Written Answers of 14 May 1987

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  St. Helena (Pianos)
  Dr. Marek
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many pianos in reasonably good playable condition are available to the education service on St. Helena; and in which schools they are placed.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Eight pianos in good condition, including six electronic ones, are in the following schools:

  Country Senior

  Pilling Senior

  Secondary Selective

  Longwood Junior

  Jamestown Junior

  Half Tree Hollow

  Sandy Bay

  Country Junior

  "Britain and Africa's Development"
  Dr. Owen
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much it cost to produce the booklet "Britain and Africa's Development"; how many copies have been printed; and at what cost.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Eight hundred copies of my address "Britain and Africa's Development" to the Royal Commonwealth Society were reproduced in the Overseas Development Administration at a total cost of £208·34.

  "British Aid"
  Dr. Owen
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much it cost to produce the booklet "British Aid" by the Overseas Development Administration; how many copies have been printed; and at what cost.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  It cost £20,760 to produce 30,000 copies of the booklet "British Aid".

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Naturalisation
  Mr. Beith
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the changes in the fee charged for naturalisation of an alien since 1975 indicating what proportion of the costs of the scheme were intended to be borne by the changes at each stage at which they were increased.

  Mr. Hurd
  The changes in the fee charged for naturalisation since 1975 are as follows:

  Naturalisation Fees: Changes

  Date

  £

  April 1975

  40

  October 1976

  70

  March 1978

  85

  276

  Date

  £

  April 1979

  90

  April 1980

  150

  April 1982

  200

  April 1984

  160

  April 1986

  170

  A separate fee of £70 was charged for the naturalisation of the spouse of a British citizen from January 1983. The changes in this fee since then were as follows:

  Naturalisation Fees: Spouse of British Citizen

  Date

  £

  April 1984

  55

  April 1986

  60

  In the years up to 1980 the fees charged were forecast to recover about 50 per cent. of the costs of dealing with the application. From 1982, fee levels have been set to recover the full cost of processing successful applications.

  Immigration
  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas have been issued in (a) Ghana, (b) Bangladesh, (c) India, (d) Pakistan and (e) Nigeria since the scheme began; and how many of these were issued without an interview.

  Mr. Hurd
  The information available centrally, which does not include separate figures on those visas granted without interview, is given in the following table:

  Applications granted for visas to the United Kingdom1

  Number of persons

  Ghana

  1986 October2 to December

  2,890

  1987 January, February

  1,260

  Bangladesh

  1986 October3 to December

  2,920

  1987 January to March

  2,610

  India

  1986 October3 to December

  20,130

  1987 January to March

  16,570

  Pakistan

  1986 October3 to December

  11,540

  1987 January to March

  10,530

  Nigeria

  1987 February

  42,600

  1 For settlement or temporary purposes.

  2 Including applications granted for entry clearance in the period 1 to 22 October 1986.

  3 Including applications granted for entry clearance in the period 1 to 14 October 1986.

  4 Provisional figure.

  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the immigration status on arrival in the United Kingdom of all those (a) granted refugee status on asylum and (b) refused it over the latest 12-month period.

  Mr. Hurd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to a question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison) on 16 March, at column 360. The hon. Member may like to

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  know that the annual statistical bulletin on refugee statistics for the calendar year 1986 is being published on 19 May.

  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) visitors and (b) business

  Ordinary visitors and business visitors admitted to the United Kingdom between October 1986 and January 1987

  Number

  Nationality

  October 1986

  November 1986

  December 1986

  January 1987

  Ordinary visitors

  Business visitors

  Ordinary visitors

  Business visitors

  Ordinary visitors

  Business visitors

  Ordinary visitors

  Business visitors

  Bangladesh

  850

  170

  500

  150

  510

  110

  400

  90

  Ghana

  1,290

  570

  810

  570

  970

  370

  680

  460

  India

  8,520

  2,780

  5,450

  2,490

  4,730

  1,480

  3,730

  1,950

  Nigeria

  5,670

  3,330

  3,480

  2,820

  4,400

  1,820

  3,500

  1,850

  Pakistan

  4,340

  1,050

  2,610

  930

  3,090

  690

  2,130

  780

  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (i) visitors and (ii) business visitors (a) applied for visas, (b) were granted visas, (c) were refused visas and (d) had their applications referred for further consideration at each of the British posts in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana for each month since October 1986.

  Mr. Hurd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 22 April 1987 at columns 521–29. Separate information for ordinary visitors and business visitors is not available. The other information requested which is available centrally is given in the following table.

  Applications for a visit visa to the United Kingdom

  Number of persons

  Applications

  1Newly received

  2Granted

  Refused initially

  3Deferred

  Dhaka

  1987 March

  680

  490

  160

  30

  Bombay

  1987 March

  3,080

  2,830

  50

  20

  New Delhi

  1987 March

  2,730

  2,230

  210

  60

  Calcutta

  1986 October4

  500

  500

  +

  10

  November

  350

  340

  +

  +

  December

  260

  250

  -

  10

  1987 January

  270

  270

  +

  -

  February

  290

  280

  +

  20

  March

  480

  470

  +

  10

  Madras

  1986 October4

  590

  580

  +

  10

  November

  450

  420

  10

  10

  December

  320

  290

  10

  +

  1987 January

  310

  300

  +

  +

  February

  420

  380

  10

  +

  March

  850

  810

  20

  -

  Islamabad

  1987 March

  2,650

  1,980

  250

  190

  Karachi

  1987 March

  1,870

  1,700

  180

  40

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  visitors were admitted to the United Kingdom from (i) India, (ii) Bangladesh, (iii) Pakistan, (iv) Ghana and (v) Nigeria in each month since October 1986.

  Mr. Hurd
  The latest available information is given in the following table:

  Applications

  1 Newly received

  2 Granted

  Refused initially

  3Deferred

  Kaduna

  1987 March

  1,780

  1,600

  40

  ..

  Accra

  1987 February

  880

  580

  220

  ..

  ..Not available. +5 or fewer.

  1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn.

  2 Including applications granted on appeal.

  3 Including applications referred to the Home Office for decision.

  4 Including applications for entry clearance in the period 1 to 14 October 1986.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on crime prevention by each police authority for each year from 1979 to 1986; and what these amounts represent as a proportion of each police authority's expenditure.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Police (Hours of Work)
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average number of hours worked each week by police officers for each police authority; and what is the average number of hours overtime worked each week by police officers for each police authority.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Federated ranks in the police service are required to work eight hours per day with two rest days in seven. Information on the number of hours worked by police officers and the number of hours overtime worked by police officers is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Police Officers
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were employed in the United Kingdom in each year from 1979 to the most recent year for which figures are available; and what estimate he has of the number currently employed.
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  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is as follows:

  Police officer strength: United Kingdom

  Position on 31 December

  Numbers

  1979

  133,165

  1980

  137,619

  1981

  140,103

  1982

  141,881

  1983

  142,214

  1984

  141,925

  1985

  142,265

  1986

  143,212

  31 March

  1987

  143,908

  Community Police Officers
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many designated community police officers are employed by each police authority; and what proportion of the total number of police officers this represents in each police force.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I regret that this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Overseas Voters
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) to which branches of the organisation known as Conservatives Abroad overseas registration documents have been supplied;

  (2) by whom the review of the need for guidance on the distribution methods of overseas electors' declaration forms referred to in his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West on 22 April, Official Report, column 531, is being carried out.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 548]: I regret that my original reply was incomplete. The full reply is as follows.

  Overseas electors' declaration forms were distributed widely by our diplomatic missions. Information is not available centrally on all the bodies which received copies of the forms, but in practice missions would have supplied copies to anybody, including a branch of Conservatives Abroad, which requested them.

  The need for guidance on the methods of distribution was considered jointly by this Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued guidance on 5 May on the lines indicated in my answer of 22 April at column 531.

  Italian Nationals
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to seek further information from Italian police regarding members of an organisation responsible for bombings in Bologna who are resident in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  [pursuant to his reply, 23 February 1987, c. 36]I shall write to my hon. Friend.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Civil Actions (Northern Ireland)
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  asked the Attorney-General why it is intended to abolish the right to trial by jury in civil action cases in Northern Ireland; what representations he has received from the Northern Ireland Bar, and elsewhere, for and against such abolition; when he proposes to proceed with the requisite regulations under the Judicature Act 1978; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  In January this year it was announced that the Lord Chancellor had concluded that there was no compelling reason why Northern Ireland should differ from England and Wales in the use of juries in personal injury actions. This decision was reached at the conclusion of a review during which submissions from known interested parties, including the Northern Ireland Bar, were considered. The Lord Chancellor indicated that he proposed to bring forward legislation to give effect to this decision and a draft order (The Jury Trial (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1987) was laid in the House on 11 May 1987. As a result of the curtailment of the parliamentary timetable the order will not be reached before the dissolution of this Parliament.

  Lord Rothschild
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the interim report from the Metropolitan police on Lord Rothschild.

  The Attorney-General
  I have discussed the case with the Director of Public Prosecutions. He is considering the interim report and may need to request the police to make certain further inquiries.

PRIME MINISTER

  Scottish Development Agency
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Prime Minister what conclusion she has drawn from the recent performance of the Scottish Development Agency as to the appropirate role of the state in the Scottish economy; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Since 1979 the Scottish Development Agency has become widely accepted as one of the most effective development agencies in Europe. The agency is committed to working with the grain of the market, encouraging entrepreneurship and private sector initiatives. This approach to economic development is fully in line with the Government's philosophy, and it will continue of offer substantial benefits for Scotland. The work of the agency was commended by the review carried out and published last year. A copy of the report was placed in the Library.

  Engagements
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Prime Minster if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 14 May.

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

  Public Expenditure
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  asked the Prime Minister if she will publish a table or tables listing the identifiable public expenditure per capita for (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Wales, for each of the last years for which figures are available, giving a separate breakdown for housing, health, education, social services, tourism, transport, roads, industrial support, local government, special employment measures, fire and emergency services, police and prisons.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) to my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Fallon) on 16 December 1986, at columns 488–498. More detailed figures are not readily available. Figures for local authority expenditure

  (£ Million)

  Area

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  11986–87

  North East

  123·0

  107·0

  101·1

  109·7

  91·4

  68·8

  61·6

  46·4

  89·8

  North West

  76·5

  74·1

  122·2

  177·5

  133·1

  115·5

  107·4

  83·0

  113·7

  Yorkshire & Humberside

  30·2

  21·5

  38·7

  47·1

  36·4

  23·5

  26·8

  24·2

  27·2

  East Midlands

  2·3

  2·4

  3·2

  7·2

  8·8

  8·2

  3·8

  4·4

  8·4

  West Midlands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South West

  6·0

  5·0

  8·5

  10·3

  11·0

  7·8

  9·5

  8·6

  14·6

  Scotland

  107·3

  70·2

  133·3

  142·7

  287·3

  143·0

  109·2

  107·5

  170·0

  Wales

  71·5

  50·7

  103·5

  122·2

  121·5

  72·1

  92·7

  84·4

  88·9

  Great Britain Total

  416·8

  330·9

  490·5

  616·7

  689·5

  438·9

  411·0

  358·5

  512·6

  1Figures for 1986–87 are provisional.

  Provision for expenditure on regional development grants for financial years 1987–88 to 1989–90, as set out in the Supply Estimates for 1987–88 and as incorporated in the public expenditure White Paper for later years, is as follows1

  £ millions

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  England2

  105·0

  90·0

  100·0

  Scotland

  67·0

  57·0

  65·0

  Wales

  32·0

  26·7

  27·3

  Great Britain Total

  204·0

  173·7

  192·3

  1 The figures for future years are net of recoveries but gross of European Community receipts. The figures for past years are for gross payments made.

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

  The projected fall in expenditure between 1986–87 and 1987–88 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.

ENVIRONMENT

  Community Charge
  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the likely level of the community charge in the London borough of Wandsworth; and if he will make a statement.
  282
  in Great Britain by territory were published in table 4.1 of the 1987 public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 56, volume II).

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Regional Development Grant
  Mr. John Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the expenditure on regional development grant in each region of England Scotland and Wales for each year from 1978–79 to 1986–87; and what expenditure is planned on regional development grants in each of the regions of England, Scotland and Wales in each of the years from 1987–88 to 1989–90.

  Mr. Giles Shaw
  Payments of grant from 1978–79 to 1986–87 were as follows:

  Mr. Chope
  If the new system had been introduced in full in 1986–87, the community change in respect of Wandsworth borough council's own services would have been £59. There would have been an additional £27 for miscellaneous services, including the Metropolitan police, and £311 for expenditure by the Inner London education authority. The total community charge would have been £397. All these figures are inevitably highly speculative. By the time the community charge is introduced in 1990–91 each authority may spend more—or less—than it did in 1986–87. There will be plenty of scope for ILEA in particular to reduce its expenditure before 1990. If, in 1986–87, it had spent at the Government's assessment of its need to spend, instead of what it actually spent, ILEA's community charge would have been only £65, and the total community charge in Wandsworth only £157.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many a) council houses and (b) council flats have been sold by each local authority in each year from 1981 to 1986.

  Mr. Tracey
  A table showing the available information for financial years will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. A. Jamieson of his council home at 8 Spring Hill Close, Champion Hill, London SE5;
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  (2) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. and Mrs. Wellbrook of their council house at 11 Sunray Avenue, London, SE24;

  (3) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mrs. H. Maher of her council home at 11 Priory Court, Cheltenham Road, London, SE15.

  Mr. Tracey
  I understand that the tenants mentioned are among many who have met delay in exercising the right to buy their homes from Southwark borough council. The Department is discussing with the council the reasons for the delays and its proposals for dealing with them.

  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses and flats, sold since 1979, have been repossessed because the owners could not afford the mortgage repayments.

  Mr. Tracey
  The available information on properties taken into possession by building societies and local authorities does not distinguish former council dwellings from other housing.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money each local authority received in capital receipts in each year from 1981 to 1986; and how much money each local authority has in the form of accumulated capital receipts at present.

  Mr. Chope
  I have today placed in the Library a table showing for each local authority and in total(a) for each financial year from 1981–82 to 1985–86 the amount authorities have reported they have received from disposals of fixed assets, repayments of grants and advances, and capital receipts by virtue of regulations made under section 75(5) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and (b) the amount of accumulated capital receipts at the end of 1985–86 which could be converted into cash. Figures for capital receipts in 1986–87 or accumulated receipts at the end of that year are not yet available.

  Acidic Environment
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the details supplied to date by his Department, concerning estimates of future energy demand and fuel mix required, as input to the individual studies comprising the Fellowship of Engineering's project entitled, "Acidic Emissions: Study of Combustion Processes and Abatement Technologies"; and if he will outline progress with the project and the results which have so far been produced.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Estimates of future energy demand and fuel mix have not been required for any of the individual studies within the fellowship's project and none have been suplied by the Department. The final report is due to be submitted by 31 March 1988, but good progress by the fellowship means that the detailed technical and economic assessment of abatement technologies will probably be available earlier.

  Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding
  Sir Kenneth Lewis
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the public support for
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  a statute of Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding, as well as support from within the House of Commons itself, he will now give consideration to erecting such a statue.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend will give favourable and urgent consideration to the application under the Public Statues (Metropolis) Act 1854 which has just been submitted.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Duffy
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has made of the effect of the poll tax in the city of Sheffield on a family of two in (a) a terraced house with a rateable value of £120, (b) a semi-detached house with a rateable value of £200 and (c) a detached house with a rateable value of £400;

  (2) what estimate he has made of the effect of a poll tax on an average family of four in the city of Sheffield.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have proposals for a community charge and not a poll tax.

  Illustrative figures were placed in the Library on 1 April showing the community charge figure in each area if the system had been fully in operation in 1986–87, and on the basis of expenditure and grant figures applicable to that year. On these assumptions, the community charge in Sheffield would have been £322. It would have been only £170 if spending had been in accordance with our assessment of need to spend, instead of what was actually spent.

  The average domestic rate bill in Sheffield in 1986–87, using adjusted poundages, was £450 per hereditament. On the same basis, houses with rateable values of £120, £200 and £400 would have had rate bills of £397, £662 and £1,325 respectively.

  Empty Houses and Rent Arrears
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many flats and houses owned by local authorities were vacant at the latest available date; and what were the rent arrears of the same authorities for the last convenient financial year.

  Mr. John Patten
  Estimates derived from English local authorities' housing investment programme returns showed that there were 113,300 vacant local authority dwellings at 1 April 1986, including 1,700 which were closed awaiting demolition. Based on figures supplied to the Department by English local authorities in their housing subsidy claim forms, cumulative rent arrears at 1 April 1986 amounted to £211 million.

  Construction Industry (Symposium)
  Mr. Weetch
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the forthcoming international symposium on the organisation and management of construction organised by the Chartered Institute of Building due to be held between 7 and 10 September; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  My predecessor, the hon. Member for Eastbourne, (Mr. Gow) gave his support to the Chartered Institute of Building's successful application to hold this international symposium in London. I subsequently agreed to give the opening address. I am sure that the
  285
  symposium, which is addressing issues of particular interest to the United Kingdom construction industry, will be an enormous success.

  House Building
  Mr. Hardy
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses are currently under construction; and how this number compares with the position in May 1979.

  Mr. Tracey
  I shall answer this question shortly.

  Mr. Leighton
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the public sector building houses to rent.

  Mr. Tracey
  The aim of the Government is to encourage the maximum provision of rented housing outside the public sector. Local authorities should target their own provision more closely on those in greatest housing need.

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

  Mr. John Patten
  Shortly.

  Coventry

  West Midlands

  England

  No.

  Percentage of stock

  No.

  Percentage of stock

  No.

  Percentage of stock

  Unfit dwellings

  944

  0·8

  103,800

  5·2

  654,000

  3·5

  Dwellings fit but lacking basic amenities

  4,935

  4·1

  64,100

  3·2

  501,000

  2·7

  Non-standard dwellings in need of renovation1

  4,182

  3·5

  308,500

  15·4

  2,890,000

  15·4

  1 Dwellings requiring repairs estimated at more than £3,000 (£4,200 in Greater London).

  Pressurised Water Reactors
  Mr. Speller
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 6 May, Official Report, columns 713–4, what information he has on the area required for a pressurised water reactor installation similar in size to that which was the subject of the Sizewell inquiry, and on whether such a unit would fit on to the existing site at Hinkley Point.

  Mr. Goodlad
  I have been asked to reply.

  Plans of Sizewell B were submitted by the Central Electricity Generating Board in its application for consent to construct the station. This, together with considerable further evidence on the site, was given to the inquiry held by Sir Frank Layfield. The area required for permanent operational works is about 40 acres.

  It is for the CEGB to consider the suitability of a site for the construction of a power station before making an application for consent to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State. My right hon. Friend has not yet received an application for consent to build a pressurised water reactor at Hinkley Point.

  Rates
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the law relating to the effect on the rateable value of homes of installing central heating; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  We intend to abolish domestic rates starting in 1990. This will sweep away all the anomalies of the present rating system including those associated with the installation of central heating systems since 1974. I trust that we shall have the hon. Member's support.

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

  Mr. Tracey
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1987]: Local authorities are asked for these figures in their annual housing investment programme returns; the figures are not necessarily comparable as authorities' criteria differ and they are not consistent with national estimates from the English house condition survey of 1981.

  The figures provided by Coventry and estimates for the west midlands and for England, including allowance for any missing returns, are as follows:

THE ARTS

  Attenborough Report
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  asked the Minister for the Arts what is his policy towards the recommendation of the Attenborough report on access to the arts for the disabled, a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. Luce
  Many of the Attenborough recommendations have been acted upon. The Arts Council and other funding bodies have issued codes of practice; in addition, the Arts Council has appointed a full-time disability officer. I am satisfied that the arts bodies for which I am responsible are fully aware of the needs and aspirations of disabled people, and are doing all that they can in their support.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Ships' Stores (Duty)
  Mr. William Powell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision he intends to make to relieve from duty stores imported for use by ships lying in United Kingdom ports; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Lawson
  There is already adequate provision for stores to be shipped free of duty direct from the United Kingdom. However, it is the Government's intention to introduce legislation as early as possible in the next Parliament which will enable imported stores to be transhipped in the United Kingdom without payment of duty and tax. Provision will also be made for customs duty to be relieved on certain imported stores consumed in port prior to departure.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Pollock
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the availability of capital gains tax rollover relief for oil licence gains.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  For a number of years the Inland Revenue has proceeded on the basis that the present law does not allow capital gains tax rollover relief in respect of gains on the disposal of any oil licence interests. A recent decision of the special commissioners indicates that this understanding of existing law was incorrect, and that an oil licence may be a qualifying asset for rollover relief purposes. The Government propose, as early as possible in the next Parliament, to bring forward legislation with retrospective effect to make clear that this relief is not in fact available for oil licence gains.

  ECOFIN
  Mr. Rowe
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Community's Economic and Finance Council met in Brussels on 11 May. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council discussed the Commission's proposals for the future financing of the Community. I made clear our view that ways must be found of controlling Community expenditure, on agriculture and other programmes, before it was appropriate even to consider possible increases in own resources, and that any changes in the Fontainebleau abatement system would have to be for the better. The Council will resume discussion at its June meeting.

  The Council also considered the budgetary situation in the current year. I suggested that the anticipated expenditure overrun be financed by use of headroom within the 1·4 per cent. VAT ceiling, by savings in the 1987 agricultural price fixing and by a switch from advances to reimbursement of agricultural guarantee expenditure. I

  Distribution of Total Income 1987–88 for Higher Rate Tax Payers1

  Range of total income Lower limit

  Total number of incomes

  Number of incomes with investment income

  Number of incomes with mortgage interest relief

  Total number of incomes

  Number of incomes with investment income

  Number of incomes with mortgage interest relief

  (£ pa)

  ('000s)

  ('000s)

  ('000s)

  ('000s)

  ('000s)

  ('000s)

  Single people

  Married couples without wife's earnings

  20,000

  65

  45

  15

  60

  40

  20

  25,000

  55

  40

  20

  100

  75

  70

  30,000

  25

  20

  10

  50

  40

  30

  35,000

  10

  10

  5

  35

  30

  20

  40,000

  20

  20

  10

  45

  40

  30

  50,000

  25

  20

  10

  55

  45

  30

  288
  made clear the United Kingdom's firm opposition to supplementary financing through an intergovernmental agreement.

  The Council had a first discussion on the Commission's proposals on financial engineering and the financing of large scale infrastructure projects of European interest. The topic was referred without commitment to officials for further consideration.

  The Council agreed in principle by qualified majority, pending discussion with the European Parliament at its June meeting, on a reference framework for the 1988 Community budget of 36·6 billion ecu (about £25·5 billion at current exchange rates) in accordance with the budgetary discipline conclusions of December 1984. The framework provides for expenditure on agricultural market support and non-obligatory expenditure to be kept within the budget discipline guideline limit, now adjusted to cover expenditure in Spain and Portugal, and the maximum rate of increase as laid down in the treaty respectively. In respect of the agricultural guideline, the Council noted that it might be necessary to take exceptional circumstances into consideration in due course in accordance with article 2 of the Council's December 1984 budget discipline conclusions.

  The Council discussed a draft directive on credit and suretyship insurance, and agreed to refer it back to permanent representatives for further work.

  Following discussion at its March meeting, the Council received a report from the Commission on the financial effects for Spain and Portugal of the Council's decision to delay reimbursement to member states of losses incurred on the disposal of butter stocks. The Council asked permanent representatives to examine the Commission's report with a view to possible discussion at a fu lure meeting of the Council.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his reply dated 6 April, Official Report, column 74, showing the average unearned income and average amount of mortgage interest relief in each income band at higher rates, he will publish in the Official Report the number of incomes in each of these two categories in the same detail.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1987]: Information is given in the tables. The estimates are based on a projection from the 1984–85 survey of personal incomes and are therefore provisional.
  289

  Range of total income Lower limit

  Total number of incomes

  Number of incomes with investment income

  Number of incomes with mortgage interest relief

  Total number of incomes

  Number of incomes with investment income

  Number of incomes with mortgage interest relief

  (£ pa

  ('000s)

  ('000s).

  ('000s)

  ('000s)

  ('000s)

  ('000s)

  Two-earner married couples

  Without a wife's earnings election

  With a wife's earnings election

  20,000

  55

  40

  15

  0

  0

  0

  25,000

  225

  175

  150

  50

  35

  25

  30,000

  90

  80

  70

  110

  80

  75

  35,000

  40

  35

  30

  70

  55

  50

  40,000

  30

  30

  20

  50

  45

  30

  50,000

  30

  30

  20

  50

  45

  30

  1 Includes some 130,000 tax units that are taken out of higher rate tax following the wife's earnings election.

  Private Schools (Charitable Status)
  Mr. Radice
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax revenue it is estimated his Department loses as a result of the charitable status enjoyed by private schools.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  to his reply, 13 May 1987]: I regret that the information is not available.

  Mr. D. P. Morris
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth might receive a reply to his letter dated 4 April referring to Mr. D. P. Morris of Jully and Barber Ltd., Rugby.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have today replied to my hon. Friend's letter of April 8 concerning Jully and Barber.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chieftain Tanks (Iran)
  Mr. Best
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the West German Government about the supply to Iran by MAN of Germany of replacement power packs for Chieftain tanks supplied by the United Kingdom before the Iran-Iraq war; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  We are not aware of this specific proposal, but if my hon. Friend would care to pass on to me any details he may have, we would be happy to raise the matter with the Federal German authorities. As recorded in my answer to my hon. Friend on 9 December 1986, we have in the past raised with the FRG the supply of Chieftain tank engines to Iran, and it is our understanding that their policy of neutrality in the conflict does not permit the export of goods for military use to areas of tension.

  Advertisements
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. Eggar
  The diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have sponsored advertisements in national newspapers on 216 occasions during the three years to 31 March 1987. The majority of these advertisements were for recruitment purposes.
  290
  The national and local newspapers in which advertisements were placed during this period are:

  National

  The Daily Express

  The Daily Mail

  The Daily Telegraph

  The Financial Times

  The Guardian

  The Independent

  The Sun

  The Observer

  The Sunday Times

  Local

  Adur Heral

  Aylesbury and Wendover Times

  Bedfordshire Times

  Belfast Telegraph

  Birmingham Evening Mail

  Brighton Evening Argus

  Buckingham Advertiser

  Buckingham Herald

  Bucks and Herts News

  Citizen

  Croydon Advertiser

  Edinburgh Evening News

  Glasgow Herald

  Herald

  Kent and Sussex Courier

  Liverpool Echo

  London Evening Standard

  Manchester Evening News

  Mid Sussex Times

  Milton Keynes Gazette

  Milton Keynes Mirror

  Milton Keynes Standard

  Newcastle Evening Chronicle

  Newport Pagnell and Olney Standard

  Northampton Chronicle and Echo

  Post

  Scotsman

  South Wales Echo

  Sussex Express and County Herald

  West Sussex Gazette

  Yorkshire Evening News

  The following newspaper publishing groups received paid advertising space as a result of this newspaper advertising:

  Associated Newspapers Group Plc.

  Bedfordshire Times Group

  Birmingham Post and Mail Ltd.

  Bucks and Herts Newspaper Group

  Chiltern Newspapers

  Courier and Printing Publishing Company

  Daily Telegraph Plc.

  Croydon Advertising Group

  EMAP Provincial News Ltd.

  Fleet Holdings

  George Outram and Company Ltd.

  Guardian and Manchester Evening News Plc.

  Herald Newspaper Group

  291

  Hillingdon and South Bucks Newspaper Group

  International Thompson Organisation

  Liverpool Daily Post and Echo Plc.

  Lonrho Plc.

  Mid Sussex Times Group

  News Corporation

  Newspaper Publishing Plc.

  Pearson Plc.

  Post Newspaper Group

  United Newspaper Group

  United Newspaper Plc.

  Westminster Press Limited

  Worthing Gazette and Herald Group

  Iraqi Pilots (Training)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the training of Iraqi pilots at Kidlington, including (a) the number of Iraqi pilots currently at Kidlington, (b) whether their training is intended to equip them as military or civilian pilots, and (c) whether and on what basis his Department is satisfied that the skills acquired in the United Kingdom will not be used in the war against Iran.

  Mr. Renton
  We do not have details of the number of foreign students, including Iraqis, currently training at the privately owned and run Oxford air training school at Kidlington. We are aware, however, that the training leads to civilian pilots licences, both private and commercial, and we understand that the skills obtained cannot of themselves be used in an offensive role.

  Residence Re-entry Visas
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis the cost of residence re-entry visas to the United Kingdom is calculated; and what information he has as to how this figure compares with the fee charged by other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

  Mr. Eggar
  "Visa exempt" stamps issued in the United Kingdom and "returning resident" visas issued overseas to nationals of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana are issued free of charge. For other visa nationals residence re-entry visas issued in the United Kingdom and returning resident visas issued overseas cost £20 for a single entry visa and £40 for a multiple entry visa. These are the United Kingdom's standard worldwide charge for all short-term and multiple entry visas. They are calculated on the basis that income from fees should as much as possible offset the costs of the entry clearance operation. Details of comparative fees charged by other OECD member states are not available centrally.

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Murphy
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the level of support in the United Kingdom for the work of the Council of Europe in terms of publicity.

  Mr. Eggar
  Publicising the work of the Council of Europe in member states is the responsibility of the council's directorate of press and information.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Murphy
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the level of support in the United Kingdom for the work of the Western European Union in terms of publicity.

  Mr. Eggar
  The WEU Secretary General has responsibility for publicising Western European Union activities. British Ministers keep Parliament and the public informed on a regular basis. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) on 30 April at column 197.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Meadowcroft
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what stage the discussion and negotiations with the People's Republic of China have reached with regard to the Fugitive Offenders Act (Hong Kong) Order 1967;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the timetable for enacting legislation with regard to the Fugitive Offenders Act (Hong Kong) Order 1967;

  (3) what is his intention regarding the application of safeguards embodied in the Fugitive Offenders Act (Hong Kong) Order after the termination of British sovereignty and jurisdiction;

  (4) what safeguards will be contained within the terms of Fugitive Offenders Act, disregarding the external relations provisions of section 2.2 (a), after the termination of British sovereignty and jurisdiction over Hong Kong;

  (5) what information he has as to what amendments to the People's Republic of China constitution halve been agreed in order that for the purposes of extradition Hong Kong will not be deemed a colony of the People's Republic of China;

  (6) whether the safeguards embodied in the Fugitive Offenders Act (Hong Kong) Order will be formalised in treaty form with the People's Republic of China;

  (7) what guarantees have been agreed on behalf of the new sovereign power regarding post-custodial treatment of any person extradited to Hong Kong under the provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act;

  (8) whether the localisation of all legislation that is presently derived from the United Kingdom includes power to amend the Fugitive Offenders Act (Hong Kong) Order prior to 1997;

  (9) what information he has as to whether the proposed amendment to the constitution of the People's Republic of China is to include a reference to the speciality principle.

  Mr. Renton
  The arrangements currently in force in respect of Hong Kong as regards the return of fugitive offenders to and from the territory cannot subsist in their present form, beyond the resumption by China of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997. We are considering what action would be appropriate to ensure that suitable arrangements can continue in force in respect of Hong Kong after that date. The continuity after 1997 of such arrangements affecting Hong Kong will require consultation with the Chinese Government.

  Entry Clearance Applications
  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the income per month from entry clearance applications for each post in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana since October 1986.

  Mr. Eggar
  Receipts from entry clearance fees at posts in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana are as follows. Figures currently available centrally relate only to the final quarter of 1986.

  Pounds Sterling (to the nearest £50)

  New Delhi

  136,150

  Bombay

  194,650

  Calcutta

  32,100

  Madras

  25,650

  Islamabad

  147,650

  Karachi

  154,200

  Dhaka

  611,350

  Lagos

  102,550

  Kaduna

  30,550

  Accra

  72,100

  Total

  1,506,950

  Sellafield
  Mr. D. E. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the decision in the Energy, Research and Technology Committee of the European Parliament on 29 April to initiate proceedings against the European Commission in the European Court over the apparent refusal of Euratom to release to the European Parliament specific safeguards documentation on the Magnox reprocessing line at Sellafield.

  Mr. Renton
  Although its meeting on 29 April was held in camera, the Committee has for some time sought full details of the arrangements, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy on 4 June 1986, between the Commission and the United Kingdom authorities on the implementation of Euratom safeguards at Sellafield.

  I understand that the Commission had refused to release these details on the grounds that the information is, like all such arrangements, confidential, and that as a result the Committee is considering taking action in the European Court against the Commission.

  Graduates in foreign languages

  Thousands

  1976

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  University (Great Britain)—Year of completion of course

  First degree graduates

  Foreign languages

  4·7

  5·0

  5·2

  5·4

  5·7

  5·9

  6·1

  6·2

  6·3

  5·3

  Foreign languages except French

  3·8

  4·0

  4·2

  4·4

  4·7

  4·9

  5·0

  5·1

  5·2

  4·2

  Foreign languages except French and German

  2·9

  3·2

  3·4

  3·6

  3·9

  4·0

  4·0

  4·0

  4·1

  3·7

  Higher degree graduates

  Foreign languages

  0·7

  0·6

  0·7

  0·8

  0·7

  0·8

  0·8

  0·8

  0·8

  0·9

  Foreign languages except French

  0·6

  0·6

  0·6

  0·7

  0·7

  0·7

  0·7

  0·7

  0·7

  0·8

  Foreign languages except French and German

  0·5

  0·5

  0·6

  0·6

  0·6

  0·7

  0·7

  0·6

  0·6

  0·8

  CNAA1 (United Kingdom)—Year of confirment

  First degree graduates

  Foreign languages

  0·3

  0·3

  0·4

  0·4

  0·4

  0·6

  0·4

  0·5

  0·5

  0·9

  Foreign languages except French

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Argentina (Arms)
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the assurances received from the Libyan Government that Libyan arms were not being made available to Argentina at the time of the Falklands conflict.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is not our practice to publish confidential exchanges between Governments.

  Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will make a further contribution to the United Nations voluntary fund for the victims of torture.

  Mr. Eggar
  I am pleased to announce that we have decided that the United Kingdom should make a contribution of £25,000 to this fund.

  Women (Discrimination)
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's initial report to the United Nations due under article 18 of the 1979 convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.

  Mr. Eggar
  The report is being finalised and will shortly be submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General. Copies will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Foreign Languages
  Mr. Sheerman
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of students in foreign languages expected to graduate in 1987; what was the number for each of the last 10 years; and what are the numbers for (a) all languages except French and (b) all languages except French and German.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The latest available information is shown in the following table. The Department has not produced projections for future years at this level of detail. A small fall is expected in the numbers graduating in 1986, followed by a small increase in 1987 and following years.
  295

  1976

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  Foreign languages except French and German

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Higher degree graduates

  Foreign languages

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Foreign languages except French

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Foreign languages except French and German

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Council for National Academic Awards. These statistics relate to the numbers of awards conferred by CNAA during the year and differ from the numbers of students completing their courses. In particular figures for the years 1982, 1983 and 1984 underestimate the latter and the figure for 1985 is an overestimate.

  n/a Not available.

  16 to 19-year-olds
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students aged between 16 and 19 years of age entered full-time courses of non-advanced further education in England and Wales as a proportion of all 16 year-olds in each academic year from 1979–80 to 1986–87.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The figures as a percentage of all 16 to 18-year-olds are as follows. It would not be meaningful to express this as a percentage of 16-year-olds only. Figures for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Students in full-time non advanced further education England

  November

  Percentage of all 16–18's1

  1979

  9·2

  1980

  9·7

  1981

  11·1

  1982

  12·4

  1983

  11·8

  1984

  11·8

  1985

  12·2

  21986

  12·3

  1 Those aged 16, 17 and 18 as at the previous 31st August.

  2 Provisional.

  Leeds
  Mr. Meadowcroft
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will institute an inquiry under section 93 of the Education Act 1944 into the administration of education in Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to set up such an inquiry.

  Mr. Meadowcroft
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has had seeking a formal investigation into the administration of education in Leeds.

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations on this matter.

  Comprehensive Education
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to how many other EEC countries have a comprehensive system of education similar to that which exists in the United Kingdom.
  296
  Mrs. Rumbold
  Education in EC member states differs according to history, culture and political development. Direct comparisons are not possible. Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Spain operate a non-selective approach to education up to the end of compulsory schooling (variously 14 to 16).

  Expenditure Policy
  Mr. Radice
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when the analysis was completed for the 1986 report by Her Majesty's inspectors on the effects of local authority expenditure policies on education provision in England;

  (2) if he will publish the 1986 report by Her Majesty's inspectors on the effects of local authority expenditure policies on education provision in England.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I understand from Her Majesty's senior chief inspector of schools that work has not yet been completed on the analysis for and the content of the annual expenditure report for 1986. The timing of its submission to Ministers is entirely and solely a matter for HM inspectorate. The question of publication can only be considered when I receive the report.

  GCSE Teachers (In-service Training)
  Mr. Sumberg
  asked the secretary of State for Education and Science what further action the Government plan to take to promote opportunities for in-service training for GCSE teachers.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  From the beginning of the next academic year, the Education (School Teachers' Pay and Conditions of Employment) Order 1987 provides that teachers will be available for work on five days a year beyond those days on which they will be required to teach pupils. It will be for schools and local education authorities to decide how best to use those five days. The Government expect that a substantial part of the available time will be devoted to in-service training, including training related to GCSE.

  The Government's monitoring of the introduction of the GCSE has shown that for schools and teachers the provision of two days' closure for GCSE in-service training last summer term was helpful. Many local education authorities, schools and teachers think it would be beneficial if a similar provision during the present academic year was provided, before the second and final year of the first GCSE courses begins in September.

  The Government have therefore decided to make further, special provision in the intervening period before

  297
  the new conditions of service come into force. Accordingly, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales have today laid before the House regulations which amend the number of days on which a school shall meet, consequential to the Education (School Teachers' Pay and Conditions of Employment) Order 1987, and also enable local education authorities in England and Wales to close their schools to pupils for one day before 31 July 1987 in order to allow teaching staff to undertake GCSE in-service training.

WALES

  Chernobyl Disaster
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many meetings he has had with the farming unions during the past three months, at which the losses arising from the Chernobyl disaster have been discussed; and if he will now make a further statement on improving his compensation scheme for farmers in Wales affected by this disaster.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  I have had a number of meetings with the farming unions during the last three months to discuss compensation arrangements for producers affected by the Chernobyl incident. I and my ministerial colleagues have concluded that a further element of compensation is justified for the extra costs of monitoring and marking sheep before they can be released from the restricted area. We expect to make an early announcement on the details of this scheme.

  Advertisements
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales 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. Nicholas Edwards
  I have not sponsored any advertising in national newspapers in the last three years. I have, however, sponsored local advertising for the right-to-buy campaign in the South Wales Echo, the South Wales Evening Post, the South Wales Argus and the Wrexham/Chester Evening Leader.

  Where the Welsh Office has been associated with national campaigns on AIDS, drugs misuse and road safety sponsored by major Whitehall Departments, I have sponsored advertisements in the Welsh language newspaper Y Cymro and in the Western Mail, the Liverpool Daily Post and the South Wales Argus.

  The South Wales Echo, and the Western Mail are part of the Thomson publishing group. The Liverpool Daily Post is a member of the Trinity International Publishing Group. The South Wales Argus is a member of Express Newspapers plc; the South Wales Evening Post is part of the Northcliffe Newspapers Group.

  Both the Wrexham/Chester Evening Leader and Y Cymro are part of the North Wales Newspaper group.

  Thoracic Medicine (Consultants)
  Mr. Kennedy
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has plans to increase the number of consultants in thoracic medicine in Wales.
  298
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  It is for individual health authorities to assess the need for additional consultants in thoracic medicine in Wales, on the basis of local needs, priorities and resources. We are always ready to consider requests by authorities to approve additional consultant posts, in the light of advice from the Welsh Medical and Dental Manpower Committee.

  Health Services (Capital Provision)
  Mr. Raffan
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of capital provision for hospital and community health services in Wales in 1987–88.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  A capital spending programme totalling £53·4 million has been approved for hospital and community health services in Wales in 1987–88.

  The programme includes expenditure of £13·3 million for major schemes already in progress, the greatest part of which goes towards the continuing construction of Llanelli general hospital. Other schemes which benefit include developments at Llandough near Cardiff, Morriston and Singleton in Swansea and Withybush in Haverfordwest, remedial work at West Wales general hospital, Carmarthen and the University hospital of Wales, Cardiff and renovation work and the Prince of Wales hospital Rhydlafar and St. David's hospital, Carmarthen.

  Some £3·7 million has been allocated for centrally funded developments and regional services which include the improvement of cardiac services in South Glamorgan, the implementation of recommendations made in the report on regional services in north Wales and the provision of the first of the medium secure psychiatric units. Three further computerised tomography scanners are to be purchased and will he located at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, East Glamorgan hospital, Church Village and Velindre hospital in Cardiff, thus further extending the availability of this valuable diagnostic technique.

  Other allocations include £3·6 million for computer and information technology developments and the establishment of a resource management pilot scheme in West Glamorgan, £1·5 million for psychiatric bridging finance to help move from large psychiatric hospitals to community care and £0·3 million for the provision of equipment in special care baby units as part of the perinatal mortality initiative. A block allocation of £24·5 million has been made to district health authorities, a 14 per cent. increase over their 1986–87 allocation. Allocations to individual authorities are as follows:—

  £ million

  Clwyd

  4·1

  East Dyfed

  1·8

  Gwent

  4·3

  Gwynedd

  1·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  4·7

  Pembrokeshire

  0·9

  Powys

  0·9

  South Glamorgan

  2·2

  West Glamorgan

  4·1

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the figures for the amount of milk quotas sold by Welsh producers to producers outside Wales, the amount bought by Welsh producers from outside Wales,

  299
  and the net loss or gain to Wales, since the scheme came into operation and differentiating between north and south Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  Movement of quota in and out of Wales as recorded by the Milk Marketing board during the period 1 April 1985 to 17 February 1987 has been as follows:

  Million litres

  North Wales

  South Wales

  All Wales

  In

  +4·8

  4·0

  +8·8

  Out

  -4·6

  -12·5

  -17·1

  Net loss or gain

  +0·2

  -8·3

  -8·5

  Loss as a percentage of total quota

  —

  -0·8

  -0·54

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report(a) a list of the constituencies served by each district health authority and (b) a list of the health authorities serving each constituency.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  The only parliamentary constituency in Wales served by two district health authorities is that of Ceredigion and Pembroke, North, which is divided between East Dyfed and Pembrokeshire district health authorities. Otherwise, constituencies are contained entirely within health authorities, as follows:

  District Health Authority and Constituency

  Clwyd

  Alyn and Deeside

  Clwyd North West

  Clwyd South West

  Delyn

  Wrexham

  East Dyfed

  Carmarthen

  Ceredigion and Pembroke North (part)

  Llanelli

  Gwent

  Blaenau Gwent

  Islwyn

  Monmouth

  Newport East

  Newport West

  Torfaen

  Gwynedd

  Caernarfon

  Conwy

  Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

  Ynys MÔn

  Mid Glamorgan

  Bridgend

  Caerphilly

  Cynon Valley

  Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

  Ogmore

  Pontypridd

  Rhondda

  Pembrokeshire

  Ceredigion and Pembroke North (part)

  Pembroke

  Powys

  Brecon and Radnor

  Montgomery

  South Glamorgan

  Cardiff Central

  300

  Cardiff North

  Cardiff South and Penarth

  Cardiff West

  Vale of Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Aberavon

  Gower

  Neath

  Swansea East

  Swansea West

  M4 (Extension)
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to extend the M4 to Ceredigion; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  No, but the dualling of the A48 between the end of the M4 and Carmarthen will result in a greatly improved route as far as Carmarthen. Of the two schemes needed to complete this work we expect the Cross Hands/Llandarog bypass to be open to traffic later this year while "Roads in Wales 1985" envisages a start on the Nant-y-Caws/Coed Hirion bypass before the end of 1987.

  In addition, Dyfed county council as the local highway authority is drawing up proposals to improve the county roads between Carmarthen and Ceredigion. At the appropriate time, consideration will be given to the eligibility of such schemes for transport supplementary grant.

SCOTLAND

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Corrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of persons employed in the Irvine travel-to-work area ward by ward for the years 1976 to 1986.

  Mr. Lang
  The table gives the figures for April 1981, from the census of population small area statistics. Such information is not available for the other years specified.

  Number of usual residents, aged 16 or over, who were working

  Number

  Cunninghame District Ward

  Irvine West

  1,434

  Irvine Townhead

  1,646

  Irvine Vineburgh

  1,759

  Irvine North

  1,818

  Irvine Woodlands

  1,864

  Dreghorn

  1,697

  Broomlands

  1,628

  Bourtreehill

  1,494

  Girdle Toll

  765

  Irvine Landward

  819

  Kilwinning East

  2,186

  Kilwinning South

  1,909

  Kilwinning West

  2,339

  Stevenston North

  1,894

  Stevenston South

  1,918

  Beith

  1,887

  Dairy

  1,619

  Garnock East

  1,815

  Kilbirnie South

  1,670

  Kilbirnie North

  1,597

  Saltcoats East

  1,483

  South Beach

  1,625

  Saltcoats North

  1,598

  Ardrossan South

  1,723

  Ardrossan North

  1,895

  301

  Number

  West Kilbride

  1,741

  Largs South

  1,412

  Largs North

  2,077

  Fairlie, Skelmorlie and Cumbrae

  1,516

  Renfrew District Ward

  Lochwinnoch

  1,773

  Rates
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount of rebates paid in each regional authority area in Scotland to ratepayers who are eligible for relief on their rates bills under the legislation passed after the 1985 revaluation.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information for 1985–86 and 1986–87 is set out in the table. Figures for each region for 1987–88 are not yet available. It is estimated that total rebates for Scotland for that year will amount to about £13·7 million.

  £ Million

  Authority

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Borders

  0·563

  0·413

  Central

  0·983

  0·743

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0·774

  0·613

  Fife

  0·810

  0·578

  Grampian

  2·336

  1·843

  Highland

  0·591

  0·426

  Lothian

  4·746

  3·328

  Strathclyde

  11·495

  8·793

  Tayside

  2·321

  1·870

  Total

  24·619

  18·607

  Speech Problems
  Mr. David Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision is available for the needs of languages disordered children in Scotland; how this compares with England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John MacKay
  Where a child in Scotland has a language disorder which constitutes a learning difficulty giving rise to special educational needs of a pronounced, specific or continuing nature, the education authority in whose area the child resides is required to assess those needs and thereafter provide fully for them. The decision on precisely what provision to make is a matter for the education authority. The procedure for opening Records of Special Education Needs under Section 60 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 is similar to the process of statementing provided for in England by Section 7 of the Education Act 1981.

  Mr. David Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the numbers of (a) preschool age children, (b) primary schoolchildren and (c) secondary schoolchildren, with a specific language disorder in (i) Scotland, (ii) the Strathclyde region and (iii) Glasgow district.

  Mr. MacKay
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. David Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision there is for the rehabilitation of speech problems in road traffic accident victims in (a) Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland.
  302
  Mr. John MacKay
  The provision of speech therapy services is a matter for individual health boards, but the Scottish Home and Health Department funds a Scottish centre of technology for the communication impaired, based at the Victoria infirmary, Glasgow, which has been officially opened today by the chairman of the Greater Glasgow health board. This centre reinforces local effort by providing a Scotland-wide specialist service involving assessment and provision of aids for people with speech problems, and advising professional staff and disseminating information about advances in this important field. There are now 339·4 (whole-time equivalent) speech therapists employed in the Scottish Health Service.

  Chernobyl Disaster
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the costs incurred by his Department following the Chernobyl accident on (a) compensation for farmers, (b) equipment purchased for monitoring contamination, (c) staff costs on monitoring and administration of compensation schemes and (d) staff costs on public information.

  Mr. John MacKay
  Compensation to farmers amounted to £1·4 million. Monitoring equipment was purchased at a cost of £32,000. In addition, expenditure of £324,000 was incurred on laboratory sampling and associated work. I regret it is not possible readily to identify the staff costs attributable to monitoring, administration of compensation and public information.

  Torness
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is his intention to place stocks of iodine tablets at Innerwick primary school, in view of its proximity to Torness power station.

  Mr. Lang
  The South of Scotland Electricity Board, as operator of Torness, is responsible for providing potassium iodate tablets as part of the emergency planning arrangements. Stocks are held by the police for issue in the area around Torness. It is for the board and the police to consider whether it would be appropriate to hold stocks at Innerwick primary school and if so to consult the education authority.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to make any alteration to the Torness emergency plan; and if he will extend the area covered by that plan in view of the recommendations made in the Layfield report on the Sizewell B inquiry.

  Mr. Lang
  These are matters for the South of Scotland Electricity Board as operators of the site and for Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive as licensing authority.

  Fisheries Protection
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated remaining life of his Department's recently acquired Fokker F27–200 aircraft in terms of flying hours of Scottish fishery patrol conditions; how long he estimates that the aircraft will be able to remain in service with the workload described in his reply of 6 May, Official Report, column 446; and what recommendations have been received from (a) the

  303
  manufacturer and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority on adjustment to the remaining life of the aircraft, in terms of flying hours, to take account of the type of service for which he intends to use it.

  Mr. John MacKay
  The advice obtained from expert sources indicate that the F27 will have a working life of at least 10 years when employed in the maritime environment, taking account of the cycles remaining and the utilisation envisaged by my Department, as stated in my answer of 5 May to the hon. Member at column 446.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the outcome of his consideration of tenders to operate his Department's aerial fishery protection patrols.

  Mr. John MacKay
  The continuance of the contract in respect of inshore aerial surveillance of Scottish fisheries from 1 September 1987, initially for three years, to be undertaken by the Cessna Titan was awarded to the existing contractor, Northair Aviation Ltd, on 2 April 1987. Consideration of the tenders in respect of offshore aerial surveillance is still under way and a decision is expected shortly.

  Health Boards
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report(a) a list of the constituencies served by each health board and (b) a list of the health hoards serving each constituency.

  Mr. John MacKay
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Health Board and Constituency

  Argyll and Clyde

  Argyle and Bute

  Dumbarton

  Eastwood (see also Greater Glasgow)1

  Greenock and Port Glasgow

  Paisley North

  Paisley South

  Renfrew West and Inverclyde

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Ayr

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  Cunninghame North

  Cunninghame South

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  Borders

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Dumfries

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  Fife

  Dunfermline East

  Dunfermline West

  Fife Central

  Fife North East

  Kirkcaldy

  Forth Valley

  Clackmannan

  Falkirk East

  Falkirk West

  Stirling

  Grampian

  Aberdeen North

  Aberdeen South

  Banff and Buchan

  Gordon

  Kincardine and Deeside

  Moray

  Greater Glasgow

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  Eastwood (see also Argyll and Clyde)1

  304

  Glasgow Cathcart

  Glasgow Central

  Glasgow Garscadden

  Glasgow Govan

  Glasgow Hillhead

  Glasgow Pollok

  Glasgow Provan

  Glasgow Rutherglen

  Glasgow Shettleston

  Glasgow Springburn

  Monklands West (see also Lanarkshire)1

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  Highland

  Caithness and Sutherland

  Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber

  Ross, Cromarty and Skye

  Lanarkshire

  Clydesdale

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  East Kilbride

  Hamilton

  Monklands East

  Monklands West (see also Greater Glasgow)1

  Motherwell North

  Motherwell South

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  Edinburgh Central

  Edinburgh East

  Edinburgh Leith

  Edinburgh Pentlands

  Edinburgh South

  Edinburgh West

  Linlithgow

  Livingston

  Midlothian

  Orkney

  Orkney and Shetland (see also Shetland)1

  Shetland

  Orkney and Shetland (see also Orkney)1

  Tayside

  Angus East

  Dundee East

  Dundee West

  Perth and Kinross

  Tayside North

  Western Isles

  Western Isles

  1 Denotes split constituency.

  (b) Constituency and Health Board

  Aberdeen North—Grampian

  Aberdeen South—Grampian

  Angus East—Tayside

  Argyll and Bute—Argyll and Clyde

  Ayr—Ayrshire and Arran

  Banff and Buchan—Grampian

  Caithness and Sutherland—Highland

  Carrick,Cumnock and Doon Valley—Ayrshire and Arran

  Clackmannan—Forth Valley

  Clydebank and Milngavie—Greater Glasgow

  Clydesdale—Lanarkshire

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth—Lanarkshire

  Cunninghame North—Ayrshire and Arran

  Cunninghame South—Ayrshire and Arran

  Dumbarton—Argyll and Clyde

  Dumfries—Dumfries and Galloway

  Dundee East—Tayside

  Dundee West—Tayside

  Dunfermline East—Fife

  Dunfermline West—Fife

  East Kilbride—Lanarkshire

  East Lothian—Lothian

  Eastwood—Greater Glasgow and Argyll and Clyde

  Edinburgh Central—Lothian

  Edinburgh West—Lothian

  Edinburgh Leith—Lothian

  Edinburgh Pentlands—Lothian

  Edinburgh South—Lothian

  305

  Edinburgh West—Lothian

  Falkirk East—Forth Valley

  Falkirk West—Forth Valley

  Fife Central—Fife

  Fife North East—Fife

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale—Dumfries and Galloway

  Glasgow Cathcart—Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Central—Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Garscadden—Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Govan—Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Hillhead—Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Maryhill—Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Pollok—Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Proven—Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Rutherglen—Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Shettleston—Greater Glasgow

  Glasgow Springburn—Greater Glasgow

  Gordon—Grampian

  Greenock and Port Glasgow—Argyll and Clyde

  Hamilton—Lanarkshire

  Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber—Highland

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun—Ayrshire and Arran

  Kincardine and Deeside—Grampian

  Kirkcaldy—Fife

  Linlithgow—Lothian

  Livingston—Lothian

  Midlothian—Lothian

  Monklands East—Lanarkshire

  Monklands West—Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire

  Moray—Grampian

  Motherwell North—Lanarkshire

  Motherwell South—Lanarkshire

  Orkney and Shetland—Orkney and Shetland

  Paisley North—Argyll and Clyde

  Paisley South—Argyll and Clyde

  Perth and Kinross—Tayside

  Renfrew West and Inverclyde—Argyll and Clyde

  Ross, Cromarty and Skye—Highland

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire—Borders

  Stirling—Forth Valley

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden—Greater Glasgow

  Tayside North—Tayside

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale—Borders

  Western Isles—Western Isles

  Farm and Horticultural Development Scheme
  Mr. Bruce
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers have been required to pay all or part of any grant given to them under the farm and horticultural development scheme for failing to meet the required output.

  Mr. John MacKay
  It is not possible to separate the details for the farm and horitculture development scheme and the agriculture and horticulture development scheme. Both schemes contained provision for the payment of guidance premium to farmers whose approved development plans were estimated to give them 50 per cent. or more of gross output from beef or sheepmeat at the end of their plans. For the two schemes combined, the number of farmers in Scotland eligible for guidance premium is 5,745. Guidance premium as been recovered in 11 cases for failure to achieve the required output level at the end of the plans, and action is in progress in two further such cases.

  Mr. Bruce
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers have failed to meet the required 50 per cent. of output from beef production required by the farm and horticultural development scheme for beef development in Scotland.

  Mr. John MacKay
  Central records are maintained only of cases where failure to achieve 50 per cent. of gross 306
  output from beef or sheepmeat gives rise to recovery of guidance premium. Recovery is not automatic: it arises only where my Department is satisfied that a claimant failed to pursue his approved development plan and knowingly gave undertakings which could not he honoured. No record is kept of cases which failed to achieve the required output level but which did not give rise to recovery action.

  North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board
  Mr. Bill Walker
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made by the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board in following up the report on the board by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission published in October 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have now received the second response of the NSHEB to the MMC report published in Autumn 1985. This decribes progress on steps taken by the board to meet the commission's conclusions. I have placed copies, in the Library.

  The board has responded in a constructive way to most of the MMC recommendations and good progress has been made since my statement to the House on 7 March 1986.

  I am particularly pleased to note the positive steps the board has taken in relation to the areas for priority action identified by the commission.

  The management services function has been expanded, manpower planning procedures have been developed, productivity monitoring procedures have been overhauled, and further work directed at establishing optimum manning levels is in hand. These initiatives are resulting in tighter control of manpower resources and their utilisation.

  In line with MMC recommendations, the board's corporate plan now includes a range of specific operational and financial targets which have been set and will be monitored by the board. The efficiency review committee has been strengthened, measures to reduce the costs of meter reading billing and collection have been implemented and a revised debt collection policy is being introduced. I hope soon to agree with the board a new set of cost reduction performance aims to begin in the current financial year.

  Good progress has been made in the development of management information systems designed to improve monitoring and guidance manuals have been issued over a range of activities—for example, planning, personnel and computer development.

  An assessment procedure for allocating priorities within the distribution system refurbishment programme has been developed and is being applied to all projects. The resources now being devoted to the programme represent a major commitment on the part of the board.

  Investment appraisal guidelines which take into account the commission's recommendations have been drafted and significant progress has been made towards developing a computer-based system covering both the financial and engineering aspects of project control.

  In response to other recommendations, the board has set in hand a review of tariff structure and work designed to improve its forecasting methodology.
  307
  My officials will be keeping in touch with the board on these and other areas in which action to implement the MMC's recommendations is continuing. I have asked the board for a final round-up report in about two years time.

  I should like to thank the MMC for its report on the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board. Its findings have been useful to the board in helping it to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

  Countryside
  Sir Hector Monro
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to initiate a review of changes in the countryside in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  My right hon. and learned Friend has decided to initiate a two-year research project to monitor change in landscape features in Scotland. The project will involve a full aerial photographic survey of the country, to be carried out by Planning and Mapping Ltd. It is hoped that the survey will make a valuable contribution to our understanding of the changes taking place in the countryside. The information provided will be of considerable value to researchers and will enable further monitoring and analysis to take place. It will also provide a better factual base on which to take decisions and make plans for the future.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. David Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if' he will list in the Official Report the number of job losses in each classification for each employment exchange in the city of Glasgow for each of the last eight years.

  Mr. Lang
  I regret that the information requested could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many jobs have been created and how many lost in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each year since June 1979 in the food processing industry;

  (2) how many jobs have been created and how many lost in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each year since June 1979 in the clothing and textile industry;

  (3) how many jobs have been created and how many lost in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each year since June 1979 in the computer construction industry;

  (4) how many jobs have been created and how many lost in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each year since June 1979 in the construction industry;

  (5) how many jobs have been created and how many lost in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each year since June 1979 in the distribution industry;

  (6) how many jobs have been created and how many lost in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each year since June 1979 in the engineering industry;

  (7) how many jobs have been created and how many lost in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency in each year since June 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  [pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1987, c. 395]: Information on job gains and job losses in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency is not available. Information is available from the regional data system for
  308
  those working in manufacturing plants with 11 or more employees in Cumbernauld new town. No reliable information is available from this source for plants with fewer than 11 employees. Figures by industry grouping from the RDS are given in the table.

  It is not possible to provide figures of gross job gains and losses as to do so would disclose information relating to individual businesses. For the same reason, it is not possible to distinguish computer construction within the engineering industry or food processing from textiles and clothing.

  As regards overall employment, the available information relates to Cumbernauld new town in the period 1979–87, and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 13 May 1987.

  Engineering (including computers)

  Food Processing/ Clothing and Textiles

  1979–80

  -240

  -120

  1980–81

  -610

  +10

  1981–82

  -530

  -370

  1982–83

  +100

  -110

  1983–84

  -200

  -20

  1984–85

  +190

  -20

  1985–86

  1

  +100

  1 Figure omitted to avoid disclosure of information relating to individual businesses.

EMPLOYMENT

  Job Creation
  Mr. Hawksley
  asked the Paymaster General how many places and at what public cost were provided in 1986 in the Telford travel-to-work area for (a) YTS and (b) community schemes.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is not possible to provide the information in the precise form requested. The available information is shown in the table.

  Telford Travel-to-Work, Area1

  1986–872

  YTS

  Contracted places

  1,283

  Public cost (£ million)

  312·73

  Community programme

  Filled places

  903

  Public cost (£ million)

  41·8

  1 Figures for the Telford-travel-to-work are for YTS are based on the Wrekin local authority district which includes Madsley, Wellington, Oakengates and Telford. Figures for the community programme are based on the jobcentre area which covers Bridgnorth, Madeley, Wellington and Telford.

  2 Figures are not available for calendar years, thus the financial year has been quoted.

  3 YTS is a training measure. The concept of net exchequer cost (the usual interpretation of "public cost") per filled place is not therefore appropriate. The gross cost per filled places is estimated to be £2,600 per annum. The £2·73 million public cost quoted has been obtained from an estimated average level of training.

  4 The cost of £1·8 million quoted for the community programme is the net exchequer cost of the programme. This allows for benefit saving and flowbacks of tax and payments of the Exchequer.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Bruce
  asked the Paymaster General (1) what are the actual numbers of self-employed in each constituency in the United Kingdom according to the most recent information or census;

  (2) pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 31 March 1987, column 467 if he will list the self-employed in each constituency in the United Kingdom as a proportion of the total on the electoral roll according to the most recent information or census.

  Mr. Lee
  I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the information requested and will place a copy in the Library.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Evennett
  asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received concerning the funding by the Manpower Services Commission of community programme schemes in Bexley; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I have received no representations concerning the funding by the Manpower Services Commission of community programme schemes in Bexley. The local area manpower board met on 6 March and approved the distribution of places for 1987–88.

  Age and Duration Analysis of the Unemployed for Statistical Date 8 January 1987

  Copeland Parliamentary Constituency

  Males

  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

  One or less

  4

  4

  1

  1

  19

  7

  4

  1

  1

  0

  1

  5

  4

  52

  Over 1 and up to 2

  0

  2

  0

  0

  5

  3

  1

  3

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  19

  Over 2 and up to 4

  4

  7

  1

  3

  26

  19

  8

  5

  4

  4

  2

  5

  1

  89

  Over 4 and up to 6

  4

  4

  6

  3

  16

  11

  8

  6

  7

  5

  3

  2

  3

  78

  Over 6 and up to 8

  6

  2

  3

  5

  23

  15

  15

  7

  3

  4

  5

  1

  2

  91

  Over 8 and up to 13

  6

  7

  7

  9

  47

  30

  17

  22

  17

  10

  10

  6

  11

  199

  Over 13 and up to 26

  15

  22

  28

  26

  109

  44

  31

  35

  27

  19

  14

  17

  13

  400

  Over 26 and up to 39

  1

  8

  16

  7

  60

  33

  18

  11

  10

  13

  16

  16

  6

  215

  Over 39 and up to 52

  0

  3

  13

  10

  32

  22

  15

  21

  16

  11

  20

  14

  18

  195

  Over 52 and up to 65

  0

  2

  6

  5

  26

  10

  15

  10

  7

  5

  3

  12

  1

  102

  Over 65 and up to 78

  0

  11

  7

  7

  27

  14

  7

  10

  9

  6

  12

  16

  2

  128

  Over 78 and up to 104

  0

  1

  5

  3

  33

  19

  21

  9

  18

  7

  7

  14

  0

  137

  Over 104 and up to 156

  0

  0

  3

  7

  46

  42

  36

  30

  19

  20

  58

  81

  0

  342

  Over 156 and up to 208

  0

  0

  0

  1

  21

  26

  20

  14

  8

  7

  11

  32

  0

  140

  Over 208 and up to 260

  0

  0

  0

  0

  20

  17

  17

  14

  11

  14

  12

  19

  0

  124

  Over 260

  0

  0

  0

  0

  14

  46

  33

  36

  19

  28

  31

  44

  1

  252

  Total Males

  40

  73

  96

  87

  524

  358

  266

  234

  177

  154

  206

  285

  63

  2,563

  Females

  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

  One or less

  1

  4

  3

  3

  7

  11

  0

  2

  4

  2

  5

  1

  0

  43

  Over 1 and up to 2

  0

  1

  0

  2

  8

  3

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  2

  0

  19

  Over 2 and up to 4

  3

  2

  13

  9

  15

  6

  5

  5

  4

  1

  1

  2

  0

  66

  Over 4 and up to 6

  2

  3

  5

  3

  12

  8

  8

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  0

  49

  Over 6 and up to 8

  1

  1

  2

  2

  15

  6

  9

  4

  5

  3

  4

  2

  0

  54

  Over 8 and up to 13

  8

  10

  7

  9

  37

  25

  13

  13

  8

  6

  3

  3

  0

  142

  Over 13 and up to 26

  19

  19

  27

  23

  67

  52

  24

  19

  14

  10

  12

  11

  0

  297

  Over 26 and up to 39

  0

  8

  6

  15

  33

  30

  16

  13

  13

  2

  4

  10

  0

  150

  Over 39 and up to 52

  1

  11

  5

  8

  31

  26

  19

  6

  8

  10

  6

  8

  0

  139

  Over 52 and up to 65

  0

  3

  6

  3

  14

  18

  6

  3

  6

  5

  3

  3

  0

  70

  Over 65 and up to 78

  0

  4

  4

  4

  19

  10

  3

  6

  3

  6

  4

  9

  0

  72

  Over 78 and up to 104

  0

  0

  4

  2

  16

  15

  4

  2

  3

  5

  11

  10

  0

  72

  Over 104 and up to 156

  0

  0

  1

  5

  15

  13

  9

  5

  3

  3

  10

  18

  0

  82

  Over 156 and up to 208

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7

  3

  2

  2

  8

  4

  3

  11

  0

  40

  Over 208 and up to 260

  0

  0

  0

  0

  9

  2

  3

  1

  1

  2

  5

  4

  0

  27

  Over 260

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  6

  8

  3

  2

  10

  8

  14

  0

  59

  Total Females

  35

  66

  83

  88

  313

  234

  130

  86

  85

  72

  80

  109

  0

  1,381

  Job Generation Ltd.
  Mr. Evennett
  asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received concerning the withdrawal of Manpower Services Commission funds from Job Generation Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The Job Generation Ltd. current community programme contract ends in June 1987 and the agency will not be renewed. The local MSC's community programme manager is currently seeking ways to redistribute these places amongst other providers within the Bexley area. This action should allow individual participants with a balance of time still outstanding to complete their 52 weeks on the programme.

  The hon. Member wrote to me on 31 March about Job Generation Ltd.; a reply will be sent very soon.

  Benefit Claimants
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Paymaster General if he will give a detailed breakdown of unemployed claimants in the Copeland parliamentary constituency using the most recent figures, analysed by sex and by the age of the unemployed and the duration of unemployment.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. The figures relate to the numbers of unemployed claimants on 8 January 1987, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age and duration is available.

  Wages Inspectorate (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Wainwright
  asked the Paymaster General if, pursuant to his answer of 5 May, Official Report, columns 333–40, he will state how many court actions were taken by the Wages Inspectorate against employers in 1986, distinguishing between criminal prosecutions and claims for arrears, showing the number of successful actions together with the arrears assessed and the arrears paid; if he will provide a breakdown of the figures in tables 3 and 4 showing checks made on a routine basis and those arising from a complaint, distinguishing between visits and questionnaire checks; and if he will provide information showing the number of establishments found to be in breach of any obligation under the Wages Act and predecessor legislation, indicating the nature of the breach and distinguishing, as far as possible, by sector and region.

  Mr. Lee
  In 1986 the inspectorate took criminal prosecutions against three employers. All were successful.

  Table A—Trades covered by wages councils and results of pay checks by type of check—1986

  Workers whose pay was checked

  Workers underpaid

  Arrears paid

  Arrears waived

  Arrears not pursued

  Total arrears assessed

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Aerated waters

  Routine checks by visit

  666

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  2,524

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  32

  1

  46

  —

  —

  46

  Totals

  3,212

  1

  46

  —

  —

  46

  Clothing manufacture

  Routine checks by visit

  12,766

  355

  17,182

  923

  3,630

  21,735

  Routine checks not visited

  1,684

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  2,938

  587

  40,271

  2,024

  31,848

  74,143

  Totals

  17,388

  942

  57,453

  2,947

  35,478

  95,878

  Boot and shoe repairing

  Routine checks by visit

  428

  17

  2,841

  474

  321

  3,636

  Routine checks not visited

  71

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  19

  10

  1,310

  —

  140

  1,450

  Totals

  518

  27

  4,151

  474

  461

  5,086

  Button manufacturing

  Routine checks by visit

  160

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  164

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Coffin furniture and cerement making

  Routine checks by visit

  28

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  3

  1

  20

  —

  —

  20

  Totals

  31

  1

  20

  —

  —

  20

  Cotton waste reclamation

  Routine checks by visit

  39

  —

  —

  —

  —.

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  39

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Flax and hemp

  Routine checks by visit

  34

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  34

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  312
  The total arrears assessed as due to the workers concerned was £1,996·66 and £811·94 was awarded by the courts. I understand that the sums due have not yet been paid in full in all cases. The arrangements for payment are, however, a matter for the court. No civil proceedings to recover arrears were taken by the inspectorate in 1986.

  The breakdown requested of the relevant figures in tables 3 and 4 in the Official Report for 5 May, at columns 333–40, is given in tables A and B respectively. Routine postal questionnaire checks were restricted to the two retail trades and hairdressing. Where the employer's reply was not satisfactory or no reply was received, a visit was carried out. Such visits are included in the figures in the tables for routine checks by visit.

  Tables C and D give the information requested about the nature of breaches of wages council legislation found in 1986.
  313

  Workers whose pay was checked

  Workers underpaid

  Arrears paid

  Arrears waived

  Arrears not pursued

  Total arrears assessed

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Fur

  Routine checks by visit

  145

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  8

  3

  522

  —

  —

  522

  Totals

  153

  3

  522

  —

  —

  522

  General waste materials reclamation

  Routine checks by visit

  1,409

  6

  96

  —

  —

  96

  Routine checks not visited

  26

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  66

  9

  1,051

  226

  212

  1,489

  Totals

  1,501

  15

  1,147

  226

  212

  1,585

  Hairdressing undertakings

  Routine checks by visit

  5,226

  375

  37,680

  7,274

  2,658

  47,612

  Routine checks not visited

  153

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  2,220

  739

  87,140

  19,966

  15,469

  122,575

  Questionnaire checks not visited

  3,950

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  11,549

  1,114

  124,820

  27,240

  18,127

  170,187

  Hat, Cap and Millinery

  Routine checks by visit

  607

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  607

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lace finishing

  Routine checks by visit

  22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  1

  1

  43

  —

  —

  43

  Totals

  23

  1

  43

  —

  —

  43

  Laundry

  Routine checks by visit

  1,843

  32

  2,925

  1,125

  —

  4,050

  Routine checks not visited

  512

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  122

  34

  2,758

  —

  4,481

  7,239

  Totals

  2,477

  66

  5,683

  1,125

  4,481

  11,289

  Linen and Cotton Handkerchief

  Routine checks by visit

  154

  1

  15

  —

  —

  15

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  37

  9

  600

  —

  —

  600

  Totals

  191

  10

  615

  —

  —

  615

  Made-up Textiles

  Routine checks by visit

  463

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  4

  2

  157

  —

  —

  157

  Totals

  467

  2

  157

  —

  —

  157

  Ostrich and fancy feather

  Routine checks by visit

  192

  1

  48

  —

  —

  48

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  192

  1

  48

  —

  —

  48

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  Routine checks by visit

  127

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  127

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  Routine checks by visit

  161

  3

  348

  —

  —

  348

  314 315

  Workers whose pay was checked

  Workers underpaid

  Arrears paid

  Arrears waived

  Arrears not pursued

  Total arrears assessed

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Routine checks not visited

  13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  16

  7

  2,002

  —

  136

  2,138

  Totals

  190

  10

  2,350

  —

  136

  2,486

  Rope, twine and net

  Routine checks by visit

  189

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  189

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sack and bag

  Routine checks by visit

  48

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Routine checks not visited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  4

  4

  263

  —

  —

  263

  Totals

  52

  4

  263

  —

  —

  263

  Toy manufacturing

  Routine checks by visit

  492

  6

  201

  —

  —

  201

  Routine checks not visited

  29

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  23

  17

  615

  —

  301

  916

  Totals

  544

  23

  816

  —

  301

  1,117

  Retail non-food trades

  Routine checks by visit

  16,452

  1,729

  173,018

  62,827

  34,131

  269,976

  Routine checks not visited

  33,157

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  2,522

  1,053

  188,282

  36,829

  49,835

  274,946

  Questionnaire checks not visited

  6,247

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  58,378

  2,782

  361,300

  99,656

  83,966

  544,922

  Retail food and allied trades

  Routine checks by visit

  17,100

  2,628

  201,277

  101,169

  22,160

  324,606

  Routine checks not visited

  30,947

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  3,431

  1,657

  222,525

  49,750

  77,532

  3,49,807

  Questionnaire checks not visited

  6,803

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  58,281

  4,285

  423,802

  150,919

  99,692

  674,413

  Licensed non-residential

  Routine checks by visit

  27,273

  1,665

  117,602

  34,415

  12,783

  164,800

  Routine checks not visited

  17,564

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  3,861

  991

  152,378

  18,495

  33,622

  204,495

  Totals

  48,698

  2,656

  269,980

  52,910

  46,405

  369,295

  Licensed residential and restaurant

  Routine checks by visit

  20,397

  731

  52,131

  24,301

  9,978

  86,410

  Routine checks not visited

  18,706

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  10,354

  1,639

  174,864

  9,041

  29,953

  213,858

  Totals

  49,457

  2,370

  226,995

  33,342

  39,931

  300,268

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  Routine checks by visit

  6,028

  678

  49,571

  30,558

  6,545

  86,674

  Routine checks not visited

  9,765

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  1,256

  542

  58,653

  8,304

  13,271

  80,228

  Totals

  17,049

  1,220

  108,224

  38,862

  19,816

  166,902

  Great Britain

  Routine checks by visit

  112,439

  8,227

  654,935

  263,066

  92,206

  1,010,207

  Routine checks not visited

  115,151

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Complaints

  26,921

  7,306

  933,500

  144,635

  256,800

  1,334,935

  Questionnaire checks not visited

  17,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  271,511

  15,533

  1,588,435

  407,701

  349,006

  2,345,142

  316

  TVEI (Welsh Language)
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Paymaster General whether his Department was consulted concerning the Welsh Joint Education Committee's application to the Manpower Services Comission for a four-year £1 million Welsh-medium technical, vocational and educational initiative project in 1986.

  Mr. Lee
  No. Individual applications for assistance under the technical and vocational education initiative are dealt with by the Manpower Services Commission rather than by my Department.

  Fashion Services for the Disabled
  Mr. Madden
  asked the Paymaster General if the Manpower Services Commission will provide long-term funding for Fashion Services for the Disabled, which provides help to disabled people within Bradford; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Fashion Services for the Disabled is funded under the community programme at present. Projects supported under this programme are appraised annually both by the Manpower Services Commission and the local area manpower board to ensure that those which continue to receive support are the ones which best meet the needs of local long-term unemployed people as well as providing benefit to the community. Both the Manpower Services Commission and Bradford area manpower board felt the Fashion Services for the Disabled project no longer meets the needs of local long-term unemployed people and there are, therefore, no plans to renew it when its current contract ends in August 1987.

  "Action for Cities"
  Dr. Owen
  asked the Paymaster General how much it cost to produce the booklet "Action for Cities"; how many copies have been printed; and at what cost.

  YTS Accidents 1 January 1986 to 31 March 1987

  Period

  Average No. in Training

  Fatalities

  1Accidents Major

  Minor

  Table (a)

  1 January 1986 to 31 March 1986

  3273,553

  nil

  60

  375

  Table (b)

  1 April 1986 to 30 June 1986

  3261,532

  23

  68

  375

  1 July 1986 to 30 September 1986

  3334,927

  nil

  77

  266

  1 October 1986 to 31 December 1986

  3346,400

  4

  100

  509

  1 January 1987 to 31 March 1987

  3318,219

  2

  70

  578

  1 MSC accident figures for YTS have been compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive on employed persons. However, the MSC's figures will include a number of accidents during scheme time and accidents to trainees in educational establishments which may not have been reportable to the Health and Safety Executive had the individuals been employed.

  2 Each of these figures includes one road traffic accident.

  3 These figures are provisional and will be subject to change as further information becomes available.

  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Paymaster General if he will list the provider, and the numbers of places offered, of each two-year YTS scheme in Coventry.

  Mr. Lee
  A list of YTS providers in the Coventry local authority district and the number of places offered by each is as follows:
  318
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The booklet "Action for Cities" was produced jointly by my Department and that of my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction. The total cost of production was £32,800, of which the cost of printing 25,000 copies was £25,600. These costs have been shared equally between the Department of Employment and the Department of the Environment.

  This is a minute proportion of the public expenditure on the Government programmes which the booklet explains in order to improve take-up of and participation in these programmes.

  YTS
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Paymaster General if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) Official Report, column 12, of 8 April 1986, regarding accidents to YTS trainees, to the latest available date.

  Mr. Lee
  The tables provide YTS accident figures for fatalities and major injuries for the latest available quarterly periods. Table(a) gives figures for the quarter 1 January 1986 to 31 March 1986. Table (b) gives figures for the quarters 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987. It should be noted that the two tables cannot be directly compared in respect of major injuries. Up to 31 March 1986 major injuries were classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980. From 1 April 1986 major injuries are classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985. This has had the effect of reclassifying some accidents from the minor category into the major category.

  Provider

  Places offered

  Alvis Ltd.

  10

  Armstrong Engineering

  12

  Coventry Area Health Authority

  33

  Coventry Chamber of Commerce

  320

  Coventry City Council (clerical)

  60

  Coventry City Council (construction)

  30

  Coventry and District Co-operative Society

  26

  319

  Provider

  Places offered

  Coventry City Education Department

  480

  Coventry and Warwickshire Awards Trust1

  25

  Coventry Small Business Training Scheme

  12

  Courtaulds plc

  18

  Dunlop Ltd.

  55

  GEC Ltd.

  90

  Guy Associates

  56

  Hotel and Catering Training Board

  52

  Jaguar Cars Ltd.

  20

  JHP Training1

  172

  Lloyds British Training Services Ltd.

  98

  Massey Ferguson Ltd.

  24

  MGTS Training Services Ltd.

  268

  Midland Link

  106

  National Association for the Care and Settlement of Offenders—Coventry

  30

  Rolls Royce Ltd.

  24

  Peugeot Talbot plc

  49

  Tetra Incorporated

  100

  Wickman Bennet

  6

  Post Office

  31

  East Midlands Butchery

  30

  Total

  2,237

  1 Some of these places will be provided in Warwickshire.

  The following list shows providers whose schemes in Coventry and Warwickshire are administered by the Manpower Services Commission large companies unit. It is not possible to separately identify schemes operating in Coventry.

  Provider

  Places Offered

  Abbey National Building Society PLC

  1

  Association of British Travel Agents

  12

  Association of Merchants in Trading

  9

  ARROW Training Associates

  5

  Austin Rover Group Ltd.

  41

  British Association of Professional Hairdressing Employers

  10

  British Federation Home Care Providers

  4

  British Holiday Homes and Parks Association

  3

  British Home Stores PLC

  6

  Builders Merchants Federation

  19

  Boots Company PLC

  6

  British Office Systems and Stationery Federation

  3

  British Printing Industry Federation

  16

  British Retail Florists Association

  10

  Burgess

  4

  Burton Group PLC

  7

  C and A Modes

  2

  Clothing and Allied Products Industry Training Board

  27

  Construction Industry Training Board

  320

  Debenhams PLC

  20

  Department of Employment

  10

  D.E.R.

  1

  De Vere Hotels Ltd.

  13

  Dewhurst

  7

  Dixons Group PLC

  4

  Electricity Council

  3

  Electronic Rentals

  3

  Essanelle

  4

  Essex Leisure

  1

  E. W. Holdings Ltd.

  1

  Federation of Bakers

  1

  Footballers Association Further Education and Vocational Training Society Ltd.

  12

  Ford Motor Company

  2

  Fosters Menswear

  4

  Gateway Food Markets Ltd.

  6

  GKN

  1

  Glass Training Ltd.

  2

  Granada Television Rentals

  4

  320

  Provider

  Places Offered

  Habitat

  2

  Halifax Building Society

  2

  Home Charm Group PLC

  18

  IBM

  8

  Lunn Poly

  8

  Motor Agents Association

  50

  Marks and Spencer PLC

  5

  Midland Bank PLC

  8

  Mothercare Ltd.

  4

  National Institute of Hardware

  3

  National Pony Society

  3

  Owen, Owen

  10

  Partco

  11

  Plastics Processing Industry Training Board

  4

  Remploy

  5

  Rumbelows

  5

  J. Sainsbury PLC

  13

  Scaffolding GB

  1

  Shoe Repair Industry Training Board

  4

  W. H. Smith Do it All

  1

  Standard Tyre & Exhaust Ltd.

  4

  Stylo Barrett

  4

  Tesco Stores Ltd.

  20

  Trust House Forte

  5

  Threshold

  20

  Timpson Shoes

  3

  Timpson Shoe repairs

  1

  Trustee Savings Bank PLC

  2

  Timber Trades Training Association

  6

  Wolsely Centres Ltd.

  2

  F. W. Woolworth PLC

  4

  Yorkshire Bank PLC

  1

  Total

  845

  Personal Incomes
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Paymaster General what proportion of the population eligible for employment have an income below (a) £80, (b) £100 and (c) £120 per week.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The term "eligible for employment" does not have a sufficiently precise meaning to enable me to answer the hon. Member's question.

  Minimum Earnings
  Mr. Bellingham
  asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the Council of Europe's decency threshold in relation to minimum levels of earnings.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  There is no such thing as a Council of Europe threshold for a minimum acceptable level of earnings. None has ever been endorsed either by any member state of the Council of Europe or by its Governmental Committee on the European Social Charter. Nor does the Charter refer to a percentage of average earnings which should be regarded as an acceptable minimum. Proposals frequently made by the Low Pay Unit and others for a wage minimum of 68 per cent. or any other percentage of average earnings do not therefore carry the authority of the Council of Europe or its members.

  In my opinion, all such proposals for a statutory minimum wage in this country would have the effect of raising the level of unemployment.

  Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
  Dr. Michael Clark
  asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received regarding the quality and quantity of staff employed by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 27]: The Select Committee on Energy, in its Second Report published last month, recommended that urgent attention be given "to ensuring that the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate can recruit and retain sufficient staff of sufficient quality to discharge all its responsibilities". I have had discussions with the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, Her Majesty's chief inspector of nuclear installations and officials of the Health and Safety Executive concerning recruitment matters for the inspectorate. I have received no other representations on these matters during the last six months.

  The Health and Safety Commission will shortly launch a recruitment campaign for the inspectorate on the basis of increased salaries.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Butter
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current level of butter stocks in intervention storage following the recent distribution of butter.

  Mr. Gummer
  The free food scheme, under which 13,623 tonnes of butter were released to charitable organisations, ended on 31 March 1987 when intervention stocks amounted to 222,810 tonnes.

  Income Maintenance Scheme
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now introduce an income maintenance scheme to guarantee to those farmers affected by radiation from the Chernobyl disaster that their level of income will be sustained at a level equivalent, in real terms, to their average income of the three years prior to the Chernobyl disaster, and that this will be guaranteed for however long their farming is affected by radiation consequences of Chernobyl.

  Mr. Gummer
  In full consultation with the farmers' unions, the Government introduced three compensation schemes to assist sheep producers whose enterprises have suffered disruption from the movement and slaughter restrictions introduced in the wake of the Chernobyl incident. These schemes covered losses of variable premium and market price on lambs; losses in market price on all sheep which needed to be marked under the release scheme; and a third element, in the form of a headage payment, to assist in meeting the extra costs incurred by producers in retaining sheep on farms beyond their normal marketing dates. The second of these schemes, which is still in operation and has no termination date, was modified recently to provide for individual lot valuations.

  As a further step, we expect to be announcing shortly details of an additional compensation scheme reflecting the extra costs of handling sheep prior to release from the restricted areas.
  322
  These arrangements, and our efforts to ensure that producers' husbandry and marketing patterns are disrupted as little as possible, mean that a further scheme to guarantee returns at historic levels would be inappropriate.

  Food Research
  Mr. Shersby
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report, in tabular form, details of all food research projects currently being sponsored by his Department giving details of the amount being spent on each project, the location at which the work is being undertaken and the name of the principal researchers involved.

  Mr. Jopling
  The number of food research projects commissioned by my Ministry is of the order of several hundreds. Compilation of the comprehensive details requested requires the expenditure of considerable resources. Furthermore, many of the projects for the current financial year have not yet been finalised so that for these projects, all of the required information is not yet available.

  In the meantime, I have arranged for the Commission review report on food safety, containing (in appendix 2) the national programme of food research and development, published in 1985, to be placed in the Library of the House. This contains much of the information requested for the years 1984–85. We expect to publish the revised programme updated for the year 1986–87 later this year.

  Nurseries
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards the introduction of an approval scheme for nurseries.

  Mr. Jopling
  I am pleased to announce the introduction with effect from 1 July of a voluntary scheme under which nurseries which maintain high standards will be able to qualify for approval by the Ministry. The scheme is directed at enterprises which produce plants (toher than vegetables) or bulbs for export. I hope that it can be developed so that approved premises would in future be subject of less intensive pre-export inspections. This would mean that lower charges would apply to the inspection of plants and bulbs grown on approved premises. The scope for reduced inspections will be considered in the late summer with a view to operating differential charges early in 1988 if the scheme proves practicable and effective.

  Approval will be given only to enterprises which meet very high standards of plant health, hygiene and management. The assessment of enterprises which apply for approval will cover pest and disease control, soil and crop management, facilities, management structure, tidiness and hygiene.

  A fee of £50 will be payable on application for approval under the scheme: the fee for growers registered in the Ministry's plant health propagation scheme will be £25.

  The Ministry's plant health and seeds inspectors will shortly be in contact with all exporters of bulbs and plants and will provide a leaflet explaining how the new scheme will operate.

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the transfer of milk quotas.

  Mr. Jopling
  I am aware of the concern being expressed about the operation of certain aspects for the rules for the transfer of milk quota with land. A number of difficult legal and practical questions have been raised and my colleagues and I have concluded that it would be appropriate to examine these fully with all those concerned before deciding on any possible solutions. A consultation paper will be issued this week discussing the issues involved and inviting comment from interested organisations. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Regional Organisation
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement about the recent review which examined his Department's regional organisation.

  Mr. Jopling
  I announced in a written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 2 February that I was considering a report on a review of my Department's regional organisation.

  Since then, I have received representations about the report from a number of right hon. and hon. Members, from my regional panel chairmen, the main organisations representing the farming industry, local authorities and their associations, and a range of other interested organisations and individuals. The staff of my Department have also been fully consulted and have made their views known.

  I have carefully considered the report and all the views put forward. I accept that there would be serious disadvantages in changing the Ministry's network of regional and divisional offices. It would entail disruption for the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service at a time when it needs a settled background against which to establish its new commercial method of operating. It is also difficult at present to judge the impact on the work of my staff in the regions of recent and prospective, national and Community, decisions on agricultural policy, the rural economy and protection of the environment. I have therefore decided to maintain the existing network of five regional and 19 divisional offices.

  Nevertheless, adjustments need to be made to take account of substantial changes in the distribution of work. I have therefore decided that there should be some reduction in staffing to match current needs.

  I have further decided that, with the aim of improving efficiency, management of the regional organisation should be unified under five regional directors, whilst maintaining the state veterinary service under central management by the Chief Veterinary Officer. Appropriate changes will also be made in headquarters management structure.

  Finally, internal procedures are to be changed to involve professional staff of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service more closely in the management of its support staff.

  These changes are to be introduced by stages, starting later this year. They will ensure the Ministry can fulfil the complete range of its responsibilities in the regions with increased efficiency and cost effectiveness.

  Milk Producers
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are available to help milk producers the fat content of whose milk was abnormally low in 1985–86 and who as a result face a disproportionate penalty under the milk quota system.

  Mr. Jopling
  The milk quota rules on penalties for increases in butterfat which came into effect last October introduced a fixed base year of 1985–86. This created particular difficulty for producers whose fat content had been unusually low that year. I am pleased to say that following our representations the European Commission has recognised this problem and has now made provision for member states to allow an alternative prior base year in cases where the fat content was affected by an exceptional event. I believe this will be of very considerable assistance to many milk producers. We are discussing the implementation of this measure with the industry and full details will be announced in due course.

  Children's Food
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what definition of young children he now uses when considering requirements relating to foods sold as being suitable for young children.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 566]: The Food Labelling Regulations 1984 include special provisions for foods indicating that they are either suitable or specially prepared for babies or young children. The proposals that I have recently circulated to amend the Colouring in Food Regulations 1973 would prohibit the use of colours, with three exceptions, in food specially prepared for babies or young children. In neither case is any definition of young children included; an indication of the intended consumers is sufficient to attract these specific provisions.

  Marginal Areas
  Sir Peter Mills
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures the Government have taken since 1979 to support farming in marginal areas.

  Mr. Jopling
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 565]: The Government have offered substantial support to farmers in the marginal lands through special measures in their designated less favoured areas. These were extended by 1·2 million hectares (14 per cent.) in 1984 and as a result 36,000 additional holdings became eligible for special benefits. These include hill livestock compensatory allowances, enhanced rates of capital grants, grants for craft and tourism projects (since 1985) and special support for Scottish crofters.

  Expenditure on the additional less favoured areas support since 1979 has been:

  £ million

  1979–80

  111·4

  1980–81

  113·5

  1981–82

  102·8

  1982–83

  119·6

  1983–84

  123·5

  1984–85

  129·7

  1985–86

  137·9

  1986–87

  140·9

  325
  (Figures are taken from Annual Reviews of Agriculture 1984 to 1987.)

  In addition, an exceptional weather aid worth £16·7 million was paid to many livestock producers in the less favoured areas in 1985.

  Other Government measures have also been of particular assistance to farmers in less favoured areas. The wool guarantee has increased in the period from 115p/kg to 129p/kg which has helped producers develop wool quality. This has increased British wool exports notably to Japan where our exports have risen from £870,000 in 1980 to £8·5 million in 1985. The environmentally sensitive areas scheme which I have introduced is of particular value to marginal farmers since it helps to protect some areas of traditional, less intensive farming. I announced in February that the funding devoted to this scheme was to be doubled as part of a package of measures to encourage alternative land use and increase diversity on farms. These measures will provide further useful opportunities for those in marginal areas and include a new farm woodland scheme; grants for on-farm diversification and more emphasis on novel crops and livestock in our research development and advisory programmes.

  Fishing
  Sir Peter Mills
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures the Government have taken since 1979 to support the British fishing industry.

  Mr. Jopling
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 564]: Agreement on the common fisheries policy (CFP) in January 1983 was a major achievement which was welcomed by the United Kingdom industry because of the stability it provides and because it allows the industry to plan future activities with increasing confidence. It was particularly welcome as it marked the close of a period of instability due largely to reduced distant water opportunities following the establishment of 200-mile fisheries limits.

  The agreement, which reflects a delicate balance of interests, includes satisfactory provisions on access to coastal waters and the Shetland box, allocation of national quotas, technical conservation measures and the Community's control and enforcement regime.

  In April 1985 the negotiations between the Community of Ten and two applicant countries, Spain and Portugal, on the terms of their accession to the Community on 1 January 1986, were concluded on a basis which, while being fair to the new member states, fully preserved United Kingdom fishing interests and the existing balance of the CFP.

  Under the United Kingdom presidency of the Fisheries Council from July to December 1986 we secured the full-scale revision of the regulation on technical conservation measures. Agreement was reached on a staged increase in the minimum mesh size for the North sea to 90mm by 1989, on retention of the mesh size derogation for vessels below 300 bhp fishing for sole, on improvements in the rules governing beam trawling within the 12-mile inshore zone (including the reintroduction of an 8m aggregate beam length) and on the maintenance of the key restrictions on industrial fisheries.

  Substantial improvements were alse made under the United Kingdom presidency to the Community's control and enforcement arrangements including increased powers for Community inspectors, tighter control of over-fishing
  326
  and, for the first time, we have established the principle that a member state which over-fishes its national quota to the extent that other member states are prevented from fully taking theirs, will now be required to compensate the disadvantaged member states, thus providing a real incentive not to over-fish.

  In each of the last three years we have managed to secure agreement on the TACs and quotas for the year ahead before the actual start of the fishing year and in 1986, under the United Kingdom presidency, we also negotiated a long-term agreement with Norway on the share out of North sea herring, an issue which has caused major problems in the past.

  On the market support side, a revised regime was introduced in 1983 which provides a system of degressive compensation, by which fishermen's co-operatives are eligible for partial reimbursement from FEOGA of losses made on the sale of the main species of fish. In addition, there is provision for private storage subsidies and import duties. In 1986 the EC budget for fisheries was 41 mecu. Domestic regulations have been introduced to back up Community requirements for the grading of a wide range of fish species according to size and quality.

  A number of measures have been taken to improve the protection of the marine environment. These include the enactment of part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, which has introduced more comprehensive controls over the disposal of waste at sea; the introduction last year of a new liquid discharge authorisation for BNFL Sellafield, which embodied a further tightening of controls to ensure the continued reduction of levels of radioactivity released to the Irish sea; and the bringing forward of provisions to regulate the use of anti-fouling paints containing tributyl tin (TBT) in the aquatic environment. At the same time, the scientific and other resources in my Department devoted to the protection of the aquatic environment from pollution have been increased.

  In 1980–82 the Government provided special financial assistance to the fishing industry in a period of uncertainty prior to the agreement of the CFP in 1983. Under the fishing vessels temporary support scheme some £55 million in aid was given to the industry.

  In 1983 we were the first member state to implement the Community fisheries structures package through the Fishing Vessels (Financial Assistance) Scheme 1983 which provided grants for the decommissioning and laying-up of vessels, exploratory voyages and joint ventures—together with aids for building and modernising vessels. These measures expired at the end of December 1986 and a new system of financial support for the sea fisheries industry was agreed by the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 3–4 December 1986. This was a Council regulation covering the first five years of a 10-year programme for the modernisation and adaptation of the fishing fleet: modernisation of port facilities, promotion of some fish species and the development of fish farming. The Community financial provision up to 1991 is 800 mecu (£500 million. Arrangements are in hand to lay before Parliament draft orders to implement the main provisions of this Community regulation.

  A new commercial strategy for Torry research station was introduced in 1985 under which the station was set an annual receipts target of £400,000 by the end of the third year.
  327
  The Sea Fish Industry Authority's five-year sea fish industry development programme (1984–89) is promoting the consumption and marketing of fish. The Government have already paid £8 million towards the first three years of this programme and a further £4 million has now been allocated for the final two years.

  More recently at the Council of EC Fisheries Ministers on 5 May, we achieved a generous cod quota for 1987 of 2,700 tonnes at Spitzbergen and 850 tonnes in the important fishing grounds of the north-west Atlantic.

ENERGY

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether the Government's post-Chernobyl review of emergency plans and procedures for British nuclear power stations will examine the size of emergency planning zones; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he expects the results of the Government's post-Chernobyl review of emergency plans and procedures for British nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 22 April, columns 547–551. Work on the review is continuing.

  Department of Energy: Breakdown of RD & D Expenditure 1974–1979

  £ millions (per centage share)

  1974–75

  1975–76

  1976–77

  1977–78

  1978–79

  Total

  Non-nuclear

  Coal

  —

  —

  0·3 (2·7)

  1·9(10·4)

  0·5 (2·4)

  2·7

  Energy Efficiency

  —

  0·5 (7·2)

  1·0(9·0)

  2·5(13·7)

  3·6(17·3)

  7·6

  Renewables

  Oil and gas production

  4·0 (100)

  6·4 (92·8)

  9·8 (88·3)

  13·9(75·9)

  16·7 (80·3)

  50·8

  Oilfield delineation and safety

  Total non·nuclear

  4·0 (100)

  6·9 (100)

  11·1 (100)

  18·3 (100)

  20·8 (100)

  61·1

  Government expenditure on nuclear waste disposal R & D (includes estimated expenditure by D. Energy/UKAEA, DoE, MAFF)

  1·9

  2·9

  3·6

  4·5

  6·5

  19·4

  The figures for 1979–87 are as follows:

  Department of Energy: breakdown of RD&D expenditure 1980–88

  £ million (per.cent share}

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87 (est.)

  1987–88 (plan)

  Total

  Non-Nuclear

  Coal

  1·8 (6·2)

  2·7 (8·1)

  4·6 (10·0)

  30 (7·5)

  3·0 (7·5)

  0·7 (1·7)

  0·6 (1·3)

  1·6 (3·5)

  1·2 (2·3)

  19·2

  Energy efficiency

  8·2 (28·4)

  1·4 (4·2)

  4·1 (8·9)

  6·8 (16·9)

  7·0 (17·5)

  6·6 (16·2)

  8·4 (18·5)

  9·0 (19·6)

  12·1 (23·3)

  169·6

  Renewables

  11·2(33·7)

  17·3 (37·5)

  14·2 (35·3)

  11·3(28·2)

  14·0 (34·3)

  12·7(28·0)

  11·6(25·3)

  13·7 (26·4)

  Oil and Gas production

  18·9 (65·4)

  3·7(11·2)

  4·3 (9·3)

  3·2 (8·0)

  4·5(11·2)

  4·4 (10·8)

  5·7 (12·6)

  4·6(10·0)

  6·2 (11·9)

  183·5

  Oilfield delineation and safety

  14·2 (42·8)

  15·8(34·3)

  13·0(32·3)

  14·2 (35·6)

  15·1 (37·0)

  18·0(39·6)

  19·0(41·5)

  18·7 (36·1)

  Total non-nuclear

  28·9 (100)

  33·2 (100)

  46·1 (100)

  40·2 (100)

  40·0(100)

  40·8 (100)

  45·4 (100)

  45·8 (100)

  51·9(100)

  372·3

  Government expenditure on nuclear waste disposal R&D1

  9·5

  14·9

  15·5

  17·0

  13·3

  13·8

  15·1

  15·1

  18·0

  132·2

  1 includes expenditure by Department of Energy, UKAEA, DoE, MAFF

  Energy Research
  Mr. Hardy
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of resources directed to research in the fields of energy were allocated to nuclear and to non-nuclear matters, respectively, in the last two years; and which are expected to be so allocated in each year to 1989.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Department of Enegy expenditure on non-nuclear research and development from 1974 to 1979 amounted to £61 million. From 1979 to 1987 it has amounted to £372 million. Comparisons with research and development expenditure on nuclear power which supplies over a fifth of our electricity would not be meaningful.

  Mr. Hardy
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the amount and the proportion of the resources devoted to energy research which has been or will be provided for coal technology. energy efficiency, renewable resources to matters relating to onshore and offshore oil and gas; how spending on those matters compares with that devoted to research relating to nuclear waste disposal over the period 1980 to 1987; and what figures are projected for 1987–89.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The figures for the years 1974–79 are as follows:

  Coastal Erosion
  Mr. Craigen
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his reply of 11 May, Official Report, column 2, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill, his Deprtment will initiate studies into the longer-term effects of North sea oil production operations on coastal erosion and the sea bed.

  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  North Sea oil and gas production operations have no appreciable effects on the processes of erosion of the coastal zone and sea bed. My Department has no plans to initiate any such studies.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Sampson Report
  Mr. Meadowcroft
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the possibility of publishing in part or whole the Sampson report in relation to the conduct of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  Mr. Tom King
  As I have already informed the House, I shall make a statement to Parliament at the earliest appropriate time on any aspects of the report that fall within my responsibility. In keeping with the normal practice in these matters, the report will not be published.

  Employment (Non-discrimination)
  Mr. Duffy
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to end discrimination in employment against Catholics in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  Religious discrimination in employment is illegal in Northern Ireland and we are determined that it should be eliminated. Proposals to strengthen existing laws and institutions were published last September in a consultative paper, "Equality of Opportunity in Employment in Northern Ireland". We are now considering the many comments received on this document, with a view to legislation and any other necessary action.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. Flannery
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to discuss the Anglo-Irish Agreement with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Ireland in the light of recent sectarian killings.

  Mr. Tom King
  We intend to discuss security matters at the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference, as the joint statement issued after the last meeting records.

  Housing (Southern Region)
  Mr. Mallon
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive about new housing programmes in the southern region.

  Mr. Needham
  None. As indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's question on 8 April, at columns 247–48, the distribution of resources to its regions within agreed objectives and priorities is a matter for the Housing Executive. However, I keep in close touch with the chairman on broader policy issues.

  Security
  Mr. Archer
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) earlier today.

  Political Discussions
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his most recent political discussions in the Province.

  Mr. Tom King
  In recent weeks I have had meetings with the Alliance party, the Social Democratic and Labour party, and the Workers party. I regret that the Unionist parties have not yet taken up the offers which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I have made to hold discussions with them. The meetings that I have held have provided a valuable opportunity for constructive discussion of a range of issues which are important to Northern Ireland's future.

  Listening Device, Middletown
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 13 March, Official Report, columns 309–10 when the listening device was found in the Republic of Ireland close to Middletown security base.

  Mr. Scott
  I understand that the device was found on 31 December 1986.

  Republic of Ireland (Meetings)
  Mr. Canavan
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what subjects were discussed at his last meeting with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  I last met Irish Ministers at the meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference on 22 April. We discussed security co-operation and measures aimed at promoting equality of opportunity in employment. Details are set out in the joint statement issued after the meeting. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Scheduled Offences
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were charged with scheduled offences in Northern Ireland in the first six months of 1986 and in the second half of 1986.

  Mr. Scott
  A total of 368 persons were charged with scheduled offences in the first half of 1986, and 287 in the second half.

  Stolen Weapons
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many weapons were stolen in Northern Ireland in 1986; if he will indicate whether these were stolen from the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Ulster Defence Regiment, the Army or private citizens; and if he will provide a breakdown according to whether the weapons were bullet-firing, shotguns, air weapons, etc.
  331
  Mr. Scott
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Stolen Vehicles
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list, by Royal Ulster Constabulary division, the number of vehicles stolen in Northern Ireland in 1986, the number of stolen vehicles recovered and the number of persons proceeded against for offences related to taking vehicles without their owner's consent;

  (2) how many fatal casualties there were in 1986 arising from incidents where security forces in Northern Ireland opened fire on vehicles taken without their owner's consent.

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

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the manpower strength of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and its reserve, as between full-time, part-time, male and female, operatives as at 31 December 1986.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is as follows:

  Strength of RUC and RUC Reserve as at 31 December 1986

  Male

  Female

  Total

  RUC

  7,581

  653

  8,234

  RUC Reserve

  Full Time

  2,754

  —

  2,754

  Part Time

  1,373

  287

  1,660

  Blocked Streams, Ballywater
  Mr. John David Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the result of the investigation into blocked and overgrown streams at lands at 52 Dunover road, Whitechurch, Ballywater, Co. Down; and what maintenance has been undertaken as promised in his letter of 14 October 1986.

  Mr. Viggers
  The watercourse was inspected on 23 October 1986. Although one stretch was badly overgrown the blockage was minor. The riparian was advised and

  Year and scheme

  Number of payments

  Grant paid

  1980–81

  Farm and Horticulture Development

  341

  108,314

  Agricultural and Horticultural Development

  —

  —

  Farm Capital Grant

  2,957

  1,112,271

  Agricultural and Horticultural Grant

  3

  1,526

  TOTAL

  3,301

  1,222,111

  1981–82

  Farm and Horticulture Development

  391

  161,380

  Agricultural and Horticultural Development

  —

  —

  Farm Capital Grant

  2,178

  781,111

  Agricultural and Horticultural Grant

  456

  190,192

  TOTAL

  3,025

  1,132,683

  332
  asked to clear the blockage. Re-inspection on 2 December 1986 showed that the blockage had been removed and that the watercourse was flowing freely.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. John David Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why there has been a delay in implementing the decisions of the Planning Appeals Commission in relation to applications A157/1986 and A212/1986; when he implemented these decisions, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Decisions have not yet been made by the Planning Appeals Commission in relation to applications for listed building consent A157/1986 and A212/1986. The appeal hearing in respect of these applications has been fixed for 27 May 1987.

  Security Forces (Firearms Offences)
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list separately for the Royal Ulster Constabulary reserves, the Ulster Defence Regiment and the Army, the number of members and ex-members of these forces charged with and the number convicted of, scheduled offences committed, or allegedly committed, by members of the security forces while using firearms for each years since 1969.

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

  Land Reclamation
  Miss Maynard
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will state the total expenditure by way of grant-aid on land reclamation in the Province, the area of land which has been reclaimed, and the number of farmers or landowners who have benefited, in respect of each of the years 1980 to 1986, under each of the following schemes: (1) the farm capital grant scheme, (2) the farm and horticulture development scheme. (3) the agricultural and horticultural grant scheme, (4) the agricultural and horticultural development scheme, and (5) the agriculture improvement scheme (EC).

  Mr. Viggers
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 27]: The expenditure per scheme (where appropriate) for the financial years 1980–81 to 1985–86 inclusive is:
  333

  Year and scheme

  Number of payments

  Grant paid

  1982–83

  Farm and Horticulture Development

  613

  289,213

  Agricultural and Horticultural Development

  10

  11,445

  Farm Capital Grant

  1,333

  487,548

  Agricultural and Horticultural Grant

  1,149

  349,551

  TOTAL

  3,105

  1,137,757

  1983–84

  Farm and Horticulture Development

  456

  192,449

  Agricultural and Horticultural Development

  21

  15,838

  Farm Capital Grant

  606

  203,872

  Agricultural and Horticultural Grant

  1,534

  347,453

  TOTAL

  2,617

  759,612

  1984–85

  Farm and Horticulture Development

  363

  178,516

  Agricultural and Horticultural Development

  60

  45,061

  Farm Capital Grant

  294

  101,059

  Agricultural and Horticultural Grant

  1,898

  748,914

  TOTAL

  2,615

  1,073,550

  1985–86

  Farm and Horticulture Development

  184

  60,419

  Agricultural and Horticultural Development

  101

  80,373

  Farm Capital Grant

  11

  4,490

  Agricultural and Horticultural Grant

  1,256

  954,639

  TOTAL

  1,552

  1,099,921

  The area of land which has been reclaimed and the number of farmers or landowners who have benefited could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The above table gives the number of payments, which will exceed the number of individual beneficiaries as farmers may submit a number of claims per item of expenditure.

  Computers
  Mr. Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those companies to which his Department has awarded contracts for the supply of word processing hardware and software in each year since 1984; and what was the value of each contract.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1987]: The companies are as follows but for reasons of commercial confidentiality the value of individual contracts is not disclosed.

  AES

  Digital Equipment Co. Ltd.

  ICL

  McDonnell Douglas Information Systems Ltd.

  Rank Xerox

  Wang

  Wordplex

  In addition the Northern Ireland Office has obtained an office automation and electronic mail system from Wang which includes word processing facilities.

  Mr. Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on (a) word processing hardware and (b) word processing software in each year since 1984; and what is projected expenditure for fnancial years 1987–88 and 1988–89.
  334
  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1987]Separate figures for hardware and software are not available as in all major instances word processing systems have been purchased as integrated packages. The following figures are in respect of dedicated word processing systems:

  £K

  1984–85

  325

  1985–86

  438

  1986–87

  543

  1987–88

  341·5

  1988–89

  357

  Mr. Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those companies to which his Department has awarded contracts for the supply of desk top publishing hardware and desk top publishing software in each year since 1984; and what was the value of each contract.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to h is reply, 13 May 1987]: The information is as follows but for reasons of commercial confidentiality the value of individual contracts is not disclosed:

  Rank Xerox

  Mr. Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on (a) desk top publishing hardward and (b) desk top publishing software in each year since 1984; and what is projected expenditure for financial years 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1987]: The information is as follows
  335

  £K

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Desk Top Publishing Hardware

  —

  —

  8

  21·5

  7·5

  Desk Top Publishing Software

  —

  —

  1·5

  2·5

  2·5

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. McTaggart
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the chairman of British Rail improving the frequency of direct passenger and freight trains between Scotland and the continent, to achieve optimum benefits for Scotland from the Channel tunnel link.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  British Rail are already fully alive to the commercial opportunities opened up by the Channel tunnel to expand through rail services to the Continent from all areas of Great Britain. A new clause requiring BR to plan for the dispersal of tunnel rail services to various parts of the country has now been added to the Channel Tunnel Bill in another place.

  Coaches (Westminster Bridge)
  Mr. Higgins
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take in the interests of road safety to prevent coaches discharging their passengers into the middle of the road on Westminster bridge.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Traffic regulation measures are a matter for Lambeth borough council and Westminster city council; enforcement is a matter for the Metropolitan police. The Department is encouraging the adoption of a code of practice prepared by the Bus and Coach Council, which covers among other things arrangements for picking up and setting down passengers.

  Heathrow Airport (Aircraft Altitudes)
  Mr. Higgins
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the maximum height at which Boeing 747 aircraft landing at Heathrow airport can approach at distances of (a) 18 and (b) 25 miles: and what minimum height is specified by the appropriate authority.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Minimum heights at which aircraft generally may fly are specified in rules 5 and 25 of the rules of the Air and Air Traffic Control Regulations 1985 (Statutory Instrument No. 1985/1714). 1 have arranged for copies of these rules to be placed in the Library. Subject to the rules, the heights of aircraft approaching Heathrow are the responsibility of the National Air Traffic Services. NATS' air traffic controllers allocate heights taking into account safety, efficient use of airspace and aircraft performance capability. Generally, aircraft will follow a continuous descent path from cruising altitudes and could be expected to be at an altitude of approximately(a) 5,000 ft at 18 miles distance and (b) 7,000 ft at 25 miles distance.

  Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the members of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, giving their occupations and the area of the country in which they reside.
  336
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The names and occupations of the members of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee are as follows. Details of the areas in which the members reside is not generally held by the Department.

  Sir Peter Baldwin KCB

  Chairman, South East Thames Regional Health Authority.

  Peter Large Esq. MBE

  Chairman, Joint Committee on Mobility for the Disabled.

  Bert Massie Esq. OBE

  Assistant Director, Disablement Services

  Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation.

  William Buchanan Esq.

  Special Adviser on Disability

  British Railways Board.

  Mrs. Jill Allen-King MBE

  Vice-Chairman, Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People.

  Clive Davis Esq.

  Head of Social Service Department

  Royal National Institute for the Deaf.

  John Hannam Esq. MP

  Secretary, All Party Disablement Group.

  Allan Beard Esq. CB

  Treasurer of Motability and Chairman of Access to the Skies Committee.

  Cliff Twort Esq.

  National Secretary, Transport and General Workers Union.

  Lady Greengross

  Director, Age Concern.

  Robert Taylor Esq.

  Director, Birmingham Airport.

  John Dobinson Esq.

  Director, Access Committee for England.

  Mrs. Claudia Flanders OBE

  Transport and Disability Consultant.

  Joe Hennessy Esq. OBE

  A Vice President, Disabled Drivers Association.

  Trevor Meadows Esq.

  Director, National Advisory Unit for Community Transport.

  Keith Brown Esq.

  Board Member, London Regional Transport.

  Dr. Adrian Stokes OBE

  A Vice-President, Disabled Drivers Motor Club.

  James Elder-Woodward Esq.

  Social Work Department, Strathclyde Regional Council.

  Bob Ley Esq.

  South Wales Transport (retired).

  Leslie Stephenson Esq.

  Thoresen Car Ferries Ltd.

  James Ross Esq.

  Director, Welfare, Legal and Consultative Services, MENCAP.

  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of meetings of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Reports from the committee will be made available in the Library. The minutes of its regular meetings are working documents internal to the committee.

  The committee may from time to time hold public sessions and the minutes of any such sessions would be made widely available. In addition I believe that the committee hopes shortly to present to the Secretary of State and to publish its first annual report.
  337
  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the procedures for ensuring that disabled persons' organisations can be kept informed of the deliberations of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Many of the committee's members are themselves representatives of disabled persons' organisations. It is also open to any organisation to suggest matters for the committee's consideration at any time.

  Community Buses
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list those bus services operated by community buses registered with the Traffic Commissioners by region; and how many of those buses serve rural areas;

  (2) if he will list the bus services that have been issued with community bus permits in the United Kingdom for 1985, 1986 and 1987;

  (3) if he will list how many community bus services have been registered each year from 1979 to 1986.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The following community bus committees, listed by traffic area, have registered local, mostly rural, bus services. A detailed list of routes is not readily available. No information is readily available for previous years.

  North Eastern

  Gypsy Rider (Burton Fleming area).

  Wolds.

  North Western

  Barnoldswick and Earby.

  Clwyd.

  Langwathby and District.

  West Midlands

  Shipston on Stour.

  Eastern

  Aldborough Village.

  Central Notts.

  Coggeshall.

  Denton and Alburgh.

  Docking.

  Gay ton and Tiffleld.

  Grendon.

  High Suffolk.

  Lilbourne.

  Rushton.

  Sharrington Village.

  Soar Valley.

  Upper Waveney.

  Wells and District.

  South Wales

  Nil.

  Western

  Brannel.

  Exe Valley.

  Exmoor Rotary Club (Dulverton area).

  Gweek Area.

  Harbourne.

  Isle of Wedmore.

  Lanreath and Pelynt.

  Lanteglos.

  Lerryn Area.

  Lizard.

  Minety.

  North Cotswold.

  St. Kew.

  338

  St. Breward Area.

  Tavistock.

  Thamesdown.

  Urchfont.

  Villager (Stow on the Wold, Chipping Norton, Morton in the Marsh area).

  West Penwith.

  South Eastern

  Bexhill.

  Broughton and Mottisford.

  Cuckmere.

  Downland.

  Hailsham Town.

  Harting.

  Meon Valley.

  Meopham.

  Stanford in the Vale.

  Sutton Bignor and Barlavington.

  Metropolitan

  Nil.

  Scottish

  Broch.

  Colvend.

  Deeside.

  Ettrick and Yarrow.

  Fyvie.

  Hatton.

  Insch.

  Ordinquhill.

  Pitmedden.

  Southdean and Hobkirk.

  Strathdon.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many community bus services registered with the Traffic Commissioners claimed the transitional rural bus grant in 1986–87.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Transitional rural bus grant was claimed on 61 community bus services in 1986–87.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the total fuel duty rebate paid in 1986–87 to community bus services broken down by county.

  Mr. Mitchell
  The total fuel duty rebate paid to community bus services in 1986–87 by county is as follows:

  £

  Borders

  250·00

  Cornwall

  187·21

  Devon

  2,194·90

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,207·87

  Essex

  935·31

  Gloucestershire

  847·66

  Hampshire

  1,157·44

  Hereford and Worcester

  173·61

  Humberside

  380·53

  Kent

  141·12

  Lancashire

  261·76

  Norfolk

  678·28

  Northamptonshire

  2,008·75

  Nottinghamshire

  1,198·02

  Oxfordshire

  930·52

  Somerset

  340·48

  Suffolk

  482·21

  Wiltshire

  842·83

  M25 (Signal Gantries)
  Mr. Speed
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state what practical steps are being taken to reduce the time taken to replace signal gantries on the M25

  339
  motorway; why contracts for this work are not let on a lane rental basis; and what is the longest traffic jam recorded on the M25 in the current year as a result of these works.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The installation of the new gantries could be completed more quickly only if more onerous traffic restrictions were to be employed.

  Lane rental which is appropriate for major maintenance contracts would not have provided the answer here.

  We have no record of the longest traffic jam. Significant delays have occurred particularly for westbound traffic in the morning peak hours.

  Mr. Winston Wright (Letter)
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport why the Treasury Solicitor, acting on his instructions, has failed to reply to the letter dated 4 September 1986 from Messrs Dunn and Baker, solicitors, acting on behalf of Mr. Winston George Wright of Westcott Farm, Cullompton; and whether he will instruct the Treasury Solicitor to settle this matter forthwith, and to make an interim payment on account.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Treasury Solicitor replied to the letter on 4 September 1986 and has written twice subsequently to Mr. Wright's solicitors. The Department will seek an early meeting with Messrs Dunn and Baker. It is hoped that this will settle the outstanding matters, including the question of an interim payment.

  Transport and the Environment
  Dr. Owen
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much it cost to produce the booklet "Transport and the Environment"; how many copies have been printed; and at what cost.

  Mr. Moore
  The Department of Transport's contribution to the European Year of the Environment, the booklet "Transport and the Environment", cost £13,125 to design and produce, and £25,100 to print 20,000 copies.

DEFENCE

  RAF Binbrook
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of men stationed at, the number of civilians employed at, and the annual total cost of RAF Binbrook for each of the last eight years.

  Mr. Freeman
  The present cost accounting system for RAF stations has been in operation for only the last five years. During this period the annual direct operating costs at RAF Binbrook have been as follows:

  £ million

  1982–83

  27·1

  1983–84

  31·6

  1984–85

  39·3

  1985–86

  37·8

  11986–87

  40·0

  1 Estimate.

  Over the same period the number of civilian staff, including part-time employees, as at 1 April each year, has been as follows:
  340

  Number

  1983

  134

  1984

  111

  1985

  111

  1986

  113

  1987

  111

  It is not our practice, for security reasons, to publish the number of senior personnel at individual stations or establishments.

  DROPS
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will identify those parts of the DROPS requirement which emerged in 1979–80 which were not envisaged prior to this date during the period when the concept was still known, inter alia, as the Ampliroll system; when such aspects of the present DROPS concept became part of the user's DROPS requirement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement will write to my right hon. Friend.

  Atomic Tests (Christmas Island)
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether accurate records are available listing every service man who was at Christmas Island during the atomic tests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not normal for a list to be compiled showing the names of all those present at a particular time and place, but the extensive searches undertaken in support of the health study have identified a high proportion of those whose participation meets the definitions set by NRPB for inclusion.

  Ulster Defence Regiment
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average time served by officers and other ranks of the Ulster Defence Regiment separately for full-time and part-time officers as at 31 December 1986.

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

  Royal Naval College, Greenwich
  Mr. D. E. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list those Government Departments which have, in the last five years, made use of the JASON nuclear reactor facility at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich; and if he will identify the purpose and date of each such occasion;

  (2) if he will list those commercial companies which have in the last five years made use of the JASON nuclear reactor facility at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich; and if he will identify the purpose and the date of each such occasion;

  (3) if he will list those university and polytechnic departments which have, in the last five years, made use of the JASON nuclear reactor facility at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich; and if he will identify the purpose and date of each such occasion.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The only Government Department to have used the JASON nuclear reactor
  341
  facility at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich, during the last five years is the Ministry of Defence. It has been used on a frequent basis as part of the training provided at the college in support of the Royal Navy nuclear propulsion programme. The output on average from the facility is just about sufficient to power a 60-watt light bulb.

  Infantry Sales Team
  Mr. D. E. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state (a) the reasons for, and the date of the formation of, the infantry sales team, (b) its cost to public funds, (c) its relationship to the Defence Export Services Organisation and (d) the countries visited since its inception.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A small infantry sales team was established in 1986. In addition to its normal duties it holds itself ready, under the direction of the Defence Export Services Organisation, to assist United Kingdom manufacturers in the sale and promotion of British infantry equipment overseas. Apart from the pay and allowances of the team members, all other costs are borne by the commercial companies involved. Since 1986 the team has visited the following countries:

  Indonesia

  Luxemburg

  USA

  France

  Canada

  Saudi Arabia

  Turkey

  Jordan

  Malaysia

  Defence Contractors
  Mr. Deakins
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many inquiries have been carried out by the Ministry of Defence police into allegations of crime in defence contractors in each of the past five years; whether the results in each case were reported to Ministers; and what action was taken in each case where the inquiry showed that crime had been committed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 March 1987, c. 322]: Over the five years October 1981 to October 1986, Ministry of Defence police inquired into 35 allegations of serious crime. Of these, nine were classified as "no crime"; nine were resolved by administrative action; eight by way of prosecution; the remaining nine are still under investigation.

  Liquid Fuels
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what assumption for (a) the world oil price in dollars and (b) the exchange rate between the pound sterling and the dollar, his Department has estimated spending on liquid fuels for the financial year 1987–88.

  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1987, c.179]: In accordance with the usual conventions, spending on liquid fuels for the financial year 1987–88, as with other commodities, was estimated on the basis of forecast 1986–87 prices, and on the exchange rates prevailing at the end of June 1986 (the dollar rate then being £1 = $1·50). These estimates varied according to fuel types and the purchasing arrangements concerned and were not based directly on the world oil price in dollars.
  342
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the level of consumption of liquid fuel in petajoules, by his Department in (a) 1984–85, (b) 1985–86, (c) 1 April to 31 December 1985 and (d) 1 April to 31 December 1986.

  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1987, c. 179]: The information is as follows:

  Petajoules

  (a) 1984–85

  117·42

  (b) 1985–86

  109·52

  (c) 1 April to 31 December 1985

  77·76

  (d) 1 April to 31 December 1986

  84·58

  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated level of consumption of liquid fuels in petajoules by his Department in (a) 1986–87, (b) 1987–88.

  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1987, c. 179]: The estimated level of liquid fuel consumption expressed in petajoules for 1986–87 was 115. It is too early to give an equivalent figure for 1987–88, but the amount of fuel available will enable activity levels to be broadly comparable with those of recent normal years.

  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what savings in the annual consumption of liquid fuels in petajoules his Department has achieved as a result of the opening of the Mount Pleasant airport and other investments in the Falklands.

  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1987, c. 179]: The annual consumption of liquid fuels in the Falklands in 1986–87 was reduced by approximately 0·5 petajoules primarily due to the opening of the Mount Pleasant airport complex.

  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of outturn expenditure on liquid fuels, net of appropriation in aid, for the financial year 1986–87.

  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1987, c. 179]: The latest forecast of outturn for 1986–87 on liquid fuels net of appropriations in aid is £351 million.

  United Kingdom-United States of America (Treaties)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all treaties, agreements, memoranda of understanding and other formal arrangements currently in force between the United States of America and the United Kingdom, covering the collaborative research, development and production of defence equipment and British participation in United States defence programmes.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1987, c. 300]: The major arrangements currently in effect between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States covering collaborative research development and production of defence equipment are as follows. We have tried to make these lists as comprehensive as possible. However, there are numerous relatively minor arrangements, particularly in research and information exchange, of which it would be disproportionately costly to attempt to compile a comprehensive schedule. The lists

  343
  do not include arrangements of a classified nature; nor do they cover supplies of British defence equipment to the United States under purely commercial arrangements.

  General

  Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, signed 27 January 1950 (Cmnd. 7894).

  Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America to Facilitate the Exchange of Patents and Technical Information for Defense Purposes, dated 19 January 1953. (Cmnd. 8757).

  Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, signed 19 January 1953.

  United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland General Security Agreement, signed 14 April 1961.

  Agreement Relating to Defense: Weapons Production Program between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, dated 29 June 1962. (Cmnd. 1863).

  United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Memorandum of Understanding Arrangements for Joint Military Development, May 1963.

  The Basic Standardization Agreement Among the Armies of the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, and Australia: 1 October 1964.

  Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland relating to the Principles Governing Cooperation in Research and Development, Production, Procurement and Logistic Support of Defence Equipment dated December 1985.

  Date of Original Arrangement

  Sea systems

  Sea Gnat Decoy System (includes Denmark)

  January 1977

  Sub Harpoon (bilateral)

  August 1981

  NATO Frigate Replacement for the 1990s (includes Canada. France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain)

  May 1984

  Advanced Sea Mine (bilateral)

  September 1986

  Ship launched Harpoon (bilateral)

  October 1986

  Land systems

  Standardization of 155mm howitzers and ammunition (includes Germany)

  February 1969

  Standardization of Main Battle Tank Armament (includes Germany)

  April 1974

  Remotely Piloted Vehicles (bilateral)

  October 1978

  Tow Anti Tank Guided Weapon (bilateral)

  October 1978

  Multiple Launch Rocket System Phase I (includes France, Germany and Italy)

  June 1979

  Acquisition of Non Tactical Vehicles and Spares for US Forces in UK (bilateral)

  July 1979

  Special Armours Information Exchange (bilateral)

  September 1979

  Rapier for USAF Bases in UK and Turkey (bilateral)

  February 1981

  Second Generation Anti Tank Guided Weapons (includes France and Germany)

  April 1981

  Multiple Launch Rocket System Phase III (includes France and Germany)

  September 1981

  155mm Autonomous Precision Guided Munitions (includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Turkey)

  June 1986

  Tactical Communications for post 2000 (bilateral)

  April 1987

  Air systems

  Phantom/Hercules Procurement (bilateral)

  February 1965

  344

  Date of Original Arrangement

  Research and Development Cooperation on Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (bilateral)

  April 1972

  JP 233 Air-to-Ground Weapon (bilateral)

  August 1976

  Sky Flash Joint Trials Programme (bilateral)

  March 1977

  NATO AEW & C (includes Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Turkey)

  December 1978

  Sidewinder AIM 9b European Production (includes Germany, Italy and Norway)

  January 1979

  Harrier GR5/AV8-B (bilateral)

  April 1979

  AMRAAM/ASRAAM Family of Weapons (including France and Germany)

  August 1980

  Long Range Stand Off Missile (includes Germany)

  July 1984

  Short Range Anti-Radiation Missile (includes Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy and Netherlands)

  October 1984

  Purchase of AW ACS (bilateral)

  February 1987

  Cooperative Logistics Arrangement (bilateral)

  May 1966

  Cooperation on Fuel Cell Research (bilateral)

  November 1968

  Cooperative Research and Development on Diving (bilateral)

  October 1970

  Development of Personal Radiation Dosimeter (bilateral)

  May 1973

  Mutual Acceptance of Quality Assurance Procedures (bilateral)

  April 1974

  Navstar Satellite Navigation System (includes Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Netherlands)

  May 1978

  Anti Misting Kerosene Studies (bilateral)

  June 1978

  Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (bilateral)

  January 1979

  Multifunctional Information Distribution System (includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Spain)

  January 1980

  Interest Bearing Account with the Federal Reserve Bank for United Kingdom Foreign Military Sales Procurement (bilateral)

  March 1980

  NATO Identification System (includes Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey)

  May 1980

  Mutual Acceptance of Ordnance Test Procedures (bilateral)

  July 1980

  Mutual Acceptance of Test and Evaluation Procedures for Reciprocal Procurement of Defence Equipment (includes France and Germany)

  December 1983

  Millimetre Wave Seekers Programme (bilateral)

  June 1984

  Cooperative Research for the US Strategic Defense Initiative (bilateral)

  December 1985

  Advanced Short Take Off/Vertical Landing Technology Programme (bilateral)

  January 1986

  Airborne Radar Demonstrator Programme (includes France)

  October 1986

  ADA Computer Language, Project Support Environment (includes Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and Spain)

  December 1986

  Universal Modem (bilateral)

  January 1987

  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all treaties, agreements, memoranda of understanding and other formal arrangements currently in force between the United States of America and the United Kingdom covering the exchange of information, materials and designs concerning the research development and production of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1987,c. 300]: The list is as follows:

  345

  (i) The agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for "Co-operation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes" (Cmnd. 537 July 1958) (as amended by Cmnd. 859 November 1959 and Cmnd. 3842 December 1968).

  (ii) The "Polaris Sales Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland the the Government of the United States of America" (Cmnd. 1995 April 1963), as extended to cover the procurement of the Trident missile system.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Questions (Cost)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Lord Privy Seal how many oral questions and written questions were asked during the current Parliament; and at what cost.

  Mr. Biffen
  Up to and including 13 May 1987, 58,770 oral and 124,284 written questions had appeared on the Notice Paper. An estimate of the total cost of answering these questions is not readily available and I refer my hon. Friend to the current average cost figures given in my answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Littleborough and Saddleworth (Mr. Dickens) on 27 April,Official Report, column 56.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Diabetics
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to complete arrangements enabling disposable syringes and needles to be made available for diabetics on prescription free of charge.

  Mr. Newton
  I am glad to be able to announce that, following discussions with manufacturers, we expect to be able by September both to secure sufficient supplies of disposable equipment and to make appropriate arrangements for the safe disposal of the needles, in a quantity which may be of the order of 100 million a year.

  Accordingly, disposable single-use syringes and needles will be available for diabetics on general practitioner prescription from 1 September, throughout the United Kingdom. Since diabetics are exempt from prescription charges, they will be free for adults as well as for children.

  We have been particularly concerned to ensure effective arrangements for safe disposal of the equipment after use. In this respect a number of details remain to be resolved; but we have established that sufficient supplies of a needle-clipping device can be made available from mid August. At the same time as disposable syringes and needles become available on prescription, therefore, such a device will also be made available on prescription.

  The new arrangements will be a significant improvement in service for up to 200,000 diabetics who require regular injections of insulin to maintain the stability of their condition. The greater comfort and convenience of disposables will be particularly helpful for the many children concerned. The estimated cost may well approach £10 million in a full year.

  Community Dietitians
  Mr. Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the district health authorities which
  346
  have community dietitians in post; and which authorities have currently advertised vacancies for community dietitians.

  Mr. Newton
  From the British Dietetic Association vacant appointments list during the last six months the following district health authorities in England have advertised for community dietitians.

  Some of these will be replacements and to cover maternity leave.

  South Birmingham

  South Tees

  Basildon & Thurrock

  Southend

  Kettering

  Haringey

  West Berkshire

  North West Hertfordshire

  East Yorkshire

  Walsall

  Bradford

  Southern Derbyshire

  Richmond, Twickenham & Roehampton

  Nottingham

  Mid Essex

  Waltham Forrest

  North Tees

  West Birmingham

  Wandsworth

  Central Nottinghamshire

  The following list shows the health authorities in England where Community dietitians are employed. The total number employed in England is currently 103.

  AUTHORITIES EMPLOYING COMMUNITY DIETITIAN IN ENGLAND
  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Darlington Health Authority

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Pontefract Health Authority

  Harrogate Health Authority

  Leeds Western Health Authority

  Bradford Health Authority

  Calderdale Health Authority

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  Leicestershire Health Authority

  Central Nottinghamshire Health Authority

  Southern Derbyshire Health Authority

  Nottingham Health Authority

  Doncaster Health Authority

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  Huntingdon Health Authority

  Peterborough Health Authority

  Norwich Health Authority

  Cambridge Health Authority

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Barnet Health Authority

  Paddington and North Kensington Health Authority

  South Bedfordshire Health Authority

  North West Hertfordshire Health Authority

  Brent Health Authority

  Riverside Health Authority

  Wandsworth Health Authority

  Ealing Health Authority

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Basildon and Thurrock Health Authority

  Mid Essex Health Authority

  Redbridge Health Authority

  City and Hackney Health Authority

  Bloomsbury Health Authority

  Tower Hamlets Health Authority

  Waltham Forest Health Authority

  Newham Health Authority

  Hampstead Health Authority

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority

  North West Surrey Health Authority

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton Health Authority

  Croydon Health Authority

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  West Lambeth Health Authority

  Hastings Health Authority

  Lewisham and North Southwark Health Authority

  Eastbourne Health Authority

  Brighton Health Authority

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire Health Authority

  Swindon Health Authority

  Bath Health Authority

  Southampton Health Authority

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  Northampton Health Authority

  East Berkshire Health Authority

  West Berkshire Health Authority

  Milton Keynes Health Authority

  Oxfordshire Health Authority

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  Exeter Health Authority

  Southmead Health Authority

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Wolverhampton Health Authority

  South Birmingham Health Authority

  South Warwickshire Health Authority

  West Birmingham Health Authority

  Birmingham Central Health Authority

  North Warwickshire Health Authority

  Sandwell Health Authority

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  South Sefton Health Authority

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  Lancaster Health Authority

  Rochdale Health Authority

  Salford Health Authority

  Oldham Health Authority

  Bolton Health Authority

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Health Authority

  North Manchester Health Authority

  Central Manchester Health Authority

  Trafford Health Authority

  Preston Health Authority

  Bury Health Authority

  Blackburn, Hyndhurn and Ribble Valley Health Authority

  Child's Special Allowance
  Mr. Kennedy
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows claimed the child's special allowance for the last three years for which this information is available; and if he will give the estimated take-up rate of this benefit.

  Mr. Major
  Child's special allowance is payable to divorced women in respect of children towards whose support the ex-husband was contributing or was liable to contribute at the time of his death. In the three years immediately preceding 6 April 1987 when the allowance was abolished, except for existing beneficiaries, the number of claims received was:348

  Number

  1984–85

  135

  1985–86

  152

  1986–87

  146

  Given the conditions for entitlement to the allowance it has not been possible to estimate a take-up rate.

  Young Single Parents
  Mr. Kennedy
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether 16 and 17 year-old single parents will be eligible for the family and lone parent premiums when the new income support scheme is introduced; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  Yes.

  Infectious Diseases
  Dr. Blackburn
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to which infectious diseases can be contracted by the use of a communal cup such as a chalice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  There is no evidence that infectious disease can be contracted in this way.

  Benefits
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will set out in tabular form the amount of rent rebates and allowances, rate rebates and subsequently housing benefit received per week by households on incomes (a) at supplementary benefit levels, (b) 10 per cent. above supplementary benefit level, (c) 20 per cent. above supplementary benefit level, (d) 30 per cent. above supplementary benefit level and (e) 40 per cent. above supplementary benefit level for each financial year from 1979–80 to 1986–87.

  Mr. Lyell
  The information is not available in the form requested except at disproportionate cost. However some relevant information is contained in the department's tax/ benefit model tables, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the latest estimate of his Department's expenditure on promoting the take-up of social security benefits on an annual basis.

  Mr. Lyell
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 26 March at column 257.

  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take action to ensure that child benefit is reinstated under the Child Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1987 S.I.357/1987 in those cases where the young person concerned is taking examinations during this summer term and therefore not entitled to supplementary benefit in his or her own right.

  Mr. Major
  Child benefit is reinstated immediately upon application in these circumstances.

  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the latest estimate of the take-up of housing benefit and family income supplement broken down into (a) the numbers entitled to benefit, (b) the

  349
  proportion receiving benefit, (c) the numbers eligible but not receiving benefit, (d) the amount unclaimed and (e) the average weekly amount unclaimed.

  Mr. Lyell
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Stewart) on 12 May at column 126.

  Pensions
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has of the additional annual costs of paying the level of retirement pension payable to (i) all British retirement and widowed pensioners aged 75 years and over, (ii) all male British retirement and widowed pensioners aged 65 years and over and (iii) all female British retirement and widowed pensioners aged 60 years and over living in all those territories not covered by a reciprocal agreement with the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Major
  The figures requested for paying United Kingdom rates of benefit at November 1985 levels, the latest date for which calculations can readily be made, are estimated to be approximately

  i. £46·4 million

  ii. £63·0 million

  iii. £103·0 million

  For countries with which the United Kingdom does not have a reciprocal agreement providing for pension increases.

  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list each country or dependency outside the United Kingdom where United Kingdom retirement pensioners are known to live and draw their pension, showing for each country how many pensioners there are, whether they get pension increases and, for those countries where they do not, what was the average pension paid at 31 December 1986.

  Mr. Major
  The table shows the countries where United Kingdom pensioners are known to live, the number of pensioners living there, whether annual increases are paid and an estimate of the average pension paid at 31 December 1986.

  Pensioners living in the Channel Islands are not included as there is no ready way of identifying payment to them separately from payment to pensioners in the United Kingdom.

  Number of pensioners in overseas countries at 31 December 1986

  Country

  Number of pensioners

  (Includes number of widow pensioners)

  Average pension at 31 December 1986 £

  Albania

  6

  14·52

  Algeria

  2

  16·46

  American Samoa

  1

  7·01

  Andorra

  106

  (2)

  7·90

  Angola

  1

  23·98

  Anguilla

  63

  14·44

  Antigua

  149

  (7)

  17·06

  Argentina

  140

  (7)

  3·88

  Ascension Island

  3

  1·82

  Australia

  106,531

  (2,735)

  12·94

  Austria1

  2,191

  (105)

  13·80

  Bahamas

  114

  (4)

  9·48

  Bahrain

  18

  (3)

  5·94

  Bangladesh

  4,161

  (799)

  6·59

  350

  Country

  Number of pensioners

  (Includes number of widow pensioners)

  Average pension at 31 December 1986 £

  Barbados

  878

  (26)

  17·69

  Belgium1

  3,011

  (146)

  14·25

  Belize

  8

  19·53

  Benin

  1

  23·04

  Bermuda1

  258

  (13)

  20·22

  Bolivia

  3

  0·48

  Botswana

  48

  (7)

  7·31

  Brazil

  162

  (19)

  4·67

  Brunei

  8

  (1)

  13·57

  Bulgaria

  9

  5·68

  Burma

  5

  9·27

  Canada

  66,649

  (1,925)

  13·26

  Cayman Islands

  29

  (3)

  15·83

  Central African Republic

  2

  (1)

  16·50

  Chile

  45

  (5)

  4·00

  China

  11

  (1)

  1·86

  Colombia

  20

  —

  14·25

  Cook Islands

  4

  —

  10·74

  Costa Rica

  7

  —

  15·91

  Cyprus1

  2,586

  (123)

  20·55

  Czechoslovakia

  28

  —

  12·33

  Denmark1

  293

  (33)

  23·77

  Djibouti

  5

  —

  36·47

  Dominica, Commonwealth of

  287

  (10)

  14·17

  Dominican Republic

  147

  (6)

  18·84

  East Germany

  18

  (2)

  11·62

  Ecuador

  7

  —

  5·56

  Egypt

  46

  (3)

  5·40

  Falkland Islands and Dependencies

  8

  (1)

  5·12

  Faroe Islands

  2

  (1)

  24·11

  Fiji

  26

  —

  8·74

  Finland1

  54

  (14)

  25·06

  France1

  5,262

  (196)

  14·53

  Gambia

  7

  —

  31·49

  Ghana

  45

  (1)

  8·42

  Gibraltar1

  329

  (24)

  27·21

  Greece1

  832

  (67)

  16·06

  Grenada

  363

  (17)

  18·07

  Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Reunion Island1

  5

  —

  17·56

  Guyana

  137

  (3)

  10·90

  Haiti

  1

  —

  28·68

  Honduras

  3

  —

  20·42

  Hong Kong

  383

  (21)

  11·48

  Hungary

  158

  (5)

  14·12

  Iceland1

  20

  (4)

  16·04

  India

  5,914

  (353)

  6·00

  Indonesia

  21

  (1)

  1·48

  Iraq

  4

  —

  1·39

  Irish Republic1

  45,275

  (3,663)

  24·05

  Israel1

  2,134

  (67)

  20·76

  Italy1

  9,007

  (881)

  20·83

  Jamaica1

  10,951

  (360)

  24·22

  Japan

  55

  (11)

  6·36

  Jordan

  7

  —

  5·24

  Kenya

  395

  (10)

  4·55

  Kiribati (Gilbert Islands)

  3

  —

  604

  Kuwait

  4

  12·40

  Lebanon

  26

  (3)

  5·41

  Lesotho

  6

  17·97

  Liberia

  5

  16·40

  Luxembourg1

  56

  (7)

  13·77

  Madgascar

  2

  50·95

  Malawi

  58

  (5)

  2·82

  Malaya

  59

  (7)

  13·69

  Malta1

  1,628

  (72)

  17·64

  Mauritius1

  104

  (6)

  15·74

  Mexico

  70

  (5)

  5·01

  Monaco

  186

  (6)

  11·51

  351

  Country

  Number of pensioners

  (Includes number of widow pensioners)

  Average pension at 31 December 1986 £

  Montserrat

  189

  (1)

  15·33

  Morocco

  35

  (1)

  2·13

  Naura, Republic of

  2

  20·54

  Nepal

  20

  (2)

  4·15

  Netherlands1

  2,128

  (182)

  15·48

  Netherlands Antilles

  9

  (1)

  4·83

  New Zealand

  26,092

  (467)

  13·17

  Nigeria

  105

  (31)

  4·46

  Norfolk Island

  14

  2·75

  Norway

  164

  (14)

  15·00

  Pakistan

  9,521

  (1,159)

  5·99

  Panama

  6

  (1)

  17·62

  Papua New Guinea

  17

  (1)

  4·96

  Peru

  35

  (1)

  1·99

  Philippines

  49

  (4)

  13·30

  Poland

  2,764

  (41)

  3·62

  Portugal (including Madeira)1

  1,166

  (24)

  13·95

  Puerto Rico

  5

  (1)

  13·51

  Qatar

  9

  (1)

  3·95

  Rumania

  20

  (2)

  9·35

  St. Helena and Dependencies

  28

  16·79

  St. Kitts·Nevis

  303

  (9)

  17·08

  St. Lucia

  443

  (8)

  18·34

  St. Vincent

  286

  (10)

  16·92

  San Marino

  2

  10·90

  Sarawak

  3

  8·33

  Saudi Arabia

  34

  (9)

  4·17

  Senegal

  7

  12·52

  Seychelles

  28

  (2)

  10·20

  Shar jah

  2

  (1)

  5·68

  Sierra Leone

  41

  (3)

  6·90

  Singapore

  78

  (9)

  7·62

  Solomon Islands

  3

  15·70

  Somalia

  164

  (21)

  14·30

  South Africa

  22,781

  (834)

  12·89

  South Korea

  1

  19·66

  South West Africa or Namibia

  13

  (2)

  18·43

  Spain (including Balearic & Canary Islands)1

  15,395

  (586)

  16·58

  Sri Lanka

  111

  (11)

  5·60

  Sudan

  11

  (2)

  11·62

  Swaziland

  58

  (2)

  10·07

  Sweden

  74

  (5)

  11·45

  Switzerland1

  1,724

  (69)

  19·71

  Syria

  2

  19·09

  Taiwan

  5

  (1)

  16·64

  Tanzania

  36

  (1)

  2·94

  Thailand

  52

  (5)

  9·13

  Tonga

  3

  9·37

  Trinidad and Tobago

  296

  (14)

  15·38

  Tunisia

  5

  (1)

  5·13

  Turkey1

  225

  (20)

  11·25

  Turks & Caicos Islands

  4

  25·33

  Uganda

  16

  (1)

  0·91

  United Arab Emirates

  22

  (6)

  7·70

  Title

  Location

  Principal Researchers

  Expected duration

  Comments

  Nutritional Survey into fat soluble vitamins

  Wolfson Research Laboratories, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Birmingham

  Dr. D. I. Thurnham

  January 1984 to March 1988

  352

  Country

  Number of pensioners

  (Includes number of widow pensioners)

  Average pension at 31 December 1986 £

  USA1

  37,697

  (1,132)

  19·98

  USSR

  769

  (7)

  11·31

  Uruguay

  17

  (1)

  3·70

  Vanuata (New Hebrides)

  2

  3·25

  Venezuela

  27

  2·65

  Virgin Islands

  37

  (7)

  9·47

  Western Samoa

  8

  (3)

  23·82

  West Germany1

  10,123

  (1,009)

  15·60

  Yemen Arab Republic (North)

  902

  (63)

  14·15

  Yemen People's Democratic Republic of (South)

  121

  (10)

  15·07

  Yugoslavia1

  989

  (30)

  32·75

  Zaire

  5

  0·25

  Zambia

  117

  (12)

  3·40

  Zimbabwe

  4,122

  (162)

  5·12

  1 Indicates pension increases paid.

  Note.—The above figures do not include 5,453 retirement pensioners and 241 widow beneficiaries residing abroad (other than in the Irish Republic) to whom the Department is making payment on behalf of the Northern Ireland authorities.

  AIDS
  Mr. Kennedy
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will initiate, in parallel with he creation of the new national charity for AIDS, the provision of hospice-resource centres in all major population centres in the country; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We wish to see the development of a range of community care services for people with AIDS and we expect health authorities to consider local needs for hospice provision with appropriate voluntary organisations when deciding what facilities are required.

  Research Projects
  Mr. Shersby
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report, in tabular form, details of all research projects in the field of diet and health currently being sponsored by his Department, giving details of the amount of time being spent on each project, the location at which the work is being undertaken and the names of the principal researchers concerned.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department's directly funded research programme currently includes the following projects in the field of diet and health.
  353

  Title

  Location

  Principal Researchers

  Expected duration

  Comments

  The National Study of Health and Growth (Nutrition project)

  The Social Medicine and Health Services Research Unit, St. Thomas's Hospital Medical School, London

  Professor W. Holland and Dr. R. Rona

  Commenced in 1972 and continuing

  Diet is one aspect of this study of the health and growth of schoolchildren

  Survey into schoolchildren's nutrition

  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys

  —

  Commenced 1983

  Undertaken on behalf of DHSS

  Survey into Infant Feeding

  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys

  —

  Commenced 1985

  Undertaken on behalf of DHSS

  Adult Nutritional Survey

  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys

  —

  Commenced September 1986

  Undertaken on behalf of DHSS and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Waller
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those National Health Service hospitals which have beds available specifically for convalescent patients, stating the number of beds for each hospital, at the latest available date.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is in the table.

  National Health Service hospitals having beds available in the convalescent specialty, England 1985

  District Health Authority and Hospital

  Average daily available beds

  North Tyneside

  North Tyneside General Hospital

  18·0

  Leeds Western

  Ilkley Convalescent Home

  58·0

  South Lincolnshire

  Carey House Convalescent Home

  17·9

  Central Nottinghamshire

  Langwith Lodge

  28·9

  East Suffolk

  Chantry Park Convalescent Home

  37·7

  East Suffolk

  Phyllis Memorial Home

  0·5

  Paddington

  Hereford Lodge

  9·1

  Hastings

  Bexhill Hospital

  10·0

  SW Hants & Southampton

  Netley Castle Convalescent Home

  11·9

  Oxford

  Chipping Norton War Memorial Hospital

  5·2

  Bristol & Weston

  Keynsham Hospital

  7·3

  North Birmingham

  St. Editha's Hospital

  1·0

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred
  Morris asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken by his Department's social services inspectorate to inform and train employees of social services departments in regard to their duties under the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  It is for local authority social services departments to provide information and training to their staff about the duties that arise under the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986. However, the Department's social services inspectorate has held discussions about the implications of the Act for 354
  local authorities at its regular regional meetings with directors of social services, and has responded to requests from staff in individual local authorities for advice on the Act. It also organised a workshop on the Act at the recent annual conference of the British Association of Social Workers. Possible further work by the inspectorate in this field is being considered.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he has taken to speed up the procedures under section 36 of the National Assistance Act 1948 for investigating complaints that local authorities have failed to fulfil their duties under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  I am conscious that in some cases it can take a long time to deal with these complaints. The procedures for handling them within the Department are kept under review, but the main problem is that the more complicated cases necessarily involve a considerable amount of detailed work by officials as well as correspondence, which can be protracted, with the other parties concerned.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in light of the ruling in the case of R v The Department of Health and Social Security, and others ex parte Bruce, he will state the circumstances in which he considers it appropriate to use his default powers under section 36 of the National Assistance Act 1948 in relation to allegations of failure by local authorities to fulfil their duties under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  Section 36(1) of the National Assistance Act 1948 provides that the Secretary of State, where he is of the opinion that a local authority has failed to discharge any of its functions under Part III of that Act, or to comply with any related regulations, may, after such an inquiry as he may think fit, make an order declaring the authority to be in default. In the case of the application ex parte Bruce on 5 February 1987, Mr. Justice Simon Brown said, in relation to the default power in section 36(1) of the 1948 Act:"So far as that Ministerial power is concerned it is, in my judgement, perfectly clear that the Minister could not properly intervene so as to declare the authority to be in default unless the authority had manifestly failed in the discharge of any of their functions in such way that no reasonable Minister could take a different view: putting it a

  355
  different way, had conducted themselves in a way which could only be regarded as a failure on the part of the authority to perform the duty".
  We accept this interpretation.

  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether disabled people in receipt of invalidity benefit or attendance allowance or both who undertake a Manpower Services Commission training course remain eligible for these benefits while on the course;

  (2) whether disabled people in receipt of invalidity benefit or attendance allowance or both who undertake a Manpower Services Commission training course re-qualify immediately for these benefits if they leave the course after eight weeks or more.

  Mr. Major
  People in receipt of invalidity benefit who undertake a training course for which MSC pays a training allowance are not eligible for invalidity benefit during the course. However when the course ends they requalify for that benefit provided they remain incapable of work. The period of the training course is treated as a part of the same period of interruption of employment so even if the course lasts more than 8 weeks title to invalidity benefit continues.

  The position is different for recipients of attendance allowance. If the medical conditions for entitlement continue to he satisfied, attendance allowance is not normally affected by participation in a MSC training course. However, the allowance may not be paid between the fifth week and the end of a course when the cost of any residential accommodation provided for the disabled person as part of the course is, or may be, met from public funds.

  Dietary Salt and Hypertension
  Mrs. McCurley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Royal Society of Medicine Services on the implications for public health policies of dietary salt and hypertension; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I believe my hon. Friend is referring to the recent report from the Royal Society of Medicine Services "Dietary Salt and Hypertension: Implications for Public Health Services". This report has been received in the Department and is being considered by medical and nutrition advisors.

  Green Paper
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish his social services Green Paper.

  Mr. Newton
  As the hon. Member is aware, we have asked Sir Roy Griffiths to review the way in which public funds are used to support community care policy and to advise on options for improving the use of these funds as a contribution to more effective community care. In view of the importance of social services departments' work in this field, we have now decided that it would be appropriate to consider the publication of such a Green Paper in the light of the outcome of his work.

  WHO (Health Targets)
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action the Government (a) have taken and
  356
  (b) propose to take in pursuit of the first of the World Health Organisation's targets for health for all by the year 2,000 which the Government endorsed in 1984.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 10 April at columns 506–507.

  Social Security Act 1986
  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what plans he has for monitoring the impact of the Social Security Act 1986.

  Mr. Major
  As part of our standard procedures, in planning the implementation of any significant change to the social security system—including those introduced by the Social Security Act 1986—the Department now considers how the impact of the change can best be monitored and makes arrangements for the collection and analysis of the necessary information.

  Income Support and Family Credit
  Mr. Clay
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he plans to lay before Parliament the draft regulations for the income support and family credit schemes; and whether before this he plans to make draft regulations available.

  Mr. Major
  Work on the detailed provisions for the income support and family credit schemes is not yet complete. The formal regulations cannot be laid before Parliament until decisions have been taken on the benefit rates in the autumn since it is only possible to legislate on the basis of figures which will be implemented. Before this, we do however intend to place copies of the regulations in draft in the Library when they are finalised apart from the benefit rates.

  Children (Social Workers)
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to empower social service workers with the statutory right to see and interview children about whose welfare there is concern.

  Mr. Newton
  Where a magistrate is satisfied that a social worker has reasonable cause to believe that the conditions for a care order are satisfied—these include neglect and ill treatment—he can grant an order authorising removal of the child to a place of safety. If the social worker is unable to gain access to the child the magistrate can issue a warrant to a constable who can enforce access. Some changes to the present law are envisaged in the White Paper "The Law on Child Care and Family Services".

  Severe Weather Payments
  Dame Judith Hart
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in which weeks of the current year the trigger temperature for cold weather payments was reached in the constituency of Clydesdale.

  Mr. Major
  From 11 December 1986 to 25 January 1987, the trigger temperature for cold weather payments was minus 1·5 deg C. From 26 January, it was amended to 0 deg C. The constituency of Clydesdale has three
  357
  weather stations at Dumfries, Glasgow airport and Prestwick. In the week commencing 12 January, Dumfries and Prestwick reached the minus 1·5 deg C. trigger temperature. In the week commencing 26 January Glasgow airport triggered at 0 deg C. Payments were, however, available to people in the qualifying groups throughout the country for the weeks commencing 12 and 19 January.

  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 130]: The information is not available in the precise form requested. Local offices have been asked to make a return so that the number of payments made and claims refused over the entire winter period can be calculated. Not all of these returns have yet been received. A copy of the returns will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

  Up to 10 March, the latest date for which information is available, approximately two million exceptionally cold weather payments of £5 have been made and 377,500 claims refused.

  Dr. Kevin Browne
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that no potential for conflicts of interest arises from Dr. Kevin Browne's relationship to both Cape Industries plc and the London Medical Boarding Centre (Respiratory Diseases);

  (2) what information was available to him on Dr. Kevin Browne's relationship to Cape Industries plc at the time of his appointment to the London Medical Boarding Centre (Respiratory Diseases).

  Mr. Major
  Before his appointment as a part-time medical officer to the London Medical Boarding Centre (Respiratory Diseases), Dr. Browne was employed as medical adviser to Cape Industries plc. The Department takes steps to ensure that Dr. Browne does not board claimaints who have been employed at Cape Industries.

  Residential Units
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply of 23 March, Official Report, column 81, regarding the sale of residential units, if he will now publish the equivalent date for 1986–87.

  Mrs. Currie
  As yet information for the year ending 31 March 1987 is only available for three regions. It is as follows:

  Regional Health Authority

  Units Sold

  Proceeds

  £

  Yorkshire

  56

  1,334,010

  Oxford

  30

  1,306,000

  North Western

  72

  1,619,522

  All proceeds are retained by health authorities to improve their remaining residential accommodation and to develop services.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report (a) a list of the constituencies served by each health authority and (b) a list of the health authorities serving constituency.

  Mrs. Currie
  This information is not held centrally in the form requested.

  YTS
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many young people have suffered a deduction in supplementary benefit for (a) refusing to take up a YTS place and (b) leaving a YTS place in (i) Coventry and (ii) nationally, since the provision was first introduced.

  Mr. Lyell
  The table sets out the information requested for the period from December 1983 to April 1987. The youth training scheme started in April 1983 but statistical records were not kept from the outset.

  Numbers whose benefit was reduced

  Coventry

  National Figures

  (a) For refusal to accept a YTS place

  23

  2,235

  (b) For prematurely leaving a YTS course

  167

  23,267

  NHS (Staff)
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (i) nurses and (ii) ancillary staff have left the employment of the National Health Service for reasons other than retirement for each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that information about nurses and ancillary staff leaving the National Health Service is not collected centrally.

  Hospitals (In-patients)
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the average length of in-patient stay in hospital;

  (2) how many patient beds were available on an average day in each year in National Health Service hospitals from 1979 until 1986.

  Mrs. Currie
  For the latest information available I refer the hon. Member to statistical bulletin 2/86 "NHS Hospital Activity Statistics for England 1974–1985", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Government Achievements (Pensioners)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the Government's achievements in respect of pensioners.

  Mr. Major
  The Government's main achievement for pensioners has been the creation of a stable and improving economy, with low inflation. This has enabled pensioners at all income levels to improve their living standards, both absolutely and in relation to the population as a whole. Building on a secure foundation of a retirement pension fully protected against price increases, pensioners have, on average, increased their total net incomes in real terms by
  359
  18 per cent. over the period 1979–1985 (the latest for which figures are available). This increase is more than twice the increase achieved by the population as a whole. Over 50 per cent. of pensioners now have occupational pensions, compared with 41 per cent. in 1979 and the average value of such pensions has risen by over 50 per cent. Over 70 per cent. have income from savings, compared with 62 per cent. in 1979, and the average value of such income has also risen by over 50 per cent. These improvements have taken place despite an increase of almost a million in the number of pensioners.

  In respect of social security benefits, the basic pension has more than kept pace with prices, and now stands at £63·25 for a married couple and £39·50 for a single person. The development of the earnings-related pension scheme means that a man on average earnings retiring after April 1987 may receive additional pension of about £20 week, compared with 95p (in 1979 prices) for a similar man retiring in April 1979. At September 1986 some 1·8 million pensioners (18·5 per cent. of the total) received extra pension under the earnings-related arrangements, either as additional pension from the state or guaranteed minimum pension paid by their employers. The residual effects of the married women's half test have been finally abolished, enabling some 30,000 women to receive a pension for the first time or to increase their existing pension; many more benefited from tax advantages. Entitlement to a noncontributory pension for those over 80 was extended, and made payable at higher rate to some recipients. The number of pensioners receiving supplementary pension has fallen from 1·73 million in February 1979 to 1·68 million in February 1986, despite the increase in the total number of pensioners; only 25 per cent. of pensioners are now in the lowest income quintile of the population, compared with 38 per cent. in 1979. Higher take-up of benefits such as mobility allowance and attendance allowance has extended them to greater numbers of pensioners than in 1979, and total spending on social security benefits for the elderly has increased by some 29 per cent. between 1978–79 and 1986–87.

  In respect of health and social services, provision for the increasing number of elderly people has been maintained and improved. The development of health services for elderly people has been one of the Government's highest priorities for the National Health Service. Our main objective has been to provide services which enable elderly people to live at home for as long as possible. To this end, the community health services have been expanded considerably. For example, between 1978 and 1985 the number of elderly people treated by district nurses rose by 28 per cent. and the number of elderly people treated by chiropodists rose by 25 per cent.

  The specialty of geriatrician medicine has continued to expand. Between 1978 and 1985, the number of consultant geriatricians increased by 45 per cent. Between 1978 and 1985, the numbers of elderly in-patients treated rose by 60 per cent. and out-patients by 40 per cent. and day hospital attendances by 20 per cent. Elderly people have also benefited from the development of acute hospital services. Between 1978 and 1984 the numbers of cases of elderly people treated for acute conditions increased by 24 per cent., hip replacements increased from 28,000 to 38,00C and cataract operations from 38,000 to 55,000. There have also been significant increases in personal social services.
  360
  Between 1978 and 1985, the number of day centre places for elderly people rose by 15·5 per cent. and the number of home helps grew by 14 per cent.

  Since 1979 age allowances in the tax system have been increased significantly in real terms and this year a new higher age allowance was introduced for people aged 80 and over. About 400,000 elderly single people and married couples will benefit; up to 25,000 will be taken out of tax completely by the new allowance.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been, for a worker on average earnings retiring in (a) 1974, (b) 1979, (c) 1984, and (d) 1987 (i) the level of the retirement pension, (ii) average occupational pension, (iii) the state earnings related pension scheme pension, where applicable, (iv) average investment income for a worker on average earnings.

  Mr. Major
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1987 c. 632]: The available information is shown in the tables. Table 1 gives the level of the single person's full rate basic pension at uprating dates in each of the years specified, and the level of state earnings related pension awarded to a man on average earnings retiring on 6 April of each of those years. I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 12 January 1987 at columns 123–24 for the assumptions governing these figures. Table 2 shows the average amounts of occupational pension and investment income received weekly by all tax units in the specified age groups in each of the years for which information is available. It is not possible to identify those people retiring in the years specified, nor is information on previous earnings histories available from the family expenditure survey data upon which this table is based.

  Table 1

  £ per week

  Basic pension1 2

  State Earnings Related Pension

  1974

  10·00

  n/a

  1979

  19·50

  0·95

  1984

  35·80

  10·80

  1987

  39·50

  20·05

  Table 23

  £ per week

  Occupational pension

  Investment income

  1974

  4·00

  3·10

  1979

  10·70

  6·30

  1984

  19·00

  9·00

  19854

  23·40

  14·00

  1 Basic pension entitlement does not depend upon an individual's earnings history but upon his national insurance contribution record over his working life.

  2 Graduated pension and increments for deferred retirement are excluded.

  3 The tax units in Table 2 may be single men aged 65–69, single women aged 60–64 or married couples where the husband is 65–69. Due to small sample sizes it is necessary to provide data for 5 year age groups rather than for men or women reaching state pensionable age in the years specified.

  4 Latest date for which information is available.

  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures setting out the components of net weekly spending power in November 1985 and November 1986 for each of a single and a

  361
  married retirement pensioner, assuming (a) £15 a week rent and £7 rates and (b) £30 a week rent and £10 a week rates, and with the following amounts of income in addition to the state basic pension: £0, £5, £10, £15, £20, £30, £40, £50 and £100 respectively.

  Components of net weekly spending power for pensioners receiving housing benefit

  Table 1: 1985. Rent £15·00, Rates £7·00

  November 1985

  Single Pensioner

  Income (gross)

  Tax

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Disposable income

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  38·30

  Nil

  15·00

  14·13

  7·00

  6·25

  36·68

  43·30

  0·27

  15·00

  11·63

  7·00

  5·25

  37·91

  48·30

  1·77

  15·00

  9·13

  7·00

  4·25

  37·91

  53·30

  3·27

  15·00

  7·62

  7·00

  3·58

  39·23

  58·30

  4·77

  15·00

  6·17

  7·00

  2·93

  40·63

  68·30

  7·77

  15·00

  3·27

  7·00

  1·63

  43·43

  78·30

  10·77

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  45·53

  88·30

  13·77

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  52·53

  138·30

  28·77

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  87·53

  Pensioner Couple

  Income (gross)

  Tax

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Disposable income

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  61·30

  Nil

  15·00

  13·88

  7·00

  6·15

  59·33

  66·30

  Nil

  15·00

  11·38

  7·00

  5·15

  60·83

  71·30

  1·46

  15·00

  8·93

  7·00

  4·17

  60·93

  76·30

  2·96

  15·00

  7·48

  7·00

  3·52

  62·34

  81·30

  4·46

  15·00

  6·03

  7·00

  2·87

  63·74

  91·30

  7·46

  15·00

  3·13

  7·00

  1·57

  66·54

  101·30

  10·46

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  68·84

  111·30

  13·46

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  75·84

  161·30

  28·46

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  110·84

  Table 2: 1985, Rent £30·00, Rates £10·00

  November 1985

  Single Pensioner

  Income (gross)

  Tax

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Disposable income

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  38·30

  Nil

  30·00

  23·13

  10·00

  8·05

  29·48

  43·30

  0·27

  30·00

  20·63

  10·00

  7·05

  30·71

  48·30

  1·77

  30·00

  18·13

  10·00

  6·05

  30·71

  53·30

  3·27

  30·00

  16·62

  10·00

  5·38

  32·03

  58·30

  4·77

  30·00

  15·17

  10·00

  4·73

  33·43

  68·30

  7·77

  30·00

  12·27

  10·00

  3·43

  36·23

  78·30

  10·77

  30·00

  9·37

  10·00

  2·13

  39·03

  88·30

  13·77

  30·00

  6·47

  10·00

  0·83

  41·83

  138·30

  28·77

  30·00

  Nil

  10·00

  Nil

  69·61

  Pensioner Couple

  Income (gross)

  Tax

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Disposable income

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  61·30

  Nil

  30·00

  22·88

  10·00

  7·95

  52·13

  66·30

  Nil

  30·00

  20·38

  10·00

  6·95

  53·63

  71·30

  1·46

  30·00

  17·93

  10·00

  5·97

  53·74

  76·30

  2·96

  30·00

  16·48

  10·00

  5·32

  55·14

  81·30

  4·46

  30·00

  15·03

  10·00

  4·67

  56·54

  91·30

  7·46

  30·00

  12·13

  10·00

  3·37

  59·34

  101·30

  10·46

  30·00

  9·23

  10·00

  2·07

  62·14

  111·30

  13·46

  30·00

  6·33

  10·00

  0·77

  64·94

  161·30

  28·46

  30·00

  Nil

  10·00

  Nil

  92·84

  362
  Mr. Major
  [pursuant to his reply, 27 April 1987, c. 31–32]: The information requested is shown in the tables. The housing benefit components did not change between November 1985 and November 1986 because at the July 1986 uprating, the needs allowances were increased exactly in line with retirement pensions.
  363

  Table 3: 1986, Rent £15·00, Rates£7·00

  November 1986

  Single Pensioner

  Income (gross)

  Tax

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Disposable income

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  38·70

  Nil

  15·00

  14·13

  7·00

  6·25

  37·08

  43·70

  Nil

  15·00

  11·63

  7·00

  5·25

  38·58

  48·70

  1·10

  15·00

  9·13

  7·00

  4·25

  38·98

  53·70

  2·55

  15·00

  7·62

  7·00

  3·58

  40·35

  58·70

  4·00

  15·00

  6·17

  7·00

  2·93

  41·80

  68·70

  6·90

  15·00

  3·27

  7·00

  1·63

  44·70

  78·70

  9·80

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  46·90

  88·70

  12·70

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  54·00

  138·70

  27·20

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  89·50

  Pensioner Couple

  Income (gross)

  Tax

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rate rebate

  Disposable income

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  61·95

  Nil

  15·00

  13·88

  7·00

  6·15

  59·98

  66·95

  Nil

  15·00

  11·38

  7·00

  5·15

  61·48

  71·95

  0·48

  15·00

  8·93

  7·00

  4·17

  62·57

  76·95

  1·93

  15·00

  7·48

  7·00

  3·52

  64·02

  81·95

  3·38

  15·00

  6·03

  7·00

  2·87

  65·47

  91·95

  6·28

  15·00

  3·13

  7·00

  1·57

  68·37

  101·95

  9·18

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  70·77

  111·95

  12·08

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  77·87

  161·95

  26·58

  15·00

  Nil

  7·00

  Nil

  113·37

  Table 4: 1986, Rent £30·00, Rates £15·00

  November 1986

  Single Pensioner

  Income (gross)

  Tax

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rale rebate

  Disposable income

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  38·70

  Nil

  30·00

  23·13

  10·00

  8·05

  29·88

  43·70

  Nil

  30·00

  20·63

  10·00

  7·05

  31·38

  48·70

  1·10

  30·00

  18·13

  10·00

  6·05

  31·78

  53·70

  2·55

  30·00

  16·62

  10·00

  5·38

  33·15

  58·70

  4·00

  30·00

  15·17

  10·00

  4·73

  34·60

  68·70

  6·90

  30·00

  12·27

  10·00

  3·43

  37·70

  78·70

  9·80

  30·00

  9·37

  10·00

  2·13

  40·40

  88·70

  12·70

  30·00

  6·47

  10·00

  0·83

  43·30

  138·70

  27·20

  30·00

  Nil

  10·00

  Nil

  71·50

  Pensioner Couple

  Income (gross)

  Tax

  Rent

  Rent rebate

  Rates

  Rale rebate

  Disposable income

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  61·95

  Nil

  30·00

  22·88

  10·00

  7·95

  52·78

  66·95

  Nil

  30·00

  20·38

  10·00

  6·95

  54·28

  71·95

  0·48

  30·00

  17·93

  10·00

  5·97

  55·37

  76·95

  1·93

  30·00

  16·48

  10·00

  5·32

  56·82

  81·95

  3·38

  30·00

  15·03

  10·00

  4·67

  58·27

  91·95

  6·28

  30·00

  12·13

  10·00

  3·37

  61·17

  101·95

  9·18

  30·00

  9·23

  10·00

  2·07

  64·07

  111·95

  12·08

  30·00

  6·33

  10·00

  0·77

  66·97

  161·95

  26·58

  30·00

  Nil

  10·00

  Nil

  95·37

  Notes:

  1 The November 1985 retirement pensions and housing benefit needs allowances have been used for tables 1 and 2, and the July 1986 levels for tables 3 and 4.

  2 The 1985–86 age allowances and tax rate have been used for tables 1 and 2, and the 1986–87 levels for tables 3 and 4.

  3 Income is assumed to be unearned throughout.
  364

  Legionella Infection
  Mr. Powley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to issue further guidance to health authorities on the ways of reducing the risk of outbreaks of legionella infection.

  Mr. Newton
  We are issuing two health notices to all health authorities in England. The first, which follows from the first report of the committee of inquiry into the outbreak of legionnaires' disease in Stafford in April 1985, asks health authorities to install dry-cooled air conditioning systems in new hospital buildings, and to replace existing wet-spray systems when upgrading is required, unless this is absolutely precluded by space or weight considerations. It also gives advice on the safe operation and maintenance of wet-spray systems while they continue to be used or where it is impracticable to replace them. The second health notice is based on a survey undertaken by the Public Health Laboratory Service at the request of the Department, and gives advice on avoiding the risk of legionella infection originating from hot and cold water systems.

  These two health notices supplement guidance issued in 1980, 1985, and 1986. (HN(80)39, HN(HAZARD)(85)6, HN(HAZARD)(86), and HN(86)16). In addition, we also intend to issue detailed Codes of Practice on the safe operation and maintenance of both cooling and hot and cold water systems, the first of which has already been issued to health authorities in draft. We are determined to ensure that all possible steps are taken to avoid any further outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in hospitals or any other health care premises. Copies of the two health notices will be placed in the Library.

  Similar guidance is being issued in Scotland and Wales.

  Member's Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth might receive a reply to his letter dated 24 March about Mr. D. Freestone of Rugby.

  Mr. Lyell
  I have written to my hon. Friend today.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth might receive a reply to his letter dated 26 March about Jeffrey Bernhard and Sons of Rugby.

  Mr. Lyell
  My Noble Friend has written to my hon. Friend today.

  Research and Development
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's planned expenditure on research and development for 1987–88; and what are the main areas of research selected by his Department under the Rothschild principles of the customer-contractor relationship.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to the reply, 7 April 1987 c. 206]: Planned expenditure in 1987–88 on the main research programmes directly managed by the Department is:
  366

  £ million

  Health, Personal Social Services and Social Security

  14·6

  NHS Medical Equipment and Supplies

  4·2

  NHS Information Technology

  4·0

  NHS Building and Engineering

  2·1

  No decision has yet been taken as to the future priority areas for research.

  Research
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail the research funded by his Department, and other research of which his Department is aware, into the loss of the senses of smell and taste.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 27 April 1987, c. 33]: The Department is not currently funding any research into the loss of the senses of smell and taste.

  The main Government-funded agency for the promotion of medical and related biological research in the United Kingdom is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science. The council is currently supporting the following projects relevant to these conditions or basic research which may prove to be relevant:

  1. Dr. E. J. Rolls, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford:

  i. The neurology of feeding and taste (1985–88).

  ii. Brain mechanisms of feeding—memory and perception (1986–89).

  2. Dr. P. P. Robinson, Department of Physiology, University of Birmingham:

  The reinnervation of the tongue following lingual nerve injuries (1985–88).

  3. Dr. E. B. Keverne, Department of Anatomy, University of Cambridge:

  Neural and neuroendocrine mechanisms of pheromonal activity (1986–89).

  4. Professor P. D. Wall, Department of Anatomy, University College, London:

  Analysis of sensory signals in the nervous system (1972–87).

  5. Dr. A. G. S. Lumsden, Department of Anatomy, United Medical and Dental Schools, Guys and St. Thomas' Hospitals, London:

  Mammalian peripheral neurogenesis: chemotactic guidance of primary sensory neurones by respective target ephithelia (1984–87).

  6. Dr. A. M. Roberts, Department of Zoology, University of Bristol:

  Central synaptic pathways from sensory neurones with free nerve endings in frog embryos (1985–88).

  7. Dr. A. M. Halliday, National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London:

  Changes in cortical and subcortical evoked potentials inpatients with various lesions of the nervous system and sense organs.

  National Insurance Credits
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of how many men aged 60 to 64 years are receiving National Insurance credits without being required to register as unemployed.

  Mr. Major
  [pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1987, c. 376]: Men aged 60–64 years may be awarded credits without being required to register as unemployed for periods when they receive incapacity benefit, invalid care allowance or supplementary benefit. In addition credits are awarded automatically each year to any other men in this age group who have less than a full record of

  367
  contributions or credits. In 1984–85, the latest year available, the number of men receiving credits in these circumstances was 1·4 million.

  NHS Capital Schemes
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 5 May relating to National Health Service capital schemes, if he will list all such information as is available to him in the form of his replies of 10 December 1985, Official Report, columns 613–4.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 8 May 1987, c. 574]: Following is a list of the 61 hospital developments of over £2 million completed since those given in appendix D to the National Health Service annual report 1985, Of these, nine, as indicated, were committed before June 1979. Similar information about developments listed in the 1985 National Health Service annual report was given in the previous reply on 10 December 1985.

  Northern RHA

  Fenham Blood Transfusion Service Centre

  Hartlepool DGH—Scheme 3 Phase 1

  Jarrow Community Hospital

  Queen Elizabeth, Gateshead—Scheme 3 Phase 1

  Yorkshire RHA

  Bradford Royal Infirmary—Nucleus Wards and Theatres

  Friarage Hospital—Phase 1 (Nucleus)

  Regional Blood Transfusion Centre Seacroft—Phase 1

  Scarborough DGH—Phase 1 (Nucleus)

  Scunthorpc DGH—Phase 3A Service Centre

  Staincliffe DGH—Energy Centre

  Trent RHA

  Derby City—Phase 1

  Derby Royal Infirmary—Phase 2

  Ilkeston Community Hospital

  Kings Mill DGH—Phase 2

  Lincoln County—Phases 1A and IB

  Lincoln County—Phase 1C—MIU

  Northern General—Phase 1C

  Pilgrim Hospital (Boston)—Phase 3—MIU

  East Anglia RHA

  West Suffolk (Bury St. Edmunds) Stage 1

  North West Thames RHA

  Hemel Hempstead Phase 1—Main block development

  St. Charles Hospital1

  St. Mary's W.2—Phase 1B

  North East Thames RHA

  Broomfield Ward Block

  Clacton District—Phase 1 Stages 1 and 2

  Colchester DGH—Phase 3 Residential

  Harold Wood Hospital—Phase 1

  Homerton Hospital—Phase 11

  Newham Hospital—Phase 2 (Nucleus)

  South East Thames RHA

  Archery House—M.H. Unit1

  Bassetts Residential Centre—M.H. Services

  Buckland DGH

  Lewisham DGH—Phase 1A1

  South West Thames RHA

  St. Georges—Blocks G2 and F Phase 21

  Wessex RHA

  Royal Hants County, Winchester—Phase 4 (Nucleus)1

  Royal United, Bath—Ward Block

  368
  Oxford RHA

  Hea therwood—MI /EM I

  Wexham Park—EMI/MI

  Wexham Park—Paediatric department and stores

  South Western RHA

  Bristol Eye Hospital1

  Derriford DGH—Tower Block fitting out

  West Somerset (Musgrove Park) DGH—Phase 11

  Weston-super-Mare New Hospital

  West Midlands RHA

  Bradwell New Geriatric Unit (Nucleus)

  Bromsgrove/Redditch DGH—Phase 1 Contract 2 (Nucleus)1

  George Eliot, Nuneaton—Phase 2 (Nucleus)

  Good Hope—Phase 1

  New Cross, Wolverhampton—Wards 1 and 2 (Nucleus)

  Rubery Hill Regional Phsychiatric Intensive Care Unit

  Walsgrave Radiotherapy Treatment Unit

  Mersey RHA

  Regional Stores

  North Western RHA

  Blackpool Victoria—Phase 4

  Burnley General Hospital—Phase 3

  Fairfield Catering and HSDU

  Park Hospital—Geriatric and Rehabilitation

  Queens Park Hospital, Blackburn—Phase 1 Paediatric

  Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan—Phase 1

  Non RHA

  Blood Products Manufacturing Unit, Elstree

  Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale

  Centre for Applied Microbiology, Porton Down

  Clare Hall Project

  Moorfields Eye Hospital, City Road development—Phase 1

  1 Health Building Schemes over £2 million completed after 1 January 1985 but committed before June 1979.

  Information about the extent to which facilities are in full use is not held centrally. Although such details were given in reply to the hon. Member's question on 10 December 1985 at column 614, the information obtained was by special inquiry of the regional health authorities concerned. It is no longer standard practice to seek information that is not routinely collected by the Department solely in order to answer parliamentary questions. The hon. Member may, therefore, wish to inquire of the appropriate regional health authorities direct.

  Abortions
  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 131]: The available information is shown in the table. Prior to 1981 the statistics on abortions carried out in non NHS premises do not identify separately those performed on NHS patients under agency arrangements. Hence it is not possible to provide data for charitable and commercial organisations for 1979 and 1980. For this purpose, charitable organisations are those registered as a charity with the Charity Commissioners, and the remainder are defined as commercial organisations.
  369

  Numbers of notifications of National Health Service (NHS) abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 (a) on NHS premises (b) by charitable organizations and (c) by commercial organizations. Residents and non-Residents England and Wales

  1979–86

  Year

  NHS

  Charitable

  Commercial

  1979

  55,767

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  60,818

  n/a

  n/a

  1981

  61,276

  1,477

  866

  1982

  62,532

  2,901

  1,524

  1983

  62,817

  2,870

  1,750

  1984

  64,926

  3,095

  1,821

  1985

  65,254

  3,820

  2,118

  19861

  67,529

  4,479

  2,360

  1 provisional

  n/a not available

  Local Office

  1Sickness/ Invalidity Benefit

  1Maternity Allowance

  1Severe Disablement Allowance

  2Industrial Disablement Benefit

  3Supplementary Benefit

  Aberdeen North ILO

  2,769

  619

  476

  681

  9,767

  Aberdeen South ILO

  2,475

  378

  658

  704

  9,645

  Airdrie ILO

  3,238

  91

  334

  360

  8,350

  Arbroath ILO

  1,383

  226

  338

  359

  6,988

  Ayr ILO

  3,393

  279

  495

  647

  15,546

  Bellshill AO

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6,908

  Bathgate ILO

  3,893

  385

  782

  1,056

  14,165

  Campbeltown ILO

  309

  32

  57

  41

  1,660

  Clydebank ILO

  1,824

  99

  346

  305

  7,381

  Coatbridge AO

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7,283

  Coatbridge NIO

  4,230

  85

  364

  322

  —

  Cowdenbeath ILO

  2,047

  101

  262

  891

  4,528

  Cumbernauld ILO

  3,937

  258

  1,429

  847

  10,703

  Cumnock NIO

  1,441

  59

  195

  418

  —

  Dumbarton ILO

  1,834

  216

  273

  153

  8,169

  Dumfries ILO

  2,375

  286

  574

  623

  8,509

  Dundee East ILO

  2,672

  296

  470

  451

  12,232

  Dundee West ILO

  3,160

  256

  841

  452

  10,763

  Dunfermline ILO

  2,213

  325

  688

  643

  5,897

  East Kilbride ILO

  2,347

  182

  234

  233

  6,326

  Edinburgh City ILO

  1,966

  245

  332

  204

  11,867

  Edinburgh East ILO

  2,232

  271

  584

  867

  11,188

  Edinburgh North ILO

  1,702

  293

  425

  366

  10,588

  Edinburgh South ILO

  2,728

  357

  848

  1,148

  11,101

  Edinburgh West ILO

  1,707

  379

  836

  373

  11,061

  Elgin ILO

  1,408

  259

  742

  415

  6,821

  Falkirk ILO

  4,376

  356

  1,403

  1,020

  14,275

  Fort William ILO

  436

  55

  60

  76

  2,790

  Galashiels ILO

  1,228

  189

  477

  411

  6,740

  Glasgow Anniesland ILO

  4,905

  203

  610

  515

  11,666

  Glasgow Bridgeton ILO

  2,587

  79

  234

  194

  8,501

  Glasgow City ILO

  2,270

  68

  202

  184

  9,239

  Glasgow Craigton ILO

  3,078

  125

  342

  428

  11,701

  Glasgow Cranstonhill AO

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,096

  Glasgow Laurieston ILO

  4,908

  341

  436

  141

  15,709

  Glasgow Maryhill ILO

  2,816

  186

  242

  263

  13,695

  Glasgow Parkhead ILO

  4,080

  126

  546

  314

  11,966

  Glasgow Partick AO

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8,274

  Glasgow Provan ILO

  3,460

  110

  547

  301

  15,067

  Glasgow Rutherglen ILO

  4,008

  130

  314

  406

  14,857

  Glasgow Southside ILO

  3,437

  254

  497

  377

  14,162

  Glasgow Springburn ILO

  3,650

  141

  450

  396

  10,962

  Greenock ILO

  3,786

  205

  413

  533

  12,139

  Hamilton ILO

  7,857

  308

  1,123

  914

  16,360

  Inverness ILO

  2,111

  368

  595

  394

  12,018

  Irvine ILO

  3,688

  211

  534

  412

  13,154

  Johstone ILO

  2,633

  248

  618

  294

  7,834

  Kilmarnock ILO

  2,250

  243

  449

  266

  9,040

  Kirkcaldy ILO

  2,339

  335

  450

  910

  11,281

  Lanark NIO

  855

  52

  334

  159

  —

  Lerwick ILO

  219

  76

  93

  63

  1,163

  Leven ILO

  1,840

  129

  241

  609

  5,389

  Motherwell ILO

  4,885

  137

  387

  353

  12,450

  Oban ILO

  485

  77

  106

  63

  2,256

  Paisley ILO

  5,604

  349

  827

  565

  16,738

  Benefit Claims
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide his latest available figure for the numbers of people claiming social security benefits for each Department of Health and Social Security office in Scotland.

  Mr. Lyell
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1987]: The following table shows the numbers of people claiming locally-administered social security benefits at the latest available date. Information about the centrally paid social security benefits, eg retirement pension, is not available on an office-by-office basis
  371

  Local Office

  1Sickness/ Invalidity Benefit

  1Maternity Allowance

  1Severe Disablement Allowance

  2Industrial Disablement Benefit

  3Supplementary Benefit

  Perth ILO

  1,810

  362

  592

  450

  9,125

  Peterhead ILO

  1,044

  182

  268

  318

  4,478

  Port Glasgow ILO

  1,666

  86

  256

  526

  5,385

  Shotts NIO

  1,502

  29

  193

  276

  —

  Stirling ILO

  3,952

  296

  604

  1,093

  11,027

  Stornoway ILO

  675

  54

  203

  123

  4,652

  Stranraer ILO

  824

  63

  149

  92

  3,129

  Wick ILO

  884

  166

  240

  169

  4,488

  Wishaw NIO

  4,339

  122

  425

  504

  —

  Abbreviations: ILO = Integrated Local Office.

  AO = Area Office

  NIO = National Insurance Office

  1As at 7 April 1987

  2Figures quoted show the numbers of current awards of disablement benefit at local offices on 10 February 1987. More than one award may be in payment to an individual beneficiary at any one time.

  3 As at 10 February 1987.

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

  NHS Estate
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the annual expenditure, in 1987 prices, from 1975–76 to date on repair, maintenance and improvement work on the English National Health Service estate; what is his Department's estimate of the expenditure needed to bring the condition of the English National Health Service estate to a fully reconditioned and repaired state, complying with up-to-date building standards, not including the reconditioning of parts of the estate for which there is no intention to recondition or repair, but where the proper course is demolition or disposal, or the expected depreciation of the estate in the current financial year; what is his Department's estimate of the annual expenditure to prevent the English National Health Service estate's condition from deteriorating, excluding those parts of the estate for which there is no intention to recondition or repair, but where the proper course is demolition or otherwise disposal; and what is the capital value of National Health Service buildings in England.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 13 May 1987]: The available information is as follows.
  372

  Hospital and community health service revenue expenditure on maintenance in England

  Building at 1987–88 prices

  Engineering at 1987–88 prices

  Total at 1987–88 prices

  £

  £

  £

  1975–76

  172,092

  346,792

  518,884

  1976–77

  158,064

  240,066

  398,130

  1977–78

  183,588

  249,017

  432,605

  1978–79

  186,876

  255,845

  442,721

  1979–80

  173,281

  266,371

  439,652

  1980–81

  188,749

  277,741

  466,490

  1981–82

  202,117

  293,478

  495,595

  1982–83

  190,415

  295,126

  485,541

  1983–84

  191,722

  300,831

  492,553

  1984–85

  190,998

  300,327

  491,325

  1985–86

  177,530

  291,237

  468,767

  1986–87

  n/y/a

  Information is not routinely collected on the cost of bringing the NHS estate in England up to the state as described in the question. Nor are separate estimates collected of the annual expenditure required to prevent deterioration. However, an exercise carried out in 1985 indicated that it would cost £1·7 billion to bring the whole estate up to a standard where the element was sound, operationally safe and exhibiting only minor deterioration. The capital value of the estate in England was given in my reply to the hon. Member on 4 February 1987 at column 702.

  ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS: ADAS ADVICE TO FARMERS
  ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS: ADAS ADVICE TO FARMERS
  SALMON ADVISORY COMMITTEE: REPORTING PROCEDURE
  SALMON ADVISORY COMMITTEE: REPORTING PROCEDURE
  DRIFT NETTING RESTRICTION MEASURES
  DRIFT NETTING RESTRICTION MEASURES
  ILO INSTRUMENTS: CONSULTATION WITH INDUSTRY
  ILO INSTRUMENTS: CONSULTATION WITH INDUSTRY
  BRITISH SUMMER TIME
  BRITISH SUMMER TIME
  FRESHWATER BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: STAFFING
  FRESHWATER BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: STAFFING
  FRESHWATER BIOLOGY STUDIES: FUNDING
  FRESHWATER BIOLOGY STUDIES: FUNDING
  WANDSWORTH: HOUSING AUTHORITY RENTS
  WANDSWORTH: HOUSING AUTHORITY RENTS
  TORTURE VICTIMS: UN VOLUNTARY FUND
  TORTURE VICTIMS: UN VOLUNTARY FUND
  DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN: UK REPORT TO UN
  DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN: UK REPORT TO UN
  CANNON GROUP FILM LIBRARY
  CANNON GROUP FILM LIBRARY
  MOLECULAR ELECTRONICS:RESEARCH PROJECT
  MOLECULAR ELECTRONICS:RESEARCH PROJECT
  PROHIBITION OF FEMALE CIRCUMCISION ACT 1985: IMPLEMENTATION
  PROHIBITION OF FEMALE CIRCUMCISION ACT 1985: IMPLEMENTATION
  DEFERRED PENSION VALUES
  DEFERRED PENSION VALUES
  MILK QUOTAS
  MILK QUOTAS
  HORTICULTURAL NURSERIES APPROVAL SCHEME
  HORTICULTURAL NURSERIES APPROVAL SCHEME