Written Answers of 14 July 1987

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  CAP (Surpluses)
  Mr. John
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will set out the amounts of common agricultural policy surplus production held in each of the stores used for that purpose in the United Kingdom;

  (2) what is the location, by town. of the stores used for the storage of common agricultural policy surpluses in the United Kingdom.

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

  Milk Quota
  Mr. Livsey
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the effects of delay on United Kingdom dairy farmers, he will immediately allow the Milk Marketing Board to organise milk quota leasing in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon a possible.

  Council of Agriculture Ministers
  Mr. Boswell
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Minsters' meeting held in Luxembourg on Monday 13 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting. The Council agreed, subject to the opinion of the European Parliament, on arrangements for the funding of agricultural expenditure from the Community budget. The decision implements the conclusions reached by Heads of Government at their meeting on 29 and 30 June that the present system of advance payments should be changed.

  Instead of member states making guarantee payments to farmers and others after they have received funds from the Community budget, they will make the payments in advance, out of their own finances. There will be a delay of two months before member states are reimbursed from Community funds and this will have the effect of removing the budget deficit for agriculture in 1987. This system will continue until such time as final arrangements are made for the future financing of the Community.

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  January

  —

  1,461

  —

  107

  71

  5

  53

  337

  February

  —

  —

  —

  201

  189

  —

  56

  315

  March

  —

  —

  —

  415

  146

  2

  16

  332

  April

  —

  —

  —

  296

  13

  89

  139

  211

  May

  —

  —

  —

  353

  21

  26

  114

  324

  June

  —

  —

  —

  340

  37

  51

  154

  506

  July

  —

  —

  —

  269

  —

  47

  214

  408
  Payments to farmers and other recipients will not be affected by the change.

  It was important to establish that the adjustment of the advances system will result in no extra cost to the Community budget in 1988 and subsequent years, and this has been achieved. Provision is made for limited interest payments to be made in the short-term to certain member states.

  This year's price fixing and budget are finally settled. We must continue to focus on finding longer term solutions to the problems of budgetary discipline in the interests of farmers and taxpayers as a whole. Britain has already put forward ideas which the Commission is considering.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Detained Persons
  Mr. Cox
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what rights and conditions apply to people (a) being held on remand in police cells and (b) serving a prison sentence;

  (2) what are the rights of people being held on remand in police cells as to visits; and if he will make a statement as to his Department's policy in this matter.

  Mr. John Patten
  The conditions under which sentenced and unsentenced prisoners are held in prison department establishments are laid down in "The Prison Rules 1964" as amended. These do not extend to prisoners held in police cells. However, such prisoners are covered by the relevant sections of the code of practice for detention, questioning and treatment of persons by police officers issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

  Mr. Cox
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of (a) men and(b) women being held in police cells in the United Kingdom on I July; and what was the longest period of time a person on remand had been held under such conditions on that date.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 3 July, the nearest date for which reliable figures are available, the number of men being held in police and court cells in England and Wales was 511 and the number of women was 109. The longest period of time that a person on remand had been so held was 65 days.

  Mr. Cox
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of people held in police cells in the United Kingdom for each month since January 1965.

  Mr. John Patten
  The readily available information relates to the last Friday of each month when the numbers of prisoners held in police cells in England and Wales were as follows:
  409

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  August

  —

  —

  —

  233

  —

  55

  89

  September

  —

  —

  119

  250

  1

  28

  188

  October

  3,497

  —

  41

  259

  13

  13

  106

  November

  3,494

  —

  170

  568

  18

  42

  195

  December

  3,454

  —

  —

  33

  —

  —

  59

  There are no records available prior to 1980 and information relating to the years 1980 and 1982 is incomplete.

  Mr. Cox
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why people, whose homes are in London and who have been remanded in custody by courts in London, are being held in police cells many miles away from London.

  Mr. John Patten
  The continuing rise in the prison population, particularly those remanded in custody, has led to the increasing use of police cells to accommodate some remand prisoners. The pressure on police cells in the Metropolitan police district has made it necessary for the police to look outside London for short term accommodation.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1979 visa officers have appealed against an adjudicator's determination to allow an application for entry clearance; and if he will give a breakdown (i) by post of application in the subcontinent and (ii) by year.

  Mr. Renton
  The available information compiled from statistics maintained by the independent appellate authorities is given in the table. No record is kept for individual posts and prior to 1984 no separate figures were kept for the Indian sub-continent.

  Appeals to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal from decisions by adjudicators to allow appeals against refusal of entry clearance

  Commonwealth

  Non-Commonwealth

  EC

  1979

  47

  50

  0

  1980

  33

  21

  1

  1981

  21

  19

  0

  1982

  28

  20

  0

  1983

  23

  18

  1

  India/Bangladesh

  Pakistan

  Other Commonwealth

  EC

  Others

  1984

  32

  3

  10

  0

  0

  1985

  20

  10

  4

  0

  5

  Indian

  Bangladesh

  Pakistan

  EC

  Others

  1986

  12

  24

  27

  0

  10

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been refused visitor's entry clearance, since the new system was introduced, on the grounds that the immigration officer was not satisfied that the applicant was genuinely seeking entry for only the period of the visit stated by him; and if he will give a breakdown by each post considering applications in the sub-continent.
  410
  Mr. Renton
  Information is available centrally only on all applications refused for a visit visa, irrespective of the reason for refusal, and is given in the following table:

  Applications refused initially in the Indian sub-continent for a visit visa to the United Kingdom

  Number of persons

  1986

  1987

  14th quarter

  1st quarter

  April

  Dhaka

  600

  370

  180

  Bombay

  100

  120

  90

  New Delhi

  360

  590

  260

  Calcutta

  2—

  10

  —

  Madras

  30

  40

  30

  Islamabad

  440

  590

  410

  Karachi

  290

  400

  150

  1 Including applications refused for a visit entry clearance in the period 1 to 14 October.

  2 5 or fewer.

  Remand Centres
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals his Department has to improve conditions at remand centres.

  Mr. John Patten
  In the short term implementation of proposals in "A Fresh Start" and the court escort scrutiny will allow staff to be deployed more flexibly and to better effect, providing a sound organisational base for improvements in regime standards for prisoners. In the longer term we are giving priority to measures designed to reduce overcrowding and modernise old buildings throughout the prison estate, including remand centres. The current prison building programme will provide over 17,000 additional places by the mid-1990s in existing and new establishments and we are undertaking extensive modernisations and refurbishment at about 100 establishments, including almost all the Victorian prisons.

  Offenders (Hostels)
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost to his Department of a place in a voluntary after-care hostel for offenders.

  Mr. John Patten
  About £1,000 per annum, but there is considerable variation around this figure according to the type of hostel and the facilities provided.

  Feltham Youth Custody Centre
  Mr. Ground
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made towards reaching an agreement with the Prison Officers' Association concerning staffing and security at the new remand building due to open at the Feltham youth custody centre on 12 July.

  Mr. John Patten
  Progress has been made towards reaching agreement with the Prison Officers' Association on matters connected with the new remand building at
  411
  Feltham youth custody centre. The opening date of 12 July has been postponed for a few days to allow further talks to take place.

  Inner-City Crime
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional measures he proposes to take to combat crime in the inner cities.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are developing a range of measures to make our cities safer places. We are evaluating the lessons learned from our "Five Towns" local crime prevention initiative with a view to establishing similar arrangements in other urban areas. For this purpose, we shall again be working with the police and seeking the cooperation of local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors. We shall continue our efforts to encourage and support chief police officers in their endeavours to put more police officers on the streets. We will work with other government departments to build on the valuable contribution they are already making to the prevention of crime through the policies and programmes for which they are responsible.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Play Areas (Surfaces)
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department issues recommendations or guidelines on safe surfaces in children's playgrounds or recreation areas for schoolchildren; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on I July to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms. Quin) at column 86.

ENERGY

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. Lord
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what part of the electricity supply system and ancillary companies will he privatised; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Detailed proposals for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry are still being developed.

  Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what effect he estimates the limited resources and understaffing of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate identified by the Chief Inspector in evidence to the Energy Committee on 6 May have on (a) the safety of nuclear installations and (b) the development of the nuclear industry.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The legal responsibility for the safety of a nuclear installation lies with the site operator. The responsibility of the NII is to see that appropriate standards are developed, achieved and maintained by the licensee to ensure that the necessary safety precautions are taken and to monitor and regulate the safety of the plant by means of its powers under the licence.

  Although the NII has had staffing shortages, it has nonetheless been able to maintain the required standards
  412
  of safety, by giving priority to the inspection and assessment of operating plant, but with the consequent risk of some delay to other projects. However, following a special salary increase a recruitment campaign is now under way which is expected to bring the NII up to full strength.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the recommendations contained in paragraph 17 of the second report and paragraph 3 of the third special report of the Energy Committee, Session 1986–87, with regard to the implications for the nuclear industry of the understaffing of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

  Mr. Cope
  I have been asked to reply.

  Two substantial increases in the salary scales for all nuclear installations inspectors have recently been agreed and it is expected that this will enable the inspectorate to attract recruits with the expertise and skills required and to bring its staff up to the numbers planned for 1987–88. A recruitment competition is now under way.

  Energy Committee (Second Report)
  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to respond to the second report of the Energy Committee, Session 1986–87.

  Mr. Parkinson
  With regard to the Committee's recommendation on NII staffing, the Government have agreed to a further pay award for nuclear inspectors to make Nil salaries fully competitive with the rest of the industry. An extensive recruitment campaign is now under way and has attracted considerable interest.

  I hope to be able to respond shortly to the Committee's recommendation on decommissioning costs.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department in helping small businesses over the last three years; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Parkinson
  My Department takes full account of the needs of small businesses in considering the adoption or revision of measures for which it is responsible.

  Small businesses, like larger ones, will have benefited from measures to encourage competition and stimulate efficiency in energy supply and use. They will also have shared in the benefits from a range of measures, including:

  —information and advice schemes to help firms use energy
  more efficiently;

  —support for research and development in new energy technologies; and

  —promotion of the offshore supplies industry.

  Because the span of these activities is so wide, it is not possible to single out their impact on different sizes of company: some individual measures have, however, been of particular benefit to small business. An example of this is the Energy Efficiency Office's support of projects to draughtproof the homes of low-income groups. Much of the new and expanding market for the materials concerned, worth perhaps £10 million in the current financial year, will be supplied by small companies.

  In addition, £40 million has been made available to British Coal Enterprise to help create jobs in coalfield

  413
  areas. This has contributed directly to the creation of 18,506 new job opportunities in 1,399 individual projects, many in new, often small, businesses. The company's investment of £31·5 million so far has attracted additional finance from other sources of almost £200 million.

WALES

  Ogwr Health District (Staff Shortage)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the chief administrative nursing officer of the Mid Glamorgan health authority about the shortfall of staff for health visitor and community nursing services in the Ogwr health district based on the Telford guidelines; and if he is prepared to provide extra funds to make up this shortfall in the Ogwr health district.

  Mr. Grist
  None. The distribution of manpower and other resources to the various units of the district health authority are matters falling to its own operational and managerial responsibility.

  S4C (Viewing Audience)
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if estimates are available county by county of the average viewing audience of Welsh-language television programmes broadcast by Sianel 4 Cymru;

  (2) what are the latest estimates of the average number of viewers of Welsh-language television programmes broadcast by Sianel 4 Cymru.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  This information is not held centrally.

  ADAS (Welsh Language)
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the employees of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in each of the Welsh counties speak Welsh; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The number of employees of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in the Welsh counties who speak Welsh is:

  Number

  Gwynedd

  20

  Dyfed

  18

  Clwyd

  9

  Powys

  4

  Mid Glamorgan

  5

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan and Gwent

  In addition, there are a further 60 Welsh speakers located at the centralised specialist establishments in Wales, that is ADAS headquarters, sub centres and veterinary investigation centres.

  Housing
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the current and capital expenditure per head on housing in Wales during the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Grist
  Local authorities current and capital expenditure per head for 1986–87 is:
  414

  £ per head

  Current

  49·32

  Capital

  62·68

  Current expenditure relates to both the housing revenue account and rate fund revenue account but excludes any expenditure on advances under the Housing and Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts, expenditure by the Housing Corporation, any Housing Benefit expenditure and Debt charges.

  Capital expenditure is shown gross of receipts but excluding leasing, and Housing Corporation expenditure.

  Capital expenditure including Housing Corporation is £81·00 per head.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate how many second homes in each borough in Wales will not be rated when the poll tax is operating in full; and what will be the loss of revenue on present charges for each borough as a result of this.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  All domestic hereditaments, including second homes, will cease to be rated when the community charge is in full operation. Owners of second homes will instead pay a standard charge to the local authority where the property is situated. The standard charge will normally be equivalent to two units of community charge; but local authorities will have power to set lower standard charges.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will estimate what is the current rates revenue received from private and local authority establishments catering for old people as residents by each local authority in Wales;

  (2) what is the estimated revenue for each local authority in Wales when the new business rate is levied in full on private and local authority residential establishments catering for old people and the poll tax is levied in full on the residents.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information needed to make these estimates is not available centrally. Final decisions on the treatment of such establishments under the new system have not yet been taken. However, we have already made it clear that residents of old peoples homes will be exempt from the community charge.

  Rates
  Mr. Wyn Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will estimate what is the current rates revenue received from religious establishments with permanent residents by each local authority in Wales;

  (2) what is the estimated revenue for each local authority in Wales when the new business rate and poll tax are levied in full on religious establishments and their residents.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information needed to make these estimates is not available centrally.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Polling Register
  Mr. Allen
  asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will make it his policy to make available free

  415
  on request to any hon. or right hon. Member one copy of the marked polling register for his or her constituency; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  No.

PRIME MINISTER

  Insurance (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Prime Minister what information she has as to how insurers' overheads in Northern Ireland compare with those in England.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Data Processing (Duplication)
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  asked the Prime Minister (1) to what extent the Home Office's data processing activities are duplicated by (a) the Inland Revenue, (b) Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and (c) the Department of Health and Social Security;

  (2) to what extent the Department of Health and Social Security's data processing activities are duplicated by (a) the Inland Revenue, (b) Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and (c) the Home Office.

  The Prime Minister
  Government Departments do not, in discharging their own responsibilities, deliberately duplicate data processing activities of other Departments.

  The Department of Health and Social Security exchanges approximately 40 million data items with the Inland Revenue each year in the process of collecting national insurance contributions and income tax, and in relation to pensioners working and paying income tax; duplication of data processing activities takes place only in that this common information is shared.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards recognising the Moroccan annexation of Western Sahara; and if she will convey this policy to King Hassan during his forthcoming visit.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government recognise neither the "Saharan Arab Democratic Republic" nor Moroccan claims to sovereignty over the Western Sahara. The Government fully support the efforts made by the United Nations Secretary General to bring about a peaceful solution. I look forward to discussing this and other international issues with King Hassan.

  Engagements
  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

  Mr. Pike
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I was also present at 416
  Victoria station to mark the arrival of the King of Morocco. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

TRANSPORT

  BR (Punctuality)
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to the answer of 6 July, Official Report, column 14, he will specify the benefits which his Department derives from the quarterly information on punctuality by sector supplied by British Rail; and if he will publish the latest such information in the Official Report.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  This information forms part of our general monitoring of the board's performance against the objectives that we set it last October. The latest available information on train punctuality is for the last quarter of 1986–87 and is as follows:

  Trains arriving within 0 to 5 minutes of right time

  Per cent.

  Intercity

  77

  Network Southeast

  91

  Provincial

  90

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to the answer of 6 July, Official Report, column 14, he will publish in the Official Report the evidence upon which he based his statement that British Rail's punctuality had improved over the last six months; and if he will now take steps to monitor punctuality regionally.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  My statement was based on train punctuality figures for all the passenger railway sectors covering the last six months of the 1986–87 financial year. They are the most recent figures for a six-month period and are as follows:

  Trains arriving within 0–5 minutes of right time

  Sector

  3rd quarter 1986–87 per cent.

  4th quarter 1986–87 per cent.

  Intercity

  75·0

  77·0

  Network SouthEast

  89·7

  91·0

  Provincial

  90·0

  90·0

  I do not propose to monitor punctuality regionally, but I have asked the board to send me information broken down by sub-sector.

  British Rail (Derelict Land)
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 6 July, Official Report, column 14, what information he has about British Rail's intentions with regard to maintaining the trend and pace of disposal of derelict land during the next five years.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I understand from British Rail that it aims to dispose of its present vacant and under-utilised land by the end of 1989. Where further sites are released from operational use, British Rail would intend to dispose of these where possible within the same times scale.

  British Rail (Repair Work)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport, if, when next he meets the chairman of British Rail, he will raise with him the concentration of repair work in regional depots and the work available to BREL in Crewe, in the light of the accelerated redundancies there since March 1987.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  No. The allocation of repair work is a management matter for the Railways Board.

  Leeds
  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made on the prospects for the economic development of south-east Leeds in its deliberations on the proposed M1-A1 link.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Consulting engineers are carrying out the east of Leeds study. They must be satisfied that traffic forecasts take account of the prospects for economic development.

  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish his Department's report on the study of traffic in east Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We hope to make an announcement during the autumn. This should end the present uncertainty.

  A423 (Maidenhead Thicket)
  Dr. Glyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport when a decision can be expected on the A423 through Maidenhead Thicket; and how soon after a decision he expects work to commence.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I hope to be able to announce a decision on the A423 Maidenhead Thicket to Burchetts Green improvement during the summer. This scheme is in the national trunk road programme for a start of works in the period to March 1989. The actual start will be dependent on the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures.

  Privately-owned Aircraft
  Mr. Snape
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to introduce legislation to require those flying or operating privately-owned aircraft to be insured for third party and passenger liability; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  It is for aircraft owners who carry passengers on private flights to decide the appropriate levels of both passenger and third party insurance to meet their potential liabilities. Under section 76 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 they are strictly liable for injury or damage caused to persons or property on the ground.

  There are no plans to introduce legislation.

  Lighthouse Tender Vessels (Report)
  Mr. Ward
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will announce the results of studies undertaken into the tender vessel requirements of the general lighthouse authorities.

  Mr. Channon
  In June last year my right hon. Friend, jointly with the three general lighthouse authorities,418
  commissioned Arthur Young Management Consultants to review the authorities' tender vessel requirements. I have now received their report and I am placing copies of it in the Library.

  I believe that this is the first joint comprehensive appraisal that has been made of the authorities' tender vessel requirements, and I am grateful to the consultants for undertaking it. Their report makes a wide range of recommendations which I shall be considering carefully in close consultation with the authorities, the Lights Advisory Committee (which represents shipowners, shippers and port authorities) and the Irish Government.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the steps being taken by the promoters of the Channel Tunnel project to ensure more than 50 per cent. of the contracts required to build the trains for use in the Channel Tunnel will go to British Rail Engineering Ltd., particularly in the northwest region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have been asked to reply.

  British Rail Engineering Ltd. has been given the lead in the design contract for the shuttle trains to be used in the Channel fixed link. The subsequent manufacturing contract will be subject to open and competitive tendering.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  IHV Industrial Investments Ltd.
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date IHV Industrial Investments Ltd., Reg. No. 1102274, went into liquidation.

  Mr. Maude
  No notice of the appointment of a liquidator nor a copy of a winding up order has been filed with the Registrar of Companies in respect of IHV Industrial Investments Ltd.

  Doorstep Sales
  Mr. Fraser
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will introduce legislation to reform the law relating to doorstep sales.

  Mr. Maude
  My Department will shortly be consulting interested organisations on the text of draft regulations to implement the EC directive on doorstep selling. We expect to lay the regulations before Parliament in the autumn.

  Task Force Projects (Leeds)
  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each of the projects supported by task force money in the Chapeltown area of Leeds the amount of money (a) allocated in 1986–87, (b) spent in 1986–87 and (c) allocated for 1987–88.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The information requested is as follows:
  419

  Funds allocated in 1986–87

  Spent in 1986–87

  Funds so far allocated in 1987–88

  £

  £

  £

  Hendrickson Feasibility Project

  500

  500

  Headstart in Business

  12,883

  12,883

  PATH

  93,349

  20,000

  Chapeltown Community Workshops

  3,000

  —

  APEX Trust

  1,000

  1,000

  Action Resource Centre (ARC)

  23,241

  —

  WTOTO Nursery

  35,575

  17,575

  Jamaica Society Leeds/ Sight & Sound Education Ltd.

  132,000

  102,000

  Leeds West Indian Centre Ltd.

  9,100

  9,100

  Palace Youth Project

  1,094

  —

  Community Enterprise Trust

  249,000

  100,000

  Computer assisted learning project

  68,000

  —

  Burton Group Training

  25,000

  —

  TFDF

  50,000

  50,000

  Industrial Society

  3,500

  —

  NACRO

  26,774

  —

  Project Fullemploy

  12,000

  Police Foundation Crime Prevention

  25,000

  Harehills Lane Baptist Church

  1,546

  Apex Trust

  12,524

  TOTAL

  734,016

  300,175

  51,070

  There are a number of projects under development which are expected to commit further substantial sums in 1987–88.

  Ferguson Group
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, pursuant to his reply of 1 July, Official Report, column 92, he has had any discussions or contact with Thomson since its purchase of Ferguson; and what information he has on Ferguson's current share of the market for television (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Butcher
  Neither my right hon. and learned Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, nor I have been in contact with Thomson Grand Public since the announcement of its proposed acquisition of Thorn EM I Ferguson. Information collected by my Department about the market share of individual companies is commercially confidential. However, the proposed acquisition would qualify for consideration under the Fair Trading Act 1973, and the Director General of Fair Trading will no doubt take account of market share considerations in advising my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, on the question of a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Ivor Williams
  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when Mr. Ivor Williams, a constituent of the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet, will receive a substantive reply to his letter dated 12 January to the Office of Fair Trading regarding his complaint about the
  420
  conduct of his estate agent; why the reply has not yet been given; and why the Office of Fair Trading has not yet acted on the complaint.

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

  Redundant Steel Workers (Payment)
  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.

  Mr. Atkins
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: Representations about delays in approving article 56 ECSC readaptation aid payments were made to the Commission recently, followed up last week by a letter from the United Kingdom permanent representation. If understand that approvals in a number of outstanding cases should be given shortly.

  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. and learned Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) on 2 February 1987, Official Report, column 501.

  Mr. Atkins
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: Expenditure on regional development grant is a function of the rates and scope of grant, the coverage of the development areas and the level of demand. The decline in RDG payments in the north-east appears to have resulted mainly from changes in the development and special development areas in the early 1980s and a fall in investment by manufacturing industry in the region, notably the capital-intensive petrochemicals and steel industries, as well as from changes in the scheme itself. However, the region's share of RDG payments in 1986–87 was higher than in the preceding four years.

ENVIRONMENT

  Bathing Water Quality
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps will be taken that all the beaches currently designated as bathing areas for the purposes of meeting the water quality standards of directive 76/160/EEC in the United Kingdom will meet these standards by 1992 at the latest.

  Mr. Moynihan
  It is not possible to give the assurance the hon. Member seeks. The scale and cost of the necessary works makes it impossible to complete the task by 1992. However, it remains our target that all identified waters should meet the directive's standards, and we are spending nationally some £70 million on improvement schemes.

  Rating Reform
  Miss Widdecombe
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made of the effect of the community charge on small businesses in the

  421
  Maidstone area; and what steps he will consider taking to alleviate the adverse consequences of any sudden increase in payments due from minor but viable concerns with small profit margins.

  Mr. Howard
  The community charge will replace domestic rates and should not affect businesses directly. The proposal for a national non-domestic rate on present figures would initially increase rate poundages in the Maidstone area, but thereafter restrain further increases to the rate of inflation. My right hon. Friend has already announced generous transitional arrangements to phase the impact of this proposal and the revaluation of non-domestic properties over five years, or longer in the case of those properties with the largest increases from the revaluation.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated revenue for each local authority in England when the new business rate and poll tax are levied in full on religious establishments and their residents.

  Mr. Howard
  The information needed to make such estimates is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Trotter
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer of 29 June, Official Report, column 44, he will publish additional information exemplifying the community charge proposals, to show specifically the effect on each of the illustrative community charge figures of the difference between the amount of revenue likely to be obtained by each local authority from a centrally fixed non-domestic rate and the amount of revenue from locally determined non-domestic rates projected for 1987–88 under the existing system.

  Mr. Howard
  I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate how many second homes in each borough in England will not be rated when the poll tax is operating in full; and what will be the loss of revenue on present charges for each borough as a result of this.

  Mr. Howard
  All second homes will be liable for a standard community charge, which will be set by each local authority as a multiple of the personal community charge, up to a maximum of two units of personal charge.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated revenue for each local authority in England when the new business rate is levied in full on private and local authority residential establishments catering for old people and the poll tax is levied in full upon the residents.

  Mr. Howard
  The information needed to make such estimates is not collected centrally. Final decisions on the treatment of such establishments under the new system have not been taken. However, we have already made it clear that residents of old people's homes will be exempt from the community charge.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to make special provision under the community charge for ministers of religion.

  Mr. Howard
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1987, c. 56]: The community charge will be paid by all adults, with only limited exceptions. As a result, local accountability will be
  422
  restored, because the cost of local spending will be spread much more widely than at present among those entitled to vote in local elections and who use local services.

  Against this background, the Government believe that it would be difficult to justify any special provision which resulted in ministers of religion being treated more favourably than their parishioners.

  Housing Expenditure
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the current and capital expenditure per head on housing in England during the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Current expenditure by English local authorities and new towns on their housing revenue accounts in 1986–87, including debt charges, represented on average £124 per head of population. Capital expenditure by local authorities, new towns, the Housing Corporation and central Government in England represented on average £71 per head of population.

  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total public expenditure on housing in the United Kingdom as a proportion of the gross domestic product in each year since 1977 to the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Total public expenditure on housing in the United Kingdom from 1977 to 1985 is shown in the table as a percentage of gross domestic product at factor cost. The definition is the same as in the answer given to the hon. Member on 23 May 1986, at columns 370–71, and on 2 April 1987, at columns 606–7. The figures for public expenditure on housing are taken from the annual national income accounts, which are usually published in September of each year. 1986 figures are, therefore, not yet available.

  Public Expenditure on Housing as percentage of gross domestic product at factor cost

  per cent.

  1977

  3·1

  1978

  3·3

  1979

  3·4

  1980

  3·5

  1981

  1·6

  1982

  2·6

  11983

  2·9

  1984

  3·0

  1985

  2·5

  1 Discontinuity between 1982 and 1983 is due to introduction of housing benefit and consequent exclusion of rent from supplementary benefit paid to tenants.

  Old Persons' Establishments (Rates)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate what is the current rates revenue received from private and local authority establishments catering for old people as residents by each local authority in England.

  Mr. Howard
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Religious Establishments (Rates)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate what is the current rates revenue received from religious establishments with permanent residents by each local authority in England.

  Mr. Howard
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Canary Wharf
  Ms. Gordon
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) of 8 July, whether (a) a certificate from an independent valuer was obtained in respect of the prospective sale of Canary wharf by the London Docklands Development Corporation or (b) specific consent from his Department was sought or given.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 9 July 1987, at column 228.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. O'Brien
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings are operated by housing associations in the Normanton constituency; and if he will break down the number into categories and type of dwellings.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [pursuant to his reply, 10 July 1987, c. 296]: There are nine units operated by housing associations in the Normanton constituency and a further 47 under construction. The former are extra care units for the frail elderly and the latter are also designed to accommodate elderly people.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Housing
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Housing Executive houses in each of the housing executive districts have been sold to tenants up to the latest convenient date.

  Mr. Needham
  The number of homes sold by the Executive to its tenants in the 43 districts up until 30 June 1987 were as follows:

  Region

  Total

  South

  Armagh

  1,250

  Banbridge

  595

  Craigavon

  772

  Kilkeel

  426

  Lurgen

  1,685

  Newry 1

  921

  Newry 2

  1,180

  Portadown

  956

  7,785

  Belfast

  District 1

  1,115

  District 2

  581

  District 3

  362

  District 4

  528

  District 5

  499

  424

  Region

  Total

  District 6

  423

  District 7

  461

  3,969

  North East

  Antrim

  1,430

  Ballymena

  1,108

  Carrickfergus

  1,292

  Lame

  1,000

  Newtownabbey I

  985

  Newtownabbey II

  1,122

  Ballymoney

  553

  Ballycastle

  285

  7,775

  North West

  Londonderry I

  303

  Londonderry II

  693

  Londonderry III

  322

  Limavady

  642

  Strabane

  569

  Coleraine

  551

  Magherafelt

  527

  3,607

  West

  Omagh

  675

  Dungannon

  783

  Enniskillen

  734

  Cookstown

  417

  2,609

  South East

  Lisburn I

  986

  Lisburn II

  806

  Lisburn III

  156

  Bangor

  905

  Castlereagh I

  993

  Castlereagh II

  1,143

  Downpatrick

  1,195

  Newtownards I

  1,060

  Newtownards II

  606

  7,850

  Mr. Alton
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why he has changed his policy towards the receipts from the sale of houses owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; and if he will make a statement

  Mr. Needham
  There has been no change in the policy which allows the Housing Executive to apply its capital receipts fully in support of its expenditure programmes. It has always been Government policy to take account of the Executive's estimates of income from rents and receipts in determining the overall level of expenditure by the Executive which includes its borrowings and grant-aid from Government.

  Mr. McGrady
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he proposes in respect of houses in the ownership of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive without central heating.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the chairman of the Housing Executive who has advised me that it is the Executive's long-term aim to provide central heating in all of its properties.
  425
  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: This is a matter for the chairman of the Housing Executive who has advised me that the policy in respect of galvanised steel window frames in existing housing stock is to retain them until the cost of repair and maintenance is so excessive as to merit replacement, of until repairs are no longer feasible.

  Hospitals
  Mr Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many elderly people are waiting for admission to geriatric beds in the hospitals in the North Down area.

  Mr. Needham
  The number of people waiting for admission to geriatric beds in the hospitals in the North Down area at 31 December 1986 was 107.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the waiting list for patients who seek admission to (a) the Ulster hospital, Dundonald, (b) Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, (c) City hospital, Belfast, (d) Mater hospital, Belfast and (e) the Bangor and Newtownards hospitals.

  Mr. Needham
  the numbers of patients seeking admission to the relevant hospitals at 31 December 1986 were as follows:

  Number

  Ulster hospital

  2,978

  Royal Victorial hospital

  5,862

  Belfast City hospital

  3,340

  Mater hospital

  72

  Bangor hospital

  386

  Ards hospital

  668

  Beaches
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which beaches in Northern Ireland satisfy the requirements of the European Economic Community and are classified as beaches safe from pollution.

  Mr. Needham
  In Northern Ireland 14 waters have been identified under the EC directive on bathing-water quality. The directive applies to waters where bathing is traditionally practised by large numbers of people. Non-identification under the directive does not mean that water is unclear or unsafe. Of the five Northern Ireland bathing waters tested for compliance with the directive standards during the 1986 season, Portstewart, Portrush and Groomsport passed while Bangor (Ballyholme) and Newcastle failed. The cause of the failure at Bangor is being investigated and a new sewerage scheme for Newcastle at a cost of £2 million is nearing completion. I am advised that there is no evidence associating illness with bathing in Northern Ireland waters.

  Sewage
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the work to prevent sewage spillage at Orlock, County Down, will be completed.
  426
  Mr. Needham
  The spillage of sewage which occurred at Orlock, County Down, in April-May 1987 resulted from the simultaneous failure of both the normal and stand-by pumps at Coastguard lane. Replacement pumps were installed in mid-May are are now working satisfactorily. To avoid the possibility of future spillages the feasibility of laying an emergency overflow pipe from the pumping station to the sea is currently being investigated.

  Pensions
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland are in receipt of retirement pension at the last available date; and how many receive supplementary benefit to augment their pension.

  Mr. Needham
  The number of persons in Northern Ireland in receipt of retirement pension at 30 November 1986 was 208,406. At 18 November 1986, 45,969 people were in receipt of supplementary benefit to augment their retirement pension.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will provide an estimate of the cost of unemployment in Northern Ireland for the last full financial year.

  Mr. Needham
  During the 1986–87 financial year a total of £227·9 million was paid to the unemployed—£53·7 million by way of unemployment benefit and a further £174·2 million by way of supplementary allowances. Information on expenditure on agency benefits (for example, free welfare foods, school meals, Health Service charges, hospital fares, prison visits) and supplementary benefit single payments received by the unemployed is not readily available.

  Clandeboye Shopping Centre (Fire)
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the fire at the Clandeboye shopping centre has revealed any shortcomings in measures to protect customers in an emergency.

  Mr. Needham
  No. The Clandeboye shopping centre complied with all the required measures to allow the safe evacuation of all occupants of the building in the event of a fire. On the day of the incident all customers and staff were evacuated safely and without casualty.

  Cancer
  Mr. McGrady
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Department of Health and Social Services investigation into the incidence of cancer in Northern Ireland is completed; and when he expects it to make its final report.

  Mr. Needham
  The expert committee examining patterns of disease in Northern Ireland which have a possible association with radiation has not yet completed its work. I hope to receive the committee's final report by the end of 1987.

  Warrenpoint Harbour
  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: Planning approval for a proposal by the Warrenpoint harbour authority, for development of the area known as the Old Town dock, has recently been refused by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. I understand that the authority has no other current plans for expansion or development of the harbour area.

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

  Mr. Needham
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: A separate water bill is not levied in Northern Ireland, but is subsumed in the regional rate levied at a uniform poundage across the Province. From 1983–84 onward,
  428
  however, it is possible to identify the portion of the regional rate attributable to provision of water and sewerage services, and the implied average rate demand per household for these years is shown in the table.

  Average household water and sewerage rate demand

  Year

  £

  1983–84

  61·65

  1984–85

  67·85

  1985–86

  70·74

  1986–87

  71·60

  1987–88

  77·15

  Water Supplies (Disconnections)
  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: Since domestic water supplies are paid for through the general rating system in Northern Ireland, the need to disconnect premises used solely as household residences does not arise.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sex Data
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the guidelines dealing with use of data separated by sex for base line studies or other research within his responsibilities.

  Mr. Eggar
  There are no guidelines dealing with use of data separated by sex in either the diplomatic wing or the aid wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Dr. Kurt Waldheim
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions were given to Her Majesty's ambassador in Amman regarding attendance at official functions given in honour of Doctor Kurt Waldheim during his visit to Jordan; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Her Majesty's ambassador at Amman was authorised, in consultation with his European Community colleagues, to attend, as appropriate, events connected with the visit.

  UN General Assembly Resolution 41/16
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the United Kingdom abstained on the United Nations General Assembly resolution 41/16 of 18 December 1986.

  Mr. Eggar
  We abstained both on this resolution and on a similar one in 1985 in accordance with our policy of strict neutrality in the Western Sahara dispute.

  Western Sahara Refugees (Algeria)
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to help relieve the suffering of the 165,000 Western Sahara refugees in Algeria.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Western Sahara refugees in Algeria receive assistance from European Community funds and from multilateral aid agencies to which we contribute.

  Morocco
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will make it their policy to oppose any fishing agreement between the European Community and Morocco which extends to the territorial waters of Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Responsibility for the conduct of the negotiations for a fisheries agreement between Morocco and the European Community lies primarily with the Commission. We continue to monitor closely the progress of these negotiations.

  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage peace between
  430
  Morocco and the Polisario Front in Western Sahara; what contacts Her Majesty's Government have had with the parties concerned with a view to advancing the prospects for peace in the region; and what proposals Her Majesty's Government will be putting to King Hassan during his state visit to help bring about peace.

  Mr. Eggar
  We fully support the United Nations Secretary-General in his efforts to bring about a peaceful solution of the Western Sahara dispute. We look forward to discussing this and other international issues with King Hassan during his state visit.

DEFENCE

  Cruise Missiles
  Mr. Sedgemore
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of cruise missiles to be based at Molesworth.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of cruise missiles to be based at Molesworth.

  Mr. Stewart
  As has been stated previously it is planned that 64 cruise missiles will be based at Molesworth.

  Conventional Weapons
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proportion of the defence budget spent on conventional weapons since 1979.

  Mr. Younger
  Over 97 per cent. of the defence budget since 1979 is estimated to have been spent on programmes other than the strategic nuclear force.

  Nuclear Arms Control
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on verification procedures for enforcing nuclear arms control agreements.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Any arms control agreement must be effectively verifiable, but precise procedures will depend upon the terms of any agreement which may be negotiated.

  Binary Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Boyes
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with the United States Secretary for Defence on the possibility of basing binary chemical weapons in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States Secretary for Defence on the possibility of basing binary chemical weapons in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  None.

  Trafalgar Class Submarines
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to assist the sale of Trafalgar class submarines by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. to the Canadian Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Following the recent announcement in the Canadian defence White Paper of its requirement for
  431
  a fleet of nuclear powered submarines Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. has proposed the Trafalgar class submarine. Officials from the Ministry of Defence will shortly be visiting Canada for preliminary discussions of this requirement with their Canadian counterparts.

  Trident
  Mr. Hayward
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Trident programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The United Kingdom Trident programme is making satisfactory progress and remains on time and to budget.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what talks he has had with his French counterpart on co-operation on operational aspects of the deployment of Trident and the French submarine deterrent.

  Mr. Younger
  The British and French Governments maintain a close and fruitful dialogue on a wide range of defence and security matters.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how it is proposed that communications will be maintained between Ministers and Trident submarines, and between Trident missiles and those deciding on targeting, without reliance on United States' extremely low-frequency systems and United States' satellites.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Effective and independent communications under the control of Her Majesty's Government will exist for all aspects of United Kingdom Trident submarine operations. Details of these are naturally classified.

  Mr. Franks
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to place officially the order for the second Trident submarine.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Brandon-Bravo) earlier today.

  Frigates
  Mr. Duffy
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many type 23 frigates have been ordered; and if he is satisfied with progress on the type 23 frigate building programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Four type 23 frigates are currently on order. The First of Class HMS Norfolk was launched by Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret on 10 July and the other ships are making satisfactory progress.

  Purple Warrior Exercise
  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the Purple Warrior tri-service exercise to be held in southwest Scotland in November.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  As part of its normal exercise planning activity, my Department has consulted the regional and district councils for the area, the local police forces and national governmental and environmental bodies, including the Nature Conservancy Council and the Forestry 432
  Commission. Private landowners and local community, environmental and fishing groups are also being consulted closely. That apart, my Department has received no representations, other than recent correspondence from the hon. Gentleman and the Questions tabled by the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) at column 113.

  Polaris
  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he remains satisfied with the performance of Polaris missiles.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Yes.

  Intermediate Nuclear Forces Agreement
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to hold discussions with his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation counterparts on the implications of an intermediate nuclear forces agreement.

  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to hold discussions with his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation counterparts on the implications of an intermediate nuclear forces agreement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, next expects to meet his Alliance colleagues collectively at the autumn meeting of NATO's nuclear planning group when a wide variety of nuclear policy issues will he discussed.

  Willsworthy Firing Range
  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to the progress in his plans for accommodation for troops on the Willsworthy firing range on Dartmoor.

  Mr. Freeman
  Willsworthy Camp provides important facilities for regular and TA forces using the Dartmoor training areas, including the Willsworthy range. The camp is, however, in need of early replacement. Rather than rebuild on this site, which occupies a prominent position on the moor, the Ministry of Defence has recently purchased a suitable alternative small area of land at Higher Beardon farm, near Lydford. With new accommodation provided there the site of the present camp would be returned to moorland. The Dartmoor national park committee are aware of our plans in general terms and we will shortly be submitting our proposals through the normal planning consultation procedures.

  F111 Aircraft
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence in what military circumstances it is envisaged that American F111 aircraft would be used in Europe at a time of conflict.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The F111 is a long-range dual capable aircraft which is assigned to SACEUR for use in the event of a conflict involving NATO in Europe. In accordance with the practice of successive Governments, I am not prepared to comment on the details of particular operational plans.

  Training Activities
  Mr. Stevens
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the resources made available to the armed forces for training activities.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to tables 2.3 and 4.2–4.4 of volume 2 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987" which give details, respectively, of the financial and manpower resources devoted to training. In 1987–88 £1,277 million was spent by the three services and service colleges in training.

  Central Ordnance Depot, Bicester
  Mr. Baldry
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress being made in the consideration of contracting-out certain activities of the Central Ordnance Depot, Bicester.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We are currently preparing statements of requirements for those tasks which are to be exposed to competition. These will form the basis of the tender documents which we are aiming to issue to potential contractors later this year.

  Local Overseas Allowance
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the saving to the defence budget deriving from his proposed cuts in the local overseas allowances for the British Army of the Rhine.

  Mr. Freeman
  Local overseas allowance is a tax-free payment intended to compensate for the extra cost of serving overseas. It is examined annually to ensure that it continues to meet that objective. In Germany the 1987 examination demonstrated that the sums required to compensate service personnel for the extra costs were lower than in 1986. Accordingly, LOA in Germany will be reduced from 1 August 1987, providing savings of about £25 million in a full financial year.

  Small Firms (Contracts)
  Dr. Twinn
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many small firms were awarded contracts by the Ministry of Defence in 1986–87.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The collation of this information is a considerable task. I expect to have the necessary details around the turn of the year and will write to my hon. Friend at that time.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the number of troops stationed in Northern Ireland and the extent of the liaison with the Irish security forces.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The number of troops operating in support of the RUC in Northern Ireland as at 31 March 1987 (the most recent available figure) was 17,694. Liaison with the Irish security forces is achieved through the close and growing co-operation between the RUC and Garda.

  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the lengths of the tours of duty of Army units serving in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Freeman
  The six resident infantry battalions in Northern Ireland undertake tours of duty of about two 434
  years and the four roulement infantry battalions undertake short tours of about four and a half months. These tour lengths, which also apply to most other units in the Province, have remained unchanged for some years. Personnel who are posted to the Province as individuals and not as part of a unit change over—for example, headquarters staff—also serve on tours of about two years.

  Rosyth Dockyard
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of orders won by the private contractors at Rosyth dockyard.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I am satisfied with the work which has been done by Rosyth dockyard since 6 April, since which time some 27 ship and submarine contracts and some 51 for other work have been placed with the dockyard. Of these, two were ships not already in the yard when the commercial managers took over.

  IEPG Meeting
  Mr. Greg Knight
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent IEPG meeting.

  Mr. Younger
  My IEPG colleagues and I met in Seville on 22 June. The main business of the meeting was to consider proposals for increasing the competitiveness of Europe's defence industries and we set in hand detailed work aimed at establishing a framework within which we might move ahead in this vital area.

  We also re-emphasised the fact that the activities of the IEPG are aimed at producing a stronger and more cohesive European contribution to the Alliance.

  Royal Navy (Fuel Supplies)
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on supplies of fuel to the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have now decided that the amount of fuel available to the Royal Navy this year should be increased, and so enable activity levels to be broadly comparable with those of recent normal years.

  Research Budget
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the proportion of his Department's research budget, for the last year for which figures are available, spent in each of the English regions, Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Defence research expenditure is not accounted for on a regional basis.

  NATO (Defences)
  Mr. Kirkhope
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to meet the United States Defence Secretary to discuss North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defences in the North Atlantic.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has frequent meetings with his United States colleague, when a range
  435
  of Alliance defence issues are discussed. He next expects to meet the United States Defence Secretary at the autumn meeting of NATO's nuclear planning group.

  RAF North Luffenham
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the future of RAF North Luffenham.

  Mr. Freeman
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 2 July to inform him that we envisage a long-term future for RAF North Luffenham and no loss of employment prospects there.

  An announcement to the personnel at the station to this effect has recently been made.

  Low-flying Operations
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many fatalities have resulted from low-flying operations over the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Since 1 July 1982, the deaths of five RAF personnel have occurred in the United Kingdom during low-level flying operations by fast jet aircraft. A further 10 such deaths have resulted from crashes at sea around the United Kingdom. No civilians have been killed in these accidents. As is well known, a certain amount of low-level flying training is essential to the readiness of our aircrew. A degree of risk to those aircrew and of disturbance to the public is, regrettably, inevitable. However, all possible steps are taken to reduce this to a minimum.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review safety procedures applicable to Royal Air Force low-flying exercises in light of recent accidents.

  Mr. Freeman
  The regulations governing the low-flying system are kept continuously under review and are altered as necessary. When the reasons for an accident are known these will be taken into account in our ongoing examinations of safety procedures.

  Co-operative Ventures (France)
  Mr. Ward
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to meet the French Defence Minister to discuss co-operative defence ventures.

  Mr. Younger
  I expect to meet M. Giraud later this month to discuss a range of issues of mutual defence interest.

  Strategic Defence Initiative
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated total of strategic defence initiative contracts awarded to British companies.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  $34 million. This figure includes United States-funded SDI contracts placed with British academic institutions and through the Ministry of Defence. In the last case all but about $3 million of the work has been subcontracted to industry.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider moving to an explicit policy of no first use of nuclear weapons in the light of current arms control negotiations.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No. It is long established NATO policy, to which we are fully committed, that no NATO weapons, either conventional or nuclear, would ever be used except in response to attack. That is a more fundamental commitment than renunciation of the option of first use of nuclear weapons. As has been only recently reaffirmed, nuclear weapons remain an essential component of NATO's policies of deterrence and flexible response. The current arms control negotiations do not alter our commitment to these important principles which will continue to remain valid for the foreseeable future.

  Helicopter Procurement
  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on future helicopter procurement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 9 April, at columns 470–1, about orders which, subject to the satisfactory resolution of contractual and other issues, he intends to place for the utility version of the EH101 and for Lynx and Sea King helicopters: we are discussing the details with Westlands Helicopters accordingly.

  In addition, we are participating with Italy, the Netherlands and Spain in a two-year study into the feasibility and cost of developing the Agusta 129 to meet the future light attack helicopter requirements of the four nations: Industry began work on the study at the beginning of last month.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the European fighter aircraft.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack).

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Conway
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recruitment to the Territorial Army.

  Mr. Freeman
  The annual levels of recruitment into the Territorial Army have continued to show a steady improvement over the past five years. The figures are as follows:

  Training year

  Officers

  Soldiers

  Total

  1982–83

  715

  23,218

  23,933

  1983–84

  989

  20,032

  21,021

  1984–85

  920

  23,931

  24,851

  1985–86

  1,848

  24,048

  25,896

  1986–87

  1.919

  24,579

  26,498

  Conventional Weapons
  Mr. Caborn
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's response to the latest Warsaw pact proposals contained in the Berlin statement covering conventional armaments.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I read the Warsaw pact communiqué with interest, and would draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to the communiqué issued by NATO Foreign Ministers after the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Reykjavik on 11 June, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This reiterated the Alliance's determination to pursue its initiatives for achieving a comprehensive, stable and verifiable balance of conventional forces at lower levels. It indicated that work on draft mandates to be tabled in the CSCE meeting and in the conventional stability talks would be pressed ahead. It also reiterated the West's desire to achieve a meaningful agreement in the MBFR talks, calling upon the Warsaw pact to respond positively to the very important proposals made by the West in December 1985.

  Defence Committee (Report)
  Mrs. Mahon
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the recent Defence Committee report on the implications for the United Kingdom of ballistic missile defence.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Government's response to this report is currently under consideration, and will be presented to Parliament in due course.

  Tank Gunnery (Standards)
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the standard of British tank international gunnery demonstrated in recent competitions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I do not believe that the performance of tanks in the artificial circumstances of a competition, such as the recent Canadian Army Trophy, is a proper indication of their capability in war. Challenger's gun gives the best penetrative performance against the tanks of a potential enemy. The tank itself is arguably the best protected in the world and has excellent mobility. It carries an advanced thermal imaging system which is much admired by our allies and ensures that Challenger can fight effectively by night and by day. Participation in international tank gunnery competitions is one useful option in the complete spectrum of training opportunities available in preparing our tank crews for war, but it is not on its own a basis for judgment of overall capability.

  Single Role Minehunter
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to announce the results of the tenders for the single role minehunter order.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Tenders are still being evaluated and we expect to be in a position to announce the results before the summer recess.

  Destroyers and Frigates
  Mr. Trotter
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by class the destroyers and frigates presently
  438
  serving in the Royal Navy showing for each vessel the current age and the dates between which they have undergone major refits.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The destroyers and frigates currently serving in the Royal Navy, their ages from commissioning. and the dates between which they have undergone refits are as follows. Those vessels listed in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates" as due to join the Fleet this year, but which have not yet done so (Coventry, Cornwall and Sheffield) are not included.

  Age (years)

  Refit dales

  Type 82

  Bristol

  14

  Refit July 1976 to December 1977. Refit September 1984 to February 1986.

  Type 42

  Cardiff

  8

  None to date.

  Glasgow

  8

  None to date.

  Exeter

  7

  None to date.

  Birmingham

  11

  Refit April 1981 to March 1982. Restorative refit July 1985 to May 1987.

  Southampton

  6

  None to date.

  Nottingham

  5

  None to date.

  Liverpool

  5

  None to date.

  Manchester

  5

  None to date.

  York

  2

  None to date.

  Gloucester

  2

  None to date.

  Edinburgh

  2

  None to date.

  Newcastle

  9

  Refit February 1982 to July 1982. Restorative refit begun April 1986 continues.

  Type 22

  Broadsword

  8

  None to date.

  Battleaxe

  7

  None to date.

  Brilliant

  6

  None to date.

  Brazen

  5

  None to date.

  Boxer

  3

  None to date.

  Beaver

  3

  None to date.

  Brave

  2

  None to date.

  London

  1

  None to date.

  Type 21

  Amazon

  13

  Refit July 1978 to May 1979. Restorative refit August 1983 to September 1984.

  Arrow

  11

  Refit October 1982 to September 1983.

  Ambuscade

  12

  Refit March 1980 to January 1981. Restorative refit October 1984 to December 1985.

  Active

  10

  Restorative refit July 1985 to August 1986.

  Alacrity

  10

  Refit begun April 1986 continues.

  Avenger

  9

  Restorative refit begun September 1986 continues.

  Leander

  439

  Age (years)

  Refit dates

  Euryalus

  23

  Refit August 1966 to November 1966. Refit January 1969 to July 1969. Special refit May 1973 to May 1976. Refit November 1979 to October 1980. Refit November 1984 to November 1985.

  Penelope

  24

  Refit February 1966 to July 1967. Refit February 1969 to December 1969. Refit May 1972 to January 1973. Refit October 1974 to April 1975. Major refit January 1978 to January 1982. Refit January 1986 to September 1986.

  Arethusa

  22

  Refit November 1967 to March 1968. Refit May 1970 to October 1970. Special refit September 1973 to April 1977. Refit May 1980 to March 1981. Comparator refit May 1985 to February 1986.

  Phoebe

  21

  Refit August 1968 to November 1968. Refit January 1971 to April 1971. Major refit August 1974 to April 1977. Refit February 1981 to July 1982. Refit May 1986 to February 1987.

  Sirius

  21

  Refit August 1969 to December 1969. Refit January 1972 to May 1972. Major refit March 1975 to February 1978. Refit May 1981 to July 1982. Refit April 1985 to December 1985.

  Argonaut

  20

  Refit January 1970 to July 1970. Refit October 1972 to March 1973. Major refit February 1976 to March 1980. Refit August 1982 to November 1983.

  Minerva

  21

  Refit July 1969 to October 1969. Refit March 1972 to July 1972. Major refit December 1975 to April 1979. Refit July 1983 to March 1984.

  Danae

  20

  Refit March 1970 to July 1970. Refit February 1973 to August 1973. Major refit August 1977 to April 1981. Refit October 1985 to July 1986.

  Andromeda

  19

  Refit July 1971 to October 1971. Refit September I974to March 1975. Major refit January 1978 to February 1981. Refit September 1985 to April 1986.

  Hermione

  18

  Refit March 1972 to November 1972. Refit October 1975 to October 1976. Major refit January 1980 to July 1983. Refit begins July 1987.

  Scylla

  17

  Refit July 1972 to January 1973. Refit July 1976 to March 1977. Major refit November 1980 to December 1984.

  Achilles

  17

  Refit February 1973 to August 1973. Refit March 1978 to October 1978. Refit July 1984 to April 1985.

  Charybdis

  18

  Refit September 1971 to January 1972. Refit April 1975 to March 1976. Major refit July 1979 to July 1982. Refit April 1986 to December 1986.

  Diomede

  16

  Refit November 1973 to May 1984. Refit October 1978 to May 1979. Refit September 1983 to August 1984.

  Apollo

  15

  Refit March 1976 to October 1976. Refit May 1979 to February 1980. Refit July 1984 to May 1985.

  Ariadne

  14

  Refit January 1976 to September 1976. Refit February 1980 to September 1980. Refit January 1985 to November 1985.

  Cleopatra

  21

  Refit December 1967 to April 1968. Refit July 1970 to November 1970. Special refit July 1973 to December 1975. Refit October 1978 to May 1979. Refit January 1982 to April 1983. Refit begun March 1987 continues.

  440

  Age (years)

  Refit dates

  Jupiter

  18

  Refit April 1972 to September 1972. Refit December 1975 to July 1976. Major refit January 1980 to October 1983. Refit December 1986 due to finish July 1987.

  Juno

  20

  Refit January 1970 to May 1970. Refit January 1973 to June 1973. Refit February 1977 to November 1977. Restorative refit January 1982 to February 1985.

  Type 12

  Rothesay

  27

  Refit September 1961 to December 1961. Refit October 1963 to January 1964. Special refit July 1966 to July 1968. Refit December 1970 to April 1971. Refit August 1973 to July 1974. Major refit October 1977 to May 1980. Refit August 1984 to May 1985.

  Plymouth

  26

  Refit September 1962 to December 1962. Refit July 1964 to September 1964. Special refit August 1966 to February 1969. Refit August 1971 to December 1971. Refit May 1974 to November 1974. Major refit January 1979 to January 1981. Refit August 1986 to April 1986.

  Morocco
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if any restrictions are imposed by Her Majesty's Government on the use of British-supplied military equipment beyond Morocco's internationally recognised frontiers in Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Successive Administrations have not answered detailed questions of this kind. In general, however, the British Government consider all relevant political, strategic and security factors before issuing any export licence for defence equipment.

  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the sale of Tornado aircraft to Morocco;

  (2) what was the value of United Kingdom arms sales to Morocco in each of the last 10 years; what contracts exist for British arms sales to Morocco; and what negotiations are currently taking place.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It has been the policy of this and previous Administrations not to comment on matters of this kind.

  USAF (Mid-air Refuelling)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any notice has been given by the United States Air Force of its intention to continue mid-air refuelling exercises at low level, using B-52 bombers, in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  There has been no such activity and n one is planned.

EMPLOYMENT

  Wages (Statistics)
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing (i) on a national basis and (ii) on a regional basis the average weekly wage for (a) full-time male employees, (b) part-time male employees, (c) full-time female employees and (d) part-time female employees in both cash terms and real terms based on 1987–88 prices for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  I am sending the hon. Member the information requested, which is also available in the Library.

  MSC Schemes (Rules)
  Mr. Hargreaves
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make available to the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau a full and comprehensive set of rules governing all aspects of the Manpower Services Commission schemes.

  Mr. Lee
  All the leaflets published by the Manpower Services Commission on the schemes which it operates are freely available to the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau. These set out the main eligibility criteria. It would not be appropriate to provide more detailed information since the rules are designed to be applied flexibly to meet particular circumstances. The leaflets advise on where further information can be obtained.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to alter the publication

  Per cent.

  In a full time job

  In a part time job

  On another YTS scheme

  On a full time course

  Doing something else

  Unemployed

  Great Britain

  53

  4

  7

  3

  6

  28

  Scotland

  47

  3

  7

  3

  4

  36

  Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy

  44

  4

  9

  2

  5

  36

  Note Percentages are rounded to whole numbers.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the number of unemployed people in Monklands, West constituency (a) 16–18 years of age, (b) 18–21 years of age, (c) 21–25 years of age, (d) 25–45 years of age, (e) 45–55 years of age, and (f) over 55 years of age, giving the latest available figures.

  Mr. Lee
  Following is the available information, which is also in the Library.

  Unemployed claimants—Monklands West constituency 9 April 1987

  Number

  Aged under 18

  540

  Aged 18–19

  589

  Aged 20–24

  1,029

  Aged 25–44

  1,944

  Aged 45–54

  664

  Aged 55 and over

  391

  442
  of the monthly unemployment figures; and what plans he has for a quarterly labour force survey as is used in the United States of America.

  Mr. Fowler
  My Department continually assesses the quality of its published statistics and seeks ways to improve them, but I have no present proposals for specific changes.

  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide, for the last full year for which information is available for the United Kingdom, Scotland and Fife, Central constituency (a) how many 16 and 17-year-olds entered the YTS, (b) what percentage gained employment at the expiry of their period on the scheme and (c) how many 16 and 17-year-olds remained unemployed.

  Mr. Cope
  Information about YTS entrants and leavers is not available in the form requested, but is available for Great Britain, Scotland, and Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy local authority districts, which together are representative of Fife, Central constituency.

  During the period of April 1985 to March 1986, the last full year for which information is obtainable, 406,332 young people started YTS in Great Britain, 46,398 in Scotland and 3,212 in Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy local authority districts.

  The MSC conducts a regular follow-up survey of YTS leavers three months after young people leave the programme. The table shows the destinations of young people who left YTS in the period April 1985 to March 1986.

  Mr. Martlew
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the latest unemployment figures for Carlisle in the Official Report by district ward boundary.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in each electoral ward in Carlisle local authority district.

  Unemployed claimants at 14 May 1987

  Number

  Carlisle No. 1

  246

  Carlisle No. 2

  382

  Carlisle No. 3

  514

  Carlisle No. 4

  373

  Carlisle No. 5

  436

  Carlisle No. 6

  349

  Carlisle No. 7

  338

  Carlisle No. 8

  433

  Carlisle No. 9

  267

  Carlisle No. 10

  464

  Carlisle No. 11

  89

  443

  Number

  Carlisle No. 12

  49

  Carlisle No. 13

  42

  Carlisle No. 14

  76

  Carlisle No. 15

  56

  Carlisle No. 16

  163

  Carlisle No. 17

  146

  Carlisle No. 18

  38

  Carlisle No. 19

  108

  Carlisle No. 20

  61

  Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the extent to which salaries paid to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate are adequate to recruit employees with experience of the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board.

  Mr. Cope
  The salary scales of recruitment grade nuclear installations inspectors have been increased by £4,000 per annum since April 1986 and a further pay award of £5,000 per annum has been agreed for 1 September 1987. Recruitment to the inspectorate is continuing and in the latest competition a number of candidates from the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board have been invited for interview.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment which tasks the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (a) is not able to fulfil at all, (b) has delayed fulfilling and (c) has fulfilled to an inadequate extent, due to understaffing.

  Mr. Cope
  Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the HSE has always carried out essential tasks, giving priority to the inspection and assessment of operating installations.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what steps are being taken to increase recruitment to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate;

  (2) whether he will make a statement on the recommendations of the second report of the Energy Committee, Session 1986–87, insofar as they relate to his responsibilities for the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

  Mr. Cope
  The Select Committee on Energy, in its second report, made recommendations about the recruitment and retention of Nuclear Installations Inspectorate staff. The resources and staffing of the inspectorate are the responsibility of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive, subject to the limits set by Government on their total manpower and running costs. The Government, the commission and the executive recognise the importance of ensuring that the Nil is adequately staffed. Two substantial increases to salaries for all nuclear installations inspectors have recently been agreed and Health and Safety Executive expects that this will enable the inspectorate to attract recruits with the expertise and skills required to bring its staff up to the levels planned for 1987–88. A recruitment competition for inspectors is now under way and there are indications that the number of good quality applicants has increased.

  Sellafield (Monitoring)
  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if sufficent nuclear inspectors are now in post to be able to monitor the Sellafield complex adequately; and what backlog of work currently exists at this site.

  Mr. Cope
  The level of inspection and examination at the Sellafield complex is adequate to ensure the safety of the public and site personnel. The large concentration of effort during the Sellafield audit diverted some resources from assessment work and routine inspection. Any interruption of routine inspection was outweighed by the benefits arising from increased surveillance during the audit.

  Hotels (Costs)
  Mr. Wood
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to establish a code of conduct for British hotels in respect of charging clients for telephone and similar non-accommodation costs.

  Mr. Lee
  The Government support the hotel industry's voluntary code of booking practice, which was updated and revised in 1986. This code of practice stipulates that special charges for telephone and other non-accommodation costs should he drawn to the attention of guests. The Government do not, however, have any plans to introduce a code in respect of the charges themselves. Pricing policy, including charges for telephone and similar non-accommodation costs, is a matter for the hotel industry.

  Tourism
  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the tourist industry on the further development of tourism.

  Mr. Lee
  I have continuing contact with representatives of the industry and have received correspondence on a variety of subjects relating to the development of tourism in England.

  Nuclear Inspectors
  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what studies his Department has made of the future numbers of nuclear inspectors who will be required if the electricity industry is privatised.

  Mr. Cope
  None.

  Enterprise Agencies
  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that enterprise agencies are sufficiently well advertised and visible for persons with spare premises suitable for new-start businesses to be able readily to notify those agencies of the availability of such premises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Local enterprise agencies are independent organisations and therefore responsible primarily to their own boards and supporters for their activities, including their visibility in the local community. Information on local enterprise agencies will be available through a wide range of sources, including libraries, local authorities, and the Government's small firms centres and jobcentres. The
  445
  Department of Employment, through its local agency grant scheme, is encouraging greater professionalism in LEA management; LEA business plans, an integral part of the grant application, should address, as appropriate, the availability of small business premises.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Martlew
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of people in receipt of unemployment benefit in the Carlisle constituency.

  Mr. Lee
  On 14 May 1987 the number of unemployed claimants of benefits in the Carlisle constituency was 3,802.

THE ARTS

  Museums
  Mr. Butler
  asked the Minister for the Arts if he will undertake a review of the use of volunteers in museums.

  Mr. Luce
  Volunteers have always had an important and valuable role to play in British museums. A comprehensive survey of the use of volunteers in museums and galleries was undertaken in 1984 by the volunteers centre under the sponsorship of the Museums and Galleries Commission and with funding from the Office of Arts and Libraries.

  Consideration is currently being given to developing guidance for museums on the use of volunteers.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  National Economic Development Office
  Ms. Armstrong
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have for the future of the National Economic Development Office.

  Mr. Lawson
  I informed the National Economic Development Council on 1 July of the Government's conclusions that in future the council would meet four times a year and that the work of the economic development committees and similar activities could not be justified on their present scale. A list of those EDCs which the Government consider would justify public funding after the current financial year has now been sent to the NEDC parties. The Government will take final decisions in the light of their comments. As a consequence of these changes there will be a corresponding reduction in the size of the National Economic Development Office.

  Income Tax
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of raising the income tax threshold to £4,000; how many people this would take out of tax altogether; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Married Man's Tax Allowance
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made at the savings to the Exchequer of abolishing the married man's tax allowance; and if he will make a statement.
  446
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

  VAT
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the increase in the rate of inflation from current levels if value added tax at 15 per cent. were imposed on all goods and services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The direct effect of imposing value added tax at 15 per cent. on all these goods and services which are currently zero rated would be to raise the level of retail prices by 4 per cent. The Government's medium term financial strategy ensures that there would be no lasting effect on the rate of inflation.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to review the availability of mortgage tax relief; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has reaffirmed on several occasions, the Government remain committed to continuing mortgage interest relief.

  New and Expanding Companies
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider expanding the range of investment and capital relief for investment in new and expanding companies; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Clydesdale Bank
  Mr. Salmond
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Bank of England was informed of the sale of the Clydesdale Bank to the National Australia Bank; when the Treasury was informed of the matter; whether either sought or received any guarantees as to employment, investment and autonomy of operation; and when the Bank of England gave its approval to the sale.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Bank of England was informed at an early stage of the negotiations. The bank considered the proposed acquisition of Clydesdale Bank and Northern by National Australia Bank and, against the criteria in the Banking Act 1979, indicated to Midland Bank and National Australia Bank before the announcement on 7 July that it had no objection in principle. The Treasury was also informed before the announcement.

  Discussions with the National Australia Bank did not include the question of guarantees of the kind to which the hon. Member refers, as such guarantees were neither necessary nor appropriate to meet the Banking Act criteria.

  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.
  447
  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: The Civil Service trade unions' industrial action which involved customs officers has been suspended. All customs officers are now working normally and there are no abnormal delays to goods imported.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Young People (Benefits)
  Mr. Battle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many young people have had their benefit reduced or suspended for either (a) refusing a YTS place or (b) leaving a scheme early in the Leeds, West constituency and in the Leeds metropolitan district council areas.

  Mr. Portillo
  The table sets out the number of young people whose supplementary benefit has been reduced by local offices serving the Leeds, West constituency and in the Leeds metropolitan district council area for the period from December 1983 to April 1987. The youth training scheme started in April 1983 but records were not kept from the outset.

  Numbers Whose Benefit was Reduced

  Leeds, West

  Leeds Metropolitan District Council

  (a) for refusing to take up a youth training scheme place

  5

  12

  (b) for leaving a youth training scheme place early

  75

  150

  NHS (Scientists' Pay)
  Mr. Steel
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to ensure that graduate scientists working in the National Health Service receive pay awards that are comparable to those gained by similarly qualified people in the private sector.

  Mr. Newton
  The pay of graduate scientists is a matter for the Whitley Council. I understand that negotiations are in progress on the 1987 pay claim.

  "What To Do After a Death"
  Mr. Hargreaves
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will reissue the leaflet, "What To Do After a Death".

  (2) why the leaflet "What To Do After a Death", has been out of print since 1979.

  Mr. Portillo
  The current edition of Social Security leaflet D49 "What To Do After a Death", is still available. The August 1979 date on the cover of the leaflet is an indicaton of the original production date for that edition. Since that date the leaflet has been amended and reprinted several times. Half a million copies were printed and distributed by the Department last year. A new edition of the leaflet is in the final stages of preparation and will be available later this year.

  Pensioners (Incomes)
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table for the latest date for which the figures are available, showing the
  448
  numbers of pensioners with gross weekly incomes other than the state basic pension of £0–£5, £5–£10, £10–£15, £15£20, £20–£30, £30–£40, £40–£50, £50–£60, £60–£70, £70–£80, £80–£90, £90–£100, £100–£150, £150–£200, £200–£250, £250–£300, £300–£350, £350–£400, £400–£450, £450–£500, and over £500 also distinguishing between single and married pensioners.

  Mr. Scott
  The table shows the number of pensioners' with income, other than retirement pension of any category or supplementary pension, at the levels specified.

  Thousands

  Gross income excluding pension (£ per week at 1985 prices)

  Single pensioners

  Married couples

  Less than £5

  430

  110

  5–10

  440

  130

  10–15

  410

  190

  15–20

  590

  210

  20–30

  1,070

  460

  30–40

  320

  240

  40–50

  170

  180

  50–60

  100

  140

  60–70

  70

  80

  70–80

  90

  90

  80–90

  50

  70

  90–100

  50

  40

  100–150

  160

  240

  150–200

  50

  100

  200–250

  20

  50

  250–300

  10

  70

  300–350

  2—

  20

  350–400

  2—

  10

  400–450

  2—

  10

  450–500

  2—

  2—

  Over 500

  2—

  10

  Total

  4,030

  2,450

  1 Pensioners are defined as individuals in a tax unit which receives some form of retirement pension. Figures are for single pensioners or married couples where the husband is over 65.

  2 Indicates less than 10,000 cases.

  Source Family Expenditure Survey 1985.

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

  Mr. Portillo
  Fife, Central constituency is served by Kirkcaldy, Cowdenbeath and Leven local offices, although the local office and constituency boundaries are not conterminous. The table shows the number of people receiving supplementary benefit for the years requested and, as the information is made available on a quarterly basis, May figures have been produced as the nearest alternative to June for each year:

  May 1979

  May 1983

  May 1987

  Kirkcaldy local office

  5,377

  8,714

  11,035

  Leven local office

  2,746

  4,335

  5,234

  Cowdenbeath local office

  2,168

  3,352

  4,452

  TOTALS

  10,291

  16,401

  20,721

  Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.

  Hip Operations
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the minimum, maximum and average time that he estimates that a person living in Leicester and requiring a hip replacement operation under the National Health Service would have to wait, from the date when his or her general practitioner originally recommended such surgical intervention.

  Mr. Newton
  I am sorry I cannot give the hon. and learned Member the information he seeks. It is not held centrally. The hon. and learned Member may wish to write to the chairman of the Leicestershire district health authority who may be able to provide the information requested.

  Electoral Statistics
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of size those constituencies in England whose electorates are above the quota.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Parliamentary constituency

  1987 electorate (as first published)

  Amount by which electorate is above the electoral quota

  England

  36,393,203

  *69,585

  Isle of Wight

  99,760

  30,175

  Milton Keynes

  98,215

  28,630

  East Berkshire

  88,884

  19,299

  Eastleigh

  88,664

  19,079

  East Hampshire

  87,476

  17,891

  Horsham

  87,229

  17,644

  Huntingdon

  87,195

  17,610

  Devizes

  87,145

  17,560

  Swindon

  87,140

  17,555

  Wokingham

  86,587

  17,002

  Westbury

  85,708

  16,123

  South Colchester and Maldon

  85,302

  15,717

  Peterborough

  85,244

  15,659

  Cirencester and Tewkesbury

  85,181

  15,596

  Crosby

  85,099

  15,514

  North West Surrey

  84,295

  14,710

  Ryedale

  84,205

  14,620

  The Wrekin

  83,796

  14,211

  Chelmsford

  83,696

  14,111

  Woking

  83,453

  13,868

  North Colchester

  83,391

  13,806

  South Suffolk

  83,143

  13,558

  Waveney

  82,920

  13,335

  Dudley West

  82,884

  13,299

  South West Cambridgeshire

  82,692

  13,107

  Stroud

  82,340

  12,755

  Stratford-on-Avon

  82,255

  12,670

  Feltham and Heston

  81,999

  12,414

  Chichester

  81,862

  12,277

  Harrow East

  81,842

  12,257

  Aldershot

  81,791

  12,206

  Mid Bedfordshire

  81,697

  12,112

  North Wiltshire

  81,670

  12,085

  Mid Worcestershire

  81,581

  11,996

  Portsmouth North

  81,350

  11,765

  Brigg and Cleethorpes

  81,214

  11,629

  Mid Sussex

  81,138

  11,553

  Hornsey and Wood Green

  81,122

  11,537

  Bridlington

  81,072

  11,487

  South Derbyshire

  81,041

  11,456

  Billericay

  80,588

  11,003

  Grantham

  80,366

  10,781

  South Staffordshire

  80,336

  10,751

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  80,272

  10,687

  Richmond (Yorks)

  80,255

  10,670

  450

  Parliamentary constituency

  1987 electorate (as first published)

  Amount by which electorate is above the electoral quota

  Central Suffolk

  80,204

  10,619

  Langbaurgh

  80,201

  10,616

  Romsey and Waterside

  80,179

  10,594

  York

  80,159

  10,574

  Cheltenham

  80,121

  10,536

  Faversham

  80,062

  10,477

  Beverley

  79,958

  10,373

  South West Bedfordshire

  79,927

  10,342

  West Hertfordshire

  79,886

  10,301

  North Hertfordshire

  79,689

  10,104

  Northavon

  79,610

  10,025

  Chorley

  79,514

  9,929

  Arundel

  79,468

  9,883

  Meriden

  79,436

  9,851

  South Norfolk

  79,359

  9,774

  South Hams

  79,356

  9,771

  Basingstoke

  79,116

  9,531

  West Gloucestershire

  78,982

  9,397

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  78,979

  9,394

  Rutland and Melton

  78,921

  9,336

  Solihull

  78,855

  9,270

  Houghton and Washington

  78,821

  9,236

  Guildford

  78,783

  9,198

  North Shropshire

  78,240

  8,655

  Blaby

  78,155

  8,570

  Bosworth

  78,131

  8,546

  South Worcestershire

  78,129

  8,544

  Braintree

  78,025

  8,440

  Tonbridge and Malling

  77,956

  8,371

  Honiton

  77,942

  8,357

  Lincoln

  77,939

  8,354

  Aylesbury

  77,933

  8,348

  Fareham

  77,910

  8,325

  Gloucester

  77,899

  8,314

  Harwich

  77,827

  8,242

  Worthing

  77,719

  8,134

  Rugby and Kenilworth

  77,640

  8,055

  Bury St. Edmunds

  77,615

  8,030

  Winchester

  77,527

  7,942

  Poole

  77,481

  7,896

  Wallsend

  77,465

  7,880

  Havant

  77,412

  7,827

  Erewash

  77,381

  7,796

  Woodspring

  77,255

  7,670

  Warrington South

  77,245

  7,660

  Sheffield, Hillsborough

  77,236

  7,651

  Tunbridge Wells

  77,205

  7,620

  Weston-Super-Mare

  77,172

  7,587

  West Lancashire

  77,054

  7,469

  Rochford

  77,048

  7,463

  Salisbury

  77,045

  7,460

  Macclesfield

  77,018

  7,433

  Northampton South

  76,948

  7,363

  Canterbury

  76,931

  7,346

  Portsmouth South

  76,814

  7,229

  Tottenham

  76,713

  7,128

  Harrogate

  76,607

  7,022

  Suffolk Coastal

  76,547

  6,962

  South West Hertfordshire

  76,535

  6,950

  Warrington North

  76,517

  6,932

  Sunderland North

  76,503

  6,918

  Hertford and Stortford

  76,470

  6,885

  Witney

  76,221

  6,636

  St. Albans

  76,206

  6,621

  Dudley East

  76,154

  8,569

  Newbury

  76,145

  6,560

  Stockton South

  76,136

  6,551

  Wandsdyke

  76,108

  6,523

  Boothferry

  76,084

  6,499

  Exeter

  76,053

  6,468

  Bournemouth East

  75,906

  6,321

  Rossendale and Darwen

  75,894

  6,309

  New Forest

  75,780

  6,195

  Sunderland South

  75,762

  6,177

  451

  Parliamentary constituency

  1987 electorate (as first published)

  Amount by which electorate is above the electoral quota

  Harborough

  75,666

  6,101

  Ealing, Southall

  75,660

  6,075

  Scarborough

  75,628

  6,043

  Blackburn

  75,586

  6,001

  Don Valley

  75,452

  5,867

  Torridge and West Devon

  75,373

  5,788

  Batley and Spen

  75,334

  5,749

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  75,318

  5,733

  Bournemouth West

  75,290

  5,705

  North Luton

  75,270

  5,685

  Tynemouth

  75,180

  5,595

  South West Norfolk

  75,152

  5,567

  Taunton

  75,035

  5,450

  Stoke-on-Trent North

  75,029

  5,444

  North East Cambridgeshire

  75,026

  5,441

  East Lindsey

  74,915

  5,330

  Eddisbury

  74,882

  5,297

  Sheffield, Hallam

  74,868

  5,283

  Halton

  74,853

  5,268

  Mid Norfolk

  74,778

  5,193

  Harrow West

  74,771

  5,186

  Southampton, Test

  74,711

  5,126

  Eastbourne

  74,705

  5,120

  Sheffield, Heeley

  74,688

  5,103

  Loughborough

  74,622

  5,037

  North West Norfolk

  74,605

  5,020

  North Bedfordshire

  74,506

  4,921

  Welwyn Hatfield

  74,435

  4,850

  Birmingham, Perry Barr

  74,413

  4,828

  Watford

  74,314

  4,729

  Kingston upon Hull North

  74,258

  4,673

  Calder Valley

  74,238

  4,653

  Halifax

  74,201

  4,616

  Burton

  74,151

  4,566

  Slough

  74,147

  4,562

  Hertsmere

  74,142

  4,557

  Saffron Walden

  74,093

  4,508

  Leicester South

  74,074

  4,489

  Sevenoaks

  74,047

  4,462

  South East Cambridgeshire

  74,031

  4,446

  Wealdon

  73,984

  4,399

  South West Surrey

  73,983

  4,398

  Birmingham, Northfield

  73,956

  4,371

  Maidstone

  73,952

  4,367

  Doncaster North

  73,944

  4,359

  Lewes

  73,941

  4,356

  Worsley

  73,918

  4,333

  Kingswood

  73,888

  4,303

  Liverpool, Walton

  73,826

  4,241

  North Dorset

  73,790

  4,205

  Glanford and Scunthorpe

  73,764

  4,179

  Spelthorne

  73,751

  4,166

  Crewe and Nantwich

  73,711

  4,126

  Warwick and Leamington

  73,684

  4,099

  Gravesham

  73,671

  4,086

  Bristol North West

  73,630

  4,045

  South Dorset

  73,607

  4,022

  Rushcliffe

  73,581

  3,996

  Dartford

  73,520

  3,935

  Hastings and Rye

  73,515

  3,930

  Nottingham South

  73,472

  3,887

  Stafford

  73,421

  3,836

  Southampton, Itchen

  73,412

  3,827

  Crawley

  73,356

  3,771

  Truro

  73,327

  3,742

  Mid Kent

  73,223

  3,638

  North Cornwall

  73,202

  3,617

  Hove

  73,154

  3,569

  South Ribble

  73,133

  3,548

  Sutton Coldfield

  73,128

  3,543

  Skipton and Ripon

  73,063

  3,478

  Reading East

  73,007

  3,422

  Bishop Auckland

  72,936

  3,351

  North Durham

  72,934

  3,349

  452

  Parliamentary constituency

  1987 electorate (as first published)

  Amount by which electorate is above the electoral quota

  Wycombe

  72,852

  3,267

  Wigan

  72,842

  3,257

  Bristol West

  72,837

  3,252

  Birmingham, Selly Oak

  72,821

  3,236

  Gillingham

  72,790

  3,205

  Chesham and Amersham

  72,747

  3,162

  Reigate

  72,733

  3,148

  Tatton

  72,701

  3,116

  Bootle

  72,659

  3,074

  Broxtowe

  72,618

  3,033

  Teignbridge

  72,578

  2,993

  Derby North

  72,548

  2,963

  Pudsey

  72,531

  2,946

  Brentford and Isleworth

  72,371

  2,786

  Ellesmere Port and Ncston

  72,332

  2,747

  Ealing North

  72,321

  2,736

  Mid Staffordshire

  72,289

  2,704

  Selby

  72,289

  2,704

  Chertsey and Walton

  72,241

  2,656

  Sherwood

  72,221

  2,636

  Southport

  72,210

  2,625

  Luton South

  72,037

  2,452

  Shoreham

  71,994

  2,409

  Penrith and Border

  71,93

  2,345

  Dewsbury

  71,838

  2,253

  Ashfield

  71,826

  2,241

  North Warwickshire

  71,671

  2,086

  Christchurch

  71,626

  2,041

  St Helens North

  71,624

  2,039

  Wyre Forest

  71,619

  2,034

  West Derbyshire

  71,609

  2,024

  Stoke-on-Trent South

  71,585

  2,000

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  71,582

  1,997

  Bradford West

  71,577

  1,992

  North West Leicestershire

  71,564

  1,979

  Makerfield

  71,549

  1,964

  Stamford and Spalding

  71,520

  1,935

  Broxbourne

  71,472

  1,887

  Epsom and Ewell

  71,458

  1,873

  Wcllingborough

  71,403

  1,818

  Yeovil

  71,226

  1,641

  North East Derbyshire

  71,184

  1,599

  Harlow

  71,181

  1,596

  Hackney South and Shoreditch

  71,167

  1,582

  Torbay

  71,151

  1,566

  Reading West

  71,131

  1,546

  Westmorland and Lonsdale

  71,110

  1,525

  Stockton North

  71,069

  1,484

  Colne Valley

  71,057

  1,472

  Buckingham

  71,046

  1,461

  South East Cornwall

  71,036

  1,451

  Chesterfield

  71,020

  1,435

  Ashford

  70,986

  1,401

  North West Hampshire

  70,916

  1,331

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  70,901

  1,316

  High Peak

  70,819

  1,234

  Gainsborough and Horncastle

  70,780

  1,195

  Leominster

  70,760

  1,175

  Bolton West

  70,722

  1,137

  North Norfolk

  70,546

  961

  Nottingham North

  70,480

  895

  Doncaster Central

  70,467

  882

  Wakefield

  70,465

  880

  Stevenage

  70,393

  808

  Bradford South

  70,372

  787

  North Thanet

  70,342

  757

  Banbury

  70,335

  750

  Bromsgrove

  70,328

  743

  St. Helens South

  70,254

  669

  Denton and Reddish

  70,218

  633

  Enfield North

  70,190

  605

  Barrow and Furness

  70,175

  590

  Northampton North

  70,163

  578

  453

  Parliamentary constituency

  1987 electorate (as first published)

  Amount by which electorate is above the electoral quota

  Daventry

  70,144

  559

  Elmet

  69,975

  390

  Oxford West and Abingdon

  69,963

  378

  Leigh

  69,925

  340

  Carshalton and Wallington

  69,906

  321

  Cambridge

  69,895

  310

  Newcastle upon Tyne North

  69,889

  304

  Worcester

  69,823

  238

  Dover

  69,807

  222

  Somerton and Frome

  69,661

  76

  Hartlepool

  69,802

  17

  1 Electoral quota for England.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department in helping small businesses over the last three years; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Moore
  Details of the Government's measures designed to help small businesses are given in the White Papers "Lifting the Burden" Cmnd. 9571 (July 1985), "Building Businesses … not Barriers" Cmnd. 9794 (May 1986) and in the progress report "Encouraging Enterprise" published May 1987, copies of which have been placed in the Library. These publications include details of those measures to help business introduced by my Department over the last three years.

  Considering ways of helping small businesses and encouraging enterprise remain important elements in the work of my Department. The Department has a system to monitor proposals which impact on business to ensure that the needs of small businesses are fully taken into account. Specific performance indicators would not be of practical assistance in monitoring achievements in this area.

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what information he has sought or been offered by health authorities regarding the effect of the lifting of Crown immunity; how many authorities have had to increase their expenditure on food hygiene and health and safety; and what requests for increased funding he has received as a consequence;

  (2) if he will take steps to ensure that the accounting system for health authorities will enable identification of the extent to which the lifting of Crown immunity has increased hospital spending on food hygiene and health and safety in the first year without immunity;

  (3) if he will request from regional health authorities information on the additional costs so far incurred or predicted in their regions because of the lifting of Crown immunity; and if he will seek a breakdown of the nature of the costs.

  Mrs. Currie
  I shall let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

  Disablement Services Authority
  Mr. Hannam
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many members of the new Disablement Services Authority are disabled.

  Mr. Scott
  Two. One amputee, and one wheelchair user.

  Mr. Hannam
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the new Disablement Services Authority plans to meet.

  Mr. Scott
  I understand that at the first meeting of the Disablement Services Authority on 1 July the following meeting dates were agreed for 1987:

  30 July

  26 August

  6 October

  5 November

  1 December

  Thereafter, starting on 7 January 1988, I understand that the authority intends to meet on the first Thursday of each month.

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women have been tested for cervical cancer in the Warrington district health authority area in the last six months; how many of these tests have been fully processed; how many of the results have been sent out; and what is the average waiting time for these results.

  Mrs. Currie
  I am sorry I cannot give the hon. Member the information he seeks. It is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of Warrington district health authority for the information requested.

  The health authority did experience some difficulties in keeping within the one month target for sending out results. However, with the engagement of an additional medical laboratory scientific officer, the health authority expects to achieve a three-week turn round time from the end of August.

  Community Care
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made as to whether mental illness patients with a hospital stay of less than a month, who cannot return to their previous accommodation, can be provided for on discharge by local housing authorities under the Housing Act 1985.

  Mrs. Currie
  Clinicians are expected to pay regard to the circumstances and needs of patients when arrange ments for discharge are being made. Health and local authorities should work together, in collaboration with the voluntary and private sectors, to provide a range of services, including accommodation, to meet the needs of former patients.

  Local housing authorities have a statutory duty under the Housing Act 1985 to secure accommodation for those whom they judge to be in priority need. The definition of priority need includes mentally ill people and housing authorities are recommended by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to consult health and social services authorities in assessing individual cases.

  Community Charge
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he proposes to make to enable those on supplementary benefit to receive compensation for their 20 per cent. contribution to the community charge; how long they will be required to wait before compensation is paid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The Government have made it clear that the decision to compensate those on income support, for the average minimum contribution towards domestic rates, will be carried through on introduction of the community charge. Details will be announced in due course.

  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost of (a) collecting from supplementary benefit recipients their 20 per cent. contribution to the community charge and (b) the cost of paying compensation to those on supplementary benefit for their 20 per cent. contribution to the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714) discusses in paragraph 3.43 the operational issues and cost of collecting the community charge. The cost of taking account of the minimum contributions in benefit rates will depend on the detailed arrangements yet to be announced.

  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the total sum to be collected from those making the 20 per cent. contribution to the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The amount of community charge to be collected from those eligible for maximum rebate of the charge cannot yet be known. It will depend on the level of charges set by local authorities and the numbers of people qualifying for income-related benefits.

  National Health Service (Cost Monitoring)
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he proposes to take to monitor the relative costs and performance of National Health Service regional health authorities, individual hospitals, hospital and community based services and medical procedures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  A number and variety of measures have already been devloped to monitor the relative costs and performance of the National Health Service. A foremost example is the performance indicator package which provides managers at all levels with the means of comparing the performance of their own services with those in other authorities.

  Analysis of performance indicators, together with the results of other forms of monitoring (such as scrutiny of regions' strategies, annual short-term programme implementation reports and financial and statistical returns) are channelled into the anual accountability review process. Introduced in 1982 between the Department and regional health authorities, the review process has since extended through the service and brings to an annual head the continuous process of monitoring, appraisal and review of NHS performance. Work on improving the existing arrangements continues.
  456
  The Department is also exploring new measures, like involving professional staff directly in resource management, aimed at helping all those working in the service to improve the quantity and quality of services provided to the public.

  Private Contractors
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on progress made by health authorities in contracting out ancillary services.

  Mr. Newton
  The initiative launched by the Government in September 1983 was competitive tendering for domestic cleaning, catering and laundry services in the National Health Service. In England, health authorities continue to make good progress in putting these services out to tender thereby testing their cost effectiveness. By 31 March 1987, 78 per cent. of these services had been put out to tender.

  Total annual savings generated as a result in England are estimated at £93·3 million — an increase of £7·3 million over the figure reached at 31 December 1986. £26·1 million of the total savings generated have been realised from 194 contracts let to private contractors and £67·2 million from 1046 tenders secured by in-house organisations.

  Information for Scotland and Wales is for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, respectively.

  Low-income Families
  Mr. Frank Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead on 7 July, Official Report, column 115, on low income families, he will detail the reasons for and the nature of the technical review being undertaken.

  Mr. Scott
  The technical review is being conducted by officials from the Department of Health and Social Security and the Central Statistical Office. Since the methods and assumptions underlying the low-incomes statistics have never been systematically reassessed, the review is considering a range of bases of measurement, for example, the income-unit (the individual, the family and the household), the income-period (annual, current or normal), and how adjustments are to be made for the size and composition of income units. In addition, ideas in the academic literature are being reviewed. Some alternative approaches to the measurement of low income were outlined in the Green Paper "Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 9519).

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he hopes to publish the 1985 low-income families tables and the figures showing the number of children living in low-income families.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on Tuesday 7 July, at column 115.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the value of the long-term supplementary benefit scale rates,

  457
  excluding housing costs, for a single person and a married couple as a proportion of average net earnings for all males for each year from November 1978 to April 1986.

  Mr. Scott:
  The information is as follows:

  Scale rates as a percentage of average net earnings of all males1

  Uprating date

  Single non-householder

  Single householder

  Couple

  November 1978

  24·4

  30·4

  45·8

  November 1979

  23·7

  29·7

  45·0

  November 1980

  23·2

  29·1

  44·4

  November 1981

  23·4

  29·3

  44·9

  November 1982

  24·3

  30·4

  46·5

  November 1983

  23·6

  29·5

  45·0

  November 1984

  22·7

  28·4

  43·1

  November 1985

  22·3

  27·9

  42·4

  July 19862

  21·2

  26·5

  40·3

  Supplementary benefit rates are more usually compared with male manual earnings.1 The equivalent percentages are as follows:

  Uprating date

  Single non-householder

  Single householder

  Couple

  November 1978

  26·5

  33·0

  49·5

  November 1979

  25·9

  32·4

  48·9

  November 1980

  26·2

  32·8

  49·7

  November 1981

  26·7

  33·4

  50·9

  November 1982

  27·9

  34·9

  52·9

  November 1983

  27·1

  34·0

  51·4

  November 1984

  26·2

  32·8

  49·4

  November 1985

  26·0

  32·4

  48·9

  July 19862

  24·8

  31·0

  46·7

  1 Net average earnings is gross average earnings less tax and national insurance contributions at the non·contracted out rate.

  2 Provision. The comparison is based on July benefit rates, when the uprating took place in 1986.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate (a) the total savings, (b) the number of people affected, and (c) the average loss per person resulting from the changes in the regulations for the payment of mortgage interest for people on supplementary benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  Our latest estimates of the effect of the changes made in January to the amount allowed for mortgage interest in supplementary benefit for new claimants under 60 are:

  (a) savings of £38 million in the year 1987–88;

  (b) just over 70,000 claimants affected at any one time;

  (c) an average amount of mortgage interest of £170 would not be met for someone staying on benefit the full 16 weeks.

  Regional Health Authority Chairmen
  Mr. Hayward
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will announce the appointment of regional health authority chairmen from 1 August.

  Mr. Moore
  The terms of office of three of the 14 regional health authority chairmen expire on 31 July 1987. On the retirement of Sir Arthur South JP. I have appointed Mr. Colin Walker OBE to succeed him as chairman of East Anglian RHA. The chairmen of South East Thames and North Western RHAs have accepted my invitation to continue to serve in this most important position.

  The appointments are as follows:

  East Anglian—Mr. Colin Walker OBE until 31 July 1991.

  SE Thames—Sir Peter Baldwin KCB reappointed until 31 July 1989.

  458

  N Western—Sir John Page OBE reappointed until 31 July 1988.

  AIDS
  Mr. Favell
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to enable those undertaking research into the treatment and care of people with HIV or AIDS to learn from experiences in the United States.

  Mr. Newton
  The Department, with funds generously donated by Abbott Laboratories, is able to offer a number of travel fellowships to the United States of America for those undertaking research relevant to the care of people with HIV infection or AIDS in hospital or the community. The fellowships are designed to provide an opportunity to meet others working in the same field and to study their research methods.

  Advertisements will be placed shortly inviting applications. The fellowships, of up to three months' duration to meet travel and subsistence expenses, will be available in late 1987 or in 1988.

  Health Service Commissioner (Report)
  Mr. Roger King
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the annual report of the Health Service Commissioner for 1986–87.

  Mr. Newton
  The Health Service Commissioner has, as in previous years, made a single report on the performance of his functions in England, Scotland and Wales. My right hon. Friend, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales presented the report to the House yesterday. It is being published today (House of Commons Paper No. 31) and copies are available from the Vote Office.

  Departmental Publications (Languages)
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which of his Department's publications are produced in languages other than English, and which are the additional languages used.

  Mr. Portillo
  The leaflet "Which Benefit" has been reproduced in Gujerati, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and Chinese.

  Implied Marginal Tax Rates
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish tables showing (a) implied marginal tax rates as a result of income tax, national insurance contribution and withdrawal of housing benefit (or equivalent) in each year since the introduction of rent rebates, and (b) implied marginal tax rates as a result of income tax, national insurance contribution, housing benefit and family income supplement/family credit withdrawal, for each year since introduction of family income supplement; and if he will include estimates for 1988 on the assumption that national insurance contribution and income tax rates will remain as at present.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is shown in the table. In practice, the impact of the highest theoretical
  459
  marginal tax rates may be mitigated by the duration of benefit award (FIS awards run unchanged for a period of one year).

  Implied marginal tax rates from April 1972

  HB taper

  Based on tax, NI and withdrawal of HB

  Based on tax, NI and withdrawal of HB and FIS

  Comments

  July 1972

  (a)

  57·64

  96·14

  (b)

  67·64

  101·14

  October 1972

  (a)

  57·89

  96·39

  Change in NI rates

  (b)

  67·89

  101·39

  April 1973

  (a)

  57·75

  96·25

  Change in basic rate of tax

  (b)

  67·75

  101·25

  October 1973

  (a)

  58·00

  96·50

  Change in NI rates

  (b)

  68·00

  105·50

  April 1974

  (a)

  61·00

  99·50

  Change in basic rate of tax

  (b)

  71·00

  104·50

  August 1974

  (a)

  61·50

  100·00

  Change in NI rates

  (b)

  71·50

  105·00

  April 1975

  (a)

  63·50

  102·00

  Change in basic rate of tax

  (b)

  73·50

  107·00

  April 1976

  (a)

  63·75

  102·25

  Change in NI rates

  (b)

  73·75

  107·25

  April 1977

  (a)

  62·75

  101·25

  Change in basic rate of tax

  (b)

  72·75

  106·25

  April 1978

  (a)

  54·50 or 62·50

  93·00 or 101·00

  Different rates correspond to 25 per cent, tax band and basic rate of tax respectively

  (b)

  64·50 or 72·50

  98·00 or 106·00

  April 1979

  (a)

  54·50 or 59·50

  93·00 or 98·00

  Different rates correspond to 25 per cent, tax band and basic rate of tax respectively

  (b)

  64·50 or 69·50

  98·00 or 103·00

  April 1980

  (a)

  59·75

  98·25

  Change in NI rates

  (b)

  69·75

  103·25

  April 1981

  (a)

  60·75

  99·25

  Change in NI rates

  (b)

  70·75

  104·25

  April 1982

  (a)

  61·75

  100·25

  Change in NI rates

  (b)

  71·75

  105·25

  April 1983

  (a)

  67·00

  103·00

  Changes in HB Taper and NI rates

  (b)

  72·00

  105·50

  April 1984

  (a)

  74·00

  106·50

  Change in HB Taper

  (b)

  72·00

  105·50

  November 1984

  (a)

  77·00

  108·00

  Change in HB Taper

  (b)

  72·00

  105·50

  April 1985

  (a)

  77·00

  108·00

  (b)

  72·00

  105·50

  October 1985

  (a)

  73·00, 75·00 or 77·00

  104·00, 106·00 or 108·00

  Different rates correspond to NI rates of 5, 7 and 9 per cent, respectively

  (b)

  68·00, 70·00 or 72·00

  101·50, 103·50 or 105·50

  November 1985

  (a)

  77·00, 79·00 or 81·00

  106·00, 108·00 or 110·00

  Different rates correspond to NI rates of 5, 7 and 9 per cent, respectively; Change in HB Taper

  (b)

  68·00, 70·00 or 72·00

  101·50, 103·50 or 105·50

  April 1986

  (a)

  76·00, 78·00 or 80·00

  105·0, 107·00 or 109·00

  Different rates correspond to NI rates of 5, 7 and 9 per cent, respectively; Change in basic tax rate

  460 461

  HB taper

  Based on tax, NI and withdrawal of HB

  Based on tax, NI and withdrawal of HB and FIS

  Comments

  (b)

  67·00, 69·00 or 71·00

  100·50, 102·5 or 104·50

  April 1987

  (a)

  78·00, 80·00 or 8200

  105·00, 107·00 or 109·00

  Different rates corrspond to NI rates of 5, 7 and 9 per cent, respectively; Change in HB Taper; Change in basic tax rate

  (b)

  65·00, 67·00 or 69·00

  98·50, 100·50 or 101·50

  Key:

  (a) Assessable Income above the housing benefit Needs Allowance.

  (b) Assessable Income below the housing benefit Needs Allowance.

  Implied marginal tax rales for April 1988

  Rate of National Insurance

  Comments

  5 per cent.

  7 per cent.

  9 per cent.

  Based on current tax and national insurance rates and withdrawal of housing benefit

  86·4

  86·8

  87·2

  Assumes a housing benefit taper of 80 per cent. of net income and a family credit taper of 70 per cent, of net income

  Based on current tax and national insurance rates and withdrawal of housing benefit and family credit

  95·92

  96·04

  96·16

  Notes:

  1. Implied marginal tax rates are given for private and local authority tenants only.

  2. The tables start from July 1972 when the national rent rebate and allowance scheme was introduced.

  3. Changes in tax rates, national insurance contributions and housing benefit tapers have been included since July 1972.

  4. Precise rates for the reformed social security system have yet to be set. The marginal tax rates for April 1988 are based on the illustrative assumptions included in the Technical Annex accompanying "Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 9691).

  Child Benefit
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy with regard to the future of child benefit payments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  There are no plans to reduce the scope of child benefit. All families will continue to get child benefit and it will be paid to the mother. Its rate will be determined as a part of the annual social security uprating exercise, when the need for a balanced programme of family support is considered.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. David Martin
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the system that when a child is at a special boarding school invalid care allowance is paid only in holiday periods and not as a retainer to the person responsible for the caring; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Invalid care allowance is paid to a carer for each week he or she spends at least 35 hours caring for a severly disabled person who is living at home and receiving an attendance allowance. We have not received any representations about these rules which preclude payment of the allowance when the disabled person is living away from home at a special boarding school or other residential accommodation.

  Nursing and Residential Care Homes
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what rates of board and lodging benefits are payable to persons in private, charitable or voluntary old people's homes; and when they were last reviewed;

  (2) when he next proposes to review the levels of benefits payable to persons in old people's homes; and whether he will be taking full account of the real cost of accommodation and support in such homes.

  Mr. Scott
  Supplementary benefit claimants in independent residential care and nursing homes for the elderly can have their fees met in full up to maximum weekly amounts which are currently £130 in a residential care home (£145 where the elderly claimant is blind or very dependent), and £175 in a nursing home. An extension of up to £17·50 is payable in homes in the Greater London area. Claimants also receive a personal expenses allowance of £9·25. Increases were last made on 6 April 1987, following a review which took account of a range of information on costs and charges including a report on changes in costs by management consultants Ernst and Whinney, which has now been placed in the Library. The next general uprating of benefits will he in April 1988, and the position of people in homes will again be considered, taking account of similar factors, in advance of that date. The Department would welcome any fresh information from hon. Members or other sources which might assist that process.

  Regions (RAWP Allocation)
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each region for each year since 1979–80 its capital resource allocation working party allocation as a percentage of its weighted population share.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 June 1987, c. 79–80]: The information requested is set out in the table. The RAWP (resource allocation working party) formula uses regions' populations weighted to take account of age and sex distribution and mortality rates, and the value of capital stock in relation to the weighted population as indicators of relative need.

  From 1979–80 to 1984–85, 85 per cent. of the national RAWP sum was distributed on a weighted population basis, the remaining 15 per cent. serving to reduce the inherited disparities in the value of regional health authorities' capital stock. A review in 1983 concluded that the stock equalisation element did not provide a fair measure of relative need and regional health authorities

  463
  agreed to move, progressively from 1985–86 to 1991–92, to capital RAWP allocations based solely on weighted population shares.

  Regional health authorities

  Capital allocation—RA WP share as percentage of weighted population share

  Percentage

  Regional health authority

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1. Northern

  105

  101·3

  98·2

  96·0

  92·9

  86·8

  88·7

  90·6

  92·5

  2. Yorkshire

  105

  104·7

  105·8

  106·7

  107·7

  107·6

  106·2

  105·3

  104·3

  3. Trent

  114

  105·2

  97·9

  91·9

  91·1

  90·4

  90·5

  93·2

  94·5

  4. East Anglian

  128

  117·5

  105·3

  94·1

  85·0

  85·0

  87·2

  89·1

  91·6

  5. North West Thames

  85

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  87·2

  89·4

  91·2

  6. North East Thames

  85

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  88·5

  89·4

  91·4

  7. South East Thames

  85

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  88·9

  90·8

  92·0

  93·1

  8. South West Thames

  85

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  86·9

  89·1

  91·5

  9. Wessex

  103

  110·5

  120·5

  129·2

  136·1

  140·0

  134·2

  128·7

  122·3

  10. Oxford

  85

  85·0

  85·0

  85·0

  87·0

  85·0

  87·2

  89·3

  91·6

  11. South·Western

  96

  95·6

  98·5

  103·0

  107·2

  111·8

  112·7

  108·3

  106·8

  12. West-Midlands

  85

  93·7

  100·6

  107·2

  113·0

  119·4

  115·9

  113·8

  111·1

  13. Mersey

  123

  110·7

  100·3

  90·4

  85·0

  85·0

  87·5

  89·0

  91·5

  14. North-Western

  123

  132·0

  137·0

  138·3

  132·6

  1227·7

  119·6

  116·4

  113·8

  Mentally-Handicapped Children
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children were placed in long-stay mental handicap hospitals for short-stay or respite care in the last 12 months; for how long they stayed there on average, for every health district; and what alternative community provision, including specialist fostering, is available to such children in each health district and each social services authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 7 July 1987, c. 129]: I am sorry I cannot give my hon. Friend the information she seeks. Statistics are collected centrally on admissions to, and discharges from, mental handicap hospitals and units, but these cannot be linked to individual people. Figures on discharges by age and length of stay are contained in the set of booklets "Mental Health Statistics for England", available in the Library. Comprehensive information is not collected centrally on alternative community provision, including fostering arrangements.

SCOTLAND

  Psychiatric Hospitals
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the population of Scottish psychiatric hospitals; and if he will state the percentage of the psychiatric hospital population aged between each of (a) 0 to 25 years, (b) 25 to 35 years, (c) 35 to 50 years, (d) 50 to 65 years and (e) over 65 years.

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

  Age distribution of residents1 in Scottish psychiatric hospitals2: 1985

  0–24

  25–34

  35–49

  50–65

  65+

  Total

  Number

  1,693

  1,767

  2,943

  3,959

  9,557

  19,919

  Per cent.

  8

  9

  15

  20

  48

  100

  1At 31 December

  2 Mental Illness and Mental Handicap

  Mentally Handicapped and Disabled Persons
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of purpose-built accommodation units for disabled people completed in Scotland in each of the years 1979 to 1985.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information covering this period is not readily available.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of full-time day centres and the average number of places within them for each of the (a) mentally ill, (b) mentally handicapped and (c) physically handicapped.

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

  Day Centres for Handicapped Adults at 31 March 19861

  Type of Centre2

  Number of Centres

  Number of Places

  Average Number of Places per Centre

  Mentally Ill

  2

  92

  46·0

  Mentally Handicapped

  107

  6,995

  65·4

  Physically Handicapped

  30

  1,362

  45·4

  Multiply Handicapped

  4

  129

  32·2

  1 Provisional

  2 Day centres are classified according to the main group attending.

  All centres provide for handicapped persons to attend on a full-time basis but a number of clients may attend only part-time.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of purpose-built accommodation units for disabled people completed in Scotland in 1986.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Returns submitted by housing authorities indicate that 52 dwellings purpose-built to accommodate disabled people were completed during 1986.

  Central Computer Service
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the performance of the Central Computer Service in the National Health Service in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish Health Service Common Services Agency operates a computer centre whose role is limited to support of the agency itself (including payroll and preparation of all-Scotland health statistics) and of the Lanarkshire health board. It is not a central computer for the service as a whole since the health boards also operate large computer installations, either individually or in consortia.

  In order to improve the collection, co-ordination and use of information to benefit the service my right hon. and learned Friend has recently authorised the formation of a new directorate of health service information systems, within the Common Services Agency.

  Common Services Agency Building Division
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Common Services Agency building division, with regard to the period between design and completion for hospitals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am making arrangements for a review of the Common Services Agency building division's current activities in hospital building.

  Care in the Community
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to ensure that adequate short term funds are made available to health boards and local authorities, to meet the high cost of setting up properly funded community care schemes for elderly, mentally ill, mentally handicapped and physically disabled people.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The level of funding for particular health and social work services is a matter for decision by individual health boards and local authorities in the light of local circumstances and subject to any general guidance they may receive through my Department. Both health boards and local authorities have been made aware of the need to give high priority to community care facilities for the elderly, mentally ill, and mentally and physically handicapped. I see no case for reducing their discretion in the use of resources available to them by earmarking some of them for particular purposes.

  Elderly People
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to promote the setting up of joint funded homes for elderly people with mental disability in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Arrangements for joint funding of these and other projects providing persons with appropriate care outside the hospital environment have existed since 1980 and were revised and extended in 1985. The allocation of resources to particular projects is
  466
  matter for decision by individual local authorities and health boards in the light of established priorities and local circumstances.

  Psychiatry (Registrar Posts)
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to correct the situation of imbalance in registrar posts in psychiatry between teaching and non-teaching health boards in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A full review of hospital medical staffing is currently being conducted in Scotland with a report expected in the autumn. Thereafter it is expected that discussions will take place with the profession and health service management on a whole range of issues on medical manpower including deployment of registrars in different specialties.

  Cervical Cytology
  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average length of time taken to provide results from cervical smears for each of the health board areas in Scotland; and if he will allocate extra resources to improve cytology services.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the average length of time taken to provide results from cervical smear tests is not available centrally. I am currently considering the report of a working group set up under the chairmanship of Professor John Strong to review the cervical cytology screening service in Scotland and will announce the Government's response in due course.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from Scottish universities about the proposed Scottish committee for planning of higher education in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have seen the representations made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science by the Standing Committee of the Scottish Universities on behalf of all the Scottish universities in support of the proposal for a Scottish committee of the new Universities Funding Council. Individual universities have also made representations.

  Glasgow Airport
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will hold a public inquiry into the proposed extension to Glasgow airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend is still considering whether he should call in the relevant planning application so the question of holding a public inquiry does not yet arise.

  Housing
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the current and capital expenditure per head on housing in Scotland during the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Current expenditure on the housing revenue accounts of local authorities, new towns and the
  467
  SSHA was £175–80 per head of overall population in 1986–87. Information on the current expenditure of housing associations is not available. Gross capital expenditure by all public housing bodies in 1986–87 was £127–27 per head.

  Radioactivity (Dounreay)
  Mr. Wallace
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the light of the recent report of R. F. Wheaton of Edinburgh Radiation Consultants, a copy of which has been sent to him, he intends to review the pattern of monitoring of radioactivity in the vicinity of the Dounreay nuclear establishment.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. The report, apart from one set of readings, does not contain information which is out of line with previously published data. The anomalous results will he followed up.

  High Court of Justiciary
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the provision of additional accommodation in Glasgow for the High Court of Justiciary; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Several options have been examined for the provision of additional court and ancillary facilities in Glasgow for the High Court of Justiciary; and consultations have been undertaken. My right hon. and learned Friend is considering in the light of these consultations how best to meet the future accommodation needs of the High Court in Glasgow.

  Court of Session
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals there are to provide additional accommodation in Edinburgh for the Court of Session; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Plans are being prepared to provide a rear extension to Parliament House comprising three additional civil courts with ancillary facilities, accommodation for the Court of Session's public offices, for its clerks of court and for the Supreme Court's staff training unit.

  Local Authority Accounts (Access)
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals to amend the statutory provisions governing public access to local authority accounts, in the light of the High Court judgment in the case of Olivers v. Northampton borough council.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend is aware of the Scottish implications of the English High Court judgment, concerning the public right of access to personal information in local authority accounts about an authority's employees. A consultation paper is being issued today inviting comments on a proposal that at the next convenient opportunity amending legislation should be introduced to limit this right of access to information about gross pay, allowances, bonuses and overtime payments. A copy of the paper has been placed in the Library.

  NORTHERN IRELAND: CERTIFIED-OUT TRIALS
  NORTHERN IRELAND: CERTIFIED-OUT TRIALS
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL MEETING, 13th JULY
  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL MEETING, 13th JULY