Written Answers of 2 November 1987

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  School-Police Relations
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received the report from a working party of teachers and police representatives on ways of improving relations between schools and the police; what response he has made; and if he will ensure that the working party's recommendations are made available to schools and local education authorities.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received a copy of the working party's report. He welcomes the co-operation between teachers and police representatives which has led to the report, and is considering his response to it in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

  School Governors
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he will be taking to ensure that the new proposals for the opting out of schools from local authority control will not discriminate against the children of hourly-paid parents in the inner cities and other areas because the parents cannot afford to take time off work to become school governors.

  Mr. Dunn
  All parents at a school will have the opportunity of voting in a secret postal ballot on a proposal to apply for grant-maintained status. The proposal will have to include information about people willing to stand as governors, and any parent could register an interest. Governing bodies are free to arrange their meetings to suit the convenience of their members. Employers can also provide paid leave for such meetings, and a number already do so.

  Parents' Meetings
  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evaluation he has made of the annual parents' meetings held by schools under the Education Act 1986.

  Mr. Dunn
  None.

  Inner London Education Authority
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the average change in cost to the residents of Camden if the borough of Westminster opts out of the Inner London education authority.

  Mr. Dunn
  The earliest date from which boroughs will be able to opt out of the ILEA is 1 April 1990. The Government expect that, within the new system of local government finance which will be introduced from that date, the financial effect on Camden residents of any other 498
  borough opting out of the ILEA should be broadly neutral. The precise financial effects will depend on a number of factors, including the extent of movement of pupils and students between boroughs, and the pattern of expenditure by the ILEA and the opted-out boroughs in relation to the needs and populations of their areas.

  Universities (Access)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy to ensure that universities do not deny access by students to their examination results.

  Mr. Jackson
  The universities are autonomous institutions. Within the context of their legal obligations it is for them to make known their students' examination results at the time and in the manner they see fit.

  Political Indoctrination
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in view of current trends in under-fives and under-sevens education, what measures he proposes to introduce to ban political indoctrination of the very young in the state education system.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Education (No. 2) Act 1986 already prohibits political indoctrination in schools in England and Wales. Sections 44 and 45 of the Act impose duties on local education authorities, governing bodies and head teachers to forbid partisan political activities by junior pupils and the promotion of partisan political views in teaching, and to secure balanced treatment of any political issues. Since these provisions came into force, we have received no complaints about any alleged political indoctrination of pupils aged under seven. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would write to me.

  Education Bill
  Mr. Straw
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in respect of each of the consultation documents issued by him in relation to the forthcoming Education Bill, he will publish tables showing the proportion of responses from (i) individuals and (ii) bodies and institutions which are (a) broadly in favour, (b) broadly against and (c) neither in favour or against the principal proposals of each document.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  No. Many respondents have commented in considerable detail, and responses could not readily be classified as requested.

  GCSE
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a report breaking down by subject the progress which has been made in producing full sample examination papers for each General Certificate of Secondary Education examination, stating in each case the number of questions which have been produced and the date upon which they were made available to the teaching professions for incorporation into their examination preparation work.

  Mrs Rumbold
  Information about the sample GCSE questions available from the GCSE examining groups is
  499
  not held centrally. I shall invite the groups to provide this information and write to my hon. Friend when I have their response.

  Conductive Education
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any members of his staff have visited the Peto institute in Budapest to study the system called conductive education which is used there; whether any educational authorities have sent teachers there to train as conductors; and what plans he has to fund pilot schemes based on the Hungarian experience in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dunn
  No members of my right hon. Friend's staff have visited the Peto institute. Information about visits by teachers is not collected centrally. The Department is providing £326,000 in order to fund Birmingham university's research evaluation of the Foundation for Conductive Education's pilot project in Birmingham; there are no plans to fund any pilot schemes although LEAs are free to organise such schemes if they wish to do so.

  O-Level Examinations
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has considered an independent review of the quality and standard of O-level examinations in England and Wales; and if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all those subjects approved for examination at O-level and the year they were introduced.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a review of O-level examinations, which from summer 1988 will be replaced by general certificate of secondary education examinations. Records of the O-level syllabuses currently available from the eight GCE boards in England and Wales are not held centrally. I will write to the hon. Member on this matter.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Timber
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of annual United Kingdom timber consumption by value and quantity, respectively, were imported for the latest available year.

  Mr. Maude
  Timber imports as a percentage of United Kingdom consumption in 1986 were 81 per cent. measured by value and 65 per cent. measured by volume.

  European Space Agency
  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to increase the United Kingdom contribution to the European Space Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  No. The European Space Agency's draft proposals, likely to be tabled at the forthcoming ministerial council meeting on 9 and 10 November look over-ambitious and very expensive. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 500
  will be arguing for a fundamental reappraisal of the agency's plans and for an overhaul of its operating methods.

  Mr. Roy Gibson
  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the resignation of Mr. Roy Gibson as director-general of the British National Space Centre.

  Mr. Butcher
  No. I regret Mr. Gibson's resignation, but that is essentially a matter for him.

  British Space Plan
  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the British space plan.

  Mr. Butcher
  No. The Government have decided not to increase public expenditure on civil space above the current level, which is already running at over 100 million a year.

  BR and W Industries
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his investigation into the alleged illegal export of mines and other arms to Iran by Mr. Ben Banerjee and BR and W Industries.

  Mr. Butcher
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade in the Official Report of 21 October, column 811, to his similar question. I am not aware of any breach of United Kingdom Government export control regulations by Mr. Ben Banerjee or BR and W Industries and therefore no investigation is taking place.

  Blowpipe Missiles
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether there has been any abuse of end-use on the export licence application in respect of Blowpipe missiles from Short Brothers supplied to (i) Afghanistan rebels, (ii) the South Korean Government, (iii) the Contras in Nicaragua; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  It is not the practice to comment on individual defence equipment export matters.

  Weapons (Export Licenses)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will describe the various elements involved in the verification of export licence applications involving weapons.

  Mr. Maude
  In considering applications for export licences involving weapons, account is taken of the type of equipment, its proposed destination and the use to which it might be put. Applications must be supported by end-user certificates, international import certificates or evidence of the contract or order as appropriate.

  A licence is not issued unless the Government are satisfied that the end user is acceptable and the end use will be as stated on the application.

  It is not the practice to disclose the nature of the checks made.

  Explosives (Iran)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representation he has received on the use by Iran of United Kingdom-made explosives; whether explosives exported to Sweden are subject to end-user certification; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have received no representations on the use by Iran of explosives manufactured in the United Kingdom.

  Export licence applications for explosives for all destinations, including Sweden, are considered on their merits and, depending upon the type of explosive, its end use and destination would normally require an end-user certificate or an international import certificate.

  Mrs. H. Braisdell
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration he has given to the representations made to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshaw, on behalf of Mrs. H. Braisdell of 85 Thorngreen road, Manchester 22, about the allegations that a north-west tour operator showed not only neglect of clients, but also indifference to bereavement; if there is any action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade Industry replied to the right

  United Kingdom Imports/Exports of Cement 1987

  Quantity: metric tonnes

  Value: £'000

  Total Imports

  Of which Greece

  Total Exports

  Quantity

  Value

  Quantity

  Value

  Quantity

  Value

  First Quarter

  162·2

  7,428

  24·8

  499

  21·2

  2,617

  Second Quarter

  284·1

  10,003

  38·7

  885

  23·5

  2,887

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Cement defined as Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 2) sub-group 661·2.

  2. 1987 figures provisional.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Henderson
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what proportion of the European regional development fund the United Kingdom had received by 1 October or the nearest available date in relation to the 1987 total allocation; and if he will provide a breakdown of which regions of the United Kingdom had received what proportion of the United Kingdom allocation at that date;

  (2) which projects submitted from the northern region in the United Kingdom had been accepted by the European Commission for European regional development fund assistance; and which projects from those submitted had been rejected by 1 October;

  (3) how many applications were submitted per month by local authorities to Her Majesty's Government before 19 May, and of these how many were accepted by the Commission; how many were submitted per month by local authorities to Her Majesty's Government after 19 May; and of these how many were accepted by the Commission.
  502
  hon. Member's representations on 26 October. He expressed great sadness at the tragedy but commended Mr. and Mrs. Braisdell for their responsible and compassionate attitude. He explained that the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), to which the tour operator concerned belongs, was conducting a thorough investigation into the case. ABTA has told the Department that it has received assurances from the tour operator that, on the basis of a full report on the incident, it is fully satisfied that its representative acted correctly. ABTA has written accordingly to Mrs. Braisdell.

  Cement
  Mr. Henderson
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide figures for (a) imports of cement to the United Kingdom in the first, second and third quarter of 1987, by both tonnage and value, (b) imports of Greek cement to the United Kingdom in the first, second and third quarter of 1987, by both tonnage and value, (c) exports of cement from the United Kingdom in the first, second and third quarter of 1987, by both tonnage and value and (d) the estimated total sales of cement, by both tonnage and value, in the first, second and third quarters of 1987.

  Mr. Atkins
  Information for the third quarter of 1987 and on sales of cement are not available. Details on imports and exports for the first two quarters are given in the following table.

  Mr. Atkins
  Following the announcement on 26 October of the fifth round of 1987 European regional development fund allocations, the allocations to the United Kingdom in respect of projects can be summarised as follows:

  Region

  Allocation (£)

  Per cent.

  North

  0·75

  0·7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1·03

  0·9

  South West

  8·81

  7·7

  West Midlands

  22·01

  19·3

  North West

  16·06

  14·1

  Wales

  20·18

  17·7

  Scotland

  18·81

  16·5

  Northern Ireland

  26·11

  23·0

  Total

  113·76

  100

  The allocations in respect of United Kingdom projects represent approximately 5 per cent. of the 1987 European

  503
  Community budget for the European regional development fund. To date 53 per cent. of the fund has been allocated on projects, programmes and studies. We have not yet received an analysis of these from the Commission.

  Three further allocations in respect of 1987 remain to be announced. A region's position should be judged on the basis of all the allocations in a year. Final decisions rest with the European Commission.

  To date, in 1987, six projects to the value of £660,000 in the northern region have been granted European regional development fund support. Eighty-four applications from the northern region have been made to the value of £108 million. Further awards to the region are likely. Seventeen projects from the northern region were rejected or withdrawn.

  Information is not collected in such a way as to permit an analysis of local authority projects submitted to Her Majesty's Government before or after 19 May. However, the number of projects submitted to the European Commission so far in 1987 is 352, of which 205 were submitted before 19 May. Of these projects, 15 have so far been approved by the Commission. During the course of 1987 a further 29 projects have been approved which were submitted in 1986 or earlier.

  Home Accidents (Statistics)
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the consumer safety unit has obtained information from other European countries about the application of circuit breakers in the prevention of accidents in the home; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Information obtained on the experience of other countries with residual current circuit breakers has reinforced my view of the value of these devices in preventing accidents. I hope to announce in the new year a collaborative programme with industry aimed at promoting their wider acceptance and use.

  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people were treated at hospitals in the home accident surveillance system during 1986 as a result of an electrical current accident in the home; what is his estimate for the figures for the whole of the United Kingdom in 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The most recent 12 months for which detailed information is available from the home accident surveillance system cover the period November 1985 to November 1986. During this time, this system recorded details of 88 people who were treated at its 20 hospitals in England and Wales as a result of an electric current accident.

  This number is too small to make a reliable estimate of the annual number of such accidents for the whole of England and Wales, but the total is probably between 1,500 and 2,000. No figures are available for Scotland and Northern Ireland which will be participating in the home accident surveillance system for the first time from November 1987.

  The most recent year for which detailed information is available on fatal home accidents is 1984 when 26 deaths from electric current accidents were recorded in England and Wales.

  The above information is based on the tenth annual report of the home accident surveillance system, 1986
  504
  data; which is to be published on 11 November 1987. This report includes more information on the electric current accidents referred to, as well as details of many other types of accidents in the home.

  Small Factory Units (Southport)
  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to give Government support for small factory units in the Southport area.

  Mr. Atkins
  English Estates is currently discussing with Sefton district council and with a local enterprise agency its possible involvement in a development of small managed units in the Southport area.

  Steel Imports
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the amounts of hot-rolled steel imported in the United Kingdom, by cash and by tonnes, for each of the years from 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have been asked to reply.

  The figures are as follows:

  United Kingdom imports of ECSC treaty products1

  Value

  Quantity

  (£ million)

  (million tonnes)

  c.i.f.

  21980

  988

  4·00

  1981

  655

  2·80

  1982

  848

  3·30

  1983

  791

  2·91

  1984

  883

  2·95

  1985

  1,059

  3·21

  1986

  1,140

  3·55

  1 Due to changes in statistical definitions for steel products over the period since 1980, information is only readily available for total imports of ECSC treaty products. The amounts shown mainly cover hot-rolled products but also include cold-rolled sheets and plate.

  2 Affected by steel strike.

  Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.

  Aircraft (Imports)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate the cost of importing foreign-made (a) military and (b) civil aircraft, with countries of origin, into the United Kingdom for each of the years from 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Country of origin data are not available. Imports of aircraft, by value, for each year since 1979 are given in the following table.

  Imports of Aircraft 1979–1986

  £ million

  Military

  Civil

  Total

  1979

  *

  *

  364·5

  1980

  *

  *

  943·7

  1981

  69·9

  226·7

  296·5

  1982

  68·7

  244·2

  312·8

  1983

  16·5

  398·5

  415·0

  1984

  171·9

  478·5

  650·4

  1985

  42·5

  885·9

  928·4

  1986

  31·0

  352·8

  383·8

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Notes:
  505
  * Figures not available due to revised coverage of aircraft.

  2. Figures for 1986 provisional.

  3. The figures include aircraft manufactured jointly by the United Kingdom and foreign companies.

  Imports of Textiles 1979–1986

  £ million

  Division

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  26

  475·5

  376·1

  376·0

  410·0

  475·9

  596·7

  662·8

  546·9

  65

  1691·1

  1543·7

  1761·6

  1927·6

  2320·2

  2705·4

  3032·0

  3162·6

  Total

  2166·6

  1919·8

  2137·6

  2338·4

  2796·1

  3302·1

  3694·8

  3709·5

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Notes:

  Textiles defined as Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 2):

  Division 26—Textile fibres (other than wool tops) and their wastes; and

  Division 65—Textile yarn, Fabrics, made-up articles nes and related products. 1986 figures provisional.

  BA/B-Cal Merger
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to report on the British Airways bid for British Caledonian; whether any time will be given for representations to be made by interested parties on the report before he makes his decision on its recommendations; and what criteria he intends to use in deciding whether to vary the basic recommendations.

  Mr. Maude
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is clue to report by 5 November. There is scope for my right hon. and noble Friend to take action only if the commission concludes that a merger would operate against the public interest. It would not be appropriate to speculate on what conclusions the commission may reach or what, if any, recommendations it may make. Any representations on the merger should be addressed to the commission.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mr. Michael Delaney
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Attorney-General if he will explain the reasons for his decision not to prosecute those responsible for the death of Mr. Michael Delaney on 10 January, following the coroner's court verdict of unlawful killing.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service, having studied all the evidence gathered by the police, and the transcript of the inquest into the death of Michael Delaney, concluded that the evidence did not disclose the commission of any criminal offences.

  Immigration (DNA Testing)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Attorney-General if he will take steps to ensure that legal aid will be available for all poor families seeking to use genetic DNA tests to challenge immigration rulings; and if he will make a statement.

  Textiles (Imports)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate the cost of importing foreign textiles for each of the years from 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  Imports of textiles for each year since 1979, by value, are given in the following table.

  The Attorney-General
  Legal aid is not available for proceedings before tribunals in connection with immigration matters, but may be granted in relation to an application to the High Court for judicial review of a decision of an immigration appeal tribunal or in relation to any appeal from the court's decision on such an application. Advice and assistance on immigration matters is available from a solicitor under the green form scheme to any person of small or moderate means.

  The cost of genetic DNA tests may be met under the green form scheme where, in any particular case, the normal financial limits for advice and assistance are extended for that purpose, but the decision whether or not to grant such an extension in any case rests with the legal aid administration of the Law Society.

  Mr. John Larsen
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Attorney-General if he will prosecute Mr. John Larsen for carrying a forged Ministry of Defence police warrant; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The question of prosecution is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. However, I am not aware of any evidence that Mr. John Larsen was ever in possession of such a document. When he was arrested, Mr. Frank Larsen produced a document purporting to be a warrant card, but which was not. The question of his prosecution for so doing was considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions and he decided that the public interest did not require it.

  Treasury Solicitor (Costs)
  Mr. Gow
  asked the Attorney-General what changes he proposed to make in the 1987–88 cash limit for class XX, vote 29 Law Charges, England and Wales (Treasury Solicitor's Department) and to the Treasury Solicitor's running costs limits.

  The Attorney-General
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the cash limit for the Treasury Solicitor's Department will be increased by £287,000 from £9,813,000 to £10.100,000
  507
  reflecting an exceptional volume of work partially offset by a higher level of receipts. This increase is being charged to the reserve and will not add to the planning total of public expenditure. There has also been an increase of £912,000 in the gross running costs limit from £10,935,000 to £11,847,000. £287,000 of this increase is related to the cash limit increase, £517,000 is to cover the transfer of legal staff from the Department of Employment and £58,000 is a transfer from the Ministry of Defence for work arising from the repeal of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the progress being made in the European Court of Justice on the case initiated by the Commission alleging that Her Majesty's Government are in breach of their Community obligations by not levying value added tax on housebuilders, gas, electricity and other items; and when he expects a judgment to be made by the court.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have been asked to reply. The oral hearing of the case to which my hon. Friend refers took place at the European Court of Justice on 15 September.

  The Advocate General's opinion is to be delivered on 2 December. This will be followed by the court's judgment, which is expected early in the new year.

PRIME MINISTER

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to ensure that Ministers have adequate contact with the data protection registrar during the design stage of major computer projects which process large volumes of personal data.

  The Prime Minister
  As I told the hon. Gentleman on 29 April at columns 133–34, under section 38 of the Data Protection Act 1984 each Government Department is treated as separate from any other Government Department. It is accordingly for individual Ministers to decide how much contact they need to make with the data protection registrar at the design stage of major computer projects for their departments. The data protection registrar welcomes close contacts with Departments in these matters at an early stage.

  British Nuclear Fuels
  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Prime Minister to which Government Department British Nuclear Fuels is

  Welsh Districts

  Local Authorities

  Housing Associations

  Private Sector

  Other (Government Departments)

  1978

  Aberconwy

  9

  104

  90

  —

  Alyn and Deeside

  90

  135

  244

  —

  Arfon

  31

  —

  81

  —

  Blaenau Gwent

  97

  —

  5

  —

  Brecknock

  10

  —

  105

  —

  Cardiff

  298

  91

  519

  —

  Carmarthen

  13

  —

  80

  1

  508
  responsible for (a) the military operation cycle and (b) the civil operation cycle of its reactors at Calder hall and Chapel cross.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 2 July, at column 144.

  Security and Intelligence Services
  Mr. Whitney
  asked the Prime Minister what proposals she has for the appointment of a staff counsellor for the security and intelligence services; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  In the debate which followed my announcement of the Government's acceptance of the Security Commission's recommendations in their report on the case of Michael John Bettaney, I undertook to consider a suggestion that there would be advantage in designating someone, not himself a member of the security service, to whom a member of the security service could turn if he or she had anxieties relating to the work of the service.

  The House will wish to know that Sir Philip Woodfield, KCB, CBE, has been appointed as a staff counsellor for the security and intelligence services. He will be available to be consulted by any member of the security and intelligence services who has anxieties relating to the work of his or her service which it has not been possible to allay through the ordinary processes of management-staff relations. He will have access to all relevant documents and to any level of management in each service. He will be able to make recommendations to the head of the service concerned. He will also have access to the Secretary of the Cabinet if he wishes and will have the right to make recommendations to him. He will report as appropriate to the heads of the services and will report not less frequently than once a year to me and to my right hon. Friends the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Home Secretary as appropriate on his activities and on the working of the system.

WALES

  New Build Statistics
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the new build figures for (a) private, (b) local authority, (c) housing associations and (d) others, in each local authority area, in 1978–79, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87, respectively.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is not readily available by financial year, but the following table gives new build completions on a calendar year basis:
  509

  Welsh Districts

  Local Authorities

  Housing Associations

  Private Sector

  Other (Government Departments)

  Ceredigion

  41

  —

  215

  —

  Colwyn

  48

  18

  210

  —

  Cynon Valley

  129

  91

  21

  —

  Delyn

  41

  —

  218

  —

  Dinefwr

  36

  6

  36

  1

  Dwyfor

  3

  —

  128

  —

  Glyndwr

  54

  —

  104

  —

  Islwyn

  80

  —

  104

  —

  Llanelli

  117

  —

  137

  1

  Lliw Valley

  70

  —

  147

  —

  Meirionnydd

  14

  —

  52

  —

  Merthyr Tydfil

  113

  70

  61

  —

  Monmouth

  59

  —

  299

  —

  Montgomeryshire

  48

  —

  160

  —

  Neath

  115

  99

  174

  —

  Newport

  865

  29

  276

  1

  Ogwr

  160

  38

  349

  2

  Port Talbot/Afan

  64

  —

  71

  —

  Preseli

  140

  —

  181

  —

  Radnor

  22

  25

  104

  —

  Rhondda

  80

  —

  32

  1

  Rhuddlan

  39

  —

  277

  —

  Rhymney Valley

  209

  66

  261

  1

  South Pembrokeshire

  51

  —

  93

  1

  Swansea

  271

  59

  547

  —

  Taff-Ely

  167

  —

  446

  4

  Torfaen

  118

  81

  83

  3

  Vale of Glamorgan

  26

  138

  580

  —

  Wrexham Maelor

  263

  —

  270

  —

  Ynys Môn

  120

  22

  331

  —

  Wales Total (LA)

  Cwmbran

  78

  —

  1

  —

  Newtown

  270

  —

  23

  —

  Wales Total (All)

  4,459

  1,072

  7,091

  16

  1982

  Aberconwy

  —

  —

  81

  —

  Alyn and Deeside

  50

  —

  151

  —

  Arfon

  46

  12

  87

  —

  Blaenau Gwent

  67

  —

  18

  —

  Brecknock

  30

  36

  80

  —

  Cardiff

  240

  180

  694

  —

  Carmarthen

  21

  —

  260

  —

  Ceredigion

  86

  10

  149

  —

  Colwyn

  —

  34

  159

  —

  Cynon Valley

  14

  46

  40

  —

  Delyn

  7

  —

  134

  —

  Dinefwr

  2

  —

  39

  —

  Dwyfor

  6

  —

  64

  2

  Glyndwr

  43

  —

  101

  —

  Islwyn

  44

  12

  22

  —

  Llanelli

  26

  —

  67

  —

  Lliw Valley

  91

  —

  71

  —

  Meirionnydd

  16

  —

  55

  —

  Merthyr Tydfil

  12

  154

  30

  —

  Monmouth

  80

  —

  211

  —

  Montgomeryshire

  11

  —

  133

  —

  Neath

  18

  —

  72

  —

  Newport

  172

  6

  304

  —

  Ogwr

  79

  49

  273

  —

  Port Talbot/Afan

  —

  8

  32

  —

  Preseli

  16

  —

  101

  —

  Radnor

  20

  17

  43

  —

  Rhondda

  27

  —

  27

  —

  Rhuddlan

  37

  —

  115

  —

  Rhymney Valley

  57

  21

  156

  1

  South Pembrokeshire

  —

  —

  99

  —

  Swansea

  126

  —

  136

  —

  Taff-Ely

  62

  —

  190

  —

  Torfaen

  48

  117

  142

  —

  Vale of Glamorgan

  49

  51

  267

  —

  510 511

  Welsh Districts

  Local Authorities

  Housing Associations

  Private Sector

  Other (Government Departments)

  Wrexham Maelor

  69

  41

  295

  —

  Ynys Môn

  59

  —

  261

  2

  Wales Total (LA)

  Cwmbran

  89

  —

  50

  —

  Newtown

  15

  —

  41

  —

  Wales Total (All)

  1,875

  794

  5,250

  5

  1983

  Aberconwy

  38

  12

  67

  —

  Alyn and Deeside

  86

  —

  178

  —

  Arfon

  4

  —

  64

  —

  Blaenau Gwent

  —

  —

  37

  —

  Brecknock

  24

  30

  75

  —

  Cardiff

  310

  57

  686

  —

  Carmarthen

  132

  —

  290

  —

  Cerdigion

  —

  —

  134

  —

  Colwyn

  50

  2

  261

  —

  Cynon Valley

  —

  14

  112

  —

  Delyn

  —

  —

  106

  —

  Dinefwr

  22

  —

  51

  —

  Dwyfor

  5

  —

  110

  —

  Glyndwr

  23

  —

  135

  —

  Islwyn

  25

  37

  75

  —

  Llanelli

  42

  —

  105

  —

  Lliw Valley

  90

  —

  153

  —

  Meirionnydd

  33

  —

  2

  —

  Merthyr Tydfil

  7

  80

  75

  —

  Monmouth

  71

  —

  254

  —

  Montgomeryshire

  15

  —

  144

  —

  Neath

  71

  11

  58

  —

  Newport

  43

  —

  184

  —

  Ogwr

  9

  58

  375

  —

  Port Talbot/Afan

  —

  —

  9

  —

  Preseli

  —

  —

  104

  —

  Radnor

  —

  34

  40

  —

  Rhondda

  —

  —

  9

  —

  Rhuddlan

  40

  39

  108

  —

  Rhymney Valley

  73

  64

  109

  —

  South Pembrokshire

  6

  6

  65

  —

  Swansea

  29

  76

  278

  —

  Taff-Ely

  85

  —

  172

  —

  Torfaen

  83

  —

  25

  —

  Vale of Glamorgan

  24

  9

  256

  —

  Wrexham Maelor

  62

  —

  295

  —

  Ynys Môn

  41

  —

  204

  —

  Wales Total (LA)

  Cwmbran

  169

  —

  89

  —

  Newtown

  26

  —

  51

  —

  Wales Total (All)

  1,738

  529

  5545

  —

  1984

  Aberconwy

  —

  —

  35

  —

  Alyn and Deeside

  39

  —

  170

  —

  Arfon

  28

  —

  47

  —

  Blaenau Gwent

  30

  —

  123

  —

  Brecknock

  14

  —

  90

  —

  Cardiff

  344

  38

  695

  —

  Carmarthen

  46

  —

  403

  —

  Ceredigion

  165

  —

  189

  —

  Colwyn

  24

  15

  212

  —

  Cynon Valley

  40

  —

  102

  —

  Delyn

  —

  18

  140

  —

  Dinefwr

  55

  —

  60

  —

  Dwyfor

  —

  —

  62

  —

  Glyndwr

  4

  —

  131

  —

  Islwyn

  64

  13

  43

  —

  Llanelli

  —

  —

  45

  —

  512 513

  Welsh Districts

  Local Authorities

  Housing Associations

  Private Sector

  Other (Government Departments)

  Lliw Valley

  111

  54

  203

  —

  Meirionnydd

  12

  —

  25

  —

  Merthyr Tydfil

  9

  15

  68

  —

  Monmouth

  59

  39

  427

  —

  Montgomeryshire

  41

  12

  73

  —

  Neath

  76

  24

  55

  —

  Newport

  169

  54

  124

  —

  Ogwr

  60

  —

  359

  —

  Port Talbot/Afan

  —

  —

  15

  —

  Preseli

  —

  —

  83

  —

  Radnor

  69

  13

  106

  —

  Rhondda

  —

  —

  16

  —

  Rhuddlan

  59

  —

  183

  —

  Rhymney Valley

  79

  6

  168

  —

  South Pembrokeshire

  1

  30

  161

  —

  Swansea

  105

  118

  211

  —

  Taff-Ely

  90

  24

  178

  —

  Torfaen

  38

  —

  214

  —

  Vale of Glamorgan

  20

  68

  448

  —

  Wrexham Maelor

  61

  52

  484

  —

  Ynys Môn

  84

  —

  200

  —

  Wales Total (LA)

  Cwmbran

  93

  —

  76

  —

  Newtown

  62

  —

  19

  —

  Wales Total (All)

  2,151

  593

  6,443

  —

  1985

  Aberconwy

  20

  —

  260

  —

  Alyn and Deeside

  30

  24

  98

  —

  Arfon

  9

  1

  98

  —

  Blaenau Gwent

  48

  33

  53

  —

  Brecknock

  12

  —

  108

  —

  Cardiff

  107

  117

  1,165

  —

  Carmarthen

  28

  8

  120

  —

  Ceredigion

  —

  —

  132

  —

  Colwyn

  —

  —

  235

  —

  Cynon Valley

  —

  —

  53

  —

  Delyn

  —

  —

  106

  2

  Dinefwr

  16

  —

  88

  —

  Dwyfor

  9

  —

  66

  —

  Glyndwr

  —

  —

  183

  —

  Islwyn

  21

  8

  115

  —

  Llanelli

  67

  —

  103

  —

  Lliw Valley

  22

  —

  180

  —

  Meirionnydd

  —

  10

  54

  —

  Merthyr Tydfil

  —

  3

  113

  —

  Monmouth

  107

  —

  364

  —

  Montgomeryshire

  —

  15

  120

  —

  Neath

  16

  —

  50

  —

  Newport

  67

  84

  702

  —

  Ogwr

  139

  —

  351

  —

  Port Talbot/Afan

  —

  —

  12

  —

  Preseli

  —

  —

  34

  —

  Radnor

  10

  —

  79

  —

  Rhondda

  —

  12

  19

  —

  Rhuddlan

  24

  10

  129

  —

  Rhymney Valley

  30

  9

  109

  —

  South Pembrokeshire

  20

  —

  78

  —

  Swansea

  57

  88

  78

  —

  Taff-Ely

  —

  68

  286

  —

  Torfaen

  31

  58

  181

  —

  Vale of Glamorgan

  18

  —

  159

  —

  Wrexham Maelor

  66

  —

  207

  —

  Ynys Môn

  18

  —

  141

  —

  Wales Total (LA)

  Cwmbran

  81

  59

  66

  —

  Newtown

  —

  —

  45

  —

  Wales Total (All)

  1,073

  607

  6,540

  2

  514 515

  Welsh Districts

  Local Authorities

  Housing Associations

  Private Sector

  Other (Government Departments)

  1986

  Aberconwy

  —

  —

  156

  —

  Alyn and Deeside

  33

  19

  150

  —

  Arfon

  —

  9

  83

  —

  Blaenau Gwent

  —

  38

  12

  —

  Brecknock

  —

  —

  82

  —

  Cardiff

  —

  38

  1,219

  —

  Carmarthen

  18

  —

  145

  —

  Ceredigion

  41

  17

  171

  —

  Colwyn

  18

  —

  252

  —

  Cynon Valley

  —

  40

  52

  —

  Delyn

  —

  16

  210

  —

  Dinefwr

  34

  —

  54

  —

  Dwyfor

  4

  —

  61

  —

  Glyndwr

  —

  8

  182

  —

  Islwyn

  40

  —

  88

  —

  Llanelli

  40

  —

  98

  —

  Lliw Valley

  34

  14

  130

  —

  Meirionnydd

  —

  —

  46

  —

  Merthyr Tydfil

  —

  —

  83

  —

  Monmouth

  74

  —

  348

  —

  Montgomeryshire

  26

  19

  167

  —

  Neath

  26

  10

  90

  —

  Newport

  119

  74

  527

  —

  Ogwr

  40

  —

  275

  —

  Port Talbot/Afan

  —

  39

  35

  —

  Preseli

  9

  29

  70

  —

  Radnor

  2

  37

  74

  —

  Rhondda

  —

  12

  16

  —

  Rhuddlan

  44

  —

  143

  —

  Rhymney Valley

  15

  27

  131

  —

  South Pembrokeshire

  —

  —

  90

  —

  Swansea

  —

  33

  313

  —

  Taff-Ely

  12

  20

  306

  —

  Torfaen

  34

  7

  134

  —

  Vale of Glamorgan

  36

  —

  383

  —

  Wrexham Maelor

  11

  28

  422

  —

  Ynys Môn

  34

  —

  134

  —

  Wales Total (LA)

  Cwmbran

  88

  —

  30

  —

  Newtown

  38

  —

  64

  —

  Wales Total (All)

  870

  534

  7,026

  —

  Pembrokeshire Health Authority
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales when it is expected that the Pembrokeshire health authority's funding will reach equalisation with other Welsh authorities at the level recommended by the Yates committee.

  Mr. Grist
  The pace of revenue equalisation between health authorities in Wales cannot be predicted with certainty. It depends upon annual revisions to the revenue formula (developed by the Resource Allocation Working Group) for demographic and other data changes and the availability of resources for equalisation in the light of competing demands on growth funds. If there are no significant changes in the formula in future years and the scale of provision made available for equalisation in 1987–88 is maintained, all authorities in Wales other than 516
  Gwynedd should be within plus or minus 1 per cent. of their formula shares by 1990–91. Given that the formula is intended to be only an indicator of relative resource needs, I would regard such a banding as the achievement of a broad measure of equalisation which represents our current policy objective.

  Pupil Costs
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the cost per pupil of teaching staff in each Welsh local education authority in 1978–79, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88 respectively.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The cost per pupil of teaching staff in maintained primary and secondary schools is given in the following table. Information in respect of 1987–88 is not yet available.
  517

  £'s at outturn prices

  1978–79

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87 provisional

  Primary schools

  Clwyd

  254·7

  475·8

  502·9

  520·3

  555·9

  616·7

  Dyfed

  286·1

  544·8

  571·0

  589·6

  609·9

  671·7

  Gwent

  259·9

  478·1

  506·5

  503·0

  528·8

  602·8

  Gwynedd

  280·2

  531·0

  558·5

  584·0

  610·5

  679·4

  Mid Glamorgan

  257·4

  499·7

  531·6

  549·6

  583·5

  636·0

  Powys

  326·3

  575·9

  612·6

  637·4

  672·7

  745·0

  South Glamorgan

  253·2

  458·3

  473·6

  495·0

  528·6

  583·8

  West Glamorgan

  281·4

  505·5

  523·6

  538·8

  577·5

  647·5

  Secondary schools

  Clwyd

  369·3

  651·3

  703·4

  742·5

  814·6

  921·4

  Dyfed

  375·4

  676·5

  724·6

  770·9

  832·6

  951·6

  Gwent

  370·1

  670·6

  720·4

  769·2

  839·6

  960·5

  Gwynedd

  374·2

  667·7

  726·4

  771·8

  844·3

  959·6

  Mid Glamorgan

  365·7

  632·8

  683·2

  730·6

  789·0

  893·8

  Powys

  384·4

  680·9

  731·5

  786·1

  859·8

  974·4

  South Glamorgan

  367·3

  651·6

  698·4

  746·8

  809·8

  917·3

  West Glamorgan

  389·5

  721·8

  776·2

  818·0

  899·7

  1,035·7

  Industrial Support and Development
  Mr. Alan Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the annual expenditure for each year since 1972 on industrial support and development in Wales; how much of it was regional development grant and how much regional selective assistance.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Expenditure on regional selective assistance and regional development grants in Wales for the financial years 1972–73 to 1986–87 is as follows:

  RSA

  RDG

  Total

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1972–73

  —

  0·9

  0·9

  1973–74

  4·5

  15·3

  19·8

  1974–75

  7·3

  32·2

  39·5

  1975–76

  10·3

  47·1

  57·4

  1976–77

  6·9

  62·4

  69·3

  1977–78

  6·3

  70·4

  76·7

  1978–79

  30·3

  71·5

  101·8

  1979–80

  18·8

  50·7

  69·5

  1980–81

  10·7

  103·5

  114·2

  1981–82

  9·2

  122·2

  131·4

  1982–83

  15·5

  121·5

  137·0

  1983–84

  18·2

  72·1

  90·3

  1984–85

  25·1

  92·7

  117·8

  1985–86

  28·0

  84·4

  112·4

  1986–87

  35·6

  88·7

  124·3

  Total

  226·7

  1,035·6

  1,262·3

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will construct for Wales a table in the same form as figure J7 in Cmnd. 9714 "Paying For Local Government", showing numbers of adults living in each of the households gaining and losing with full replacement of domestic rates by the community charge;

  (2) if he will reproduce for Wales figure J7 of Cmnd. 9714, "Paying For Local Government", showing households gaining and losing with full replacement of domestic rates by the community charge by (a) local authority and (h) parliamentary constituency.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Estimates for Wales of the total numbers of households which would have gained or lost 518
  had the replacement of domestic rates by the community charge taken place in 1985–86 are given in the following table. These estimates have been derived from a sub-set of the family expenditure survey of about 1,500 Welsh households. It is not possible to derive reliable estimates for individual household types or for individual local authorities or parliamentary constituencies from a sample of this size.

  Households in Wales gaining and losing with full replacement of domestic rates by the community charge

  All households (thousands)

  Pounds per week

  Losers:

  10+

  —

  5–10

  16

  2–5

  137

  1–2

  109

  0–1

  223

  Total losers

  483

  Gainers:

  0–1

  266

  1–2

  109

  2–5

  160

  5–10

  17

  10+

  1

  Total gainers

  552

  Percentage of net income

  Losers:

  10+

  —

  5–10

  —

  2–5

  54

  1–2

  127

  0–1

  302

  Total losers

  483

  Gainers:

  0–1

  325

  1–2

  143

  2–5

  76

  519

  Pounds per week

  5–10

  8

  10+

  —

  Total gainers

  552

  Total households

  1,035

  Numbers may not add owing to rounding.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give an estimate of the numbers of staff that a community charge registration officer for Alyn and Deeside will be required to employ in order to complete registration in the community charge register of all adults in Alyn and Deeside.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  No estimate has been made but an assessment will he considered in discussion with the Welsh Consultative Council on local government finance.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the date when he expects local authorities in Wales to have community charge registration officers in post.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  A community charge registration officer will be appointed by each local authority and will be responsible for compiling and maintaining the community charge register in readiness for its introduction in April 1990.

TRANSPORT

  A6 Bypass (Great Glen)
  Sir John Farr
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he hopes to be able to announce a firm timetable in relation to the construction of the A6 bypass at Great Glen, Leicestershire.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Initial investigations are now in hand. We hope to put forward proposals for public consultation in autumn 1988 and announce a preferred route in 1989. Subject to the results of further investigations and the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures, construction could start late in 1992.

  National Bus Company
  Mr. Morley
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total amount paid out in redundancy payments to staff employed by the National Bus Company in 1986.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I understand from the chairman of the National Bus Company that in 1986 £13·5 million was spent on redundancies in NBC and its various subsidiaries.

  A423 (Road Markings)
  Mr. Baldry
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to take any action to change the road markings on the A423 trunk road south of Deddington; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I am considering whether any changes should be made to the road markings in the interest of road safety. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I can.

  Motorways (Coning)
  Mr. Speller
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he is making to ensure that motorways are not restricted needlessly by coning off one or more lanes when there is not a worker or piece of plant along the particular stretch of road.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department's instructions to its agents emphasise the need to minimise coning off and, once lanes have been coned off, to complete the works and remove the cones as soon as possible. There are times when lane closures may seem unnecessary. Cones are needed to separate workmen from traffic and drivers from potential hazards such as excavated areas or setting concrete. Measures taken to reduce periods of closure include mobile lane closures for some routine maintenance activities and lane rental, a contracts regime under which works are being completed about 30 per cent. faster on average than would be the case under conventional contracts.

  BREL (Redundancies)
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has met the chairman of British Rail to discuss the programme of redundancies recently announced by British Rail Engineering Limited; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The redundancies recently announced by BREL are management matters for the company and the railways board. The British Rail chairman has kept us informed of BREL's plans.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Aitken
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals have been put to him for the construction of a high-speed rail link between London and the planned United Kingdom Channel tunnel terminus at Cheriton.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  None, British Rail is not due to report to me until June 1988 on the outcome of its study into the options for augmenting route, seating and terminal capacity for commuter and international services in Kent. This study, and the need for it, is referred to in the consultation document "Channel Tunnel: A Strategy for Kent" published by the Channel Tunnel Joint Committee impact study team and placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament on 17 August.

  Rural Transport (Essex)
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to what payments have been made in Essex from the rural transport development fund; for which routes; and for what purposes.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  No payments have been made from the rural transport development fund for schemes in Essex. Two applications are being considered at present by the Development Commission, for a community bus serving the Ongar area and a rural taxi-sharing scheme in the Rochford area. A further application is expected for a taxibus service in the Manningtree area. I welcome increasing interest in the assistance available from the £1 million fund of Department of Transport finance managed by the Development Commission.

  Al
  Mr. Jopling
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport why the surface of the A1 road is especially bumpy in the sections around Eaton Socon and between Markham Moor roundabout and the river Trent; what assessment he has made of the implications for the road construction and maintenance programme of this; and who were the contractors concerned in constructing these surfaces.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The 20km section of A1 between Markham Moor roundabout and the river Trent was constructed in the mid 1960s and the Eaton Socon bypass opened in 1971. They were both built by R. McGregor and Sons, now part of Norwest Hoist Civil Engineering Ltd.

  The present condition of the carriageways does not require reconstruction or overlay.

  A series of small repairs was started in 1984 to the Nottinghamshire section to extend the life of the pavement. They have resulted in some reductions in the riding quality. The repair contracts, which will be completed by 1989, are being carried out by Nottinghamshire county council direct labour organisation, Clugston Construction Ltd., Norwest Hoist Civil Engineering Ltd. and Rush and Tompkins Ltd. There are no plans for any substantial maintenance at Eaton Socon.

  Mr. Jopling
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many new roundabouts have been interposed on the A1 road in the last 10 years; how many have been improved; and if he will make it his policy that no further new ones will be interposed in the future.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In the last 10 years, eight new roundabouts have been interposed on the A I in England, 13 have been removed and we have proposals in the programme to remove a further five.

  We have no plans at present to install additional roundabouts on the A1

  Traffic flows vary greatly along the length of the Al. In future improvement, it may be concluded that roundabouts are appropriate for particular junctions in the light of traffic volumes and other aspects of the local situation.

  A46–A47 Link Road
  Mr. Vaz
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if in view of the decision of Leicestershire county council to implement proposals for the A46-A47 link road to pass through the eastern part of Leicester, he will initiate a public inquiry.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The A46–A47 link road is the responsibility of Leicestershire county council as highway authority.

  I understand that it intends to hold public consultations on the recently adopted preferred route.

  A public inquiry would be held into a published compulsory purchase order if objections are received which are not resolved. Local authority orders are subject to the confirmation of the Secretary of State.

  Scheduled Air Service (Manchester-New York)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what applications have been or are being considered for a daily scheduled air service between Manchester and New York; and if he will make a statement.
  522
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  British Airways applied for and was granted a licence by the Civil Aviation Authority to operate between Manchester and New York some years ago. It inaugurated its service in 1985. No other applications are currently before the CAA or the Department of Transport.

  American Airlines and Pan American World Airways have recently applied to the United States Department of Transportation for permission to operate between New York and Manchester. As stated in the Airports Policy White Paper (Cmnd. 9542), we remain willing to negotiate with the United States Government the basis on which United States airlines should have access to Manchester.

  British Rail
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will clarify his advice to the British Railways Board on the legal restrictions on trading between it and British Rail Engineering Ltd., with a view to allowing British Rail Engineering Ltd. to tender for new locomotive building.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  We have given no advice to the Railways Board on any of these matters.

  Buses
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those bus services in the Dyfed county council area which have been put out to tender since October 1986.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information on individual bus services put out to tender by Dyfed county council, or other local authorities within its area, is not held by the Department.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Written Answers
  Mr. John Marsh
  all asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the estimated total cost of answering the questions tabled on Wednesday 21 October for written answer.

  Mr. Wakeham
  It is not possible to calculate the actual cost of answering these specific questions. However, following an inderdepartmental exercise in 1972, an assessment was made of the average cost of answering a written parliamentary question. This average figure is updated regularly and currently stands at £45.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Personnel Management Policy
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he proposes to introduce any changes to personnel management policy.

  Mr. Luce
  The Government will continue to develop new policies and adapt existing ones in order further to improve the effectiveness and professionalism of the Civil Service.

  Secondments
  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many secondments were made between the Civil Service and (a) local authorities and (b) industry and commerce in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Luce
  In 1986, the last full year for which figures are available, there were 56 secondments between the Civil Service and local authorities and 469 between the Civil Service and industry and commerce. The Government are keen that a higher level of secondments be sustained.

  Departmental Costs
  Dr. Hampson
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service if there are any proposals to change the 1987–88 running costs limit for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service.

  Mr. Luce
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the running costs limit for the office of the Minister for the Civil Service (class XX, vote 1) will be reduced by £803,000 from £29,697,000 to £28,894,000. This decrease will be offset by a corresponding increase in the running costs limit for the Economic and Financial Administration (HM Treasury) vote (class XIX, vote 11) and results from the changes in the distribution of functions between the central Departments announced by the Prime Minister on 7 August 1987.

ENERGY

  Sizewell B
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the latest time scale for the construction and operation of Sizewell B pressurised water reactor nuclear power station.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Preliminary work on site started on schedule on 29 June 1987 after consent was given in March. A number of major contracts have now been placed, providing United Kingdom firms with unique opportunities. These totalled nearly £700 million by September. The target construction period to full commissioning is 69 months, and the station is expected to be operational by mid-1994.

  Mr. Devlin
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what effect the construction of the Sizewell B nuclear power station will have on employment opportunities in the energy industry.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I understand that Sizewell B will provide an average of 10,000 jobs in the power engineering and construction industry and on site over a seven year period. The peak will be about 15,000 jobs in 1990–91.

  Electricity Demand
  Mr. Stern
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimates he has for the increase in electricity demand over the next decade.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Estimates of electricity demand are the responsibility of the electricity supply industry. The forecasts for England and Wales adopted by the Electricity 524
  Council in October last year show a steady growth of about 1·5 per cent. a year in electricity demand over the nine years ahead.

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to conduct a comprehensive review of safety at nuclear power stations.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Safety at new nuclear power stations is under continuous review. The operators of nuclear power stations have a statutory responsibility for the safety of their plant. In addition, they must meet the stringent licence requirements of the NII.

  Mr. Loyden
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to improve the security and safety of nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The security and safety of nuclear power stations are the responsibility of the operators concerned and these are continually reviewed. The independent Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive ensures that operators satisfy its stringent licence terms and conditions.

  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what developments there have been between the nuclear installations inspectorate and the Central Electricity Generating Board on the question of the long-term safety review at Bradwell nuclear power station; and if the Central Electricity Generating Board have satisfied the nuclear installations inspectorate on the submissions it has made to them on the issue of the pressure circuit integrity.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 29 October.

  Alternative Energy Sources
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the projects on the use of alternative energies to oil his Department is sponsoring or funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  We have supported several studies of processes for producing synthetic liquid fuels as alternatives to oil. However, results have indicated that liquid fuels produced by such processes would be far more expensive than oil or fuels derived from natural feedstocks, such as natural gas.

  Coal Output
  Mr. Yeo
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the latest forecast for coal output for 1987.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Forecasts of coal output are a matter for the British Coal Corporation. However, coal production by the corporation and its licensees in the 12 months to 10 October 1987 totalled 102 million tonnes. The figure for the calendar year 1987 is not likely to be greatly different.

  Mr. Riddick
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of the financial support the Government are planning for the coal industry.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Over the three years to 1989–90, the Government expect to provide finance of over £2 billion to the coal industry.

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the cost of electricity provided by the latest nuclear power stations compared with that produced by the most modern coal-fired plant.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The latest analysis of comparative generating costs made by the CEGB showed that the average lifetime costs per Kwh, in April 1987 prices, for the most recently commissioned plant at Hinkley Point was 2·82 per Kwh and 3·03 per Kwh for the first stage of the coal fired station at Drax.

  Mr. Evennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what funds his Department is currently providing for research into electricity generation using renewable energy sources.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The current renewables programme includes 94 projects worth over £45 million covering the electricity generating renewable technologies. So far this year 38 projects worth nearly £5 million have been initiated.

  Scottish Coalfields
  Mr. Douglas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the current levels of production and manning in the Scottish coalfields.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I am advised by the British Coal Corporation that during the four weeks up to 24 October the Scottish area produced 205,450 tonnes of coal, and that on 24 October there were 4,274 men on colliery books.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received regarding the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received regarding his plans for the privatisation of electricity.

  Mr. Cecil Parkinson
  I have received representations from electricity consumers, unions, other nationalised industries and members of the public and will take these into account when considering the proposals for the privatisation of the industry.

  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to ensure that, in any future plans for privatisation of the electricity supply industry, the maintenance of a national grid is a statutory requirement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  We are developing our proposals for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry; these do not envisage the breaking up of the national grid.

  Electricity (Privatisation)
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to impose any restriction on cross-Channel importation of electricity if the industry is privatised.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The cross-Channel import of electricity will be a commercial matter for the privatised electricity supply industry.

  EC Energy Ministers
  Mr. Wallace
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had, since assuming office, with Energy Ministers from other European Economic Community countries; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My right hon. Friend met M r. Burke, the Irish Energy Minister, on 16 September when they discussed nuclear and gas matters. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State represented the United Kingdom at an informal meeting of Energy Ministers in Denmark on 20 and 21 September. Discussion centred on energy efficiency, new and renewable sources of energy and the interaction between energy and the environment as addressed in the Brundtland report.

  Mineworkers (Redundancy Payments)
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the state benefits received by a mineworker or his spouse that are deducted from the mineworkers' weekly redundancy payments under the mineworkers' redundancy payments scheme.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  A former mineworker eligible for weekly payments under the redundant mineworkers' payments scheme (RMPS) may have these payments reduced by deduction of all or part of the following state benefits received by himself:

  (a) reduced earnings allowance;

  (b) supplementary allowance;

  (c) supplementary pension.

  No deductions are made from weekly benefits in respect of state benefits received by a beneficiary's spouse. However, where state benefits received by an RMPS beneficiary or his spouse affect the unemployment benefit to which the beneficiary would have been entitled but for exhaustion of entitlement, payments of unemployment benefit equivalent under the RMPS are affected similarly.

  Tidal Power
  Mr. Bellingham
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to encourage the development of tide-generated electricity in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Tidal power will be encouraged provided it remains economically viable and environmentally acceptable. As a result of present studies, some of which I announced in September, I hope that substantive decisions about the Severn will be taken around the end of next year.

  Mining Industry (Flexible Hours)
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to meet the chairman of British Coal in order to discuss flexible working in the mining industry.

  Mr. Eadie
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will meet the chairman of British Coal to discuss the situation in the coal industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I meet the chairman of the British Coal Corporation regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

  Fawley B Power Station
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to receive from the Central Electricity Generating Board a planning application for a proposed new coal-fired power station at Fawley B.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The CEGB has informed me that it intends to make an application to my right hon. Friend for consent to construct a coal-fired power station at Fawley B by the end of the year.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has for improving the energy efficiency of housing and public buildings.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I have recently announced a strategic review of the work of the energy efficiency office of the Department, which will include the programmes designed to promote energy efficiency in housing and public buildings.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Flynn
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas) 24 July, at column 520, if he has now received the nuclear installations inspectorate's audit progress report on Sellafield's safety improvements; and if he will now make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I understand from the Health and Safety Executive that British Nuclear Fuels plc has made good progress in meeting the improvements required in the HSE's Sellafield audit report which cover four main areas:—

  (i) plant: short and medium term improvements have been carried out. Those with a longer timescale which involve design and modification proposals, are being agreed between BNF plc and the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

  (ii) safety cases: BNF plc are on target for the preparation of safety cases which are required by the end of the year and priorities for work in subsequent years have also been agreed.

  (iii) training: training procedures for all levels of staff have been improved following a thorough review; and

  (iv) operating procedures: these have been completely reviewed and in some cases (such as shift handover) new procedures have been reintroduced. Quality assurance systems are being used to reinforce operating procedures.

  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport West (Mr. Flynn) of 20 July, at column 19, how many meetings, involving how many staff from his Department, have been held between his Department and the European Commission following the completion of the consultations on Sellafield safeguards to which he made reference.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I have nothing to add to my answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 20 July at column 19.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Flynn
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether in the light of the statements submitted on past Central Electricity Generating Board plutonium use by
  528
  Lord Marshall, chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board, on 15 October, he now has anything to add to the statement made by the then Minister in his Department, the right hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) on 4 February 1983, at column 206.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Ashdown) on 19 May 1986 at column 31.

  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) in what way the plutonium with plutonium-Z40 content less than 15 percent. produced at Trawsfynydd Magnox reactors (a) between 1965 and 31st March 1969 and (b) between 1st April 1969 and the present, has been disposed of;

  (2) whether he has any further information on the uses to which Central Electricity Generating Board plutonium has been put further to the statement made by his right hon. Friend, the Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) on 4 February 1983, at column 206; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 15 and 18 April 1986 at column 330 and 525, respectively.

  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish tables of (a) the annual amount of spent nuclear fuel dispatched and (b) the annual amount of plutonium created, each by date and quantity, in the Trawsfynydd Magnox nuclear plant in the periods 1965 to March 1969 inclusive, April 1969 to April 1979 inclusive, and May 1979 to the present date.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 12 March 1987 column 278.

  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 10 July, at column 289, on the publication of information on civil plutonium production, whether he is now able to make an announcement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 30 October 1987 to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick).

  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there have been any recent requests from the United States government concerning the availability of British plutonium for export to the United States of America for (a) civil and (b) military uses.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Exports of plutonium to the United States for civil purposes take place from time to time. The destinations and quantities are commercially confidential.

  On part (b) of his question, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 15 April 1986 at column 330.

  Nuclear Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will now make it his policy to publish a weekly input/ output table, backdated to 1 January, of spent Magnox fuel arising from civil Magnox reactors, together with the arisings of resulting depleted uranium and plutonium stocks for the throughput at the Windscale B205 reprocessor plant at British Nuclear Fuels Limited plc Sellafield.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No.

  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department is considering any requests for permission to sell nuclear waste management technology to the United States of America.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No formal request has been made.

  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received any recent request for permission to sell nuclear reprocessing technology to Japan.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Yes. As a result the Government have exchanged notes with the Japanese Government under which we have received assurances as to the use to which this should be put, in line with the policy laid down by the then Foreign Secretary in a parliamentary answer on 31 March 1976 at columns 514–16.

  Windscale Piles
  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 10 July, at column 289, if he has any

  United Kingdom coal imports

  '000 tonnes from:

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Australia

  2,164

  2,847

  1,791

  1,143

  1,987

  1,859

  5,390

  3,822

  United States of America

  1,031

  3,653

  1,954

  2,053

  1,142

  3,344

  3,145

  3,560

  Poland

  658

  446

  142

  320

  509

  1,359

  1,387

  1,217

  Canada

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  117

  399

  449

  Federal Republic of Germany

  229

  80

  132

  334

  482

  959

  746

  439

  South Africa

  38

  66

  80

  67

  58

  257

  725

  312

  Netherlands

  22

  23

  8

  43

  86

  304

  306

  218

  Belgium

  22

  14

  7

  34

  63

  232

  167

  169

  Bulgaria

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  81

  144

  Colombia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  89

  56

  USSR

  65

  46

  34

  12

  23

  11

  23

  48

  China

  58

  66

  —

  5

  8

  22

  34

  26

  German Democratic Republic

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  74

  37

  23

  France

  —

  —

  1

  14

  7

  229

  28

  21

  Irish Republic

  55

  41

  5

  3

  4

  17

  12

  11

  Others

  33

  52

  136

  34

  87

  110

  66

  39

  TOTAL

  4,375

  7,334

  4,290

  4,062

  4,456

  8,894

  12,635

  10,554

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Value of imports

  138

  214

  158

  182

  215

  493

  674

  443

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Average per tonne

  31·45

  29·23

  36·75

  44·86

  48·20

  55·44

  53·34

  41·95

EMPLOYMENT

  Mining Accidents
  Mr. Haynes
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he next meets the chairman of British
  530
  further information available on the decommissioning of the Windscale piles by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Plans for carrying out decommissioning work on the Windscale piles were announced by the chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on 5 October. A copy of his statement has been placed in the Library.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about proposals for privatisation of services within his Department's responsibility.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My Department currently uses the private sector for a number of services. Some others are being actively considered for possible contracting out and we are searching for more opportunities.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost and tonnage of importing coal into the United Kingdom, with country of origin, for each of the years from 1979.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Tonnages of coal imported into the United Kingdom in each year since 1979 are shown, by country of origin, in the following table. The total and average costs of the coal imported in each year, as at the United Kingdom port of entry, are shown at the foot of the same table.

  Coal whether he will raise with him the number of accidents underground and what the chairman aims to do to bring about a reduction.

  Mr. Cope
  I have no immediate plans to meet the chairman of British Coal but the reduction of
  531
  underground accidents is the subject of continual dialogue between the industry and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Mines and Quarries, which investigates fatal and major injury accidents in mines.

  Herald of Free Enterprise
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if an inspector of the Health and Safety Commission will prosecute Townsend Thoresen Ltd., under sections 2(1), (2)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), 3(1) and 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 arising out of the operation of the ship Herald of Free Enterprise; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. Health and safety matters on board ship are a matter for the Department of Transport. In the wake of the findings of the coroner's inquest, the papers have been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions who is considering whether or not to instigate proceedings.

  Closed Shop
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the responses to the Green Paper "Trade Unions and Their Members" were in favour of the proposal that immunity should be removed from all industrial action designed to create or maintain a closed shop; how many were against the proposal; and how many did not express an opinion.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Responses to the Green Paper "Trade Unions and Their Members" and comments on particular proposals have been treated in confidence by my Department. I can tell the hon. Gentleman, however, that a substantial majority of those who commented on this proposal expressed approval.

  YTS
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the current providers of training places on youth training schemes in Coventry; and how many places each are providing.

  Mr. Cope
  Information is not currently available in the form requested. A national list of YTS managing agents who have the status of approved training organisation is being compiled and will be published in 1988. The list will contain details of the number of places made available by each approved training organisation alongside other information.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people, by sex, work full-time and part-time in (a) the Dundee, East constituency and (b) the Dundee travel-to-work area for the latest available date; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979;

  (2) how many people in (a) the Dundee, East constituency and (b) the Dundee travel-to-work area are employed in the service industries on the latest available figures; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979;

  (3) how many people in (a) the Dundee, East constituency and (b) the Dundee travel-to-work area are
  532
  employed in manufacturing industry on the latest available figures; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. John Lee
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: This information is available only for dates when censuses of employment are taken. The available information from the September 1984 and the previous September 1981 census of employment is set out. For parliamentary constituencies, a breakdown of employees by industry and by full and part-time status is not available for the earlier year.

  Employees in employment1

  September 1981

  September 1984

  Dundee East Constituency2

  All industries and services

  20,700

  20,200

  Males

  full-time

  n.a.

  12,500

  part-time

  n.a.

  700

  all

  13,700

  13,100

  Females

  full-time

  n.a.

  3,900

  part-time

  n.a.

  3,100

  all

  7,000

  7,000

  Service industries

  n.a.

  10,200

  Manufacturing industries

  n.a.

  7,600

  Dundee Travel-to-work area3

  All industries and services

  83,600

  80,300

  Males

  full-time

  42,000

  40,000

  part-time

  2,600

  2,400

  all

  44,600

  42,400

  Females

  full-time

  23,600

  21,300

  part-time

  15,500

  16,600

  all

  39,000

  37,900

  Service industries

  54,000

  55,600

  Manufacturing industries

  22,300

  18,400

  1The figures exclude the self-employed and members of Her Majesty's Forces.

  2To facilitate comparisons over time, the figures for the constituency are aggregates of frozen wards (ie, ward boundaries as at 1981).

  3Travel-to-work area defined in terms of frozen wards.

  n.a.—not available.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed by environmental and conservation groups in the United Kingdom under the community programme at the latest available date; what was the number in 1986; and if he is able to forecast numbers for 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: On 14 October 1987, there were 62,868 authorised places on the community programme, primarily on environmental and landscaping projects. On 20 November 1986, the nearest comparable date, there were 81,256 such places; it is not possible to forecast the corresponding number of places for 1988. Other places often include an element of environmental and landscape improvement.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the proposed changes in eligibility for employment under the community programme on recruitment by conservation and environmental groups; and if he will make a statement.
  533
  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: The changes in community programme eligibility will focus the programme more closely on long-term unemployed people, a group most in need of the opportunities the programme provides. There are unlikely to be any major effects on recruitment, with over 1 million people eligible for a place under the new eligibility rules.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firearms
  Mr. Illsley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to a requirement that all firearms licence holders hold membership of an approved shooting club throughout the full duration of their licence.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Applicants who apply for firearm certificates for target shooting are already required to establish membership of a rifle or pistol club and this is normally checked on renewal every three years. We are not persuaded that more frequent checks on club membership, which would be costly, would significantly improve the present control.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in making his proposals for a reform of firearms law, he will include proposals to (a) subject shotguns to the same control as firearms and (b) ban the sale by mail order of all firearms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend has already announced his intention to bring self loading and pump action shotguns under the same controls as rifles and handguns. We also intend to impose a statutory obligation on shotgun certificate holders to store their weapons securely when they are not being used. As he announced in the debate on firearms in the House on 26 October, columns 28 to 69, we are considering suggestions in respect of a number of related issues and hope to announce comprehensive proposals by the end of November.

  Mr. John
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in his proposed legislation on firearms he will take power to ban gun shops from displaying for sale hoods and masks.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

  Prisons
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison inmates were reported as (i) using needles or syringes for the injection of drugs and (ii) involved in sexual activity in contravention of prison rules, (a) in 1986 and (b) in the current year to date.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information is not available in the form requested. The best evidence available by which to assess the level of any form of drug misuse in prison department establishments is the number of finds of substances or implements. In 1986, there were some 2,300 reports of such finds, the great majority of which were of cannabis or of implements for smoking cannabis. Finds of 27 needles and 41 syringes were reported. Some of the finds of needles and syringes were associated. In the first eight months of the current year, 929 reports were received, of 534
  which the great majority again concerned finds of cannabis and related implements. During the same period, nine needles and 13 syringes were reported to have been found. Again, some of the finds of needles and syringes were associated.

  There is no disciplinary offence under the rules which relate specifically to sexual activity and it is not possible to identify separately charges in relation to such activity.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accesses there have been to each of the indexes of the Police National Computer over the last year; and how many of these retrieved data from more than one index.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The total number of accesses to each of the indices of the police national computer in the year to October 1987 was as follows:

  Index

  Number of accesses

  1 Stolen and suspect vehicles

  19,397,934

  2 Vehicle owners

  3 Chassis/engine numbers

  645,624

  4 Fingerprints

  217,953

  5 Fingerprints—Scenes of crime

  13,697

  6 Criminal names

  10

  7 Wanted/missing persons

  1,691,799

  8 Disqualified drivers

  716,259

  9 Convictions

  357,406

  10 Major investigations

  134,365

  11 Crime pattern analysis

  147,906

  There have also been the following joint accesses:

  Number

  To indices 6, 7 and 9

  1,616,713

  To indices 6, 7, 8 and 9

  6,024,344

  To indices 4, 6 and 9

  524,680

  To indices 6 and 9

  1,135,707

  1 All accesses to the criminal names index are now shown as joint accesses in the above table, as requests for criminal names information will in addition automatically generate information from the convictions application.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the implications for Her Majesty's Government's eventual ratification of the European convention covering automated data processing of the universities' code of practice on subject access.

  Mr. Renton
  None.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to publish the number of certificates signed under section 27 of the Data Protection Act.

  (2) if he will seek powers under the Data Protection Act to enable him to oblige universities to permit subject access to examination marks.

  Mr. Renton
  No.

  Nationality
  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will accept as valid all application

  535
  forms under the provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981 received by his Department by 31 December, thus permitting corrections to be made after the deadline.

  Mr. Renton
  We will normally he prepared to treat applications received on or before 31 December 1987 as if they had been valid even though the application form was not correctly completed, provided the applicant makes good the defect within a reasonable time of being requested to do so.

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr. Sims
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are being held in police cells; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  Nine hundred and ten on 2 November.

  The lifting of industrial action in certain prisons in south east England last week was welcome. The police and prison services are now working hard to clear prisoners from police cells. That involves moving a large number of prisoners around the country and will take about a fortnight to complete.

  It is now operationally sensible to hand back Rollestone camp on Salisbury plain for military use. The use of the camp, which was among the package of measures I announced on 16 July, provided a measure of relief until the greater effects of the change in the remission rules were felt in late August. It has made a useful contribution to that end, accommodating more than 400 prisoners since it opened, of which the overwhelming majority were category C sentenced prisoners.

  Later industrial action taken by the Prison Officers' Association at certain prisons in the south east created a different situation. It resulted in a rapid build up of remand prisoners in police cells although space existed within the prisons concerned. Although a number of carefully selected prisoners awaiting trial have been accommodated in Rollestone camp it is not suitable for use wholly as a remand establishment. It is a long way from the courts and the dormitory accommodation is not right from the security point of view for most prisoners who have been refused bail and are normally put in category B. Rollestone has had to be staffed entirely by the prison service and the staff concerned could be better deployed elsewhere.

  With the suspension of industrial action and with many establishments changing to "fresh start" working, the staff at Rollestone can now play a more effective part by returning to the permanent prison system. It was always the intention that the camp should be returned to military use at about this time. The possibility will remain to reopening it if the need arises.

  This assessment of operational need is not affected by the proposed ballot of POA members.

  Forensic Science Tests
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has now taken to develop forensic science testing; and what study he has given to proposals to make available independent forensic science tests to defendants.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Defendants are already able to engage forensic scientists from the private sector if they wish, and we see no need for Government action on this matter.
  536
  We will continue to support the work of the forensic science service central research establishment at Aldermaston in developing forensic science techniques.

  Life-sentence Prisoners
  Mr. Iain Mills
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to Her Majesty's Government of maintaining those serving life sentences in prisons in 1979, 1983, 1985 and 1987.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is not possible to distinguish the costs of keeping different types of prisoner in prison. The average net operating cost of keeping an inmate in custody during the financial years quoted below was:

  £

  1979–80

  7,072

  1983–84

  12,168

  1985–86

  12,792

  1986–87

  1—

  1 Not yet available.

  Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986
  Mr. Evennett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figures he has on the operation of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The main provisions of the Act have been in force since 12 January 1987. Information about the numbers and value of confiscation orders made under section 1 is being collected centrally, and will be published in the criminal statistics for 1987. In addition, I understand that the High Court, by 27 October, had made 122 restraint or charging orders under sections 8 and 9 of the Act. The precise value of property affected by restraint and charging orders cannot readily be identified: a restraint order may affect the whole of a person's property, and the value of the property may not have been determined at that stage.

  Dangerous Weapons
  Mr. Canavan
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take further measures to protect the public from people who use dangerous weapons.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As my right hon. Friend indicated in the debate on firearms in the House on 26 October (columns 35–41), the Government intend to introduce a new Firearms Bill before Christmas to strengthen existing controls. As for other potentially offensive weapons, provisions have been added to the Criminal Justice Bill, currently in another place, which will enable the manufacture, sale and importation of specified weapons (other than firearms and crossbows) to be prohibited and which broadly will make it an offence to carry a bladed or sharply pointed article in public without good reason.

  Television Licences
  Mr. William Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in Northern Ireland have been prosecuted for non-payment of television licences in Northern Ireland in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Renton
  The information available relates to the following financial years:
  537

  Year

  Prosecutions

  1979–80

  139

  1980–81

  8

  1981–82

  133

  1982–83

  341

  1983–84

  575

  1984–85

  645

  1985–86

  782

  1986–87

  838

  1987 to date

  435

  Extradition
  Mr. William Rose
  asked the Secretary of State fot the Home Department how many requests for the extradition

  Requests received in England and Wales from the Republic of Ireland for return of persons under the Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965

  Requests received

  Requests granted

  1Requests refused

  2Requests not acted on for other reasons

  1982

  9

  7

  —

  2

  1983

  15

  11

  —

  4

  1984

  31

  24

  —

  7

  1985

  29

  18

  —

  11

  1986

  15

  5

  3

  7

  1In these cases the warrant was held by a court to be defective.

  2eg. because the fugitive was at the time serving a prison sentence in this country or could not be traced.

  Knives
  Mr. John
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in his legislation to exert greater control over the use of knives in public he will ban the display for sale in gun shops of knives.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no plans to do so. Our proposals to ban the sale of offensive weapons for which there is no legitimate use may bear indirectly on the display of a very limited number of knives.

  Fire Services
  Mr. Terry Fields
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give national figures, brigade by brigade, on reductions in establishments, for the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, for the British fire service: and how many of these reductions apply to (a) whole-time posts, (b) part-time posts and (c) non-operational posts.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information sought can be derived from the annual reports of HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales and for Scotland for the relevant years, copies of which are in the Library.

  Citizenship
  Mr. Battle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have registered for British citizenship under the British Nationality Act 1981, for each week in September and October in (a) Leeds, West, (b) Leeds metropolitan district council area and (c) England.

  Mr. Renton
  This information is not available.
  538
  of persons from England and Wales to the Republic of Ireland have been received in each of the last five years; and how many of these requests have been (a) granted and (b)refused.

  Mr. John Patten
  The return of fugitives to and from the Republic of Ireland takes place on the basis of individual warrants of arrest. The table below provides figures for the number of persons who were the subject of such warrants from the Republic for the years 1982 to 1986.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in line with the Swedish model, he will provide facilities for the broadcasting media to phone up convicted prisoners to seek their views on the legitimacy of their convictions and to elicit comment on the state of comfort in which they are being detained.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Mallon
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests have been made by prisoners serving sentences in Britain for transfers to prisons in Northern Ireland since 1968; and how many transfer have been made as a result of these requests.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information readily available extends back to 1973 and relates to inmates serving sentences in England and Wales. Since the beginning of that year there have been 238 requests from inmates for permanent transfer to establishments in Northern Ireland. and 25 transfers. A number of prisoners made more than one request.

  Police Complaints Authority
  Mr. McLoughlin
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any new appointment has been made to the Police Complaints Authority.

  Mr. Hurd
  Air Vice-Marshal David Clark, CBE, who is at present the military deputy to the head of defence export services at the Ministry of Defence, has accepted my invitation to serve as a member of the authority. He will take up his post on 10 November.

  Appeals
  Mr. Speller
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take the protect the public from appeals for funds supposedly destined for treatment by unproven medical techniques.

  Mr. John Patten
  Generally speaking, it is open to anyone to appeal to the public for funds.

  Central Government responsibility for medical treatment is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Security.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Sheepmeat
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy that variable premiums will he retained in any reforms of the European Economic Community sheepmeat regime accepted by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I attach considerable importance to the system for paying variable premium to sheep farmers in Great Britain: it generates confidence; encourages orderly marketing and the presentation of good quality lambs; and helps producers' cash flow. In the forthcoming negotiations I shall be stressing these points.

  Free Butter
  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he received on the 1986 scheme to distribute free European Economic Community butter; and whether he will consult the retail trade and charitable organisations on the administration of any similar scheme in 1987 prior to proposals being finalised.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I received a large number of representations from hon. Members, members of the European Parliament, charitable and other organisations, trade bodies and members of the public on the free food arrangements operated in the United Kingdom in January-March 1987. The European Commission has recently proposed to the Council of Ministers a permanent free food scheme providing for distribution of products held in intervention stores to the most needy. The Council has not yet taken a decision. I am reflecting on what scope there would be for distributions of butter and beef from intervention stores in the United Kingdom under the Commission's proposals if adopted. I am in close touch with the charitable organisations on this point, and will conduct appropriate wider consultations as and when necessary.

  Horticulture (Storm Damage)
  Mr. Nelson
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will provide assistance in addition to existing grant schemes for glass-house growers who have suffered storm damage during the night of 15 and 16 October.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer, 29 October 1987]While I sympathise with growers whose glass-houses have suffered storm damage, these are insurable structures.540
  Many growers will have insured and, as the Prime Minister has already said, there is no way we can make equal those who are not insured with those who are.

  Forestry Schemes (Consultation Procedures)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all grant-aided and non grant-aided forestry schemes operating in the United Kingdom at present, indicating where applicable the nature of consultation procedures involved prior to planting.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer, 26 October 1987]Grant aid for forestry in Great Britain is provided under the Forestry Commission's forestry grant scheme and broadleaved woodland grant scheme. The consultation procedures are set out in the Forestry Commission booklet "Consultation Procedures", a copy of which is being placed in the Library of the House. Similar grant schemes operate in Northern Ireland, but these are not subject to formal consultation procedures.

  I am not aware of any non grant-aided forestry schemes.

  Food and Environment Act 1986
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the operation and effectiveness of the terms of the Food and Environment Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer. 26 October 1987]Yes. The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 has now been brought into effect. Part I has been useful in controlling the movement and slaughter of sheep from upland areas contaminated by radioactivity resulting from the Chernobyl accident. Part II has introduced improved controls over the disposal of waste at sea. For the Government's progress in implementing the powers in part III I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Harborough (Sir J. Farr), on 15 July (col.535).

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Petty Officer John Black
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress of his diplomatic exchanges with the Foreign Ministry of Spain regarding investigations within Spain by British police relating to the unlawful killing of Petty Officer John Black, Royal Navy, in Sabinillas over Christmas 1983; and what further initiative he intends to take in this matter.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Spanish authorities have recently given permission for investigations to be undertaken within Spain by British police in connection with the death of Petty Officer Black.

  I shall await the outcome of these investigations before deciding what, if any, further initiative is possible.

  Under-Secretaries of State
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom-based under-secretaries of state there are in his Department; of what age and length of service; and if he will list their responsibilities.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In the diplomatic wing, in addition to the permanent under-secretary and deputy permanent under-secretary, there are 19 United Kingdom-based under-secretaries currently working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Their responsibilities, age and length of service are as follows:

  Responsibilities

  Age

  Length of Service

  Deputy Under Secretaries

  The Americas, Caribbean and Far East

  53

  17

  The Commonwealth, Africa and the Middle East

  52

  27

  Defence, Arms Control, Nuclear matters, Security, Ireland

  51

  25

  Trade, Energy, Science, Transport, European Community

  55

  32

  Chief Clerk (Administration of the Diplomatic Service)

  58

  33

  Assistant Under Secretaries of Slate (AUSS)

  Africa and Commonwealth Coordination

  49

  22

  Europe

  53

  32

  Far East, South Asia, Pacific

  53

  29

  Latin America, Caribbean and Atlantic

  53

  26

  Middle East, North Africa

  50

  26

  Defence, Arms Control, Nuclear (non-proliferation)

  49

  25

  Energy Science, Transport, United Nations, Narcotics Control

  53

  28

  European Community

  45

  21

  Public Departments (Consular Visa, Nationality etc)

  54

  32

  Trade Relations

  53

  28

  Deputy Chief Clerk and Chief Inspector

  49

  24

  Finance, Audit, Office Services, Overseas Estate

  50

  27

  Protocol, Vice Marshall of the Diplomatic Corps

  53

  29

  Communications

  56

  34

  In the aid wing, in addition to the permanent secretary and deputy secretary, there are seven United Kingdom-based under-secretaries of state as follows:

  Responsibilities

  Age

  Length of Service

  Africa

  50

  24

  Asia

  54

  20

  Economist

  57

  21

  Establishments and Overseas Manpower

  44

  22

  Finance

  43

  20

  Internal Division

  57

  35

  Natural Resources

  45

  7

  British Council
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new resources he has given to the British Council following the recommendations of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  542
  Mr. Eggar
  The hon. Member will appreciate that I cannot anticipate the decisions of the Chancellor's autumn statement.

  Persian Gulf
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his reply on 21 October to the hon. Member for The Wrekin, Official Report, column 730, he will list the fundamental differences between British and United States foreign policy in the Gulf.

  Mr. Mellor
  We share with the Americans a determination to uphold freedom of navigation in the Gulf as part of a policy of bringing the wasteful and destabilising Iran-Iraq conflict to a negotiated end. We each have naval forces in the Gulf for this purpose, but their tasks and methods of operation are fundamentally different. The Armilla patrol exists to provide reassurance to British ships, and to accompany their passage to the best of its limited resources. It provides no guarantee of protection and does not convoy or escort. Nor does it operate beyond the Strait of Hormuz and the southern Gulf.

  Arms Control
  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his departmental staff are currently employed on arms control and disarmament verification research.

  Mr. Mellor
  Fourteen people in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office work either full or part-time on aspects of our arms control and disarmament policy which includes verification research.

  Dr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had any discussions with his counterparts in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America about the arrangements for intrusive verification by Soviet nationals at the cruise missile bases at Greenham common and Molesworth as part of the current arms control and disarmament negotiations between the Soviet and the United States Governments on intermediate range nuclear forces.

  Mr. Mellor
  The details of the INF verification regime are still being discussed. The INF talks are bilateral between the United States and Soviet Governments, but there has been a continual dialogue between the United States and British Governments about all aspects of the negotiations, including the inspection arrangements. Any provision in the treaty relating to access by inspectors to the territory of the United Kingdom will have been agreed in advance by us.

  SWAPO
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a representative of Her Majesty's Government last met Mr. Sam Nujoma, President of the South-West Africa People's Organisation; and whether any future discussions are planned.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I met Mr. Nujoma on 26 October. No future discussions are planned.
  543
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed at the last meeting between a representative of her Majesty's Government and Mr. Sam Nujoma, President of South-West Africa People's Organisation.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Details of such exchanges must remain confidential. But the points which I put to Mr. Nujoma included our concern at alleged human rights abuses by SWAPO and condemnation of violence from whatever quarter, as well as our support for United Nations Security Council resolution 435.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last made representations to the South-West Africa People's Organisation concerning the detention without trial or legal representation of 100 Namibians by the South-West Africa People's Organisation in camps in Angola and Zambia; and whether he has any further information about these detainees.

  Mrs. Chalker
  When I saw Mr. Nujoma on 26 October I again expressed our concern at alleged human rights abuses in SWAPO refugee camps in Angola and Zambia. We have no independent information on conditions in the camps.

  Hong Kong Financial Futures Exchange
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the Hong Kong Government have provided HK$ 1 billion to guarantee the completion of transactions on the Hong Kong financial futures exchange; and if there will be an official inquiry into the operation of the Hong Kong financial futures exchange.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Hong Kong Government considered that, in the light of the turbulent conditions affecting stock and foreign exchange markets around the world, and the effect this was having on the financial futures exchange in Hong Kong, use of the exchange fund to provide support to the Hong Kong Futures Guarantee Corporation, in conjunction with matching support from local financial institutions, was fully justified under the terms of the Hong Kong exchange fund ordinance. The Financial Secretary has said in the Legislative Council that the Hong Kong Government will be undertaking a thorough review of the stock and financial futures markets and of the Government's regulatory position. Details of this review and its terms of reference will be announced shortly.

  WEU (Ministerial Meeting)
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent Western European Union ministerial meeting in The Hague.

  Mr. Mellor
  The meeting in The Hague marked a step forward in the renaissance of WEU and in the development of a more coherent and effective input by Europeans into their own security and that of the Atlantic Alliance as a whole. A platform on European security interests was agreed that will guide WEU's development for the foreseeable future, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. Ministers also discussed East-West relations; noted with satisfaction the practical co-operation between the naval forces of WEU 544
  members in the Gulf; and encouraged the continuing rationalisation and reorganisation of WEU's agencies. I am pleased that following the meeting on 28 October President Reagan publicly welcomed the willingness of the European allies to seek a larger, more closely-co-ordinated role for Western Europe in providing its own defence.

  Equal Opportunities
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is (a) the proportion of working time allocated to his departmental equal opportunities officer for equal opportunities duties, (b) the other duties carried out by the departmental equal opportunities officer, (c) the proportion, and the amount, of the departmental budget which is allocated to equal opportunities work, (d) the number of occasions when the departmental equal opportunities officer meets with equal opportunities officers from other Government Departments each year, (e) the guidelines issued to his departmental training officers and equal opportunities officers to promote the use of section 47 of the Sex Discrimination Act, and (f) the action taken to facilitate jobshare, part-time working and parental leave.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1987, c. 269]: There are two equal opportunity officers in the diplomatic wing and one in the aid wing. The proportion of their time allocated to equal opportunity work is 15, 10 and 10 per cent., respectively. They combine their equal opportunity duties with personnel management, policy and training responsibilities as assistant heads of departments.

  There is no budget specifically allocated to equal opportunity work. Costs are borne on many budgets and could be calculated only at disproportionate effort and expense.

  The equal opportunity officers meet their counterparts from other departments formally once a year. In addition, they or their representatives meet other departments' representatives regularly to discuss specific equal opportunity matters and participate in seminars and briefings.

  Guidance is issued to equal opportunity officers and training officers on all aspects of equal opportunities, including the Sex Discrimination Act.

  Following consultation with the trade union side, departmental procedures have been amended to facilitate jobsharing, part-time working and parental leave. A booklet was recently issued to staff explaining these and other equal opportunity initiatives. The aid wing is discussing with the trade union side a formal agreement on jobsharing and part-time working.

SCOTLAND

  Prisons
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the numbers of prisoners held in Scottish prisons in each of the last 10 years under the following categories: remand prisoners, fine defaulters, other short term prisoners and long term prisoners.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The figures are as follows:
  545

  Average daily prison population 1977–86

  Type of inmate

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Remand

  706

  728

  691

  705

  746

  844

  863

  942

  1,092

  1,017

  Defaulter

  286

  309

  293

  386

  231

  234

  228

  259

  309

  330

  Other short term

  2,282

  2,271

  1,855

  2,050

  1,863

  2,121

  2,268

  1,938

  1,965

  1,951

  Long term

  1,597

  1,754

  1,746

  1,719

  1,678

  1,692

  1,692

  1,614

  1,907

  2,289

  Total

  4,871

  5,062

  4,585

  4,860

  4,518

  4,891

  5,052

  4,753

  5,273

  5,588

  Notes:

  (1) The figures are for all inmates in Scottish penal establishments including under-21's.

  (2) "Defaulter" includes fine and compensation order defaulters.

  (3) "Short term" includes those serving sentences of less than 18 months, together with those serving borstal sentences.

  (4) "Long term" includes those serving fixed sentences of 18 months or longer and indeterminate sentences.

  (5) Sub-totals may not add to totals duc to rounding.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the objectives of the prison system in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The following statement, which remains valid, was issued on 30 October 1985 to all staff in the Scottish prison service.

  "The task of the Scottish Prison Service is:—

  (i) to keep in custody untried or unsentenced prisoners, and to ensure that they are available to be presented to court for trial or sentence:

  (ii) to keep in custody, with such degree of security as is appropriate, having regard to the nature of the individual prisoner and his offence, sentenced prisoners for the duration of their sentence or for such shorter time as the Secretary of State may determine in cases where he has discretion;

  (iii) to provide for prisoners as full a life as is consistent with the facts of custody, in particular making available the physical necessities of life; care for physical and mental health; advice and help with personal problems; work, education, skill training, physical exercise and recreation; and opportunity to practice their religion;

  (iv) to promote and preserve the self-respect of prisoners;

  (v) to enable prisoners to retain links with family and community; and

  (vi) to encourage them to respond and contribute positively to society on discharge."

  Housing
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing changes in the provision of Government financial support, including tax incentives, to public and private sector housing, respectively, since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information required to produce a table in the form requested is not available within the Scottish Development Department.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what additional advice is to be given to community charge registration officers as to the sale of names and addresses of people contained in the community charge register, when the sale of the names and addresses takes place without the consent or knowledge of the data subject;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 7 July at column 99, whether he will consult the Data Protection Registrar before he issues orders under section 20(11) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Act which involve the access or disclosure of the personal data from the community charge register.
  546
  Mr. Lang
  Draft regulations on the registration procedures for the community charge system have recently been issued for consultation and a copy has been sent to the Data Protection Registrar. The draft regulations propose that the copies of the community charges register which are to be sent to the Keeper of the Records of Scotland under section 20(10) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 should be made available for public inspection after 30 years from the end of the year in which they are sent to him. The draft regulations also provide for the fees to be charged when copies of the parts of the register which are available for public inspection are made available for sale under section 20(4) of the Act. My right hon. and learned Friend is considering whether any amendment to section 20(4) of the Act is required to provide for any restriction on the parts of the public register which may be made available for sale.

  Monofilament Nets
  Mr. Beith
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he has given to officials responsible for enforcing the ban on the carriage of monofilament nets following the decision of the Stranraer sheriff court that the relevant order is invalid; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As the procurator fiscal has marked an appeal against the sheriff's decision it is not necessary to issue further instructions to enforcement officers. They will continue to apply the terms of the relevant order pending the matter coming before the High Court of Justiciary. In the circumstances it would not be appropriate to make a statement.

  Fokker Aircraft (Delivery)
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how late was the delivery of the Fokker aircraft to his Department's protection service, compared with the stipulations in the tender documents; and if any financial penalty has been imposed upon the supplying company.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The tender specification issued by the Department sought delivery by 31 July 1987 at the latest and the supply contract for the Fokker laid down delivery for June 1987. However during the process of acquisition it was agreed that extra fuel tanks originally scheduled for later installation would be more economically installed before delivery. The extra work resulted in
  547
  the acceptance of the aircraft on 5 August 1987 and as this later date reflected a decision to avoid subsequent downtime no financial penalty was appropriate.

  School Management
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the formal requests made by parent-teacher organisations and the schools councils for spokesmen to attend meetings to explain the background to the school management consultation proposals; how many of these requests were met; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Requests have reached me by a variety of means both formal and informal. No comprehensive record exists but as I have already told the hon. Member in correspondence I have received over 100 requests in total, and have accepted those which my diary allowed and successfully arranged for alternative speakers in but a few cases. It would not be appropriate for Scottish Education Department officials to attend such meetings.

  School Boards (Strathclyde)
  Mr. Wray
  askedthe Secretary of State for Scotland how many school boards would be created under his proposals contained in the consultative paper "School Management and the Rôle of the Parents" in the whole of the Strathclyde regional council area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government's proposal is that there should be one board for each primary and secondary school, but that schools with 100 pupils or less might be grouped under single boards. Any grouping arrangements would be for local decision.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Strathclyde regional council representatives would be required in order to take part in the meetings of the school boards proposed by his consultative paper "School Management and the Rôle of Parents".

  Mr. Michael Forysyth
  We have proposed that the education authority should appoint one representative to each school board. It would be for the education authority itself to decide who should be its representatives.

  Sexual Assault
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what responses he has received to his report on prosecuting sexual assault; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. and learned Friend gave to the right hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Millan) on 26 November 1987 at column 144.

  Coniferious Trees
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy for encouraging the planting of coniferous trees.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The planting of coniferious trees is encouraged under the Forestry Commission's forestry grant scheme.

  Extradition (Republic of Ireland)
  Mr. William Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many requests for the extradition of persons from Scotland to the Republic of Ireland have been received in each of the last five years, and how many of these requests have been (a) granted and (b) refused.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is not available and cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost. It is likely however that requests for the extradition of persons resident in Scotland from the Republic of Ireland have averaged two or three per annum and that all such requests have been granted.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will construct for Scotland a table in the same form as figure J7 in Cmnd. 9714, "Paying For Local Government," showing numbers of adults living in each of the households gaining and losing with full replacement of domestic rates by the community charge;

  (2) if he will reproduce for Scotland figure J7 of Cmnd. 9714, "Paying For Local Government," showing households gaining and losing with full replacement of domestic rates by (a) local authority and (b) parliamentary constituency.

  Mr. Lang
  The estimated number of households in Scotland gaining and losing from the community charge is given below. The figures are based on 1985–86 data and are derived from a sample survey of approximately 1,800 Scottish households. The actual level of community charge in each area will depend on the spending of the local authority and decisions on grant distribution which are still to be taken. A further disaggregation of these figures by household type, local authority and parliamentary constituency cannot be given because of the size of the sample.

  Households in Scotland gaining and losing with full replacement of domestic rates by the community charge 1985–86

  Approximate numbers of gainers and losers

  Pounds per week

  Thousands of households

  Losers

  10+

  4

  5–10

  80

  2–5

  238

  1–2

  223

  0–1

  434

  Total losers

  979

  Gainers

  0–1

  449

  1–2

  143

  2–5

  238

  5–10

  84

  10+

  19

  Total gainers

  934

  Percentage of Net Income

  Losers

  10+

  —

  5–10

  4

  2–5

  137

  1–2

  260

  0–1

  578

  549

  Pounds per week

  Thousands of households

  Total losers

  979

  Gainers

  0–1

  494

  1–2

  228

  2–5

  182

  5–10

  26

  10+

  4

  Total gainers

  934

  Sheepmeat
  Mr. Home-Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's policy for the support of sheep production in Scotland in future.

  Liquid Market

  Butter

  Cheese

  Condensed Milk and Chocolate Crumb

  Whole Milk Powder

  Cream

  Other Products

  Total

  1980–81

  634

  119

  264

  178

  1

  78

  2

  1,276

  1981–82

  623

  183

  289

  155

  2

  77

  1

  1,330

  1982–83

  609

  274

  292

  173

  2

  82

  3

  1,435

  1983–84

  605

  299

  298

  133

  1

  85

  1

  1,422

  1984–85

  636

  195

  280

  150

  —

  41

  3

  1,305

  1985–86

  646

  134

  313

  148

  —

  31

  3

  1,275

  1986–87

  641

  137

  337

  164

  —

  25

  2

  1,306

  Detailed information in the form requested on the amounts of Scottish milk products exported and sold into intervention is not held centrally. However, exports account for only a very small proportion of Scottish production, as do sales into intervention.

  Bus Services
  Mr. Home-Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the bus routes in Scotland where services have been reduced or withdrawn since the introduction of deregulation in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  3,404 changes in services were registered in Scotland during the period October 1986 to October 1987. 499 of those were new services, 416 were withdrawals while 2,489 were amendments to existing services. In view of the number of changes this question cannot be answered except at disproportionate cost.

  Cheese Making
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed in cheese making and in other creameries in Scotland in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information in the form requested is not held centrally. However, the employment census of manufacturing industries conducted in 1981 and 1984 discloses that 3,762 and 3,103 persons respectively were employed in the preparation of milk and milk products in Scotland.
  550
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The outcome of negotiations on the Commission's proposals for reforming the EC sheepmeat regime will have an important bearing on future support arrangements for the Scottish sheep industry. In these negotiations the Government are seeking particularly to protect the interests of traditional sheep producers and to reject any measures which might discriminate against our industry.

  Milk
  Mr. Home-Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the amount of milk produced in Scotland, the amount sold as liquid milk in Scotland, the amount processed to make cheese and other products, the amount exported, and the amount sold into intervention in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on milk utilisation in Scotland is set out in the table below. (Figures are in million litres; years run from April to March.)

  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on recent trends in the production of cheese in Scotland and in demand for Scottish produced cheese.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In recent years the demand for Scottish cheese has been growing. Production of mature cheddar reached 28,346 tonnes in 1986, but is likely to fall back to around 21,000 tonnes this year. Production of other, higher value cheeses (such as feta and mozzarella) is continuing to grow. This year the availability of milk for cheddar manufacture has been limited by quota reductions, by an exceptionally high spring production peak involving lower production later in the year, and by growth in the output of higher value milk products. My noble Friend the Minister of State is currently pursuing with the cheddar makers ways in which greater supplies of milk might be secured for their markets.

  Crime
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing trends in the incidence of each category of crime in each police force area and the percentage of those crimes which have been cleared up by the police in each year since 1980.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Statistics of crimes and offences recorded and cleared up in each police force area are published annually in the reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Roadlands Hospital, Haddington
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of the accident and emergency service at Roadlands hospital, Haddington, East Lothian.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I understand that a local review is being undertaken of the east unit of Lothian health board which includes the hospital. In the first instance this is a matter for the board.

  Dornoch Firth (Railway Bridge)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions in relation to the British Railways Order 1986 tabled in November 1985, to provide for the construction of a railway bridge across the Dornoch firth.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  British Rail announced on 23 July 1987 its decision to withdraw its request to Parliament for the authority to bridge the Dornoch firth with a new railway line linking Tain and Golspie.

  Oban-Colonsay Ferry Service
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in respect of the proposed new timetable, due to be introduced by Caledonian MacBrayne in 1989, on the Oban-Colonsay service; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have received representations from the local community council and a number of other island interests about the proposed timetable for Colonsay from 1989 onwards. I understand that the proposed timing of one specific sailing is a matter of concern. It will be for the management of Caledonian MacRayne to reach a view on the timing of their sailing in the light of their commercial judgment and operational requirements, following their usual consultations with local community interests.

  Woodilee Hospital, Glasgow
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals have been put to him by Greater Glasgow health board, concerning the future of Woodilee hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Greater Glasgow health board is currently reviewing its strategy for mental illness services across the whole of its area. The long-term future of Woodilee hospital will be dependent on the outcome of that review. My Department has had discussions with the board about the interim measures it has taken so far at Woodilee following the evacuation of the hospital's main block earlier this year, and is currently considering proposals for further measures.

  Random Breath Tests
  Mr. David Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to introduce random breath testing for drivers in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no immediate plans to amend the legislation on breath testing.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Deaf People (Telephones)
  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the possible closure of the London telephone exchange for deaf people; what plans he has to assist its continuance as a facility for deaf people; what discussions he has had with British Telecom about this exchange and the possible provision of similar facilities in other parts of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Staffordshire (Mr. Heddle) on 21 October. We have received representations on this matter from 151 hon. Members and 49 other people. We have also received a petition containing 247 names of people living mainly in the Spalding area.

  Social Workers
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the number of social workers qualified to work with the deaf and arrangements for training them; what discussions has he had with the relevant professional bodies: and what advice his Department is giving in this area.

  Mr. Scott
  Information on the number of social workers qualified to work with deaf people is not collected centrally. We are, however, aware of the difficulties in this area, and officials from the Department have held meetings with the professional and other bodies concerned. Training of social workers is primarily the responsibility of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work which has recently agreed in principle proposals to develop a distance learning package in this specialism.

  Hospitals (Infection)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the estimated cost to date to each health region in dealing with outbreaks of the infection of multi-resistant staphylococcus aureus; and whether Her Majesty's Government will provide additional finance to health authorities toward this cost.

  Mrs. Currie
  Estimates are not available. It is for health authorities to decide how to meet, from within the funds available to them, the cost of infection control in hospitals from whatever source, and the care and treatment of those infected.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current period of waiting for orthopaedic patients (i) nationally and (ii) in the North East Thames region; and what proposals he has to provide additional funds to reduce this waiting time.

  Mr. Newton
  The table shows the latest available information for cases admitted from the waiting list:
  553

  Estimated median interval in weeks between the date an in-patient was placed on the waiting list and the date of admission, for patients discharged from Traumatic and Orthopaedic departments during 1985

  Region of treatment

  Weeks

  North East Thames RHA

  13

  England

  12

  The first year's allocation of £25 million from the waiting list fund will enable health authorities to treat over 100,000 additional waiting list cases in 1987–88. These will include several thousand joint replacements and other orthopaedic procedures. The North-East Thames regional health authority is spending £762,500 of its £2·07 million allocations on projects in the trauma and orthopaedic specialty. As a result, its districts plan to treat 1,650 extra cases from orthopaedic waiting lists in 1987–88. By 30 September 1987, 636 of these had already been treated.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of people who received severe weather payments in each month of the winter of 1986–87 for which figures are available; and what proportion of each total were pensioners.

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

  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total expenditure on cold weather payments for each of the last five winters for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is as follows:

  £ million

  1983

  Nil

  1984

  Nil

  1985

  1·7

  1986

  11·6

  1987

  10·2

  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will outline his policy for targeting special winter fuel payments to elderly people and disabled people.

  Mr. Scott
  Help with heating costs is available each week to supplementary benefit claimants through the weekly scale rates and heating additions. Extra help through the exceptionally cold weather provision has been targeted on groups most at risk from the cold: the elderly, the very young and the sick and disabled.

  Ativan
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to limit the availability of the addictive drug Ativan.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 27 October at column 256.

  Private Health Care
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each year since 1982–83 the health authorities which have received audit reports critical of their private patient arrangements.
  554
  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is as follows. The 1986–87 audit is still in progress.

  1982–83

  Cambridge

  Calderdale

  Leicestershire

  Central Nottinghamshire

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  West Lambeth

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  Bexley

  Canterbury and Thanet

  1983–84

  Darlington

  South Tees

  Bradford

  Nottingham

  Sheffield

  West Suffolk

  Islington

  North East Essex

  Waltham Forest

  Camberwell

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  Mid Downs

  Merton and Sutton

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  Oxfordshire

  Torbay

  Coventry

  North Birmingham

  North Staffordshire

  Shropshire

  The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases

  1984–85

  Newcastle

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  North West Hertfordshire

  North Bedfordshire

  Bath

  Northampton

  East Berkshire

  Milton Keynes

  Aylesbury Vale

  Southmead

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  Central Birmingham

  Mid Staffordshire

  Rugby

  Coventry

  South Manchester

  1985–86

  North Hertfordshire

  Riverside

  Bloomsbury

  City and Hackney

  Southampton and SW Hampshire

  Drugs
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will require all pharmaceutical companies which make payments for adverse reactions from drugs supplied by the National Health Service to inform him of the level and total of payments made, so that his advisers can assess the incidence and severity of the various side effects that have occurred;

  (2) if he will ensure that the Committee on Safety of Medicines routinely obtain the scientific evidence that is presented in United States courts when there is a compensation claim following adverse reactions to a drug that also has a British product licence and is, or has been, prescribed for British citizens;
  555
  (3) if he will ensure that the Committee on Safety of Medicines routinely obtains any evidence about a pharmaceutical company's integrity that is presented in United States courts when there is a compensation claim following adverse reactions to a drug that also has a British product licence and is or has been prescribed for British citizens;

  (4) if, unless there are exceptional circumstances, he will make it a condition of the purchase by the National Health Service of a pharmaceutical company's products that in the event of a company making payments because of adverse reactions from one of its drugs, the company must inform his Department of the nature, scope and cost of the payment scheme;

  (5) if, unless there are exceptional circumstances, he will make it a condition of the purchase by the National Health Service of a pharmaceutical company's products that all known medical data or information relating to the company's integrity regarding research findings or adverse reactions reporting should immediately and routinely be reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

  Mr. Newton
  Companies are already required to provide the licensing authority with any evidence that is relevant to their application for a product licence at the time it is submitted. Under the terms of their product licence, they must also report adverse drug reactions and any other evidence which might cast doubt on the validity of the data submitted with their application immediately these are known to them. The licensing authority is concerned with the safety, quality and efficacy of medicinal products. Any question of compensation for adverse drug reactions is a matter for the claimant, the company and the courts. I see no reason to change the current arrangements relating to the purchase of medicinal products by the National Health Service.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will request the Committee on Safety of Medicines to require companies when they warn of uncommon side effects to (a) draw attention to particularly vulnerable groups of people, (b) if the side effects are considered transient, to provide a time scale and (c) give specific descriptions of such side effects rather than use general terms.

  Mr. Newton
  The data sheets which accompany all medicinal products promoted to doctors must be consistent with the relevant prooduct licences, contain an accurate description of known side effects and, where appropriate, provide warnings about use by particular categories of patient. Appropriate warnings must also appear on produce labels or leaflets accompanying licensed medicinal products. For adverse reactions which are considered transient, a time scale is given where appropriate. I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to him on 9 July 1987 at columns 261–62.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, whenever a drug is withdrawn by the Committee on Safety of Medicines, he will publish the data which led to its withdrawal.

  Mr. Newton
  Medicinal products are withdrawn either as a result of voluntary action by pharmaceutical companies or the revocation of the product licence by the licensing authorities. In either case, action may be preceded or followed by one or more publications by the 556
  Committee on Safety of Medicines, such as "Dear Doctor" letters or "Current Problems", in which the medical profession is informed of data on adverse reactions to the drug. It is the general policy of the Committee on Safety of Medicines, wherever possible, to provide doctors with reasons when medicinal products are withdrawn from the market or are subject to major limitations in their use, providing that to do so would not breach the commercial confidentiality requirements of section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if a product licence is requested for a drug primarily intended for long term use by elderly people; and what are the current criteria laid down by the Committee on Safety of Medicines for the drug trials with respect to (a) the length of the trials and (b) the number and proportion of elderly people involved.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to him on 9 July 1987 at column 261.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how often his Department's statisticians check the validity of significance tests made in drug trials.

  Mr. Newton
  All data provided in support of any product licence application are rigorously assessed by professional DHSS staff and, when appropriate, by the expert members on the Committee on Safety of Medicines or other appropriate expert committee. Careful consideration of statistical techniques is an important part of this assessment.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what checks are made by the Committee on Safety of Medicines on the data provided by a company applying for a product licence; whether visits are made to the company's premises; whether there is consultation with the United States Food and Drug Administration; and to what extent the reputation of the company is relevant to the acceptance of its data;

  (2) if he will appoint Committee on Safety of Medicines investigators with a similar role to the United States Food and Drug investigators to check the validity of pharmaceutical companies research findings and the integrity of their adverse reaction reports;

  (3) if he will make it his policy that whenever there is firm evidence that a pharmaceutical company has violated drug regulations either in the United Kingdom or the United States of America, and in particular if it has paid a fine to the United States Food and Drug Administration for doing so, any further applications from such a company will only be accepted after a visit to the research premises and a personal investigation of the relevant records, with the additional cost to be borne by the company.

  Mr. Newton
  In assessing an application for a product licence, and in monitoring the safety of a medicinal product after marketing, the licensing authority takes into account all relevant factors, including any information provided by other regulatory authorities such as the United States Food and Drug Administration. We have no plans to appoint investigators to check companies' research or their reporting of adverse drug reactions, but if there were any reason to doubt the accuracy of the data supporting a particular licence application, the matter
  557
  would be rigorously pursued with the company until the issue was resolved to the satisfaction of the licensing authority.

  Photosensitivity
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what information is available on the incidence and severity of photosensitivity; whether the number of sufferers is thought to be increasing or declining; and to what extent the causes are known;

  (2) how common is acute long-term photosensitivity; how many and which of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are known to have it as a side effect; and which they are.

  Mr. Newton
  No specific information is held by the Department on the incidence and severity of photosensitivity or on the number of sufferers. The causes of photosensitivity are well documented as, for example, in "Cutaneous Photobiology" by W. Frain-Bell (Oxford University Press 1985) which can be obtained through the Library of the House. Photosensitivity, in varying degrees and incidence, is acknowledged as a possible side-effect of most of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs currently available in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will request the Committee on Safety of Medicines to require companies applying for product licences to investigate photo-toxicity in the toxicity studies; and if he will ensure that all such tests are carried out in the summer months and include vulnerable fair-skinned patients.

  Mr. Newton
  Although an investigation of phototoxicity is not a general requirement on companies seeking a product licence for a medicinal product, the licensing authority, as advised by the Committee on Safety of Medicines, pays close attention to safety, quality and efficacy whenever an application is considered. If there is doubt about any aspect of safety, including phototoxicity, the company must provide whatever evidence may be needed to reassure the committee and the licensing authority before a licence can be granted.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate discussions with the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries in order to request the industry to finance research into intractable drug induced disorders, with priority being given to photosensitivity.

  Percentage bed occupancy for the Obstetrics specialty. National Health Service hospitals

  1981–1986

  Regional Health Authority

  11981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Northern

  68·3

  65·2

  62·9

  62·4

  65·2

  63·4

  Yorkshire

  70·3

  68·9

  68·6

  67·1

  68·5

  67·8

  Trent

  70·0

  65·1

  64·3

  64·2

  65·0

  65·4

  East Anglian

  63·8

  61·6

  59·4

  60·0

  61·5

  64·7

  N. W. Thames

  69·0

  64·6

  64·0

  63·1

  61·8

  67·0

  N. E. Thames

  73·4

  69·2

  70·0

  69·0

  69·6

  69·4

  S. E. Thames

  73·7

  70·9

  69·7

  68·1

  71·0

  70·6

  S. W. Thames

  68·8

  65·6

  64·5

  67·2

  66·3

  68·0

  Wessex

  70·6

  66·6

  65·9

  64·2

  66·1

  67·1

  Oxford

  69·0

  66·9

  64·2

  66·7

  68·4

  69·1

  South Western

  72·6

  70·7

  70·6

  69·1

  71·3

  66·8

  West Midlands

  73·2

  72·7

  70·9

  70·1

  71·9

  73· 5

  558
  Mr. Newton
  I have no reason to question the effectiveness of existing arrangements under which pharmaceutical companies already fund a considerable amount of research in academic departments, for a variety of purposes. I will, however, draw the right hon. Member's suggestion to the association's attention.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the research projects supported by his Department that are currently investigating drug-induced photosensitivity.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department is not currently supporting any research into drug-induced photosensitivity.

  The main Government agency for the promotion of medical and related biological research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Barron
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the criteria for loans from the social fund.

  Mr. Scott
  Draft directions and guidance for the award of loans were included in the draft "Social Fund Manual" which was issued to interested parties for comment on 25 March 1987. Careful consideration was given to the views expressed and revised directions and guidance were included in the version of the manual placed in the Library on 9 October, which will be published later this autumn.

  Mr. Barron
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what allocation of money is to be made to the social fund.

  Mr. Scott
  The national budget for the discretionary part of the social fund in 1988–89, its first year of operation, will be £203 million. £60 million will be allocated for community care grants, £141 million for loans, and £2 million will be held back as a central contingency reserve.

  Obstetric Beds
  Ms. Harman
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage occupancy for obstetric beds for each regional health authority for each of the last six years.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table.
  559

  Regional Health Authority

  11981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Mersey

  68·6

  65·3

  64·5

  67·4

  68·7

  66·3

  North Western

  70·8

  69·5

  68·9

  68·1

  70·6

  67·9

  SHAs

  75·0

  67·9

  68·0

  69·9

  66·8

  70·1

  England

  70·6

  67·8

  66·8

  66·6

  67·9

  67·9

  1 Figures for the Thames regions and Special Health Authorities are not comparable because of the effects of National Health Service restructuring in 1982.

  Births
  Ms. Harman
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of (a) low and (b) very low birth weight babies for each district health authority for each of the last six years.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The recent OPCS Monitor series DH3 87/2, "Infant and Perinatal Mortality 1985: DHAs" gives the percentage of total births weighing less than 2,500 grams for each district health authority for 1985. A copy is in the Library.

  Hospital Staffing
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what changes in junior hospital staffing within the National Health Service are envisaged by the Joint Planning Advisory Committee arising from the proposals in the document "Achieving a Balance";

  (2) what changes he proposes in junior hospital staffing in the National Health Service as a result of the proposals in the document "Achieving a Balance".

  Mr. Newton
  The aims of "Achieving a Balance" are to improve patient care by removing the present imbalance in the hospital medical career structure. The package includes various measures to boost the number of consultants and to relate more closely the number of doctors in training grades to expected consultant opportunities. In determining the number of training grade posts needed, the Department will seek advice from the joint planning advisory committee which is already fulfilling this role for senior registrar posts. In most specialties there is likely to be a need to reduce the number of United Kingdom graduates now in the training grades, but their contribution to patient services will be replaced in other ways, for instance by additional consultant posts.

  Medical Manpower
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those whom he has consulted on the proposals in the document "Achieving a Balance" in medical manpower.

  Mr. Newton
  The document was issued for consultation to all regional, district and special health authorities; royal colleges and faculties; family practitioner committees; and community health councils. It was also issued to the main national organisations in the fields of health and medical education, including the British Medical Association, General Medical Council, Medical Research Council, Association of Medical Research Charities, Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom, Council for Postgraduate Medical Education, University Grants Committee, and a number 560
  of associations representing individual medical specialties. In addition, the full text of the consultative document was published in the British Medical Journal.

  Kidney Patients
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations his Department has received from social workers specialising in work with kidney patients about changes in social security regulations affecting people on dialysis; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Correspondence was received last year from the renal special interest group of the British Association of Social Workers, and subsequently from the right hon. Member and other hon. Members on behalf of the association and others, about the replacement of the supplementary benefit scheme by the new income support scheme and its effect on kidney patients.

  The rates of income support which my right hon. Friend announced on 27 October provide a substantial overall increase for disabled people. Furthermore, those claimants whose income support entitlement is less than their supplementary benefit entitlement at the point of change will have their existing benefit levels maintained. As the right hon. Member is aware, a major survey into the numbers, needs and circumstances of disabled people has been undertaken by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the first results of this survey will be published next year. The effect of the premium arrangements on the needs of kidney patients will be looked at in the light of these results.

  Nurses
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from organisations representing nurses on the proposals for a community charge.

  Mr. Portillo
  None.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. John
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of recipients of invalid care allowance at 16 October.

  Mr. Scott
  At 19 October, the closest date to 16 October for which information is available, there were 88,000 recipients of invalid care allowance.

  Mr. John
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost to public funds of increasing the income disregard in respect of invalid care allowance to (a) 15 per week and (b) 17 per week.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that the information on which to base an estimate could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.
  561
  Mr. John
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to shorten the delay in processing claims for invalid care allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  Additional resources have recently been devoted to processing claims and the average time taken to clear them is continuing to fall.

  Community Charge Rebate Scheme
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to make a statement on the operation of a community charge rebate scheme.

  Mr. Portillo
  An announcement will be made in due course. Discussions with the local authority associations on the operation of the community charge rebate scheme are already under way, in the light of which detailed proposals will be put to them as part of the statutory consultation procedure.

  Rate Rebates
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the maximum income that would enable the following categories to qualify for rate rebates now: (a) a single person under 24 years; (b) a single person 25 years and over; (c) a married couple with no children; (d) a married couple with two dependent chidren; (e) a pensioner couple; and (f) a single pensioner: and what changes he proposes to make to these limits in the context of community charge rebates.

  Mr. Portillo
  There is no specified maximum income level at which people cease to qualify for a rate rebate, and in any individual case this will depend partly on the size of the original rates bill. From 1988, the starting point for. calculating rate rebates in the majority of cases will be the income support "applicable amounts", which will determine the relative level of rebate for the categories specified at a given level of income and a given domestic rates bill. How far above his applicable amount a person's rebate runs out, for a given rates bill, will be determined by the rate "taper". We expect similar arrangements to apply to community charge rebates but the relevant applicable amounts and taper will not be set until nearer the time.

  Mersey Region (Waiting Lists)
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the waiting lists in the Mersey region were in the each of the years from 1979 to the present.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested in given in the table.

  Number of cases on in-patient waiting list at 31 March, NHS Hospitals, Mersey Regional Health Authority

  Year

  Number

  1979

  41,103

  1980

  36,547

  1981

  33,082

  1982

  33,206

  1983

  36,187

  1984

  32,271

  1985

  30,767

  1986

  30,779

  1987

  29,147

  Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's consultation with the local authority associations and the voluntary sector on further implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Scott
  I cannot yet add to my reply to the hon. Members for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) and for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 27 October at column 254.

  Pregnancy Advice Bureaux
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, if he will give a breakdown of the fees of which he is aware which are charged by the pregnancy advice bureaux and abortion clinics.

  Mr. Newton
  Information on fees charged by individual bureaux and clinics is supplied to the Department on an "in confidence" basis. My hon. Friend may wish to approach these organisations direct for this information.

  Abortion
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, what is the percentage of women who are referred for abortions by each abortion agency of which his Department's investigative officers are aware.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that this information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, al. column 175, whether the figure of 74 per cent. of abortions after 18 weeks being performed upon single women includes married women who are separated from their husbands.

  Mr. Newton
  No.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, if he will supply a list of the names and addresses of the proprietors of those abortion agencies and clinics which are linked financially to the knowledge of his Department;

  (2) pursuant to his reply of October, at column 175, if he will list the eight abortion agencies which have financial links with abortion clinics, stating in each case the number of places where counselling is undertaken and the number of clinics involved;

  (3) pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, if he will describe the scale and precise nature of the financial links between the eight abortion agencies and clinics in such a manner so as not to identify the eight agencies concerned.

  Mr. Newton
  It is not possible to publish details of the links between abortion counselling agencies and approved nursing homes without releasing details which are provided to the Department in confidence. My hon. Friend may wish to approach abortion counselling agencies direct for this information.
  563
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, when he expects the publication of the paper currently being prepared by the Manchester research unit of the Royal College of General Practitioners on post-abortion stress disorder.

  Mr. Newton
  I understand that the paper is likely to be published early next year.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, whether he has any information concerning the revenue generated by the 99·7 per cent of abortions upon foreign women which were performed in the private clinics in 1986.

  Mr. Newton
  No.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, whether he has any plans to review his Department's current practice of not recording details of the after-care provided to non-resident patients who have abortions in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, whether he has any plans to introduce a requirement for an information sheet and discharge letter in their native language to be provided to all non-resident women upon whom abortions are performed in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  We are satisfied that this is already done as good medical practice, and have no plans to make it a statutory requirement.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all those agencies which are currently licensed by his Department to counsel or refer women for abortions stating in each case the total number of women whom they dealt with in the latest year for which figures are available and state the number of those women who were referred for abortions.

  Mr. Newton
  Pregnancy advisory bureaux currently registered with the Department are listed as follows. Information on the numbers of women dealt with is not available centrally.

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Basingstoke Branch

  Church Grange Health Centre

  Bramleys Drive

  Basingstoke RG21 1QN

  Birmingham Pregnancy Consultation Service

  14–16 Temple Street

  Birmingham B2 5BG

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Birmingham Branch

  Guildhall Buildings

  Navigation Street

  Birmingham B2 4BT

  Blackpool Pregnancy Testing and Counselling Centre Stanley Buildings

  3 Caunce Street

  Blackpool

  564

  Pregnancy Advisory Service—Blackpool

  93 Abingdon Street

  Blackpool FY1 1PP

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Bournemouth (Pelhams) Branch

  Pelhams Clinic

  Millhams Road

  Bournemouth

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Bournemouth (Dean Park) Branch

  23 Ophir Road

  Bournemouth

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Brighton Branch

  Wistons Site

  Chatsworth Road

  Brighton

  Sussex BN1 5PA

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Chester Branch

  98A Foregate Street

  Chester CHI 1HB

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Coventry Branch

  Coundon Welfare Clinic

  Barker Butts Lane

  Coventry

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Doncaster Branch

  The Bungalow

  1a Avenue Road

  Doncaster

  South Yorkshire

  Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Rosslyn

  17 Rosslyn Road

  East Twickenham

  Middlesex TW 1 2AR

  Options

  Population Control Clinic

  45 Fitzwilliam Street

  Huddersfield HD1 5LG

  Sister Rose Pregnancy Advisory Centre (Hull)

  139 Beverley Road

  Hull

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Hull Branch

  32 Beverley Road

  Hull

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Leeds Branch

  8 The Headrow

  Leeds

  Yorkshire

  565

  Sister Rose Pregnancy Advisory Centre (Leeds)

  4 Albion Street

  Leeds 1

  Marie Stopes Centre

  10 Queens Square

  Leeds 2

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Liverpool Branch

  20–22 Rodney Street

  Liverpool L1 2TQ

  Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Fourth Floor

  Hepworth Chambers

  Church Street

  Liverpool L1 3BG

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  London Branch

  7 Belgrave Road

  London SW1

  Birth Control and Pregnancy Counselling Ltd

  10 Coptic Street

  London WC1

  The Gerrard Street Clinic

  Medical Centre

  36 Gerrard Street

  London W1V 7LP

  London Youth Advisory Centre

  26 Prince of Wales Road

  London NW5

  Marie Stopes

  North London Pregnancy Advisory Bureau

  65 Shoot-Up Hill

  London NW2

  Metropolitan Pregnancy Control Centre

  40 Mortimer Street

  London W1

  Pregnancy Advisory Service

  11/13 Charlotte Street

  London W1

  Preterm

  40 Mortimer Street

  London WIN 7RB

  Pregnancy and Gynaecological Advisory Service

  26 Fouberts Place

  London W1N 1HG

  The Well Woman Centre

  Marie Slopes House

  108 Whitfield Street

  London W1

  The Well Woman Centre

  Marie Stopes Annexe

  114 Whitfield Street

  London W1

  566

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Luton Branch

  3A Upper George Street

  Luton LU1 2QY

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Manchester Branch

  Suite F Ground Floor

  Fourways House

  57 Hilton Street

  Manchester M1 2EJ

  Marie Stopes Pregnancy Advisory Bureau

  1 Police Street

  Manchester M1 7LQ

  Pregnancy Advisory Service—Manchester

  5th Floor

  Newton Buildings

  Newton Street

  Manchester M1 2EJ

  Sister Rose Pregnancy Advisory Centre (Manchester)

  Fifth Floor

  2 St John Street

  Manchester 3

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Milton Keynes Branch

  First Floor

  Eaglestone Health Centre

  Standing Way

  Milton Keynes MK6 5AZ

  East Midlands Pregnancy Advisory Service

  The Grange

  480A Mansfield Road

  Sherwood

  Nottingham

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Sheffield Branch

  160 Charles Street

  Sheffield S1 2NE

  408 Young People's Consultation Centre Ltd

  408 Ecclesall Road

  Sheffield S11 8PJ

  Sheffield Pregnancy and Counselling Service

  276 Glossop Road

  Sheffield S10 2HS

  Pregnancy Advisory Service

  1A George Street

  Newcastle-Under-Lyme

  Staffordshire ST5 1JX

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Swindon Branch

  Priory Road Health Clinic

  Priory Road

  Swindon SN3 2EZ

  567

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  Leamington Spa Branch

  Holly Walk Welfare Clinic

  Holly Walk

  Leamington Spa

  Warwickshire

  Sister Rose Pregnancy Advisory Centre

  (Wolverhampton)

  Second Floor

  19–21 Queen Street

  Wolverhampton

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, if he will list the abortion agencies and clinics which are run by the 32 individuals of whom his Department is aware who are both directors or trustees of a company or charity providing abortion counselling and also of a clinic providing abortions; and if he will list the names of those individuals.

  Mr. Newton
  This information, like any commercial information, was supplied to the Department on an "in confidence" basis and is therefore not for publication.

  Mr Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, if he will list the names and addresses of each abortion agency or clinic from which a licence has been withdrawn in the last 20 years following the discovery of breaches of the requirement to notify changes in financial arrangements.

  Mr. Newton
  No approved place has had its approval withdrawn for the reasons stated.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, whether he has any plans to make it a requirement for doctors working on a salaried basis at an abortion agency not also to perform abortions on these patients in a nursing home or clinic.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Nicholas Winteron
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services. pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, if he will explain how patient confidentiality would be breached by disclosing the numbers of abortions performed in each year after 18 weeks gestation in emergency to save the life of the mother.

  Mr. Newton
  Where small numbers are involved, it is possible that disclosure of information in detail would, when compared with figures already published, reveal sensitive information about individuals to persons with other knowledge of them. It is therefore policy to disclose information only in a form which minimises this risk. This policy was followed by giving grouped data in the reply of 26 October.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, why reliable information concerning the number of abortions performed in the case of rape has not been available for the past 20 years; and if he will give the details of the changes which are now being introduced to remedy this.
  568
  Mr. Newton
  The Abortion Act 1967 does not require a certifying doctor to specifically mention cases of rape on the notification form, but in some cases the information is volunteered. Furthermore, until 1979 only medical conditions directly affecting the foetus were coded and analysed. The information obtained of cases of rape was, therefore, necessarily incomplete.

  Between 1979 and 1986 the medical condition of the woman was also coded, but mentions of rape were not always separately identified. From 1987 onwards all mentions of rape will be separately coded and analysed.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, at column 175, if he will give a breakdown of the average cost of £170 of performing an abortion on the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  These detailed costs are not centrally identified.

  Census
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is planning to hold a census in Great Britain in 1991.

  Mr. Moore
  Yes. My predecessor announced on 14 July 1983(Official Report Vol. 45, col. 452) that planning would proceed on the basis that the next census would be in 1991. The need for information on the population and alternative ways to gather it were subsequently examined, and it has been concluded that a census should be held in England, Wales and Scotland in 1991. The Registrars General have arranged for there to be consultations about the census with a wide range of users of census statistics, and submissions to them from any source are welcome. Proposals for the content of the census will he published as a White Paper next year.

  Brain Death
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are estimated to die from brain death in hospital annually; and of these how many could be regarded as potential organ donors.

  Mrs. Currie
  No recent estimates of the nationwide incidence of brain stem death have been made. However, a study published in 1981 estimated that about 4,000 cases of brain stem death occurred annually in Great Britain.

  The proportion of such patients who could be regarded as potential organ donors is not known.

  Steroids
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what compensation has been made available for people who have suffered serious side effects from taking steroids, particularly when these drugs were first marketed.

  Mr. Newton
  Questions of compensation for individuals are matters to be pursued with the companies concerned and where necessary through the courts. Information about individual compensation settlements is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice has been issued to

  569
  regional health authorities about safe dosages of steroids; and what warnings about side effects are required to be given by doctors to patients who have been prescribed these drugs.

  Mr. Newton
  No special advice about safe dosages of steroids has been issued to regional health authorities. The British National Formulary, which is sent to all doctors, contains advice on safe dosages and on appropriate and inappropriate uses of steroids. Guidance on use and details of known side-effects are also contained in the data sheets which are supplied to all doctors for medicinal products, such as steroids, which are available only on prescription. It is for doctors to decide in each case what warnings about side-effects should be given to patients.

  Hospital Complaints Procedure Act
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the Hospital Complaints Procedure Act to be implemented in National Health Service hospitals.

  Mrs. Currie
  Directions to health authorities on non-clinical complaints are being prepared and should be issued by the end of the year.

  Discussions on the inclusion of clinical complaints procedures within these directions are continuing with the joint consultants committee.

  Human Organs (Transplantation)
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions have been sent to regional health authorities about introducing the required request procedure to increase the supply of human organs for transplant.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have received advice from the medical royal colleges. and are currently considering what action we should ask health authorities to take.

  Hospital Waiting Lists (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide figures for each district health authority in London of the numbers currently waiting for hospital treatment.

  Mr. Newton
  The latest information available centrally is included in a bound volume of the hospital waiting lists for health authorities in England at 31 March 1987, copies of which have been placed in the Library. For current information the hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the four Thames regional health authorities.

  Means-Tested Benefits
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what measures he now proposes to introduce to reduce the number of people dependent on means-tested benefits;

  (2) what steps he proposes to take to reduce the number of people dependent on means-tested benefits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  From next September, we will be removing the general eligibility of unemployed young people aged 16 and 17 for income support, guaranteeing a place on the youth training scheme for those who are not in full-time education and do not go into a job. Futhermore the introduction of the reformed structure of income-related benefits will help ensure better targeting of available resources on those facing the greatest needs. Amongst those in least need and entitled to smaller amounts, around 1 million fewer are expected to receive housing benefit. Family credit will extend improved help to over twice as many low income working families with children compared with family income supplement.

  Deaf People (Telephones)
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what priority for action has been given to funding of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf for funding a telephone exchange for deaf people, following his meeting with myself and representatives of the institute on 5 August; what subsequent meetings have been held, and when he expects to arrive at his decision.

  Mr. Scott
  We have been actively pursuing the question of the exchange's future funding. I understand that there was a meeting between the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and British Telecom last month. Officials from the Department will be meeting representatives of British Telecom and the other Government Departments concerned on 3 November. I shall make an announcement as soon as a decision has been reached.

  Haemophiliacs
  Mr. Ron Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many haemophiliacs have been infected by AIDS during the past 12 months following blood transfusions at National Health Service hospitals; and if compensation will be paid.

  Mr. Newton
  No haemophiliac patients are known to have been infected with the AIDS virus following the use of blood transfusions or blood products in the past 12 months.

  AIDS
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from organisations or individuals on the plight of those infected with the AIDS virus as a result of treatment under the NHS, and what plans he has to respond to requests for assistance with the cost of treatment, including travel expenses.

  Mr. Newton
  We have received approximately 200 written representations from individuals and organisations on this issue. All the facilities of the NHS are available to those who have been infected with HIV. Help

  Year

  Scotland

  Strathclyde

  Greenock

  Port Glasgow

  (April to April)

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1979–80

  10,019,290

  6,626,140

  103,447

  90,184

  1980–81

  14,123,563

  9,847,098

  289,568

  199,653

  1981–82

  12,375,533

  7,906,488

  215,181

  108,610

  1982–83

  22,670,751

  15,454,679

  413,061

  272,372

  1983–84

  37,067,373

  24,936,115

  589,042

  366,898

  1984–85

  54,250,887

  36,927,066

  852,311

  531,208

  1985–86

  71,053,317

  48,170,412

  1,106,074

  766,240

  1986–87

  71,373,760

  50,070,021

  1,595,050

  901,497

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Civil Servants (Merit Awards)
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further proposals he has for merit awards to civil servants.

  Mr. Brooke
  Performance-related pay arrangements for grades 2 and 3 and an interim scheme for grades 4 to 7 are now in place. The new flexible pay system for scientific, professional and technical grades includes performance-related pay provisions which come into effect on 1 April 1988.

  It remains our intention to extend performance pay in the Civil Service and we shall be bringing forward further proposals for the inclusion of other groups of staff.

  Civil Servants (Departmental Regional Offices)
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the change in the proportion of civil servants working in departmental regional offices since 1980.

  Mr. Major
  The proportion of all non-industrial home civil servants working in Birmingham has risen from 1·6 per cent. in January 1980 to 1·7 per cent. in January 1987.

  VAT (Spectacles)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has yet received the decision of the European Court of Justice on the issue of the levying of value added tax on spectacles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The judgment of the European Court has not yet been received; it is expected before Christmas.
  572
  with fares to hospital is available for those who are eligible under the provisions of the National Health Service (Expenses in Attending Hospital) Regulations, 1950.

  Single Payments (Scotland)
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total amount of single payments paid to claimants in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Scotland in the financial years 1979–80 to 1986–87.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 26 October]: The amount of single payments paid to claimants in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde region and (c) Scotland in the financial years 1979–80 to 1986–87 is shown in the table. The figures include both full and partial awards.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Chris Smith
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate, for each of the last three financial years and in estimate form for the current financial year, the reduction in the public sector borrowing requirement which has accrued from the removal of the capital borrowing requirements of privatised industries into the private sector; and if he will break this down on an enterprise by enterprise basis.

  Mr. Major
  The nationalised industries' contribution to the public sector borrowing requirement is defined as the sum of their external financing requirements. The Government cannot provide estimates, which would be purely hypothetical, of what the financing requirements of privatised companies might have been had they been still in the public sector. Details of the industries' external finance up to the point of privatisation are published in the public expenditure White Paper for the following year; provisional outturns are first published in the cash limits provisional outturn White Paper.

  Civil Servants (Computer Training)
  Mr. Warren
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the survey conducted by the CCTA on the training of civil servants in the use of computer systems; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library when it is published.

  Mr. Brooke
  I am not aware of a specific survey on this subject, but, if my hon. Friend cares to write to me with further details, I will seek to assist him.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mrs. Gorman
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take to rectify the anomaly

  573
  whereby two or more people can each obtain tax relief on the same property while married couples are limited to a single amount of relief.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 29 October to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin).

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mr. Fraser
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to propose to his fellow Ministers in the European Community that the Community encourages the conversion of loans to the poor countries of sub-Saharan Africa to grants: and if he will propose to them other steps to relieve the burden of that part of the world.

  Mr. Lilley
  Most of our European Community partners have already converted their old aid loans to grants for the poorest and most heavily indebted countries in sub-Saharan Africa as the United Kingdom has done. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will continue to press for further support from all Paris Club creditors for this proposal and also for his proposal to reduce the interest rate charged on rescheduled officially guaranteed debt. The Paris Club has already implemented the third part of my right hon. Friend's plan to help sub-Saharan Africa. To date, five African countries have been granted longer repayment periods when rescheduling through the Paris Club.

  Charities
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for each of the last three years, with an estimate for 1987–88, (a) the number of charitable organisations which have had applications for refund of tax on renewal covenants refused by the Inland Revenue, (b) the income lost to these charities by these refusals and (c) the number of individuals who thereby find the value of their payments to the charities reduces.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  BP Share Offer
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will make a statement as to whether the Government intend to indemnify financial institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom involved in the protection of BP agent cases arising from their underwriting commitments;

  (2) whether he will place in the Library a copy of the contract terms entered into by Her Majesty's Government with Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Sheerson Lehman and Salomon Brothers for the underwriting of the BP share flotation.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 28 October 1987]: A copy of the United Kingdom underwriting agreement and the international offer agreement for the BP sale have been placed in the Library.

  Women
  Ms. Primarolo
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to the proportion of orchestral players in orchestras receiving financial support from the Arts Council that are women.

  Mr. Luce
  The proportion varies widely between orchestras. The average is about 20 per cent.

  Ms. Walley
  asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met (a) the Woman's Playhouse trust, (b) the standing conference of woman theatre directors and administrators and (c) the Campaign for Real Equality in Equity to discuss the position of women in the theatre.

  Mr. Luce
  I have not met any of these organisations, but I support equality of opportunity in the arts.

  Ms. Abbott
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has to the proportion of the total number of plays produced at theatres receiving financial support from the Arts Council that were by women writers, in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Luce
  This information is not held centrally. An alternative indicator is the premieres of new plays by women authors, as a percentage of all premiers:

  Per cent.

  1982–83

  11·8

  1983–84

  11·0

  1984–85

  10·6

  1985–86

  14·0

  1986–87

  18·0

  Mrs. Golding
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many members of the board of the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House are women.

  Mr. Luce
  Three, nine and one, respectively.

  Ms. Short
  asked the Minister for the Arts what steps he will take to help implement the Arts Council's equal opportunities policy statement in relation to the employment of women.

  Mr. Luce
  The council has my warm support in its policy of equal opportunities for women.

  I have taken direct action by asking all those responsible for making submissions on appointments, or nominations for appointment, to the boards of arts bodies I sponsor to ensure that the names of suitable women are included in future short lists.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  asked the Minister for the Arts what steps he will take to help implement the recommendations of the Cork report, "Theatre is for All", that there should be equal opportunity for women in all aspects of theatre.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Minister for the Arts what steps he will take to help implement the recommendations of the Cork report, "Theatre is for All", that a higher priority should be given to women in new writing and project schemes.

  Mr. Luce
  I agree with the objectives of these recommendations, but action on them is a matter for the bodies concerned.
  575
  Miss Lestor
  asked the Minister for the Arts how many members of the boards of (a) the Arts Council, (b) the Crafts Council and (c) the Museum and Galleries Commission are women.

  Mr. Luce
  Three women are members of the Arts Council, six women are members of the Crafts Council and there is one women commissioner in the Museums and Galleries Commission.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many chief librarians of public library authorities in England and Wales are women.

  Mr. Luce
  Since it is the responsibility of local authorities to appoint staff to their public libraries, no records are kept centrally.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  asked the Minister for the Arts how many women are on the Scottish Arts Council or the Scottish Film Council.

  Mr. Luce
  Three and four, respectively.

  Ms. Harman
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many exhibitions by women artists have been mounted at the Hayward gallery in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Luce
  Exhibitions which included work of women artists in each of the last five years are as follows:

  Number

  1982

  2

  1983

  2

  1984

  —

  1985

  2

  1986

  4

  Mr. Chris Smith
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many women film directors received financial support from the British Film Institute in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Luce
  Between the period 1982–86 a total of 40 films were produced by the British Film Institute; women directors benefited from funding in each year, as follows:

  Number

  1982

  2

  1983

  3

  1984

  1

  1985

  2

  1986

  1

  9

  Mr. Boyes
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to the number of women photographers who received financial support from the Arts Council or from regional arts associations in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Luce
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of women photographers receiving financial support

  Arts Council

  Regional Arts Associations

  1982–83

  1

  2

  1983–84

  1

  —

  1984–85

  1

  —

  1985–86

  —

  2

  1986–87

  4

  3

  576
  Miss Mowlam
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many building-based theatre companies have women artistic directors or general managers.

  Mr. Luce
  Five building-based theatre companies funded by the Arts Council or by regional arts associations have women artistic directors and 10 have women administrators.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Minister for the Arts how many women are on (a) the Welsh Arts Council, (b) the board of the National Museum of Wales and (c) the board of the Welsh National Opera Company.

  Mr. Luce
  Three women are members of the Welsh Arts Council, two women are on the board of the National Museum of Wales and one woman is on the board of the Welsh National Opera Company.

  Ms. Quin
  asked the Minister for the Arts how many directors of national museums are women.

  Mr. Luce
  Currently none, but Mrs. Esteve-Coll, director-designate of the Victoria and Albert museum will be taking up her post shortly.

  Ms. Armstrong
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many women are either directors or deputy directors of regional arts associations.

  Mr. Luce
  There are no female directors of regional arts associations at present, but seven assistant directors, one deputy director and one head of administration are women.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the number of women writers and producers who have been financially supported by the British Film Institute in the last five years.

  Mr. Luce
  During this period 21 women have produced or co-produced films for the British Film Institute and nine women writers have received funding.

  Mrs. Wise
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many technicians are women in performing arts companies receiving financial support from the Arts Council and regional arts associations.

  Mr. Luce
  This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many slides of work by women artists are on sale to the general public at the Tate gallery and the National gallery.

  Mr. Luce
  Twenty-one at the Tate gallery and four at the National gallery.

  Mr. Fatchett
  asked the Minister for the Arts how many heads of department at the Arts Council are women.

  Mr. Luce
  Three.

  Visits
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  asked the Minister for the Arts if he will list, by region, the arts bodies he has visited in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Luce
  I have visited the following arts bodies and functions:
  577
  National Arts Bodies

  The Arts Council of Great Britain

  British Council

  British Film Foundation

  British Film Institute

  Crafts Council

  English National Opera

  Hayward Gallery

  Library Association

  National Art Collection Fund

  National Film Theatre

  National Theatre

  Royal Academy

  Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts

  Royal Festival Hall

  Royal Opera House

  National Museums and Galleries

  British Museum

  British Museum (Natural History)

  Imperial War Museum, London and Duxford

  National Gallery

  National Maritime Museum

  National Portrait Gallery

  Science Museum

  Tate Gallery

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  Scotland

  Blackness Public Art Project, Dundee

  Collins Gallery, Glasgow

  Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee

  Dundee Repertory Theatre

  Edinburgh Festival

  Edinburgh Tapestry Company

  Mitchell Theatre

  National Gallery of Scotland

  Royal Museum of Scotland

  Royal Scottish Academy

  SALVO

  Scottish Arts Council

  Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

  Scottish National Portrait Gallery

  Seagate Gallery and Printmakers Workshop, Dundee

  Northern arts

  Newcastle Playhouse

  Council of Regional Arts Association's Conference, Newcastle

  North west arts

  The Action Factory, Blackburn

  Buxton Festival

  Contact Theatre, Manchester

  Harris Museum, Preston

  Manchester City Art Gallery

  Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards

  Quarry Bank Mill, Styal

  Wigan Pier

  Drumcroon Centre, Wigan

  Warrington Museum

  Yorkshire arts

  City Art Gallery, Leeds

  Cooper Gallery, Barnsley

  Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

  Grand Theatre, Leeds

  Graves Gallery, Sheffield

  Jorvik Viking Museum, York

  Land Farm Garden and Gallery, Hebden Bridge

  Leadmills Complex, Sheffield

  Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

  Opera North, Leeds

  Piece Hall Complex and Art Gallery, Halifax

  Railway Museum, York

  Rotherham Arts Centre and Library

  Ruskin Gallery, Sheffield

  Worsborough Mill, Barnsley

  Yorkshire Museum, York

  Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield

  578
  East midlands arts

  Concordia Theatre, Hinckley

  Leicestershire Museum and Art Gallery

  William Morris Fellowship, Canons Ashby

  South western arts

  Colway Theatre Trust, Beaminster

  John Makepiece Studio, Beaminster

  Portland Heritage Trust, Isle of Portland

  Walford Mill Craft Centre, Wimborne Minster

  Southern arts

  Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth

  Bracknell Arts Centre

  Connaught Theatre, Worthing

  D-Day Museum, Portsmouth

  Dance and Media Arts Centre, Swindon

  Hornpipe Community Arts Centre, Portsmouth

  Mary Rose Exhibition, Portsmouth

  Montbatten Gallery, Portsmouth

  Mount Pleasant Photography Workshop, Southampton

  Nuffield Theatre, Southampton

  Portsmouth College of Art, Design and Further Education

  Railway Museum, Swindon

  Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth

  Theatre Royal, Winchester

  Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

  South East Arts

  Little Theatre, Brighton

  Haslemere Festival of Early Music

  Southlands Arts Centre, West Yiewsley

  London

  British Film Institute's Film Archive, Berkhamsted

  Dulwich Picture Gallery

  Greater London Arts

  Guildhall School of Music and Drama

  Halle at the RFH

  London Festival Ballet

  The Mermaid Theatre

  Museum of London

  National Youth Choir at the Royal Albert Hall

  The Place Contemporary Dance Trust

  The Roundhouse

  Royal Opera House

  St. John's, Smith Square

  Sir John Soane's Museum

  South Bank Board

  Theatre Museum

  Tricycle Theatre

  Young Vic

  Eastern Arts

  Cecil Higgins Gallery, Bedford

  Fermoy Centre, King's Lynn

  King's Lynn Museum

  Museum of East Anglian Life, Norwich

  Norwich Castle Museum

  Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia

  St. George's Festival, Norwich

  Wingfield College, Diss

  Lincolnshire and Humberside Arts

  Hull Humberside TIE Theatre Company

  Ferens Art Gallery, Hull

  Hull Town Docks Museum

  Leisure Centre, Grimsby

  New Theatre, Hull

  New Town Docks Museum, Hull

  Spring Street Theatre, Hull

  Touring Exhibitions
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he supports the objective of touring exhibitions from the great London collections to other parts of the United Kingdom.
  579
  Mr. Luce
  I do. The Government are committed to encouraging our great national museums and galleries to make the treasures in their care more widely accessible. The Government indemnity scheme has done much to encourage the lending of objects from the nationals, and between museums generally. I hope that the unit to be set up by the Museums and Galleries Commission in the course of this financial year will be similarly successful in stimulating the creation and use of touring exhibitions.

  Theatre Touring
  Mr. Key
  asked the Minister for the Arts what action is being taken to encourage theatre touring.

  Mr. Luce
  The Arts Council is giving priority to the expansion and encouragement of theatre touring. Besides its day-to-day encouragement of touring opera, dance and drama at all levels, the council is planning to establish an independent production company, for which it will provide one third of the investment required. The remainder of the money, which will come from private sources, will thus be new money available to promote up to six new touring productions annually. The return earned by the productions will be available for reinvestment in future events.

  I am greatly encouraged by the practical steps being taken by the Arts Council to enlarge its touring base, and I look forward to the development of similar schemes in other fields.

  Payroll Giving
  Mr. Page
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether arts bodies have taken full advantage of the payroll giving scheme.

  Mr. Luce
  The payroll giving scheme was introduced only on 6 April this year, and it is too early to say to what extent arts bodies have been able to benefit from it. I shall keep the position under review.

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  asked the Minister for the Arts what is the latest number of museums and galleries in the United Kingdom; and what is his estimate of the annual number of visits to them.

  Mr. Luce
  A survey by the Museums Association in May 1985 recorded 2,131 museums and galleries in the United Kingdom. The information held on the Museums Association database suggests that some 73 million visits were made to museums and galleries in 1986—an increase of 5 million over 1985.

  Royal Opera House
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  asked the Minister for the Arts what is the present position on the development scheme of the Royal Opera House.

  Mr. Luce
  I am still considering the revised proposals for the development of the Covent Garden site, in so far as they affect my responsibilities under the development land trust deed. However, I understand that the Covent Garden Community Association has been granted a right of appeal against the development in the High Court, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.

  Theatre (Training Schemes)
  Mr. Blair
  asked the Minister for the Arts what steps he will take to help implement the recommendations of the Cole report "Theatre is for All" that there should be a 50:50 ratio of men and women in training schemes.

  Mr. Luce
  The report was commissioned by the Arts Council, and it is for it to implement the recommendations it has endorsed.

  In 1986–87, 42 awards for training schemes were made, of which 25 were to women and 17 to men, a ratio of about 60:40.

  Women's Theatre Companies
  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Minister for the Arts what support women's theatre companies received from the Arts Council in the last financial year; and what proportion of the total funding of theatre companies this represents.

  Mr. Luce
  In 1986–87 two women's theatre companies (Monstrous Regiment and Women's Theatre Group) received joint funding of £140,000, which represents 1·2 per cent. of the Arts Council's allocation for drama, excluding the national companies. In addition, the Arts Council funded three women's theatre projects:

  Theatre of Black Women

  Blood Group

  Women's Comedy Workshop.

  Funding for these projects totalled £36,270 or 4·6 per cent. of the Arts Council's projects allocation.

  Regional Arts
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  asked the Minister for the Arts if he will outline his plans to encourage the arts in the regions.

  Mr. Luce
  I welcome the shift of resources from London to the regions which has taken place as a result of the "Glory of the Garden" report.

  As I outlined in my speech to the Council of Regional Arts Associations' conference at Newcastle, I intend to place increasing emphasis on the plural funding of the arts, in the regions as in London.

  Arts Marketing Scheme
  Mr. Butler
  asked the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the progress of his arts marketing scheme.

  Mr. Luce
  I was pleased to announce on 30 July 22 awards to arts organisations under the scheme, reflecting a variety of innovative marketing techniques. I shall be interested to follow their progress and see how successful they are.

  There was a good response, with over 200 applications, but some showed a need to improve marketing expertise. I have therefore offered a one-day professional consultancy to the unsuccessful applicants.

  The scheme was experimental for one year. I do not believe it should be continued in its present form in 1988–89. I am now actively considering how I can follow it up to encourage arts bodies to market themselves more effectively in other ways.

  Funding
  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Minister for the Arts what studies his Department has conducted into the effect on the arts in Britain of the present level of funding for the current year.

  Mr. Luce
  I do not believe that my Department should attempt to duplicate research carried out by independent bodies. I am currently helping to fund two projects by the Policy Studies Institute. One is a research study into the economic impact of the arts, the results of which are to be published early in 1988. The other project is the third in the series "Facts about the Arts", the aim of which is to present a comprehensive picture, in tables and narrative, of the arts scene, at a particular date, but also to give an indication of general trends.

  Museums
  Mr. Beith
  asked the Minister for the Arts what recent discussions he has had with representatives of museums in the public and private sectors.

  Mr. Luce
  I meet representatives of all sectors of the museums world both in London and during my regional visits. Most recently I attended the opening of the Winterhalter exhibition at the national portrait gallery. During November I look forward to visiting the national history museum's geological museum, and to seeing a number of museum developments outside London.

ENVIRONMENT

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy on the question of the elimination of radioactive discharges from nuclear plants.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The total elimination of radioactivity in discharges from nuclear plants is impossible. Government policy is to ensure that discharges are reduced to levels which are as low as reasonably achievable. The authorising Departments are currently engaged on a programme of reviewing the liquid and gaseous authorisations for all nuclear installations in the United Kingdom, but operators are required to ensure the best practicable means to improve performance within the discharge limits set.

  Privatisation
  Mr. John Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have invited tenders for the following services (a) street cleansing, (b) refuse collection, (c) the provision of school meals; and what information he has on the outside tenders compared with those from in house direct labour organisations.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department does not collect systematic data on these matters but much useful information can be found in the annual surveys of contracting out which have appeared in "Local Government Chronicle"; and in the newsletter "Public Service Review" published by the Public Service Research Centre.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the discussions between his Department's planning inspectorate and local planning authorities regarding delays in dealing with planning applications.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend's view is that authorities should normally be able to decide at least 80 per cent. of applications made to them within the statutory eight-week period. The latest figures show that approximately 65 per cent. of applications are decided within that period. We publish quarterly statistics of performance and encourage authorities with the poorest levels of performance to improve their handling of applications. The National Development Control Forum is shortly to publish guidelines on the handling of planning applications.

  Housing Action Trusts
  Mr. Blunkett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that tenants of local authority housing will not be transferred to housing action trusts without their own or the local authority's consent.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend will consult the relevant local authorities and inform local residents when he decides to seek parliamentary approval for the designation of an area as a housing action trust, but the final decision on whether to seek designation of a particular area must remain his.

  Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978
  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect the community charge proposals will have on the provisions of the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978.

  Mr. Howard
  Under the domestic rating system, rateable values are increased to take account of extensions and alterations to property. Rate relief is granted to disabled people to ensure that they do not have to pay higher bills as a result of modifications needed to their homes as a result of their disability. A similar provision will not be needed with the community charge, because improvements to people's homes will not affect the level of the charge.

  Disabled relief will continue in respect on non-domestic hereditaments.

  Pollution
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimate of future British sulphur emissions for the years 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 through to 1995; and how this compares with all other Western European countries.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The level of future sulphur emissions will depend on factors such as future economic growth and energy demand, and estimates are therefore subject to considerable uncertainty. Official United Kingdom estimates, expressed, as a range, are available only for the years 1990 and 2000, as follows:
  583

  (000 tonnes SO2)

  1990

  3,400–4,200

  2000

  2,600–3,500

  In 1986 the executive body of the convention on long-range transboundary air pollution completed a major review of national strategies and policies for air pollution abatement, in the course of which estimates of future SO2 emissions were provided by most European countries. I am arranging to place a copy of the report1 in the Library.

  1 "National Strategies and Policies for Air Pollution Abatement" (annex, Table 1). Convention on long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, United Nations, New York, 1987.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the proposed National Rivers Authority will be freed from public sector borrowing requirement restrictions.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No; the National Rivers Authority will be subject to financial controls equivalent to those applying to similar public bodies.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has proposals for establishing criteria for a charging policy by the proposed National Rivers Authority.

  Mr. Moynihan
  This is one of the issues being considered in the light of comments received on the consultation paper on the National Rivers Authority issued by the Government in July.

  £

  1985–86

  £

  1986–87

  £

  1987–88

  Willan Road Nursery

  50,000

  Revenue

  50,000

  Revenue

  55,000

  Revenue

  Broadwater Farm Youth Association*

  47,852

  Revenue

  48,852

  Revenue

  49,852

  Revenue

  Broadwater Farm Tenants Association

  —

  19,050

  Revenue

  18,050

  Revenue

  7,150

  Capital

  Broadwater Farm Nursery Classes

  39,600

  Revenue

  —

  —

  Broadwater Farm Skills Survey

  12,000

  Revenue

  —

  —

  Broadwater Farm Holiday Projects*

  9,500

  Revenue

  —

  2,500

  Revenue

  Broadwater Farm Enterprise Workshops

  —

  —

  400,000

  Capital

  Estate Action resources have also been allocated to Haringey borough council over the past two years in support of a range of capital housing works on Broadwater Farm.

  1986–87

  £646,989 supporting works including

  Anti-graffiti painting

  Security Works

  New Lighting

  Improvements to tower block

  Landscaping for children's day centre

  Improvements to tenants room

  Alarm systems for the elderly

  1987–88

  £359,533 allocated to date and supporting works including

  Improvements to the estates management office

  Landscaping and community gardens

  Anti-graffiti painting

  Irish in Britain Representation Group
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how much each of the London boroughs, of Haringey, Camden,

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amount and type from 1983 to 1986 of hazardous waste imported into the United Kingdom for each year and the total amount of hazardous waste imported, and the categories, for 1979.

  Mr. Moynihan
  There are no details held centrally of types of hazardous waste imported into the United Kingdom, or of total amounts imported before 1981. The following are the amounts of special waste imported each year between 1983 and 1986:

  Tonnes

  1983

  14,824

  1984

  5,000

  1985

  24,548

  1986

  53,000

  Broadwater Farm
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list all moneys paid either to Haringey council for use on projects on the Broadwater Farm estate, or to the Broadwater Farm youth association, by his Department in the last three years, giving revenue and capital expenditures and the amounts and projects in each case.

  Mr. Trippier
  Over the past three years the following urban programme funding approvals have been given, by my Department for projects at Broadwater Farm estate. Those projects involving direct funding for the youth association are asterisked. The remainder are those of Haringey borough council.

  Islington and Hackney has paid in grants to the Irish in Britain Representation Group, stating capital and revenue grants; and if he will make a statement.
  585
  Mr. Chope
  None, since the Department does not collect systematic information about discretionary grants by local authorities.

  Gipsies
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what notifications have been received from Calderdale and Kirklees regarding the provision of gipsy sites in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  I am informed that Calderdale and Kirklees are currently considering the provision of gipsy sites in their areas.

  Station Site (Bradford)
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, South on 26 October, what reasons were given for the rejection by the Property Services Agency of a rail link sharing the former Bradford Exchange station site with a courthouse; whether at any stage a threat was made expressly or by implication that the courthouse project would be moved to Kirklees if the Property Service Agency's views were not accepted; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The advice that the Property Services Agency gave to the City of Bradford metropolitan district council was that, in its professional judgment, the site could not accommodate both a rail link and a courthouse to meet the requirements of the Lord Chancellor's Department. The decision on the appropriate use of the site was a matter for the council.

  Defective Housing
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further consultations have taken place between officials of his Department and Walsall metropolitan borough council regarding the state of the Wimpey no fines properties in the Blakenall area of the borough.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There have been no further discussions since the Department's officers met Walsall metropolitan borough council on 16 September to discuss its overall housing programme; the matters discussed there, including the condition of Wimpey no fines properties, will be taken into account when we decide the HIP allocations for 1988–89.

  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is intended for the Minister for Housing or another Minister in his Department to visit the Wimpey no fines properties in Walsall; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have no current plans to do so; however, as my reply to the hon. Member of 21 October explained (Vol. 120, Cols.829–830), the Department's officials are keeping Ministers fully informed of the position.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received
  586
  from local authorities (a) supporting and (b) opposing the introduction of the community charge as a replacement for domestic rates.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gateshead. East (Ms. Quin) on 24 July (Vol. 120, col.722).

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he proposes to specify the terms and conditions of appointment of community charge registration officers;

  (2) whether he will permit authorities to nominate existing officers appointed under section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972 as community charge registration officers.

  Mr. Ridley
  I intend to provide that the community charge registration officer for a local authority will he the person who has responsibility for administering the authority's financial affairs under section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the proposed duties of the community charge registration officer.

  Mr. Ridley
  The registration officer will be under a duty to compile and maintain an accurate and up-to-date register of all those who are liable to pay community charges in the area of his authority.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it will be a matter for the community charge registration officer or the local authority to decide matters of policy and resourcing relating to the task of community charge registration.

  Mr. Ridley
  Registration officers will be responsible for compiling and maintaining community charge registers. Local authorities will be required to provide registration officers with sufficient resources to carry out those functions.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters he has received on his proposals to reform local government finance since June 1987; what percentage of these letters he estimates to be in favour of his proposals; and what percentage or these letters he estimates to be opposed to his proposals.

  Mr. Ridley
  Since June 1987 my Department has received more than 3,000 letters about specific aspects of our proposals and requests for further information. Those who have written were neither invited to, nor on the whole did they, express a view on the proposals as a whole.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each local authority (a) the number of persons he estimates would be liable to pay the community charge and (b) the number of community charge payers whom he expects to receive assistance with the community charge by a rebate system.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have today placed in the Library the adult population figures underlying the community charge exemplifications which I published on 29 June (Vol. 118, c.44). It is not possible to make reliable estimates of the numbers of people likely to be eligible for community charge rebates in each area.
  587
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to make a statement on the proposed treatment of the Corporation of the City of London for the purposes of community charge and non-domestic rates.

  Mr. Ridley
  Yes. The City of London is unique among local authorities in its very small resident population combined with its need to provide services for a large daytime inflow of commuters. It is also unique in that the city retains a "business vote". In the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714) it was accepted that special arrangements would be required for the City of London. My officials have therefore discussed with the corporation and with the local authority associations proposals to allow the corporation to levy a small variable non-domestic rate provided a pre-determined proportion of expenditure is met by community charge payers. There will be arrangements to offset the contribution from city non-domestic ratepayers to city expenditure from their contribution to the national non-domestic rate pool.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each local authority (a) the number of electors, (b) the number of domestic ratepayers who (i) now pay full rates, (ii) now pay part rates because of assistance by rate rebates and (iii) now pay no rates because of assistance by rate rebates and (c) the number of spouses or partners of domestic ratepayers who would be jointly and severally liable for the rates bill had the provisions he proposes for joint and several liability of community charge applied to rates.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have today placed in the Library the available information for each local authority on the numbers of domestic properties liable for rates and the numbers of ratepayers receiving full and partial rebates.

  The number of electors in each local authority area is published in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys monitor EL/87/1, available from the Library.

  Precise information on the number of ratepayers' spouses or partners who would be jointly and severally liable for the rates bill is not available. However the 1981 census county reports, available from the Library, show in table 39 numbers of people living with spouses in each local authority area.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the estimated costs incurred since June on promoting his proposals for local government finance reform, itemising separately (a) publications, (b) videos and similar material and (c) promotional tours by Ministers.

  Mr. Ridley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 October to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett).

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the latest figures he has for poll taxes, expressed both as total revenue and the charge per adult in £ sterling, in (a) Japan, (b) the Canadian provinces and (c) any other countries;

  (2) what information he has as to how many Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries do not have a tax on residential or domestic property.
  588
  Mr. Ridley
  The most recent data we have are contained in annex K to the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd 9714).

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he plans to monitor the current year's electoral registration process to discern whether the prospect of a community charge is resulting in a change in the numbers of electors registered.

  Mr. Ridley
  No.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report the numbers of staff, their grades and duties working on the implementation of his proposals to reform local government finance.

  Mr. Ridley
  The following staff in my Department are engaged on all aspects of the reform of local government finance.

  Grade

  Full time

  Part time

  Grade 3

  —

  2

  Grade 4

  —

  1

  Grade 5

  3

  3

  Grade 6

  1

  —

  Grade 7

  5

  5

  SEO

  1

  2

  HEO

  7

  3

  EO

  5

  2

  AO

  3

  2

  AA

  2

  —

  PS

  3

  1

  Typist

  2

  —

  Total

  32

  21

  A number of staff in other Government Departments are also involved, as part of their other duties, in this area of work.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether estimates of the adult population used for revenue support grant and distribution of the proceeds of the national non-domestic rate pool will include students and persons who are exempt from paying community charge.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have yet to make proposals on the estimates of adult population to be used for the purposes of distributing revenue support grant and the proceeds of the national non-domestic rate pool. I intend, however, that these estimates should take account of the fact that students will pay a reduced community charge and that other categories will be exempt from paying the community charge.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the full-time equivalent of the numbers of staff of his Department employed on dealing with correspondence from the general public in relation to his proposals to reform local government finance.

  Mr. Ridley
  There are approximately 13½ staff (fte) involved in answering correspondence on rate reform. This includes both correspondence from Members of Parliament and the general public. Answering the inordinate number of parliamentary questions from the hon. Gentleman of course imposes considerable additional burden on my Department's resources.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the sources of the estimates of

  589
  adult population by local authorities for the purposes of (a) revenue support grant and (b) distribution of the proceeds from the national non-domestic rate pool.

  Mr. Ridley
  No decision has yet been made as to the sources from which esimates of adult population should be drawn.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to deal with the rating of new domestic property during the period of phasing out rates.

  Mr. Ridley
  I must ask the hon. Gentleman to await the publication of the legislation.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to give any assistance to local authorities whose areas contain large numbers of students to meet the cost of expenditure above that which would be financed by the basic community charge.

  Mr. Ridley
  The revenue support grant system will compensate fully for differences between authorities up to the level of their assessed need to spend; the full cost of expenditure above that level will fall on local charge payers.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to discuss with local government and in what forum the proposals for a community charge rebate scheme.

  Mr. Ridley
  We are considering, with the local authority associations, the most appropriate forum for future discussions on the community charge rebate system.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Commission for Racial Equality on the effect of his community charge proposals on families from the ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Ridley
  None.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the average community charge to be paid by student nurses living in hospitals attached to teaching hospitals in inner London.

  Mr. Ridley
  I placed illustrative community charge figures for all local authorities, including inner London boroughs, in the Library on 29 June.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to change the financial limits measured in terms of a penny rate product if his proposals to change the system of local government finance are carried through.

  Mr. Ridley
  No decisions have yet been taken on this matter, but appropriate arrangements will be proposed.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for reviewing rateable value limits in the Leasehold Reform Act when domestic rates are replaced by the poll tax.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I propose to issue shortly a consultation paper on the implications for the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 and other landlord and tenant legislation of the proposed abolition of domestic rates.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply of 26 October, Official Report, columns 39–40, giving figures of gainers
  590
  and losers by households in England on the introduction of the full community charge, he will make a statement showing why the single pensioner and other single adult losers are greater than the same categories for Great Britain given in table J7 of Cmnd. 9714, "Paying For Local Government".

  Mr. Howard
  The figures are on different bases. Those I gave to the hon. Member on 26 October (Vol. 121, columns 39–40) showed the estimated position without any transitional grant provisions. Table J7 of "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714) showed the estimated effect with the continuation of the transitional grant provisions proposed in the Green Paper.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report any information he has on a parish-by-parish basis on the effects of his proposals to reform local government finance on the finances of parish councils, showing (a) the amount of parish precept per household and (b) the amount of community charge per adult in respect of parish services, calculated on the same basis as the figures referred to in his answer on 29 June, Official Report, column 44.

  Mr. Ridley
  There are about 8,000 parish councils. Information about parish precepts is available but could only be expressed as an amount per household at disproportionate cost.

  Information about parish expenditure is not collected centrally. As a result of our proposals for the payment of grant and non-domestic rates published on 23 September, parish council expenditure will be supported by grant and non-domestic rates in the same way as other local government expenditure. The illustrative community charges published on 29 June include parish precepts.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the 1987–88 community charge for the City of London on the same basis as that for all other authorities referred to in his answer of 29 June, Official Report, column 44.

  Mr. Ridley
  No. We have always made it clear that separate arrangements would be necessary for the City of London.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer of 22 October, Official Report, column 862–3, he will place in the Library the comments he has received from the Audit Commission on the effect of his proposals for the reform of local government finance on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of local authorities.

  Mr. Ridley
  No. I do not have permission from the commission to publish its comments.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the effect on the level of community charge in each local authority of a 5 per cent. evasion rate, based on the figures referred to in his answer on 29 June, Official Report, column 44.

  Mr. Ridley
  No. There is no basis for assuming a uniform 5 per cent. rate of evasion.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to define great personal

  591
  sensitivity in the context of information which will not be available to community charge registration officers, pursuant to his answer of 21 October, column 825.

  Mr. Ridley
  As I indicated in my answer of 21 October (Vol. 120, col.825), such material will be prescribed in regulations.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to omit any members of Her Majesty's Forces from the community charge register; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  It would be impractical to register individually the most mobile service personnel for the personal community charge. It would also be undesirable, for security reasons, for certain details to be included in community charges registers.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give his latest estimates of the likely evasion rate of community charge.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have made no such estimate.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information local authorities will be permitted to provide on total revenue and spending when sending out poll tax demands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 29 October]: This is a matter for further discussion with the local authority associations. It is not obvious that any specific prohibitions will be required. In line with our proposals for the operation of the grant system and the local collection fund, however, we shall be taking powers to prescribe the minimum information to be provided and the format of the community charge bill.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what instructions or codes of practice he laid down in respect of the appointment of consultants by the London Docklands development corporation, and what action he proposes to take consequently on the report of auditors to the corporation, Robson Rhodes Corporation, on future procedure for appointing consultants adopted by the London Docklands development corporation;

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter from Messrs. Robson Rhodes to the London Docklands development corporation concerning its annual accounts together with any reply or statements it made in response.

  Mr. Trippier
  The corporation is required by the terms of its grant memorandum to award consultancy contracts on a competitive basis.

  The corporation has not yet completed its internal consideration of the management letter. It will do so at the next meeting of its audit committee. My Department will then consider the letter and the adequacy of the LDDC's response.

  I will consider what statement should be made for the Official Report.

  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the names of consultants appointed by the London Docklands development corporation within its expenditure on
  592
  consultancies of £7·9 million in the last financial year, together with the nature of the contract, and indicating those cases where the auditors have found no evidence of formal competition.

  Mr. Trippier
  Yes. I shall do so as soon as the information has been brought together.

  Planning Zones
  Mr. Baldry
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made towards the introduction of simplified planning zones.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A commencement order and regulations enabling local planning authorities in England and Wales to make simplified planning zone schemes (SPZ's) come into force today. The regulations provide the detailed procedures and were the subject of consultation earlier this year.

  SPZ's are based on the planning regime successfully pioneered in enterprise zones and will provide local authorities with an important new means of facilitating development, particularly in the older urban areas. They enable local planning authorities to give advance planning permission for specified types of development in defined areas. Schemes will provide developers with certainty about the acceptability of projects, and remove the need for them to make individual planning applications in the area concerned.

  I hope that authorities will take full advantage of this new opportunity and prepare schemes as soon as practicable.

  Certain types of development are excluded from the scope of SPZ's, and the Act provides that SPZ's cannot be designated in certain protected areas such as national parks and green belts.

  New, simplified procedures for the preparation of local plans also come into operation today.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Robert Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a timetable for the implementation of competitive tendering procedures for individual local government services in the phasing programme.

  Mr. Howard
  The Department is issuing a consultation paper today which sets out proposals for implementation of part I of the Local Government Bill in England. I am sending my hon. Friend and members of Standing Committee A copies of the paper, and I have also placed a copy in the Library.

  The paper proposes a phased introduction of competition by local authorities, with authorities split into groups and each group taking the activities covered by the Bill in a different order. Each group will have to expose activities to competition at six-monthly intervals, starting by 1 April 1989. All authorities will have to expose at least 10 per cent. of their ground maintenance work to competition by that date, and that percentage figure will be increased to 100 per cent. over a five-year period.

  The paper also proposes a de minimis exemption so that authorities would not have to expose any activity to competition if they spend less than £100,000 per annum on carrying it out.

  Comments on the proposals are to be sent to the Department by 31 January 1988.

  Whale Products
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has concerning the importation of whale products according to product and ultimate use.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 29 October 1987]: Applicants to the Department to import whale products under EC regulation 3626/82 which implements the convention on international trade and endangered species within the European Community must specify the product concerned and the purpose of import. Import permits are normally granted only for personal or scientific purposes. During the last eight years various products have been imported for these purposes including teeth, bone, tusk, blood, powder, sperm, sperm oil and spermaceti wax.

  Rates
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a report giving his latest assessment of the effect of a revaluation of non-domestic property, showing separately the effects on a regional basis and by type of property.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd 9714), paragraph D15–23, indicated the expected broad effects of revaluation. Since then, several leading firms of surveyors have published more detailed forecasts which generally confirm those contained in the Green Paper.

  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from (a) the Confederation of British Industry and (b) the Institute of Directors on his proposals for a national non-domestic rate.

  Mr. Ridley
  The CBI response to the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" supported the Government's proposals in broad terms, subject to certain conditions. It has since expressed strong support for the Government's manifesto commitments, while making it clear that they have views about how those commitments should be achieved. Exchanges of view are continuing.

  The IOD in its response to the Green Paper welcomed the community charge, but opposed the proposals for a national non-domestic rate, although noting that
  "By strength of feeling, however, there was probably a majority in favour of a uniform business rate because members in a minority of areas saw the proposal as literally their last hope."

  Local Government Finance
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the figures from form ACCR 86/87, showing for each local authority (a) total accumulated capital receipts and (b) cash-backed accumulated receipts at 31 March.

  Mr. Ridley
  Returns from local authorities for 1986–87 are currently being received and analysed. When the information is complete, I will place the figures in the Library of the House.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what jurisdiction the proposed National Rivers Authority will have in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  It is not possible to go beyond what was said in the Government's consultation paper on the National Rivers Authority, published in July, until we have considered all the comments received on that paper. Specific questions about the jurisdiction of the National Rivers Authority in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

DEFENCE

  Meteorological Office (Storm Warnings)
  Mr. Warren
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what public warnings were issued on the night of 15 and 16 October by the Meteorological Office when the hurricane arrived at the coastline of the United Kingdom;

  (2) if he will publish the precise time at which the Meteorological Office recorded the existence of the hurricane in the vicinity of the United Kingdom on the night of Thursday 15 and 16 October; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 29 October to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor).

  British Petroleum
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of the use of the Royal Marines and Commandos in the British Petroleum share launch.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence who authorised the use of Royal Marines to help launch the BP offer price announcement on 15 October; how much was paid for their services; and who paid.

  Mr. Freeman
  The use of the Royal Marines on this occasion was authorised by the Directorate of Naval Recruiting in accordance with standard procedures. The precise costs to be recovered from BP are still being assessed.

  Royal Yacht Britannia
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date on which the Royal Yacht Britannia was last tested operationally in her role as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve auxiliary hospital ship.

  Mr. Freeman
  Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia's declared wartime role is as a naval hospital ship: she has no formal connection with the Royal Naval Reserve. Although Britannia has not been involved in operations as a hospital ship, she has exercised this role on a number of occasions and, in January 1986, she provided valuable medical facilities during the evacuation of civilian refugees from Aden.

  British Nuclear Tests Veterans' Association
  Mr. Ron Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received recent representations from the British Nuclear Tests Veterans' Association regarding compensation for their members; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Yes, we have received such representations. Under present arrangements claims for compensation will be considered by the Department of Health and Social Security.

  RNAD Coulport
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will invite tenders for the construction of a floating jetty at RNAD Coulport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my predecessor gave on 3 March 1987. In matters of design and construction, the Property Services Agency of the Department of the Environment acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence. The floating jetty at RNAD Coulport is a unique and complex structure, and the design work and associated hydraulic model tests are well advanced. The Property Services Agency now expects to invite tenders in the next few weeks.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Terry Fields
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what preparations have been made for specialist British troops to be used in a supportive capacity for a possible United States land operation in the Gulf region; what specialist training such British forces have received; in what circumstances their troops will be used; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No preparations have been made for participation by specialist British troops in any such operation.

  Theatre Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any decision affecting the modernisation of theatre nuclear weapons in service with British forces has been made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) on 24 March 1987 at column 162.

  Nuclear Weapons (Underground Storage)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government have concluded their discussions with the United States Government or North Atlantic Treaty Organisation officials about the construction of underground storage facilities for nuclear weapons in Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My Department is involved in continuing discussions with the United States Government on this matter.

  Armed Forces (Bullying)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he proposes to take to combat bullying and brutality in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Feeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 28 October 1987 at column 341.

  NATO (Main Battle Tank)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy upon the statement of NATO's Secretary-General that one country, or consortium of countries, should be asked to design and build NATO's next generation of main battle tank.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In accordance with our policy of seeking international collaboration in weapons procurement wherever this is practicable and advantageous, we are exploring with our allies the prospects for harmonising operational characteristics and time scales for potential requirements for a next generation of main battle tank. It is too early, however, to prescribe an appropriate procurement method for such a project.

  Nuclear Arms Links
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his recent discussions with Mr. Andre Giraud, France's Defence Secretary, particularly in respect of nuclear arms links.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend last met M. Giraud on 26 October in the course of the WEU ministerial meeting at The Hague. They discussed a range of defence matters of mutual interest.

  Modular Stand-Off Weapon
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what the likely cost would be to Her Majesty's Government of the development of a modular stand-off weapon; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is too early to say.

  Lance Missile
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has had any discussions about the development of an improved Lance battlefield nuclear missile; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly reviews with his ministerial colleagues in NATO the need for the modernisation of NATO's nuclear systems. This is an essential element in the Alliance's policy of maintaining only the minimum forces necessary for deterrence. No decisions on modernisation as it affects British forces have yet been taken.

  Conscription
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether staff in his Department undertook any press briefings during the summer recess in respect of the issue of conscription; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No press briefings on the issue of conscription have been undertaken by staff in my
  597
  Department during and since the summer recess. The Government's view on the issue was given by the Prime Minister on 20 March 1986: conscription would mean an enormous change in the whole of our defence policy which is founded on professional armed services, and which has served our country well.

  Cruise Missile Components
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is aware in advance of each occasion when cruise missile components are flown into the USAF Alconbury airbase in Huntingdonshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The United States Air force has kept my Department informed of the progress being made towards achieving a ground-launched cruise missile operating capability at RAF Molesworth. This includes its programme of deliveries of GLCM components.

  British Telecom Research
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost to his Department of use of the British Telecom research centre near Brightwell.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The cost to the Department of the use of the British Telecom research laboratory at Martlesham heath, near Brightwell, was approximately £800,000 for the financial year 1986–87.

  Nuclear Materials
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether nuclear materials have been kept at the Frates ammunition dump, Gosport, or Collingwood naval base, Fareham;

  (2) what is the estimated number of miles travelled per annum on Britain's roads by vehicles carrying military nuclear weapons material.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on the location or movement of nuclear weapons or their component materials.

  NFR90 Frigate
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expenditure (i) incurred and (ii) committed by Her Majesty's Government on the development of the NFR90 frigate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The expenditure incurred to date by Her Majesty's Government on the collaborative NFR90 project is £1·7 million, this being the United Kingdom share of the cost of the feasibility study. No other monies are currently committed to this project. A decision on whether the United Kingdom will enter the project's next phase, project definition, is expected to be made soon.

  Arms Control (Inspection)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is proposed that all cruise missile bases in the United Kingdom will he subject to Soviet inspection under the proposed arms control agreement and if he will make a statement.
  598
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  We are in close consultation with the United States on the form which a verification regime associated with the proposed INF agreement might take, including the question of inspections. Under such a regime, we would expect all ground-launched missile operating bases to be subject to inspection, including those in the United Kingdom.

  Exercise Certain Strike
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to Her Majesty's Government of participation in Exercise Certain Strike.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The total cost of United Kingdom participation in Exercise Certain Strike is not identified in the Estimates separately from the total provision for training. Our assessment of the extra costs involved has not yet been completed.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will declassify the information as to the number of nuclear weapons (a) possessed and (b) operated under dual-key arrangements by the United Kingdom which fall within the terms of the proposed arms control agreement, and as to the percentage, within a band of 10 per cent., that this number of nuclear weapons related to the total number of nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No British owned or operated nuclear weapons fall within the terms of the proposed INF agreement.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of nuclear weapons in Britain which are (a) land-based, (b) sea-based and (c) air-based systems.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I cannot add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 13 July 1987 at column 345.

  Battlefield Artillery Engagement System
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original estimated cost, and what is the current estimated cost, of the battlefield artillery engagement system and associated software; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Current cost estimates are commercially sensitive. Estimated costs at the start of full development were some £175 million when revalued to average outturn prices.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many years late on the original time scale the battlefield artillery engagement system is currently running; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Between the start of full development in 1980 and subsequent conversion to incentivised contractual arrangements in 1985, there was a slip of approximately two years. Subsequently there has been a slippage in the development programme of a number of weeks. The extent to which this may affect dates for introducing equipment into service will depend on progress from now on.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the likely reduction in provision to the Army of the

  599
  current proposals for the battlefield artillery engagement system as against the original plan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Army will receive sufficient equipments to meet essential operational requirements. Exact numbers of equipments to be deployed are classified.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures his Department has adopted to monitor the efficiency, management and cost in the development of the battlefield artillery engagement system; what assessment he has made of the efficacy of these procedures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Since 1985 the contract for development and the first phase of BATES production has been on a maximum price-target cost basis. This offers the contractor financial incentives and includes agreed levels of achievement against which progress is closely monitored. Regular progress reports are formally reviewed between the MOD and the contractor. These arrangements can be amended should this be considered appropriate.

  Marconi
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action is being taken upon the findings of his Department's investigations into the allegations that Marconi, or its four subsidiaries in Portsmouth, made excessive profits on Ministry of Defence contracts; how much public money is involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Investigations by the Ministry of Defence police into allegations of irregularities over contracts with Marconi Defence Systems began in October 1986 and are continuing. Responsibility for the direction of the investigations and the prosecution of any cases which arise from them was referred to the Director of Public Prosecution's fraud investigation group on 19 August 1987. As this is now a matter for the Law Officers of the Crown I am unable to comment further about these investigations.

  Data Protection Act
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy towards fees for subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act; how many registered entries his Department has; and what would be the total cost to a data subject seeking access to personal data held under all register entries.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Department's policy towards fees for subject access under the Data Protection Act 1984 is that there will be no charge for current, past and potential MOD employees but for other data subjects the statutory fee of £10 will be charged. The MOD has six register entries covering a total of 16 purposes. The total cost to a data subject, who is not a current, past or potential MOD employee, seeking access to personal data held under all registrations would be £60.

  Jeffrey Singh
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he proposes to take on the evidence of
  600
  bullying and racism arising from the death of Jeffrey Singh, found hanged at Shorncliffe barracks, Kent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The death of junior soldier Jeffrey Singh was fully investigated by a coroner's court. No evidence of bullying or racism was found.

  Nuclear Missiles
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of nuclear (i) missiles, (ii) warheads and (iii) throw-weight for NATO forces (a) worldwide, (b) in Europe and (c) in the United Kingdom: (A) in June 1979, (B) now and (C) after implementation of the provisions of the current intermediate nuclear force negotiations.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Information on the number and location of nuclear missiles deployed with NATO forces has been published annually in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates" since 1980.

  The information which the hon. Member is seeking on warheads and throw-weight is classified.

  Under the currently proposed INF agreement, all NATO's ground-launched cruise missiles and Pershing II missiles would be eliminated.

  Following an INF agreement, it will remain NATO's policy to maintian the minimum level of forces consistent with credible deterrence.

  Members of Parliament (Classified Information)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department takes to access eligibility for access to classified material of right hon. and hon. Members (a) appointed to, or (b) candidates for, parliamentary positions associated with defence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Younger
  None.

  Committee of Public Accounts (Project Notification)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the operation of the system of notification of his Department to the Public Accounts Committee of projects costing over a certain sum; whether that threshold refers to eventual total anticipated cost; and when the system is next due for renewal

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The system of notification to which the hon. Member refers was described by my predecessor on 2 February 1987, columns 516–17. The threshold of £250 million related to the total expected cost of development and production combined. The Government have no plans to review the system, but this does not exclude the possibility that changes of detail may be agreed between the Committee and my Department from time to time.

  Nuclear Accidents
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's Government will take steps to ensure that overall control of events following an accident involving United States nuclear weapons on British soil rest with the British authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  There is very close co-operation between the United Kingdom and the United States on
  601
  contingency planning for the highly unlikely event of an accident involving a United States nuclear weapon in this country. The roles and responsibilities of both Governments are governed by special arrangements between the two nations. It is clearly understood in these arrangements that the United Kingdom has sovereign rights over its territory and territorial waters. In addition, as in all circumstances, United States military units in the United Kingdom would be required to comply with the relevant laws of the United Kingdom.

  Nuclear Accident Exercises
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations he has received about the use of thorium 232 in nuclear accident training exercises on British soil; if he was consulted about its use in advance; what assessment he has made of the implications for the environment and for the safety of the civilian population of the use of thorium 232; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what arrangements he has made to ensure the safety of all civilians living or camping in the vicinity of Royal Air Force bases on which United States nuclear accident teams carry out their exercises involving the use of radioactive material.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My Department has received two representations specifically regarding the alleged use of thorium 232 during nuclear accident training exercises in the United Kingdom. Thorium 232 has not been used during nuclear accident training exercises in the United Kingdom by the British armed forces. In addition, I have been assured by the United States authorities that their military units based in this country do not use radioactive contaminants of any kind during United States nuclear accident response training exercises in the United Kingdom.

  Trident
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the proportion of (a) development and (b) the production costs of the warhead element of the Trident programme which will be attributable to (i) the United States of America and (ii) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to release information of this nature for reasons of security.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what factors he attributes the fall since 1981 in the cost estimate for the Trident warhead procurement programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The fall is attributable to the fact that after six years it has been possible to estimate the costs to completion with greater precision.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what factor he attributes the rise since 1981 in the proportion of total Trident programme expenditure attributable to warhead, miscellaneous and unallocated contingency expenditure.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Approximately one third of the increase in the proportion of the Trident budget attributable to "Warhead, miscellaneous and unallocated contingency etc." is due to net cost increases in the areas of support and 602
  contingency within this element of the budget. The remainder is due to net cost reductions in other elements of the Trident budget.

  Army Exercise, Angus
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the purpose of tests at an army camp at Angus, Scotland, in which troops were sprayed with CS gas from an Army aircraft; what arrangements were made to ensure the safety of the troops involved how many similar exercises have been conducted.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No Army exercises involving the spraying of CS gas from the air are conducted.

  RAF Stations
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current and proposed military uses of RAF Bawdsey, RAF Woodbridge and RAF Bentwaters.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  RAF Bawdsey is, and will remain, a United Kingdom air defence station. RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge are, and will remain, operational flying stations used by the United States Air Force.

  Projects
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many current defence projects not separately notified to Parliament are estimated to exceed on completion (a) £50 million and (b) £250 million; and what is the total estimated cost of these projects.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The 1987 major project statement for equipment now in preparation will include all the 38 current defence projects with approved expenditure in excess of £250 million—£200 million for certain projects; the estimated total value of approved work shown is expected to be some £42 billion at average 1987–88 outturn prices. The information in respect of projects exceeding £50 million is not readily available in the form sought. But the first defence equipment project report which will be submitted to the House of Commons Defence Committee next year and which will list projects estimated to cost £25 million or more for development or £50 million or more for production, is expected to add approximately 60 projects to those which feature in the major project statement.

  Nuclear Attack
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of current military defence arrangements against nuclear attack; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Government's whole defence strategy is designed to deter a potential aggressor from any form of attack. Many of our military defence arrangements are designed to counter more than one form of attack and it is therefore not possible separately to identify the cost of the arrangements against one particular form of attack.

  Harrier Aircraft
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Harrier aircraft have crashed since 1979; and what is the total cost involved.
  603
  Mr. Freeman
  Since 1 January 1979, 26 Royal Air Force and 12 Royal Navy Harriers have suffered irreparable damage in accidents. The cost of this number of aircraft, in current prices, would be approximately £304 million.

  Frigates and Destroyers
  Mr. Frank Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in pursuance of the reply he gave in paragraph 11 of Cm. 228, "Implementing the Lessons of the Falklands Campaign", if he will name the 50 frigates and destroyers of the surface escort force which are either (a) operational or engaged in preparing for service, trials or training or (b) undergoing refit or on standby; and if he will distinguish into which category each falls.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Paragraph 11 of Cmnd. 228 refers to the Government's continuing commitment to maintain a surface escort force of about 50 destroyers and frigates. I refer the hon. Member to annex B of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987". Since that document was published HMS Naid, HMS Fife and HMS Aurora have paid off; HMS Jupiter and HMS Alacrity have left refit and HMS Brilliant and HMS Hermione have entered refit.

  Mr. Frank Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will detail the number of frigates ordered each year since 1979, giving the yards at which the orders are now being built.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information required is:

  Vessel

  Dale ordered

  Shipyard

  Type 22s

  HMS Boxer*

  April 1979

  Yarrow Shipbuilders

  HMS Beaver*

  April 1979

  Yarrow Shipbuilders

  HMS Brave*

  April 1981

  Yarrow Shipbuilders

  HMS London*

  February 1982

  Yarrow Shipbuilders

  HMS Sheffield

  December 1982

  Swam Hunter Shipbuilders

  HMS Coventry

  December 1982

  Swan Hunter Shipbuilders

  HMS Cornwall

  December 1982

  Yarrow Shipbuilders

  HMS Cumberland

  December 1982

  Yarrow Shipbuilders

  HMS Campbeltown

  January 1985

  Cammell Laird Shipbuilders

  HMS Chatham

  January 1985

  Swan Hunter Shipbuilders

  Type 23s

  HMS Norfolk

  October 1984

  Yarrow Shipbuilders

  HMS Marlborough

  August 1986

  Swan Hunter Shipbuilders

  HMS Argyll

  September 1986

  Yarrow Shipbuilders

  HMS Lancaster

  September 1986

  Yarrow Shipbuilders

  The following Type 42 destroyers were also ordered in this period:

  HMS Gloucester*

  March 1979

  Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd.

  HMS Edinburgh*

  April 1979

  Cammell Laird Shipbuilders

  HMS York*

  April 1979

  Swan Hunter Shipbuilders

  * Denotes vessel accepted from the shipbuilder.

  Defence Installations, Uist
  Mr. Macdonald
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what implications the development of the simulated combat trainer for ground-launched low-level air defence by British Aerospace and others at Letchworth
  604
  will have for his Department's installations in the Uists, particularly as regards the numbers of both civilian and military personnel either stationed or employed there.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Rapier simulators are used to improve the realism and effectiveness of training, and thus help to maximise the benefit obtained from the firing of live missiles which will continue to take place at the Royal Artillery range, Hebrides. Thus there are currently no plans to alter the number of personnel employed at the range as a result of the development of new simulators.

  Bullying
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have been discharged in the last three years after being found responsible for bullying; and if he will give details of the services concerned and the ranks of those so discharged.

  Mr. Freeman
  Bullying is not specifically defined as an offence under the Service Discipline Acts. Charges would be framed under those sections of the Acts appropriate to the circumstances. Since January 1986 instances of bullying in the Army have been recorded separately from other disciplinary cases involving assault. In the period since then, two Army corporals and one private soldier have been dismissed following courts martial for offences involving bullying, all in the current year. One Royal Marine corporal has also been dismissed from the service following his court martial for assault on another Royal Marine.

  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has recently received regarding bullying and initiation ceremonies in the armed forces.

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department keeps me informed of all allegations of bullying and so-called initiation ceremonies which are investigated by the SIB. I routinely receive periodic reports on this subject, and I am informed of any new cases of bullying which arise.

  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the circular sent recently to units of the armed forces regarding the need to prevent bullying against recruits.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my comments in the recent defence debate on 28 October, at column 393.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Southern Health and Social Services Area Board
  Mr. John David
  Taylor asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total possible membership of the Southern health and social services area board; how many members presently serve on this board; how many members voted (a) for and (b) against the proposed new £2 million area board health headquarters at the board meeting this month; and how many of those who voted for this new headquarters are (i) elected councillors and (ii) non-elected persons nominated by him for board membership.

  Mr. Needham
  There are currently 24 places on the Southern health and social services board, one of which is vacant. At the October meeting of the board a proposal to rescind the decision taken in January to provide a new
  605
  headquarters building pending further information and discussion was defeated by five votes to seven. The votes of individual members were not recorded.

  Police Advisory Board
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates in 1985, 1986 and 1987, respectively, the Police Federation of Northern Ireland requested that a meeting be held of the Police Advisory Board; what response he gave to those requests; and why no meeting of the board has taken place.

  Mr. Stanley
  The Police Federation for Northern Ireland requested meetings of the Police Advisory Board on 9 September 1985, 16 May 1986, and 11 May 1987. After the 9 September 1985 request, the Police Federation itself sought a delay to enable further topics to be tabled. On 16 May 1986 it asked for two further items to be added to the agenda. The federation was informed that a meeting of the board would be called to discuss only the first subject raised and it was asked if it would be prepared to proceed on that basis. I am not aware of any reply being received. The latest request is being considered in consultation with all the interested parties; and the federation has been informed accordingly.

  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Police Advisory Board last met; and if he will provide a list of the meetings that have taken place during each of the past five years of the Police Advisory Boards of England and Wales, of Scotland and of Northern Ireland, respectively.

  Mr. Stanley
  The Police Advisory Board for Northern Ireland last met on 22 March 1982. Meetings of the Police Advisory Boards in England and Wales, and Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Edmund-Davies Report
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to give effect to recommendation 41 of the Edmund-Davies report as accepted by the Government of the day; what machinery he has established through the Police Advisory Board to give effect to this recommendation; and when the Police Advisory Board for Northern Ireland last discussed this matter.

  Mr. Stanley
  The intention of recommendation 42 was to ensure that the police receive all the relevant benefits of industrial legislation. The Police Federation for Northern Ireland first raised recommendation 41 as a potential point for discussion by the Police Advisory Board on II May 1987 and the request is still receiving consideration.

  ACE Scheme
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations have been informed of the possible loss of Government funding for ACE workers or other projects because of their present or proposed uses of the Conway mill buildings in West Belfast; and what changes such organisations were advised to take if they wished to retain such funding.
  606
  Mr. Stanley
  Three organisations were informed of the possible loss of Government funding because of their use of the Conway mill facilities. To name them might place individuals involved with them at risk. The organisations concerned were advised to relocate.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the reasons for withdrawing ACE funding from the Twinbrooke tenants and community association; and what arrangements will be made for provision of a comparable service to the local community in the future.

  Mr. Stanley
  ACE funding was withheld in accordance with the Government's policy as stated in the reply given by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 27 June 1985, at column 451. Discussions have taken place with two other groups about the provision of similar services in this area.

  Payment of Debt Act
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are subject to deductions from (a) wages and (b) welfare benefits under the Payment of Debt Act in the years 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, and 1986–87; and what is the number of representations he has received urging repeal or amendments to the Act.

  Mr. Stanley
  The number of people from whom deductions from salaries have been made since 1983 under the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 is approximately as follows:

  Numbers

  1983–84

  2,267

  1984–85

  2,025

  1985–86

  2,135

  1986–87

  1,608

  These figures are the aggregate of the numbers of people from whom deductions from wages or salaries have been made on behalf of Northern Ireland Electricity, the Northern Ireland gas undertakings, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the rating division of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

  Similar information in relation to deductions from welfare payments is not available.

  There have been five requests calling for the repeal or amendment of the Act since 1983.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of those convicted of crimes in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years have ever been admitted to National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units with a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychoses.

  Mr. Stanley
  The information sought is not available. However, in Northern Ireland the number of offenders ordered by the courts to be detained in hospital for treatment, on the grounds that they were suffering from mental illness, in each of the last five years was as follows:

  Number

  1982

  —

  1983

  —

  607

  Number

  1984

  —

  1985

  1

  1986

  3

  All were detained by restriction orders made under article 47 of the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 and the previous similar provisions of the Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961. In this context mental illness covers any suffering from schizophrenic psychoses but not exclusively so.

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many current occupants of Her Majesty's prisons in Northern Ireland have ever been admitted to National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units with a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis;

  (2) how many people were admitted to her Majesty's prisons in Northern Ireland who had previously been discharged from mental illness hospitals and units after a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis in each of the last five years; and how many were recidivists.

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

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many occupants of National Health Service hospital and unit beds in Northern Ireland have a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis; what those figures are as percentages of (a) mental and (b) all hospital beds in Northern Ireland; and how those figures compare with each of the past five years.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:

  Number

  First Admissions Per cent, change since 1984

  Rate per 100,000 population

  Number

  Total Admissions Per cent, change since 1984

  Rate per 100,000 population

  1984

  134

  —

  9

  1,105

  —

  71

  1985

  121

  —9·7

  8

  1,089

  —1·4

  70

  1986

  108

  —19·4

  7

  917

  —17·0

  59

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the discharges and deaths by length of stay, including percentage change in numbers and

  Length of stay of patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis

  Numbers

  Less than one month

  One and less than three months

  Three and less than six months

  Six and less than 12 months

  12 months or over

  Total discharged/died

  Per cent. change over

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  1984

  1984

  484

  44

  366

  33

  132

  12

  51

  5

  63

  6

  1,096

  —

  1985

  479

  43

  430

  38

  109

  10

  52

  5

  50

  4

  1,120

  +2·2

  1986

  423

  43

  361

  37

  78

  8

  35

  4

  84

  9

  981

  —10·5

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds have been specifically earmarked for the care of the mentally ill following the closure of mental hospitals in Northern Ireland in the last year; and if he will make a statement.
  608

  Year Ending

  Number of beds occupied by patients with diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis

  Percentage of mental illness beds occupied by patients with diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis

  Percentage of all hospital beds occupied by patients with diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis

  30 June 19862

  1,237

  35·1

  9·1

  30 June 1985

  1,422

  39·2

  10·9

  30 June 1984

  1,407

  39·8

  10·9

  30 June 1983

  1,396

  36·7

  10·6

  30 June 1982

  1,356

  1

  1

  1 Not available due to industrial 1 action in the health service.

  2 Latest date for which information is available.

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds have been specifically earmarked for the care of the mentally ill following the closure of mental hospitals in Northern Ireland in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  No psychiatric hospitals have been closed in Northern Ireland during the last year.

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the admissions by diagnosis and order of admissions, including percentage change in numbers and rates per 100,000 population, of patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis in Northern Ireland for the years 1984–86 inclusive.

  Mr. Needham:
  The information is as follows:

  percentage distribution, of patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis in Northern Ireland for the years 1984–86 inclusive.

  Mr. Needham
  The chairman of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Northern Ireland) wrote to me in general terms seeking assurances that adequate provision will be made for sufferers of schizophrenia moving out to live within the community in future.

  In my reply I gave the chairman the assurances sought.
  609
  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of those convicted of crimes in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years had ever previously been admitted to National Health Service mental illness hospitals with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychosis.

  Mr. Stanley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave him today.

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many community psychiatric nurses there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:

  Community Psychiatric Nurses employed in the Health an Personal Social Services

  Year

  Number

  1983

  62

  1984

  64

  1985

  75

  1986

  79

  1987

  115

  AIDS
  The Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have been diagnosed as HIV positive over the last three years; how many of these were haemophiliacs; what plans he has for counselling and support for HIV positive patients within the health service; how many patients in Northern Ireland have contracted acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Forty individuals have been diagnosed as HIV antibody positive in Northern Ireland in the last three years, of whom 16 were haemophiliacs. Of the total identified as being HIV antibody positive, three have gone on to develop AIDS, all of whom have died.

  The provision of care for HIV antibody positive patients is a matter for each health and social service boards in light of local circumstances. Anyone wishing to be tested for the HIV virus can make arrangements through their own general medical practitioner or themselves attend the department of genito-urinary medicine at the Royal Victoria hospital or any of the sexually transmitted disease clinics in the province.

  Each individual attending for testing is offered counselling before the test is undertaken and if found HIV antibody positive, again after the tests have been carried out. In addition testing and counselling has been offered to all haemophiliacs in the Province.

  Data Protection Act
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his Department's policy towards fees for subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act; how many register entries his Department has; and what would be the total cost to a data subject seeking access to personal data held under all register entries.

  Mr. Stanley
  The Northern Ireland Office and each of the Northern Ireland Departments are setting subject access fees, within the prescribed maximum fee of £10,610
  which are intended to recover the full costs of the subject access service except where circumstances justify a free or subsidised service.

  A total of 55 part A, coupled with 125 part B registrations, have been made.

  The total subject access cost from any one data subject would depend on the number of register entries holding personal data on that individual excluding those accesses which are being supplied free. Fees already set are in the range of £5–£8.

  Social Fund
  Rev. Martin Smyth asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to the Social Security Advisory Committee's statement that his decision to proceed with the social fund as planned does not have its support; and what estimates he has as to the number of claimants in Northern Ireland who will lose as a result of the social fund.
  Mr. Needham
  No response has been made and no such estimates are available.

  Speech Therapists
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of efforts to upgrade speech therapists' pay.

  Mr. Needham
  The pay of speech therapists in Northern Ireland follows the rates negotiated in Great Britain. I understand that negotiations on a new grading package are in progress in Great Britain. In recognition of the fact that these negotiations are likely to take some time to conclude an interim lump sum of £250 has been agreed for speech therapists in partial compensation for the increase due for the period 1 April 1987 to 30 November 1987.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. McGrady
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are in receipt of housing benefit in each of the following areas covered by district offices: Downpatrick, Banbridge, Kilkeel, Newry District I and Newry District 2.

  Mr. Needham
  The following information has been supplied by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  Numbers of tenants in receipt of housing benefit (October 1987)

  NIHE district office

  Downpatrick

  3,635

  Banbridge

  2,302

  Kilkeel

  1,095

  Newry District 1

  3,050

  Newry District 2

  2,956

  The numbers relate to NIHE tenants and tenants of private landlords.

  Chiropody
  Mr. McGrady
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the chiropody service in (a) the Down unit of management, (b) the Newry and Mourne unit of management and (c) the Banbridge unit of management; and if the Department of Health and Social Services has held any discussions about increasing the work force to deal with the elderly and infirm in the community.
  611
  Mr. Needham
  Chiropody services are provided by health and social services boards for the elderly, handicapped persons, expectant mothers, schoolchildren and diabetics. Access to and frequency of treatment depends on the manpower available to meet demands from patients in these priority groups. Down unit of management has three chiropodists in post, to serve a population of 55,800, Newry and Mourne has six staff for a population of 76,600 and Craigavon and Banbridge 5.4 whole-time equivalent chiropodists for 103,400 people.

  The Department has not been involved in discussions about increases in the work force. Decisions on such matters are taken by boards in the light of local needs and priorities.

  Home Helps
  Mr. McGrady
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home helps are employed in the Down unit of management (all), the Newry and Mourne unit of management (County Down only) and the Banbridge unit of management (in the electoral wards of Bannside, Katesbridge, Dromore North, Dromore South, Quilly, Garran and Croob); and how this compares with 1980–81.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of Home helps at 30 September

  Unit of Management

  1980

  1987

  Down

  474

  519

  Newry and Mourne1

  982

  1,066

  Craigavon/Banbridge1

  815

  985

  1A breakdown in the form requested is not readily available.

  Local Government Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he proposes to reform local government finance in Ulster; and what proposals he has to introduce a community charge in the Province.

  Mr. Stanley
  The Green Paper of January 1986, "Paying for Local Government", which forms the basis of the Great Britain reforms, made it clear that the proposals did not apply to Northern Ireland. This reflects the fact that local government arrangements in Northern Ireland are significantly different from those in the rest of the United Kingdom.

  My right hon. Friend has therefore decided to monitor the development of the proposals in England and Wales before deciding whether, or to what extent, they should be applied in Northern Ireland.

  Local Government Elections
  Mr. Mallon
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes in legislation are planned to enable "I" voters to vote in the next local government election in Northern Ireland; and when he expects such changes to be in operation.

  Mr. Stanley
  The Government intend to introduce a Bill enabling "I" voters to vote in local government elections in Northern Ireland as soon as parliamentary time permits.

  Health Boards
  Mr. Beggs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what bonus or efficiency payments are payable to managers of health boards; and what are the criteria used in deciding whether or not to grant such payments.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: A performance-related pay scheme for general managers of health and social services boards was introduced in December 1986. The scheme allows for annual additions to pay of up to 4 per cent. subject to a maximum of 20 per cent. cumulatively.

  The criteria for deciding how much, if any, performance-related pay will be awarded are based on a system of individual performance reviews. This system provides for the setting of a number of key objectives for the year ahead against which the performance of the general manager will be assessed by the chairman on behalf of the board.

  Mr. Beggs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those health boards which (a) provide all acute medical services to their populations; (b) provide such services to populations outside their area and (c) expect other health boards to provide such services for them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: All four health and social services boards provide a full range of acute medical services with the exception of a small number of regional services for example cardiac surgery, renal services, plastic surgery, which by their nature can best be provided primarily at the main teaching hospitals in the Eastern board area.

  In addition certain services because of their highly specialist nature and because of the small numbers involved—for example heart and liver transplants—are provided elsewhere in the United Kingdom. All four boards provide services to population outside their area. The boundaries of areas and units of management are of course for administrative purposes only and are not clinical boundaries; patients and staff can cross them as necessary.

  Mr. Beggs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of places on each area health board is held by elected representatives.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: The information is as follows:

  Health and Social Services Board

  Number of places

  Number of places held by District Councillors

  Per cent.

  Eastern

  34

  4

  12

  Northern

  29

  8

  28

  Southern

  24

  6

  25

  Western

  24

  8

  33

  Approximately 30 per cent. of the places on each board are reserved for nominees of district councils. At present there are nine vacancies in this category.

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