

  4,646,030

  1984–85

  6,175,094

  4,909,437

  1985–86

  5,881,790

  4,307,714

  1986–87

  5,613,323

  4,053,295

  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will arrange for a one-off single payment to supplementary benefit claimants to enable those eligible to register as British citizens before the deadline of 31 December.

  Mr. Scott
  There is no provision in the supplementary benefit regulations for single payments to be made for Home Office citizenship fees. Supplementary benefit is intended to cover necessary living expenses, not the cost of acquiring the rights of citizenship.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state whether disabled people at present in receipt of supplementary benefit at the long-term rate will continue to receive that rate during training under the job training scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  Yes. The long-term scale rate is used in calculating entitlement to supplementary allowance while 370
  a person participates in the job training scheme if he was entitled to that rate when he started the course or becomes entitled during the course.

  AIDS
  Mr. Graham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has given to the dental profession to prevent the spread of AIDS.

  Mr. Newton
  The Chief Dental Officer issued guidance to all dentists in April last year which stressed the importance of following high standards of cross-infection control when treating all patients, including the use of operating gloves by all dentists and close support staff when treating patients. The advice was in line with previous advice on clinical procedures recommended by the expert group on hepatitis in dentistry in 1979. Following those simple procedures will minimise exposure to the virus during the course of dental treatment.

  The Chief Dental Officer also wrote to dentists in September 1986 advising against the use of jet injectors for multiple purposes by dentists. This guidance too relates to control of cross infection. The need to issue further guidance is kept under regular review.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether his Department's statistics on AIDS victims include people other than those suffering from Kaposi's sarcoma and/or pneumocystis pneumonia;

  (2) what are his Department's latest estimates for the numbers (a) infected and (b) dead from AIDS or HIV-related disease.

  Mr. Newton
  Statistics on AIDS are based on reports to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) and the Communicable Disease (Scotland) Unit (CD(S)U). These statistics include people suffering from conditions other than Kaposi's sarcoma and/or pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, but these two diagnoses form the presenting features in more than half the reported cases. The definition of AIDS established at the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, covers a number of other diagnoses, including other opportunistic infections. This definition is currently under review by CDC.

  The number of AIDS cases and people who have died from AIDS as reported to CDSC and CD(S)U was published on 6 July. A copy of the publication has been placed in the Library. There will also be cases of HIV-related illness, and possibly some deaths, amongst people who have not progressed to AIDS. These cases will not be included in the CDSC and CD(S)U AIDS figures.
  371
  I gave our current estimate of the number of people infected with HIV in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price) on 7 July at column 123.

  Housing Benefit
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the figures given in his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) Official Report, column 541, 2 February, showing the number of recipients of housing benefits since 1979–80; and if he will estimate the effect on the number of people in receipt of means-tested benefit of the proposed community charge, assuming that rate rebates are replaced by community charge rebates.

  Mr. Portillo
  The numbers of recipients of housing benefits since 1979–80, according to the latest available information, are as follows:

  Average number of recipients (Great Britain)

  Thousands

  Year

  Rent rebates

  Rent allowances

  Rate rebates2

  1979–80

  1,205

  220

  3,065

  1980–81

  1,330

  240

  3,350

  1981–82

  1,590

  250

  3,700

  1982–831

  3,050

  260

  5,320

  1983–84

  3,735

  1,015

  7,020

  1984–85

  3,745

  1,080

  7,220

  1985–86

  3,795

  1,175

  7,270

  1986–873

  3,745

  1,190

  7,120

  1987–883

  3,710

  1,200

  7,135

  1 Figures for 1982–83 include those local authority tenants receiving housing assistance in supplementary benefit who in November 1982 were included in the partial start of the housing benefits scheme.

  2 Most recipients of rent rebates allowances also receive rate rebates. Rate rebate recipients include owner occupiers.

  3 Estimates for 1986–87 and 1987–88 are provisional and are subject to revision. Estimates for earlier years may be subject to minor revision.

  The only estimates currently available on the number of people who would be eligible for a community charge rebate are in the Green paper "Paying for Local Rates" (Cmnd. 9714). Annex J of the paper estimates the number at 7,660,000 and sets out the assumptions on which this is based.

  Benefits
  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of people in receipt of unemployment benefit in au, Fife, Central constituency at (a)June 1979, (b) June 1983 and (c) June 1987.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested, at the nearest available dates, is given in the following table:

  Number of persons receiving unemployment benefit

  May 1979

  May 1983

  February 1987

  Glenrothes UBO

  873

  1,605

  1,676

  Leven & Methil UBO

  730

  1,308

  1,659

  Resettlement Units
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress
  372
  of the review bodies established to develop alternative provision to the existing resettlement units in England and Wales.

  Mr. Portillo
  In two cases, Brighton and Bristol, proposals for the replacement of units have been agreed and the providers are taking steps to bring the facilities into operation.

  Eight other teams are expected to put proposals forward in the next few months. In seven cases development workers have been appointed or are about to be appointed to help review teams take things forward.

  The Wales review team has produced a consultative document on its plans for replacement provision and this was the subject of a conference in May attended by representatives from the local authority and voluntary sectors.

  Abortions
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of abortions which have been performed under the Abortion Act 1967 (a) on persons coming from Northern Ireland and (b) on persons from the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Newton
  The numbers of notifications of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1977 from 27 April 1968 to 31 December 1986 to women usually resident in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic are 20,957 and 41,548 respectively.

  Speech Therapists
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many vacancies for speech therapists in (a) inner London, (b) Greater London and (c) England and Wales remained unfilled at the most recent convenient date; and what steps are being taken to recruit or train speech therapists.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that information on vacancy levels is not collected centrally. Recruitment of speech therapists is a matter for individual health authorities. Training of speech therapists takes place within institutions of higher education on courses recognised (under S.I. 1985 No. 47) by the College of Speech Therapists as providing suitable training for work in the National Health Service. The number of people entering employment as speech therapists with health authorities has recently been rising by about 9 per cent. a year.

  Supplementary Benefit and Residential Care
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what conclusions he has drawn from the report of the joint working party on supplementary benefit and residential care.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Firth committee on supplementary benefit and residential care has reported.

  Mr. Newton
  We have received the report and are making arrangements for its publication later this month. We have drawn no conclusions from it, but will be considering it in the context of other studies, including in particular that of Sir Roy Griffiths in relation to community care.

  Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Session Contract)
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the call of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists about its session contract in relation to the demands of private practice.

  Mrs. Currie
  None.

  Private Patients
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give for each year since 1979 (a) in both money terms and real terms the income received from private in-patients and (b) the number of such patients in each payment category;

  (2) what arrangements exist to ensure that no profits accrued from national charges to private patients as a result of health authorities with relatively high private patient costs opting out of the national system and establishing their own charges;

  (3) if he will list (a) those health authorities which have chosen to set their own charges to private patients for all treatment and (b) those health authorities which have chosen to set their own charges to private patients for some treatments.

  Mrs. Currie
  I shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information is available to his Department about the impact on consultants' commitment to National Health Service work of the growth of private practice.

  Mr. Newton
  I am not aware of any evidence that consultants' commitment to NHS work has been affected by the growth in private practice.

  National Health Service consultants may hold whole-time, maximum part-time or part-time contracts. Whole-time consultants, who may undertake private practice limited to the value of 10 per cent. of their National Health Service salary, and maximum part-time consultants, who may undertake private practice without specific limit for a slightly lower National Health Service salary, are both expected to devote substantially the whole of their professional time to the National Health Service. Since the introduction of the current contract in 1980, there have been variations from year to year in the proportion of consultants with each type of contract, but over the period as a whole there has been a slight increase in the proportion of contracts which are whole-time.

  HIV Virus
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) which variants of the HIV virus are known to escape detection by current tests; and what are his Department's estimates of their prevalence;

  (2) by what procedures his Department monitors the continuing development of variants of the HIV virus.

  Mr. Newton
  New retroviruses known collectively as HIV2 have been identified in West Africa. They may be variations of the same virus but are distinct from HIV. Test systems in current use for HIV do not reliably detect antibody to these viruses.

  Samples from selected individuals who may have been at risk from infection with these viruses are being
  374
  monitored by the Public Health Laboratory Service and other virology laboratories. This monitoring shows no evidence of HIV2 being prevalent in the United Kingdom.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployed people have been disqualified from unemployment benefit on grounds of voluntary unemployment at each unemployment benefit office in Greater London since the new rules came into operation in October 1986; in how many cases the disqualification was for the maximum period; and what were the comparable figures for a similar period in 1983.

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

  NHS Resources
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards the proposal from the Institute of Health Service Management, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing that at the minimum Health Service spending should be maintained as a proportion of national income with additional finance to cover demographic change and new problems such as AIDS.

  Mr. Newton
  We are studying the report's analysis and comments, taking account of the fact that the proper measure of the National Health Service is the record and growing amount of treatment and care it provides.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest percentage estimates of the increased need for the National Health Service resources due to demographic change in each year from 1970 to 1995.

  Mr. Newton
  The following figures are the latest available estimates of changes in demographic demand on hospital and community health services for each year from 1972–73 to 1995–96 (estimates for earlier years are not readily available):

  Per cent. change

  1972–73

  0·0

  1973–74

  0·0

  1974–75

  0·0

  1975–76

  0·0

  1976–77

  0·1

  1977–78

  0·3

  1978–79

  1·0

  1979–80

  1·2

  1980–81

  1·1

  1981–82

  0·4

  1982–83

  0·4

  1983–84

  0·5

  1984–85

  0·6

  1985–86

  1·3

  1986–87

  1·1

  1987–88

  1·0

  1988–89

  1·0

  1989–90

  1·0

  1990–91

  0·9

  1991–92

  0·7

  1992–93

  0·6

  1993–94

  0·3

  1994–95

  0·4

  1995–96

  0·9

  375
  The effect of demographic changes is not identified separately from other pressures for the family practitioner services which are demand led, but changes in population structure, and especially increases in the number of very elderly people, clearly lead to increased demand for these services as well.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will cause to be sent to all doctors concerned with the granting of his Department's benefits a package of up-to-date information on myalgic encephalomyelitis with a particular emphasis on the diagnostic problems.

  Mrs. Currie
  No. It is not the Department's policy to advise the medical profession on clinical practice.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will meet the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association and medical organisations to discuss ways on which general practitioners could be made better informed about the complaint.

  Mrs. Currie
  If they will write to me, I shall be pleased to receive and consider any representations from the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to discover whether people suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis have problems obtaining his Departmant's benefits because of difficulties in diagnosing the disease.

  Mr. Scott
  Decisions by the independent adjudicating authorities about entitlement to incapacity or disablement benefits depend on medical statements that the claimant is incapable of work or suffers from the prescribed level or type of disablement. Doctors providing such statements are asked to give as full and accurate a diagnosis as the available evidence allows, but inability to provide the specific cause of the claimant's symptoms would not debar him from benefit (except in the case of prescribed industrial diseases). Problems as envisaged by the right hon. Member therefore ought not to arise.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are receiving invalidity benefit because they are suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available in the form required. However, in the 1 per cent. sample of cases taken at 30 March 1985 there were seven people receiving invalidity benefit who were classified according to the international classification of diseases as cases of encephalitis, myelitis, and encephalomyelitis. As the sample and actual numbers are both small, grossing up this number may produce an inaccurate figure.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates are available to him about the number of people suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis.

  Mrs. Currie
  No statistics about the incidence of this disease are collected centrally.

  Manchester FPC (Ophthalmic Prescriptions)
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the audit investigation report into the
  376
  Manchester family practitioner committee concerning ophthalmic prescriptions, as outlined in his letter to the hon. Member for Oldham, West of 27 February is now complete; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We have received a report from the auditors and I expect to write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Nobrium
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the exclusion of Nobrium capsules from the National Health Service limited list; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We have received a number of letters about the exclusion of Nobrium capsules from National Health Service prescription under the selected list scheme. I understand that the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs, which keeps the selected list scheme under review, has not considered it necessary to review the position of Nobrium capsules, nor has it received any representations from the manufacturers.

  BT (Total Care Service)
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether health authorities are paying for British Telecom's total care service where this is required by their employees due to on-call responsibilities;

  (2) whether general practitioners and other independent contractors can claim back from the National Health Service the cost of purchasing British Telecom's total care service where this is required to replace emergency fault repair cover;

  (3) what is the total cost to the family practitioner service budget of British Telecom's total care service; and whether this cost has been taken into account in his Department's estimates;

  (4) what is the total cost to the hospital and community health service budget of health authorities paying for British Telecom's total care service; whether this cost is reimbursed to health authorities; and whether health authority allocations have been increased to cover this new cost.

  Mr. Newton
  The total cost (including VAT) to the National Health Service of British Telecom's total care service is not yet known. Discussion will continue with BT on the application of the agreed charging arrangements which allow for the total cost to be influenced by the level of demands made.

  The cost of these BT services to the hospital and community health service will be met by health authorities from within their existing allocations for the current financial year. It is for health authorities to decide whether they wish all or some of their on-call staff to receive this BT service for which the authority would pay.

  Provision for the costs (including VAT) of British Telecom's total care service for priority telephone fault repairs for general medical practitioners (including trainees) and pharmacists in contract with family practitioner committees in England is included in the Department's estimates and central settlement by the Department has been agreed and will be made. To the extent that general dental practitioners and opticians in contract with family practitioner committees take up the

  377
  service any costs arising would form part of the normal remuneration arrangements and he indirectly reimbursed through the NHS scale of fees.

  Hospitals (Planning)
  Mr. Arnold
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the optimal size on clinical grounds in terms of the number of in-patient beds currently recommended to district health authorities when planning new general hospitals.

  Mrs. Currie
  There is no universally applicable optimal size.

  Each proposal must be looked at separately on its merits, balancing a range of factors. Although most district general hospitals now being built range between 400 and 800 beds, exceptions do occur. Factors taken into account would include:

  size and characteristics of the catchment area and its population;

  whether regional or supra-regional services are provided at the hospital;

  whether facilities (eg. geriatric or mental illness beds)
  are already provided elsewhere in the district;

  provision of a large enough range of services to meet the needs both of patients brought in following accidents or emergencies and non-emergency cases from the waiting lists;

  provision for a large enough population of patients in the specialties provided to ensure that staff have sufficient experience to maintain their skills and thus provide a high quality service;

  provision for sufficient patients to provide the experience required by the training bodies in order to employ junior doctors and nurses in training;

  provision for sufficient patients in the various specialties to make economic use of expensive equipment;

  the state of existing NHS stock;

  local social and geographical factors eg difficulties in travelling.

  Clarke v Chief Adjudication Officer
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the implications of the decision of the European Court in the recent case of Clarke v Chief Adjudication Officer for Government policy on eligibility for disability benefits; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what are the implications of the decision of the European Court in the case of Clarke v Chief Adjudication Officer for the entitlement of married women who have been incapable of work since May 1984 to severe disablement allowance, under the passporting arrangements for former claimants of housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension;

  (3) what steps the Government are taking to comply with the European Court's decision in the case of Clarke v Chief Adjudication Officer.

  Mr. Scott
  The European Court's judgment in the case of Clarke v Chief Adjudication Officer was in answer to a question referred by a social security commissioner concerning Mrs. J. B. Clarke's entitlement to severe disablement allowance (SDA).

  The commission now has to give his decision on Mrs. Clarke's claim. It would be premature to make any
  378
  statement about Government action on the judgment in advance of the commissioner's decision. An announcement will be made as soon as possible thereafter.

  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the recent case of Clarke v Chief Adjudication Officer, what questions were referred by the Social Security Commissioner to the European Court.

  Mr. Scott
  The question referred for determination by the European Court was:"Does Article 4(1) of Council Directive 79/7/EEC have a direct effect such that a woman can from 22 December 1984 qualify for an invalidity benefit by reason of her having before that date satisfied conditions sufficient to enable a man to qualify for that benefit notwithstanding that she did not also before that date satisfy a further condition applicable under domestic law only to a class of woman of whom she was one?".

  Community Pharmacists
  Mr. Bill Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from community pharmacists in Sheffield and nationally requesting an increase in advance payment to take account of the cashflow problems being caused by the non-processing of claims for refund of value added tax.

  Mr. Newton
  In addition to a number of representations from the Sheffield local pharmaceutical committee, we have received representations from the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, three family practitioner committees and five pharmacists.

  NHS (Annual Report)
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish the annual report of the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  Later this year.

  NHS (Employees)
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are employed in the National Health Service; what was the comparable figure for 1979; and if he will break down both figures to show the tasks for which they were employed.

  Mr. Newton
  The figures requested are shown in the table.

  For non-medical staff, numbers (actual head counts) are not available centrally for 1979 on a consistent basis with those for latter years; we have given therefore a whole-time equivalent (WTE) comparison for 1979 and 1986. Whole-time equivalent figures for September 1986 are still on a provisional basis.

  For medical and dental staff, figures comparable with the available non-medical figures have been used to retain consistency and comparability of England totals.

  NHS directly employed staff—30 September England

  1Whole-time equivalents

  1979

  21986

  Medical and dental3

  39,000

  43,200

  Nursing and midwifery4

  5358,400

  402,100

  Professional and technical (excl. works)

  660,100

  76,100

  Works

  5,600

  5,800

  Maintenance

  20,100

  19,100

  379

  1979

  21986

  Administration and clerical

  103,000

  111,400

  Ambulance

  17,100

  18,900

  Ancillary

  6171,900

  124,300

  Total staff

  775,300

  801,000

  Source:DHSS (SR7) annual censuses of NHS medical and non-medical manpower.

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 100 whole-time equivalent.

  2 Provisional.

  3 Includes hospital practitioners, part-time medical and dental officers (clinical assistants) and locums.

  4 Includes agency nursing and midwifery staff.

  5 Not adjusted for the reduction in nurses working hours during 1980–81 (from 40·0 to 37·5 hours per week).

  6 Not adjusted to take account of the transfer of operating department assistants (ODAs) some 2,600 wte from ancillary to professional and technical staff group on 1 April 1984.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many exceptional cold weather payments were made by region in 1986–87.

  Mr. Scott
  I shall let the hon. Member have a reply shortly.

  Food Imports (Radiation Levels)
  Mr. Speller
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what testing methods are recommended or approved for importers to ensure that food imports have not been treated with ionizing radiation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

  Acute Hospital Services (Liverpool)
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many beds will be provided at the Liverpool royal infirmary following the relocation of services from St. Paul's eye hospital and the seamen's dispensary;

  (2) what are the estimated savings to the Liverpool area health authority from the location of all obstetric and gynaecology services to the former Liverpool royal infirmary; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what will be the estimated cost of the relocation of the St. Paul's eye hospital and the seamen's dispensary to the Liverpool royal infirmary;

  (4) what will be the estimated cost to the Liverpool area health authority of the relocation of all obstetrics and gynaecology services to the former Liverpool royal infirmary;

  (5) how many beds will be provided at the Liverpool royal infirmary site following the location of all obstetric and gynaecology services.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 10 July 1987] The Liverpool health authority's plans for reshaping the pattern of acute hospital services in Liverpool are described in its draft strategy, which was issued for consultation at the beginning of June. Firm plans cannot be properly formulated until that consultation exercise is completed on 31 August 1987. I understand that all Members whose constituencies cover Liverpool have been
  380
  sent copies of the document and invited to comment on the proposals. The hon. Member may therefore wish to write to the chairman of the Liverpool health authority.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out in the Official Report the figures for the non-emergency patient journeys run under the auspices of the London ambulance service for each of the first two quarters of 1987 in the format of his reply of 5 March, Official Report, column 679, showing percentage change with the respective quarters in 1984.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 10 July 1987] The information requested for the first quarter is given in the table. The information for the second quarter will not be available for several weeks.

  On the introduction of new rotas for ambulance persons in March 1986 extra resources were diverted into the emergency side of the service. This has allowed the London ambulance service to deal with the increased number of 999 calls as well as to cut down the average response times to emergencies.

  Patient Journeys—1st Quarter 1987

  Non-Emergency Service (000's Patient Journeys)

  Division

  Walking patients

  Non-walking patients

  Total

  North West

  39

  38

  77

  North East

  56

  53

  109

  South West

  36

  43

  79

  South East

  34

  52

  86

  Direct Service Total

  165

  186

  351

  Indirect Service

  —

  —

  86

  Total LAS

  —

  —

  437

  Percentage + - on 1st quarter 1984

  North West

  -54·1

  -13·6

  -40·3

  North East

  -37·8

  -18·5

  -29·7

  South West

  -52·6

  -2·3

  -34.·2

  South East

  -55·3

  -14·8

  -37·2

  Direct Service Total

  -49·5

  -13·1

  -35·1

  Indirect Service

  —

  —

  +59-3

  Total LAS

  —

  —

  -26·6

  Patient Mileage—1st Quarter 1987

  Non;Emergency Service (000's Miles)

  Mileage

  Percentage + - on 1st quarter 1984

  North West

  364

  -33·8

  North East

  405

  -26·5

  South West

  308

  -32·6

  South East

  359

  -35·2

  Direct Service Total

  1,436

  -;32·0

  Indirect Service

  574

  +66·4

  Total LAS

  2,010

  -18·2

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. Patchett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the target level of accuracy in National Health Service pathology laboratories for dealing with cervical smears.

  Mr. Bradley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision he has made to monitor the standards of accuracy of cervical smear tests.

  Mr. Frank Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to safeguard. in the

  381
  rest of the United Kingdom, the accuracy of smear tests for cervical cancer, following recent errors which have been shown to have occurred in the Liverpool area health authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her replies, 30 June 1987, c. 69–70] Monitoring of standards of accuracy in pathology laboratories is undertaken by pathologists themselves, for example, through their participation in external quality assessment schemes. Target levels of accuracy for NHS pathology laboratories are not laid down centrally.

  A revised health circular on cervical cancer screening which is in preparation will include guidance on arrangements for quality control in laboratories in which cervical smears are examined. We shall certainly take into account any lessons that can be learnt from the problems which arose in Liverpool health authority.

  Kidney Transplants
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest figure for the change in the number of kidney transplants over a convenient 12-month period.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 30 June 1987, c. 79] Figures for the change over the most recent 12-month period may be misleading because of significant variation within the period. The number of cadaveric kidney transplants reported to the United Kingdom transplant service for a series of six-monthly periods is as follows:

  Number of transplants

  1 June 1985–30 November 1985

  672

  1 December 1985–31 May 1986

  726

  I June 1986–30 November 1986

  766

  1 December 1986–31 May 1987

  646

  These figures refer to National Health Service operations within the United Kingdom. We are currently awaiting the advice of a working party established to examine ways of increasing the availability of organs for transplant. For further details I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson) on 9 July 1987.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rates
  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the estimated 1987–88 total annual receipts for rates net of rebates in England and Wales; and what percentage this represents of forecast local government expenditure for 1987–88.

  Mr. Howard
  Local authorities' income from domestic and non-domestic ratepayers, net of rebates, in England and Wales in 1987–88 is estimated at £15 billion. This represents 48 per cent. of estimated local government expenditure (defined as local authority net revenue expenditure for RSG purposes).

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place with the
  382
  National Association of Parish Councils on the impact of the proposed community charge; and what was the outcome.

  Mr. Howard
  Officials from the Department of the Environment met representatives of the National Association of Local Councils on 5 November 1986 to discuss these issues. NALC wrote to my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Sir R. Boyson) in February requesting a meeting to which he agreed; I understand that NALC intend to take up that invitation in due course. I shall of course be happy to honour my predecessor's commitment.

  Mrs. Wise
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many women he estimates will become liable to pay the proposed community charge, despite having no personal income.

  Mr. Howard
  No firm figures are available. However data from the family expenditure survey suggests that there may be about 2·9 million women over the age of 18 with no regular personal income from employment, investment or state benefits (excluding child benefit). Almost all of these are wives not in paid employment.

  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil servants in all Departments are currently involved in preparation for the implementation of the poll tax.

  Mr. Howard
  Twenty-one staff in the Department of the Environment, 10 in the Scottish Office and three in the Welsh Office are engaged full time on all aspects of the reform of local government finance. A further 21 staff in the Department of the Environment and 36 staff in other central Departments are involved, as part of their other duties, in contributing to this work.

  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on how the proposed unified business rate and the community charge will affect landlords; and whether they will be required to collect the community charge from their tenants.

  Mr. Howard
  When the new system of local government finance is in operation, landlords will no longer pay rates in respect of the residential property occupied by their tenants. Adult tenants will pay the community charge, in the same way as other adults.

  In the minority of multi-occupied properties, where it would be impractical to register tenants individually for the community charge, local authorities will be able to apply a collective community charge. This will be paid to the local authority by the landlord, who will recover contributions from each adult tenant.

  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will assess the likely cost to Leeds city council of collecting a community charge as opposed to domestic rates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  [pursuant to his reply, 10 July 1987] Our preliminary estimate is that the cost of collecting the community charge may be, broadly, up to twice the cost of collecting domestic rates. However, the cost to an individual local authority will largely depend on how far it is successful in reducing unit costs. We estimate that almost twice as many people will pay the community charge as pay domestic rates.
  383
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning special provision under the community charge for ministers of religion.

  Mr. Howard
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1987, c. 561]: My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about special provision under the community charge for ministers of religion. These include representations from the Churches Main Committee and several diocesan secretaries.

  Inner area programme 1987–88

  Authority

  1Provisional inner area programme allocation

  Bid received

  Date of approval

  £ million

  £ million

  Birmingham

  25·0

  28·7

  13 April 1987

  Hackney

  10·8

  13·9

  Islington

  10·0

  17·6

  Lambeth

  12·8

  20·8

  31 March 1987

  Liverpool

  20·0

  29·8

  Manchester/Salford

  23·8

  37·7

  Newcastle/Gatcshead

  17·2

  20·3

  31 March 1987

  Barnsley

  1·5

  1·9

  12 May 1987

  Blackburn

  4·0

  4·1

  7 April 1987

  Bolton

  4·0

  5·2

  30 March 1987

  Bradford

  4·5

  5·5

  Brent

  4·0

  6·4

  Bristol

  1·5

  1·5

  27 March 1987

  Burnley

  1·0

  1·5

  9 July 1987

  Coventry

  5·0

  6·0

  16 April 1987

  Derby

  1·3

  1·5

  23 March 1987

  Doncaster

  1·8

  2·7

  Dudley

  1·3

  2·0

  Greenwich

  1·5

  1·5

  9 July 1987

  Halton

  1·3

  1·8

  6 April 1987

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  5·0

  7·9

  9 July 1987

  Haringey

  2·0

  3·2

  10 April 1987

  Hartlepool

  1·8

  2·0

  9 July 1987

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1·3

  1·2

  29 April 1987

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  5·0

  6·2

  Kirklees

  0·8

  1·3

  Knowsley

  4·0

  4·9

  16 March 1987

  Langbaurgh

  1·8

  2·6

  9 July 1987

  Leeds

  4·5

  5·2

  Leicester

  5·4

  9·4

  Lewisham

  1·5

  1·5

  22 April 1987

  Middlesbrough

  5·5

  8·1

  9 July 1987

  Newham

  1·8

  2·2

  9 July 1987

  North Tyneside

  3·5

  5·7

  9 July 1987

  Nottingham

  5·5

  7·8

  9 July 1987

  Oldham

  4·0

  4·4

  Plymouth

  0·4

  2—

  Preston

  1·3

  1·7

  8 April 1987

  Rochdale

  4·0

  5·4

  9 July 1987

  Rotherham

  1·8

  2·6

  St. Helens

  1·5

  2·0

  Sandwell

  5·0

  6·0

  6 April 1987

  Sefton

  1·5

  1·3

  13 April 1987

  Sheffield

  5·5

  7·3

  South Tyneside

  4·5

  4·8

  30 April 1987

  South wark

  1·8

  3·5

  30 March 1987

  Stockton

  1·3

  1·4

  Sunderland

  4·0

  5·2

  9 July 1987

  The Wrekin

  0·4

  0·8

  9 July 1987

  Tower Hamlets

  4·5

  9·1

  Walsall

  1·5

  2·1

  16 April 1987

  Wandsworth

  4·5

  6·5

  9 July 1987

  Wigan

  1·5

  1·5

  11 March 1987

  Wirral

  3·5

  5·0

  9 July 1987

  Wolverhampton

  5·5

  7·0

  16 April 1987

  1 Announced by Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction on 30 January 1987 (Official Report, Vol. 109, column 457).

  2 IAP yet to be submitted.

  384

  Inner Area Programme
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the inner area programme bids submitted for 1987–88 indicating which have been approved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information requested is as shown in the table. I expect to issue further approvals shortly.
  385

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the House of Commons Library the Government's study of the expected numbers of community charge payers as a proportion of those obliged to pay.

  Mr. Howard
  [pursuant to his answer, 7 July 1987, column 140]: My right hon. Friend has not undertaken a study of the kind referred to by the hon. Member. Registration for and enforcement of the community charge will be a local authority responsibility. We intend to give authorities the powers to ensure that this task is undertaken effectively and efficiently, and we see no reason why they should not achieve very high registration and payment rates.

  Greater London
  Mr. Shersby
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what (a) ceremonial and (b) other functions flow from the continued existence of the county of Greater London following abolition of the Greater London council; and what is the cost of these to public funds for the most recent 12 months period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Chope
  The functions of the former GLC were transferred to new and existing bodies in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1985. Aggregate information on the cost of providing ceremonial or other functions across Greater London is not available.

  Empty Dwellings
  Mr. Wheeler
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many vacant flats and houses there are in the ownership of the London borough of Ealing.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The latest information available to the Department is for the council's vacant housing within its own area and is in the authority's housing investment programme return for 1 April 1986, which is in the Library.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the most recent list available from his Department's estate action team, of schemes where local authorities have disposed of empty dwellings to property developers; if he will state the purpose of this list, how it has been compiled, and how frequently it is updated; who has been sent a copy of this list; and why they have received a copy.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The most recent list of schemes involving the disposal of local authority empty dwellings to private developers compiled by my Department is given in the table.

  This information is gathered from local authorities and from developers, but is not necessarily comprehensive since local authorities are not required to seek the Secretary of State's consent or to inform the Department when they are disposing of empty housing at the best price.

  This information is assembled by the Department as part of its routine assembly of factual material which is used to assist in the assessment of housing policy and performance. The information has been provided on
  386
  request to local authorities, housing developers and members of the public. The list is updated as and when new information is received.

  Number of disposals of vacant dwellings since 1979

  Local authority

  Number

  Birmingham

  128

  Bolton

  50

  Brentwood

  10

  Bristol

  5

  Burnley

  111

  Calderdale

  96

  Copeland

  47

  Crewe and Nantwich

  2

  Halton

  38

  Kensington and Chelsea

  50

  Knowsley

  204

  Lancaster

  44

  Langbaurgh

  177

  Lichfield

  128

  Liverpool

  344

  Macclesfield

  5

  Manchester

  46

  Newcastle

  134

  North Tyneside

  150

  Oldham

  296

  Preston

  338

  Reading

  135

  Rotherham

  1

  Rushcliffe

  6

  Salford

  384

  Sandwell

  112

  Sefton

  378

  Solihull

  268

  South Tyneside

  150

  Southwark

  191

  Stockport

  4

  Stoke on Trent

  42

  Stroud

  1

  Sunderland

  546

  Swale

  14

  Tamworth

  41

  Thurrock

  90

  Tower Hamlets

  443

  Trafford

  156

  Wandsworth

  981

  Warrington

  52

  Wear Valley

  5

  Westminster

  10

  West Lindsey

  9

  Wigan

  99

  Wirral

  271

  Wolverhampton

  7

  Total

  6,799

  Poll Tax
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries use a poll tax to finance public expenditure; and which Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries use a poll tax to finance state education.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer my hon. Friend to annex K of the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714), which comments on international comparisons.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures for each local authority, and for the latest available year, setting out the

  387
  main components of local authority expenditure, and showing expenditure separately on education, fire and police in relation to population.

  Mr. Chope
  I have today placed the information in the House of Commons Library.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish, for each class of local authority and for local authorities in total, the percentage increase in current expenditure in cash between (a) 1978–79 and 1987–88 and (b) 1981–82 and 1987–88.

  Mr. Ridley
  The information for English authorities is as follows:

  Percentage increases in net current expenditure

  1978–79 to 1987–88

  1981–82 to 1987–88

  Shire Counties

  136

  52

  Shire Districts

  120

  54

  Metropolitan Areas1

  137

  48

  Greater London Area2

  150

  54

  All England

  138

  52

  1 Comprising Metropolitan Counties, Metropolitan Districts, and Metropolitan Authorities for Police, Fire and Civil Defence and Transport.

  2 Comprising ILEA, GLC, City of London, Inner and Outer London boroughs. Metropolitan Police and the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority.

  Dr Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report, for each local authority in England, the increases in current and total expenditure from 1986–87, revised estimates to 1987–88, showing in each case the political complexion of the authority; and if he will provide overall average figures by political control.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have today placed this information in the House of Commons Library.

  Cayman Turtle Farm
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Government's implementation of the convention on international trade in endangered species conference resolution 2·12 with respect to the Cayman turtle farm in the Cayman Islands.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Cayman turtle farm has not taken turtles or eggs from the wild since 1978 and the Government consider that the 1979 conference resolution 2·12 should not be applied retrospectively to the farm. The operations of the farm are, however, structured to meet the breeding criteria that the resolution lays down.

  New Towns
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of houses currently managed by each of the new town corporations.

  Mrs. Roe
  On 31 March 1987, the numbers of dwellings for rent owned by new town corporations were as follows:

  Numbers

  Milton Keynes

  13,049

  Peterborough

  6,842

  388

  Numbers

  Runcorn

  9,049

  Telford

  8,742

  Warrington

  4,891

  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the value of the assets of each of the remaining new town development corporations.

  Mrs. Roe
  With effect from the 1986–87 financial year, new town development corporations are required to show information on the value of their property assets in their annual accounts. I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested when the 1986–87 accounts have been received from all the development corporations.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Anderson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to end the special attractions and advantages to firms which locate in enterprise zones; and whether the cut-off of financial incentive will be immediate or tapered.

  Mr. Trippier
  Under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, the designation order for each enterprise zone specifies the period for which the area concerned is to remain an EZ. When that period ends the financial benefits of the EZ will cease immediately.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Ms. Armstrong
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for monitoring the employment effects of urban development corporations.

  Mr. Trippier
  Information on this subject is published in the urban development corporations' annual reports and in the public expenditure White Paper.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about which countries other than the United Kingdom are carrying out research into the disposal of intermediate level nuclear waste under the sea bed using coastal sites.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have information about the disposal facility under the Baltic at Forsmark in Sweden and about preliminary studies for a similar facility in Finland. I understand that France and Japan are also considering disposal under the sea bed near the coast.

  Urban Regeneration Grants
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a comprehensive statement on the operation of urban regeneration grants giving details of numbers approved, paid, and submitted in each region and the proportion the grant is of the projects approved.

  Mr. Trippier
  Urban regeneration grant is one of the measures which the Government have introduced in order to encourage new private investment in cities and towns which have been affected by the loss of employment in traditional industries and to bring derelict or unoccupied
  389
  land or buildings in these areas back into use. URG is paid direct to developers with proposals for the reclamation and redevelopment of large urban sites of 20 acres or more or for the refurbishment of very large buildings or groups of buildings of 250,000 sq ft of floor space or more. Priority will be given to projects which give the best prospects of private sector investment, and minimise the net outlay by the public sector, in those areas which already have priority under the Government's urban programme. I am greatly encouraged by the amount of interest in URG since the scheme was launched in April. A number of sites, located mainly in the midlands and the north, have been drawn to the Department's attention as possible candidates for URG and I hope it will not be too long before I am able to announce the first offers of assistance.

  In the meantime, I would urge private sector developers and property owners with sites which they consider may fit the criteria for URG to get in touch with my Department, from where more detailed guidance can be obtained.

  Housing Legislation
  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department plans to issue a White Paper on the Government's proposals for the reform of housing legislation; when the consultative papers will be published; and what subject areas will be covered.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  These matters are being considered.

  Southgarth West
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to reply to the letter of 11 May from the hon. Member for South Shields about Southgarth West.

  Mr. Ridley
  As soon as my formal decision on this matter is announced, which is likely to be very soon.

  Housing (Durham)
  Mr. Steinberg
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will tabulate for each year since 1979, at constant 1987 prices, the amount requested by Durham city council for its housing investment programme allocation and the amount actually approved by his Department.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The position has changed since 1979, in that local housing authorities nationally now fund more than half their capital expenditure from capital receipts, rather than from housing investment programme allocations made by the Department. The proposed capital programmes shown by authorities in their HIP submissions cannot therefore be compared directly with their HIP allocations.

  Since 1979 the final HIP allocations made to Durham city council, and its total capital expenditure on housing, have been as follows:

  £ million 1987–88 prices

  HIP allocation

  Expenditure

  1979–80

  4·785

  4·849

  1980–81

  3·279

  3·121

  390

  HIP allocation

  Expenditure

  1981–82

  2·667

  2·589

  1982–83

  3·550

  4·836

  1983–84

  2·650

  4·621

  1984–85

  2·940

  4·712

  1985–86

  2·400

  4·304

  1986–87

  1·913

  25·666

  1987–88

  11·784

  —

  1 Initial HIP allocation

  2 Estimated by the authority on Form HIP2 in July 1986.

  Mr. Steinberg
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Durham city council about the level of homelessness and the number of houses in poor repair and the implications of this for the level of Government funding for housing in the city.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have not received any recent representations from Durham city council about these matters which are usually referred to in the authority's annual housing investment programme submission. The council is due to send the submission for 1988–89 to the Department's northern regional office by 13 July.

  Performance and Growth
  . Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, as in previous years, he will publish expenditure performance and growth tables for 1981–82 to 1987–88, showing also the figures from 1978–79 to 1987–88.

  Mr. Ridley
  I will place these tables in the House of Commons Library shortly.

  Rents
  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce legislation to decontrol rents on new lettings.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  As soon as possible.

  Historic Buildings (Report)
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why no reply has yet been issued to the first report from the Environment Committee in Session 1986–87 on historic buildings and ancient monuments, published on 18 February; and if he will now take steps to issue the Government's reply in the form of a Command Paper.

  Mr. Ridley
  Our planned timetable for replying to the report was overtaken by the dissolution of Parliament. I cannot now reply before the Committee is re-appointed.

  Defective Housing
  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he is likely to be able to give a decision on the possible designation of Truscon RD 27 houses under part XVI of the Housing Act 1985.

  Mrs. Roe
  We are considering the hon. Member's request concerning the designation of these properties under the housing defects legislation and hope to be able to give a decision shortly.
  391

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the average household bill for water rates for each regional water authority in England for 1986–87, the percentage increase on the previous year and the percentage increase between 1979 and 1986–87.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to the hon. Member for Copeland (Mr. Cunningham) on 29 June 1987, at column 46.

  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the latest figures for the numbers of households where water supplies have been disconnected, showing where possible the reasons for disconnection.

  Mr. Moynihan
  In 1986–87, about 6,500 households were disconnected by water authorities because of nonpayment. Similar information in respect of water companies is not available.

  Drins
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter he sent to the water authorities on 6 March, 932–19, on the European Community proposals on the drins;

  (2) if he will place in the Library the summary note of the first meeting on 28 January of his Department's consultation group on the European Community proposals on the drins.

  Mr. Ridley
  No. The papers referred to are working documents used in the formulation of Government policy. It is not the practice to make such documents publicly available.

  New Parliamentary Building
  Dr. Marek
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to respond to those recommendations addressed to him in the second report from the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) on the new parliamentary building (phase 2), HC 378, Session 1986–87; and when he now expects to be able to announce a commencement date for works at No.1 Cannon row.

  Mr. Chope
  I am grateful for the Services Committee report which was published on 1 July. I am considering the recommendations and will respond as soon as possible. I hope to be able to make a full statement about No. 1 Cannon row shortly.

  Gipsies
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made as to whether the Caravan Sites Act 1968 gives local authorities sufficient power to regulate unauthorised gipsy encampments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  The eviction powers available to local authorities designated under section 12 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 were simplified by amendments to the Act 392
  in the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. In his announcement on 6 February 1987 of the results of a review of gipsy sites policy, the Secretary of State said there would be no further amendments to the legislation for the present.

  Lead-free Petrol
  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many petrol stations in the Merseyside area presently have facilities for lead-free petrol.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I understand from the United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association that there are currently five service stations selling unleaded petrol in Merseyside, at Prescot, Birkenhead, Southport, Wallasey and Maghull.

SCOTLAND

  Travelling People
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department gives to local authorities regarding the siting of travelling people's facilities and their proximity to existing housing developments.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In circular 34/1984 of November 1984, the Scottish Development Department advised local authorities about arrangements for the grant scheme for sites for travelling people and said that, in choosing a location, authorities should take into account the advice in the third report of the Secretary of State's advisory committee on Scotland's travelling people (HMSO, June 1982). That report indicated that a site should be appropriately located in relation to a number of services and to the settled community, but it did not offer guidance on proximity to existing housing developments.

  Stracathro Junction
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now give a starting date for the construction of the proposed flyover at Stracathro junction.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is not yet practicable to give a starting date for the construction of the flyover, as this is dependent on the completion of the necessary statutory procedures, by way of a side roads order and compulsory purchase order, and public reaction to them.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to have estimates for the costs of the proposed flyover at Stracathro junction; and if he will detail the steps so far taken in producing this new development.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I expect to have estimated costs within the next few weeks. Tayside regional council, as agent authority, are working on the design of the scheme and details relevant to the necessary statutory orders. This material will be with the Scottish Development Department shortly.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Batiste
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants are employed in his Department; and what is its budgeted expenditure for the current year.
  393
  Mr. Rifkind
  At 1 July 1987, 6,618 staff were employed in the Scottish Office, 3,238 in the Scottish prisons service and a total of 2,144½ in the four minor Departments for which I am responsible (Scottish Record Office, General Register Office (Scotland), Department of the Registers of Scotland and the Scottish Courts Administration); the respective running cost limits for 1987–88 are £110·961 million, £61·101 million and £37·040 million.

  Students
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the percentage of students in receipt of SED awards who receive the maximum parental contribution.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In academic session 1985–86, the latest period for which figures are available, 21·1 per cent. of SED award-holding students received no standard maintenance allowance, either because their parents were assessed as liable for the maximum parental contribution or because no claim for maintenance was made.

  Information on parental contributions actually made is not available; that is a matter between the students and their parents.

  Psychiatric Hospitals
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has a target figure for the number of (a) physiotherapists, (b) occupational therapists, (c) clinical psychologists, (d) social workers in psychiatric hospitals and (e) psychiatrists required to work with the mentally ill in Scotland; and if he will state the current numbers employed in each category.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Target figures have not been set for these professions working with the mentally ill, the numbers employed being agreed by local management. 211 consultant psychiatrists work with the mentally ill in Scotland. 150 social workers employed by local authorities work in psychiatric hospitals or psychiatric units. For the other professions, the information is not held centrally in the form requested.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was, separately, the number of men and women in Scottish psychiatric hospitals for each of the years 1980 until 1986.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:

  Scottish Psychiatric Hospitals1: Residents

  Residents2

  Male

  Female

  1980

  10,260

  11,656

  1981

  9,997

  11,607

  1982

  9,733

  11,452

  1983

  9,519

  11,320

  1984

  9,309

  11,110

  1985

  8,952

  10,967

  1 Mental Illness and Mental Handicap.

  2 At 31 December.

  Information for 1986 is not yet available.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the Scottish psychiatric hospitals and the number of patients in each hospital on 11 June.
  394
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information for the day in question is not held centrally. Psychiatric hospital inpatients statistics are published annually by health board area in "Scottish Health Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of patients, and their percentage of the total number of patients in Scottish psychiatric hospitals, who have been in Scottish psychiatric hospitals for (a) under one year, (b) under five years, (c) under 10 years, and (d) over 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest information available is as follows:

  Distribution of residents1 in Scottish psychiatric hospitals2 by length of stay: 1985

  Number

  Percentage

  Less than one year

  5,229

  26

  Less than five years

  9,896

  49

  Less than 10 years

  12,085

  61

  10 years of more

  7,834

  39

  Total

  19,919

  100

  1 At 31 December.

  2 Mental illness and mental handicap.

  Occupational Therapists
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of qualified occupational therapists working with people with mental illness in Scotland for each of the years 1980 to 1986.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information collected centrally does not identify separately those occupational therapists employed in the NHS and by local authorities working with the mentally ill some of whom may be having treatment in psychiatric hospitals, general hospitals, local authority accommodation or at home.

  The total numbers of qualified occupational therapists employed by health boards and local authority social work departments are shown in the following table. All figures are whole-time equivalents.

  Health boards (at September)

  Local authority social work departments (at October)

  1980

  304·1

  158·0

  1981

  319·5

  169·0

  1982

  340·2

  175·0

  1983

  371·0

  185·0

  1984

  380·4

  190·0

  1985

  414·7

  196·0

  1986

  469·3

  1198·0

  1 Provisional figure at 6 October 1986.

  Schizophrenia
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of people in Scotland estimated to be suffering from (a) schizophrenia, (b) dementia and (c) severe drinking problems.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is not possible to assess accurately the number of people with these conditions as not all sufferers come into contact with medical or other services.
  395

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of prescriptions for sleeping tablets, tranquillisers and anti-depressants issued in Scotland for each of the years 1980 to 1986.

  1 Therapeutic Classification

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  Million 2 1986

  Hypnotics

  1·772

  1·758

  1·831

  1·815

  1·825

  1·770

  1·306

  Sedatives/Tranquillisers

  2·116

  2·098

  2·078

  1·752

  1·651

  1·449

  1·031

  Anti-depressants

  0·592

  0·630

  0·610

  0·602

  0·653

  0·636

  0·542

  Anti-depressants/ tranquilliser combinations

  0·082

  0·083

  0·074

  0·070

  0·056

  0·036

  0·017

  1 Estimated using a sample of approximately one per cent, of prescriptions dispensed in Scotland by chemist contractors (i.e. excluding prescriptions dispensed by dispensing doctors).

  2 January-September 1986.

  Prison Disturbances
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each Scottish prison the number and dates of all disturbances since 1982.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Providing a list of all disturbances, however minor, which have occurred in

  Establishment

  Nature of Incident

  1982

  7 May

  Peterhead

  Major disturbance.

  17 August

  Edinburgh

  Attempt to reach roof.

  1983

  16 October

  Peterhead

  Major disturbance.

  1984

  9–10 January

  Peterhead

  Staff evicted from hall.

  1985

  13 March

  Peterhead

  Staff taken hostage in escape attempt.

  15 April

  Dumfries

  Prisoner taken hostage.

  2 November

  Peterhead

  Staff taken hostage in escape attempt.

  1986

  2–3 July

  Peterhead

  Hostage incident.

  21 October-2 November

  Edinburgh

  Hostage incident.

  9–13 November

  Peterhead

  Hostage incident.

  1987

  5–19 January

  Barlinnie

  Hostage incident.

  Holy Loch
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what planning requirements exist for future developments at Holy Loch base.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Planning proposals for any future development at the Holy Loch base would be brought forward by the Ministry of Defence and would be subject to the planning procedures that apply to all developments by Government Departments. These procedures are set out in Scottish Development Department circular 21/1984, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
  396
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The following table gives the information for the relevant therapeutic categories. This is abstracted from the annual HMSO publication "Scottish Health Statistics" which is available in the Library. The figures for the full year 1986 are not yet available but those for the first nine months are given.

  Scottish penal establishments since 1982 would require disproportionate staff resources. I am therfore listing only incidents which could be categorised as serious because of the nature of the incident or the extent of the damage caused.

  Health Boards
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each member of every health board in Scotland, and the source of their nomination.

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

  Mentally Handicapped and Disabled Persons
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if his Department has set a target for the provision of places for the mentally ill or mentally handicapped in each of the following: (a) group homes, (b) hostels and (c) day hospitals;
  397
  (2) whether the Government have set a Scottish target for the provision of places in full-time day centres for (a) the mentally ill, (b) the mentally handicapped and (c) the physically handicapped.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No formal targets for the provision of residential or day care places for any of the three groups mentioned have been set in the recent past. Suggested figures in a 1979 report by the mental disorder programme planning group of the Scottish Health Services Planning Council have served to stimulate progress but have been overtaken by more recent consideration of the subject.

  Local authorities are aware of the Government's view that due priority should be given to the promotion of community care, and in consultation with health boards they are well placed to judge the particular needs of their areas. Considerable progress is being made already, for example in the provision of day care places for the mentally handicapped which have risen from 4,705 in March 1977 to a provisional figure of 6,995 in March 1986.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of group homes or hostels for the mentally ill run by or known to social work departments in Scotland and the number of places they contain.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest available information is as follows:

  Group homes and hostels for the mentally ill at 31 March 1986

  Group homes

  Hostels

  Local Authority

  Number of homes

  25

  4

  Number of places

  110

  40

  Other

  Number of homes

  104

  1

  Number of places

  410

  20

  There are, in addition, four fully staffed homes with 64 places at the same date.

  SHARE Formula
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now proposes to implement the SHARE formula in full.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The SHARE formula has been fully implemented each year since 1978–79 and this has resulted in a much fairer distribution of available resources to health boards.

  Breast Cancer Screening
  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the Scottish Home and Health Department has discussed with health boards the steps which have to be taken to establish a breast cancer screening service in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if progress has been made in Scotland on the implementation of the Forrest recommendations on breast cancer screening;

  (3) when he expects to announce details of his decision on the 10 centres which were suggested in the Forrest report on breast cancer screening.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Discussions are continuing with health boards and other interested parties about the 398
  implementation of the recommendations on breast cancer screening contained in the Forrest report. Subject to these discussions, I would hope to be able to make an announcement about the location of the first centres in the autumn.

  Breast and Cervical Cancer
  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women have died of breast and cervical cancer in 1986 in Scotland as a whole and in each of the health board areas.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is given in the table below:

  Deaths from Breast1 and Cervical Cancer2 by Health Board Area, Scotland, 1986 (Provisional)

  Breast Cancer

  Cervical Cancer

  Scotland

  1,313

  199

  Borders

  37

  10

  Central

  67

  8

  Dumfries & Galloway

  31

  11

  Fife

  90

  12

  Grampian

  101

  15

  Highland

  51

  10

  Lothian

  197

  25

  Argyll & Bute

  112

  17

  Ayr & Arran

  85

  20

  Greater Glasgow

  264

  33

  Lanarkshire

  132

  22

  Tayside

  121

  12

  Orkney

  2

  —

  Shetland

  10

  —

  Western Isles

  13

  4

  1 International Classification of Disease Code 174.

  2 International Classification of Disease Code 180.

  Universities (Funding)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when appointments will be made to the Scottish Committee of the Universities Funding Council; and if he will seek nominations from representative groups of Scottish opinion.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It will only be possible to make appointments after the Universities Funding Council has been established, which the Government propose to do by legislation to be introduced during the current session. Appointments to the committee will be a matter for the council, in consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend. We envisage that the committee will include members in individual rather than representative capacities.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state what progress has been made in broadening access to Scottish higher education through wider recognition of the national certificate.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This is a matter primarily for the Scottish Vocational Education Council to take forward as the custodian of the national certificate. I understand that, following discussions with SCOTVEC the Scottish Universities' Council on Entrance has agreed to recommend to individual universities in Scotland that they make sympathetic use of waiver arrangements in the case
  399
  of deserving candidates with national certificate qualifications. SCOTVEC and SUCE have agreed that the performance of first year students gaining admission to universities either solely on the basis of national certificate modules or on a mixture of national certificate modules and other qualifications should be closely monitored.

  To assist admissions officers and staff in the various specialist departments in institutions of higher education in Scotland in dealing with students who hold the national certificate, my Department is funding the appointment of four development officers by SCOTVEC to assist admission staff in better equipping themselves to interpret and make an assessment of the qualifications offered by applicants. This exercise is intended to build on discussion begun at a conference sponsored by my Department last February at which representatives of SCOTVEC, the Council for National Academic Awards, the universities and central institutions met to consider how progression from national certificate to higher education might be enhanced.

  Whatever national initiatives are undertaken, it is, of course, open to individual institutions to make their own arrangements at a local level to encourage national certificate students to move on to higher education. A good example of this is an initiative in the west of Scotland where a working party has been set up, consisting of representatives of Glasgow and Strathclyde universities, Paisley and Glasgow colleges of technology and further education colleges managed by Strathclyde region, specifically to devise national certificate modular programmes which, if successfully completed, would give direct access to first degree courses in business studies and engineering at the two universities as well as to HND and degree courses at the two central institutions. The aim is to construct programmes which will be of particular relevance to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, to adults without formal qualifications, or to those seeking to enhance their employment prospects through a reorientation of their qualifications. This is an extremely encouraging development which I am sure will be of interest to other institutions.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he received from the general councils, students' representative councils, student unions, student associations and trade unions of the eight Scottish universities regarding future control of Scottish higher education following his statement in the House of Commons on 1 April 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from the general council of the university of Edinburgh.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the future development of adult and continuing education in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Provision for the development of adult and continuing education in Scotland is made through the normal rate support grant arrangements with local authorities. This allows for flexibility in the allocation of priorities by each region in order to respond to local requirements.

  To establish close links with industry and commerce, additional central government funds are allocated to the joint Manpower Services Commission and Scottish
  400
  Education Department programme of local collaborative projects. Under this scheme, educational establishments collaborate with local industrial and commercial interests to identify particular training requirements in their areas.

  In 1986, the Scottish PICKUP (Professional, Industrial and Commercial Updating) programme was launched to promote the recognition of and the provision of updating courses for people already in employment. This is a rolling programme of projects funded by central Government and extending over three years to 1988–89.

  The Workers Educational Association receives funds annually for the promotion of adult education throughout Scotland and have power to direct their expenditure in accordance with their income.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations relating to the future control of Scottish tertiary education he has received from student organisations, trade unions, governing bodies and individuals in the Scottish central institutions and colleges of education.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Following his statement on 1 April 1987, my right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from the Joint Committee of Principals of Colleges of Education and the Principals and Directors of Central Institutions and separately from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the General Council of Edinburgh University regarding the control of Scottish higher education; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has recently received a letter regretting his decision, announced on 1 April 1987 at column 1107, that the Scottish universities would continue to be funded alongside other universities in Great Britain through the new Universities Funding Council; and suggesting that the members of the Scottish committee of the new council should be appointed by my right hon. and learned Friend in consultation with the Scottish universities and colleges.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has replied pointing out the divergence in views between the general council and the university of Edinburgh which, like the majority of the other Scottish universities, did not favour funding of the universities through a Scottish body; and saying that he would consider the method of appointment of members to the Scottish committee in the light of responses to the recent consultative exercise.

  Torness Nuclear Power Station
  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any emergency exercises are to be carried out at Torness nuclear power station before it is fully operational.

  Mr. Lang
  The SSEB has already demonstrated its emergency arrangements to the satisfaction of the NII, and as part of its own on-going programme the board will carry out further emergency exercises during the commissioning period of the power station. This will be independent of any further exercises determined by the Inspectorate in implementation, as it considers necessary, of the site licence requirements.
  401
  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects that the Torness nuclear power station will be commissioned and electricity generated for the national grid.

  Mr. Lang
  I am advised by SSEB that they expect that the first reactor at Torness will be commissioned towards the end of 1987. The second reactor is planned to be in operation before the end of the current financial year.

  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to grant consent for the final fuel loading at Torness nuclear power station.

  Mr. Lang
  I am advised by the South of Scotland Electricity Board that it hopes shortly to obtain the necessary approval from the nuclear installations inspectorate to allow fuel loading at the first reactor.

  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the modifications to the control rod guide tubes at Torness nuclear power station have been completed; and whether the modifications have delayed the commissioning of the power station.

  Mr. Lang
  I am advised by the SSEB that the necessary modifications to the control rod guide tubes at Torness have now been completed and the approval of the nuclear installations inspectorate is being sought. The requirement to investigate and remedy the problem with the guide tubes has caused some delay to the commissioning of the first reactor, but the station is expected to be fully commissioned substantially to programme.

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Regional authorities

  Borders

  14·86

  18·01

  22·15

  22·31

  22·51

  25·81

  22·56

  28·42

  32·58

  Central

  6·96

  11·75

  16·59

  23·83

  16·79

  16·89

  18·88

  28·42

  29·77

  Dumfries and Galloway

  15·23

  17·53

  18·80

  25·63

  24·65

  24·80

  24·57

  24·69

  24·80

  Fife

  7·44

  14·81

  19·92

  17·55

  20·19

  20·14

  25·06

  22·06

  25·31

  Grampian

  19·21

  23·79

  26·24

  28·75

  29·82

  31·19

  34·12

  36·81

  40·97

  Highland

  15·22

  17·26

  27·16

  29·41

  27·64

  25·96

  26·00

  28·71

  28·87

  Lothian

  10·59

  16·02

  24·23

  24·38

  21·78

  24·65

  26·31

  35·19

  44·87

  Strathclyde

  11·93

  14·48

  19·44

  24·48

  22·18

  24·81

  26·26

  19·78

  26·33

  Tayside

  10·75

  13·02

  17·57

  19·96

  20·10

  20·26

  24·49

  24·63

  27·86

  Island councils

  Orkney

  12·25

  15·86

  20·66

  24·59

  27·20

  28·66

  29·63

  31·12

  35·01

  Shetland

  13·21

  17·11

  12·39

  10·10

  14·67

  7·74

  12·02

  12·19

  10·61

  Western Isles

  10·04

  13·12

  17·16

  20·40

  22·89

  24·24

  24·11

  28·47

  30·16

  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the figures for the numbers of households where water supplies have been disconnected, showing where possible the reasons for disconnection, for each year separately between 1979 and 1987.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally. A water authority (regional or islands council) would disconnect a household's supply only on account of operational reasons. These would include repairing leaks in household plumbing systems or in burst systems, making connections and lining pipes.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, when an application is made for an extension of detention
  402

  YTS (Argyll and Bute)
  Mrs Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people there are on youth training schemes in Argyll and Bute at the moment; and what change there has been over the last year.

  Mr. Lang
  In Argyll and Bute district, 250 young people were participating in YTS at 30 June 1987, compared with 158 participants at 30 June 1986.

  BBC Glasgow (Police Raid
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the procurator fiscal is still involved in consideration of the evidence involved in the police raid on the BBC in Glasgow on Sunday 1 February; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. A number of reports from the procurator fiscal are being considered by the Law Officers. I have nothing to add.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the average household bill for water rates for each regional water authority in Scotland for each year separately between 1979 and 1987.

  Mr. Lang
  The table shows the average household water bill for each regional authority in Scotland for each year between 1979–80 and 1987–88.

  for a loyalist suspect by the police in Scotland, it is considered directly by the Scottish Office, as stated by Lord Jellicoe in his 1984 review of the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 (Cmnd. 8803: paragraph 30).

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Yes.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Dewar
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the estimated level of personal community charge in each regional and district council area in Scotland that would be required in the current financial year if the Abolition of Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act were in force.
  403
  Mr. Rifkind
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 July 1987, c. 187]The estimated levels of personal community charge required to replace domestic rate income in 1987–88 are as follows:

  Authority

  District

  Region (excluding water)

  Community water charge

  Total

  Borders

  35

  138

  24

  197

  Berwickshire

  33

  138

  24

  195

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  33

  138

  24

  195

  Roxburgh

  39

  138

  24

  201

  Tweeddale

  32

  138

  24

  194

  Central

  57

  152

  16

  225

  Clackmannan

  54

  152

  16

  222

  Falkirk

  45

  152

  16

  213

  Stirling

  81

  152

  16

  249

  Dumfries and Galloway

  34

  138

  18

  190

  Annadale and Eskdale

  36

  138

  18

  192

  Nithsdale

  36

  138

  18

  192

  Stewartry

  34

  138

  18

  190

  Wigtown

  28

  138

  18

  183

  Fife

  45

  171

  17

  234

  Dunfermline

  37

  171

  17

  225

  Kirkcaldy

  49

  171

  17

  237

  North East Fife

  53

  171

  17

  241

  Grampian

  41

  121

  27

  189

  Aberdeen City

  52

  121

  27

  200

  Banff and Buchan

  32

  121

  27

  180

  Gordon

  40

  121

  27

  188

  Kincardine and Deeside

  27

  121

  27

  175

  Moray

  28

  121

  27

  176

  Highland

  32

  154

  21

  207

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  33

  154

  21

  208

  Caithness

  30

  154

  21

  205

  Inverness

  30

  154

  21

  205

  Lochaber

  42

  154

  21

  217

  Nairn

  33

  154

  21

  208

  Ross and Cromarty

  37

  154

  21

  212

  Skye and Lochalsh

  25

  154

  21

  200

  Sutherland

  22

  154

  21

  197

  Lothian

  63

  197

  26

  285

  East Lothian

  67

  197

  26

  289

  Edinburgh City

  67

  197

  26

  289

  Midlothian

  58

  197

  26

  281

  West Lothian

  50

  197

  26

  272

  Strathclyde

  70

  191

  18

  279

  Argyll and Bute

  62

  191

  18

  270

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  80

  191

  18

  289

  Clydebank

  59

  191

  18

  268

  Clydesdale

  55

  191

  18

  263

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  57

  191

  18

  266

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  48

  191

  18

  256

  Cunninghame

  71

  191

  18

  279

  Dumbarton

  73

  191

  18

  281

  East Kilbride

  50

  191

  18

  259

  Eastwood

  61

  191

  18

  269

  Glasgow City

  86

  191

  18

  294

  Hamilton

  66

  191

  18

  275

  Inverclyde

  54

  191

  18

  263

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  59

  191

  18

  268

  Kyle and Carrick

  65

  191

  18

  274

  Monklands

  58

  191

  18

  266

  Motherwell

  53

  191

  18

  262

  Renfrew

  75

  191

  18

  283

  Strathkelvin

  65

  191

  18

  274

  Tayside

  59

  160

  19

  238

  Angus

  40

  160

  19

  219

  Dundee City

  77

  160

  19

  256

  404 405

  Authority

  District

  Region (excluding water)

  Community water charge

  Total

  Perth and Kinross

  48

  160

  19

  226

  Orkney Islands

  0

  75

  27

  101

  Shetland Islands

  0

  95

  7

  102

  Western Isles

  0

  96

  21

  117

  All Scotland

  59

  174

  20

  253

  Notes:

  (1) Figures for regions are averages of their component districts; the figure for Scotland as a whole, is an average of all regions and islands.

  (2) The total charge may not be the sum of the constituent parts, as a result of rounding.

  (3) The figures for Lothian regional council and Edinburgh district council take account of the rate reductions proposed by the Secretary of State in the reports he laid before Parliament on 10 July. The figure for Clackmannan district council takes account of a rate reduction which the Council propose to make, as announced on 10 July.
  406

  NHS: REPRESENTATIONS TO HEALTHMINISTERS
  NHS: REPRESENTATIONS TO HEALTHMINISTERS
  DEVRIMICI YOL: TRIAL
  DEVRIMICI YOL: TRIAL
  CHARITY COMMISSION: SCRUTINYREPORT
  CHARITY COMMISSION: SCRUTINYREPORT
  PRISON RULE 43: STATISTICS
  PRISON RULE 43: STATISTICS
  SECURITY FIRMS: STAFF TRAINING
  SECURITY FIRMS: STAFF TRAINING
  GINI COEFFICIENTS 1986
  GINI COEFFICIENTS 1986