Written Answers of 21 July 1987

PRIME MINISTER

  European Commission (VAT Proceedings)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the decision of the European Economic Community Commission on initiating proceedings in the European Court of Justice against the United Kingdom on its zero rating of goods and services in respect of value added tax; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No. This is a legal dispute between the Commission and the United Kingdom. It is not a matter in which the European Council has any locus. This legal dispute should not be confused with recent tax harmonisation proposals submitted by the Commission to the Council, on which the Government's position is clear.

  Kenilworth
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Kenilworth.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Broadwater Farm Estate
  Mr. Grant
  asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit the Broadwater Farm estate.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Leith
  Mr. Ron Brown
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to Leith.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Stockport
  Mr. Favell
  asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Stockport.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 2 July, Official Report, column 144, she will list the precise objectives of Her Majesty's Government's policy on Afghanistan, the precise methods used to achieve those objectives, the precise nature of the contacts between Her Majesty's Government and the Afghan resistance movement and the view, expressed to Her Majesty's Government by leaders of the resistance since March 1986, about supplies of weapons to them by the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the Most Gracious Speech from the Throne to both Houses of Parliament on 25 June, at columns 38–40; to the answers 110
  that I gave him on 2 July, at column 144; and to the statement adopted by European Community Foreign Ministers on 13 July.

  The Wrekin
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to visit The Wrekin.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Submarines
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Prime Minister when she now expects Her Majesty's Government to place the order promised to Scott Lithgow at the time an order was awarded to Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness for the construction of conventional submarines; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The position remains as set out in my reply to the hon. Gentleman on 5 May, at column 317. It is the Government's wish to place these orders with Scott Lithgow, provided the company meets the terms outlined by my hon. Friend on 28 January 1986, at column 449. Negotiations are still continuing with the company.

  Northern Region
  Mr. Fallon
  asked the Prime Minister when she next expects to visit the northern region.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to visit the northern region.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Prime Minster if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 21 July.

  Mr. Stern
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 21 July.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 21 July.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Shersby
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the current difference in eligibility for mortgage interest tax relief between (a) married and (b) cohabiting couples on (i) revenue to the Exchequer, (ii) house prices and (iii) household structure.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  A married couple are entitled to mortgage interest relief on up to £30,000 of the loan to buy their main home, whereas single people sharing the purchase are each entitled to relief on up to £30,000. The direct revenue cost in 1987–88 of the additional mortgage interest tax relief which is available to sharers is estimated to be about £25 million.

  Many factors affect house prices and household structure and it is not possible to identify separately the effect of the additional mortgage interest relief which is available to sharers.
  111
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount spent on mortgage tax relief in Wales, Scotland and each of the English regions in each financial year since 1979 both at outturn and 1987 prices.

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

  Hansard Press
  Mr. Leighton
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions there are for the retraining of staff at the Hansard Press displaced by direct input from the House.

  Mr. Brooke
  No specific provisions have been made to date. Retraining options will be discussed with representatives of the trades unions involved in the event of any change which affects jobs.

  Mr. Leighton
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what commitment about their future the Hansard Press gives to those of its existing staff who are to be affected by technological changes.

  Mr. Brooke
  No commitment can be given at this stage. If changes were to occur, Her Majesty's Stationery Office would discuss the issues with the trades unions involved and do all it can, within the constraints of good business practice, to mitigate the effect on jobs that any changes might bring.

  British Petroleum
  Mr. David Nicholson
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the sale of the Government's residual shareholding in British Petroleum.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The board of BP has today announced its intention, subject to shareholders' approval, to raise approximately £1·5 billion through the issue of new ordinary shares. The shares will be issued in conjunction with the Government's sale of its remaining shareholding in BP, which was announced on 18 March. To facilitate this joint offering, the Government plan to subscribe for the new BP shares on a fully-paid basis and to sell them together with their existing shares. The subscription will take effect when the sale of the new and the old shares is fully underwritten. It is intended that shareholder's pre-emption rights will be protected. The 112
  sale is planned to be in the autumn and the proceeds will be payable in instalments. Further details of arrangements for the offering will he announced in due course.

  It is intended that the Government's subscription for the new BP ordinary shares will be met from the proceeds of the joint offering. A token Supplementary Estimate for class XIX, vote 16 will be presented to secure parliamentary approval for the expenditure and authority for the appropriation in aid of a corresponding amount of the proceeds. If necessary, pending that approval, the estimated expenditure on the subscription for BP shares of approximately £1·5 billion will be met by a repayble advance from the Contingencies Fund.

  Tax Consultative Committee
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions in the past three years officials from his Department have been involved in meetings of the tax consultative committee; which officials were involved; with whom they met; what was the purpose of the meetings; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Royal Mint
  Mr. Wheeler
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has determined a new financial objective for the Royal Mint.

  Mr. Brooke
  Yes. In accordance with the Government Trading Funds Act 1973, a new financial objective has been determined for the Royal Mint covering the period 1 April 1987 to 31 March 1990. A Treasury minute stipulating the new objective is being laid today. The objective is to achieve an annual rate of return which, when averaged over the period as a whole, will be equal to not less than 10 per cent. per annum in real terms.

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office (Privatisation)
  Mr. Speller
  asked the Chancellor to the Exchequer if he will seek powers to privatise Her Majesty's Stationery Office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  My Right hon. Friend has no present plans to privatise Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the categories of organisations qualified for nought per cent. value added tax rating on purchased equipment.

  Mr. Brooke
  No organisations enjoy blanket VAT zero-rating for purchases of equipment. A limited range of specified types of equipment may be zero-rated when supplied to certain charitable or other organisations; these are covered by groups 4, 10, 14, 15 and 16 to schedule 5 to the VAT Act 1983, as amended.

  Mr. Amess
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to reduce the purchase of equipment for hospital radio stations to nought per cent. value added tax rating; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  No. The Government fully appreciate the valuable work done by the hospital broadcasting associations, but to grant relief here would make it necessary to consider similar treatment for other equally deserving organisations and would in the long run be unacceptably expensive in revenue terms.

  Hansard Press
  Mr. Leighton
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any of the staff of the Hansard Press are to be made redundant as a result of technological changes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Editor of the Official Report is contemplating changes in his method of collecting data. If realised these changes may result in debate copy being supplied to Hansard Press in machine-readable form. The possible effects of any changes on the operations at Hansard Press would of course be discussed with representatives of the trades unions involved.

  Mr. Leighton
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions there are for the retraining of Hansard Press SOGAT staff.

  Mr. Brooke
  No specific provisions have been made to date. Retraining options will be discussed with representatives of the trades unions involved in the event of any change which affects jobs.

  Company Finance
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on whether the Inland Revenue will use section 38 of the Finance Act 1976 to deny an interest reduction where the debt is created solely as a result of the unwinding of a dual resident company as a result of the provisions of the Finance (No. 2) Bill affecting such companies.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 July 1987]: The rearrangement of financing, to transfer the borrowing of a dual resident investing company (as defined by clause 63 of the Finance Bill) to a company resident only in the United Kingdom, would not by itself lead the Inland Revenue to seek to apply section 38 of the Finance Act 1976. If there were any other tax effects of the rearrangement, these would also be taken into account in determining whether section 38 should be applied.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Clay
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish for each company privatised since 1979 the number of shareholders holding 500 shares or fewer following privatisation and the latest information available.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 July 1987]: I regret the information requested about the number of shareholders holding 500 shares or fewer in privatised companies immediately following privatisation can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Equivalent numbers for current shareholdings are a matter for the registrars of the companies concerned.

  Publicity (Departmental Expenditure)
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total spending by his Department on press and public relations in 1986–87; and what is the estimated expenditure for the current year.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 July 1987]: Expenditure on press and public relations totalled £534,600 in 1986–87, and the estimated expenditure for the current year is £605,900.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total spending by his Department on television, radio and newspaper advertising and other promotional literature in 1986–87; and what is the estimated expenditure for the current year.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 July 1987]: The expenditure for 1986–87 was £33,000, none of which was on television or radio advertising, and the budget for the current year is £35,000. There will also be advertising and promotional spending in 1987–88 in connection with the forthcoming BP share sale. Token provision for these costs has been taken in class XIX, vote 16. Parliament will be informed of these costs along with the other costs after the sale has been completed.

THE ARTS

  Acceptances in Lieu of Tax
  Mr. Faulds
  asked the Minister for the Arts why his answer of 9 July to the hon. Member for Warley, East giving a list of allocations during the half year ended 30 June of works of art accepted in settlement of inheritance tax omitted Constable's painting "Stratford Mill"

  Mr. Luce
  On 19 March I announced, at column 561, that Constable's painting "Stratford Mill" had been accepted in principle in lieu of tax. The details are still to be finalised, since personal representatives of the late owner have not been formally constituted; as a result the painting has not yet been permanently allocated. Meanwhile, the painting is, of course, on public view at the National gallery.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Inventors (Awards)
  Mr. Baldry
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service what are the arrangements for making awards to inventors who are civil servants or public sector employees; and if he will make a statement.
  115
  Mr. Luce
  These arrangements form part of the model Civil Service suggestions scheme and are set out in detail in the "Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Awards may be made in recognition of benefits to the Crown, derived either through direct use of an invention by a Department or through the exploitation of the invention outside Government. Three modifications have recently been made:

  (a) the commercial exploitation income, by reference to which any award is calculated, will henceforth be assessed in ways that take account both of inflation and of cases in which actual income to the Crown is less than the gross commercial exploitation income;

  (b) the number of tranches in the sliding scale on which awards are made has been reduced and the value of tranches will be indexed against inflation, in order to restore them to, and maintain them at, the levels originally intended;

  (c) inventors may be paid awards in instalments when exploitation is spread over a number of years.

  These modifications will maintain awards made in respect of commercial exploitation of inventions at the levels originally intended and encourage greater awareness of the need for more effective transfer of such inventions into industry.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mr. Philip Agee
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Mr. Philip Agee is now free to enter the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  No. Mr. Agee remains the subject of a deportation order.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
  Mr. Holt
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been referred to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in each year since 1980; what is the average length of time between the crime and payment; and how many cases remained to be determined as at 30 June.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information on the number of applications received by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board from 1980–81 to 1986–87 is given in the table. Information is not available on the length of time between the injury and payment of any compensation awarded by the board. On 30 June 1987 the board had about 68,000 uncompleted cases. These included a number in which the board awaited the result of inquiries and about 10,000 cases in which an offer had been made by the board but a decision on whether to accept the offer, or a hearing by the board, was awaited.

  Financial year

  Number of applications

  1980–81

  24,700

  1981–82

  26,500

  1982–83

  29,400

  1983–84

  31,900

  1984–85

  34,900

  1985–86

  39,700

  1986–87

  142,300

  1 Provisional.

  Race Relations
  Mr. George
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has had discussions with the Indian Government over the consequences for United Kingdom race relations of the incidence of communal violence in that country.

  Mr. Hurd
  No.

  Citizenship
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were naturalised as British citizens from the United States of America in the past five years.

  Mr. Renton
  The number of citizens of the United States of America granted certificates of naturalisation as citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies in 1982 or as British citizens in 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 were 73, 49, 68, 76 and 77 respectively. The total numbers granted British citizenship, including those entitled to register as such, are published annually in a Home Office statistical bulletin. The edition for 1986 "Citizenship Statistics, United Kingdom 1986" will be published around the end of August.

  Drugs
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards reaching international agreements with other countries to fight the importation of narcotics into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  At the international conference held last month in Vienna, Ministers from all regions of the world committed themselves to intensifying their efforts against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Earlier this month the United Kingdom played an active part in an intergovernmental working group to discuss the first draft of a new United Nations convention to combat illicit drug trafficking. We are in regular discussion with countries which arc a source of transit route for drugs coming to the United Kingdom, and have opened negotiations with several countries which have comparable legislation with a view to concluding bilateral agreements under section 26 of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986.

  Prevention of Terrorism
  Mr. Chris Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons excluded under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provision) Acts 1974, 1976 or 1984 and who made representations against their exclusion order as part of the review of the order (a) were offered an interview with the Metropolitan police at a venue other than Castlereagh holding centre, (b) where those interviews were held and (c) how many of those individuals declined to attend.

  Mr. Hurd
  (a) Fifty people are recorded in Home Office records as having had interviews with the Metropolitan police as part of a review of an exclusion order made in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 or 1976. All but one of these interviews took place at Castlereagh RUC

  117
  station (which is a separate building from Castlereagh holding centre(b) The other location was the British embassy, Dublin. (c) None.

  Immigration
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the adequacy and standards of the facilities for women detainees on board the Earl William at Harwich;

  (2) what is the number of (a) women and (b) men presently held on board the Earl William at Harwich.

  Mr. Renton
  Female detainees are accommodated in twin-bunk cabins, with integral showers, wash basins and toilets. The cabins are in a separate area of the ship from that of the male detainees. The public rooms, which are for the use of all detainees, provide ample space for relaxation and visits by relatives, friends and lawyers. The facilities on board include pay telephones, television and video, other recreational facilities, laundry and drying machines, hot and cold drinks machines and a shop.

  As at 16 July there were eight women and 77 men detained on the Earl William.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were detained under Immigration Act powers for a period of more than two months on completion of a custodial sentence during 1986.

  Mr. Renton
  Nineteen persons who completed a custodial sentence in 1986 were so detained under deportation powers. I regret that similar information relating to illegal entrants is not available.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers were detained in prison department establishments under Immigration Act powers during 1986.

  Mr. Renton
  Until 1 May 1987 central records of passengers detained were kept only where detention under Immigration Act powers exceeded one month. The number of such cases detained in Prison Department establishments in 1986 was 104.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown by nationality of the number of passengers seeking political asylum who were detained under Immigration Act powers in 1986 (a) in prison department establishments and (b) in immigration detention accommodation.

  Mr. Renton
  Until 1 May 1987 central records of passengers detained were kept only where detention under Immigration Act powers exceeded one month. The details of these in 1986 were as follows:

  Nationality

  Prison Department Establishments

  Immigration Service Detention Accommodation

  Afghanistan

  2

  —

  Albania

  1

  —

  Angola

  1

  —

  Chile

  1

  1

  Ghana

  1

  2

  India

  3

  —

  Iran

  19

  12

  Morocco

  1

  —

  Pakistan

  4

  3

  118

  Nationality

  Prison Department Establishments

  Immigration Service Detention Accommodation

  Somalia

  1

  —

  South Africa

  1

  —

  Sri Lanka

  45

  13

  Tanzania

  1

  —

  Turkey

  2

  2

  Uganda

  4

  1

  Nationality Doubtful

  3

  1

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide, for the latest convenient date, a breakdown by individual place of detention of the number of passengers seeking political asylum who are detained under Immigration Act powers.

  Mr. Renton
  Records of passengers detained are kept centrally only where detention under Immigration Act powers exceeds 14 days. On 1 July 1987 the total of these seeking political asylum was 147, who were detained at the following places:

  Place of detention

  Number detained

  Harmondsworth

  36

  Latchmere House

  26

  mv "Earl William"

  80

  HMP Pentonville

  3

  HMP Canterbury

  1

  HMP Winson Green

  1

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles have been tried for criminal offences other than in juvenile courts in each of the past five years.

  Mr. John Patten
  In 1985, the latest year for which information is available, there were 63,773 juveniles tried at juvenile courts, 4,708 at magistrates' courts and 1,830 at the Crown court. Corresponding figures for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Prisons
  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to investigate the possibility of introducing minimum standards to prisons.

  Mr. John Patten
  No. We do not consider that a code of minimum standards for prisons would advance the programme the Government have in hand for improving conditions.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the rules on possession of fountain pens by prisoners are uniform throughout Her Majesty's prisons.

  Mr. John Patten
  Prison standing order 4 includes pens in the list of items which prisoners may normally retain in their possession. The standing order does not distinguish between different types of pen and the extent to which any local restrictions may need to be imposed in this respect
  119
  is a matter for the governor to determine in the light of his responsibilities for the security and good order of his establishment.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list all those prisons which provide (a) one set of clean clothes per week, (b) two sets of clean clothes per week or (c) more than two sets of clean clothes per week.

  Mr. John Patten
  The scales of issue of personal clothing to prisoners provide for at least two sets per week. Some prisons are able to provide for more frequent changes within those scales, and frequency is varied from time to time depending on local circumstances. Full details of the practices in each prison are not kept centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make all educational correspondence courses free of postal charges for prisoners.

  Mr. John Patten
  Where approval has been given for a prisoner to follow a correspondence course, it is normal practice for the postal costs to be met from public funds.

  Feltham Youth Custody Centre
  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will undertake a survey into the difficulties for visitors of travelling to and from Feltham youth custody centre in view of the restricted public transport facilities.

  Mr. John Patten
  Although we are sympathetic to the needs of visitors, I see no reason to undertake such a survey.

  Deportation
  Mr. Soley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were recommended for deportation with no custodial sentence during 1986; and in how many cases the courts directed release (a) subject to conditions and (b) without conditions.

  Mr. Renton
  In 1986, 338 persons were recommended for deportation by a court with no custodial sentence being imposed. Of these, 92 were released subject to conditions requiring them to report to the police and 103 without such conditions.

  Licensees (Assault)
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the law so that any person convicted of acts of violence against licensees and their staff should receive an automatic minimum sentence of one year's imprisonment.

  Mr. John Patten
  No. Minimum sentences would reduce the court's ability to take account of the widely varying circumstances of different cases. The Court of Appeal has drawn attention to the need, in sentencing, to protect licensees and their staff as well as others whose work makes them vulnerable to assault.

  Adoption
  Miss Lestor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will state the number of children from abroad who have been accepted into the United Kingdom for adoption;

  (2) if he will list the countries from which children have been admitted into the United Kingdom for adoption during the last 12 months, with the number of children in respect of each country.

  Mr. Renton
  Information is not available in the form requested, as the statistics collected on passenger admissions do not separately identify those children who come to the United Kingdom for adoption. However, 85 children were recorded as having been granted settlement in the United Kingdom in 1986 on the basis of their adoption by a person already settled here. Their nationalities are shown in the following table:

  Acceptances for settlement by reason of adoption

  Nationality

  Number of children of each nationality

  Brazil, India

  7

  Columbia, Pakistan

  5

  Nigeria, Philippines, Salvador

  4

  West Germany, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, United States of America

  3

  Denmark, Ghana, Jamaica, Peru, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania

  2

  Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Cyprus, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Greece, Guyana, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Panama, Portugal, Yemen (Arab Republic), Zimbabwe, British Dependent Territories citizen, British overseas citizen

  1

  85

  (1) Includes three children whose nationality is not uniquely recorded on the computer system.

  Notting Hill Police (Inquiry)
  Mr. Vaz
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what stage the Police Complaints Authority inquiry into the policing at Notting Hill has reached; how many officers based there have been suspended; and if police constables David Jud, Andrew Chows and Douglas Brooks are still on duty at the Notting Hill police station.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Police Complaints Authority is supervising the investigation of allegations related to Notting Hill which were raised in television documentaries in April and May 1986. I understand that the investigation is still being pursued and that it is not possible, at this stage, to say when it is likely to be completed. No officers have been suspended from duty as a result of the allegations. The disposition of individual officers within the Metropolitan police district is a matter for the Commissioner; it is not his practice to discuss such issues publicly.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance has been given by his Department in the past five years to local authorities in campaigns to increase the numbers of electors on registers.
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  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allan) on 20 July.

  Mr. Tony
  Banks asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any studies are being undertaken by his Department on the impact on electoral registration of the possible introduction of the poll tax.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what efforts are made by his Department to monitor or assess the accuracy of electoral registers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In 1981 the Home Office and the Scottish Home and Health Department commissioned a detailed study of electoral registration in Great Britain by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. This was published in December 1982. The Home Office subsequently commissioned a survey by the OPCS of electoral registration in a selection of inner city areas where the problems are known to be greater. This will be published shortly. More recently we commissioned a survey into the effectiveness of electoral registration procedures, the report of which was published on 2 April. This produced practical proposals for improvements which we are looking at very carefully. As a first step we have asked OPCS to conduct an annual exercise to gather systematic information from all electoral registration officers in England and Wales about current methods and their effectiveness. This will provide a further basis for initiatives in this area.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has made any assessment of the number of votes lost in the most recent general election because of (a) wrongful inclusion in or (b) omission from electoral registers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 10 July, at columns 304–5.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representation he has received from electoral registration officers concerning the accuracy of registers used in the most recent general election.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  Personation
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of personation in the most recent general election are known to his Department.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  One apparent case of personation has been brought to our attention by my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Mills). Information about the number of persons prosecuted for this offence in 1987 will not be available until the end of next year.

  Housing Revenue Account Income Amounts (£ million) [at 1987–88 prices using GDP deflators]

  Area

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Scotland

  900·749

  899·704

  868·918

  840·438

  795·218

  797·565

  762·954

  761·874

  760·819

  Berwickshire

  3·757

  3·813

  3·507

  3·221

  3·035

  2·917

  2·888

  2·417

  2·342

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  5,343

  3·389

  4·790

  4·252

  3·859

  3·979

  3·953

  3·350

  3·347

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of 5p concessionary television licences issued in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of those licences are held by pensioners.

  Mr. Renton
  [pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1987, c. 212]: I am afraid that while the figure given in my earlier reply was believed to be correct at the time, a subsequent retotalling of the manually maintained records of licensees by the National TV Licence Records Office—carried out for another purpose—has shown the correct figure for those benefiting from accommodation for residential care licences to the end of May 1987 to be 705,257, rather than the figure of 690,629 given.

SCOTLAND

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Steel
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the lack, under the community charge system provided for in the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, of precise equivalents of the reliefs available under the domestic rating system.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have received 32 representations from church organisations and individual churches and some 50 further representations from other charities about the implications for them of the community charge proposals. I have also received a number of representations from individuals about the position under the proposals of particular groups living in accommodation provided by charities or otherwise benefiting from rating reliefs at present.

  Housing Grants (Edinburgh)
  Mr. Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an immediate and favourable response to the request from the City of Edinburgh district council for an increase in the £4,800 eligible grant level for improvement and repairs grants to home owners.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We are not yet in a position to respond to the council's request, but hope to do so shortly.

  Housing Revenue Accounts
  Mr. Steel
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the amount of money held in housing revenue accounts by each local authority in Scotland in each year since 1979 in real terms at 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information is given in the table:
  123

  Area

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Roxburgh

  6·611

  6·627

  6·776

  6·336

  6·468

  6·852

  6·824

  6·545

  6·523

  Tweeddale

  1·327

  1·333

  1·337

  1·195

  1·133

  1·194

  1·172

  0·966

  1·222

  Clackmannan

  8·903

  8·262

  7·555

  7·271

  6·890

  7·164

  7·127

  7·077

  7·255

  Falkirk

  30·501

  28·791

  27·031

  26·622

  25·656

  25·438

  23·565

  25·308

  24·832

  Stirling

  11·516

  12·634

  12·505

  11·942

  11·685

  11·330

  10·874

  11·052

  10·525

  Annandale and Eskdale

  4·864

  5·340

  5·436

  5·526

  5·673

  5·974

  6·056

  6·227

  6·009

  Nithsdale

  5·399

  5·181

  5·197

  5·273

  5·344

  5·485

  5·907

  6·098

  5·989

  Stewartry

  2·448

  2·555

  2·584

  2·399

  2·490

  2·787

  2·579

  2·543

  2·602

  Wigtown

  4·224

  4·241

  3·945

  4·075

  3·935

  4·161

  4·571

  4·543

  4·474

  Dunfermline

  20·548

  20·419

  19·333

  18·224

  17·257

  17·226

  16·236

  16·324

  16·540

  Kirkcaldy

  23·623

  21·796

  21·789

  19·862

  19·263

  19·605

  19·310

  19·963

  21·584

  North East Fife

  6·619

  6·819

  7·027

  6·921

  6·629

  5·962

  5·721

  6·358

  6·541

  Aberdeen

  39·887

  40·757

  39·596

  37·191

  36·062

  36·186

  33·617

  32·870

  31·674

  Banff and Buchan

  14·447

  14·650

  13·877

  12·810

  11·969

  11·824

  11·593

  10·974

  10·858

  Bardon

  8·554

  8·379

  7·796

  7·044

  6·614

  6·546

  7·095

  7·564

  7·953

  Kincardine and Deeside

  3·905

  3·742

  3·452

  3·356

  3·270

  3·529

  3·714

  3·921

  4·131

  Moray

  13·871

  15·463

  14·799

  13·298

  12·505

  12·217

  12·015

  10·211

  10·080

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  1·554

  1·558

  1·532

  1·487

  1·469

  1·492

  1·488

  1·489

  1·472

  Caithness

  4·158

  4·197

  3·889

  3·820

  3·814

  4·010

  4·086

  4·063

  4·187

  Inverness

  7·906

  8·108

  7·685

  7·665

  7·647

  7·755

  7·434

  7·507

  7·541

  Lochaber

  5·266

  4·845

  4·984

  4·936

  4·530

  4·624

  4·578

  4·728

  4·630

  Nairn

  1·120

  1·098

  1·234

  1·141

  1·135

  1·125

  1·083

  1·152

  1·193

  Ross and Cromarty

  10·974

  10·846

  9·657

  8·783

  8·408

  8·674

  8·820

  8·818

  9·110

  Skye and Lochalsh

  1·003

  1·113

  1·123

  1·121

  1·153

  1·240

  1·309

  1·409

  1·570

  Sutherland

  2·062

  2·052

  1·822

  1·810

  1·749

  1·849

  1·858

  2·169

  2·084

  East Lothian

  15·275

  16·048

  14·733

  13·241

  12·264

  12·225

  12·209

  11·981

  12·382

  Edinburgh

  56·026

  51·988

  51·927

  52·536

  48·004

  51·535

  42·969

  42·255

  44·048

  Midlothian

  13·227

  12·175

  11·220

  10·722

  10·167

  9·488

  8·999

  9·246

  9·165

  West Lothian

  21·108

  19·685

  18·229

  17·028

  17·319

  17·778

  16·250

  16·353

  16·058

  Argyll and Bute

  11·537

  11·393

  10·710

  10·953

  10·438

  10·121

  10·179

  9·197

  9·503

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  2·112

  2·247

  1·866

  1·872

  1·728

  1·595

  1·547

  1·703

  1·753

  Clydebank

  12·324

  11·958

  11·063

  11·442

  11·267

  11·174

  11·085

  11·495

  11·865

  Clydesdale

  7·541

  7·376

  6·799

  6·565

  6·315

  7·111

  7·378

  7·424

  7·362

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  3·871

  4·259

  3·870

  3·876

  3·718

  4·048

  4·126

  3·809

  3·747

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  8·272

  8·081

  7·539

  7·792

  7·612

  7·634

  7·557

  7·582

  7·590

  Cunninghame

  21·657

  20·548

  19·144

  18·493

  16·419

  17·023

  18·320

  17·050

  17·095

  Dumbarton

  12·566

  11·286

  11·309

  10·598

  9·524

  10·730

  9·506

  9·550

  10·160

  East Kilbride

  1·661

  1·694

  1·618

  1·530

  1·463

  1·541

  1·537

  1·509

  1·460

  Eastwood

  1·954

  1·683

  1·561

  1·359

  1·239

  1·276

  1·263

  1·274

  1·332

  Glasgow

  205·825

  219·261

  217·234

  213·403

  191·948

  184·776

  176·507

  176·087

  173·247

  Hamilton

  23·499

  22·253

  21·851

  20·329

  20·616

  20·413

  18·009

  19·136

  19·167

  Inverclyde

  20·796

  20·262

  19·118

  18·321

  16·895

  16·672

  16·003

  14·930

  14·616

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  16·349

  15·336

  14·697

  14·594

  14·067

  13·287

  12·651

  13·108

  12·816

  Kyle and Carrick

  15·799

  15·012

  14·110

  14·413

  15·072

  14·538

  14·412

  14·198

  13·616

  Monklands

  25·016

  25·642

  24·292

  24·133

  23·190

  25·125

  22·805

  24·290

  24·071

  Motherwell

  35·169

  35·824

  34·750

  32·959

  32·374

  31·985

  30·858

  30·560

  30·219

  Renfrew

  32·661

  30·445

  29·470

  30·205

  29·391

  29·560

  27·145

  28·547

  28·055

  Strathkelvin

  9·935

  10·353

  10·341

  9·956

  9·478

  9·613

  8·741

  9·177

  8·401

  Angus

  14·533

  14·604

  14·134

  12·262

  10·547

  10·474

  9·882

  10·263

  10·320

  Dundee

  35·611

  32·757

  31·729

  29·692

  29·149

  30·796

  30·127

  29·047

  30·092

  Perth and Kinross

  13·589

  13·415

  12·397

  12·018

  11·839

  11·676

  11·857

  11·056

  11·084

  Orkney Islands

  3·096

  2·824

  2·565

  2·235

  2·161

  2·367

  2·537

  2·217

  2·137

  Shetland Islands

  5·320

  6·974

  5·841

  5·537

  5·874

  6·714

  7·519

  8·123

  7·921

  Western Isles

  4·033

  4·314

  4·544

  4·795

  5·500

  5·149

  5·497

  5·060

  5·273

  Notes:

  (1) Figures for 1979–80 to 1983–84 are based on audited accounts.

  (2) Figures for 1984–85 to 1986–87 are based on authorities' near actual returns.

  (3) Figures for 1987–88 are authorities' estimates.

  Mr. Steel
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the amount of money held in housing revenue accounts by each local authority in Scotland since 1979 in cash terms.

  Housing Revenue Account Income Amounts (£ million) [current prices]

  Area

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Scotland

  518·093

  613·832

  651–037

  675–359

  667·514

  698·197

  708–784

  729·067

  760·819

  Berwickshire

  2·161

  2·601

  2·628

  2·588

  2·548

  2·553

  2·683

  2·313

  2·342

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  3·073

  3·677

  3·589

  3·417

  3·240

  3·483

  3·673

  3·206

  3·347

  Roxburgh

  3·803

  4·521

  5·077

  5·092

  5·429

  5·999

  6·340

  6·263

  6·523

  Tweeddale

  0·763

  0·909

  1·002

  0·960

  0·951

  1·045

  1·089

  0·925

  1·222

  124
  Mr. Rifkind
  The information is given in the table.
  125

  Area

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Clackmannan

  5·121

  5·637

  5·661

  5·843

  5·783

  6·271

  6·621

  6·772

  7·255

  Falkirk

  17·544

  19·643

  20·253

  21·393

  21·536

  22·269

  21·892

  24·218

  24·832

  Stirling

  6·624

  8·619

  9·370

  9·596

  9·808

  9·919

  10·102

  10·577

  10·525

  Annandale and Eskdale

  2·798

  3·643

  4·073

  4·440

  4·762

  5·229

  5·626

  5·959

  6·009

  Mithsdale

  3·105

  3·535

  3·894

  4·237

  4·486

  4·802

  5·487

  5·835

  5·989

  Stewartry

  1·408

  1·743

  1·936

  1·927

  2·090

  2·440

  2·396

  2·433

  2·602

  Wigtown

  2·429

  2·894

  2·956

  3·275

  3·303

  3·643

  4·247

  4·347

  4·474

  Dunfermline

  11·819

  13·931

  14·485

  14·644

  14·485

  15·080

  15·083

  15·621

  16·540

  Kirkcaldy

  13·588

  14·870

  16·326

  15·961

  16·170

  17·162

  17·939

  19·104

  21·584

  North East Fife

  3·807

  4·652

  5·265

  5·562

  5·565

  5·219

  5·315

  6·084

  6·541

  Aberdeen

  22·942

  27·807

  29·667

  29·886

  30·271

  31·678

  31·230

  31·455

  31·674

  Banff and Buchan

  8·310

  9·995

  10·398

  10·294

  10·047

  10·351

  10·770

  10·501

  10·858

  Bordon

  4·920

  5·717

  5·841

  5·660

  5·552

  5·730

  6·591

  7·239

  7·953

  Kincardine and Deeside

  2·246

  2·553

  2·586

  2·697

  2·745

  3·089

  3·450

  3·753

  4·131

  Moray

  7·978

  10·549

  11·088

  10·686

  10·497

  10·695

  11·162

  9·771

  10·080

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  0·894

  1·063

  1·148

  1·195

  1·233

  1·306

  1·383

  1·425

  1·472

  Caithness

  2·392

  2·864

  2·914

  3·069

  3·201

  3·511

  3·796

  3·888

  4·187

  Inverness

  4·547

  5·532

  5·758

  6·160

  6·419

  6·789

  6·907

  7·184

  7·541

  Lochaber

  3·029

  3·305

  3·734

  3·966

  3·803

  4·048

  4·253

  4·524

  4·630

  Nairn

  0·644

  0·749

  0·928

  0·917

  0·953

  0·985

  1·006

  1·102

  1·193

  Ross and Cromarty

  6·312

  7·400

  7·235

  7·058

  7·058

  7·593

  8·194

  8·439

  9·110

  Skye and Lochalsh

  0·577

  0·760

  0·842

  0·900

  0·967

  1·086

  1·217

  1·348

  1·570

  Sutherland

  1·186

  1·400

  1·365

  1·454

  1·468

  1·618

  1·726

  2·076

  2·084

  East Lothian

  8·786

  10·949

  11·039

  10·640

  10·294

  10·702

  11·342

  11·465

  12·382

  Edinburgh

  32·225

  35·469

  38·906

  42·217

  40·295

  45·114

  39·918

  40·436

  44·048

  Midlothian

  7·608

  8·307

  8·406

  8·616

  8·534

  8·306

  8·360

  8·848

  9·165

  West Lothian

  12·141

  13·430

  13·658

  13·684

  14·538

  15·563

  15·097

  15·649

  16·058

  Argyll and Bute

  6·636

  7·773

  8·024

  8·802

  8·762

  8·860

  9·457

  8·801

  9·503

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  1·215

  1·533

  1·398

  1·504

  1·451

  1·396

  1·437

  1·630

  1·753

  Clydebank

  7·088

  8·159

  8·289

  9·194

  9·458

  9·782

  10·298

  11·000

  11·865

  Clydesdale

  4·337

  5·033

  5·094

  5·275

  5·301

  6·225

  6·854

  7·105

  7·362

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  2·227

  2·906

  2·899

  3·114

  3·121

  3·544

  3·833

  3·645

  3·747

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  4·758

  5·513

  5·649

  6·261

  6·389

  6·683

  7·020

  7·255

  7·590

  Cunninghame

  12·456

  14·019

  14·344

  14·860

  13·782

  14·902

  17·020

  16·316

  17·095

  Dumbarton

  7·228

  7·700

  8·473

  8·516

  7·994

  9·393

  8·832

  9·139

  10·160

  East Kilbride

  0·955

  1·156

  1·212

  1·229

  1·228

  1·349

  1·428

  1·444

  1·460

  Eastwood

  1·124

  1·148

  1·170

  1·092

  1·040

  1·117

  1·174

  1·219

  1·332

  Glasgow

  118·387

  149·593

  162·762

  171·486

  161·123

  161·754

  163·975

  168·505

  173·247

  Hamilton

  13·516

  15·182

  16·372

  16·336

  17·305

  17·870

  16·730

  18·312

  19·167

  Inverclyde

  11·962

  13·824

  14·324

  14·723

  14·182

  14·595

  14·866

  14·287

  14·616

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  9·404

  10·463

  11·012

  11·727

  11·808

  11·631

  11·753

  12·544

  12·816

  Kyle and Carrick

  9·087

  10·242

  10·572

  11·582

  12·651

  12·726

  13·389

  13·587

  13·616

  Monklands

  14·389

  17·495

  18·200

  19·393

  19·466

  21·995

  21·186

  23·244

  24·071

  Motherwell

  20·229

  24·441

  26·036

  26·485

  27·175

  28·000

  28·667

  29·244

  30·219

  Renfrew

  18·786

  20·771

  22·081

  24·272

  24·671

  25·877

  25·218

  27·318

  28·055

  Strathkelvin

  5·715

  7·063

  7·748

  8·000

  7·956

  8·415

  8·121

  8·782

  8·401

  Angus

  8·359

  9·964

  10·590

  9·854

  8·853

  9·169

  9·180

  9·821

  10·320

  Dundee

  20·483

  22·349

  23·773

  23·860

  24·468

  26·959

  27·988

  27·796

  30·092

  Perth and Kinross

  7·816

  9·152

  9·289

  9·657

  9·937

  10·221

  11·015

  10·580

  11·084

  Orkney Islands

  1·781

  1·927

  1·922

  1·796

  1·814

  2·072

  2·357

  2·122

  2·137

  Shetland Islands

  3·060

  4·758

  4·376

  4·450

  4·931

  5·877

  6·985

  7·773

  7·921

  Western Isles

  2·320

  2·943

  3·404

  3·853

  4·617

  4·507

  5·106

  4·842

  5·273

  Notes:

  (1) Figures for 1979–80 to 1983–84 are audited accounts.

  (2) Figures for 1984–85 to 1986–87 are authorities' near actual returns.

  (3) Figures for 1987–88 are authorities' estimates.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the seasonally adjusted unemployment figures for Scotland and the Dundee travel-to-work area for the last available date, and figures in May 1979, June 1983 and June 1987, compiled on a similar basis.

  Mr. Lang
  In Scotland the labour force survey is conducted by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the General Register Office for Scotland on behalf of the Department of Employment and the European Community. The 1986 labour force survey is the most recent of which results are available, but the sample size is too small for reliable estimates to be produced either for Dundee or for the Tayside area.

  Universities and Colleges (Funding)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what attempts were made to find out the views of the students, staff, and graduates on the STEAC recommendation for the funding of universities and colleges.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  When the STEAC report was published in December 1985 the Government issued a public invitation for comments on the report's recommendations.

  Scottish Committee for Planning of Higher Education
  Mrs. Fyfe
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what criteria he based his decision that appointments to the proposed Scottish committee for planning of higher

  127
  education in Scotland will be made by the Universities Funding Committee in consultation with himself; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish committee of the Universities Funding Council will advise the council on higher education in Scotland, and its views will be available to my right hon. and learned Friend. As the committee will consider issues affecting other sectors of higher education besides the universities, it seems appropriate that the composition of the committee should not be left solely to the UFC.

  Woodilee and Stoneyetts Hospital
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of Woodilee hospital and Stoneyetts hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As I explained when I met the hon. Member on 7 July, the Greater Glasgow health board is conducting a strategic review of psychiatric services in the Greater Glasgow area as a whole and any decisions on the future roles of these particular hospitals will be dependent on the outcome of that review. The board will he issuing a consultative document about its proposals later this year.

  Monofilament Gill Nets
  Mr. Maclennan
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received advice from the European Commission regarding the validity under Community regulations of the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Carriage of Monofilament Gill Nets) (Scotland) Order 1968; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Before the order was laid the Commission of the European Communities was consulted on its terms. The Commission indicated that the order was compatible with Community law and in conformity with the common fisheries policy.

  Nonach Mor Ski Project
  Sir Russell Johnston
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to make an announcement about the Nonach Mor ski project.

  Mr. Lang
  Letters conveying my right hon. and learned Friend's decision not to support the project have been sent to the hon. Member, Lochaber district council and Highland regional council. The Highlands and Islands Development Board has also been informed that its proposal to provide assistance to the scheme has not been approved.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Adult Education
  Mr. Turner
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the report by Her Majesty's inspectors on "Aspects of Educational Provision for Unemployed Adults in Wolverhampton"; and whether he will adopt this scheme as a national model.

  Mr. Dunn
  It is for individual local education authorities to determine their policy on educational 128
  provision for the unemployed adults in their area, taking account of advice and information available under the Department's REPLAN programme and from other sources. In reviewing their policy, they may well find it useful to study the report by Her Majesty's inspectors on educational provision for unemployed adults in Wolverhampton and to note the comments and advice offered in it.

  Co-operative Awards (Science and Engineering)
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many and what percentage of co-operative awards in science or engineering allocated to universities in 1986 remained vacant by 30 June 1987.

  Mr. Jackson
  In 1986, 1,035 co-operative awards in science and engineering projects were approved at universities, and of these 324 (31·3 per cent.) had not been taken up by 30 June 1987. Awards approved in 1986 will be available for take up until March 1988.

  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many co-operative awards in science or engineering there were from polytechnics in 1986; and what proportion of these were rejected.

  Mr. Jackson
  In 1986 there were 102 proposals for cooperative awards in science and engineering from polytechnics, and of these 55 per cent were rejected.

  Spina Bifida
  Sir Bernard Braine
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the official recognition now given by the Committee on the Safety of Medicines that Pregnavite Forte F is an effective means of preventing high-risk mothers from hearing spina bifida afflicted children, if he will state why the Medical Research Council is continuing its folic acid trials which involve giving placebos to women known to be at risk of bearing an afflicted baby.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that the Medical Research Council has not seen the evidence presented to the Committee on Safety of Medicines. The council is unaware of any new evidence which suggests that preparations such as Pregnavite Forte F are an effective means of preventing high-risk mothers from bearing children afflicted with spina bifida. The M RC still holds the view that the value of vitamin supplementation in the prevention of neural tube defects is unknown and that it is important that the clinical trial which it is supporting be continued.

  Sir Bernard Braine
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report full details of the Medical Research Council's trials on folic acid and the results so far.

  Mr. Jackson
  The council has informed me that at present there are 29 centres in five different countries and over 1,000 women participating in the trial. It is not normal practice to release results publicly before a trial is completed. The results from the trial, and any evidence from other sources, are regularly reviewed so that the trial can be stopped if clear evidence regarding the efficacy of vitamins in preventing neural tube defects emerges.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Furniture (Code of Practice)
  Mr. Holt
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the likely effect of his new code of practice on jobs in the furniture industry.

  Mr. Maude
  It is estimated that employment in the United Kingdom in the manufacture of upholstered furniture is about 22,000 and employment in the supplier industries is about 14,000. A substantial proportion of upholstery fabrics used in United Kingdom manufacture are imported.

  It is difficult to estimate the effect on employment of the introduction of new regulations based on the code of practice proposals.

  I do not anticipate that there will be significant adverse effects on employment in furniture manufacturing. One supplier of fire-retardant fillings has estimated that the development of these materials, which the code of practice approach will encourage, will lead to substantially enlarged employment in that sector, amounting to several thousand new jobs. The code of practice also provides opportunities for import substitution in the fabrics sector. Overall, the effect on employment in the furniture industry and its suppliers is likely to be beneficial.

  Financial Services Act 1986 (Exemptions)
  Mr. Barry Field
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will grant exemption under section 46(1) (a) of the Financial Services Act 1986 to those members and officers of local superannuation administering authorities which are using external fund management organisations to take the day-to-day investment decision provided that the authority's own investment strategy satisfies the requirement of superannuation regulation P3;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the protection enjoyed by members and pensioners of local superannuation administering authorities under the Financial Services Act 1986, in cases where the whole council, the committee or investment panel members, or county treasurers have not sought authorisation under the Act.

  Mr. Maude
  Under the provisions of section 191 of the Financial Services Act, members and officers of local superannuation administering authorities who use external fund managers are not likely to require to be authorised, provided that those managers take the day-to-day investment decisions. So the question of granting an exemption does not arise.

  Fund managers who take day-to-day investment decisions will have to be authorised and will be subject to the appropriate conduct of business rules drawn up by their authorising bodies. Contributions to those funds will thus have the same degree of investor protection as is available generally under the regulatory regime.

  Garment Imports
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action is being taken by the Government to ensure that imports of garments made from ramie are restricted through EEC quotas under the multi-fibre agreement.
  130
  Mr. Alan Clark
  With the co-operation of Her Majesty's Customs my Department has been closely monitoring imports of garments made predominantly of ramie under an import surveillance arrangement which provides provisional figures at 10-day intervals. After significant levels of imports at the beginning of the year, the volume has fallen back sharply. At present the levels do not justify consultations with supplying countries. However I am aware that ramie mix garments are seasonal in nature and imports may again increase. We have alerted our Community partners and the European Commission to this possibility and my Department will continue to monitor imports and is ready to take action as necessary.

  Bursett and Hallanshire Holdings plc
  Mr. Ashton
  s asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why Bursett and Hallanshire Holdings plc, of Careta road, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, has not been asked to produce a report under the EEC code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Full reports under the EC code of conduct are sought from United Kingdom companies with a controlling interest in a South African company. Other companies with a minority shareholding are expected to make efforts to ensure that the principles of the EC code are implemented and to report to the extent that they are able to do so. My Department's dealings with Bursett and Hallanshire Holdings plc have been in line with the code's requirements.

  LAUTRO Rule Book
  Mr. Butterfill
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the extent to which the proposed revisions to the LAUTRO rule book permitting pension quotations to be made in both monetary and real terms (a) may lead to investor confusion and (b) will permit investors to make an adequately informed choice between competing products; and what observations he has received on the above proposals from the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Maude
  No assessment of any proposed rules of the Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation (LAUTRO) has been made because LAUTRO has yet to submit an application to become a recognised self-regulating organisation under the Financial Services Act. When it does so, it will be for the Securities and Investments Board to determine whether LAUTRO meets the criteria for recognition laid down in the Act, including whether its rules provide investors with at least equivalent protection to SIB's own rules. The Secretary of State will however have to be satisfied that LAUTRO's rules are either not significantly anti-competitive or are no more anti-competitive than is necessary for the protection of investors. In reaching this decision, the Secretary of State will have regard to a report on the effect on competition of SRO's rules which the Director General of Fair Trading will be making.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Educational Provision
  Mr. Radice
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to make available the report of Her Majesty's Inspector on the effects of local authority expenditure policies on the education service in England in 1986.

  Mr. Kenneth Bakeer
  [pursuant to the oral reply of the Leader of the House, 16 July 1987, c. 1281]: The HMI report on the educational provision made by LEAs in England, and the quality of response to that provision, as observed in the autumn of 1986 has been published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office. This is the seventh report to be published since this Government decided that HMI findings should be made generally available. Over that period the nature of the report has undergone several major changes. However, it is still based on inspections carried out in just one term. I have therefore asked the senior chief inspector to consider whether an annual report can be produced for publication which will distil the lessons to be gleaned from Her Majesty's inspectors' observations of teaching and learning in schools and colleges over the full academic year. The report should aim to offer local education authorities, teachers and parents an independent view of the nature, quality and effectiveness of the education provided in schools and colleges.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Ships' Crews
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that ships operating from British ports are crewed with 75 per cent. British nationals.

  Mr. Gummer
  It has not been the Government's policy to require British fishing vessels to be crewed with 75 per cent. British nationals.

  The British Fishing Boats Act and Order 1983 require any British fishing boat fishing in British fishery limits to be crewed with 75 per cent. British citizens or nationals of another member state of the European Community.

  From 1 January 1986 vessels over 10 m have been subject to new licence conditions designed to ensure that vessels fishing against the United Kingdom quotas under the common fisheries policy had a real economic link with this country. These conditions include requirements that the vessel should operate from the United Kingdom, Isle of Man or Channel Islands and that 75 per cent. of the crew should be British nationals or nationals of a Community member state (other than, until 1 January 1993, Spain and Portugal under transitional arrangements on the free movement of labour in the treaty of accession) ordinarily resident in this country. These licence conditions have been the subject of judicial review proceedings and of references to the European Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling under article 177 of the treaty of Rome as to their compatibility with various provisions of Community law.

  Farmers, North Devon
  Mr. Speller
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the price supports, subsidies, grants and specialist help available for sheep farmers in North Devon;

  (2) if he will list the price supports, subsidies, grants and specialist help available for dairy farmers in North Devon;

  (3) if he will list the price supports, subsidies, grants and specialist help available for beef farmers in North Devon;

  (4) if he will list the price supports, subsidies, grants and specialist help available for the mixed farm farmers in North Devon;

  (5) if he will list the price supports, subsidies, grants and specialist help available for the horticulturalists in North Devon.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Farmers in North Devon, together with those in the rest of the United Kingdom, benefit from the support provided under common agricultural policy market regimes. In the dairy sector, this includes intervention arrangements for butter and skimmed milk powder, protection from low-priced imports by means of the levy system, and refunds to enable the Community to export to world markets. Substantial compensation is available to milk producers who take advantage of the outgoers schemes and for suspension of part of their quota.

  Support for the beef producer is provided through the beef variable premium scheme; premium is payable on steers and heifers and young bulls sent to slaughter, provided they meet certain standards as to quality. At its current level the premium is worth about £51 per head—over 11 per cent. higher than it was a year ago. In addition, beef producers benefit from the operation of the intervention system and from the protection afforded to the internal market by levies on imports from third countries. Specialist beef producers (those with no dairy cows) may also benefit from the suckler cow premium scheme, receiving an annual premium of £33·40—an increase of 35 per cent. on a year ago.

  Sheep farmers benefit from the support arrangements of the Community's sheep regime. These include the payment of sheep annual premium on breeding ewes in the United Kingdom flock: and, in Great Britain, a variable premium on clean sheep going for slaughter. Sheep producers also benefit from the wool guarantee arrangements operated by the British Wool Marketing Board.

  Hill livestock compensatory allowances are payable annually to producers with breeding cattle and sheep in the less favoured areas of North Devon.

  The Community's common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables provides for compensation to be paid to recognised producer groups which withdraw certain products from the market. Of products grown in the United Kingdom; cauliflowers, tomatoes, apples and pears are eligible for such compensation. There is also a system of reference prices and countervailing charges to prevent imports into the Community at unduly low prices.

  Support under these and other regimes is also available to the mixed farmer. In particular, cereals growers with fewer that 100 hectares of arable and grass may be eligible for the small cereal producers aid scheme. Additionally.

  133
  potato producers will benefit from the market support arrangements administered by the Potato Marketing Board in Great Britain.

  Under the agriculture improvement scheme, grant is available on a wide range of capital investments to small and medium-sized farms, including farms in North Devon, which put forward an acceptable improvement plan. A narrower range of grants is available to all farms for certain investments in horticulture and in works which are environmentally beneficial. The rates of grant vary from 15 per cent. in the lowlands to 60 per cent. in the less-favoured areas of North Devon.

  Various grants are also available to co-operatives under the Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation Scheme, EC Regulation 1035/72 and EC Regulation 355/77.

  A full range of ADAS advisory services, including free general advice on conservation, rural diversion and animal health and welfare is available to farmers in North Devon. They also benefit from the plant health measures administered by my Department. Finally, my Department sponsors a wide range of research and development which is intended to be of benefit to the agricultural sector.

  Intervention Statistics
  Mr. Bradley
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the latest available figures by commodity for the total amounts of food taken into European Economic Community intervention by the United Kingdom Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce; and if he will break these figures down by region.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  At 31 March 1987 intervention stocks in the United Kingdom were:

  Tonnes

  Cereals

  Beef

  Butter

  Skimmed milk powder

  England (Regions)

  Northern

  208,164

  6,912

  28,190

  1,034

  Midland and Western

  719,285

  4,795

  67,934

  3,840

  South-West

  226,230

  1,133

  45,190

  4,306

  Eastern

  993,024

  8,477

  26,143

  —

  South-East

  81,073

  1,774

  15,880

  —

  Scotland

  467,048

  4,374

  13,589

  321

  Wales

  19,033

  69

  16,789

  2,365

  Northern Ireland

  —

  27,852

  9,440

  7,140

  Total

  2,714,127

  55,386

  223,155

  19,006

  EC (Commodity Withdrawals)
  Mr. Bradley
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amounts, by commodity, of fruit and vegetables have been withdrawn from the market under European Economic Community regulations in the United Kingdom so far in the current year, and each year for the past seven years; what proportion of that amount has been destroyed or left to rot; and what proportion has been put to some use.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The figures requested are given in the table:134

  Withdrawn (tonnes)

  Marketing year1

  Used for human or animal food

  Destroyed

  Total

  Cauliflowers

  1987–88 (to date)

  91

  606

  697

  1986–87

  4,100

  20,000

  24,100

  1985–86

  800

  4,100

  4,900

  1984–85

  560

  7,800

  8,360

  1983–84

  25

  575

  600

  1982–83

  110

  8,100

  8,200

  1981–82

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1980–81

  400

  675

  1,075

  Tomatoes

  1987–88 (to date)

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1986–87

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1985–86

  1

  20

  21

  1984–85

  5

  125

  130

  1983–84

  nil

  180

  180

  1982–83

  nil

  54

  54

  1981–82

  nil

  5

  5

  1980–81

  nil

  4

  4

  Apples

  1987–88 (to date)

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1986–87

  3,550

  3,560

  7,110

  1985–86

  2,100

  8,500

  10,600

  1984–85

  7,800

  15,200

  23,000

  1983–84

  2,300

  3,600

  5,900

  1982–83

  8,400

  13,850

  22,250

  1981–82

  160

  300

  460

  1980–81

  5,400

  19,000

  24,400

  Pears

  1987–88 (to date)

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1986–87

  230

  33

  263

  1985–86

  735

  142

  877

  1984–85

  600

  130

  730

  1983–84

  515

  260

  775

  1982–83

  535

  30

  565

  1981–82

  nil

  40

  40

  1980–81

  45

  140

  185

  1 Cauliflowers: 1 May—30 April

  Tomatoes: 1 January—31 December

  Apples: 1 July—30 June

  Pears: 1 July—30 June

  Mr. Bradley
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by commodity, town of location, and amount in each store, the stocks held in European Economic Community intervention by the United Kingdom Intervention Board for Agriculture Produce.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. John) on 15 July.

  Food Aid
  Mr. Bradley
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the final figures of the amounts of food distributed in the United Kingdom under the free food for the needy scheme, broken down by region and by commodity.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information is as follows:

  A. Products released from intervention stores: final figures (Regional breakdown by location of store)

  tonnes

  Butter

  England and Wales

  8,959·2

  135

  tonnes

  Scotland

  1,571·0

  Northern Ireland

  3,093·5

  United Kingdom total

  13,623·7

  Beef

  England and Wales

  336·602

  Scotland

  146·475

  Northern Ireland

  557·752

  United Kingdom total

  1,040·829

  B Milk and milk products on which reimbursements were claimed by 10 July 1987 (regional breakdown by location of charity claiming reimbursement)

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  Northern Ireland

  United Kingdom Total

  Whole milk (litres)

  2,989,537·45

  497,444·96

  1,409,501·07

  4,896,483·48

  Semi-skimmed milk (litres)

  228,154·38

  551,279·04

  nil

  779,433·42

  Cheese (kgs)

  7,385,251·42

  1,427,402·56

  1,401,875·77

  10,214,529·75

  Concentrated butter (kgs)

  81,777·93

  3,360·00

  nil

  85,137·93

  Farm Rents
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average rise in farm rents per hectare, for farms which experienced a rent change, for tenants in each of the English regions during the last full year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 July 1987]: Based on the results of the annual rent inquiry conducted in autumn 1986 the average changes in farm rents between 1985 and 1986 in the English regions are presented in the table:

  Average changes in farm rent for farms with a rent change

  Region

  Percentage change 1985 to 1986

  Northern

  +14·7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  +14·2

  East Midlands

  +10·8

  East Anglia

  +10·1

  South-East

  +8·3

  South-West

  +10·0

  West Midlands

  +14·4

  North-West

  +18·3

  England

  +11·5

TRANSPORT

  London-Amsterdam Route (Passenger Statistics)
  Mr. John Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the change in the number of passengers using the London to Amsterdam route since it was liberalised.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The liberal air services arrangements with the Netherlands were introduced in June 1984. Traffic between London and Amsterdam in the year ending April 1987 was 35 per cent. higher than in the year ending April 1984.

  Ship Registration
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the number of ships under British registry during each of the past five years.
  136
  Mr. David Mitchell
  The number of ships of 100 gross registered tons and above under the British registry at the mid-point of each of the past five years is as follows:

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  United Kingdom

  2,754

  2,503

  2,386

  2,298

  2,173

  Crown Dependencies1

  72

  67

  82

  80

  83

  Dependent Territories2

  641

  729

  788

  864

  963

  Totals

  3,467

  3,299

  3,256

  3,242

  3,219

  1 The Crown Dependencies are the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

  2 The Dependent Territories are Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Montserrat, St. Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

  Car Transporters
  Sir Julian Ridsdale
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he will make a statement concerning the recent incidence of accidents on the M25 and the M5 motorways involving car transporters;

  (2) whether he is satisfied with the operation of the regulations relating to avoidance of danger for car transporters on roads;

  (3) whether he will consider including car transporter vehicles in a code similar to the code for vehicles carrying dangerous loads;

  (4) whether the Health and Safety Executive is enforcing the tying-down of cars to transporter structures on a national basis;

  (5) now that many transporters are being introduced with three decks, whether he is satisfied that all the new designs are adequately tested and approved;

  (6) whether he is satisfied with the operation of the law with regard to new triple deck transporters over tying down; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are aware of only one recent accident involving car transporters. This was on the M5 on 10 July. I shall write to my hon. Friend about this when more information is available.

  Car transporters with three decks have been used safely for many years. There are no statutory design requirements for these vehicles beyond those that apply to heavy goods vehicles generally.

  The construction and use regulations require loads to be carried so as not to be a danger or nuisance to others. This is backed by the Department's code of practice on the safety of loads on vehicles which gives general advice for the securing of vehicles on other vehicles. The police, not the HSE, are responsible for enforcing the law governing the carriage of loads on vehicles.

  Earls Court (Relief Road)
  Mr. Carrington
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received the report of the consultants examining the feasibility of the relief road for Earls Court; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have received the consultants' technical report on the feasibility of options for the western environmental improvement route. Arrangements are being made for it to be published as soon as possible.
  137
  Copies of the full report will be placed in libraries in the area of the proposed route when it is available. In the meantime I am arranging for a free summary to be issued.

  We shall consider the report carefully. The consultants have more work to do before the Department decides which options to put forward for public consultation which is planned for next spring.

  The Department will be continuing discussion with the boroughs and operators, in particular about the traffic management elements of the package.

  Traffic and Parking Regulations
  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government are considering any changes to the law on traffic and parking regulations.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The traffic and parking working group, comprising officials from this Department and local authority association representatives, has drawn up a set of proposals to simplify and improve the legislation and procedures governing traffic and parking regulation. Its report is published today as a consultation document. It gives the views of the working group rather than the Government's own position. I am placing copies in the Library.

  London Assessment Studies
  Mr. Evennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what comments he has received on the draft terms of reference for stage two of the London assessment studies; what changes he proposes to make as a result; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have received comments from the local authorities concerned and from a wide range of other organisations. A number suggested that the studies should be expanded on a Londonwide basis, with a joint steering group with the London boroughs and transport operators, which would evaluate alternative strategies for London as a whole. Others asked that the studies should

  Persons accepted

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Aberconwy

  151

  203

  159

  130

  99

  167

  74

  153

  Alyn and Deeside

  301

  250

  205

  237

  251

  239

  427

  366

  Arfon

  80

  59

  50

  55

  61

  38

  62

  51

  Blaenau Gwent

  333

  361

  388

  464

  459

  453

  444

  493

  Brecknock

  69

  114

  86

  157

  152

  134

  217

  162

  Cardiff

  690

  1,410

  973

  1,053

  730

  862

  1,646

  1,751

  Carmarthen

  187

  160

  152

  127

  192

  136

  218

  165

  Ceredigion

  94

  102

  92

  103

  149

  203

  149

  140

  Colwyn

  55

  40

  42

  72

  55

  60

  71

  102

  Cynon Valley

  898

  1,018

  965

  985

  1,207

  959

  840

  942

  Delyn

  175

  151

  264

  240

  197

  255

  297

  391

  Dinefwr

  49

  34

  35

  108

  31

  67

  104

  93

  Dwyfor

  138

  60

  106

  74

  69

  124

  126

  142

  Glyndwr

  56

  54

  63

  39

  37

  52

  64

  55

  Islwyn

  189

  175

  159

  68

  118

  143

  139

  136

  Llanelli

  133

  100

  140

  179

  219

  213

  227

  371

  Lliw Valley

  113

  129

  134

  140

  119

  204

  158

  205

  Meirionnydd

  369

  489

  235

  145

  159

  106

  106

  147

  Merthyr Tydfil

  454

  392

  272

  238

  253

  232

  225

  179

  Monmouth

  515

  380

  532

  434

  475

  447

  717

  664

  Montgomeryshire

  124

  110

  125

  89

  83

  58

  52

  97

  Neath

  481

  483

  624

  NA

  1,016

  963

  806

  793

  Newport

  864

  1,110

  1,358

  1,300

  1,218

  1,199

  1,513

  1,254

  Ogwr

  338

  343

  517

  736

  599

  448

  826

  1,667

  Port Talbot (Afan)

  170

  133

  94

  112

  160

  226

  164

  304

  Preseli

  135

  164

  130

  97

  96

  78

  148

  108

  138
  address the need for additional road capacity. There was widespread concern that the studies should consider options for both road and public transport improvements assessed on a comparable basis. There were also a number of detailed comments.

  The assessment studies cover four areas which suffer from particularly severe transport problems. The studies are intended to identify practical options for tackling them within a reasonable time scale. They are only one of the measures we are pursuing to improve transport in London, including the existing programmes of trunk and local road improvements and support for more attractive and efficient public transport services. They are not intended to be a vehicle for reviewing policies for London as a whole. I have, however, amended, the draft terms of reference to make it clearer that the studies are concerned with all modes of transport, not just roads.

  We shall be inviting the authorities concerned to join a consultative group for each of the studies. While we do not see the need for a formal joint steering group, we shall be glad to discuss wider issues at any time with the local authority associations and other representative organisations. There will be consultation on the stage two reports when they are completed.

WALES

  Homelessness
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are homeless in each district authority area in Wales; and what were the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  Information relating to the number of persons homeless at a point in time is not collected' centrally. The numbers of persons accepted as homeless by each local authority for each year since 1979 are shown in the following table.
  139

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Radnor

  19

  38

  45

  14

  19

  34

  54

  23

  Rhondda

  569

  834

  1,164

  1,049

  852

  479

  317

  323

  Rhuddlan

  237

  139

  172

  257

  268

  204

  242

  249

  Rhymney Valley

  534

  720

  510

  284

  418

  344

  629

  643

  South Pembrokeshire

  143

  188

  181

  202

  230

  280

  224

  165

  Swansea

  1,604

  1,838

  2,820

  1,887

  1,416

  1,396

  762

  685

  Taff-Ely

  390

  253

  200

  188

  158

  176

  186

  278

  Torfaen

  1,049

  978

  723

  790

  675

  421

  531

  958

  Vale of Glamorgan

  620

  749

  636

  1,314

  896

  726

  570

  427

  Wrexham Maelor

  235

  471

  353

  212

  238

  439

  411

  467

  Ynys Môn

  137

  83

  33

  26

  44

  54

  50

  62

  Note: Homelessness data by number of persons for Neath in 1982 are not available.

  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many families are housed in temporary accommodation in each local authority area in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The numbers of homeless households in temporary accommodation at 31 March 1987 are shown in the following table.

  Homeless households in temporary accommodation at 31 March 1987

  Number

  Aberconwy

  11

  Alyn and Deeside

  18

  Arfon

  7

  Blaenau Gwent

  25

  Brecknock

  2

  Cardiff

  81

  Carmarthen

  9

  Ceredigion

  1

  Colwyn

  0

  Cynon Valley

  59

  Delyn

  15

  Dinefwr

  11

  Dwyfor

  1

  Glyndwr

  0

  Islwyn

  20

  Llanelli

  18

  Lliw Valley

  24

  Meirionnydd

  2

  Merthyr Tydfil

  4

  Monmouth

  41

  Montgomeryshire

  3

  Neath

  24

  Newport

  105

  Ogwr

  10

  Port Talbot (Afan)

  42

  Preseli

  10

  Radnor

  0

  Rhondda

  1

  Rhuddlan

  1

  Rhymney Valley

  103

  South Pembrokeshire

  9

  Swansea

  0

  Taff-Ely

  1

  Torfaen

  8

  Vale of Glamorgan

  46

  Wrexham Maelor

  0

  Ynys Mon

  0

  Wales Total

  712

  Housing
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses are available for rent in (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector, in each district authority area in Wales; and what were the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
  140
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses in (a) the private sector and (b) the public sector in each district authority area in Wales are unfit, or in a serious state of disrepair; and what proportion of the houses in each sector this number represents.

  Mr. Grist
  Reliable estimates of unfitness and disrepair in each local authority district will not be available until the results of the 1986 Welsh house condition survey are published.

  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many more homes than households there are in each district authority area in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The following table shows how many more dwellings than households there were in Wales on a country basis, as at June 1986:

  Number

  Clwyd

  7,000

  Dyfed

  9,000

  Gwent

  7,000

  Gwynedd

  15,000

  Mid Glamorgan

  8,000

  Powys

  4,000

  South Glamorgan

  1,000

  West Glamorgan

  5,000

  Similar estimates are not available at a local authority district level.

  These figures are not directly comparable with statistics given to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend on 22 January, at column 683.The statistics in the reply to the hon. Gentleman's earlier question omitted concealed households—namely, married couples and lone parents living within a household headed by another person. Comparable figures which include concealed households are as follows:—

  Dwellings minus households

  Number

  1979

  27,000

  1980

  27,000

  1981

  46,000

  1982

  51,000

  1983

  55,000

  1984

  56,000

  1985

  57,000

  1986

  56,000

  Pensioners
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people of pensionable age in Wales live alone; of

  141
  those, how many are over 75 years of age; and, in each case, what proportion of the population of that age group each represents.

  Mr. Grist
  The latest available information derives from the 1981 census. At that time there were 139,268 people usually resident in Wales who were of pensionable age in single person private households in permanent buildings; they represented 27·6 per cent. of usual residents in that age group. Equivalent figures for the age group 75 and over were 58,591 persons and 36·9 per cent.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many disabled persons are living in accommodation unsuited to their needs in each local authority area in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The required information is not available centrally.

  Number of residents aged 65 and above accommodated in residential homes1

  Local authority homes

  Private and voluntary homes

  1979

  1986

  1979

  1986

  Number of residents

  Percentage of population aged 65+

  Number of residents

  Percentage of population aged 65+

  Number of residents

  Percentage of population aged 65+

  Number of residents

  Percentage of population aged 65-

  Clwyd

  877

  1·4

  875

  1·3

  571

  0·9

  1,813

  2·7

  Dyfed

  1,031

  1·9

  1,134

  1·9

  87

  0·2

  458

  0·8

  Gwent

  989

  1·7

  961

  1·5

  59

  0·1

  277

  0·4

  Gwynedd

  821

  2·1

  842

  2·0

  162

  0·4

  645

  1·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,163

  1·6

  1,231

  1·6

  134

  0·2

  361

  0·5

  Powys

  381

  2·2

  386

  2·0

  26

  0·2

  172

  0·9

  South Glamorgan

  932

  1·7

  800

  1·4

  394

  0·7

  1,004

  1·7

  West Glamorgan

  794

  1·4

  900

  1·5

  139

  0·3

  309

  0·5

  WALES

  6,988

  1·7

  7,129

  1·6

  1,572

  0·4

  5,039

  1·1

  1 Figures are based on the number of residents aged 65 and over in residential homes for the elderly, blind, physically handicapped, mentally ill and menially handicapped.

  Information on the number of residents accommodated in nursing homes is not available centrally, but the numbers of private nursing home beds designated for the elderly at 31 December 1985 were as follows:

  Private Nursing Home Beds Designated1 for Elderly

  Number

  Number per 100 population aged 65 and over

  Clwyd

  655

  0·97

  Dyfed

  8

  0·01

  Gwent

  —

  —

  Gwynedd

  202

  0·47

  Mid Glamorgan

  —

  —

  Powys

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  140

  0·24

  West Glamorgan

  351

  0·59

  WALES

  1,356

  0·30

  1 Excludes beds designated for general use but occupied by elderly people.

  Comparable information for 1979 is not available.

  Wales Railway Centre
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the proposals for and the development of the Wales railway centre.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Cardiff Bay Development Corporation is currently considering proposals put forward by the Butetown Historic Railway Society to establish a Wales railway centre in Butetown, Cardiff.

  Nursing and Residential Homes
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of the retired population of each county of Wales are accommodated in (a) local authority owned and (b) privately owned nursing and residential homes; and what were the corresponding figures for 1979.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [pursuant to his reply, 20 July 1987]: The required information for residential homes is given in the following table.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Miss Heather Sinclair
  Mr. John David Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any representations following the kidnapping in Sudan of Miss Heather Sinclair from Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We are making every effort to secure Miss Sinclair's release. I have raised the matter at the highest level with the Sudanese authorities, which have assured us that they are doing all in their power to help.

  South Africa
  Mr. Ashton
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further discussions he has had with European Economic Community Ministers on banning imports of coal from South Africa via other countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  None.

  Foreign Compensation (USSR) (Registration and Determination of Claims) Order 1986
  Mr. William Powell
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the response to the advertisement about the Foreign Compensation (USSR) (Registration and Determination of Claims) Order 1986.

  Mr. Eggar
  The closing date for claims in respect of bonds was 31 March 1987. The total number of bonds received was 849,863, with a face value of £30,229,474. The closing date for claims other than bonds was 30 June 1987. At that date some 1,850 claims had been received by the Foreign Compensation Commission. It will be some time before an estimated value can be placed on these other claims.

  European Community (Directives and Regulations)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total number of directives and regulations, respectively, produced by the European Economic Community in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.

  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the number of European Economic Community directives which have been applied in the United Kingdom in each year from 1979 to 1986 and 1987 to the most recent practicable date.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [pursuant to her replies, 7 July 1987, c. 89 and 9 July 1987, c. 210]: Although no official statistics are available, the following table indicates the number of directives and regulations adopted for the years shown. All directives and regulations are applicable equally to all member states according to the timetable laid down in each of them. The Commission's records do not distinguish between new regulations and those which update or amend regulations already in force, for example, by changing dates or adding new items to a list. Figures for 1987 are not available.

  Royal Navy

  Royal Marines

  Army

  Royal Air Force

  Year of and age of entry

  Number

  Per cent..

  Number

  Per cent..

  Number

  Per cent..

  Number

  Per cent..

  1981–82

  Age 16

  214

  15·5

  47

  23·4

  1,921

  23·7

  18

  8·5

  Age 17

  101

  14·3

  25

  17·5

  229

  21·5

  91

  8·6

  1982–83

  Age 16

  96

  13·7

  13

  14·1

  1,081

  20·3

  19

  6·9

  Age 17

  103

  10·1

  26

  19·1

  238

  20·0

  78

  7·6

  1983–84

  Age 16

  205

  16·3

  21

  25·9

  1,617

  23·8

  83

  12·1

  Age 17

  143

  12·7

  35

  31·5

  900

  24·4

  216

  9·8

  1984–85

  Age 16

  217

  17·0

  52

  30·2

  1,550

  21·8

  23

  5·8

  Age 17

  155

  14·5

  73

  26·7

  1,055

  25·1

  126

  7·9

  1985–86

  Age 16

  171

  16·1

  79

  33·1

  1,737

  23·8

  28

  6·9

  Age 17

  176

  17·3

  82

  33·1

  927

  27·6

  138

  9·3

  144

  Council regulations

  Council directives

  1986

  514

  61

  1985

  476

  66

  1984

  377

  54

  1983

  409

  43

  1982

  449

  44

  1981

  480

  45

  1980

  443

  64

  1979

  374

  51

  1978

  428

  66

  1977

  476

  48

  1976

  494

  57

  1975

  415

  49

  Source: Secretariat-General of the Council of the European Communities.

DEFENCE

  Stonefield Military Vehicles Ltd.
  Mr. Aitken
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Defence Export Services Organisation in support of the attempts by Stonefield Military Vehicles Ltd. of Rochester, Kent, to sell vehicles to the army of Thailand.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement held a meeting with my hon. Friend the Member for Medway (Dame P. Fenner) yesterday, and will write to my hon. Friend on this matter.

  Armed Forces (Statistics)
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the numbers of young soldiers who have left the Army before completion of their training in each of the last five years; and what are the comparable figures for the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Freeman
  Details of the numbers leaving the Army before completion of their training are not available. The table shows, however, for each service, outflow of male service men recruits within the first six months of their service, which is the period during which they may claim their discharge as a right. The table shows, for those who entered the services during each financial year from 1981–82 to 1985–86 and were aged 16 or 17 on entry, all exits during the first six months. Both the numbers leaving and the percentage they represent of the numbers entering at each age are shown.

  Armed Forces (Bullying)
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents involving allegations of bullying or brutality have been investigated in each of the armed forces in the last three years; how each incident was drawn to the attention of the authorities; what was the result of the investigations; if he will take steps to encourage reports of bullying and brutality; and if he will investigate the incidence of such behaviour in each of the armed forces.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 7 April 1987, at columns 172–73. I also refer him to answers that he received on 7 April 1987, column 173 and on 2 April 1987, at column 565. I must apologise to the right hon. Member for the fact that an incorrect figure was included in the answer that I gave him on 7 April; the correct figure for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines for 1984 is 10. The figure for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines 1985 is 5: this figure was not available when the question was answered.

  Any form of bullying or ill-treatment is not tolerated in the armed forces. Reports and allegations of such treatment are always immediately and thoroughly investigated and where the allegations are substantiated firm disciplinary action is taken against those responsible.

  Nuclear Materials (Transport)
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assesment he has made of the risks to the local populace of the transport of nuclear materials to and from Swynerton; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  For security reasons it has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on the transport of defence nuclear materials. All aspects of safety remain under review, but the regulations applied by my Department are at least as stringent as those governing the movement of civil radioactive material, which were set out by my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 25 July 1983, at column 289.

ENERGY

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his Department's research into renewable forms of energy.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My Department is supporting comprehensive research, development and demonstration programmes aimed at exploiting the significant renewable energy resource in the United Kingdom. Over 240 projects valued at nearly £60 million are under way, and a substantial number of new projects will be commissioned this year. Over £106 million has been invested by the Department since 1979 and strong support will continue to be provided to ensure that the renewable technologies will make the maximum environmentally acceptable contribution of which they are economically capable.

  Increased attention is being paid in the programme to technical transfer and information dissemination aimed at stimulating increased commercial involvement in development projects as the technologies move towards commercialisation.

  Hydroelectric Power Research
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the current status of hydroelectric power research by his Department.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My Department's small-scale hydro energy research programme is primarily aimed at supporting innovative devices which have the prospect of achieving the cost reductions necessary for the technology to become commercially attractive in the United Kingdom energy market, and at continuing to explore the potential for small-scale hydro energy in the United Kingdom. A study has recently been commissioned of the potential of small-scale hydro resource in England and Northern Ireland, and a review of the potential in the United Kingdom generally. The cost of the work is £156,000 and it will be completed in 18 months' time.

  Geothermal Power
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his Department's research into geothermal power.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  In June 1986 it was announced that the hot dry rock geothermal programme in Cornwall would be extended for a further two years from October 1986 at an additional cost of £5·85 million. A further £1 million was allocated to support work at other centres. The aim of the work in Corn wall is to develop understanding of the nature, technical requirements, economics, and potential of hot dry rock technology sufficiently to make decisions whether to proceed to further experimental work leading to commercial exploitation at depths of up to 7 km.

  Coal Mining Subsidence
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the reasons why his Department has not yet responded to the recommendations of the Waddilove committee on the subject of compensation for coal mining subsidence.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The committee made a very large number of recommendations on issues of concern to a wide range of interests. The Government have taken these all into account in preparing their response, which will be published as a White Paper shortly.

  Bradwell Nuclear Power Station
  Dr. Michael Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received the independent nuclear installations inspectorate's assessment of the Central Electricity Generating Board's review of the long-term safety of the Bradwell nuclear power station.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I have today received from the chief inspector of nuclear installations, the findings of the inspectorate's assessment of the long-term safety review of the Bradwell power station. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. Ashton
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many tonnes of coal were imported into the United Kingdom in total in 1986; and how many of these were from (a) Holland and (b) South Africa.
  147
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Total coal imports into the United Kingdom in 1986 amounted to 10·6 million tonnes (9·2 per cent. of total inland consumption); of which 218,000 tonnes (0·2 per cent. of total inland consumption) were imported from the Netherlands and 312,000 tonnes (0·3 per cent. of total inland consumption) from South Africa.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his objective to make the United Kingdom the most energy-efficient nation in Europe.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My objective remains to make the United Kingdom the most energy-efficient nation in Europe. I am currently reviewing with my right hon. Friend how best we can achieve this.

  Onshore Petroleum Licensing
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for a further onshore petroleum licensing round.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses a copy of the notice inviting applications for exploration licences in a second round of landward licensing. The notice, to be published in the official gazettes on 28 July, specifies that applications should be made on 27 October or 28 October 1987.

EMPLOYMENT

  Tourism
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the first six months' operation of the "Great English City Breaks" programme, promoted by the English Tourist Board, in terms of bednights and revenue.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I understand that since the launch of the "Great English City Breaks" campaign in September 1986 some 26,000 bednights have been sold as a result of the campaign and that the cities involved in the programme estimate that over £1 million of spending by tourists has been generated.

  Mr. Roger King
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made for the growth rate of jobs per year in the tourism sector.

  Mr. Conway
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the trend in the number of employees in the tourist industry.

  Mr. Lee
  Employment in tourism-related industries rose by 149,000 between March 1984 and March 1987, an average increase of 50,000 per year.

  Mr. Bowis
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action is being taken to alleviate the impact on incoming tourists of passenger delays at Heathrow and other United Kingdom airports.

  Mr. Lee
  Neither my Department nor the British Tourist Authority is aware of any major delays being experienced by incoming passengers at Heathrow or other United Kingdom airports this year.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for the Employment if he will make it his policy to publish
  148
  an annual list showing the most popular tourist attractions in each region, distinguishing between those with (a) paid and (b) free admission.

  Mr. Devlin
  asked the Secretary of State for the Employment if he will make it his policy to publish an annual list showing the most popular tourist attractions in each region, distinguishing between those with (a) paid and (b) free admission.

  Mr. Mans
  asked the Secretary of State for the Employment if he will make it his policy to publish an annual list showing the most popular tourist attractions in each region, distinguishing between those with (a) paid and (b) free admission.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for the Employment if he will make it his policy to publish an annual list showing the most popular tourist attractions in each region, distinguishing between those with (a) paid and (b) free admission.

  Mr. Lee
  Statistics on the most popular tourist attractions identifying those with free and paid admissions are available in the "English Heritage Monitor", published by the English Tourist Board (ETB) and "Visits to Tourist Attractions", published jointly by the ETB and the British Tourist Authority. Both identify the location of the attractions listed and are published annually.

  "Visits to Tourist Attractions" lists attractions, broken down by category, separately for England, Scotland and Wales.

  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on progress being made with regard to the programme of introducing a new system of signposting sites of tourist interest.

  Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on progress towards introducing a new system of signposting sites of tourist interest.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply given earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson).

  Mr. Neale
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the significance of tourism for the United Kingdom economy.

  Mr. Lee
  Tourism is a £15 billion industry which supports significant and growing numbers of jobs and is a major earner of foreign currency. In 1986 tourism spending was equivalent to about 4 per cent. of gross domestic product, and latest figures show that jobs in the hotel, catering and leisure and recreational centres were 46,000 up in the year to March 1987.

  Mr. Bevan
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the forecasts by the British tourist authority of the number of overseas visitors to Britain in 1987 and as to the estimated expenditure by such tourists.

  Mr. Lee
  Information gathered from the tourism industry by the British Tourist Authority suggests that over 14·5 million visitors will come to Great Britain in 1987, and that expenditure by overseas visitors during the year will be over £6 billion.
  149
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to how many regional tourist hoards (a) have or (b) propose to set up commercial member groups.

  Mr. Lee
  Of the 12 regional tourist boards in England, seven have formed commercial members groups. They are Cumbria, North-West, Yorkshire and Humberside, East Midlands, East Anglia, West Country and South-East. I understand that there are no plans at present to set up similar formal groups in any of the other regional boards, although all the regional boards already have a substantial number of commercial members.

  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest estimate his Department has made of the number of full-time and part-time jobs to be created in the tourist industry.

  Mr. Lee
  Between March 1984 and March 1987, the number of, males and full-time females employed in tourism-related industries rose by 105,000 to 725,000 and the number of part-time female employees rose by 45,000 to 514,000. Separate figures for part-time male employees are not available.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the community programme.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to make the community programme full-time.

  Mr. Fowler
  We plan to improve the community programme by making it full-time and paying a premium over and above 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 content of the programme.

  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to extend the community programme.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to increase the number of places on the community programme.

  Mr. Lee
  The community programme will provide valuable work experience for some 300,000 long-term unemployed people in 1987–88, the same level as in 1986–87.

  Mr. Fisher
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to alter the rules of the community programme.

  Mr. Lee
  We are considering a number of changes to the operation of the community programme. We have already decided that from 1 October all entrants to the programme must have been continuously unemployed for at least 12 months and that priority will be given to those aged under 50 who have been unemployed for more than two years.

  Mr. Andy Stewart
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to encourage married men with children to undertaken training and work experience on the community programme.
  150
  Mr. Lee
  We are planning to make the community programme much more attractive to long-term unemployed people with families by making it full time and by paying participants a premium over and above their social security entitlement. In addition, we propose to enhance significantly the training and job search content of the programme.

  Mr. Maclennan
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the balance in provision of community programme places relative to the number of eligible long-term unemployed.

  Mr. Lee
  Community programme places are allocated to regions and areas in the light of both national priorities set out in MSC planning guidance for 1987–88 and priorities determined locally in consultation with area manpower hoards. This process takes full account of the distribution and concentration of long-term unemployed and I am satisfied that it results in a fair balance of provision throughout Great Britain.

  106. Mr. Harry Greenway asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the community programme.

  Mr. Lee
  The community programme is successfully providing worthwhile opportunities which enhance the employment prospects of some 300,000 people a year. There have been important improvements in the quality of projects and there is now a closer focus on priorities such as inner cities, enterprise, and national initiatives like crime prevention, energy efficiency and tourism.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mrs. Wise
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any recommendations to make to local authorities and Government Departments on equal opportunity employment practices in inner-city areas.

  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department is giving any advice to local authorities, private employers and Government Departments on equal opportunity employment practices in the inner cities.

  Mr. Nicholls
  As a Government we are fully committed to the promotion of equal opportunities in employment. Our policy, reinforced by equal opportunities legislation and the codes of practice produced by the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission, is to persuade public and private sector employers that recruitment, training and promotion practices should be based solely on merit and potential.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present level of job vacancies registered at jobcentres in the west midlands area.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 5 June 1987, the number of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres in the west midlands region was 21,300.

  Mr. Bruce
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will produce an analysis of the figures for employees in employment to show the number in full-time and the number in part-time jobs.
  151
  Mr. Lee
  At March 1987 the latest estimates for employees in employment in Great Britain showed that there were 16·1 million full-time jobs and 5 million part-time jobs. This represents an increase of 121,000 full-time and 607,000 part-time jobs since March 1983. Over the same period there has been an increase of 378,000 full-time and 117,000 part-time jobs in self-employment.

  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current level of unemployment.

  Mr. Fowler
  Unemployment in the United Kingdom now stands at 2,905,000. The seasonally adjusted total has fallen 12 months in a row to the lowest level for three and a half years.

  Over the last year we have experienced a fall in unemployment of almost 300,000, the largest drop in unemployment since records were first kept. There has also been a growth of over 250,000 jobs between March 1986 and March 1987.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current levels of unemployment in the local authority areas of Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley and St. Helens.

  Mr. Lee
  The latest figures show that the number of unemployed claimants in the local authority areas requested was as follows:

  Number

  Liverpool

  52,537

  Sefton

  19,028

  Knowsley

  17,437

  St. Helens

  13,108

  Mr. Redwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of people unemployed in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 June 1987. The number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 2,905,325.

  Mr. Burns
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received relating to the fall in unemployment over the last six months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I have received no such representations. Unemployment has fallen more quickly over the past six months than in any equivalent period since similar figures were first collected.

  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the level of unemployment in Leicester in June 1979 and at the latest available date assessed on a comparable basis.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 June 1987, the number of unemployed claimants in the Leicester local authority area was 17,209. Figures for local authorities are derived from the ward-based system and are available only from June 1983.

  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the trends shown by the unemployment statistics.

  Mr. Lee
  Over the past six months seasonally adjusted adult unemployment has fallen by a record average of 152
  more than 32,000 per month. Unemployment has now been falling continuously for a year, and the fall of 287,000 since June 1986 is the largest for any 12-month period since similar records began in 1948.

  Ms. Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees there were in 1979, 1983 and at the latest available date.

  Mr. Lee
  For the dates specified the numbers of employees in full-time and part-time jobs in Great Britain were as follows.

  Full-time

  Part-time

  June 1979

  18,033,000

  4,578,000

  June 1983

  16,029,000

  4,527,000

  March 1987

  16,192,000

  5,065,000

  Mr. Favell
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for Stockport.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 June 1987 the number of unemployed claimants in the Stockport local authority areas was 12,188.

  Mr. Loyden
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of unemployed in the Merseyside travel-to-work area for June 1987.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 June 1987 the number of unemployed claimants in the Liverpool travel-to-work area was 95,322.

  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were unemployed in Telford (a) in May 1979 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 June 1987, the number of unemployed claimants in Telford and Bridgnorth travel-to-work area was 10,518. Statistics of unemployment for travel-to-work areas are derived from the new ward-based system, and are available only from June 1983.

  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people under the age of 25 years were registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom, Scotland and Fife, Central constituency at (a) June 1979, (b) June 1983 and (c) June 1987; and if he will also give the number of people on Government employment/training schemes on the same dates and for the same areas.

  Mr. Lee
  The table shows the numbers of unemployed claimants aged under 25 years in all the areas requested on 9 April 1987—the quarterly unemployment figures by age are not available for June—and in the United Kingdom and Scotland on 14 April 1983. Unemployment statistics for parliamentary constituencies are compiled using the ward-based system and are available only from June 1983. For April 1979 the figures given are the numbers of unemployed registrants in that age group.

  Unemployed aged under 25 years

  Registrants

  Claimants

  Claimants

  5 April 1979

  14 April 1983

  9 April 1987

  Central Fife Constituency

  n/a

  n/a

  1,955

  Scotland

  67,844

  137,441

  131,672

  United Kingdom

  451,371

  1,191,760

  1,025,939

  Comprehensive information on the number of people on Government employment and training measures is not available in the form requested. A breakdown of the total

  153
  number of people who have benefited from the main employment, training and enterprise measures in 1979–80, 1983–84 and the estimate for 1987–88 is as follows:

  1979–80

  1983–84

  11987–88

  Adult training

  110,538

  109,850

  2478,600

  YOP/YTS

  216,400

  353,979

  373,000

  YWS/NWS

  —

  130,000

  25,300

  CI

  5,806

  9,612

  8,000

  STEP/CP

  22,400

  136,968

  300,000

  JRS

  68,164

  44,045

  24,700

  JSS/JS

  —

  656

  1,000

  EAS

  —

  28,453

  102,500

  1 Estimate.

  2 Includes JTS.

  Mr. Ashton
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of people in full-time jobs compared to July 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  In March 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 18,653,000 full-time jobs in the employed labour force in Great Britain. In June 1979—there are no estimates for July—the figure was 19,950,000.

  The employed labour force is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, and members of Her Majesty's forces.

  Mr. Speller
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many job vacancies there are in the Barnstaple and Ilfracombe areas at present; how many are listed as unemployed in this area; and how he intends to improve jobs opportunities there.

  Mr. Lee
  On 5 June 1987, the number of unfilled vacancies at Barnstaple and Ilfracombe jobcentres was 371, and increase of 57 per cent. on the June 1986 figure; and on 11 June 1987 there were 2,830 unemployed claimants in the Barnstaple and Ilfracombe travel-to-work area; a fall of 150, or 5 per cent., since May, and 9.7 per cent. over the year.

  The Government will continue to pursue policies of sound financial management designed further to reduce inflation and to promote investment, enterprise and increased employment in Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and throughout the country. These policies have so far produced more than 1 million new jobs nationally since 1983.

  My Department and the Manpower Services Commission operate over 30 employment, enterprise and training measures described in the "Action for Jobs" booklet, all of which are available in Barnstaple and Ilfracombe. In addition, we are actively working with the local authorities in north Devon and the national and regional tourist boards to maximise the tourism potential of the area.

  Mr. Flannery
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average percentage of unemployment throughout the United Kingdom; and what is the percentage in the Sheffield travel-to-work area.

  Mr. Lee
  On 11 June 1987, the number of unemployed claimants in the Sheffield travel-to-work area, expressed as a percentage of employees in employment plus the unemployed was 15·1 per cent. The comparable rate for the United Kingdom was 11·7 per cent. Expressed as a154
  percentage of the total working population, the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom was 10·5 per cent.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people under the age of 25 years are currently unemployed in Britain.

  Mr. Lee
  On 9 April 1987, the number of unemployed claimants under the age of 25 years in Great Britain was 981,345.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Bellingham
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his responsibilities for small firms.

  Mr. Cope
  Our Department is responsible for encouraging the growing contribution of small firms to the economy and especially to employment, and ensuring that it receives proper recognition within Government. Since 1980 the number of businesses has increased at the rate of 500 per week with a net increase of 29,000 in 1986 alone according to VAT statistics, and small firms created 1 million extra jobs between 1982 and 1984. We aim to build on this success.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the prospects for the small firms sector.

  Mr. Stevens
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the growth of small businesses in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kings Lynn (M r. Bellingham). It remains the Government's intention to ensure that there should be a strong and expanding small firms sector in the United Kingdom economy.

  Minimum Wages
  Miss Lestor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take action to seek to establish within the Council of Europe agreed recommendations on a minimum wage rate.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. A minimum wage rate would raise employers' costs and threaten jobs, including the jobs of those it was designed to help.

  Adult Training
  Mr. Gale
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will sponsor further schemes to offer unemployed adults training and jobs similar to the Open Door 87 scheme operated by the Hotel and Catering Training Board and London employers.

  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission is already funding a number of programmes, similar to the Open Door 87 scheme operated by the Hotel and Catering Training Board, under the new job training scheme which offers unemployed adults the opportunity to gain relevant skills and recent work experience to increase their chances of getting a job.

  Restart Programme
  Mr. Hayes
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures are proposed for the restart programme.

  Mr. Lee
  We are extending the restart programme in order to provide regular help to every long-term unemployed person. The Government's intention is that interviews will be offered at six-monthly intervals to everyone who has been unemployed for more than six months.

  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what study he has made of the benefit gained by those who have undertaken restart courses.

  Mr. Cope
  Restart courses are designed to help long-term unemployed people reassess their skills and abilities, and improve their presentation and job search techniques. A survey in 1986 found that 76 per cent. of participants considered restart courses to be useful or very useful.

  Mr. John Browne
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the restart programme.

  Mr. Lee
  By the 29 May nearly 2 million long-term unemployed people had been interviewed under the restart programme.

  The Government's intention is that an interview will be offered at six-monthly intervals to everyone who has been unemployed for more than six months.

  Since the programme began a positive offer of help to get back to work has been made to nine out of 10 of the unemployed people who have been interviewed.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to increase financial support for apprenticeship training in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Cope
  The Government already make available substantial resources to support apprenticeship training as a part of YTS and have no plans to change this. The Government have already made available more money than ever before for the training of young people through YTS, amounting to around £1,100 million in 1987–88. The introduction of YTS, and its extension to a two-year scheme in April 1986, has increased the opportunities for all 16 and 17-year-old school leavers to benefit from the sort of structured programme of training and work experience which was previously available only to those undertaking apprenticeships.

  Amber Valley
  Mr. Oppenheim
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to visit Amber Valley.

  Mr. Fowler
  I have no present plans to do so.

  Safety at Work
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to promote safety at work by encouraging the wearing of protective clothing and footwear; and if he will make a statement.
  156
  Mr. Nicholls
  In promoting safety at work, the Health and Safety Commission and Executive, in general, give priority to the control of hazards at source. Where this cannot be achieved, the use of protective clothing and footwear may be required in regulations, a considerable number of which have been introduced. Their use is also promoted, where appropriate, in approved codes of practice and an extensive range of advisory publications of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Hunter
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how the number of jobs lost in manufacturing industry from 1979 to 1987 compares with losses from 1969 to 1977.

  Mr. Lee
  There are no figures for job losses and job gains.

  Between June 1979 and March 1987 the size of the civilian employed labour force in manufacturing industry in Great Britain decreased by 1,960,000.

  Between June 1971 and June 1977—there are no comparable estimates prior to 1971—there was a decrease of 705,000.

  Some of the recent decrease in the number of employees in employment in manufacturing will be the result of reclassification of jobs, such as industrial cleaning, catering, computer services and road haulage, previously done by manufacturers' own employees and now done by subcontractors. This developing feature of our economy has the effect of exaggerating the extent of the move from manufacturing to service sector employment.

  The civilian employed labour force is the sum of employees in employment and the self employed.

  Mr. Livsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the trend in unemployment in manufacturing.

  Mr. Lee
  The information is not available. The claimant count of unemployment cannot be analysed by the industry in which the claimant last worked. However, current indications are that compared with a year ago manufacturing output has increased, the rate of reduction in manufacturing employment has slowed, and overtime hours have increased.

  Self-Employed People
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of self-employed people in Britain.

  Mr. Cope
  In March 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, there were an estimated 2,643,000 self-employed people in Great Britain.

  YTS
  Mr. Wood
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on Government funding for YTS.

  Mr. Cope
  The Government have made available substantial resources for two-year YTS, amounting to around £1·1 billion in 1987–88. This reflects the Government's commitment to offering young people the
  157
  better start in working life that YTS provides and to producing a better trained, better motivated, more adaptable work force.

  While making this considerable contribution, the Government also expect employers to bear a fair share of the costs of training young people, in recognition of the benefits they will gain from a better trained work force.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies have been involved in the YTS programme to date.

  Mr. Cope
  We estimate that over 100,000 employers' establishments are involved in YTS, mainly as work experience providers. Surveys indicate that as many establishments again have been involved at some time in the past.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what number of young people have refused a place on YTS in each year since the scheme was launched.

  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission has estimated that around 20,000 to 30,000 from each year's cohort of 16-year-old school leavers have remained unemployed despite the availability of YTS places.

  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the level of first year YTS allowance if it was uprated in line with the rise in the value of earnings since the introduction of YOP in 1978.

  Mr. Cope
  The youth opportunities programme allowance in April 1978 was £49·00 if adjusted to take account of increases in the index of average earnings between April 1978 and April 1987. YTS allowances are lower to reflect the fact that trainees are still learning, and YTS provides substantially upgraded training compared with the youth opportunities programme.

  Mr. David Porter
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the placement rate of YTS.

  Mr. Cope
  The latest figures show that about three quarters of young people leaving YTS are in jobs or further education or training three months after leaving their scheme.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals to alleviate the situation of individuals who, having completed their two year YTS, are unable to find permanent work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission carries out a survey of all trainees three months after they leave the scheme. The latest figures show 75 per cent. in job or further education of training and 22 per cent. without work; many of those who are unemployed at the three-month point may in addition find a job at a later date.

  In addition, young people can benefit from a range of other opportunities available after they leave YTS, such as the new workers scheme and the enterprise allowance scheme. In particular, the new workers scheme helps young people aged 18 to 20, who might otherwise be out of work, into full-time permanent jobs by offering employers an incentive to recruit young people.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people have so far taken up places on the two-year YTS.
  158
  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission currently estimates that around 360,000 young people joined YTS in 1986–87; a similar number are expected to join in 1987–88.

  Voluntary Part-time and Temporary Work
  Ms. Quin
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he envisages a decision being reached on the proposed EEC directives on voluntary part-time work and temporary work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  These draft directives have not been discussed by the Council of Ministers since 1985 and 1982 respectively. No further discussion is currently planned.

  Dundee
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time jobs he estimates have been created in Dundee as a result of the various pilot projects initiated by his Department in Dundee.

  Mr. Lee
  The pilot projects initiated by my Department in Dundee, which include the new job training scheme, restart and jobstart, are not job creation schemes; they are designed to give training, advice or other help to long-term unemployed people to enable them to compete more effectively in the labour market.

  Hotel and Catering Industries
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about youth training in the hotel and catering industries.

  Mr. Cope
  I have received no representations on this matter.

  Mr. Butterfill
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many organisations in the hotel and catering industry have so far been recognised by the Manpower Services Commission as approved training organisations.

  Mr. Cope
  Fifty-three organisations in the hotel and catering industry have so far been fully recognised by the Manpower Services Commission as an approved training organisation, and 28 have been provisionally approved.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his definition of low pay; and what percentage of the full-time employed population in the north-west region fall below that level.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I do not believe any single definition of low pay would be generally supported. Nor do I believe that the introduction of a definition by the Government would serve any useful purpose.

  Trade Union Ballots
  Mr. Prescott
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what response has been received from the Confederation of British Industry, the Engineering Employer Federation, the Institute of Personnel Managers and the Trades Union Congress on the proposals for balloting contained in the Green Paper on trade union legislation.
  159
  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department has received representations from each of these organisations. In addition, Ministers have met the CBI, TUC and the Engineering Employers Federation. All four organisations have made their comments public.

  Job Training Scheme
  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average number of hours of training provided to participants in the job training scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  Trainees may spend between three and 12 months on the new job training scheme. In an average length programme of six months a trainee would have the opportunity to undertake at least 300 hours directed training.

  Trade Unions (Reform)
  Mr. Ashby
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on his plans for further reform of the trade unions.

  Mr. Jack
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received seeking further trade union reform.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Department has received 122 comments on the Green Paper "Trade Unions and Their Members", which sets out a number of legislative proposals. Eighty-four of these expressed approval of one or more of the proposals, or of the general thrust of the Green Paper. Further trade union reforms have also been suggested in a small number of other letters.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to be in a position to publish details of his plans further to extend democracy within the trade unions.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Following consultations on the Green Paper "Trade Unions and Their Members" our manifesto set out proposals to strengthen the democratic rights of individual members in relation to their unions. It is now clear that these command widespread popular support and we shall introduce legislation later this year to fulfil our commitment.

  I intend to publish the details in due course.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to tackle the severe discrimination faced by black people and minority ethnic groups in employment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government are firmly committed to the elimination of all unlawful discrimination and to the promotion of equal opportunities in employment for all workers regardless of race.

  To this end the Department of Employment's race relations employment advisory service gives help and guidance to employers on issues concerned with the equality of treatment for all workers both as regards to access to work and progress within employment. In recent years the service has been advising on the provisions of the Commission for Racial Equality's code of practice on the elimination of discrimination in employment.
  160
  The policy is also pursued through the Manpower Services Commission which seeks to ensure equal access for people of different races to all its public employment and training services and also supports language training to improve the employment prospects of members of ethnic minorities.

  In addition the Department is playing a full part in implementing the Government's policy of ensuring equal opportunity in the Civil Service for people from the ethnic minorities, both at the recruitment stage and in their subsequent careers.

  The reduction and elimination of racial discrimination in employment requires not only action by the Government but also the support of employers, trade unions and the community in general.

  Worker Co-operatives
  Mr. Michael
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what responsibility he has for encouraging the development of worker co-operatives.

  Mr. Cope
  My Department sponsors the National Cooperative Development Agency which, amongst its responsibilities, seeks to encourage the growth of the cooperative sector by providing help and advice to existing co-operatives and to people wishing to set up such enterprises. Co-operatives may also benefit from my Department's wide range of policies to encourage the growth of small firms. The number of co-operatives has increased from 300 in 1980 to more than 1,500 at present.

  Mr. Turner
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state his Department's current policy on work co-operatives.

  Mr. Cope
  Worker co-operatives can be wealth-creating enterprises which contribute to the economy and create jobs. Co-operatives are therefore entitled to Government assistance on the same basis as forms of business, provided they meet the necessary criteria. In addition, the Government seek to encourage the growth of cooperatives through the sponsorship of the National Cooperative Development Agency.

  Disabled Persons
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the best available estimate of the level of unemployment for disabled people.

  Mr. Lee
  On 3 April 1987, the number of unemployed people with disabilities who were registered at jobcentres and careers offices in Great Britain was 60,997.

  "Pleasure, Leisure and Jobs"
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in implementing the action points in "Pleasure, Leisure and Jobs."

  Mr. Lee
  Last July the Government published a report "Action for Jobs in Tourism", which provided a detailed review of progress on the action points in "Pleasure, Leisure and Jobs". It is our intention on 27 July to publish "Tourism 87" a similar report setting out further progress.

  Factory inspectors
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment, what was the number of factory inspectors employed in 1979, 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The numbers of factory inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive are as follows (1 July figures).

  Factory Inspectors

  General

  Specialist

  Total

  1979

  741

  210

  951

  1983

  648

  197

  845

  1985

  645

  198

  843

  1986

  1622

  1202

  824

  1987

  1609

  1214

  823

  1 Before April 1986 some inspectors now classed as specialists were categorised as general inspectors.

  Recruits from a recent competition for general factory inspectors will shortly be joining the inspectorate.

  Young Persons (Employment)
  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that the jobcentres in South Hams are taking all steps to see that unemployed young people are encouraged to take up work that is available.

  Mr. Lee
  Young people under the age of 18 are required to register at either the careers office or the jobcentre as a precondition for the receipt of state benefit. Vacancies are matched against the youngsters registration details and they are notified of suitable opportunities. In addition, all young people leaving full-time education in the 1986–87 academic year who are eligible for YTS are guaranteed an offer of a suitable YTS place by Christmas.

  Young people aged 18 to 25 are treated in the same way as any other older job-seeker and registration at the jobcentre is not compulsory. The majority of vacancies are filled through the operation of self-service displays. However, anyone who remains unemployed for six months or more will be interviewed by a member of the restart team at which stage all suitable opportunities will be brought to their attention. Priority is also given to the 18 to 25 age group on the new job training scheme.

  As with all unemployed job-seekers a young person who fails to follow up a suitable opportunity of work may be disqualified from receiving state benefit for up to 13 weeks.

  Earnings
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the best available estimate of the number of people paid less than two-thirds of the average wage in 1979, 1983 and at the latest available date.

  Mr. Lee
  It is estimated that about 3·5 million full-time adult employees in Great Britain earned less than two thirds of average full-time earnings in 1979. The corresponding estimates for 1983 and 1986 are 3·75 million and 4 million respectively.

  Unemployment (Trend)
  Mr. John Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how the trend in unemployment in the United Kingdom compares with that of the other major industrialised countries.

  Mr. Lee
  Over the past year the unemployment rate has fallen faster in the United Kingdom than in all other industrialised countries.

  Pay (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. O'Brien
  asked the Secretary of Stale for Employment what action he intends to take to seek to raise the average level of pay in west Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Pay in west Yorkshire or elsewhere is entirely a matter to be negotiated between the employers and employees concerned except in those industries covered by wages council orders.

  Unemployed People (Assistance)
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what additional help he intends to provide for the long-term unemployed.

  Mr. Lee
  As we promised in our election manifesto, we shall (1) guarantee to provide a restart interview at six-monthly intervals to everyone who has been unemployed for six months or more; (2) aim within a year to guarantee a place on the job training scheme or on the enterprise allowance scheme or in a jobclub for everyone aged between 18 and 25 years who has been unemployed for between six and 12 months; (3) aim over the next five years to offer everyone who is under 50 and who has been unemployed for more than two years, a place in the job training scheme or in the new community programme, in a jobclub or in the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Watts
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made in providing further assistance for the unemployed.

  Mr. William Powell
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures are being proposed to help the unemployed.

  Mr. Lee
  We are continuing the successful economic policies which have secured six years of uninterrupted economic growth, helped to create more than 1 million new jobs since spring 1983 and brought unemployment down by nearly 300,000 over the past year.

  In addition,. we are continuing to develop, in accordance with our manifesto commitments, our programme of employment and training measures which help unemployed people to become self employed or compete more effectively for jobs in the labour market.

  Mr. Knapman
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further help will be given to the long-term unemployed in the 18 to 25 years age group.

  Mr. Lee
  Within a year we aim to guarantee a place on the new job training scheme, enterprise allowance scheme or in a jobclub to all those aged 18 to 25 who have been unemployed for between six and 12 months.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Cox
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to increase training schemes for men and women now over 50 years of age and out of work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  There are no current plans to increase training schemes for unemployed people over the age of 50. All the adult training schemes run by the Manpower Services Commission are open to anyone who is over the age of 18 and can satisfy the other eligibility conditions.

  Employment Prospects
  Mr. Leigh
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement upon the future prospects for employment in the east midlands.

  Mr. Lee
  The Government will continue to pursue sound economic policies designed to further reduce inflation and promote the growth of enterprise and investment in the east midlands and elsewhere which have so far created 1 million new jobs nationally since 1983. As part of this overall strategy, my Department and the Manpower Services Commission operate over 30 employment, training and enterprise measures which are described in the "Action for Jobs" booklet.

  Over the last two years the number of employees in employment in the east midlands has increased and we see no reason why this trend cannot be maintained.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about employment prospects for young people in Birmingham.

  Mr. Lee
  The Government will continue to pursue policies of sound financial management designed further to reduce inflation and to promote investment, enterprise and increased employment in Birmingham and throughout the country. These policies have so far produced over 1 million new jobs since 1983. We have been encouraged to note the fall in the youth unemployment in the Birmingham travel-to-work area, from 6,641 in April 1986 to 4,987 in April 1987, and are confident that this trend can be maintained.

  Dock Work Regulation Act
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to repeal the Dock Work Regulation Act.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There has been no change in the Government's position with regard to the legislation governing dock work.

  Training Access Points Project
  Mr. Baldry
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the training access points project.

  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission's training access point, (TAP) initiative is designed to provide direct public access via computer terminals to information about education and training opportunities backed by personal advice and further help. It aims to raise awareness about the training and education opportunities available and to help people to help themselves in making 164
  well-informed choices in this area. The feasibility of the project is being studied and the initiative will be evaluated carefully under a widening variety of operating and market conditions in order to determine the most appropriate way for TAP to develop nationally. Early usage figures for the TAP terminals, developments in the provision of supporting advice services, and technological developments stimulated by the initiative itself are encouraging.

  Women (Employment)
  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the increase in the number of women seeking (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment outside the home, in the last five years and 10 years, respectively.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information, which is from the labour force survey conducted in spring 1981 and spring 1986, shows that the number of women unemployed and seeking work in Great Britain rose by 176,000 between these two dates. Details of the type of work sought are as follows:

  Change in numbers of women unemployed and seeking work between spring 1981 and spring 1986—Great Britain

  Estimate

  Seeking work as full-time employees

  -73,000

  Seeking work as part-time employees

  +157,000

  Seeking work as employees with no preference between full and part-time

  +71,000

  Seeking work as self-employed1

  +21,000

  1 People seeking self-employment were not asked whether they sought full-time or part-time work.

  Comparable figures showing the change over the 10 years to spring 1986 are not available.

  Disabled and Mentally Handicapped People
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to increase employment opportunities for disabled and mentally handicapped people on Manpower Services Commission schemes.

  Mr. Lee
  The Manpower Services Commission (MSC) provides a range of special schemes particularly designed for people with disabilities. In addition, people with disabilities, including those who have a mental handicap, have access to the full range of MSC schemes. In many cases the criteria for people with disabilities are relaxed. The MSC is keeping under review what further improvements are required to increase the opportunities for people with disabilities.

  Employment Trends (Northern Region)
  Mr. Fallon
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest trend in employment in the northern region.

  Mr. Lee
  The civilian employed labour force in the northern region has increased in each of the last three years to December 1986.

  The civilian employed labour force is the sum of employees in employment and the self-employed.

  Conference Market
  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the value of the United Kingdom conference market in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Lee
  Estimates by the English Tourist Board of the total value of conference business in the United Kingdom up to and including 1984, the last year for which figures are available, are:

  £ million

  1981

  500

  1982

  600

  1983

  655

  1984

  735

  YTS (Eccles)
  Miss Lestor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in Eccles are on YTS schemes.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. On 30 June 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,758 young people on YTS in Salford local authority district which includes Eccles.

  Royal Ordnance Factories
  Miss Lestor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been notified at privatised royal ordnance factories since privatisation.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information given to the Department under the redundancy handling provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975 and the redundancy provisions of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 is given in confidence and remains confidential until made public by the company concerned.

  Technical and Vocational Education Initiative
  Mr. David Martin
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the introduction of the technical and vocational education programme in Portsmouth.

  Mr. Cope
  The Hampshire local education authority, which covers the Portsmouth area, has indicated its intention to submit to the Manpower Services Commission a proposal to extend its technical and vocational education initiative pilot project from September 1988. The authority has until 1 October 1987 to submit such a bid.

  Subject to the proposal being accepted by the commission, the authority will be responsible for phasing in the extension of the TVEI amongst the individual schools and colleges in the county which will take part. This process will normally take three years from the extension starting date.

  Mrs. Kathleen Toothill
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment when a decision is likely to be made on the entitlement to unemployment benefit of Mrs. Kathleen Toothill, formerly of 4 Long Cross, Bessacarr, Doncaster, now of 14 Hillside, Lichfield, which was first submitted on 7 May.
  166
  Mr. Lee
  Mrs. Kathleen Toothill claimed unemployment benefit on 11 May 1987. Payment was suspended, and the question whether she had voluntarily left her last employment without just cause was referred to the independent adjudication officer for a decision.

  I understand that the adjudication officer has requested further information from Mrs. Toothill and will make a decision as soon as these inquiries have been completed.

  Professional and Executive Register
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment when Her Majesty's Government intends to privatise the professional and executive register; if opportunities will be provided to outside organisations and companies to bid for it; and what was the financial performance of the professional and executive register in the most recent year for which figures are available.

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

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McGrady
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the present employment and unemployment figures for the offices of Downpatrick, Ballynahinch, Newcastle, Banbridge and Newry.

  Mr. Viggers
  At 14 May 1987. the latest date for which unemployment figures are available, the numbers were as follows:

  Social security office (including sub-offices)

  Number of unemployed claimants

  Downpatrick

  1,635

  Ballynahinch

  865

  Newcastle

  1,176

  Banbridge

  2,169

  Newry

  6,411

  It is not possible to give recent employment figures for the areas served by these offices. However, preliminary estimates based on the 1984 census of employment suggest that the numbers of employees in employment working in the district council areas in which the offices are situated were as follows:

  District Council areas

  Number of employees at September 1984

  Down

  12,650

  Banbridge

  8,450

  Newry and Mourne

  18,300

  Purdysburn Hospital
  Mr. Beggs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has with regard to the religious persuasion of (a) nurses admitted for nurse training to the Central School of Psychiatric Nursing at Purdysburn hospital in each of the last three years for which records are now available, and (b) the nursing administration at Purdysburn hospital.
  167
  Mr. Needham
  Information about the religious persuasion of staff in the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland is not held.

  Diabetics
  Mr. Beggs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action has been taken to ensure that diabetics in Northern Ireland will be able to obtain disposable insulin syringes and needles free on prescription when the new scheme is launched on 1 September.

  Mr. Needham
  Under the scheme, sterile single-use U100 insulin disposable syringes, needles and needle-clipping devices will be made available from 1 September 1987 on general medical practitioner prescription to insulin dependent diabetics. To ensure that this equipment will be in sufficient supply to meet demand at the introduction of the scheme, the Department of Health and Social Services has already been in contact with the main wholesale distributors in Northern Ireland.

  In early August, in keeping with the time scale for the rest of the United Kingdom, all general medical practitioners on the medical list and all pharmacists on the pharmaceutical list will, through the Central Services Agency, be given details of the scheme. Each pharmacist and dispensing doctor will also receive copies of a leaflet which offers guidance to diabetic patients on the safe disposal of injection equipment.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the most recent figure for output in manufacturing industry; and how this compares with 1967 and 1977.

  Mr. Viggers
  The most recent figures available from the annual census of production and construction for Northern Ireland show that for 1983 the gross output of all Northern Ireland manufacturing establishments employing 20 or more persons was £3,797,785,000. Net output (which is gross output less costs of purchases of materials and fuels and cost of industrial services received) was £1,144,624,000 in the same year.

  Figures of gross output and net output at current prices for 1967 and 1977 are as shown. They are not strictly comparable with the 1985 figures since a new definition of manufacturing industry was introduced with the 1980 census of production and the 1967 figures relate to manufacturing establishments employing 25 or more persons.

  Year

  Gross Output (£'000)

  Net Output (£'000)

  1967

  775,201

  230,227

  1977

  2,642,565

  771,174

  Companies
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new companies registered for value added tax in 1986; how many companies were made bankrupt in the same year; and how this compares with 1966 and 1976.

  Mr. Viggers
  In Northern Ireland in 1986 there were 3,245 new registrations for value added tax. Regional 168
  analyses of VAT registrations are not available for the period before 1980. There was no VAT in 1966. Statistics on the number of companies commencing liquidation are as follows:

  Year

  Number of companies

  1966

  76

  1976

  87

  1986

  220

  Doctors
  Mr. Beggs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many doctors who are not citizens of the United Kingdom were permitted to register at hospitals in Northern Ireland in the current year.

  Mr. Needham
  The number of doctors who obtained their primary medical qualification in Northern Ireland in 1987 who are not citizens of the United Kingdom and who obtained pre-registration house officer posts in Northern Ireland is 17.

  Mr. Beggs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many doctors who were Northern Ireland graduates in 1987 were unable to register at a Northern Ireland hospital in the current year.

  Mr. Needham
  Two doctors who have obtained their primary medical qualifications in Northern Ireland in 1987 did not obtain pre-registration house officer posts at hospitals in Northern Ireland. Both subsequently were offered posts in Great Britain.

  Clandeboye Shopping Centre, Bangor
  Mr. Kilfedder
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the fire brigade was able to use the fire hydrants during the fire at the Clandeboye shopping centre, Bangor; and whether it was necessary to take water from elsewhere to fight the fire.

  Mr. Needham
  In fighting the fire at the Clandeboye shopping centre on 3 July 1987 the Northern Ireland fire brigade used fire hydrants located both within the shopping centre and outside it. Water supplies from the six hydrants used were more than adequate and no other supplies were needed.

  Flooding (Castlereagh)
  Mr. John David Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received any representations about flooding in the vicinity of 79 to 106 Newtownbreda road in the borough of Castlereagh on 10 July; if there has been any previous concern expressed about the inadequacy of the storm drainage in the roadway at this location; and if he has any proposals to improve the existing drainage system.

  Mr. Needham
  [pursuant to his reply, 16 July 1987]: The Department of Environment (Northern Ireland) received telephone complaints about flooding in the vicinity of 79–106 Newtownbreda road at 1745 and from 1800 hours onwards on 10 July 1987.

  The site in the area of 79–106 Newtownbreda road is in a hollow with three gullies on one side of the road and two

  169
  on the other. The water service investigation revealed that all their manhole installations were intact and that the sewerage system was not at fault.

  The roads service investigation found that exceptional rainfall on 10 July 1987 over a short period had washed debris into and interfered with the road drainage system. However the flooding had subsided when roads service staff reached the site. The road gullies were cleared and further work to ensure free drainage was undertaken on the following day. The system is also being checked for any further defects.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds in England and Wales, and in Scotland, respectively, are at present closed, due to shortages of nurses or the absence of other resources.

  Mrs. Currie
  Operational management of hospitals is a matter for local health authorities. Whilst from time to time we become aware of temporary bed closures, which may occur for a variety of reasons, there is no central record for England or Scotland which is either comprehensive or detailed. A record is maintained for Wales: at 31 December 1986 (the latest record) 316 beds were closed because of shortages of nursing staff or other resources.

  Claimants
  Mr. Frank Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of unemployed claimants who have a partner in full-time work and the number of unemployed claimants who have a partner who is also unemployed.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Civil Servants (Strike Action)
  Mr. Holt
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many days were lost through strike action by civil servants in the North of England, in the six months ended 30 June.

  Mr. Portillo
  In the six months ended 30 June the days lost through strike action by civil servants in the Department in the north of England (north-eastern region, north-western region, Newcastle central office, North Fylde central office) totalled 115,302.

  Disablement Services Authority
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many members of the Disablement Services Authority have a disability; and who was consulted about the appointment of its members.

  Mr. Scott
  Two members of the Disablement Services Authority are disabled—one is an amputee and one is a wheelchair user. The chairman, Lord Holderness, and the vice-chairman, Professor Ian McColl, were consulted about the appointment of the members.

  Adoption
  Miss Lestor
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the local authorities that are paying the adoption allowance and the number of adoptive children to whom it applies.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Secretary of State has approved adoption allowance schemes submitted by the following local authorities in England.

  London Borough

  Barnet

  Bexley

  Brent

  Camden

  Croydon

  Ealing

  Enfield

  Greenwich

  Hackney

  Haringey

  Harrow

  Havering

  Hillingdon

  Hounslow

  Islington

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Lambeth

  Lewisham

  Merton

  Newham

  Redbridge

  Sutton

  Tower Hamlets

  Waltham Forest

  Wandsworth

  City of Westminster

  Metropolitan District

  Barnsley

  Birmingham

  Bolton

  Bradford

  Bury

  Calderdale

  Coventry

  Doncaster

  Dudley

  Kirklees

  Knowsley

  Leeds

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  North Tyneside

  Rochdale

  Rotherham

  Salford

  Sandwell

  Sheffield

  Solihull

  St. Helens

  Sunderland

  Tameside

  Trafford

  Walsall

  Wirral

  Wolverhampton

  County Councils

  Berkshire

  Buckinghamshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Cheshire

  Cornwall

  Derbyshire

  Devon

  Dorset

  East Sussex

  171

  Essex

  Gloucestershire

  Hampshire

  Hereford and Worcester

  Hertfordshire

  Kent

  Lancashire

  Leicestershire

  Norfolk

  North Yorkshire

  Northamptonshire

  Oxfordshire

  Shropshire

  Somerset

  Suffolk

  Warwickshire

  West Sussex

  Wiltshire

  A further 16 schemes have been submitted for approval.

  Information on the operation of the schemes and the children who have benefited will be available next year from a research report commissioned by the Department from the National Children's Bureau.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount spent in each district authority area in Wales on housing benefit in each year since the inception of the scheme, at outturn and 1987 prices.

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

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Charles Morrison
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the extra cost of social security payments arising from the introduction of the community charge.

  Mr. Scott
  In the only estimate so far made on this subject, the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714, paragraph 5·26) estimated that the full replacement of domestic rates by the community charge would lead to an increase of 4 per cent. in expenditure on housing benefit in Great Britain.

  Child Abuse (Cleveland)
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he can now give further details about the judicial inquiry into child abuse in Cleveland.

  Mr. Newton
  As I announced last week Mrs. Justice Butler-Sloss has agreed to chair this inquiry. Her assessors will be Mr. John Chant, director of social services for Somerset county council, Professor David Hull, professor of child health, the medical school, Nottingham university and Mr. Leonard Soper, recently retired as chief constable of Gloucestershire.

  The terms of reference will be:—
  "To examine the arrangements for dealing with suspected cases of child abuse in Cleveland since 1 January 1987, including in particular cases of child sexual abuse, and to make recommendations."

  The purpose of the inquiry will be to establish what has taken place in Cleveland with respect to reported cases of suspected child abuse, and to establish what, if anything, has gone wrong in the arrangements for detecting and handling such cases. The inquiry is not intended to judge
  172
  whether abuse has taken place in any particular instance. Where such cases are being heard by the courts it is for the courts to decide such issues. The preliminary hearing will take place on 4 August.

  Mentally Handicapped Children
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children, by yearly age breakdown, are living in mental handicap hospitals in each health district; and how many of these children now have been jointly assessed by the appropriate local education authority, health authority and social services department.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 7 July 1987, c. 129]: I cannot supply my hon. Friend with the information in the form requested as it is not centrally collected. The table shows the number of children resident in NHS mental handicap hospitals and hospital units in England on 31 December 1986. The breakdown shows the figures by four age bands for each health district, and includes children admitted for short-stay or respite care, but excludes children in small NHS units in the community.

  Information on the number of such children who have been jointly assessed is not available centrally, but local education authorities have a responsibility under the Education Act 1981 to make joint assessments of children with special educational needs including those in mental handicap hospitals.

  Children—resident patients in mental handicap hospitals and hospital units at 31 December 1986

  Health Authority

  Aged under 2

  Aged 2–4

  Aged 5–9

  Aged 10–15

  Total under 16

  England total

  2

  19

  82

  289

  392

  Northern RHA

  0

  2

  6

  20

  28

  Hartlepool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Tees

  0

  2

  3

  6

  11

  South Tees

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Cumbria

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Cumbria

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Cumbria

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Darlington

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  Durham

  0

  0

  2

  5

  7

  North West Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South West Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northumberland

  0

  0

  1

  4

  5

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Newcastle

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Tyneside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Tyneside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sunderland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Yorkshire RHA

  0

  0

  4

  21

  25

  Hull

  0

  0

  2

  6

  8

  East Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grimsby

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Scunthorpe

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Northallerton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  York

  0

  0

  1

  4

  5

  Scarborough

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Harrogate

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bradford

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Airedale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Huddersfield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dewsbury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds Western

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leeds Eastern

  0

  0

  1

  2

  3

  173

  Health Authority

  Aged under 2

  Aged 2–4

  Aged 5–9

  Aged 10–15

  Total under 16

  Wakefield

  0

  0

  0

  4

  4

  Pontefract

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Trent RHA

  0

  1

  10

  49

  60

  North Derbyshire

  0

  0

  2

  2

  4

  Southern Derbyshire

  0

  0

  1

  7

  8

  Leicestershire

  0

  0

  0

  6

  6

  North Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  0

  5

  5

  South Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bassetlaw

  0

  0

  1

  2

  3

  Central Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Nottingham

  0

  1

  1

  10

  12

  Barnsley

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  0

  0

  2

  11

  13

  Sheffield

  0

  0

  3

  3

  6

  East Anglian RHA

  0

  0

  3

  10

  13

  Cambridge

  0

  0

  2

  5

  7

  Peterborough

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  West Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Norwich

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Huntingdon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North West Thames RHA

  0

  0

  4

  7

  11

  North Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  1

  2

  3

  South Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North West

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  3

  2

  5

  South West

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Barnett

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hillingdon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Ealing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Brent

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Paddington and North Kensington

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Riverside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North East Thames RHA

  0

  0

  1

  13

  14

  Basildon and Thurrock

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Mid Essex

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  North East Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Southend

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  0

  0

  0

  4

  4

  Hampstead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bloomsbury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Islington

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  City and Hackney

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Newham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tower Hamlets

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Enfield

  0

  0

  1

  6

  7

  Haringey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Redbridge

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  South East Thames RHA

  1

  2

  11

  31

  45

  174

  Health Authority

  Aged under 2

  Aged 2–4

  Aged 5–9

  Aged 10–15

  Total under 16

  Brighton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Eastbourne

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hastings

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  South East Kent

  0

  0

  4

  6

  10

  Canterbury and Thanet

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  Dartford and Gravesham

  0

  2

  3

  4

  9

  Maidstone

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Medway

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tunbridge Wells

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  Bexley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Greenwich

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Bromley

  1

  0

  3

  12

  16

  West Lambeth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camberwell

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South West Thames RHA

  0

  0

  4

  30

  34

  North West Surrey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South West Surrey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Mid Surrey

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  East Surrey

  0

  0

  3

  8

  11

  Chichester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Mid Downs

  0

  0

  1

  5

  6

  Worthing District

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Croydon

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  Kingston and Esher

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wandsworth

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Merton and Sutton

  0

  0

  0

  12

  12

  Wessex RHA

  1

  7

  9

  38

  55

  East Dorset

  0

  5

  4

  18

  27

  West Dorset

  1

  2

  3

  12

  18

  Portsmouth and South

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Hampshire

  0

  0

  2

  8

  10

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Winchester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Salisbury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Swindon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bath District

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oxford RHA

  0

  3

  14

  28

  45

  East Berkshire

  0

  0

  0

  6

  6

  West Berkshire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Aylesbury Vale

  0

  1

  0

  6

  7

  Wycombe

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Milton Keynes

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kettering

  0

  1

  7

  4

  12

  Northampton

  0

  1

  7

  11

  19

  Oxfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Western RHA

  0

  3

  8

  17

  28

  Bristol and Weston

  0

  1

  5

  2

  8

  Frenchay

  0

  1

  1

  9

  11

  Southmead

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  175

  Health Authority

  Aged under 2

  Aged 2–4

  Aged 5–9

  Aged 10–15

  Total under 16

  Exeter

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Devon

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Plymouth

  0

  1

  2

  5

  8

  Torbay

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cheltenham and District

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Gloucester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Somerset

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Midlands RHA

  0

  1

  2

  19

  22

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Herefordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kidderminster and District

  0

  1

  1

  5

  7

  Worcester and Shropshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Mid Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South East Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rugby

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Warwickshire

  0

  0

  0

  5

  5

  South Warwickshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Central Birmingham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Birmingham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Birmingham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Birmingham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Birmingham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Coventry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Dudley

  0

  0

  1

  7

  8

  Sandwell

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Solihull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Walsall

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Wolverhampton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Mersey RHA

  0

  0

  0

  5

  5

  Chester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Crewe

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Halton

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Macclesfield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Warrington

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Southport and Formby

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  South Sefton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wirral

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Western RHA

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  Lancaster

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Preston

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Burnely, Pendle and Rossendale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Lancashire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Chorley and South Ribble

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bolton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Manchester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Central Manchester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Manchester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oldham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rochdale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Salford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stockport

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tameside and Glossop

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  176

  Health Authority

  Aged under 2

  Aged 2–4

  Aged 5–9

  Aged 10–15

  Total under 16

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wigan

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Special RHA

  Bethlem Royal and Maudsley

  0

  0

  5

  0

  5

  Liverpool Royal Infirmary
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the site of the former Liverpool royal infirmary has been cleared of asbestos; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 20 July 1987]: The former Liverpool royal infirmary, like many other hospitals, contains asbestos insulation to pipes and certain equipment. Earlier this year vandals disturbed an area of insulation which was subsequently stripped and fine cleaned at a cost of £40,000.

  The building is vacant, but entry is now strictly controlled by security staff. Part of the building has been declared free of asbestos and certificates have been issued to that effect.

  A team of chemical analysts is currently at work in the remaining part of the building to investigate the extent of asbestos and whether asbestos particles are present in the atmosphere. The team is to prepare a report for the Mersey regional health authority and will make recommendations for any further necessary work.

  The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of Mersey regional health authority for further information.

  Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
  Miss Fookes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if there has been any change in the timetable for the planned expansion of Derriford hospital, Plymouth, announced by his Department in February, especially with regard to the start date;

  (2) if he will make a statement about the prospects for a maternity unit at Derriford hospital.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 20 July 1987]: I understand that South Western regional health authority has reviewed the timing of its capital programme in the light of progress on projects already under construction. The phase II expansion to Derriford hospital has been rescheduled for start on site in March 1989 and completion in November 1992 instead of April 1988 and March 1992 respectively.

  The adjustments to the programme have been made in such a way that should the position on the programme change, the originally proposed start date for the phase H scheme could be reinstated.

  Both the region and the district health authority are committed to the provision of a new maternity unit at Derriford subject to the outcome of detailed planning work now under way and the outcome of an approval in principle submission to the Department, scheduled for submission in September 1987. If approved present plans would mean a start on site in November 1990 and completion in February 1993.

  Motor Cyclists and Pedestrians (Injuries)
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide details of (a) the annual cost to the National Health Services, (b) the percentage of emergency orthopaedic admissions, and (c) the average length of stay in hospital for the treatment of (i) serious injuries suffered by pedestrians and (ii) serious injuries suffered by motor cyclists.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 20 July 1987]: The treatment of serious injuries suffered by pedestrians is estimated to have cost the National Health Service £26 million in 1985–86, and the treatment of serious injuries suffered by riders and passengers of motor cycles, scooters and mopeds is estimated to have cost £25·7 million. These figures are for England only and are based on an average length of stay for all seriously injured casualties of road traffic accidents of 12·5 days. I am sorry that I cannot give the hon. Member the information he seeks in respect of emergency orthopaedic admissions in precisely the form requested. The latest available information for all road traffic accident cases is given in the table.

  Road traffic accident cases (RTA) treated in NHS hospitals, 1985, England

  Estimated numbers

  RTA cases as percentage of emergency cases

  Cases treated in Traumatic and Orthopaedic departments

  3,200

  12·0

  Cases treated in other departments

  2,387

  1·1

  Average duration of stay in days (all departments)

  12·5

ENVIRONMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Riddick
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lee
  I have been asked to reply.

  On 11 June 1987, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 2,905,325.

  Charitable Housing Associations (Tenants)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is satisfied with the working of the Housing Corporation's home scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans his Department has for the future of the Housing Corporation's home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether his Department intends to consult the Housing Corporation over the working of its home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations was introduced in September 1984 to help tenants who were excluded from 178
  the right to buy. It has proved popular, but demand outstrips the resources available. I shall keep the operation and effectiveness of the scheme under review in consultation with the Housing Corporation.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when his Department last provided additional funds for the Housing Corporation's home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations; and how much was provided

  (2) whether he intends to provide additional funds during the current financial year for the Housing Corporation's home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The funding of transferable discounts under the home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations has to be accommodated within the Housing Corporation's cash-limited approved development programme. In 1986–87 expenditure on the scheme amounted to £17·58 million; a further £19 million has been allocated for the current financial year.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new home owners are estimated to have been assisted by the Housing Corporation's home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations; and how many are now on the waiting list.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Since the scheme was introduced in September 1984, approximately 4,300 properties have been purchased. Over 1,100 applications have been made since the current waiting list was started on 1 October 1986.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to seek to amend the way in which the Housing Corporation's home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations operates to take greater account of regional differences.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The scheme already takes account of regional variations in house prices, and the Housing Corporation allocates funds to its regions on the basis of local demand for the scheme.

  Improvement Grants
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to announce modifications to the improvement grant procedure following the consultation he carried out with the publication of the Green Paper, "Home Improvement—New Approach".

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Shortly.

  Flags
  Mr. Robert Sheldon
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of the new flags of the United Kingdom currently flying over the Treasury.

  Mr. Chope
  The 11 United Kingdom flags currently flying above the Treasury have been provided from existing stock and are not new. Their approximate replacement cost is £1,400.

  Spectrum Arena
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much is due to the Warringon and Runcorn development corporation from the former lessees of the Spectrum arena, the Birchwood project.

  Mrs. Roe
  The outstanding debt was extinguished on the surrender of the lease.

  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if any specific proposals have yet been made by the Warrington and Runcorn development corporation to his Department about the amount and nature of investment in new facilities at Birchwood.

  Mrs. Roe
  The development corporation has sought the Department's approval for the construction of an indoor tennis centre at Birchwood and to its disposal on concessionary terms to the borough council. These proposals are being considered.

  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the losses involved in the operation of the Spectrum arena.

  Mrs. Roe
  The losses of the Birchwood Project (Warrington) Ltd. and its subsidiary the Birchwood Project Trading Company Ltd. are set out in the companies' accounts which are open to inspection under the Companies Acts.

  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if there have been any discussions between Warrington borough council and the Warrington and Runcorn development corporation concerning the sale of the Spectrum arena; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  Discussions took place before the closure of the Spectrum arena last year.

  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Warrington and Runcorn development corporation proposes to consult Warrington borough council over the future of the Spectrum arena.

  Mrs. Roe
  Yes.

  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider an increase in the rate support grant to Warrington borough council to assist in financing the purchase of the Spectrum arena; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  Local authorities' need to spend on recreation facilities and on the financing of capital expenditure is already recognised in assessments of their grant-related expenditure, which is a major factor in determining their entitlement to block grant.

  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider a transfer of other assets from Warrington and Runcorn development corporation to Warrington borough council to offset any of the costs incurred by Warrington borough council in running the Spectrum arena; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  The development corporation has submitted no such proposal to the Department.

  St. George's Hospital
  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how long the St. George's hospital building, Hyde park corner, has been
  180
  unoccupied; what initiatives he will take to ensure this grade II building is adequately protected from any further deterioration which might necessitate its demolition; and what further initiatives he will take to ensure this building will be restored to its original design.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I shall answer this question shortly.

  Rental Purchase
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if his Department currently gives any funding or financial subsidies to companies involved in rental purchase schemes; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what recent representations he has received regarding Bradford Investments plc; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what recent representations he has received regarding rental purchase schemes; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what is his Department's policy with regard to rental purchase schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  This Department does not currently give any financial assistance to rental purchase schemes. Representations have recently been received from one local authority and from Shelter on rental purchase schemes in general and Bradford Investment plc in particular. The Housing Act 1980 extended to occupiers under rental purchase agreements certain rights under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. The Government are keeping the use of rental purchase under review.

  Thamesmead
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a full and detailed account of the terms of the sale of Thamesmead to Thamesmead Town Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning to my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) on 20 July.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has exercised his rights to nominate tenants to accommodation at Thamesmead; and what will happen to his nomination rights if Thamesmead is sold to Thamesmead Town Ltd.

  Mrs. Roe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has been content to leave the London area mobility scheme to agree suitable arrangements with the London residuary body and Thamesmead town while Thamesmead has been vested in the LRB. When Thamesmead is transferred to Thamesmead town his nomination rights will cease. Thamesmead town has, however, undertaken to make some vacancies available to the scheme.

  Ministerial Cars
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost of providing chauffeured cars for Ministers in each of the past five financial years; and if he will break down the total according to Department.
  181
  Mr. Chope
  Costs for the years 1982–83 to 1985–86 were provided on 23 February 1987 at column 95. Costs in 1986–87 were £2,450,000. Breaking these down between Departments would involve disproportionate cost.

  Housing and Planning
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when section 6 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986 will come into effect; why its commencement has been delayed; why he commenced section 9 of the Act before section 6; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Section 6, which concerns consultation before the disposal of housing subject to secure tenancies, is unconnected with section 9, which relates to redevelopment and disposal with vacant possession. It is planned to bring section 6 into force at the same time as section 8, which concerns the preservation of the right to buy, when regulations relevant to that section are ready to be made. They are currently in draft.

  Albert Memorial
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the likely cost of restoring the Albert memorial; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I shall answer this question shortly.

  Local Authorities (Professional Services)
  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received seeking the inclusion of professional services including architectural and engineering services within the ambit of those services for which local authorities will have to seek tenders within the terms of the Local Government Act.

  Mr. Chope
  [pursuant to his reply, 20 July 1987]: The Department has received several representations arguing for the inclusion of further services in the list of those subject to compulsory competition.

  There has been one formal representation about the inclusion of professional services since the Bill was published.

  POLICE HOUSES: SALES
  POLICE HOUSES: SALES
  SUNDAY TRADING
  SUNDAY TRADING
  ELECTRICITY PRIVATISATION PROPOSALS
  ELECTRICITY PRIVATISATION PROPOSALS
  CEGB POWER STATION PROCESS REQUIREMENTS
  CEGB POWER STATION PROCESS REQUIREMENTS
  EC: AGRICULTURAL STABILISERS
  EC: AGRICULTURAL STABILISERS
  PACKAGE HOLIDAYS: CUSTOMER PROTECTION
  PACKAGE HOLIDAYS: CUSTOMER PROTECTION
  "KOWLOON BRIDGE": REPORT
  "KOWLOON BRIDGE": REPORT
  JUDGE ARGYLE: LORD CHANCELLOR'S REPRIMAND
  JUDGE ARGYLE: LORD CHANCELLOR'S REPRIMAND
  EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL GUIDANCE AND GUARANTEE FUND: 1986 REPORT
  EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL GUIDANCE AND GUARANTEE FUND: 1986 REPORT
  HOUSING BENEFIT: ALARM SYSTEM
  HOUSING BENEFIT: ALARM SYSTEM
  CHILD ABUSE INQUIRY: CLEVELAND
  CHILD ABUSE INQUIRY: CLEVELAND
  EYESIGHT TESTS: COSTS
  EYESIGHT TESTS: COSTS
  DEVONPORT DOCKYARD WORKFORCE
  DEVONPORT DOCKYARD WORKFORCE
  TAFF-ELY BARRAGE PROPOSAL
  TAFF-ELY BARRAGE PROPOSAL
  TRIDENT
  TRIDENT
  NATO: NUCLEAR WEAPONS POLICY
  NATO: NUCLEAR WEAPONS POLICY
  BRITISH TELECOM CHARGES
  BRITISH TELECOM CHARGES
  VAT REVENUE ESTIMATE
  VAT REVENUE ESTIMATE
  HEVENINGHAM HALL
  HEVENINGHAM HALL
  IMPORTED WASTE: CONTROL MEASURES
  IMPORTED WASTE: CONTROL MEASURES