Written Answers of 15 May 1987

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Loans and Grants
  Mr. John Browne
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement as to whether Her Majesty's Government have put forward initiatives to extend their policy of transferring loans to poorer countries into grants.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  For several years Britain has had a generous policy of converting past aid loans into grants. Twenty-one of the poorest developing countries are benefiting from our retrospective terms adjustment policy at a total cost to the aid programme of nearly £1 billion. We are urging other donors to provide similar aid debt relief as part of the debt relief measures for the poorest and most indebted sub-Saharan African countries proposed by the Chancellor at the Interim Committee of the International Monetary Fund in April.

PRIME MINISTER

  State Security
  Mr. Williams
  asked the Prime Minister when she intends to reply to the letter dated 6 May from the right hon. Member for Swansea, West about her failure to notify the House that an inquiry into the security services was taking place.

  The Prime Minister
  I replied to the right hon. Gentleman earlier today.

  Achievements
  Mr. Allen McKay
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her Government's achievements in (a) Yorkshire and Humberside, (b) Barnsley metropolitan district council area and (c) Barnsley, West and Penistone constituency since 1979 for each year to 1987; and if she will list by Government Departments the principal aid given to each area for each year since 1979.

  The Prime Minister
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Private Security Services
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Prime Minister how much has been paid by her office for services provided by private security companies in each of the past five years.

  The Prime Minister
  Nearly all security work for which my office pays is handled by other Government Departments. It is not possible to identify without disproportionate cost those items of work which have been carried out by private security companies on their behalf.

  Heating and Lighting
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Prime Minister if she will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties which she occupied; and if she will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  The Prime Minister
  Electricity, gas and other fuel supplies are not separately metered for heating and lighting. Energy efficiency measures have concentrated on encouraging staff to abide by simple but effective no-cost measures that help reduce energy wastage.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Luce
  This information is not held in my department and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Luce
  Fuel and utilities are not separately metered for heating and lighting. Expenditure on energy efficiency measures is not readily available.

  Cancer Screening (Government Departments)
  Mr. David Marshall
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is Government policy in relation to the establishment of cancer screening facilities for female employees in Government Departments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Dissolution; therefore, I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Webber v Webber (Lord Chancellor's Correspondence)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will place in the Library copies of his correspondence with Mr. Justice Pickford on the case of Webber v Webber in the Blackwood county court; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor has not corresponded with His Honour Judge Pitchford on this case. There is no such person as Judge Pickford.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Attorney-General what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he and the Lord Chancellor, respectively, have responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  The Solicitor-General
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Attorney-General if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properities for which he and the Lord Chancellor, respectively, are directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  The Solicitor-General
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General is not responsible for any properties in the excercise of his functions.

  Expenditure incurred during 1986–87 upon heating fuel, gas and electricity for properties in the Lord Chancellor's Department was £3,250,952. This does not include properties where the cost of heating and lighting is included in the rent, for which information is not available. Details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

TRANSPORT

  Drinking and Driving
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the initiatives taken by his Department since 1979 to reduce the incidence of drinking and driving; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We have implemented, under the Transport Act 1981, new provisions to improve the effectiveness of the law on drinking and driving by providing for the introduction of evidential breath testing; closing various loopholes which allowed suspects to avoid prosecution on legal technicalities; and extending police powers to require a roadside breath test to those who have been driving or have been in charge of a vehicle. The measures came into force in May 1983.

  At the same time we introduced a new procedure to identify offenders suffering from a possible drinking problem. Under this drivers disqualified twice within 10 years at an alcohol level at least 2½ times above the legal limit cannot obtain a further driving licence until they have satisfied the Secretary of State that any drinking problem has been successfully treated.

  We have initiated a new, more sustained, approach to drinking and driving publicity with the aim of making people aware of the dangers throughout the year. In addition to annual campaigns over the Christmas and New Year period, last year saw the first ever spring-summer publicity focus. Drinking and driving is now given overriding priority within our publicity programme throughout the year.

  Last year we produced a leaflet "The Facts about Drinking and Driving". Over ¾ million copies have been
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  distributed. A free road safety hot line (0800–234888) was also set up to provide help and advice on road safety matters, including drinking and driving. Over 6,000 calls have been handled on drinking and driving.

  We have developed an education package for teenagers entitled "One for the Road". The Brewers' Society has supported the package by producing three films on alcohol and driving. There has been widespread dissemination of the package through courses for teachers and road safety officers.

  Research is backing up all these initiatives. Accident figures show that since 1979 there as been a generally downward trend in the incidence of drinking and driving. There is also evidence of a greater awareness of the drinking and driving problem, and a hardening of attitudes against the drinking driver.

  Much more needs to be done. We must continue to try and change people's attitudes. We are getting good support from outside bodies.

  Ferries (Passenger Lists)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has yet reached any conclusions about the desirability of introducing legislation to require shipowners to maintain passenger lists for ferries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a difficult problem, and I am considering it very carefully. But I do not want to rush to a conclusion.

  Motorways (Overtaking Lanes)
  Dame Jill Knight
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to encourage motorway users to adhere to rule 165 of the Highway Code about not travelling continuously in the fast overtaking lanes.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Yes. The Department takes every opportunity to remind motorists that they should use the outer lanes of motorways for overtaking only. Since June 1985 some 32 million leaflets on lane discipline have been issued with vehicle excise duty reminders. Experimental "Keep Left" signs have been installed on the M1. Their impact is being monitored.

  A38 (Signposts)
  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will take steps to ensure the signposting of Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Dartmouth on existing signposts from the A38 on both east and westbound carriageways;

  (2) if he will take steps to ensure that South Hams be signposted on the A38 at the foot of Haldon/Telegraph Hill on the approach to the split of the A38 and A380 to Torquay, before the start of the tourist season;

  (3) if he will take steps to ensure that white on brown tourist signposts 'highlighting the existence of South Hams are erected on the A38 westbound carriageway;

  (4) if he will take steps to ensure the signposting of Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Dartmouth on existing signposts from the A38 on the westbound carriageway only;
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  (5) if he will take steps to ensure that Kingsbridge, Salcombe and the east of Ivybridge are signposted from the A38 at the Wrangaton junction, before the start of the tourism season;

  (6) if he will take steps to ensure that Salcombe and Dartmouth arc signposted from the A38 at the Buckfastleigh junction, before the start of the tourist season.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are having discussions with Devon county council about the signposting on the A38 of destinations in South Hams.

  We hope to have amended signs in place before the peak holiday season. Kingsbridge is already signposted.

  South Hams, which is a district, will not be signposted.

  London Residuary Body (VAT)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will detail the outstanding amounts of value added tax payable by his Department for work carried out by the London Residuary Body.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  About £3,500 is outstanding in respect of work done by LRB on certain ex-GLC road schemes. The liability for VAT on residuary body work in respect of urban traffic control systems is currently under discussion with HM Customs and Excise.

  Driving Licence Abuse
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East of 6 April, Official Report, column 40, he has received any further representations relating to alleged driving licence abuse.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No.

  Severn Crossing
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the currently proposed route of the second Severn crossing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We announced last July that the second Severn crossing will be sited at the English Stones about three miles downstream of the existing crossing, with connedtons to the M4 on both banks and with an additional southerly link to the M5.

  The general alignments of the approach routes and likely motorway interchange locations were shown on a map attached to the July 1986 announcement, and also in the Consultant's Report, which was placed in the Commons Library. Considerable detailed work will have to be done before these can he located or described with more precision.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibilitiy; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Moore
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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  Mr. Rost
  asked the Sectetary of State for Transport if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Moore
  Total spending on heating and lighting in 1986–87 in my Department's buildings was £2,944,000.

  This represents a reduction of almost 4 per cent. on the previous year, in part achieved with the help of energy efficiency measures costing some £15,000.

  Pilotage
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give reasons for the omission of any reference to the Harbours Act in paragraph 2 of the White Paper on the pilotage system.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The White Paper referred to the main legislation currently governing marine pilotage. No Harbours Act falls within that category.

  Buses
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the effect of bus deregulation within the city of Leicester.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Bus deregulation was introduced smoothly in Leicester with previous service levels being broadly maintained. There are signs of healthy competition between the main operators and minibuses are now operating successfully in the City.

  London Taxi Fares
  Mr. Bendall
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement about London taxi fares.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The Secretary of State has made an Order increasing London taxi fares by about 5·5 per cent. on average with effect from Sunday 21 June 1987. The new tariff will incorporate a minimum fare of 80p (including an unchanged hire charge of 40p) for the first 924 yards or 3 minutes 18 seconds. The rate will then be 20p for every 462 yards or 1 minute 39 seconds up to 6 miles and 20p for each 308 yards or 66 seconds thereafter. The surcharge for hirings made on Boxing Day has been increased to £2·00 in line with the surcharge applicable on Christmas Day and new year's eve.

  Motorways (Lane Closures)
  Mr. Cash
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish an inquiry into the numbers and positioning of cones on the M1 and M6 motorways; what steps are taken to ensure that the use of cones is kept to a minimum; what assessment he has made of the cost to commerce of delays caused by motorway lanes being coned off; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Safety Fences
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to change the specification

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  for welded angled beams for safety fences and the requirements for the routine inspection and maintenance of safety fences.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Yes. The current specification for the manufacture of welded angled beams, issued in 1985, is being replaced with one for formed beams that do not require welding. This change will avoid the problems that have occurred with some existing welded beams. The new specification will apply initially to contracts for new work and maintenance. The need for more extensive replacement of existing welded beams will be assessed when detailed investigations of these beams, currently in progress, are complete. The Department will shortly be inviting comments on a revised specification for welded beams, which may be adopted in future in addition to that for formed beams.

  The Department's code of practice for routine maintenance has been amended to increase the frequency of inspections to safety fences. The copy of the code in the Library has been amended accordingly. Some planned inspections are also being brought forward.

  Size of holdings

  Number of holdings

  Per cent. of total

  Number of shares in (millions)

  Per cent. of total

  (i)1–399

  525,698

  24·5

  104

  1·7

  (ii)400–799

  965,509

  45·1

  443

  7·4

  (iii)800–1,599

  629,432

  29·4

  505

  8·4

  (iv) 1,600–1,000,000 and more

  21,008

  1·0

  4,948

  82·5

  Totals

  2,141,647

  100

  6,000

  100

  Category (iv) includes the Government shareholding of 2,988 million shares, or 49·8 per cent, of total shares.

  As my previous answer made clear, this is properly a matter for British Telecom. Its 1986 annual report gives the most recent available figures on categories of shareholdings. A copy of this is available in the Library of the House.

  IDB (Winding-up)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to apply in the courts for a winding-up petition in the case of IDB.

  Mr. Giles Shaw
  IDB's licence under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 to deal in securities was revoked on 1 May. My right hon. Friend will exercise the other powers available to him if he considers the circumstances make it right to do so.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Giles Shaw
  The information is not readily available in the form requested and cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Regional Deprivation
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the new proposed index of regional deprivation prepared for the European Communities.

  Mr. Giles Shaw
  The European Commission is expected shortly to complete its third periodic report on the social and economic situation and development of the regions of the Community. I understand that this will include a table of values of a synthetic index purporting to measure the intensity of regional problems in each region of the Community.

  The publication of the Commission's report will be a matter for the Commission itself.

  British Telecom (Share Flotation)
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will update his answer of 20 January 1986, Official Report, column 16, regarding British Telecom shareholders showing also the position following flotation.

  Mr. Giles Shaw
  The position directly following the flotation in 1984 was as follows;

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Giles Shaw
  A reply could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide figures for the amounts spent, by region, and in Scotland and Wales, on regional selective assistance in 1986–87; and if he will give estimates for 1987–88.

  Mr. Giles Shaw
  Provisional figures for payments of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) in 1986–87 are as follows:

  Area

  £ million

  North East

  18·3

  North West

  19·3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  9·8

  East Midlands

  2·3

  West Midlands

  9·7

  South West

  5·2

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  Area

  £ million

  Scotland

  35·4

  Wales

  26·6

  Great Britain Total

  126·6

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

  £ million

  England

  89·3

  Scotland

  46·8

  Wales

  36·1

  172·2

  Notes:

  (1) RSA has been interpreted as industrial and training grants.

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

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

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Central America
  Mr. Wilkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that the future presence of British troops stationed in Belize will not be affected by the talks between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Belize and the Government of Guatemala.

  Mr. Eggar
  As I informed the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 5 May, the British garrison will remain in Belize for an appropriate period.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at the request of which Government the talks between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Belize and the Government of Guatemala are to take place.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Governments of Belize and Guatemala had both publicly made clear their willingness to hold talks in advance of the recent meeting on 29 April 1987 about which I answered a question from the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 5 May at column 324. British officials attended as observers.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the purpose and agenda of the negotiations between Her Majesty's Government, the Government of Belize and the Government of Guatemala.

  Mr. Eggar
  The purpose of the talks was to seek a negotiated settlement of the differences between the Governments of Belize and Guatemala. British officials attended as observers.

  Private Security Services
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been paid by his Department for services provided by private security companies in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office employs private security companies in the United 382
  Kingdom and a number of its posts overseas. Detailed information is not kept in a centralised form and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

  Diego Garcia
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Mauritius concerning the future of the people of Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  None. The Government of Mauritius, assisted by the operations of a trust fund to which the Government contributed £4 million in 1982, is responsible for future arrangements relating to the workers from the abandoned plantations on Diego Garcia, and has been active, inter alia, in providing land for housing.

  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of the United States concerning the use of Diego Garcia by their forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  None. However, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials consult periodically with their United States counterparts as required by paragraph 1(3) of the 1976 Exchange of Notes (Cmnd. 6413).

  Asylum Seekers (Kurds)
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with representatives of the Government of Syria concerning the treatment of Kurdish people who seek asylum from Iraq.

  Mr. Renton
  None.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested by my hon. Friend is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Eggar
  The cost of providing heating, lighting and power for non-specialised use in the properties for which my right hon. and learned Friend is directly responsible in the United Kingdom was £1,014,000.

  Energy efficiency measures have been carried out by the PSA as part of their responsibility for maintenance and minor new works in these buildings.

  Two part-time energy managers have been appointed at no additional cost.
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  The information requested by my hon. Friend in respect of the properties for which my right hon. and learned Friend is directly responsible overseas is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Ugandan Asians
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current position regarding outstanding compensation claims for those Ugandan Asians living in Leicester who are currently in dispute with the Government of Uganda.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have raised this matter repeatedly with the Ugandan authorities at the highest level, most recently when my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) visited Uganda in December 1986. We understand that in March this year a new chairman was appointed to the Ugandan verification committee, set up under the Expropriated Properties Act in 1982 to examine claims. This post had been vacant since 1985. We are continuing to urge the Ugandan authorities to resolve these matters as soon as possible.

ENERGY

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  This information is not held by my Department but I have asked Chairmen of the appropriate public bodies to write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department does not have direct responsibility for the heating in our main building, where we are tenants. Total expenditure on heating and lighting for my Department's main building during 1986–87 was £112,192 and my Department's share of fuel bills for buildings where it is a minority occupant was £35,649. Over the same period my Department spent some £13,000 on a major draughtproofing programme and other energy efficiency measures in its main building and achieved a 7 per cent. saving in electricity consumption.

  Electricity (Temple and Bolventor)
  Mr. Neale
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has reached a decision on the requisitions for electricity supply to Temple and Bolventor on Bodmin moor; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Goodlad
  My right hon. Friend has now considered all aspects of the South Western electricity board's appeals 384
  against the two requisitions but, before making the orders to determine them, he has given the board and the requisitioners an opportunity to comment on the way in which he is minded to do so.

THE ARTS

  Nitrate Project 200 Campaign
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Minister for the Arts if he will make a grant to the Nitrate Project 200 Campaign to increase the speed at which film prints on nitrate stock can be saved.

  Mr. Luce
  I already fund the National Film Archive through the British Film Institute. The preservation of film stock in private ownership is not a matter for me.

DEFENCE

  Advertisements
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Freeman
  This information is not readily available and would entail disproportionate time and effort to produce.

  Northern Ireland (Army Discipline)
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth might receive a reply to his letter dated 10 April about the way in which disciplinary matters are pursued in the Army in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Freeman
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 12 May.

  Nimrod MR2 Aircraft
  Mr. D. E. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nuclear role of the Nimrod MR2 aircraft in Royal Air Force service.

  Mr. Stanley
  As stated in paragraph 404 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1986" (Cmnd. 9763-I) RAF Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft can deliver US depth bombs against submarines.

  RAF Finningley (Exercise)
  Mr. Redmond
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contingencies which the exercise at Royal Air Force Finningley on 24 to 25 March was designed to meet; whether the exercise was part of a nationwide series of exercises; whether the exercise involved members of the home service force; what steps were taken to inform local residents in advance of the exercise; and if he will list the local authority representatives informed in advance.

  Mr. Stanley
  RAF stations routinely test their operational capability by means of exercises such as that held at Finningley on 24–25 March. In accordance with
  385
  normal practice, advance notice of this exercise was given to the local police and the residents in the immediate vicinity of the station. Only RAF personnel took part in the exercise.

  RAF Aircrew
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to offer signing on payments or bounties to Royal Air Force aircrew at the end of their engagement to remain in the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Freeman
  None; however RAF terms and conditions of service are kept under review.

  Foxhunter Radar Project
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to how many personnel have been transferred to Marconi plc from GEC Avionics to work on the Foxhunter radar project; and if it still has the same project management.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  These are matters for the company but I understand that there have been important changes at senior management level in relation to this project.

  Private Security Companies
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid by his Department for services provided by private security companies in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate time and effort.

  "British Defence Policy"
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of producing the 1987 edition of the booklet, "British Defence Policy;" when they were printed; what was the print-run for 1987 and 1986; what was the cost for each year; and how many copies of the edition prior to 1987 remain undistributed.

  Mr. Stanley
  The cost of producing the 1987 edition of the booklet, "British Defence Policy," is £72,766 including VAT but excluding staff costs and the costs of distribution. 85,000 are being printed, of which 5,000 were delivered from the printer on 5 May, 20,000 on 14 May, and the remainder will be delivered by the end of May. On the same basis of costing, the 1986 edition cost £54,082 and had a print-run of 35,000 of which at 5 May 1987 there were about 150 undistributed. There was also an outstanding demand for over 35,000.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The answer can not be provided without disproportionate cost and effort.
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  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information sought is not readily available.

  Northern Ireland (Service Men)
  Mr. Harrison
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance is given to commanding officers concerning the type of duties which 18-year-old service men are expected to carry out in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Members of the Armed Forces who are aged 18 are considered to be adult service personnel and are expected to carry out all duties while serving in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Harrison
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum age for those serving in Her Majesty's forces to be sent to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The minimum age for members of the Armed Forces serving in Northern Ireland is 17½. Service men aged less than 18 years are not expected to carry out duties of an operational nature.

  Neutron Warheads (Exercises)
  Mr. Steel
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if there are any plans for British forces to participate in exercises in which neutron warheads are involved; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if British forces have at any time participated in exercises involving neutron warheads; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  I will write to the right hon. Gentleman.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the increase in the yield of corporation tax in a full financial year from abolishing relief in respect of past losses; and if he will provide a break-down by sector.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Use of accumulated tax losses is estimated to have reduced CT receipts by some £1–2 billion in 1986–87, excluding the public sector. A breakdown by sector could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the increase in the yield of corporation tax in a full financial year from disallowing interest on borrowed money as a cost; and if he will provide a breakdown by sector.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The yield would depend upon the precise nature of the proposal: for example, whether the interest receipts of lending institutions remained taxable,
  387
  and whether the proposals extended to the public sector, building societies and unincorporated businessess. The proposal would induce significant behavioural changes on the part of lenders and borrowers which would also affect the yield.

  Estimates of company interest payments, consolidated by sector, are available in the 1986 edition of United Kingdom National Accounts.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the increase in revenue from corporation tax in a full financial year from abolishing capital and depreciation allowances; and if he will provide a breakdown by sector.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Estimates of the reduction in 1986–87 corporation tax liabilities resulting from the existence of capital allowances were published in the Public Expenditure White Paper (Cm 56-II).

  A breakdown by sector beyond those given in the White Paper is not readily available.

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Mates
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the contracts, with the subject of the assignment, awarded to management consultancy or accounting firms by the Treasury, Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue in 1986, with the name of the consultants concerned.

  Mr. Brooke
  the information requested for the Treasury was given in response to the question of the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 18 February 1987 at column 675.

  The management consultancy contracts awarded by the Inland Revenue in 1986 were:

  (i) The development of manpower planning techniques—Institute of Manpower Studies;

  (ii) the development of personnel planning techniques—Institute of Manpower Studies;

  (iii) development of financial costing and modelling systems—Peat, Marwick, McLintock.

  The Department continued to receive assistance during 1986 from Peat, Marwick, McLintock on the development of financial management techniques and on clerical work measurement in tax offices.

  In addition, the Department also used consultancy services in a wide range of areas, including information technology, operational research and public and staff relations, which, while not falling within the general classification of management consultancy, have some similarity to it.

  Customs and Excise do not maintain central records of such contracts. An exhaustive check would involve disproportionate time and effort, but the following have been identified:

  (i) advice on a systems testing strategy—BIS Applied Systems;

  (ii) a study of computer terminal strategy—Peat, Marwick, McLintock;

  (iii) a study of communications network strategy—Peat, Marwick, McLintock;

  (iv) a study in the VAT area of data capture and measures of achievement—Arthur Andersen & Co;

  (v) a study on the potential use of certain commercial accounting packages—Peat, Marwick, McLintock.

  Capital Taxes
  Mr. Wrigglesworth
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in real terms of the threshold for exemption from capital gains tax since 1978–79; and if he will list the annual cost of changes to the exemption made since 1978–79.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In real terms, the percentage increase between April 1978 and April 1987 is 219 per cent. The cost of each change to the exemption since 1978–79 can be found in the relevant "Financial Statement and Budget Report". The 1980–81 cost includes the effect of other changes whose cost cannot be distinguished.

  Mr. Wrigglesworth
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list concessions made on capital gains tax and capital transfer tax since 1978–79; and what is his latest estimate of their cost.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The yield of inheritance tax on capital transfers in 1987–88 is estimated to be about £350 million lower than if the 1978–79 capital transfer tax regime, with the threshold and rate band limits indexed in line with movements in retail prices, had remained in force. On the same basis, the yield of capital gains tax on gains realised by individuals and trusts in 1987–88 is estimated to be about £1,100 million lower than with the indexed 1978–79 regime. These estimates make no allowance for possible changes in the basis for these taxes which might result from changes in the structure and rates of tax.

  Details of the changes to these taxes will be found in the annual Finance Acts.

  Mr. Wrigglesworth
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the annual cost of indexation relief on capital gains tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  About £600 million at the level of capital gains expected to be realised by individuals and trusts during 1987–88.

  Mr. Wrigglesworth
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the annual cost of the abolition of capital transfer tax on lifetime gifts.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The latest estimate is that published in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1986–87" (page 51, paragraph 40(a)).

  Pensions
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement identifying those pensions received as a result of industrial injury or work-related illness which are subject to tax relief.

  Mr. Lawson
  I refer the right hon. Member to the Inland Revenue press release entitled "Inland Revenue Extra-Statutory Concessions" which was issued on 8 August 1986. A copy is available in the House of Commons library. The annex entitled "Pensions to disabled employees" sets out the circumstances in which pensions received by persons disabled at work are no taxed.

  Personal Wealth Distribution
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East of 20 May 1985, Official Report, columns 339–40, on the distribution of personal wealth.
  389
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Provisional estimates for 1983 and 1984 and revised estimates for 1980, 1981 and 1982 will be found in table 4·8 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1986", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period;

  (2) if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Brooke
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Civil Servants (Leicester)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of civil servants working within the city of Leicester; if he will break this figure down into departments giving the figures for 1979, 1983 and 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I regret that it has not bee possible to provide an answer before Dissolution; therefore, I shall write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  European Commission
  Mr. Fallon
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the European Commission's latest cash position and the implications for the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Brooke
  The European Commission estimates that its spending obligations this month will again exceed available revenues under the budget for 1987.

  The Commission have therefore requested member states to advance from June into May the payment of own resources other than VAT in accordance with Article 10(2) of Council Regulation 2891/77: a similar advance was made last month. The Government are satisfied that this request is within the vires of Article 10(2) and accordingly will make an advance payment on 20 May of £146 million from the Consolidated Fund under section 2(3) of the European Communities Act, 1972. The payment of levies and duties on 22 June will be reduced by the amount of the advance.

  The Commission have also informed us that it has to overdraw its accounts with member states in May in accordance with Article 12(2) of Council Regulation 2891/77. The amount involved for the United Kingdom is expected to be of the order of £285 million. The Government are meeting this obligation from the Consolidated Fund in accordance with section 2(3) of the European Communities Act, 1972. Repayment of drawings made under this facility will be made by deduction from our June own resources payments.
  390
  Neither of these facilities involve increasing the total amounts which the Community is authorised to spend during 1987. There is therefore no net addition to public expenditure.

  Eurotunnel
  Mr. Fallon
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report on the outcome of the recent meeting of the European Investment Bank's board of' directors with respect to a possible European Investment Bank loan to Eurotunnel.

  Mr. Brooke
  The EIB's Board of Directors agreed on Tuesday 12 May to lend Eurotunnel the equivalent of £1 billion or 10 billion French francs for the Channel tunnel. The text of the EIB's press notice, issued on Wednesday 13 May, is as follows:

  At its meeting yesterday, the Board of Directors of the European Investment Bank agreed to lend Eurotunnel the equivalent of a total £1 billion-FF 10 billion (approximately 1·4 billion ECUs) for the Channel tunnel. This decision has been taken in the light of the EIB's independent review of the technical, economic. and financial viability of the project. The EIB regards the Channel tunnel as a project of exceptional importance to the development of the Community's transport network, and a stimulus to the European economy.

  EIB funding will be made available, through co-financing arrangements, in association with a syndicate of international banks led by National Westminster, Credit Lyonnais, Banque Nationale de Paris, Midland and Banque Indosuez. The EIB's loans will be secured by guarantees provided by the participating banks until the successful completion of the project and thereafter by a charge on the project assets and revenues. No Government funds or guarantees are involved.

  The EIB loans will primarily be at fixed interest rates and for a range of maturities of up to 25 years. They will be phased over the project's six-year construction period (1988–1993). The terms will reflect prevailing market conditions.

  The conclusion of contractual arrangements for the loans between the EIB and Eurotunnel will be subject to passage of the necessary legislation, the finalisation of arrangements with the railways, and successful completion of bank syndication and the forthcoming equity issues.

  Unearned Income
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the annual saving to the Exchequer from unearned income paid abroad if the tax credit was raised from 27 per cent. to 35 per cent.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1987, c. 232]: A system involving a rate of tax credit and ACT 8 percentage points above the basic rate of income tax and the small companies rate of CT would be administratively complex and could lead to a substantial loss to the Exchequer generally as well as in the specific case of unearned income paid abroad.

WALES

  Maintained Schools
  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the annual expenditure, in 1987 prices, from 1975–76 to date on repair, maintenance and improvement work on maintained schools in Wales; what is his Department's estimate of the expenditure needed to bring the condition of maintained schools in Wales to a fully reconditioned and repaired state, complying with up-to-date building standards, not including the reconditioning of those schools for which there is no intention to recondition or repair, but where the proper course is demolition or otherwise disposal, or the expected depreciation of school buildings in the current financial year; what is his Department's estimate of the annual expenditure to prevent the condition of maintained schools in Wales from deteriorating, excluding those schools 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 maintained school buildings in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  Expenditure on repair, maintenance and improvement work on maintained schools in Wales since 1975–76 revalued to 1986–87 prices, is given in the table:

  £'000

  1975–76

  22,387

  1976–77

  21,106

  1977–78

  21,765

  1978–79

  24,738

  1979–80

  23,698

  1980–81

  23,756

  1981–82

  22,376

  1982–83

  22,899

  1983–84

  26,212

  1984–85

  23,043

  1985–86

  23,128

  Notes:

  Before 1981–82 expenditure on maintenance of school buildings was included with expenditure on the maintenance of school grounds. The figures have been adjusted to exclude assumed expenditure on maintenance of school grounds.

  In addition certan expenditure on repairs, maintenance and improvement may be met from capital allocations but this is not separately identifiable.

  Responsibility for al such work on maintaned schools lies with the Local Education Authorities and the other detailed information requested is not held centrally.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Raffan
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether any areas in Wales are intended to be designated as environmentally sensitive areas during the next year.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  Yes. It is our intention to extend the existing Cambrian Mountains environmentally sensitive area and to designate the Lleyn Peninsula. Details of the schemes have yet to be finalised but interested organisations in both areas will be consulted before the schemes are introduced.

  Schools (Languages)
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many state schools in Wales teach, as a compulsory subject, Latin or Greek.
  392
  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  The information is not available centrally.

  NHS (Staff)
  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff have been employed by the National Health Service in Wales for each year since 1979, expressed as whole-time equivalents as well as actual full-time and part-time numbers in the following categories: (a) nurses and midwives, (b) ancilliaries, (c) administrative and clerical and (d) professional and technical.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  The required information, which relates to 30 September each year, is given in the tables:

  Numbers of Staff

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Whole-time equivalents

  (a) Nursing and Midwifery Staff—NHS Wales including WHCSA

  11979

  16,275

  11,228

  23,031

  1980

  16,902

  11,792

  24,366

  1981

  17,946

  11,785

  25,362

  1982

  18,390

  11,956

  25,909

  1983

  18,583

  11,745

  25,981

  1984

  19,005

  11,751

  26,448

  1985

  19,486

  11,965

  27,014

  1986

  19,553

  12,123

  27,187

  (b) Ancillary Staff—NHS Wales including WHCSA

  1979

  7,602

  7,307

  11,879

  1980

  7,593

  7,606

  11,989

  1981

  7,381

  7,728

  11,839

  1982

  7,240

  7,954

  11,784

  1983

  7,045

  7,897

  11,559

  1984

  6,498

  7,806

  10,964

  1985

  6,212

  8,009

  10,757

  1986

  5,797

  7,847

  10,210

  (c) Administrative and Clerical Staff—NHS Wales including WHCSA

  1979

  5,259

  1,584

  6,221

  1980

  5,376

  1,631

  6,279

  1981

  5,409

  1,676

  6,390

  1982

  5,437

  1,755

  6,437

  1983

  5,481

  1,779

  6,481

  1984

  5,545

  1,879

  6,626

  1985

  5,589

  2,067

  6,787

  1986

  5,600

  2,244

  6,924

  (d) Professional and Technical Staff—NHS Wales including WHCSA

  1979

  3,197

  963

  3,621

  1980

  3,370

  1,005

  3,737

  1981

  3,448

  1,059

  3,849

  1982

  3,615

  1,079

  4,018

  1983

  3,786

  1,078

  4,161

  1984

  3,904

  1,104

  4,466

  1985

  4,070

  1,152

  4,649

  1986

  4,123

  1,274

  4,771

  1 In 1979, standard contract hours for this staff group were 40 hours per week; this was reduced to 37·5 hours for 1980 and subsequent years.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
  393
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  During 1986–87 the Welsh Office spent £487,000 on heating and lighting. Energy conservation is primarily the responsibility of the Property Services Agency and my Department does not hold information about expenditure on energy efficiency schemes.

  National Museum of Wales
  Mr. Faulds
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to (a) the receipts raised by the national museum of Wales from the recent exhibition of masterpieces of that museum in Japan, (b) the net sum made available from that amount for museum purposes after deducting expenses and internal costs, (c) the museum purposes to which that net sum was devoted and (d) the sum made available therefrom for equipment for the museum's conservation studios.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  Receipts were £200,000 gross and £190,000 net after taking account of direct expenses only. In accordance with current practice for the national museums and galleries, receipts are applied to meet general expenditure and are not earmarked for specific projects.

  Enterprise Zone, Delyn
  Mr. Raffan
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total amount of public resources invested in the Delyn enterprise zone since its designation.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  Since designation, it is estimated that, overall, some £10 million has been invested in the development of the Delyn enterprise zone by the Welsh Office, Welsh Development Agency and Delyn borough council. In addition support from the European Regional Development Fund has totalled £1 million.

  Roads (Delyn)
  Mr. Raffan
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number and cost of the trunk road construction projects in the Delyn constituency (a) completed since 1983, and (b) planned for the next five years.

  Mr. Nicholas Edwards
  Information for major (ie over £1 million) schemes is as follows:

  Completed since 1983

  Opened

  Estimated cost

  £ million

  A55 Holywell By-pass (Stage 2)

  October 1986

  20·2

  Planned

  Estimated start

  Estimated cost

  £ million

  A55 Northop By-pass

  Before December 1987

  11·3

  A55 Travellers' Inn Improvement

  January 1988–December 1990

  3·8

  A494 Mold By-pass

  January 1988–December 1990

  7·5

  Hospitals
  Mr. Raffan
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total cost of (a) the building of Mold community hospital, (b) the conversion of Chatsworth House hospital, Prestatyn, and (c) the improvements to the out-patients department and wards of Holywell cottage hospital.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  The cost information requested is as follows:

  £

  Mold Community Hospital

  1,907,000

  Chatsworth House Hospital Conversion

  248,000

  Holywell Cottage Hospital Out-patients Department

  118,500

  Mr. Raffan
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans there are to carry out improvements to Flint cottage hospital.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  I understand that the Clwyd Health Authority has plans to carry out improvements to Flint cottage hospital as part of their continuing programme for the implementation of the District's community health care strategy.

  Welsh National Health Service Estate
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the annual expenditure, in 1987 prices, from 1975–76 to date on repair, maintenance and improvement work on the Welsh National Health Service estate: what is his Department's estimate of the expenditure needed. to bring the condition of the Welsh 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 this financial year; what is his Department's estimate of the annual expenditure to prevent the Welsh 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 cource is demolition or otherwise disposal; and what is the capital value of National Health Service buildings in Wales.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1987]: Information is not collected on a routine basis either on the cost of bringing the NHS estate in Wales up to the condition described in the question or on the annual expenditure required to prevent deterioration. However, an exercise carried out in 1984 indicated that it would cost £99 million to bring the whole estate up to a standard where it was sound, operationally safe and exhibiting only minor deterioration. The capital value of the estate in Wales was given to the hon. Gentleman on 4 February 1987.

  The revenue expenditure on maintenance of NHS estate in Wales is shown in the table:

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  Revenue Expenditure on the NHS Estate in Wales: 1987 Constant Prices

  £000

  Financial Year

  Building Maintenance Expenditure

  Engineering Maintenance Expenditure

  Total: Building and Engineering Maintenance Expenditure

  1975–76

  9,626

  21,381

  31,006

  1976–77

  9,311

  13,595

  22,906

  1977–78

  10,931

  15,368

  26,299

  1978–79

  10,923

  16,907

  27,830

  1979–80

  10,773

  16,921

  27,695

  1980–81

  10,495

  16,054

  26,549

  1981–82

  11,919

  18,155

  30,074

  1982–83

  18,504

  14,021

  32,525

  1983–84

  13,479

  18,608

  32,087

  1984–85

  12,805

  18,410

  31,215

  1985–86

  12,948

  18,396

  31,344

  Source: Summary of NHS Annual Accounts.

ENVIRONMENT

  Homelessness
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households have been accepted as homeless, by each local authority, for each year from 1979 to 1986.

  Mr. Tracey
  I have today placed in the Library, tables giving the numbers of households for whom local authorities in England reported accepting responsibility for securing accommodation during each year from 1981 to 1986. Information for the years 1979 and 1980 is available in "Local Housing Statistics" issues No. 54 (table 14), 59 (table 9) and 62 (table 13), copies of which are in the Library. A new reporting system was introduced for non-metropolitan districts in the fourth quarter of 1980 and for metropolitan districts and the London boroughs in the third quarter of 1982, so that the figures are not directly comparable over the whole period.

  London Docklands
  Mr. Mikardo
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of houses and flats built on London Docklands Development Corporation owned land between January 1986 and December 1986 were sold for (a) over £40,000 and (b) over £100,000.

  Mr. John Patten
  Houses and flats sold on LDDC-owned sites between 1 April and 31 December 1986 can be subdivided as follows:

  Per cent.

  Houses over £40,000

  85

  of which:

  Homes over £100,000

  4

  Similar information for the first quarter of 1986 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Council House Sales (Leicester)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses have been sold within the city of Leicester since the Government's right-to-buy legislation; and if he will make a statement.
  396
  Mr. Tracey
  Reported sales of dwellings by Leicester city council appear in the following issues of "Local Housing Statistics" which are available in the Library.

  Financial Years

  Issue Number

  1980–81

  62

  1981–82

  63

  1982–83

  67

  1983–84

  75

  1984–85 and 1985–86

  79

  Leicester city council has reported selling 461 dwellings in the first three quarters of 1986–87, of which 460 were under the right-to-buy scheme implemented in the Housing Act 1980.

  Leicester
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the total amount of funds given in each year since 1979 through the inner area programme to the city of Leicester; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tracey
  The information is as follows:

  Leicester: Urban Programme Resources Allocated for the Year Specified

  Year

  £ million

  1979–80

  2·78

  1980–81

  3·38

  1981–82

  4·16

  1982–83

  5·77

  1983–84

  6·50

  1984–85

  5·70

  1985–86

  5·83

  1986–87

  5·43

  1987–88

  15·43

  1 Provisional allocation.

  Brookwood Lye Action Group
  Mr. Onslow
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet received the information he needs to complete his consideration of the Brookwood Lye Action Group's request for reimbursement of the costs incurred by it at the abortive first public inquiry relating to land at Brookwood Lye, Woking.

  Mr. Tracey
  A letter was sent to the action group on 13 May setting out the proposed basis of reimbursement. Substantiation of the action group's costs will be needed but we hope that the matter can now be settled quickly.

  LDDC (Leyes Road, Custom House)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what purposes a compulsory purchase notice has been made by the London Docklands Development Corporation for allotment plots adjacent to Leyes Road, Custom House, currently held by members of the West Ham allotment association; what number of plots is required for each permanent and temporary purpose, respectively; and what alternative plans were investigated that would not involve permanent or temporary use of these plots.

  Mr. John Patten
  The London Docklands Developments Corporation (Connaught Crossing,
  397
  Newham) Compulsory Purchase Order, made on 21 April 1987, is to enable the contruction of a road link between the Royal Albert and Royal Victoria docks. Nineteen plots of the allotment site adjacent to Leyes road, Customs House, are affected by the order, of which 13 are occupied. Four of the plots, of which one is occupied, would be permanently lost. Fifteen slightly smaller plots would remain in beneficial use.

  The corporation considered and rejected earlier designs for the road scheme which would have taken more of the allotment land than is now proposed.

  Inner Area Programme (Newham)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his decision concerning the application of the London borough of Newham of December 1986 in respect of the inner area programme for the financial year 1987–88.

  Mr. Tracey
  A decision will not now be made until after the general election.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of sites of special scientific interest in each grade of agricultural land.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  This information is not readily available and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

  Canford Heath, Dorset
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the nature of the special interest by reason of which the Nature Conservancy Council has designated Canford Heath, Dorset, as a site of special scientific interest; if Canford Heath has been identified for designation as a special protection area under EC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds; and if he will state his policy towards the protection of sites of special scientific interest and special protection areas, against operations likely to damage the special interest of such sites.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Canford heath site of special scientific interest supports communities of plants and animals typical of Dorset heathland, including a number of rare and protected species. I understand the Nature Conservancy Council intends to recommend the Poole basin, of which Canford heath forms a part, as a special protection area under directive 79/409/EEC.

  Sites of special scientific interest notified under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (which include special protection areas) are statutorily protected under the terms of that Act. The Nature Conservancy Council must be consulted in connection with development proposals in such sites to ensure that the conservation interests can be fully taken into account when decisions are reached.

  HMS Cambridge
  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the circumstances which led to the erection of a wire fence around HMS Cambridge at Wembury, Plymouth.
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  Mr. Chope
  Some three years ago MOD (Navy) asked PSA to erect fencing on the legal boundaries to HMS Cambridge to improve security. This proposal was later shelved at the instigation of MOD (Navy). The circumstances which led to the request for the fencing is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how high is the fence which has been erected around HMS Cambridge at Wembury, Plymouth; how many yards of barbed wire have been used for the fence; and what is the cost of the fence to the taxpayer.

  Mr. Chope
  Some 80 posts, 2·4 high, have been erected over a distance of 260 m at a cost of approximately £8,000. Work was halted before any fencing or barbed wire was erected.

  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why a wire fence was erected around HMS Cambridge at Wembury, Plymouth, before a decision was made on planning consent by the South Hams district council.

  Mr. Chope
  At the time the original request was received, copies of plans for consultation with the local planning authority were proposed but were not submitted because the project was shelved. Following the installation of sensitive equipment by MOD (Navy), PSA was recently asked to reactivate the project. Work was put in hand in the mistaken belief that approvals had been obtained when the proposal was mooted earlier. I can only express regret for this omission, which arose out of the "stop-go" history of the proposal and changes in personnel in the interim.

  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to halt all further erection of fencing at HMS Cambridge at Wembury, Plymouth, until the final determination of the planning consent by the South Hams district council.

  Mr. Chope
  As soon as it was discovered that the planning authority had not in fact been given an opportunity to comment, work was halted. The section of incomplete fence has now been made the subject of a formal planning submission in accordance with established procedures.

  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to divert a well-established footpath along the heritage coastline resulting from the newly erected fence around HMS Cambridge at Wembury, Plymouth; what procedures have been followed; and if he will ensure that the footpath will riot be truncated.

  Mr. Chope
  Steps to divert footpaths at MOD establishments are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation he had with (a) the local parish council, (b) the district council, (c) the county council and (d) the National Trust before the erection of a wire fence at HMS Cambridge at Wembury, Plymouth.

  Mr. Chope
  No formal consultation took place before the posts were erected but MOD (Navy) gave a detailed presentation on its proposals to members of the local parish council in December 1986.
  399
  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why Mr. O. W. Richards of the Property Services Agency in Plymouth stated to Wembury parish council in a letter of 8 May that he would not attend a public meeting on 20 May at Wembury to discuss the question of fencing around HMS Cambridge until a parliamentary question had been tabled and answered; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Mr. O. W. Richards, an assistant estate surveyor in PSA's Plymouth office, knew that inquiries had been made of a Minister in connection with the proposed fence around HMS Cambridge and mistakenly believed that these related to a parliamentary question. In accordance with normal convention, he was obliged to decline to comment publicly on the matter until the Minister's reply was made known.

  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations the authorities from HMS Cambridge had with his Department prior to the erection of a wire fence around the base.

  Mr. Chope
  As indicated in my earlier response, a fence has not been erected around HMS Cambridge but work was started on a section of security fencing. During the period April 1985 to April 1986, five meetings were held between PSA and the authorities from HMS Cambridge at which the subject of this fencing was discussed.

  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, with reference to the erection of a wire fence around HMS Cambridge at Wembury, Plymouth, what consultation HMS Cambridge had with his Department about the diversion of the public footpath; and what reference was made to the fact that the area is one of outstanding natural beauty, of great landscape value and on the heritage coastline.

  Mr. Chope
  As indicated in my earlier response, any proposals for diversion of footpaths at MOD establishments are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. If such proposals were mooted they would be dealt with under either the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 or the Land Powers (Defence) Act 1958 which contain full provision for public representation and, if necessary, a local inquiry.

  Low Paid (Rates)
  Mr. Straw
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions he has reached on the minimum percentage contribution to be made by those on low incomes to (a) rates and (b) the proposed poll tax.

  Mr. Chope
  My noble Friend Lord Glenarthur has made it clear, in another place, that we remain committed to the principle of everyone making a minimum contribution to the cost of local services and that we intend to take into account the impact of this on the most vulnerable groups when setting income support levels this autumn. We hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Housing Starts (Bradford)
  Mr. Lawler
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of (a) public and (b) private housing starts and completions in Bradford in each year from 1979 to 1986.
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  Mr. Tracey
  The following numbers of dwelling starts and completions during 1986 in Bradford have been reported:

  Starts

  Completions

  Local authority

  13

  78

  Housing associations

  83

  302

  Public sector

  96

  380

  Private sector

  763

  917

  All

  859

  1,297

  The reported figures of housebuilding in earlier years appear in the following issues of "Local Housing Statistics" which are available in the Library:

  Year

  Issue number

  1979

  59

  1980–83

  73

  1984

  77

  1985

  78

  Repair Grants (Bolton)
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what applications have been received from Bolton council since 1983 for funds for repair grants for (a) council housing and (b) private homes; how many homes have been repaired in each category as a result; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tracey
  My right hon. Friend is not aware of such applications. It is for individual local authorities to decide how to distribute the total resources made available to them in their housing investment programme allocations. I understand that Bolton MBC has reported to the Department payment of 437 repairs grants between 1983 and 1986, of which one was to a council tenant.

  Wood Treatment
  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of recent water pollution incidents involving the leakage of toxic chemicals for the pre-treatment of wood, he will take steps to strengthen the regulations covering the location, design and operation of premises such as timber treatment plants.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Department is considering the introduction of regulations covering the precautions to be taken in order to prevent harmful material from polluting water. Discussions are due to take place with water authorities on the scope of these regulations and consultations with interested parties will then follow.

  The Department is also commissioning a special investigation of pollution problems arising from timber treatment plants.

  Parking Fines
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment where the records are kept in respect of date and location of parking fines incurred by ministerial vehicles.

  Mr. Chope
  The record of parking fines incurred by Government car service vehicles is kept by the Government car service.
  401
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which Ministers were involved in the parking fines listed for 1986.

  Mr. Chope
  This information is not readily available. Indeed, it does not necessarily follow that the cars were in ministerial use when the fines were incurred. For example, the fines for parking offences incurred by the DOE were all attributable to DOE officials attending official engagements.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether individual Government Departments maintain a record of fines incurred by ministerial vehicles attached to that Department.

  Mr. Chope
  Records of parking fines incurred by GCS vehicles used by Government Departments are maintained by the GCS and notified to Departments where necessary.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the fine paid, the date and the location of the parking offences incurred by the ministerial vehicles from his Department in 1986.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is as follows:

  Fine £

  5 February 1986

  Moreton Street SW1

  10

  20 March 1986

  Horseferry Road SW1

  10

  10 June 1986

  St. James Street SW1

  12

  1 August 1986

  Causton Street SW1

  4

  31 October 1986

  Emeryhill Street SW1

  12

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what means parking fines incurred by ministerial vehicles are (a) processed and (b) paid by his Department.

  Mr. Chope
  The parking ticket is passed to the GCS briefing office by the driver incurring the fine. The offence is recorded against the Government Department using the vehicle. Once it is established that the fine has been incurred as a direct result of having to undertake official duty, payment is made out of departmental funds.

  Residuary Bodies (Land)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply of 12 May, he will detail the reasons advanced by each residuary body making successful application for consent for disposal of land or buildings for less than the best price offered.

  Mr. Chope
  Approval, of the disposal, of the land at Caryl street, Liverpool, and at Humbold street, Bradford, were given in order to complete negotiations in progress when the metropolitan county councils were abolished. Approval of the disposal of the Greater Manchester museum of science and industry was given to enable the freehold to be transferred to the Museum trust.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what justifications were advanced by the London Residuary Body for applications made to his Department for the acquisition of land as listed in his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 12 May 1987.

  Mr. Chope
  A summary of the London Residuary Body's reasons in each case follows:402

  Land application

  Reasons for acquisition

  Sub-underlease of part of first floor of 20 Albert Embankment SE1

  To provide accommodation for staff of the London and South East Regional Planning Conference.

  551b High Road, N17

  To safeguard a right of access and to improve the marketability of an adjacent Residuary Body property.

  Land at the rear of the Western Arms Public House, W10

  To enable work to be completed on the construction of industrial units commenced by the former GLC.

  14–20 Glass Street, EC2

  To achieve an exchange of land which would enhance the value of a site already owned by the LRB.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue an instruction halting the current public inquiry into the proposed sale of County hall, London, until the outcome of the general election.

  Mr. Chope
  No. The public inquiry system is independent of the electoral process.

  Eviction Notices (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. Harrison
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the depository of the West Yorkshire archives service and the notice to quit its premises which it has received from the West Yorkshire residuary body.

  Mr. Chope
  The depository of the West Yorkshire archives service is located at the Registry of Deeds, Margaret street, Wakefield. The West Yorkshire residuary body has submitted proposals to the Secretary of State under section 67 of the Local Government Act 1985 to transfer this property to Wakefield metropolitan district council as lead authority for the West Yorkshire Archives and Archaeology Joint Committee.

  Mr. Harrison
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many organisations have been sent eviction notices from their properties which formerly belonged to the West Yorkshire metropolitan county council by the West Yorkshire residuary body; on what dates these eviction notices were served; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  None.

  Mr. Harrison
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many organisations have been given notice to quit by the West Yorkshire residuary body from properties which belonged to the former West Yorkshire metropolitan county council; and if he will identify those organisations and the specific dates of the notices.

  Mr. Chope
  I understand that four notices to quit have been issued under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 in respect of commercial premises in order to initiate procedures for rent reviews.

  The following notices have also been issued in accordance with article 11 of the Local Government Reorganisation (Property etc) Order 1986 (SI 1986 No. 148) terminating user rights:

  403
  A notice issued on 24 February 1987 to Wakefield metropolitan district council and notices issued on 25 February 1987 to the West Yorkshire police authority, the West Yorkshire fire and civil defence authority and Bradford metropolitan district council in respect of their occupation of parts of County hall, Wakefield. These notices expire on 31 December 1987.
  A similar notice issued on 17 December 1986 to Wakefield metropolitan district council in respect of the occupation of part of 8–14 St. Johns North, Wakefield, by the archaeology unit. This notice expired on 31 March 1987 and I understand that discussions are proceeding between the residuary body and the council about the vacation of the building.

  Property Sales (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. Harrison
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many properties which belonged to the former West Yorkshire metropolitan county council have been sold by the West Yorkshire residuary body to public undertakings to date; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many properties which belonged to the former West Yorkshire metropolitan county council have been sold by the West Yorkshire residuary body to private undertakings to date; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what was the value of the individual properties which belonged to the former West Yorkshire metropolitan county council which have been sold by the West Yorkshire residuary body to public undertakings to date; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what was the value of the individual properties which belonged to the former West Yorkshire metropolitan county council which have been sold by the West Yorkshire residuary body to private undertakings to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The information available to the Department is that the West Yorkshire residuary body had sold 114 properties to the private and public sectors by the end of April 1987. Receipts were some £3·46 million.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

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

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Ridley
  Excluding the royal parks and palaces, total spending on heating and lighting in 1986–87 in my Department's buildings was:

  £ million

  Central DOE

  1·48

  PSA

  2·12

  3·60

  404
  This represents a reduction of some 10 per cent. on the previous year, in part achieved with the help of energy efficiency measures costing some £45,000.

  Local Authority Fees and Charges
  Mr. Straw
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his review on local authority fees and charges is likely to be published.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 4 March at column 642.

  Private Security Services
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been paid by his Department for services provided by private security companies in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Ridley
  The figures for services and for buildings where central DOE is the sole or major occupier are as follows:

  £

  1982–83

  110,000

  1983–84

  148,000

  1984–851

  236,000

  1985–861

  527,000

  1986–871

  540,000

  1 The increases from 1984–85 onwards follow contracting out of previously in-house services.

  Industrial Building Allowances
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if there are any proposals for industrial building allowances in areas where there are urban development corporations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  There are no such proposals. Several urban development areas already contain enterprise zones which provide various tax exemptions and allowances.

  City of London (Rates)
  Mr. Straw
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he makes of the likely level of the poll tax with no safety net for residents of the City of London; and how this compares with average domestic rate bills in the City of London.

  Mr. Chope
  Paragraphs H.24–27 of the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714) made it clear that modified grant arrangements will be required for the City of London and the Isles of Scilly. No estimate of community charges for the City of London can be made until those arrangements are settled.

  Smith Houses (Leicester)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding those Smith house private owners in Leicester awaiting full approval from Leicester city council for repair systems.

  Mr. John Patten
  Under the housing defects legislation responsibility for administering the scheme of assistance lies with the local authority concerned. I hope Leicester
  405
  city council and the Smith home owners will be able to reach a good understanding on both the form and timing of that assistance.

  Local Authority Charges
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those bodies which submitted evidence to his review on local authority charges.

  Mr. Chope
  Comments were submitted by local authority associations, individual local authorities, professional bodies and organisations representing commerce, industry and other interests. I shall place a list of these bodies in the Library shortly.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the evidence given to his review on local authority charges.

  Mr. Chope
  I do not have the permission of those who submitted comments to publish their views.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all services included in the terms of reference of this review into local authority charges.

  Mr. Chope
  No service was excluded from the scope of the review.

  Homes Insulation Programme
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the criteria he adopts for ensuring that the Government's home insulation programme is carried out by approved contractors.

  Mr. John Patten
  I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate how matters referred to as concurrent functions between district and parish councils will be treated under the community charge.

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

  Empty Properties
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 14 May concerning vacant flats and houses, if he will give the relevant figures for Greater London (a) in total and (b) broken down by individual boroughs.

  Mr. John Patten
  I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  London Residuary Body
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the average house price, at the mortgage completion stage, in (a) London Docklands Development Corporation and (b) the London borough of Newham.

  Mr. John Patten
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 86]: The average price at the mortgage completion stage of houses on London Docklands Development Corporation owned sites between 1 April 1986 and 31 December 1986 was £64,600. Information on average house prices in the London borough of Newham is not available.

  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1987]: The latest estimates are that there were 223,300 private and 43,200 public sector dwellings under construction in England at the end of March this year; at the end of March 1979, there were, respectively, 176,800 and 161,000.

  In the private sector, the rise of 46,500 has taken the number under construction to the highest level since 1973, and reflects people's ambitions to become owner-occupiers. There are now 2·3 million more owner-occupied dwellings in England than there were eight years ago.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the principal achievements of his Department since 1983.

  Mr. Jopling
  Further to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 3 April 1985, my Department has been responsible for, or played its part in, the following achievements.

  Significant reforms of the common agricultural policy have been agreed and implemented, which will help to make it more responsive to market forces, contain surplus production and limit excessive expenditure. The measures agreed include reductions in support price levels in the three years 1984 to 1986 with estimated savings of 780 mecu (£565 million) over two years resulting from the 1986 price fixing.

  This has contributed to a low rate of increase in food prices. Since May 1983, the annual rate of increase in the food component of the retail prices index (RPI) has been 4·1 per cent; the current annual rate is 3·3 per cent.

  Notable among the reforms made so far to the CA P were those achieved in the beef and dairy sectors in December 1986, under the United Kingdom presidency of the Council of Agriculture Ministers. This included further measures to restrict dairy production, but with generous compensation to minimise disruption to the industry, and a general tightening of the quota system. The United Kingdom secured retention of the formula B arrangements which provide much needed flexibility in the quota system. The package also included measures restricting access to intervention, restoring it to its original safety-net role whilst at the same time ensuring the stability of the market, as well as agreement for an action programme to clear existing stocks.

  The Council also agreed a substantial reform of the beef regime. Intervention purchasing of beef was ma de less readily available and buying-in prices were reduced to a level closer to and directly influenced by Community market prices. The beef variable premium scheme was extended, unchanged, for the duration of the reform.

  The agreements on milk and beef, including the programme for disposal of butter stocks, will reduce Community expenditure by some 1,750 mecu (£1,268 million) in the period 1987 to 1989.
  407
  Following the introduction of milk quotas in 1984 we were able to introduce arrangements to restore the quota received by producers with less than 200,000 litres of quota to their pre-quota level. We also made direct compensation payments in 1984–85 and 1985–86 to alleviate the effect of the milk co-responsibility levy on small scale producers.

  The Agriculture Council in March 1987 agreed a package of socio-structural measures designed to red uce production of surplus commodities and help farmers to adapt to changes in agricultural policy without damaging the countryside. The package provides for schemes to reduce surplus production by encouraging conversion to alternative crops and more extensive production of certain surplus products, including cereals, which will be achieved partly by setting aside land.

  The package also provides for Community funding of environmentally sensitive areas, in which farmers may be offered incentives to farm in traditional ways to maintain valuable landscapes and wildlife habitats. This is a concept pioneered by the United Kingdom, and marks the beginning of a more integrated approach to the countryside in the Community at large.

  Within the United Kingdom the first round of ESAs have been designated. The new scheme—which in England covers the Broads, the Pennine dales, the Somerset levels and moors, the South downs and West Penwith—opened to applications in these areas on 1 March 1987, and the response from farmers has been encouraging.

  The agriculture improvement scheme which we introduced in 1 October 1985 continues our policy of encouraging on-farm investment. Under this scheme a wide range of capital grants is available including, for the first time, grants for diversification into tourism and crafts (in the less favoued areas) and grant premia for young farmers. The highest rates of grant are available for environmentally beneficial improvements, special encouragement is also given to orchard replanting and glasshouse replacement. Higher rates of grant are offered on nearly 1·8 million hectares in the less favoured areas in England of which nearly 400,000 were brought in when the LFAs were extended in 1984.

  In February this year I announced a package of new measures, which will cost £25 million a year when fully operational, to help the industry to adjust to changing circumstances. These included a new farm woodland scheme, some further expansion of traditional forestry particularly on better quality land, a substantial extension of our programme for environmentally sensitive areas, new grants for farm diversification and more emphasis on novel crops and livestock in the research and development programme.

  The Government followed this up on 10 March by publishing a package of documents entitled "Farming and Rural Enterprise". These explained the Government's policies for agriculture, including the new initiatives, and for encouraging enterprise and development in rural areas.

  The adoption of section 17 of the Agriculture Act 1986 placed a duty on Agriculture Ministers to take account of wider environmental and socio-economic objectives in determining agricultural policy, and so gave expression to my Department's commitment to the integration of environmental and agricultural policies.

  My Department was responsible for initiating the farm and countryside initiative, which was launched in
  408
  February 1986 in conjunction with the Departments of the Environment and Employment and with statutory agencies involved in the countryside. To date over 100 projects have been approved involving considerably in excess of 2,000 community programme places.

  We took special action to help livestock producers most seriously affected by the bad summer weather in 1985 and paid out a total of £16·9 million in exceptional weather aid to about 60,000 farmers.

  In the animal welfare field we have set up the independent Farm Animal Welfare Council, which has given us valuable advice on all aspects of the subject. We have introduced legislation to protect welfare at slaughter and to prevent unnecessary mutilations on the farm. We have also produced new welfare codes for cattle, pigs, poultry and rabbits. We have announced a major rationalisation of the legislation on welfare in transit and a ban on the veal crate system of calf rearing. Internationally we have supported the adoption of European directives on transport and battery cages.

  We have overhauled the legislation covering cattle breeding. We will be abolishing controls over the livestock quality of dairy and beef bulls as they have now served their purpose.

  We are in the process of putting in place new controls over medicated animal feedingstuffs in full consultation with the industry. This will implement both EC legislation and powers taken in the Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984.

  My Department's policy in relation to the control of badger-borne bovine tuberculosis was reviewed by a committee under the chairmanship of Professor Dunnet. Its recommendations are being implemented. The scale of badger control operations has thus been reduced with a reduction in the number of badgers being slaughtered.

  In collaboration with the other public sector sponsors of research and development we have established the Priorities Board for Research and Development in Agriculture and Food to advise on priorities between sectors in the allocation of resources. We have also encouraged the industry to play a larger role in funding work from which it derives a benefit.

  In 1983 we established Food From Britain to improve the marketing of our food and drink. We provided £14 million pump priming money over its first five years.

  In July 1986, we set up a Horticultural Development Council to commission R & D in horticulture on the industry's behalf. This followed a poll in which growers voted two to one in favour of such a council.

  In July 1986 we reached agreement with the Milk Marketing Board and the Dairy Trade Federation on arrangements designed to strengthen competition in the dairy industry, to ensure fair competition among all buyers of milk, to clarify the separation of Dairy Crest Foods from the Milk Marketing Board and to reinforce the Government's supervisory role in ensuring compliance with Community and domestic legislation.

  We have reorganised the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) to improve its efficiency and competitiveness and to help provide a more integrated service to the agricultural industry. In particular the new arrangements will allow farmers and other major interest groups to obtain advice across a range of technical disciplines by contacting a single service within ADAS rater than more than one service as might have been the case previously. Powers have also been taken in the

  409
  Agriculture Act 1986 to extend the range of matters on which ADAS can provide advisory services and to allow charges to be made for such services, thus enabling farmers and other customers for ADAS services to influence directly the range and type of services provided.

  The development of efficient and competitive food and drinks industries has been complemented by a comprehensive range of legislation controlling the safety, quality and labelling of food. Principal achievements in this field include the Food Labelling Regulations 1984 which implement a European Community directive to provide greater information on food labels so that consumers can make more informed choices when selecting foods. We have also revised and updated regulations relating to bread and flour and meat products and spreadable fish products.

  In addition we have responded to the report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) on diet and cardiovascular disease by circulating for public comment detailed proposals for the fat content labelling of foods. We have also circulated for comment separate draft guidelines for voluntary nutrition labelling.

  We have increased the resource devoted to scientific surveillance of the food chain. Three new working parties have been established on organic and environmental contaminants, nutrients and radioactivity in food.

  We set in hand swift and comprehensive testing of food supplies following the Chernobyl accident in 1986 in order to ensure the safety of all food consumed by the British public. Duplicate diet surveys have provided direct confirmation of this even in those areas where deposition was greatest.

  The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 has done useful service in controlling the movement and slaughter of sheep from upland areas contaminated by radioactivity from the Chernobyl disaster. Part II has introduced improved controls over the disposal of waste at sea. Under part III the sale, supply and use of pesticides were brought under statutory control by the Control of Pesticides Regulations on 6 October 1986, and pesticide advertising from 1 January 1987. These controls will extend to antifouling paints from 1 July 1987.

  Together with the Department of the Environment, my Department has further improved controls over the amount of radioactive waste which may be disharged to sea by British Nucelar Fuels' Sellafield plant, through the introduction of a revised discharge authorisation which came into effect on 1 July 1986.

  Further advances have been made in strengthening and consolidating the common fisheries policy (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 90 mm 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 8 m limit aggregate beam length and on the maintenance of the key restrictions on industrial fisheries.

  Substantial improvements were also made under the recent United Kingdom presidency to the Community's control and enforcement arrangements, including increased powers for Community inspectors, tighter control of over-fishing and, for the first time, we have established
  410
  the principle that a member state which overfishes 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.

  A new regulation on structural policy for the Community fleet, to last for 10 years, was agreed at the Fisheries Council on 3–4 December and provides measures for vessel construction and modernisation, development of aquaculture, adjustment of capacity, modernisation of port facilities and fish promotion. The Community financial provision until 1991 is 800 mecu (£500 million).

  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.

  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.

  We have brought in important new measures to attack trade in illegally caught salmon in the Salmon Act 1986.

  We have strengthened the machinery for preventing and controlling fish and shellfish diseases through the Diseases of Fish Act 1983 and subsequent orders.

  Since the introduction of the Government's policy on deregulation, my Department has sought to reduce unnecessary burdens on the industries for which I am responsible whenever possible. Close links are maintained with the representatives of those industries.

  All of these policies have been carried out while achieving a further reduction of Ministry staff.

  Bovine Somatoropin Milk Trials
  Mr. Marland
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will inform the Milk Marketing Board of the names of the farmers who are participating in the bovine somatoropin milk production trials.

  Mr. Jopling
  I am precluded from doing so under section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mrs. Roe
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now able to announce the identity of the environmenttally sensitive areas which will be designated in England in 1988.

  Mr. Jopling
  Following the very promising response which farmers have made in the first set of areas, I have decided to designate all of the remaining areas on the shortlist which the Countryside Commission and Nature Conservancy Council submitted to me last year. This means that we shall be introducing new environmentally sensitive areas in Breckland, the North peak, the Suffork river valleys, the Test valley, the Shropshire borders (Clun) and the western part of the South downs. Interested organisations in these areas will be consulted before the designating orders are laid towards the end of this year.

  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the extent, in hectares,

  411
  of each environmentally sensitive area in England and Wales as designated on 1 March; and if he will indicate how many farmers he estimates will be eligible to receive payments for entering into management agreements in each area.

  Mr. Jopling
  We estimate that the total size of each environmentally sensitive area is a follows. However, these figures include urban and other land which is not in agricultural use or is otherwise ineligible. It is not yet possible to give reliable figures for agricultural areas or for the total number of farmers in each ESA. I hope that such figures will be available when the areas have been fully surveyed later this year.

  Hectares

  The Broads (including Halvergate)

  29,870

  Pennine Dales

  15,900

  Somerset Levels

  26,970

  South Downs

  26,600

  West Penwith

  7,200

  Cambrian Mountains

  75,000

  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have entered into management agreements with him in each of the environmentally sensitive areas in England and Wales.

  Mr. Jopling
  The latest available figures for the number of applications that we have received in each area are as follows:

  Number

  The Broads

  400

  The Pennine Dales

  220

  Somerset Levels

  560

  South Downs

  55

  West Penwith

  142

  Cambrian Mountains

  90

  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farm development plans, drawn up under the agriculture and horticulture development scheme and the agriculture improvement scheme, are currently in operation in each environmentally sensitive area in England and Wales; and what steps his Department proposes to take to ensure that planned developments which may conflict with the objectives of each environmentally sensitive area will not be allowed to go ahead.

  Mr. Jopling
  We have no comprehensive record of the number of development and improvement plans currently in force in environmentally sensitive areas. Where approval to such plans was given before the designation of the area the Ministry will honour its commitment to the farmer. Since designation all applications for new plans and variations to existing plans have been referred to the relevant project officer. Such applications are accepted only if they do not contain work which would undermine the environmentally sensitive area.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies
  412
  for which he has responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Jopling
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Jopling
  In 1986–87 my Department spent £3·215 million on fuel and utilities supplied to those buildings (or parts of buildings) which it occupies on the civil estate. Measures achieving energy efficiency often form part of more general maintenance or repair and it is not possible to identify this element separately.

  Farm Diversification
  Sir Peter Mills
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make available further details of the scheme for farm diversification which he announced to the House on 9 February.

  Mr. Jopling
  Following from that announcement, and after discussions with interested organisations, I have arranged for a consultation document to be issued today seeking comments on the proposed scope, coverage and eligibility conditions of the new on-farm diversification grants. The scheme will be in two parts with grants towards both capital investment and the costs of product research and marketing. It is suggested that the capital grants should be offered both inside and outside the less favoured areas at a rate of 25 per cent. on investment up to around £25,000 within a farm improvement plan. Eligible investments would include on-farm tourist accommodation and craft workshops, visitor attractions and recreation and amenity facilities, small-scale sporting facilities, on-farm value added processing of food and agricultural products, farm shops and pick-your-own, pony trekking and livery. Assistance would be available towards building conversions, some new building, access and parking facilities and some machinery and equipment. It is also suggested that grants of 50 per cent. should be offered towards the cost of feasibility and marketing studies and 30 per cent. towards the cost of key marketing personnel over the first three years of a project. Grants would be available to groups as well as individuals.

  The consultation document is being sent to a wide range of interested parties. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  Sheep Farmers (Chernobyl Restrictions)
  Sir Hector Monro
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in considering the case for further compensation for sheep farmers affected by the Chernobyl restrictions.

  Mr. Jopling
  As I announced on 2 May, in the light of recent detailed information presented by the industry Agriculture Ministers have concluded that a further element of compensation is justified in relation to the additional costs of handling sheep before they can be released from the restricted areas. Accordingly, it has been
  413
  agreed that a payment of £1·30 per sheep will be made in respect of sheep moved under consent from restricted areas. This will apply to movements taking place on and after 29 September 1986.

  A case has also been put to us that, while most producers have been adequately compensated, for a small number of farmers the existing arrangements are considered not to have provided fair compensation. This matter has been considered with great care in discussion with representatives of the farmers; but we have been unable to find a sound basis for avoiding the rough justice which we always agreed would inevitably be a feature of the compensation arrangements. However, I have told the farmers' representatives that if they were able to find workable criteria which properly identified a small number of farmers whose cases might justify further consideration I would be ready to study the matter again.

  Salmonella
  Mr. John Townend
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his assessment of the effectiveness of the Diseases of Animals (Protein Processing) Order 1981 and the Importation of Processed Animal Protein Order 1981 in reducing the incidence of salmonella in processed animal protein.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 565]: The regular monitoring of protein processing plants under the Diseases of Animals (Protein Processing) Order 1981 has shown that at least 50 per cent. consistently produce a salmonella-free product. On premises where positive samples have been found, prompt remedial action has resulted in the production of salmonella-free products. Licensed imported animal protein products must comply with similar standards.

  Farming (Young Entrants)
  Sir Peter Mills
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures the Government have taken since 1979 to support young entrants to farming.

  Mr. Jopling
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 564]: Special help with capital expenditure incurred by new entrant young farmers was made available for the first time in October 1985 when the Government introduced the agriculture improvement scheme. Under that scheme a premium of 25 per cent. on the normal grant rates for grant investments is offered to suitably qualified young farmers. Young farmers have also benefited from the comprehensive changes to agrecultural holdings legislation made in 1984, in particular the ending of statutory succession for new tenancies.

  The Government have also made improvements in the tax system designed to help farmers pass on their properties to their successors, and to encourage the letting of land. Abolition of investment income surcharge and improvements in inheritence tax and capital gains tax reliefs have made it easier for retiring farmers to pass the reins on to others.

  Food Safety
  Sir Peter Mills
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures the Government have taken since 1979 to ensure the safety of food.
  414
  Mr. Jopling
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 564]: The Government attach great importance on the need to ensure the safety of food and have taken appropriate action whenever a need to do so has been identified.

  As part of its ongoing programme of food surveillance, my Department has, through the steering group on food surveillance, continued to monitor the incidence of food contamination and, where necessary, remedial action has been taken. Legislation has been introduced to limit the amount of vinyl chloride monomer contained in food contact plastics that may migrate into food. Also more stringnt statutory limits have been set for levels of lead in canned food. Other action has included a voluntary agreement with the trade intended to limit the amount of aflatoxin occuring in nuts and nut products. A statutory limit is currently being considered. We have examined instances when the constituents of food packaging materials may migrate into food, such as with cling film, and we have issued the necessary advice and guidance to consumers and others. In 1985 following contamination of imported wine with the chemical diethylene glycol we took action to alert the trade and enforcement authorities and obtained their co-operation in withdrawing stocks of suspect wines. Prompt action prevented the import of wine containing high levels of methanol.

  The Government have made regulations to strengthen public health controls over the production and importation of meat and introduced arrangements for monitoring meat for the presence of veterinary residue.

  In 1982 the Government gave their strong support to a private Member's Bill, which became the Food and Drugs (Amendment) Act 1982, which stiffened the penalties available to the courts to deal with traders in unfit food, particularly meat. and allowed more time for enforcement authorities to prepare sufficient cases.

  The Government have continued to attach importance to the independent advice provided by the Food Advisory Committee (before 1983 it was the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee) and in November of last year strengthened this committee by the appointment of two additional members. The use of food additives has been kept under constant review during this period and several reports have been published. Where necessary, amendments to food additives regulations have been made including those controlling sweeteners, emulsifiers and stabilisers, and miscellaneous additives and, most recently, proposals to amend the Colours in Food Regulations have been made. It continues to be our policy that additives are not permitted for use by regulations unless Ministers are satisfied that on the basis of the committee's advice they are both safe and needed.

  Immediately following the accident at Chernobyl, the Government instituted a comprehensive testing programme for home-produced foodstuffs and agricultural materials. In June 1986, movement and slaughter restrictions were imposed under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 on sheep in certain areas of Cumbria in order to ensure that animals containing unacceptably high levels of radioactivity did not enter the food chain. Parallel measures were taken to deal with sheep in certain areas of Wales and Scotland.

  The Government have issued a number of publications designed to encourage higher standards of food safety. These include a food hygiene code of practice for United Kingdom manufacturers of canned low acid foods,

  415
  together with an advisory memorandum for overseas canning companies intending to export to the United Kingdom and a memorandum on the testing of novel foods. In addition, Goverment Departments have actively participated in the preparation of various food safety codes of practice produced by the food industry.

  So far as food served in hospitals is concerned, health authorities are now legally required to ensure that the provisions of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970 are met. Ministers have agreed that the provisions in the food hygiene regulations relating to temperature controls should be reviewed.

  Through liaison with the communicable disease surveillance centre and developments in the identification of food poisoning organisms, hazardous foods have been more easily identified. DHSS has evolved a system for the co-ordination of control action to ensure the speedy removal from sale of foods which are a risk to health.

  Horticulture
  Mrs. Roe
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the achievements of the Government with regard to the horticulture industry.

  Mr. Jopling
  The Government have set the climate in which the industry can prosper through capital grant to growers, including enhanced rates for heated glasshouses and orchard replanting; by the introduction of a new programme for EC grants for improved horticultural marketing and processing; by securing satisfactory safeguards for horticulture in various new trading arrangements; through its research and development programme, including the setting up of a horticultural development council for industry funded research; and by persuading the EC Commission to take action to prevent unfair competition from imports of semi-processed soft fruits and from the preferential gas prices to Dutch growers.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  AIDS
  Mr. Deakins
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why heterosexuals are referred to as straight in his Department's advertising about AIDS; what evidence he has that this expression will be understood by heterosexual people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The word "straight" is a common form of expression in the context of the comparison between "gay" and "straight" when referring to homosexual and heterosexual relationships. We have tried to avoid the use of medical jargon in our advertising.

  The advertising campaign is being closely monitored. There is no indication that the term "straight" is misunderstood by the heterosexual target audience.

  Mrs. Renée Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional resources he has allocated to voluntary organisations to enable them to educate the public about AIDS.

  Mr. Newton
  The funding provided to voluntary organisations concerned with public education in the AIDS field has increased from £125,000 in 1985–86 to £469,000 in 1986–87. This funding has mostly been given 416
  to support central administrative costs and telephone advice services. We are making available increased resources for the current financial year and we are now considering how these can best be allocated. My right hon. Friend announced on 5 May that the Government will be providing £500,000 over the next year to support the new National AIDS Trust which will co-ordinate voluntary effort on AIDS.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the AIDS leaflet distributed to households covers all known means of transmission of the AIDS virus; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We are satisfied that, on the best advice available, the AIDS leaflet distributed to households covers all means of transmission of the AIDS virus relevant to the general public. It does not seek to cover more specialised risks of transmission which are of relevance only to particular occupations.

  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance he has issued concerning precautions against AIDS in the catering industry.

  Mr. Newton
  None. However, the Department was consulted by the Food and Drink Association about the guidance that it has issued.

  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received regarding proposals by the Lister Arthur Medical Centre to acquire premises in Leicester for use as an hotel for AIDS victims; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is his policy on the provision by private medical companies of hotel accommodation specifically allocated for the use of AIDS sufferers; arid if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We received no representations about the proposals by the Lister Arthur medical centre. It is for private companies to decide what accommodation they offer and for what purposes, but registration and inspection would be required if such accommodation constituted a residential care or nursing home.

  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information his Department has received in the context of the anti-AIDS campaign about the relative safety of the gun method and the use of disposable needles for injections; what guidance he has issued on this matter; and what representations he has received about the use of the gun method.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 23 February 1987, c. 118]: On the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the Department on all aspects of immunisation, the Chief Medical Officer wrote to all doctors on 12 September 1986 discouraging the use of jet injectors for immunisation. These instruments had been used mainly to administer influenza vaccinations. The advice did not apply to self-injection of insulin or low-dose heparin, nor to the multiple puncture apparatus (or Heaf gun) used for tuberculin testing. One hon. Member has written to my right hon. Friend about the Heaf gun.

  Mr. Deakins
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in future publicity about AIDS, he will emphasise that condoms are available free at family planning clinics.
  417
  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 March 1987, c.477]: Condoms are available without charge through family planning clinics for contraceptive purposes. We have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Rowe
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how many residential homes owned by local authorities are below the standards set out in the code of practice for registered private and voluntary homes.

  Mr. Newton
  The setting of standards for local authority residential homes is a matter for the authority concerned and information about them is not collected centrally as a matter of routine. However, there is no reason to suppose that standards of care in general are significantly below those envisaged in "Home Life".

  Condoms
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 15 December, Official Report, column 412, what information he has about the level of charges made by clinics for condoms supplied without prescription (a) in London and (b) nationally; what is his estimate of the number of such clinics (i) in London and (ii) nationally which supply condoms free of charge; and what percentage of the total this represents.

  Mr. Newton
  We do not hold information centrally on the charges made by individual clinics. However, our guidance to health authorities advises that the charge for non-medical methods of contraception supplied without prescription should reflect the purchase price paid by the health authority plus 10 per cent. for handling expenses, and VAT. Bulk purchasing arrangements are made by individual health authorities. One company's price list for health authority orders ranges from £8·89 per gross to £16·61 per gross depending on type of condom and size of order.

  We are not aware that any health authorities have departed from our guidance that all forms of contraceptive appliances should be provided free of charge if prescribed.

  Mental Health Research Liaison Group
  Mr. Raynsford
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new projects will be started in the financial year 1987–88 through the Mental Health Research Liaison Group; what will be the budget for such projects; and how this compares with figures for the last three financial years.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department's expenditure on directly commissioned research in the mental health field during the last three years was:

  £

  1984–85

  1,789,000

  1985–86

  1,693,000

  1986–87

  1,711,000

  It is not yet possible to give expected expenditure in 1987–88.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the average waiting
  418
  time for knee and hip joint replacement operations; and what are the five authorities which have the longest waiting times.

  Mr. Newton
  I am sorry I cannot give the hon. Member all the information he seeks in precisely the form requested. The estimated median interval between the date a patient was placed on the waiting list and the date of admission to NHS hospitals in England for knee joint replacement in 1985, the latest year for which information is available centrally, was 21 weeks. The central data sample is too small for reliable estimates to be made at regional level. For hip operations the requested information is given in the table.

  Five longest estimated median waiting times of waiting list cases for total hip replacement and other arthroplasty of hip, NHS Regional Health Authorities in England 1985

  Regional Health Authority

  Estimated median waiting time (in weeks)

  Wessex

  28

  South West Thames

  26

  Trent

  25

  West Midlands

  24

  South East Thames

  23

  England

  21

  West Lancashire
  Mr. Hind
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the total budgets for the West Lancashire health authority for 1978–79, 1983–84 and 1986–87.

  Mr. Newton
  The determination of budgets for individual district health authorities is a matter for regional health authorities. My hon. Friend may wish to raise his query with the chairman of the North-Western regional health authority.

  Mortality
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will tabulate mortality rates in Britain by (i) district health authority, (ii) gender and (iii) marital status.

  Mrs. Currie
  The full information requested is not available as population estimates by marital status are not produced for local health areas. However, the tables give the mortality rates for all causes and all ages(a) by sex for each local health area in Great Britain, and (b) by marital status and sex for Great Britain.

  Table A: Crude mortality (all causes, all ages) rates per thousand population by sex for local health areas in England, Wales and Scotland (Great Britain) 1985

  England and Wales—District Health Authorities (DHAs)

  M

  F

  P

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Hartlepool DHA

  12·6

  12·6

  12·6

  North Tees DHA

  10·2

  9·4

  9·7

  South Tees DHA

  11·9

  10·8

  11·3

  East Cumbria DHA

  14·2

  12·6

  13·4

  South Cumbria DHA

  13·2

  12·8

  13·0

  West Cumbria DHA

  12·5

  12·2

  12·3

  Darlington DHA

  13·1

  12·9

  13·0

  Durham DHA

  12·7

  11·6

  12·2

  North West Durham DHA

  14·6

  13·6

  14·1

  419

  M

  F

  P

  South West Durham DHA

  13·8

  12·8

  13·3

  Northumberland DHA

  13·5

  12·9

  13·2

  Gateshead DHA

  13·5

  12·1

  12·8

  Newcastle DHA

  13·6

  14·0

  13·8

  North Tyneside DHA

  14·2

  13·5

  13·9

  South Tyneside DHA

  14·7

  13·0

  13·9

  Sunderland DHA

  12·2

  11·7

  11·9

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Hull DHA

  12·2

  11·3

  11·7

  East Yorkshre DHA

  13·4

  12·3

  12·9

  Grimsby DHA

  12·1

  11·2

  11·6

  Scunthorpe DHA

  12·4

  10·0

  11·2

  Northallerton DHA

  10·5

  10·0

  10·3

  York DHA

  11·7

  11·3

  11·5

  Scarborough DHA

  16·4

  14·6

  15·4

  Harrogate DHA

  12·6

  13·2

  12·9

  Bradford DHA

  12·2

  12·3

  12·2

  Airedale DHA

  13·5

  12·8

  13·1

  Calderdale DHA

  13·2

  13·6

  13·4

  Huddersfield DHA

  12·4

  12·7

  12·8

  Dewsbury DHA

  11·9

  12·4

  12·2

  Leeds Western DHA

  12·7

  12·2

  12·4

  Leeds Eastern DHA

  12·4

  11·5

  11·9

  Wakefield DHA

  11·3

  11·3

  11·3

  Pontefract DHA

  13·3

  11·2

  12·2

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  North Derbyshire DHA

  12·9

  12·1

  12·5

  Southern Derbyshire DHA

  12·9

  11·5

  12·2

  Leicestershire DHA

  10·3

  10·2

  10·3

  North Lincolnshire DHA

  12·7

  11·9

  12·3

  South Lincolnshire DHA

  13·2

  11·2

  12·2

  Bassetlaw DHA

  11·5

  10·9

  11·2

  Central Nottinghamshire DHA

  11·7

  10·2

  10·9

  Nottingham DHA

  11·7

  10·9

  11·3

  Barnsley DHA

  12·5

  12·2

  12·4

  Doncaster DHA

  12·4

  10·8

  11·6

  Rotherham DHA

  11·3

  10·7

  11·0

  Sheffield DHA

  13·3

  12·8

  13·1

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  Cambridge DHA

  9·9

  10·1

  10·0

  Peterborough DHA

  10·8

  9·9

  10·3

  West Suffolk DHA

  10·7

  10·0

  10·4

  East Suffolk DHA

  11·5

  11·7

  11·6

  Norwich DHA

  13·1

  12·3

  12·7

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney DHA

  13·2

  12·7

  12·9

  West Norfolk and Wisbech DHA

  13·0

  11·6

  12·3

  Huntingdon DHA

  8·6

  7·9

  8·2

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  North Bedfordshire DHA

  9·4

  9·7

  9·6

  South Bedfordshire DHA

  8·9

  8·4

  8·7

  North Hertfordshire DHA

  10·1

  9·2

  9·7

  East Hertfordshire DHA

  9·0

  8·1

  8·5

  North West Hertfordshire DHA

  10·1

  9·7

  9·9

  South West Hertfordshire DHA

  10·5

  11·6

  11·1

  Barnet DHA

  11·0

  12·0

  11·5

  Harrow DHA

  10·3

  10·1

  10·2

  Hillingdon DHA

  10·6

  10·2

  10·4

  Hounslow and Spelthorne DHA

  10·7

  10·3

  10·5

  Ealing DHA

  10·7

  10·4

  10·5

  Brent DHA

  10·0

  9·0

  9·5

  Paddington and North Kensington DHA

  12·0

  9·9

  10·9

  Riverside DHA from 1 April 1985

  11·6

  10·8

  11·2

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Basildon and Thurrock DHA

  9·6

  8·8

  9·2

  Mid Essex DHA

  9·8

  8·8

  9·3

  North East Essex DHA

  13·0

  13·5

  13·3

  West Essex DHA

  10·4

  9·5

  9·9

  Southend DHA

  12·2

  12·7

  12·5

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood DHA

  11·6

  11·1

  11·4

  420

  M

  F

  P

  Hampstead DHA

  11·4

  11·2

  11·3

  Bloomsbury DHA

  13·2

  11·0

  12·1

  Islington DHA

  12·1

  10·7

  11·4

  City and Hackney DHA

  10·8

  11·1

  11·0

  Newham DHA

  12·2

  10·2

  11·2

  Tower Hamlets DHA

  13·8

  12·5

  13·1

  Enfield DHA

  11·1

  11·5

  11·3

  Haringey DHA

  10·8

  11·6

  11·2

  Redbridge DHA

  11·3

  10·6

  10·9

  Waltham Forest DHA

  12·8

  11·4

  12·1

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Brighton DHA

  15·7

  16·6

  16·2

  Eastbourne DHA

  16·9

  17·6

  17·3

  Hastings DHA

  18·4

  19·1

  18·8

  South East Kent DHA

  13·4

  13·4

  13·4

  Canterbury and Thanet DHA

  15·0

  15·6

  15·3

  Dartford and Gravesham DHA

  10·7

  10·8

  10·7

  Maidstone DHA

  10·6

  9·1

  9·9

  Medway DHA

  10·3

  9·1

  9·7

  Tunbridge Wells DHA

  11·5

  13·0

  12·3

  Bexley DHA

  10·3

  9·3

  9·8

  Greenwich DHA

  12·2

  11·2

  11·7

  Bromley DHA

  10·5

  10·9

  10·7

  West Lambeth DHA

  11·7

  11·1

  11·4

  Camberwell DHA

  12·5

  11·1

  11·8

  Lewisham and North Southwark DHA

  12·5

  11·8

  12·1

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority

  North West Surrey DHA

  10·1

  11·5

  10·8

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire DHA

  7·3

  8·2

  7·7

  South West Surrey DHA

  10·8

  11·2

  11·0

  Mid Surrey DHA

  13·0

  13·9

  13·4

  East Surrey DHA

  11·8

  11·5

  11·7

  Chichester DHA

  15·9

  16·4

  16·2

  Mid Downs DHA

  10·1

  10·5

  10·3

  Worthing DHA

  18·0

  19·1

  18·6

  Croydon DHA

  10·5

  11·5

  11·0

  Kingston and Esher DHA

  10·7

  11·6

  11·2

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton DHA

  12·4

  12·5

  12·4

  Wandsworth DHA

  12·4

  12·9

  12·6

  Merton and Sutton DHA

  11·3

  11·1

  11·2

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  East Dorset DHA

  14·4

  15·0

  14·7

  West Dorset DHA

  12·6

  13·3

  13·0

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire DHA

  11·0

  11·1

  11·1

  Southampton and South West Hampshire DHA

  12·0

  11·4

  11·7

  Winchester DHA

  10·0

  11·2

  10·6

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  9·1

  8·8

  8·9

  Salisbury DHA

  12·5

  12·5

  12·5

  Swindon DHA

  10·5

  9·1

  9·8

  Bath DHA

  10·8

  11·8

  11·3

  Isle of Wight DHA

  15·4

  14·2

  14·8

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  East Berkshire DHA

  9·3

  9·6

  9·4

  West Berkshire DHA

  8·5

  9·2

  8·9

  Aylesbury Vale DHA

  9·1

  9·0

  9·0

  Wycombe DHA

  9·4

  9·3

  9·4

  Milton Keynes DHA

  7·6

  7·0

  7·3

  Kettering DHA

  11·4

  10·5

  10·9

  Northampton DHA

  10·6

  9·9

  10·2

  Oxfordshire DHA

  8·8

  8·9

  8·8

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  Bristol and Weston DHA

  12·0

  11·6

  11·8

  Frenchay DHA

  11·1

  9·9

  10·5

  Southmead DHA

  10·6

  10·9

  10·8

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly DHA

  14·0

  12·7

  13·3

  Exeter DHA

  13·6

  14·0

  13·8

  North Devon DHA

  12·9

  12·7

  12·8

  Plymouth DHA

  11·1

  11·2

  11·1

  421

  M

  F

  P

  Torbay DHA

  16·0

  15·5

  15·7

  Cheltenham and District DHA

  12·2

  11·6

  11·9

  Gloucester DHA

  11·3

  10·6

  10·9

  Somerset DHA

  13·5

  12·4

  12·9

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Bromsgrove and Redditch DHA

  9·0

  8·8

  8·9

  Herefordshire DHA

  12·5

  11·7

  12·1

  Kidderminster and District DHA

  12·0

  11·0

  11·5

  Worcester and District DHA

  11·4

  11·5

  11·4

  Shropshire DHA

  11·6

  10·7

  11·2

  Mid Staffordshire DHA

  10·1

  9·1

  9·6

  North Staffordshire DHA

  12·8

  12·2

  12·5

  South East Staffordshire DHA

  10·2

  9·9

  10·1

  Rugby DHA

  10·3

  10·8

  10·5

  North Warwickshire DHA

  11·4

  9·6

  10·5

  South Warwickshire DHA

  11·9

  11·7

  11·8

  Central Birmingham DHA

  12·1

  10·8

  11·4

  East Birmingham DHA

  12·8

  11·9

  12·4

  North Birmingham DHA

  11·5

  12·0

  11·8

  South Birmingham DHA

  12·4

  12·6

  12·5

  West Birmingham DHA

  12·3

  11·7

  12·0

  Coventry DHA

  12·1

  9·9

  11·0

  Dudley DHA

  11·2

  10·6

  10·9

  Sandwell DHA

  12·8

  10·9

  11·8

  Solihull DHA

  8·7

  8·2

  8·4

  Walsall DHA

  11·1

  10·1

  10·6

  Wolverhampton DHA

  12·1

  11·3

  11·7

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  Chester DHA

  11·8

  10·5

  11·1

  Crewe DHA

  11·9

  11·2

  11·6

  Halton DHA

  9·6

  10·0

  9·8

  Macclesfield DHA

  11·0

  11·9

  11·5

  Warrington DHA

  11·5

  11·6

  11·5

  Liverpool DHA

  13·8

  14·0

  13·9

  St. Helens and Knowsley DHA

  11·2

  10·8

  11·0

  Southport and Formby DHA

  14·4

  15·3

  14·9

  South Sefton DHA

  12·2

  11·8

  12·0

  Wirral DHA

  12·8

  12·8

  12·8

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  Lancaster DHA

  15·4

  16·4

  15·9

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde DHA

  17·7

  16·9

  17·3

  Preston DHA

  14·4

  13·9

  14·2

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley DHA

  13·4

  13·3

  13·3

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale DHA

  13·9

  13·9

  13·9

  West Lancashire DHA

  10·9

  10·4

  10·7

  Chorley and South Ribble DHA

  10·5

  10·4

  10·5

  Bolton DHA

  12·6

  12·6

  12·6

  Bury DHA

  12·7

  12·9

  12·8

  North Manchester DHA

  16·0

  15·5

  15·7

  Central Manchester DHA

  12·2

  12·1

  12·2

  South Manchester DHA

  12·5

  13·9

  13·2

  Oldham DHA

  12·6

  13·3

  12·9

  Rochdale DHA

  11·9

  12·0

  12·0

  Salford DHA

  14·0

  14·3

  14·2

  Stockport DHA

  11·4

  11·7

  11·6

  Tameside and Glossop DHA

  12·1

  12·2

  12·1

  Trafford DHA

  12·1

  11·2

  11·6

  Wigan DHA

  12·1

  11·7

  11·9

  Wales

  Clwyd DHA

  13·6

  12·5

  13·1

  East Dyfed DHA

  14·4

  13·7

  14·1

  Pembrokeshire DHA

  13·0

  11·6

  12·3

  Gwent DHA

  12·4

  11·6

  12·0

  Gwynedd DHA

  13·6

  13·5

  13·6

  Mid Glamorgan DHA

  12·5

  12·1

  12·3

  Powys DHA

  13·5

  12·3

  12·9

  South Glamorgan DHA

  11·6

  11·7

  11·6

  West Glamorgan DHA

  13·7

  12·6

  13·1

  Scotland-Health Board Areas

  Borders

  14·0

  15·6

  14·8

  422

  M

  F

  P

  Forth Valley

  12·1

  11·5

  11·8

  Dumfries and Galloway

  13·6

  13·5

  13·5

  Fife

  12·2

  11·9

  121

  Grampian

  11·7

  11·7

  11·7

  Highland

  12·5

  12·1

  12·3

  Lothian

  12·2

  12·0

  12·1

  Argyll and Clyde

  12·6

  12·3

  12·4

  Ayrshire and Arran

  12·6

  12·9

  12·8

  Greater Glasgow

  13·8

  13·3

  13·5

  Lanarkshire

  11·1

  10·5

  10·8

  Tayside

  13·0

  13·8

  13·4

  Orkney Islands

  14·5

  11·6

  13·0

  Shetland Islands

  10·5

  10·0

  10·2

  Western Isles

  15·8

  12·8

  14·3

  M = Males.

  F = Females

  P = Persons

  Table B: Crude mortality (all causes, all ages) rates per thousand population by sex and marital status

  Great Britain—1985

  Males

  Females

  Persons

  Married

  14·9

  6·7

  10·8

  Single

  3·2

  4·4

  3·8

  Widowed

  96·0

  55·2

  63·0

  Divorced

  11·4

  7·3

  9·1

  Total1

  12·1

  11·5

  11·8

  1 Includes not stated marital status.

  Unborn Children (Safeguards)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to improve methods of protection to safeguard the life of the unborn child.

  Mr. Newton
  We are aware of the strong and sincerely held views many people have about these issues. Successive Governments have held they should be decided by Parliament according to hon. Members' individual conscience. Our intention is to offer Parliament alternative clauses on human embryo research when legislation is brought forward following the Warnock report.

  Member's Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth might receive a reply to his letter dated 2 April which refers to Mr. R. Case of Mencap of Rugby;

  (2) when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth might receive a reply to letters dated the 6 and 16 April concerning Mrs. Rosaleen Cunningham of Rugby.

  Mr. Lyell
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 14 May.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Hind
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to how many people in the West Lancashire district council area are registered under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 as in need of assistance.

  Mr. Major
  I regret that the information requested is not available centrally. Information about the number of persons registered as disabled under section 29(1) of the National Assistance Act 1948 is collected only for social services authority areas.

  Abortions
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have been performed upon girls aged under 16 years for the years 1980 to 1986.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is shown in the table.

  Numbers of notifications of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 to women aged under 16 years, residents and non-residents

  England and Wales 1980–86

  Year

  Number

  1980

  4,143

  1981

  3,949

  1982

  4,343

  1983

  4,566

  1984

  4,609

  1985

  4,427

  11986

  4,240

  1 Provisional.

  Bournemouth General Hospital
  Mr. David Atkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much will be the cost of the new Bournemouth general hospital.

  Mrs. Currie
  It is estimated that the cost of the first phase of this development, which is currently under construction, inclusive of enabling works, fees and equipment, will be £20·2 million. Approval in principle has also been given to the second phase of this development at an inclusive cost of £18 million.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Raynsford
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why, in the light of the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 22 April, Official Report, column 596, the revised draft housing benefit regulations have not yet been made available to local authorities; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he is considering deferring the implementation date for the new housing benefit scheme for April 1988 until a later date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) today.

  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to lay regulations for the 1988 housing benefit reforms.

  Mr. Fowler
  [pursuant to the reply, 22 April 1987, c. 596]: As explained in the earlier reply, the regulations for the 1988 housing benefit reforms will be laid before Parliament when the Government's proposals on benefit rates are finalised in the autumn.

  Revised draft regulations on the detailed structure of the new scheme will be issued to all local authorities on Monday 18 May following consultation on the earlier drafts. These regulations set out firm proposals on the detailed structure required for local authorities to prepare for implementation of the scheme in April 1988. Copies of the draft regulations will be placed in the Library.

  The draft regulations confirm that from April 1988 the Government expect everyone who is liable to pay domestic rates to make a minimum contribution of 20 per cent. of
  424
  their rates bill. However, when the rates for income support are set in the autumn, they will include the average amount that we expect householders who are income support claimants to have to meet as their minimum contribution. The details will be determined at the time the benefit rates are decided. This will mean that income support claimants will receive compensation in April 1988 in their benefit entitlement, whilst at the same time preserving the vital principle of local accountability. This compensation will also be reflected in the rates that will determine help for others on low incomes receiving housing benefit and family credit.

  NHS (Bolton)
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many jobs have been created in Bolton in the National Health Service (a) since 1979 and (b) since 1983.

  Mr. Newton
  Information is not held centrallly on new posts created. However, the number of staff employed in whole time equivalents at 30 September each year was:

  Number

  1979

  3,110

  1983

  3,380

  1985

  3,400

  Source: DHSS Annual Censuses of NHS Medical and non-medical manpower.

  NHS (Staff)
  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff have been employed by the National Health Service in England for each year since 1979, expressed as whole-time equivalents as well as actual full-time and part-time numbers in the following categories: (a) nurses and midwives, (b) ancillaries, (c) administrative and clerical and (d) professional and technical.

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

  Friern Barnet Hospital
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what resources have been made available to the Boroughs of Haringey, Camden and Islington to pay for community care following the closure of Friern Barnet hospital.

  Mrs. Currie
  The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of North-East Thames regional health authority for this information.

  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current annual cost and number of beds available in the Friern Barnet hospital; and what are the comparative figures for each year since 1980.

  Mrs. Currie
  The table gives the average number of beds available in the Friern Barnet hospital (including the Halliwick unit) from 1980 to 1985, the latest date for which figures are available centrally:

  Year

  Number of beds

  1980

  968

  1981

  962

  425

  Year

  Number of beds

  1982

  962

  1983

  919

  1984

  894

  1985

  880

  The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of Hampstead health authority, which manages the Friern Barnet hospital, concerning the cost of providing this service.

  20 February 1979

  15 February 1983

  10 February 1987

  Finsbury Park

  9,652

  15,387

  20,697

  Highgate

  11,404

  16,959

  18,641

  Hoxton

  7,430

  11,132

  13,378

  Source: 100 per cent count of cases in action.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each region, including Scotland and Wales, his most recent estimate of the total numbers (a) claiming and (b) dependent on supplementary benefits; and if he will also list the numbers (1)

  Social Security Region

  Claimants (thousands)

  Numbers dependent (including claimants and partners) (thousands)

  Supplementary allowance

  Supplementary pension

  Total

  Supplementary allowance

  Supplementary pension

  Total

  North Eastern

  490

  266

  756

  995

  313

  1,308

  London North

  425

  285

  710

  822

  337

  1,160

  London South

  368

  257

  626

  686

  293

  979

  Midlands

  504

  265

  769

  1,048

  315

  1,362

  North Western

  466

  231

  698

  927

  260

  1,188

  South Western

  172

  135

  307

  329

  157

  487

  Wales

  182

  93

  275

  366

  107

  473

  Scotland

  318

  150

  468

  600

  171

  772

  Total

  2,926

  1,683

  4,609

  5,774

  1,954

  7,728

  Source: Annual statistical inquiry: December 1984.

  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures for the latest date available, showing the average annual number of people in receipt of each of the following benefits, distinguishing in each case between claimants, adult dependants and child dependants: national insurance unemployment benefit, sickness benefit, invalidity,

  Thousands8

  Number of dependants2

  Estimated average number for 1987–88

  Benefit

  Number of recipients1

  Adult only

  Adult and child

  Child only

  Total

  Date

  Unemployment benefit

  950

  141

  —

  —

  141

  13 November 1986

  825

  Sickness benefit

  95

  46

  —

  —

  46

  30 March 1985

  80

  Invalidity benefit

  915

  281

  77

  34

  391

  30 March 1985

  965

  Widows pension

  395

  —

  —

  58

  58

  30 September 1986

  385

  Retirement pension

  79,555

  127

  10

  8

  145

  30 September 1986

  9,620

  Severe disablement allowance4

  245

  4

  1

  1

  7

  30 March 1985

  245

  Supplementary benefit3

  92,711

  663

  —

  51,776

  2,439

  12 December 1984

  6n.a.

  1 Source (except supplementary benefit—Public Expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 56)—figures for 1986–87.

  2 Source—statistical sampling.

  3 Source—Annual Statistical Enquiry 1984.

  4 Severe disablement allowance replaced NCIP from November 1984.

  5 Includes dependent children age 16 to 18.

  Benefits
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people at (a) Finsbury park, (b) Highgate and (c) Hoxton Department of Health and Social Security offices were in receipt of supplementary benefit in April 1987, April 1983 and April 1979.

  Mr. Lyell
  The table shows the numbers of people receiving supplementary benefit from the three local offices serving the hon. Member's constituency on 10 February 1987—the latest date for which information is available—and on comparable dates in earlier years:

  claiming supplementary allowance, (2) claiming supplementary pension, (3) dependent on supplementary pensions and (4) dependent on supplementary allowance.

  Mr. Lyell
  [pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1987, c. 369–70]: The information is as follows:

  widows and retirement pensions, non-contributory invalidity pension and supplementary benefit without any national insurance benefit; and if he will estimate the corresponding figures for 1987–88.

  Mr. Lyell
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1987, c. 263]: The available information is given in the table.
  427
  6 No comparable estimate can be made.

  7 Excludes non contributory RP.

  8 All figures to nearest thousand.

  9 Supplementary benefit load excluding claimants in receipt of national insurance benefits or pensions (other than industrial injury disablement benefits and pensions).

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the waiting list for (a) urgent and (b) non-urgent operations within the Islington health authority; and what are the comparative figures for April 1983 and April 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  I am sorry I cannot give the hon. Member all the information he seeks in precisely the form requested. Waiting list information is collected centrally at 31 March, 30 September and 31 December annually according to consultant department. The available figures are given in the table. For the recent information requested the hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the Islington district health authority.

  Surgical in-patient waiting list at 31 March, 1983 NHS hospitals, Islington District Health Authority

  Number

  Urgent cases

  218

  Non-urgent cases

  905

  All cases

  1,123

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

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 127]: Following the 1982 recommendations of the first report of the Health Services Information Group, under Mrs. E. Köxrner, new central returns of numbers of people waiting for admission to a hospital bed were introduced on 1 April 1987. These returns have been designed to provide a more comprehensive picture of future demand on the National Health Service and the figures included in them will be extracted from more detailed sets of information held by district health authorities for management purposes.

  The major differences between the counts of people waiting for hospital treatment before and after 1 April 1987 are:

  (i) People waiting for treatment as day cases will be counted and separate figures given after 1 April 1987. Previously, only people expected to remain in hospital for at least one night were counted.

  (ii) People who have refused an offer of admission to a hospital bed for personal reasons and whose condition continues to require hospital treatment will be counted in the figures of those waiting for hospital treatment at the end of each quarter after 1 April 1987. Previously such cases were not included in the biannual counts of people waiting for hospital treatment.

  This latter change is likely to lead to a small rise in the count of the number of people waiting for hospital treatment, but a separate return will allow the impact of their inclusion on changes in the numbers of people waiting for hospital treatment to be assessed. The new returns will give more detailed information about the length of time patients on the list have been waiting.

  Hospital Buildings
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the average age of hospital buildings.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information is as follows:

  Approximately 7 per cent. of NHS buildings were built before 1890

  Approximately 80 per cent. of NHS buildings were built before 1918

  Approximately 5 per cent. of NHS buildings were built between 1919 and 1939

  Approximately 6 per cent. of NHS buildings were built between 1940 and 1964

  Approximately 7 per cent. of NHS buildings were built after 1965.

  Nurses
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Department of Health and Social Security report on nursing shortages in London reported to the National Health Service management board; what conclusions it reached; and if he will publish the report.

  Mr. Newton
  The group has not yet reported.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the National Health Service management board steering group will report on its study of nursing services in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1987, c. 123]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) today.

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

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1987, c. 123]: We have not received any representations from nurses about nurses' pay and conditions since the announcement on 23 April. Information about nursing shortages is not collected centrally. The group examining nursing shortages in London has not yet reported.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will give details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.
  429
  Mrs. Currie
  Information about the expenditure on heating and lighting and energy efficiency measures in properties occupied by public bodies coming within my right hon. Friend's responsibility is not available.

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mrs. Currie
  My right hon. Friend has direct responsibilities for expenditure by the Department and for the expenditure of the National Health Service. The total expenditure during 1986–87 upon heating and lighting for properties occupied by the Department was £9·9 million. The total for National Health Service properties during 1986–87 is not yet available; however, for the year 1985–86 the total was £290 million.

  Expenditure on energy efficiency measures is incurred by the Property Services Agency as well as the Department on buildings occupied by DHSS. Information on such expenditure is not available. A departmental energy efficiency manager has been appointed to improve energy efficiency in the Department. In addition, energy efficiency measures are included within the responsibilities of accommodation staff located in buildings occupied by the Department.

  The expenditure on energy efficiency measures by the National Health Service is not recorded separately and thus is not available. However, considerable effort is made by local health authorities to reduce their energy bills, while modern hospitals and other National Health Service buildings are designed to be energy efficient.

  Health Provision, Leicester
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money has been spent on improving health provision in Leicester since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Revenue expenditure in Leicestershire has increased from £59·2 million in 1978–79 to £145·2 million in 1985–86 (the latest centrally available year). This represents an increase of 30 per cent. in real terms. Leicestershire is now substantially better off than in 1979 and is within 4 per cent. of its target share of resources. In cash terms 06·6 million was spent in the district between 1978–79 and 1985–86 on capital projects (£99·2 million at 1985–86 prices).

  Since 1979 capital projects at Glenfield general hospital, Leicester general hospital and the Towers hospital have been started and completed. Work is currently under way on the new Coalville community hospital and there are various capital schemes in the process of planning and design at Glenfield, Leicester royal infirmary, Hinckley and Loughborough. Since 1979 in-patient cases have risen from 74,454 to 95,365 in 1985, an increase of 28 per cent; day cases from 10,797 to 22,516, an increase of 109 per cent.; and out-patient attendances from 466,873 to 573,962, an increase of 23 per cent. We have allocated the district an additional £216,700 this year for use in reducing waiting lists. Other developments due to take place this year include the opening of a new bone
  430
  marrow unit at the royal infirmary, extra nurses for treating cancer patients and improvements in services for drug misusers.

  Arnold Lodge Towers Hospital (Escape)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has now received a report from the Leicestershire health authority on the recent escapes from Arnold Lodge Towers hospital, Leicester; and what guidance he has given to the health authority on this matter.

  Mrs. Currie
  The inquiry set up by Leicestershire health authority into the recent incidents at the Arnold Lodge secure unit is not yet complete. The question of guidance to the health authority will be dependent upon the outcome of the inquiry.

  Social Services (Review)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he expects to publish his review of social services; and if he will list all those organisations which submitted evidence;

  (2) if charges and responsibility for home helps. meals on wheels and centres for the disabled and elderly have come within the terms of the review on social services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 14 May.

  Diabetics (Disposable Syringes)
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects negotiations with manufacturers to be completed on supplying free disposable syringes and needles to diabetics; when he expects to make an announcement on their availability; and when he expects the scheme to commence.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock and Burntwood (Mr. Howarth) on 14 May.

  Public Health Laboratory Service Board
  Mr. Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the budget for the Public Health Laboratory Service Board for 1987–88.

  Mr. Fowler
  The 1987–88 budget for the PH LSB will be £39·5 million. This amount is £4·8 million over last year's allocation and includes £2·5 million in recognition of the additional work it is currently undertaking, particularly on AIDS.

  Condom Imports
  Mr. Stuart Holland
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make it his policy to ensure that all imported makes of condoms available for sale in the United Kingdom are subject to a British standards lest for safety.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1986, c. 295]: The current British standard (BS7304) relates to condoms for use in vaginal intercourse. We endorse the

  431
  advice issued by the Family Planning Association that people should check that condoms conform to this standard. As far as the Health Service is concerned, general guidance already exists urging health authorities to purchase only products which conform to British standard specifications.

  Health Authorities (Computers)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will call for a report from the chairman of Wessex regional health authority on the fulfilment of contractual obligations by Technicon since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 January 1987,c. 112–13]: The chairman of the Wessex regional health authority is not in a position to report on all of Technicon's business activities since 1979.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his replies to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), Official Report, 8 December 1986, column 71, and 15 December 1986, column 421, on what basis and by whom the tendering companies for the Wessex regional health authority computer contract were selected; what was the nature and extent of the advice sought from PACTEL on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 January 1987, c. 112–13]: I understand from the regional health authority that the tendering companies were selected under the EC-GATT arrangements. All companies expressing an interest were asked to respond to a requirement synopsis and were subsequently shortlisted against approximately 20 predetermined criteria. Shortlisting was undertaken by selection panels appointed by the authority's information committee.

  PACTEL was involved in assisting the authority by: (a) drafting synopses and invitations to tender against which suppliers' responses were solicited; (b) advising selection panels; (c) carrying out technical assessments, and (d) advising on contractual processes.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), Official Report, 8 December 1986, column 72, if he will ask the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency to undertake the revision of his Department's guidance to regional health authorities on computer procurement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 January 1987, c. 112–13]: The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency has no responsibility for the National Health Service and it would be inappropriate for that agency to revise any NHS procedures. The guidance which I referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras closely accords with the agency's guidance to Government Departments.

  Blood Products
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when his Department first became aware of the threat to haemophiliacs from imported factor VIII in relation to (a) hepatitis and (b) HIV virus;
  432
  (2) when heat-treatment of imported factor VIII was initiated; and when all haemophiliacs were first able to obtain access to safe factor VIII;

  (3) what was the original completion date proposed for the blood products laboratory at Elstree; what is the completion date now; when Britain will be self sufficient in blood products; and what are the reasons for the development slipping behind schedule.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his replies, 16 February 1987, c. 510–13]: It became evident in the United Kingdom in 1974 that the use of imported factor VIII was associated with non-A, non-B hepatitis. Progress to eliminate this risk has been limited because the agent responsible has not yet been identified. Clinical trials of factor VIII are in progress to assess if certain heat treatments inactivate the agent.

  Evidence emerged in the United States of America in 1982 that haemophiliacs were contracting AIDS and although the mechanism of infection was not known, it was presumed that it had been transmitted through the use of blood products such as factor VIII.

  The first account of experimental work which showed that HIV in factor VIII could be inactivated by heat treatment was published in October 1984 ("Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1984", Vol. 33, 589–91). This work led to the National Haemophilia Society of the United States of America advising that heat-treated factor VIII should be considered for haemophiliacs even though its protection against AIDS remained to be proven. Similar advice was published in the United Kingdom in December 1984 (Lancet 1984, Vol. 2, 1433–1435). However, not until February 1985 (Lancet 1985, Vol. 1, 271–272) was evidence published which showed that heat treatment of factor VIII actually reduced transmission of HIV to haemophiliacs.

  Health Care (North-West)
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the national average cost of health care per man, woman and child; and what is the comparable figure for the north-west region.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 February 1987,c. 402]: The available information is set out in the following table:

  Expenditure on health care per head of population

  £

  All England

  293·27

  North-Western RHA

  308·85

  Notes:

  (i) The expenditure figures used are derived from the annual accounts for 1985–86 of regional and district health authorities, the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals and family practitioner committees.

  (ii) Expenditure on family practitioner services cannot be strictly assigned to regional boundaries, but for north-western region has been obtained from the accounts of the committees lying geographically within that region's area.

  (iii) Population figures are at estimated mid 1985 levels.

  Actual allocations to regional health authorities and family practitioner services are calculated differently. In determining the level of resources for regional health authorities, the methodology of the resource allocation working party (RAWP) is followed, which weights regionally managed populations to determine the relative need for health care. Expenditure on family practitioner

  433
  services, however, is governed by the level of current demand of the population served. The expenditure rates in the above table are calculated from unweighted populations.

  Acute Beds
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each year from 1979 to 1986 the total number of hospitals with acute beds and the total number of acute beds in each health district.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 27 April 1987,c. 33]: For information on the number of acute beds in each district health authority in 1979 and 1985, I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 19 January 1987 at columns 443–50. The information on hospitals that can be provided without incurring disproportionate cost is given in the table.

  Number of National Health Service hospitals1 in England with acute beds.

  Regional, District and Special Health Authority

  1979

  1985

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Hartlepool

  3

  2

  North Tees

  1

  1

  South Tees

  14

  11

  East Cumbria

  2—

  8

  South Cumbria

  2—

  5

  West Cumbria

  6

  5

  Darlington

  3

  3

  Durham

  4

  3

  North West Durham

  3

  2

  South West Durham

  6

  5

  Northumberland

  13

  12

  Gateshead

  5

  5

  Newcastle

  9

  7

  North Tyneside

  5

  4

  South Tyneside

  3

  2

  Sunderland

  7

  7

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Hull

  7

  6

  East Yorkshire

  8

  8

  Grimsby

  5

  2

  Scunthorpe

  6

  7

  Northallerton

  5

  5

  York

  5

  4

  Scarborough

  5

  5

  Harrogate

  5

  4

  Bradford

  10

  8

  Airedale

  7

  4

  Calderdale

  3

  3

  Huddersfield

  3

  3

  Dewsbury

  4

  4

  Leeds Western

  2—

  8

  Leeds Eastern

  2—

  4

  Wakefield

  4

  3

  Pontefract

  4

  4

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  North Derbyshire

  9

  6

  Southern Derbyshire

  13

  11

  Leicestershire

  18

  15

  North Lincolnshire

  10

  6

  South Lincolnshire

  7

  7

  Bassetlaw

  3

  3

  Central Nottinghamshire

  9

  8

  Nottingham

  9

  4

  Barnsley

  1

  1

  Doncaster

  2—

  3

  Rotherham

  2—

  4

  Sheffield

  11

  9

  434

  Regional, District and Special Health Authority

  1979

  1985

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  Cambridge

  2—

  5

  Peterborough

  8

  6

  West Suffolk

  2—

  3

  East Suffolk

  2—

  8

  Norwich

  16

  14

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  7

  7

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  10

  3

  Huntingdon

  2—

  2

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  North Bedfordshire

  4

  3

  South Bedfordshire

  5

  3

  North Hertfordshire

  4

  3

  East Hertfordshire

  4

  4

  North West Hertfordshire

  3

  3

  South West Hertfordshire

  5

  5

  Barnet

  9

  8

  Harrow

  2

  1

  Hillingdon

  7

  5

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  2—

  4

  Ealing

  6

  3

  Brent

  2

  3

  Paddington and North Kensington

  9

  8

  Riverside

  10

  7

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Basildon and Thurrock

  4

  3

  Mid Essex

  5

  7

  North East Essex

  12

  11

  West Essex

  8

  6

  Southend

  2

  2

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  8

  7

  Hampstead

  2—

  3

  Bloomsbury

  2—

  15

  Islington

  2—

  3

  City and Hackney

  6

  6

  Newham

  9

  4

  Tower Hamlets

  5

  2

  Enfield

  4

  3

  Haringey

  4

  3

  Redbridge

  3

  3

  Waltham Forest

  7

  5

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Brighton

  11

  9

  Eastbourne

  4

  3

  Hastings

  7

  5

  South East Kent

  8

  5

  Canterbury and Thanet

  12

  10

  Dartford and Gravesham

  4

  4

  Maidstone

  4

  4

  Medway

  6

  8

  Tunbridge Wells

  11

  10

  Bexley

  2

  2

  Greenwich

  6

  4

  Bromley

  5

  4

  West Lambeth

  2—

  4

  Camberwell

  4

  3

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  7

  5

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority

  North West Surrey

  6

  7

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  3

  3

  South West Surrey

  5

  4

  Mid Surrey

  6

  5

  East Surrey

  7

  5

  Chichester

  4

  4

  Mid Downs

  5

  5

  Worthing

  4

  4

  Croydon

  6

  3

  Kingston and Esher

  2—

  5

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  2—

  4

  Wandsworth

  9

  3

  Merton and Sutton

  9

  6

  435

  Regional, District and Special Health Authority

  1979

  1985

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  East Dorset

  10

  8

  West Dorset

  10

  10

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  8

  7

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  14

  14

  Winchester

  3

  3

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  4

  4

  Salisbury

  3

  5

  Swindon

  4

  4

  Bath

  16

  15

  Isle of Wight

  5

  5

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  East Berkshire

  7

  7

  West Berkshire

  8

  7

  Aylesbury Vale

  2—

  3

  Wycombe

  5

  5

  Milton Keynes

  2—

  2

  Kettering

  5

  4

  Northampton

  6

  4

  Oxfordshire

  20

  20

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  Bristol and Weston

  12

  10

  Frenchay

  4

  4

  Southmead

  6

  5

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  14

  13

  Exeter

  16

  17

  North Devon

  2—

  7

  Plymouth

  2—

  11

  Torbay

  15

  15

  Cheltenham

  2—

  9

  Gloucester

  2—

  10

  Somerset

  15

  14

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  7

  6

  Herefordshire

  9

  9

  Kidderminster and District

  2

  2

  Worcester and District

  8

  7

  Shropshire

  17

  17

  Mid Staffordshire

  5

  4

  North Staffordshire

  9

  11

  South East Staffordshire

  6

  6

  Rugby

  3

  2

  North Warwickshire

  2—

  2

  South Warwickshire

  2—

  4

  Central Birmingham

  2—

  5

  East Birmingham

  1

  1

  North Birmingham

  4

  5

  South Birmingham

  2—

  6

  West Birmingham

  2

  6

  Coventry

  5

  5

  Dudley

  7

  7

  Sandwell

  5

  3

  Solihull

  2—

  2

  Walsall

  3

  3

  Wolverhampton

  7

  5

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  Chester

  5

  4

  Crewe

  6

  5

  Halton

  2

  2

  Macclesfield

  8

  7

  Warrington

  3

  2

  Liverpool

  14

  14

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  3

  4

  Southport and Formby

  5

  4

  South Sefton

  2

  2

  Wirral

  12

  3

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  Lancaster

  4

  4

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  7

  7

  Preston

  2—

  3

  436

  Regional, District and Special Health Authority

  1979

  1985

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  5

  7

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  6

  5

  West Lancashire

  3

  3

  Chorley and South Ribble

  2—

  1

  Bolton

  5

  4

  Bury

  4

  5

  North Manchester

  6

  5

  Central Manchester

  4

  4

  South Manchester

  4

  4

  Oldham

  4

  3

  Rochdale

  4

  2

  Salford

  6

  5

  Stockport

  6

  6

  Tameside and Glossop

  3

  2

  Trafford

  7

  4

  Wigan

  4

  4

  Special Health Authorities

  The Hospitals for Sick Children

  3

  2

  The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases

  4

  4

  Moorfields Eye Hospital

  1

  1

  Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals

  1

  1

  The National Heart and Chest Hospitals

  5

  3

  The Royal Marsden Hospital

  2

  2

  Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's

  2—

  3

  1 Figures are based on a count of hospitals which provide residential facilities during the year. Day hospitals and clinics are therefore not included.

  2 Comparable figures not readily available because of NHS restructuring on 1 April 1982.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Deakins
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost of giving single pensioners with no other sources of income an extra £5 per week and pensioner couples £8 per week assuming no change in social security benefits.

  Mr. Major
  [pursuant to his reply, 28 April 1987, c. 113]: Information is not available on the net cost of such a change. The basic retirement pension is not paid on an income-related basis, and no firm estimate is available of the numbers of pensioners for whom it is the sole source of income. Most pensioners who have little more than the basic pension would be entitled to supplementary pension and housing benefit. About 375,000 single pensioners and 25,000 pensioner couples who receive supplementary pension have no significant source of income other than their basic retirement pension and supplementary pension/housing benefit. It would cost about £110 million gross to increase retirement pension by £5 or £8 to this group. Assuming supplementary pension and housing benefit levels remained unchanged, the net cost of such an increase in retirement pension would be substantially less. An accurate estimate could be made only at disproportionate cost.

  Cervical Screening
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the largest current delay in each health region known to his Department in providing cervical smears through pathology laboratories.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 5 May 1987, c. 380]: The latest information available centrally was provided to the Department in February, when 157 districts in England reported that their laboratories examining cervical smears

  437
  were meeting our target of holding no more than one month's work. The longest delay in each region known to the Department is set out in the table.

  Longest laboratory delay in processing cervical smears in each region as at 16 February 1987

  (or 31 December 1986 where indicated)

  Region

  District

  Delay weeks

  Northern

  Newcastle

  12/13

  Yorkshire (31 December 1986)

  Scunthorpe

  4

  Trent

  Nottingham

  13

  East Anglian

  Cambridge

  6

  North West Thames (31 December 1986)

  Barnet

  7/9

  North East Thames (31 December 1986)

  Bloomsbury

  8

  South East Thames

  Dartford and Gravesham

  11

  South West Thames

  South West Surrey

  3

  Wessex

  Bath

  3

  Oxford

  Oxfordshire

  11

  South Western (31 December 1986)

  Plymouth

  8

  West Midlands

  Worcester

  8

  Mersey

  Wirral

  5

  North Western (31 December 1986)

  Bury

  3

  Health Authorities (Staff)
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the numbers of non-medical staff employed by district health authorities for 1982–83 and for the latest year available in the manner of the reply to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) of 10 December, Official Report, column 218.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 5 May 1987, c. 377]: Tables giving the information requested have been placed in the Library. The September 1985 figures, given in the earlier reply to the hon. Member are still the latest available to this level of detail.

  Physical and Sensory Disabilities
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the total annual expenditure by social services departments in England on people with physical and sensory disabilities in each of the last 10 years at 1986–87 prices.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 572]: I regret that information collected centrally does not enable a comprehensive figure for total personal social services expenditure on people with physical and sensory disabilities to be provided, because many of the relevant services, such as home helps and other support services, are provided to all disabled people and to the elderly, many of whom have physical and sensory disabilities.

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

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 11 May 1987, c. 126]: As my hon. Friend is aware, the management of major new schemes in the National Health Service building programme is the responsibility of the regional
  438
  health authority. I understand, however, that the Telford district general hospital is planned to open early in 1989. The accident and emergency department will open in full at that time.

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

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to the reply, 11 May 1987, c. 128]: Resource allocation to North Hertfordshire health authority is a matter for the North-West Thames regional health authority. The district had proposed reductions in services to cope with increased financial pressures. I understand that the regional health authority has now agreed to provide some interim assistance for North Hertfordshire for the current year amounting to £350,000. I am replying to the CHC in these terms and am arranging for similar responses to letters from members of the public.

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

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1987, c. 130]: Health authorities are free to decide for themselves how best to provide clinical services, including the possibility of making contractual arrangements with the private or voluntary sectors, and seeking tenders for such arrangements if they wish. Guidance about such contractual arrangements was issued to health authorities in January 1981; a copy of the relevant circular (HC(81)1) is in the Library.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Meadowcroft
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the costing returns submitted by health authorities in England showing total current expenditure on hospitals categorised as pre-convalescent and convalescent for each year from 1979 to date.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1987, c. 221–22]: The information requested is as follows.

  Year

  Expenditure £

  1979–80

  13,458,656

  1980–81

  10,349,329

  1981–82

  10,758,114

  1982–83

  9,943,684

  1983–84

  9,657,117

  1984–85

  6,911,744

  1985–86

  5,500,259

  439
  The level and extent of provision of convalescence beds is a matter for local decision. Modern concepts of patient care and rehabilitation have resulted in a diminishing demand for convalescence in its traditional form.

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

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 11 May 1987, c. 127]: The Department directly funds the following organisations for the following services:

  SCODA (Standing Conference on Drug Abuse)—Drugs Misuse

  BSS (Broadcasting Support Services)—AIDS

  In addition, many of the agencies funded partially or wholly by the Department operate information and advice services. Subjects covered are:

  Community Health Initiatives

  Child abuse ("Childline" and "Touchline")

  Senile and pre-senile dementia

  Anorexia and bulimia nervosa

  Bereavement counselling

  Mental health services and issues

  Ethnic minorities' mental health matters

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Number of trainees completing courses

  Total training weeks offered

  Number of trainees completing courses

  Total training weeks offered

  Number of trainees completing courses

  Total training weeks offered

  Travel-to-work area6

  Unemployment rate5 6 12 June 1986 per cent.

  Barking

  119

  7,257

  217

  8,455

  477

  9,783

  London

  10·4

  Basildon

  167

  6,998

  163

  5,466

  162

  6,351

  Southend

  13·7

  Bellshill

  332

  10,928

  879

  10,307

  532

  12,191

  Lanarkshire

  20·6

  Bellshill Annexe4

  85

  2,957

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Billingham

  158

  6,366

  279

  7,204

  251

  9,517

  Stockton-on-Tees

  18·8

  Birmingham

  396

  16,643

  621

  15,992

  834

  29,558

  Birmingham

  16·0

  Birmingham (Castle Bromwich)3

  387

  10,671

  184

  6,256

  —

  —

  Birmingham YTC3

  138

  3,937

  —

  1,846

  —

  —

  Bradford

  515

  8,571

  287

  6,131

  504

  9,255

  Bradford

  15·3

  Bristol

  668

  17,019

  654

  14,237

  690

  16,722

  Bristol

  10·7

  Bristol Annexe3

  91

  2,603

  8

  —

  —

  —

  Cardiff

  182

  10,968

  426

  18,009

  517

  11,466

  Cardiff

  13·9

  Charlton1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London

  10·4

  Chelmsford

  70

  2,728

  100

  3,075

  87

  2,952

  Chelmsford and Braintree

  7·8

  Cheshire (Runcorn)

  212

  5,899

  215

  5,412

  216

  7,078

  Widnes and Runcorn

  18·6

  Chesterfield

  82

  3,818

  81

  3,634

  169

  3,968

  Chesterfield

  14·6

  Coventry

  363

  7,962

  273

  6,993

  364

  7,874

  Coventry and Hinckley

  14·9

  Cumbria (Maryport)

  134

  3,307

  109

  3,105

  133

  4,912

  Carlisle

  11·7

  Deptford

  159

  13,512

  391

  11,345

  698

  15,340

  London

  10·4

  Doncaster3

  198

  7,696

  119

  2,528

  —

  —

  Doncaster

  20·5

  Dumbarton3

  64

  5,315

  14

  115

  —

  —

  Dumbarton

  19·2

  Dundee

  183

  7,352

  561

  6,840

  467

  6,986

  Dundee

  16·2

  Dunfermline

  239

  7,141

  242

  6,240

  339

  7,235

  Dunfermline

  16·0

  Durham

  291

  10,624

  326

  10,196

  303

  12,837

  Durham

  13·9

  East Lancashire

  305

  7,314

  338

  7,235

  302

  7,792

  Accrington and Rossendale

  14·1

  Edinburgh

  347

  7,249

  334

  8,456

  370

  8,700

  Edinburgh

  11·3

  Edinburgh Annexe4

  147

  2,811

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enfield

  311

  11,684

  298

  10,032

  759

  10,703

  London

  10·4

  Glasgow (Queenslie)3

  159

  6,466

  16

  136

  —

  —

  Glasgow

  17·1

  Glasgow (Hillington)

  255

  7,789

  784

  11,708

  681

  14,359

  Glasgow (Hillington) Annexe4

  63

  1,119

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gloucester

  340

  8,034

  409

  8,200

  685

  12,321

  Gloucester

  91

  Gloucester Annexe3

  82

  3,146

  86

  2,134

  —

  —

  Gwent (Newport)

  277

  10,413

  627

  11,161

  757

  12,177

  Newport

  15·5

  Hull

  289

  10,712

  545

  6,480

  694

  9,129

  Hull

  16·6

  Ipswich

  92

  5,831

  147

  5,767

  170

  5,538

  Ipswich

  8·5

  Irvine

  154,

  5,403

  191

  4,830

  245

  4,796

  Irvine

  24·4

  Killingworth3

  271

  11,259

  79

  4,823

  —

  —

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  18·3

  Kirkby-in-Ashfield3

  161

  4,976

  275

  2,754

  —

  —

  Nottingham

  13·3

  440

  Schizophrenia

  Phobias

  Psychological support to rape victims

  Suicidal/despairing people

  Women's mental health issues

  Migraine

  Women's health issues

  Mental handicaps

  Advice to elderly and disabled people.

  Currently under consideration are grants to voluntary bodies hoping to set up telephone services dealing with:

  Cancer

  Health problems and non-English speakers.

EMPLOYMENT

  Skillcentres
  Mr. Leighton
  asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will list the skillcentres open in (a) June 1979 and (b) June 1986; and if he will give the unemployment rate for each of the centre's respective travel-to-work areas at those times;

  (2) if he will list the number of trainees completing courses, and the total training weeks offered for each skillcentre, for each year since 1979 for which figures are available.

  Mr. Trippier
  The available information is contained in the table.
  441

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Number of trainees completing courses

  Total training weeks offered

  Number of trainees completing courses

  Total training weeks offered

  Number of trainees completing courses

  Total training weeks offered

  Travel-to-work area6

  Unemployment rate5 6 12 June 1986 per cent.

  Lambeth

  —

  —

  64

  663

  348

  7,418

  London

  10·4

  Lambeth YTC2

  —

  3,467

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London

  10·4

  Leeds

  401

  16,536

  483

  9,769

  650

  12,902

  Leeds

  12·3

  Leicester

  450

  9,557

  236

  7,160

  452

  8,447

  Leicester

  10·4

  Letchworth

  245

  14,165

  462

  14,319

  575

  15,583

  Hitchin and Letchworth

  8·1

  Liverpool (MATU)

  600

  6,240

  549

  7,970

  791

  13,053

  Liverpool

  20·3

  Liverpool (old)3

  582

  18,720

  125

  4,129

  —

  —

  Llanelli3

  140

  5,029

  114

  2,035

  —

  —

  Llanelli

  17·8

  Long Eaton3

  299

  7,113

  254

  5,636

  —

  —

  Nottingham

  13·3

  Manchester (Denton)3

  186

  7,904

  103

  2,375

  623

  —

  Manchester

  14·0

  Manchester (Trafford Park)

  349

  15,028

  477

  10,861

  —

  12,875

  Manchester (Hindley Annexe)4

  127

  4,765

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Medway

  226

  10,953

  306

  11,385

  463

  12,926

  Medway and Maidstone

  11·9

  Medway Annexe (Sittingbourne)4

  136

  4,767

  111

  2,793

  —

  —

  Sittingbourne and Sheerness

  14·0

  Middlesbrough3

  123

  7,070

  75

  1,775

  —

  —

  Middlesbrough

  21·9

  Millbrook (Southampton)

  238

  8,440

  271

  7,130

  154

  6,221

  Southampton

  10·6

  Milton Keynes

  140

  4,717

  153

  5,451

  427

  5,444

  Milton Keynes

  12·7

  North Staffordshire

  393

  5,796

  212

  4,749

  274

  5,536

  Stoke

  11·8

  Northampton

  69

  1,883

  89

  1,881

  107

  3,318

  Northampton

  9·5

  Norwich

  147

  7,535

  250

  7,160

  381

  7,656

  Norwich

  10·0

  Nottingham (Long Eaton Annexe)

  145

  4,103

  136

  4,779

  382

  9,577

  Nottingham

  13·3

  Perivale

  137

  7,869

  160

  6,667

  146

  6,271

  London

  10·4

  Peterborough

  184

  5,956

  162

  5,445

  180

  5,725

  Peterborough

  12·5

  Plymouth

  240

  7,944

  438

  8,208

  496

  12,557

  Plymouth

  14·4

  Plymouth Annexe3

  126

  2,938

  121

  1,967

  —

  —

  Portsmouth

  292

  9,379

  277

  8,231

  311

  8,826

  Portsmouth

  12·0

  Preston

  333

  9,984

  300

  5,927

  329

  6,968

  Preston

  11·2

  Reading

  171

  4,790

  178

  6,309

  194

  7,573

  Reading

  7·2

  Redditch3

  81

  5,344

  218

  4,114

  —

  —

  Birmingham

  16·0

  Redruth

  265

  6,561

  311

  6,599

  340

  8,043

  Redruth and Camborne

  20·5

  Rochdale

  233

  10,192

  286

  6,180

  387

  8,127

  Rochdale

  17·4

  St. Helens

  263

  8,528

  211

  5,896

  331

  8,308

  Wigan and St. Helens

  18·8

  Sheffield

  378

  16,016

  359

  8,246

  241

  9,815

  Sheffield

  16·1

  Slough

  205

  8,063

  226

  8,405

  213

  7,324

  Slough

  6·5

  Slough Annexe3

  193

  5,400

  159

  4,916

  —

  —

  Southampton

  307

  9,613

  319

  961

  346

  11,604

  Southampton

  10·6

  Swindon

  279

  7,568

  228

  6,509

  255

  8,829

  Swindon

  12·0

  Twickenham

  111

  7,341

  262

  8,898

  322

  9,791

  Heathrow

  7·1

  Tyneside

  319

  12,765

  737

  12,449

  573

  17,827

  South Tyneside

  25·9

  Tyneside Annexe4

  5

  13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Waddon3

  64

  3,431

  64

  1,156

  —

  —

  London

  10·4

  Waddon Annexe3

  68

  5,271

  49

  2,552

  —

  —

  Wakefield

  257

  14,248

  206

  4,727

  277

  6,215

  Wakefield and Dewsbury

  15·2

  West Glamorgan

  220

  9,508

  477

  9,826

  871

  12,687

  Neath and Port Talbot

  14·7

  West Gwent3

  347

  5,380

  87

  1,804

  —

  —

  Newport

  15·5

  West Sussex

  156

  5,994

  295

  8,487

  414

  11,795

  Worthing

  8·3

  West Sussex Annexe3

  143

  5,441

  87

  2,993

  —

  —

  Wigan

  267

  8,632

  192

  4,872

  259

  7,025

  Wigan and St. Helens

  18·8

  Wolverhampton

  247

  9,308

  321

  7,415

  477

  10,090

  Wolverhampton

  18·3

  Wolverhampton Annexe3

  63

  4,074

  87

  4,546

  —

  —

  Worsley (Manchester Annexe)3

  194

  6,032

  36

  1,198

  —

  —

  Manchester

  14·0

  Wrexham

  311

  7,478

  334

  6,647

  349

  6,579

  Wrexham

  16·7

  Total

  19,951

  679,507

  21,935

  521,280

  24,344

  572,484

  1 No figures available. Charlton skillcentre closed during 1985–86.

  2 Trainees completed their courses at other skillcentres.

  3 This skillcentre annexe closed down during 1985–86 and the figures for 1985–86 are correspondingly reduced.

  4 This annexe closed during 1985–86. Separate statistics for 1985–86 are no longer available.

  5 The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed expressed as a percentage of employees in employment plus the unemployed.

  6 Comparable unemployment statistics are not available for 1979 because of major revisions to travel-to-work area boundaries in 1984 and changes in the method of compiling the unemployment figures. Statistics of unemployed registrants in 1979 in travel-to-work areas as defined in 1978 are available in the Library.

  7 The Blaenau Gwent skillcentre closed in February 1983. The unemployment rate in that month in the Ebbw Vale travel-to-work area was 24·3 per cent. This area is now covered by the Blaenau, Gwent and Abvergavenny travel-to-work area, and the unemployment rate for this area on 12 June 1986 was 19·5 per cent.

  Self-employed Persons (Bradford)
  Mr. Lawler
  asked the Paymaster General what was the change in the number of self-employed in Bradford between 1979 and 1987.

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

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme (Bradford)
  Mr. Lawler
  asked the Paymaster General how many people are currently on the enterprise allowance scheme in Bradford; and how many have completed the 12 months scheme since it started.

  Mr. Trippier
  The figures are not available in the form requested. Figures for the Batley area (which includes
  443
  Bradford) team show that on 12 May 1987 there were 1,765 people on the enterprise allowance scheme and that 5,051 people had entered the scheme since its inception. There are no figures available for the number of entrants who completed the full 12 months on the scheme.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Paymaster General what is his estimate of new jobs created in the economy in each year from 1979 to 1986, divided between (i) full-time jobs, (ii) part-time jobs and (iii) self-employed people.

  Employed labour force in Great Britain (adjusted seasonal variations)

  Difference between June of each year

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Of which all self-employed

  1979–1980

  -209,000

  148,000

  108,000

  1980–1981

  -870,000

  -82,000

  108,000

  1981–1982

  -435,000

  10,000

  51,000

  1982–1983

  -317,000

  27,000

  51,000

  1983–1984

  237,000

  216,000

  275,000

  1984–1985

  224,000

  163,000

  116,000

  1985–1986

  -50,000

  157,000

  15,000

  1986 (June)–1986 (December)

  61,000

  80,000

  52,000

  Since 1983 the total employed labour force has grown by 1,130,000 with increases in full-time and part-time employment and self-employment.

  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Paymaster General how many new jobs have been created in Bolton as a result of Government measures (a) since 1979 and (b) since 1983; and if he will break this down between (i) the enterprise allowance scheme, (ii) help to local enterprise agencies, (iii) the community programme, (iv) regional grants and (v) other measures.

  Mr. Lee
  It is not possible to give the information in the form requested. Since May 1979 Department of Trade and Industry selective assistance in the Bolton and Bury travel-to-work area will support the creation of about 2,200 new jobs and help safeguard about a further 2,100 if the prospects go ahead as planned; since 1983 the corresponding figures are 1,200 new jobs and 880 safeguarded.

  The number of participants on the community programme and enterprise allowance scheme in the Manchester north-west area since 1983 were 17,682 and 3,113 respectively. Participant figures for the community programme and enterprise allowance scheme are not available prior to 1983. The local enterprise agency, Bolton Business Venture, which last year received £20,000 support under the Government's local enterprise agency grant scheme, reported in 1986 that since its inception in 1983 it has given advice to some 2,000 people and had helped in the creation of over 700 jobs.

  We shall continue to pursue sound economic policies for steady growth and low inflation which have so far produced more than a million new jobs since 1983.

  Industrial Wage
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Paymaster General what is the average industrial wage.

  Mr. Lee
  The latest available information on the average gross weekly earnings of full-time adult employees
  444
  Mr. Trippier
  We have no means of knowing the number of new jobs created in the economy.

  However, between June 1979 and December 1986 the annual net changes in the size of the employed labour force in Great Britain for each of the categories specified were as follows:

  in manufacturing industries relates to April 1986, and is published in table 5·6 of "Labour Market Data" in the November 1986 issue of Employment Gazette, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Playspace (Bradford)
  Mr. Madden
  asked the Paymaster General if the Manpower Services Commission will provide long-term funding for Playspace, a children's play project in Bradford; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Playspace is currently funded under the community programme as part of the Bradford metropolitan borough council's agency. The agency has decided that it does not wish to support the project after December 1987. The Manpower Services Commission can fund community programme projects for up to 52 weeks. Sponsors should seek longer-term funding from other sources for services which are likely to fulfil a continuing need. I understand Playspace is now engaged in seeking alternative sources of funding.

  Islington, North
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Paymaster General what is the current rate of (a) male, (b) female and (c) young persons unemployment in Islington, North; and what are the comparative statistics for May 1983, May 1979 and May 1974.

  Mr. Lee
  The information requested is not available. Male and female unemployment rates are calculated only for self-contained labour market areas; the smallest such areas are travel-to-work areas. Islington, North forms only a small part of the London travel-to-work area. Unemployment rates by age are not calculated below national level.

  Manufacturing (Apprentices)
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Paymaster General what is his Department's latest estimate of the number of full-time apprentices currently employed in British manufacturing industry; and what was the comparable number in 1979.

  Mr. Trippier
  In March 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 64,000 apprentices employed in the manufacturing industries in Great Britain. In May 1979 (there are no figures for March) the figure was 155,000. The estimates do not distinguish between full-time and part-time apprentices. The numbers entering traditional apprenticeships are becoming increasingly irrelevant as a measure of the real level of skills training being undertaken by industry because of both the reform of existing training arrangements and the substantial provision of initial skills training now taking place under YTS.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will give details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Trippier
  I regret that this information is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Paymaster General if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Trippier
  I regret that this information is not available in the form requested. Fuel and utility charges (excluding water) for 1986–87 for the Department of Employment group were some £10 million. The amounts spent on energy efficiency measures are not available centrally.

  Job Training Scheme (Managing Agents)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Paymaster General if he will list in the Official Report those bodies and organisations which have been contracted as managing agents for the new job training scheme to date in the relevant Manpower Services Commission areas.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Manpower Services Commission are negotiating and signing contracts with managing agents. As soon as the list is published it will be placed in the Library.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Allen McKay
  asked the Paymaster General if he will give the gross figure of persons claiming unemployment benefit and the percentage of the work force which this represents in (a) Yorkshire and Humberside, (b) Barnsley metropolitan district area and (c) Barnsley West and Penistone for each month since May 1979.

  Mr. Trippier
  Following is the available information which is also in the Library. The table shows the numbers 446
  of unemployed people claiming benefits at unemployment benefit offices who are resident in the Barnsley local authority district and the Barnsley, West and Penistone parliamentary constituency in each month from June 1983. The comparisons are affected by changes in the coverage of the data. Unemployment rates cannot be produced because equivalent estimates of the work force are not available for these areas. A consistent series of the numbers of unemployed claimants in the Yorkshire and Humberside region for each month since May 1979, adjusted for discontinuities and seasonality, are also given, together with the corresponding unemployment rates expressed as a percentage of the working population.

  Unemployed Claimants—Unadjusted

  Barnsley Local authority district

  Barnsley West and Penistone Parliamentary Constituency

  1983

  June

  12,953

  3,956

  July

  12,935

  4,025

  August

  13,023

  4,092

  September

  14,561

  4,589

  October

  14,078

  4,478

  November

  13,834

  4,378

  December

  13,831

  4,375

  1984

  January

  14,204

  4,474

  February

  14,468

  4,491

  March

  14,393

  4,467

  April

  14,320

  4,427

  May

  14,623

  4,470

  June

  14,532

  4,425

  July

  14,518

  4,525

  August

  14,566

  4,547

  September

  16,138

  5,096

  October

  15,500

  4,868

  November

  15,284

  4,792

  December

  15,052

  4,729

  1985

  January

  15,478

  4,900

  February

  15,378

  4,931

  March

  15,171

  4,841

  April

  15,255

  4,811

  May

  15,140

  4,757

  June

  14,995

  4,723

  July

  15,426

  4,906

  August

  15,844

  5,020

  September

  17,550

  5,632

  October

  16,878

  5,407

  November

  16,739

  5,344

  December

  16,897

  5,457

  1986

  January

  18,479

  5,963

  February

  18,299

  5,968

  March

  18,245

  5,927

  April

  18,872

  6,171

  May

  18,620

  6,074

  June

  18,241

  5,908

  July

  18,055

  5,874

  August

  17,925

  5,838

  September

  18,506

  6,035

  October

  17,890

  5,826

  November

  17,711

  5,839

  December

  17,701

  5,852

  1987

  January

  18,179

  6,016

  February

  17,746

  5,859

  March

  17,626

  5,856

  April

  17,392

  5,812

  447

  Yorkshire and Humberside unemployment adjusted for discontinuities and seasonality

  Number

  Rate

  1979

  May

  100,700

  4·4

  June

  98,500

  4·3

  July

  98,800

  4·3

  August

  97,500

  4·3

  September

  96,500

  4·2

  October

  97,600

  4·3

  November

  96,200

  4·2

  December

  97,600

  4·3

  1980

  January

  99,300

  4·3

  February

  103,900

  4·5

  March

  109,100

  4·8

  April

  114,000

  5·0

  May

  117,800

  5·1

  June

  123,800

  5·4

  July

  131,100

  5·7

  August

  140,600

  6·1

  September

  148,200

  6·5

  October

  157,000

  6·8

  November

  169,100

  7·4

  December

  178,200

  7·8

  1981

  January

  185,900

  8·2

  February

  192,200

  8·5

  March

  198,800

  8·8

  April

  204,200

  9·0

  May

  209,900

  9·2

  June

  213,300

  9·4

  July

  217,000

  9·6

  August

  217,600

  9·6

  September

  224,400

  9·9

  October

  226,600

  10·0

  November

  228,800

  10·1

  December

  230,000

  10·1

  1982

  January

  231,900

  10·3

  February

  232,200

  10·3

  March

  232,500

  10·3

  April

  234,700

  10·4

  May

  237,600

  10·5

  June

  240,800

  10·7

  July

  243,400

  10·8

  August

  245,800

  10·9

  September

  246,900

  10·9

  October

  251,800

  11·1

  November

  254,700

  11·3

  December

  257,700

  11·4

  1983

  January

  158,700

  11·5

  February

  259,200

  11·5

  March

  260,900

  11·6

  April

  262,600

  11·7

  May

  263,400

  11·7

  June

  266,100

  11·9

  July

  265,600

  11·8

  August

  265,600

  11·8

  September

  266,100

  11·9

  October

  264,400

  11·8

  November

  265,100

  11·8

  December

  266,300

  11·9

  1984

  January

  267,600

  11·7

  February

  270,500

  11·9

  March

  271,100

  11·9

  April

  271,200

  11·9

  May

  272,900

  12·0

  June

  273,300

  12·0

  July

  275,500

  12·1

  August

  276,600

  12·1

  448

  Number

  Rate

  September

  280,400

  12·3

  October

  282,700

  12·4

  November

  283,300

  12·4

  December

  283,100

  12·4

  1985

  January

  283,900

  12·2

  February

  285,700

  12·2

  March

  286,200

  12·3

  April

  288,700

  12·4

  May

  288,400

  12·3

  June

  287,100

  12·3

  July

  288,200

  12·3

  August

  289,400

  12·4

  September

  290,100

  12·4

  October

  290,400

  12·4

  November

  291,900

  12·5

  December

  295,400

  12·6

  1986

  January

  298,400

  12·6

  February

  299,100

  12·7

  March

  302,100

  12·8

  April

  301,800

  12·8

  May

  303,200

  12·8

  June

  305,100

  12·9

  July

  304,700

  12·9

  August

  304,500

  12·9

  September

  302,300

  12·8

  October

  300,400

  12·7

  November

  298,400

  12·6

  December

  296,500

  12·5

  1987

  January

  295,800

  12·5

  February

  292,100

  12·4

  March

  293,800

  12·4

  April

  290,100

  12·3

  Tourist Industry (North-West)
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Paymaster General how many jobs have been created in the tourist industry in the northwest since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Regional information for employment in tourism-related industries is not available for the period in question. However, employment in the north-west in the hotel and catering industry, including canteens and messes, increased by 22,000 between December 1983 and December 1986.

  Restrictive Check Valves
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General, pursuant to his reply of 11 May, Official Report, column 31, on valves from whom he received advice concerning the effect of the fitting of restrictive check valves upon the performance of the equipment.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Health and Safety Executive.

  Small Firms (Leicester)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to the number of small firms set up in Leicester (a) since 1979 and (b) since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The available information is as follows.
  449

  VAT registrations in Leicestershire

  Number

  Number registered at end 1979

  19,887

  New registrations 1980–83

  10,145

  Deregistrations 1980–83

  8,229

  Net increase 1980–83

  1,916

  Number registered at end 1983

  21,803

  Details from 1983 to date are not readily available.

  Dieldrin and Tributyltin Oxide
  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Paymaster General whether he will review the approval for dieldrin and tributyltin oxide to be used as wood preservatives in the light of recent water pollution incidents, such as that at Lough Neagh, in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Trippier
  The advisory committee on pesticides is to review the approval of tributyltin-oxide for all its uses and will be making recommendations to Ministers. There are no plans for a special review of dieldrin as the only known supplier of dieldrin for use in wood preservatives will be withdrawing from the market at the end of June 1987.

  Dean Clough Industrial Park, Halifax
  Mr. Galley
  asked the Paymaster General what is the total amount of Government aid, including enterprise allowance, business improvement scheme, Manpower Services Commission assistance and so on. given since 1983 to firms on the list sent to him by the hon. Member for Halifax, at the Dean Clough industrial park, Halifax.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Competition
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General why, in the light of the fact that the implications of the United Kingdom proposal contained in CON(LO) 1981–82 are not matters for formal consideration by the Fair Competition Committee, they are being formally discussed by that committee.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will make a statement on the background to the case currently being heard by the Fair Competition Committee in Brussels which refers to the anti-competitive implications of the United Kingdom proposal contained in COL(LO)1981–82 which deals with the use of excavators as cranes;

  (2) if he will make a statement outlining the case which Her Majesty's Government will be putting forward in Brussels in support of condition 6 of CON(LO)1981–82 when the matter is considered by the fair competition committee.

  Mr. Trippier
  [pursuant to the reply, 11 May 1987, c. 31]: I regret that my right hon. and learned Friend's previous reply requires correction. The correct text is as follows:
  I refer my hon. Friend to the replies which my hon. Friend gave on 14 and 15 April 1986 at column 855.
  The certificate of exemption No. CON(LO)1981–2 is not subject to the notification requirements imposed by EEC directive 83/189. It is therefore not a matter for formal
  450
  consideration by the committee to which my hon. Friend refers. However, the matter is being informally discussed by that committee and with representatives of appropriate trade associations in this country.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Duty-Free Goods
  Mr. John David Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to the Government of the Republic of Ireland about the recently imposed ban on the purchases of duty-free goods in Northern Ireland by residents of the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to a similar question on 30 April at column 194. The Irish Government are aware of our concern. We are keeping a careful watch on the effect of the new measures in Northern Ireland.

  Security
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest measures to improve security.

  Mr. Tom King
  My hon. Friend will know that I mentioned several important developments during the debate on security in Northern Ireland on 6 May These included approval for an immediate increase in the number of full-time members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve, the voluntary call-out of part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment for full-time duty, the provision of additional helicopter resources, and the creation of a vehicle control zone on the main Belfast to Dublin Road at Killeen. I also made it clear that the present level of army support will remain for as long as it is needed, and that, where appropriate, certain additional support will be provided to help to counteract more directly the present terrorist campaign.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. Archer
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the organisations and individuals which made representations or which were consulted on the draft Electricity Supply (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order.

  Mr. Scott
  The proposal for the draft Electricity Supply (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order received the usual wide distribution for consultative purposes and the following organisations and individuals submitted comments:

  Sir Reginald Eyre, MP

  Mr. John Hume, MP

  Mr. Jim Kilfedder, MP

  Mrs. Anna McCurley, MP

  The right hon. Bruce Milian, MP

  The right hon. Alf Morris, MP

  The hon. William Waldegrave, MP (on behalf of a constituent)

  Mr. Sean Neeson (Alliance Party)

  Federation of Unions Supplying Electricity

  Mr John Lyons (General Secretary of Electrical Power Engineers Association)

  Mr. John Anderson (Electrical power Engineers Association)

  451

  Northern Ireland Committee, Irish Congress of Trade

  Unions

  Northern Ireland Electricity

  Northern Ireland Association of Citizen's Advice Bureaux

  The General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland

  Ulster Farmers Union

  Belfast Solicitors Association

  Belfast Law Centre

  Women's Forum

  Mr. Scott, Lisburn (private individual)

  Law Society for Northern Ireland

  Mr. Archer
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish the public responses received to the draft Electricity Supply (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order, or a summary of the reponses.

  Mr. Scott
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  TBTO Leak (Lough Neagh)
  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any evidence of invertebrate mortalities being caused at Lough Neagh by the spillage of wood preservative at Crumlin on 29 January; whether he has any evidence of wildlife mortalities since his reply of 31 March, Official Report, columns 501–2; and whether he will provide further information on the wildlife surveys to be carried out in the area.

  Mr. Scott
  Extensive samples of chironomid (midge) larvae were taken from Lennymore Bay in Lough Neagh on 17 February by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland's Fisheries Laboratory. Sites sampled near the mouth of the stream

  Results in nanogrammes per litre (ng/l)

  Location

  Sampling period

  Analyst

  Range of results ng/l

  WATER SAMPLES(DIELDRIN)

  Lennymore Bay near mouth of affected stream

  11 February 1987

  Department of Economic Development, Industrial Science Division

  200

  Lennymore Bay (seven points)

  11 February 1987

  Department of Economic Development, Industrial Science Division

  2–45

  Eastern Shore of Lough Neagh (two points)

  11 February 1987

  Department of Economic Development, Industrial Science Division

  2

  Castor Bay

  2 March 1987–20 March 1987

  Department of Economic Development, Industrial Science Division

  Not detected

  Dunore Point

  31 January 1987–4 April 1987

  Department of Economic Development, Industrial Science Division

  Not detected

  Washing Bay

  5 March 1987

  Department of Economic Development, Industrial Science Division

  Not detected

  WATER SAMPLES (TBTO)

  Lennymore Bay (17 points)

  4 February 1987–18 February 1987

  Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and Chemistry Department Queen's University, Belfast

  5–628

  Eastern Shore of Lough Neagh (two points)

  4 February 1987–18 February 1987

  Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and Chemistry Department Queen's University, Belfast

  6–103

  452
  into which the wood preservative leaked, indicated chironomid mortality of up to 50 per cent. but other areas in the bay showed no sign of chironomid deaths. A further examination on 3 March showed mortalities had been arrested. An assessment of survival numbers is currently being carried out on behalf of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland by the University of Ulster and a further survey will be made later this year to assess how successfully chironomids have been re-established. There is no evidence of any other wildlife mortalities associated with the incident. The regular monthly counts of wildfowl at Lough Neagh and the continuing programme of fish testing for pesticide residues will indicate any long-term effects of the spillage.

  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to his reply of 31 March, Official Report, columns 501–2, if he will list details of the water and fish sampling of Lough Neagh for tributyltin oxide and dieldrin following the spillage of wood preservative into the lough by location, date and sampling body.

  Mr. Scott
  Following the spillage of wood preservative at Crumlin a monitoring programme for water in Lough Neagh was organised by the Departments of the Environment and Agriculture for Northern Ireland. Samples of trout, pollen, roach and eels from Lough Neagh were obtained from commercial sources by the Fisheries Research Laboratory on 25 February and on 9, 11 and 13 March. Regular analyses of water from the lough put into public supply have not indicated any trace of TBTO or Dieldrin. Details of the water sampling are set out in the tables:
  453

  Location

  Sampling period

  Analyst

  Range of results ng/l

  Main body of Neagh (nine points)

  2 March 1987

  Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and Chemistry Department Queen's University, Belfast

  Not detected

  Castor Bay

  2 march 1987–5 April 1987

  Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and Chemistry Department Queen's University, Belfast

  5–95

  Dunore Point

  2 March 1987–4 April 1987

  Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and Chemistry Department Queen's University, Belfast

  2·5–30

  Washing Bay

  5 March 1987–16 March 1987

  Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and Chemistry Department Queen's University, Belfast

  2·5–25

  Kinnego Bay

  10 March 1987–16 March 1987

  Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and Chemistry Department Queen's University, Belfast

  12·5–32·5

  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, pursuant to his reply of 31 March, Official Report, columns 501–2, he is now able to detail the measures that will be taken to prevent a recurrence of a leakage of wood preservative from the Crumlin factory and other works using such chemicals in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Scott
  The occupier of the Crumlin factory where the wood preservative was spilled has been required to fit equipment to the treatment chamber to prevent use of the preservative unless the access doors are sealed and to create a bonded area with a retaining capacity in excess of the maximum volume of fluid held. Inspections are being made of other factories in Northern Ireland using such chemicals to check that proper precautions are being taken to minimise accidents and to ensure containment.

  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has notified the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources of the Lough Neagh pollution incident involving the Lough Neagh Ramsar site, as required under article 3·2 of the convention on wetlands of international importance; and whether a report on this incident will be made to the forthcoming conference of contracting parties to the convention at Regina, Canada.

  Northern Ireland Health and Personal Social Services Staff at 30 September

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  Nursing and Midwifery

  Ancillary and General

  Administration and Clerical

  Professional and Technical

  Number

  Whole-time equivalents

  Number

  Whole-time equivalents

  Number

  Whole-time equivalents

  Number

  Whole-time equivalents

  1979

  18,622

  16,550·96

  26,456

  14,947·32

  5,395

  4,999·69

  3,413

  3,038·64

  1980

  19,758

  17,484·14

  26,660

  15,151·60

  6,050

  5,587·69

  3,569

  3,179·02

  1981

  20,882

  18,554·60

  28,210

  15,671·51

  6,222

  5,741·39

  3,691

  3,291·07

  1982

  21,286

  19,022·99

  28,825

  15,795·77

  6,376

  5,876·00

  3,740

  3,340·24

  1983

  21,395

  19,159·89

  28,639

  15,541·76

  6,412

  5,891·58

  3,807

  3,415·49

  1984

  21,161

  19,006·20

  28,157

  15,202·91

  6,484

  5,954·11

  3,851

  3,464·01

  1985

  20,916

  18,730·28

  27,608

  14,953·24

  6,562

  6,018·90

  3,820

  3,423·64

  1986

  20,722

  18,496·27

  26,771

  14,470·09

  6,710

  6,120·97

  3,764

  3,373·52

  Notes:

  1. The figures quoted are in respect of the health and personal social services.

  2. A breakdown of numbers into full-time and part-time is not readily available.
  454
  Mr. Scott
  If, when full information on the effects of the Lough Neagh pollution incident is available, any adverse effect on the ecological character of the lough is apparent a report will be sent to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

  Similarly an interim report will be made to the conference of contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention at Regina, Canada in the event of any such adverse effect on the ecology.

  There is currently no evidence of any adverse effects on the waterfowl in Lough Neagh as a result of this incident.

  NHS (Staff)
  Mr. Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff have been employed by the National Health Service in Northern Ireland for each year since 1979, expressed as whole-time equivalents as well as actual full-time and part-time numbers in the following categories: (a) nurses and midwives, (b) ancillaries, (c) administrative and clerical and (d) professional and technical.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:

  Disabled and Elderly Persons (Services)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to proposals for private sector involvement in the home help service and other community services for the disabled and elderly.

  Mr. Scott
  There is little or no scope for the involvement of the private sector in the provision of community services, including the home help service, in the "Regional Strategic Plan for 1987–92", which will be issued shortly by the Department of Health and Social Services, Health and Social Services Boards are being asked to adopt a more pluralistic approach to the planning and provision of services.

  Population Statistics
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the estimated number of women aged 15 to 44 years resident in each county and county borough, pre-1974 boundaries, in Northern Ireland in 1985.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available.

  Police Complaints
  Mr. Archer
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland of those persons arrested by the police under emergency legislation in 1986 in Northern Ireland (a) how many asked for access to a legal adviser during the first 48 hours in custody following arrest; (b) how many asked for access after the first 48 hours in custoody; and (c) how many requests were granted respectively.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1987, c. 536]: Information available shows that 550 persons asked to see a solicitor while detained under the emergency legislation. The information is not readily available in a form which would show how long after arrest their requests were made. All the requests were granted; 535 were granted after 48 hours had elapsed and 15 within 48 hours of arrest.

  Scheduled 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 numbers 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 year since 1969.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1987]: I shall write, as soon as possible, on this and the outstanding parliamentary questions tabled by the hon. Member on the same topic.

  Stolen Vehicles
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 owners' consent.
  456
  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1987]: The information is as follows:

  RUC Division

  Number of vehicles stolen

  Number of vehicles recovered

  Persons proceeded against

  'A' Musgrave Street

  2,002

  1,374

  55

  'B' Springfield Road

  1,817

  1,376

  95

  'D' North Queen Street

  1,291

  868

  55

  'E' Strandtown

  478

  318

  26

  'G' Ards

  185

  134

  37

  'H' Armagh

  264

  152

  24

  'J' Portadown

  413

  326

  49

  'K' Cookstown

  87

  64

  14

  'L' Enniskillen

  51

  44

  16

  'N' Strand Road

  147

  105

  16

  'O' Coleraine

  80

  68

  33

  'P' Antrim

  413

  295

  41

  Total

  7,228

  5,124

  461

  Stolen Weapons
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many weapons were stolen in Northern Ireland in 1986; and 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.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1987]: During 1986, 144 weapons were stolen in Northern Ireland.

  The breakdown is as follows:

  Bullet-firing weapons

  Shotguns

  Air weapons

  Royal Ulster Constabulary

  10

  —

  —

  Ulster Defence Regiment

  1

  —

  —

  Army

  2

  —

  —

  Private Citizens

  14

  94

  23

  Casualties (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fatal casualties there were in 1986 arising from incidents where security forces in Northern Ireland opened fire on vehicles taken without their owners' consent.

  Mr. Scott
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1987]: One man was shot dead by troops as he left the scene of a shooting attack on a security forces base in Londonderry in a stolen car. The rifle used in the attack was found in the vehicle. This was the only incident during 1986 in which a fatality resulted from the security forces opening fire on a vehicle taken without the owner's consent.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teachers' Dispute
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of teaching days lost since the start of the present industrial action by teachers.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In March and April 1987 about 85,000 teachers' working days are estimated to have been lost in total as a result of industrial action.
  457
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many hours have been lost as a result of the teachers' strike assessed as to (a) teachers and (b) other employees working in schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information about hours lost is not available. In March and April 1987 about 85,000 teachers' working days are estimated to have been lost in total as a result of industrial action. No information is available about other employees working in schools.

  Ecclesbourne School, Derbyshire
  Mr. McLoughlin
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations he has had about sixth form education at Ecclesbourne school, Duffield, Derbyshire; and if he will list the senders of such representations.

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has received representations about sixth form education at Ecclesbourne school, Derbyshire, from the parent-teachers association group; a petition from parents containing over 8,000 signatures; and petitions from 11 to 16 and post-16 pupils at the school. In addition to this, 160 statutory objections representing over 1,600 signatures, and 20 non-statutory objections have been received.

  Higher Education Courses (Inspections)
  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many inspections of higher education courses or subjects, by Her Majesty's inspectors, took place in 1984, 1985 and 1986; what was the average period between inspection and the publication of the report; how many publications concerning inspections which took place in 1984 and 1985 remain outstanding; how many of these refer to Leeds polytechnic; and if he is taking any steps to reduce the period between inspection and the publication of reports.

  Mr. Walden
  Not all inspections of higher education courses or subjects result in published reports, since many are designed to contribute to national surveys. However, in 1984, 1985 and 1986 Her Majesty's inspectors inspected 20, 38 and 49 institutions, respectively. Of those that led to publication, the average period between inspection and publication was about 14 months. Eight reports relating to inspections carried out in 1984 and 1985 remain outstanding, and of these three relate to Leeds polytechnic. All the outstanding reports are of inspections which were part of larger surveys, and some relate to longitudinal studies.

  Her Majesty's inspectorate recently employed an external firm of management consultants to examine the procedures for dealing with examination reports. They have made a number of recommendations whose implementation will, it is hoped, reduce the time between inspection and the issue of the reports.

  Freshwater Biological Association
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) given on 30 April, Official Report. column 199, if he will make a statement about the reasons for reducing the grant in aid to the Freshwater Biological Association for 1987–88.
  458
  Mr. Walden
  The reduction of the recurrent element of the NERC's grant-in-aid to the Freshwater Biological Association for 1987–88 is a consequence of the council's policy as set out in its corporate plan to increase the proportion of support to the universities and polytechnics. In addition, the 1986–87 total grant-in-aid to the association contained provision for capital items and other non-recurrent expenditure not applicable to 1987–88.

  School Standards
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the National Council for Educational Standards regarding the degree of conformity between the regression equations in his Department's statistical bulletin 13/84 and those in the council's report, "Standards in English Schools".

  Mr. Dunn
  Officials of the Department met representatives of the National Council for Educational Standards and the Centre for Policy Studies in January 1986 to discuss statistical issues raised by the Department's Statistical Bulletin 13/84 "School Standards and Spending: A Statistical Analysis".

  The Department's bulletin was based on regression analysis. Results obtained by the NCES using regression methods were similar, notwithstanding its different data sources.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In 1986–87 the Department spent £311,949 on heating and lighting its 45 offices. Information about the amount spent on energy efficiency measures is not readily available and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible with details.

  Schools (Baddesley Clinton and Wolverton)
  Sir Dudley Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now give his decision about the future of the junior schools of Baddesley Clinton and Wolverton in Warwickshire, about which the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington brought deputations last July.

  Mr. Dunn
  It would be inappropriate for my right hon. Friend to decide these proposals now.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the average value of the parental contribution to

  England and Wales

  Academic Years

  1978–79 £

  1979–80 £

  1980–81 £

  1981–82 £

  1982–83 £

  1983–84 £

  1984–85 £

  Value of average contribution

  274

  256

  288

  351

  413

  436

  587

  Value of average contribution in 1978–79 prices1

  274

  220

  213

  233

  256

  257

  331

  1 Repriced from 1978–79 by movements in the Retail Price Index.

  Soil Survey and Land Resources Centre
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the outcome of discussions between the Agriculture and Food Research Council, the Institution of Professional Civil Servants and the Cranfield Institute of Technology over the terms for the transfer of staff of the Soil Survey and Land Resources Centre.

  Mr. Walden
  This is primarily a matter for the Agricultural and Food Research Council, the Institute of Professional Civil Servants, the Cranfield Institute of Technology and the individual staff. I understand, however, that Cranfield has made offers of employment to the staff of the Soil Survey and that these are currently under consideration by the individuals concerned.

  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many staff of the Soil Survey and Land Resources Centre are to be transferred to the Cranfield Institute of Technology and at what Civil Service grade and salary scale; and what information he has as to the grade and salary scale of these staff members following transfer to Cranfield.

  Mr. Walden
  I understand that members of staff at the Soil Survey have received offers of employment from the Cranfield Institute of Technology. The number, grades and salary of the staff to be transferred will not be known until the staff concerned have individually accepted offers.

  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what reponse he has sent to the letter to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Walden), of 15 April from the Institution of Professional Civil Servants concerning the transfer of Soil Survey and Land Resources Centre staff to Cranfield Institute of Technology.

  Mr. Walden
  I shall be replying to the IPCS over the course of the next few days and the hon. Member may wish to contact the IPCS with regard to the contents of my reply.

  Research Councils (Staff)
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to ensure the smooth
  460
  student grants in each year from 1978–79 to the most recent date for which information is available (a) in cash terms and (b) in real terms using 1978–79 as a base.

  Mr. Walden
  The following table gives the average, assessed contribution from parents, spouses and students, for mandatory and full-value discretionary awards:

  transfer of staff from research councils to other bodies; and what guidance he gives on negotiations between unions representing such staff and their new employer.

  Mr. Walden
  In 1986 the Government issued a guidance note to the Agricultural and Food Research Council, in its capacity as employer, and to other bodies concerning consultation with trade union sides on proposed transfers of work. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the note.

  City Technology College, Leicester
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on recent developments on the establishment of a city technology college in Leicester.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has not as yet received proposals to establish a city technology college in Leicester. He will be pleased to consider any proposals to do so which are put forward.

  Leicester (Parental Choice)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to increase parental choice in education within the city of Leicester.

  Mr. Dunn
  It is for individual LEAs to determine the pattern of educational provision within their areas. In considering statutory proposals, my right hon. Friend takes into account, inter alia, their effect on parental choice.

  Local Authority Charges (Review)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether, in the light of his review into local authority charges for school extras, any new legislation is proposed;

  (2) if he will list all those educational activities which have come under consideration in the review of local authority charges.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The review covered all services provided by local authorities, including those within education. The Government remain firmly committed to the basic principles of free education established by the Education Act 1944; I have nothing further to add to my reply of 9 April at column 335.

  Comprehensive Schools (Richmond-upon-Thames)
  Mr. Jessel
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out in the Official Report figures to show, in respect of the financial years 1986–87 and 1987–88, what average sum of money was or is being provided and spent for each child at comprehensive schools in the London borough of Richmond-upon-Thames for the general certificate of secondary education exam from (a) his Department and (b) the local education authority, specifying what part of each sum is mandatory, specific, or general increase in Government grant intended by him to be applied to the general certificate of secondary education.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  In the time available, I am unable to collate the information in the form requested, and I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Freshwater Biological Association
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to implement the commitment to environmental research, with particular reference to freshwater biology, expressed in their response to the world conservation strategy report, contained in the document, "Conservation and Development—The British Approach"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Walden
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1987, c. 199]: The Natural Environment Research Council has responsibility for planning, encouraging and carrying out research on the natural environment. It is funded by my Department through grant-in-aid from the science budget, and by other Departments and other customers for specific pieces of research. Within the resources available to it, the council has to determine the allocation to freshwater biology and other priority areas. The council's plans for research in the area of conservation are given in section 4D of its 1987 corporate plan, copies of which are in the Library. Paragraph 4.31 concerns freshwater studies, but such studies are also included in other aspects of the council's work.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Radice
  asked the Secretary of State for Eduation and Science if he will list the schools participating in the assisted places scheme and the fees charged by each school.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1987, c. 191]: The annual tuition fees charged by schools participating in the assisted places scheme, at April 1987, are as follows:

  School

  Annual tuition fee (£)

  Abbey School

  1,956

  Abingdon School

  2,238

  Aldenham School

  3,375

  Alice Ottley School

  2,220

  Alleyn's School

  2,895

  Arnold School

  1,875

  Ashford School

  2,252

  Bancroft's School

  2,301

  Bath High School

  1,680

  Batley Grammar School

  1,587

  Bedales School

  4,095

  462

  School

  Annual tuition fee (£)

  Bedford High School

  2,337

  Bedford Modern School

  2,199

  Bedford School (Lower)

  3,045

  Bedford School (Upper)

  3,180

  Dame Alice Harpur School

  1,923

  Belvedere School

  1,680

  Berkhamsted School (11+)

  2,289

  Berkhamsted School (13+)

  2,856

  Berkhamsted School for Girls

  2,301

  Birkenhead High School

  1,680

  Birkenhead School

  1,800

  Bishop's Stortford College (Junior)

  3,144

  Bishop's Stortford College (Senior)

  3,786

  Blackheath High School

  1,845

  Bolton School (Boys)

  1,824

  Bolton School (Girls)

  1,824

  Bradfield College

  4,179

  Bradford Girls' Grammar School

  1,911

  Bradford Grammar School

  1,998

  Brentwood School

  2,445

  Brighton and Hove High School

  1,680

  Brighton College (Junior School)

  2,259

  Brighton College (College)

  3,051

  Bristol Cathedral School

  2,013

  Bristol Grammar School

  2,136

  Bromley High School

  1,845

  Bruton School for Girls

  1,867

  Bury Grammar School (Boys)

  1,680

  Bury Grammar School (Girls)

  1,680

  Canford School

  4,305

  Carmel College

  3,690

  Casterton School (Junior)

  2,343

  Casterton School (Senior)

  2,682

  Caterham School

  2,748

  Central Newcastle High School

  1,680

  Charterhouse

  5,343

  Cheadle Hulme School

  2,010

  Chigwell School

  3,030

  Churcher's College

  2,391

  City of London School

  3,192

  City of London School for Girls

  2,550

  Clifton College (Preparatory)

  3,078

  Clifton College (College)

  3,942

  Clifton High School (11–16)

  1,725

  Clifton High School (VIth Form)

  1,890

  Colfe's School

  2,155

  Colston's School (Preparatory)

  2,274

  Colston's School (Upper)

  2,724

  Colston's Girls' School

  1,653

  Coventry School

  1,890

  Cranleigh School (Preparatory)

  2,517

  Cranleigh School (Senior)

  3,900

  Croydon High School

  1,845

  Culford School

  2,820

  Dame Allan's Boys' School

  1,848

  Dame Allan's Girls' School

  1,848

  Dauntsey's School

  2,991

  Denstone College (11–12)

  2,922

  Denstone College (13+)

  3,819

  Dulwich College

  3,225

  Edgehill College

  2,130

  Eltham College

  2,391

  Emanuel School

  2,499

  Epsom College

  3,696

  Exeter School

  2,160

  Farnborough Hill School

  2,100

  Felsted School (Junior)

  3,537

  Felsted School (Senior)

  4,572

  Forest School (Boys)

  2,721

  Forest School (Girls)

  2,670

  Friend's School

  2,931

  Godolphin and Latymer School

  2,470

  Gresham's School

  3,900

  Haberdashers' Aske's School, Elstree

  2,874

  Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls, Elstree

  1,710

  463

  School

  Annual tuition fee (£)

  Hampton School

  2,190

  Harrogate College

  2,847

  Hereford Cathedral School

  2,280

  Highgate School (Junior)

  2,610

  Highgate School (Senior)

  2,898

  Hulme Grammar (Boys)

  1,782

  Hulme Grammar (Girls)

  1,782

  Hymers College

  1,602

  Ipswich High School

  1,680

  Ipswich School (11–13)

  2,388

  Ipswich School (13+)

  2,511

  James Allen's Girls School

  2,565

  John Lyon School

  2,130

  Kent College (11–16)

  2,517

  Kent College (VIth Form)

  2,928

  King Edward's School at Bath

  1,890

  King Edward's School, Birmingham

  2,250

  King Edward VI High School, Birmingham

  1,995

  King Edward VII School, Lytham

  1,680

  King Edward VI School, Norwich

  2,007

  King Edward VI School, Southampton

  2,170

  King Edward's School, Witley

  2,835

  King's College School

  2,730

  King's High School for Girls

  1,866

  King's School, Chester

  2,010

  King's School, Macclesfield

  2,475

  King's School, Rochester (Junior)

  2,541

  King's School, Rochester (Senior)

  2,913

  King's School, Worcester

  2,547

  Kingston Grammar School

  2,490

  Kingswood School (11 + 12)

  2,018

  Kingswood School (13+)

  2,783

  Kirkham Grammar School

  1,740

  Lady Eleanor Holies School

  2,220

  La Sagesse Convent School (11–14)

  1,809

  La Sagesse Convent School (14–18)

  1,869

  Latymer Upper School

  2,466

  Leeds Girls' High School

  1,935

  Leeds Grammar School

  1,917

  Leys School (St. Faith's)

  2,319

  Leys School (Main)

  4,287

  Liverpool College

  2,184

  Lord Wandsworth College

  2,685

  Loreto Convent Grammar School

  1,530

  Loughborough Grammar School

  2,073

  Loughborough High School

  1,845

  Magdalen College School

  2,133

  Malvern College

  4,017

  Malvern Preparatory Schools:

  The Elms with Seaford Court

  2,577

  Wells House School

  2,622

  Hillstone School

  2,967

  The Downs School

  2,877

  Manchester Grammar School

  2,031

  Manchester High School

  1,963

  Maynard School

  2,010

  Merchant Taylors', Liverpool

  1,959

  Merchant Taylors', School for Girls, Liverpool

  1,959

  Merchant Taylors', Northwood

  3,030

  Mill Hill School (Junior)

  2,520

  Mill Hill School (Senior)

  3,435

  Monkton Combe School (11).

  2,778

  Monkton Combe School (13)

  3,690

  Monkton Combe School (VIth Form)

  3,702

  Mount St. Mary's College (Preparatory)

  2,484

  Mount St. Mary's College (College)

  3,225

  Newcastle Under Lyme School

  1,616

  Northampton High School

  2,001

  North London Collegiate School

  2,061

  Norwich High School

  1,680

  Nottingham Girls' High School

  1,680

  Nottingham High School (11–16)

  1,845

  Nottingham High School (VIth Form)

  2,010

  Notting Hill and Ealing High School

  1,845

  Old Palace School

  1,650

  464

  School

  Annual tuition fee (£)

  Oxford High School

  1,680

  Perse School for Boys

  2,112

  Perse School for Girls

  2,142

  Plymouth College

  2,280

  Pocklington School

  2,175

  Portsmouth Grammar School

  1,815

  Portsmouth High School

  1,680

  Putney High School

  1,845

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Blackburn

  1,785

  Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield

  1,908

  Queen Elizabeth's Hospital School, Bristol

  2,070

  Queen Mary School, Lytham

  1,680

  Queen's College, Taunton (Junior)

  2,607

  Queen's College, Taunton (Senior)

  3,066

  Queens College, London

  2,335

  Queen's School, Chester

  1,608

  Ratcliffe College (Grace Dieu)

  2,163

  Ratcliffe College (Junior)

  2,268

  Ratcliffe College (Senior)

  2,933

  Ratcliffe College (VIth Form)

  2,980

  Redland High School

  1,917

  Red Maids' School

  1,836

  Reigate Grammar School

  2,059

  Repton School (11+)

  2,835

  Repton School (13+)

  4,275

  Rossall School (Year 1)

  3,217

  Rossall School (Year 2)

  3,207

  Rossall School (Year 3)

  4,011

  Rossall School (Years 4 and 5)

  4,005

  Rossall School (VIth Form Year 1)

  4,029

  Rossall School (VIth Form Year 2)

  4,014

  Royal Grammar School, Guildford

  2,805

  Royal Grammar School, Newcastle

  1,749

  Royal Grammar School, Worcester

  2,100

  St. Albans School

  2,358

  St. Albans High School for Girls

  2,190

  St. Ambrose College

  1,722

  St. Anselm's College

  1,659

  St. Bede's College

  1,671

  St. Bees School (Junior)

  3,036

  St. Bees School (Senior)

  3,561

  St. Benedict's School (11+)

  2,100

  St. Benedict's School (13+)

  2,310

  St. Catherine's School

  2,700

  St. Dunstan's College

  2,175

  St. Edmund's College (Junior)

  2,592

  St. Edmund's College (Senior)

  2,865

  St. Edward's College

  1,926

  St. George's College (Junior)

  1,914

  St. George's College (Senior)

  3,234

  St. Helen's School

  2,154

  St. John's College

  1,710

  St. John's School

  3,246

  St. Joseph's College (11–16)

  1,635

  St. Joseph's College (VIth Form)

  1,866

  St. Joseph's Convent

  1,926

  St. Mary's College

  1,836

  St. Mary's Convent

  1,755

  St. Mary's Hall

  3,090

  St. Maur's Convent (11–16)

  2,085

  St. Maur's Convent (VIth Form)

  3,267

  St. Paul's School (Preparatory)

  2,322

  St. Paul's School (Main)

  3,117

  St. Paul's Girls School

  2,814

  St. Peter's School (11–13)

  2,352

  St. Peter's School (13–16)

  2,850

  St. Peter's School (VIth Form)

  3,027

  St. Swithun's School

  3,243

  Salesian College (Lower)

  1,170

  Salesian College (Upper)

  1,200

  School of St. Helen and St. Katherine

  1,875

  Sedbergh School (Junior)

  2,814

  Sedbergh School (Senior)

  4,080

  Sheffield High School

  1,680

  Shrewsbury High School

  1,680

  465

  School

  Annual tuition fee (£)

  Sir William Perkins's School

  1,791

  South Hampstead High School

  1,845

  Stamford School

  1,956

  Stamford High School

  1,944

  Stockport Grammar School

  1,935

  Stonyhurst College (Girl's Preparatory)

  2,346

  Stonyhurst College (Boy's Preparatory)

  2,409

  Stonyhurst College (College)

  3,285

  Stowe School

  4,131

  Streatham Hill and Clapham High School

  1,845

  Sutton High School

  1,845

  Sutton Valence School

  3,342

  Sydenham High School

  1,845

  Talbot Heath School

  1,923

  Taunton School (11–12)

  2,742

  Taunton School (13+)

  3,537

  Tonbridge School

  3,762

  Trent College (Junior)

  2,799

  Trent College (Senior)

  2,819

  Trinity School of John Whitgift

  2,340

  Truro School

  2,115

  Truro High School

  1,725

  University College School (11–13)

  2,880

  University College School (13+)

  2,910

  Upton Hall Convent School

  1,455

  Ursuline High School

  1,801

  Wakefield High School

  1,710

  Walthamstow Hall

  2,370

  Warwick School

  2,148

  Wellingborough School (Junior)

  2,631

  Wellingborough School (Senior)

  2,919

  Wellington College (Preparatory)

  2,928

  Wellington College (College)

  4,020

  Wellington School

  2,160

  Wells Cathedral School

  2,694

  West Buckland School

  2,415

  Westminster School (Under School)

  2,763

  Westminster School (Great School)

  4,173

  Whitgift School

  2,460

  William Hulme Grammar School

  1,954

  Wimbledon High School

  1,845

  Winchester College

  4,755

  Wisbech Grammar School (11–13)

  2,235

  Wisbech Grammar School (13+)

  2,385

  Withington Girls' School

  1,740

  Wolverhampton Grammar School

  2,268

  Woodbridge School

  2,490

  Woodhouse Grove School

  2,250

  Wycliffe College (Junior)

  3,195

  Wycliffe College (Senior)

  3,714

  Comprehensive Schools and Examinations
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will state the findings of his Department's statistical analyses of examination attainments at 16-plus and if he will state what differential performance they show as between LEAs with 15 per cent. of pupils in grammar schools and fully comprehensive LEAs, assuming that social class factors are held constant;.

  (2) if he will state the main points which were agreed at a meeting between his Department's director of statistics and the authors of the Centre for Policy Studies report "Comprehensives: Counting the Cost" to consider his Department's statistical bulletin 13/84 and its relevance to proposals for the reorganisation of secondary schools.

  Mr. Dunn
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 May 1987, c.521]: The statistical analyses carried out by the Department and published in statistical bulletin 13/84
  466
  demonstrated a strong statistical relationship between examination results achieved by pupils at schools in each local education authority and social background data for each authority. When these factors are taken into account, the analyses showed smaller but still statistically significant associations with some of the broad-based school and resource variables used including a positive correlation between some of the measures of examination results and the proportion of pupils attending grammar schools. The main points agreed at the meeting held in January 1986 were that the statistical analyses carried out by the Department for statistical bulletin 13/84 indicated that for three out of the five categories of examination attainments at 16-plus, covering pupils across the ability range, results were significantly higher in those local authorities that had retained a selective system of schooling. If social class and the other factors considered in the analyses were assumed to be held constant then the statistical expectation would be that a local education authority with 15 per cent. of pupils in grammar schools would have 2 per cent. more of its pupils attaining five or more higher grade O-level/CSE results than a fully comprehensive local education authority, 2·5 per cent. more of its pupils attaining one or more higher grade O-level/CSE results and 1·2 per cent. more of its pupils attaining one or more graded results at O-level/CSE.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Westminster Bridge (Illegal Parking)
  Mr. Higgins
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicle drivers have been prosecuted, in the last week for which figures are readily available, for parking illegally on Westminster bridge.

  Mr. Mellor
  Parking offences are often dealt with by moving the vehicle on or by the issue of fixed penalty notices as an alternative to prosecution. Information is not separately available on the number of offenders dealt with for offences dealt with for offences on Westminster bridge.

  Police Officers
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers from ethnic minority backgrounds are employed by each police authority; and what percentage these represent of all officers employed by each police authority.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is as follows:

  Police Force

  Number of ethnic officers on 31 March 1987

  Percentage of actual strength

  Avon and Somerset

  13

  0·43

  Bedfordshire

  22

  2·31

  Cambridgeshire

  15

  1·31

  Cheshire

  —

  —

  Cleveland

  4

  0·27

  Cumbria

  2

  0·18

  Derbyshire

  17

  0·96

  Devon and Cornwall

  2

  0·07

  Dorset

  2

  0·17

  Durham

  —

  —

  Dyfed Powys

  —

  —

  Essex

  15

  0·55

  Gloucestershire

  5

  0·43

  467

  Police Force

  Number of ethnic officers on 31 March 1987

  Percentage of actual strength

  Greater Manchester

  68

  1·00

  Gwent

  1

  0·10

  Hampshire

  8

  0·26

  Hertfordshire

  15

  0·95

  Humberside

  3

  0·15

  Kent

  11

  0·38

  Lancashire

  5

  0·16

  Leicestershire

  30

  1·75

  Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  26

  0·57

  Norfolk

  —

  —

  Northamptonshire

  13

  1·24

  Northumbria

  9

  0·26

  North Wales

  1

  0·08

  North Yorkshire

  2

  0·15

  Nottinghamshire

  30

  1·35

  South Wales

  10

  0·32

  South Yorkshire

  19

  0·66

  Staffordshire

  11

  0·52

  Suffolk

  2

  0·17

  Surrey

  4

  0·25

  Sussex

  5

  0·18

  Thames Valley

  36

  1·05

  Warwickshire

  6

  0·62

  West Mercia

  10

  0·52

  West Midlands

  123

  1·85

  West Yorkshire

  50

  0·97

  Wiltshire

  7

  0·67

  City of London

  1

  0·13

  Metropolitan

  350

  1·30

  TOTAL

  953

  0·79

  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women police officers are employed by each policeauthority; and what percentage these represent of all officers employed by each police authority.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is as follows:

  Police Force

  Number of women police officers on 31 March 1987

  Percentage of actual strength

  Avon and Somerset

  212

  7·0

  Bedfordshire

  112

  11·4

  Cambridgeshire

  111

  9·7

  Cheshire

  222

  12·1

  Cleveland

  151

  10·3

  Cumbria

  89

  8·0

  Derbyshire

  179

  10·1

  Devon and Cornwall

  278

  10·0

  Dorset

  114

  9·5

  Durham

  83

  6·4

  Dyfed Powys

  82

  8·8

  Essex

  236

  8·7

  Gloucestershire

  103

  8·9

  Greater Manchester

  812

  12·0

  Gwent

  71

  7·3

  Hampshire

  254

  8·2

  Hertfordshire

  177

  11·2

  Humberside

  154

  7·8

  Kent

  301

  10·5

  Lancashire

  263

  8·4

  Leicestershire

  178

  10·4

  Lincolnshire

  93

  7·9

  Merseyside

  531

  11·5

  Norfolk

  99

  7·5

  Northamptonshire

  99

  9·5

  Northumbria

  260

  7·6

  North Wales

  112

  8·7

  468

  Police Force

  Number of women police officers on 31 March 1987

  Percentage of actual strength

  North Yorkshire

  105

  7·8

  Nottinghamshire

  158

  7·1

  South Wales

  203

  6·5

  South Yorkshire

  279

  9·7

  Staffordshire

  239

  11·3

  Suffolk

  108

  9·3

  Surrey

  181

  11·2

  Sussex

  261

  9·2

  Thames Valley

  351

  10·3

  Warwickshire

  87

  9·0

  West Mercia

  224

  11·6

  West Midlands

  909

  13·7

  West Yorkshire

  484

  9·4

  Wiltshire

  89

  8·5

  City of London

  86

  11·2

  Metropolitan

  2,655

  9·9

  Total

  11,795

  9·8

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the total number of (i) male and (ii) female remand prisoners held in prison in each year since 1979 for which figures are available.

  Mr. Mellor
  The annual average population held in Prison Department establishments in 1986 is published in tables 3 and 4 of "The Prison Population In 1986" (Home Office Statistical Bulletin Issue 6/87). Figures for earlier years are published in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales" (Table 1.4 of the latest issue, for 1985 Cmnd. 9903).

  Law and Order (Leicester)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report on any Government initiatives to maintain law and order within the city of Leicester.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Prisons
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total amount of (i) capital spending and (ii) current spending on prisons for each year since 1979 for which figures are available.

  Mr. Mellor
  Spending on prisons in the financial years from 1978–79 to 1985–86 was as follows:

  Year

  Net capital expenditure

  Net current expenditure

  £ million

  £ million

  1978–79

  26·3

  231·8

  1979–80

  26·0

  286·0

  1980–81

  33·6

  380·6

  1981–82

  31·9

  425·3

  1982–83

  41·6

  467·8

  1983–84

  43·2

  517·0

  1984–85

  53·9

  554·8

  1985–;86

  83·0

  572·0

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth might receive a reply to his letter of 14 April

  469
  concerning the proposed fresh start management structure for the future running of prisons, and in particular to the chaplain's role.

  Mr. Mellor
  My noble Friend will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Passport Office, Newport
  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the passport office at Newport to provide without further delay a new passport for Mrs. Linda Bowen of 11 Brakefield, South Brent, South Devon, for which she applied in mid March, whose application was acknowledged on 10 April and whose payment cheque was cashed on 15 April.

  Mr. Waddington
  The Newport passport office experienced some difficulty in locating Mrs. Bowen's application. I understand, however, that her new passport was issued and posted to her on 13 May.

  Guildford Pub Bombings
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received urging a re-examination of the case of the four people convicted of the Guildford pub bombings.

  Mr. Mellor
  Since my reply to the hon. Member's question on 9 April at column 364 we have received six letters requesting that the convictions be reviewed. We have also received a petition containing 936 signatures which asks for the immediate release of the four persons concerned and of those convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent reviews he has undertaken of the case of the four people convicted of the Guildford pub bombings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short) on 2 April at column 591.

  Immigration
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stops have been refused by Her Majesty's Government since the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Bill received its Second Reading.

  Mr. David Waddington
  The information requested is not available. The guidelines on MPs representations have not been affected by the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Bill.

  Haringey
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to what Metropolitan police special units were used on 2 May in Haringey;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many Y division police were deployed in Haringey on 2 May on the occasion of the positive images march and demonstration;
  470
  (3) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many police from outside Y division of the Metropolitan police were deployed in Haringey on 2 May.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Commissioner informs me that a total of 85 officers were deployed from the Y divisions and 206 from outside. Of the latter 19 were traffic police and 69 fron territorial support groups.

  Asylum Seekers (Kurds)
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hon. Members sought stops on the removal of Kurdish people from Iraq who arrived in the United Kingdom on 5 May and 7 May.

  Mr. Waddington
  I understand that three hon. Members expressed an interest in the case.

  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the United Kingdom immigrants advisory service concerning the asylum application of Kurdish people from Iraq who have arrived in the United Kingdom since 5 May.

  Mr. Waddington
  Since 3 May 1987 several groups of Iraqi Kurds have travelled from Syria, via West Germany, on Lufthansa flights with forged documents and claimed asylum on arrival in the United Kingdom. All had previously been living in camps in Iran. Officials from the Department have discussed the applications with representatives of the refugee unit of the United Kingdom Immigrants' Advisory Service.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibilty; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Hurd
  The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

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

  Community Relations (Leicester)
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked t he Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to promote community relations within the city of Leicester.

  Mr. Waddington
  I shall write to the my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Leicester Prison
  Mr. Peter Bruinvels
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce overcrowding in Leicester prison.
  471
  Mr. Mellor
  Earlier this month we transferred to Glen Parva remand centre Leicester's responsibility for assessing and allocating sentenced young offenders. The conversion of Ashwell prison from an open to a closed prison later this year and the opening of Littlehey prison will both provide further relief. In the longer term we are exploring the scope for reducing the area from which Leicester draws its population.

  Prisoners (Temporary Release)
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received requesting the temporary release on compassionate grounds of members of the Clarke family to attend their mother's funeral in Liverpool.

  Mr. Hurd
  We have received oral representations from two hon. Members and others in the local community.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria for prisoners being allowed home to attend funerals of parents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  Prisoners are normally allowed to attend the funeral of a parent or close relative unless there are positive reasons to the contrary, for example the risk of escape or security. Each case is judged according to the individual circumstances.

  Fresh Start
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for implementing the proposed fresh start package in the light of the Prison Officers' Association ballot; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  I welcome the result of the recent Prison Officers' Association ballot on fresh start. In view of the overwhelming support which prison officers and prison governors have expressed by their votes, I believe that fresh start should be implemented as soon as possible. I have in mind a staged process of implementation over the next six months, starting in June with the introduction of the pay structures for the new grades I to V of the service. This would be followed by the implementation of monthly pay for prison officers in early July. Subject to local agreement the new working arrangements would be introduced in establishments from early July for those prisons where the process of reviewing structure had been completed, and therafter in individual establishments as and when the process was completed. The aim would be to complete implementation by October. The new rates of pay for grades VI to VIII would apply in an establishment on the date it converted to fresh start working. We shall in the usual way consult the prison service unions on the entire programme of implementation as it proceeds.

  I hope that the introduction of this package of reforms will produce an atmosphere in which a closer and more constructive relationship between prison service management and the Prison Officers' Association can be built up so that the full benefits of what has been agreed can be obtained.

  Visa Applications
  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long each of the 51 people, whose cases
  472
  are currently being considered, and who applied for visas at the British High Commission, Colombo, on the grounds that they were suffering severe hardship, waited before a decision was made on their application; when each of the 14 people whose applications for visas on the grounds of severe hardship in Colombo are still under consideration applied for these visas; and what guidance has been issued to the staff at the British High Commission in Colombo as to the criteria to be used in deciding on applications for visas on the grounds of severe hardship.

  Mr. Waddington
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1987, c. 527–28]: The information requested is not yet available and I shall write to the hon. Member when our inquiries are completed.

  Radioactive Contamination (Emergency Services)
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which sources the emergency services in Avon can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  (2) from which sources the emergency services in South Glamorgan can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  (3) from which sources the emergency services in Gloucestershire can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  (4) from which sources the emergency services in Somerset can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  (5) from which sources the emergency services in Dorset can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units, and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  (6) from which sources the emergency services in East Sussex can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units, and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  (7) from which sources the emergency services in Kent can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total

  473
  number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units, and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  (8) from which sources the emergency services in Suffolk can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units, and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  (9) from which sources the emergency services in Cleveland can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units, and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  (10) from which sources the emergency services in Durham can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units, and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  Police force

  Dosimeters

  Radiac survey meters

  Protective clothing

  Breathing units

  Decontamination units

  South Wales

  50

  523

  —

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  18

  347

  —

  192

  —

  Cleveland

  28

  137

  —

  —

  —

  Durham

  14

  438

  —

  —

  —

  Northumbria

  58

  532

  —

  6

  —

  Dorset

  15

  382

  —

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire

  14

  338

  —

  —

  —

  Sussex

  52

  529

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  39

  570

  —

  —

  —

  North Wales

  12

  780

  —

  70

  —

  Avon and Somerset

  14

  338

  —

  —

  —

  Cumbria

  35

  375

  —

  —

  —

  Much of this equipment is held for civil defence purposes and would be unlikely to be of use in a peacetime emergency. Further equipment and professional advice is available, as set out in the Emergency Planning Guidance to Local Authorities (a copy of which is in the Library).

  Health authorities locally are responsible for the day to day management of ambulance services and the information requested is not held centrally.

  With regard to the fire service I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Radioactive Contamination (Police Training)
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Glamorgan as to (a) how many days are allocated in the training of a police constable to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (b) how many days are allocated in the training of a police sergeant to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (c) how many people are employed by the police to train policemen in dealing with accidents involving radioactivity, and what are their areas of expertise, (d) what training policemen receive in the use of personal dosimeters, radiac survey meters, decontamination meters, breathing equipment, and
  474
  (11) from which sources the emergency services in Tyne and Wear can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units, and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  (12) from which sources the emergency services in Cumbria can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units and (e) decontamination units available for use;

  (13) from which sources the emergency services in Gwynedd can call for equipment to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination; and if he will call for a report from the emergency services in that area detailing the total number of (a) dosimeters, (b) radiac survey meters, (c) sets of protective clothing, (d) breathing units and (e) decontamination units available for use.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [pursuant to his reply, 28 April 1987, c. 61–63]: With regard to the police service the information requested is as follows:

  protective clothing, and (e) what is the total amount of money allocated to the training of, firstly, a police constable and, secondly, a police sergeant to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination;

  (2).if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Suffolk as to (a) how many days are allocated in the training of a police constable to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (b) how many days are allocated in the training of a police sergeant to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (c) how many days are allocated in the training of a police constable to dealing with accidents involving radioactivity, and what are their areas of expertise, (d) what training policemen receive in the use of personal dosimeters, radiac survey meters, decontamination meters, breathing equipment, and protective clothing, and (e) what is the total amount of money allocated to the training of, firstly, a police constable and, secondly, a police sergeant to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination;

  (3) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cleveland as to (a) how many days are allocated in the training of a police constable to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (b) how many days are allocated in the training of a police sergeant to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (c) how many people are employed by the police to train

  475
  policemen in dealing with accidents involving radioactivity, and what are their areas of expertise, (d) what training policemen receive in the use of personal dosimeters, radiac survey meters, decontamination meters, breathing equipment, and protective clothing, and (e) what is the total amount of money allocated to the training of, firstly, a police constable and, secondly, a police sergeant to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination;

  (4) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Durham as to (a) how many days are allocated in the training of a police constable to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (b) how many days are allocated in the training of a police sergeant to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (c) how many people are employed by the police to train policemen in dealing with accidents involving radioactivity, and what are their areas of expertise, (d) what training policemen receive in the use of personal dosimeters, radiac survey meters, decontamination meters, breathing equipment, and protective clothing, and (e) what is the total amount of money allocated to the training of, firstly, a police constable and, secondly, a police sergeant to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination;

  (5) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Tyne and Wear as to (a) how many days are allocated in the training of a police constable to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (b) how many days are allocated in the training of a police sergeant to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (c) how many people arc employed by the police to train policemen in dealing with accidents involving radioactivity, and what are their areas of expertise, (d) what training policemen receive in the use of personal dosimeters, radiac survey meters, decontamination meters, breathing equipment, and protective clothing, and (e) what is the total amount of money allocated to the training of, firstly, a police constable and, secondly, a police sergeant to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination;

  (6) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Dorset as to (a) how many days are allocated in the training of a police constable to dealing with accidents involving contamination, (b) how many days are allocated in the training of a police sergeant to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (c) how many people are employed by the police to train policemen in dealing with accidents involving radioactivity, and what are their areas of expertise, (d) what training policemen receive in the use of personal dosimeters, radiac survey meters, decontamination meters, breathing equipment, and protective clothing, and (e) what is the total amount of money allocated to the training of, firstly, a police constable and, secondly, a police sergeant to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination;

  (7) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of East Sussex as to (a) how many days are allocated in the training of a police constable to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (b) how many days are allocated in the training of a police sergeant to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (c) how many people are employed by the police to train policemen in dealing with accidents involving radioactivity, and what are their areas of expertise, (d) what training policemen receive in the use of personal dosimeters, radiac survey meters, decontamination meters, breathing equipment, and protective clothing, and (e) what is the total
  476
  amount of money allocated to the training of firstly, a police constable and, secondly, a police sergeant to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination;

  (8) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Kent as to (a) how many days are allocated in the training of a police constable to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (b) how many days are allocated in the training of a police sergeant to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (c) how many people are employed by the police to train policemen in dealing with accidents involving radioactivity, and what are their areas of expertise, (d) what training policemen receive in the use of personal dosimeters, radiac survey meters, decontamination meters, breathing equipment, and protective clothing, and (e) what is the total amount of money allocated to the training of firstly, a police constable and, secondly, a police sergeant to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination;

  (9) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Gwynedd as to (a) how many days are allocated in the training of a police constable to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (b) how many days are allocated in the training of a police sergeant to dealing with accidents involving radioactive contamination, (c) how many people are employed by the police to train policemen in dealing with accidents involving radioactivity, and what are their areas of expertise, (d) what training policemen receive in the use of personal dosimeters, radiac survey meters, decontamination meters, breathing equipment, and protective clothing, and (e) what is the total amount of money allocated to the training of firstly, a police constable and, secondly, a police sergeant to deal with accidents involving radioactive contamination.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [pursuant to his reply, 28 April 1987, c. 59–61]: Officers of all the police forces concerned are trained, during initial training and refresher courses, in the effect of radioactivity. Information on the number of days spent in specific training or in the allocation of money to training police constables or police sergeants is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Metropolitan Police (Overtime)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what current limitations exist on the amount of overtime that may be worked by any member of the Metropolitan police, or restrictions on the mileage over any given period and the use of its road vehicles.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [pursuant to his reply, 28 April 1987, c. 63]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that it is his policy that overtime should be authorised only when it is operationally necessary. A total of £59·2 million has been set aside for overtime payments to Metropolitan police officers during the present financial year. Divisions and branches of the force have been given allocations from the total, and it is the responsibility of senior officers locally to use the allocation to best effect. They are also expected to ensure that vehicles are used effectively, efficiently and economically.

  Traffic and Litter Offences (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been

  477
  brought during each of the past three years by the Metropolitan police in respect of (a) parking offences, (b) bus lane offences and (c) litter dropping.

  Mr. Mellor
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 May 1987, c. 18]: The information available on prosecutions for parking offences by police force area relates to findings of guilt for obstruction, waiting and parking offences and is published annually in "Offences relating to motor vehicles England and Wales: Supplementary tables" (table 17 in the issue for 1985, the latest available), copies of which are in the Library.

  On the subject of bus lane offences I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Bruinvels) on 24 November 1986 at column 50.

  The following table gives the information available to me on persons proceeded against for litter offences in the Metropolitan Police District.

  Persons proceeded against under the Litter Act 1983 in the Metropolitan Police District

  Number of persons

  1983

  14

  1984

  6

  1985

  24

SCOTLAND

  Maintained Schools
  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the annual expenditure, in 1987 prices, from 1975–76 to date on repair, maintenance and improvement work on maintained schools in Scotland; what is his Department's estimate of the expenditure needed to bring the condition of maintained schools in Scotland to a fully reconditioned and repaired state, complying with up-to-date building standards, not including the reconditioning of those schools for which there is no intention to recondition or repair, but where the proper course is demolition or otherwise disposal, or the expected depreciation of school buildings in this financial year; what is his Department's estimate of the annual expenditure to prevent the condition of maintained schools in Scotland from deteriorating, excluding those schools for which there is no intention to recondition or repair, but where the proper course is demolition or otherwise; and what is the capital value of maintained school buildings in Scotland.

  Mr. John MacKay
  The information available is given in the following table, which has been compiled from local authority financial returns for the period from 1976–77, the first full year after local government reorganisation in Scotland, to 1985–86. The information collected centrally on capital expenditure incurred by local authorities does not record separately capital expenditure on the maintenance or improvement of school buildings or on the capital value of school buildings in Scotland. The data which would be required in order to make the estimates requested by the hon. Member in the latter part of his question are not held centrally.
  478

  Current expenditure on repair and maintenance of local authority school buildings at 1986–87 prices

  £ million

  1976–77

  58·771

  1977–78

  22·549

  1978–79

  67·529

  1979–80

  66·028

  1980–81

  62·430

  1981–82

  60·209

  1982–83

  60·602

  1983–84

  67·387

  1984–85

  67·388

  1985–86

  61·002

  Gateway Centre
  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grant is paid to the Gateway Centre in Scotland; what purposes this grant is intended to cover; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John MacKay
  No application for grant has been received from the Gateway Exchange.

  Peterhead Prison
  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the commencement of the preliminary works at the new Peterhead prison will be further delayed; if there are any plans to build a new prison other than Peterhead; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The preliminary works for the new Peterhead prison have not yet commenced pending an economic appraisal of the project. There are no plans at present to build a new prison other than the one at Peterhead.

  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost of repairing the damage caused by the disturbance at Peterhead prison earlier in the current year; how much of the cost falls upon (a) public funds and (b) the insurance company; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The cost of making good the damage to A hall at Peterhead prison is estimated at £260,000. This cost falls upon public funds since it is not Government practice to undertake insurance.

  Prisons (Disturbances)
  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he considered issuing guidelines to the media on a news blackout when disruptive action takes place at any of Her Majesty's prisons in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  A temporary blackout was requested and adhered to in the course of one of the recent incidents at Scottish prisons and consideration is being given to the procedures for such requests in the event of any future similar incidents.

  Prison Officers, Peterhead (Housing)
  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the position regarding guidelines issued to local authorities and the Scottish Special Housing Association on houses for renting to officers at Her

  479
  Majesty's prison, Peterhead; if he will investigate the complaint that prison officers are in a lower category of applicants than oil-related workers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  No guidelines have been issued to local authorities. The management of council housing is the responsibility of the local authority for the area concerned and the Secretary of State has no powers to intervene in the way this responsibility is carried out.

  The Scottish Special Housing Association has guidelines for their economic expansion houses for essential incoming workers. Greatest priority is given to oil and manufacturing workers. I understand, however, that, at present, prison officers seeking SSHA houses in the Peterhead area are normally being offered a house within six to 12 weeks of applying. My right hon. and learned Friend is aware there has been some criticism of the allocation procedures for economic expansion houses and Scottish Development Department is currently reviewing these procedures.

  Dornoch Firth (Road Bridge)
  Mr. Maclennan
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current proposed starting date for construction of the road bridge across the Dornoch Firth; and if he will make a statement.

  Staff employed by the NHS in Scotland

  Whole Time, Part Time and Whole time Equivalent for selected groups at 30 September

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Nurses and Midwives1

  Whole Time

  40,921

  42,467

  44,736

  45,479

  46,042

  45,751

  46,077

  46,161

  Part Time

  25,418

  25,644

  26,199

  26,384

  26,187

  25,955

  26,096

  26,815

  Whole Time Equivalent

  56,037·2

  58,602·5

  61,125·5

  61,979·2

  62,395·5

  62,027·4

  62,562·1

  62,868·2

  Ancillaries

  Whole Time

  17,393

  17,056

  16,998

  16,765

  16,210

  15,369

  14,551

  13,780

  Part Time

  16,761

  17,018

  17,569

  18,133

  18,278

  18,341

  18,530

  18,904

  Whole Time Equivalent

  27,059·5

  26,895·5

  27,126·2

  27,194·0

  26,716·8

  25,934·9

  25,270·7

  24,568·1

  Administrative and Clerical

  Whole Time

  11,459

  11,564

  11,810

  11,929

  12,037

  11,904

  12,067

  12,157

  Part Time

  3,080

  3,117

  3,378

  3,579

  3,782

  3,913

  4,093

  4,199

  Whole Time Equivalent

  13,121·6

  13,255·7

  13,628·8

  13,880·3

  14,088·0

  14,052·8

  14,315·1

  14,445·5

  Professional and Technical2

  Whole Time

  8,582

  8,785

  9,061

  9,240

  9,495

  9,619

  9,816

  9,934

  Part Time

  1,664

  1,698

  1,762

  1,845

  1,858

  1,883

  1,952

  2,072

  Whole Time Equivalent

  9,340·8

  9,546·6

  9,879·5

  10,104·0

  10,355·2

  10,514·2

  10,755·3

  10,927·1

  1 In 1979 the WTE calculation for part·time nurses was based on a 40 hour week; from 1980 it is based on a 37½ hour week.

  2 Includes: Scientific and PAM, Technical, Works, and Pharmacists and Opticians.

  Police (Free Prescriptions)
  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why police officers in Scotland receive medical prescriptions free; why this does not apply also to the nursing profession; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  As part of their conditions of service police officers have been provided with free medical and dental treatment since 1919. The need for this ended in July 1948, when they became entitled to free treatment under the NHS. But when NHS charges were introduced it was agreed that police officers should not have to pay for treatment to which they had previously been entitled free
  480
  Mr. Ancram
  The Dornoch Firth bridge is the subject of a design and build competition the result of which is expected to be announced in January 1988. Construction of the bridge is planned to start in January 1989. Work'on the southern approach road will begin in June this year and will be followed by a start on the northern approach road in August.

  A9 (Dunbeath Bridge)
  Mr. Maclennan
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current proposed starting date for construction of the new Dunbeath bridge on the A9 in Caithness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  Construction will start in September this year.

  NHS (Staff)
  Mr Dubs
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff have been employed by the National Health Service in Scotland for each year since 1979, expressed as whole-time equivalents as well as actual full-time and part-time numbers in the following categories: (a) nurses and midwives, (b) ancillaries, (c) administrative and clerical and (d) professional and technical.

  Mr. John MacKay
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  of charge. Provision was accordingly made in the Police (Scotland) Regulations 1976 for officers to be reimbursed for NHS medical and dental treatment for which a charge was made. There are no comparable circumstances in the case of nurses.

  Nurses
  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what it the reason for increasing a nurse's board and loading charges form £42 to £70 per month when the nurse reaches the age of 22 years; and if he will make a statement.
  481
  Mr. John MacKay
  The agreement on lodging charges for nursing staff, which are negotiated with the staff side of the nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council, provides for a remission for staff under the age of 22.

  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many enrolled nurses have applied for positions in the Grampian health board area in the years 1983 to 1986; what is the latest figure for 1987; and how many were appointed.

  Mr. John MacKay
  Appointment of nursing staff in the Grampian area is a matter for Grampian health board, and this information is not available centrally.

  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why nurses who are transferred from Aberdeen hospital to Ladysbridge hospital in Banff are obliged to pay £650 over a 42-week period in personal travelling expenses; if he will consider some form of reimbursement for these outlays; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John MacKay
  The nurses in question are students in training at Foresterhill college of nursing and midwifery for the first level qualification in nursing the mentally handicapped. Grampian health board take the view that these students are based in Aberdeen during the first stage of their training, and in Banff for the second stage, and provide accommodation at each location for the relevant period. In these circumstances travelling expenses are not payable except for periods spent away from Banff during the second stage.

  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the clothing allowance is assessed for nurses when on the type of duty which requires ordinary clothing rather than uniform; what are the monetary values of the allowance per annum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John MacKay
  There is no national agreement on this matter, which is left to the discretion of individual health hoards. The management side of the Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council has, however, advised boards that alternative clothing, or monetary allowances, should in general cost no more than uniforms.

  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses are on night duty at Campbell hospital, Portsoy; for how many people services are provided; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John MacKay
  There are five nurses on night duty at Campbell hospital, Portsoy, to cover 58 long-stay geriatric patients.

  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses are on the day shift and for dressings at Campbell hospital, Portsoy; how many people are covered; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John MacKay
  The total nursing establishment for day duty at Campbell hospital, Portsoy, is 33. This includes cover for working shifts, for time off, holidays and sick leave. Of the total establishment, 16 are fully trained nurses available to deal with dressings as and when required. This establishment covers 58 long-stay geriatric patients.

  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what guarantee is given to nurses at Ladysbridge hospital, Banff on secondment to the college at Foresthill for further training of a post at Ladybridge on completion of the 18-month course; and if he will make a statement.
  482
  Mr. John MacKay
  Any nurse who is seconded to a course at a College of Nursing and Midwifery would normally be expected to return to her original post or an equivalent one on completion of the course. There are at present vacancies for qualified nursing staff at Ladysbridge hospital.

  Elderly Patients (Banff and Buchan)
  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will investigate the circumstances in which elderly persons residing in Banff and Buchan who require to see a medical specialist have to travel into Aberdeen rather than be interviewed in Banff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John MacKay
  The matter of service provision is essentially a local issue and it is for the health board to decide how, any particular service should be provided.

  Prisoner (Injury Award)
  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to appeal against the award of £36,000 to a convicted prisoner at Peterhead prison who received his injuries when endeavouring to escape from the prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Yes. An appeal has now been lodged against the decision of Lord Cowie in the Court of Session to award compensation to Mr. Glen Hewson, a convicted prisoner who was injured while attempting to escape from Peterhead prison in 1982. Pending the outcome of the appeal, it would not be appropriate for my right hen. and learned Friend or myself to comment on particular aspects of the case.

  Prison Officers (Fresh Start)
  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why prison officers are not mentioned in the fresh start scheme; if the scheme can apply to Scottish prison officers in addition to those in other parts of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The Fresh Start package of prison service staffing reforms, covering working arrangements, management structure and pay and conditions, was proposed, in the first instance, by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in relation to England and Wales. But officers of the Scottish Prison Officer Association (SPOA) and of the Governors' Branch (Scotland) of the Society of Civil and Public Servants, and my officials, have participated in the discussions on Fresh Start. I have instructed my officials to consult the unions about implementation in Scotland.

  Public Bodies (Heating and Lighting)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties occupied by each of the public bodies for which he has responsibility; and if he will list details of the amount spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Ancram
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  483
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the total expenditure during 1986–87 incurred upon the heating and lighting of properties for which he is directly responsible; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on energy efficiency measures in these properties during the same period.

  Mr. Ancram
  Fuel costs in properties held on the Scottish Office Administration Vote totalled £722,782.

  It is not possible to identify separately the amounts spent on energy efficiency. But the Scottish Office has adopted a comprehensive strategy of conservation measures which are showing some encouraging results.

  Local Authority Charges
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has conducted any recent review of local authority charges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  I participated in a review of local authority fees and charges throughout Great Britain. Consideration of the review has not yet been completed.

  Community Care (Funds)
  Mr. David Steel
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to provide a central reserve of funds to direct to Crossroads (Scotland) and other voluntary organisations involved in care in the community; and if he will make a statement.
  484
  Mr. John MacKay
  Statutory responsibility for the provision of domiciliary and other support to enable persons to maintain their residence in the community rests primarily with local authorities. Some 40 local Crossroads schemes providing respite care through paid care attendants are currently receiving support either from the Manpower Services Commission or from local authorities or health boards under support finance arrangements.

  My Department provides grant assistance for the headquarters' expenditure of a range of national social work organisations, including Crossroads (Scotland), as well as for some local projects, normally of a specialised or innovatory nature; local projects currently in receipt of grant include 18 which embody different examples of community care, of which two are Crossroads schemes. I see no case for altering this balance of support from public funds.

  Peterhead Prison (Interviewing Panel)
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland who was on the interviewing panel when Her Majesty's Chief Inspectorate interviewed prisoners at Peterhead recently; whether any member of the panel was of the governor grade; when he expects Her Majesty's Chief Inspectorate's report into Peterhead to be published; and how many category A and B prisoners are currently in Peterhead.

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

  SECURITY SURVEILLANCE: EXEMPTION
  SECURITY SURVEILLANCE: EXEMPTION
  SECURITY SERVICE: OPERATIONS
  SECURITY SERVICE: OPERATIONS
  FRESH START: PRISON OFFICERS'ASSOCIATION BALLOT
  FRESH START: PRISON OFFICERS'ASSOCIATION BALLOT
  PASSPORT OFFICE: DELAYS
  PASSPORT OFFICE: DELAYS
  ELECTION BROADCASTING: BBC CHARTER
  ELECTION BROADCASTING: BBC CHARTER
  DEFENCE LAND: BARRON REPORT
  DEFENCE LAND: BARRON REPORT
  CRUISE MISSILES
  CRUISE MISSILES
  BRITISH GAS PRIVATISATION: READING OF METERS
  BRITISH GAS PRIVATISATION: READING OF METERS
  UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES: CHANGES IN METHOD OF CALCULATION
  UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES: CHANGES IN METHOD OF CALCULATION