Written Answers of 12 May 1987

SOCIAL SERVICES

  National Insurance
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his reply dated 13 March, Offical Report, column 330, concerning the cost of a reduction in the employee's contribution to national insurance, whether he will provide an estimate for the cost in 1987–88 together with an estimate of the effect on the revenue by extending the proposed scheme to the earnings of the self-employed in classes 2 and 4, and of removing the upper limit on such contributions.

  Mr. Major
  I assume that the first part of the hon. Member's question refers to a cut of five percentage points in the standard rate of employers' national insurance contributions. This, together with the lower rates paid in respect of the lower paid falling in proportion, would reduce the full year yield of employers' contributions by £8·3 billion in 1987–88.

  A cut of five percentage points in the rate of class 4 national insurance contributions. to 1·3 per cent. would reduce the full-year yield of class 4 contributions by £320 million in 1987–88.

  Removing the upper profits limit for class 4 national insurance contributions (currently £15,340) would increase the full-year yield of class 4 contributions by £240 million in 1987–88.

  Hospital Hostels
  Mr. Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the seminars for National Health Service planners about provision of hospital hostels which he intended to arrange early in 1987 have now been held; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  It is intended that there will be about five seminars in different parts of the country and arrangements are currently in hand to set these up. The objective of the seminars is to spread knowledge of the best ways of providing long-term in-patient care for those people chronically disabled by mental illness, whilst avoiding the institutional environment of traditional long-stay wards.

  AIDS
  Mr. Ron Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received calling for compensation to be paid to patients who contract AIDS from blood supplied by the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The Department has not received any representations regarding compensaton for patients who may have contracted AIDS following transfusion of whole blood. The risk of human immunodeficiency virus 116
  infection from whole blood has always been very small and since October 1985 has been reduced to minimal proportions by the introduction of screening for all blood donations.

  Details of the numbers of representations for compensation for those infected with HIV from blood products, were given in my reply to the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Mr. Steel) on 19 March at column 626.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what training is made available to port medical officers to enable them to diagnose AIDS sufferers.

  Mr. Newton
  All port medical inspectors are fully qualified and experienced medical practitioners. Their professional qualifications are sufficient to enable them to assess the health of persons referred by immigration officers to them for medical examination, and to make the appropriate recommendation.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give his most recent projections of the numbers of people (a) who will be suffering from AIDS and (b) who will be carrying the HIV virus for each of the next five years.

  Mr. Newton
  The communicable disease surveillance centre, which collects information about persons suffering from AIDS, has predicted that the number of new cases of AIDS will be 1,300 in 1987 and 3,000 in 1988. As yet there are insufficient data for reliable forecasts beyond 1988 to be made.

  Forecasts of the numbers of persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus have not been made. The numbers currently infected in the United Kingdom are estimated to be about 40,000.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give his most recent estimate of the average total cost (a) to the National Health Service and (b) to local authority social services of caring for and treating a person suffering from AIDS.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that this information is not available. The best estimate of the average total hospital in-patient cost of caring for a person with AIDS is £17,600 from diagnosis to death.

  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when his Department first became aware that supplies of Factor VIII were contaminated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I assume that my hon. Friend is concerned with the transmission of the AIDS virus. Evidence emerged from the United States of America in 1982 that haemophiliacs were contracting AIDS and although the mechanism of infection was not known, it was presumed that it had been transmitted through the use of blood products such as Factor VIII.

  It was not until October 1984 that experimental work showed that the human immunodeficiency virus in Factor VIII could be inactivated by heat treatment. Following this discovery manufacturers took steps to increase supplies of heat treated Factor VIII. All Factor VIII now used by haemophiliacs in this country is heat treated.

  The new Blood Products Laboratory at Elstree was officially opened last month. Substantial production is expected from this facility later this year, building up to self-sufficiency in early 1989.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims regarding attendance allowance are awaiting determination resulting from the recent Court of Appeal decision regarding the interpretation of continual supervision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  Some 6,000 cases are awaiting determination because they may be affected by the recent Court of Appeal judgment. The attendance allowance board expects soon to issue guidelines to its delegated doctors on the application of the judgment, which will enable decisions to be given in these cases.

  Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) between what dates the Essendon ward of Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Welwyn Garden City has been closed;

  (2) between what dates the Ayot ward of Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Welwyn Garden City has been closed;

  (3) how many admissions to the Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Welwyn Garden City have been cancelled due to the closure of the Ayot ward;

  (4) how many urgent admissions have been made to neighbouring hospitals due to the closure of the Ayot ward at Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Welwyn Garden City.

  Mrs Currie
  The provision of services at Queen Elizabeth II hospital, Welwyn Garden City, is a matter for the East Hertfordshire health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the health authority for detailed information about Ayot and Essendon wards.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make funds available to the North West Thames regional health authority to ensure that East Hertfordshire health authority is given adequate resources to open the Essendon ward at the Queen Elizabeth 11 hospital in Welwyn Garden City.

  Mrs. Currie
  The allocation of resources to East Hertfordshire health authority is a matter for the North West Thames regional health authority.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the closure of the Essendon ward at the Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Welwyn Garden City.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Murphy) on 12 February at column 341. Since that date we have received correspondence specifically referring to the closure of the Essendon ward at Queen Elizabeth II hospital, Welwyn Garden City, from my hon. Friends the Members for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Wells) and for Watford (Mr. Garel-Jones); and from the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye (Mr. Kennedy).

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Welwyn Garden City has closed to all but emergencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  For details of the latest position on routine admissions, the hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the East Hertfordshire health authority.

  Dental Rates Study Group
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will deposit in the Library paper DRSG 86/16 by the dental rates study group.

  Mrs. Currie
  Numbered papers in the DRSG series are not normally placed in the Library but are made available on request after the conclusion of the group's work each year. However, as requested by the hon. Member, I have arranged for a copy of DRSG 86/16 to be placed in the Library.

  Disabled People (Library Facilities)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received from the Cassette Library for the Blind and Handicapped concerning the provisions of library facilities for people unable to read; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assistance is provided by his Department towards the Cassette Library for the Blind and Handicapped; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he is satisfied that local authorities are fulfilling their duty under section 2(1)(b) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to make arrangements for library services for people with disabilities, in particular for books on cassette for people unable to read; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  It is for local authorities to satisfy themselves as to what is necessary to meet the needs of individual disabled people under section 2(1)(b) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

  The cassette library of recorded books (CALIBRE) received grants under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 from 1976 to March 1987. Although further requests and representations have been made, when the last grant was awarded it was made clear then that no commitment could be given to further funding.

  Disabled People
  Mr. O'Brien
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 26 March, Official Report, column 260, whether he has now received the report from Wakefield district council relating to telephone attachments and rentals; and if he will publish the figures in the Official Report.

  Mr. Major
  For the year ending 31 March 1986, Wakefield district council social services department provided no telephone attachments, but funded 924 rentals.

  Claims (Processing)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the average time taken to process claims at Social Security offices in Chorlton, Rusholme and Sale for the most recent period for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lyell
  The average time taken to process claims to social security benefits is shown in the table. Figures, in days, are for the four weeks ending 7 April 1987:
  119

  Chorlton

  Rusholme

  Sale

  Supplementary Benefit

  8

  6

  4

  Sickness/Invalidity Benefit

  7

  9

  14

  Maternity Allowance

  9

  7

  11

  Retirement Pension

  63

  33

  41

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the monthly waiting list for the North West regional health authority from 1974 to the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Newton
  I am sorry I cannot give the hon. Member all the information he seeks in precisely the form requested. The information available centrally is given in the table. Over this period the number of in-patient cases treated increased by 27·6 per cent. from 483,978 to 617,628. For the rest of the information he seeks, the hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the North Western regional health authority.

  Number of cases on in-patient waiting list at 30 June1, 31 December, 31 March, 30 September, North Western region

  Month

  Year

  Number

  June

  1974

  59,475

  December

  1974

  60,236

  June

  1975

  59,311

  September

  1975

  58,168

  December

  1975

  68,503

  March

  1976

  68,149

  September

  1976

  66,893

  December

  1976

  67,930

  March

  1977

  66,366

  September

  1977

  64,560

  December

  1977

  65,639

  March

  1978

  63,532

  September

  1978

  63,123

  December

  1978

  66,069

  March

  1979

  77,368

  September

  1979

  71,948

  December

  1979

  70,192

  March

  1980

  68,976

  September

  1980

  65,513

  December

  1980

  62,997

  March

  1981

  62,394

  September

  1981

  60,252

  December

  1981

  59,752

  March

  1982

  61,357

  September

  1982

  69,697

  December

  1982

  68,767

  March

  1983

  64,853

  September

  1983

  62,525

  December

  1983

  60,745

  March

  1984

  59,289

  September

  1984

  59,417

  December

  1984

  59,031

  March

  1985

  58,600

  September

  1985

  58,465

  December

  1985

  56,927

  March

  1986

  60,242

  September

  1986

  61,143

  1 Statistical return discontinued 1976.

  Pensions
  Mrs. Sally Oppenheim
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the rate of decline in the real purchasing power of the pension for a married couple between the date of implementation of the increase in 1975 and the date when the 1976 increase took effect; and what was the rate of decline in the real purchasing power of the
  120
  pension for a married couple between the date of the implementation of the increase in 1985 and the date when the 1986 increase took effect.

  Mr. Major
  By the date of the November 1976 pension uprating, the real value of the November 1975 pension rate for a married couple had fallen by 15 per cent. By the date of the July 1986 uprating, the real value of the November 1985 pension uprating had fallen by 1·7 per cent.

  Diabetics (Syringes)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when disposable syringes for diabetics are to be made available on National Health Service prescription; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We hope to make an announcement on this shortly.

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Health Authority (Contracting Out)
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will call for an investigation into the contracting out of work by the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale health authority to Gisburne park hospital using resources provided to reduce waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the part played in the negotiations by the senior officer of the authority who subsequently took an appointment with the Gisburne park hospital.

  Mrs. Currie
  Two projects have been agreed which will remove 255 patients from waiting lists at a cost of £195,746. No senior officer involved in the contracting out of this work has taken up employment with the Gisburne park hospital. If the hon. Member has concerns about these arrangements he should raise these with the chairman of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale health authority.

  Post-Medical Officers (Health Controls)
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Service if he will list the diseases which may be used by port medical officers as grounds for restricting entry into Britain.

  Mr. Newton
  The conditions which, in certain circumstances, could justify a medical inspector recommending to an immigration officer that the admission to Britain of a person referred to him was undesirable include:—

  (i) mental disorder which might cause a breach of public order, or threaten the safety of the public;

  (ii) drug dependence;

  (iii) diseases which endanger the health of persons in this country;

  (iv) other medical or physical conditions which may require medical treatment or affect the person's ability to support himself or his relatives.

  All cases are considered on their merits. Special provisions applicable to European Community nationals are listed in the annex to European Community directive 64/21, a copy of which is being placed in the Library.

  Nurses
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps he is taking to encourage

  121
  qualified nurses not working in nursing to take up employment in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what steps he is taking to encourage an increase in the number of men entering the nursing profession; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The recent pay increases for nurses ranging from 5 per cent. to 12·7 per cent. are largest for qualified staff and reflect the need to recruit and retain staff in these grades. Health authorities, which are responsible for recruitment, have been asked to increase male recruitment, organise "Back to Nursing" campaigns, including refresher training courses and to give more opportunities for flexible working arrangements, part-time working and job sharing.

  Other current central activities which have implications for recruitment and retention of qualified nursing staff include a joint DHSS/NHS working group on equal opportunities for women. In particular, it is expected that it will make recommendations for management of the career break. The management and staff sides of the Nursing and Midwifery Staff Negotiating Council are reviewing the nursing clinical grading structure. The council's aim is to develop a structure which is appropriate to current and future needs. Once the council has agreed a new grading structure, it will be for the review body to recommend appropriate pay levels. The Department also produces material for local recruitment campaigns and is currently reviewing its national nurse "image" advertising (which already features the work of male nurses) with a view to emphasising the opportunities for qualified staff to return to nursing.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received from nurses about nurses' pay and conditions since the announcement on 23 April of the Government's response to the 1987 recommendations of the Review Body for Nurses and Midwives Remuneration; and if he will make a statement about nursing shortages (a) in London, (b) in the South-East Thames region, and (c) in other parts of the United Kindom;

  (2) when the National Health Service Management Board steering group will report on its study of nursing services in London; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Elderly People (Home Help and Day Care Services)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards requiring elderly people in receipt of supplementary benefit to pay charges for local authority home help and day care services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  It is for the individual local authorities to decide on the charging arrangements for domiciliary and day care services. We would expect authorities to take account of both the costs of services and the financial position of those using them (whether in receipt of supplementary benefit or not) in determining charges. Under section 17 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983, where a user of the services satisfies the authority that his means are 122
  insufficient to meet its charges he shall not be required to pay more than it appears to the authority reasonably practicable for him to pay.

  Health Care (Inequalities)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking aimed specifically at reducing social inequalities in health and health care delivery.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 10 April at columns 506–507.

  Economic Deflators
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing figures for the gross domestic product deflator, and for the National Health Service pay and prices deflator for each year since 1974, and figures for the cumulative difference between those two deflators as at each year from a 1974 base.

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

  Diabetics
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of diabetics who died from kidney failure during each of the most recent five years for which he has figures; and if he will make a statement about the availability of kidney transplants for diabetics within the National Health Service.

  Mrs. Currie
  Reliable information is not available on the number of diabetics who die from kidney failure.

  The renal transplant programme as a whole is currently constrained by a shortage of donor kidneys. A working party under the chairmanship of Sir Raymond Hoffenberg, President of the Royal College of Physicians, is currently examining ways of increasing the availability of organs, and we expect to receive its advice during the summer. The suitability of a patient for transplantation is a matter for the clinician concerned.

  NHS (Staff Shortages)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about recruitment, retention and shortages of (a) hospital pharmacists, (b) laboratory staff, (c) secretaries, and (d) record clerks in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  Such information is not collected centrally, but we are aware of some problems affecting certain grades in particular areas. Apart from action by local management, measures to alleviate these problems have been taken or are under discussion in the appropriate Whitley councils.

  Benefits
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give, for a single person, the basic rate of unemployment and supplementary benefits, broken down to component amounts and the areas those amounts are intended to cover.
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  Mr. Lyell
  The standard weekly rate of unemployment benefit is £31·45 for a person under pension age. This benefit is intended to provide a measure of compensation for loss of earnings for people who become unemployed and is not related to a claimant's needs or requirements.

  The principal basic weekly rates of supplementary benefit for a single unemployed person are as follows:

  Circumstances

  Rate £

  1. Householder;

  30·40

  2. Member of someone else's household; aged 18 years and over

  24·35

  3. Member of someone else's household; aged 16–17 years

  18·75

  These rates are not made up of separately calculated component parts but are composite amounts intended to cover all items of normal expenditure on day-to-day living expenses. It is for the claimant to decide how much is allocated to particular areas of expenditure.

  Mr. Wallace
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the total number of claimants applying to his Department for benefit resident in (a) Orkney and (b) Shetland for each year from 1979 to 1986.

  Mr. Lyell
  Separate figures are not available for Orkney and Shetland, nor are they available prior to 1983–84. The total number of benefit claims made by residents in Orkney and Shetland are included in the figures for the Lerwick and Wick offices as follows:

  Lerwick ILO Benefit Claims received

  Benefit

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Sickness/Invalidity benefit

  489

  439

  555

  353

  Injury Benefit

  15

  —

  —

  —

  Maternity Benefit

  276

  194

  235

  255

  1Retirement Pension

  669

  1,304

  1,091

  922

  Widows Benefit

  14

  22

  23

  47

  Death Grants

  230

  226

  239

  208

  Disablement Benefit

  7

  18

  7

  8

  Non-Contributory Invalidity Pension

  7

  31

  —

  —

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  —

  —

  12

  5

  1Supplementary Benefit

  1,488

  1,802

  1,616

  1,662

  Wick ILO Benefit Claims received

  Benefit

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Sickness/Invalidity Benefit

  341

  1,061

  1,226

  876

  Injury Benefit

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Maternity Benefit

  194

  327

  440

  465

  1Retirement Pension

  1,121

  2,429

  3,520

  3,119

  Widows Benefit

  23

  55

  81

  77

  Death Grants

  206

  392

  767

  675

  Disablement Benefit

  1

  6

  18

  22

  Non-Contributory Invalidity Pension

  5

  22

  —

  —

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  —

  —

  66

  20

  1Supplementary Benefit

  5,172

  5,390

  5,499

  5,182

  1 Decisions processed not claims received.

  124
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his latest estimates of family income supplement and housing benefit take-up.

  Mr. Lyell
  I have today placed in the Library copies of reports presenting take-up estimates for Family Income Supplement in 1983–84 and Housing Benefit in 1984. Full explanations are included of the methods and assumptions used in the estimates. Copies of the reports are also available on request from DHSS at Room 536A, New Court. 48 Carey Street, London WC2A 2LS, Telephone Number 01–831–6111 extension 2556.

  Benefits
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are presently in receipt of supplementary benefit in Coventry; what is the total number of people that benefit has to support, namely, claimants plus dependants; what were the comparable figures for 1979; what is the percentage change; and what percentage change has taken place in the number of his Department's staff over the same period.

  Mr. Lyell
  The city of Coventry is covered by two of the Department's local offices — Coventry (east) and Coventry (west) — but their boundaries are not conterminous.

  The table shows the numbers of people receiving supplementary benefit from those offices on the latest date for which information is available and on a comparable date in 1979:

  15 May 1979

  5 May 1987

  Increase (per cent.)

  Coventry(east)

  12,256

  22,012

  79·6

  Coventry(west)

  9,832

  17,877

  81·8

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

  I regret that information about the total number of people in Coventry supported by supplementary benefit is not available.

  The percentage change in staff allocated to supplementary benefit over the period 1979 to 1987 is as follows:

  Per cent.

  Coventry (east)

  +48·4

  Coventry (west)

  +74·1

  Direct comparisons between numbers of claimants and staff are misleading as work loads vary considerably by type and duration of claim and the action that has to be taken. All these factors vary over time as a result of legislative, policy and procedural changes. Examples of such changes are the introduction of housing benefit and postal claim forms.

  Telford District Hospital
  Mr. Hawksley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the new Telford district hospital will open; and to what extent immediate use will he made of the accident and emergency facilities.

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

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Socal Services if he will give figures for the bids for 1987–88 for money from the waiting list fund he announced on 6 November 1986 by (a) regional health authorities in total, (b) each regional health authority, (c) district health authorities in total and (d) each district health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  Regional health authorities initially submitted bids in December 1986 for projects to be supported from the 1987–88 allocation of the waiting list fund. The priority order of these bids was determined by regions. Some projects were later revised in the light of further discussions locally and with the Department. Since an important part of the process was to assess regional and district proposals to identify those which were best targeted and most cost-effective, it necessarily entailed districts putting to regions, and regions to the Department, bids for projects totalling in excess of the allocation for the year. The extent to which a district's or a region's proposed projects exceeded in total the planning guideline given in November varied according to local decision and comparisons would have no significance. Lists of the projects to be funded as agreed by regions in March 1987 have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent figures for numbers on hospital waiting lists after 1 April 1987 will be comparable with those for numbers on hospital waiting lists before 1 April 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as posible.

  Telephone Information Services
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the health topics for which there are telephone advice or information services wholly or partly subsidised by his Department; and if he has any plans to extend the range of telephone information services he subsidises.

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

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to assess whether students or other young people under the age of 21 years should have free prescriptions or free dental treatment wholly or partly on the basis of their parents' income; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to change the current arrangements.

  Ward Closures
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the temporary hospital ward closures of which his Department is aware since 1 September 1986 giving, in each case, the hospital and health authority involved, the number of beds closed, the period of closure and the reason for the closure.

  Mrs. Currie
  The day-to-day management of local hospital services is a matter for district health authorities.126
  Whilst for different reasons we may from time to time learn in general terms of temporary ward closures we do not keep a central record which is comprehensive in either coverage or detail.

  Normacol Standard
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make Normacol Standard available again on a National Health Service prescription.

  Mr. Newton
  At its meeting on 28 April the advisory committee on National Health Service drugs considered a submission from the makers of Normacol Standard for the drug to be returned to National Health Service prescription. We are considering the committee's recommendations.

  Tattoo Removal
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 30 April to the hon. Member for Leicester, East, Official Report, column 221, if any information about waiting lists for operations for tattoo removal is held centrally; if he will take steps to collect detailed information from each health authority on this subject in future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Waiting list information is held centrally by consultant department and not according to intended method of treatment. While individual consultants and health authorities need to be aware of the composition of their waiting lists, information in this detail is not required nationally.

  Family Planning and Well Women Clinics (Hertfordshire)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey of 10 April, Official Report, column 507, if he will state in the Official Report his response to representations he has received from the North Hertfordshire community health council and from members of the public about the closure of family planning clinics and well women clinics in North Hertfordshire district health authority.

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

  Speech Therapists
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about recruitment, retention, shortages and pay of speech therapists.

  Mr. Newton
  Information about recruitment, retention and any shortages is not collected centrally, but we are not aware of widespread problems affecting funded posts. Pay is a matter for the Whitley councils.

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital (Admissions)
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the decision by St. Bartholomew's hospital to bar the admission of patients from outside its district will lead to a reallocation of funds to the areas affected.
  127
  Mr. Newton
  The allocation of resources to district health authorities within a region is a matter for the regional health authority concerned. Patient flows between regions are taken into account in allocating resources to regional health authorities.

  Kidney Dialysis
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what standards have been laid down by the European Community for kidney dialysis; and if a directive to this effect has been issued from Brussels by the Commission.

  Mrs. Currie
  No directive on this subject has been agreed by the European Community, but measures for the protection of dialysis patients by minimising the exposure to aluminium are set out in a resolution adopted in June 1986 by the Council of the European Communities and the representatives of the member states, meeting within the Council. The resolution was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJ No. C204, 23 July 1986, page 16) which is available in the Library.

  Chief Adjudication Officer (Report)
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will make available the second annual report of the chief adjudication officer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  The report is being published today. The publication of the report follows from the provisions of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983, which sought to improve the quality of social security adjudication by a number of measures, including the requirement for the chief adjudication officer to report annually to the Secretary of State on the standards of social security adjudication. We are grateful to the chief adjudication officer for the efforts which he and his staff have put into the report. The report makes a number of constructive suggestions which we shall consider carefully.

  Mentally Disabled People (Sexuality and Contraception)
  Mrs. Renée Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the recent House of Lords decision on sterilisation, he will reconsider his response to the recommendation of the Social Services Committee in its Second Report of Session 1984–85 on Community Care, HC 13-I, that his Department institute an independent expert review of law and practice on sexuality and contraception in relation to mentally disabled people.

  Mr. Newton
  I understand that the authors of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee's handbook of contraceptive practice are already considering for their next edition what guidance on contraception might be given to mentally disordered people. Before deciding whether any further action is appropriate, the Government think it right to allow time for public discussion of the implications of the recent House of Lords judgment, concerning the sterilisation of a young girl with a mental handicap.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Bruce
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list by his Department's offices how many people applied for the extra £5 payment for exceptionally cold weather allowance made available for the weeks beginning 12 and 19 January; how many applications have been processed; and how many payments have been made.

  Mr. Major
  I shall let the hon. Member have the information that is available as soon as possible.

  Clinical Services (Competitive Tendering)
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about his policy in relation to the scope for and the applicability of competitive tendering for clinical services generally.

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

  Post-operative Convalescence
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what changes have been made in policy or practice at departmental, regional or district level in relation to the provision on the National Health Service of convalescence after operations;

  (2) on what terms and under what conditions convalescence is available on the National Health Service after (a) hysterectomies and (b) other operations.

  Mrs. Currie
  Departmental policy remains that post-operative care should be available under the National Health Service for those patients for whom it is prescribed as medically necessary by a hospital consultant. The level and extent of provision of convalescence beds is a matter for local decision. Modern concepts of patient care and rehabilitation have resulted in a diminishing demand for convalescence in its traditional form.

  Patients (Notes)
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he has received reports of proposals by hospital consultants to charge for summaries of patients' notes held on computer to which access is required under the Data Protection Act;

  (2) whether his Department has given any advice about the charges to be levied by consultants within the National Health Service for the production of summaries of patients' notes held on computer to which access is required under the Data Protection Act.

  Mrs. Currie
  I am aware of the press reports speculating about the level of charge that might be made to hospital patients wishing to have information from their computerised case notes. The maximum amount of any fee which might he charged by a data user to a data subject for access to personal information held on computer, will be prescribed by regulations to be made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. It is not expected that the fee will be so high as generally to deter data subjects from exercising their rights.

  Consideration is currently being given to the administrative procedures which may be required in the National Health Service hospital service to implement

  129
  access. The question of charges for work undertaken by consultants has not yet been considered. To the extent that such charges may exceed the maximum prescribed fee, these will not be passed on to the patient.

  Kidney Patients
  Mr. Tom Cox
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people were receiving dialysis treatment at National Health Service hospitals in the United Kingdom on 31 March;

  (2) how many people are now awaiting dialysis treatment from National Health Service hospitals; and what is the average time a person has to wait to receive such treatment.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information on the numbers of people receiving dialysis treatment is collected on an annual basis by the European Dialysis and Transplant Association. The latest figures available are for the year ending 31 December 1985, when a total of 12,154 patients were being treated. This is a 97 per cent. increase on the 1979 total.

  The length of time a patient has to wait for treatment and the numbers awaiting treatment are not recorded centrally.

  Abortions
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received about the decision of Brent health authority to put its requirements for abortion services out to competitive tender;

  (2) if he will make a statement about his policy in relation to the scope for and the applicability of competitive tendering for abortion services;

  (3) if he will list the health authorities known to his Department to have contracted out their abortion services giving in each case the organisation and the clinic providing the service and the cost to the health authority;

  (4) if he will list the health authorities known to his Department to have engaged in competitive tendering exercises for their abortion services;

  (5) if he will give for each year since 1979 the total National Health Service expenditure on abortion services provided (a) in-house, (b) through charitable organisations and (c) through commercial organisations.

  Mr. Newton
  The statistical information requested is not available, since health authorities are not required to report on contractual arrangements they may make about clinical services with the private or voluntary sectors, and their accounts as submitted to the Department do not show separately the amount spent on abortions.

  I understand that Brent health authority already has an arrangement whereby some abortions are undertaken on an agency basis by a private nursing home approved for this purpose under the 1967 Abortion Act. It has now invited tenders for such an arrangement. I am not aware of any representations about the matter.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each year since 1979 the total number of abortions on the National Health Service provided (a) in-house, (b) through charitable organisations and (c) through commercial organisations.

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

  Infant Deaths (Croydon)
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about infant deaths in Croydon.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have received one letter from an hon. Member on this subject.

  Hospital Services, East Hertfordshire
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the ability of the hospital services in east Hertfordshire to cope with a major outbreak of infection or major emergency.

  Mrs. Currie
  Arrangements to cope with a major outbreak of infection or major emergency in east Hertfordshire are in the first instance the responsibility of the East Hertfordshire Health Authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman should he require details of any local contingency planning.

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects the first breast cancer training centres to open.

  Mrs. Currie
  The location of four breast cancer screening centres to provide a national training facility has been discussed with regional health authorities. An announcement will be made very shortly.

  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects the regional breast cancer screening service in each region to come into operation.

  Mrs. Currie
  Each regional health authority has been asked to have at least one screening centre, each serving a population of about half a million, in operation by March 1988. General guidance on how they should set up and organise their first screening centres was issued on 31 March.

  The location of these centres should be decided before the end of May. Regional health authorities have also been asked to submit plans before the end of this year to extend the number of centres over the following two years to cover all eligible women by March 1990.

  Radiotherapy Unit, Southend
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many letters he has now received from the general public about the proposal by the North East Thames regional health authority to close the radiotherapy unit at Southend; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have received 15 letters which have been referred by hon. Members, together with about 1,970 letters direct from members of the public.

  If Ministers are required to make a final decision on the proposal, we will take into account all representations which have been received.

  Hospital Chaplains
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital chaplains have been officially appointed in each health region in England and Wales, broken down by ecclesiastical denomination.
  131
  Mrs. Currie
  The appointment of hospital chaplains is a matter for health authorities. Information on the number of part-time chaplains is not held centrally. Although we estimate there may be over 4,000 such appointments in England, there are no details of the denominations from which they come. The numbers of full-time chaplains in England are given in the table; three are from Free Church denominations and one is Roman Catholic, while the remainder are Anglicans. Figures for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Numbers of whole-time chaplains employed in the NHS at 30 September

  Region

  Numbers

  Northern RHA

  10

  Yorkshire RHA

  10

  Trent RHA

  15

  East Anglian RHA

  4

  North West Thames RHA

  18

  North East Thames RHA

  16

  South East Thames RHA

  20

  South West Thames RHA

  17

  Wessex RHA

  13

  Oxford RHA

  6

  South Western RHA

  7

  West Midlands RHA

  18

  Mersey RHA

  10

  North Western RHA

  9

  London PG(T)

  3

  England Total

  176

  Source: DHSS Annual census of NHS non-medical manpower.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report, hospitals, broken down by health region in England and Wales, whose annual turnover of in-patients averages more than 25 per cent. of people of a religious faith other than Christian and which do not have the official services of a hospital chaplain whose denomination is non-Christian.

  Deaths from drowning, road accidents and horse-riding, England and Wales 1976–86

  Drowning (994·1)2

  Road accidents (E810–E829)2

  Horse riding3

  1976

  1,188

  6,115

  10

  1977

  1,081

  5,943

  8

  1978

  1,090

  6,772

  20

  1979

  1,156

  5,927

  8

  1980

  1,194

  5,905

  11

  1981

  1,134

  4,150

  10

  1982

  1,116

  5,380

  19

  1983

  1,077

  5,221

  18

  1984

  971

  5,172

  23

  1985

  985

  4,973

  15

  19861

  908

  4,895

  13

  1Provisional. Excludes registered deaths to non-residents of England and Wales

  2International Classification of Diseases 8th and 9th Revisions.

  3 Figures taken from a special OPCS study of sporting and leisure deaths. Because of a change in the collection of this data in 1982, figures prior to this year are not strictly comparable to those after; (for details of the changes in 1982, see OPCS Monitor DH4 84/3, "Fatal Accidents occuring during sporting and leisure activities, 1982".)

  Incontinence Advisers (Training)
  Mr. Carter-Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will examine the quality of education training for incontinence advisers; and if he will make a statement;
  132
  Mrs. Currie
  Information about the religious faith of hospital patients in England is not held centrally. I understand that most hospital chaplains are currently from Christian denominations, but I would encourage health authorities to meet sympathetically any requests for appointments from other faiths.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to improve the provision of chaplaincy services to non-Christian hospital in-patients.

  Mrs. Currie
  This is a matter for health authorities in the first instance. However, I recognise that we now live in a multi-faith society, not all of whose members will share the Christian concept of a hospital chaplain. I would encourage authorities to ensure that their chaplaincy services provide as appropriate for all faiths.

  Medical Students
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Secretary of' State for Social Services how many British medical students, who had not passed their university final examinations, qualified as doctors during the last five years by virtue of obtaining the licence in medicine and surgery of the Society of Apothecaries of London.

  Mr. Newton
  This information is not collected by the Department.

  Deaths (Statistics)
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what have been the number of deaths from (a) drowning, (b) road accidents and (c) horse riding in each of the last 10 years in England and Wales.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information is shown in the table.

  (2) if he will examine the educational documentation available for the training of incontinence advisers; arid if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  It is for health authorities to determine the training requirements of nurses as incontinence advisers. I understand that the English National Board for Nursing,
  133
  Midwifery and Health Visiting, the statutory body responsible for the provision of the education and training of nurses, provides the material for a course on the promotion of continence and the management of incontinence.

  Organ Donations
  Mr. Carter-Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions have taken place regarding required request for donations of cadaver organs; what estimate has been made in the possible increase in the supply of such organs which may follow the introduction of a system of required request; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I anticipate that the "required request" approach to organ donation will be considered by the working party under the chairmanship of Sir Raymond Hoffenberg, president of the Royal College of Physicians, which is at present examining ways of increasing the availability of cadaver organs. No reliable estimate is available at this stage of the possible increase in supply which might result from the introduction of a "required request" system.

  Clinics (Closures)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the planned closure of family planning and well-women services in Lewisham and north Southwark; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Seven representations have been received about family planning and well woman services in Lewisham and north Southwark; six from staff employed by the health authority and one from a member of the public.

  I understand that Lewisham and North Southwark health authority will be discussing possible changes to these and other services at its meeting on 18 May. If any significant changes are proposed by the health authority they will be the subject of full consultation in the normal way. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the health authority for further information.

  Day Nurseries
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which local authorities have reduced the number of places in day nurseries since 1979; and what has been the percentage reduction in each case.

  Mrs. Currie
  Thirty-six local authorities in England reduced the number of their day nursery places between 1981 and 1986; the percentage reduction in each case is given in the table. Detailed information for 1979 and 1980 is not readily available.

  The information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Northern Ireland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
  134

  Percentage change in local authority provided day nursery places for authorities which reduced their provision between 1981 and 1986

  Local authority

  Percentage change 1981–861

  Durham

  -13·3

  North Tyneside

  2-1·1

  South Tyneside

  -39·0

  Sheffield

  -5·4

  Wakefield

  2-71·4

  Cheshire

  -1·8

  Bolton

  -12·6

  Oldham

  -8·6

  Stockport

  -7·9

  Knowsley

  -35·7

  St. Helens

  2-9·1

  Wirral

  -4·5

  Coventry

  -24·1

  Nottinghamshire

  -1·8

  Berkshire

  2-62·7

  Cambridgeshire

  -2·8

  Hertfordshire

  -46·4

  Suffolk

  2-100·0

  Hammersmith

  -9·3

  Wandsworth

  -6·6

  Westminster

  -8·0

  Barking

  -10·3

  Ealing

  -2·8

  Enfield

  -4·8

  Havering

  -18·4

  Hillingdon

  -19·6

  Merton

  -14·4

  Newham

  -1·2

  Richmond upon Thames

  -4·6

  Waltham Forest

  -1·8

  Dorset

  -4·8

  Hampshire

  -7·1

  Kent

  2-53·1

  East Sussex

  -40·9

  Devon

  2-75·7

  Gloucestershire

  2-54·7

  1 For some authorities the percentage change is based on estimated figures for 1981 and 1986.

  2 In these authorities there were less than 100 day nursery places provided by the local authority in 1986 and so the percentage changes are based on relatively small numbers.

  Mentally Handicapped People
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in the use of core and cluster housing for former patients of mental and mental handicap hospitals who are now living in the community.

  Mrs. Currie
  There are no central statistics on the numbers of former patients in mental illness and mental handicap hospitals who are now living in core and cluster housing schemes. It is not possible, therefore, to indicate progress in numerical terms.

  Core and cluster housing is one of a range of accommodation options available to health and local authorities as they develop modern local services. Other forms of provision, such as residential care homes, hostels, group homes, supported lodgings and ordinary flats and houses, all have a part to play in creating the accessible and comprehensive services that our policy envisages. The information available to us confirms that authorities are making steady progress in providing these community-oriented services.

  One example is the Chichester project, as part of our £16 million care in the community pilot projects exercise, which will provide up to 30 places for former Graylingwell patients in core and cluster housing.

  Acid Rain
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research has been performed in Britain to investigate any possible links between acid deposition and the following ailments: dialysis dementia, dialysis osteomalacia, dialysis dystrophy. and Alzheimer's disease; and if he will summarise the results.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 6 May 1987, c. 428]: Acid rain normally leads to the deposition of mildly acidic substances based on oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur. It is suggested that an increased level of aluminium in water sources may occur because acidic solutions can leach aluminium from the soil, rocks and sediments, but there is no direct evidence of a link between acid rain and aluminium concentrations in water sources. Water undertakers monitor and adjust the level of aluminium in supply to conform with the requirements of European Community directive 80/778 on the quality of water intended for human consumption, and therefore levels in supply generally do not reflect levels in sources.

  Aluminium in dialysis fluids is known to be a cause of dialysis dementia, dialysis osteomalacia and dialysis dystrophy. So that dialysis patients may be safeguarded, water undertakings have been asked to notify health authorities if, for technical reasons, aluminium levels in water supplies are raised; in these circumstances, water used for dialysis would be expected to be treated to remove excess aluminium.

  Aluminium is not readily absorbed through the digestive tract, and from this source is not considered to have adverse health effects on the general population. The suggestion that it may be related to Alzheimer's disease is being investigated by a number of Medical Research Council research units. The MRC is the main Government-funded agency for United Kingdom biomedical research receiving a grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science. The director of the Medical Research Council neuroendocrinology unit at Newcastle recently stated that there is no evidence that aluminium by itself is the cause of Alzheimer's disease, and that much evidence points to the contrary.

  Ambulance Service (London)
  Mr. Nigel Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study has been made of the impact of the reducion in non-emergency ambulance services of the London ambulance service on the administration and efficiency of out-patient departments in hospitals which they serve.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 6 May 1987, c. 430]: I am not aware of any specific study. We would, however, expect all health authorities as part of their normal management responsibility to monitor the efficiency of the arrangements for bringing patients to out-patient departments and to discuss problems with the appropriate ambulance service.

  I understand that the London ambulance service is now meeting all requests for non-emergency transport. Where there are problems action is being taken to improve the quality of the service, that is, to ensure patients arrive on time for appointments and do not have long waits for transport home.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 May.

  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 May.

  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 May.

  Mr. Greenway
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 May.

  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.

  Guinness plc
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Prime Minister if she will acquire for the Library at 10 Downing street a copy of "Is Guinness Good for You — the Bid for Distillers — the Inside Story", by Peter Pugh, published by Financial Training; and if she will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's role in the Guinness takeover affair.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Darlington
  Mr. Fallon
  asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to pay an official visit to Darlington.

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

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
  Mr. Rowe
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest information he has about the effect of neighbourhood watch schemes in Chatham.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are currently 32 neighbourhood watch schemes in Chatham, covering some 5,250 households. One of the first schemes in Kent was introduced in 1984 at Chatham's Davis estate, covering some 1,250 households. Since its introduction there has been a 57 per cent. reduction in all reported crime including a 58 per cent. reduction in burglaries. Many of the other schemes now active in Chatham have been initiated by local communities following the success of the pioneering scheme at the Davis estate.

  Mr. Lawler
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the effect of neighbourhood watch schemes in the Bradford area.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are now some 45 neighbourhood watch schemes in the Bradford area and there are some encouraging signs of success. For example, in the Wycke area, particularly notable for the close involvement of special constables in neighbourhood watch, there were four burglaries in the first nine months of 1986 compared with 24 in the same period of 1985. Auto crime has also shown a downward trend. Thefts of motor vehicles are down by 41 per cent. and thefts from motor vehicles are down by 11 per cent.

  Advertisements
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions his Department sponsored advertisements in national newspapers in the last three years; which newspapers were chosen for these campaigns; which local newspapers were used in these campaigns; and which newspaper publishing groups received payment for advertising space.

  Mr. Hurd
  Over the past three years the Home Office has advertised in every national newspaper and in a wise range of regional, local and ethnic minority newspapers. However, information is not readily available in the form requested and could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

  Firearms (Frontier Controls)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration was given by the Council of Ministers to the proposals by the Commission to remove frontier controls on the movement of firearms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  No such proposals have yet been placed before the Council of Ministers. The proposal for an EC directive dealing with the movement of firearms across internal Community frontiers was discussed at the meeting of Trevi Ministers on 28 April. We agreed to inform the European Commission of our view that any new measures to facilitate the free movement of goods within the Community should not inhibit national authorities making such checks as they thought appropriate on the movement of firearms across Community frontiers.

  Tamils
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will update his reply of 7 April, Official Report, column 130, regarding release of Tamil detainees, given to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East.

  Mr. Waddington
  On 11 May, 23 of the 64 Sri Lankans who sought entry on arrival on 13 February were still detained in the following places:

  Number

  Harmondsworth

  5

  Foston Hall

  10

  Latchmere House

  8

  Since my reply of 7 April, temporary admission was authorised for a further eight on the following dates:

  Five on 16 April 1987.

  Three on 24 April 1987.

  One was granted bail on 7 May 1987.

  Interception of Communications
  Mr. Alexander
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been made to the Interception of Communication Tribunal since 10 April 1986; and in how many of these cases the tribunal concluded that there had been a contravention of sections 2 to 5 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985.

  Mr. Hurd
  There have been 41 applications for a tribunal investigation under section 7(2) of the 138
  Interception of Communications Act 1985 during the period 10 April 1986 to 9 April 1987. Investigation of 36 applications has been completed: on no occasion has the tribunal concluded that there has been a contravention of sections 2 to 5 of the Act.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Tourism (VAT)
  Mr. Ashby
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the tourist industry of the extension announced in the Budget of value added tax to the gross margins earned by tour operators on sales tours within the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  Incoming and internal tourists are already charged United Kingdom VAT on the full price paid for goods and services liable at the standard rate of tax. The scheme should not affect the total amount of VAT chargeable by the United Kingdom sector of the tourist industry, but it will affect the way in which the tax is accounted for to Customs and Excise by tour operators supplying United Kingdom tours.

  Outgoing tourists proceeding to other member states and buying from United Kingdom tour operators will pay a small element of United Kingdom VAT for the first time from I April 1988. It is difficult to predict accurately the effect on tour operators' prices because the Association of British Travel Agents has been unable to supply an estimated weighted average of what its members' gross margins on standard-rated supplies will be. However, assuming that the extra VAT is passed on in full, it is estimated that the price of typical packages to destinations in other member states will be increased by about 1 per cent. This is unlikely to have any significant effect on the number of packages sold.

  Finance Bill
  Mr. Yeo
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions in relation to the Finance Bill.

  Mr. Lawson
  The Government propose to reintroduce all those provisions which have had to be left out of the shortened Finance Bill as early as possible in the next Parliament. For those measures which would have taken effect from Royal Assent to the original Bill, the operative date will be Royal Assent to the new legislation. In other cases it is intended to retain the operative date proposed in the original Bill.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish for Great Britain and for each region, for Scotland and Wales, his latest figure for the amounts paid in regional development grants in the financial year 1986–87; and if he will publish his estimate for the amount he expects to spend in Great Britain and for each region, Scotland and Wales, on regional development grants in 1987–88.

  Mr. Giles Shaw
  Provisional figures for payments of regional development grants in 1986–87 are as follows:
  139

  Area

  £ million

  North East

  89·8

  North West

  113·7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  27·2

  East Midlands

  8·4

  South West

  14·6

  Scotland

  170·0

  Wales

  88·9

  Great Britain Total

  512·6

  Provision for expenditure on RDGs in 1987–88, as set out in the Supply Estimates, is as follows:

  £ million

  England

  108·5

  Scotland

  69·0

  Wales

  33·6

  Total

  211·1

  Notes:

  (1) All figures are gross, before deducting recoveries and EC receipts.

  (2) Estimates for future RDG expenditure are produced only for England as a whole and are not broken down by region.

  As the Prime Minister pointed out in her letter of 12 February to the hon. Gentleman, this projected fall in expenditure is the result of the Government's 1984 decision to replace the old RDG scheme, which supported capital investment without reference to employment, by a new and more cost-effective scheme linked to the creation of jobs.

  Satellite Information Services
  Mr. Hayes
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the various links between the big four bookmakers, Satellite Information Services and their position in the racing and betting industries.

  Mr. Howard
  The Director General of Fair Trading is currently considering whether he should make a complex monopoly reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 in relation to the supply of off-course bookmaking services. Complaints from a number of bodies connected with horse and greyhound racing (including the National Greyhound Racing Club Ltd. and smaller bookmakers) about the possible effects of the Satellite Information Services operation are being taken into account as one of the matters on which the Director General's decision will be based.

  Advertisements
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions his Department sponsored advertisements in national newspapers in the last three years; which newspapers were chosen for these campaigns; which local newspapers were used in these campaigns; and which newspaper publishing groups received payment for advertising space.

  Mr. Butcher
  The information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Cosmetics
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the Council of Ministers decided to harmonise legislation on cosmetic products; if he will provide details of the form and content of the agreed Community labelling which cosmetic products will row he required to display; and if he will make a statement on The cosmetic products which are covered by the legislation.

  Mr. Howard
  There is an important international trade in cosmetics, and the EC cosmetic products directive is intended to remove barriers to trade in the Community and to ensure that the public throughout the Community are protected from dangerous ingredients. The directive operates by prohibiting the use of certain substances in cosmetics, specifying those which may be used, but with restrictions and specifying warning labelling where necessary. Cosmetic products covered by the directive are all those applied to the external surface of the body to clean, perfume, decorate or maintain it.

  Radio Paging Service
  Mr. Peter Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will increase the radio spectrum allocation available to the national radio paging service operated by British Telecommunications.

  Mr. Pattie
  Not at present, but, in anticipation of growing needs as customer demand expands and services develop, I have earmarked an additional channel for future use by the BT service, subject to the company demonstrating to my satisfaction that it has a commercial need and to any other conditions which are generally applicable at the time. I would expect to seek the advice of the Director General of Telecommunications on these questions. I do not expect the additional channel to be brought into commercial use until BT's competitors have had the opportunity to establish themselves in the market.

  London Residuary Body
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what moneys are owed by his Department: to the London Residuary Body in respect of Greater London council activities prior to abolition.

  Mr. Butcher
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 23]: A detailed answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, if there are any such moneys I have no reason for believing they are significant.

  Komatsu (Hydraulic Excavators)
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 6 May, Official Report, column 418, about hydraulic excavators what information is available to his Department about the quantity and value of components imported by Komatsu in any recent period.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 21]: Information relating to individual importers is held by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, but is not normally made available to anyone outside that Department. Components for hydraulic excavators are not separately identified in the Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Advertising (Space Satellites)
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from observatories and from astronomers about the impact on their work of the launching into space of satellites for the purpose of advertising; if he proposes to take any action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Pattie
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1987, c. 418]: The British National Space Centre has received representations from United Kingdom astronomers, both individually and collectively through the Royal Astronomical Society, on the potential threats to astronomy posed by various plans to launch reflecting satellites into space for advertising or other purposes. The Goverment believe that the launch of such objects should become subject to an internationally accepted code of practice. We are considering, initially with our partners in ESA, how best to pursue such an arrangement.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the latest figures available to him of the percentage unemployment rates for each of the 50 regions of the European Community with the worst unemployment rates.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have been asked to reply.

  The latest available comparisons of unemployment rates among regions of the European Community, which

  April 1979–March 1986

  April 1986–December 1986

  All sales

  Flats

  All sales

  Flats

  Greater London Council

  115,198

  11,079

  —

  —

  City of London

  807

  761

  185

  183

  Barking and Dagenham

  6,043

  95

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Barnet

  3,707

  815

  498

  158

  Bexley

  2,162

  104

  227

  31

  Brent

  11,313

  1182

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Bromley

  4,288

  434

  561

  95

  Camden

  526

  349

  113

  94

  Croydon

  4,209

  1166

  542

  59

  Ealing

  13,997

  1417

  1144

  129

  Enfield

  3,656

  483

  400

  99

  Greenwich

  2,349

  114

  1203

  115

  Hackney

  1561

  10

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,682

  678

  233

  151

  Haringey

  1,898

  232

  327

  70

  Harrow

  1,579

  181

  191

  52

  Havering

  4,829

  307

  192

  17

  Hillingdon

  13,599

  1238

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Hounslow

  2,285

  128

  211

  48

  Islington

  1826

  1344

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Kensington and Chelsea

  608

  382

  127

  122

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,372

  272

  107

  40

  Lambeth

  11,045

  1220

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Lewisham

  11,986

  1170

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Merton

  3,053

  337

  345

  76

  Newham

  12,794

  10

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Redbridge

  12,511

  1324

  195

  78

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,482

  334

  114

  42

  Southwark

  1,482

  377

  1138

  146

  Sutton

  1,928

  268

  229

  33

  Tower Hamlets

  1492

  1107

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Waltham Forest

  12,226

  1220

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Wandsworth

  8,837

  4,913

  1,073

  867

  Westminster

  11,395

  11,016

  338

  272

  n.a. = Not available.

  1 Incomplete total of sales.

  142
  relate to April 1985, are published in "Basic Statistics of the Community", 24th Edition, which is available in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT

  Council Properties (Repairs)
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his present estimate of (a) the total cost of outstanding repairs to council properties and (b) the cost of outstanding repairs to council properties in each local authority.

  Mr. Tracey
  The 1986 "English House Condition Survey", now being analysed, will provide up-to-date information on the extent of disrepair in council properties nationally. It is for individual local authorities to monitor the repairs outstanding in the properties they own.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council (a) houses and (b) flats were sold by each London borough between May 1979 and May 1986; how many have been sold since then; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tracey
  The sales of dwellings reported by the London authorities are given in the table.

  Housing Waiting Lists
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the number of households on local authority housing waiting lists in each London borough, as at 1 April 1987.

  Mr. Tracey
  The information for 1987 is not yet available.

  Livestock Units
  Mr. Jackson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his reasons for extending planning controls to livestock units.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Cockeram) on 13 November 1986, at columns 3–4.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the number of homeless people in Coventry, the west midlands and nationally at the latest available date, in 1983 and in 1979, respectively.

  Mr. Tracey
  Local authorities reported accepting responsibility for securing accommodation for the following numbers of households during the years 1979, 1983 and 1986:

  Year

  Coventry

  West Midlands Region

  England

  1979

  151

  6,410

  57,200

  1983

  358

  9,340

  78,240

  1986

  397

  11,780

  102,980

  The figures for 1979 are not directly comparable to those for 1983 and 1986, because of a change in the method of reporting.

  Housing
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his latest estimate of the numbers of houses, also expressed as a percentage of the total, in Coventry, the west midlands and nationally which are (a) sub-standard dwellings: unfit, (b) fit but lacking one or more basic amenity and (c) non-substandard dwellings in need of renovation;

  (2) what was Coventry city council's bid to central Government for housing expenditure; and what was his Department's allocation, for each year since 1979, expressed in 1987 prices.

  Mr. Tracey
  I shall answer this question shortly.

  Housing Management
  Mr. Knowles
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps the Government have taken to encourage the development of new housing management courses, following their announcement in February of funding for studentships at the Salford centre for housing studies.
  144
  Mr. John Patten
  Following negotiations between my Department, the Institute of Housing, the University of Bristol and Bristol Polytechnic, a new full-time, o-year postgraduate course in housing studies will be launched at Bristol next autumn. It will meet the necessary professional criteria.

  My right hon. Friend intends to provide funding through the Economic and Social Research Council for 15 studentships a year on this course, beginning in 1987. A contribution will also be made towards the setting-up and development costs.

  The studentships will provide for maintenance and fees in the first year and for fees only in the second year, when the students are on placement.

  This initiative is particularly welcome because of the close co-operation between the university and the polytechic.

  Similar studentships for housing diploma courses are already being provided at the Salford centre for housing studies, the London school of economics and Sheffield polytechnic.

  I hope to see more courses which are worthy of our support come forward.

  Advertisements
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions his Department sponsored advertisements in national newspapers in the last three years; which newspapers were chosen for these campaigns; which local newspapers were used in these campaigns; and which newspaper publishing groups received payment for advertising space.

  Mr. Ridley
  My Department, including the Property Services Agency, has advertised nationally in the following newspapers. Local newspapers are listed when they have formed part of the newspaper campaigns. (The lists do not include advertising on recruitment, tendering and statutory orders).

  Financial year—1984–85

  Subject—Right to Buy

  National Newspapers

  Daily Mirror

  Daily Star

  The Sun

  Sunday People

  News of the World

  Local Newspapers

  Newcastle Evening Chronicle

  Sheffield Star

  Hull Daily Mail

  Leeds Evening Post

  The Standard (London)

  Coventry Evening Telegraph

  Sandwell Evening Mail

  Wolverhampton Express and Star

  Huddersfield Daily Examiner

  Manchester Evening News

  Subject—Rates Act

  National Dailies

  (Southern Edition only)

  Daily Express

  Daily Mail

  Daily Mirror

  Daily Star

  The Sun

  145

  Guardian

  National Dailies

  (National)

  Daily Telegraph

  Times

  National Sundays

  (Southern edition only)

  Mail on Sunday

  News of the World

  Sunday Express

  Sunday Mirror

  Sunday People

  National Sundays

  (National)

  Observer

  Sunday Telegraph

  Sunday Times

  Local Newspapers

  Brent Recorder

  Harrow/Wembley Informer

  Independent-Harrow/Wembley

  Greenwich Mainline

  Greenwich News Shopper

  Haringey Advertiser

  Haringey Independent

  Islington Advertiser

  Basildon Evening Echo

  Billericay Gazette

  Brentwood Gazette and Mid Essex Recorder

  Hampstead and District Advertiser

  Standard Recorder

  Basildon

  Billericay

  Wickford

  Yellow Advertiser—Basildon Edition

  Billericay and Wickford Advertiser plus Brentwood Advertiser

  Greater London Greater Press Group

  Leicester Mercury

  Loughborough Echo

  Leicester Mail

  Leicester Trader

  Sunday Extra (Leicester)

  North Leicester Shopper

  Liverpool Echo

  Liverpool Post

  Mersey Regional Newspapers

  Southport Visitor Group

  Wirral Newspaper Group

  St Helens Star Series

  Ormskirk Advertiser Group

  The News (Portsmouth)

  Street Life (Portsmouth-Gosport-Fareham-Waterlooville)

  West Sussex Gazette

  Swindon Evening Advertiser

  Wiltshire Gazette and Herald

  Wiltshire Star and Cirencester Advertiser

  Swindon and District Messenger

  Sheffield Star

  Sheffield Morning Telegraph

  Sheffield Weekly Gazette

  South Yorkshire Times

  Worksop Guardian Series

  Barnsley Chronicle

  Barnsley Independent

  Barnsley Chronicle Shopper

  Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express

  Doncaster Free Press

  Doncaster Advertiser

  Rotherham and South Yorkshire Advertiser and Messenger

  Financial Year—1985–86

  Subject—Right to Buy

  National Newspapers
  146

  Daily Mirror

  The Sun

  Sunday Mirror

  Sunday People

  Sunday (News of the World)

  Financial Year—1986–87

  Subject—Right to Buy

  National Newspapers

  The Sun

  Daily Mirror

  Daily Star

  News of the World

  Sunday Mirror

  Sunday People

  Parking Fines
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state (a) the total amount paid by his Department in 1986 in respect of parking fines incurred by ministerial vehicles and (b) provide a breakdown by Government Department in terms of offence, fine, date and location.

  Mr. Chope
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1987, c. 459]: The sums paid in parking fines in respect of Government car service vehicles in 1986 was £3,134 for 279 offences; a significant reduction on 1985.

  The details by Department are as follows:

  Number

  Scottish Office

  166

  Department of Energy

  37

  Welsh Office

  22

  Department of Employment

  6

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  6

  Department of the Environment

  5

  Department of Transport

  6

  Department of Health & Social Security

  6

  Home Office

  2

  Lord Advocates Office

  1

  Department of Trade and Industry

  4

  Management and Personnel Office

  7

  Northern Ireland Office

  1

  Department of Education and Science

  3

  Her Majesty's Treasury

  2

  Treasury Solicitors

  1

  Central Office of Information

  1

  ACAS

  1

  Ministry of Defence

  1

  Privy Council

  1

  279

  A further breakdown could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Residuary Bodies
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of consents sought by residuary bodies for disposal of land or buildings for less than the best price offered.

  Mr. Chope
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1987, c. 459]: Applications have been made in the following cases:

  Greater Manchester Residuary Body:

  The Greater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry; 18 residential properties in various districts.

  Merseyside Residuary Body:

  Land at Caryle Street, Liverpool; Gardners Row Business Centre, Liverpool.

  West Yorkshire Residuary Body:

  Land at Humboldt Street, Bradford.
  147
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of all applications for the acquisition of land made to his Department by residuary bodies since their establishment.

  Mr. Chope
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1987, c. 459]: Applications were made in the following cases:

  London Residuary Body:

  A sub-undcrlease of part of the first floor of 20 Albert Embankment SE1 55Ib High Road N17; Land at the rear of Western Arms Public House, W10; Part of 14–20 Glass Street, EC2.

  Greater Manchester Residuary Body:

  Part of County Hall Car Park, 32–40 Bloom Street, Manchester; sub-lease of 19 and 21 Dicconson Street, Wigan.

  Tyne and Wear Residuary Body:

  Part of 23 Megstone Court, Killingworth; seven sites in Gateshead area.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Speller
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has had from traders outside enterprise zones about unfair retail competition from within such zones; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 559]: No record is kept of the number of representations received about enterprise zones, but I am well aware of the concern expressed by some businesses outside the zones.

  Trees
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the health of yew trees in Britain; and what information he has as to how many years' needles a healthy tree of this species should usually be holding.

  Mr. John MacKay
  I have been asked to reply.

  Like all trees, yew is subject to a range of diseases and disorders. The most noteworthy event in recent years was the browning of foliage which occurred in parts of the country in the spring of 1986, following the very cold February of that year.

  No systematic study of needle retention has been made. Loss of needles which arc two or more years of age occurs on some trees from time to time, but this has not been linked to any reduction in shoot growth.

  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for surveying the health of Britain's trees in 1987.

  Mr. John MacKay
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Forestry Commission's plans for surveys of tree health in 1987, some of which will be carried out in cooperation with other bodies, are described in Forestry Commission Research Information Note 117/87/SSS published on 5 May. I have arranged for copies of the note to be placed in the Library of the House.

TRANSPORT

  Research Expenditure
  Mr. Knox
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 1 April, Official Report, column
  148
  509,if he will specify the items included in current road safety research expenditure referred to in that answer; and if he will make a statement on levels of research expenditure for future years, following his recent review.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The road safety research budget for 1987–88 has been increased by £100,000, bringing the allocated budget on road safety research to £5,914,000. The extra funds will be used to expand our existing programmes, particularly in motorcycle safety. This is the first step towards the major expansion of the road safety research budget recommended by the interdepartmental review of road safety— which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport sent to the chairman of the Transport Committee last week. A copy is in the Library.

  I am still considering the appropriate level of expenditure for subsequent years. I am writing to my hon. Friend.

  A1 Improvements
  Mr. Trotter
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on the improvements that are taking place, planned and proposed for the A1 road between Doncaster and Scotch Corner; and what is his estimate of the likely cost of these improvements.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have just announced that the Al between Dishforth and Scotch Corner will be widened to three lanes. This scheme brings the total value of our investment in the Al in Yorkshire to £126·2 million. A schedule of schemes from Bramham to Scotch Corner is as follows.

  The need for improvements between Bramham and Scotch Corner is being examined as part of the east of Leeds study, on which I hope to make an announcement later this year.

  In addition a programme of safety measures is currently in hand, which includes safety barriers, gap closures and improved signing.

  A1 trunk road

  Improvements currently under construction

  £ million

  1. Baldersby junction improvement

  2·8 to be completed Summer 1987

  2. Wetherby bypass (includes three junctions between Wetherby and Walshford)

  11·8 to be completed Summer 1988

  Improvements in preparation

  1. Bramham to Wetherby

  10·1 Planned start of works—1989

  2. Wetherby to Dishforth

  49·3

  Planned start of works—1989 (four contracts, four year construction)

  3. Dishforth interchange

  6·2

  Planned start of works—1988

  4. Dishforth to Scotch Corner phase 1 Gatenby lane

  1·5 Planned start of works—1990

  5. Dishforth to Scotch Corner phase II junction improvements

  14·5 Planned start of works—1991

  6. Dishforth to Scotch Corner carriageway improvements

  30·0 Planned start of works—1991 onwards

  Total value

  126·2

  Motorways (Surface)
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has yet determined whether concrete or tarmacadam is the more cost-effective surfacing for new motorways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  It is impossible and unnecessary to make a national decision on which material is the most cost effective. Recent research on performance and whole-life costs has shown that, within the limits of the information available, both materials can give equally satisfactory performance. Their relative merits for any given construction scheme depend on local conditions, and a number of designs and materials are included in the Department's standards and specifications to meet these conditions. Tenders for suitable designs in both forms of construction are sought on a competitive basis and the one of lowest initial cost is accepted. It is planned to extend research to examine the feasibility of evaluating individual tenders to take account of all whole life costs, including those arising from traffic delays which may be sensitive to local conditions.

  Motorway Noise (Double Glazing)
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are his current criteria for determining whether householders living near a new stretch of motorway are eligible for double glazing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The criteria applying to dwellings near a new motorway are those in the Noise Insulation Regulations 1975. Regulation 3 requires that traffic noise at a facade of a property shall rise by at least ldB(A) to 68dB(A) or more and that noise from the new highway shall contribute at least IdB(A) to the overall increase.

  I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a booklet which explains the position in more detail.

  Heathrow Flight Paths
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the present controls on flight paths from Heathrow airport, in view of a recent near miss involving Concorde; whether the density of air traffic at Heathrow is approaching a level which would he considered a hazard to safety; if he will ask the Civil Aviation Authority to inquire urgently into the situation at Heathrow; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moore
  The Civil Aviation Authority fulfils its responsibilities for air traffic control through the National Air Traffic Services. In the London area, air traffic control is exercised by the NATS from the London air traffic control centre at West Drayton and from air traffic control units at the three London airports. The arrival and departure routes to and from those airports, including Heathrow, form part of a complex airspace system in which pilots fly in accordance with prescribed air traffic control procedures. Following the recent incident in which a Concorde was involved, the relevant ATC procedures have been reviewed and confirmed to be satisfactory.

  With regard to the increase in air traffic at Heathrow, air traffic management measures are taken to ensure that in busy periods the capacity limits of the airport are not exceeded. These measures include a European-based
  150
  system of flow control where, if necessary, aircraft are kept on the ground until an airspace slot becomes available. I am assured by the Civil Aviation Authority that the NATS would not allow the pressure of demand in any way to jeopardise the safe operation of aircraft at Heathrow or elsewhere in the United Kingdom airspace for which it is responsible.

  Level Crossing Accidents (Aston by Stone)
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the chairman of British Rail the request by the Stafford borough council for an inquiry into two potentially fatal incidents at the level crossing at Aston by Stone in the constituency of the hon. Member for Mid-Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  No incidents or accidents have been reported to the Railway Inspectorate since the automatic half-Barrier crossing was commissioned in 1983, and consequently there has been no request for an inquiry by this Department. If there is concern it would be appropriate for British Rail and Stafford borough council to discuss it.

  ROSPA
  Mr. David Atkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made a new agreement with ROSPA for its road safety work in England.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I pay tribute to the work ROSPA has achieved in the past and to the challenge it has set for the future.

  A new agreement has just been signed. It follows extensive discussion with ROSPA, and reflects ROSPA's new marketing-led, business-orientated approach to road safety. The views of the local authority associations have been taken into account. ROSPA has set itself ambitious but achievable targets for streamlining and improving cost-effectiveness. Grant for England will be for £530,000 in 1987–88 but will reduce as ROSPA achieves its longterm plans. Additional grant will continue to be available for specific activities which offer good value for money.

WALES

  Community Care
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any method of knowing the number of employees of (a) local authorities and (b) other public bodies funded in part or in whole from Exchequer funds, who are engaged wholly or in part in providing care services within the community for elderly or disabled people in Wales.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  The required information is not available centrally. Details of staffs of health authorities and local authorities social services departments are published annually by the Welsh Office, but the numbers engaged solely on care for the disabled and elderly cannot be separately identified.

  Physical and Sensory Disabilities
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total annual expenditure by social

  151
  services departments in Wales on people with physical and sensory disabilities in each of the last 10 years at 1986–87 prices.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987,c. 547]: The information held by the Department does not enable the total cost of all local authority services provided to people with physical and sensory disabilities to be identified.

  The following table shows separately the annual current expenditure on residential services for this group of people together with total current expenditure on all other services used by physically and sensorially disabled people but from which an expenditure figure for services used exclusively by this group cannot be separately identified.

  Current Expenditure1—Wales

  (1986–87 prices)2

  Year

  Homes for the younger physically handicapped, blind and deaf

  All Other relevant services3

  £000's

  £000's

  1976–77

  1,941

  47,156

  1977–78

  1,958

  46,928

  1978–79

  2,359

  48,989

  1979–80

  2,229

  51,373

  1980–81

  2,440

  51,245

  1981–82

  2,572

  51,196

  1982–83

  2,803

  51,006

  1983–84

  2,916

  54,712

  1984–85

  2,909

  55,419

  1985–86

  2,301

  55,752

  1Current expenditure is provided net of sales, fees, charges and other income.

  2Figures are gross current expenditure revalued to 1986–87 prices using the gross domestic product deflator.

  3Comprises expenditure on residential accommodation for the elderly and all adult day care excluding that provided in adult training centres, together with current expenditure on meals, home helps, laundry services, aids, adaptations, telephones and holidays. Expenditure on training administration and field social work is excluded.

DEFENCE

  WEU Meeting (Luxembourg)
  Sir Dudley Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the part his Department played in the Western European Union meeting in Luxembourg on 27 and 28 April.

  Mr. Stanley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 30 April, at column 197, and to the communiqué of the meeting, a copy of which is in the Library. This series of meetings affords an opportunity for collective discussion by the Foreign and Defence Ministers from the member nations, and on this occasion I represented my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, who was on an official visit to Turkey. I contributed in particular to the exchange of views on East-West relations and arms control, particularly INF, referred to in my hon. Friend's reply.

  Military Exercise (Brittany)
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence on whose authority military students from Sandhurst were sent on an exercise to Brittany in late March and early April, with an objective in their training exercise to pursue and combat Breton autonomists; and if the object of this exercise was cleared with the French Government beforehand.

  Mr. Freeman
  Students from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst participate in an annual training exercise authorised by the Ministry of Defence at a training area in Brittany. All exercises involving British forces personnel overseas are cleared in outline in advance with the Government of the host country, but some details of this exercise were inappropriate, and will not be repeated.

  Far East Pilgrimage
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make available to interested parties a permanent reminder of the far east pilgrimage which his Department and the Royal British Legion organised in November 1985.

  Mr. Stanley
  I am pleased to announce that a video has been made of the 1985 veterans and widows pilgrimage to the far east entitled "For Their Tomorrow". Copies of the video will be given on request and at no cost to far east former prisoners of war, other far east veterans and to the widows of those who served in the far east. It is hoped that the video will provide a lasting memory of the pilgrimage both for those who took part and for those unable to make the journey. Requests for a copy of the video from far east veterans, former prisoners of war or widows should be addressed to:

  Assistant Chief of Public Relations (Resources)

  Defence Public Relations Staff

  Ministry of Defence

  Main Building

  Whitehall

  London

  SW1A 2HB

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Gloucester District Land Registry
  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the delays in achieving registration at the Gloucester district land registry of titles in Cropthorne road, Shirley, originally applied for at the Harrow district land registry in December 1985 on behalf of London and Auckland Estates Limited and on the consequential delay affecting Mr. F. J. Morgan of 95 Cropthorne Road in the constituency of Solihull.

  The Attorney-General
  The land registry received no request to expedite this complex series of applications involving several hundred properties in different areas. Evidence concerning certain documents of title was not supplied by the applicant company's solicitors until February 1987. The registration in respect of 95 Cropthorne road has been completed.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Oxfam
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give additional financial support for Oxfam's overseas development work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  In 1986–87 the Government channelled almost £2 million through Oxfam for disaster relief and assistance to refugees; and we provided a grant of £1,724,250 for Oxfam under the joint funding scheme for long-term development work. The needs of disaster and refugee work vary from year to year and cannot be forecast. Support for Oxfam under the joint funding scheme has been increased to £1,925,000 in the current financial year. The resources available for the scheme as a whole have been more than doubled in the last four years, and we shall keep under review the possibility of providing further increases, for Oxfam as well as all the other agencies concerned, in the future.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Blair
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid and other financial assistance has been given to Sri Lanka for each year from 1980 to the present day; what are the conditions relating to human rights that are attached to the giving of such aid or financial assistance; and whether, in the light of the present situation in Sri Lanka, he is reconsidering the amount of such aid or financial assistance.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  British bilateral aid to Sri Lanka for 1980–86 was as follows:

  £000

  1980

  32,863

  1981

  26,272

  Postgraduate students in Universities in Great Britain

  Academic year beginning in

  Full-time and sandwich

  Part-time1

  Home students

  Students from abroad

  Home students

  Students from abroad

  (000's)

  (000's)

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  (000's)

  1976

  32·2

  18·1

  64·0

  36·0

  23·0

  1977

  30·8

  18·0

  63·1

  36·9

  24·0

  1978

  30·9

  18·3

  62·8

  37·2

  25·0

  1979

  30·3

  17·3

  63·7

  36·3

  26·6

  1980

  311

  16·4

  65·5

  34·5

  28·2

  1981

  30·7

  16·2

  65·5

  34·5

  29·0

  1982

  29·5

  15·9

  64·9

  35·1

  29·1

  1983

  30·7

  16·8

  64·6

  35"·4

  29·8

  1984

  31·2

  17·7

  63·8

  36·2

  30·6

  1985

  32·5

  20·1

  61·8

  38·2

  31·7

  1Including Open University.

  Foreign Languages
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of foreign language assistants in British schools in the current year; and how many there have been in each of the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of foreign language assistants in schools and colleges in the United Kingdom in the current academic year is 2,490.
  154

  £000

  1982

  33,287

  1983

  29,461

  1984

  26,203

  1985

  17,316

  1986

  15,345

  Sri Lanka also receives assistance from multilateral organisations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Community and several United Nations agencies, to which Britain contributes resources.

  The level of our aid to Sri Lanka has declined from the exceptionally high level reached while we were helping finance the Victoria dam project. No conditions relating to human rights have been attached to our aid, which is intended to benefit all sections of the community in Sri Lanka. The observance of human rights is a factor which we and other Western donors take into account in giving aid to any country. All our aid programmes are regularly reviewed, but we have no plans at present to reconsider the amount of aid we give to Sri Lanka.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Postgraduate Students
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many and what percentage of postgraduate students studying in British universities are (a) United Kingdom home students and (b) from outside the United Kingdom; and what these figures have been in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Walden
  Information on full-time and sandwich postgraduate students studying in British universities is shown in the following table. The total numbers each year of part-time postgraduates, including those in the Open University, are also included.

  Numbers in each of the last 10 Years are as follows:

  Number

  1985–86

  2,409

  1984–85

  2,495

  1983–84

  2,496

  1982–83

  2,498

  1981–82

  2,589

  1980–81

  2,750

  155

  Number

  1979–80

  2,992

  1978–79

  3,158

  1977–78

  3,655

  1976–77

  3,530

  Advertisements
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on how many occasions his Department sponsored advertisements in national newspapers in the last three years; which newspapers were chosen for these campaigns; which local newspapers were used in these campaigns; and which newspaper publishing groups received payment for advertising space.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Fees and Charges
  Mr. Radice
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish his Department's review of local education authority fees and charges.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Charges for educational "extras" were included in the recent review of all local authority fees and charges. The Government have not yet completed consideration of the results of that review.

  Non-Special Schools
  Mr. Radice
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much local education authorities have spent buying places at non-special fee-charging schools in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The figures, in cash, were as follows:

  £million (England only)

  1981–82

  30

  1982–83

  25

  1983–84

  20

  1984–85

  17

  1985–86

  14

  1985–86 is the latest year for which outturn information is available.

  Latin and Greek
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many state schools in (a) England and (b) Wales teach as a compulsory subject Latin or Greek.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the following data from the 1984 secondary school staffing survey show, for each year group, the number of schools in a sample of about 10 per cent. of schools in England which taught classics as either a compulsory or an optional subject. Provision in schools in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  156

  Year group

  Number of schools with classics

  Number of schools in sample

  Per cent. of schools in sample with classics

  1

  56

  3,683

  1·5

  2

  598

  3,982

  15

  3

  917

  3,642

  25

  4

  948

  3,621

  26

  5

  949

  3,625

  26

  6th Form

  671

  2,295

  29

  University of Wales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table giving the numbers of United Kingdom students who were awarded degrees and diplomas from the University of Wales in the following subjects in the years 1997 and 1986, or the most recent year for which figures are available:(a)social, administrative and business studies, (b) engineering and technology and (c) science.

  Mr. Walden
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 544]: The information is as follows :

  University of Wales Students of United Kingdom domicile

  Degrees and diplomas awarded

  (a) Social adminstrative and business studies

  (b) Engineering and techonolgy

  (c) Science

  1979

  First degrees

  1,173

  359

  829

  Higher degrees

  67

  53

  161

  Higher diplomas

  155

  1

  6

  1984

  First degrees

  1,155

  393

  976

  Higher degrees

  84

  46

  155

  Higher diplomas

  97

  5

  13

  Figures for 1985 are on a different subject classification and are therefore not comparable. In 1985 there were 917, 419 and 1,014 first degrees, 65, 56, and 147 higher degrees, and 73, three and 10 higher diplomas awarded to United Kingdom students in the new subject categories social administrative and business studies, engineering and technology and science, respectively.

EMPLOYMENT

  Trade Unions
  Mr. Sedgemore
  asked the Paymaster General what recent representations he has received concerning his Green Paper, "Trade Unions and Their Members."

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have received 105 representations on the Green Paper, "Trade Unions and Their Members" in the period up to today, including comments from employers, Trade Unions, various other representative organisations, and individuals.

  Mr. Evans
  asked the Paymaster General when he next proposes to meet trade union leaders to discuss his recently published Green Paper, "Trade Unions and Their Members."

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The TUC have told me that they plan to seek a meeting in due course but have not yet done so. The Scottish TUC has also asked for a meeting. I will of course be happy to meet both groups when they are able to suggest convenient dates.

  Tourism
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  asked the Paymaster General what information he has on the amount of income that has been generated by tourism in the South-East Tourist Board area in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Trippier
  Tourist spending in the South-East tourist board area increased from £370 million in 1978 to £755 million in 1985. In the East Midlands tourist board area, spending increased from £145 million in 1978 to over £375 million in 1985.

  A table giving full information has been placed in the library.

  Mr. Couchman
  asked the Paymaster General whether he will estimate the value of capital investment in major tourism and leisure projects in 1986.

  Mr. Trippier
  A recent English tourist board survey suggests that in the last six months of 1986 at least £960 million worth of tourism and leisure developments were opened or under construction in England.

  Mr. Holt
  asked the Paymaster General what information he has on the amount of income that has been generated by tourism in the Northumbria Tourist Board area in each year since 1978.

  Mr. John Browne
  asked the Paymaster General what information he has on the amount of income that has been generated by tourism in the Southern Tourist Board area in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Trippier
  A table giving this information has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Nicholas winterton
  asked the Paymaster General what effect he estimates the Licensing (Restaurant Meals) Act 1987 will have on tourism expenditure in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Trippier
  No such estimates are available. However we share the restaurant trade's optimism that this measure will lead to a marked boost in their business, much of it due to increased tourist spending.

  Training Schemes
  Mrs. Shields
  asked the Paymaster General what research his Department is undertaking to assess the differences in the success rates of training schemes in helping young people into jobs.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Manpower Services Commission conducts a regular follow-up survey of all YTS leavers. The results which show the destination of leavers some three months after leaving, are placed in the Library.

  Hotel and Catering Industry
  Mr. Bevan
  asked the Paymaster General how many new jobs he estimates will be created at all levels in the hotel and catering industry by the end of the decade.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Government do not produce forecasts of future employment levels, which depend on many factors. However, during the period between December 1985 and December 1986 employment in hotels and catering increased by 17,000.

  If present trends continue, there should be scope for many more jobs in the industry in the period up to 1990.
  158
  Mr. Gale
  asked the Paymaster General what Government initiatives are planned to help to fill the 40,000 vacancies estimated by the Hotel and Catering Training Board to have been left unfilled in the hotel and catering industry every year.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Government, through the Manpower Services Commission, will be helping employers in the hotel and catering industry to recruit and train the labour they need as it does with all sectors of the economy. In addition to the recruitment service provided by the MSC's jobcentre network, the MSC's vocational and educational training group provides financial and other support. In particular, the development of training and initiatives is considered a high priority, principally by funding places on both YTS and job training schemes for hotel and catering occuptions. The MSC also supports initiatives by the hotel and catering training board to structure the training and career arrangements so providing it with a better qualified work force.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General if he will estimate what the intake on the hotel and catering job training scheme is likely to be.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I expect the new job training scheme to make a major contribution to meeting local skill needs in the hotel and catering industry. The hotel and catering training board is already operating as a managing agent in one of the pilot areas, and I expect many employers in the industry to become involved in the scheme as providers of practical work experience.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  asked the Paymaster General what is the lastest available figure for those out of work for a year or more.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  On 8 January 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of climants who had been unemployed for over one year was 1,334,000, which represents 40·5 per cent. of the total.

  Mr. Greenway
  asked the Paymaster General when he expects unemployment to fall below 3 million: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The Government do not make forecasts of unemployment, but, if present trends continue, adult unemployment is likely to fall below 3 million within the next few months.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Paymaster General what is the latest available figure for unemployment in Greater London.

  Mr. Lee
  On 12 March 1987, the number of unemployed claimants in the Greater London area was 383,086.

  Mr. Bruce
  asked the Paymaster General if he will state the latest figure for full-time equivalent jobs created since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The Department's employed labour force series is not sufficiently detailed to support the accurate calculation of full time equivalent job estimates. The series would not reflect the importance of increasing labour market flexibility which has contributed to the continuing growth of part time jobs and has benefited both employers
  159
  and employe es. However, estimates from the labour force survey show an increase of 4½ per cent. between spring 1983 and spring 1986 in the person hours usually worked per week in the economy of Great Britain.

  Mr. Janner
  asked the Paymaster General how many people presently on the Government's job training schemes have remained on the unemployment register.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  People on the new job training scheme are in full-time training and are not required to be available for work. They are therefore excluded from the unemployment count as would anybody else be in the same circumstances.

  Mr. Dykes
  asked the Paymaster General if he will commission a fundamental study into long-term trends in net real unemployment in the United Kingdom, relating it to the comparisons available in other large EEC member state economies.

  Mr. Lee
  No study is necessary. The available information on unemployment already includes estimates from the annual Labour Force Survey which is conducted on a similar basis in all EC countries. Standardised unemployment rates for major industrial countries are published monthly by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

  Mr. Beith
  asked the Paymaster General what are the most recent percentage figures for (a) total unemployment and (b) male unemployment in the Alnwick and Amble area.

  Mr. Lee
  On 12 March 1987, the number of unemployed claimants in the Alnwick and Amble travelto-work area expressed as a percentage of employees in employment plus the unemployed was 19·8 per cent. The corresponding rate for male claimants was 22·7 per cent.

  Mr. Duffy
  asked the Paymaster General if he will indicate in percentage terms the number of unemployed in (a) the Sheffield travel-to-work area and (b) the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

  Employees by whether full1 or part-time2, Ethnic origin and occupation

  Great Britain, Spring 1985

  Ethnic origin/broad occupational group

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  White

  Managerial and professional

  3,335

  32·1

  1,176

  26·2

  248

  39·3

  772

  18·6

  Clerical and related

  643

  6·2

  1,843

  41·0

  29

  4·5

  900

  21·7

  Other non-manual

  645

  6·2

  298

  6·6

  75

  11·8

  598

  14·4

  Craft and similar

  2,676

  25·8

  271

  6·0

  39

  6·2

  60

  1·4

  General labourers

  211

  2·0

  19

  0·4

  12

  1·9

  6—

  6—

  Other manual

  2,833

  27·3

  883

  19·6

  227

  35·9

  1,815

  43·7

  All occupations3

  10,382

  100·0

  4,493

  100·0

  631

  100·0

  4,153

  100·0

  Non-White

  Managerial and professional

  90

  24·3

  52

  26·3

  10

  41·1

  18

  21·4

  Clerical and related

  34

  9·1

  56

  27·9

  6—

  6—

  12

  15·0

  Other non-manual

  14

  3·8

  13

  6·6

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Craft and similar

  84

  22·7

  22

  11·1

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  General labourers

  10

  2·7

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Other manual

  138

  37·2

  56

  27·8

  6—

  6—

  38

  46·4

  All occupations3

  371

  100·0

  199

  100·0

  25

  100·0

  83

  100·0

  Of which:

  (i) West Indian/Guyanese

  Managerial and professional

  6—

  6—

  35

  30·6

  —

  —

  6—

  6—

  Clerical and related

  6—

  6—

  23

  28·5

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  160
  Mr. Lee
  On 12 May 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 15·8 per cent. The comparable rate for the Yorkshire and Humberside region was 14·7 per cent. The number of unemployed claimants in the Yorkshire and Humberside region expressed as a percentage of the total working population was 13·2 per cent.

  Mr. Speller
  asked the Paymaster General how many people in England were in paid employment at the end of April 1979 and at the end of the latest month in 1987 for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lee
  There are no figures available for the dates specified. The available information is as follows:

  Employees in employment in England

  June 1979

  19,503,000

  December 1986

  18,525,000

  The figures are not adjusted for the effects of seasonal variation.

  Mr. Flannery
  asked the Paymaster General what is the latest figure for the number of unemployed.

  Mr. Lee
  On 12 March 1987, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,143,370.

  Ms. Clare Short
  asked the Paymaster General if he will publish figures from the 1985 labour force survey, showing separately for part-time and full-time workers the numbers and percentages of employees aged 16 years and over by ethnic origin, occupational group and sex.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The 1985 "Labour Force Survey" estimates are as shown in the table:
  161

  Ethnic origin/broad occupational group

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Other non-manual

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Craft and similar

  32

  32·2

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  General labourers

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Other manual

  42

  42·6

  26

  32·1

  6—

  6—

  18

  58·7

  All occupations3

  98

  100·0

  82

  100·0

  6—

  6—

  31

  100·0

  (ii) Indian

  Managerial and professional

  36

  32·8

  11

  18·3

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Clerical and related

  11

  9·8

  15

  24·6

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Other non-manual

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Craft and similar

  24

  21·6

  14

  22·7

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  General labourers

  6—

  6—

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other manual

  31

  28·5

  16

  25·9

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  All occupations3

  109

  100·0

  61

  100·0

  6—

  6—

  22

  100·0

  (iii) Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  Managerial and professional

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Clerical and related

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other non-manual

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Craft and similar

  15

  23·0

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  General labourers

  6—

  6—

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other manual

  35

  55·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6—

  6—

  All occupations3

  63

  100·0

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  (iv) Other4

  Managerial and professional

  37

  37·1

  15

  28·9

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Clerical and related

  12

  11·7

  16

  30·9

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Other non-manual

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Craft and similar

  14

  14·1

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  General labourers

  6—

  6—

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other manual

  30

  29·9

  13

  25·8

  6—

  6—

  11

  40·8

  All occupations3

  100

  100·0

  52

  100·0

  12

  100·0

  27

  100·0

  (v) All Ethnic Origins5

  Managerial and professional

  3,461

  31·9

  1,250

  26·3

  260

  39·3

  799

  18·7

  Clerical and related

  682

  6·3

  1,923

  40·4

  30

  4·6

  925

  21·6

  Other non-manual

  662

  6·1

  313

  6·6

  81

  12·3

  613

  14·3

  Craft and similar

  2,786

  25·7

  298

  6·3

  42

  6·3

  66

  1·6

  General labourers

  222

  2·0

  20

  0·4

  13

  2·0

  6—

  6—

  Other manual

  2,998

  27·6

  949

  20·0

  234

  35·3

  1,871

  43·7

  All occupations3

  10,853

  100·0

  4,757

  100·0

  663

  100·0

  4,280

  100·0

  1 Basic usual hours (i.e. excluding meal breaks and paid and unpaid overtime) of 31 or more per week.

  2Basic usual hours of 30 or less per week.

  3 Includes those who did not state their occupation.

  4 Includes African and mixed origin.

  5 Includes those who did not state their ethnic origin.

  6 Sample size too small to provide a reliable estimate.

  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Paymaster General what was the number of notified vacancies unfilled in the Coventry and Warwickshire area in each of the standard industrial classifications at the latest date, for which figures are available; how many were part-time; and what was the total number of unemployed at each job centre on the same date.

  Mr. Lee
  The following table contains the available information, which is also in the Library. The table gives the numbers of unfilled vacancies in the jobcentres that

  Unfilled vacancies by 1980 SIC at Jobcenlres in Coventry and Warwickshire as at 6 February 1987

  Coventry

  Bedworth

  Leamington

  Nuneaton

  Rugby

  Stratford-on-Avon

  Agriculture, forestry and fishing

  1

  0

  2

  0

  2

  1

  Energy/water supply industries

  7

  0

  3

  2

  0

  2

  162
  correspond to the local authority district of Coventry and the county of Warwickshire as at 6 February 1987, the latest date for which an industrial analysis of vacancies is available. Figures of part-time vacancies by standard industrial classification are not available. The unemployed are no longer required to register at jobcentres, and statistics of registrants at jobcentres do not distinguish the unemployed from those seeking a change of employment. Local unemployment figures from the current ward-based system are available in the Library.
  163

  Coventry

  Bedworth

  Leamington

  Nuneaton

  Rugby

  Slratford-on-Avon

  Extraction/manufacture: minerals/metals

  15

  3

  1

  7

  1

  1

  Metal goods/vehicle industries, etc.

  125

  26

  38

  43

  25

  26

  Other manufacturing industries

  69

  6

  32

  101

  15

  8

  Construction

  27

  5

  19

  38

  18

  26

  Distribution, hotels/catering; repairs

  279

  24

  144

  497

  100

  177

  Transport/communication

  66

  4

  27

  11

  6

  13

  Banking, finance, insurance, leasing, etc.

  71

  9

  50

  45

  58

  37

  Other services

  176

  15

  103

  104

  91

  59

  Total

  836

  92

  419

  848

  319

  350

  of which: part-time

  221

  17

  146

  306

  158

  87

  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Paymaster General what are the unemployment figures for Coventry categorised by sex, age and the duration of unemployment, for the latest date for which statistics are available.

  Age and duration analysis of the unemployed for statistical date 8 January 1987

  Coventry local authority area

  Duration of unemployment in weeks

  Under 17

  17

  18

  19

  20–24

  25–29

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  50–54

  55–59

  60 and over

  Total

  Males

  One or less

  6

  11

  19

  13

  82

  54

  25

  22

  17

  12

  23

  25

  27

  336

  Over 1 and up to 2

  4

  2

  6

  9

  28

  23

  12

  19

  10

  13

  12

  10

  6

  154

  Over 2 and up to 4

  13

  16

  29

  23

  120

  56

  44

  33

  25

  23

  23

  27

  26

  458

  Over 4 and up to 6

  13

  22

  22

  25

  119

  61

  37

  30

  37

  31

  25

  34

  19

  475

  Over 6 and up to 8

  9

  31

  24

  22

  95

  53

  33

  32

  28

  19

  31

  26

  19

  422

  Over 8 and up to 13

  27

  39

  43

  57

  263

  145

  84

  73

  58

  45

  58

  53

  45

  990

  Over 13 and up to 26

  101

  128

  178

  168

  516

  281

  174

  169

  119

  99

  112

  162

  182

  2,389

  Over 26 and up to 39

  7

  79

  82

  83

  334

  213

  119

  108

  71

  75

  57

  121

  110

  1,459

  Over 39 and up to 52

  2

  65

  54

  49

  216

  140

  107

  65

  66

  56

  51

  81

  86

  1,038

  Over 52 and up to 65

  0

  19

  54

  51

  157

  125

  88

  79

  57

  54

  33

  32

  41

  790

  Over 65 and up to 78

  0

  57

  68

  57

  177

  121

  69

  66

  65

  45

  26

  57

  13

  821

  Over 78 and up to 104

  0

  7

  52

  73

  256

  154

  123

  118

  78

  73

  52

  81

  9

  1,076

  Over 104 and up to 156

  0

  0

  55

  109

  386

  268

  201

  156

  134

  113

  109

  153

  15

  1,699

  Over 156 and up to 208

  0

  0

  0

  22

  336

  198

  141

  151

  141

  96

  167

  177

  10

  1,439

  Over 208 and up to 260

  0

  0

  0

  0

  238

  159

  142

  129

  130

  105

  241

  172

  13

  1,329

  Over 260

  0

  0

  0

  0

  191

  346

  342

  321

  330

  290

  290

  374

  31

  2,515

  Total males

  182

  476

  686

  761

  3,514

  2,397

  1,741

  1,571

  1,366

  1,149

  1,310

  1,585

  652

  17,390

  Females

  One or less

  8

  16

  19

  25

  82

  33

  13

  5

  7

  11

  8

  8

  0

  235

  Over 1 and up to 2

  2

  3

  5

  6

  26

  6

  7

  7

  8

  11

  4

  1

  0

  86

  Over 2 and up to 4

  9

  15

  19

  21

  65

  47

  21

  17

  10

  12

  14

  7

  0

  257

  Over 4 and up to 6

  10

  13

  18

  13

  62

  40

  27

  13

  7

  11

  9

  6

  0

  229

  Over 6 and up to 8

  2

  20

  14

  6

  56

  43

  18

  10

  12

  15

  8

  10

  0

  214

  Over 8 and up to 13

  18

  32

  48

  30

  165

  100

  47

  35

  35

  33

  20

  23

  0

  586

  Over 13 and up to 26

  94

  111

  183

  124

  297

  201

  120

  69

  57

  57

  51

  40

  0

  1,404

  Over 26 and up to 39

  7

  43

  77

  49

  266

  145

  95

  65

  51

  52

  37

  43

  0

  930

  Over 39 and up to 52

  3

  34

  38

  35

  143

  113

  60

  44

  39

  43

  34

  45

  0

  631

  Over 52 and up to 65

  0

  17

  35

  25

  97

  55

  32

  25

  21

  24

  18

  27

  0

  376

  Over 65 and up to 78

  0

  51

  76

  59

  84

  45

  18

  24

  19

  27

  22

  20

  0

  445

  Over 78 and up to 104

  0

  4

  53

  44

  91

  49

  28

  19

  38

  35

  41

  37

  0

  439

  Over 104 and up to 156

  0

  38

  64

  162

  51

  36

  30

  62

  53

  89

  52

  2

  639

  Over 156 and up to 208

  0

  0

  0

  19

  133

  34

  20

  21

  24

  31

  81

  57

  1

  421

  Over 208 and up to 260

  0

  0

  0

  0

  96

  19

  15

  15

  21

  25

  70

  60

  0

  321

  164
  Mr. Lee
  Following is the requested information which is available in the Library. Figures relate to 8 January 1987, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age and duration is available.
  165

  Duration of unemployment in weeks

  Under17

  17

  18

  19

  20–24

  25–29

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  50–54

  50–59

  60 and over

  Total

  Over 260

  0

  0

  0

  65

  69

  44

  18

  27

  48

  59

  82

  1

  413

  Total females

  153

  359

  623

  520

  1,890

  1,050

  601

  417

  438

  488

  565

  518

  4

  7,626

  Foreign Visitors
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  asked the Paymaster General what estimate he has made as to how many foreign business travellers to the United Kingdom there were in 1986 compared to the number of foreign holiday-makers.

  Mr. Trippier
  There were about 3·2 million business visits made by overseas residents to the United Kingdom in 1986, compared with about 5·9 million visits by foreign holidaymakers. In addition there were 2·9 million visits to the United Kingdom for the purpose of visiting friends and relatives, and 1·8 million for other purposes including study.

  English Tourist Board
  Mr. Gregory
  asked the Paymaster General if he has any plans to reorganise the 12 regions of the English Tourist Board to coincide with the eight Manpower Services Commission English regions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  No. Neither my Department nor the English tourist board have any plans to propose changes to the existing boundaries of the 12 regional tourist boards.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Paymaster General which regions in England show the biggest percentage reductions in jobs in the manufacturing sector since 1979.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Between December 1979 and December 1986 the north, Yorkshire and Humberside and north-east regions have experienced the biggest percentage net reductions in the number of employees in employment in the manufacturing industries.

  Some of the 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 manufacturer's 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.

  Job Training Scheme
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  asked the Paymaster General how many people are presently receiving training under the new job training scheme.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  On 24 April 1987, 2,337 people were taking part in the new job training scheme.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Paymaster General what indications he has so far received concerning the progress of the job training scheme.

  Mr. George
  asked the Paymaster General what indications he has so far received concerning the progress of the job training scheme.
  166
  Mr. Willie W. Hamilton
  asked the Paymaster General what indications he has so far received concerning the progress of the job training scheme.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Where the new job training scheme has already been established it is proving an attractive option for long-term unemployed people. A wide range of managing agents are coming forward to participate in the national extended scheme and plans are now well advanced for the provision of training opportunities in all areas of the country.

  Mr. Freud
  asked the Paymaster General what measures he is taking to guarantee the quality of training on the job training scheme.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Government and the MSC are committed to providing high quality training which leads to recognised vocational qualifications under the job training scheme, and to this end the Manpower Services Commission has agreed a comprehensive short and longer term quality assurance strategy which includes:

  —introduction of the new status of approved training organisation (adult) for managing agents who wish to deliver new JTS programmes. Agents will need to meet exacting criteria in order to qualify.

  —involvement of the training standards advisory service to provide professional and independent assessment of new JTS.

  —monitoring by local MSC officials, with reporting back to area manpower boards.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Paymaster General what recent representations he has received about the community programme.

  Mr. Lee
  We have received a number of representations from hon. Members and others about the community programme. The programme is one of our most successful schemes for helping long-term unemployed people and will, this year, provide places for over 300,000 people.

  Business Travel
  Mr. Cash
  asked the Paymaster General what Government initiatives have been taken to increase business travel to the United Kingdom from key European markets.

  Mr. Tippier
  The number of business travellers to the United Kingdom rose by 7 per cent. in 1986 compared to 1985, and represented almost 25 per cent. of all visitors to the United Kingdom. The British Tourist Authority, which the Government support by grant-in-aid which is charged with promoting all aspects of inward tourism, has recently appointed two business travel managers to cover Scandinavia, and the Benelux countries and France. They will specifically promote business and incentive travel to the United Kingdom. They have also allocated additional resources to this sector in Germany and Austria and will continue to promote conference and exhibition facilities in the United Kingdom through their 10 other European offices.

  Job Creation
  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement concerning the progress of Government schemes to help the unemployed move in order to find jobs.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr. Dixon) on 4 March at column 566.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  asked the Paymaster General what funds he proposes to allocate to each of the Government's employment creation programmes in 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  In 1987–88 the Government expect to spend over £3,000 million on employment, enterprise and training measures subject to Parliamentary approval. Full details for each measure were published in Class VII of the main estimates on 17 March. A copy is in the Library.

  Mr. Hawksley
  asked the Paymaster General how many people received help under the enterprise allowance scheme in the Telford area in the year ended 31 March 1987.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, in Shropshire, which includes Telford, 812 people joined the enterprise allowance scheme in the year ended 31 March 1987. There were 770 people in receipt of the allowance on 31 March 1987.

  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Paymaster General what measures his Department is currently introducing to reduce the level of unemployment in Coventry.

  Mr. Lee
  We shall continue to pursue sound economic policies for steady growth and low inflation which have so far produced more than a million new jobs since 1983. As part of this overall policy my Department and the Manpower Services Commission operate over 30 employment, enterprise and training measures which are described in the Action for Jobs booklet. With the exception of the career development loans scheme, which is currently being piloted in selected localities, all these measures are available in Coventry. My right hon. and learned Friend recently announced expansion of the very successful Inner Cities Initiative which will also benefit the unemployed in Coventry where one of the new task forces will operate.

  Tourism (Terrorism)
  Mr. Leigh
  asked the Paymaster General whether he will take steps to promote in the United Kingdom a scheme similar to the United States Government's national travellers security policy council, with a view to achieving a more active role for private enterprise in helping to combat terrorism and security problems, in so far as they impinge on tourism.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have no plans to do so.

  Manufacturing Job Losses
  Mr. Meadowcroft
  asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on regional differences in manufacturing job losses.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  There has been a long-term trend away from manufacturing employment in most 168
  industrialised countries, which has been evident in all regions of the United Kingdom since 1966. The world recession of the early 1980s combined with overdue action by British industry to reduce damaging levels of overmanning which had built up in the 1960s and 1970s accelerated this process in the United Kingdom, especially in those areas which relied most heavily on manufacturing employment. Since mid-1983, however, the rate of decline in manufacturing employment has slowed markedly overall, varying between a fall of 9 per cent. in the South East and a rise of 6 per cent. in East Anglia (June 1983 to June 1986).

  In all regions where there has been a net loss of jobs in manufacturing since mid-1983 these losses have at least been offset by a rise in the number of jobs elsewhere in the economy. Some of the decrease in the number of employees in employment in manufacturing will be the result of re-classification of jobs such as industrial cleaning, catering, computer services and road haulage, previously done by manufacturer's 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.

  Tourist Information Centres
  Mr. Butterfill
  asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to how many tourist information centres there are operating in the United Kingdom; how many operate all year round and how many operate seasonally; and whether there are any plans to open any new centres.

  Mr. Trippier
  There are currently some 455 tourist information centres in the United Kingdom which operate all year round, and a further 336 centres which operate on a seasonal basis. I understand that a number of new centres are likely to open this year, including one at the South Mimms service station on the M25.

  YTS (Keighley)
  Mr. Waller
  asked the Paymaster General how many young people have participated in the YTS in the Keighley travel-to-work area since the scheme's inception.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. It is not possible to identify the Keighley travel-to-work area separately. However in the Bradford local authority district, which includesBradford, Keighley and Ilkley, 13,444 young people have joined YTS since its inception in April 1983.

  Tourism (Weather)
  Mr. Harris
  asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to the strategies being developed by the tourism industry aimed at minimising the effects of the British weather on the level of tourism.

  Mr. Trippier
  Both the English Tourist Board and the British Tourist Authority are giving high priority in their marketing and development strategies to initiatives which encourage all year round tourism. The ETB is able to consider financial assistance under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 to encourage projects which provide all weather tourist facilities and amenities,
  169
  such as indoor resort complexes, all-year-round holiday villages and indoor leisure facilities for all types of tourist accommodation.

  Service Sector Jobs
  Mr. Fisher
  asked the Paymaster General what was the net loss or gain in service sector jobs in 1986.

  Mr. Lee
  Between December 1985 and December 1986 (the latest date for which figures are available) there was a net increase of 328,000 in the number of employees in employment and the self-employed in the service industries in Great Britain.

  YTS (Hotel and Catering)
  Mr. Watts
  asked the Paymaster General how many trainees who have successfully completed the hotel and catering YTS scheme have found jobs in the industry.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Just under 3,500 young people trained in the hotel and catering industry and completed their entitlement to YTS during the last full year, 1985–86. Of these around 36 per cent. were in employment, some three months after leaving with the same employer with whom they trained. In addition, a further 20 per cent. were in employment with a different employer. Some of the latter group may also have been working in parts of the hotel and catering industry.

  Restart
  Mr. Park
  asked the Paymaster General how many people have been called for interview under restart to date; and what percentage have gone on to receive full-time employment as a result.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  By 9 April 1,572,242 people had been called for a Restart interview, of whom 1,285,097 have already attended. We have no means of knowing precisely what proportion have gone on to full time employment as a result. These interviews aim at the selection of the best course open to the individual person from the wide range of employment, training and job-search opportunities available to help that individual return to employment. Of people interviewed, 73 per cent. agreed to pursue the offer made to them at their restart interview.

  Miss Juliet Kent (Wages)
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the outcome of the case by the wages inspectorate for recovery of wages owed to Miss Juliet Kent of Birmingham.

  Mr. Trippier
  Judgement was given in favour of Miss Kent on 10 March 1987. I understand that the sum awarded by the court has not yet been paid.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Paymaster General how many construction workers were employed in the construction industry in Coventry, the west midlands and nationally at the latest available date, in 1983 and in 1979, respectively.
  170
  Mr. Lee
  Estimates for the West Midlands region and Great Britain for the dates in question are :

  Employees in employment in the construction industry.

  West Midlands

  Great Britain

  December 1979

  101,000

  1,207,000

  December 1983

  89,000

  1,026,000

  December 1986

  95,000

  1,007,000

  Employment estimates for areas smaller then the standard economic regions are produced only for dates when censuses of employment are taken. Censuses were taken in September 1981 and September 1984 but the local area estimates from the 1984 census are not yet available.

  Job Sharing Scheme
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Paymaster General what is the number of people per year that have taken advantage of the job sharing scheme in Coventry.

  Mr. Lee
  The new job share scheme was launched on 1 April 1987. Prior to this, the number of approved applications under the job splitting scheme in Coventry was:

  Number

  1983

  5

  1984

  2

  1985

  2

  1986

  2

  Parcels Service
  Mr. Tim Smith
  asked the Paymaster General if he will instruct his enterprise and deregulation unit to conduct an urgent inquiry into the treatment by Government agencies of the express parcels services offered by the Post Office and by private courier concerns in competition; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1987, c. 413] The enterprise and deregulation unit is involved in the discussions referred to by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry, the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mr. Butcher) in his reply to my hon. Friend's related question on 6 May at column 418. I shall write to my hon. Friend on the outcome of these discussions.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Radiation
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations his Department has undertaken into the effect of radiation, from sources other than the Chernobyl disaster, on farming in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jopling
  The Ministry has for many years monitored radioactivity in the terrestrial and aquatic environment relating to major nuclear installations in England and Wales. From January 1986, an enhanced programme of monitoring for radioactivity in agricultural produce in the vicinity of such sites was established. Reports will be published annually.
  171
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for how long he anticipates the radioactive lamb movement ban is likely to continue in force.

  Mr. Jopling
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hereford (Mr. Shepherd) on 27 April at column 67.

  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in how many areas in Cumbria there have been readings of radioactivity on lambs, which have shown an increase recently compared to corresponding readings taken in the autumn and this winter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jopling
  Recent live monitoring of sheep leaving the restricted areas of Cumbria has shown a decrease in radioactivity levels as against autumn and winter readings. We will be keeping a close watch on levels in new season's lambs. However, it is still too early for the effects of consumption of fresh vegetation to be seen.

  Advertisements
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions his Department sponsored advertisements in national newspapers in the last three years; which newspapers were chosen for these campaigns; which local newspapers were used in these campaigns; and which newspaper publishing groups received payment for advertising space.

  Mr. Jopling
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Suckler Cow Premium
  Mr. Bruce
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will increase the suckler cow premium to £33.40 per head at the earliest available opportunity.

  Mr. Jopling
  The agreement reached by the Agriculture Council in December on the reform of the beef regime included provision for an increase in the suckler cow premium, which targets support on the specialist beef sector. Now that the changes to the beef intervention system have come into effect and to enable producers to plan for the opening date of the 1987–88 scheme on 15 June, I am pleased to announce that the rate for the coming scheme year will be increased from £24·74 to £33·40 per head. The detailed arrangements for the scheme will be announced shortly.

  Farm Forestry and Cereals
  Mr. Ashby
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make it his policy to ensure that tenant farmers are consulted and allowed to participate on an equal basis with owner occupiers in any schemes for farm forestry and cereal set asides; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Interests representing tenant farmers were consulted on our proposed farm woodland scheme and will be consulted in the coming months on our proposals for implementing the EC extensification scheme, which we hope will allow us to develop some of our ideas for cereals land diversion. The consultation document on the farm woodland scheme set out two 172
  possible ways in which tenants might participate in the scheme. These and other options will be considered further in the light of the responses to the consultation exercise.

  Agricultural Commodities
  Mr. Jackson
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his reasons for opposing the imposition of quotas on further agricultural commodities within the common agricultural policy.

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

  Cereals
  Mr. Jackson
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his reasons for favouring a cereals land diversion scheme which is voluntary rather than compulsory.

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

  Intervention Butter
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the Council of Ministers approved the extension of regulation 1341/86 to enable intervention butter to be transferred from Germany to Italy; and if the Council was informed regarding the purpose for which such butter was to be used.

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

  New Zealand
  Sir Peter Mills
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's policy on the import of agricultural produce from New Zealand.

  Mr. Jopling
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 563] I assume my hon. Friend is referring to imports of butter from New Zealand on special terms.

  These arrangements derive from Protocol 18 of the United Kingdom Act of Accession to the European Community and from the declaration by Community Heads of Government in March 1975, although the quantities and detailed conditions fall to be determined periodically by the Council of Ministers. The Government support their continuation, because of the importance to New Zealand's economy of access for butter to the United Kingdom market.

  The quantity of butter which may be imported under these special arrangements has been progressively reduced from the initial quantity of 166,000 tonnes set in 1973 to 76,500 tonnes this year. It will be further reduced to 74,000 tonnes in 1988.

  Small Producers
  Sir Peter Mills
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures the Government have taken since 1979 to support small-scale agricultural producers.

  Mr. Jopling
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 565] The Government's agricultural policy generally takes account of the range of agricultural activity in the United

  173
  Kingdom and of the variety of farm size and structure. However, measures introduced by the Government of particular benefit to smaller scale producers include:

  the extension of the less favoured areas in 1984;

  the introduction of, and the recent doubling of resources for environmentally sensitive areas;

  new opportunities for diversification with grant available for ancillary businesses on or adjacent to farms;

  arrangements to restore the milk quota received by producers with less than 200,000 litres of quota to their pre-quota level;

  making direct compensation payments in 1984–85 and 1985–86 to alleviate the effect of the milk co-responsibility levy on small-scale producers;

  obtaining over £3·3 million of EC aid to offset the effect of the cereals co-responsibility levy on small producers;

  reform of capital transfer tax to abolish the tax on capital gifts made between individuals during their lifetime;

  introduction of the agricultural improvement scheme which gives particular benefit to smaller farmers who draw up improvement plans, and provides for a 25 per cent. supplement on capital grants available under the scheme to many young new entrants to farming.

SCOTLAND

  Hospital Pharmacists
  Mr. Kennedy
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the establishment of hospital pharmacists in each health board in Scotland.

  Mr. John MacKay
  Information on the establishment of hospital pharmacists is not collected centrally.

  Colleges of Education (Financial Management Survey)
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on financial management survey relative to colleges of education, indicating what time has been given for consultation and when a final decision will be taken; if he will state the numbers of submissions so far made; and if he will make an interim statement on his conclusions.

  Mr. John MacKay
  I have arranged for copies of this report to be placed in the Library. The survey is one of a series aimed at producing improvements in the management of executive non-departmental public bodies, as part of the Government's financial management initiative.

  The report addresses management issues in the Scottish Education Department and in the colleges, and it has not therefore been issued as a consultative document, although college principals have been consulted on parts relevent to them. The Department shortly will issue an action plan to the colleges indicating the extent to which individual recommendations have been accepted and the suggested timetable for their implementation.

  Ninewells Hospital (Mammography Unit)
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends that a mammography unit should be established at Ninewells hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John MacKay
  Discussions are in progress with Health Boards about the locations of the first two or three centres for breast cancer screening and an announcement will be made once these discussions are complete.

  Stirling University
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been paid in grants by the Scottish Development Agency to Stirling university in each of the past three financial years; and for what projects the grants were given.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is set out in the table:

  Gram (£000)

  Project

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Scottish Graduate Enterprise Scheme

  32

  —

  —

  Small Business Resource Centre

  —

  13

  24·5

  Scottish Graduate Enterprise Scheme

  —

  —

  30·0

  In addition a grant payment of £350,000 was paid to Stirling enterprise park (associated with Stirling university) under the local enterprise grants for urban projects scheme in March 1985.

  AIDS
  Mrs. McCurley
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to announce proposals for a curricular project on AIDS.

  Mr. John MacKay
  We believe teaching designed to avoid the spread of AIDS should be included in the curriculum of every pupil in a way appropriate to the age-groups concerned. To be effective such teaching should be part of a carefully planned programme of health and sex education.

  The most urgent needs are therefore for guidelines within which schools can plan a programme of health and sex education and then for curricular materials on AIDS and related issues which can be used by teachers, with appropriate in-service training, in the contexts such a programme will provide.

  The Scottish Home and Health Department has now agreed to collaborate with Strathclyde regional council on a curricular project designed to meet these needs. The project is modelled on the successful partnership which produced the "Drugwise 12–14" package. It will begin as soon as possible and run to June 1988. A contribution of £50,000 will be made by the Department to the salary costs of the project team, whose remit will be as follows:

  i. to devise, drawing from existing good practice and consulting as appropriate, a general health and social education framework covering all stages of education from pre 5 to 16. The framework should illustrate the sequencing and timing of topics, the approach to be taken to ensure that each stage builds on pupils' previous experience and knowledge, and the need to promote positive attitudes. The framework should show how sensitive issues such as smoking, alcohol, drugs, sexual behaviour and diseases such as AIDS can be dealt with in context. It should take into account the recommendations of the joint Consultative Committee on the Curriculum/Scottish Health Education Group Working party which is considering the provision of health education, including sex education, for the 10–14 age group;

  ii

  (a) to review existing materials relevant to teaching about AIDS, and to draft new materials as necessary; to prepare a programme of piloting and evaluation of such materials and to formulate guidance on the in-service training requirements of teachers expected to work with them. The preparation of materials should take into account the views of interested parties, including the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum, the Scottish Home and Health Department, the Scottish Health Education Group, teaching staff, parents, churches, Health Boards and other education

  175
  authorities. In preparing materials, the team should also take into account the possibility that parents may prefer to tackle certain of these issues directly with their children.

  (b) to devise finally detailed guidance on in-service training and a package of curricular materials for use in the classroom on AIDS and associated issues. The package should be capable of dissemination at national level for use in school health and social education programmes.

  The Department will appoint a broadly based consultative group to ensure that the direction of the project reflects a national consensus of opinion. As with Drugwise the materials which result from the project will be made available throughout Scotland.

  Penal Establishments
  Mr. Pollock
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has made for the future use of penal establishments in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have now completed a detailed review of the use of penal establishments in Scotland in the light of completion of new accommodation at Phase II of Shotts prison and the measures needed to reduce overcrowding in local prisons notably Aberdeen, Barlinnie, Edinburgh and Inverness prisons.

  Because of the Government's capital investment programme, 180 extra places became available last year when Greenock prison re-opened and 468 extra places will be available as Shotts prison phase II is occupied in the second half of this year. Since January 1985, there has been an increase of 40 per cent. in the average daily penal population serving long sentences. This increase, particularly in numbers of adult male prisoners, has put additional pressures on local prisons and on the existing training halls for long-term prisoners at Edinburgh, Perth, Greenock and Shotts prisons. Although additional capacity has been planned, changes in the use of some establishments were essential to match available places more closely to needs for different categories of inmate.

  In the earlier part of this year, urgent temporary measures were taken to reduce the pressure on Barlinnie and other local prisons by making use of under-occupied accommodation for young offenders. One hall at Glenochil YOI was used for this purpose from March and a second hall was taken into use for adult prisoners on a temporary basis from 6 April. With effect from 13 April, Noranside institution, which had been used as an open young offenders' institution, became an adult open prison and now houses just under 100 adult inmates.

  After consultation with the Trade Union Side of the Scottish Prison Service and comments from other interested parties, such as visiting committees for individual establishments, I have decided that the whole of Glenochil YOI should be used on a permanent basis as an adult prison and that Dumfries prison (apart from its local accommodation for remands) and Greenock prison should replace Glenochil as secure young offenders institutions. With the change of use, and the change of use for Noranside which has already taken place, about 300 places in the young offender system will have been transferred to use for adult prisoners. The final timetable, and detailed arrangements for the change of use of Glenochil YOI, Dumfries prison and Greenock prison are now being worked out and will be implemented as quickly as possible from June this year.
  176
  Friarton institution, which is being used for short-term adult prisoners at present, will be retained for adults for the time being. If additional places for convicted young offenders prove to be necessary, we will give further consideration to use of Friarton as a medium security young offenders institution.

  I am satisfied that these measures will substantially reduce recent levels of overcrowding in adult local prisons, provide a more suitable range of facilities and opportunities for long-term adult prisoners and young offenders, and enable essential repairs in older prison halls to proceed sooner than would otherwise be possible. The need for different kinds of accommodation will continue to be carefully monitored in relation to the size and balance of the population of Scottish penal establishments.

  Tourist Board
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the expenditure by the Scottish tourist board for each year since 1983 at home and overseas and also details of total expenditure by area tourist boards and other agencies on promoting tourism in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 43]: Total expenditure by the Scottish tourist board in supporting tourism development was as follows:

  Financial year

  (£ million)

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Domestic

  8·1

  9·8

  8·4

  8·7

  Overseas1

  —

  0·2

  0·3

  0·4

  Total

  8·1

  10·0

  8·7

  9·1

  1 No overseas expenditure in 1983–84.

  Comparable expenditure by area tourist boards, local authorities and the Highlands and Islands Development Board over the same period was as follows:

  Financial year

  (£ million)

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Area Tourist

  Boards1

  2—

  4·7

  5·1

  35·6

  Local

  current

  3·1

  2·8

  3·3

  33·6

  capital

  0·3

  0·2

  0·5

  30·3

  Highlands and Islands

  Development Board

  8·6

  8·2

  8·9

  8·8

  1 Includes financial contributions made by the Scottish Tourist Board, the Highlands and Islands Development Board and local authorities.

  2 1983–84 figures not available: ATB network in process of establishment.

  3 Provisional.

  Figures on expenditure by the British Tourist Authority and the Scottish Development Agency are not available.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Southend Airport (Bus Link)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what response he has had to the representations made to the European Economic Community Commission regarding the refusal of the German authorities to give permission for a bus to operate from Ostend to Frankfurt and link with an air service from Southend airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have asked the Commission to review, as a matter of urgency, under article 14 of Regulation EC 517/72, the Federal Republic of Germany's refusal to authorise a British bus company to run a scheduled service between London and Frankfurt. We await a response from the Commission.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Civil Servants (Wages and Conditions)
  Mr. Flannery
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the impact in Northern Ireland of the campaign by civil servants for improved wages and conditions.

  Mr. Scott
  The campaign of industrial action by Northern Ireland civil servants had its most serious impact during week commencing 13 April when Northern Ireland was affected by the trade union's regional programme of strike action.

  During that week 10 out of 34 social security offices plus two other central benefit offices were closed on Monday to Wednesday. This increased to 33 social security offices being closed on the Thursday and Friday. In addition, a number of Department of Economic Development job markets had to be closed. On the Monday to Wednesday the level of absence on strike action within the selected DHSS Offices was marginally in excess of 80 per cent. On the Thursday and Friday the overall level of absence across all departments was around 35 per cent.

  The major effect of this industrial action in the community was that a significant number of people did not receive their social security benefits during the week in question.

  Alcoholism (Health Funds)
  Mr. John David
  Taylor asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount of public funds from (a) Department of Health and Social Services and (b) the area health boards have been made available each year for the past 10 years to (i) the Northern Ireland Council on Alcohol Ltd., (ii) the Council on Alcohol Related Problems and (iii) the Northland Centre in Londonderry.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Northern Ireland Council on Alcohol

  Council on Alcohol Related Problems

  Northlands

  £

  £

  £

  (a) Funding from the Department of Health and Social Services

  1986–87

  66,426

  22,868

  87,200

  178

  Year

  Northern Ireland Council on Alcohol

  Council on Alcohol Related Problems

  Northlands

  £

  £

  £

  1985–86

  57,950·30

  22,202

  22,500

  1984–85

  55,599

  23,924

  17,000

  1983–84

  139,461

  18,887

  —

  1982–83

  47,168·50

  26,933

  664·50

  1981–82

  43,346

  15,224

  —

  1980–81

  36,350

  11,940

  —

  1979–80

  23,530

  4,000

  —

  1978–79

  15,000

  3,000

  —

  1977–78

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Funding from Health and Social Services Board

  1986–87

  19,428

  —

  45,000

  1985–86

  6,197

  —

  37,000

  1984–85

  8,000

  —

  37,000

  1983–84

  4,500

  508

  36,000

  1982–83

  —

  —

  34,000

  1981–82

  —

  —

  34,000

  1980–81

  —

  —

  30,000

  1979–80

  —

  —

  30,000

  1978–79

  —

  —

  20,000

  1977–78

  —

  —

  15,000

  Terrorism
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the total cost of resisting the terrorist campaign since 1969.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1987, c. 392]: One cannot give any completely reliable figure for the total costs incurred by a number of different Departments and agencies in resisting the terrorist campaign since 1969. However, the following table gives some indication of the scale of expenditure involved:

  Year

  Additional Cost1 of Deploying the Armed Forces in support of the RUC (£'000)

  Expenditure1 by the NIO on Law, Order, Protective and Miscellaneous Services2 5 (£'000)

  1969–70

  1,500

  n/a

  1970–71

  6,500

  n/a

  1971–72

  14,000

  n/a

  1972–73

  29,000

  n/a

  1973–74

  33,000

  n/a

  1974–75

  45,000

  99,529

  1975–76

  60,000

  146,030

  1976–77

  65,000

  165,383

  1977–78

  69,000

  172,536

  1978–79

  81,000

  199,317

  1979–80

  96,000

  240,781

  1980–81

  111,000

  299,696

  1981–82

  3149,000

  334,446

  1982–83

  134,000

  351,177

  1983–84

  141,000

  365,959

  1984–85

  134,000

  394,382

  1985–86

  127,000

  436,333

  1986–87

  150,000

  4480,300

  Notes:

  n/a=not available.

  1 All figures are in actual terms.

  2The LOPMS budget includes expenditure on items (eg civil defence) not directly related to the terrorist campaign, and the bulk of LOPMS expenditure (eg on the RUC and on prisons) does not all arise from the terrorist campaign.

  3The basis for calculating the armed forces additional costs was changed in 1981–82.

  4 This figure is still an estimate.

  5Other Departments (eg the Lord Chancellor's Department and

  179
  the Attorney-General's office) incur expenditure in Northern Ireland which arises from the terrorist campaign and which is not included in this table.

  Police Complaints
  Mr. Archer
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were arrested by the police in Northern Ireland in 1986 under emergency legislation, and under other arrest powers; how many in each category complained whilst in police custody of irregular conduct by police officers during interview procedures; how many of any such complaints in each category were not subsequently pursued by complainants with the Police Complaints Board; and what proportion of those persons were arrested under emergency legislation who alleged irregular conduct by police officers during interview procedures were at the time being interviewed at (a) Castlereagh and (b) Gough police offices, respectively.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1987, c. 536] In 1986, 2,212 people were arrested by the Royal Ulster Constabulary under the emergency legislation; 317 subsequently made allegations about irregular conduct by police officers. Of these, 51·4 per cent. (163) had been interviewed at Castlereagh and 382 per cent. (121) at Gough barracks police offices. The remainder had been interviewed elsewhere.

  During 1986 the Police Complaints Board dealt with 251 cases of complaints by persons arrested under emergency legislation; of these, 196 were subsequently not pursued by the complainants.

  Information requested about persons arrested under other arrest powers is not available in the form requested.

  However, in 1986 the Police Complaints Board received a total of 2,775 complaints; of these 1,111 were withdrawn by the complainants. In addition, during 1986 the board granted 521 requests from the RUC, under regulation 11 of the RUC (Complaints) Regulations 1977, to dispense with the requirements of section 13 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1970 and of article 5(1) and (4) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 as the complaints were anonymous, repetitious or incapable of investigation.

  Housing
  Mr. Mallon
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are on the housing waiting list in the Armagh urban area and Keady urban area.

  Mr. Needham
  [pursuant to his reply,7 May 1987, c. 539]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I understand from the chairman that at 30 April 1987 there were 236 applications on the Housing Executive's waiting list for the Armagh urban area and 53 applications for the Keady area.

  Mr. Mallon
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to how many new houses are to be built in the Armagh urban area and the Keady area in 1987–88 year.

  Mr. Needham
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1987, c. 539]: This is a matter for the Housing Executive in the first instance, but I understand from the chairman that in the 1987–88 financial year the Housing Executive expects to complete 12 houses in the Armagh urban area and plans to start a further 12. No house completions or starts are planned in the Keady area in the same period.

  Beef
  Mr. Mallon
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether Anglo-Irish Beef (International) Ltd., Newry, has applied for grants for 16 to 18-year-olds soon to be employed there; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1987, c. 539]: Anglo-Irish Beef Packers (Newry) Ltd. has discussed the training of young workers aged 17 to 18 with the Department of Economic Development (DED) but have not yet made an application for assistance.

  All employers in Northern Ireland are entitled to apply for assistance towards the training of young employees under the youth training programme work scheme. Before eligible recruits can be taken on the DED must approve the plans made for their training and be satisfied that arrangements will be conducive to good training.

  Strip Searching
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many strip searches were made of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry, in March and April 1987, respectively; if he will give the number of persons involved and the number of times each person was searched; whether any prison contraband, smuggled item or illegal correspondence was discovered in any search, indicating which items; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restrained while the search was being concluded; and if he will indicate the reasons for the search, namely, making an appearance in court on remand and in which court, attending trial, inter-prison visit or other reasons;

  (2) how many strip searches were made of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry, in June 1986; if he will give the number of persons involved and the number of times each person was searched; whether any prison contraband, smuggled items or illegal correspondence was discovered in any search, indicating which items; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restrained while the search was being conducted; and if he will indicate the reasons for the search, namely, making an appearance in court, and in which court, on remand, attending trial, inter-prison visit or other reasons.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, column 568]: The information requested is as follows:

  1986

  1987

  June

  March

  April

  Total number of searches carried out

  36

  33

  49

  Total number of inmates searched

  23

  20

  27

  Number of prisoners searched once

  13

  9

  9

  Number of prisoners searched twice

  8

  9

  15

  Number of prisoners searched three times

  1

  2

  2

  Number of prisoners searched four times

  1

  —

  1

  First admission on remand/awaiting trial

  7

  2

  8

  First admission on sentence/final discharge

  18

  17

  25

  Attending Antrim remand court

  —

  —

  1

  Attending Armagh remand court

  —

  —

  1

  Attending Belfast remand court

  —

  6

  2

  Attending Larne remand court

  —

  1

  —

  Attending Newtownards remand court

  —

  2

  —

  Attending trial

  1

  —

  —

  Attending appeal

  —

  1

  1

  Bail court appearances

  5

  2

  7

  Going on or returning from home leave

  —

  2

  2

  Compassionate home leave

  4

  —

  —

  Inter-prison visits

  1

  —

  2

  181
  No prohibited article was found during these searches and no prisoner refused to be searched.

  Police Federation
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why he has not consulted the Northern Ireland Police Federation about measures to enhance security in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is now taking to respond to the 13 point proposals on this and related matters made recently to his Department and the Chief Constable by the secretary of the federation.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 568]: I am in regular contact with the federation and am aware of its views on a wide range of issues, including security policy. As I explained in the House on 6 May, at column 810, there is a distinction between Ministers listening to the federation's views on general security policy matters and the federation seeking to involve Ministers in operational judgments and decisions. Concerns of an operational nature must properly be passed through the Royal Ulster Constabulary chain of command to the Chief Constable using the normal management and consultation structures that exist for that purpose.

  I have not received the document to which my hon. Friend referred; but I understand that the Chief Constable
  182
  will be replying in due course to a letter about law and order issues which the federation's secretary sent to him on 24 April.

  Birds (EEC Directive)
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for Northern Ireland those sites which have been identified as meeting the criteria for designation under the EEC birds directive as special protection areas and under the Ramsar convention; when these sites will be designated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 27]: No sites have been identified as meeting the criteria for designation under the EC wild birds directive as special protection areas; survey and assessment of sites likely to meet the criteria is ongoing in association with an extensive survey of sites of scientific interest being undertaken by the Department.

  Under the Ramsar convention, parts of Lough Foyle and Strangford Lough meet the required criteria; designation will be considered following their designation as areas of special scientific interest. Lough Neagh and Lough Beg are already listed as Ramsar sites.

  RoSPA: ROAD SAFETY WORK AGREEMENT
  RoSPA: ROAD SAFETY WORK AGREEMENT
  CAYMAN ISLANDS: IMPORTATION OF WILD SEA TURTLES
  CAYMAN ISLANDS: IMPORTATION OF WILD SEA TURTLES
  WANDSWORTH: LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSING SALES
  WANDSWORTH: LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSING SALES
  LONGFORD RIVER: CONSERVATION MEASURES
  LONGFORD RIVER: CONSERVATION MEASURES
  NORTHERN IRELAND (EMERGENCY PROVISIONS) ACT 1978: REFUSAL OF CERTIFICATES
  NORTHERN IRELAND (EMERGENCY PROVISIONS) ACT 1978: REFUSAL OF CERTIFICATES
  RIVER YEO: PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT SCHEME
  RIVER YEO: PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT SCHEME