Written Answers of 3 November 1987

THE ARTS

  William Morris Gallery and Museum
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Minister for the Arts if he will take steps to provide central funding to the William Morris gallery and museum in Waltham Forest.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 2 November 1987]: I am aware that the William Morris gallery and museum contains an interesting and important collection. Primary responsibility for its funding, as a local authority museum, lies with the borough of Waltham Forest, although the museum is eligible also to apply for assistance under grant schemes run by the Museum and Galleries Commission and the Area Museum Service for South-Eastern England.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  David Baveghens
  Mr. Hayes
  asked the Attorney-General why the Crown prosecution service dropped the case against David Baveghens who was subsequently convicted in a private prosecution; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I have read an article in The Times of 28 October 1987 and have noted the remarks attributed therein to the Police Federation and to Sergeant Michael Bennett. I am anxious to respond to those remarks at the earliest available opportunity. Sentence on Mr. Baveghens has been postponed pending the preparation of social inquiry reports. It would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment until sentence has been passed and the case has been concluded.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Bell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions of child sex abuse there have been in Leeds for the years 1984, 1985 and 1986.

  Mr. John Patten
  The readily available information held centrally is given in the following table. For other sexual offences it is not possible from the records held centrally, to distinguish the age of the victim.

  Persons found guilty of certain sexual offences where the victim is known to be aged under 16 by court and offence

  Leeds area1

  Number2

  Offence description

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a women or an animal

  14

  9

  12

  Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a women or an animal

  1

  —

  2

  614

  Offence description

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Indecent assault on a male person under 16

  16

  21

  19

  Indecent assault on a female person under 16

  33

  83

  67

  Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13

  9

  13

  8

  Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16

  13

  13

  15

  Incest with girl under 13

  6

  4

  7

  Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16

  —

  —

  1

  Abduction of unmarried girl under 16

  —

  2

  —

  Gross indecency with children

  5

  9

  7

  Total

  97

  159

  138

  1 Leeds petty sessional division and Leeds Crown Court.

  2 The figures are those held centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
  Mr. Holt
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the standard waiting time for payment by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board between the crime being committed and payment to the victim.

  Mr. John Patten
  The statistics kept by the board use the date of application as the baseline rather than the date of the crime.

  Mr. Holt
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many payments by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have been made in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Cleveland and (c) Langbaurgh constituency in each of the past five years.

  Mr. John Patten
  The board's jurisdiction covers England, Wales and Scotland. The number of compensa tion awards paid by the board in the last five years is as follows:

  Number of awards

  1982–83

  19,733

  1983–84

  21,133

  1984–85

  19,771

  1985–86

  22,534

  1986–87

  121,925

  1 Provisional.

  The information required to answer parts (b) and (c) of the question is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Advertising
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper titles.

  Mr. Hurd
  The amounts spent by the Home Office on press advertising in each of the past five financial years is as follows:

  £

  1982–83

  696,000

  1983–84

  524,000

  615

  £

  1984–85

  677,000

  1985–86

  398,000

  1986–87

  1,366,000

  Information is not readily available to distinguish between expenditure on advertising in national newspapers and that in the press generally: the same is true for individual titles.

  Estimated population aged under 18 years in prison department establishments in England and Wales on 31 August 1987: by type of establishment, type of prisoner and sex.

  Number of Prisoners

  Type of establishment

  Untried or convicted unsentenced

  Sentenced

  Non-criminal

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Remand centres

  682

  5

  66

  —

  —

  —

  748

  5

  Local prisons

  133

  8

  97

  2

  —

  —

  230

  10

  Other closed prisons

  —

  —

  21

  —

  —

  —

  21

  —

  Closed youth custody centres

  5

  —

  773

  22

  —

  —

  778

  22

  Open youth custody centres

  —

  —

  204

  11

  —

  —

  204

  11

  Senior detention centres

  —

  —

  122

  —

  —

  —

  122

  —

  Junior detention centres

  —

  —

  175

  —

  —

  —

  175

  —

  Total

  820

  13

  1,458

  35

  —

  —

  2,278

  48

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid (Group of Seven)
  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which member of the Group of Seven leading industrial countries provided the greatest amount of aid as a percentage of gross national product in 1979; and what was the rank aid-donor order by that measure of all members of the Group of Seven in 1986.

  Mr. Eggar
  According to development assistance committee calculations, France provided the greatest amount of aid as a percentage of gross national product in 1979.

  In 1986 the rank order was: France, Canada, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Japan, United States.

  Zimbabwe National Railways
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the grants to the Government of Zimbabwe which relate to the provisions of support for the Zimbabwe national railways for the following years: 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.

  Mr. Eggar
  British aid for the national railways of Zimbabwe has been provided under aid and trade provision arrangements and an aid loan, both agreed in 1981, and from our technical cooperation programme for Zimbabwe. Expenditure in the three years in question was as follows:

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  £

  £

  £

  Aid and Trade Provision Funds for Railway Electrification

  7,000

  —

  —

  Aid Loan for Rehabilitating Locomotives

  —

  47,000

  90,000

  Technical Cooperation

  90,000

  —

  —

  Young Prisoners (Statistics)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) females and (b) males under the age of 18 years were in penal custody at the last date for which figures are available; and what information he has about the types of institution in which each were placed.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 28 October 1987]: The information is given in the following table:

  Job Dispersal
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to proposals for the further dispersal of Overseas Development Administration jobs to the Glasgow-East Kilbride area.

  Mr. Eggar
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has considered representations from the local trade union sides in East Kilbride and London about further dispersal of Overseas Development Administration jobs to the Glasgow/East Kilbride area. While the location of jobs between London and East Kilbride is kept under review, my right hon. Friend has no plans for a further major dispersal programme.

  Food Aid
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain from the EEC Commission details of the amount of foodstuffs which have been sent from Germany to Third-world countries under the EEC food aid programme since the Chernobyl nuclear accident; and if he will further inquire what part of the total consisted of food imported to Germany from the German Democratic Republic under the inner German trade agreement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have nothing to add to the answers given by my hon. Friends the Minister for Overseas Development on 26 October, at column 12; and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 29 October, at column 409.

PRIME MINISTER

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Prime Minister what are the implications for Britain of the contingency plan for the deployment of United States chemical weapons in Europe in time of crisis.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces on 24 July 1986, at column 490. The United States contingency deployment plan does not designate any specific country as a destination for receiving binary munitions, and the United Kingdom has not been approached about possible contingency deployment to this country. If such a request were ever to be received, it would be a matter for decision by the Government of the day in the light of all the circumstances prevailing at the time. Any deployment to the United Kingdom at any time would require the consent of Her Majesty's Government.

  Nuclear Disarmament
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Prime Minister why Her Majesty's Government refuse to enter into direct negotiations towards achieving a comprehensive test ban treaty.

  The Prime Minister
  It would be premature to open negotiations on a comprehensive test ban treaty until progress is made on outstanding problems, notably verification. We welcome the stage-by-stage approach adopted by the United States and the Soviet Union which aims as a first step at agreement upon effective verification measures which will make possible the ratification of the bilateral 1974 threshold test ban and 1976 peaceful nuclear explosions treaties.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Prime Minister what change is envisaged in the role of the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons toward the conventional forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic in the event of substantial measures of nuclear disarmament.

  The Prime Minister
  For as long as the security of this country and our allies continues to depend on nuclear deterrence, I envisage no significant change in the role of United Kingdom nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Prime Minister at what stage Her Majesty's Government will enter the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons into the strategic arms reduction process.

  The Prime Minister
  The conditions that must be met before we could consider associating our independent deterrent with the arms control process are well known. They were set out by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at the United Nations in 1983:"If Soviet and US strategic arsenals were to be very substantially reduced, and if no significant changes had occurred in Soviet defensive capabilities, Britain would want to review her position and to consider how best she could contribute to arms control in the light of the reduced threat."

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to withdraw battlefield nuclear weapons from West Germany; if she has received any representations from the Federal Republic of Germany to this effect; and if she will make a statement.
  618
  The Prime Minister
  Under long-standing Alliance arrangements, British forces in Germany operate battlefield weapons systems capable of firing nuclear warheads supplied by the United States. I have no plans to withdraw from these arrangements, nor have I received any representations from the German Government asking me to do so.

  Engagements
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 November.

  Mr. Pike
  asked the Prime Minister to list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 November.

  Mr. Stern
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 November.

  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 November.

  Mr. Alton
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 November.

  Mr. Yeo
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 November.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 3 November.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty The Queen.

  African National Congress
  Mr. Galloway
  asked the Prime Minister what status the British Government accord to the African National Congress mission in London; and, in the light of recent events, what steps she will take to ensure its protection from terrorist attack.

  The Prime Minister
  The African National Congress is accorded no official status in this country. I understand that leading members of the congress have been given advice about their personal security by the police. On security matters, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 27 October, at column 204.

  South Africa
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the progress made in respect of the voluntary ban on the promotion of tourism to South Africa.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment on 22 April this year, at columns 560–61.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the progress made with regard to imposing a voluntary ban on new direct investment in South Africa.
  619
  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade on 23 July 1987, at columns 305–7.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the progress made in respect of the ban on importing gold coins, iron and steel from South Africa.

  The Prime Minister
  With effect from 5 November 1986 the United Kingdom ban on imports of South African gold coins was modified to include gold coins whether or not consigned from South Africa and to exclude gold coins minted before 1961. On 27 September 1986 the import of certain iron and steel was banned. Subject to satisfactory evidence, imports of iron and steel under contracts concluded before 19 September 1986 are allowed to go ahead. These interpretations are consistent with decisions taken in the European Community.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the progress made in respect of the cessation of oil exports and exports of sensitive equipment destined for the security services in South Africa.

  The Prime Minister
  We continue to abide by our international commitments in South Africa, including those on oil exports and exports of sensitive equipment for the security services.

  European Court of Justice
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Prime Minister if she will seek to make an official visit to the European Court of Justice.

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

  British Broadcasting Corporation
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received concerning Government funding for the British Broadcasting Corporation to operate a satellite television news service.

  The Prime Minister
  The BBC external services put forward a new proposal to establish a satellite television news service to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 6 August. Examination of the complex issues raised is not yet completed.

  European Community (Copenhagen Meeting)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Prime Minister what consultations she expects to arrange in respect of the items on the agenda of the Heads of Government of member states of the European Community to be held in Copenhagen in December.

  The Prime Minister
  The agenda for the December European Council is being prepared by the Foreign Affairs Council in the usual way. I continue to take opportunities to discuss the various issues with other European Community Heads of Government in the course of bilateral meetings.

  Science
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Prime Minister how many meetings she has chaired of committees in relation to her responsibilities for science.
  620
  The Prime Minister
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose such information.

  Dorset
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  asked the Prime Minister if she will visit Blandford Forum, Corfe Mullen and Wimborne Minster.

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

  Liverpool
  Mr. Loyden
  asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Liverpool.

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

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Storehouse Group
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission any bid by Benlox holdings for the Storehouse group.

  Mr. Maude
  The current offer by Benlox Holdings plc. for Storehouse plc. is being considered by the Director General of Fair Trading. My right hon. and noble Friend will make his decision whether to refer the proposed acquisition to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in the light of the director general's advice.

  Anti-Dumping and Import Legislation
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what legislative provisions are used by the EEC Commission in operating its anti-dumping powers; and if he will list each of the relevant provisions in the Official Report;

  (2) if he will give guidance to United Kingdom importers on the legislative provisions operated by the EEC Commission in applying its powers to curb imports on the basis that these are used for what are described as screwdriver production; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Community's anti-dumping powers are contained in Council regulation (EEC) No. 2176/84 of 23 July 1984. This regulation was amended by regulation No. 1761/87 of 22 June 1987 to introduce new rules whereby products assembled within the European Community could in certain circumstances be subject to anti-dumping duties where assembly operations with little added value are being used to circumvent existing antidumping duties on imports of the complete product. Advice and guidance are given to United Kingdom companies and other interested parties by officials in the Department's unfair trade unit. Information on these provisions has also been published in British Business. Companies which are not dumping have nothing to fear from this legislation.

  Regional Grants
  Mr. Alan Williams
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what rules of confidentiality apply to the revelation of offers of grant-aid to companies whilst their choice of location is still being negotiated.
  621
  Mr. Atkins
  Details of regional grants are published in British Business when a payment has been made. Levels of potential support under some of the Government's schemes of assistance are publicly available. Local authorities may also indicate the nature and level of assistance they can offer to specific projects.

  Advertising
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper title.

  Mr. Butcher
  Information is not readily available to distinguish between expenditure on advertising in national newspapers and that in the press generally. Nor is it readily available for amounts spent other than centrally by my Department.

  The figures which are readily available are:

  £

  1982–83

  1,340,523

  1983–84

  1,198,443

  1984–85

  2,810,883

  1985–86

  1,216,424

  1986–87

  986,798

  It is not the practice of Her Majesty's Government to publish the sums paid to individual contractors.

  Office of Fair Trading
  Mr. Sackville
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any changes will be made to the Office of Fair Trading's cash limit or running costs for 1987–88.

  Mr. Maude
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates the cash limit on class XX, vote 16 will be increased by £444,000 from £9·585 million to £10·029 million. This increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planning total of public expenditure. The running cost limit is increased by £416,000 from £9·065 million to £9·481 million. The additional expenditure is required in connection with the installation and development of the consumer credit licensing branch computerisation project.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Consulate, Bangkok
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the sterling charge made by Her Majesty's consulate in Bangkok for a British visa; what percentage this represents of the average weekly wage of a Thai employee, such as a chauffeur or gardener employed at Her Majesty's embassy; and how the total revenue received from the issue of visas in Bangkok in the financial year 1986–87 compares with the cost of maintaining British diplomatic and consular representation there.

  Mr. Eggar
  The fee charged by all British missions for single-entry visit visas for the United Kingdom is the local currency equivalent of £20. This represents approximately 90 per cent. of the average weekly wage of a Thai chauffeur or gardener employed at Her Majesty's embassy in Bangkok.
  622
  The total revenue received from the issue of visas in Bangkok in the financial year 1986–87 was £583,000. The cost of maintaining British diplomatic and consular representation there in the same year was £2 million.

  British Council
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what profit the British Council's direct teaching of English earns annually, taking into account the overheads incurred in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The British Council has 51 direct teaching operations in 32 countries. Their global operations are not always in surplus. In 1986–87, for example, there was a deficit of £0·2 million on a total turnover of £21·3 million after overseas running and investment costs and London overheads were taken into account. But for 1987–88, the council forsees a surplus of £0·3 million for re-investment in its teaching operation itself and to finance more cultural activities in the countries where the surplus is earned.

  Gross National Product
  Sir Peter Emery
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what particular or special action the Government are taking to assist the seven members of the Commonwealth who have had a negative gross national product per capita growth rate from 1973 to 1985; and whether he will call a conference of the other Commonwealth nations to see if some new joint action could be organised to try to rectify this problem.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We give high priority within the aid programme to Commonwealth countries, including those 12 whose per capita GNP has fallen, but taking into account the economic policies being pursued. We have no plans at present to call a special conference.

  Advertising
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper titles.

  Mr. Eggar
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure on advertising and other forms of promotional literature for the financial years 1982–83 to 1986–87 was (all figures pounds sterling):

  FCO (Diplomatic Wing)

  FCO (ODA Wing)

  1982–83

  229,711

  135,506

  1983–84

  205,247

  252,691

  1984–85

  149,932

  234,050

  1985–86

  160,535

  271,084

  1986–87

  335,754

  228,347

  This relates to advertising in national and local newspapers, and in specialised periodicals. No separate breakdown is available for advertising in national newspapers.

  Some £162,633 of the diplomatic wing expenditure in 1986–87 related to the advertising under the Anglo/Soviet agreement for the settlement of claims, which has since been recovered from the Russian fund.

WALES

  A-class Roads
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by each Welsh county, the number of miles and the cost of construction of all A-class roads completed in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is not readily available.

  £ million

  1974–75

  1975–76

  1976–77

  1977–78

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Total Welsh Office Public Expenditure—Cash Prices

  845

  1,076

  1,248

  1,291

  1,489

  1,769

  2,105

  2,216

  2,389

  2,609

  2,640

  2,780

  3,028

  Total Welsh Office Public Expenditure—Real Terms (1985–86 Prices)

  2,862

  2,900

  2,972

  2,699

  2,812

  2,859

  2,869

  2,751

  2,766

  2,888

  2,799

  2,780

  2,939

  Percentage change (year on year)

  —

  1·33

  2·48

  -9·19

  4·19

  1·67

  0·35

  -4·11

  0·55

  4·41

  -3·08

  -0·68

  5·72

  The amounts shown at 1985–86 prices have been derived by the application of the GDP market price deflators

  The series of figures shown in the table are not directly comparable year on year because over the period there have been revisions to the classification of public expenditure and in the responsibility for certain new services.

  Further Education
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of pupils in each Welsh local education authority remaining in full-time education after (a) 16 years of age and (b) 17 years of age; and what these figures represent as a percentage of the total age group in each county.

  Numbers attending schools or colleges of further education

  Numbers as a percentage of total population aged

  16 years old

  17 years old

  16 years old

  17 years old

  Clwyd

  3,299

  2,326

  50·8

  36·9

  Dyfed

  2,633

  1,910

  49·7

  37·5

  Gwent

  3,598

  2,229

  50·0

  31·8

  Gwynedd

  1,778

  1,120

  46·8

  30·3

  Mid Glamorgan

  4,301

  2,414

  50·6

  29·4

  Powys

  1,072

  617

  63·1

  36·3

  South Glamorgan

  3,049

  2,048

  46·2

  32·0

  West Glamorgan

  2,836

  1,882

  49·8

  34·2

  Motorways
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by Welsh county the number of miles of motorway in each county.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Length of motorway (M4) in Wales, by county, as at 1 April 1987

  Miles

  Clwyd

  Nil

  Dyfed

  3

  Gwent

  25

  Gwynedd

  Nil

  Mid Glamorgan

  17

  Powys

  Nil

  South Glamorgan

  13

  West Glamorgan

  17

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each year since 1974–75 the total public expenditure of his Department, together with the percentage increase or decrease over the preceding year in real terms.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information is estimated to be as given in the table:

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The numbers of pupils and students aged 16 and 17 attending schools or colleges of further education in each local authority on a full-time basis in 1985–86, are given in the table. These numbers have also been expressed as a percentage of the total population aged 16 and 17 respectively in each authority.

  Domestic Rates
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the average domestic rates bill in the Alyn and Deeside constituency for each year since 1979 in real terms, showing the percentage change between the years in each case.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Rating information is only collected on a district basis. The figures for Alyn and Deeside DC are shown in the table:

  Average domestic rates bill (£)

  1987–88 prices

  Percentage change

  1979–80

  123

  214

  1980–81

  167

  245

  14·5

  1981–82

  203

  271

  10·7

  1982–83

  226

  282

  3·9

  1983–84

  226

  269

  -4·4

  1984–85

  261

  298

  10·6

  625

  Average domestic rates bill (£)

  1987–88 prices

  Percentage change

  1985–86

  284

  306

  2·6

  1986–87

  315

  329

  7·7

  1987–88

  329

  329

  -0·1

  School Rolls
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total number of pupils on rolls in each of (a) primary schools and (b) high schools in the Alyn and Deeside constituency.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The number of full-time and part-time pupils on roll at January 1987 in maintained schools identified as being in the Alyn and Deeside constituency was:

  Number

  In primary schools

  6,491

  In secondary schools

  5,245

  Advertising
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper titles.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Schizophrenic Psychosis
  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what research projects his Department has funded to test the effectiveness of community care for people suffering from schizophrenic psychosis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 30 October 1987]: The Department of Health and Social Security's directly managed research covers Wales and I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Conductive Education
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department has now decided to meet the grant application of the Foundation for Conductive Education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  I am pleased to inform the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend announced on 14 October that he had agreed to provide grant assistance of £326,000 to enable Birmingham university to carry out a research evaluation of the conductive education product being established in Birmingham by the Foundation for Conductive Education.

  Teachers (Pay and Conditions)
  Mr. Litherland
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will place in the Library
  626
  a copy of those representations he has received in relation to his proposals for the future arrangements for determining teachers' pay and conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Flannery
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will place in the Library a copy of those representations he has received in relation to his proposals for the future arrangements for determining teachers' pay and conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have not yet received any detailed submissions on the proposals set out in the Green Paper which I laid before Parliament on 27 October.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the work of the interim advisory committee on teachers' pay and conditions.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Mr. Haselhurst) on 27 October at columns 220–21.

  Mr. McGrady
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Government intend releasing information on teachers' pay and conditions of service to the European Trade Union Committee on Education.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The publication entitled "School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 1987" sets out provisions covering the pay and conditions of service of teachers in England and Wales. The Green Paper "Teachers' Pay and Conditions: A Consultative Document" sets out proposals for future arrangements for the pay and conditions of school teachers in England and Wales. Both these documents cost £4·50 and can be purchased through Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  Mature Students
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to provide additional places in higher education for mature students; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fisher
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to provide additional places in higher education for mature students; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government's plans, as published in the higher education White Paper, envisage a further substantial increase in the recruitment of mature students to higher education. In the case of full-time students this increase is expected to be about 18 per cent. over the decade to 1995. As a result of additional funding announced last year the number of registered undergraduates at the Open University will rise to approximately 73,000 in 1990, an increase of some 5,500 compared with 1985. The Government are currently reviewing demand in the light of the latest figures.

  School Governing Bodies
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has had discussions with church leaders about the role of church appointees on school governing bodies.
  627
  Mr. Dunn
  Ministers and officials regularly talk to representatives of the churches on a range of issues concerning schools, including the role of governing bodies.

  Nursery Education
  Mrs. Mahon
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to extend the provision of pre-five education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Loyden
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to increase the number of nursery school places.

  Mr. Rathbone
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to encourage greater provision for nursery school education.

  Mr. Dunn
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for the City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg).

  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the current national shortage of trained nursery school teachers; and what action he has taken to meet current demands.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It is not possible to estimate precisely to what extent there is a shortage of trained teachers for the early years, ages three to eight, which includes teachers in nursery schools. But information available to my Department suggests that some authorities, particularly in London, are experiencing local difficulties often exacerbated by external factors such as housing costs. To meet present and immediate future demands, the target allocation of initial teacher training places for the primary sector has been expanded by nearly 20 per cent. from 1986 to 1989. Within their allocations, institutions have been asked to give greater emphasis to early years training. This measure, together with local authorities' own recruitment campaigns, should ensure a sufficient supply of teachers for the early years.

  Mr. McCartney
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in relation to pre-five education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Haynes
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in relation to pre-five education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  On behalf of my right hon. Friend I had a most useful discussion on 9 September with representatives of the British Association for Early Childhood Education on a range of areas of concern to the association relevant to under-fives education. The association has since forwarded to my right hon. Friend a memorandum which is currently being studied.

  English Teaching
  Mr. Evennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to improve the standards of English teaching in schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  English will be one of the core subjects in the national curriculum. We intend to establish a working group to advise on attainment targets and 628
  programmes of study for pupils. It will draw upon the conclusions of the Kingman committee which my right hon. Friend set up to recommend what teachers and pupils should know specifically about the workings of the English language. We are also providing education support grants to develop oral work in schools; and we are funding the school curriculum development committee's national projects to improve pupils' writing and oral skills.

  Teachers (Training)
  Mr. Lewis
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to expand the provision of in-service training for teachers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McAvoy
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to expand the provision of in-service training for teachers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A new local education authority training grant scheme was introduced with effect from 1 April this year to support in-service training. Under this scheme LEAs in England are planning to spend £265 million in 1987–88 compared with £225 million in 1986–87 under the previous arrangements for funding LEAs' in-service training. For 1988–89 the Government are increasing the total of expenditure on which specific grant is available under the scheme to £207 million, compared to £200 million this year.

  Non-teaching Staff
  Mr. Favell
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the number per 1,000 population in each of the education authorities within the Greater Manchester area of non-teaching staff employed.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number in June 1987 of non-teaching staff employed on education, expressed per 1,000 of population in each of the authorities requested was as follows:

  Number

  Bolton

  15·6

  Bury

  13·3

  Manchester

  24·8

  Oldham

  13·3

  Rochdale

  15·4

  Salford

  15·4

  Stockport

  11·4

  Tameside

  13·5

  Trafford

  10·9

  Wigan

  13·6

  Education Reform
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much interest has been shown by secondary schools concerning the suggestion that they will be able to opt out of local government control.

  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many secondary schools have shown an interest in wanting to opt out of local government control.
  629
  Mr. Dunn
  A significant number of requests for further information about the grant-maintained schools policy has been received within the Department. It is not possible at present to deduce how many secondary schools might be seriously interested in opting out.

  Mr. Yeo
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received regarding his consultative document on the national curriculum.

  Mr. Hayes
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has received to his consultative document on the national curriculum.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government's consultative document on the national curriculum was published on 24 July, with a formal closing date for comments of 30 September. So far we have received over 7,000 responses, from national and regional organisations, individual members of the public, and others.

  Mr. Madel
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates his Department has made as to the number of additional civil servants that will be required to help administer schools that opt for direct funding from his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  No more than a modest addition to the Department's staffing should be required to administer the grant arrangements for schools which opt out of local authority control. Funding of the former direct grant schools, for example, was administered by a team of eight officials.

  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the impact of his proposals on opting out of local education authorities capacity to reorganise education.

  Mr. Dunn
  Grant-maintained status will not be a refuge for weak or failing schools which LEAs wish to close as part of a sensible strategy for rationalising their provision. Where an application for grant-maintained status coincides with an LEA's proposals involving the applicant school, my right hon. Friend will take the respective merits of both sets of proposals into account before reaching his decision.

  Ms. Armstrong
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will place in the Library those representations he has received in relation to his consultative proposals to devolve financial management to schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien).

  Mr. Bruce
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he will take to ensure that schools that have indicated a wish to opt out of local authority control will not be placed at a disadvantage while the legislation is going through Parliament.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that those schools which have indicated an interest to opt out of local government control will not be at a disadvantage pending the Education Bill reaching the statute book.
  630
  Mr. Dunn
  Schools will not be able to apply for grant-maintained status until the legislation has reached the statute book. Any proposals made by local authorities in the meantime in respect of particular schools will be judged by my right hon. Friend on their merits. Local authorities will remain under a duty adequately to maintain all those schools for which they have responsibility.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will place in the Library a copy of those representations he has received in relation to his consultative paper, "Admission of Pupils to Maintained Schools", and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen).

  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what decisions have been made on the Essex education authority's proposals for the reorganisation of secondary education in Epping Forest.

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend has approved Essex education authority's proposals for the reorganisation of secondary education in Epping Forest.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he now has a definite date for the publication of the Education Bill.

  Mr. Harris
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he can now give the publication date of the Education Bill.

  Mr. Jack
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects the new Education Bill to be published.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government hope to publish an Education Bill within the next few weeks.

  Mr. Nelson
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the time allowed for consultation on the five papers on reform of the education system published in July and September of this year.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government have received over 14,000 responses to the various consultation documents issued in recent months. Some of these have commented on the time allowed, but my right hon. Friend has made it clear that the process of consultation will continue during the passage of Education Bill and beyond.

  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he expects to publish a White Paper on his plans for educational change consequent on receipt of replies to his consultative papers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No. The responses to our consultation papers will inform the preparation of legislation which we hope to introduce within the next few weeks.

  Research Councils
  Mr. Dunnachie
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received about the funding of research councils; and if he will make a statement.
  631
  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received about the funding of research councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Following the publication on 20 July 1987 of the ABRC discussion document "A Strategy for the Science Base" and the publication on 23 July 1987 of the ABRC's advice "Science and Public Expenditure 1987" my right hon. Friend and I have received 155 representations about the funding of research councils.

  Irish Nationals
  Mr. John Townend
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest figures available for the cost to maintain public funds of nationals of the Irish Republic studying at British educational institutions.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information is only available to allow a calculation to be made in respect of full-time and sandwich students from the Irish Republic attending United Kingdom universities, polytechnics and colleges. Such students, along with students from other EC member states, are charged fees at the home rate, the cost of implied subsidy for the 1,000 students from the Irish Republic in 1985–86 being estimated at £3·5 million.

  In addition, since 1986–87 full-time and sandwich students from EC member states on first degree and diploma courses are eligible for reimbursement of the tuition fee otherwise payable if they meet broadly similar residence requirements to those which United Kingdom students on the same courses have to satisfy to have tuition fees paid as part of their mandatory award. In 1986–87 680 Irish students were reimbursed fees at a total cost of £390,000.

  Irish students are also eligible for support under two Government awards schemes operated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council, respectively. In 1986–87 these two schemes together supported 15 students at a total cost, including maintenance, of £80,000.

  HMI (Report)
  Mr. Morley
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place in the Library a copy of any representations he has received on Her Majesty's inspectors' 1987 report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones).

  Student Grants
  Mr. Lofthouse
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to complete his review of student financial support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Worthington
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to complete his review of student financial support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Beith
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive the report of the review of student support; and what consultations will be held on its proposals.
  632
  Mr. Jackson
  The Government hope to publish proposals for consideration in the first half of 1988.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he intends to take to protect the real value of student grants after the introduction of the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Callaghan
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he intends to take to protect the real value of student grants after the introduction of the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Decisions on the level of student grants in future years have not yet been taken.

  City Technical Colleges
  Miss Mowlam
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will indicate what city technology colleges have so far received financial support and from which organisations.

  Mr. Boyes
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will indicate what city technology colleges have so far received financial support and from what organisations.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Financial support has been pledged by Hanson Trust for the city technology college, Kingshurst; by Dixons Group plc for a South Yorkshire CTC; by Mr. Harry Djanogly, for the Nottingham CTC; and by the Philip and Pauline Harris Trust for a Wandsworth CTC. Support from other sources has been promised or is being negotiated for CTCs in other locations. The trustees for the Kingshurst and Nottingham CTCs have begun to receive grant from the Department to cover the transitional running costs of these projects.

  Mr. Battle
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in relation to the proposed city technology colleges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Cash) and the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers).

  Textbooks
  Mr. Hardy
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received about the provision of textbooks in maintained secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Buckley
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received about the provision of textbooks in maintained secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Responses to the Government's consultation exercises have included comments on certain aspects of textbook provision in secondary schools. The provision of books was also discussed when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science met the Educational Publishers Council on 28 October.

  Teachers (Industrial Action)
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the current level of industrial action by teachers in schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No action is taking place on a national basis. We are aware of a few local disputes which have involved some industrial action.

  Universities (Funding)
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to meet the chairman of the University Grants Committee to discuss the future funding of universities.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend frequently discusses matters of university funding with the chairman of the University Grants Committee in the course of normal business, most recently on 27 October.

  Borough of Barnet
  Mr. John Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to how many pupils from outside the London borough of Barnet have opted to he educated within that borough.

  Mr. Dunn
  Returns to my Department show that in January 1987 there were 3,980 pupils aged 5 years or more belonging to other authorities being educated in schools maintained by the London borough of Barnet. Over half of these came from the London boroughs of Brent and Haringey.

  Teachers (Shortage Subjects)
  Mr. Hind
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what latest figures he has for the recruitment of teachers in shortage subjects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Firm recruitment figures for entry to initial teacher training are not yet to hand but applications for courses in 1987 are up 15 per cent. overall and in mathematics, physics and craft design and technology they have increased by 39, 60 and 60 per cent. respectively.

  The high rate of applications, which has been encouragingly consistent throughout 1987, suggests that the package of measures taken by the Government to improve supply is showing signs of success. A further statement will be made as soon as more up-to-date figures are available.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Riddick
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the current take-up of places in the assisted places scheme; and if he has any plans to expand the scheme.

  Mr. Dunn
  Yes. In the academic year 1986–87 nearly 98 per cent. of places available for entry to the assisted places scheme at ages 11, 12 or 13 were filled.

  This Government have committed themselves to an eventual target of 35,000 assisted places in England and Wales. Independent secondary schools in England have been invited to say whether they would wish to join the scheme at some future date or to take up additional places
  634
  if they are already participants. New schools wishing to join the scheme will be expected to satisfy the same criteria as existing participants.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received about the funding of higher education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Michie).

  Education Budgets
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the question of education budgets of authorities in the northern region.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department has received no recent representations on overall education budgets of local authorities in the northern region. There has been some correspondence on particular aspects of education finance and my right hon. Friend and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State have discussed capital expenditure allocations this year with representatives of Bradford, Calderdale and Rotherham local education authorities.

  Inner London Education Authority
  Mr. Bowis
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department takes to monitor examination results in the schools of the Inner London education authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  The Department's current source of information on the examination achievements of pupils in English schools is the annual school leavers survey which includes, for a 10 per cent. sample of pupils, details of their CSE and GCE achievements.

  Information from this survey is published in the Department's statistical bulletins and, more extensively, in "Statistics of Education Volume 2 (School Leavers CSE and GCE)", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Grammar Schools
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will be issuing guidance to local education authorities following Mr. Justice McCullough's ruling of 14 October 1987 that the provision of fewer grammar school places for girls than boys is unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

  Mr. Dunn
  It is for individual local education authorities in the first instance to consider the implications of this ruling for their own school provision.

  Core Curriculum
  Mr. Alan Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how soon the implementation of the core curriculum will apply in the private educational sector.
  635
  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government do not believe that it would be right to impose the national curriculum on independent schools, which are outside the national system of maintained education, but they believe that many will wish to adopt it; my right hon. Friend will urge them to do so. He will also take his national curriculum policies into account in considering new applications for registration, and Her Majesty's Inspector's reports on existing independent schools.

  City technology colleges will be independent schools, but my right hon. Friend intends to make it a condition of grant that they keep to the substance of the national curriculum, within their own distinctive ethos.

  Polytechnics (Capital Expenditure)
  Mr. Cousins
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the total bids for capital spending in polytechnics submitted by local education authorities in England and Wales for the years 1984–85, 1985–86, 1987–89 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Jackson
  Bids are not submitted in England in a form that would enable this information to be given. Local education authority capital spending in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Parents' Meetings
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will obtain from local education authorities and publish the number of annual parents' meetings held in maintained schools in England and Wales in accordance with section 31 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986, the number of meetings attended by the required number of parents, and the number of meetings passing resolutions in respect of sub-paragraph 4(b) of that section.

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

  Celtic Studies
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive a final report from the University Grants Committee on its current review of the teaching and research in Celtic studies at Scottish universities.

  Mr. Jackson
  The University Grants Committee expects to complete its review within the current academic year. It is for the committee itself to determine the distribution of resources to individual universities.

  Sign Language Interpreters
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any proposals for the provision of professional training for sign language interpreters for people who are deaf, leading to a professional qualification as a basis for a national network of interpreters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend has no such proposals. He would see any developments of this kind as the outcome of collaboration between employers and providers of training in the local authority and voluntary sectors.

  GCSE
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much Government grant has been paid to each general certificate of secondary education examination board in order to develop the new exam; and what percentage of the exam fees being charged by each board is to cover development costs.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government have provided substantial resources to ensure the successful implementation of the new GCSE examination including the following assistance to the GCSE examining groups in the financial years 1984–85 to 1987–88, mainly to help provide training for teachers and examiners.

  £

  London and East Anglian Group

  213,644

  Midland Examining Group

  244,234

  Northern Examining Association

  251,912

  Southern Examining Group

  227,024

  Welsh Joint Education Committee

  191,203

  Information about costs covered by GCSE examination fees is not held centrally. The examining groups are responsible for setting the fees, taking into account the various costs incurred by them including the costs of developing syllabuses.

  Conductive Education
  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the meeting with representatives of Rapid Action for Conductive Education on 29 October.

  Mr. Dunn
  The meeting with the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) and representatives of the Rapid Action for Conductive Education (RACE) provided a useful opportunity for me to hear more about conductive education. The representatives of RACE set out certain proposals for consideration. I explained that the Department is providing £326,000 to fund the evaluation project by Birmingham university and I expressed my readiness to have further meetings with RACE.

  Advertising
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper titles.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The figures for advertising in national newspapers are as follows:

  £

  1982–83

  5,988

  1983–84

  9,570

  1984–85

  18,544

  1985–86

  14,804

  1986–87

  532,000

  The breakdown by individual newspaper is a matter of commercial confidentiality.

  Schools (Control)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make available to the

  637
  general public in booklet form details of his proposals to enable schools to apply to be released from local authority control and management; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  The Department will be publishing in various forms information for parents, governors and others on the policies for schools which will form part of the forthcoming legislation.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the Government's plans for expenditure on education and science from 1988–89 to 1990–91.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The following are the Government's plans.

  Public spending on education and science

  1. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his statement today, provision for education and science in 1988–89 will be £17,962 million. This total is £1,303 million or 7·8 per cent. higher than provision for 1987–88.

  2. Subject to Parliament's approval of the necessary legislation, additional resources are being provided to enable the Government to implement their proposals for education reform. About £65 million over three years will be provided to fund work in support of the Government's, proposals for a national curriculum, particularly that of the National Curriculum Council and the School Examinations and Assessment Council. Nine million pounds is being made available in 1988–89 to enable polytechnics and colleges to assume responsibility for managing their own affairs. In higher education the resources available should be sufficient to provide for at least the numbers of students projected in the Government's White Paper "Meeting the Challenge" (Cmnd. 114)—projection Q. In addition, I am making provision for a substantial programme for the improvement of school buildings. Further details of my plans are as follows.

  Buildings and equipment for schools and colleges

  3. Gross provision for capital spending on schools and colleges has been increased by £100 million a year—or 22 per cent.—over the survey period. Within this provision I shall be allocating about £50 million in 1988–89 specifically for a programme of school improvements to help LEAs tackle the accumulated deficiencies identified in my Department's survey of school buildings and to allow voluntary school governors to continue the programme of replacement and improvement begun last year. This programme will be in addition to allocations for new school places in areas of growing school population and for the implementation of approved projects to remove surplus places. There will also be a small increase in allocations for further and higher education. LEAs already have plans for substantial expenditure from existing provision on projects which contribute to the improvement of the school building stock.

  4. The additions announced today will mean that LEAs and voluntary bodies should be able to spend a total of more than £750 million over the next three years on projects to improve school buildings; and authorities will no doubt make use of the flexibilities open to them—for example, through the use of capital receipts—to increase spending on improvements still further where they
  638
  consider it appropriate to do so. Provision for local authority current expenditure on repairs and maintenance is also being increased and in 1988–89 will be about £120 million or some 40 per cent. higher than spending in 1985–86.

  5. Finally I am taking immediate steps to deal with the most serious problems. I am issuing special capital allocations totalling £9·4 million to provide for small school improvement projects and equipment purchases for schools and colleges which can be completed in the current financial year. The Government will also be considering the case for further special capital allocations to deal with storm damage to educational buildings.

  Local authority current expenditure

  6. The total provided for local authority current spending on education in 1988–89 in the Government's plans is £13,870 million a cash increase of 7·9 per cent. over the 1987–88 plans as set out in Cm. 56. It represents the likely level of spending by local education authorities collectively, on the basis that they constrain their costs within the level of cost increases in the economy as a whole. In addition, the education service will receive income from the MSC in respect of TVEI and work-related NAFE of some £185 million in 1988–89.

  7. In the Government's view, there are areas of the service where authorities need not spend as much as provided for in the plans. The total used for determining the education component of the grant-related expenditure (GRE) has therefore been set at £615 million lower than the total for expenditure provision.

  8. The Government's plans for local authority current spending on education provide for it to be held broadly constant in real terms in 1989–90 and 1990–91. Within the totals planned for local authority expenditure as a whole in both years the Government will review next year the distribution of provision between services, including education, in the light of local authorities' budgets, Government priorities and other factors. Appropriate transfers will be made from 1989–90 onwards for the polytechnics and colleges and for grant-maintained schools which will be funded from vote expenditure.

  Schools

  9. The plans assume that local authorities collectively will not increase teacher numbers as long as pupil numbers continue to fall. They allow for some further fall in the overall pupil: teacher ratio, which is currently at its lowest level ever of 17.3:1.

  10. In addition to the provision for improving the conditions of school buildings, the plans allow for real increases in spending per pupil on books and equipment. As last year, the plans allow in full for the implications of equipping schools for the new GCSE courses, and an additional sum has been provided for secondary school libraries. As a step towards securing greater efficiency in the service, the Government expect local authorities to continue to rationalise school provision and remove surplus accommodation, and to cut the net costs of school meals provision.

  Non-advanced further education

  11. The overall student: staff ratio (SSR) for NAFE tightened a little in 1986 from 8.7: 1 to 8.8: 1, about 1 per cent. In reaching a view on the number of lecturers, I have taken into account the report of the joint efficiency study with local authority representatives which concluded that

  639
  there should be a national target SSR for NAFE of 10.2: 1 by 1991–92. The plans assume a further tightening in the SSR to 9.2: 1 in 1988–89 as authorities progress towards that target. The plans will also enable LEAs to improve levels of provision per student across the full range of non-teaching costs.

  Advanced further education

  12. Following consultation with the local authority associations, I intend to determine the AFE quantum in 1988–89 at £781 million. This represents an increase of £64·5 million or 9 per cent. over the 1987–88 quantum. I have proposed that up to £25 million should be distributed selectively in support of selected initiatives of high priority. The plans assume that polytechnics and other institutions will continue to increase efficiency and make full use of available capacity.

  13. The National Advisory Body is considering how the basic quantum should be distributed between authorities and how up to £25 million might be allocated selectively. I shall decide on the allocation of both elements later in the year in the light of the NAB's advice.

  Specific grants

  14. Within the total of £13,870 million, education expenditure supported by specific grants is expected to amount to some £500 million in 1988–89. This figure includes £207 million which I have already announced will be supported under the in-service training grants scheme; a proposed £115·5 million of expenditure to be assisted by education support grants; section 11 grants for Commonwealth immigrants; and the urban programme.

  VOTE EXPENDITURE

  Universities

  15. Last year I agreed with the University Grants Committee and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals a programme of improvements in the management of universities including selective funding, the rationalisation of small departments, better financial management and improved standards of teaching. I made it clear that the future funding of the universities would depend significantly upon the implementation of that programme.

  16. Good progress has since been made. The 1987 academic pay settlement is another important development. The £56 million extra grant for 1988–89 already announced to help universities to meet the cost of that settlement will be released as soon as the Government are satisfied that the universities have sufficiently improved their arrangements for staff appraisal, probation and promotion. As I have already made clear, the Government will not provide funds for any further academic pay increase in 1988.

  17. The Government have decided to provide the universities with an additional £61 million in 1988–89 and similar sums in later years. I shall be asking the University Grants Committee to allocate some £155 million of these extra funds to a targeted programme of restructuring including additional finance for early retirements, some "new blood" appointments, and the rationalisation of provision for a number of disciplines. In each case, I shall expect the UGC to authorise payments only where the expenditure is in accordance with the approved academic plans of the institutions concerned.
  640
  18. In 1988–89 the Open University will receive an extra £1·55 million and the Computer Board an extra £2 million.

  19. Provision is also being made in 1988–89 and in later years for the extra cost to universities of the 1987 clinical academic pay settlement, and for an initiative in manufacturing systems engineering.

  Science

  20. The science budget for 1988–89 will be £696 million, an increase of £47 million over the plans published in Cm. 56. The planning figure for each of the following two years is now £729 million, providing for an 11 per cent. cash increase compared with the science budget this year. Within these figures special provision is being made for research in Antarctica, including a new research ship. There should also be scope for a worthwhile start in 1988–89 on the establishment of inter-disciplinary research centres, as recommended by the ABRC and to which I attach great importance. The Government will be giving further consideration in the next few months to policies for the strategic reshaping of the science base, taking account of restructuring within the universities, the ABRC's strategy advice and of our consultations on the board's recommendations. The totals I have announced for the science budget in 1988–89 and 1989–90 include provision for the MRC's special programme of research on AIDS; additional provision for this in later years will depend on the agreed evaluation of the programme but would not have to he found within the science budget baseline.

  Voluntary Colleges

  21. Following consultations with the Voluntary Sector Consultative Council I have determined the quantum of AFE expenditure at voluntary colleges grant-aided solely by my Department at £56·7 million. This recognises the special difficulties which these colleges have faced. It is expected to allow for some increases in student numbers; to contribute towards the maintenance of quality; and to enable the colleges to participate in selected initiatives of high priority.

  Student Awards

  22. Provision for student awards allows for a small increase in the number of mandatory award-holders. Details of the new rates of award and revised contribution scales will be announced later. Provision is also made for the basic tuition fee for courses eligible for mandatory awards to increase from £556 to £578. The review, chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr. Jackson), of all aspects of financial support for students studying at first degree or equivalent level will complete its work next year, when a consultation document on future arrangements for student finance will be published.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Advertising
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper titles.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The expenditure on press advertising over the past five years has been:
  641

  £

  1982–83

  2,562

  1983–84

  27,208

  1984–85

  26,225

  1985–86

  28,569

  1986–87

  53,982

  Prices include production costs and VAT.

  Note:

  (1) Information is not readily available to distinguish between expenditure on advertising in national newspapers and that in the press generally.

  (2) Information about expenditure in individual newspapers is commercially confidential and cannot be given in the form requested.

  Management Information
  Sir John Farr
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now able to make available the 1987 returns of his top management information systems.

  Mr. MacGregor
  A copy of the 1987 MINIM returns which cover the objectives and resources used by the Ministry's programmes, has been placed today in the Library of the House.

  Storm Damage
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider the provision of financial assistance to those farmers, horticulturists, owners of private woodlands and others who suffered loss and damage to their property as a consequence of the hurricane in the early hours of 16 October which is uninsurable and whose costs are not being met by local authority funds.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer, 2 November 1987]: I have every sympathy with those who have suffered as a result of the storm but see no reason to depart from the longstanding position that the Government do not pay compensation for the effects of bad weather, particularly where risks are insurable. I am, however, consulting the European Commission about the possibility of increasing the rates of some grants under the agriculture improvement scheme to help with work needed on shelterbelts, hedges and traditional walls. I am also assessing the losses suffered by fruit farmers in consultation with the NFU and others. I will consider the position when this assessment is complete.

  As regards woodlands, the Forestry Commission has set up a forest wind blow action committee which will, amongst other things, assess the scale and nature of the
  642
  damage, provide a service to promote the orderly marketing of fallen timber and issue both general and individual advice to owners of woodlands through its wind blow task force at Alice Holt, near Farnham, in Surrey. Financial help is available from the Countryside Commission for replanting small areas of woodland under arrangements announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 21 October. For the restocking of larger areas the Forestry Commission's forestry grant scheme and broadleaved woodland grant scheme provide assistance.

  When we have made a considered assessment of the damage and of the work that has to be done, I will decide whether further financial assistance is needed.

  Storm Damage

    CORRIGENDUM
    Official Report, 29 June 1987:
    The following question and answer should have been printed at c. 19:

  Benefits
  Mr. Battle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in the Leeds, West constituency are currently in receipt of (a) supplementary benefit, (b) invalidity benefit, (c) housing benefit, (d) sickness benefit, (e) mobility allowance and (f) maternity benefit and how many people have received single payments in the current financial year.

  Mr. Scott
  The Leeds, West constituency is covered by two of the Department's local offices at Leeds, West and Leeds, North West, but their boundaries are not conterminous. The table shows the number of people receiving benefit from those offices on the latest date for which information is available:

  At 5 May 1987

  At 2 June 1987

  Supplementary Benefit

  1727,739

  —

  Invalidity and Sickness Benefit

  —

  5,549

  Maternity Benefit

  —

  379

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

  In the period from 8 April 1987 to 2 June 1987 there have been 22,209 awards of single payments.

  I regret that information about mobility allowance is not available and that the only available information on housing benefit relates to the entire Leeds city council area, and cannot be disaggregated by constituency.

DEFENCE

  Royal Yacht Britannia
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the recent refit of the Royal Yacht Britannia; what proportion of the expenditure was met from public funds; and under what vote the expenditure from public funds was incurred.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Subject to final negotiation, the cost of the current refit of HMY Britannia, due to complete today, will be in the order of £19 million. The cost will be wholly met from the Defence vote.

  Zimbabwe and Mozambique Forces (Training)
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the percentage change for each year in the number of (a) Zimbabwe and (b) Mozambique armed forces trained in the United Kingdom since 1980, showing the 1980 figure as 100.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 28 October 1987, at column 241.

  Armed Forces Houses (Newcastle upon Tyne)
  Mr. Cousins
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the last date of occupation by members of the armed forces of each of the 16 houses owned by his Department at Mansfield place, Moorside, Newcastle upon Tyne; and if he will give the date on which a written offer of sale was made to Newcastle upon Tyne city council.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Ministry of Defence occupied 15 houses at Douglas terrace and Mansfield place, Moorside, on a ground lease from the Newcastle upon Tyne city council. these properties were formally offered to the council for sale on 1 October 1987.

  The last date of occupation of each of the premises is as follows:

  Numbers

  Date

  Douglas Terrace

  1

  15 May 1987

  3

  28 July 1987

  5

  7 November 1986

  7

  29 June 1987

  Number of injury accidents and casualties on the M1 at roadworks: 1982 to 1986

  Year

  Accidents

  Casualties

  Drivers/Riders

  Passengers

  Killed

  Injured

  Total

  Killed

  Injured

  Total

  1982

  179

  5

  139

  144

  2

  137

  139

  1983

  148

  3

  119

  122

  5

  160

  165

  1984

  129

  4

  98

  102

  6

  119

  125

  1985

  82

  3

  60

  63

  4

  87

  91

  1986

  146

  0

  99

  99

  0

  131

  131

  TOTAL

  684

  15

  515

  530

  17

  630

  647

  644

  Numbers

  Date

  9

  17 March 1987

  Mansfield Place

  10

  21 November 1986

  12

  2 June 1987

  14

  14 March 1987

  16

  30 July 1987

  18

  18 February 1987

  20

  4 June 1987

  22

  30 June 1987

  24

  12 March 1987

  26

  22 January 1987

  28

  2 December 1986

  Advertising
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper titles.

  Mr. Freeman
  The total amount spent on national press advertising in each of the past five financial years is as follows:

  £ million

  1982–83

  3·5

  1983–84

  4·5

  1984–85

  5·65

  1985–86

  6·8

  1986–87

  6·7

  It is not the Government's policy to disclose the sums paid to individual organisations.

TRANSPORT

  M1 (Accident Statistics)
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Minister for Transport how many collisions have occurred on the M1 in areas affected by roadworks during each of the last five years for which records are available; how many drivers and how many passengers have as a result been killed and injured, respectively; and how many and what percentage of such injuries and deaths were at or near areas where contraflow traffic systems were in operation.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information readily available is as follows:
  645
  The accident report form records only whether roadworks "were present" where the accident occurred. Accidents occurring near to roadworks (eg in tailbacks) would not be recorded as "roadworks present".

  The number of casualties at or near contraflow systems is not available due to disproportionate cost. The presence of contraflow systems is not recorded on the accident report form STATS19. The regional office of the regions through which the M1 passes were unable to supply directly the locations and times that contraflow systems were in operation on the M1 over the last five years. It would be costly, if possible, to obtain this information from the agent authorities.

  Public Transport (Operators' Mileage)
  Mr. Morley
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total of public transport operators' route mileage in (a) 1985 and (b)

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Data for railways are published in table 3.9 of "Transport Statistics Great Britain: 1976–1986", copies of which are available in the Library. Information is not available on route mileage of road transport but my Department is aware that local bus mileage increased by 12 per cent. between November 1986 and November 1987.

  Shipping Regulations
  Mr. Hill
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanism is available for shipowners whereby certain minor exceptions to the new regulations, the Merchant Shipping (Closing and Opening in Hulls and Watertight Bulkheads) Regulations 1987, could be given, taking into account the type of operation, its geographical area of employment and the quality of its on-board training.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Applications for exemption from any of these particular regulations should be made in writing directly to the chief surveyor at the nearest marine office of the Department of Transport. Such applications should always include a reasoned case for seeking exemption.

  Petrol Tankers (Braking Systems)
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider making anti-lock braking systems mandatory for petrol tanker road vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are working to get the relevant European Community directives amended so that we can require anti-lock braking systems on all new heavy vehicles with trailers. That will include articulated petrol tanker vehicles.

  M6–M61 Junction
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take urgent steps to seek to improve motorway vehicle flow in the vicinity of the M6/M61 junction.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Vehicle flow at this point can only be improved by increasing the capacity of the junction. A scheme to deal with this problem and to widen and improve the M6 between this junction and junction 32 646
  (Broughton) was added to the national trunk road programme by "Policy for Roads in England: 1987" (Cm. 125). Consultant engineers have been appointed and this scheme will be progressed as quickly as possible.

  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will urgently consider installing additional motorway hazard warning lights in the vicinity of the M6/M61 junction.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Yes. We are considering the installation of signals on the sign gantries on the approaches to the junction.

  Stimulants
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been conducted by his Department into the use of stimulants and their affect on the performance of drivers; and if he will seek to ban the sale of stimulants at motorway service stations.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Limited research suggests that fewer than 1 per cent. of road accidents are attributable to drugs or medicines. Further work is needed. The transport and road research laboratory is carrying out further studies in this field. I have no plans to ban the sale of stimulants at motorway service areas. The sale of alcohol is banned.

  Advertising
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secreatary of State for Transport how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper titles.

  Mr. Channon
  Expenditure on press advertising1 by my Department in each of the past five years was as follows:

  £

  1982–83

  816,000

  1983–84

  334,000

  1984–85

  475,788

  1985–86

  1,034,441

  1986–87

  4,367,555

  1Including production costs and VAT.

  The information is not readily available to distinguish between expenditure on advertising in national newspapers and that in the press generally.

  It is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to publicise the sums paid to individual organisations.

  Southampton and Bristol (Road Links)
  Mr. Stern
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to improve existing road links between Southampton and Bristol.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Yes. Our comprehensive programme of schemes for the improvement of the A36/A46 trunk road between Southampton and Bristol is set out in the White Paper "Policy for Roads in England: 1987" published in April this year. (Cm. 125-II).

ENVIRONMENT

  Docklands
  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the progress of the London Docklands development corporation in developing London's docklands.

  Mr. Trippier
  Since its creation in 1981 the London Docklands development corporation has achieved notable success in securing the regeneration of its 2,065 hectare area. In the six years to 31 March 1987, the corporation reclaimed 370 hectares of land for new purposes and carried out extensive infrastructure works throughout its area. In the same period private sector development commitments of over £2·2 billion were secured, giving a gearing ratio of private investment to public capital investment of 9:1.

  About 660 companies, many of them new enterprises, have moved into docklands premises. About 10 million sq ft of non-residential floor space is being developed or is already completed; an estimated 10,000 jobs had been attracted to the area by 1986; and about 12,000 new homes had been completed or were under construction. In addition, the more recent commitments to build the Canary wharf scheme represent a major new success for the corporation.

  The LDDC has part funded the docklands light railway which opened earlier this year and which is being extended westwards to Bank. It is now funding a major extension of the railway eastwards into the Royal docks area, using the increase in the value of their disposable land as the source of finance. Major road schemes have been constructed and further ones are planned.

  The growing momentum of development continues. This is being complemented by initiatives which aim to improve community facilities or help local residents take advantage of the new opportunities available to them. For example the Corporation is funding the provision of community centres and is sponsoring training initiatives to help the unemployed.

  Loft Insulation
  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of (a) owner-occupied homes, (b) private rented homes and (c) local authority rented homes have not been brought up to the standard of loft insulation recommended by his Department.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Following are estimates from a sample survey conducted by Audits of Great Britain Ltd.

  Loft insulation, England: December 1986

  Percentage of households

  Owner occupiers

  Council tenants

  1Other tenures

  Some insulation

  92

  89

  65

  Four inches or more of insulation

  50

  34

  32

  1 Private tenants, housing association tenants, housing provided with job, etc.

  Note: Percentages are of those households with access to loft spaces.
  648
  There is no general recommendation on loft insulation. Homes insulation scheme grants provide assistance where lofts are not already insulated to a depth of 30 mm or more.

  Hyde Park (Stables)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to permit the construction of stables in Hyde park; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I am currently considering a proposal by the Rotten Row tercentenary committee to be allowed to build a civilian riding school near the White Horse Gate in Hyde Park. I will write to my hon. Friend when I have reached a decision on the policy implications for the management of the park.

  Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total number of people employed by authorities to which the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 applied in their direct labour organisations at the time at which that Act became law; how many are now so employed; and how many people are currently employed by contractors contracted by those authorities under the provisions of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act to do work won through tendering under the provisions of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act;

  (2) if he will list by local authority the number of full-time equivalent jobs that have been lost in each local authority subject to the provisions of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, and if he will give a total figure for each financial year since the Act became law;

  (3) how many people have been made redundant by authorities subject to the provisions of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and if he will give this figure both as a total since the Act became law and as a figure for each financial year since that time.

  Mr. Chope
  In October 1980 local authorities and new towns in Great Britain are estimated to have directly employed 156,606 people on construction and maintenance work covered by part III of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. By October 1986 the number had fallen to 116,806. It is not possible to estimate the extent to which the change resulted from the operation of the Act.

  The other information requested is not available.

  Local Labour Clauses
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what legal advice his Department has received from outside Her Majesty's Government on the implications of EC public works directive 71/305/EEC and public contracts directive 77/602/EEC for local labour clauses; if he will place a copy of this advice in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  It is not normal Government practice to publish details or sources of legal advice offered to Ministers. Nevertheless, I am advised that EC public works and supplies directives set out the criteria on which
  649
  the contracting authority shall base the award of contracts. These criteria do not include the area of residence of the work force, and any such criteria would constitute an obstacle to equality of treatment of contractors tendering from other parts of the Community.

  Easington District Council
  Mr. Cummings
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what percentage the housing investment programme for Easington district council has been reduced since 1979.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The latest estimate of housing capital investment for 1987–88 by Easington district council is 94 per cent. in cash terms of the authority's 1979–80 expenditure.

  Peterlee
  Mr. Cummings
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the total investment in industrial development in the new town of Peterlee during the period 1970 to 1987.

  Mrs. Roe
  This information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Sewerage
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of significant sewer collapses in 1985–86 for each water authority; whether this represents an increase or a decrease over the previous year for each authority; and if he will indicate the difference between the two figures for each authority as a percentage for the total figure for each authority for the previous year.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The numbers I can give the hon. Member relate to sewer failures from all causes, not only from collapses. These numbers can change considerably from year to year for any one authority, and may in part he due to changes in the extent and quality of reporting.

  The number of significant sewer failures for each regional water authority in 1985–86, and the percentage change from 1984–85 are:

  Number

  per cent.

  Anglian

  286

  +4

  Northumbrian

  232

  +43

  North West

  1,136

  +14

  Severn Trent

  423

  -12

  Southern

  515

  +101

  South West

  220

  -4

  Thames

  649

  +18

  Wessex

  285

  -19

  Yorkshire

  1,340

  -1

  Nature Conservation
  Mr. Chris Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current position as regards his Department's circular "Nature Conservation and Planning".

  Mr. Moynihan
  Consultations with interested bodies and other Departments have taken longer than expected. The circular is however now in the final stages of preparation, and I expect to issue it soon.

  Sport (Schools)
  Mr. Michael Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what liaison there is between his Department, local educational authorities and the Sports Council over the promotion of team sport in schools; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what inquiries are currently being undertaken by his Department concerning the promotion of sports in school.

  Mr. Moynihan
  In November 1986 the Department of the Environment and the Department of Education and Science convened a seminar to exchange views about sport in schools, including team sports, to inform Government, sporting bodies and educational interests. Since the seminar, a new forum led by the Sports Council with representatives from local authorities, sports governing bodies and educational bodies has been set up to study issues, recommend courses of action and report by 1 January 1988. The DOE and DES jointly funded a review of research and information on school sport which was completed in May last.

  Departmental Land (Chelmsford)
  Mr. Burns
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amount of land in the Chelmsford borough council area that belongs to Government Departments and is surplus to requirements; and if he will break down the total acreage by each Department.

  Mr. Chope
  There is no land over 1 acre in area in the Chelmsford borough council area belonging to Government Departments which is surplus to requirements. Some 91 acres (37 hectares) of such land is owned by the local authorities, nationalised industries and statutory undertakers, most of which is awaiting disposal.

  Sport (Drugs)
  Mr. Denis Howell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in the inquiry he has conducted into the problems of drug taking in British sport; in how many sports he found evidence a drug taking; in which sports he found such evidence; what action he intends to take to disclose the identities of' sportsmen or women who take drugs in order to enhance their performance and what action he has taken to ensure that disciplinary procedures or police investigation will follow in each of these cases.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I undertook with Sebastian Coe, vice-chairman of the Sports Council, a review of drug abuse in sport this summer. We published our report in September, copies are available in the Library. Investigations and discussions held during the review were confidential. We were concerned to assess the effectiveness of present controls, not to pursue individual cases of drug abuse. The report identified the need for a revised, independent testing regime and invited the Sports Council to submit detailed proposals. The report was endorsed by the ministerial group on the misuse of drugs and by the Sports Council.

  The Sports Council agreed detailed proposals at its meeting on 2 November. These involve:

  (1) all testing to be undertaken by independent officials

  (2) the selection of competitors for testing to be on a random basis

  651

  (3) testing out-of-competition to be introduced

  (4) adverse findings and follow-up action by governing bodies to be publicised.

  Mr. Denis Howell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many sports he has found no evidence of drug taking; and what action he proposes to take publicly to exonerate all those sports which were found to be clean of any malpractice.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him today. In the course of the review into the misuse of drugs in sport we sought the views of 213 governing bodies about their current policies and programmes. I was pleased at the welcome extended to the review and grateful to the governing bodies for their co-operation and contributions. The issue of exonerations for those sports where drug abuse is not a problem does not arise. I have not received any representations on this matter from the governing bodies.

  Mr. Denis Howell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been achieved as a result of the Sports Council's inquiry into drug taking in sport; what has been the cost of this investigation; and why the Minister for Sport has established his own further inquiry into this subject.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Sports Council has not undertaken an inquiry into drug-taking in sport. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him today.

  Mr. Denis Howell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken in the light of recent evidence concerning the incidence of drug taking by British sports competitors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answers I gave him today.

  Mr. Denis Howell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money is to be allocated for drug testing purposes in British sport; what percentage of the Sports Council budget this represents; and upon what evidence concerning the extent of the problem the present trend of this expenditure is based.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Sports Council's 1987–88 budget provision for combatting the misuse of drugs in sport is £365,000 representing ·08 per cent. of the total budget. The council's planned provision for 1988–89 is £445,000—likely to be some 1 per cent. of the budget. Annex A of the report on the misuse of drugs in sport, copies of which are available in the Library, gives details of the number of tests each year since 1979 and the incidence of banned substances.

  Football Supporters (Breathalysing)
  Mr. Denis Howell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Football League clubs have responded to the Minister for Sport's initiatives on breathalysing football spectators prior to Football League matches; what consultations took place with police authorities before this announcement was made; and what advice they have given about the feasibility of such tests minutes before kick off.

  Mr. Moynihan
  At a meeting on 19 October with representatives of the football authorities and the police, the Football League agreed to inquire into the possibility 652
  of stewards inside grounds having breathalysers available to test those suspected of excessive drinking. This may be an effective additional deterrent against hooliganism and would best be tried as an experiment in a small group of clubs, subject to police advice. I await a report from the Football League following their discussions with the police. The police response to this initiative at the meeting on 19 October was encouraging.

  Electrical Safety
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received about standards of safety in electrical installation in buildings for which he is responsible and in property owned by local authorities; if he is considering recommending the use of circuit breakers to prevent accidents; if he will introduce mandatory measures for controlling electrical installations; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what recent representations he has received about standards of safety in electrical installation work in domestic and commercial buildings; if he will consider a system of registration of those undertaking this work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department has received representations about standards of safety in electrical installation work from the Institute of Electrical Engineers, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Electrical Cable Makers Confederation in response to the technical review of the building regulations.

  I accept that circuit breakers can play an important part in guarding against the misuse of normally safe installations and the hazards of faulty appliances. The IEE wiring regulations, which require the installation of circuit breakers in circumstances where a traditional method of earthing would not be appropriate, are very widely observed throughout the United Kingdom wherever new houses are constructed or rewiring undertaken. The representations made on electrical safety are being carefully considered but I do believe there is a case for leaving it to be covered by the IEE regulations rather than by introducing further legislation.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. E. Collins of his home at 18 Priory court, Cheltenham road, London, S.E.15, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. and Mrs. F. Sullivan of their home at 4 Priory court, Cheltenham road, London, S.E.15, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. G. Stout of his home at 17 Bromleigh court, Sydenham hill, London, S.E.23, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. W. J. Colville of his home at 15 Ruskin Park house, Champion hill, London, S.E.5, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;
  653
  (5) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. James Whitwell of his home at 7 Grove court, Camberwell grove, London, S.E.5, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (6) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. and Mrs. S. Morton of their home at 13 Seeley drive, London, S.E.21, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (7) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. and Mrs. J. Wand of their home at 7 Goodwin house, Nunhead crescent, London SE15, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement.

  (8) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mrs. M. Miles of her home at 85 Ruskin Park house, Champion hill, London SE5, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (9) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. D. McClean of his home at 1 Deventer crescent, London SE22, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (10) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. F. G. Frankham of his home at 10 Princes court, 156 College road, London SE19, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (11) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mrs. B. T. Szydlowski of her home at 11 Monteagle way, Consort road, London SE15, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (12) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. F. Lloyd of his home at 19 Gylcote close, Denmark hill, London SE5, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (13) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. W. Lush of his home at 69 Delawyck crescent, Half Moon lane, London SE24, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (14) what information he has as to the reasons for delay in the purchase by Mr. and Mrs. M. Crook of their home at 66 Delawyck crescent, Half Moon lane, London SE24, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (15) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. and Mrs. Ewart of their home at 27 New James court, Nunhead lane, London SE15, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement;

  (16) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Miss B. Thompson of her home at 46b Limesford road, London SE15, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Department is monitoring closely the right-to-buy performance of Southwark borough council and has taken up with it the cases of the tenants mentioned.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the reasons for the continued delay in the purchase by Mr. W. Crabb of his home at 99 Scylla road, London S.E.15, from Southwark council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I understand that Mr. Crabb claimed to exercise his right to buy in 1981. I am extremely concerned to hear of the unacceptable delays he has suffered. I am seeking a full explanation from Southwark council and will write to my hon. Friend.

  Local Authority Grants
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the proposed methodology for constructing the assessments of need for the new local authority grant system envisages a negative outturn.

  Mr. Howard
  We do not envisage negative assessments for any individual authority.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the separate needs of subheadings used by him at present for local authority grants and referred to in paragraph 15 of the Yellow Paper "The New Grant System", indicating those which will not be required under the proposed system.

  Mr. Howard
  The needs subheadings used for 1987–88 are listed in the document "Grant-Related Expenditure 1987–88" which is available in the Library. The details of the new arrangements will be decided after discussion with local authority representatives, but there are likely to be significantly fewer subheadings than at present.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Marland
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide illustrative figures for each local authority of the effect of implementing his proposed local government finance reform in the form of a banded community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  Illustrative figures for a banded charge would depend on the details of the scheme proposed—for example, the bands of income and the relationship between bands. Such a scheme would involve all the disadvantages of a local income tax with, additionally, considerable poverty trap effects on running from one band to another.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the proposed needs assessment for local authorities under the new grant system proposed for the introduction of the poll tax will be open to challenge.

  Mr. Howard
  The needs assessment methodology will, after discussion with the local authority associations, be set out in a distribution report which will require the approval of the House. After approval, it will, like other decisions, be open to challenge by application for judicial review.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the 1987–88 poll tax exemplifications using safety netted figures in the same form as those published for 1986–87.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 28 October 1987]: Not yet, because the transitional arrangements are presently being reconsidered.

  Mr. Patchett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he is having with Age Concern in relation to the introduction of the poll tax and its effect on retirement pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 30 October 1987]: The' Department has consulted Age Concern on the Government's proposals for rates reform and Age Concern has expressed its views in detail. I fully expect to continue discussions with Age Concern about the impact of our proposals on retirement pensioners.

  Advertising
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper titles.

  Mr. Ridley
  For each of the past five years the total of press advertising expenditure (other than on recruitment, tendering and statutory notices) by my Department, including the Property Services Agency, was:

  Year

  Press advertising

  £

  1982–83

  688,538

  1983–84

  19,184

  1984–85

  679,690

  1985–86

  543,527

  1986–87

  338,000

  The information available does not distinguish between the use of national and local newspapers. The sums paid to individual organisations is a matter of commercial confidentiality.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Patnick
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of outturn in the current year on cash limit DOE/LA1; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  DOE/LA1 covers capital expenditure and receipts by local authorities in England on education, housing, transport, personal social services, and other services. The first quarter's returns indicate that there is likely to be an underspend this year of a substantial amount. I have already announced that some additional allocations may be made to cover expenditure in the current year in making good storm damage. But in view of the size of the prospective underspend, I and my colleagues responsible for the services within the cash limit in addition propose supplementary allocations of up to £75 million to cover expenditure on worthwhile schemes which will be incurred in the remainder of this financial year.

  As far as my own services are concerned, up to £44·7 million of the extra resources will specifically be made available for additional housing schemes. I intend to direct these resources at well-targeted and cost-effective schemes to tackle homelessness, housing defects, renovation and homes insulation.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he plans any changes in his public expenditure programmes.

  Mr. Ridley
  My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has today announced the Government's public expenditure plans for the next three years. The following tables give details of the major changes in my Department's programmes. Because of increased receipts I have been able to provide for significant increases in gross expenditure, particularly for housing, the inner cities and the environment without increasing net expenditure.
  656
  Housing

  There is a substantial increase in gross provision for housing capital expenditure in 1988–89. At £3,827 million, this is £384 million (11 per cent.) higher than previously planned and £159 million higher than the estimated outturn for 1987–88. In 1989–90 there will be an increase of £284 million on previous plans. Increases on this scale have been made possible by the continuing success of the right to buy, and by disposals of new towns land for housing. Capital receipts are now expected to yield more than £2 billion in each of the next three years.

  Within the total available for capial investment I have allocated resources in accordance with the priorities outlined in the White Paper "Housing: the Government's proposals" (Cm. 214). Gross provision for the Housing Corporation will increase by nearly £50 million in 1988–89, and by 1990–91 will be £145 million higher than expected outturn in 1987–88. I hope that these extra public resources will increasingly be augmented by private finance under mixed funding arrangements.

  While housing associations will have an increasing share of the provision of new social housing for rent, I have made substantial additional provision for local authorities to enable them to spend more on renovation of their existing stock. Gross provision fot local authority capital spending in 1988–89 will be £3,048 million, an increase of £313 million on previous plans and of £128 million on estimated outturn for 1987–88.

  As local authority spending power from receipts continues to increase, the borrowing consent represented by capital allocations declines in importance. Nevertheless, basic housing investment programme and homes insulation scheme allocations will remain at a high level in 1988–89: at £1,150 million they will stand at around 90 per cent. of this year's.

  Additional allocations will again be made to local authorities to revitalise rundown estates under the Department's estate action programme. The resources available will nearly double, to £140 million.

  Additionally, over the three survey years I am making available a total of £125 million for housing action trusts so that they can renovate some of the worst estates of rundown local authority housing, and pass it on to new forms of ownership and management.

  Housing investment by new towns is increasingly confined to the servicing of sites for development by the private sector. Gross provision in each of the next three years has been increased to support this activity, and is more than financed by increased proceeds from disposals.

  Because of the continuing high level of receipts it will be possible to achieve the higher levels of gross provision for capital investment I have outlined without any increase in the overall net housing programme totals already planned. The figures are given in the following table. Compared with expected outturn in 1987–88 the overall planned level of net expenditure in 1988–89 shows an increase of £498 million (20 per cent.).

  Other environmental services

  I continue to give very high priority to the inner cities. The urban development corporations have proven their worth in bringing effective help to the areas of greatest need, drawing on the resources and expertise of the private sector, and I am increasing planned resources by £65

  657
  million in 1988–89, and £68 million in 1989–90. Total resources for UDCs will now be more than £200 million in each of the next three years. This will enable us to maintain the momentum of the corporations in London and Merseyside, to secure the successful launch of the four new UDCs established this year (in Trafford Park, Teesside, Tyne and Wear and the Black country) and to press ahead with further initiatives.

  Despite the increased emphasis on UDCs I am still continuing to provide substantial resources, nearly £300 million a year, for the other parts of my urban group: the urban programme (including urban development grant and urban regeneration grant) and derelict land grant.

  I am also increasing resources for the countryside, environment, recreation and heritage. The Development Commission, Nature Conservancy Council, Countryside Commission and Sports Council will receive increased financial support. In addition the National Heritage Memorial Fund will receive an additional £20 million capital injection in 1987–88.

  Provision for gross capital expenditure in 1988–89 on local environmental services has been increased by £60 million to £627 million.

  The increases in gross expenditure in the other environmental services programme in 1988–89 have been more than offset by substantial increases in forecast receipts to local authorities and the new towns. This reflects in particular the success of the new town bodies' programme of disposals as the private sector takes an increasingly prominent role in the future of the towns.

  Water

  I am reducing slightly the borrowing limit for the water authorities by £9 million in 1988–89. Water authorities continue to reduce real operating costs and this, taken with increased profitability, will enable them to finance large increases in investment proposed in their 1987 corporate plans. Capital expenditure has already grown in real terms by 40 per cent. since 1980–81 and is currently running at about £1 billion. Further major growth is now assured in programmes to improve water and sewage treatment and to renew underground assets.

  Department of the Environment—Housing

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Estimated outturn

  Previous plan

  Revised plan

  Previous plan

  Revised plan

  Plan

  Capital

  Gross Expenditure

  Central Government

  Housing Corporation

  705

  686

  735

  682

  775

  850

  Other Central Government

  3

  5

  4

  5

  5

  5

  Local Authorities

  2,920

  2,735

  3,048

  2,779

  2,908

  2,808

  Public Corporations

  Housing Action Trusts

  0

  0

  5

  0

  50

  70

  New Towns

  41

  18

  35

  18

  30

  30

  Total Gross Expenditure

  3,668

  3,444

  3,827

  3,484

  3,768

  3,763

  Receipts

  Central Government

  Housing Corporation

  -71

  -70

  -80

  -71

  -80

  -90

  Other Central Government

  -3

  -2

  -2

  -2

  -2

  -2

  658
  The British Waterways Board external financing limit is to increase by £1·6 million in each year.

  Property Services Agency

  PSA's civil accommodation programme in net terms is planned to decrease by £22 million in 1988–89 and by £59 million in 1989–90. But because disposal and Properly Repayment Services receipts are expected to increase substantially, expenditure is planned to increase by £63 million and £78 million respectively in the next two years. After meeting increases on rents to be paid to landlords and other unavoidable expenditure, the agency should be able to allocate sufficient funds to the maintenance of the civil estate in 1988–89 to prevent further build up of the backlog of work. In the following year the Agency should be able to make inroads into this backlog.

  Overall Local Authority Expenditure, England

  I proposed on 23 July that provision for local authority relevant current expenditure for 1988–89 should be increased by £838 million to £27,538 million and that aggregate Exchequer grant should be £13,775 million, an increase of £750 million compared to 1987–88. I am consulting local government about my proposals for the 1988–89 rate support grant settlement.

  As regards local authority capital expenditure overall, gross provision for the main local authority cash limit DOE-LA1 in 1988–89 has been increased by £500 million. Because of authorities' continuing success in increasing their capital receipts, this has not required an increase in net provision. The revised plans allow for gross spending on the five services covered by the cash limit (housing, education, transport, personal social services and other services) of nearly £5·2 billion.

  The very high level of receipts being generated by authorities in 1987–88, which is leading to an underspend against the net cash limit, will add to the growth in accumulated receipts and hence will lead to a further increase in the spending power from receipts next year. Despite this, the increase that has been agreed for gross provision means that the allocations available for the services across the cash limit in 1988–89 should be broadly equal to allocations issued for the present year.
  659

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Estimated outturn

  Previous plan

  Revised plan

  Previous plan

  Revised plan

  Plan

  Local Authorities

  -2,315

  -1,581

  -1,876

  -1,581

  -1,915

  -1,923

  Public Corporations

  New Towns

  -112

  -29

  -110

  -29

  -80

  -70

  Total Receipts

  -2,501

  -1,682

  -2,068

  -1,683

  -2,077

  -2,084

  Net Capital

  Central Government

  Housing Corporation

  634

  616

  655

  611

  695

  760

  Other Central Government

  0

  3

  2

  3

  3

  3

  Local Authorities

  605

  1,154

  1,172

  1,198

  993

  885

  Public Corporations

  Housing Action Trusts

  0

  0

  5

  0

  50

  70

  New Towns

  -72

  -11

  -75

  -11

  -50

  -40

  Total Net Capital

  1,167

  1,762

  1,759

  1,801

  1,691

  1,679

  Total Current

  1,353

  1,271

  1,259

  1,306

  1,312

  1,364

  Total DOE housing

  2,520

  3,032

  3,018

  3,107

  3,003

  3,043

  DOE other environmental services

  £ million (sums may not total due to rounding)

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Forecast Outturn

  Previous Plan

  Revised Plan

  Previous Plan

  Revised Plan

  Plan

  1. Urban Group

  (1) Urban Programme1

  227

  231

  221

  230

  221

  222

  (2) Urban Development Corporations of which:

  133

  138

  203

  147

  215

  223

  (a) LDDC/MDC

  111

  108

  108

  147

  215

  223

  (b) New UDCs

  22

  30

  95

  (3) Derelict land reclamation

  81

  81

  76

  81

  76

  76

  2. New Towns

  Gross2

  87

  61

  81

  50

  65

  60

  Receipts

  -335

  -131

  -311

  -134

  -175

  -150

  Net

  -248

  -70

  -230

  -83

  -109

  -90

  3. Countryside, Recreation and Environment

  (1) Development Commission and support for industry

  28

  27

  32

  27

  33

  32

  (2) Countryside, Recreation, and Environment Bodies

  105

  105

  110

  106

  112

  114

  (3) Environmental Research

  26

  30

  31

  32

  32

  33

  4. Heritage

  (1) Royal palaces, royal parks and Royal Armouries

  41

  41

  44

  42

  46

  45

  (2) Historic buildings, ancient monuments and national heritage3

  93

  73

  74

  75

  75

  77

  5. Water

  (1) British Waterways Board EFL

  45

  45

  47

  46

  48

  49

  (2) Regional Water Authorities EFLs

  3

  -11

  -20

  -58

  -74

  -94

  (3) Civil Defence

  2

  3

  3

  4

  4

  4

  (4) Other Water Services

  2

  2

  1

  2

  1

  1

  6. Departmental Administration

  113

  116

  128

  119

  123

  122

  660 661

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Forecast Outturn

  Previous Plan

  Revised Plan

  Previous Plan

  Revised Plan

  Plan

  7. Local Environmental Services

  (1) Capital

  Gross

  890

  567

  627

  581

  627

  627

  Receipts

  -550

  -390

  -542

  -399

  -542

  -542

  Net

  340

  177

  85

  182

  85

  85

  (2) Current4

  2,841

  2,694

  2,800

  2,762

  2,898

  2,984

  8. Other local authority current

  (1) Local authority rate collection

  176

  177

  185

  182

  191

  197

  (2) Records and registration of births, deaths and marriages

  17

  17

  25

  18

  26

  27

  Programme total

  4,025

  3,876

  3,815

  3,914

  4,004

  4,107

  1 Includes capital and current expenditure, DOE element only. Total UP provision (all departments) for 1988–89 is £314 million.

  2 Includes £4 million for Letchworth Garden City Corporation in 1987–88.

  3 Includes £20 million additional funding for NHMF in 1987–88.

  4 Excludes Urban Programme current expenditure.

  PSA Civil Accommodation

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Forecast outturn

  Previous plan

  Revised plan

  Previous plan

  Revised plan

  plan

  Expenditure1

  500

  476

  539

  486

  564

  598

  Receipts2

  -575

  -575

  -660

  -587

  -724

  -758

  Net

  -75

  -99

  -121

  -101

  -160

  -160

  1 Capital expenditure, maintenance, rents and administration.

  2 PRS and disposal receipts.

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many buildings have been downgraded from grade II* listed to grade II in each year since 1979;

  (2) how many buildings have been downgraded from grade II* listed to unlisted in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Moynihan
  This information is not readily available.

  Storm Damage
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will show in the Official Report the lastest estimates of dealing with storm damage incurred by local authorities on the night of 15 and 16 October both in total and for each authority, showing (a) the total expenditure incurred, (b) expenditure up to the Bellwin scheme threshold, (c) grant lost by the authority for

  Households: by number of persons aged 18 or over: by region

  thousands

  Region

  Number of persons aged 18 or over

  Total

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5 or more

  North

  315

  665

  140

  35

  10

  1,170

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  515

  1,060

  215

  70

  10

  1,875

  East Midlands

  390

  870

  160

  45

  10

  1,475

  East Anglia

  185

  460

  80

  20

  5

  750

  South East

  662
  expenditure up to the Bellwin scheme threshold and (d) expenditure above the Bellwin scheme threshold, gross and net of specific grant.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 2 November 1987]: I do not yet have sufficiently reliable information to provide the detailed figures requested.

  Households
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report hits estimate of the numbers of households comprising (a) one adult, (b) two adults, (c) three adults, (d) four adults and (e) five or more adults in (i) England, (ii) each economic planning region and (iii) each local authority.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 2 November 1987]: Numbers of households estimated from the 1985 labour force survey for England and the standard regions are shown in the table.
  663

  Region

  Number of persons aged 18 or over

  Total

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5 or more

  Greater London

  825

  1,375

  295

  115

  35

  2,645

  Rest of South East

  995

  2,320

  440

  135

  25

  3,915

  South West

  450

  1,045

  180

  50

  10

  1,730

  West Midlands

  505

  1,085

  240

  70

  20

  1,915

  North West

  690

  1,320

  275

  90

  25

  2,405

  England

  4,870

  10,200

  2,025

  635

  145

  17,880

  Note: Estimates are subject to sampling errors.

  The 1981 census county reports, available in the Library, show the numbers of households with 1, 2 and 3 or more persons aged 16 or over in each local authority area (table 39). Analyses of the 1981 census data on the basis of people aged 18 or over could be produced only at excessive cost.

EMPLOYMENT

  Manpower Services Commission
  Mr. Baldry
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement as to the future of the Manpower Services Commission.

  Mr. Fowler
  The Employment Bill which I introduced in the House on 22 October, at column 944, includes provision to amend the law with respect to the constitution and functions of the Manpower Services Commission and for it to be known as the Training Commission. Together with the creation of an integrated employment service within my Department the purpose of these changes is to help the unemployed back into work and to enable the Training Commission to concentrate on the key task of meeting the nation's skill needs.

  The employment service, which is directly operated by my Department, now provides a full range of services for unemployed people, including the payment of benefit, help and advice to unemployed and other job-seekers and job placement. It is the gateway to the whole range of programmes that we have developed or are developing for unemployed people.

  The Training Commission will be at the heart of our efforts to harness the resources of Government, industry, commerce and individuals to the crucial task of meeting our present and future skill needs. To this end it will continue to develop its existing provision for the vocational education and training of young people and adults including the youth training scheme and the job training scheme. It will also run the community programme, community industry and the voluntary projects programme. I also attach great importance to the commission's role in encouraging employers and individuals to grasp the opportunities that training offers to sharpen industrial competitiveness and improve career opportunities.

  In pursuing their respective roles I expect the employment service and the commission to work closely together where a joint effort is necessary to meet key objectives such as our commitment for 16 and 17-year-olds and the long-term unemployed.

  Interviews (Travel Assistance)
  Mr. Battle
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the current guidelines on eligibility for assistance under travel to interview on Manpower Services Commission-sponsored schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: The travel-to-interview scheme, which includes provision for participants on certain schemes sponsored by the Manpower Services Commission, is at present being reviewed following its first year of operation, and I will write to the hon. Member when the results are known.

  Mr. Battle
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in (a) Leeds, West constituency and (b) Leeds metropolitan district council area have received financial assistance to attend interviews on Manpower Services Commission-sponsored schemes in the past 12 months; and what proportion of total applications for such finance this represents.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: For the year ending September 1987, 318 people applied for help under the travel-to-interview scheme in the jobcentre areas which approximate to the Leeds, West constituency. Of these, 79 per cent. received assistance. The corresponding figures for the area approximating to the Leeds metropolitan district were, 356 applications, 77 per cent. of whom received assistance. Information about the numbers of these applicants attending interviews for places on Manpower Services Commission schemes is not available.

  Contracts of Employment (Disputes)
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will exercise his powers under the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 and transfer to industrial tribunals disputes concerning contracts of employment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have no immediate plans to do so.

  Prohibition and Improvement Notices
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prohibition and how many improvement notices have been served in Leicester during each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The table shows the information for the years 1981 to 1986–87. Data for other years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  665

  Enforcement notices served under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act and associated legislation in Leicester

  Year

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  19864

  1986–871 3

  By HSE Inspectorates and HSC Agencies

  Prohibition notices

  7

  12

  15

  20

  16

  10

  17

  Improvement notices

  42

  42

  57

  74

  65

  15

  53

  By Leicester City Council

  Prohibition notices

  15

  7

  3

  216

  16

  n/a

  4

  Improvement notices

  439

  267

  284

  529

  234

  n/a

  181

  1 On 1 April 1986 the basis of HSE's statistics changed from calendar to planning (1 April to 31 March) years.

  2 For Leicester City Council, 1984 data are for the year 1 April 1984 to 31 March 1985.

  3 Provisional.

  4 January to March.

  n/a Not available.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will increase the number of inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive; and whether he has any proposals to change the annual budget of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive is a matter for the Health and Safety Commission, acting within its grant-in-aid provision. The planned provision for 1988–89 and future years is currently under consideration.

  Training (Safety)
  Mrs. Mahon
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest notifiable accidents to (a) YTS trainees, (b) community programme workers and (c) job training scheme workers.

  Mr. Lee
  Table(a) provides accident figures for YTS trainees by quarter for fatal, major and minor injuries for the period 1 April to 30 September 1987.

  Participants in the job training scheme (JTS) and new job training scheme (new JTS) are trainees. Table (b) provides fatal, major and minor accidents by quarter to trainees on the job training scheme for the period 1 April to 30 September 1987.

  Table (c) provides fatal, major and minor accidents by quarter for trainees on the new job training scheme (new JTS) period 1 April to 30 September 1987. Accident statistics for community programme workers are not available. Accidents to these workers are, however, reportable to the Health and Safety Executive.

  YTS Accidents 1 April–30 September 1987

  Table (a)

  Accidents1

  Period

  Fatalities

  Major2

  Minor

  1 April 1987 to 30 June 1987

  31

  108

  513

  1 July 1987 to 30 September 1987

  1

  109

  606

  JTS Accidents 1 April–30 September 1987

  Table (b)

  Accidents1

  Period

  Fatalities

  Major2

  Minor

  1 April 1987 to 30 June 1987

  Nil

  1

  19

  1 July 1987 to 30 September 1987

  Nil

  Nil

  26

  666

  New JTS Accidents 1 April–30 September 1987

  Table (c)

  Accidents1

  Period

  Fatalities

  Major2

  Minor

  1 April 1987 to 30 June 1987

  Nil

  Nil

  2

  1 July 1987 to 30 September 1987

  Nil

  1

  11

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

  2 Major injuries are classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.

  3 This fatality was a road traffic accident in scheme time.

  Mrs. Mahon
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many health and safety inspectors' working hours are spent each week on average inspecting or monitoring premises and conditions at work for (a) YTS, (b) community programme schemes and (c) job training schemes.

  Mr. Cope
  The information as requested is not available. When carrying out inspections, health and safety inspectors examine the health and safety conditions of all persons, regardless of whether they are engaged on Government schemes or not. Therefore, no distinction is made between those premises at which people are engaged on YTS, community programme schemes and JTS, and those where they are not.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Cousins
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the total nationally of the numbers of workers on community programme schemes who lost unemployment benefit under the Social Security (Unemployment, Sickness, and Invalidity Benefit) Amendment Regulations 1987; and if he will give totals on a similar basis for each unemployment benefit office in Newcastle upon Tyne.

  Mr. Lee
  Statistical records are not kept of unemployment benefit claims disallowed for this reason.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Cousins
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for 30 September 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987 the total number of unemployment benefit

  667
  claimants allowed to sign quarterly; and if he will give the totals on a similar basis for each unemployment benefit office in Newcastle.

  Mr. Lee
  The figures requested are set out in the following tables:

  1—Unemployment benefit claimants signing quarterly:

  Great Britain (shown to the nearest thousand)

  September

  Number

  1984

  255,000

  1985

  285,000

  1986

  298,000

  1987

  266,000

  2—Unemployment benefit claimants signing quarterly:

  Selected unemployment benefit offices

  Unemployment benefit offices

  September 1984

  September 1985

  September 1986

  September 1987

  Newcastle West 1

  270

  306

  344

  314

  Newcastle West 2

  272

  304

  336

  296

  Newcastle City 1

  292

  307

  326

  305

  Newcastle City 2

  318

  336

  289

  319

  Newcastle City 3

  282

  328

  350

  300

  Newcastle East

  374

  472

  542

  509

  Blaydon

  370

  382

  374

  380

  Newburn

  195

  207

  211

  187

  Hexham

  103

  117

  121

  83

  Disabled People
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what provision will be made to accommodate disabled people who arc not able to cope with the demands of full-time work into the community programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  There are many part-time jobs available on the community programme for those unable to work full-time. Improvements to be introduced next year will focus the programme more closely on the individual training needs of participants, and final details have still to be settled.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from disabled groups regarding the change in eligibility to join the community programme to one year's unemployment for everyone; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  There have been no such changes to eligibility rules as far as these affect disabled people. Disabled people may still join the programme after six months unemployment.

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

  (2) how many people in the Dundee, West constituency 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 the Dundee, West constituency are employed in manufacturing industry on the latest available figures; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979;
  668
  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: The available employment estimates for parliamentary constituencies are from censuses of employment taken in September 1981 and September 1984 and are as follows. A breakdown by industry and by full and part-time status is not available for the earlier year.

  Employees in employment1

  September 1981

  September 1984

  Dundee West constituency2

  All industries and services

  56,500

  54,000

  Males

  full-time

  N/A

  24,500

  part-time

  N/A

  1,400

  all

  27,500

  25.900

  Females

  full-time

  N/A

  15,900

  part-time

  N/A

  12,100

  all

  29,000

  28,100

  Service industries

  N/A

  41,300

  Manufacturing industries

  N/A

  9,800

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

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

  N/A = Not available.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of job vacancies in the Dundee, West constituency for the latest available date.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]I have been asked to reply.

  Vacancy statistics are not available on a parliamentary constituency basis. However, the number of vacancies notified in the Dundee jobcentre area and remaining unfilled on 4 September 1987 was 579 (including 84 community programme vacancies). It is estimated that only around one third of all vacancies nationally are notified to jobcentres. This information is available in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Census
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is planning to hold a census in Northern Ireland in 1991.

  Mr. Tom King
  Yes. The need for information on the population and alternative ways to gather it have been examined, and it has been concluded that in lint with England, Wales and Scotland, a census should be held in Northern Ireland in 1991. The registrar general has arranged for consultations about the census to be held with users of census statistics and submissions to him from any source are welcome. Proposals for the content of the census will be announced next year.

ENERGY

  Retired Miners
  Mr. Cummings
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate how many retired miners there are in (a) the Durham area and (b) the Northumberland area.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This information is not available.

  Coal Reserves (Ponfeigh)
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is British Coal's assessment of the coal reserves in the townhead area of the village of Ponfeigh.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a management matter for the British Coal Corporation. I will ask the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Advertising
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper titles.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Figures for expenditure on press advertising for 1982–83 to 1983–84 were given in the answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North West (Mr. Banks) at column 267 on 8 May 1984, those for 1984–85 were given in the answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North West at column 359 on 6 December 1985 and those for 1985–86 were given in the answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) at column 231 on 19 November 1986. The figure for 1986–87 was £11,830,000 including the British Gas flotation. All figures include production costs.

  Information is not readily available to distinguish between expenditure on advertising in national newspapers and that in the press generally. The sums paid to individual organisations are commercially confidential.

SCOTLAND

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Macdonald
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish an estimate of the numbers of staff that the community charge registration officer will be required to employ in order to complete registration on the community charge register of all adults in the Western Isles;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing the predicted level of the personal community charge in the Western Isles in the financial year 1989–90, calculated on the basis of (a) 100 per cent. collection, (b) 95 per cent. collection, (c) 90 per cent. collection, (d) 85 per cent. collection, (e) 80 per cent. collection, (f) 75 per cent. collection and (g) 70 per cent. collection.

  Mr. Doran
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish an estimate of the numbers of staff that the community charge registration officer will be required to employ in order to complete registration on the community charge register of all adults in the Aberdeen, South constituency;

  (2) if he will publish a tale showing the predicted level of the personal community charge in the Aberdeen, South constituency in the financial year 1989, calculated (i) 100 per cent. collection, (ii) 95 per cent. collection, (iii) 90 per cent. collection, (iv) 85 per cent. collection, (v) 80 per cent. collection, (vi) 75 per cent. collection and (vii) 70 per cent. collection.

  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish the predictions level of the personal
  670
  community charge in the constituency for 1989–90 calculating a basis of (i) 100 per cent. (ii) 80 per cent. collection;

  (2) if he will estimate how many applicants will be required to enforce the poll tax in Cunninghame, North.

  Mr. Lang
  No. These are matters for the local authorities concerned.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the predicted level of the personal community charge in the Monklands, West constituency in the financial year 1989–90 calculated on the basis of (a) 100 per cent. collection, (b) 95 per cent. collection, (c) 90 per cent. collection, (d) 85 per cent. collection, (e) 80 per cent. collection, (f) 75 per cent. collection and (g) 70 per cent. collection.

  Mr. Lang
  No. This is a matter for the local authorities concerned.

  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to make regulations to provide that where a sum is paid by a tenant being within a designated premises within the meaning of section 11 of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, in respect of a community charge (a) that any payment made in excess of the number of days of his residence in that provision is returned to him without delay and (b) that any records made with section 11(14) of the Act is open to investigation by any tenant who has made a payment under section 11.

  Mr. Lang
  No. Section 11(16) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 provides for the reimbursement of sums paid by way of collective community charge contributions where these sums are not due. Records kept under section 11(14) of the Act will be available to the community charges registration officer when he sets the multiplier determining the level of the collective community charge and multipliers will normally be available for public inspection under section 20(2)(a) of the Act.

  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to make any regulations in order to define those persons who come within the scope of section 8(7) and section 8(8) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987.

  Mr. Lang
  The draft Abolition of Domestic Rates (Domestic and Part Residential Subjects) (Scotland) Regulations 1987, which were recently issued for consultation with interested bodies, define certain classes of premises—nursing homes, residential care homes and certain hostels providing an equivalent level of care—which will remain in rating after 1 April 1989. Persons soley or mainly resident in these premises (except resident staff) will be exempt from personal community charge liability under section 8(8)(d) of the 1987 Act. Draft regulations will shortly be brought forward dealing with the criteria to be taken into account by the community charges registration officer in designating premises as liable to the collective community charge: residents in these premises will be exempt from personal community charge liability under section 8(8)(c) of the Act, but will be required to pay to the landlord collective community charge contributions at the same daily level.

  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to make regulations to require that where a

  671
  tenant pays rent that indicates an element in respect of domestic rates that any such rent payable after 1 April 1989 is reduced by such amount as was payable in respect of domestic rates.

  Mr. Lang
  No. Domestic rates will be abolished on 1 April 1989 and rents which now include an element of rates will therefore no longer do so.

  Closures and Redundancies
  Mr. MacDonald
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all factory closures that have resulted in 20 or more redundancies in the Western Isles in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all closures and redundancies in Cunninghame, North constituency since 1978.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all closures that have resulted in 25 or more redundancies in the Monklands, West constituency in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested cannot be provided since details of closures and redundancies confirmed by individual companies are provided to the Manpower Services Commission in confidence.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many current occupants of National Health Service and unit beds in Scotland have a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis; what those figures are as percentages of (a) mental and (b) all hospital beds in Scotland; and how these figures compare with each of the past five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Discharges (including deaths) from Psychiatric Hospital showing—Year and length of stay 1984–1986

  1984

  Percentage of all discharges

  1985

  Percentage of all discharges

  1986

  Percentage of all discharges

  Percentage numbers change 1984–86

  1 week

  361

  10·3

  385

  10·7

  425

  12·8

  +17·7

  1–4 weeks

  1,108

  31·5

  1,058

  29·4

  1,039

  31·2

  -6·2

  4–8 weeks

  777

  22·1

  824

  22·9

  738

  22·2

  -5·0

  8–12 weeks

  294

  8·4

  351

  9·8

  293

  8·8

  -0·3

  12–26 weeks

  386

  11·0

  353

  9·8

  329

  9·9

  -14·8

  26–36 weeks

  97

  2·8

  92

  2·6

  73

  2·2

  -24·7

  36–52 weeks

  57

  1·6

  63

  1·8

  62

  1·9

  +8·8

  52–78 weeks

  73

  2·1

  61

  1·7

  52

  1·6

  -28·8

  78 weeks–2 years

  24

  0·7

  30

  0·8

  21

  0·6

  -12·5

  2–5 years

  93

  2·6

  80

  2·2

  65

  2·0

  -30·1

  5–10 years

  59

  1·7

  50

  1·4

  52

  1·6

  -11·9

  10–15 years

  27

  0·8

  35

  1·0

  36

  1·1

  +33·3

  15–20 years

  22

  0·6

  33

  0·9

  24

  0·7

  +9·1

  20 years plus

  139

  4·0

  184

  5·1

  119

  3·6

  -14·4

  Total

  3,517

  100·0

  3,599

  100·0

  3,328

  100·0

  -5·4

  672

  Patients with main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis shown as percentage of all psychiatric hospital beds and all hospital beds

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Patients

  4,156

  3,913

  3,762

  3,575

  3,526

  Percentage of all psychiatric beds

  17·8

  17·0

  16·5

  15·8

  15·9

  Percentage of all beds

  7·2

  6·8

  6·6

  6·3

  6·3

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the admissions by diagnosis and order of admission including percentage change in numbers and rates per 100,000 population, of patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis in Scotland for the years 1984 to 1986 inclusive.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Admissions to psychiatric hospitals with schizophrenic psychosis

  Number

  Percentage change

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1984–86

  First admission

  400

  384

  374

  -6·5

  Other admission

  2,813

  2,907

  2,756

  -2·0

  Total

  3,213

  3,291

  3,130

  -2·6

  Rate per 100,000 population

  First admission

  7·8

  7·5

  7·3

  -6·4

  Other admission

  54·7

  56·6

  53·8

  -1·6

  Total

  62·4

  64·1

  61·1

  -2·1

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the discharges and deaths by length of stay, including percentage change in numbers and percentage distribution, of patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis in Scotland for the years 1984 to 1986 inclusive.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is in the table.

  High Court of Justiciary
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of people who stood trial in the High Court of Justiciary in Scotland on charges of murder and of those how many where convicted of (a) murder or (b) culpable homicide in the last three years for which such information is available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
  The information available is given in the table:

  Year of result

  Scotland

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Persons called to court in cases initially recorded by the police as murder

  102

  116

  91

  or whom: Number convicted of murder

  36

  25

  28

  Number convicted of culpable homicide

  31

  45

  27

  Firearms Certificates
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the number of occasions on which applicants in Scotland for (a) shotgun certificates and (b) firearm certificates who have had their applications refused appealed against refusal to the sheriff court and the results of any such appeals in the last three years for which such information is available;

  (2) what was the number of occasions on which applicants in Scotland for (a) shotgun certificates and (b) firearms certificates had their applications refused in the last three years for which such information is available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
  The number of applications refused is as follows:

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Firearms certificates

  12

  31

  30

  Shotgun certificates

  88

  52

  85

  Note:The 1986 figures exclude the number of renewal applications refused by Lothian and Borders police in respect of which statistics are not available.

  Information about appeals to the sheriff court against refusals to grant or renew certificates is not available as such appeals are not recorded separately.

  Buses
  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the total bus mileage operated by (a) private companies and (b) companies owned by local authorities and other public sector bodies since the operation of the Transport Act 1985 in each regional council area in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The total bus mileage registered by private operators, public transport companies owned by local authorities and the Scottish Bus Group as at January 1987 are as follows:

  Region

  Private operators

  Public transport companies owned by local authorities

  Scottish Bus Group

  Borders

  0·80

  —

  2·50

  Central

  0·54

  —

  7·15

  674

  Region

  Private operators

  Public transport companies owned by local authorities

  Scottish Bus Group

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1·06

  —

  1·51

  Fife

  1·17

  —

  8·21

  Grampian

  1·59

  5·85

  7·30

  Highland

  2·47

  —

  4·30

  Lothian

  1·06

  17·10

  15·61

  Strathclyde

  13·33

  24·61

  52·95

  Tayside

  2·70

  3·29

  5·12

  Orkney

  1·06

  —

  —

  Shetland

  0·56

  —

  —

  Western Isles

  0·20

  —

  —

  Note: Mileage shown in millions.

  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the total bus mileage operated in each local authority area in Scotland (a) before 7 pm and (b) after 7 pm each day.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This question cannot be answered without disproportionate cost.

  Gaelic
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in favour of Gaelic being included in the curriculum of schools in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth:
  My right hon. and learned Friend. receives representations from time to time about the place of Gaelic in the curriculum.

  Courses and examinations are currently available for both Gaelic learners and native speakers at the ordinary grade and higher grade of the Scottish certificate of education; there is a certificate of sixth year studies in Gaelic. Standard grade courses for learners and native speakers are planned for introduction in 1988 as part of the Government's standard grade development programme.

  Under section 1.5(iii) of the Education Scotland Act 1980, education authorities have a statutory responsibility to provide for the teaching of Gaelic in Gaelic-speaking areas.

  Housing
  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is proposed that Scottish Special Housing Association tenants will suffer any diminution of their existing rights as a result of legislation to follow the consultative document on Scottish housing.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. Suggestions that this might be the case are wholly without foundation. My right hon. and learned Friend has already taken steps to ensure that reassurance is available to tenants who have been caused unnecessary anxiety by those who have irresponsibly sought to mislead them.

  Mr. McTaggart
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to introduce legislation to enforce the improvement of conditions in the private rented housing sector.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government's proposals for the future development of housing policy,
  675
  including provisions relating to the private rented sector, will be set out in full in a White Paper which it is intended to publish shortly.

  YTS
  Mr. McTaggart
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage of employers in Scotland who are paying YTS trainees (a) the basic rate, (b) topping up payments by less than £5 per week and (c) topping up payments by more than £5 per week.

  Mr. Lang
  This information is not collected. I understand, however, that many YTS trainees, particularly those with employed status, receive topping up payments.

  Drunken Offenders (Designated Places)
  Mr. McTaggart
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to increase the number of designated places available for drunken offenders under section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provision of designated places is a matter for voluntary organisations, which may be eligible for grant under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, or local authorities.

  School Boards
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if as a result of the consultation process he has any plans to alter his proposals on school boards.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The consultation period has not yet ended. The purpose of consultation is to elicit views on a proposal and then to consider the responses before reaching a decision. That is what we intend to do.

  Nurses
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish (a) the number of nurses in post at Eastern general hospital and (b) the Lothian health board established figure for nurses at the latest available date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  At 31 March 1987 the number of nurses in post and the nursing establishment at the Eastern general hospital was 292·4 and 299·2 (whole-time equivalents) respectively.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing, for each year since 1979, (a) the number of National Health Service in-patient beds in Lothian and in Scotland, respectively, and (b) the number of National Health Service staff in terms of full-time equivalents in Lothian and Scotland. respectively.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth:
  The information is as follows:

  Average available staffed beds in NHS hospitals at 30 September

  NHS staff3, 4 whole time equivalent at 30 September

  Lothian

  Scotland

  Lothian

  Scotland

  1979

  8,374

  58,501

  17,543·0

  115,736·6

  1980

  8,389

  58,208

  17,940·5

  118,651·7

  1981

  8,397

  58,028

  18,488·9

  122,207·6

  1982

  8,452

  57,440

  19,075·6

  123,753·9

  676

  Average available staffed beds in NHS hospitals at 30 September

  NHS staff3, 4 whole time equivalent at 30 September

  Lothian

  Scotland

  Lothian

  Scotland

  1983

  8,522

  57,294

  19,237·2

  124,491·3

  1984

  8,451

  57,216

  18,843·0

  123,496·8

  1985

  8,279

  56,334

  18,722·3

  123,894·5

  1986

  27,820

  255,360

  18,888·6

  123,732·0

  19871

  28,047

  2 55,349

  18,882·8

  123,673·5

  1 At 31 March.

  2 Provisional.

  3 Excludes General Practitioners.

  4 The conditioned hours for nurses changed from 40 in 1979 to 37·5 thereafter.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the number of people on hospital waiting lists in the Lothian region health board area for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested, which relates to 30 September, follows:

  Year

  Number

  1979

  13,007

  1980

  10,834

  1981

  9,715

  1982

  16,953

  1983

  14,717

  1984

  13,845

  1985

  13,381

  11986

  14,189

  1 Provisional.

  Lothian Health Board
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the revenue expenditure allocated to Lothian health board for each year since 1979, expressed in cash terms and in real terms at 1986–87 prices.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Lothian health board's revenue expenditure allocation for hospital and community health services in each of these years was as follows:

  £ thousands

  Cash

  At 1986–87 prices

  1978–79

  98,543

  191,732

  1979–80

  119,359

  198,701

  1980–81

  154,874

  217,465

  1981–82

  172,268

  220,302

  1982–83

  186,197

  222,125

  1983–84

  194,570

  221,907

  1984–85

  207,238

  226,390

  1985–86

  217,546

  224,114

  1986–87

  235,056

  235,056

  Health Boards
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the actual total populations in each health board area, broken down by age and sex, and percentage share of revenue allocations for each health board, as calculated under the SHARE scheme for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on health boards' population, analysed by age and sex, is contained in
  677
  "Scottish Health Statistics", which is produced annually by the information and statistics division of the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service. Copies are held in the Library.

  Health Boards

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Argyll and Clyde

  7·28

  7·27

  7·29

  7·33

  7·33

  7·12

  7·28

  7·27

  7·20

  Ayrshire and Arran

  4·43

  4·54

  4·67

  4·87

  4·97

  5·94

  5·21

  5·29

  5·34

  Borders

  1·38

  1·39

  1·41

  1·45

  1·46

  1·56

  1·49

  1·52

  1·56

  Dumfries and Falloway

  2·53

  2·56

  2·56

  2·58

  2·59

  2·69

  2·61

  2·59

  2·60

  Fife

  4·51

  4·59

  4·65

  4·75

  4·79

  5·16

  4·88

  4·95

  5·01

  Forth Valley

  4·52

  4·59

  4·62

  4·69

  4·71

  4·85

  4·75

  4·74

  4·78

  Grampian

  8·56

  8·63

  8·66

  8·78

  8·82

  9·23

  8·94

  9·05

  9·19

  Greater Glasgow

  27·76

  27·34

  27·28

  26·80

  26·66

  25·27

  26·31

  26·07

  25·82

  Highland

  3·73

  3·76

  3·73

  3·74

  3·74

  3·78

  3·75

  3·74

  3·79

  Lanarkshire

  7·93

  8·00

  8·01

  8·14

  8·19

  8·59

  8·30

  8·27

  8·30

  Lothian

  16·29

  16·28

  16·23

  16·07

  16·03

  15·71

  15·94

  15·98

  15·93

  Orkney

  0·24

  0·25

  0·26

  0·26

  0·26

  0·30

  0·27

  0·28

  0·28

  Shetland

  0·30

  0·31

  0·32

  0·32

  0·33

  0·38

  0·34

  0·34

  0·33

  Tayside

  10·09

  10·04

  9·84

  9·73

  9·62

  8·82

  9·42

  9·39

  9·35

  Western Isles

  0·45

  0·45

  0·47

  0·49

  0·50

  0·60

  0·51

  0·52

  0·52

  100·00

  100·00

  100·00

  100·00

  100·00

  100·00

  100·00

  100·00

  100·00

  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the numbers of cross-boundary in-patients for each health board since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The material requested is lengthy. I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the members of each health board, stating the date of their original appointment, the date of their present appointment, and when their current term of office expires.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]:The information requested is as follows:

  Argyll and Clyde Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mrs. E. M. Cockburn, OBE

  1 April 81

  1 April 85

  Dr. R. Erskine

  1 April 77

  1 April 85

  Mrs. M. A. Foggie

  1 April 85

  1 April 85

  Mr. J. H. Gillougley

  1 April 81

  1 April 85

  Dr. Anne M. Kelly

  1 April 85

  1 April 85

  Mrs. J. C. Le Roux

  1 April 81

  1 April 85

  Dr. J. Moffat

  1 April 81

  1 April 85

  Mr. E. T. F. Spence, MBE

  1 April 83

  1 April 85

  Rev. J. Young

  1 April 85

  1 April 85

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mr. John D. Barnett

  1 April 87

  1 April 87

  Mr. A. H. Brabender

  1 April 83

  1 April 87

  Mr. J. Campbell

  1 April 83

  1 April 87

  Mr. L. Capaldi

  12 January 78

  1 April 87

  Mr. J. Cattanch

  25 January 78

  1 April 87

  Mr. George M. Deuchars

  1 April 87

  1 April 87

  Dr. S. G. McAlpine

  1 April 83

  1 April 87

  Mrs. Leila C. McKichan

  1 April 87

  1 April 87

  Mr. George McMillan

  1 April 87

  1 April 87

  Mr. R. R. Reid

  1 April 83

  1 April 87

  Mrs. Elspeth W. Riddell

  1 April 87

  1 April 87

  678
  Each health board's share of the total provision for revenue expenditure on hospital and community health services, in each year since 1979–80, is shown in the table.

  Ayrshire and Arran Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mr. J. Cahill

  1 April 1977

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. A. M. Campbell

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. T. Dickie, JP

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. J. W. G. Donaldson

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. M. W. Gallie

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Dr. J. J. Morrow

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. I. B. Valentine

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. A. B. Wilson

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Dr. W. M. Wilson

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mr. K. Blair

  6 May 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. D. Brown

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. R. Campbell, JP

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. A. Dunbar

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Mr. P. Hunter

  1 April 1975

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. N. M. Lambie

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Mr. B. A. Murphy

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Miss J. Ross

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. T. Sinclair

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. D. Watts-Russell

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Dr. J. P. Wiltshire

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Borders Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Dr. W. B. Aitken

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. P. S. Elliot

  1 April 1975

  1 April 1985

  Mr. R. W. Jack

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. A. C. Purves, MBE

  13 April 1973

  1 April 1985

  Lady F. E. Sanderson

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. R. A. Stewart

  13 April 1973

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mr. A. P. Dorward

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. M. Forster

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Dr. I. G. Houston

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. M. Millican

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  679

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Mrs. F. M. Nisbet

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. W. Scott, CBE

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. W. M. S. Thorn

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A. S. Watt

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Dumfries and Galloway Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mr. W. D. Beck

  1 April 1977

  1 April 1985

  Mr. I. S. F. Brown

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. M. D. Dick-Smith

  15 April 1986

  15 April 1986

  Miss A. C. Kelly

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. A. R. Murdoch

  16 January 1986

  16 January 1986

  Mr. M. J. Pumphrey

  15 April 1986

  15 April 1986

  Dr. T. S. R. Train

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. G. Willacy

  1 April 1977

  1 April 1985

  Mr. W. I, Wilson

  18 May 1973

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mrs. M. H. Bonn

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. A. U. G. Harper

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. S. Ken

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. H. S. McFadzean

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. W. Seright

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. W. Service

  18 December 1973

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. J. D. Tulloch

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Dr. A. P. D. Wilkinson

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Fife Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mr. J. I. M. Burns

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. J. S. Edmiston

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. H. C. Forwell

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Dr. J. B. Gallacher

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Dr. A. A. H. Lawson

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. G. H. D. Mackie, OBE

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. J. Marshall

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Miss M. M. Nelson

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. G. Reid

  30 June 1978

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mrs. S. L. Aitken

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. W. Clarke

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. C. Haddow

  3 May 1973

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. H. Henderson

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Dr. C. G. Ingram

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Dr. A. A. Marr

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. I. A. McCrone

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. McMurdo

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. R. P. Strugnell

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. C. Whitlock

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. E. A. Young

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Forth Valley Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mr. J. Cross

  1 April 1977

  1 April 1985

  Mr. A. B. Cruikshank

  1 April 1977

  1 April 1985

  Mr. T. Downs

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Dr. L. Dunbar

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. J. Isbister

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Professor P. McEwen

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. W. J. A. Macfarlane

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. A. D. McNeill

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. J. S. Young

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  680

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mr. J. F. C. Armstrong

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. F. J. Bell

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. E. T. M. Bell-Scott

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. M. R. Ferguson

  26 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. H. M. Garland

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. K. Harding

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. E. D. Kennedy

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. W. D. M. Leithead

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. I. M. Mullen

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Grampian Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mr. P. S. Cook

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Captain C. A Farquharson

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Dr. J. G. Henderson

  1 April 1977

  1 April 1985

  Mrs C. Houldsworth

  12 August 1982

  1 April 1985

  Professor M. C. Meston

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. G. S. Peterkin, JP

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1985

  Mr. J. Ramage

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Miss E. A. Sheldon, MBE

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. V. A. Stevenson

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Dr. A. J. Taylor

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Professor A. G. M. Campbell

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. H. D. Cochran

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. D. Davidson

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Mr. N. Donald

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. R. Kemp

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. Muirson

  1 April 1975

  1 April 1987

  Dr. E. A. Smith, CBE

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. Sorrie

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Professor E. A. Tait

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. J. G. A. Wisley, JP

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Greater Glasgow Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Lady Goold

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. J. Jackson

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. A. Jarvis

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Professor A. C. Kennedy

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Rev. J. T. Lang

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Dr. J. MacKay

  7 May 1973

  1 April 1985

  Mr. B. A. Maan

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. L. Turpie

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. C. Williams

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mr. F. S. Berkley

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. J. E. Cameron, JP

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Miss E. Donnachie

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Professor A. T. Florence

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A. D. Garland

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. A. Gilchrist

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. P. W. Hoist

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A. J. Mack

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. M. McGarry

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Professor R. M. Mackie

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. A. Peel

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Highland Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mrs. H. E. Betts-Brown

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  681

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Mr. R. J. B. Bryson MBE

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Dr. R. S. C. Ferguson

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Miss M. T. Hadden

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Rt. Hon. Lord G. J.

  Macdonald of Sleat

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. A. I. MacDonald

  7 May 1986

  7 May 1986

  Mr. B. A. Merchant

  22 June 1981

  1 April 1985

  Dr. W. D. Murray

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. S. M. C. South

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mr. G. Bruce

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. M. Cumming

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. C. B. Fraser

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Dr. C. A. S. Galloway

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. W. G. Johnston

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. V. Maclver

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A. K. Robertson

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. C. Thomson

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. R. M. Tulloch

  26 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Lanarkshire Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Dr. G. A. Bell

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  16 January

  16 January

  Mr. T. M. Bennet

  1986

  1986

  16 January

  16 January

  Mr. A. Braidwood

  1986

  1986

  Mrs. N. Cochrane

  1 April 1985 18 December

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. A. S. Hinshalwood

  1973

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. J. H. Holmes

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. D. C. McGirr

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. A. E McIlwain, CBE

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. G. McIntosh

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Dr. A. Mathewson

  1 April 1977

  1 April 1985

  Mr. J. Thomson

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Miss J. E Jarvie

  1 April 1987 18 December

  1 April 1987

  Mr. R. J. Logan

  1973

  1 April 1987

  Mr. D. McClymont

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Dr. P. K. Mukherjee

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. W. J. O'Brien, JP

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. H. Porter, OBE

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. T. S. L. Reid

  26 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. P. Robinson

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Miss J. Rutherford

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. W. Traynor

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Lothian Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mrs. P. Bell

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. I. Capperauld

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. A. T. Clark, MBE, MVO

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. W. E. Donaldson

  19 April 1973

  1 April 1985

  Sir J. D. Fraser

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. W. B. Herald

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Dr. A. R. Milne

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. J. F. Wilson

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Professor J. Williamson

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mrs. G. Barton

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Dr. J. W. Baynham

  1 May 1987

  1 May 1987

  Miss J. A. Brown

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. E. Burnett

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  682

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Mr. J. Campbell

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A. B. Dunlop

  26 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. J. Ferguson

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. D. R. Findlay

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Dr. Jessie Gray

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Dr. R. I. Kennedy

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. M. MacNeill, CBE

  1 April 1983 2 November

  1 April 1987

  Mr. G. S. Millar

  1984

  1 April 1987

  Orkney Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mr. B. M. Clark

  30 October 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. F. J. Groundwater

  1 April 1977

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. J. Marwick

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. J. W. R. Moor, MBE

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. M. Porteous

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Dr. J. S. Walker

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mr. A. H. Bevan

  18 December 1973

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A. Bullen

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. M. J. B. Crichton

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. Flett

  18 December 1973

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. M. F. Groat

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. G. M. Leslie

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. Leslie

  24 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. E. M. Street

  18 June 1980

  1 April 1987

  Shetland Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mr. A. G. Coutts

  16 April 1986

  1 April 1985

  Dr. M. D. Hunter

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. R. Leask

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1985

  Mr. D. M. Sinclair

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Captain G. Walterson

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. M. Williamson

  12 February 1982

  1 April 1985

  Mr. W. A. Smith, BEM

  18 April 1973

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Mr. R. R. Bentley

  18 December 1973

  1 April 1987

  Mr. C. A. Cumming

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A. G. Flaws

  26 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A. H. George

  26 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. M. E. Irving

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. A. T. Leslie

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A. J. R. Tait

  6 May 1987

  1 April 1987

  Tayside Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mr. E. W. Cameron, OBE

  12 August 1982

  1 April 1985

  Mr. J. Campbell-Smith

  1 April 1977

  1 April 1985

  Mr. J. W. Duncan, MBE

  8 August 1974

  1 April 1985

  Mrs. S. D. R. Kydd

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1985

  Dr. A. G. R. Law

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. E. C. Lowson, MBE

  1 April 1977

  1 April 1985

  Professor D. G. McDevitt

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Miss S. D. Moncur

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. I. W. Stevenson

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Miss A. Allan

  31 March 1987

  1 April 1987

  Dr. P. G. Aungle

  27 July 1984

  1 April 1987

  Professor J. S. Beck

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. R. J.T. Bolton

  26 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  683

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Rev. K. Campbell

  1 June 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. G. S. Cargill

  31 March 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. S. Fair

  27 July 1984

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A. H. Lynch

  31 March 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. C. MacFarlane, OBE

  1 April 1983

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. D. M. Munro

  1 June 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. W. Stewart

  27 July 1984

  1 April 1987

  Western Isles Health Board

  Date of first appointment

  Date of present appointment

  Appointed to 31 March 1989

  Mr. D. A. Maclean

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. K. Maclennan

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Mr. J. Mclntyre

  12 February 1982

  1 April 1985

  Mr. M. Mcleod

  1 April 1981

  1 April 1985

  Mr. A. D. Millar

  16 January 1986

  1 April 1985

  Mr. I. D. Sutherland

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1985

  Appointed to 31 March 1991

  Dr. N. W. Beresford

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. J. H. Downie

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A Matheson

  19 April 1973

  1 April 1987

  Rev. M. A. McLeod

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. C. R. Macaskill

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mr. A. A. McDonald

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Mrs. G. N. MacKillop

  1 April 1987

  1 April 1987

  Hospital Waiting Lists (Clydesdale)
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the complaints affecting patients on the Clydesdale waiting lists of 1984, 1985 and 1986.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: Information relating to the conditions from which patients on hospital in-patient waiting lists are suffering is not available centrally on a constituency basis. No complaints about waiting lists have been received by the Secretary of State from patients in Clydesdale.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps substantially to reduce waiting lists in Clydesdale.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: I regard reduction of the length of time patients have to wait for treatment as one of the most urgent tasks facing the Health Service and I am looking urgently at the steps that can be taken to improve the situation. Health boards are already making considerable efforts to achieve reductions; the recommendations made in the recent report on the management of orthopaedic services in Scotland will assist them with their objective.

  Radioactive Fallout
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to deploy portable detectors or mobile equipment to monitor radioactive fallout in Argyll and Bute; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the event of a nuclear accident overseas affecting the United Kingdom, or an accident at a United Kingdom nuclear installation with off-site effects requiring the implementation of the monitoring arrangements proposed under the national response plan, the monitoring of the Argyll and Bute area, so far as this might be necessary, would be undertaken by 684
  monitoring teams from such sites as the Hunterston nuclear power station or the Ministry of Defence installation at Faslane.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will identify the nearest monitoring stations for radioactive fallout to Argyll and Bute; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The nearest sites currently capable of monitoring radioactive fallout are situated at Hunterston and Faslane. Under the national response plan for nuclear incidents overseas which is currently being developed, it is proposed to have a chain of fixed monitoring stations around the United Kingdom, in addition to the existing nuclear installations, and sites at Machrihanish and Oban are being considered.

  Cash Limits
  Sir Hector Monro
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to make any further changes to the cash limits for 1987–88 within his responsibility.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I shall be making the following changes. As announced on 23 July 1987, (Official Report columns 434–438) the cash limit for class XVI, vote 3: regional and general industrial support, Scotland was increased by £853,000; from £124·787 million to £125·640 million, to reflect the carry forward of capital underspends allowed under the end year flexibility scheme. This cash limit will be further increased, by £1·389 million, to £127·029 million. The additional expenditure is mainly for land reclamation projects. I shall also be seeking parliamentary approval for a cash limit of £370,000 for a new vote, class XVI, vote 26: Privatisation of the electricity supply industry, Scotland. This makes provision for preliminary expenses, largely advisers' fees.

  The limit for the SO/LA2 cash block—which covers mainly housing capital expenditure by public sector agencies in Scotland—is at present £581·166 million. The limit is to be decreased by £62,000 and is the net effect of two changes. The first is an increase in provision of £308,000 as a result of some district councils budgeting below the limit for rate fund contributions to their housing revenue accounts, thereby releasing additional resources for capital expenditure on housing. The second is a reduction of £370,000 from net new towns expenditure, which, subject to parliamentary approval of a Supplementary Estimate for class XVI, 9—New Towns, Scotland—will be used to offset increased requirements for hotsing deficit and accumulated deficit grants on that vote.

  Provision remains within the totals shown in Cm. 56 and none of these changes will increase the planned total of public expenditure.

  Parliamentary approval for the changes in voted expenditure will be sought through Supplementary Estimates.

  Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cervical cancer smear tests have been carried out in each of the past five years by each health board; how many patients were recalled; and how many tests proved positive.
  685
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: The available information is set out in the table. The

  Number of Smears

  Number of Smears Re-examined

  Number of Positive Results

  Health Board Examining Laboratory

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  19821

  19831

  19841

  19851

  19861

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Argyll and Clyde

  23,829

  27,151

  28,946

  35,195

  33,554

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  42

  53

  265

  79

  92

  Ayrshire and Arran

  18,497

  21,218

  22,827

  29,219

  30,098

  3,795

  4,254

  4,190

  22,947

  7,909

  72

  71

  39

  69

  84

  Borders

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  11,710

  12,235

  12,164

  13,661

  14,331

  9,488

  9,862

  9,711

  11,056

  11,823

  20

  22

  13

  16

  18

  Fife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Forth Valley

  12,784

  15,074

  15,925

  19,509

  19,353

  5,864

  7,066

  7,853

  10,108

  10,499

  46

  38

  45

  60

  103

  Greater Glasgow

  49,752

  54,276

  51,916

  59,990

  56,068

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  2222

  2199

  2213

  2393

  2264

  Grampian

  32.726

  35,164

  37,783

  43,539

  45,077

  22,834

  24,681

  25,923

  30,915

  33,380

  404

  428

  578

  690

  677

  Highland

  17,094

  19,174

  18,671

  21,577

  21,016

  12,264

  13,574

  13,009

  15,604

  15,001

  3

  2

  6

  4

  8

  Lanarkshire

  25,949

  28,423

  27,274

  34,250

  33,966

  n/a

  n,a

  18,273

  n/a

  n/a

  261

  306

  217

  320

  348

  Lothian

  64,408

  70,713

  74,668

  63,272

  72,122

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  289

  250

  287

  307

  462

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  28,356

  31,616

  32,310

  36,535

  36,041

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  23,387

  260

  325

  199

  164

  274

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Notes: n/a= Not available.

  1982

  1 Out of 19 laboratories in Scotland 11 did not provide this information.

  2 Estimated.

  1983

  1 Out of 17 laboratories in Scotland 10 did not provide this information.

  2 Estimated.

  1984

  1 Out of 18 laboratories in Scotland 9 did not provide this information.

  2 Estimated.

  1985

  1 Out of 18 laboratories in Scotland 10 did not provide this information.

  2 Estimated.

  1986

  1 Out of 18 laboratories in Scotland 9 did not provide this information.

  2 Estimated.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total number of job vacancies in (a) Dundee, East and (b) Dundee travel-to-work-area, for the latest available date.

  Mr. Lang
  [pursuant to the reply, 26 October 1987, c33.]: I have been asked to reply.

  Vacancy statistics are not available on a parliamentary constituency or travel-to-work area basis. However, the number of vacancies notified in the Dundee jobcentre area and remaining unfilled on 4 September 1987 was 579 (including 84) community programme vacancies). It is estimated that only around one third of all vacancies nationally are notified to jobcentres.

  This information is available in the Library.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Raison
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to how many individuals the Inland Revenue sends tax returns forms to their home addresses.

  Mr. Lawson
  Between 7 million and 8 million.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Holt
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual income from taxation on tobacco and tobacco product to the Exchequer in each of the past eight years.

  Mr. Brooke
  Receipts from the taxation of all tobacco products were as follows (figures in £ million):
  686
  figures relate to the health board in which the examining laboratories are located, which is not necessarily the health board in which the cervical smears were taken.

  Excise

  VAT1

  Total tax

  1979–80

  2,583·7

  450

  3,033·7

  1980–81

  2,820·6

  630

  3,450·6

  1981–82

  3,420·4

  720

  4,140·4

  1982–83

  3,445·8

  770

  4,215·8

  1983–84

  3,805·5

  810

  4,615·5

  1984–85

  4,140·0

  860

  5,000·0

  1985–86

  4,459·4

  910

  5,369·4

  1986–87

  4,767·6

  970

  5,737·6

  1Estimated VAT receipts based on consumers' expenditure data.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. Redwood
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the net revenue cost to the Exchequer if both husband and wife were to enjoy mortgage interest relief on £30,000 of mortgage.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The direct revenue cost in a full year, at 1987–88 levels, of allowing both a husband and wife to claim relief for mortgage interest paid on a loan of upt to £30,000 each is estimated to be about £350 million. The cost of the increase in the mortgage interest relief ceiling for married couples at 1988–89 levels would probably be significantly higher than the estimate above, both because the number of new loans at £30,000 has been increasing recently and because an increase in the ceiling for married couples might stimulate additional borrowing.

  Mr. Redwood
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what extra revenue would result to the Exchequer if mortgage interest relief were limited to the standard rate of tax only.

  Mr. Lamont
  The direct revenue yield in a full year, at 1987–88 levels, from restricting relief to the basic rate is estimated at £340 million. This makes no allowance for the effect of any consequential changes to the distribution of outstanding mortgages.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Key
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is proposing any change to the Central Office of Information's cash limit for 1987–88.

  Mr. Brooke
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class XIX, vote 1, will be increased by £29,905,000 from £111,127,000 to £141,032,000. The increase will be offset by reimbursements by the clients of the Central Office of Information and will not therefore add to the planning total of public expenditure.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes are proposed in the cash limit and the running cost limit for the Inland Revenue for 1987–88.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit class XIX, vote 7, will be increased by £28,914,000 from £1,013,831,000 to £1,042,745,000 and the running cost limit for the Inland Revenue will be increased by £33,000,000 from £977,736,000 to £1,010,736,000. The changes reflect an increased provision for dealing with work loads in the taxes and collection networks, a revised estimate of amounts received for the cost of collecting national insurance contributions and the amount agreed for the Department under the end-year capital flexibility scheme. The net increase will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planning total of public expenditure.

  Mr. Latham
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there will be any changes to the Treasury's running costs limit for 1987–88.

  Mr. Lawson
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Treasury's running costs limit for 1987–88 will be increased by £803,000 from £65,561,000 to £66,364,000. This increase will be offset by a corresponding decrease on the running costs limit for the central management of the Civil Service etc—Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (Cabinet Office) vote (class XX, vote 1) and results from the changes in the distribution of functions between the office of the Minister of the Civil Service and the Treasury announced by the Prime Minister on 7 August 1987.

  BP Share Offer
  Mr. Ward
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Government's sale of shares in British Petroleum.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The offers for sale of 2,194 million shares in BP were concluded on 30 October 1987 and provide for total proceeds of £7,017 million. Of this total, proceeds of some £2,552 million are being paid immediately, with the balance spread equally over two instalments in August 1988 and April 1989. £1,513 million has been paid to BP in respect of nearly 459 million new shares which it had issued for subscription by the Treasury.

  There were 270,234 applications for nearly 71 million shares at the fixed offer price of 330p each. These applications included 18,008 from existing BP
  688
  shareholders with entitlements to purchase in the offer and 886 from BP employees. All valid applications have been accepted in full.

  A further 2,055 million shares were taken up, at the underwritten price of 330p, by underwriters and sub-underwriters in the following markets (share numbers to the nearest million):

  Million shares

  United Kingdom

  1,179

  United States of America

  506

  Japan

  160

  Canada

  105

  Europe

  105

  The remaining 68 million shares were reserved by the Treasury to meet entitlements to share bonuses and were not underwritten. Some of these shares will be reserved for the approximately 250,000 applicants who are eligible to receive free shares (one for every 10 they hold continuously until 31 October 1990, subject to a maximum of 150 bonus shares). The Government will sell the remaining shares in due course and the proceeds will be additional to those noted above.

  The costs of the sale to the Government will be announced as soon as the full details have been worked out.

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer also announced on 29 October, at column 540, arrangements, to be operated by the Bank of England, to ensure that there are orderly aftermarkets in BP shares.

  Further details of the bank offer will be announced this week.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his decision to stabilise the market by instructing the Bank of England to purchase BP shares, he intends to extend such arrangements to any other sizeable rights issues to give other companies the same benefits.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  No.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the contract or any other agreement with Rothschilds for the flotation of BP allows Rothschilds the right unilaterally to withdraw from the contract or suspend the flotation.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 30 October 1987]: No.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Sackville
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what stamp duty relief will be available to licensed dealers when the relief provided by section 42 of the Finance Act 1920 comes to an end.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  It is proposed that the Treasury should make regulations extending the stamp duty and reserve tax exemptions for market makers provided by sections 81 and 89(1) of the Finance Act 1986 to authorised dealers carrying out transactions in securities which cannot be dealt in on a recognised investment exchange. A draft of the proposed regulations is being placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Burns
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in a full financial year of abolishing stamp duty on the purchase of houses.
  689
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  About £670 million, at forecast 1987–88 levels, for residential property of all kinds.

  Phicom plc
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the light of the reasons given for instructing the Bank of England to repurchase BP shares, he will instruct the Bank of England to make a similar arrangement to purchase shares in Phicom plc at a discount to the placing price comparable with that allowed on BP.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  No.

  EC (Finance)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the new proposals from the European Economic Community Commission about the financing of the Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Government's position remains as set out in the statement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the House on 1 July, at columns 493–94, following the last European Council: there must be agreement on effective and binding control of Community spending, particularly agricultural spending, before the question of additional resources can be addressed.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the amount which the European Economic Community will actually spend in the 12 months of 1987 in excess of its budget, disregarding the savings made by the Community in demanding early payment of contributions and delaying payments due to member states.

  Mr. Brooke
  The 1987 Community budget allows expenditure of up to 36,168 mecu. The Commission's limited discretion to seek overdraft facilities for cash flow reasons must be unwound during the budgetary year, so total spending cannot exceed this figure.

  On the question of the budgetary savings agreed in 1987, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend for Moorlands (Mr. Knox) on 3 July, at columns 178–79.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Schizophrenic Psychosis
  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research projects his Department has landed to test the effectiveness of community care for people suffering from schizophrenic psychosis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Three research projects directly commissioned by the Department and specifically relevant to the examination of the effectiveness of community care for schizophrenia sufferers are currently in progress:

  1 Early brief treatment versus sustained neuroleptic treatment in the maintenance phase of schizophrenic illness (Charing Cross hospital).

  2 Assessment of the needs of chronic schizophrenics living in the Harrow health district (clinical research centre, Northwick Park hospital).

  3 The management of schizophrenia in the community (Institute of Psychiatry, London).

  690
  In addition, a number of research projects directly commissioned by the Department in the mental illness field are relevant to the treatment of schizophrenia in the community, as well as to other diagnostic groups. The annual DHSS handbook of research and development, which is in the Library, gives details of all the Department's directly commissioned research.

  AIDS
  Mr. Chris Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the latest progress of the Government's efforts to co-ordinate their response to the AIDS crisis and the precise measures taken to this end.

  Mr. Newton
  We have a four-part strategy for dealing with AIDS which comprises:

  Public health measures, such as screening blood donations and a system of monitoring the spread of AIDS and HIV;

  Public education, so that people can learn how to avoid HIV infection;

  Research into vaccines against HIV infection and anti-viral therapies for those who are infected; and

  Development of services for those who are infected with HIV or who have AIDS itself.

  As my right hon. Friend made clear when he addressed the United Nations General Assembly on 20 October, we are also laying stress on the need for international co-operation in this field.

  Specific measures taken or in prospect include:

  On 2 September we launched a campaign focusing on the drug-related risks of HIV infection.

  New educational work will be carried forward by the Health Education Authority and an initial allocation of £4·1 million has been made to meet the cost of this in the current financial year.

  The United Kingdom Government and the World Health Organisation are jointly organising the world summit of Ministers of Health on programmes for AIDS prevention, to be held in London in January 1988.

  On 23 October in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mrs. Shephard) at column 906 I announced an extra allocation of £7·8 million as a further contribution this year to the three health regions facing special additional pressures from AIDS and for surveillance work carried out by the public health laboratory services. This brings total extra allocations arising from AIDS this year to £16·4 million.

  The Social Services Committee made detailed recommendations in its report on problems associated with AIDS, and we expect to respond by Christmas.

  Retirement Pension
  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what specific consideration is given to heating costs when calculating the level of the retirement pension; and how this is calculated.

  Mr. Scott
  Fuel prices are included in the retail price index which is used as a basis for the uprating of pensions. Changes in heating costs are therefore taken into account automatically when pensions are increased to reflect the overall rise in the cost of living. Help with heating costs is given to supplementary pensioner householders throughout the year and extra payments may also be made during periods of exceptionally cold weather. This help will continue to be available following the social security reforms next April.

  Cystic Fibrosis
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people in total and in each health authority are currently known to suffer from cystic fibrosis;

  (2) how many of the total number of people in England and Wales who currently suffer from cystic fibrosis are over the age of 16 years; and what this figure is as a percentage of sufferers;

  (3) what information he has about the recent survey conducted by the British Paediatric Association concerning the percentage of adult cystic fibrosis sufferers who also suffer from diabetes;

  (4) how many adult cystic fibrosis sufferers are currently entitled to free prescriptions because they also have the secondary condition of diabetes; and how many adult cystic fibrosis sufferers this leaves who are liable to pay prescription charges for their medication;

  (5) what information he has concerning the finding of the recent survey by the Association of Cystic Fibrosis Adults as to the numbers of adult cystic fibrosis sufferers who are in employment and the numbers unemployed who are exempt from prescription charges;

  (6) if he will estimate the total number of cystic fibrosis patients who are currently paying prescription charges.

  (7) what information he has concerning the average prescription charge paid annually by adult cystic fibrosis sufferers who are liable for such charges;

  (8) if he will estimate the total annual revenue generated by prescription charges paid by cystic fibrosis sufferers;

  (9) what action he proposes to take in the light of the conclusion of Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust about the number of cystic fibrosis sufferers who currently pay prescription charges and about the total revenue generated;

  (10) if he has any plans to exempt cystic fibrosis sufferers from prescription charges.

  Mr. Newton
  Only a limited amount of information is available and none is collected centrally. From information on the number of children identified as having cystic fibrosis, together with data on survival it can be estimated that there are about 5,600 people with cystic fibrosis in the United Kingdom of whom about 2,400 (40 per cent.) are over 16. In a study of 316 cystic fibrosis patients seen at the Brompton hospital between 1965 and 1983, 36 (11.5 per cent.) developed diabetes mellitus, 13 of whom were insulin-dependent and would therefore be exempt from prescription charges. Patients seen at the Brompton hospital are not necessarily representative of the cystic fibrosis population as a whole, but the figures do provide some indication of the prevalence of diabetes among cystic fibrosis sufferers.

  Housing Benefit: tapers and tax rates since 1982

  November 1982

  April 1983

  April 1984

  November 1984

  November 1985

  April 1987

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Rent taper

  17

  21

  26

  29

  29

  33

  Rates taper

  6

  7

  9

  9

  13

  13

  MTR for a non-taxpayer

  23

  28

  35

  38

  42

  46

  MTR for a taxpayer

  53

  58

  65

  68

  72

  73

  Notes:

  1. The tax rate prevailing at the time has been used. No account has been taken of national insurance contributions or other benefits.
  692
  This information is not sufficient to estimate the numbers of people suffering from cystic fibrosis who have to pay prescription charges, or the revenue generated by charges paid by them, though I understand that the Association of Cystic Fibrosis Adults (UK) believes about 800 cystic fibrosis adults are liable to pay prescription charges at an estimated total annual cost of £51,000.

  Although the cost of extending the present arrangements for exemption from prescription charges to include cystic fibrosis patients would be small, it would be unfair to single out one group from others who seek an extension of exemption on medical grounds. We therefore have no plans to change the existing arrangements.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the practice with regard to cystic fibrosis patients receiving replacement therapy due to a deficiency state; and if such treatment qualifies for exemption from prescription charges.

  Mrs. Currie
  Patients who suffer from cystic fibrosis are not automatically exempt from prescription charges. They may, however, qualify for exemption by reason of their age, their financial circumstances or on other medical grounds.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Cousins
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the changes in housing benefit taper rates since the introduction of housing benefit in 1983, together with the taper rates proposed for April 1988; and if he can estimate the rate of withdrawal of benefit for each additional £1 of income for (a) a non-taxpayer and (b) a taxpayer at the standard rate.

  Mr. Portillo
  The table shows the tapers above the needs allowance since November 1982 when housing benefit was first introduced on a partial start basis, together with the marginal tax rate (MTR) for a non-taxpayer and someone paying standard rate income tax only, assuming they are getting help with both rent and rates. There have been no adjustments to the tapers below the needs allowance since the introduction of housing benefit.

  The proposed tapers of 65 per cent. (for rents) and 20 per cent. (for rates) under the reformed scheme next April cannot be directly compared with the current ones because they will operate net rather than gross income. For someone paying standard rate income tax only, the proposed tapers are equivalent to approximately 47 per cent. (for rents) and 15 per cent. (for rates) on gross income, giving a total MTR of approximately 89 per cent.; for a non-taxpayer the total MTR would be 85 per cent.

  Diet Additions
  Mr. Cousins
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the figures for basic food costs for children, as expressed in the deductions from diet addition claims in clause 4736 of the 'S' manual; and if he will express those deductions for children aged under 11 years, 11 to 15 years, and 16 to 17 years as a percentage of the deductions for adults.

  Mr. Scott
  The figure for an adult in paragraph 4736 of the S Manual (£11·30) represents the average expenditure on food as originally derived from certain data in the 1979 family expenditure survey and subsequently uprated in line with the food element of the retail price index. The figures for children represent approximately 30 per cent. of the supplementary benefit scale rate. The figures were last uprated in November 1985. The figures are as follows:

  Age of child

  S 4736 figure £

  As percentage of adult figure (£11·30)

  Under 11

  3·00

  26·5

  11–15

  4·40

  38·9

  16–17

  5·50

  48·7

  Mr. Cousins
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many child dependants of supplementary benefit claimants were claiming diet additions in November 1985, November 1986, and September 1987; and if he will give those figures for each age band.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that the information is not available. Statistical data on supplementary benefit dietary additions do not show to which member of the assessment unit the award relates.

  Unemployment Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Cousins
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants on a quarterly basis successfully claimed under regulation 6 of the Condition of Entitlement Regulations in the 12 months 1 October 1984 to 30 September 1985, I October 1985 to 30 September 1986 and 1 October 1986 to 30 September 1987; and if he will give the figures on a similar basis for each unemployment benefit office in Newcastle.

  Mr. Portillo
  Regulation 6 lists all the categories of persons whose entitlement to supplementary benefit is not subject to the condition of being available for employment. Generally the fact that a claimant falls within one of' these is recognised by an officer dealing with the case, usually in the Department but sometimes in the Department of Employment (for example at a restart interview); but the claimant or someone on his behalf may of course raise the question himself.

  I regret that no information is available about the number of people required to be available who have been signing on quarterly and have subsequently come within the terms of regulation 6. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Drug Safety
  Mr. Gale
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to ensure that when
  694
  considering the safety of drugs, the effect of drug overdoses is brought within the scope of the Medicines Act.

  Mr. Newton
  When assessing an application for a product licence under the Medicines Act, the licensing authority and the Committee on Safety of Medicines are concerned primarily with the safety, quality and efficacy of the medicinal product when taken at recommended doses for the relevant indications. Where appropriate, however, close account is taken of the adequacy of warning statements, including guidance in the event of overdosage, in the data sheets, product particulars and labelling of medicinal products. We have no plans to change these arrangements.

  Mr. Gale
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that consultation takes place between the Committee on Safety of Medicines and drug companies before notices are formally issued under section 28 of the Medicines Act.

  Mr. Newton
  Before seeking the compulsory revocation or variation of a product licence under section 28 of the Medicines Act, it is normal practice for the licensing authority to consult the licence holder with a view to obtaining agreement to a voluntary change. Where the licensing authority proposes to take formal action under that provision to suspend, revoke or vary a product licence in relation to safety, quality or efficacy, the provisions of schedule 2 to the Medicines Act 1968 will apply. These include the right of the licence holder to make oral or written representations to a section 4 committee, such as the Committee on Safety of Medicines, and, if necessary, thereafter to the Medicines Commission before action is taken. The licensing authority can, however, suspend a product licence with immediate effect for up to three months in the interests of safety, further suspension being subjected to the process described in schedule 2. Informal consultation may not be possible in such circumstances.

  Mr. Gale
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to reduce delays in the processing by the Committee on Safety of Medicines, of applications by drug companies that will lead to the introduction of new and available treatments for a variety of conditions.

  Mr. Newton
  The special study of the medicines division of the Department by Dr. J. Evans and Mr. P. Cunliffe, which I announced in March this year, is considering ways of reducing the time taken in the processing of new drug applications. We hope to receive their report early in the new year. Increases have been made to the full-time professional staff which supports the Comittee on Safety of Medicines. We are also introducing more information technology. The recently introduced EC requirement for expert reports to be included in all applications should lead to improvements in the quality and comprehensiveness of applications by pharmaceutical companies and this will facilitate quicker processing.

  Mr. Gale
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the benefit-risk ratio applied to the Committee on Safety of Medicines; if the same criteria will be applied to treatments for AIDS as for other conditions; and what groups of conditions qualify for fast-track processing.
  695
  Mr. Newton
  The Committee on Safety of Medicines has to balance the risks and benefits on a case by case basis in the light of professional judgment. The level of acceptable risk will clearly vary according to circumstances, for example where conditions are life threatening, such as AIDS, compared with other less serious conditions. I am satisfied that the committee is well constituted to provide expert advice to the licensing authority on licensing decisions. Normally all licence applications are assessed in strict chronological order of the date of receipt. "Fast-tracking" means that the application is considered out of turn; it does not mean that normal standards are lowered. A product licence application may be fast-tracked when there are compelling reasons for believing that the product would provide a major therapeutic breakthrough in the treatment of patient for indicated conditions.

  Advertising
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper titles.

  Mr. Moore
  The amount spent by my Department on press advertising including national newspapers in each of the past five years is as follows:

  £

  1982–83

  1,600,000

  1983–84

  1,938,000

  1984–85

  3,662,000

  1985–86

  3,188,000

  1986–87

  5,570,000

  It is not possible to distinguish between national advertising and all other press advertising. A breakdown by newspaper titles cannot be provided as the information is commercially confidential.

  National press advertising has been an element in a variety of DHSS campaigns covering social security and health subjects including social security reformed benefits, the primary health care review, AIDS public education, drug prevention, blood donor and nursing recruitment.

  National Insurance Contributions (Review)
  Mr. Forth
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet completed his review of national insurance contributions for 1988–89.

  Mr. Moore
  I have completed the annual review under section 120 of the Social Security Act 1975. The proposals will take effect from 6 April 1988.

  As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his statement earlier today, I do not propose to raise the standard rate of contributions for either employees or employers, which remain at 9 per cent. and 10·45 per cent. respectively. 1988–89 will be the fifth successive year when these rates have remained unchanged.

  In line with the requirements of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975, the lower earnings limit for class 1 contributions is to be raised to £41 per week, which is just below the basic retirement pension rate for a single person, as announced to the House on October 27. The upper earnings limit is to be raised to £305 per week, which is a
  696
  little less than 7½; times the new basic pension rate. The new earnings limits replace the current ones of £39 and £295 respectively.

  The reduced contribution rates for the lower paid will continue unchanged. The reduced rates of 5 per cent. and 7 per cent. for employees, and 5 per cent., 7 per cent. and 9 per cent. for employers will be extended further; they will now apply to weekly earnings which fall below the ceilings of £70, £105, and for employers only, £155 (the previous ceilings were £65, £100 and £150 respectively).

  Not contracted-out employees and their employers

  Neither the employee nor his employer will have to pay any contributions if his earnings are less than £41 per week. For people earning between £41 and £295 (the former upper earnings limit) there will be no increase for either the employee or the employer. In fact, owing to the increase in the earnings ceilings for the reduced contribution rates, some lower paid employees will pay a slightly smaller contribution, as will their employers. For those employees with earnings above £295 per week, the maximum possible increase will be 90p per week. There will be no corresponding increase for employers since there is no upper earnings limit for their contributions.

  Contracted-out employees and their employers

  Contributions payable by some contracted-out employees and their employers will rise slightly, partly as a result of the lower contracted-out rebate which Parliament approved in April, and which will take effect in April 1988. Where earnings are less than the former upper earnings limit of £295 per week, the increase will reflect both the reduced rebate and the fact that the increase in the lower earnings limit increases the band of earnings on which the non-contracted-out contribution rates are paid. Some lower paid contracted-out employees, and their employers, will in fact have their contributions reduced as a result of the higher earnings ceilings for the reduced contribution rates.

  Contracted-out employees with earnings above the old upper earnings limit (£295) will pay a maximum of £1·12 a week extra, and their employers will pay 46p per week extra if they are earning £305 per week.

  Self-employed people

  The flat rate class 2 contribution will be raised to £4·05 per week.

  The rate of class 4 contributions will not be increased. The annual limits of profits between which class 4 contributions are paid will be raised to £4,750 and £15,860 from £4,590 and £15,340 respectively.

  For those self-employed people with profits between £4,750 and £15,340 (the former upper profits limit) class 4 contributions will be reduced by £10·08 per year in 1988–89 assuming an unaltered level of profits. For those self-employed people with profits at or above the proposed upper profits limit of £15,860 in 1988–89, annual class 4 contributions will be £22·68 higher.

  Class 3 (voluntary) contributions

  The rate of class 3 contributions be raised to £3·95 per week.

  Treasury supplement

  The Treasury supplement to the national insurance fund will be reduced from 7 per cent. to 5 per cent. with effect from April 1988.

  Employment protection allocation

  There will be no employment protection allocation for 1988–89. Currently the rates are 0·07 per cent. for employees and 0·06 per cent. for employers.
  697
  National Health Service allocation

  The allocation to the National Health Service, currently 0·85 per cent. for employees and 0·7 per cent. for employers, will be increased to 0·95 per cent. and 0·8 per cent. respectively from April 1988.

  The draft orders and the contributions amendment regulations, which are required to give effect to my proposals, together with the Government Actuary's report on their effect on the national insurance fund, will be laid before the House shortly.

  Income-Related Benefits
  Mr. Key
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to lay regulations covering the new income-related benefit schemes from April 1988.

  Mr. Scott
  I have today laid before Parliament four sets of draft regulations: the Income Support (General) Regulations1987;the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987: the Family Credit (General) Regulations 1987; and the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987.

  Taken together, these regulations provide the detailed framework for the new system of income-related benefits which is to he introduced in April next year. They also include the rates which will apply to the new benefits. The benefit rates included in the regulations are the same as the proposed rates announced by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Services, in his statement on 27 October at columns 179–81.

  The benefit rates in the draft housing benefit regulations have been the subject of consultation with the local authority associations whose representatives have been taken into account.

  I have also today placed in the Libraries of both Houses, draft copies of the proposed transitional regulations covering income support, housing benefit and family credit so that the income-related benefit regulations can he considered as a total package. The transitional regulations will be made and laid before the House as soon as the general regulations (with which they are linked) have been approved. They will provide transitional protection for existing recipients of supplementary benefit and family income supplement who remain eligible for income support or family credit.

  Peto Institute, Budapest
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what financial assistance is available to patients from the United Kingdom attending the Peto Institute in Budapest.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 29 October 1987]: There are no statutory powers to use Government funds to meet the costs of this type of treatment. Some United Kingdom social security benefits may continue in payment if a beneficiary goes abroad to seek treatment for a medical condition.

  Doctors
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set a statutory limit on the number of hours worked by junior doctors; and if he will make a statement.
  698
  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to reduce the average working hours of junior doctors.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answers 30 October and 3 November 1987]: The Government have accepted that the excessive hours traditionally required of some junior doctors are neither in their interests nor those of their patients. We have agreed with the representatives of the medical profession that, while the impetus to reduce such hours has to come from the Department, changes in working practices can only be identified and implemented locally, with the full support and co-operation of all the practitioners concerned, rather than through statutory limitations. We have already instructed health authorities to eliminate regular rotas requiring a practitioner to be on duty, on average, for more than one night in two and one weekend in two, and we have asked them to aim for a target maximum commitment of one in three or better, where practicable. We estimate that the number of posts with rotas more onerous than one in three fell or was planned to fall between 1982 and 1985 from 5,000 to 3,500. There are currently some 1,520 posts, representing about 7 per cent. of the total, with weekly contracted hours of over 104, although the average figure has fallen in every year since 1979, from over 90 to 85·7. These are hours of duty, rather than work: independent surveys commissioned by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration show that the average weekly hours actually worked, as reported by juniors themselves, have also fallen, from 58·3 in 1981 to 57 in 1985. Officials will shortly be discussing with the profession's representatives how best to make further progress in this direction, in the context of the measures to reform the hospital medical staffing structure which I announced on 27 October at column 258. These are principally designed to increase the involvement of consultants in direct patient care and supervision of juniors, to maintain necessary levels of support for consultants, and to improve juniors' career prospects and job security, thus in turn helping to solve the recruitment difficulties experienced in some specialties.

  Kendal Hospital
  Mr. Jopling
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest start and completion dates for the new Kendal hospital, the estimated cost, and the number of people who will eventually be employed there compared with those currently employed in the hospitals in the area, together with the number of beds which will be provided compared with the current situation.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 2 November 1987]: Work on the site for the new Westmorland general hospital commenced on 7 September this year. The scheme is scheduled for completion in September 1990, at an estimate total cost of £21·5 million, and will provide 304 in-patient beds, some of which will replace existing outdated facilities.

  The day-to-day running of the hospital will be the responsibility of the South Cumbria health authority; I understand that 575 people (whole-time equivalents) are expected to be required, which is a net increase of 173 (whole-time equivalents).

  UNRWA RELIEF SUPPLIES: BEIRUT
  UNRWA RELIEF SUPPLIES: BEIRUT
  TRIDENT MISSLE SERVICING
  TRIDENT MISSLE SERVICING
  SECURITY SERVICIES OPERATIONS POLICY
  SECURITY SERVICIES OPERATIONS POLICY
  LIQUOR LICENSING RECOMMENDATIONS
  LIQUOR LICENSING RECOMMENDATIONS
  PRISONERS: TRANSFER REQUESTS
  PRISONERS: TRANSFER REQUESTS