Written Answers of 15 July 1987

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Forensic Science Service
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he hopes to reach conclusions about the three reports on the forensic science service, to which he referred, Official Report, column 387, 30 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  I expect to receive the reports shortly. I shall write to the hon. Member once I have had the opportunity to consider them.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the average daily prison population for (a) 1970, (b) 1975, (c) 1980 and (d) the latest year for which figures are available, showing in each case the proportion of remand prisoners.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information is given in the following table. Details of the average population for each of the previous 10 years are published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales" (table 1.4 of the latest issue for 1985, Cmnd. 9903) and figures for 1986 were published in April in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 6/87.

  Average population of Prison Department establishments in England and Wales, 1970, 1975. 1980 and 1986

  Year

  Number of persons

  Percentage on remand1

  1970

  39,028

  12

  1975

  39,820

  14

  1980

  42,264

  14

  1986

  46,770

  21

  1 Untried or convicted unsentenced.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish as a table in the Official Report the total prison population and the prison population rate per 100,000 people for each member country of the Council of Europe showing United Kingdom figures, England and Wales figures and Scotland figures separately.

  Mr. John Patten
  A copy of the latest figures, which relate to 1 September 1986, from the Council of Europe, showing the information required has been placed in the Library. The information about prisoners in different countries published by the Council of Europe is not likely to be strictly comparable, because it reflects different legal and administrative systems and such differences may have a substantial effect on the comparisons. These difficulties apply particularly to the figures of committals to prison per 100,000 inhabitants.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Hurd
  The Home Office, as part of the Government's policy to promote small businesses, is undertaking a number of initiatives intended to help business.

  The Home Office has reviewed all the licences for which it is responsible, to ascertain whether they place a burden on business and if so to see whether that burden could be reduced. A number of changes have been made which will help small business: for example, restrictions on betting offices have been relaxed; the requirement to hold a public billiard licence has been abolished; legislation has been introduced allowing bingo clubs to participate in a national bingo game; and a requirement for pest control firms to hold Home Office authority as well as Minister of Agriculture licences has been removed.

  For future developments, the Government are proposing to introduce a Bill later this Session to liberalise the laws on liquor licencing hours; new Cinema (Safety) Regulations and a guide to fire precautions in existing places of public entertainment should reduce burdens on both businesses and local authorities; the Home Office will also be publishing, as a result of the Fire Safety and Safety at Places of Sport Act 1987, a guide specifically intended to help small businesses ascertain what measures are necessary for fire safety. Performance indicators and statistics are not available to show the result of these activities, which are in the main enabling and assisting provisions.

  The Home Office, in partnership with other Government Departments, the private sector and local authorities, has helped to establish and fund four enterprise agencies in inner city areas with a high ethnic minority population. Though open to all, they are especially designed to counsel and support ethnic minority small businesses. The performance of the first three agencies, opened last year, is undergoing independent evaluation, using a number of performance indicators, including the number of businesses established and their rate of survival. An estimate will also be given of the value of the benefits flowing from the agencies' work in relation to the expenditure involved. An interim report will soon be made, but meanwhile there is evidence of ample demand for the agencies' services and that small businesses are being established as a result. As the evaluation progresses, more quantitative data are expected.

  The Home Office is also providing funding, through section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, for a number of local authority posts concerned with ethnic minority business development, and a grant for similar work to an existing enterprise agency in an inner city. Routine monitoring arrangements will cover all such posts.

  In addition, my Department has for many years sponsored the Community Projects Foundation, which exists to demonstrate community development techniques in a range of local projects. Several of these have led to the

  471
  setting up of small businesses. The work of the foundation has been regularly reviewed and we are at present considering proposals for research into the more systematic analysis of community development project.

  Jury Fixing
  Sir Dudley Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has about the incidence of jury fixing in important criminal trials in London and elsewhere;

  (2) what efforts are being made by police forces in England and Wales to counter the practice of jury nobbling.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand that the police have intelligence which indicates that attempts to bring illegal pressure to bear on jurors have been made, but that this does not support the view that the problem is widespread. The police are alert to the risks to juries, particularly in major trials, involving organised crime, and if necessary seek the authority of the trial judge to provide police protection for the jurors in order to prevent any interference.

  Sir Dudley Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, when he last met the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, he raised with him allegations of the suborning of juries in important trials; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This subject has not been discussed at my right hon. Friend's meetings with the Commissioner.

  Election Counts (Police)
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the chief constables concerned about whether there were police video cameras present filming the crowds outside the count as results were declared on 12 June in the constituencies of Caernarfon, Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, Ynys Môn and Carmarthen.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The use of surveillance equipment (including video cameras) by the police is governed by guidelines issued by the then Home Secretary, the right hon. and learned Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Brittan), and placed in the Library in December 1984.

  The guidelines were issued to ensure, amongst other things, that surveillance devices were used only where strictly necessary and with due regard for the intrusion of privacy that might sometimes result.

  It has been the long-standing policy of successive Governments not to confirm or deny whether surveillance measures have been authorised in any particular case, irrespective of whether such measures have been authorised or not. We do not intend to depart from that policy.

  Government Data Network
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions were drawn in the course of preparatory studies undertaken in relation to the proposed Government data network, about the potential cost savings resulting from the transfer of relevant data between (a) his Department and Her Majesty's Customs
  472
  and Excise, (b) his Department and the Inland Revenue and (c) his Department and the Department of Health and Social Security.

  Mr. Hurd
  With one exception, no transfers of data are planned between the Home Office and the three other Departments which are expecting to participate in the initial implementation of the Government data network; and no cost savings resulting from the transfer of data between my Department and those departments are foreseen. The exception is the properly authorised transfer of data, through existing networks, to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, which provides an inquiry-only service on the vehicle keepers index held on the police national computer. A decision whether the police national computer network should be transferred to the Government data network will not be made this year.

  Drug Offenders (Malaysia)
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his consideration of the Malaysian Government's methods of dealing with drug offenders, as raised with him in the last Parliament by the hon. Member for Christchurch.

  Mr. John Patten
  Our consideration of Malaysian methods of dealing with drug offenders, insofar as they are different, does not lead us to propose any changes in our law.

  Petty Officer John Black
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis regarding the progress of the investigation into the unlawful killing of Petty Officer John Black in Spain over Christmas 1983.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the investigation into Petty Officer Black's death requires further inquiries to be undertaken in Spain. The permission of the Spanish authorities has been sought for British police officers to go to Spain to conduct these inquiries and their reply is awaited.

EMPLOYMENT

  Bridge Programmes
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for the future of bridge programmes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The funding by the Manpower Services Commission of a distinct bridge programme for unemployed executives and managers was withdrawn from the end of March 1987 as part of a wider redevelopment of resources to provide more help for the long-term unemployed. The commission is, however, continuing to provide similar assistance through other schemes.

  Training in job hunting skills, similar to that previously offered by bridge courses, will continue to be available within the commission's job training scheme and jobclubs for those who have been unemployed for at least 26 weeks.
  473
  For executives and managers with shorter periods of unemployment, the commission is arranging to provide possibilities for equivalent help through its wider opportunities training programme.

  Manpower Services Commission
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to alter the composition of the Manpower Services Commission.

  Mr. Fowler
  As I announced to the House during the debate on the Loyal Address on Tuesday 30 June 1987, at column 468, I intend to increase employer representation on the commission by creating up to six extra seats.

  Wool Textile Industry (Yorkshire)
  Mrs. Peacock
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of people employed in the Yorkshire woollen textile industry in each year from 1972 to 1979 inclusive.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information is as follows and relates to June each year from 1972 to 1978 when censuses of employment were taken. No census was taken in 1979.

  Employees in Employment in Yorkshire in the Woollen and Worsted Textile Industry

  (Minimum List Heading 414 of the 1968 Standard Industrial Classification)

  (thousands)

  Year

  Numbers

  1972

  74·0

  1973

  73·1

  1974

  69·6

  1975

  61·2

  1976

  56·3

  1977

  56·3

  1978

  53·7

  Community Programme
  Ms. Armstrong
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the proportion, broken down by regions of Great Britain, of those members of the community programme who are successful in obtaining employment on leaving the scheme.

  Mr. Lee
  There is no up-to-date regional information, but information for Great Britain is available from the latest (4th) survey of former community programme participants undertaken from November 1986:

  —29 per cent. of respondents obtained a job immediately on leaving the programme.

  —36 per cent. of respondents were in employment at the time of the survey, an average 11 months later.

  —59 per cent. of respondents had had at least one job during the 11 month period.

  Regional information will be available in due course, and, when completed, a copy of the report of the survey will be placed in the Library.

  Ms. Armstrong
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will outline his plans for the community programme.

  Mr. Lee
  We are planning to improve the community programme in a variety of ways. We intend to make it full-time and to pay participants a premium over and above 474
  their social security entitlements. This will make the programme much more attractive to long-term unemployed people with families. We also propose to enhance significantly the training and job search content of the programme.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Terrorism
  Mr. Lawrence
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support has been received from other Commonwealth countries for the Government's proposals for combating terrorism.

  Mr. Mellor
  The discussion of terrorism has figured prominently at recent Commonwealth fora. We have actively urged all Commonwealth members to accede to and ratify the various international conventions to combat terrorism. This has drawn wide support atnongst Commonwealth members, who have committed themselves to increased co-operation in this field.

  Colonies and Dependent Territories
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the remaining British colonies and dependent territories indicating in each case his latest estimate of the annual cost to the Exchequer of administering them.

  Mr. Eggar
  I shall write to the hon. Member and place copies of my letter in the Library of the House.

  International Organisations
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those international organisations, including the European Economic Community of which Britain is a member indicating in each case the latest figure for the annual cost of membership.

  Mr. Eggar
  A list of international organisations for which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible and the estimated costs of membership for 1987–88 were published in class II, vote 2, sections A and B, and vote 5, section C, of the Supply Estimates. The estimated cost of membership of the European Communities is to be found in the public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 56.II) in part 3.2. The costs of membership of other international organisations for 1987–88 will be found in the appropriate Supply Estimates. Copies of all these documents are available in the Library of the House.

  Nizametdin Akhmetov
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made about the fate of Nizametdin Akhmetov, imprisoned since 1966 in Soviet labour camps, and now incarcerated in a psychiatric prison in Kazakhstan.

  Mr. Mellor
  Nizametdin Akhmetov was released from Chelyabinsk special psychiatric hospital in June of this year.
  475
  We had previously raised his case with the Soviet authorities and we welcome his release. We shall continue our efforts on behalf of others unjustly detained in Soviet psychiatric institutions.

  Middle East
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to whether, following the meeting of the Palestine National Council in Algeria, there has been any movement by the Palestine Liberation Organisation to meet Her Majesty's Government's publicly stated conditions regarding the unambiguous recognition of Israel and the ending or armed violence prior to any meeting being possible at Cabinet Minister level with representatives of that organisation.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have regular contacts with the PLO, but a meeting at Cabinet Minister level remains difficult while the PLO's policies remain ambiguous on Israel's right to exist within secure and recognised boundaries and on the use of violence.

  We have no information of a recent change in PLO policy on these issues.

  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the response by the Palestine Liberation Organisation to the public statement of support given by Her Majesty's Government to the proposal for an international conference on the middle east, following the recent meeting between the Prime Minister and Mr. Shimon Peres.

  Mr. Eggar
  We regret that the PLO should have misinterpreted the statement issued on 23 June as hostile to the Palestinian people. We remain committed to the search for a peaceful settlement of the Arab/Israel dispute, to ensure justice and security for all the peoples of the area.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Beith
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the achievement of independence for the Western Sahara.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Fraser) on 3 July, at column 190.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Jury Panel Lists
  Mr. Evennett
  asked the Attorney-General to whom jury panel lists are currently made available; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Under section 5(2) of the Juries Act 1974, any party to proceedings involving trial by jury, or his representative, is entitled to reasonable facilities for inspecting the jury panel.

  Under section 5(4) of the Act the court may, if it thinks fit, grant facilities for inspecting the panel to any other person at any time. This is intended to provide for the legitimate needs of persons such as research students.

  Juries (Interference)
  Mr. Evennett
  asked the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor intends to conduct any inquiries regarding interference with juries.

  The Attorney-General
  Interference with juries is a criminal matter of great gravity, and its investigation must be a matter for the police. But there is no evidence to suggest that it is widespread.

  Land Registry (Nottingham)
  Mr. Alexander
  asked the Attorney-General what delays are being experienced by applicants at HM land registry, Nottingham district, for first registration of their property titles; what is the reason for these delays; what arrangements he is making to overcome these delays; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The average completion time at Nottingham district land registry for applications for first registration, where they are correctly lodged and no requisitions arise, is 170 working days. The delays are due to the exceptional increase over the last 12 months in the number of applications received. Measures being taken to reduce delays include the working of overtime, the recruitment of new staff, the opening of new offices and improvements in practice and procedures.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Attorney-General what are the instructions given by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Crown Prosecution Service in Leicestershire regarding bringing young persons under the age of 18 years before the courts who are alleged to have been involved in theft or malicious damage; and whether local prosecutors retain the discretion to insist upon a prosecution.

  The Attorney-General
  Paragraphs 15 to 18 of the "Code for Crown Prosecutors", a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library, set out the guidelines for dealing with juvenile offenders. No specific guidelines have been issued in respect of juveniles accused of offences of theft or malicious damage. Local Crown prosecutors have a discretion in all cases, including cases involving juveniles, either to discontinue or continue prosecutions which have been initiated by the police, or to institute proceedings where the papers have been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police for advice.

  This policy is followed by all chief Crown prosecutors in England and Wales, including the chief Crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service area of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

  Mr. Latham
  asked the Attorney-General in what proportion of cases coming before magistrates' courts in Leicestershire the case for the Crown is put by a full-time employee of the Crown Prosecution Service; and what is the approximate equivalent proportion for the use of a solicitor in private practice retained by the service for that case.

  The Attorney-General
  Since 1 June 1987 full-time Crown Prosecution Service lawyers have appeared to prosecute in 11 per cent. of the courts in the Leicestershire
  477
  area. The remaining 89 per cent. of courts have been covered by solicitors in private practice employed as agents. The relative proportion of cases within these figures cannot be ascertained incurring disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Latham
  asked the Attorney-General what is the total number of persons employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in Leicestershire; how many of them are qualified solicitors; and what is the estimated cost to public funds of the service in Leicestershire during the current financial year.

  The Attorney-General
  Seventy three persons are employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire area. Of these, 42 are employed in Leicestershire. The number of qualified solicitors for the whole area is 18 and for Leicestershire is eight. The budget for the current financial year for the whole area is £2,571,321. Of this £1,240,604 represents salaries, of which approximately 60 per cent. is paid to staff working in Leicestershire.

PRIME MINISTER

  Middle East
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Prime Minister whether in her recent meeting with Mr. Shimon Peres, she raised with him the consequences for the middle east peace process of the continuing level of armed violence initiated by members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

  The Prime Minister
  No. My talks with Mr. Peres were concerned with how to keep up the momentum towards peace. The Government have repeatedly called on all concerned to refrain from acts of violence which can only obstruct progress towards a peaceful settlement.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the

  Sum recommended by TSRB

  Sum recommended by TSRB in June 1987 prices1

  Current Salary

  Shortfall between current and recommended salary

  Shortfall between current and recommended salary

  £

  £

  £

  £

  per cent.

  October 19642

  3,250

  23,205

  18,500

  4,705

  20

  January 1972

  4,500

  21,209

  18,500

  2,709

  13

  June 1975

  8,000

  23,456

  18,500

  4,956

  21

  June 1979

  12,000

  21,972

  18,500

  3,472

  16

  June 1983

  19,000

  22,819

  18,500

  4,319

  19

  1 Using the retail prices index.

  2 Lawrence report.

WALES

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Livsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to how many communities in Wales
  478
  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.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department has a relatively small purchasing budget and the scope for helping small businesses is limited. In 1986–87 we purchased from small firms goods to a total of £955,000, mainly in the information technology field. Information is not available for earlier years. The Department will continue to use small firms when it is appropriate to do so. The introduction of performance indicators is under consideration.

  Staffordshire (Reorganisation)
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has yet received a reply from the chief education officer of the Staffordshire county council to his Department's letter regarding the Staffordshire local education authority's proposals to reorganise educational provision in the Stafford area generally, and at Broadacres school at Hixon in the Mid-Staffordshire parliamentary constituency particularly.

  Mr. Dunn
  A reply has been received and is at present under consideration.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members' Salaries
  Sir Barney Hayhoe
  asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will set out in tabular form the sum recommended by the relevant review body for the salary of a Member of Parliament in October 1964, January 1972, June 1975, June 1979 and June 1983, respectively, together with (a) the amount and (b) the percentage by which the value of the salary currently payable falls short in real terms of each of those previously recommended sums.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested is as follows:

  are supplied by private water undertakings, as to what size of communities these supply and as to how many of these undertakings are registered as charities.

  Mr. Grist
  Two statutory water companies in Wales, the Wrexham and East Denbighshire water company and the Chester water company supply water to 148,000 and 112,500 persons in their areas respectively. Information in
  479
  respect of the number of other communities in Wales supplied by a private water undertaking or the size of those communities is not held centrally but is available from individal local authorities in Wales, who have a duty under section 11(2) of the Water Act 1973 to ascertain the sufficiency and wholesomeness of water supplies within their area. The question of the number of such undertakings registered as charities should be addressed to the Charity Commission.

  Mr. Livsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance Her Majesty's Government give to water authorities regarding the criteria to be used in determining the eligibility of rural communities in Wales (a) to receive water supplies and (b) to obtain an expansion in their supply; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The Welsh water authority has a general duty under the Water Act 1973 to supply water within its area. Grants are available to the authority under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts 1944 to 1971 for the provision of services to rural localities not previously served, or for the strengthening of services for the benefit of existing commitments, or for the improvement of a source which has an unacceptable quality or unreliable yield.

  Mr. Livsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide assistance to the Cwmdu water undertaking, Powys, in its current programme of essential renewal works to meet EEC requirements on drinking water supply; and what is his policy towards assisting for the purpose other similar water undertakings which charitable status.

  Mr. Grist
  There are no funds available from my Department to assist the owner of any private water undertaking requiring remedial works to meet the standards of the EC drinking water directive. It is, of course, open to any owner of property served by a private water supply to apply to the relevant water authority for

  2.10 Analysis offish kill incidents: Welsh Water Authority area1

  Number of incidents

  Cause

  1977–78

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Discharge of crude sewage from WWA works

  2

  4

  4

  5

  28

  2

  —

  5

  3

  Discharge from storm sewage overflows

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8

  8

  9

  Discharge of sewage effluent from WWA works

  1

  2

  1

  2

  —

  3

  1

  Discharge from WWA water treatment works

  2

  1

  1

  3

  1

  2

  3

  —

  Farming

  9

  4

  2

  18

  18

  23

  43

  25

  15

  Industry or trade waste

  9

  6

  4

  8

  8

  10

  6

  9

  4

  Low oxygen

  4

  4

  1

  2

  —

  4

  15

  10

  6

  Suspected poaching

  8

  13

  7

  5

  7

  4

  11

  8

  —

  Other

  4

  1

  38

  5

  9

  8

  12

  4

  —

  Unknown

  3

  6

  11

  15

  17

  29

  33

  14

  —

  Total

  42

  41

  39

  63

  67

  89

  131

  88

  78

  1 Fish kill is an incident when more than 100 fish are killed.

  2 Includes incidents resulting from discharge from sewage overflows and WWA works.

  3 Includes four incidents due to construction or demolition near a river.

  Source: Welsh Water Authority: Water Quality Committee Annual Reports.
  480
  a mains water supply. A mains supply to a number of properties in rural area might qualify for grant and under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts 1944 to 1971.

  Caridgan Bypass
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest developments regarding the construction of the Cardigan bypass; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  A public local inquiry into objections to draft line, side roads, and compulsory purchase orders was held on 7 and 8 July 1987. The inspector's report is now awaited. Subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and engineering design and to the availability of resources the scheme is expected to start in the period January 1988 to December 1990.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the number of incidents of water pollution recorded in Wales for each of the past five years in which there was loss of fish life; in how many of these cases there was a successful prosecution; and on how many an unsuccessful prosecution; what was the average level of the penalties imposed; what were the maximum penalties imposed; in how many cases compensation was awarded for the specific purpose of replacing fish stocks; and what were the average and the maximum of the amounts so awarded.

  Mr. Grist
  Information on fish kill incidents in the area covered by the Welsh water authority is contained in the "Environmental Digest for Wales", published by the Government Statistical Service, a copy of the table from the latest edition (No. 2 1985) is reproduced in the following table. Information on prosecutions is not held by this Department but I have asked the chairman of Welsh water to write and let the hon. Gentleman have such information that is available.

ENERGY

  Electricity Supply Industry
  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a further statement on his plans to introduce legislation to privatise the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Parkinson
  A provision designed to pave the way for privatisation of the electricity supply industry is being included in a public utilities Bill. This provision will clarify the powers of the industry to ensure that it has adequate statutory backing to prepare for privatisation. Our main legislation on electricity privatisation will follow later.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Net Book Agreement
  Mr. Butler
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Director General of Fair Trading last reviewed the question of the net book agreement; and what plans he has to do so again.

  Trade with Saudi Arabia in fertiliser products1

  United Kingdom

  European Community2

  Exports

  Imports

  Balance

  Exports

  Imports

  Balance

  Tonnes (000's)

  1986

  4·4

  —

  +4·4

  144·2

  110·5

  +33·7

  1987 Q1

  1·1

  —

  +1·1

  4·7

  —

  +4·7

  Value (000's ECU's)

  1986

  1,738

  —

  +1,738

  28,509

  12,828

  +15,681

  1987 Q1

  795

  —

  +795

  2,118

  —

  +2,118

  1 Taken as Nimexe Chapter 31 (fertilisers)

  2 Figures for 1987 Ql exclude Greece

  Note: 1 ECU = approximately £0·67

  Source: Eurostat

  Urea
  Mr. Salmond
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been Her Majesty's Government's involvement in the policy decision of the European Community to impose additional import duties on urea products from Saudi Arabia; and what are the reasons for this policy.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Provisional anti-dumping duties were imposed on imports of urea from a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia, after a preliminary investigation by the European Commission indicated that dumping of urea was causing injury to the Community fertiliser industry. All EC members were consulted before the provisional duty was imposed and Her Majesty's Government were satisfied on the evidence available that the measures were necessary.

  Mr. Salmond
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate the total quantity of urea used in Britain's fertiliser production; and what percentage of this comes from the United Kingdom, other European Economic Community countries, and Saudi Arabian sources.

  Mr. Atkins
  I regret that I am not able to do so. Some of the information requested cannot be given without
  482
  Mr. Maude
  The Restrictive Practices Court considered the net book agreement in 1962 and found that it was not contrary to the public interest. Under the legislation, the Director General of Fair Trading may obtain leave to apply to the court to review its judgment only if there is prima facie evidence of a material change in the relevant circumstances. He must therefore consider in particular whether there has been sufficient change in respect of those matters on which the court relied in reaching its judgment. The Director General keeps such matters under regular review but considers that at present there are insufficient grounds for an application to the court to review its judgment.

  Fertiliser Products
  Mr. Salmond
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate the balance of trade figures in volume and value terms in fertiliser products between the United Kingdom, the European Economic Community as a whole and Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is in the following table:

  prejudicing company confidentiality. Furthermore, whilst the majority of urea is sold as straight nitrogen fertilizer, my Department has no information on the quantity used in the production of compound fertilizer. Nor is data available segregating urea for fertilizer use from urea used for industrial purposes. Recent total imports into the United Kingdom from other member states of the EEC and from Saudi Arabia are:

  Tonnes

  January-December 1986

  January-April 1986

  January-April 1987

  From EEC

  240,739

  126,206

  96,803

  From Saudi Arabia

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Inventor Protection
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made as to the adequacy of investor protection for the purchasers of financial services in the period prior to the introduction of the compensation fund.
  483
  Mr. Maude
  The Financial Services Act was introduced and passed because the previous arrangements did not offer an adequate level of protection to investors. It is not therefore possible to be satisfied with the protection afforded to investors until the whole of the regulatory structure established by the Act, including the proposed compensation arrangements, has been brought into operation.

  Intermediaries (Professional Indemnity)
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will have further discussions with the Securities and Investments Board regarding the desirability of all intermediaries authorised under the Financial Services Act 1986 holding professional indemnity cover; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The regulation of persons authorised under the Financial Services Act is a matter for the board. The board's draft rules, which were before the House when it approved the delegation order transferring the relevant powers to the board, made clear the board's preference for a widely drawn compensation scheme rather than a requirement to hold professional indemnity. However, I know that the Board shares my view that there will continue to be substantial advantages to firms in taking out professional indemnity cover.

  EC (Scientific Collaboration)
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why Her Majesty's Government have refused to approve the budget allocation for the framework programme for scientific collaboration in Europe; what research into AIDS has been delayed because of this refusal; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  We have always made clear our commitment to the concept of a framework programme for European Community research and indeed have been willing to see increases in funding in those areas aimed at improving Europe's industrial competitiveness. However, we have been concerned by the scale and scope of the proposals and have worked throughout the negotiations to secure a more effectively targeted and high quality programme. In her statement to the House on 1 July reporting on the European Council on 29 and 30 June my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear our agreement to the content of the framework programme and to spending continuing at present levels. We hope therefore that work can proceed quickly on this basis.

  A programme of AIDS research, a significant part of which comprises the co-ordination of national research activity in member states, forms part of the medical and health programme within the framework. Work to prepare this AIDS programme is at an advanced stage and we have indicated our willingness to agree to the commencement of the AIDS programme as soon as the way is clear. The Government's commitment to a programme of AIDS research in this country has been clearly demonstrated and will continue alongside the support we are giving to the EC programme.

  "Spycatcher" (Import Licence)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Government intend to
  484
  issue an amendment to the general import licence so as to render the importation of the book "Spycatcher" by Peter Wright subject to licensing.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Import of Goods (Control) Order 1954 provides powers to require goods to be subject to import licensing. I have no plans to amend the licensing requirements to cover this book.

  Post Office (New Services)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, pursuant to his answer of 8 July, Official Report, column 337, he will outline the proposed new services to be carried out by the Post Office.

  Mr. Butcher
  We are still considering with the Post Office the range of services that counters might undertake with wider powers and I am not yet able to announce our conclusions.

  Textile Quota (Taiwan)
  Mr. Curry
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the adoption of a European Community regulation on the textile quota regime for Taiwan.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Council of Ministers adopted on 21 May a regulation amending textile import quotas for Taiwan. Quota levels for Taiwan had previously been reduced by 20 per cent. pending proof that Taiwan was not discriminating against the Community in its treatment of certain imports. Taiwan subsequently provided satisfactory evidence in this respect and the regulation reinstated the quota levels to 100 per cent. Withholding the United Kingdom's formal agreement would have given rise to uncertainty for the United Kingdom industry. I therefore judged that it was in the United Kingdom's interest not to delay adoption of the regulation until the House had completed its consideration of the Commission's proposal. I regret that the normal procedures were not followed on this occasion, but I hope the House will understand the special reasons why the Government agreed to the adoption of the regulation in these circumstances.

  Yarns
  Mr. Curry
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the adoption of a European Community Directive setting a mandatory range of sizes for knitting and rug yarns.

  Mr. Maude
  The Council of Ministers adopted on 25 June a directive setting a mandatory range of sizes for knitting and rug yarns. This is a harmonisation measure which sets a simple range of sizes in which such yarns must be packed throughout the Community. The sizes which have been agreed are those which were suggested by the relevant EC trade association. They have the full support of United Kingdom manufactureres who have been pressing for the measure to be adopted at the earliest opportunity. It will also benefit consumers by allowing them to make easier value-for-money comparisons between sizes. The outcome of negotiations might have been called into question had the United Kingdom delayed adoption beyond 1 July, the date on which the Single European Act came into force. In these circumstances and given the wish of all other member states to see the
  485
  measure adopted as soon as possible, I judged that it was not in the United Kingdom's interest to continue to withhold agreement until the House had completed its consideration of the Commission's proposal. Although I regret that normal procedures were not completed on this occasion, I hope the House will understand the reasons why the Government agreed to the adoption of the directive.

  Credit and Suretyship Insurance
  Mr. Curry
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the adoption of European Community directives on credit and suretyship insurance. and on legal expenses insurance.

  Mr. Maude
  The Council of Ministers adopted on 22 June two directives on credit and suretyship insurance, and legal expenses insurance. These directives bring to an end a temporary dispensation which had enabled Germany to require that credit, suretyship and legal expenses insurance may be performed only by undertakings specialising in the relevant class of insurance. They also provide for further harmonisation of the conduct of credit insurance and legal expenses insurance. In both cases the United Kingdom had obtained significant improvements during negotiations to meet our own concerns. Among these improvements were the exclusion of state export credit insurers from the scope of the directive on credit insurance and in the directive on legal expenses insurance we secured provision enabling the motoring associations to be exempted from certain of the directive's requirements. These and other improvements might have been called into question had the United Kingdom delayed adoption beyond 1 July, the date on which the Single European Act came into force. I therefore judged that it was in the United Kingdom's interest not to delay adoption of the two measures until the House had completed its consideration of the Commission's proposals. I regret that the normal procedures were not followed on this occasion, but I hope the House will understand the special reasons why the Government agreed to the adoption of the two directives in these circumstances.

  Assembled Products
  Mr. Curry
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the adoption of a European Community Regulation. on the dumping of assembled products.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Foreign Affairs Council adopted on 22 June a regulation designed to prevent the circumvention of anti-dumping duties by assembly operations within the Community with little or no added value. It would do so by extending these duties to a product assembled in the Community where assembly or production has been started or substantially increased after the opening of the anti-dumping investigation; where assembly or production is carried out by a company which is related to a manufacturer whose exports of the like product are subject to anti-dumping duty; and where the value of the parts used in the assembly operation and originating in the country of exportation exceeds the value of all other parts by at least 50 per cent. (that is, by a ratio of 40:60). The United Kingdom welcomed the Commission's original proposal and had pressed for a Community decision as soon as possible in order to close 486
  a loophole in the Community's existing controls and prevent continuing uncertainty which would have been unfair on genuine overseas investors. It would therefore have been undesirable to delay its adoption. I regret that the normal procedures were not followed on this occasion, but I hope the House will understand the special reasons why the Government agreed to the adoption of the regulation in these circumstances.

  Consumer Products (Imitations)
  Mr. Curry
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the adoption of a European Community Directive on dangerous imitations of consumer products.

  Mr. Maude
  The Council of Ministers adopted on 25 June a directive prohibiting the sale of products which are made or packaged to resemble other products and may as a result mislead and injure consumers, especially children. Examples are scented lamp oil and scented erasers. The United Kingdom had obtained substantial improvements during negotiations to meet our own concerns; we limited the scope of the directive to products resembling food or drink where there was a risk, and we blocked a proposal to give the Commission greater powers to require member states to ban particular products. These improvements might have been called into question had the United Kingdom delayed adoption beyond 1 July, the date on which the Single European Act came into force. I therefore judged that it was in the United Kingdom's interest not to delay adoption of the measure until the House had completed its consideration of the Commission's proposal. I regret that the normal procedures were not followed on this occasion, but I hope the House will understand the special reasons why the Government agreed to the adoption of the directive in these circumstances.

  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 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
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1987]: The Director General of Fair Trading has responsibility for the day-to-day activities of his office. I have therefore asked him to write to the hon. Member directly.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Batiste
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants are employed in his Department; and what is its budgeted expenditure for the current year.

  Mr. Stanley
  On 1 April 1987 there were 26,489 civil servants employed in the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments. This figure includes those in administrative grades, and also scientific officers and professional and technical officers. It excludes prisons
  487
  service grades, civilian search unit staff and a small number of casual staff. Total planned public expenditure for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments for the current year is £4,877 million (the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1987–88 to 1989–90", Vol. II, table 3.18 p.291).

  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons under 21 years of age were unemployed in Northern Ireland at the latest date; and how this compares with 1967, 1977 and 1982.

  Mr. Viggers
  At 14 May 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, there were a total of 22,106 unemployed claimants under 21 years of age in Northern Ireland. Figures on the number of unemployed claimants in this age group are not available for earlier years.

  Fishing Fleets
  Mr. McGrady
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what amounts of grants have been made to fishing fleets in the South Down ports of Ardglass and Kilkeel in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Viggers
  Fishermen can obtain assistance to construct and modernise fishing vessels from both United Kingdom and EC funds. Information on United Kingdom grant-aid in respect of individual ports could only be obtained at disproportionate cost but the figures for Northern Ireland as a whole are as follows:

  Northern Ireland

  Year ending

  Number of projects

  Total grant paid

  (£)

  31 March 1985

  82

  157,000

  31 March 1986

  148

  559,000

  31 March 1987

  118

  604,000

  Grant-aid from the European Community has been:

  Kilkeel

  Ardglass

  Year ending

  Number of projects

  Total grant paid

  Number of projects

  Total grant paid

  (£)

  (£)

  31 March 1985

  2

  44,456

  Nil

  31 March 1986

  4

  100,039

  3

  64,956

  31 March 1987

  9

  277,319

  1

  31,389

  Teachers
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teachers are presently unemployed; and how this compares with 1967 and 1977.

  Mr. Viggers
  At 14 May 1987 the number of unemployed claimants in Northern Ireland whose normal occupation was given as teacher was 1,495. The corresponding figure for unemployed registrants at 9 June 1977 was 451. Information for 1967 is not available.

  Action for Community Employment
  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the current sponsors of action for community employment schemes in Northern Ireland, indicating the number of action for community employment places and tasks undertaken in each case.
  488
  Mr. Viggers
  Information in the form requested could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. There are currently some 500 sponsors providing over 6,000 jobs throughout Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will indicate the amounts of money allocated to the action for community employment programme in Northern Ireland, outlining the means by which the use of such money is monitored and evaluated.

  Mr. Viggers
  £106·31 million has been made available since the scheme was introduced in 1981. All applications from potential ACE sponsors are carefully scrutinised to ensure that they satisfy the aims and objectives of the scheme and regular on site inspections of projects are carried out. Expenditure on the ACE programme is evaluated through surveys and through monitoring against annual cost per job target.

  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will detail the Government's plans for the action for community employment programme in Northern Ireland indicating the type of work, scheme or area which will have priority.

  Mr. Viggers
  The overall objective is to sustain an average of at least 6,200 jobs in the current financial year. Priority is given to projects which are likely to promote the creation or development of longer term jobs and to those which provide services for disadvantaged groups and jobs for the unskilled. Priority is also given to projects in areas where ACE provision is relatively low in relation to the local incidence of long-term unemployment.

  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement indicating what role he envisages for the action for community employment programme in relation to the care in the community policies promoted in Northern Ireland's strategic plans for health and social services.

  Mr. Viggers
  The Department of Health and Social Services "Regional Planning Guidelines 1987–1992" put forward a strategy for the development of community care which is long-standing and will proceed independently of the ACE programme. It is, however, estimated that about one third of ACE places are currently engaged in "community care" activities.

  Mr. Hume
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Department of Economic Development maintains a list or other records of current action for community employment.

  Mr. Viggers
  Yes, manual records are kept in respect of each ACE sponsor and it is hoped to computerise these in the very near future.

  Equal Opportunities
  Dr. Twinn
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he proposes to take to follow up the publication of the consultative paper, "Equality of Opportunity in Employment in Northern Ireland."

  Mr. Tom King
  There has been a general welcome and a substantial number of responses to our consultative paper. Further consultation is proceeding and we expect to receive shortly a report on the outcome of the current review of anti-discrimination legislation being undertaken
  489
  by the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights. In the light of these I wish to proceed as quickly as possible to make a number of changes.

  A major issue raised in the consultative paper was whether change should concentrate on the single dimension of religion, or also encompass sex and disability. In the light of the comments received, I have decided to concentrate legislative and other action on the vital religious issue. The promotion of equality of opportunity in relation to sex and disability will continue to be addressed in the same way as in the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Work has now started on the preparation of new measures. It will proceed in parallel with further consultations, and considerations of the Standing Advisory Commission's report. Detailed proposals will be brought forward as soon as possible.

  Pending new legislation, action is now being taken, in respect of the religious dimension, to strengthen the promotion of equality of opportunity in employment. A new guide to effective practice will be published in September. It will make clear our commitment to ensuring that recruitment, selection and promotion take place solely on the basis of merit; and to the active promotion of employment equality through "affirmative action" where necessary. We shall also be introducing a support scheme to assist employers to improve the practice of employment equality in the private sector. Educational initiatives, in both the public and private sectors, will be carried forward over the next few months by the Departments of Finance and Personnel, and Economic Development. In advance of the wider changes to its role which we envisage, the Fair Employment Agency will be provided with additional resources, and we shall discuss with the agency how they can best be deployed.

  The Government are totally committed to equality of employment opportunity for both communities in Northern Ireland. These actions demonstrate the further progress we will be making to fulfil that commitment.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. Lawrence
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present position on the investigations by Mr. Cohn Sampson into allegations concerning the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  Mr. Tom King
  As I have already informed the House, I wish to make a statement as soon as I can about those aspects of the investigations which fall within my area of responsibility. I regret that I am not yet able to do so. In the meantime, however, I can inform the House that in response to one particular recommendation made by Mr. Sampson it has been agreed that certain matters of organisation and procedure should be more fully examined by way of a special inspection by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary. With the agreement of the Chief Constable, Her Majesty's chief inspector is arranging for a special inspection to be undertaken by one of Her Majesty's inspectors forthwith. I shall of course, take account of its findings when I make my statement to the House.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the list of sponsors of
  490
  action for community employment Schemes which was made available to ACE sponsors in 1986 for the elections to the Northern Ireland Federation of ACE Sponsors.

  Mr. Viggers
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: The list of ACE sponsors as given to the Northern Ireland Federation of ACE Sponsors, in October 1986, was confined to those employing more than 10 ACE workers and is as follows:

  Antrim Borough ACE Scheme

  Ardoyne Industrial Development Ltd.

  Carrickfergus Youth Services Ltd.

  Coleraine & District Churches

  Divis Joint Development Committee

  Elim Churches of Northern Ireland

  Enterprise Carrickfergus Limited

  Farset Youth & Community Development Ltd.

  Glenbryn/Alliance District & Environmental Community Services

  Parish of St. Macnissis

  Rathcoole Community Group

  Shankill Road Mission

  Glenravel Community Centre

  Glora Na Ngael

  Grosvenor Environmental Society

  Joe Lindsay Memorial Recreation Centre

  Maghera & District Community Association

  Milltown Cemetery Maintenance Committee

  Mossley Community Project

  Mount St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church

  Newtownabbey Community Group Project

  North Queen Street Community Centre Management Committee

  The 174 Project

  Third World Centre

  Waveney Community Association

  Springfield Charitable Association

  Suffolk Community Service

  St. Agnes Community Services

  St. Luke's ACE Scheme

  St. Oliver Plunkett Parish Welfare Committee

  Newtownabbey Borough Council Special Parks Development

  Northern Health & Social Services Board Braid Valley Hospital

  Royal Group of Hospitals Unit of Management

  West Belfast Enterprise Group

  Physically Handicapped and Able-bodied (NI)

  Voluntary Services Belfast

  Voluntary Services Lisburn

  YMCA

  Eastern Health & Social Services Board

  Workspace (Draperstown) Ltd.

  Antrim Borough Council

  Ballymena Borough Council

  Magherafelt District Council

  Coleraine Borough Council

  Newtownabbey Borough Council

  Lower Falls Handicapped Association

  Mid-Belfast Charitable Association

  Parish of Nativity

  Rathcoole Self Help Group

  Society of St. Vincent de Paul—Belfast

  Down District Council

  Lisburn Borough Council

  North Down Borough Council

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board Belfast City Hospital

  South Eastern Education and Library Board

  East Belfast Community Council

  Belfast Simon Community

  Belfast Voluntary Welfare Society

  James Butcher Housing Association

  Chinese Welfare Association Ltd.

  Newcastle Society for the Mentally Handicapped Children

  Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

  Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association

  Church of Ireland Youth Office

  491

  Conservative Volunteers (Northern Ireland)

  Donaghadee Community Association

  Down and Connor Youth Council

  Downpatrick and Area Inter Church Caring Project

  East Belfast Mission

  Extern Organisation

  Extra Care Committee

  Fold Housing

  National Council of YMCA's

  Newcastle Community Project Committee

  Parish of Derriaghy Committee Group

  Waterside Churches Community Advice Centre

  The Ulster Society

  Archdiocese of Armagh

  Armagh Diocesan Council

  Ashgrove Community Projects

TRANSPORT

  Staveley Bypass
  Mr. Jopling
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the dates for the start and the completion of the Staveley bypass on the Kendal-Windermere road.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The A591 Staveley bypass is a local road proposal for which Cumbria county council is responsible. I understand that construction work is to start in the autumn and will take two years. The Government are supporting the scheme by transport supplementary grant.

  Commercial Vehicles (Noise)
  Mr. Waller
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information is available to him about highway authorities which have made local traffic orders requiring commercial vehicles to meet noise requirements other than those prescribed in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I know of no such local traffic orders. The London night time and weekend lorry ban mentions efforts to reduce noise emissions as one of the factors which may be taken into account in issuing exemption permits.

  Aircraft Noise
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will specify for which aircraft types 95 perceived noise decibels footprint diagrams will be included in his future consultation document on night restrictions.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This matter is still under consideration.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what change there has been in the aircraft noise contours around Gatwick airport between 1984 and 1985; and what action he intends to take as a consequence.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The area within the 35 noise and number index contour which is generally taken to indicate the onset of disturbance was 225 sq km in 1984, 299 sq km in 1985 and 288 sq km in 1986. We continue to pursue the policies in relation to aircraft noise described in the airports policy White Paper of June 1985. The ban on non noise-certificated subsonic jets will apply to foreign registered aeroplanes from 1 January 1988. We shall continue to press, in international negotiations, for the 492
  eventual phasing out of chapter 2 aircraft, such as the BAC1–11, which is one of the noisier aircraft using Gatwick.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will initiate an update of aircraft noise infringement limits.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  BAA plc is considering, together with the Civil Aviation Authority and officials of the Department, the introduction of an integrated noise and track-keeping monitoring system for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. When we know the capability of the equipment we shall consider the criteria against which it should be operated, including revised noise limits.

  Chelmsford Bypass (Noise)
  Mr. Burns
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if the testing of noise levels on and around the A12 bypass at Chelmsford has been completed; and when the results will be made public.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The noise measurements have been completed. The report is being prepared. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as I have studied it.

  Passenger Vehicles
  Mr. Madel
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to prescribe procedures for conducting appeals against refusals to remove prohibitions from larger passenger vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have today laid regulations before Parliament to prescribe procedures for these appeals, which were provided for in section 31 of the Transport Act 1985. These regulations also rationalize existing subordinate legislation on:—

  (i) appeals against refusals to remove prohibitions from goods vehicles;

  (ii) appeals against refusals to issue certificates of initial fitness and public service vehicles certificates of conformity; and

  (iii) circumstances in which vehicles may be driven in contravention of a prohibition without committing an offence.

  The new regulations prescribe time limits of 14 days for appeals against refusals to remove prohibitions, and 28 days for appeals against refusals to issue certificates of initial fitness and public service vehicle certificates of conformity. The regulations require all appeals to be lodged at the Department's Goods Vehicle Centre/Public Service Vehicle Centre, Swansea.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Government Data Network
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what stage has been reached in the consideration of responses to the issued service requirement for the proposed Government data network; and when the final decision for the award of any contract can be expected.

  Mr. Brooke
  Following the evaluation of suppliers' responses, a short list was announced on 25 March 1987. Further discussions and demonstrations are in progress. It is hoped to complete the tendering stage and award a contract by the end of 1987.
  493
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made as to how far the type of network envisaged by the Central Computer and Telecommunication Agency's Government data network service requirement could potentially be used to eliminate the duplication of data processing, either by allowing the controlled transfer of data between Departments or by facilitating shared access to suitable data; and whether the Government data network will eventually be used in such a way as to realise its potential in this respect.

  Mr. Brooke
  The proposed Government data network service is being created primarily to facilitate the transmission of data between sites within Departments. Initially, four Departments are expected to take advantage of the service. Economies of scale are expected because the Government data network will obviate duplication of communication facilities which would arise if each of the departments installed and managed separate networks.

  Where interdepartmental exchanges or access to data are planned the use of the GDN will not alter the requirement for the originating Department owning the data to authorise such a transfer.

  Development (Tax Incentives)
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will establish a system for provision of tax incentives to developers in blighted inner-city areas, combined with tax disincentives for development in designated areas of prosperity suffering from over-development.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

  Coinage
  Mr. Wheeler
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on future changes in the United Kingdom coinage.

  Mr. Lawson
  In May, at the ceremony of the Trial of the Pyx, I announced that the Royal Mint would be issuing a pamphlet describing some options for future changes in the coinage, including smaller versions of the l0p and 5p coins. The aim is to meet public dissatisfaction with the overall weight of the present coinage. The pamphlet is being published today, Wednesday 15 July.

  I hope that everyone—not just industry and commerce, but the general public and groups with a special interest such as the blind—will let us have their views.

  And I can give this assurance: we will not take any decisions about what changes should be made to the coinage—or indeed whether any changes should be made at all—until we have had the opportunity to consider thoroughly all the views and comments we receive.

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

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to my hon. Friend's reply, 13 July 1987]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Member for Westminster, North (Mr. Wheeler) earlier today.

DEFENCE

  Coach House, Giffen
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will describe the circumstances under which the Ministry of Defence raised objections to the establishment of licensed premises at the Coach house, Giffen, by Dairy; and to what purpose.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Ministry of Defence invoked its statutory right and objected to the conversion of stables into a public house at the Coach house, Giffen by Dalry. The development lay within the safeguarded zone surrounding the royal naval armament depot, Beith and my Ministry was not prepared to accept an increase in the number of persons potentially at risk, in the albeit unlikely event of an accidental explosion at the depot.

  Tornado Aircraft, Stretton
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he will outline the action which has been taken to check the detailed lists of incidents which have been supplied by two residents of Walnut close, Stretton. either directly or through the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton, showing substantial numbers of cases where Tornado aircraft fly directly over their houses rather than in accordance with the approved flight path;

  (2) whether he will make a statement on the level of complaints (a) to RAF Cottesmore and (b) to his Department, from residents of Walnut close Stretton, Leicestershire, about Tornado aircraft flying directly over the houses, contrary to the approved flight path; and what action is being taken to prevent this nuisance.

  Mr. Freeman
  Residents of Walnut close, Stretton, Leicestershire, have since August 1985 submitted 78 complaints to RAF Cottesmore and five to the Ministry of Defence.

  RAF Cottesmore has checked the lists of alleged overflying of Walnut close and while it can confirm that the figures more or less reflect the number of aircraft in the air at the time, it is not possible in retrospect to establish whether or not their flight paths took them over Walnut close.

  It remains the policy to the station to fly the circuit agreed with my hon. Friend and local residents, (as acknowledged in my letter of 23 April). However, even experienced aircrews' are unable to hold the course exactly because of the wind factor. Action taken to prevent the nuisance caused includes ending night circuit flying, modifying landing procedures to reduce reverse thrust noise, and modifying the circuit pattern for runway 23 to avoid specifically overflying Stretton.

  Morocco
  Mr. Beith
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to supply to Morocco military equipment which could be used against the population of the Western Sahara.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 14 July.

  Foreign Nationals (Military Training)
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now answer questions about the details of military training given to foreign nationals in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. Details of the military training provided for foreign nationals at Ministry of Defence establishments in the United Kingdom are confidential between Her Majesty's Government and the Government concerned.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

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

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The number of staff employed in London and the Department's five regions on 1 April 1987 was as follows:

  Number

  London and South-East Region

  4,658

  Midlands and Western Region

  1,329

  South Western Region

  1,083

  Eastern Region

  1,724

  Northern Region

  1,066

  There were also 622 staff in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and 512 temporary employees.

  On budgeted expenditure, some 60 per cent. of the Department's running costs are decentralised, partly to the regional organisation and partly to line management commands on a national or HQ basis. Details are published in the Supply Estimates 1987–88 for class IV, vote 5. A breakdown of costs as requested could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. David Martin
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the procedures and practice governing the export of live animals; and what steps are taken to ensure that these requirements are properly observed in Portsmouth.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  In Great Britain the export of live food animals is regulated by the Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981 which prohibits such exports except in accordance with a licence. The animals must be rested for 10 hours immediately before export at an approved lairage near the port of departure. At the lairage the animals must be offered food and water and be inspected for fitness to travel before their loading for international transport is officially supervised. These controls are applied stringently, at Portsmouth and elsewhere, by the state veterinary service and by local authorities.

  Morocco (Fisheries)
  Mr. Beith
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government
  496
  towards the proposal that the European Economic Community fisheries agreement with Morocco should extend only to the area of sea which is internationally recognised as Moroccan waters.

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

  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1987]: As my right hon. Friend has already reported to the House on 1 July at column 511, it was agreed as part of this year's price-fixing settlement that measures would be implemented to permit the continuation of quota leasing. Although the Council agreed in principle to this measure, the absence of the European Parliament opinion, which is required on the proposal, means that formal adoption of a regulation will be delayed until after the summer holidays. My officials are already discussing detailed arrangements with the Milk Marketing Board that can be put into operation as soon as the necessary regulation is formally adopted.

SCOTLAND

  Psychiatric Hospitals
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state capital spending plans for Scottish psychiatric hospitals for the next year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Each health board determines its capital expenditure priorities within the block capital allocation made annually by my right hon. and learned Friend. Full details are not held centrally and at this stage in the year it is not possible to say which individual project each board will decide to take forward, but the following major projects for psychiatric hospitals are currently at detailed planning stages or under construction:

  Project

  Total Cost

  Current Year Estimated Expenditure

  £ million

  £ million

  1. Royal Cornhill, Aberdeen

  8·2

  0·2

  2. Parkhead, Glasgow

  4·6

  2·3

  3. Ailsa Hospital, Ayr

  1·3

  0·8

  4. Hairmyres, East Kilbride

  3·1

  0·1

  In addition the West Lothian district general hospital, phase 11, includes provision for psychiatric patients. Other smaller projects are being undertaken by boards.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of people admitted to Scottish psychiatric hospitals for each of the years 1980 to 1986.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The total number of admissions (including re-admissions) is as follows:

  Scottish psychiatric hospitals1: Admissions

  Admissions

  1980

  27,896

  1981

  28,510

  1982

  225,571

  497

  Admissions

  1983

  28,357

  1984

  29,167

  1985

  29,947

  1 Mental illness and mental handicap.

  2 Influence of industrial action in Health Service.

  Information for 1986 is not yet available.

  The above figures reflect a reduction in lengths of stay in hospital and an increase in readmissions, both of which are matters of clinical judgment. The number of residents in psychiatric hospitals has been falling in recent years.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of Scottish hospitals which meet the suggested target of 40 trained psychiatric nurses for every 100 psychiatric patients.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The target of 40 trained psychiatric nurses for every 100 psychiatric patients is not one which has been recommended by the Scottish Home and Health Department and its source has not been verified. The number of mental illness hospitals, mental handicap hospitals and those with units for the mentally ill and handicapped which have 40 or more trainee nurses (whole-time equivalents) for every 100 weighted' patients at 31 March 1986, the latest figures available, are shown in the table.

  Trained nurses include both registered mental illness and mental handicap nurses and enrolled nurses. Information on registered nurses alone cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

  Psycho-geriatric

  Mental illness

  Mental handicap

  Mental hospitals

  Number

  19

  26

  17

  Number with 40 or more nurses per 100 weighted1 patients

  2

  3

  1

  Other hospitals with mental units

  Number

  16

  13

  4

  Number with 40 or more nurses per 100 weighted1 patients

  7

  13

  1

  Note: Hospitals with patients falling into more than one of the three categories of mental illness shown will be counted separately in each line as appropriate.

  1 Weighted to take account of in-patients, out-patients, day patients and day cases.

  Central Institutions (Staff Morale)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state his policy towards the problem of the low morale among staff in Scottish central institutions; and if he will outline his plans to increase morale.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Staff morale is a matter for the boards of governors and for the management of the institutions. We warmly welcome the positive way in which the central institutions are responding to the Government's policies of improving access to higher education and seeking better value for money.

  Occupational Therapists
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of qualified occupational therapists in Scotland specialising in long-stay or psychogeriatric care.
  498
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of qualified occupational therapists based in long-stay hospitals at 30 September 1986, the latest figure available, was 184·4 (whole-time equivalents). This figure does not include staff employed in long-stay units of general hospitals as information collected centrally does not separately identify these staff.

  Leukaemia
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies are currently in progress to investigate unexplained clusters of cases of leukaemia in the east of Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) on 13 July at col.247.

  Earnings
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of workers:in Scotland who earn less than £3 per hour and the percentage which they constitute of the total Scottish work force.

  Mr. Lang
  The table gives information about the distribution of average gross hourly earnings for some groups of workers. The figures are from the April 1916 New Earnings Survey, which is conducted by the Department of Employment and covers a 1 per cent. sample of employees who are members of PAYE schemes. The results of the April 1987 survey should be available at the end of the year.

  Adult employees in Scotland whose earnings were not affected by absence

  April 1986

  Percentage with average gross earnings less than £3·00per hour

  Full-time

  males

  18·3

  females

  46·6

  employees

  28·2

  Part-time

  males

  not available

  females

  77·3

  employees

  not available

  The figures are subject to sampling errors, and cannot be assumed to apply to the whole working population because they do not cover, for example, the self-employed, members of the armed forces, private domestic servants, those who are not on adult rates, and those who are not members of PAYE schemes.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing average weekly earnings for men and women in Scotland and in each of the Scottish regions for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  Estimates of average gross weekly earnings for Scotland as a whole, and for the larger Scottish regions, are published each year in the tables of the New Earnings Survey, part E, which are available in the Library of the House. The results of the April 1987 survey should be available at the end of the year.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total prison population in Scotland and the prison population rate per 100,000 people in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The population of the Scottish penal system on 30 June 1987 was 5,394. This is equivalent to 105·3 inmates per 100,000 of the Scottish population.

  Job Training Scheme
  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the job training scheme sponsors in Scotland; how many unemployed people are involved at the latest date; and what accounts he is taking of the views of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Trades Union Congress in reviewing the scheme.

  Mr. Lang
  The following organisations had, at 10 July 1987, signed contracts with the Manpower Services Commission to act as managing agents in Scotland for the new job training scheme:

  Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce

  A. D. M. Ltd. (Alan d'Morias)

  AMARC (TES Ltd.) (Associated Marine and Related Charities (Training and Education Services Ltd.))

  Borders Regional Council

  British Shipbuilders

  Buckhaven Parish Church

  Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council

  Dundee Skillcentre

  Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

  Grampian Regional Council

  Hotel and Catering Training Board

  Hillington Skillcentre

  J. H. P. Training Ltd.

  Lanarkshire JTS Ltd.

  Lloyds British Testing Ltd.

  Mentor

  Metcon

  The Microcomputer Training Centre

  Radix Training (Scotland) Ltd.

  Reid Consultants

  R. R. W. Associates

  Sight and Sound

  Suliven Ltd.

  Training Services (Fife) Ltd.

  Westwood Training Services Ltd.

  Whiteleys

  Work Start

  At 3 July 1987 1,391 unemployed people were participating in the new job training scheme.

  The views of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Trades Union Congress have

  Houses allocated to applicants under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977

  Houses allocated to applicants under the Act

  Number of houses

  Percentage of houses available for letting

  Authority

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Scotland

  5,146

  5,654

  6,230

  7,353

  7·15

  12·53

  12·37

  15·60

  Berwickshire

  3

  5

  8

  2

  1·80

  3·05

  3·77

  1·34

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  18

  13

  6

  9

  5·79

  3·57

  1·46

  3·01

  Roxburgh

  12

  18

  23

  17

  1·62

  2·30

  2·91

  2·51

  Tweeddale

  0

  1—

  1

  14

  0

  1—

  0·93

  15·05

  Clackmannan

  175

  137

  123

  161

  28·46

  24·55

  25·10

  29·49

  Falkirk

  59

  22

  96

  60

  4·58

  1·89

  5·94

  2·60

  Stirling

  1—

  105

  123

  115

  1—

  16·46

  28·54

  19·52

  Annandale and Eskdale

  0

  0

  17

  4

  0

  0

  4·38

  1·10

  Nithsdale

  96

  69

  81

  106

  28·49

  16·87

  24·25

  27·75

  500
  been noted: I very much regret that they are seeking to deny the unemployed the opportunity to receive training which will enhance their future employment prospects.

  School Placements
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from parents about school placements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I receive many representations from parents about school placing requests. Most are inquiries as to how to make an application or requests for advice on the appeals procedures. Since 1982, over 93,000 placing requests have been made to Scottish education authorities; almost 95 per cent. have been successful.

  Stobhill Hospital
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Greater Glasgow health board about the future of Stobhill hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None. Future developments at Stobhill hospital will depend on the outcome of the reviews of services currently being carried out by the Greater Glasgow health board for the whole of its area.

  Accident and Emergency Departments (Glasgow)
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Greater Glasgow health board about the future of the accident and emergency departments in Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None. The board will be reviewing its accident and emergency services as part of its review of acute services generally.

  Homeless Persons
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each local authority area in Scotland the number of houses made available to people under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act for each of the last five years; and what percentage this represented of the total number of houses available for new tenants for each year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is shown in the table attached for each of last four financial years. Corresponding information for 1982–83 is not available.
  501

  Houses allocated to applicants under the Act

  Number of houses

  Percentage of houses available for letting

  Authority

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Stewartry

  19

  33

  42

  53

  14·07

  26·61

  33·07

  46·90

  Wigtown

  22

  25

  25

  35

  11·11

  9·51

  12·38

  17·41

  Dunfermline

  181

  181

  170

  269

  18·58

  20·54

  20·53

  32·73

  Kirkcaldy

  70

  68

  25

  68

  5·43

  5·50

  2·13

  7·53

  North East Fife

  16

  29

  53

  74

  4·38

  6·62

  13·38

  20·96

  Aberdeen

  48

  79

  150

  261

  2·17

  3·29

  6·33

  10·38

  Banff and Buchan

  2

  9

  16

  67

  0·25

  1·15

  2·05

  7·02

  Gordon

  17

  26

  27

  41

  3·84

  6·44

  5·53

  10·88

  Kincardine and Deeside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Moray

  76

  65

  88

  82

  11·53

  9·63

  13·99

  14·70

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6·12

  5·71

  8·11

  7·14

  Caithness

  6

  2

  3

  4

  1·57

  0·76

  1·11

  1·61

  Inverness

  28

  1—

  48

  45

  4·49

  1—

  7·41

  9·13

  Lochaber

  21

  11

  12

  10

  8·02

  4·25

  7·64

  9·90

  Nairn

  15

  18

  7

  18

  38·46

  45·00

  25·00

  20·22

  Ross and Cromarty

  36

  27

  15

  8

  6·98

  5·34

  2·47

  1·76

  Skye and Lochalsh

  9

  20

  12

  11

  17·31

  24·39

  17·65

  17·46

  Sutherland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Lothian

  123

  99

  126

  152

  14·87

  11·62

  17·40

  22·93

  Edinburgh

  128

  99

  115

  140

  4·51

  2·82

  3·45

  5·33

  Midlothian

  15

  27

  14

  6

  2·05

  4·31

  2·66

  1·18

  West Lothian

  22

  28

  26

  24

  1·49

  1·73

  1·81

  2·01

  Argyl and Bute

  54

  37

  21

  31

  10·78

  8·92

  3·58

  6·15

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  1—

  23

  25

  27

  1—

  30·26

  50·00

  40·91

  Clydebank

  83

  85

  88

  132

  19·26

  19·54

  16·12

  21·15

  Clydesdale

  17

  12

  18

  31

  5·01

  2·42

  4·47

  7·81

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  27

  49

  46

  77

  19·29

  37·98

  26·14

  46·39

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  8

  13

  21

  15

  1·98

  2·81

  5·10

  3·68

  Cunninghame

  27

  155

  161

  167

  2·06

  12·93

  10·11

  13·25

  Dumbarton

  42

  38

  58

  133

  6·65

  5·84

  9·78

  26·60

  East Kilbride

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1—

  Eastwood

  15

  8

  II

  9

  10·71

  6·67

  8·53

  5·42

  Glasgow

  2,295

  2,712

  2,644

  2,709

  26·75

  24·93

  24·28

  23·98

  Hamilton

  104

  119

  103

  76

  8·37

  14·49

  7·95

  9·86

  Inverclyde

  79

  69

  96

  108

  8·22

  8·78

  11·79

  12·98

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  52

  94

  86

  84

  10·79

  13·78

  12·18

  17·21

  Kyle and Carrick

  152

  122

  82

  98

  20·32

  15·56

  11·82

  13·08

  Monklands

  21

  20

  25

  186

  2·03

  2·09

  2·49

  19·68

  Motherwell

  164

  1—

  121

  141

  5·59

  1—

  9·44

  11·98

  Renfrew

  477

  322

  404

  612

  13·25

  17·29

  31·22

  31·16

  Strathkelvin

  95

  111

  93

  98

  18·23

  35·92

  24·80

  25·26

  Angus

  16

  8

  12

  21

  2·28

  1·10

  1·41

  2·48

  Dundee

  1—

  192

  407

  500

  1—

  9·14

  7·55

  16·18

  Perth and Kinross

  146

  208

  204

  205

  18·39

  27·44

  28·06

  25·63

  Orkney Islands

  1—

  1

  0

  5

  1—

  1·32

  0

  4·90

  Shetland Islands

  26

  24

  39

  24

  13·98

  9·92

  17·73

  9·92

  Western Isles

  23

  11

  7

  2

  9·66

  5·29

  4·79

  0·81

  1 Information not recieved from the authority.

  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to those areas from which people applying for housing under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act have emanated.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Although information is available centrally on the numbers of homeless applications to individual local authorities, this information is not held on a basis which would identify the areas from which applicants have emanated.

  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those local authorities in Scotland which have been required to provide homes for people who have declared themselves homeless under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  All districts and islands authorities in Scotland have provided housing under the Act.

  Housing Waiting List
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each local authority in Scotland the number of people on council housing waiting lists; and if he has any information to indicate how many of these people are on the waiting lists of other local authorities.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Consistent reliable information on numbers of people on local authority housing waiting lists is not held centrally, nor is information on numbers applying to more than one authority.

  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the number of applicants on local authority housing waiting lists who have made multiple applications in different local authority areas.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not available centrally.

  Housing Costs
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state (a) in general terms and (b) by individual local authority the percentage of the cost of construction of new local authority housing borne (i) by the ratepayer and (ii) by the taxpayer in Scotland for each of the last 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not available.

  Housing Investment
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial inducements are available to private sector developers to generate housing investment in areas designated by his Department as stress areas or deprived inner-city areas.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Private sector developers can apply to local authorities for improvement and repairs grants for the repair and improvement of property for subsequent sale and rent. In addition, the local enterprise grants for urban projects scheme (LEG-UP) is available to help attract private sector development, including housing, to urban areas which might not otherwise be considered for investment.

  Housing Statistics
  Mr. Adely
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, for each of the last 10 years in Scotland, what percentage of (a) newly constructed houses and (b) renovation of older houses has been undertaken by local authorities and what percentage by private developers.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The table shows the percentage of new dwellings completed in each of the last 10 years by local authorities and by the private sector.

  New dwellings completed in Scotland, per cent, of total dwellings completed in year.

  Year

  Local Authority

  Private Sector

  1977

  33·4

  44·4

  1978

  26·0

  56·1

  1979

  20·0

  63·8

  1980

  24·5

  59·4

  1981

  18·8

  55·1

  1982

  14·3

  70·2

  1983

  12·9

  73·5

  1984

  11·3

  74·9

  1985

  10·8

  78·6

  1986

  9·4

  80·0

  No information is available about the extent of renovation undertaken by private developers or individuals without the aid of a grant. The information available centrally about grants paid to private owners does not distinguish between owner occupiers and private developers for every year in the series.

  Empty Housing
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of local authority houses in each individual local authority area in Scotland making up the total number of currently empty local authority houses.
  504
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is listed, showing the position at 31 March 1986.

  Local authority vacant stock as at 31 March 1986

  Districts

  Total vacant stock

  SCOTLAND

  20,584

  Borders

  304

  Berwickshire

  0

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  71

  Roxburgh

  225

  Tweeddale

  8

  Central

  1,103

  Clackmannan

  165

  Falkirk

  642

  Stirling

  296

  Dumfries and Galloway

  239

  Annandale and Eskdale

  57

  Nithsdale

  168

  Stewartry

  14

  Wigtown

  0

  Fife

  798

  Dunfermline

  294

  Kirkcaldy

  365

  North East Fife

  139

  Grampian

  1,549

  Aberdeen

  1,047

  Banff and Buchan

  187

  Gordon

  203

  Kincardine and Deeside

  3

  Moray

  109

  Highland

  383

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  2

  Caithness

  97

  Inverness

  91

  Lochaber

  149

  Nairn

  2

  Ross and Cromarty

  38

  Skye and Lochalsh

  2

  Sutherland

  2

  Lothian

  4,477

  East Lothian

  130

  Edinburgh

  4,121

  Midlothian

  83

  West Lothian

  143

  Strathclyde

  10,312

  Argyll and Bute

  63

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  28

  Clydebank

  219

  Clydesdale

  13

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  51

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  135

  Cunninghame

  381

  Dumbarton

  226

  East Kilbride

  6

  Eastwood

  127

  Glasgow

  5,612

  Hamilton

  333

  Inverclyde

  344

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  481

  Kyle and Carrick

  192

  Monklands

  194

  Motherwell

  761

  Renfrew

  966

  Strathkelvin

  180

  Tayside

  1,270

  Angus

  45

  505

  Districts

  Total vacant stock

  Dundee

  1,057

  Perth and Kinross

  168

  Orkney Islands

  22

  Shetland Islands

  72

  Western Isles

  55

  SDA (Grant Aid)
  Mr. Dewar
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the total value of grants made by the Scottish Development Agency to companies or projects in Scotland in each year since 1979 in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms on 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1987, c. 33]: The information is as follows:

  Year

  £ million value in cash terms

  £ million value in real terms on 1987–88 prices

  1979–80

  0·1

  0·17

  1980–81

  0·1

  0·14

  1981–82

  0·6

  0·80

  1982–83

  0·7

  0·87

  1983–84

  5·5

  6·50

  1984–85

  10·6

  12·10

  1985–86

  10·7

  11·51

  1986–87

  19·9

  20·79

  The figures contain expenditure under the agency's recognised grant schemes such as the development of rural area workshops. programme for rural initiatives and developments and the local enterprise grants for urban projects and also include development grants to, for example enterprise trusts, the training and employment grant scheme and better business services scheme.

  Closures
  Mr. Graham
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many closures have been reported in Renfrew, West and Inverclyde constituency in each year since 1979; and how many jobs have been involved.

  Mr. Lang
  [pursuant to his reply, 10 July 1987]: Information given to the department of Employment under the redundancy handling provisions of the Employment Protection Act are given in confidence and because of this a detailed breakdown cannot be given for the years 1979 to 1981. The details are not in precisely the form requested, but relate to the number of closures involving 10 or more workers confirmed to jobcentres covering areas wholly or partly within the constituency.

  Number of closures

  Number of redundancies

  1979

  1

  1

  1980

  22

  843

  1981

  13

  1

  1982

  16

  873

  1983

  12

  786

  1984

  9

  314

  1985

  15

  860

  1986

  14

  804

  1 Figures not disclosed because of confidentiality.

  Scottish Development Agency (Expenditure)
  Mr. Graham
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent by the Scottish development Agency in each year since 1979 in Renfrew, West and Inverclyde constituency; and what proportion of all spending by the agency this figure represents.

  Mr. Lang
  [pursuant to his reply, 10 July 1987]: As a result of changes in constituency boundaries information is only available from 1983–84. It is as follows.

  £

  Per cent.

  1983–84

  1,686,000

  1·70

  1984–85

  2,182,000

  2·23

  1985–86

  2,434,000

  2·22

  1986–87

  1,344,000

  1·21

  These figures represent annual expenditure on investments, land and buildings, environmental development grants and development planning and projects. Agency expenditure under the following categories is not allocated on a constituency basis:
  Maintenance, dilapidations, estate land maintenance, security, land marketing signs, fire and engineering insurances.
  Land and building, plant and equipment, notice boards, owner controlled insurance, gas, water and electricity supplies, feasibility studies and surveys.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Midwives
  Mr. Soames
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received about the number of midwives presently serving in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what steps he is taking to recruit more midwives.

  Mr. Newton
  While we are aware of the evidence presented by the Royal College of Midwives to the pay review body, we have not received any formal representations about the number of midwives presently serving in the National Health Service. We have however received a number of letters referring to midwife recruitment difficulties in particular localities. Nationally the total number of qualified midwives employed in the NHS in England continues to increase and at September 1985 there were 18,260 whole-time equivalents, which is an increase of 14 per cent. since 1981. Although the number entering training in the year ended 31 March 1987 decreased by 6·8 per cent. to 2,759 over the previous year, the proportion passing their examinations increased from about 78 per cent. to 95 per cent.

  Individual health authorities are responsible for recruiting staff. However, central initiatives intended to help with the recruitment and retention of midwives include funding in the present financial year a feasibility study into direct entry midwifery by the English National Board; a review by the management and staff sides of the nursing and midwifery staffs negotiating council of the grading structure for nursing and midwifery staff with the aim of providing a more flexible structure which can recognise individual skills and responsibility; and a joint NHS/DHSS working group on equal opportunities for women with particular reference to management of the career break.

  Board and Lodging
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consider reviewing the situation whereby a local authority cannot top up a person's board and lodging payment to a private or charitable nursing or old people's home, but must instead meet the full cost, if Department of Health and Social Security rates are insufficient.

  Mr. Scott
  Local authorities can already top up supplementary benefit payments for residential care for people under pension age or for older people whose payments have been topped up for two years before they reach pension age. The possibility of extending this arrangement to all elderly people in residential care, which would require primary legislation, is one of the matters considered by the joint central and local government working party on supplementary benefit and residential care, whose report will be published shortly. The findings of the working party, as well as the position of people needing care in other settings outside hospital, including nursing homes, will need to be looked at in the context of the overview of community care which Sir Roy Griffiths has been asked to carry out by the end of the year.

  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether attendance allowance, where payable, generally is deducted from the payment made for board and lodging allowance to persons in old people's homes.

  Mr. Scott
  For supplementary benefit claimants in residential care and nursing homes, attendance allowance is taken into account as a resource in the calculation of their benefit. This is because supplementary benefit can be paid up to substantially higher levels than in ordinary board and lodging establishments, in recognition of the fact that care is provided. Not to take attendance allowance into account in such a system would in effect be double provision.

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the diagnostic and other criteria governing the admission and discharge of patients to and from mental hospitals and units in the National Health Service on which the statements in paragraph 13 of his Department's statistical bulletin 4/86 are based;

  (2) whether, in the light of the reference in paragraph 29 of the Audit Commission Report, "Making a reality of Community Care", about the existence of much tighter admission criteria for long-stay patients in mental hospitals, if he will make a statement on admission criteria;

  (3) what is his policy in the light of paragraph 80 (c) of the Audit Commission Report, "Making a reality of Community Care", towards setting up services for those who do not gain access to long-stay places in mental hospitals under current admission policies.

  Mrs. Currie
  With the exception of part II of the Mental Health Act 1983 there are no other statutory requirements relating to hospital admissions or discharges. The responsibility of the Secretary of State for such matters is delegated by him to health authorities and it is for the health authority to ensure that there is a clear local agreement on how admissions (including admissions to longer term care) and discharges are handled. Procedures 508
  will vary from hospital to hospital and from one locality to another but decisions will normally be taken by the professionals involved and will be a matter of clinical judgment in each individual case.

  When the decision taken is not to admit a person to hospital, treatment can be offered instead in a day hospital, or at the person's home. Appropriate medical, nursing, social work and therapy services need to be provided locally to meet the needs of people treated in these settings.

  National Health Service Planners (Seminars)
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the seminars for National Health Service planners about provision of hospital hostels which he intended arranging early in 1987 have now been held.

  Mrs. Currie
  Dates and venues have now been agreed for five seminars to spread knowledge of the best ways of providing long-term in-patient care for those people chronically disabled by mental illness, without creating the institutional environment of traditional long-stay wards. The first will be held on 16 October in Birmingham.

  Schizophrenia
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will arrange for the numbers of patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia to be analysed by frequency of re-admission to hospital.

  Mrs. Currie
  I am sorry I cannot give my hon. Friend the information he seeks. Statistics are not collected centrally on the number of patients in hospital with a particular diagnosis, and data about admissions to hospital cannot be linked to individual people. During 1986 there were 25,046 admissions of people to NHS mental illness hospitals and units with a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychoses, and of these 22,523 (90 per cent.) were re-admissions. Further information can be found in Statistical Bulletin 1/86 "Mental Illness Hospitals and Units In England: Schizophrenic Statistics 1981–84", a copy of which is in the Library.

  NHS (Construction Projects)
  Mr. Trotter
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish a list of the new hospitals and major extensions to health service buildings now under way in each health authority and a similar list of proposed work, indicating the likely start date in each case.

  Mrs. Currie
  From information held centrally on health building schemes, each costing over £1 million, list 1 shows schemes currently under construction and list 2 schemes at the planning or design stage with, where available, the year in which construction is planned to start.

  Schemes over £1 million which are under construction

  Authority and Scheme

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Blyth Community Hospital and Health Centre

  Freeman Hospital

  Furness General Scheme 2 Phase 1

  Hartlepool DGH Scheme 3 Phase 1

  Middlesbrough General Hospital

  North Tyneside Scheme 2 Phase 1

  509

  South Cleveland General Scheme 2 Phase 1B

  South Cleveland General Scheme 2 Phase 1C

  South Shields General Scheme 3 Phase 1

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Bridlington New Community Hospital

  Castle Hill Hospital

  Goole New Community Hospital

  High Royds Hospital Upgrading of Six Wards

  Regional Distribution Centre

  Scarborough Geriatric Day Hospital and Wards

  Scunthorpe DGH Phase 3B A and E Block

  Staineliffe DGH Pathology Department (Extensions and Improvements)

  Staincliffe DGH Phase 1 (Nucleus)

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  Bassetlaw DGH Phase 2

  Bolsover Community Hospital Development

  Calow DGH Site Addition Laundry Facilities

  Chesterfield and North Derby royal Hospital Phase 2B

  Coalville Community Hospital

  Derby Royal Infirmary—Phase 2 Kitchen and Dining

  Doncaster Royal Infirmary Childrcns Unit

  Ilkcston Community Hospital

  Kings Mill Phase 3 Enabling Works

  Montagu Mexborough Wards and Theatres

  Northern General Geriatric

  Pilgrim Hospital (Boston)—Phase 3—M.I.U.

  Sheffield Childrens Phase 1 Development

  Victoria Mansfield—Phase 1

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  Bury St. Edmunds New Central Store

  Chatterton House Kings Lynn—Phase 2

  Ipswich Phase 3 Heath Road Wing (Nucleus)

  North Cambridgeshire Major Development

  Peterborough 2nd DGH Phase 1

  Regional Blood Transfusion Centre

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Bedford General Rehabilitation Facilities

  Central Middlesex Pathology Department

  Central Middlesex Psychiatric Unit

  Clayponds Geriatric Unit

  Ealing Maternity Unit

  Edgware General Hospital

  Gossoms End Day Unit

  Hounslow and Spelthorne District Store

  North West Herts District Office Accommodation

  Paddington and North Kensington Divisional Store 6

  St. Albans Redevelopment of Main Phase

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Broomfield Ward Block

  Clacton Community Hospital Phase 2

  Harold Wood Hospital Phase 1

  Harold Wood School of Nursing Phase 2

  High Wood—Extension to Laurels

  London Hospital (Mile End)

  North Middlesex Boiler House and Works Department

  North Middlesex Geriatric and Catering

  Rochford Geriatric Wards

  St. Anns M.I. Day Hospital and ESMI

  St. Margarets—Epping (Mentally Handicapped)

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Crystal Palace (Bowley Close)—N.H. Centre

  Eastbourne New DGH Phase 2

  Faversham Hospital, Geriatric Wards

  Hastings DGH Pre-Phase Works

  Isle of Thanet DGH—Margate Wing Interim Dev.

  Kent and Sussex—Tunbridge Wells Phase 2

  Lewisham DGH Phase 1B

  Medway DGH Phase 3B

  Queen Mary's Sidcup—Pathology

  R.V.H. Folkestone Phase 2

  Seaford Health Centre

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority
  510

  Crawley Hospital Phase 4

  Harrowlands—Unit for Younger Disabled

  Mid Sussex Phase 1

  Royal Surrey County Guildford Phase 2

  St. Georges Block H Phase 2A

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  Andover Community Hospital

  Bournemouth DGH—Phase 1 (Nucleus)

  Bournemouth DGH—Phase 1B Residential

  Poole General Hospital—Maternity Extension

  Royal S. Hants Southampton Phase 3

  Royal United Bath—Operating Theatres

  St. Andrews Redevelopment—Phase 1A

  St. Mary's—Isle of Wight—Phase 3B (Nucleus)

  West Dorset DGH—Phase 1

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  Heatherwood MI/EMI

  Horton—Geriatric (Phase 3A)

  Stoke Mandeville—X Ray

  Wexham Park—MODS Pathology Pharmacy and X-Ray

  Wexham Park—Rehabilitation Unit

  Wexham Park—Residential

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  Charlton Lane Development Phase 1

  Cheltenham General Phase 1B

  Cirencester Memorial Replacement and ESMI Beds

  Frenchay DGH Phase 1

  Frenchay Hospital Boiler House

  Glenside Sub-Regional Secure Unit

  Gloucester Royal Phase 4B

  South Molton Hospital Geriatric and GP Unit

  Southmead Pathology Phase 1

  Tewkesbury General Hospital

  Williton New Geriatric Hospital

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Bradwell New Geriatric Unit (Nucleus)

  Bromyard Community Hospital

  Burton (Outwoods) Psychiatric/Temporary Maternity

  Burton on Trent DSH (Central Production Unit)

  Cheadle New Geriatric Unit

  City General Stoke Surgical Accomm (Nucleus)

  Edward Street—Psychiatric/Geriatric

  Good Hope Phase 1

  Good Hope Phase 2

  Good Hope Phase 3A

  Goscote (New Kitchen and Dining Room)

  Queen Elizabeth Birmingham—Phase 3 Contract 1

  Rubery Hill Regional Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit

  Telford DGH Phase 1 (Nucleus)

  Town WARF Residential Accommodation

  Town WARF Residential Accommodation

  Walsall Phases 4A and 4B (Nucleus)

  Walsgrave Radiotherapy Treatment Unit

  Warwick DGH—Phase 1 (Nucleus)

  Wordsley—Obstetrics

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  Alder Hey—Child Health Institute

  Broadgreen Development Phase 1

  Clatterbridge Medical Unit

  North Sefton DGH Southport Phase 1 (Nucleus)

  St Helens Phase 2

  St Catherine's Birkenhead Redevelopment Phase 1

  St Helens Redevelopment Phase 1 Boiler House

  Warrington DGH Phase B

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  Burnley General Reedyford—HSDU and Replace

  Pharmacy

  Clifton Community Hospital

  Fairfield Catering and HSDU

  Fairfield Phase 1

  Manchester Royal Infirmary Phase 2

  Manchester Royal Infirmary Service Complex

  Oldham DGH HSDU

  Oldham DGH Phase 1

  511

  Queens Park Blackburn Phase 1 Paediatric

  Tameside General Phase 2

  Non Regional Health Authority

  Blood Products Manufacturing Unit Elstree

  Great Ormond Street—Boiler Plant Replacement

  Hammersmith Hospital Redevelopment Phase 1

  Maudsley Hospital Redevelopment Phase 1A

  National Heart and Chest Centre Brompton Phase 1

  Capital schemes over £1 million in planning with planned year of start of construction

  Authority and scheme

  Year

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Hemlinton Brokerage

  —

  North Tyneside Scheme 3 Phase 1

  1990

  Sunderland General Scheme 2 Phase 2

  1989

  Tynemouth Vic Jubilee Infirmary ESMI wards

  1989

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Bradford St. Lukes Development Phase 1 (nucleus)

  1989

  Brumby Geriatric Development

  1988

  Calderdale DGH (nucleus)

  1990

  Castle Hill Hospital Imps, to K and D facilities

  1988

  Cross Lane Hospital EPD Unit

  —

  Harrogate DGH MI beds and day places

  1989

  RHA Headquarters Building

  —

  Scunthorpe DGH Phase 4B(2) Boiler House

  1987

  Staincliffe DGH Balance of acute (nucleus)

  —

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  Derby City Phase 3A Mental Illness

  1988

  Grantham and Kesteven Phase 5B

  1988

  Leicester Royal Adult Acute M.I. Unit

  —

  North Lincolnshire ESMI Beds and day places

  1987

  Northern General Phase 2

  1989

  Notts City Replacement and extension of X-Ray Department

  1988

  St. Georges Services for ESMI

  1988

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  Ipswich ARW—Geriatric

  1988

  James Paget—Geriatric

  1988

  Sudbury—Hospital Services PH1

  1992

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Wembley Community Care Centre

  —

  West Middlesex University Hospital

  —

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Brentwood Blood Transfusion Centre

  —

  Enfield DGH (Chase Farm)

  1988

  Goodmayes General Hospital

  1988

  St. Michaels Braintree Phase 2

  1989

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Guy's Hospital Phase 3

  —

  Regional Distribution Centre

  —

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  Alton Community Hospital Phase 1/LMT Redevelopment

  1989

  Ashurst Community Hospital

  —

  Bournemouth General Hospital—Phase 2A

  1988

  Petersfield Community Hospital

  —

  St. Margaret Hospital—Mental Illness Unit

  1989

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  Amersham Phase 1

  1988

  Horton Phase 3B

  1988

  Horton Phase 3C

  1988

  Royal Berkshire—Theatres

  1988

  Stoke Mandeville—Phase 4

  1988

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  Derriford DGH Phase II

  1988

  Southmead Hospital—Geriatric Wards (nucleus)

  1987

  Torbay DGH Path Lab Extension

  1987

  512

  Authority and scheme

  Year

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Bromsgrove Community Hospital (nucleus)

  1988

  East Birmingham Obstetrics

  1988

  George Eliot Nuneaton Phase 3 (nucleus)

  1987

  Kidderminster DGH Phase 6

  1988

  Manor Walsall (Delivery Facilities)

  1987

  Queen Elizabeth Birmingham—Psychiatric Services

  1990

  Queen Elizabeth Phase 4 Contract 2

  1988

  Royal Orthopaedic Woodlands

  1988

  Selly Oak Development Project

  1990

  Solihull DGH Phase 2 (nucleus)

  1988

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  North Sefton Spinal Injuries Unit

  —

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  Blackburn District Engineering Support Services

  —

  Ormskirk District General Hospital Phase 1

  1988

  Non Regional Health Authority

  Blood Products—Warehouse etc.

  —

  Great Ormond Street Redevelopment

  —

  Hammersmith Hospital Catering Centralisation

  —

  Queen Charlottes Maternity Hospital

  —

  Capital schemes over £1 million in design with planned year of start of construction

  Authority and scheme

  Year

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Hartlepool DGH Scheme 3 Phase 2

  1987

  Hartlepool DGH Scheme 3 Phase 6

  —

  Royal Victoria Infirmary Scheme 1 Phase 5

  1987

  South Cleveland General Scheme 2 Phase 1A

  1987

  St. Georges Hospital Boilerhouse

  1986

  Wansbeck General Hospital Scheme 1 (Nucleus)

  1988

  Westmoreland DGH Scheme 1 Phase 1

  —

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Castle Hill Hospital Surgical Development

  1987

  Hull Royal Infirmary PGMEC

  1987

  Pontefract Day Surgical Unit

  1987

  Scunthorpe DGH Phase 4A(2) Four Storey Block

  1987

  Scunthorpe DGH Phase 4B(1) Ward Block (Nucleus)

  1988

  St. James University Hospital Leeds New Renal Unit

  —

  Staincliffe DGH Psychiatric Unit

  —

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  Bateman Street Hospital Derby

  1987

  Charles Clifford D/H New Extension

  1987

  Derby City Phase 2

  1987

  Doncaster Royal Infirmary Phase 2 Path. Lab.

  1987

  Glenfield DGH Phase 2

  —

  Hinckly Phase 1 Acute and Geriatric

  1988

  Kendray-Sub Phase 2B—Mental Illness Unit/ESMI

  1987

  Kings Mill DGH Phase 3

  1987

  Leicester Royal Infirmary Phase 4B

  1987

  Lincoln County Phase 2

  1988

  Long Eaton Community Hospital Phase 1

  —

  Loughborough Phase 1 Geriatric and ESMI Provision

  1988

  Louth County

  1987

  Northern General New Renal Unit

  1987

  Pilgrim Hospital (Boston) Support Services

  1987

  Swadlincote Community Hospital Phase 1

  —

  Swallownest Long Stay M.I.

  1987

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  Brookfields—2 Storey Geriatric Block

  1987

  London Road Kings Lynn Contract 2

  1987

  Northgate—Conv. of Maternity Unit to Geriatric

  1987

  Stamford and Rutland

  1988

  West Suffolk Hospital Psychiatric—Phase 2

  1988

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Colindale Psychogeriatric Hospital

  —

  513

  Authority and scheme

  Year

  Hemel Hempstead—A and E/Conver Med Wards and CC Unit

  —

  Hemel Hemptstead Phase 2—Unit for the Elderly

  —

  Lister Acute Elderly Beds and Day Places

  —

  GE 11 Reorganisation of Acute Facilities Phase 1

  1987

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Barking Elderly Care Services Development

  —

  Chingford M.I. Residential and Day Unit

  1987

  East Ham memorial Accom. for Mentally Ill

  1987

  St. Anns Geriatric Unit

  1987

  Wanstead Mental Illness Residential and Day Unit

  1987

  Whipps Cross Phase 1

  1987

  Whittington Redevelopment Phase 1

  1987

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Hastings DGH Main Phase

  1988

  Hastings DGH Psychiatric Development

  1992

  Hastings DGH Residence and Education

  1989

  Keyed EMI Unit and Day Hospital

  1988

  Medway DGH Phase 3C

  1988

  Royal Sussex County Hospital

  1987

  St. Thomas Hospital—South Wing

  1987

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Bognor Community Hospital

  1987

  East Surrey DGH Phase 2

  1987

  Horsham Hospital Mental Illness Unit

  1987

  Kingston District General Hospital Phase 3B

  1987

  Regional Secure Unit Netherne Hospital

  —

  St. Peter's Hospital Chertsey Phase 4D and E

  1988

  St. Peter's Hospital Chertsey Phase 4C

  1987

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  Bordon Community Hospital

  1988

  Christchurch Geriatric Wards and ESMI Unit

  —

  Odstock Hospital Salisbury—Phase 1 (Nucleus)

  1987

  Poole General Hosptial—ESMI Assess Unit/Day Hospital

  1987

  St. Ann's Canford Cliffs—Extension Contract 1

  1987

  St. Martins Bath Geriatric Wards

  1987

  St. Mary's Portsmouth

  1987

  St Mary's—Isle of Wight—Mental Illness Unit

  1988

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  Heatherwood—Catering Pharmacy Workshops and Stores

  1987

  John Radcliffe—Phase 3

  1987

  Kettering—New Theatres and Spencer Ward

  1987

  Milton Keynes DGH—MI Unit

  1987

  Milton Keynes DGH—OPD

  1987

  Milton Keynes DGH—Phase 2

  1987

  Stoke Mandeville—Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit

  1988

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  Holsworthy Hospital Geriatric Unit

  1988

  Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske Phase 4

  1987

  Royal Devon and Exeter—Priority 1 (Wonford)

  1987

  Torbay DGH Geriatric Wards-

  1987

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Anchor Meadow Community Hospital

  1988

  Bloxwich Redevelopment Phase 1

  1987

  Burton DHC OPD/Main Entrance

  1987

  Burton-on-Trent DGH Phase 2

  1987

  Cannock Community Hospital

  1987

  Good Hope Phase 3B

  1987

  Good Hope Phase 3C

  1988

  Lea Castle MH Unit

  1987

  Lichfield and Tamworth DGH (Nucleus)

  1988

  New Cross Repairs to Maternity

  1988

  New Cross Wolverhampton Blocks D and G replacement

  1987

  Queen Elizabeth Birmingham—Reg. Specialties/Labs

  1987

  R.J. and A.H. Orthopaedic Hospital

  1987

  Rowley Regis Community Hospital Sandwell

  1988

  Sandwell DGH Hallan Ward Upgrading

  1987

  514

  Authority and scheme

  Year

  St. Cross Rugby Phase 3 (Nucleus)

  1987

  Telford DGH Residential Accommodation

  —

  Walsall Manor New HSDU

  —

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  Fazakerley Hospital Acute MI Unit

  —

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  Birch Hill DGH MIU

  1987

  Bolton DGH Manufacturing Pharmacy and HSDU

  1987

  Bolton DGH Phase 1

  1989

  Chorley DGH Geriatric Unit

  —

  Leigh Infirmary Phase 1

  1989

  Manchester Royal Infirmary Catering Block

  1987

  North Manchester Enabling for Phase 1

  —

  North Manchester General Boiler House

  —

  North Manchester General ESMI Wards

  —

  North Manchester General MIU

  —

  Peel Hall ESMI

  —

  Pendle Community Hospital

  1987

  Queens Park Blackburn Phase 2 Geriatric

  —

  Royal Albert Edward Infirmary Wigan Pathology

  1994

  Royal Preston Pathology Phase 2

  1987

  St. Mary's Hospital Phase 2

  —

  Tameside General MIU

  1987

  Whelley Hospital Phase 1

  —

  Non Regional Health Authority

  Moorfields Eye Hospital—Redevelopment Phase 2B

  —

  NHS (Hospitals)
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all National Health Service hospitals (a) of over 800 beds, and (b) which have been added to since 1980 to make the combined old and new building over 800 beds.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information available centrally shows that the acute-general hospitals listed provide over 800 beds. Of these Ipswich hospital, Addenbrookes hospital, Queens medical centre and Leicester general hospital have had phases added since 1980 to bring their total number of beds over 800.

  Region and hospital

  Northern

  Darlington Memorial Hospital

  Newcastle General Hospital

  North Tees General Hospital

  Yorkshire

  St. James University Hospital (Leeds)

  York District Hospital

  Trent

  Leicester Royal Infirmary

  Leicester General Hospital

  Queens Medical Centre (University Hospital Nottingham)

  Nottingham City Hospital

  Northern General Hospital (Sheffield)

  Doncaster Royal Infirmary

  East Anglian

  Ipswich Hospital (Heath Road Wing)

  Addenbrookes Hospital (Cambridge)

  North West Thames

  Northwick Park Hospital

  North East Thames

  The Royal Free Hospital

  South East Thames

  515

  Guys Hospital

  St. Thomas' Hospital

  South Western

  Southampton General Hospital

  West Midlands

  Walsgrave General Hospital

  New Cross Hospital Wolverhampton

  East Birmingham General Hospital

  Mersey

  Fazakcrley (South Sefton)

  Royal Liverpool Hospital

  Arrowe Park Hospital

  North Western

  Lancaster Moor Hospital

  Victoria Hospital Blackpool

  Bolton General Hospital

  North Manchester General Hospital

  Oldham and District General Hospital

  University Hospital S. Manchester Withington

  National Aids Trust
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the National Aids Trust last met; whether a director for the National Aids Trust has been appointed; what progress or action the National Aids Trust has made or taken; whether the fund raising committee has met and what developments it made; whether the voluntary and support bodies in the field are prepared to co-operate with the National Aids Trust; and what consideration is being made to the problems in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Newton
  I understand that those who have agreed to serve as trustees have held two meetings and that a further meeting is to be held this month. The National Aids Trust will be an independent charitable body and will shortly be advertising for a chief executive. I understand that considerable progress has been made in formulating policies and priorities and that initial discussions with others in the voluntary sector have been fruitful. There is, of course, a good deal of work still to be done.

  The trust is being established as a United Kingdom body and will therefore give consideration to the problems in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. The trust's chairman is Sir Austin Bide. He can be contacted through the Trust's offices at

  Room 1403

  Euston Tower

  Euston Road

  London NW1

  HIV Infection
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what special arrangements are being made for intravenous drug users to combat the spread of HIV infection; and, in particlar, whether the needle exchange programmes have been evaluated.

  Mr. Newton
  We are taking the following measures designed both to reinforce our anti-drugs strategy and to curb the spread of AIDS among drug misusers and from them into the general population.First, we arc continuing to give priority to our strategy for the prevention of drug misuse, and expect to highlight the dangers of injecting in the next phase of our AIDS and drugs publicity campaigns.
  516
  Second, we are providing an extra £1 million in 1987–88 to help drug misuse services play a growing role in the fight against AIDS.
  Third, we have established 15 pilot schemes in different parts of the United Kingdom where injecting drug misusers can both receive counselling and exchange used needles and syringes for sterile equipment. These schemes are being monitored and evaluated to help assess their effect on the behaviour of their users. We hope to receive a preliminary report by the end of the year.
  In addition, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has set up a working group to consider urgently what further measures could be taken.

  AIDS
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make additional funds available so that all those who could benefit from AZT and other drugs can be treated.

  Mr. Newton
  Health authorities are expected to make provision for the costs of Retrovir (AZT) and other drugs from the resources allocated to them. In recognition of the particular burden they are carrying however, we have allocated an additional £1·6 million towards the costs of treatment with Retrovir to the three Thames regions which together are caring for the majority of people with AIDS.

  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what dates the group established to coordinate action against AIDS by the Health Ministers of European Economic Community countries has met; and whether he will make available reports of the meetings.

  Mr. Newton
  The European Community ad hoc working party of officials on AIDS had its first meeting on 24 June and will next meet in the autumn. It is not the practice to make available reports of meetings of Community groups of this kind.

  NHS Resources (Trent)
  Mr. Allen
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give, for the Trent region and each of its districts, for each year since 1979–80, its capital resources allocation working party allocation as a percentage of its weighted population share.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 14 July in respect of the Trent region.

  Information on district health authorities is not held centrally. The hon. Member may therefore wish to approach the chairman of Trent regional health authority.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Burns
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people living within the Mid Essex health authority area are waiting for non-emergency operations and treatment: what the figures were 12 months ago and 24 months ago; and what was the average waiting time 24 months ago, 12 months ago and the latest available figures.

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

  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will enumerate those health authorities

  517
  where waiting lists for in-patient treatment exceeded 18 per thousand in 1985 and 1986; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will enumerate those health authorities where present waiting lists for in-patient treatment exceed 18 per thousand; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 10 July 1987 c. 312]: am sorry I cannot give my hon. Friend all the information he seeks. Current information is not held centrally. The available information for 1985 and 1986 is given in the table.

  Cases on in-patient waiting list per 1,000 population1

  District and authority

  1985

  1986

  31 March

  30 September

  31 March

  30 September

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Hartlepool

  18·2

  19·1

  15·5

  16·1

  South Tees

  25·8

  24·2

  21·1

  20·6

  East Cumbria

  15·9

  16·2

  17·0

  18·3

  Darlington

  16·2

  11·0

  17·9

  19·8

  Newcastle

  30·7

  30·6

  30·7

  32·5

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Hull

  22·9

  20·0

  21·6

  22·2

  Scunthorpe

  21·4

  15·3

  10·5

  15·0

  Bradford

  16·2

  17·6

  19·0

  20·3

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  Central Nottinghamshire

  21·3

  19·4

  19·0

  20·2

  Sheffield

  21·6

  21·0

  22·3

  20·6

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  Cambridge

  22·5

  20·1

  19·0

  18·1

  Peterborough

  17·7

  17·8

  16·1

  18·1

  Norwich

  18·9

  17·2

  14·9

  14·9

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  15·9

  15·7

  18·1

  17·9

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Hillingdon

  29·6

  31·2

  33·0

  33·6

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  13·5

  16·1

  18·2

  18·8

  Paddington and North Kensington

  19·9

  22·6

  25·8

  27·3

  Riverside

  10 2

  18·5

  19·8

  19·4

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Basildon and Thurrock

  17·3

  18·5

  21·5

  21·6

  West Essex

  16·9

  18·5

  19·8

  19·2

  Hampstead

  21·2

  21·6

  19·1

  24·6

  Bloomsbury

  105·3

  97·9

  110·1

  112·7

  City and Hackney

  37·0

  33·4

  31·6

  37·1

  Tower Hamlets

  41·1

  43·0

  44·6

  46·0

  Waltham Forest

  18·2

  19·1

  20·1

  19·1

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Hastings

  13·2

  14·1

  15·4

  18·0

  Dartford and Gravesham

  17·9

  18·8

  20·0

  20·1

  Tunbridge Wells

  30·5

  24·8

  25·3

  24·9

  West Lambeth

  31·7

  33·6

  39·2

  47·1

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  20·4

  22·6

  26·0

  26·9

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  21·1

  19·7

  20·3

  20·1

  Salisbury

  47·6

  34·9

  36·5

  35·2

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  East Berkshire

  24·1

  19·8

  20·7

  21·2

  Aylesbury Vale

  32·7

  28·9

  26·8

  24·0

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  Bristol and Weston

  21·3

  20·7

  21·8

  22·8

  Frenchay

  23·3

  20·5

  16·0

  15·4

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Herefordshire

  15·2

  16·3

  17·3

  18·8

  518
  A significant, though varying, proportion of patients on the waiting list are referred by general practitioners in other districts. The relevant population for comparison is therefore the "catchment" population which can, and in many cases does, vary substantially from the resident population. The figures for district health authorities may therefore have little significance. Any comparisons between districts based upon these percentages could be seriously misleading.
  519

  District and authority

  1985

  1986

  31 March

  30 September

  31 March

  30 September

  Shropshire

  20·5

  19·2

  19·6

  20·8

  North Staffordshire

  22·5.

  23·0

  19·6

  19·9

  Central Birmingham

  33·3

  32·1

  29·6

  30·1

  East Birmingham

  18·3

  18·5

  16·8

  16·8

  South Birmingham

  30·8

  29·7

  29·4

  31·4

  West Birmingham

  15·6

  16·6

  16·5

  19·4

  Coventry

  22·1

  20·8

  19·6

  18·5

  Wolverhampton

  15·8

  15·5

  16·3

  18·0

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  Crewe

  22·3

  21·4

  19·0

  18·6

  South Sefton

  24·2

  21·3

  20·3

  19·6

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  Preston

  33·9

  34·1

  37·8

  35·2

  West Lancashire

  16·9

  16·5

  18·6

  20·7

  North Manchester

  20·6

  17·0

  19·0

  18·0

  Central Manchester

  36·4

  38·9

  43·2

  48·5

  South Manchester

  34·1

  36·7

  33·3

  32·9

  Oldham

  20·5

  20·6

  19·9

  21·2

  Salford

  18·1

  17·8

  17·4

  18·3

  1 Mid year estimated population.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when sections 5 and 6 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act will be implemented; and what consultation has taken place with voluntary organisations over the guidelines for those sections.

  Mr. Scott
  My predecessor had a meeting in April about the implementation of the Act, including sections 5 and 6, with the steering group established by voluntary organisations. We have since received papers from the steering group about the implementation of sections 5 and 6 which are being studied.

  On the timing of implementation of the various sections of the Act, I cannot add to my replies to the hon. Members for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley), for Halifax (Ms. Mahon) and for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 30 June, at column 75.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the voluntary organisations which have made representations to him about the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Scott
  Since 1 January 1987 representations about implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 have been received from the steering group set up by many of the major voluntary organisations representing disabled people to monitor implementation of the Act and from the following individual organisations:—

  Alzheimer's Disease Society

  Arthritis Care

  Association of Professions for Mentally Handicapped

  Backpain Association

  Batley and District Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

  Bury and District Disabled Advisory Council

  Barnsley Action Group for the Physically Disabled

  Barnsley Metropolitan District Association for Disabled People

  Central Northumberland Spastics Society

  Derbyshire Coalition of Disabled People

  Disabled in Camden

  520

  Epping Forest Association for Disabled People

  Gosport, Fareham District Spastics Society

  Harrow Association for Disability

  Harrogate and District Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

  Invalid Children's Aid Nationwide

  Kent Association for the Disabled

  Kettering District Council for the Disabled

  Kingston-Upon-Thames Association for the Disabled

  Lincoln MIND (National Association for Mental Health)

  Maidenhead Society for Mentally Handicapped Children

  Mid-Staffordshire Spastics Association

  Mid-Warwickshire Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

  Mold and District Spastics Society

  National Autistic Society

  National Federation for the Blind

  National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  North Dorset Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

  North Hants and West Surrey Spastics Society Group

  Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Society for the Deaf

  Peterborough Council for the Disabled

  Plymouth and South West Devon Spastics Association

  Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Disabled

  Sheppey Spastics Group

  Taunton MIND Association (National Association for Mental Health)

  Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge Spastics Society Group

  Walsall Society for Mentally Handicapped Children

  Waltham Forest Cerebral Palsy Group

  Wandsworth Disablement Association

  Worcester Association for the Blind

  York MIND (National Association for Mental Health)

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultation with the voluntary organisations is planned with regard to all sections of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986, not already implemented.

  Mr. Scott
  I am unable to add to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 7 July, at column 119.

  Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Cornwall and the

  521
  Isles of Scilly are currently waiting for a colposcopy for the treatment of cervical cancer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that this information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly district health authority.

  Childminding (Exhibition)
  Ms. Harman
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "10 Years of Childminding—Share the Care" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Newton
  I understand that under procedures agreed by the Service Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 20 July 1987 until 24 July 1987.

  Radon Gas
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any proposals to conduct an epidemiological study of those people living in areas with a high radon gas presence.

  Mrs. Currie
  Detailed proposals for such an epidemiological study are already under consideration by the Department together with the Department of the Environment and the National Radiological Protection Board.

  Overseas Voters
  Mr. Kaufman
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, for each United Kingdom parliamentary constituency, how many overseas voters were registered; and how many overseas votes were cast in the general election on 11 June.

  Mrs. Currie
  A table showing the number of overseas electors in each constituency on the 1987 electoral register has been placed in the Library. Information on overseas votes cast is not available as such votes are not separated from other ballot papers.

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretry 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.
  522
  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 14 July 1987]: Central guidance has, for a number of years, indicated that health authorities are expected to establish working practices as if they were not immune from legal penalty. We are aware of a number of recent instances where authorities have, following the implementation on 7 February 1987 of Sections 1 and 2 of the National Health Service (Amendment) Act 1986, decided to adjust spending priorities and alter building programmes. Health authority procedures have also changed as a result of the Crown immunity changes: circular HC(86) advises them that an annual report on environmental health officer reports on an authority's units and action taken in response, should be taken in public session. We do not believe that a special exercise into the impact of the removal of Crown immunity from the areas in question is called for.

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

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 13 July 1987]: At present, there are no tests available to detect whether food has been irradiated. Under the Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1967, it is illegal to import irradiated food. Port health authorities are watchful for any indication of irradiation as evidenced by accompanying documentation or markings on the packaging. It is hoped that research in the United Kingdom and elsewhere will lead to the development of testing methods within the next few years.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rate Support Grant
  Mr. Corbett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to give provisional details of the 1988–89 rate support grant settlement.

  Mr. Chope
  I hope to announce my proposals for the
  main elements of the 1988–89 rate support grant settlement before the House rises for the summer recess.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much rate support grant has been withdrawn from the councils of the Merseyside area; and by how much their housing investment programmes have been reduced since 1979.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Since the introduction of block grant in 1981–82 local authorities in the area of the former Merseyside county council have received total rate support grant as follows:

  £ million

  1981–82 4th SR

  378·3

  1982–83 3rd SR

  372·1

  1983–84 3rd SR

  381·3

  1984–85 3rd SR

  371·0

  1985–86 3rd SR

  411·0

  1986–87 2nd SR

  388·0

  1987–88 1st SR

  418·0

  523
  Their share of the total block grant payable in England in this period has risen by 7 per cent. The system prior to 1981–82 is not comparable.

  Total HIP allocations for the Merseyside authorities since the introduction of the capital control system in 1981–82 are as follows:

  £ million

  1981–82

  64·2

  1982–83

  76·2

  1983–84

  66·6

  1984–85

  65·7

  1985–86

  57·6

  1986–87

  49·0

  1987–88

  46·1

  The system prior to 1981–82 is not comparable.

  Local authorities' spending power from capital receipts, which can be used in addition to capital allocations has grown substantially in recent years. In 1986–87 the Merseyside authorities would have been able to spend a further £57·1 million of capital receipts from all services, in addition to their £49·0 million HIP allocations.

  World Student Games
  Mr. Bill Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to promote the holding of the world student games in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Sheffield's bid to host the 1991 world student games has my wholehearted support. Both my predecessor and I have offered the Sheffield team every diplomatic, promotional and administrative assistance.

  Inner Cities
  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about his plans to improve the quality of housing in the inner cities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I receive many representations on this subject. The Government are presently considering two proposals for improving housing in the Chapeltown area of Leeds. I am particularly encouraged at the possibility of private sector involvement in refurbishment work in the Hillcrest area.

  Mr. Duffy
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the present scale and allocation of urban programme funds for inner city renewal.

  Mr. Trippier
  Yes. The resources are subject to the normal annual review in the public expenditure survey.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to speed up renewal of inner city housing in areas where ownership is split between occupiers, and tenants of housing associations and private landlords.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Government are taking forward a range of housing initiatives which will contribute to the renewal of inner-city housing. These include reform of the improvement grant system to target resources where the needs are greatest; a new power for local authorities to provide assistance for privately rented accommodation; deregulation of new private sector lettings so as to bring 524
  new investment into the private rented sector and more private investment into housing associations; and housing action trusts which will take responsibility for run-down housing in designated areas, improve it, and pass it on to different tenures and ownerships. The existing range of inner-city programmes will also be available to play a part in this process of renewal.

  Mr. Favell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the representations which he has received on his recent proposals for the regeneration of the inner cities.

  Mr. Trippier
  Our manifesto proposals have been well received.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the funding of the administration costs of the proposed community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  The Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (para 3.43) made it clear that the Government would consult the local authority associations about the new costs arising from the community charge and would take account of them in setting the level of aggregate Exchequer grant.

  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to issue a White Paper in respect of the proposed community charge.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Government's proposals for reforming the rating system were set out in a Green Paper published in January 1986. Consultation on the proposals ran until October of last year. On 15 December I published a further document "Paying for Local Government; the Community Charge", in which we confirmed our intention to proceed with the main elements of the Green Paper proposals and set out details of the operation of the community charge. The commitment was included in the manifesto on which the Government convincingly won the election.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the likely level of community charge for English local authorities.

  Mr. Chope
  Since we first published illustrative community charge figures on 1 April last we have received 205 representations about the likely level of the community charge.

  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to ensuring that the register on which the proposed community charge in England and Wales is to be based is as accurate and up to date as possible.

  Mr. Howard
  The procedures for preparing and maintaining the register were described in some detail in the document on the operation of the community charge, which was placed in the Library on 15 December 1986. It will be the responsibility of each local authority to ensure that their register is accurate and up to date.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions he intends to

  525
  incorporate in the legislation to introduce a poll tax in England and Wales to take account of the preparations for implementing the tax in Scotland.

  Mr. Chope
  It has always been the Government's intention that the Community charge systems in Scotland and in England and Wales should he broadly compatible.

  Mr. McFall
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the establishment of a rebate scheme in respect of the proposed community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  As the Government have repeatedly made plain, rebates of up to 80 per cent. of the community charge will be available for those on low incomes.

  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to implement plans for a poll tax.

  Mr. Howard
  It is intended that the community charge should be introduced in England and Wales on 1 April 1990.

  Mr. Rathbone
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the Government's plan for a community charge in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  My Department received 1,217 responses before 31 October 1986 when the consultation period on the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714) ended. My right hon. Friend placed a summary of those responses in the Library on 15 December 1986. We continue to receive representations about our detailed proposals.

  Mr. Battle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the estimated impact on the inhabitants of the Leeds, West constituency of the proposed community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  Since we first published illustrative community charge figures on 1 April 1987, we have received three representations about the community charge from individuals residing in Leeds.

  Mr. Beith
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment w hat estimate he has made of the number of people who will he required to pay his proposed poll tax at the full rate.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to figure J9 of the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714) for an estimate of housing benefit case load associated with the new local government finance system. There will, in addition, be a number of people who will benefit from the exemptions, for the severely mentally handicapped, the elderly in residential homes and the concession for students previously announced. There will be considerable overlap between the estimate of housing benefit cases and those who will benefit from these concessions.

  Ms. Walley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a White Paper on the proposed community charge for England and Wales.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a White Paper on the proposed community charge for England and Wales.
  526
  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) earlier today.

  Mr. O'Brien
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the difference in the cost of collecting local revenues under (a) the existing rating system and (b) the proposed poll tax in west Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  Our preliminary estimate is that the cost of collecting the community charge may be, broadly, up to twice the cost of collecting domestic rates. However, the cost to any individual local authority will depend on the extent to which they can reduce unit costs. We estimate that almost twice as many people will pay the community charge as pay domestic rates.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters he has received from the general public on the proposals by Her Majesty's Government to abolish domestic rates and to impose a uniform business rate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  479 responses were received from the general public before 31 October 1986 when the consultation period on the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714) ended. Since we first published illustrative community charge figures on 1 April we have received 181 representations from members of the general public.

  Mr. Livsey
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from organisations representing local government about the proposed community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  The Department received 1,217 responses before 31 October last when the consultation period on the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714) closed, of which 454 were from local authorities and organisations representing local government.

  Ms. Quinn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate the Government have made of the likely effect on house prices in the different regions of the United Kingdom as a result of the introduction of the community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  Annex E of the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714), published on 28 January 1986, contained an analysis of the likely impact of the abolition of domestic rates on the housing market.

  PRC Houses
  Mr. Madel
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the Government's current policy on grants for PRC houses that need repairs and modernisation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The housing defects legislation provides the framework for assistance to eligible owners of designated properties; local authorities are then responsible for its administration. My Department's circular 14/86 gave general guidance on reinstatement procedures; we look to local authorities to implement the legislation in a reasonable way.

  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to increase

  527
  provision made for local housing authorities to enable defective PRC dwellings to be reinstated or repurchased in good time; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We generally expect local authorities to be able to meet their housing defects obligations from within their normal sources of spending power. Fourteen million pounds extra HIP resources were put aside, for 1987–88, for authorities facing particular HDA difficulties; Epping Forest was allocated an additional £350,000. We are currently discussing with the local authority associations the HIP distribution arrangements for 1987–88.

  Sporting Events (Drugs)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to combat the taking of drugs in sport.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I announced on 8 July a major review of the misuse of drugs in sport. This I am undertaking personally with the assistance of Sebastian Coe, deputy chairman of the Sports Council. I am determined to see every possible step taken to stamp out drug abuse in sport and I hope the review will help in bringing this about.

  Mr. Livingstone
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates are available to him of the number of people taking drugs and other illegal substances in British sport.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No estimates are available of the number of people taking drugs and other illegal substances in British sport. Not all substances banned by the International Olympic Committee are illegal; some are available on prescription or in over-the-counter preparations. The drug control and teaching centre conducted 2545 tests in 1986; there were 28 adverse findings.

  Bees
  Mr. Stanbrook
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to delete bees from any list of urban pests to be contained in guidance given to local authorities following the reference given in appendix D, paragraph D23, of the Green Paper "Air Pollution Control"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We are giving very careful consideration to the representations submitted by beekeepers and beekeeping organisations, and by local authorities and other bodies, regarding the proposal in the consultation paper on air pollution control in Great Britain to extend the scope of section 74 of the Public Health Act 1961 to allow local authorities to deal with nuisance from various species, of which bees were given as an example.

  Home Insulation
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of elderly people who received a 66 per cent. grant for home insulation under the Homes Insulation Act 1978 in each year from 1978 until the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Information is not available about the number of elderly people who have received insulation grants at the rate of 66 per cent. However, 308,700 90 per cent. grants were paid to elderly people on low incomes in 528
  the period from October 1980 to June 1984; from July 1984 to December 1986 148,200 grants at 90 per cent. were paid to elderly or disabled people on low incomes, of which the majority are believed to have been to the elderly.

  Sports Participation
  Mr. Litherland
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to further promote sports participation in Great Britain.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I am giving high priority to the development of measures to encourage greater participation in sport and recreation, especially by those living in our inner cities. I will be working with all the agencies concerned, including the Sports Council.

  Callywhite Lane Industrial Estate (Fire)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will meet a deputation drawn from firms, councils and trade unions directly affected by an underground fire burning on Callywhite Lane industrial estate in Dronfield, Derbyshire, to discuss means by which his Department can assist in overcoming this current emergency.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am making arrangements to meet the hon. Member and a deputation of firms, councils and trade unions to discuss the underground fire at Callywhite Lane industrial estate.

  Estate Action
  Mrs. Mahon
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the work' of estate action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Estate action has stimulated a lot of interest in many quarters. About 100 local authorities have now suggested schemes for inclusion in the programme.

  Local Authority Pension Funds
  Mr. Fallon
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to tighten the rules on local authority pension fund investments.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend is concerned about reports that some local authorities invested part of their pension funds in the paper News on Sunday, which they must have known was unlikely to show a profit. Their decision ignored the interests of their ratepayers, who are required to make good any deficiency in the fund caused by bad investment. My right hon. Friend is considering what steps should be taken to prevent the misuse of pension fund moneys.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will restate the Government's policy on the 4·5 million acres of established green belt land in England.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Government's policy on green belts remains as set out in Department of the Environment Circular 14/84. There must continue to be a general
  529
  presumption against inappropriate development within green belts. Planning guidelines have been issued in Circular 12/87 for redundant sites in green belts.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Murphy
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to improve the monitoring of the disposal of hazardous waste.

  Mr. Moynihan
  It is the responsibility of the waste disposal authorities to license and monitor the disposal of hazardous waste. The Department has no direct locus in the licensing of disposal facilities, but Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution continues to examine the way in which WDAs perform this function. In the course of its inspectorial functions, HMIP encourages waste disposal authorities to make whatever improvements are necessary.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Greg Knight
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received during the last 12 months on the subject of local authority spending.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received over 350 representations from local authorities and from the local authority associations. In addition, he received a number of deputations from hon. Members and local authorities.

  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department intends to introduce any changes in the use of capital receipts by local authorities.

  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now allow local authorities to make full use of their capital receipts.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans for any change. Authorities can already make full use of their receipts over time and I refer him to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) today.

  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review his ruling on the use by local housing authorities of their capital receipts from the sale of council dwellings.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans for any change. Authorities can use their receipts at any time to redeem debt or for non-prescribed expenditure such as capitalised repairs. They can use their receipts in full for prescribed expenditure but with the exception of certain categories of low-cost home ownership schemes there is a limit to the percentage of each receipt which can be spent in any one year.

  Water Authorities (Privatisation)
  Mr. McCartney
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to issue a White Paper on the privatisation of English and Welsh water authorities.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a further White Paper on the privatisation of English and Welsh water authorities.
  530
  Mr. Moynihan
  We shall publish shortly a policy and consultation paper setting out our proposals for the restructuring and privatisation within the water industry.

  Mr. Morley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards will be incorporated in his proposals for the sale of water authority services to ensure the environmental protection of water courses and catchment areas.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Government last year published a consultation paper "The Water Environment: The Next Steps" which proposed a number of measures to safeguard rivers, streams and ground water sources. Proposals to establish a national rivers authority, which will provide increased protection for the environment, will be published in the near future.

  Peak Park Planning Board
  Mr. McLoughlin
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to visit the area of the Peak park planning board.

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

  Football Association
  Mr. Pendry
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to meet the chairman or secretary of the Football Association.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend the Secreary of State has no immediate plans to meet the chairman or general secretary of the Football Association. I met them on 1 July and shall be meeting them again on 5 August.

  Lead Plumbing
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many dwellings in England and Wales rely on lead plumbing; and what percentage of the total this represents.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) today.

  Basildon (Housing)
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many new houses have been built by the Basildon Development Corporation/New Towns Commission, and how many by Basildon council, in Basildon in each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Roe
  The reported numbers of dwellings completed in Basildon for the district council and for the development corporation or the New Towns Commission in 1982 and 1983 appear in issue 73 of "Local Housing Statistics", and those in 1984 in issue 77 and those in 1985 and 1986 in issue 81: copies of these volumes are available in the Library. When issue 77 was published, reports had been received from the district council only for the first seven months of 1984; subsequently returns, for the other five months have been received and the completions for the council in the full year numbered 193.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authority has the highest level of rent arrears; and what this level is in terms of the number of weeks arrears per average household and in cash terms.

  Mrs. Roe
  Local authorities in England reported their rent arrears as at 1 April 1986 on their housing subsidy claim forms. The highest level of arrears, in relation to annual payments due, was reported by the London borough of Brent. This authority reported a total of £10·96 million rent arrears, which was equivalent to 33 times the average weekly rent due on its council dwellings.

  Rate Capping
  Mr. Holt
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce rate-capping legislation for town and parish councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have no plans to legislate for this purpose.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce which councils are to be rate-capped in 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  My right hon. Friend expects to announce his decisions on the designation of authorities for 1988–89 very shortly.

  Mr. Stern
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider applying a general rate-cap for all years between 1 April 1988 and the date of full implementation of the community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  My right hon. Friend intends to announce his proposals for rate limitation in 1988–89 before the summer recess. As my hon. Friend is aware, a proposal to introduce general rate limitation would require consultation with the local authority associations and be subject to the approval of both Houses of Parliament.

  Local Government Bill
  Mr. Clelland
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in response to the Local Government Bill.

  Mr. Howard
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations most of which relate to dog licences. Of the rest, the majority concern part II of the Bill and welcome its provisions.

  Footpath
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many extra footpaths have been designated as public rights of way since the coming into operation of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1982; how many have been closed; and what has been the net effect on the mileage of public rights of way in England.

  Mr. Moynihan
  This information is not held centrally.

  The Ramblers' Association is notified of some, but not all proposals affecting footpaths. Information on the effect of those proposals on the mileage of rights of way in England and Wales is set out in the first report on the
  532
  monitoring of the rights of way legislation in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, published by the Countryside Commission in 1985. There is a copy of this in the Library of the House.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Knox
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses have been sold to sitting tenants in England since May 1979.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  From April 1979 to March 1987, about 790,000 tenants bought their houses from English local authorities and new towns.

  Gleneagles Agreement
  Mr. John Carlisle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place between himself and the Test and County Cricket Board regarding the implications of the Gleneagles agreement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I met representatives of the Test and County Cricket Board on 23 June.

  I was subsequently informed of the outcome of the ICC meeting held on 26 June.

  Thamesmead
  Mr. Evennett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement regarding the transfer of Thamesmead from the London residuary body to Thamesmead town.

  Mr. Chope
  We shall be in a position to make a full statement by early next week.

  Telford Development Corporation
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to consult the tenants of the Telford development corporation about the future ownership of their homes.

  Mrs. Roe
  We are considering arrangements for such consultations.

  Development (Berkshire)
  Mr. Andrew McKay
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the pattern of development in Berkshire.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations relating to both the scale and pattern of future development in Berkshire. There will be further opportunity for comment about this when my right hon. Friend publishes his modifications to the replacement structure plan for Berkshire.

  Beaches
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the state of beaches in tourist areas.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) announced on 30 April (Official Report, column 186) the results of the 1986 survey of bathing water quality. These showed that about 62 per cent. of the 368 waters reported on met the coliform standards set out in the "Bathing Waters" directive of the European Community.
  533
  This survey is continuing, and some £70 million a year is being spent to improve coastal bathing water quality.

  Housing Estates (Administration)
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his plans for the future administration of council housing estates.

  Mrs. Roe
  We have plans to continue our policies of giving council tenants wider opportunities and choices. We shall legislate to give local authority tenants the right to opt for transfer to approved landlords.

  We shall set up housing action trusts in designated areas to take over run-down local authority housing, renovate it and pass it on to different tenures and ownership.

  We shall continue to encourage local authorities to improve the condition of council housing and to introduce more effective management and maintenance.

  Gazumping
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received on the subject of gazumping.

  Mrs. Roe
  I receive letters on the subject from time to time from hon. Members and members of the public; but questions on the law and practice of conveyancing are the responsibility of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor, whose predecessor established a standing committee at the Law Commission to bring forward proposals in this area.

  House Building
  Mr. Hardy
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take immediate steps to allow local authorities in inner cities and in areas of economic need to increase house building, in particular for the accommodation of the elderly.

  Mr. Waldergrave
  Local housing authorities are responsible for deciding the priorities for expenditure in their own areas and, after taking full account of what can be done by the private and voluntary sectors, for targeting new provision on those in greatest housing need, such as the elderly on low incomes.

  Charities
  Mr. Yeo
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the effect on charities on the Government's proposals for rate reform.

  Mr. Chope
  A number of voluntary and welfare organisations responded to the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714).

  Since the consultation period of the Green Paper ended on 31 October 1986, we have received a number of further representations.

  Pesticides
  Sir John Farr
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation
  534
  of the pesticides safety precautions scheme and the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986; and if he will give his assessment of whether the 1986 regulations are working effectively.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The pesticides safety precautions scheme was replaced on 6 October 1986 by the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. These regulations are coming into operation over several years and it will not be possible to assess their effectiveness fully until they have been in force for some time. However, I believe that there has been a high level of compliance with those regulations which are already in place, which have limited sale, supply and use of home-produced and imported pesticides to approved products, imposed new controls on aerial spraying, arid led to additional information being given in advertisements for pesticides.

  In addition, the Advisory Committee for Pesticides has been given statutory authority and its advisory panels opened to both sides of industry. Antifouling paints have been brought within the scope of the regulations from 1 July 1987. Companies submitting new pesticides for approval must now establish efficacy and, where appropriate, humaneness, and co-operate in the preparation of publicly available evaluations of safety and efficacy data. The existence of the regulations has also greatly facilitated recent control actions against certain pesticides which cause concern on both health and environmental grounds, and there has been an important increase in the training of pesticide operators and distributors in anticipation of the certification deadlines established under the regulations. Further regulations have been proposed to limit pesticide residues in crops, food and feedingstuffs.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost to the Housing Corporation of building a place in a hostel managed by a housing association.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In 1986–87 the average cost was £24,060 per bedspace.

  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost to the Housing Corporation of maintaining a place in a hostel managed by a housing association.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In 1986–87, £6·6 million in hostel deficit grant was paid by the Department of the Environment to 88 housing associations. The average grant per bedspace is not readily available.

  Polychlorinated Biphenyls
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if estimates are available of the amount of dioxin in parts per million formed during the high-temperature incineration of polychlorinated biphenyls.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Trials have demonstrated that the amount of dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans emitted as a result of high temperature incineration of PCBs by continuous liquid feed is constistently less than one part in 101 2 (that is one in a million million) in stack gases.

  Play Areas
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department issues recommendations or guidelines on safe surfaces in children's play or recreation areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Department issued guidance to local authorities on safety in children's playgrounds in 1978. This advice, which recommended the use of impact-absorbing surface materials under play equipment, was consolidated by British Standard 5696. A new British Standard is currently being drawn up.

  Shorthold
  Mr. Livingstone
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information his Department collects on a regular basis concerning the operation of the shorthold tenancy scheme;

  (2) what is his Department's latest available information concerning (a) the proportion of shorthold tenancies with and without regulated rents and (b) the average rent in both categories (i) in Greater London and (ii) elsewhere in England;

  (3) what is the proportion of shorthold lettings to date, which have been in property (a) previously vacant, (b) previously let under a non-shorthold regulated tenancy, and (c) previously let under a shorthold tenancy (i) in Greater London and (ii) elsewhere in England;

  (4) what is (a) the proportion of shorthold lettings to date, which were initially for (i) a year, (ii) more than a year, but not more than two years, (iii) more than two years, but not more than three years, (iv) more than three years, but not more than four years, and (v) more than four years, and up to five years and (b) the proportion of shorthold lettings to date which have subsequently been renewed (i) in Greater London and (ii) elsewhere in England.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Over 5,000 protected shorthold tenancies were created in England and Wales in 1981, the first year after shorthold was introduced. Information about shortholds created since 1 December 1981, when the compulsory rent registration requirement for new shortholds outside Greater London was lifted, has not been collected. The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys produced a report for the Department in 1986, "Recent Private Lettings 1982–84", based on a small sample of 704 occupiers and 543 landlords. This indicated that 14 per cent. of new lettings in England were shortholds; in Greater London the proportion was 8 per cent. The technical report on the survey, to be published later this year, will contain information on the rents for shorthold lettings, though not in the detail requested by the hon. Member.

  Urban Development Grant
  Ms. Armstrong
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used in the provision of urban development grants.

  Mr. Trippier
  Urban development grant is available to support projects which will contribute to the economic and physical regeneration of inner urban areas by bringing about additional private sector capital investment in these areas but which would not be commercially viable without some assistance from the public sector. Priority is given to 536
  projects in the areas of those local authorities which have been invited to submit inner area programmes. The criteria for approval of grant, and the procedure by which applications are appraised, are set out in more detail in the Department's explanatory leaflet, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

  Local Regiments (Freedom of City)
  Mr. Speller
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to allow district councils to grant freedom to local regiments or other armed forces units; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 already provides that district councils having the status of a city, borough or royal borough may confer honorary freedom on persons of distinction and persons who have rendered eminent services to the city, borough or royal borough. I understand that some boroughs have in the past exercised the power under section 249(5) in favour of local regiments but the interpretation of the powers conferred by section 249(5) is for the courts rather than Ministers.

  Housing Statistics
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for each of the last 10 years in England and Wales, what percentage of (a) newly constructed houses and (b) renovation of older houses has been undertaken by local authorities; and what percentage by private developers.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Following are the percentages of new dwelling completions in England for local authorities and new towns and the percentages for private owners; while most private housebuilding is for owner occupation, this is generally carried out by private developers.

  Housing and completions, England

  Local authorities and new towns

  Private sector

  per cent, of all completions

  1977

  43·7

  46·5

  1978

  38·2

  52·8

  1979

  35·3

  56·5

  1980

  36·5

  53·8

  1981

  32·2

  57·8

  1982

  21·0

  71·6

  1983

  17·5

  74·3

  1984

  16·5

  75·7

  1985

  14·2

  79·0

  1986

  11·1

  82·9

  Note: Other completions are for housing associations and Government Departments.

  While information is available on the numbers of local authority dwellings on which improvement work is carried out each quarter, for the private sector only the number of grant-aided renovations are reported. Private developers may receive such grants if the dwellings are to be available for renting for at least five years, in which case they will be included in the reported numbers of grants paid to landlords (including housing associations) which have been about 16 per cent. of the grants paid in England in the 10-year period.
  537
  For information on housebuilding and renovations in Wales, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Private Sector Housing
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial inducements are available to private sector developers to generate housing investment in areas designated by his Department as stress areas or deprived inner-city areas.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Urban development grant is available for private sector developments which benefit run-down urban areas. Priority is given to schemes from 57 inner area programme authorities. UDG meets the difference between the cost of a scheme and its value. So far, out of a total of 247 approved UDG schemes, 73 have been housing projects, these involve grant of £33 million and private investment of £115 million.

  We have also recently introduced urban regeneration grant, under which assistance can be given direct to private sector developers with proposals for the reclamation and redevelopment of large urban sites, or for the refurbishment of very large buildings or group of buildings, for housing and other purposes.
  538
  We have enabled housing associations to combine housing association grant and private finance to develop rented housing schemes; it is hoped to draw some £70 million of private investment into such activity in the current financial year, a substantial proportion of which will be spent in inner city areas. The Local Government (No. 2) Bill will give local authorities an explicit new power to provide assistance for private rented accommodation, subject to the Secretary's of State's consent.

  Estate action allocates resources to improve the environment and surroundings of run down housing estates. This helps those areas attract private skills and resources in investment in new housing and refurbishment.

  We have identified, and made public, details of the thousands of acres of land owned by public bodies and currently lying idle. The land registers, on which this land is entered, are a useful source of information to private developers and my right hon. Friend has invited anyone interested in bringing any of this land back into use to ask him to use the statutory powers available to direct the owner to sell the land.

  Urban development corporations and the derelict land programme may also remove obstacles to the development of new housing.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state (a) in general terms, and (b) by individual local authority, the percentage of the cost of construction of new local authority housing borne (i) by the ratepayer and (ii) by the taxpayer in England and Wales for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Local authorities finance capital expenditure primarily from capital receipts or borrowing. Loan charges on borrowing attributable to the construction of new housing are debited to an authority's housing revenue account. Payments of exchequer subsidy, and the rate fund contributions made by local authorities themselves, are both related essentially to the overall position rather than to particular items of expenditure. In 1985–86 about half the 366 local housing authorities in England made a rate fund contribution, and 99 qualified for exchequer subsidy. Under the present housing subsidy system, which came into operation in 1981–82, the calculation determining an authority's entitlement to subsidy includes 75 per cent. of the actual or notional loan charges on the admissible costs of any new construction it undertakes.

  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of empty local authority houses in each individual local authority area in England and Wales making up the total number of currently empty local authority houses.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The latest available figures for English authorities are those for 1 April 1986 from their 1986 housing investment programme returns. The figures appear in column A81 of the "HIP1 (1986) All items print" which is in the Library. For information on Welsh authorities, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Housing Waiting Lists
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to the number of applicants on local authority housing waiting lists who have made multiple applications in different local authority areas;

  Dwellings let to homeless households: England

  Dwellings let to new secure tenants who were homeless

  Dwellings let to new tenants who were homeless

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Region North (excluding Cumbria)

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  179

  9·6

  146

  6·9

  172

  9·5

  277

  14·9

  263

  13·4

  Newcastle Upon Tyne

  347

  11·3

  297

  8·2

  349

  8·2

  426

  13·7

  325

  8·6

  North Tyneside

  329

  24·4

  474

  33·5

  539

  37·2

  515

  32·2

  548

  39·5

  South Tyneside

  132

  9·0

  133

  9·9

  127

  8·3

  130

  9·6

  165

  12·5

  Sunderland

  246

  9·9

  235

  9·9

  358

  16·1

  307

  14·1

  294

  12·3

  Cleveland

  Hartlepoo1

  75

  14·7

  116

  18·7

  103

  15·2

  102

  14·4

  98

  15·9

  Langbaurgh

  71

  6·5

  90

  8·2

  76

  8·6

  70

  9·4

  91

  11·2

  Middlesbrough

  164

  10·8

  236

  16·0

  230

  14·8

  282

  16·5

  236

  15·1

  540
  (2) if he will list for each local authority in England and Wales the number of people on council housing waiting lists; and if he has any information to indicate how many of these people are on the waiting lists of other local authorities.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The latest available information on the number of households on housing waiting lists is for April 1986 and it was provided by English local authorities in their 1986 housing investment programme returns: the figures appear in column B51 of the "HIP1 (1986) All items print" which is in the Library. Unfortunately, information is not available centrally on the number of applicants on the waiting lists of more than one authority.

  For information on Welsh authorities I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Homeless Persons
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each local authority area in England and Wales the number of homes made available to people under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act for each of the last five years; and what percentage this represented of the total number of houses available for new tenants for each year.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Local authorities provide information on lettings to new tenants in their annual housing investment programme returns. The table gives for each English authority for each of the five years to 1985–86, the number of dwellings let to homeless households in priority need and the percentage this represents of all dwellings let to new tenants. The figures for 1981–82 and 1982–83 are for secure new tenancies only, while the later figures include also non-secure tenancies.

  In fulfilling their duties to secure accommodation for homeless households in priority need, authorities also make nominations for housing in other areas under mobility schemes and for tenancies with housing associations and new towns, and find accommodation in the private sector.

  For the position in Wales, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  541

  Dwellings let to new secure tenants who were homeless

  Dwellings let to new tenants who were homeless

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Stockton-on-Tees

  55

  6·7

  59

  6·6

  71

  6·9

  119

  9·3

  177

  11·0

  Durham

  Chester-le-Streel

  9

  3·2

  10

  2·4

  24

  5·9

  15

  3·8

  32

  7·0

  Darlington

  42

  11·5

  53

  9·9

  103

  21·9

  52

  9·5

  85

  14·2

  Derwentside

  14

  1·4

  16

  2·1

  38

  5·1

  28

  3·5

  19

  2·8

  Durham

  30

  5·9

  45

  8·1

  52

  6·5

  29

  3·9

  55

  10·9

  Easington

  67

  5·4

  83

  6·8

  90

  10·2

  111

  11·2

  69

  5·8

  Sedgefield

  20

  1·7

  42

  4·6

  14

  1·8

  58

  6·0

  60

  5·6

  Teesdale

  14

  16·9

  4

  4·0

  22

  28·9

  9

  8·1

  8

  15·4

  Wear Valley

  29

  5·8

  56

  11·4

  56

  12·5

  62

  10·8

  59

  11·4

  Northumberland

  Alnwick

  10

  8·3

  20

  13·7

  12

  6·6

  7

  3·7

  9

  5·0

  Berwick· upon-Tweed

  2

  0·9

  3

  1·4

  4

  2·0

  4

  2·6

  4

  2·0

  Blyth Valley

  66

  13·1

  103

  191

  80

  13·3

  82

  14·5

  77

  13·5

  Castle Morpeth

  20

  8·6

  10

  4·0

  21

  12·4

  28

  12·0

  17

  9·5

  Tynedale

  26

  9·5

  47

  20·7

  40

  14·3

  42

  19·3

  51

  20·2

  Wansbeck

  —

  —

  —

  —

  81

  12·4

  249

  34·1

  74

  9·6

  Region Yorkshire and Humberside

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  34

  2·3

  55

  3·7

  52

  4·1

  95

  7·6

  87

  5·5

  Doncaster

  3

  0·2

  —

  —

  56

  2·8

  77

  2·9

  46

  1·6

  Rotherham

  89

  5·7

  89

  4·9

  83

  5·5

  121

  8·4

  104

  5·0

  Sheffield

  —

  —

  244

  6·9

  811

  18·4

  486

  24·2

  994

  24·7

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  563

  15·6

  581

  17·0

  466

  14·3

  468

  15·0

  501

  14·2

  Calderdale

  100

  6·7

  91

  6·3

  91

  6·4

  79

  5·2

  98

  6·6

  Kirklees

  371

  15·3

  608

  25·0

  671

  23·8

  664

  21·8

  894

  26·2

  Leeds

  1,005

  17·3

  960

  16·2

  1,268

  21·3

  1,366

  21·9

  1,275

  22·1

  Wakefield

  209

  8·8

  243

  10·8

  243

  9·3

  283

  10·9

  265

  8·9

  Humberside

  Boothferry

  15

  6·9

  15

  7·6

  38

  18·1

  13

  5·9

  30

  10·9

  Cleethorpes

  52

  21·8

  55

  21·7

  29

  12·1

  28

  7·1

  43

  16·0

  East Yorkshire

  10

  4·0

  24

  9·4

  16

  7·7

  14

  5·3

  10

  4·3

  Glanford

  19

  3·3

  23

  7·2

  27

  10·5

  31

  9·1

  46

  14·1

  Great Grimsby

  123

  33·1

  91

  21·8

  95

  11·6

  123

  18·2

  123

  21·6

  Holdcrness

  15

  10·3

  28

  12·2

  37

  23·4

  32

  18·6

  32

  18·5

  Kingston upon Hull

  248

  10·0

  323

  13·7

  304

  13·9

  350

  15·0

  573

  19·8

  Scunthorpe

  31

  4·8

  27

  3·1

  41

  4·7

  62

  8·6

  85

  11·8

  The East Yorkshire Borough of Beverley

  —

  —

  64

  18·6

  121

  35·5

  94

  35·7

  111

  18·4

  North Yorkshire

  Craven

  32

  20·1

  47

  30·7

  56

  31·5

  30

  21·0

  38

  27·0

  Hambleton

  51

  25·5

  84

  46·2

  47

  17·3

  55

  19·9

  50

  20·0

  Harrogate

  73

  19·5

  64

  20·1

  73

  22·5

  72

  24·3

  91

  25·0

  Richmondshire

  36

  19·3

  34

  18·1

  23

  15·6

  41

  24·3

  47

  36·7

  Rycdalc

  37

  25·0

  47

  27·6

  54

  36·2

  57

  29·2

  52

  19·5

  Scarborough

  135

  34·0

  106

  35·6

  105

  28·9

  120

  35·1

  116

  33·8

  Selby

  58

  15·8

  66

  21·4

  61

  19·2

  49

  10·9

  40

  12·2

  York

  127

  34·0

  96

  19·1

  143

  21·8

  181

  26·0

  148

  27·3

  Region East Midlands Derbyshire

  Amber Valley

  97

  30·3

  115

  29·6

  126

  32·3

  124

  29·0

  144

  35·3

  Bolsover

  13

  2·9

  12

  3·1

  6

  2·1

  13

  3·6

  9

  2·4

  Chesterfield

  30

  4·3

  15

  2·1

  38

  6·3

  52

  7·4

  65

  8·4

  Derbyshire Dales

  31

  20·0

  42

  25·1

  51

  20·8

  31

  15·1

  34

  17·8

  Derby

  169

  12·7

  194

  15·3

  144

  10·9

  205

  14·9

  261

  17·1

  Erewash

  75

  15·0

  56

  11·3

  97

  19·7

  100

  21·5

  116

  25·6

  High Peak

  42

  18·8

  28

  11·0

  32

  7·8

  40

  10·2

  46

  12·5

  North East Derbyshire

  41

  8·4

  56

  11·4

  68

  14·1

  80

  15·3

  89

  16·3

  South Derbyshire

  32

  14·6

  24

  12·8

  16

  7·3

  49

  16·8

  61

  25·3

  Leicestershire

  Blaby

  19

  11·8

  17

  9·8

  37

  17·1

  45

  22·3

  43

  21·9

  Charnwood

  89

  17·7

  85

  15·8

  75

  15·5

  n/a

  n/a

  95

  19·2

  Harborough

  23

  12·8

  25

  14·0

  31

  16·4

  33

  16·7

  46

  28·2

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  18

  9·1

  17

  8·9

  4

  1·6

  28

  11·8

  20

  7·9

  542 543

  Dwellings let to new secure tenants who were homeless

  Dwellings let to new tenants who were homeless

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Leicester

  349

  17·3

  306

  11·4

  155

  7·0

  235

  11·9

  463

  23·5

  Melton

  30

  22·9

  26

  11·5

  9

  5·8

  21

  12·0

  50

  29·4

  North West Leicestershire

  33

  18·8

  29

  11·3

  29

  9·7

  29

  9·4

  53

  14·0

  Oadby and Wigston

  —

  —

  72

  47·1

  59

  58·4

  67

  66·3

  68

  50·7

  Rutland

  34

  34·3

  29

  37·2

  49

  38·6

  59

  54·1

  54

  58·7

  Lincolnshire

  Boston

  16

  6·2

  6

  2·3

  12

  3·7

  11

  3·8

  13

  5·0

  East Lindsey

  36

  12·5

  27

  8·4

  47

  14·6

  60

  15·9

  40

  14·2

  Lincoln

  81

  11·5

  102

  12·0

  87

  12·3

  91

  12·4

  89

  14·8

  North Kesteven

  37

  13·2

  36

  11·8

  62

  20·2

  53

  13·5

  63

  18·3

  South Holland

  26

  10·7

  17

  5·7

  34

  16·3

  64

  15·4

  39

  12·7

  South Kesteven

  62

  13·7

  65

  13·7

  131

  20·9

  130

  22·5

  113

  20·0

  West Lindsey

  57

  19·1

  79

  24·7

  89

  26·3

  79

  24·2

  56

  18·4

  Northamptonshire

  Corby

  66

  6·9

  62

  6·7

  88

  12·3

  123

  17·2

  128

  21·5

  Daventry

  23

  8·6

  11

  3·4

  62

  17·8

  47

  12·5

  58

  17·5

  East Northamptonshire

  46

  20·5

  46

  15·6

  46

  17·7

  29

  9·7

  50

  19·1

  Kettering

  38

  9·7

  41

  10·2

  29

  7·7

  60

  19·0

  62

  18·0

  Northampton

  82

  11·7

  85

  9·1

  113

  13·2

  143

  9·2

  227

  14·4

  South Northamptonshire

  80

  41·7

  65

  33·3

  57

  32·4

  65

  30·8

  70

  38·3

  Wellingborough

  35

  6·6

  30

  5·1

  34

  5·3

  47

  8·3

  54

  10·7

  Nottinghamshire

  Ashfield

  41

  5·9

  70

  9·8

  68

  8·9

  69

  9·6

  116

  16·0

  Bassetlaw

  39

  7·3

  22

  3·2

  98

  15·0

  96

  15·8

  161

  23·4

  Broxstowe

  54

  15·0

  54

  14·3

  79

  18·2

  88

  24·0

  96

  20·6

  Gedling

  23

  11·3

  35

  13·0

  27

  8·7

  42

  11·7

  55

  24·0

  Mansfield

  32

  3·7

  44

  4·6

  72

  7·4

  74

  8·1

  78

  9·5

  Newark and Sherwood

  31

  5·5

  39

  6·4

  87

  11·6

  45

  7·3

  39

  7·3

  Nottingham

  220

  7·3

  232

  8·1

  267

  8·4

  273

  9·4

  368

  13·3

  Rushcliffe

  26

  10·8

  26

  10·7

  21

  8·2

  24

  13·1

  32

  14·2

  Region Eastern Bedfordshire

  Luton

  55

  9·5

  42

  5·2

  32

  4·7

  19

  3·4

  33

  5·1

  Mid Bedfordshire

  26

  7·9

  24

  6·2

  50

  10·5

  34

  10·7

  40

  11·4

  North Bedfordshire

  110

  27·0

  106

  20·6

  75

  16·3

  74

  16·1

  95

  22·2

  South Bedfordshire

  90

  24·8

  61

  14·4

  42

  12·8

  58

  16·9

  59

  18·8

  Buckinghamshire

  Aylesbury Vale

  140

  23·7

  51

  11·9

  165

  40·0

  63

  16·0

  83

  14·9

  Chiltern

  45

  17·9

  25

  13·8

  39

  21·2

  29

  16–8

  17

  9·7

  Milton Keynes

  72

  18·4

  79

  16·5

  88

  17·2

  50

  11·0

  60

  12·4

  South Buckinghamshire

  21

  13·6

  31

  17·7

  25

  18·5

  16

  10·9

  8

  6·3

  Wycombe

  145

  31·3

  158

  40·4

  189

  44·4

  148

  35·3

  117

  37·1

  Cambridgeshire

  Cambridge

  71

  14·2

  53

  9·3

  74

  11·0

  97

  18·4

  129

  25·3

  East Cambridgeshire

  21

  9·5

  6

  2·5

  15

  6·6

  35

  15·2

  37

  17·8

  Fenland

  9

  3·7

  —

  —

  14

  6·1

  25

  8·0

  16

  6·1

  Huntingdonshire

  82

  20·1

  167

  35·4

  144

  26·4

  123

  25·5

  187

  39·1

  Peterborough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  42

  6·5

  38

  6·1

  91

  14·3

  South Cambridgeshire

  16

  6·1

  20

  5·1

  69

  15·1

  66

  17·4

  55

  15·3

  Essex

  Basildon

  57

  8·1

  50

  10·5

  105

  16·4

  117

  23·1

  97

  17·0

  Braintree

  33

  7·3

  26

  4·9

  80

  16·8

  57

  11·3

  94

  19·4

  Brentwood

  16

  8·9

  30

  13·8

  25

  14·4

  7

  4·9

  32

  26·7

  Castle Point

  44

  34·9

  29

  30·9

  58

  50·0

  44

  44·9

  33

  25·8

  Chelmsford

  48

  13·5

  94

  22·9

  87

  20·0

  107

  17·5

  163

  32·5

  Colchester

  50

  11·3

  60

  12·2

  85

  17·3

  137

  24·9

  170

  30·2

  Epping Forest

  17

  5·5

  19

  6·1

  17

  5·8

  20

  8·2

  28

  9·1

  Harlow

  54

  6·8

  55

  6·4

  132

  n/a

  162

  19·9

  209

  23·6

  Maldon

  19

  27·5

  36

  40·0

  51

  41·5

  50

  40·0

  56

  39·4

  Rochford

  23

  10·1

  25

  15·7

  25

  16·8

  38

  20·1

  44

  38·3

  Southend-on-Sea

  51

  11·6

  31

  9·3

  66

  13·3

  67

  15·5

  106

  24·7

  Tendring

  58

  20·1

  36

  12·5

  54

  29·5

  65

  28·9

  67

  26·7

  Thurrock

  209

  37·7

  244

  38·6

  175

  30·8

  160

  28·6

  166

  26·1

  Uttlesford

  39

  27·1

  38

  23·7

  35

  24·1

  42

  25·3

  56

  30·3

  Hertfordshire

  544 545

  Dwellings let to new secure tenants who were homeless

  Dwellings let to new tenants who were homeless

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Number

  Per cent. of all

  Broxbourne

  61

  23·2

  51

  21·2

  67

  19·3

  58

  20·6

  84

  31·3

  Dacorum

  120

  19·2

  131

  22·4

  145

  22·6

  94

  15·6

  99

  13·6

  East Hertfordshire

  116

  46·6

  120

  44·1

  164

  50·2

  148

  48·4

  122

  39·1

  Hertsmere

  56

  19·5

  100

  34·2

  111

  44·9

  108

  36·9

  131

  32·5

  North Hertfordshire

  57

  11·9

  53

  13·1

  46

  9·5

  48

  13·1

  46

  11·2

  St. Albans

  114

  46·5

  131

  47·8

  130

  46·4

  131

  45·2

  130

  55·1

  Stevenage

  33

  5·4

  61

  8·6

  65

  10·4

  130

  21·3

  118

  23·2

  Three Rivers

  36

  18·5

  93

  36·9

  91

  46·2

  111

  60·3

  92

  48·4

  Watford

  66

  19·8

  49

  29·5

  143

  58·6

  124

  45·3

  114

  30·6

  Welwyn Hatfield

  —

  —

  —

  —

  68

  9·3

  68

  13·2

  93

  17·4

  Norfolk

  Breckland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  92

  32·9

  112

  34·7

  121

  30·8

  Broadland

  3

  1·7

  5

  3·6

  23

  7·3

  21

  11·9

  49

  26·8

  Great Yarmouth

  25

  8·6

  —

  —

  32

  10·5

  35

  8·4

  36

  10·8

  King's Lynn and West Norfolk

  60

  11·5

  103

  23·7

  122

  27·4

  125

  26·6

  143

  27·0

  North Norfolk

  73

  27·9

  82

  24·0

  88

  33·6

  88

  26·3

  98

  27·4

  Norwich

  167

  15·6

  165

  13·0

  182

  14·2

  175

  16·1

  383

  27·2

  South Norfolk

  36

  13·6

  32

  16·1

  27

  10·2

  60

  27·6

  88

  27·2

  Suffolk

  Babergh

  43

  22·4

  34

  17·3

  69

  30·3

  80

  38·1

  150

  43·5

  Forest Healh

  12

  5·4

  —

  —

  20

  7·5

  16

  5·9

  25

  10·6

  Ipswich

  72

  16·6

  96

  27·3

  170

  28·7

  183

  43·9

  204

  46·4

  Mid Suffolk

  38

  14·3

  15

  7·5

  16

  10·7

  19

  9·0

  43

  16·5

  St. Edmundsbury

  34

  7·6

  20

  6·2

  63

  17·1

  75

  20·9

  40

  16·0

  Suffolk Coastal

  18

  6·1

  12

  5·2

  14

  6·5

  19

  6–1

  24

  10·5

  Waveney

  79

  29·0

  94

  27·8

  51

  13·5

  52

  12·3

  70

  22·2

  Region London

  Greater London

  Greater London Council

  825

  10·7

  151

  4·4

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  n/a

  n/a

  City of London

  16

  8·1

  16

  11·0

  15

  12·4

  12

  10·3

  17

  11·8

  Camden

  501

  18·4

  418

  23·6

  n/a

  n/a

  684

  44·5

  1,319

  68·6

  Greenwich

  243

  14·2

  251

  12·0

  n/a

  n/a

  1,034

  60·9

  909

  54·1

  Hackney

  535

  42·8

  1,031

  57·0

  810

  38·0

  628

  40·8

  628

  42·5

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  524

  53·7

  505

  58·6

  497

  42·9

  499

  50·6

  482

  61·9

  Islington

  476

  26·7

  718

  44·8

  n/a

  n/a

  711

  55·5

  971

  61·9

  Kensington and Chelsea

  183

  27·9

  195

  26·4

  195

  32·8

  172

  28·7

  187

  33·5

  Lambeth

  2,423

  64·2

  1,206

  39·7

  1,061

  36·1

  1,102

  43·0

  1,320

  48·3

  Lewisham

  362

  21·2

  476

  22·9

  605

  43·1

  922

  52·6

  1,387

  58·6

  Southwark

  348

  8·3

  409

  15·2

  878

  35·5

  n/a

  n/a

  1,119

  50·1

  Tower Hamlets

  72

  6·8

  58

  5·6

  104

  11·7

  143

  20·1

  355

  34·4

  Wandsworth

  542

  30·4

  397

  22·7

  364

  31·2

  583

  51·3

  367

  51·2

  Westminster, City of

  476

  38·5

  595

  55·2

  484

  52·2

  426

  40·1

  474

  42·7

  Barking and Dagenham

  133

  11·0

  134

  10·8

  202

  16·9

  254

  21·7

  n/a

  n/a

  Barnet

  98

  14·3

  207

  28·2

  339

  39·2

  257

  38·0

  336

  50·1

  Bexley

  142

  29·5

  137

  28·2

  152

  30·3

  184

  32·6

  211

  43·5

  Brent

  752

  58·1

  533

  59·6

  718

  62·3

  653

  56·9

  595

  58·5

  Bromley

  278

  39·8

  280

  38·9

  380

  60·5

  490

  64·4

  489

  70·5

  Croydon

  522

  71·8

  514

  76·3

  492

  62·8

  379

  61·1

  418

  69·3

  Ealing

  806

  68·1

  758

  73·3

  n/a

  n/a

  734

  85·8

  686

  70·7

  Enfield

  182

  20·7

  274

  30·8

  376

  35·8

  398

  36·4

  350

  40·5

  Haringey

  567

  41·0

  559

  50·2

  805

  55·7

  792

  58·9

  723

  61·9

  Harrow

  191

  46·9

  190

  57·2

  230

  52·8

  181

  56·6

  273

  61·6

  Havering

  116

  20·8

  92

  16·2

  149

  n/a

  177

  22·5

  296

  39·9

  Hillingdon

  206

  28·6

  187

  29·3

  198

  17·4

  218

  49·4

  242

  52·4

  Hounslow

  355

  33·5

  436

  39·8

  698

  61·8

  579

  59·6

  517

  49·7

  Kingston upon Thames

  143

  61·4

  135

  45·5

  123

  48·4

  131

  60·9

  190

  56·2

  Merton

  227

  40·8

  223

  47·9

  190

  33·2

  213

  44·9

  253

  49·6

  Newham

  519

  31·5

  673

  42·0

  n/a

  n/a

  798

  60·3

  820

  58·5

  Redbridge

  263

  61·6

  236

  49·8

  254

  50·7

  286

  57·3

  288

  58·2

  Richmond upon Thames

  140

  25·8

  155

  42·0

  n/a

  n/a

  181

  38·1

  205

  44·9

  Sutton

  144

  30·4

  152

  34·7

  217

  41·6

  255

  46·9

  267

  48·8

  Waltham Forest

  516

  51·5

  708

  46·9

  547

  43·6

  527

  37·3

  621

  45·8

  Region South Eastern

  Berkshire

  Bracknell

  49

  7·1

  51

  10·4

  21

  3·4

  36

  6·6

  36

  7·1

  Newbury

  95

  28·5

  78

  22·3

  62

  17·8

  115

  22·5

  126

  44·1

  Reading

  209

  44·0

  183

  42·7

  187

  45·1

  98

  46·0

  197

  49·2

  Slough

  118

  28·0

  150

  39·1

  179

  35·1

  157

  29·2

  142

  38·1

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  14

  6·1

  15

  5·6

  87

  31·2

  86

  33·2

  97

  30·7

  546 547

  Dwellings let to new secure tenants who were homeless

  Dwellings let to new tenants who were homeless

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Wokingham

  47

  28·0

  70

  32·0

  55

  33·5

  55

  25·6

  54

  19·1

  East Sussex

  Brighton

  276

  65·9

  211

  59·6

  181

  51·1

  192

  44·5

  176

  43·1

  Eastbourne

  51

  21·8

  88

  37·3

  97

  26·8

  61

  19·9

  110

  30·4

  Hastings

  106

  31·5

  156

  38·3

  122

  36·1

  118

  37·0

  182

  48·7

  Hove

  126

  81·8

  152

  71·4

  98

  60·5

  142

  59·7

  127

  58·3

  Lewes

  30

  15·3

  39

  22·4

  59

  29·4

  76

  35·3

  77

  34·2

  Rother

  32

  19·5

  28

  16·0

  35

  16·7

  44

  25·6

  76

  42·5

  Wealden

  73

  31·3

  47

  25·7

  84

  30·3

  78

  27·8

  112

  43·6

  Hampshire

  Basingstoke and Deane

  29

  5·4

  57

  8·7

  74

  13·2

  62

  14·1

  94

  19·0

  East Hampshire

  54

  19·7

  80

  29·0

  89

  31·3

  93

  38·1

  127

  53·4

  Eastleigh

  67

  45·6

  84

  52·2

  90

  36·4

  77

  35·6

  85

  31·4

  Fareham

  6

  4·8

  3

  2·5

  29

  13·2

  29

  14·9

  34

  18·0

  Gosport

  106

  42·4

  —

  —

  135

  44·7

  147

  47·7

  201

  58·6

  Hart

  39

  17·1

  21

  15·7

  34

  22·5

  28

  11·8

  35

  25·5

  Havant

  3

  1·1

  50

  24·4

  72

  25·7

  23

  11·9

  36

  12·4

  New Forest

  122

  34·2

  138

  38·0

  183

  56·8

  180

  64·7

  195

  52·1

  Portsmouth

  47

  4·8

  63

  5·2

  88

  5·5

  135

  8·6

  182

  22·9

  Rushmoor

  179

  67·5

  165

  62·0

  152

  50·7

  174

  64·0

  166

  69·2

  Southampton

  92

  9·0

  111

  8·9

  111

  9·0

  130

  10·9

  143

  13·7

  Test Valley

  111

  39·6

  112

  39·3

  179

  44·5

  137

  35·3

  115

  27·8

  Winchester

  42

  16·0

  25

  12·4

  27

  9·6

  77

  20·8

  86

  25·6

  Isle of Wight

  Medina

  98

  56·3

  73

  45·6

  187

  54·7

  185

  60·1

  131

  54·8

  South Wight

  45

  38·5

  46

  30·3

  75

  39·3

  59

  40·4

  41

  43·2

  Kent

  Ashford

  22

  7·4

  9

  2·5

  39

  7·7

  32

  7·9

  64

  15·1

  Canterbury

  36

  10·6

  71

  17·9

  84

  18·4

  113

  27·5

  149

  36·6

  Dartford

  43

  20·9

  51

  23·1

  73

  29·2

  87

  31·9

  99

  43·0

  Dover

  29

  10·2

  56

  17·1

  62

  18·5

  68

  15·5

  89

  20·2

  Gillingham

  79

  37·4

  70

  26·6

  73

  31·6

  90

  35·9

  121

  57·9

  Gravesham

  62

  32·8

  78

  28·0

  96

  34·5

  135

  47·9

  170

  50·1

  Maidstone

  154

  49·4

  170

  51·2

  173

  52·3

  191

  56·8

  195

  56·4

  Rochester upon Medway

  74

  20·9

  72

  14·2

  27

  9·5

  44

  19·2

  43

  18·2

  Sevenoaks

  160

  55·7

  171

  37·2

  205

  56·8

  219

  65·8

  171

  51·7

  Shepway

  —

  —

  12

  4·1

  5

  2·4

  10

  4·3

  22

  9·5

  Swale

  104

  28·6

  65

  22·4

  57

  17·9

  101

  24·2

  113

  29·3

  Thanet

  90

  20·8

  52

  9·2

  56

  12·6

  43

  9·6

  38

  7·5

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  2

  1·1

  26

  8·2

  86

  36·1

  98

  36·4

  246

  68·7

  Tunbridge Wells

  51

  23·6

  45

  19·6

  95

  40·4

  86

  41·5

  106

  49·5

  Oxfordshire

  Cherwell

  108

  26·0

  94

  26·9

  78

  20·3

  148

  40·0

  170

  38·8

  Oxford

  92

  17·4

  73

  22·0

  56

  14·1

  52

  10·7

  55

  14·6

  South Oxfordshire

  32

  13·1

  30

  11·8

  44

  14·8

  33

  11·3

  30

  7·4

  Vale of White Horse

  5

  3·4

  —

  —

  21

  8·4

  19

  10·2

  18

  7·0

  West Oxfordshire

  24

  9·2

  31

  16·2

  54

  23·2

  52

  19·1

  48

  19·8

  Surrey

  Elmbridge

  105

  48·4

  100

  66·2

  139

  44·8

  106

  38·0

  125

  40·2

  Epsom and Ewell

  15

  13·8

  12

  11·3

  16

  12·5

  1

  1·0

  17

  23·3

  Guildford

  95

  41·7

  64

  26·1

  52

  20·5

  88

  29·1

  105

  28·3

  Mole Valley

  16

  6·5

  36

  15·7

  50

  24·9

  1

  0·7

  4

  2·7

  Reigate and Banstead

  82

  33·5

  88

  35·1

  108

  37·2

  97

  35·1

  84

  29·4

  Runnymede

  64

  39·0

  76

  46·1

  68

  41·7

  72

  52·2

  74

  54·4

  Spelthorne

  46

  36·2

  57

  20·3

  51

  17·2

  86

  39·8

  48

  23·6

  Surrey Heath

  9

  7·1

  11

  9·4

  25

  19·8

  21

  12·4

  36

  22·1

  Tandridge

  24

  16·4

  11

  7·0

  21

  14·3

  33

  21·3

  82

  31·3

  Waverley

  28

  10·5

  60

  28·0

  67

  37·9

  92

  31·9

  85

  35·6

  Woking

  68

  36·4

  27

  12·7

  74

  33·5

  80

  37·6

  107

  45·7

  West Sussex

  Adur

  75

  31·5

  72

  43·6

  53

  30·5

  50

  34·2

  72

  35·3

  Arun

  81

  27·0

  49

  20·1

  46

  13·4

  32

  10·4

  41

  14·7

  Chichester

  70

  23·0

  89

  32·4

  86

  31·4

  132

  38·2

  139

  37·6

  Crawley

  75

  22·7

  91

  22·5

  109

  25·8

  129

  24·4

  200

  48·2

  Horsham

  137

  40·9

  113

  51·8

  89

  36·9

  81

  33·2

  84

  32·9

  Mid Sussex

  30

  14·3

  32

  16·9

  45

  20·7

  59

  21·2

  76

  34·7

  548 549

  Dwellings let to new secure tenants who were homeless

  Dwellings let to new tenants who were homeless

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of nil

  Worthing

  80

  42·8

  44

  22·7

  80

  46·5

  93

  48·9

  86

  46·7

  Region South West

  Avon

  Bath

  117

  27·9

  130

  30·7

  151

  39·5

  174

  45·7

  208

  56·7

  Bristol

  295

  16·3

  284

  14·9

  210

  10·6

  462

  23·2

  415

  21·9

  Kingswood

  47

  24·7

  36

  14·7

  62

  24·2

  58

  24·1

  95

  33·7

  Northavon

  22

  9·5

  18

  7·4

  51

  21·5

  47

  18·7

  57

  23·6

  Wansdyke

  45

  20·0

  44

  21·4

  40

  18·2

  41

  23·4

  50

  23·3

  Woodspring

  182

  43·9

  140

  33·1

  108

  28·1

  148

  31·6

  184

  40·6

  Cornwall

  Caradon

  67

  25·9

  49

  15·5

  78

  28·3

  78

  29·2

  78

  29·1

  Carrick

  60

  39·7

  49

  23·1

  64

  31·7

  47

  20·2

  57

  27·0

  Isles of Scilly

  —

  —

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kerrier

  41

  23·4

  22

  11·3

  57

  33·7

  62

  19·8

  47

  22·1

  North Cornwall

  52

  12·9

  51

  15·8

  79

  21·4

  69

  22·0

  82

  28·5

  Pen with

  84

  45·2

  59

  30·6

  65

  35·9

  68

  35·2

  47

  21·4

  Restormel

  112

  48·7

  85

  36·2

  147

  44·8

  99

  32·6

  116

  40·4

  Devon

  East Devon

  41

  13·5

  68

  25·6

  68

  27·5

  66

  23·6

  66

  25·4

  Exeter

  15

  4·3

  24

  7·2

  56

  17·9

  51

  12·4

  64

  17·2

  Mid Devon

  55

  29·9

  45

  16·4

  66

  25·3

  45

  16·5

  36

  21·8

  North Devon

  46

  14·2

  29

  11·8

  53

  22·9

  45

  22·7

  46

  18·0

  Plymouth

  346

  36·1

  390

  34·5

  356

  37·8

  373

  36·9

  416

  34·1

  South Hams

  59

  36·4

  32

  23·2

  60

  27·0

  34

  12·2

  34

  14·7

  Teignbridgc

  16

  11·8

  20

  10·9

  139

  46·2

  92

  38·8

  131

  46·0

  Torbay

  90

  48·1

  82

  40·8

  101

  54·3

  122

  54·7

  105

  54·4

  Torridge

  9

  8·4

  10

  7·5

  7

  4·4

  9

  6·9

  9

  8·1

  West Devon

  19

  16·0

  21

  21·6

  46

  48·4

  40

  40·8

  40

  50·0

  Dorset

  Bournemouth

  124

  35·7

  149

  43·3

  121

  28·6

  117

  33·4

  133

  31·7

  Christchurch

  12

  23·5

  8

  12·5

  32

  27·4

  29

  24·6

  30

  32·6

  North Dorset

  94

  57·0

  69

  42·9

  73

  34·3

  66

  40·0

  75

  36·6

  Poole

  90

  26·2

  89

  30·4

  133

  32·3

  148

  35·5

  150

  48·1

  Purbeck

  19

  17·8

  15

  17·9

  28

  33·3

  71

  37·0

  43

  45·3

  West Dorset

  30

  13·6

  37

  15·5

  54

  15·3

  42

  14·9

  48

  16·2

  Weymouth and Portland

  86

  46·2

  109

  58·0

  137

  67·5

  131

  67·5

  162

  55·7

  Wimborne

  45

  22·5

  33

  20·6

  32

  14·3

  34

  25·4

  44

  23·2

  Gloucestershire

  Cheltenham

  54

  17·9

  27

  7·7

  26

  8·8

  31

  9·7

  55

  17·4

  Cotswold

  56

  25·7

  34

  11·3

  47

  25·4

  37

  22·4

  37

  22·2

  Forest of Dean

  19

  7·1

  22

  9·4

  37

  18·6

  33

  17·9

  47

  25·8

  Gloucester

  47

  17·7

  50

  16·0

  51

  18·0

  93

  29·9

  144

  48·2

  Stroud

  112

  40·1

  115

  32·6

  82

  27·3

  106

  39·4

  143

  49·0

  Tewkesbury

  42

  18·3

  50

  22·6

  52

  24·6

  71

  35·0

  72

  33·6

  Somerset

  Mendip

  56

  22·7

  74

  19·1

  57

  13·8

  56

  13·8

  55

  17·5

  Sedgemoor

  —

  —

  —

  —

  23

  8·9

  45

  14·8

  49

  15·7

  South Somerset

  75

  14·9

  70

  14·2

  94

  14·7

  153

  29·3

  167

  26·9

  Taunton Deane

  91

  21·0

  105

  23·1

  102

  28·0

  102

  23·6

  107

  24·1

  West Somerset

  29

  15·8

  31

  33·3

  41

  25·8

  55

  42·0

  41

  36·3

  Wiltshire

  Ken net

  45

  26·9

  21

  9·2

  73

  27·4

  59

  21·2

  133

  63·3

  North Wiltshire

  48

  15·9

  86

  34·3

  66

  27·0

  126

  32·7

  134

  41·6

  Salisbury

  127

  39·7

  136

  36·0

  112

  36·8

  97

  33·6

  93

  31·6

  Thamesdown

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  99

  11·5

  127

  13·5

  130

  12·5

  West Wiltshire

  84

  27·6

  74

  23·4

  84

  23·8

  88

  29·0

  71

  28·2

  Region West Midlands

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  3,112

  37·1

  3,571

  41·7

  2,481

  33·5

  3,613

  44·9

  4,258

  49·3

  Coventry

  105

  5·3

  114

  5·3

  110

  4·7

  128

  5·7

  253

  11·2

  Dudley

  132

  7·6

  142

  7·0

  137

  7·4

  244

  12·0

  166

  7·7

  Sandwell

  228

  8·6

  234

  7·7

  172

  5·6

  236

  8·1

  314

  9·9

  Solihull

  219

  25·6

  190

  21·3

  283

  26·1

  249

  25·4

  325

  38·3

  Walsall

  50

  2·4

  165

  10·0

  350

  22·6

  382

  21·5

  540

  30·2

  Wolverhampton

  84

  3·2

  100

  4·1

  280

  12·4

  390

  21·8

  344

  17·4

  550 551

  Dwellings let to new secure tenants who were homeless

  Dwellings let to new tenants who were homeless

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Hereford and Worcester

  Bromsgrove

  32

  19·8

  41

  25·9

  48

  21·4

  74

  35·1

  67

  35·3

  Hereford

  45

  19·1

  47

  18·7

  35

  14·8

  44

  14·1

  82

  34·9

  Leominster

  25

  29·8

  46

  41·8

  41

  42·3

  45

  46·9

  49

  41·5

  Malvern Hills

  80

  23·8

  75

  21·7

  89

  28·3

  114

  25·4

  160

  44·4

  Redditch

  12

  5·8

  14

  7·6

  51

  18·7

  37

  13·4

  152

  22·6

  South Herefordshire

  27

  24·3

  36

  29·3

  29

  26·6

  42

  37·5

  49

  45·8

  Worcester

  59

  21·1

  69

  22·1

  78

  24·2

  80

  21·1

  123

  37·6

  Wychavon

  65

  17·7

  59

  16·4

  44

  10·1

  37

  9·1

  51

  14·1

  Wyre Forest

  47

  11·8

  67

  13·3

  91

  20·7

  129

  25·0

  127

  23·0

  Shropshire

  Bridgnorth

  11

  6·1

  15

  11·7

  12

  9·1

  26

  16·6

  43

  21·7

  North Shropshire

  20

  13·4

  29

  15·0

  27

  10·6

  43

  15·7

  56

  34·6

  Oswestry

  19

  15·3

  22

  15·9

  15

  8·6

  22

  13·7

  39

  20·6

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  22

  6·9

  10

  2·6

  81

  15·1

  46

  8·8

  56

  13·7

  South Shropshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  28

  27·7

  10

  12·0

  15

  19·0

  The Wrekin

  34

  4·3

  19

  2·1

  26

  3·2

  53

  8·6

  126

  17·4

  Staffordshire

  Cannock Chase

  119

  38·0

  182

  41·6

  109

  28·3

  106

  28·4

  91

  26·3

  East Staffordshire

  43

  11·7

  38

  11·6

  53

  10·3

  70

  12·4

  69

  16·5

  Lichfield

  104

  31·6

  76

  22·0

  81

  30·0

  86

  34·1

  96

  36·5

  Newcastlc-under-Lyme

  15

  3·0

  60

  11·9

  99

  19·1

  10

  15·1

  132

  19·0

  South Staffordshire

  22

  8·9

  41

  15·3

  35

  13·0

  49

  19·8

  77

  27·3

  Stafford

  65

  15·0

  63

  14·2

  72

  17·4

  113

  27·5

  142

  35·0

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  38

  20·7

  51

  25·0

  35

  22·7

  40

  25·5

  47

  26·4

  Stoke-on-trent

  238

  23·5

  236

  16·2

  266

  23·3

  484

  39·0

  638

  46·6

  Tamworth

  24

  5·4

  34

  5·9

  101

  16·4

  95

  17·5

  126

  24·0

  Warwickshire

  North Warwickshire

  14

  8·7

  12

  6·1

  17

  7·6

  12

  5·5

  52

  26·0

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  31

  6·8

  76

  12·6

  56

  8·6

  40

  7·1

  49

  7·7

  Rugby

  72

  23·8

  49

  21·2

  60

  15·2

  29

  5·6

  51

  11·9

  Stratford-on-Avon

  56

  16·4

  45

  11·3

  53

  13·3

  75

  19·9

  68

  18·8

  Warwick

  50

  19·4

  57

  13·5

  77

  23·8

  68

  15·6

  88

  26·5

  Region North West (including Cumbria)

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  248

  13·1

  225

  12·5

  277

  17·6

  220

  14·4

  744

  38·1

  Bury

  143

  19·3

  117

  11·3

  186

  17·9

  273

  26·5

  247

  26·5

  Manchester

  431

  5·5

  826

  11·1

  975

  16·4

  1,408

  23·2

  1,976

  33·9

  Oldham

  124

  5·4

  173

  7·3

  184

  7·9

  122

  5·1

  111

  4·8

  Rochdale

  29

  1·6

  37

  1·9

  35

  1·6

  42

  1·8

  58

  2·6

  Salford

  36

  1·4

  207

  6·9

  61

  2·4

  151

  6·5

  28

  1·3

  Stockport

  64

  9·1

  83

  8·4

  75

  6·9

  70

  7·7

  171

  14·8

  Tameside

  130

  11·1

  136

  9·8

  191

  14·9

  219

  13·7

  273

  17·4

  Trafford

  209

  35·5

  183

  32·4

  147

  22·6

  214

  29·5

  212

  28·9

  Wigan

  202

  8·1

  261

  10·4

  299

  12·5

  267

  11·2

  322

  12·5

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  211

  11·9

  369

  21·0

  285

  17·7

  288

  17·3

  311

  17·2

  Liverpool

  196

  9·7

  196

  6·7

  257

  8·7

  220

  11·2

  381

  17·8

  St. Helens

  101

  9·0

  163

  16·5

  302

  22·5

  178

  149

  241

  19·2

  Sefton

  95

  9·1

  105

  9·1

  n/a

  n/a

  90

  9·4

  102

  8·7

  Wirral

  231

  14·1

  205

  10·1

  299

  14·8

  377

  15·4

  240

  9·8

  Cheshire

  Chester

  48

  10·8

  59

  10·3

  149

  23·8

  148

  26·2

  263

  44·4

  Congleton

  65

  22·9

  46

  17·8

  36

  13·5

  66

  24·1

  51

  27·6

  Crewe and Nantwich

  —

  —

  —

  —

  77

  17·0

  86

  19·6

  119

  23·1

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  29

  7·0

  32

  6·6

  18

  4·1

  4

  0·8

  9

  2·1

  Halton

  56

  10·7

  84

  19·3

  98

  20·3

  72

  14·0

  128

  20·2

  Macclesfield

  53

  10·6

  34

  7·5

  40

  8·7

  127

  27·9

  153

  28·8

  Vale Royal

  43

  7·4

  43

  6·5

  89

  14·4

  145

  24·5

  185

  29·6

  Warrington

  20

  2·3

  67

  6·0

  114

  10·6

  76

  7·7

  70

  7·7

  Cumbria

  Allerdale

  38

  8·7

  50

  12·4

  31

  5·5

  31

  9·3

  45

  13·9

  Barrow-in-Furness

  9

  2·5

  38

  10·7

  45

  13·0

  24

  7·5

  14

  5·0

  Carlisle

  47

  10·1

  32

  4·6

  58

  10·6

  64

  9·7

  71

  12·7

  Copeland

  36

  14·0

  36

  13·2

  44

  15·4

  52

  20·3

  52

  21·1

  552 553

  Dwellings let to new secure tenants who were homeless

  Dwellings let to new tenants who were homeless

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Number

  Per cent, of all

  Eden

  18

  16·1

  14

  10·7

  21

  21·6

  10

  6·7

  25

  19·4

  South Lakeland

  44

  15·2

  58

  19·5

  37

  19·2

  38

  16·1

  27

  10·9

  Lancashire

  Blackburn

  —

  —

  —

  —

  105

  6·2

  123

  7·8

  232

  14·2

  Blackpool

  —

  —

  62

  12·2

  60

  9·4

  93

  16·0

  99

  20·5

  Burnley

  120

  17·6

  138

  17·4

  126

  15·7

  86

  12·3

  108

  14·4

  Chorley

  97

  34·5

  122

  41·5

  129

  39·7

  122

  37·2

  111

  35·4

  Fylde

  16

  12·7

  21

  15·1

  12

  8·7

  17

  12·1

  22

  12·6

  Hyndburn

  27

  5·1

  26

  4·4

  53

  10·0

  98

  17·6

  127

  26·3

  Lancaster

  159

  48·3

  185

  64·2

  179

  45·5

  145

  33·0

  71

  35·5

  Pendle

  31

  5·0

  11

  1·4

  13

  2·0

  27

  3·9

  38

  5·1

  Preston

  70

  10·6

  74

  9·2

  108

  10·8

  124

  13·0

  123

  13·2

  Ribble Valley

  7

  6·4

  4

  3·0

  8

  4·8

  18

  15·0

  19

  14·7

  Rossendale

  36

  6·0

  10

  1·7

  33

  7·4

  57

  12·1

  63

  13·3

  South Ribble

  52

  16·9

  76

  31·7

  40

  15·1

  47

  19·6

  60

  16·3

  West Lancashire

  31

  16·7

  34

  18·8

  42

  20·9

  48

  29·1

  163

  13·2

  Wyre

  49

  32·9

  61

  30·8

  64

  31·4

  68

  31·5

  98

  46·4

  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities in England and Wales which have been required to provide homes for people who have declared themselves homeless under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Every local housing authority in England has reported accepting responsibility for securing accommodation for some households under the provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 now contained in the Housing Act 1985. For the position in Wales, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to those areas from which people applying for housing under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act have emanated.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Local authorities provide summary information on the whereabouts one year previously of the households for which they have accepted responsibility to secure accommodation. The latest estimates are for acceptances by all English local authorities in the first quarter of 1987 and are as follows:

  Whereabouts one year ago

  Per cent.

  Within Great Britain:

  same district or borough

  86

  different district or borough

  11

  Outside Great Britain

  3

  Derelict Local Authority Property
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to legalise the process whereby people occupy derelict local authority property which has been empty for more than six months, provided they are willing to renovate the property themselves at their own expense.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend has, at present, no plans to legalise squatting.

  Homesteading (Empty Housing)
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to legalise
  554
  homesteading in local authority houses which have been empty for six months or more; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  "Homesteading" (selling unimproved properties for improvement by the purchaser) is already legal. My right hon. Friend has given his general consent under section 32 of the Housing Act 1985 to enable authorities to pursue homesteading policies.

  Rural Areas (Services)
  Mr. Key
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will explain the institutional and functional relationship between the Development Commission and Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas; and how this will meet the increasing demand for their services in the rural areas.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas is a company limited by guarantee, which is wholly funded by the Development Commission. Its role is to promote the economic development of rural areas in England in accordance with the powers and policies of the Development Commission. The Development Commission proposes to merge the commission and COSIRA, to enable it to be better placed to tackle the problems of rural areas. Staff and unions have been consulted on the proposals and are being kept fully informed.

  Development Commission
  Mr. Key
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of staff employed by the Development Commission and Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas who work mainly outside London and Salisbury, in each of the past 10 years and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  None of the Development Commission staff have worked outside London. The numbers of COSIRA staff working mainly outside London and Salisbury in the years 1978–87 are as follows:
  555

  Number

  1978

  170

  1979

  193

  1980

  203

  1981

  179

  1982

  189

  1983

  191

  1984

  183

  1985

  202

  1986

  209

  1987

  208

  In addition, COSIRA now employs 56 part-time consultants, who work mainly outside Salisbury.

  Mr. Key
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of employees of (a) the Development Commission and (b) the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The number of employees of the Development Commission and COSIRA in the last 10 financial years has been as follows:

  Year

  Development Commission

  COSIRA

  1978–79

  38

  316·5

  1979–80

  38

  331

  1980–81

  35

  310

  1981–82

  35

  305

  1982–83

  37

  303

  1983–84

  39

  303

  1984–85

  44

  303

  1985–86

  45

  303

  1986–87

  45

  308

  1987–88

  45

  308

  In addition, COSIRA now employs 56 part-time consultants on a regular basis.

  Mr. Key
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional funds have been made available to the Development Commission and Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas under the Government's ALURE package in relation to the rural economy.

  Mr. Moynihan
  In the farming and rural enterprise package following ALURE the Government provided a further £1 million in 1987/88 for the Development Commission. This was in addition to the increase of £2 million for 1987/88 which had previously been announced.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the respective dates from which he has reappointed the chairman and five other members of the London Docklands Development Corporation until 31 October; and if he will make a statement concerning the relevant periods of reappointment.

  Mr. Trippier
  The chairman and four members of the London Docklands Development Corporation board were reappointed on 2 July. The chief executive was reappointed as a member on 7 July. These four-month extensions were designed to give my Department an opportunity to review the composition of the entire board.

  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will tabulate in the Official Report the
  556
  parcels of land vested by Order in-Council in the London Docklands Development Corporation; and for each state the date of vesting, the area in hectares and acres, the previous owner, the principal purposes for which each is now in use; and, where this is housing, the approximate number of rented or owner-occupied dwellings.

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

  Pollution
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the current maximum levels of penalty and compensation, available in the case of pollution of natural water courses; and if he has any plans to review these levels

  Mr. Moynihan
  The maximum penalties which can be imposed by Magistrates for water pollution offences under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 part II, are fines not exceeding £2,000 and terms of imprisonment not exceeding three months in respect of each offence. On indictment there is no limit on the fine that may be imposed while the maximum term of imprisonment is two years. In addition, water authorities frequently incur cost in seeking to remedy the effects of pollution incidents and have powers, in these circumstances, to recover the costs from those responsible. Penalties for pollution offences are kept under regular review.

  Radon Gas
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to complete the guidance on measures to be taken in areas where radon gas is a problem for the construction of new buildings.

  Mr. Trippier
  Full guidance will depend on the results of the two-year study being carried out by the Building Research Establishment. Meanwhile, my Department has held a meeting with building control officers in Devon and Cornwall. On the basis of information, they and the National House-Building Council are providing about common constructions in the region, and the best advice currently available, interim guidance will be made available in the autumn.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to accept European Economic Community recommendations on standards of bathing water.

  Mr. Moynihan
  391 bathing waters in the United Kingdom are accepted as being within the scope of Council directive 76/160/EEC. My hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) announced on 30 April, at Column 186, the results for the 1986 survey of bathing waters in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. These showed that more than 60 per cent. of these waters already meet the directive's standards. Our intention is that all indentified waters should do so.

  Cornwall (Beaches and Sewerage)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how the South West water authority's

  557
  plans to clean the beaches of Cornwall will be affected by the Government's proposals for privatisation; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how the South West water authority's plans to install and update sewerage systems in Cornwall will be affected by the Government's proposals for privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Government propose that the water and sewerage functions of the water authorities will be transferred to new public limited companies, which will then be offered for sale. It will be for the companies to determine their own investment programmes, taking account of their obligations under domestic and European Community legislation and of the limits which will be placed on their permitted level of charges increases.

  Planning Zones
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made towards the introduction of simplified planning zones.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I am today issuing for comment draft regulations which prescribe procedures for preparing simplified planning zones, together with a draft circular and advice note.

  Simplified planning zones are based on the planning regime successfully pioneered in enterprise zones. They provide planning authorities with a new method of attracting private investment to areas in need of development or regeneration. For developers and landowners, they provide the certainty of knowing what types of development can be carried out in an area. They save the authority and developers the work and expense involved in making and processing individual planning applications. Simplified planning zones cannot be introduced in national parks, AONBs, SSSIs, conservation areas, or approved green belt. Proposals for setting up SPZs have to be advertised and those who wish to object to these proposals have the opportunity to do so. Where necessary a public local inquiry is held by an independent inspector.

  The drafts are being sent to the local authority associations and others for comment by 15 September 1987. Copies of the consultation letter and the drafts are being placed in the Library.

  Acid Rain
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the recent report of the United Nations co-operation programme for the monitoring and evaluating of long-term transmission of air pollutants in Europe, whether he will conduct an urgent review of the evidence of serious damage to conifer trees in Britain by acid rain.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Department already undertakes regular reviews of the state of tree health in the United Kingdom in consultation with the Forestry Commission, the Nature Conservancy Council, the Natural Environment Research Council and the Friends of the Earth.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals to reduce acid rain.
  558
  Mr. Moynihan
  We aim to reduce emissions of sulpher dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 30 per cent. on 1980 levels, by the end of the 1990s. To facilitate this, we have endorsed plans by the Central Electricity Generating Board to retrofit three major coal-fired power stations with flue gas desulphurisation equipment, and to fit all 12 coal-fired power stations with low NOx burners. All new fossil-fuel fired power stations will also be equipped with the technology to abate acid emissions.

  "Paying for Local Government"
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given:o the views of Co-operative Union Ltd. on the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government", what response was made; and if he will now make a statement about the views expressed.

  Mr. Howard
  We considered all the comments received in response to the proposals in the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714). The Co-operative Union Ltd. was sent an official acknowledgement to that effect. The Government have responded generally to these representations by confirming their intention of proceeding with the main proposals; by changing some of the operating procedures for the community charge and by announcing transitional arrangements for the move to a national non-domestic rate poundage. We are still considering other aspects of the responses.

  Mr. Eastham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now publish all the responses received by him in response to "Paying for Local Government", Cmnd. 9714.

  Mr. Chope
  I do not have the permission of those who submitted comments to publish their views. But my right hon. Friend placed a summary of the responses we received in the Library on 15 December 1986.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Livsey
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what (a) grants and (b) loans are available from Her Majesty's Government to (i) commercial and (ii) charitable private water undertakings to bring their supplies up to EEC standards.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Grants are available under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts towards the cost of first time connection to mains water supplies. These are payable to water authorities to reduce the cost to local authorities or private bodies requisitioning schemes. In some instances local authorities may be able to give home improvement grants to improve private water supplies within the curtilage of the property. Local authority assistance may also be given under the Building Act 1984 and Public Health Act 1936. Loans are not available from the Government for this purpose.

  Mr. Livsey
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what (a) grants and (b) loans are available from the European Communities to private water undertakings to bring their supplies up to EEC standards.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Grants of up to 50 per cent. from the European regional development fund are available to statutory water companies towards cost of infrastructure projects. To be eligible for grant, projects must be located
  559
  within an assisted area, and must contribute to, or enhance the prospects for, regional development through the expansion or regeneration of industry or by encouraging tourism. Loans are not available from the EC for this purpose.

  Mr. Livsey
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration is being given in the preparation of legislation for the privatisation of the publicly owned water authorities to the position of communities already served by small private water undertakings.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The privatisation proposals for the water industry will have little effect themselves on the position of private water supplies. The regulation of such supplies, in so far as it is required under the Water Recources Act 1963, will be transferred from the present water authorities to the proposed National Rivers Authority. However, the Government intend in the privatisation Bill to strengthen the application of the EC drinking water directive to private water supplies. This was the subject of a consultation paper, which the Government published in February 1986.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what efforts the Government are making to enable the quality of the water supplied in England and Wales to comply with European Economic Community requirements with regard to nitrate levels.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Government support efforts by water undertakers to keep nitrate concentrations in water supplies below the limit in the EC drinking water directive.560
  Where supplies exceed that limit, derogations have been given provided that the supply does not exceed 80 milligrams of nitrate per litre on a three-monthly average and a maximum of 100 mg per litre. This is consistent with advice received from the Chief Medical Officer. The Government are looking carefully at the recommendations for limiting nitrate levels in drinking water which were included in the report of the nitrate co-ordination group published in December 1986.

  Mr. Haynes
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards are proposed to ensure the quality of water supplied to domestic users if his proposals for the sale of water authority services in England and Wales are implemented.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Ensuring the quality of drinking water supplies will remain the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and of the local authorities, who will continue their monitoring role. Under the privatisation legislation, we propose to take powers to clarify and strengthen the legal basis for drinking water quality standards, including those standards required by the EC drinking water directive. This was the subject of a consultation paper which the Government published in May 1986.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of domestic users in England and Wales presently receiving water supplies with nitrate levels in excess of 50 milligrams per litre.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Some 950,000 people are supplied with water with nitrate levels in excess of 50 milligrams per litre.

  RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
  RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
  WATER FLUORIDATION GUIDANCE
  WATER FLUORIDATION GUIDANCE
  SOUTHWARK: SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT STATISTICS
  SOUTHWARK: SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT STATISTICS
  MR. RICHARD BRANSON: RESCUE COSTS
  MR. RICHARD BRANSON: RESCUE COSTS
  LORD DOWDING: PROPOSED STATUE
  LORD DOWDING: PROPOSED STATUE
  WATER AUTHORITIES: VALUE ON TRANSFER UNDER 1973 ACT
  WATER AUTHORITIES: VALUE ON TRANSFER UNDER 1973 ACT
  RAMSAR CONVENTION: IMPLEMENTATION
  RAMSAR CONVENTION: IMPLEMENTATION
  FLUORIDATED WATER SUPPLIES
  FLUORIDATED WATER SUPPLIES
  WASTE DISPOSAL: OUTSTANDING LEGISLATION
  WASTE DISPOSAL: OUTSTANDING LEGISLATION