Written Answers of 5 November 1987

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  New Zealand
  Mr. David Marshall
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to increase trade between the United Kingdom and New Zealand; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  New Zealand is an important trading partner. The British Overseas Trade Board actively encourages United Kingdom companies to export to the market, and has a wide range of services to assist them. I visited New Zealand myself in May 1986 in order to promote United Kingdom exports and the BOTB proposes to support 15 trade missions to that country in 1988–89.

  Area

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  North East

  117·8

  115·3

  130·4

  111·2

  82·6

  76·2

  62·0

  108·3

  North West

  98·1

  143·0

  194·1

  152·7

  130·7

  121·8

  96·3

  132·9

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  28·3

  45·3

  54·2

  47·0

  32·3

  36·5

  32·5

  37·1

  East Midlands

  3·3

  3·8

  8·2

  13·0

  16·9

  10·2

  8·3

  10·6

  West Midlands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5·5

  9·9

  South West

  7·7

  11·0

  12·0

  13·7

  9·8

  11·6

  10·9

  20·6

  Scotland

  71·0

  114·1

  144·2

  288·2

  144·3

  72·0

  2·1

  0·6

  Wales

  63·8

  106·0

  123·6

  124·8

  73·3

  58·6

  1·6

  0·9

  Great Britain

  390·0

  538·5

  666·7

  750·6

  489·9

  386·9

  219·2

  320·9

  Notes:

  These figures cover regional development grants and regional selective assistance industrial and training grants. All figures are gross, before deducting domestic and European Community receipts.

  The figures exclude expenditure on the provision of land and buildings through the English Industrial Estates Corporation, the exchange risk guarantee scheme and business improvement services as it is not possible to provide a breakdown of these items by English region.

  In November 1984 responsibility for RDG expenditure in Scotland and Wales was transferred to the Scottish and Welsh Offices DTI expenditure figures for 1984–85 and, more particularly, the two subsequent years are therefore not comparable with those for earlier years.

  Nearly all expenditure on regional aid to industry in Scotland and Wales is now the responsibility of the Scottish and Welsh Offices respectively.

  Lonrho plc
  Mr. Tim Smith
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to complete his consideration of representations in relation to a possible breach by Lonrho plc of sections 204 to 206 of the Companies Act 1985 in relation to share dealings in House of Fraser plc during the period from the date of the inspector's interim report into share dealings in House of Fraser to the date of its acquisition by Al Fayed Investment and Trust (UK) Ltd;

  (2) when he expects to complete his consideration of representations in relation to a possible breach of section 231 of the Companies Act 1985 by Lonrho plc in relation to its Liechtenstein subsidiaries Blorg and Contango.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Steinberg
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce legislation to require manufacturers of aerosols to state on the can whether the product contains chlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government are taking steps to implement the Montreal protocol for the protection of the ozone layer, which will control the future production and use of chlorofluorocarbons. I see no need for additional measures regarding the labelling of aerosols. Individual manufacturers are free to indicate the contents of these canisters if they so wish: doubtless they will consider such action should there be any perceptible consumer preference.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was his Department's expenditure on regional aid to industry in each of the English regions. Scotland and Wales in the last year for which full figures are available and for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  The figures for my Department's spend on regional aid to industry in each of the English regions, Scotland and Wales for the years 1979–80 to 1986–87 are as follows:

  Mr. Maude
  The representations have been considered and my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State is about to write to my hon. Friend and other interested parties on this matter.

  Guinness plc
  Mr. Tim Smith
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs and membership of Guinness plc to report.

  Mr. Maude
  The investigation continues, but I am unable to say when a report will be received.

  House of Fraser plc
  Mr. Tim Smith
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of House of Fraser Holdings plc to report.

  Mr. Maude
  The inspectors are pressing ahead with their investigation as quickly as possible, but I cannot say when their report will be received.

  British Caledonian
  Mr. Madel
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from consumer organisations on the proposed take-over of British Caledonian by British Airways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. and noble Friend has received a number of representations from organisations representing the interests of consumers. These have expressed a range of views. During the course of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission investigation into the proposal those wishing to make representations have been directed to the commission.

  Dumping
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, to assist British importers, he will seek to establish for the European Economic Commission its definition of dumping, with particular reference to (a) the cost of production and (b) the price at which the goods concerned are ruled in their domestic market; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The definition of dumping used by the European Commission is based on article VI of the GATT and is incorporated in the Community anti-dumping legislation—regulation (EEC) No. 2176/84. Dumping can be established by various methods including the use of domestic prices or cost of production, depending on the circumstances of the case. United Kingdom importers can obtain guidance on all anti-dumping matters from my Department's unfair trade unit.

  Economic League
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to the number of companies which declare donations to the Economic League in their returns to Companies House under the Companies Acts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  Some of the individual accounts submitted to the Registrar of Companies each year may contain details of such donations by companies. These accounts are available for public inspection. However, the Department of Trade and Industry does not carry out any analysis which would provide the information requested.

  Cash Limits and Running Costs
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any changes will be made to the Department of Trade and Industry's cash limits or running costs for 1987–88.
  794
  Mr. Butcher
  The cash limit of class V, vote 2 (support for industry) will be reduced by £7 million from £471·249 million to £464·249 million. This change reflects forecast reduced requirements for the innovation programme.

  The running cost limit of the Department of Trade and Industry is reduced by £399,000 from £275·771 million to £275·372 million. This reduction reflects the net effect of the reclassification out of running costs of the cost of external inspections under the Companies Act 1985 and the transfer of provision from the Department of Employment for staff in the inner cities unit and the enterprise and deregulation unit.

PRIME MINISTER

  Flecknoe
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Flecknoe.

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

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Prime Minister how many official overseas visits she has made since 1979; and what has been the total cost.

  The Prime Minister
  I have made 95 official overseas visits since 1979. The total cost to date is £2,987,000.

  EC Budget
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Prime Minister if she will submit proposals to the next meeting of the European Council designed to reform EEC spending within the current legal limits of expenditure; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The European Council in December will discuss the future financing of the Community, including proposals to improve budget discipline and management. I intend to make clear, as I did at the last European Council. that there must be agreement on effective and binding control over Community spending before the question of any changes to the current limit on resources can be considered.

  Accountability
  Mr. Allen
  asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received about her accountability to the House through Prime Minister's questions.

  The Prime Minister
  None, as far as I am aware.

  North-West
  Mr. Butler
  asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit the north-west.

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

  European Space Agency
  Sir Geoffrey Pattie
  asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit the headquarters of the European Space Agency in Paris.

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

  Inverclyde (Enterprise Zone)
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Scottish Office and the Department of Trade and Industry about the creation of an enterprise zone in Inverclyde.

  The Prime Minister
  The case for an enterprise zone in Inverclyde remains under consideration, but, as my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has already indicated, after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, the Minister primarily responsible, no decision can be taken until the findings on the current evaluation of the enterprise zone experiment have been fully considered.

  EC (Internal Market)
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the development of the internal market in the EEC.

  The Prime Minister
  The Single European Act (SEA), which was before Parliament when it passed the European Communities (Amendment) Act, which received Royal Assent on 6 November 1986, writes into the treaty of Rome a commitment to adopt measures with the aim of completing the single market by 1992.

  More than 100 individual measures have been agreed towards that goal during the past two years, including 48 during the United Kingdom presidency last year. Priority areas for decisions by the end of 1988 identified by the European Council meeting in Brussels last June include public purchasing, technical barriers under the Community's new approach to harmonisation, insurance, freedom of establishment for the professions and liberalisation of capital movements.

  Mr. Charles Powell
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Prime Minister when Mr. Charles Powell was promoted to the grade of undersecretary of state at the Foreign Office; at what age; what new functions and responsibilities he has assumed; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Powell was promoted to the senior grade of the Diplomatic Service with effect from I May this year, while in his present post.

  Vancouver Summit
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the Commonwealth meeting in Vancouver and, in particular, of the progress made in friendship, mutal respect and community of aims and interests between the member countries.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement I made on Thursday 22 October 1987 at columns 921–22.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Prime Minister what was the source of the figures quoted by the British delegation in the recent Vancouver meeting of the commonwealth, regarding trade between Canada and South Africa.

  The Prime Minister
  The figures quoted were taken from the International Monetary Fund's "Direction of Trade Statistics" for 1985 and 1986.
  796
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Prime Minister what representations she received from the South African Government regarding her intervention on the issue of sanctions, during the Vancouver Commonwealth meeting; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Storm Damage
  Mr. John David Taylor
  asked the Prime Minister what additional financial resources have been made available to those who suffered from the severe storms and flood damage during the month of October in (a) southern England, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales on 21 October 1987.

  In addition, the European Commission has offered £210,000 to provide assistance to those affected by the storm damage in England; and £140,000 for those affected by flooding in Wales and Northern Ireland. Discussions are being held urgently between the Government and the Commission on the distribution of this money.

  In certain circumstances payments may also be available under existing social security regulations.

  Sir Philip Woodfield
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Prime Minister what is the salary that will be paid to Sir Philip Woodfield as a staff counsellor for the security and intelligence services; and what are the terms of his employment.

  The Prime Minister
  The staff counsellor will receive an annual retainer of £5,000 and a daily fee of £100, and will be reimbursed for any expenses necessarily incurred in the course of his duties. These payments are non-pensionable.

  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Prime Minister if authority will be extended to Sir Philip Woodfield to look into allegations of abuses by the security services made by those outside the security service.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Prime Minister what accommodation, office and secretarial facilities and by which Government Department, will be provided to Sir Philip Woodfield as staff counsellor for the security and intelligence services.

  The Prime Minister
  The staff counsellor will have the use of an office and such facilities as he requires in the Cabinet Office.

  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Prime Minister from which vote and sub-head the salary and expenses of Sir Philip Woodfield as staff counsellor for the security and. intelligence services will be paid.

  The Prime Minister
  All costs will be paid from Other Services (Cabinet Office) (Class XX, vote 2) sub-head A 1.

  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Prime Minister if she will arrange for all or part of the reports of the staff counsellor for the security and intelligence services to be placed in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  SS Titanic
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps through international agencies to protect from further exploration the site of the SS Titanic.

  The Prime Minister
  I have every sympathy with those who do not wish the Titanic to be further disturbed by salvage operation. However, any action agreed through international agencies would be unlikely to be effective because it would be legally binding only in states which chose to be party to it.

  Public Money (Allocations)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  asked the Prime Minister what is the total overall identifiable allocation of public money made by the Government since 1979 to (a) Glasgow, (b) Bristol, (c) Lambeth, (d) Newcastle, (e) Hammersmith, (f) Cardiff, (g) Haringey, (h) Southampton, (i) Leicester, (j) Leeds, (k) Wandsworth, (l) Belfast and (m) Northampton (i) in total, (ii) per person, (iii) per unemployed person, (iv) per unemployed person aged under 21 years and (v) per retirement pensioner in each named district; and if she will also express these figures at 1987 prices.

  The Prime Minister
  Apart from expenditure which is the responsibility of the territorial departments, most public expenditure is planned on a national basis and it is not possible to identify separately expenditure allocated to particular areas.

  Audit Commission Fees
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  asked the Prime Minister what information she has as to the margin by which the increase in audit fees proposed by the Audit Commission exceeds the current rate of inflation.

  The Prime Minister
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. I understand, however, that the Audit Commission proposes an overall fee increase of 6·6 per cent. for the year beginning 1 November 1987. The rise in the retail prices index for the 12 months to September was 4·2 per cent.

  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  asked the Prime Minister if she will request the Secretary of State for the Environment to exercise his powers under section 21(7) of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 to make regulations prescribing a scale of audit fees which embodies an increase lower than the 6·5 per cent. rise proposed by the Audit Commission; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. Under the Local Government Finance Act 1982 it is for him to consider whether it is necessary or desirable to prescribe a scale of fees in place of the scale prescribed by the Audit Commission.

  Engagements
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 5 November.

  Mr. Alton
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 5 November.

  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 5 November.
  798
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 5 November.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 5 November.

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

ENERGY

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Cummings
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will indicate, area by area, the number of British Coal houses sold to financial institutions and the revenue gained from such sales;

  (2) if he will indicate the costs attributed to Dawdon, Murton, Vane Tempest and Easington collieries for transporting coal and minerals by road transport and by British Rail;

  (3) if he will indicate the annual costs of transporting miners in the north-east to and from work;

  (4) what was the level of capital investment in the deep mines of (a) Murton, (b)Dawdon, (c)Vane Tempest and (d)Easington during the year 1986–87; and what is the projected investment during the year 1987–88.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  These are matters for the British Coal Corporation. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Scottish Coalfields
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will make a statement on British Coal's proposals to develop the townhead coal reserves near Ponfeigh in the Clydesdale constituency;

  (2) if he will give details of capital investment figures for the Scottish coalfields for the years 1988 to 1991;

  (3) if he will give details of capital investment in the Scottish coalfields for opencast development for years 1988 to 1991;

  (4) if he will give details as to the capital cost of developing the Dalguhandy coal site in the Clydesdale constituency.

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

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to ensure that no private licence to develop opencast mining will be granted outside existing legislation.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Under existing legislation the British Coal Corporation is responsible for the granting of licences for private opencast mining operations.

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give assurances that his proposals for the privatisation of the electricity industry do not result in increased costs to the consumer.
  799
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Our proposals for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry will be designed to increase the efficiency of the industry, for the benefit of consumers.

WALES

  Water
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what information he has on the total volume of water in Llyn Brianne (a) on the first day of the month for every month during the current year and (b) day by day for every day during October;

  (2) what information he has on the total volume of water that flowed from 12 noon Sunday 18 October to 12 noon Monday 19 October (a)from the Llyn Brianne reservoir and (b)downstream through the River Towy in Carmarthen;

  (3) what information he has on the catchment area in square kilometres of (a)Llyn Brianne reservoir, (b)the River Towy above Glanrhyd, Llanwarda, and (c)the River Towy above Carmathen bridge;

  (4) what information he has on how much water in cubic metres per hour was discharged from Llyn Brianne hour by hour from 12 noon on Sunday 18 October to 12 noon on Monday 19 October.

  Mr. Grist
  These are matters for the Welsh water authority and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the capacity in millions of cu m of the Llyn Brianne reservoir.

  Mr. Grist
  The capacity of the Llyn Brianne reservoir is 60·39 million cu m.

  Cwmbran Development Corporation
  Mr. Murphy
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the chairman and members of the board of Cwbran development corporation to discuss the effects of that body's wind-up in 1988 on the local community.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The board of Cwbran development corporation has not asked for such a discussion and I would not expect it to do so. The effects on the local community of the winding-up of the corporation are for consideration by the local authorities and other bodies concerned with the prosperity of Cwbran.

  Cancer Screening
  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to introduce a comprehensive scheme of screening for breast cancer among women aged below 50 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The breast screening programming which is currently being planned for Wales will be aimed at women aged 50 to 64. This is in accordance with the advice of a working group chaired by Professor Sir Patrick Forest, which concluded that the effectiveness of screening has so far been demonstrated only for women aged 50 and over. There are accordingly no plans at present to introduce breast screening for women below this age.
  800
  Mrs. Clwyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how the existing laboratories for the testing of cervical cancer are distributed in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The distribution of existing NHS laboratories used for cervical cytology in Wales is as follows:

  District health authority

  Hospital

  Clwyd

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd

  Ysbyty Wrecsam Maelor

  East Dyfed

  Bronglais

  West Wales General

  Llanelli General

  Gwent

  Royal Gwent

  Nevili Hall

  Gwynedd

  Ysbyty Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Princess of Wales

  East Glamorgan

  Prince Charles

  St. Davids

  South Glamorgan

  St. Davids

  West Glamorgan

  Morriston

  Singleton

  Neath

  Cervical smears taken in Pembrokeshire and Powys are tested in laboratories in neighbouring district health authorities.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the implications and effects of the proposals in Government consultation and financial delegation documents on the national curriculum, upon physical education, including extracurricular activity in the schools of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Government recognise the importance of sport and physical education for children and for this reason the consultation document on the national curriculum proposes including it as a foundation subject.

  The proposals for financial delegation do not have any direct impact upon physical education, although the consultation document recognises the need to make appropriate arrangements for the use of community facilities in schools.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had on the national curriculum and financial delegation with district and county councils concerning physical education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Copies of the consultation documents on the national curriculum and financial delegation were sent to the Welsh Counties Committee, the Committee of Welsh District Councils and to individual county councils. My right hon. Friend and I have discussed them with the Welsh Joint Education Committee and the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance, and our officials have held a series of meetings with interested bodies. Consultation responses covered the whole range of issues raised and only one county council made any reference to the position of physical education.

  Opencast Mining, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has had discussions with the chairman of British Coal concerning the Opencast Executive's proposals to mine opencast coal on agricultural land adjacent to residential properties at Cheapside, Ewloe, Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  No.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will initiate an inquiry into the impact in Clwyd of opencast mining operations upon local communities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  No. In view of my right hon. Friend's statutory responsibility to give impartial consideration to individual applications and appeals in relation to opencast coal mining, it would not be appropriate for me to set up such an inquiry.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will receive a deputation from Cheapside, Clwyd residents about the proposals of the Opencast Executive; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will visit Cheapside, Clwyd, and meet on site representatives of residents, the community, district and county councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  No. The Opencast Executive has appealed to my right hon. Friend against the refusal of Clwyd county council to grant planning permission for opencast coal mining at Cheapside, Clwyd. Arrangements are being made for a public local inquiry to be held into the appeal and, in view of this, it would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to visit the appeal site or to meet local representatives to discuss the proposed development.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Zimbabwe (Railways)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will open talks with the Government of Zimbabwe, with a view to providing new locomotives and rolling stock for the Zimbabwe national railways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We are ready to consider assistance for the national railways of Zimbabwe. However, when Zimbabwean and British officials met in September to discuss priorities in the allocation of British aid, the Zimbabweans did not put forward the NRZ as an area for our involvement.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Jack
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to contribute to international attempts being made to stop the destruction of the world's rain forests.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Government play an active part in the Food and Agriculture Organisation's tropical forestry action plan, which is coordinating donor action on the problem of deforestation. The Overseas Development Administration participates in missions 802
  arranged under the auspices of the action plan to discuss the need for conservation with the Governments of affected developing countries and their requirements for institutional and financial support. This has led to the funding of projects under the British bilateral aid programme, in which aid for forestry projects has increased threefold over the last five years.

  The Government also ratified the international tropical timber agreement in 1984 and are a member of the related Tropical Timber Organisation, which was established in 1986. One of the principal aims of this organisation is to encourage trade in tropical hardwoods on the basis of sustainable and renewable resources.

  Food Aid
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if measures have been taken to ensure that Third world countries do not receive food aid from the European Economic Community which is damaged or totally unfit for human consumption.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Yes. The Council of Ministers agreed a new regulation governing EC food aid during the British presidency in December 1986. A subsequent Commission regulation establishing a new system for the mobilisation of food aid, which includes provisions for quality control, became effective in July 1987.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urgently demand a review of the way in which staff at the European Commission discharge their duties of quality and price control of food distributed either commercially or as aid.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  No. The position on food aid is described in my answer to the hon. Member's previous question.

  We are in touch with the Commission about the tightening up of the management of intervention stocks and we strongly support their efforts, and those of the Court of Auditors and the Budgetary Control Committee of the European Parliament, in this regard.

  Jordan
  Mr. Baldry
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans to offer further aid to Jordan in support of its five-year plan.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We have offered a new loan of £5 million, on concessionary terms and tied to the provision of British goods and services, as a further contribution to the Jordan five-year plan. The finance will be spent on capital projects to be agreed between our two Governments.

TRANSPORT

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Waller
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current average waiting time for a driving test at each testing centre in West Yorkshire, compared with the national average waiting time.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Current waiting times in West Yorkshire are:
  803

  Test centre

  Waiting time (weeks)

  Bradford—Wibsey

  17

  —Eccleshill

  10

  —Heaton

  17

  Halifax

  12

  Heckmondwike

  15

  Horsforth

  16

  Huddersfield

  16

  Keighley

  5

  Leeds—Harehills

  20

  —Crossgates

  19

  Pontefract

  27

  Wakefield

  19

  The national average waiting time is 14 weeks.

  Skips
  Mr. Moate
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current regulations regarding proper lighting on skips left on the public highway; who is responsible for ensuring the adequacy of such lighting; and if he has any plans to alter the present arrangements.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Section 139 of the Highways Act 1980 requires the owner of a skip deposited on the highway to ensure that the skip is properly lighted during the hours of darkness. The highway authority may impose conditions as to the manner in which the skip is to be lighted or guarded when granting permission for it to be deposited on the highway. Responsibility for ensuring that the skip is lit in accordance with any conditions imposed rests on the owner. It is a defence against a charge in respect of a lighting offence to prove that the offence was due to the act or default of another person and that the owner took all reasonable precautions to avoid the commission of the offence. In addition to lighting, the Builders Skips (Markings) Regulations 1984 require the owner of the skip to fit red and yellow fluorescent and reflective markings to the ends of the skip. There are no plans to alter the present arrangements.

  Seafarers (Criminal Records)
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether seafarers convicted while at sea for merchant shipping offences, but upon whom no penalty is imposed, acquire a criminal record.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The powers have been repealed under which a ship's master could impose a financial penalty on a seafarer who committed a disciplinary offence. A person now charged with any offence under the Merchant Shipping Acts can be tried only in the courts. Any penalties then imposed would constitute a criminal record. A master now can impose only such penalties as are within the scope of whatever industrial agreement is relevant. Such penalties would not constitute a criminal record.

  M40 (Extension)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's plan for the extension of the M40 from Oxford to Birmingham; and whether it will be constricted to three traffic lanes along its entire length.
  804
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department is building the M40 north of Wendlebury to dual three-lane standard. Between Waterstock and Wendlebury, where traffic flows are forecast to be much lower, the Department's plans are for dual two-lane standard, but with the scheme designed to accommodate provision of third lanes when warranted by traffic levels.

  Motorway Roadworks
  Mr. Madden
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what additional action he is taking to reduce accidents by vehicles passing through roadworks on the motorway network.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department is discussing with the police the use of mandatory speed limits at contraflow sites.

  We are about to start a trial of a new system of closer spaced matrix signals, which automatically detects stationary or slow moving traffic, on a 50-mile stretch of the M1.

  We are evaluating the video monitoring of major roadworks to allow earlier detection and warning of breakdowns and accidents.

  The Transport and Road Research Laboratory has recently commissioned a study of accidents at contraflows.

  We shall implement further improvements in the design of contraflow systems in the light of the findings of this study.

  M1 Motorway
  Mr. Madden
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of the M1 are now being repaired: how many miles are reduced to single lane; how many miles to double lane; how many miles are subject to reduced speed controls on the approaches to road works; what was the comparable situation (a) six months ago, (b) a year ago, (c) two years ago, (d) three years ago; what are the estimated completion dates for all current road works; in how many cases completion dates are likely to over-run; and what new road works are scheduled to take place in the next (i) six months, (ii) the next year and (iii) the next two years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Information is readily available only for major maintenance schemes. No stretch is currently reduced to a single lane because of major maintenance work. Eighteen miles are reduced to two lanes at times and subject to temporary speed limits. In addition, variable matrix speed signals are displayed as the need arises.

  Comparable information for previous periods is not available. The number of major maintenance schemes at each of the dates requested was as follows:

  Number

  5 May 1987

  0

  5 November 1986

  4

  5 November 1985

  1

  5 November 1984

  0

  Such schemes typically involved a two-lane contraflow not exceeding two and a half miles with advisory speed limits.

  The estimated completion dates for current major maintenance schemes are as follows:

  805

  J39–40

  December 1987

  J14–15

  *5 November 1987

  J9–10

  13 November 1987

  *Note: end of contraflow

  None of these schemes is expected to over-run

  New major maintenance schemes are scheduled to take place in the following locations during the remainder of this financial year:

  Bedfordshire

  J12–13

  Northamptonshire

  J16–17

  Leicestershire

  J23

  Five major maintenance schemes are provisionally planned for various periods in 1988–89. Further works will take place in future years; the programme for these has not yet been finalised.

  Technology and Manning Strategic Planning Committee
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the status and remit of the technology and manning strategic planning committee, what are his intentions regarding its function; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  A strategic policy committee has been established under the aegis of the Merchant Navy training board to develop new training and certification arrangements tailored to the industry's needs in the light of the technology and manning for safe operation research report.

  This committee comprises representatives from all sectors of the industry in order that the views of all concerned may be taken into account.

  Ferries (Loading Doors)
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport why the proposed change in the law relating to the closure of cargo loading doors on roll-on roll-off passenger ferries, which provides that criminal offences may be committed, is to be dealt with by means of statutory instruments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Secondary legislation can be enacted more quickly, and imposes less demand on parliamentary time, than primary legislation. Subsection (6)(b) of section 21 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979 provides that orders made under that section may make contravention of a regulation an offence.

  Ferries (Research)
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the outcome of his consideration of how best to progress the research effort on roll-on roll-off survivability for which he made £1 million available for further work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  A steering committee of experienced professionals of appropriate backgrounds and interests has been formed to assist and advise the Department in the management of this research programme. The first meeting of this committee was held on 30 October and a further meeting has been arranged.

  Ships (Safety)
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether any research is to be conducted into the
  806
  relationship between fatigue and manning, in the light of increased pressure from shipowners for the single night look-out concept; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  It is the intention to take up recommendation 9 of the technology and manning for safe ship operation research project and set up a new research project into the employment of bridge lookouts at night.

  Ship Survey
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are his intentions regarding the retention of responsibility for ship survey within the Surveyor General's organisation and marine survey section (a) in respect of the United Kingdom register and (b) in respect of registers of dependent territories.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The arrangements under which classification societies undertake certain marine survey work on United Kingdom ships on behalf of the Department are kept under regular review. Plans are in hand for the transfer of classification societies of the survey and certification of submersible craft, and the assessment of impact stability of mobile offshore drilling units. There are no plans for any further changes at present.

  As regards ships registered in the dependent territories, the Department's surveyors undertake certain surveys, on a repayment basis, depending on the capacity of the administrations in question.

  Spirit Class Vessels (Officers)
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimate of his Department concerning likely deck officer reductions on Spirit class vessels, involving the removal of second officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  [holding answer 4 November 1987]Provided it complies with the Merchant Shipping (Certification of Deck Officers) Regulations, deck officer manning is the responsibility of the owner. The manning proposed for the Spirit class vessels complies with those regulations. It also conforms with the view of the court of formal investigation into the loss of the Herald of Free Enterprise.

  Breath Tests
  Mr. Boyes
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to introduce either random or targeted breath tests.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  The courts have held that a constable may, under section 159 of the Road Traffic Act 1972, stop vehicles at random in order to decide whether there are grounds for requiring a sample of breath for testing. A sample may be required where the constable has reasonable cause to suspect that the motorist has alcohol in his body; that he has committed a traffic offence while the vehicle was moving; or that he has been involved in an accident. The Association of Chief Police Officers has stated that these powers are sufficient to allow the law to be enforced effectively, and the Government have no plans to amend the legislation. The use made of these powers is a matter for individual chief officers of police.

  Sealink Ferry (Overloading)
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will order an immediate inquiry into the recent overloading of a Sealink ferry at Boulogne; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Channon
  This incident has been investigated by one of my Department's marine surveyors. His report has been forwarded to the Treasury Solicitor, who is considering the possibility of prosecutions.

  Arising out of a recommendation of the court of formal investigation into the loss of the Herald of Free Enterprise, my Department has now circulated for consultation a draft statutory instrument which would make boarding cards for these short-haul ferries mandatory. A copy of this has been placed in the Library.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Postgraduate Certificate of Education Courses
  Mr. Battle
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the recruitment figures for each of the postgraduate certificate of education courses for 1987–88.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will inform Parliament of the principal findings of the Department of Education and Science's survey of recruitment to initial teacher training, including PGCE, courses once these are available.

  Teachers (Retraining)
  Mr. Battle
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the take-up of places in Her Majesty's Government's specially funded programme allowing qualified teachers to retrain as teachers of mathematics, physics or technology; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  This programme is run by the University Grants Committee (UGC) and the National Advisory Body for local authority higher education (NAB). No take-up figures are available for the UGC share of the programme. Returns from the NAB suggest that recruitment under this initiative for retraining and updating courses is running at about 40 per cent. This compares with an encouraging 89 per cent. for initial teacher training places.

  From April 1988, in time for the start of the first full year of courses under the initiative, the Government have ring-fenced grant aid for £4 million of expenditure by local education authorities on secondments of existing teachers to long retraining courses. This should mitigate the secondment funding difficulties associated with the changeover from the old pooling arrangements to the new training grants scheme that have been one of the causes of low take-up of places this year.

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Michael Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance is given by his Department to local authorities about the minimum acreage of playing fields for primary, middle and upper schools.
  808
  Mr. Dunn
  The requirements for the provision of playing fields for maintained schools are set out in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981. The areas required for individual schools are determined by the number and age of the pupils. Additional guidance on the quantity and quality of provision is offered in the Department's building bulletin No. 28, "Playing Fields and Hard Surface Areas".

  Grammar Schools
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to which local education authorities are currently offering less favourable treatment to girls in the provision of grammar schools; and if he will give the names of grammar schools in each local education authority concerned as well as the number of places offered to (i) girls and (ii) boys in each of the schools mentioned.

  Mr. Dunn
  No information is available centrally as to the number of places offered for entry to grammar schools. There were 28 local education authorities in England in January 1987 that had grammar schools of which only Birmingham LEA had more boys' grammar schools than girls'. The number of grammar schools in Birmingham LEA was eight, of which five were boys' schools and three were girls' schools as follows:

  Sutton Coldfield Girls' School

  Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

  Kind Edward VI Aston School

  King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys

  King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls' School

  King Edward VI Five Ways School

  King Edward VI Handsworth

  Bishop Veseys Grammar School

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Blackwood County Court
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Attorney-General if he will make available in the Library correspondence between the Lord Chancellor's Office and Blackwood county court, Gwent, in the case of Webber v. Webber in 1981–82.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor's office did not correspond with Blackwood county court in the case of Webber v. Webber in 1981–82. There was correspondence in 1983 consisting of a request for, and a reply giving, factual information which formed the basis of the Lord Chancellor's reply to the hon. Member dated 1 June 1983, which was copied to the court with a formal acknowledgment of the reply.

  Conveyancing
  Mr. Aspinwall
  asked the Attorney-General what is the position with regard to the implementation of the provisions of part II of the Administration of Justice Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  As far as the provisions of part II of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 are concerned, the Council for Licensed Conveyancers has been established with the power to issue licences to persons qualified to provide conveyancing services to the public. The first licences have been issued and the council, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, has made certain rules regulating entry to the profession and regulating the
  809
  conduct of licensed conveyancers generally. Rules to enable the council to permit corporations controlled by licensed conveyancers to provide conveyancing services have not yet been made. It is the Government's intention that all of the provisions contained in part II of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 will he implemented as soon as is practicable.

  Mr. Aspinwall
  asked the Attorney-General what is (a) the number of licensed conveyancers thus far registered with the Council for Licensed Conveyancers and (b) the number of applications made for registration.

  The Attorney-General
  Applications for licences are dealt with in two stages. The first stage is the giving of notice of intention to apply, and it is at this stage that consideration is given to the question of the applicant's suitability. The second stage is the submission of a formal application. By 31 October a total of 420 notices of intention to apply had been received by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, of which 158 are currently being considered, and 223 licences have been issued following the receipt of formal applications.

  Social Security Commissioners
  Mr. John
  asked the Attorney-General if he will reconsider his decision not to replace the Social Security Commissioner for Wales.

  The Attorney-General
  The jurisdiction of each of the social security commissioners for Great Britain extends throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Hearings continue to be held in Cardiff, where appropriate, on a regular basis, although the Cardiff office was closed in 1986 for reasons of operational economy. The Lord Chancellor has no plans at present to reopen that office or to base a social security commissioner in Wales.

  Mr. John
  asked the Attorney-General how many social security commissioners there are for (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) the Isle of Man; and if he will set out the criteria for appointment of such commissioners for a geographical area.

  The Attorney-General
  The jurisdiction of each of the social security commissioners for Great Britain extends throughout England, Scotland and Wales. There are currently two commissioners based in Scotland, but none in Wales. Appointments of commissioners to be based in England, Scotland and Wales are made to the extent justified by the work load arising there. The Lord Chancellor is not responsible for the Isle of Man.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Attorney-General what policy the Crown prosecution service has developed in respect of applications for prosecutions costs.

  The Attorney-General:
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1987, c. 13–14:] The policy of the Crown prosecution service is that an application for costs against convicted defendants should be made in all cases, unless in the particular circumstances of an individual case it is apparent that such an application would lack merit or that an order for costs would be impractical.

  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Attorney-General what policy the Crown prosecution service has developed in respect of prosecution of petty offences.
  810
  The Attorney-General
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1987, c. 13–14]: The general principles applied by the Crown prosecution service when considering the prosecution of any criminal offence are to be found in the code for Crown prosecutors, issued in accordance with section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.

  Having satisfied himself that the evidence is sufficient to justify a prosecution, the Crown prosecutor must go on to consider whether the public interest requires a prosecution. Whilst each case will be assessed in the light of its own particular circumstances, paragraph 8(i) of the code enjoins Crown prosecutors when considering offences, the circumstances of which are not particularly serious, to consider carefully whether the public interest would be better served by a prosecution of some other form of disposal such as, where appropriate, a caution. This applies particularly where the offence is triable on indictment, when Crown prosecutors should also weigh the likely penalty with the likely length and cost of the proceedings.

  In deciding whether or not to recommend to the police that a caution might be an appropriate method of disposal, Crown prosecutors will be guided by the criteria set out in Home Office circular 14/1985 on the cautioning of offenders.

  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Attorney-General what policy the Crown prosecution service has developed in respect of breach proceedings.

  The Attorney-General
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1987, c. 13–14]: As a general rule the Crown prosecution service will not be involved in proceedings for breaches of probation, supervision or community service orders. The exception to this is that the Crown prosecution service has a role in such matters where the breach consists of the commission of a further offence and the proceedings are associated with a prosecution for a criminal offence which the Crown prosecution service is conducting.

  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Attorney-General what policy the Crown prosecution service has developed in respect of supplying of information to the probation service.

  The Attorney-General
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1987, c. 13–14]: Although the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 does not confer any statutory duty upon the Crown prosecution service to supply information to the probation service, the Crown prosecution service endeavours to assist the probation service wherever possible. The supply of information will be one of the matters which will be discussed at a forthcoming meeting between representatives of the Crown prosecution service, Home Office and the probation service.

  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Attorney-General what, at the latest date available, was the establishment of lawyers, lawyers' clerks and administrators in each of the 31 areas of the Crown prosecution service.

  The Attorney-General
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1987, c. 13–14]: I take the hon. Gentleman's question to refer to the complement of the relevant categories.

  The establishment of lawyers, law clerks and administrators in each of the 31 areas of the Crown prosecution service as at the end of October 1987 is given in the table.
  811

  Establishment 28 October 1987

  Staff in post 30 October 1987

  Lawyers

  Law clerks

  Admin.(support)

  Total

  Lawyers

  Admin. staff

  Total

  Avon and Somerset

  42

  17

  45

  104

  30

  48

  78

  Cambridgeshire-Lincolnshire

  34

  12

  36

  82

  23

  42½

  65½

  Cheshire

  31

  9

  31½

  71½

  24

  38½

  62½

  Cleveland-North Yorkshire

  46

  17

  47

  110

  37½

  62½

  100

  Derbyshire

  28

  9

  32

  69

  20

  39

  59

  Devon and Cornwall

  37

  14

  29

  80

  31

  36

  67

  Dorset-Hampshire

  66

  21

  63

  150

  50

  75

  125

  Essex

  32

  13

  36

  81

  21

  41½

  62½

  Gloucestershire-Wiltshire

  27

  9

  32

  68

  21

  37

  58

  Greater Manchester

  122

  38

  91

  251

  77

  124

  201

  Hertfordshire-Bedfordshire

  47

  12

  48

  107

  28

  56

  84

  Humberside

  25

  8

  34

  67

  18

  40

  58

  Kent

  44

  17

  44

  105

  30

  58

  88

  Lancashire-Cumbria

  66

  17

  59

  142

  57

  70

  127

  Leicestershire-Northamptonshire

  38

  16

  43

  97

  20

  58

  78

  London (Inner)

  130

  124

  209

  463

  86

  266

  352

  London (North)

  96

  58

  109

  263

  53

  150

  203

  London (South and Surrey)

  87

  45

  84

  216

  48½

  110

  158½

  Merseyside

  74

  30

  77

  181

  57

  105

  162

  Norfolk-Suffolk

  34

  10

  35

  79

  28

  40

  68

  North Wales-Dyfed Powys

  40

  9

  45

  94

  35

  50½

  85½

  Northumbria-Durham

  70

  28

  75

  173

  53

  93

  146

  Nottinghamshire

  39

  12

  42

  93

  37

  49

  86

  South Wales-Gwent

  76

  23

  80

  179

  63½

  94

  157½

  South Yorkshire

  43

  16

  44

  103

  34½

  53

  87½

  Staffordshire-Warwickshire

  41

  15

  43

  99

  29

  57

  86

  Sussex

  41

  12

  40

  93

  30½

  47

  77½

  Thames Valley

  53

  20

  54

  127

  35½

  67

  102½

  West Mercia

  32

  8

  30

  70

  15½

  37

  52½

  West Midlands

  91

  35

  89

  215

  64

  119

  183

  West Yorkshire

  74

  32

  74

  180

  57

  102

  159

  Totals

  1,706

  706

  1,800½

  4,212½

  1,214½

  2,265½

  3,480

  Establishment 28 October 1987

  Lawyers

  Law Clerks

  Administrators

  Total

  Avon and Somerset

  42

  17

  45

  104

  Cambridgeshire/Lincolnshire

  34

  12

  36

  82

  Cheshire

  31

  9

  31½

  71½

  Cleveland/North Yorkshire

  46

  17

  47

  110

  Derbyshire

  28

  9

  32

  69

  Devon and Cornwall

  37

  14

  29

  80

  Dorset/Hampshire

  66

  21

  63

  150

  Essex

  32

  13

  36

  81

  Gloucestershire/Wiltshire

  27

  9

  32

  68

  Greater Manchester

  122

  38

  91

  251

  Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire

  47

  12

  48

  107

  Humberside

  25

  8

  34

  67

  Kent

  44

  17

  44

  105

  Lancashire/Cumbria

  66

  17

  59

  142

  Leicestershire/Northamptonshire

  38

  16

  43

  97

  London (Inner)

  130

  124

  209

  463

  London (North)

  96

  58

  109

  263

  London (South and Surrey)

  87

  45

  84

  216

  Merseyside

  74

  30

  77

  181

  Norfolk/Suffolk

  34

  10

  35

  79

  North Wales/Dyfed Powys

  40

  9

  45

  94

  Northumbria/Durham

  70

  28

  75

  173

  Nottinghamshire

  39

  12

  42

  93

  South Wales/Gwent

  76

  23

  80

  179

  South Yorkshire

  43

  16

  44

  103

  Staffordshire/Warwickshire

  41

  15

  43

  99

  Sussex

  41

  12

  40

  93

  Thames Valley

  53

  20

  54

  127

  West Mercia

  32

  8

  30

  70

  West Midlands

  91

  35

  89

  215

  812 813

  Lawyers

  Law Clerks

  Administrators

  Total

  West Yorkshire

  74

  32

  74

  180

  Totals

  1,706

  706

  1,800·5

  4,212·5

  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Attorney-General what is the estimated annual cost of employing agent lawyers to cover shortages in Crown prosecution staffing.

  The Attorney-General
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1987, c. 13–14]: The cost of employing agent lawyers in magistrates courts in 1987–88 is expected to be some £14 million. Not all of this is attributable to staff shortages. Even if it had been fully staffed throughout the year, the Crown prosecution service would probably have found it cost-effective to spend some £4 million on agent lawyers.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Arms Control
  Mr McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy toward the implications for the United Kingdom of the current round of negotiations between the superpowers on the reduction of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Mellor
  We warmly welcome the intermediate nuclear force agreement now in prospect. We and our NATO allies regularly assess the level of forces required to maintain our strategy of flexible response and are currently considering the implications of an INF agreement for NATO policy. We look forward to further progress in the talks aimed at achieving a 50 per cent. cut in the strategic offensive weapons of the United States and Soviet Union.

  Mr. Leigh
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current arms control negotiations.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman) on 21 October.

  James Abra
  Mr. Ron Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about James Abra, the Briton held by the Libyan authorities.

  Mr. Eggar
  There is an appeal outstanding on Mr. Abra's behalf against his sentence of life imprisonment for spying. The appeal may be heard in November. I also understand that Mr. Abra's family lodged an appeal for clemency with the Libyan authorities in August this year.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Hill
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards reforms to the institutions and practices of the Western European Union; and what was the outcome of talks in The Hague for resiting the offices in London and Paris in some other capital city of a member state.

  Mr. Mellor
  Our policy is that Western European Union institutions should be structured to enable the organisation to be an effective forum for joint security consultations between WEU Foreign and Defence Ministers. The Paris agencies should be responsive to council requirements and merged into a single, streamlined unit under one director reporting to the secretary general. The London secretariat should be strengthened so that it can service the council efficiently. Both bodies should be collocated in one city to form an integrated, flexible, and cost-effective unit. Ministers at The Hague agreed that collocation should take place, but did not agree on a site. This question will now be pursued further, with the aim of drawing up detailed recommendations for the spring ministerial meeting.

  Immigration
  Mr. Vaz
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will detail the current waiting lists for spouses applying to join husbands or wives in Britain at high commissions and embassies in (a) India, (b) Pakistan, (c) Sri Lanka, (d) Kenya, (e) Uganda and (f) Bangladesh.

  Mr. Eggar
  The table sets out the number of spouses awaiting interview in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Uganda as at 30 September 1987:

  Post

  Numbers in Queue

  New Delhi

  320

  Bombay

  460

  Calcutta

  No queue in operation

  Madras

  No queue in operation

  Islamabad

  965

  Karachi

  78

  Dhaka

  1,780

  Colombo

  No queue in operation

  Nairobi

  60

  Kampala

  No queue in operation

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
  Mr. Gregory
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch or equivalent schemes are currently in operation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  There are now over 42,000 neighbourhood watch schemes in operation in England and Wales, three times the number of those known to us 15 months ago. We are greatly encouraged by the increasing willingness and commitment which this shows on the part of the general public to be involved in preventing crime.

  Police Establishments
  Mr. Boyes
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications he is currently considering from police forces in England and Wales requesting an increase in their establishment.

  Mr. Hurd
  Nineteen police authorities in England and Wales have asked me to approve increases totalling 737 in their establishments in this financial year. I shall be taking decisions on these applications in the light of advice from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with chief constables about further increases in constabulary police establishments.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Police establishment matters are often discussed with chief constables during visits to police forces and on other occasions.

  Broadwater Farm Estate
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Metropolitan Police Commissioner's current policing policy towards the Broadwater Farm estate.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The policing of the Broadwater farm estate is a matter for the Commissioner. I understand from the Commissioner that there has been no change in his policy towards the estate. The area continues to be policed by a dedicated team of officers and the police are always ready to meet representatives of the local community to discuss concerns about policing on the estate.

  Knives
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had over proposed legislation to compound further the possession of knives.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  During our recent study of the law relating to the possession of knives, we consulted chief officers of police and some trading interests. We also took account of the views of right hon. and hon. Members, other police officers and the public.

  Mr. Flynn
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has received to his proposals to control the carrying and possession of knives and other offensive weapons.
  816
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government's proposals to strengthen the law on carrying knives in public and to take powers to prohibit the manufacture, sale and importation of specified offensive weapons for which there is no legitimate use seem to have been well received generally.

  Juveniles (Custody)
  Mr. Baldry
  asked the Secretary of State for Home Department if he will make a statement on the limitation Her Majesty's Government are taking in replacements for custody for juveniles.

  Mr. John Patten
  Whilst custody must remain available for the most serious offenders, it is the Government's policy to encourage more use of non-custodial measures for offenders under 21. There has been a positive response to this approach with juvenile offenders under 17, and the Government are considering how the use of such measures might be developed for 17 to 20-year-olds.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to raise the age at which boys are liable to penal custody to that currently applying to girls; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government propose to replace detention centre orders and youth custody sentences with a unified custodial sentence for young offenders. The Criminal Justice Bill has been amended to include the necessary provisions. The new sentence will be available for boys aged 14 and girls aged 15.

  Firearms
  Ms. Primarolo
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will change the onus of proof for the possession of firearms in the same way that he proposes for the carrying and possession of knives and other offensive weapons.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As my right hon. Friend said in the: debate on firearms in the House on 26 October, at columns 28 to 69, the burden of proof on the carrying of firearms in a public place already falls on the individual concerned. Section 19 of the Firearms Act 1968 makes it an offence for any person, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the proof whereof lies on him), to have with him in a public place a loaded shotgun or loaded air weapon, or any other firearm (whether loaded or not) together with ammunition suitable for use in that firearm. To be in possession of firearms an individual must satisfy the requirements for the issue of a certificate.

  Mr. Graham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further discussions he has had with the Police Federation regarding the tightening of controls over the ownership and use of firearms.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have not discussed this matter recently with the Police Federation but my right hon. Friend is very much aware of their views.

  Mr. Henderson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to bring shotguns within the scope of his proposals on the ownership and use of firearms.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend has already announced that we intend to bring self-loading and pump
  817
  action shotguns under the same controls as rifles and handguns. We also intend to impose a statutory obligation on shotgun certificate holders to store their weapons securely when they are not being used.

  Mr. Fallon
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has received to his proposals for the reform of gun controls.

  Mr. O'Brien
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has had to his proposals to tighten controls over the ownership and use of firearms.

  Mr. Yeo
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding reform of the gun control laws.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor).

  Mr. Leigh
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to consult those representing rural interests before introducing new firearms legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We recognise the important role that shooting plays in rural communities, both as a sport and, for many people, as a necessary means of vermin control. We have written to a number of organisations representing rural interests to request their views on our proposals. These include the National Farmers Union, the Countryside Commission, the Council for the Protection of Rural England, the Association of County Councils, the Association of District Councils and the British Deer Society.

  Mr. Illsley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to encourage co-operation from firearms users, any future firearms legislation will include proposals to compensate those owners whose firearms would thereby be rendered illegal.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This is one of the matters currently under consideration.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearm certificates were issued in each of the years 1984, 1985 and 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In 1986, 12,074 new firearm certificates were issued in England and Wales, compared with 11,663 in 1985 and 11,413 in 1984. The table shows, by police force area, the number of certificates on issue and the number of dealers registered at 31 December 1986. More detailed figures on the issue of firearm and shotgun certificates will be published shortly in a Home Office statistical bulletin.

  Table

  Firearm and shotgun certificates on issue and firearms dealers registered at 31 December 1986, by police force area

  England and Wales

  Force

  Number of certificates on issue

  Number of dealers registered

  Firearm

  Shotgun

  Avon and Somerset

  6,159

  30,160

  79

  Bedfordshire

  1,410

  9,479

  21

  Cambridgeshire

  3,075

  19,311

  42

  818

  Force

  Number of certificates on issue

  Number of dealers registered

  Firearm

  Shotgun

  Cheshire

  2,689

  17,708

  31

  Cleveland

  900

  3,766

  10

  Cumbria

  4,248

  15,180

  36

  Derbyshire

  2,389

  16,893

  40

  Devon and Cornwall

  9,560

  47,471

  111

  Dorset

  2,902

  15,022

  40

  Durham

  2,355

  8,543

  17

  Essex

  5,205

  27,063

  110

  Gloucestershire

  2,836

  15,447

  47

  Greater Manchester

  2,623

  14,314

  44

  Hampshire

  5,828

  30,115

  67

  Hertfordshire

  1,897

  13,912

  43

  Humberside

  4,858

  15,235

  50

  Kent

  7,428

  31,060

  97

  Lancashire

  3,530

  18,732

  61

  Leicestershire

  2,124

  15,791

  50

  Lincolnshire

  4,644

  23,185

  54

  London, City of

  59

  68

  6

  Merseyside

  2,064

  6,257

  25

  Metropolitan

  9,084

  41,814

  287

  Norfolk

  3,912

  30,335

  44

  Northamptonshire

  2,403

  12,656

  33

  Northumbria

  7,023

  14,417

  42

  North Yorkshire

  6,398

  24,154

  58

  Nottinghamshire

  1,963

  14,856

  38

  South Yorkshire

  1,718

  11,460

  18

  Staffordshire

  3,316

  19,152

  51

  Suffolk

  3,968

  23,016

  55

  Surrey

  2,723

  15,623

  72

  Sussex

  6,097

  29,759

  100

  Thames Valley

  7,199

  33,284

  138

  Warwickshire

  1,655

  12,390

  42

  West Mercia

  5,225

  38,038

  100

  West Midlands

  2,760

  15,997

  99

  West Yorkshire

  3,589

  16,580

  86

  Wiltshire

  2,765

  14,383

  41

  Dyfed Powys

  4,255

  28,160

  51

  Gwent

  852

  10,213

  15

  North Wales

  2,495

  21,250

  33

  South Wales

  2,102

  18,702

  39

  Total

  160,285

  840,951

  2,523

  Mr. Dykes
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will summarise the principal conclusions he has drawn from the representation of gun clubs so far received in the preparation for new firearms control legislation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The consensus of opinion expressed by the gun clubs is against most of the proposals we have announced. We believe that, whilst the interest of legitimate shooters must be taken into account, a substantial shift in the balance of firearms law is necessary to meet the needs of public safety.

  Sir John Farr
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce a Firearms Bill.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As my right hon. Friend indicated during the recent debate on firearms controls—26 October 1987, columns 28–69—we hope to be able to announce a comprehensive package of measures on firearm controls by the end of November with a view to introducing a Bill before Christmas.

  Nationality
  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to extend beyond 31 December the period available for registration as British citizen under the British Nationality Act 1981.

  Mr. Renton
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mr. James Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider reducing or withdrawing the requirement under the British Nationality Act 1981 that every adult registering as a British citizen pay a fee of £60 and every family pay a fee of £180.

  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reduce or cancel the fee of £60 payable by people seeking to register as British citizens under the provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981 on the grounds of its disincentive effect on poor people.

  Mr. Renton
  No. This would not be fair to all other applicants who have paid the full fee.

  Mr. Nellist
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he now proposes to make for those in receipt of state benefits who wish to apply for registration or naturalisation under the Nationality Act 1981.

  Mr. Renton
  The Government believe that it is right that those who wish to become British citizens should meet the cost of processing their applications and there are no plans to make any exceptions to this general principle.

  Mr. Vaz
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total income received by Her Majesty's Government from those persons applying for registration to become British citizens for 1987 (interim), 1986 and 1985.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is not available.

  Net fee receipts in respect of all applications under the British Nationality Act 1981 (including those for naturalisation as well as registration) were as follows:

  Financial year

  Receipts

  1985–86

  £3,269,000

  1986–87

  £4,241,000

  1987–881

  £5,120,000

  1To end October.

  Mr. Vaz
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total numbers of persons applying for registration as British citizens pursuant to the British Nationality Act 1981 for 1987 (interim figure), 1986 and 1985.

  Mr. Renton
  The precise information requested is not available. The following table gives the number of registration applications received in the Home Office for British citizenship, British Overseas citizenship and British subject status.

  Applications received

  1985

  33,756

  1986

  37,873

  19871

  63,000

  1Estimate to end September.

  820
  Mr. Randall
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether those people who are eligible to register as British citizens by the 31 December deadline. and fail to do so will (a) lose their current civil rights including their right to vote, (b) lose, as a consequence, their current rights to any social benefit payments and (c) increase their risks of deportation.

  Mr. Renton
  If people do not apply for registration before the end of the year, their failure to do so will not affect their right to vote, their current rights to social benefit payments or their current immigration position.

  Mr. Randall
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate what effect the £60 cost of registering as British citizens will have on the number of people failing to register by the 31 December deadline.

  Mr. Renton
  It is not possible to make any such assessment.

  Telephone Tapping
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the latest judicial review of telephone tapping.

  Mr. Hurd
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister presented to the House in March this year the first report of the commissioner appointed under section 8 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 (Cm. 108). The Act requires the interception commissioner to report to my right hon. Friend"as soon as practicable after the end of each calendar year".
  I expect my right hon. Friend to present the report for 1987 to the House in February or March 1988.

  Tape Recording
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement about the programme of tape recording of interviews with suspects; and how soon this will be available in all police areas.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Following the completion of field trials in six areas, police forces throughout England and Wales are now making arrangements for the introduction of the tape recording of interviews with suspects. The speed at which tape recording can be introduced within a force area will depend on a number of factors including resource implications for the police and for other agencies in the criminal justice system.

  Broadcasting Standards Council
  Mr. Lord
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has drawn up the terms of reference of the Broadcasting Standards Council.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Berkshire, East (Mr. MacKay) on 23 October at column 893. We are currently consulting interested organisations about our plans for the Broadcasting Standards Council, and will announce further details in due course.

  Basildon (Courthouse)
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the building of a new courthouse in Basildon.

  Mr. John Patten
  Essex county council is responsible for providing the new magistrates' courthouse, in consultation with the magistrates' courts committee. We set a cost limit for the scheme earlier in the year and authorised Essex county council to go to tender without further reference to the Home Office.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Sackville
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has drawn up terms of reference for the proposed national crime prevention organisation.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are not yet ready to do so formally, but it seems likely that the functions of the new body will include identifying good practice in local crime prevention and ensuring that it is promulgated widely, advising local communities, businesses, voluntary bodies and local authorities on strategies for tackling local crime problems, raising and distributing pump-priming funds for initiatives on local crime prevention and advising both central and local government on local crime prevention issues.

  Mr. Harris
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to announce the composition of the national crime prevention organisation.

  Mr. John Patten
  We hope to be able to do so before the end of this year.

  Licensing Law
  Mr. Greg Knight
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received in respect of his proposals to amend the licensing law in England and Wales.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the Bill on the reform of licensing hours; and how many representations have been made to him thereon.

  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to introduce the Licensing Bill.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Details of the Government's proposals for the reform of the licensing law were published on 4 August and 528 representations relating to the proposals have been received since that date.

  The Licensing Bill was introduced in this House on Thursday 29 October.

  Mr. Hardy
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to ensure that companies owning licensed premises do not require their tenants or managers to maintain opening hours at all periods permitted by law.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This is a matter for negotiation between the parties concerned. I understand that negotiations are in progress and the parties are hopeful that a satisfactory solution will be found.

  Gambling Machines
  Mr. Speller
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to impose a minimum age limit of 16 years on users of gambling machines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The research announced into this subject on 6 May is now well under way. When we have received the results of that research we shall be in a better position to judge whether it is necessary or desirable to introduce fresh legislation.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding improving electoral registration.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received representations in the recent past on three matters:

  1. That the autumn canvass for the register should be advertised on television;

  2. That people could not vote at the last general election because they had been omitted from the register;

  3. That people resident overseas, who would be entitled to vote, found the procedure to be included in the register unduly difficult.

  It would be unduly expensive to implement the first suggestion. We are looking, in consultation with the political parties, at the second and third matters to see what changes might be made. We have already taken a range of initiatives to improve the accuracy of the register and we shall continue to work for improvements.

  Fresh Start Scheme
  Mr. Rowe
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce fresh start into Her Majesty's prison, Maidstone.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are firmly committed to introducing fresh start at all establishments as soon as possible. Implementation at Maidstone now depends on agreement locally.

  Horse Racing
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on the introduction of horse racing on Sundays.

  Mr. John Patten
  Provided suitable arrangements are made for betting to take place lawfully, we see no reason to stand in the way of horse racing on Sundays. That is the view we have expressed on the Bill introduced in another place by Lord Wyatt of Weeford and we are following the debate about that Bill and the public debate which has arisen with interest. We have no plans at present to introduce legislation on this subject.

  British Broadcasting Corporation
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chairman of the board of governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation; and what subjects they discussed.

  Mr. Renton
  On 29 and 30 September, to discuss the portrayal of violence and sex on television and the independent production initiative respectively.
  823
  Mr. Grocott
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the chairman of the British Broadcasting Company; and what matters he will raise with him.

  Mr. Renton
  We will be keeping in close touch with the chairmen of the BBC and the IBA in the coming months over a range of broadcasting policy issues. Topics we have discussed with them in recent weeks include the portrayal of violence and sex on television and the independent production initiative.

  Murder (Convictions)
  Mr. Mullin
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the persons whose convictions for murder have subsequently been quashed on appeal or who have otherwise been released before completion of their sentences because of doubts about the safety of the convictions during the period 1979 to the present day.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information is not readily available in the form requested regarding those who have had their conviction for murder quashed on appeal. However, there have been three cases since 1979 where such convictions were quashed following reference to the Court of Appeal by Home Secretaries under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968. These are Albert Edward Taylor, conviction quashed on 13 March 1979; Mervyn John Scott Russell, conviction quashed on 6 December 1983; and Geoffrey Mycock, conviction quashed on 20 June 1984. In 1980 David Cooper and Michael McMahon were released early from their life sentences for murder by exercise of the royal prerogative of mercy.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Stevens
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent evidence he has about the effectiveness of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

  Mr. Hurd
  In reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. McLoughlin) on 8 April, at column 239, I announced that I had asked Viscount Colville of Culross to carry out a general review of this Act. I hope to be able to place Lord Colville's report before the House shortly.

  Heysel Stadium (Trial Costs)
  Mr. Loyden
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what costs to his Department have arisen as a result of the extradition of the Heysel stadium defendants.

  Mr. John Patten
  The costs that have fallen on the Home Office relate mainly to the time spent by officials who are employed in the division responsible for extradition. No exceptional costs were involved.

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr. Hanley
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners, either convicted or on remand, are currently being held in police cells; and whether industrial action by the Prison Officers Association is still preventing these prisoners' admission into prisons.
  824
  Mr. John Patten
  On Wednesday 4 November 810 were held in police cells, in England and Wales, most of whom would have been on remand.

  Visitors (Residence Applications)
  Mr. Fraser
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the principles he applies when considering applications to remain in the United Kingdom from persons who have continuously been in the United Kingdom for at least 10 years and against whom no deportation order has been made but whose leave to remain has expired.

  Mr. Renton
  We have recently reviewed our policy on the exercise of discretion to grant leave to remain after lengthy residence in the United Kingdom. Except where the grant of leave would not be in the public interest, a case in which continuous residence exceeds 10 years will be considered on its merits for the grant of indefinite leave to remain. Among the factors to be taken into account are the strength of ties with the United Kingdom and elsewhere, the total length of continuous residence and the proportion of it which has been lawful. In considering possible deportation we have regard to the matters set out in paragraphs 156–159 of the Immigration Rules (HC 169), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Teenage Crime
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he proposes to take to combat teenage crime.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government have a comprehensive strategy for tackling all forms of crime of which measures to reduce offending by young people are an important part. The police, courts, probation and prison services all have a contribution to make; so have local authorities, social services, schools and voluntary organisations together with parents and responsible citizens. Most counties and large towns now have specific projects aimed at reducing crime, usually with teenage crime as one of the main targets and typically involving co-operation between the relevant services and agencies. The Staffordshire police activity and community enterprise run by the Staffordshire police in my hon. Friend's constituency is one example. These projects are constantly being developed with the Government's encouragement and in many instances financial support. The standing conference on crime prevention will later this month receive reports from working groups which have been examining various aspects of teenage crime; and the national crime prevention organisation, about which we hope to make an announcement before the end of the year, will no doubt make this one of its first priorities.

  Conservative Party Conference
  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received regarding policing costs for the 1987 Conservative party conference.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received representations from the Lancashire county council and police authority and from 14 hon. Members and one member of the House of Lords seeking a special payment from central
  825
  Government towards the additional policing costs of the 1987 Conservative party conference. We have considered these representations carefully but concluded that we would not be justified in departing from normal police funding arrangements in this case, by which the Government meet the greater part of any additional costs.

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. Madden
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the objectives and current progress of the review of the police initial recruitment test.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The purpose of the review is to examine the feasibility of replacing the existing PIR test with a new test of the same standard which is directed more accurately to the abilities which police officers need to do their job. The first stage of the review required a job evaluation of the tasks performed by police constables. That part of the works is now nearly complete.

  Prisons
  Mr. Stott
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the present conditions in Her Majesty's prisons.

  Mr. John Patten
  Overcrowding, especially in local prisons and remand centres, creates substantial difficulties for management and staff in maintaining satisfactory conditions. We are working to improve conditions through our major programmes for new prisons and refurbishment of existing establishments, the recruitment of more officers and fundamental changes in working practices under fresh start.

  Drug Trafficking
  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assets have been seized as a result of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer my hon. Friend to a reply I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) on 2 November at column 539.

  Prison Statistics
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current prison population; by how much this has been reduced by his amnesty measures announced in July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 30 October 1987 47,815 persons were held in prison department establishments. The prison population was reduced by about 3,000 prisoners as a result of the increase on 13 August 1987 in remission to one half for prisoners sentenced to 12 months or less announced by the Home Secretary on 16 July at columns 1292–1305.

  Prison Building (Northern Region)
  Mr. Cousins
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total expenditure on work in the prison building and refurbishment programme since
  826
  1983–84; what this expenditure was in each standard region; and how much of this expenditure since 1983–84 was placed with (a) architects and (b) quantity surveyors located in the northern standard region.

  Mr. John Patten
  The total expenditure on the prison building and refurbishment programme from 1983–84 to end September 1987 was £325·16 million, of which £166·68 million was on new prisons, and £158·48 million on the refurbishment and extension of existing prisons. These figures do not include professional fees. Regional figures are available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cousins
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage, by value of work in the prison building and refurbishment programme in the years since 1983–84, was undertaken in the northern standard region; and what percentage, by value of work, in the prison building and refurbishment programme in the years since 1983–84, was placed with (a) architects and (b) quantity surveyors in firms located in the northern standard region.

  Mr. John Patten
  This information can he obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Sumberg
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of television licences issued in the years 1957 and 1986.

  Mr. Renton
  The information available in respect of 1957 relates to the number of licences in force at the end of the 1957–58 financial year: 8,090,003. The number of licences in force at 31 December 1986 was 18,904,617.

  Anton Gecas
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on what action he intends to take in respect of the alleged war criminal Anton Gecas, a resident of Edinburgh.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to a question from the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) on 26 October at column 15.

  Fines
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to legislate to link court fines to the ability of offenders to pay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Under section 35 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, courts are already required to take the offenders' means into consideration when fixing the amount of a fine. We are setting up experiments to see whether means assessment can be improved so that fines can be linked more closely to the capacity of less well-off offenders to pay them.

  Forensic Science
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the current grades and pay scales of forensic scientists employed by his Department; how many scientists are employed at each grade; if he has any proposals to increase the pay scales; and if he will make a statement.
  827
  Mr. Hurd
  The current grades, numbers in grades, and pay scales of scientific staff in the forensic science service are as follows:

  Grade

  Numbers in grade as at 12 October 1987

  Current pay scale £

  4

  1

  28,975

  29,725

  30,475

  5

  5

  24,765

  25,815

  26,965

  28,215

  6

  8

  18,786

  19,685

  21,335

  23,185

  25,335

  7

  53

  15,030

  15,630

  16,280

  16,980

  17,730

  18,530

  19,380

  119,500

  20,292

  1Interim point from 1 October 1987: Staff on this point proceed to maximum of unified grade 7 (£20,292) on 1 April 1988. From 1 April 1988 there will be accelerated incremental progression for the best performers and for those in grades SO grade 4 who have reached their scale maximum additional increments will be available to reward outstanding or otherwise specially deserving performance.

  Grade

  Number in grade

  Pay scale from 1 September 1987

  Revised pay scale from 1 April 1988

  Senior Scientific Officer (SSO)

  124·5

  11,557

  12,024

  12,024

  12,505

  12,505

  13,005

  13,005

  13,526

  13,526

  14,066

  14,066

  14,629

  14,629

  15,214

  15,214

  15,823

  Higher Scientific Officer (HSO)

  97·5

  9,219

  9,687

  9,687

  10,154

  10,154

  10,622

  10,622

  11,089

  11,089

  11,557

  11,557

  12,024

  12,024

  12,505

  12,505

  13,005

  Scientific Officer (SO)

  125

  7,816

  8,284

  8,284

  8,751

  8,751

  9,219

  9,219

  9,687

  9,687

  10,154

  10,154

  10,622

  Assistant Scientific Officer (ASO)

  57·5

  4,004

  4,004

  4,585

  4,585

  5,250

  5,250

  5,618

  6,011

  6,431

  6,881

  828

  Grade

  Number in grade

  Pay scale from 1 September 1987

  Revised pay scale from 1 April 1988

  6,881

  7,349

  7,349

  7,816

  7,816

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals to increase the establishment of forensic scientists employed by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend is considering an increase in the complement of the forensic science service to improve turn-round times and to provide new services. But 49 per cent. of the cost of the forensic science service is borne by police authorities and we shall therefore wish to consult them before reaching final decisions.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recruitment policy of his Department's forensic science service.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Department's policy is to recruit suitably qualified staff to maintain the complement of the service. Staff in the scientific grades above assistant scientific officer are recruited on behalf of the Department by the Civil Service Commission in accordance with the principles of fair and open competition. The directors of forensic science laboratories have delegated authority from the Department to recruit assistant scientific officers locally, when vacancies arise, in accordance with these principles.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average period of delay between the submission of samples by the Metropolitan police for examination at the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory and the provision of the results of such examination; what were the corresponding periods for 1984, 1985 and 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the relevant figures for 1984 and 1987 are as follows:

  1984 Days

  1987 Days

  Chemistry (Criminalistics)

  45

  65

  Biology

  28

  41

  Chemistry (Drugs possession)

  28

  140

  Chemistry (Toxicology)

  21

  21

  Firearms

  58

  70

  Document examination

  70

  70

  Drink driving

  2 to 3

  2 to 3

  The above figures conceal wide variations, since the time taken to deal with cases varies according to the complexity of the case. Figures for 1985 and 1986 are not readily available.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many forensic scientists are employed currently by the Metropolitan police and his Department, respectively; and what were the corresponding figures for 1984, 1985 and 1986.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is as follows:
  829

  Date

  Number of staff in post

  Forensic scientists in the Home Office

  1984—Figures not readily available

  —

  31 December 1985

  480

  31 December 1986

  469

  12 October 1987

  471·5

  Forensic scientists in the Metropolitan police

  31 January 1984

  211

  31 January 1985

  204

  31 January 1986

  204·5

  31 January 1987

  199·5

  31 October 1987

  195·5

  Forensic Science Laboratory
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average period of delay between the submission of samples by the North Wales police for examination at the Home Office forensic science laboratory at Euxton and the provision of the results of such examinations; what were the corresponding periods for 1984, 1985 and 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The current average period between the submission of crime samples by the North Wales police to the Home Office forensic science laboratory at Euxton (Chorley) and the provision of the results is 44 days. For drink-driving cases, the average period is six days.

  The corresponding periods for the three preceding years were as follows:

  1984 Crime cases: 35 days; drink-driving: 5 days;

  1985 Crime cases: 33 days; drink-driving: 5 days;

  1986 Crime cases: 42 days; drink-driving: 6 days.

  Neighbourhood Watch Groups
  Mr. Terry Davis
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide the necessary funds for signs to be erected on street lights to indicate the existence of a neighbourhood watch group.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 29 October 1987 at column 382.

  Economic League
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the use made by the police of files maintained by the Economic League as the source of information for their inquiries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The police obtain information from many sources in the normal course of their duties. Details are not held centrally of the way in which the police use such information.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Cross-border Trade
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in accordance with article 10 of the Anglo-Irish agreement, he has raised in the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conference, or otherwise, the restriction
  830
  imposed by the Government of the Republic of Ireland on cross-border trade, whose conditions have been declared illegal by the European Commission.

  Mr. Tom King
  Yes.

  Extradition
  Mr. Beggs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for extradition to the United Kingdom of persons in the Republic of Ireland are being processed by the authorities in the Republic and how many of these applications are in respect of terrorist-type offences in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have been asked to reply.

  Figures are not available for the total number of warrants now being processed, but they include warrants relating to eight persons whose return has been requested in connection with terrorist offences.

  Mr. Beggs
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been extradited to the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland for terrorist-style offences (a) in the two years prior to the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement and (b) since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Home Office does not have records of individual cases, but I understand that two people were returned to the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland for terrorist offences in the two years prior to the signing of the Anglo-Irish agreement. No one has yet been returned since the agreement was signed.

  Anglo-Irish Conference
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the dates and locations of all meetings of the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conference and the Ministers and officials from the British and Irish Governments who attended them, together with a breakdown of costs involved for each meeting, covering security, administration, transport and logistical support, stating which vote these costs were met from and what proportion of each of the costs was met by the Irish Government.

  Mr. Tom King
  Joint statements issued after each meeting of the conference, copies of which are in the Library, set out details of dates, location and attendance. It is not the practice to give the names of officials attending. It is not possible at reasonable cost to identify the additional costs to United Kingdom public funds of conference meetings. Costs incurred by the Irish Government are a matter for them.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Belfast, South of 2 July, column 161, there has been any increase in the number of officials employed by the Anglo-Irish secretariat; what is the number of support staff; what information he has as to how many are employed by the Irish Government, the number of support staff, the cost to public funds and the proportion of this cost paid by the Irish side; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom King
  The work of the United Kingdom side of the secretariat is still undertaken by three officials,
  831
  along with six support staff. As to the running costs of the United Kingdom side of the secretariat, I refer the hon. Gentleman to a reply I gave to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East (Mr. Ross) on 4 November. The staffing and expenditure of the Irish side is a matter for the Irish Government.

  Democracy
  Mr. McNamara
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, in relation to the 20 delegations of councillors which the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State the hon. Member for Wiltshire, North (Mr. Needham) saw concerning the discussion paper on elected representatives and the democratic process in Northern Ireland, those proposals which were (a) proposed and (b) supported by which delegations.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer, 2 November 1987]: The purpose of my meetings was to explore views on what might be done in response to widespread concern about the problems posed by the presence in council chambers of councillors who support violence. Given the exploratory and wide-ranging nature of our discussions, it would not be practical or appropriate to attribute specific views to individual delegations. All views were, however, taken into account in preparing the discussion paper.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Cereals
  Mr. Warren
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assess the surplus in cereal production in the European Community and make representations to the European Economic Community to halt the imports of cereal substitutes from outside the Community.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Average Community cereals production over the past three years has been about 20 per cent. above the level that can be absorbed on the Community market.

  For the Community to halt unilaterally the import of cereal substitutes from third countries would be contrary to its international obligations and would not be consistent with the commitments that the Community has undertaken in respect of the Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations.

  Research and Development
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's policy towards maintaining the public sector agricultural research and development base provided by his Department and the Agricultural and Food Research Council, and towards the maintenance of a public sector advisory service to the rural community through the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The July 1987 White Paper on civil research and development (Cm. 185) made it clear that we are intensifying our review of R and D priorities in order to increase the contribution which Government-funded work can make to the efficiency, competitiveness and innovative capacity of the United Kingdom economy.
  832
  My Department is currently looking at its activities and those of the AFRC against this background and the Government's general view that industry should contribute to the cost of work from which it benefits.

  Prawns and Frozen Shellfish
  Dame Peggy Fenner
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on discussions and deliberations on the ice level on prawns and frozen shellfish.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We are at the closing stages of considering the comments made on the recommendations in the Food Advisory Committee's Report on coated and ice-glazed fish products, one of which suggested that there should be an indication of net weight of fish core prior to glazing on all glazed products. I expect to make a further announcement shortly.

  Research
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the Government plans for the future funding of his Department's research budget; arid if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The new planning provisions for expenditure on agriculture, fisheries and food, announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Autumn Statement, include reductions of £5 million and £10 million respectively for 1989–90 arid 1990–91 to reflect the changing balance between public arid industry funding which the Government consider desirable for research and development work.

  Sheep (Radioactivity)
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many farms or parts of farms in Cumbria had sheep movement restrictions reimposed in 1987;

  (2) how many farms or parts of farms had sheep movement restrictions placed upon them for the first time in 1987 in Cumbria.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  None.

  Research Specialists
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of operational research specialists in his Department, for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 4 November 1987]: There are a number of staff in my Department using operational research techniques as part of their work, but there is not a specialist grade. The information is not therefore available in the form requested.

  International Cocoa Council
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals Her Majesty's Government will be making to the International Cocoa Council at the end of November in order to reactivate the buffer stock of the international cocoa agreement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 4 November 1987]: The Government will he seeking implementation

  833
  of the provisions of the international cocoa agreement for a downward revision of the price range for cocoa, taking into account current market developments and long-term trends, so that the remaining resources of the cocoa buffer stock are used as effectively as possible to promote long-term stability in the cocoa sector.

EMPLOYMENT

  Safety Inspectors (Visits)
  Mr. Ashton
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average cycle of farm visits by safety inspectors; and what cuts there have been in the limits of inspectors mileage to make such visits.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Inspections and visits to farms by the Health and Safety Executive's agricultural inspectorate are prioritised and carried out according to the known hazard and the number of persons at risk. Labour-employing establishments are inspected approximately every four years, and other categories less frequently. The budget allocated to the agricultural inspectorate for travel and subsistence has remained the same for the last two years, during which time the number of farm visits has increased slightly.

  Mr. Ashton
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the 176,000 self-employed non-labour premises in farming, forestry and horticulture were visited last year by health and safety inspectors.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive's HM agricultural inspectorate carried out 8,105 inspections of non-labour employing premises last year.

  Pesticides Contractors
  Mr. Ashton
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many aerial and ground pesticides contractors are known to the Health and Safety Executive; how many complaints there were about their activities in the last year; and how many were visited (a) following a complaint and (b) in the course of a formal average visit frequency.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are 35 holders of aerial application certificates known to the Health and Safety Executive; ground crop spraying contractors are not required to he registered.

  The other information is not kept in the form requested but 17 complaints about aerial spraying and 24 complaints about ground spraying involving pesticides were investigated by HSE's HM agricultural inspectorate last year. For further information a copy of the inspectorate's annual report of pesticide poisoning and other incidents investigated in 1986 is available in the House Library.

  Non-agricultural Undertakings (Visits)
  Mr. Ashton
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many known non-agricultural undertakings, involving fish farms, maggot farms, riding schools and kennels, are recorded by the Health and Safety Executive; and how many visits per year the average premises may expect, particularly to check on YTS trainees and the health of young people.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive's HM agricultural inspectorate is responsible for 48,000 non-834
  agricultural undertakings, involving fish farms, maggot farms, riding schools, kennels, contractors, landscape gardeners, golf courses etc. Inspections are planned and carried out according to known hazards on particular premises and according to the number of persons at risk. A total of 800 inspections of non-agricultural premises are planned in the coming year: there is no set visiting cycle for these premises.

  Specific visits are not normally made to check on YTS trainees or young persons but during an inspection an inspector examines the health and safety conditions in which all persons work giving particular attention to the needs of all young people, and also to others who may be affected by the work activity.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Bright
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the increasing cost of proceedings before industrial tribunals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I am aware that some employers are concerned about the cost of proceedings before industrial tribunals. Industrial tribunal procedures are kept under constant review to ensure that they are as simple as possible. Measures have been and will continue to be taken in the context of the Government's deregulation policy to achieve an acceptable balance between the need to preserve the essential employment rights of the individual and the need to reduce unnecessary burdens on employers.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) women and (b) men applied to start their own business under the enterprise allowance scheme in each of the past years since 1983; and how many (i) women and (ii) men were given an allowance award for each of these years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of entrants to the enterprise allowance scheme for each year since 1983 is shown below, by sex. The number of applications received during the same periods is also shown, but no analysis of these by sex is available.

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Total number of applications

  37,922

  53,939

  68,280

  103,193

  Entrants

  27,629

  46,037

  60,036

  86,751

  Female entrants

  4,034

  9,392

  14,579

  22,902

  Male entrants

  23,595

  36,645

  45,507

  63,849

  Women Entrepreneurs
  Mr. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to publish the results of his Department's current research into the problems facing women entrepreneurs; and whether he will give the terms of reference for this project.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The terms of reference for the study of female entrepreneurs commissioned jointly by my Department and Shell UK Ltd. are as follows;

  1. To establish the personal characteristics, motivations and social context of women who become successfully established in business;

  835

  2. To identify the specific problems faced by women in running a business and the methods whereby these arc resolved;

  3. To examine what advice, training and other support women entrepreneurs need and can obtain at the various stages of setting up and operating a business;

  4. To provide an account of the different ways women can become engaged in enterprise and to identify particular factors which contribute to business viability;

  5. To advise on, and where possible, implement methods of dissemination of the research findings so that they reach the client group in question;

  6. To advise on ways in which initiatives and programmes can be moulded to facilitate women's effective participation in enterprise.

  Employed labour force in Great Britain

  Self employed

  Employees in employment

  Her Majesty's Forces

  Employed labour force

  June of each year

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  1977

  1,463,000

  380,000

  13,077,000

  9,036,000

  313,000

  14,000

  14,853,000

  9,430,000

  1978

  1,478,000

  364,000

  13,097,000

  9,152,000

  303,000

  15,000

  14,878,000

  9,531,000

  1979

  1,494,000

  348,000

  13,176,000

  9,435,000

  299,000

  15,000

  14,969,000

  9,798,000

  1980

  1,567,000

  383,000

  13,012,000

  9,421,000

  307,000

  16,000

  14,886,000

  9,820,000

  1981

  1,641,000

  417,000

  12,275,000

  9,087,000

  317,000

  17,000

  14,233,000

  9,521,000

  1982

  1,647,000

  462,000

  11,930,000

  8,966,000

  309,000

  15,000

  13,886,000

  9,443,000

  1983

  1,652,000

  508,000

  11,674,000

  8,882,000

  306,000

  16,000

  13,633,000

  9,406,000

  1984

  1,849,000

  586,000

  11,627,000

  9,104,000

  310,000

  16,000

  13,786,000

  9,706,000

  1985

  1,923,000

  628,000

  11,709,000

  9,295,000

  309,000

  16,000

  13,941,000

  9,939,000

  1986

  1,936,000

  631,000

  11,653,000

  9,446,000

  306,000

  16,000

  13,894,000

  10,093,000

  19871

  1,994,000

  875,000

  11,725,000

  9,646,000

  302,000

  16,000

  14,022,000

  10,337,000

  1The latest date for which whole economy, employees in employment estimates are available. The self-employment estimates are projections based on the growth rate from 1981 to 1986. The figures, with the exception of those for Her Majesty's forces, are adjusted for the effects of seasonal variation.

  Employment Rights
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he has any plans to increase the number of hours that an employee must work each week before she or he can qualify for the main employment rights such as claims for unfair dismissal and statutory redundancy payments;

  (2) whether he has any plans to change the obligation on employers of more than five employees to allow a woman to return to the same or a suitable alternative job at any time within 29 weeks after the birth of a child;

  (3) whether he has any plans to introduce a requirement for applicants to an industrial tribunal to pay a fee.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Proposals or suggestions on these matters were set out in the White Paper "Building Businesses…Not Barriers" (Cmnd. 9794). They are still under consideration.

  Community Programme
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to change the eligibility rules for entry to the community programme to allow the participation of women who are currently prevented from doing so because they are disqualified from receiving benefit.

  Mr. Lee
  I have no plans to change the present arrangements.

  Training Schemes
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to extend the system of child care payments to single parents on the job
  836
  It is expected that the study will be completed by the end of 1987 and results are likely to be available in early 1988.

  Labour Statistics
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of (a) women who are self-employed,(b) men who are self-employed, (c) women who are employed and (d) men who are employed for each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Lee
  The information is as follows:

  training scheme, to single parents on the community programme and youth training scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  There are no plans to extend the system of child care payments currently being piloted on the new job training scheme to single parents on the community programme or the youth training scheme. However, the new job training scheme pilot is being closely monitored and the situation will be reviewed on its completion.

  Job Advertisements (Age Requirements)
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to legislate to prevent age requirements being mentioned in advertisements for employment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The Government do not believe that legislation of this nature would be beneficial or practical.

  Factory Inspectors
  Mr. Dixon
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factories in the west midlands, east midlands, northern and Yorkshire regions were visited by factory inspectors for each of the last five years for which figures are available; what percentage this figure represents of the total number of factories in each of the areas; how many factory inspectors are in post in each of the areas; and if he has any plans to increase the present number of factory inspectors in the areas mentioned.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available in the form requested as the Health and Safety Executive area boundaries do not coincide with those of the Department of Employment regions. It is not possible, without
  837
  disproportionate cost to separate the number of visits made to factories from those made to other premises where the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is enforced by the factory inspectorate. The information available is as follows:

  (a) The number of visits made by factor inspector to premises subject to HSWA:

  HSE Area

  1985–86

  1986–87

  East Midlands

  10,374

  10,421

  West Midlands

  9,963

  10,466

  Marches

  8,041

  9,768

  North Midlands

  7,779

  6,803

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  9,043

  7,893

  West and North Yorkshire

  11,445

  13,261

  North West

  10,118

  8,358

  North East

  10,465

  10,639

  (b) Not all premises subject to the HSWA are required to send notification to the Health and Safety Executive. The percentage figures are therefore not available.

  (c) On 1 October 1987, the number of factory inspectors in post in each of these areas was a follows:

  HSE Area

  Number of inspectors

  East Midlands

  24·5

  West Midlands

  33

  Marches

  23·5

  North Midlands

  21

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  24

  West and North Yorkshire

  31·5

  North West

  23

  North East

  28

  It is hoped to increase the number of factory inspectors in the field during 1988–89, but their location remains to be decided.

  Redundant Workers (Benefit)
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Secretary of State For Employment if following the result of a test case involving a former British Shipbuilders worker in September 1986, he will publish the number of former British Shipbuilders employees in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde, (c) Scotland and (d) England and Wales who have now received payment of unemployment benefit for the first 13 weeks of their redundancy; what has been the average payment; what has been the total amount paid so far to those so entitled to this payment of benefit; what estimate he has of the number still to receive this payment and when they will receive such payment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer, 26 November 1987]: No record is kept of unemployment benefit payments arising from claims made in any particular set of circumstances.

  Claims for unemployment benefit made by ex-British Shipbuilders employees and disallowed because of the 13-week payment received have been reviewed and those claimants who have not already been paid 312 days of unemployment benefit (the maximum amount payable in any period of unemployment) have received a payment of the arrears due. In addition my Department is now making special payments to certain ex-British Shipbuilders employees who at the time of their redundancy did not make a claim to unemployment benefit on the advice of their unemployment benefit office. It is too early to say
  838
  how many people have received the special payments. However it is anticipated that the average amount of these payments will be approximately £314.

THE ARTS

  British National Bibliography
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Minister for the Arts what is the number of items in the present backlog of accumulated material awaiting entry to the British National Bibliography.

  Mr. Luce
  As at 30 October 1987, the total number of deposited items which have not completed processing for entry in the British National Bibliography is approximately 39,000.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Minister for the Arts what is the average time between the publication of a British book and its entry details appearing in the British National Bibliography.

  Mr. Luce
  As at 30 October 1987, the average length of elapsed time between the deposit of all newly published British publications at the British Library and the appearance of entries for them in the British National Bibliography is six months.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Minister for the Arts what plans he has to eliminate the British National Bibliography's backlog of unregistered books.

  Mr. Luce
  This is a matter for the British Library, which, following its consultative paper "Currency with Coverage", has recently announced plans to eliminate backlogs and enable its bibliographic services to keep pace with the rising annual numbers of new publications forecast.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he will make a statement as to whether all descriptive entries for all new British publications appear in the British National Bibliography.

  Mr. Luce
  Descriptive entries appear in the British National Bibliography for all items deposited, except certain categories of publications as listed in the preface to the "British National Bibliography 1986" annual volumes. The exceptions include printed music (covered in another British Library publication), maps, and certain types of official and other "non-trade" publications.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Minister for the Arts if he will consult representatives of libraries, booksellers and publishers on the future of the British National Bibliography.

  Mr. Luce
  The British Library's consultative paper on the future development of the British national bibliographic service invited comments from interested parties, and I understand that further consultations with libraries and with the trade are planned.

  Funding Levels
  Mr. Jessel
  asked the Minister for the Arts whether he will announce levels of funding for the arts in 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  I announced at Newcastle in July the start of a long-term plan for the funding of the arts. The aim of the plan is to maintain the level of support from public
  839
  funds, but to encourage subsidised bodies to become more self-reliant in their development and growth. I am glad to announce today a new departure in arts funding which will carry that plan forward.

  The new departure consists of a three-year settlement of the arts budget. This is a special arrangement providing firm figures not only for the next financial year but for a three-year period from April 1988 to March 1991. This is to give arts bodies a firm base on which to plan their future activities, and if they are successful their future growth. In order to create the right atmosphere and to get this new approach off to a good start, I am providing a substantial increase in funding in the first year.

  The three-year settlement covers much the greater part of my central Government arts programme, including the national museums and galleries; the Arts Council, British Film Institute, Crafts Council and other arts bodies; the running costs of the British Library and the public lending right. It excludes the National Heritage Memorial Fund, for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced a special injection of £20 million this year on 23 October. It also excludes the costs of the British Library capital project at St. Pancras, which will continue to be reviewed annually in the usual way. But it covers all the rest.

  The essence of the three-year settlement is that the figures for the period up to March 1991 will not be reviewed in the course of the 1988 and 1989 expenditure surveys unless the situation changes substantially in ways that cannot be foreseen today. The Government will consider in 1988 what provision to make for the last year of that survey, that is for 1991–92; and similarly in 1989 what provision to make for 1992–93. We intend a rolling three-year programme.

  Thus, arts bodies will be able to plan their own future on a firm basis. We want them to know what the Government are going to do for them—and what they are not going to do; to plan the fund-raising and income generation which they should undertake on their own account; and to match their plans and priorities to a realistic view of the total resources that they can secure for themselves over the three-year period.

  That part of my budget to which the three-year settlement applies will rise from £336 million in the current
  year to £394 million in 1990–91: an increase of £58 million or 17 per cent. To get the new approach off to a good start, the increase in the first year will be 10 per cent. It will not he evenly spread over all my client bodies; most will go where I judge the case to be strongest. My central Government programme as a whole, including the NHMF and the British Library's capital needs, will rise to £440 million over the three-year period. That is a rise of £79 million or 22 per cent. in total.

  The table shows the main allocations over the three-year period. The Arts Council's grant will rise from £138 million in the current year to £150 million next year, £155 million in 1989–90 and £160 million in 1990–91. Over the three years, this is a rise of over 15 per cent. From this increase I shall expect the Arts Council to deal with the financing of overseas tours by our major companies and to set aside sums rising to £7 million by the third year for incentive funding schemes and for increased touring in the regions outside London. The grant to the British Film Institute will rise to £12 million by the third year, an increase of nearly 20 per cent. The grant to the National
  840
  Film and Television School will rise by 50 per cent. to £1·7 million. The Crafts Council's grant will rise by nearly 19 per cent. to £2·4 million.

  I am increasing the provision for the business sponsorship incentive scheme from £1·75 million to £3·0 million.

  The provision for public lending right will rise from £2·75 million to £3·5 million, a rise of 27 per cent, which will bring the fund to its highest level in real terms since its inception.

  The provision for the running costs of the British Library will rise from £51 million in the current year to £56 million by 1990–91, a rise of nearly 10 per cent.

  The total provision for museums and galleries will rise from £126 million in the current year to £141 million next year and £146 million by the third year. I shall make a further statement before Christmas on the allocation of these sums between institutions. But not less than £6 million of the increase in the first year will be devoted to strengthening the building and maintenance programme of the national museums and galleries—a rise of over 20 per cent. The grant to the Museums and Galleries Commission will rise to over £6·8 million by the third year, a rise of over 11 per cent.

  These measures combine a substantial increase with a firm limit. They offer an opportunity to aim for, and secure, a broadening of the base of support for the arts in this country. As living standards rise, we should aim to ensure that increasing numbers of people not only have access to the arts but participate by their own choice in supporting them. My proposals are designed to help to create the climate in which artists and arts bodies can win that support.

  Table of main allocations

  £ million

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Arts

  Arts Council

  138·40

  150·00

  155·00

  160·00

  British Film Institute

  10·03

  11·30

  11·50

  12·00

  NFTVS

  1·13

  1·60

  1·65

  1·70

  Crafts Council

  2·02

  2·25

  2·35

  2·40

  Government Art Collection

  0·16

  0·20

  0·22

  0·24

  BSIS

  1·75

  3·00

  3·00

  3·00

  Arts Marketing

  0·25

  0·25

  0·25

  0·25

  Research and supporting services

  0·22

  0·70

  0·70

  0·70

  Heritage

  NHMF (OAL share)

  1·50

  1·50

  1·50

  1·50

  Acceptance in lieu (OAL share)

  1·00

  1·00

  1·00

  1·00

  Libraries

  British Library

  current grant

  51·00

  54·00

  54·70

  56·00

  capital

  22·70

  32·26

  39·65

  44·19

  New library initiatives

  0·00

  0·25

  0·25

  0·25

  RCHM

  0·53

  0·60

  0·61

  0·63

  Public Lending Right Scheme

  2·75

  3·50

  3·50

  3·50

  Museums and Galleries

  Museums and Galleries total of which:

  125·64

  140·70

  142·66

  145·63

  National Institutions

  119·38

  133·80

  135·55

  138·33

  841

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Museums and Galleries Commission

  6·26

  6·40

  6·61

  6·81

  Research and support services

  —

  0·50

  0·50

  0·50

  Sponsorship
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Minister for the Arts what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that partial private sponsorship of the arts does not result in financial difficulties for art expressions not associated with establishment values.

  Mr. Luce
  The Government are committed to the maintenance of arts funding in real terms, and they are honouring this commitment. The distribution of funding is a matter for the Arts Council and other major bodies. There is no reason why any individual arts organisation should not be able to finance the growth of its activities by seeking to increase its income from other sources. Nor is it impossible for innovative art groups to obtain sponsorship.

  Arts Council
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Minister for the Arts what is the 1982 value of the current annual grant to the Arts Council; and what was the level of grant in 1982.

  Mr. Luce
  The 1982 value of the current annual grant to the Arts Council is £111,018,000. The 1982–83 grant to the Arts Council was £90,850,000.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Storm Damage
  Mr. John David Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional financial resources have been allocated by the European Community to those areas in the United Kingdom which suffered severe storms and flooding during the month of October.

  Mr. Lawson
  The Commission decided on 21 October to provide 300,000 ecu (£210,000) in emergency aid to the most needy families of those who died or were injured in England as a result of the storm of 15–16 October.

  On 28 October the Commission decided to provide a further 200,000 ecu (£140,000) in emergency aid for the families of those killed or in greatest need as a result of the flooding in Wales and Northern Ireland between 18 and 21 October.

  BP Shares
  Mr. Chris Smith
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what form authorisation will be sought for any expenditure arising from the Bank of England's buy-back scheme for BP shares.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The shares will be paid for and held by the issue department of the Bank of England as part of the portfolio of assets backing the note issue, under the provisions of the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1928. Other additional expenses incurred which are specifically related to the share purchase arrangements will be brought to account on the vote which relates to the sale of shares 842
  in BP plc (class XIX, vote 16). Parliamentary approval for such expenses will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the vote. Pending that approval of this new service, urgent expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund. It is not possible to provide a firm estimate of the expenditure that will be incurred as this will depend on the extent to which shares are offered for sale to the Bank of England.

  European Economic Community (Budget)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to the proposals presented by the EEC Commission on budgetary discipline (Com (87) 430) and in particular toward whether the exceeding of spending because of exceptional circumstances should fall to be dealt with by unanimity or majority vote.

  Mr. Brooke
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 1 July, the Government consider effective and binding control over Community spending, in particular on agriculture, to be essential. We are not convinced of the necessity for any continuing provision to be made for "exceptional circumstances". The voting rules in relation to such a provision would depend on the legal base for the Council decision or regulation that gave effect to it.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline the manner in which decisions on the breaching of EEC budget limits because of exceptional circumstances under the agreement of the Council of 4 December 1984 have been made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The 1984 budget discipline agreement first came into effect with the Community budget for 1986 when the financial guideline for agricultural expenditure was set at 21,012 million ecus. On 7 July 1986 the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers agreed that agricultural expenditure in 1986 could exceed the financial guideline by an amount which could be justified mainly by the exceptional circumstances of the abnormally large depreciation of the United States dollar. The supplementary and amending budget for 1986 subsequently increased provision for expenditure on agriculture from the guideline figure of 21,012 million ecus to 22,112 million ecus.

  The financial guideline for 1987 remains at 22,961 million ecus, as was stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Gould) on 6 February at column 840. It was agreed at the European Council on 29–30 June that agricultural expenditure should be kept within the guideline this year by means of an adjustment in the system of payments to agricultural intervention agencies in the member states, so that payments will in future be made in arrears instead of in advance. The necessary amendment to the EAGGF financing regulation was adopted by the Agriculture Council of 19–20 October. The Government supported this change as a step towards more effective financial control of agricultural expenditure.

  Excise Duties
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the extent to

  843
  which his decisions on excise duties are restricted by EEC policy decisions on convergence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The package of tax measures recently put forward by the European Commission contains proposals for the convergence of excise duty rates in the Community. These have not yet been discussed in the Council of Ministers and no decisions have been taken.

  Official Report
  Mr. Sumberg
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the price of the Official Report.

  Mr. Brooke
  Following a review by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, I have authorised an increase of 75p in the price of the daily part, with proportionate increases in the prices of the weekly part and fortnightly index. The price of Standing Committee debates will be increased by £1·05, bound volumes by £3·00, and the volume index by 30p. Subscription rates and the scale of charges for reprints of Members' speeches appearing in the Official Report will also be raised. Despite these increases, Hansard will still receive a substantial subsidy.

  Board of Banking Supervision
  Dr. Twinn
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Board of Banking Supervision will be set up on a statutory basis.

  Mr. Lawson
  The board, which has operated since May 1986 on a non-statutory basis, has now been established under section 2 of the Banking Act 1987. I am grateful to the independent members of the non-statutory board (Sir Donald Barron, Mr. Andrew Caldecott, Mr. Deryk Vander Weyer, Mr. Nigel Robson, Mr. Harry Taylor and Mr. Alan Hardcastle) for indicating their willingness to serve on the new board. The Governor of the Bank of England and I have jointly appointed them to be the independent members of the new board.

  Eurotunnel
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the liability to stamp duty and the stamp duty reserve tax of the units offerred for sale by Eurotunnel.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The companies, the stock exchange and other interested parties have discussed the offer with the Inland Revenue.

  The Eurotunnel group will be offering for sale to the public units comprising one share in Eurotunnel plc and one share in Eurotunnel SA. They will require that these shares are issued and transferred together, as a single unit, in order to link United Kingdom and French participation in the tunnel project. This arrangement would, however, give rise to complex charges to stamp duties and stamp duty reserve tax. The taxes would sometimes apply to the unit and sometimes to the Eurotunnel plc share only. These results were not envisaged when the legislation was introduced, and would complicate dealings in the units. The next Finance Bill will therefore include proposals to make the unit chargeable security for stamp duty and reserve tax purposes, and to remove the initial charge to bearer instrument duty on the issue of units and warrants to acquire units abroad.
  844
  The intention of these changes is to treat the units for stamp duty and the reserve tax in the same way as a single share.

ENVIRONMENT

  Estate Action Team
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to extend the facility of his Department's estate action team to housing associations and housing societies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Estate Action was set up in June 1985 specifically to help local authorities tackle the problems of their rundown estates. We focused on the local authority sector because all our evidence suggested that the major difficulties lay in this area. At present I have no plans to extend the activities of the Estate Action team to housing associations and housing societies.

  Assured Tenancy Scheme
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of private residential tenancies created under the assured tenancy scheme for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. The number of assured tenancy lettings on 1 April each year since 1983 was:

  Number

  1983

  44

  1984

  244

  1985

  405

  1986

  609

  1987

  2,998

  Sewerage
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the agency agreements between water and local authorities under the Water Act 1973, whereby some district councils retain sewerage functions.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Following a review by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, the statutory basis of these agreements was changed by section 6 of the Water Act 1983. We have since decided to privatise the utility functions of water authorities, and it is inconsistent with the aims of privatisation for local authorities to continue to have the presumptive right to act as sewerage agents. Our proposals for the future of these agreements were set out in a consultation paper in November 1986. I am placing copies in the Library of the House.

  Home Loans
  Mr. French
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the effectiveness of the promotional campaign for the Government's home loan scheme for the purpose of increasing the percentage of eligible first-time buyers who participate in the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Government already make a full range of promotional material for the scheme available on
  845
  request to the savings and lending institutions which operate it. Growth in owner-occupation has been very marked in recent years and very large numbers of people are buying a house for the first time each year. In 1986–87 there were 670,000 first-time buyers—the highest ever annual figure. In deciding on priorities for publicity expenditure, it would be difficult to justify more resources for an area of housing which is already developing satisfactorily.

  Rating Reform
  Mrs. Kellett-Bowman
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, if the community charge per adult in Lancaster were to be £190 per annum, what estimates he has to indicate what would be the rate of local income tax that would be required to raise an equivalent overall sum assuming that taxpayers in Lancaster are on a similar tax base to taxpayers in Lancashire as a whole for (1) persons earning £100 per week and (2) persons on the average national wage.

  Mr. Howard
  I estimate that a community charge of £190 in Lancaster would be equivalent to a rate of local income tax of 4·9p. The impact on particular households would depend on their circumstances, but a single person earning £100 per week would pay up to £140 a year of LIT on this basis; a single person earning the average national wage would pay up to £400.

  Mr. Pike
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of "Paying For Local Government—The Need For Change" his Department has had published; what was the cost involved; and what other expenditure has been incurred in publicising his proposals for the introduction of the community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 29 October, at column 438–39.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the organisations in Scotland which have notified him of their support of the poll tax legislation.

  Mr. Howard
  The Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714) asked for comments on the Government's proposals from individuals and organisations in Scotland to be sent to the Scottish Office.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes a system of rebates for small business under the unified business rate.

  Mr. Howard
  No. Small businesses will benefit from our guarantee that the rate poundage will increase by no more than the retail prices index. There will be generous phasing arrangements for those businesses facing increases on the move to the uniform poundage.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how he intends to make arrangements for contributions to local authority services from foreign diplomats following introduction of the poll tax.

  Mr. Howard
  We will announce details of the proposed arrangements in due course.
  846
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he considers will be the appropriate time to make an estimate of the number of staff required to administer the poll tax.

  Mr. Howard
  In accordance with convention, an estimate of the staffing implications of the rates reform proposals will be included in the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Bill.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information will be available to electoral registration officers as to the reasons names appear on the poll tax register, but not on the electoral register.

  Mr. Howard
  Electoral registration officers will know that the community charges register and the electoral register serve different purposes; the former is a list of those liable to pay the community charge in an area; the latter a list of those entitled to vote.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what purposes it is proposed that electoral registration officers will have access to the poll tax register.

  Mr. Howard
  Electoral registration officers will have access to community charges registers to assist them in checking the completeness of electoral register.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek the permission of those organisations which have submitted comments following publication of Cmnd. 9714 "Paying For Local Government" to publish their views.

  Mr. Howard
  No. A list of those organisations which responded is available in the Library should the hon. Member wish to approach respondents directly.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what pay scale is proposed for community charge officers.

  Mr. Howard
  The community charge registration officer in each area will be the officer administering the local authority's financial affairs under section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972. They will continue to be paid on the appropriate scale.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of "Paying For Local Government—The Need For Change" have been printed; to whom they have been distributed; and what was the cost of publication.

  Mr. Howard
  100,000 copies of the booklet "Paying for Local Government—The Need for Change" have been printed at a cost of £16,200. They are being distributed in response to requests from individuals or organisations for their members use. Copies are also enclosed, where relevant, with replies to ministerial and official correspondence on the rates reform proposals.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of work undertaken in respect of the paragraphs on local income tax on page 7 of his Department's leaflet "Paying For Local Government—The Need For Change."
  847
  Mr. Howard
  These paragraphs were based on the consideration of local income tax in paragraphs 3·24 to 3·32 of the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714), which was published in January 1986.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) on 21 October, column 817, he estimates the information on the poll tax model for 1986–87 will be available.

  Mr. Howard
  Shortly.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the organisations which have notified him of their opposition to the poll tax legislation.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor).

  Poverty
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr may expect a reply to his letter of 6 August seeking information about poverty in large cities and London boroughs, which was passed to his Department on 24 August.

  Mr. Howard
  The Department has no record of the hon. Member's letter of 6 August. If he would like to send me a copy of his letter, I will ensure that he receives a prompt reply.

  England and Wales

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987 (to date)

  Number of

  Number of

  Number of

  Number of

  Number of

  Licences issued

  Birds taken

  Licences issued

  Birds taken

  Licences issued

  Birds taken

  Licences issued

  Birds taken

  Licences issued

  Birds taken

  Sparrowhawk

  50

  351

  47

  8

  41

  279

  47

  298

  35

  —

  Merlin

  8

  58

  18

  3

  20

  178

  19

  170

  24

  60

  Buzzard

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kestrel

  3

  5

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Prairie falcon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Goshawk

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  New Zealand falcon

  —

  —

  2

  —

  3

  3

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Red-tailed hawk

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Peregrine

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  10

  1

  —

  Lanner falcon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1985

  1987 (to date)

  Number of

  Number of

  Number of

  Number of

  Number of

  Licences issued

  Birds taken

  Licences issued

  Birds taken

  Licences issued

  Birds taken

  Licences issued

  Birds taken

  Licences issued

  Birds taken

  Sparrowhawk

  4

  2

  6

  4

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  Merlin

  1

  10

  —

  —

  2

  48

  2

  35

  2

  —

  Prairie falcon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Local Elections
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Envionment if he will commission research on the relative voting turn-out at local government elections of those (a) in receipt of rate rebates or housing benefits and (b) those not in receipt of such benefit.

  Mr. Howard
  I have no plans to commission such research.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has on the nature of the existing link between those who (a) vote in local elections, (b) use local services, and (c) pay for local services.

  Mr. Howard
  On our latest estimates there are 35·8 million electors in England, all of whom benefit from the availability of local services. Of those, just over a third pay rates directly and in full. A further 3 million pay a proportion of rates. In some areas only one voter in four pays rates directly and in full. Our proposals to reform the system of local government finance will restore the link between those who vote in local elections, those who use local services and those who pay for those services.

  Wild Birds
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by species of avian predator, and for each of the last five years and 1987 to date, what was the number of licences granted for taking and the numbers of birds so taken from the wild.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The details of the falconry licences issued since 1983, showing the species of predator, and the number of birds reported as taken, are as follows. Similar details for 1982 are not available.

  "Tenants Choice: the Government's Proposals"
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to distribute the document "Tenants Choice: the Government's Proposals" to right hon. and hon. Members.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Copies of the document "Tenants' Choice", which explains the Government's proposals for legislation to give council tenants a right to opt for new landlords, were placed in the Library of the House on 3 November.

  Councillors (Declarations Against Violence)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to provide for elected councillors in England and Wales to sign a declaration abjuring violence along the lines of that proposed for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Widdicombe committee on the conduct of local authority business recommended that all local authority councillors in Great Britain should have to make a declaration before exercising their office; that this should have a status similar to the oath sworn, or affirmation made, by juries; and that consideration should be given whether this declaration should be specific as to what the public duty of being a councillor entails. We are considering this recommendation.

  Welsh Footballers
  Mr. Alan Williams
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Welsh Football Association about the refusal of the Football League to cancel certain matches in which Welsh footballers are involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have received a letter from the Football Association of Wales and from the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) on its behalf.

  This is a matter for the two football authorities. I do, however, sympathise with the position of the Football Association of Wales and hope, even at this late stage, that the Football League can reconsider the matter.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Leighton
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy for dealing with homelessness.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 4 November to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan). Additional resources to tackle homelessness and other items in the current financial year were announced by my right hon. Friend on 3 November in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Patnick).

  Dog Wardens
  Mr. Key
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there is a needs element in grant-related expenditure of local authorities relating to the provision of dog wardens; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Grant-related expenditure assessments fully allow for local authorities' need to spend. As with 850
  many other services on which there is relatively low expenditure, there is however no specific indicator related to provision of dog wardens.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Adoption
  Miss Lestor
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what responses he has made to the Council of Europe's report and recommendation on the traffic in children for adoption; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The Parliamentary Assembly's report on the traffic in children and other forms of child exploitation which includes the traffic in children for adoption, is presently in draft form. It is due to be considered by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers' Deputies in December 1987. We shall not be in a position to respond to the report or to make a statement until it has been examined in detail by the committee.

  World Health Organisation
  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to assist the World Health Organisation strategy of health for all by the year 2000; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  the Government have fully endorsed the principles underlying the "Health for All" strategy which are:—the provision of a health care system in which primary health care is recognised as playing a vital role. The Government have conducted a wide ranging review of primary health care services and will shortly be publishing a White Paper setting out proposals for updating these services;
  —promotion of healthier lifestyles and encouraging individuals to look after their own health—an emphasis which is making progress in this country and is exemplified in our national campaigns on drug abuse, smoking, AIDS and coronary heart disease and the creation of the new Health Education Authority;
  —reduction of preventable conditions—for example, the Government's emphasis in relation to children and young adults on the reduction of perinatal and maternal mortality, progress in immunisation rates, new cancer screening programme;
  —development of the necessary supportive measures such as our improved management and planning structures, our development of new information systems and the increases in the numbers of those working in the health services.

  The strategy sets out a valuable framework for all those responsible for health service planning to use in the light of local circumstances and we shall be taking it fully into account in preparing future planning guidelines to health authorities.

  Bedford General Hospital
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the total expenditure derived from central Government sources on Bedford General hospital south wing during each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Currie
  My hon. Friend will be interested to see the figures which follow:
  851

  Total Expenditure on Bedford General Hospital South Wing

  Financial Year

  Regional Managed Capital Schemes

  District Delegated Capital Schemes

  Revenue

  £

  £

  £

  1982–83

  800,867

  161,071

  10,997,777

  1983–84

  404,367

  17,660

  12,305,440

  1984–85

  235,000

  108,645

  13,182,516

  1985–86

  207,000

  81,112

  14,005,133

  1986–87

  1,230,000

  278,650

  15,098,368

  Allocations to hospitals are a matter for the district health authority, and detailed information is not held centrally. For any further information my hon. Friend may wish to contact the chairman of North Bedfordshire health authority.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present formula for making extreme weather payments; whether he proposes to make changes to the formula; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 30 October 1987 at column 468–9.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the date to which the United States Surgeon-General has projected the cases of AIDS infection in that country; and whether he will make it his policy to make similar projections for the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  The United States Public Health Service has published estimates of the numbers of AIDS cases in that country up to 1991. These estimates have wide margins of error which increase towards the later years. Our policy is that predictions should be made only as and when justified by the available scientific data.

  Local Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Illsley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of local appeal tribunals which took place in 1986 (a) nationally and (b) in Barnsley; and in what proportion of Those tribunals the claimant was successful.

  Mr. Portillo
  Administrative statistics show that a total of 125,838 appeals were heard and decided in Great Britain in 1986. Of these, 31,675 (25·2 per cent.) were determined in the claimant's favour.

  National administrative statistics of social security appeals are not disaggregated for areas smaller than a social security region. In the north eastern region in 1986, a total of 20,040 appeals were heard and decided, of which 4,653 (23·2 per cent.) were found in favour of the claimant.

  Nurses (Accommodation)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many units of nursing accommodation there are in each health district of the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that information in respect of health authorities in England is not held centrally.

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. McTaggart
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he plans legislation further to control private clinics offering cancer screening facilities.

  Mrs. Currie
  We are considering the issues involved in ensuring that users can be confident of private screening services, including the possibility of statutory control. Meanwhile we welcome the steps the private sector is taking to devise guidelines for the accreditation of, and quality assurance in, clinics and laboratories offering cancer screening services.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assumptions are made concerning waiting times when determining the number of (a) consultants and (b) beds in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  The need to improve waiting times is one of the objectives taken into account by health authorities when deciding how best to provide and develop services for patients. Numbers of consultants or beds would form part of those service plans.

  Community Care Grants
  Mrs. Fyfe
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether women leaving Women's Aid refuges on being rehoused will he entitled to community care grants, under regulations for the social fund;

  (2) whether the circumstances of domestic violence will be included in the guidelines for community care grants under the regulations for the social fund;

  (3) whether women who have suffered domestic violence will qualify as high priority applicants for community care grants; and whether they will be entitled to the maximum sums available under those grants, under the regulations for the social fund;

  (4) what amount of community care grant will be payable under the regulations for the social fund to women victims of domestic violence on leaving Women's Aid refuges to move to independent housing; and whether this will be stated in the guidance for social fund officers;

  (5) whether women victims of domestic violence who flee to Women's Aid refuges will be entitled to a community care grant to replace clothing destroyed during the marital or cohabitation breakdown under the regulations for the social fund.

  Mr. Scott
  Community care grants from the social fund will not be subject to regulations but will be awarded at the discretion of the social fund officer, in accordance with the law and Secretary of State's directions and taking account of the Secretary of State's guidance. Guidance about awards in cases of domestic violence is included in part 6 of the social fund manual, a pre-publication copy of which is in the Library.

  Dentists (Computers)
  Mr. Radice
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will take steps to inform general dental practitioners about their rights relating to the Dental Estimates Board computer at Bournemouth;
  853
  (2) if he will take steps to inform dental practitioners of the degree of protection given under the terms of the Data Protection Act to records concerning them held by the Dental Estimates Board.

  Mrs. Currie
  Publicity about the provisions of the Data Protection Act is the responsibility of the Data Protection Registrar, who is mounting a publicity campaign to inform all data subjects of their rights. The rights of general dental practitioners and their patients in relation to the Dental Estimates Board's computer records are the same as those of any person whose record is maintained on a computer.

  Abortions
  Mr. Alton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for the most recent years for which figures are available, the different conditions, syndromes and diseases diagnosed in foetuses aborted under statutory ground 4 at 18 weeks gestation and over, together with the numbers of each condition and in each case the numbers expressed as a percentage of all abortions at 18 weeks and over.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Mentions of medical conditions for notifications of abortions carried out under statutory ground 4 of the 1967 Abortion Act to residents and non-residents at 18 weeks and over gestation, England and Wales 1986: numbers and percentage of all operations performed at 18 weeks and over

  ICD number and condition

  Medical conditions1 (mentions)

  Percentage of all abortions 18 weeks and over

  655 Known or suspected fetal abnormality affecting management of mother

  635

  7·67

  655·0 Central nervous system malformation in fetus

  297

  3·59

  655·1 Chromosomal abormality in fetus

  175

  2·11

  655·2 Hereditary disease in family possibly affecting fetus

  19

  0·23

  655·3 Suspected damage to fetus from viral disease in the mother

  9

  0·11

  Rubella (056)

  7

  0·08

  Rubella contact (VO1 4)

  1

  0·01

  Rubella immunisation (VO 4·3)

  —

  —

  Number of notifications of legal abortions performed on residents and non-residents at gestation weeks: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and over, by statutory grounds, age-group of mother and category of premises 1986

  Gestation weeks

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25 + over

  Statutory grounds

  All grounds

  2,611

  1,553

  1,389

  753

  876

  880

  185

  29

  1 (with other)

  4

  3

  3

  1

  2

  2

  1

  —

  2 (alone)

  2,306

  1,338

  1,187

  657

  788

  829

  158

  7

  3 (with or without 2)

  144

  79

  43

  27

  30

  16

  3

  —

  4 (alone)

  131

  125

  138

  60

  52

  28

  20

  19

  5 (with any other except 1)

  26

  8

  18

  6

  4

  5

  3

  3

  5 or 6

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Age group

  All ages

  2,611

  1,553

  1,389

  753

  876

  880

  185

  29

  Under 15

  27

  15

  15

  12

  18

  24

  2

  —

  15

  81

  46

  50

  28

  29

  38

  8

  —

  16–19

  802

  454

  416

  214

  243

  291

  47

  5

  854

  ICD number and condition

  Medical conditions1 (mentions)

  Percentage of all abortions 18 weeks and over

  655·5 Suspected damage to fetus from drugs

  8

  0·10

  655·6 Suspected damage to fetus from radiation

  3

  0·04

  655·8 Other known or suspected fetal abnormality, not elsewhere classified

  96

  1·16

  655·4 Suspected damage to fetus from other disease in the mother and

  655·9 Unspecified fetal abnormality

  28

  0·34

  1 These figures represent the number of medical conditions reported (mentioned) rather than the number of operations.

  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action the Government have taken to ensure the effective implementation of the recommendations for reducing the number of late abortions put forward by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in their study; "Late Abortions in England and Wales 1984".

  Mr. Newton
  The Department has discussed the findings of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists report with regional general managers and regional medical officers, and health authorities have been encouraged to improve their administrative referral systems. Earlier this year family planning and pregnancy counselling projects were set up with central funding in City and Hackney, Milton Keynes and South Sefton district health authorities. These will continue until March 1989. They are being independently evaluated by Isobel Allen of the Policy Studies Institute and we expect to disseminate her findings to the National Health Service when they have been studied.

  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions were performed on residents and non-residents during 1986 at each of the following gestational ages; 18 weeks, 19 weeks, 20 weeks, 21 weeks, 22 weeks, 23 weeks, 24 weeks and 25 weeks and over, respectively; on what grounds these were performed; what were the ages of the women; and what was the number performed in the National Health Service and the number performed in approved places.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is shown in the table.
  855

  Gestation weeks

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25-over

  20–24

  877

  519

  453

  238

  296

  276

  72

  11

  25–29

  414

  245

  212

  113

  140

  114

  22

  10

  30–34

  226

  124

  101

  74

  68

  63

  18

  2

  35–39

  126

  105

  81

  46

  55

  47

  9

  —

  40–44

  47

  38

  52

  24

  22

  24

  7

  1

  45 + over

  11

  7

  9

  4

  5

  3

  —

  —

  Unknown

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Category of premises

  NHS

  452

  219

  267

  84

  75

  37

  23

  22

  Non-NHS

  2,159

  1,334

  1,122

  669

  801

  843

  162

  7

  Mr. Frank Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will break down the number of abortions by the social class of the mother for the latest available date.

  Mr. Newton
  Information on occupation status, from which social class data are compiled, is not collected on the abortion notification form.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy that personal details on Department of Health and Social Security computers will not be used for the purpose of implementing the poll tax legislation.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have been asked to reply.

  Our policy is to maintain the confidentiality of social security records and to disclose them only in certain limited circumstances. One circumstance where we would consider such disclosure would be to safeguard public funds. No decision has been taken on whether we should provide for the disclosure of any details of certain social security claims to local authorities administering the community charge.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Leighton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost to the National Health Service of a hearing aid.

  Mr. Scott
  The National Health Service provides a range of different types of hearing aids but the Department does not collect this information centrally. Responsibility for supplying hearing aids in England and Wales was transferred to Mersey regional health authority on 1 April 1985.

  The hon. Member may therefore wish to contact the regional chairman direct.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidelines were issued by the attendance allowance board to delegated doctors concerned with assessing claims following the Court of Appeal decision in the case of Moran v. Secretary of State for Social Services; and whether he will deposit copies of the guidelines in the Library.

  Mr. Scott
  Guidance on the approach to continual supervision at night, taking account of the Moran judgment, has been included in the overall revision of the attendance allowance board's guidelines for delegated 856
  medical practitioners which was already in hand: copies have been placed in the Library. As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 26 October 1987 at columns 199–200, the guidelines will be published as a priced document after Parliament has completed consideration of the current Social Security Bill—including any further amendments which may then be necessary.

  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for attendance allowance based upon the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of Moran v. the Secretary of State for Social Services have now been determined; and how many claims were successful.

  Mr. Scott
  Following the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of Mrs. Dorothy Moran, about 73,000 claims to attendance allowance involving continual supervision at night have been decided. In most of these cases the outcome was the same as it would have been before the judgment, but in some 700 cases the claimant received an allowance, or a higher rate of allowance, which would not have been awarded but for the Moran judgment.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people he expects to lose all entitlement to unemployment benefit from the reduction from 60 to 55 years of the age at which that benefit is abated against an occupational pension.

  Mr. Scott
  About 27,000 a year.

  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people are expected to lose from the tightening of the first condition for receipt of unemployment benefit;

  (2) how many are expected to lose from the tightening of the second condition for receipt of unemployment benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that about 280,000 people a year would lose some benefit from the tightening of the second contribution condition for entitlement to unemployment benefit if it was introduced in isolation. About 350,000 would lose some benefit from the tightening of both contribution conditions simultaneously. I regret that no reliable estimate is available of the number who would lose benefit as a result of tightening only the first condition.

  Single Payments
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average amount paid in single payments to someone leaving institutional care at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  A special survey of single payment claims made in a sample of offices in October 1986 recorded an average payment of £304 to a small sample of claimants moving from institutional care into the community.

  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the level of single payments made in each year from 1980 to 1986.

  Mr. Scott
  The level of single payments is as follows:

  Year

  Number of payments

  Total cost

  (May-April)

  (thousands)

  (£ million)

  1980–81

  1,049

  48

  1981–82

  1,186

  57

  1982–83

  1,473

  98

  1983–84

  2,129

  166

  1984–85

  3,316

  241

  1985–86

  4,375

  335

  1986–87

  4,230

  330

  Source: Management Information System (100% count). Provisional only for 1986–87.

  Family Credit
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the value of the cash element included in the rates of family credit to compensate for the loss of (a) free school meals and (b) welfare milk.

  Mr. Scott
  An amount of £2·55 is included in each of the child credit rates and the same amount therefore goes to each child or young person in the family irrespective of whether it is in replacement of free school meals or free welfare milk.

  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the basis on which the assumption is made that take-up of family credit will be 20 per cent. higher than take-up of family income supplement.

  Mr. Scott
  The assumption reflects that used in the technical annex to the White Paper -Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 9691). Because family credit is a more generous benefit than family income supplement and will go to many more families we expect it to become much better known. There will also be extensive advertising and other publicity when the new scheme starts, as part of our communications strategy. Overall, therefore, potential claimants should become more aware of family credit and the generally higher levels of benefit which are payable.

  Passported Benefits
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings he expects to make from the nonpayment of passported benefits with bridging allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  A person who would have been entitled to income support, and so to passported benefits, but for the proposed withdrawal of general entitlement from 16 and 17-year-olds would be entitled to those benefits on low income grounds while receiving a bridging allowance. There would therefore be no savings for this reason.

  Child Benefit
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings he expects to make from paying child benefit rather than income support to school leavers living at home.

  Mr. Scott
  The saving on income support will be around £84 million in a full year, net of the higher costs of child benefit and child dependency additions.

  Housing Benefit
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recipients of housing benefit will lose benefit owing to the exclusion of emergency alarms from eligible service charges; and what savings will accrue from this change.

  Mr. Portillo
  The draft regulations for the reformed housing benefit scheme ensure, in line with current policy, that housing benefit will be available to help with the costs of alarm systems where they are provided in accommodation which is particularly suitable for and occupied by elderly, sick or disabled people. Our guidance to local authorities on the current housing benefit scheme makes it clear that housing benefit should only meet the cost of accommodation-related, as opposed to purely personal services. Accordingly we would not expect any loss in benefit, or expenditure savings where local authorities have followed that guidance.

  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people lost all entitlement to housing benefit as a result of changes in tapers in each year from 1982 to 1986.

  Mr. Portillo
  We do not have separate figures for loss of entitlement through taper changes where other changes were made to the housing benefit scheme. The table shows the numbers estimated to lose all entitlement as a result of changes to the housing benefit scheme between 1983 and 1985; there were no taper changes in 1982 or 1986. The numbers shown should not necessarily be regarded as cumulative.

  Housing benefit: Households losing all entitlement 1983–1985

  Great Britain

  thousands

  April 1983 taper change

  April and November 1984 changes to tapers, minimum and child's needs allowance1

  November 1985 rate taper change2

  400

  500

  450

  1 The figures include those affected by the non-dependant deduction changes.

  2 The figures refer to rate rebates only; some households may still have received assistance with rents.

  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are expected to lose entitlement to housing benefit as a result of changes made in 1987.

  Mr. Portillo
  An estimated 110,000 households lost all entitlement to a rent rebate or allowance in April 1987 as a result of the increase in the rent taper from 29 per cent. to 33 per cent. A significant proportion will still qualify for a rate rebate.

  Single Childless People
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the most recent figures for the numbers of single childless people under 25 years drawing the householder rate of supplementary benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 4 November.

  Widows
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows are expected to lose benefit by the payment of a lump sum instead of weekly widow's allowance; and what the savings will be in a full year.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that in 1988–89 about 1,000 widows will receive the widow's payment of £1,000 who would under the current scheme have been entitled only to widow's allowance for 26 weeks at £57·65 a week, without a succeeding benefit. Because of other alterations in the structure of widows' benefits, a further group of younger widows without dependent children—estimated at about 2,000—will receive widow's payment only whereas under the current scheme they would have received weekly benefits. The extent of loss, as compared with the current scheme, will depend on the widow's tax position and her age. The changes in widows' benefits will cost in total an additional £24 million in the first year but savings will accrue thereafter, rising to some £120 million at November 1985 prices by 2033–34. It is not possible to isolate the expenditure effects of the replacement of the widow's allowance from the wider effect of structural changes.

  Board and Lodging Allowances
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when allowances for ordinary board and lodgings were last increased; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Supplementary benefit personal allowances for people living in ordinary board and lodging accommodation were last increased in April this year at the same time as the general uprating of benefits. Supplementary benefit, for the cost of board and lodging, increases to meet any rise in charges provided they do not exceed limits introduced in April 1985. The limits range from £45 to £70 a week depending on the area in which the accommodation is situated.

  Severe Disablement Allowance
  Mrs. Beckett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking, following the commissioner's decision in the Clarke case, to ensure that severe disablement allowance is paid as from 22 December 1984 to women who would have qualified for noncontributory invalidity pension but for the household duties test.

  Mr. Scott
  In the light of the judgment by the European Court of Justice, and the subsequent decision by the Social Security Commissioner on Mrs. Clarke's claim to severe disablement allowance, we estimate that about 3,400 other women who claimed SDA in the transitional period from non-contributory invalidity pension may be affected by the court's judgment. All of them are being identified from 860
  departmental records and we will write soon to those who may be entitled, to let them know that we are aware of their claim. It will be necessary to examine each case individually to establish the precise entitlement: about one third of the women involved may since have been awarded SDA on other grounds—or other benefits—which will affect what extra is now payable as arrears or current benefit. It may be some months before the process is completed in all cases.

  Computer Network
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Service if he will make a statement on his plans to put out to contract the design, programming and operation of a combined social security computer network; which companies have progressed to tender stage; and how many of these are United Kingdom-based companies.

  Mr. Portillo
  Design and programming work in some areas is already being done by contractors, working alongside civil servants. I have no present plans to extend this or to put operations work out to contract.

  Electronic Data Systems
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy not to enter into any contract for computer operations with Electronic Data Systems.

  Mr. Portillo
  There are no contractual arrangements with Electronic Data Systems pending or in prospect.

  Computer Systems (Training)
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to ensure that his Department's staff are sufficiently trained to enable them to operate the computer systems envisaged in the operational strategy.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department provides a wide range of training courses for its computer staff engaged on both operations and development work. Plans for training the future users of the various operational strategy systems are currently being prepared.

  Disability Premium
  Mr. Corbett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will ensure that the new disability premium is set at a level to guarantee that all dialysis patients on supplementary benefit and currently receiving a heating, bathing and diet allowance totalling £18 a week will continue to receive at least the same amount in total benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  My right hon. Friend announced on 27 October at columns 179–81 that the new disability premium will be set at £13·05 for a single person and £18·60 for a couple. Those claimants whose entitlement is less than their current benefit entitlement at the point of change will have their existing benefit level maintained.

  Private Residential Establishments and Nursing Homes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide figures to show the total funding

  861
  through his Department of private residential establishments and nursing homes by local authorities in Wales for each of the last five years and the estimates for 1987.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department does not directly fund private residential care or nursing homes but people in these homes can claim supplementary benefit to help meet their fees if they have insufficient resources of their own. Information on the amount of benefit paid to people in homes in Wales is not available.

  Afro-Caribbeans (Mental Institutions)
  Mr. Randall
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what actions he intends to take over the MIND report which indicates that a disproportionate number of Afro-Caribbeans are held in Britain's mental institutions.

  Mrs. Currie
  I am grateful for this report, which officials will study with great care, together with other relevant information bearing on psychiatric services provided to ethnic minorities, which were discussed last month by the Department's mental illness research liaison group.

  Health Authorities (Financial Assistance)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total of the additional funds which he made available to health authorities to assist them with pay rises in the current financial year; when the payments were made; and if he will publish a list of the authorities and amounts concerned.

  Mr. Newton
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr. Fowler) announced on 23 April 1987 that the Government were providing an additional £264 million for the hospital and community health services in England to help meet the cost in 1987–88 of the pay review body awards for doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives and the professions allied to medicine. The additional funds were allocated as follows:

  Regional Health Authorities

  £ million

  Northern

  16·7

  Yorkshire

  18·8

  Trent

  23·2

  East Anglian

  9·8

  North West Thames

  18·8

  North East Thames

  23·8

  South East Thames

  20·9

  South West Thames

  16·9

  Wessex

  13·9

  Oxford

  10·9

  South Western

  16·4

  West Midlands

  26·6

  Mersey

  13·5

  North Western

  22·9

  RHA Total

  253·1

  Special Health Authorities and others

  10·9

  Grand Total

  264·0

  It was for each region to determine how the funds should be allocated to their districts.

  Payments (Credit Transfers)
  Mr. Butterfill
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to offer payment by credit transfer to retirement pensioners and child benefit recipients.

  Mr. Scott
  The issue of invitations to retirement pensioners and child benefit recipients to consider the advantages of payment by credit transfer, which was suspended in 1984, is to be resumed. Invitations to retirement pensioners will recommence this month and to child benefit recipients in January 1988.

  Benefits
  Mr. Blunkett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside about the case of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis of 21 Valentine crescent, Sheffield; and what assessment he has made of the implications of this case for his policy of reducing dependency on the state.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer, 29 October 1987]: The hon. Member wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 2 September and 14 September, and to my hon. Friend the Minister of State on 23 September. I replied to those letters on 29 September, and explained that supplementary benefit is not designed for full-time students, such as Mr. Ellis, who have withdrawn from the employment field to embark on a course of study, nor is it intended for people such as Mrs. Ellis, whose contact with the employment field has been less than six months. These principles are consistent with the Government's policy of reducing dependency on the state.

  People receiving a Manpower Services Commission training allowance are not required to be available for work as a condition for receiving supplementary benefit. If Mr. Ellis were accepted for a course of study which was sponsored by MSC, his income would be adequate for his family because he would receive an MSC training allowance which would be topped-up by supplementary benefit if necessary. There are several MSC-sponsored computer courses in the Sheffield area.

SCOTLAND

  Parliament Act
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of convictions in Scottish courts for contraventions of the Parliament Act in the last three years for which such information is available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None.

  Sexual Offences (Evidence)
  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate when he will make proposals to amend the law of evidence in Scotland in relation to the prosecution of sexual assaults; and what further consultations he proposes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no immediate plans for further change. However, the Scottish Law Commission is considering the law of evidence in criminal proceedings. In particular my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate who has ministerial responsibility for
  863
  the law of evidence, has asked the commission to consider what reforms might be made to lessen the burden of giving evidence by witnesses who are considered to be particularly vulnerable, such as children.

  In accordance with its normal procedure the commission will in due course produce a consultative memorandum providing an opportunity for those interested in this matter to give their views.

  Tourism
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the existing rules and procedures adopted by the relevant local authorities and other statutory bodies interested in the application and development of a coherent valid signposting policy for tourism in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Following discussions with the Scottish Tourist Board and other interested bodies, the Scottish Development Department issued circulars (numbered 17/83, 29/85 and 29/86) which set out the criteria for tourist signs and the procedures to be followed by applicants for signs. The Department, in consultation with tourist interests and local roads authorities, continues to monitor the effects of existing

  Number of objections from

  Year

  Number of applications objected to

  Local authorities

  Other statutory bodies

  Decisions taken on these applications

  1982

  1

  —

  1

  Approved

  1983

  2

  —

  2

  1 Refused

  1 Approved

  1984

  7

  1

  6

  4 Refused

  3 Approved

  1985

  5

  4

  3

  3 Refused

  2 Approved

  1986

  1

  1

  1

  Approved

  1987

  13

  9

  7

  4 Refused

  to date

  4 Approved

  5 Pending

  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications he has received under the forestry grant scheme since the relaxation in March 1986 of policy toward land clearance for afforestation; what area of land is covered by these applications; how many applications have been approved; what area of land is covered by these approvals; and what proportion of the applications and of the approvals are from owners of estates and from farmers farming their own land, respectively.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the period 1 April 1986 to 30 September 1987 the Forestry Commission received 1,448 forestry grant scheme applications in Scotland, covering approximately 147,000 hectares of land. Within that period 1,080 applications were approved, relating to approximately 110,000 hectares. Information about the status of applicants is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  864
  policies and to examine the merits of further innovations. In general, I am satisfied that the procedures are working well.

  Forestry
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to provide for a statutory consultation procedure in relation to applications to the Forestry Commission for planting approval under the forestry grant scheme and to require the commission to take account of any observations and representations made by voluntary bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend is not persuaded that such legislation is necessary or desirable.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for forestry planting licences in Scotland were objected to by local authorities and other statutory bodies, respectively, in each of the last five years and 1987 to date; and how many were refused as a result.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There is no system of forestry planting licences. The following table gives the information in relation to applications to the Forestry Commission for grant-aid for planting:

  Housing
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his legislative proposals following consultation on the document "Scottish Homes."

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A White Paper will be published shortly which will set out the Government's intentions for future housing policy. It is hoped to introduce legislation, in so far as that is necessary, as soon as practicable.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest figures for house building by the public and private sectors (a) in Scotland, (b) in Glasgow and (c) in Glasgow, Provan.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest figures were published in table 8 of Scottish Development Department statistical bulletin HSIU No. 31, "Housing Trends in Scotland: Quarter ended 31 March 1987," a copy of which is available in the House Library. Information held centrally does not identify areas other than at district council level or their aggregates.
  865
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest figures for people on housing lists in (a) Glasgow and (b) the constituency of Glasgow, Provan.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 October 1987.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what security of tenure existing tenants in Scottish Special Housing Association homes will be given if their homes are sold to private landlords;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the effect on Scottish Special Housing Association houses of his private sell-off proposals;

  (3) if he will list the categories of municipal housing which Her Majesty's Government do not intend to put on the private market.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has already made it clear that tenants of the Scottish Special Housing Association will remain public sector tenants, with all of the statutory rights which this Government have conferred on such tenants, under the Government's proposals to create a new unified housing development agency for Scotland, Scottish Homes. The Government's proposals for the future development of housing policy will be set out in full in a White Paper which it is intended to publish shortly.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report all organisations, voluntary bodies and local authorities which made submissions during the consultation process on Her Majesty's Government's consultative document called "Scottish Homes".

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) on 26 October, at columns 149–53.

  Stonehouse and Law Hospitals
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when the vacancy for an anaesthetist at Stonehouse hospital will be filled; and when the vacancy occurred;

  (2) what is the reason for the delay in appointing an anaesthetist at Stonehouse hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Appointments to individual posts are a matter for individual health boards. However, I understand that anaesthetic services at Stonehouse hospital are provided by the division of anaesthetics based at Law hospital, and that there are currently no vacancies in that division.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give assurances that ear, nose and throat facilities will be maintained at Law hospital;

  (2) if he will give assurances that the gynaecology ward will not be closed at Stonehouse hospital;

  (3) if he will give assurances that ear, nose and throat facilities will be maintained at Stonehouse hospital;

  (4) if he will give assurances that the gynaecology ward will not be closed at Law hospital;

  (5) if he will give assurances that emergency facilities will be reinstated during the night at Stonehouse hospital as soon as possible.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  These are matters in the first instance for the Lanarkshire health board.
  866
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give the nurse-to-patient ratio yearly from 1979 at Stonehouse hospital;

  (2) if he will give the nurse-to-patient ratio yearly from 1979 at Law hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This specific information requested by the hon. Member is not available centrally, but the following table shows the ratio of the number of whole-time equivalent nurses at 30 September of each year to the average number of occupied beds in the year to 30 September in each case:

  Year

  Stonehouse hospital

  Law hospital

  1979

  0·8:1

  0·8:1

  1980

  0·8:1

  0·8:1

  1981

  0·9:1

  0·8:1

  1982

  1·0:1

  0·9:1

  1983

  1·1:1

  1·0:1

  1984

  1·1:1

  0·9:1

  1985

  1·1:1

  0·9:1

  1986

  1·1:1

  1·0:1

  11987

  1·1:1

  1·0:1

  1 31March 1987.

  Ambulances
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the roadworthiness and safety of ambulances in Clydesdale constituency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No such representations have been received.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the number of ambulances in the Clydesdale constituency.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are 12 ambulances at Carluke, four at Douglas and two at Biggar. A further 77 ambulances may carry patients to and from Clydesdale depending on origin destination, vehicle availability and urgency.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the number of ambulances over (a) three, (b) five and (c) seven years old used in the Clydesdale constituency.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the number of ambulances in (a) the Tayside health board area and (b) the Dundee district authority area; and how many of these are over (i) three, (ii) five and (iii) seven years old.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Sixty-two ambulances are based in the Tayside health board area, 23 of which are based in the area of the city of Dundee district council. The requested information on the age of ambulances is not available centrally.

  A74
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on when the A74 will be upgraded to M74 status.
  867
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26 October to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall). The upgrading will inevitably be a long-term exercise.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of deaths occurring on the A74 annually since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Number of Deaths

  1979

  17

  1980

  8

  1981

  17

  1982

  15

  1983

  13

  1984

  14

  1985

  18

  1986

  23

  11987

  10

  1 January-October.

  Crime Detection
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is satisfied with the crime detection rate in Scotland;

  (2) if he will detail the crime detection rate annually since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The figures are as follows:

  Crimes Cleared-up 1979–86, Scotland

  Year

  Clear-up rate Per cent.

  1979

  30·0

  1980

  32·6

  1981

  31·2

  1982

  29·8

  1983

  30·9

  1984

  30·8

  1985

  33·6

  1986

  34·2

  I am satisfied that the police are making every effort to maximise the clear-up rate; and I welcome the increase that there has been in each of the past two years.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many crimes of violence were committed against elderly people in the Clydesdale constituency yearly since 1979;

  (2) if he will give details of the detention rate of violent crimes against the elderly, yearly since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the number of crimes reported to the police annually since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The available information, on crimes recorded by the police, is set out in the table.
  868

  Crimes recorded by the Police 1979–1986—Scotland

  Year

  Number

  1979

  344,680

  1980

  364,587

  1981

  408,204

  1982

  435,081

  1983

  448,260

  1984

  474,914

  1985

  461,970

  1986

  463,837

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details on the number of convictions for drug abuse in the Clydesdale constituency each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I regret that the information requested is not available on a constituency basis.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give numbers of convictions for drug abuse in Scotland each year since 1979.

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

  Persons with a drugs offence proved: Scotland

  Year

  Number

  1979

  1,150

  1980

  1,155

  1981

  982

  1982

  1,373

  1983

  1,671

  1984

  2,271

  1985

  2,660

  1986

  2,657

  Violent Crime
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures the Government are taking to protect the elderly in their homes from violent crime.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Police forces are always ready to advise individual householders about appropriate security measures to reduce the opportunities for this type of crime. Specific measures currently being taken include(a) the campaign to promote neighbourhood watch, which aims to prevent housebreaking and vandalism through improved physical security watchfulness and mutual help within the community; and (b) the national initiative by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission, under the community programme. to promote crime prevention projects including practical improvements in home security for the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the effect on the Scottish coal industry of his proposals to privatise the electrical industry.

  Mr.Lang
  The Government are at developing proposals for the supply industry in Scotland. The industry in Scotland will be

  Prison Service
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he plans, in the light of the recent series of crises in the Scottish penal system, to give more disciplinary powers to prison officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The punishments which a governor can award to a prisoner found guilty of an offence against prison discipline are laid down in rule 43 of the Prison (Scotland) Rules 1952 (and equivalent rules for young offender institutions and detention centres). The procedures and penalties for offences against prison discipline are kept under review. My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to make changes in the powers available to governors.

  Abortions
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each health board area the number of abortions undertaken in each year since 1968.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Abortion statistics are published annually in "Scottish Health Statistics". Data from 1968 to 1973 are available only by hospital region and from 1974 to 1985 by health board area. Provisional figures for 1986 are set out in the table:

  Abortions by health board of treatment

  Health board

  Number of abortions

  Argyll and Clyde

  552

  Ayrshire and Arran

  521

  Borders

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  246

  Fife

  557

  Forth Valley

  418

  Grampian

  1,224

  Greater Glasgow

  1,972

  Highland

  439

  Lanarkshire

  496

  Lothian

  2,022

  Tayside

  1,080

  Islands1

  22

  All Areas

  9,549

  1 Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles Health Boards.

  Contraception
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the breakdown of numbers of individuals receiving contraceptive advice and treatment (a) by contraceptive method and (b) by source of treatment clinic or general practitioner in Scotland for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 26 October 1987 at columns 114–16.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. McLeish as
  ked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are on hospital waiting lists in (a) Fife and (b) Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest information centrally available, which relates to 31 March 1987 and is provisional, shows 5,198 people on waiting lists for hospital in-patient treatment in the Fife health board area in Scotland.
  870
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients in (a) the Tayside health board area and (b) The Dundee district authority area who are in need of operations have been asked to wait due to lack of medical and hospital facilities for more than three months for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Schools
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report all organisations, voluntary bodies and local authorities which made submissions during the recent consultation on Her Majesty's Government's proposals on school management.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No. We had received some 6,500 submissions by the deadline date of 3 November. The collation and analysis of this material will take a little time.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the consultative steps he proposes to take, and the organisations he anticipates contacting, in anticipation of publishing the proposed Bill on the Scottish Health Service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The discussion document "Primary Health Care: An Agenda for Discussion", which was published in April 1986, was the subject of extensive consultation by my right hon. and learned Friend. The Bill which will be introduced this Session will incorporate measures reflecting the outcome of the consultation. A White Paper to be published shortly will set out that outcome in detail.

  Youth Service
  Mr. McFall
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the light of the recent increase in the relevant expenditure in England and Wales, he intends to increase Government expenditure on the youth service in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Most public expenditure on the youth service in Scotland is undertaken by local authorities. My right hon. and learned Friend announced the rate support grant settlement for 1988–89 on 21 July. He informed the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 26 October that within the total rate support grant settlement provision for community education (which includes expenditure on the youth service) would be £50 million. This represents an increase of 20 per cent. over provision made in the current year's settlement.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the impact of the proposed community charge on monastic communities whose members have no income, and whose premises include accommodation for guests, workshops, and church buildings as well as accommodation for members of the community.

  Mr. Lang
  In general, accommodation in monastic communities which forms people's sole or main residence
  871
  will cease to be subject to rates on 1 April 1989. Other accommodation will remain subject to rates, but rate increases from that date will be pegged to the level of inflation as measured by the retail prices index. Charitable and other reliefs from the remaining rates burden will continue on the present basis. People aged 18 and over who are solely or mainly resident in monastic communities, like other adults, will carry a personal community charge liability. My right hon. and learned Friend is at present considering the position of people in this category in relation to the proposed community charge rebate scheme.

  Mr. O'Neill
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 Clackmannan constituency.

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

  Mr. Maxton
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the numbers of people in Scotland who will be totally exempt from payment of the poll tax in each of the following categories (a) those aged 18 years whose parents are still in receipt of family allowance, (b) those resident in hospitals or homes, (c) those in prisons and (d) those defined as severely mentally handicapped.

  Mr. Lang
  [holdng answer 26 October 1987]: My right hon. and learned Friend has made no estimate of the numbers of people who will be exempt from community charge liability in 1989–90. At present child benefit is payable in respect of some 2,000 people aged 18 in Scotland. Figures are not available centrally on the number of people solely or mainly resident in hospitals, or in nursing homes, residential care homes and hostels providing an equivalent level of care. The number of inmates in Scottish penal establishments is about 5,500. The number of severely mentally handicapped people in Scotland is about 15,000, many of whom will be cared for in hospitals or in nursing homes, residential care homes and hostels providing an equivalent level of care.

  Rates
  Mr. O'Neill
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the average domestic rates bill in the Clackmannan constituency for each year since 1978 in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms showing, in each case, the percentage change between years.

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

  Clackmannan District Council

  Average Domestic Rate-Bill

  Percentage Change

  1987–88 Prices

  Percentage Change

  £

  £

  1978–79

  119

  242

  1979–80

  137

  15

  238

  -1

  1980–81

  168

  23

  247

  3

  1981–82

  224

  33

  299

  21

  1982–83

  267

  19

  333

  11

  1983–84

  278

  4

  331

  0

  1984–85

  283

  2

  323

  -2

  1985–86

  319

  13

  343

  6

  1986–87

  347

  9

  363

  6

  1987–88

  407

  17

  407

  12

  872
  Note: The GDP deflator has been used to convert average rate bills to 1987–88 prices.

  Kidney Patients
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many kidney patients with a treatable condition have been rejected by National Health Service hospitals in Dundee in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Suitability for treatment is a matter for the judgment of the clinician concerned. I am not aware of any problem with regard to treatment for kidney patients in Dundee.

  Hospitals (Dundee)
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list new policies from his Department in the past eight years as they affect hospitals in Dundee; and if he will give details of the extra resources made available to carry out each initiative.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Guidance to health boards on overall priorities is based on the SHARE report; in addition, the Scottish Home and Health Department issues guidance on specific services from time to time. It is for each health board to determine how this guidance affects hospital services in their area. Resources available to the Health Service in Scotland have been increased in real terms by 26 per cent. since 1979. Tayside health hoard is the second best financed board in Scotland in relation to the needs of its area.

  Tayside Health Board
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the figures for revenue spending for Tayside health board for each of the last eight years at 1987 prices; and what account these figures take of demographic change in addition to inflation.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish health authorities revenue equalisation (SHARE) formula—under which financial resources for recurrent spending on hospital and community health services are allocated among individual health boards—takes account of demographic changes as well as a range of other factors. The following table shows Tayside health board's allocation, after adjustment for inflation as measured by the GDP deflator, for each year since 1979–80.

  £ thousand at 1986–87 prices

  1979–80

  123,067

  1980–81

  136,055

  1981–82

  135,204

  1982–83

  133,266

  1983–84

  132,831

  1984–85

  134,342

  1985–86

  132,340

  1986–87

  136,123

  1987–88

  139,633

  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out for each year since 1979 what changes have been made in the National Health Service budget for Tayside health board to achieve savings; how much was saved each year by each of those changes; by how much

  873
  staffing has been cut in each year as a result of those changes and in what grades; and what plans there are for the current year in each of these respects.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In each of the past three years all health boards were asked to introduce efficiency measures which would achieve savings of 1 per cent., 1·5 per cent. and 1·5 per cent. respectively in their recurrent expenditure. Tayside health board has achieved cumulative savings during 1985–86 and 1986–87 of nearly £3 million, and plans to achieve further savings of some £1·6 million this financial year. Boards retain the proceeds of efficiency improvements. No information is held centrally on detailed staffing changes within individual health boards resulting from the introduction of efficiency improvements, although general information on manpower levels is contained in "Scottish Health Statistics", published annually by the information and statistics division of the Common Services Agency. Copies are held in the Library.

  Hospital Patients (Statistics)
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the best estimate of the numbers of patients in Dundee hospitals with treatable conditions who have become incurable in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Drug Addicts
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what funds have been spent in Dundee to rehabilitate drug addicts for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not avilable.

  Deaths from hypothermia in Scotland

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  January

  39

  37

  86

  44

  53

  70

  26

  53

  65

  54

  45

  February

  23

  68

  43

  20

  29

  26

  38

  24

  35

  28

  15

  March

  17

  8

  30

  30

  24

  19

  18

  16

  24

  28

  19

  April

  10

  11

  11

  14

  13

  5

  19

  13

  19

  16

  13

  May

  8

  11

  7

  6

  7

  10

  7

  5

  7

  7

  6

  June

  2

  3

  2

  7

  9

  9

  8

  5

  1

  2

  4

  July

  1

  9

  3

  2

  1

  1

  3

  1

  3

  2

  1

  August

  3

  7

  7

  3

  1

  3

  3

  3

  7

  9

  5

  September

  3

  4

  12

  4

  3

  1

  10

  4

  6

  9

  7

  October

  4

  6

  11

  11

  18

  4

  10

  10

  6

  11

  November

  20

  15

  26

  17

  11

  11

  11

  21

  32

  20

  December

  28

  26

  21

  41

  85

  37

  23

  21

  27

  23

  Total

  158

  205

  259

  199

  254

  196

  179

  176

  232

  209

  115

  1 Provisional.

  Deaths from hypothermia in Lothian region

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  January

  6

  8

  12

  6

  4

  12

  5

  10

  13

  9

  10

  February

  5

  7

  7

  2

  7

  4

  7

  7

  5

  5

  1

  March

  1

  2

  8

  5

  3

  3

  2

  3

  7

  9

  4

  April

  1

  —

  4

  4

  5

  2

  6

  5

  3

  —

  2

  May

  3

  —

  1

  —

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  2

  June

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  July

  —

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  August

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  2

  —

  September

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  1

  1

  1

  —

  October

  1

  1

  1

  —

  4

  —

  2

  3

  1

  —

  Hypothermia
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of hypothermia and cold-related deaths in Dundee as a proportion of such deaths in Scotland for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Death mentioning hypothermia: Dundee city as a percentage of Scotland 1979 to 1986

  Percentage

  1979

  3·1

  1980

  4·5

  1981

  3·1

  1982

  5·1

  1983

  6·1

  1984

  2·8

  1985

  3·4

  1986

  3·3

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give the number of hypothermia and cold-related deaths in Scotland in each year from 1977 to 1987 by monthly total;

  (2) if he will give the number of hypothermia and cold-related deaths in Lothian region in each year from 1977 to 1986 by monthly total;

  (3) if he will give the number of hypothermia and cold-related deaths in Edinburgh in each year from 1977 to 1987 by monthly total;

  (4) if he will give the number of hypothermia and cold-related deaths in Edinburgh, South in each year from 1977 to 1987 by monthly total.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: The information is as follows:
  875

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  November

  3

  2

  3

  2

  1

  3

  3

  5

  6

  1

  December

  4

  4

  5

  8

  13

  10

  6

  3

  7

  8

  Total

  26

  28

  44

  29

  39

  38

  39

  40

  48

  36

  19

  1 Provisional.

  Deaths from hypothermia in Edinburgh city

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  January

  6

  5

  8

  3

  4

  10

  2

  6

  11

  6

  7

  February

  4

  7

  5

  2

  4

  4

  4

  6

  4

  3

  1

  March

  1

  1

  7

  5

  3

  1

  2

  2

  7

  7

  3

  April

  —

  —

  4

  2

  4

  1

  4

  3

  2

  —

  —

  May

  2

  —

  1

  —

  1

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  June

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  July

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  August

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  2

  —

  September

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  October

  1

  1

  —

  —

  3

  —

  2

  3

  1

  —

  November

  2

  —

  1

  2

  1

  1

  3

  3

  5

  1

  December

  3

  4

  4

  4

  11

  6

  —

  5

  7

  Total

  21

  21

  33

  19

  31

  26

  29

  26

  40

  26

  12

  1Provisional.

  Information is not readily available for Edinburgh, South parliamentary constituency.

  Nurses
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of full-time nurses in hospitals in (a) the Tayside health board area and (b) the Dundee district authority area for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Hospital nursing staff. Full-time employees at September1

  Hospital nurses

  1974 to 1982

  n/a

  1983

  4,007

  1984

  4,049

  1985

  3,988

  1986

  3,992

  19872

  4,001

  1 Including qualified, unqualified and learner nurses.

  2 31 March.

  Information on full-time nursing staff pre-1983 is not readily available centrally. Information on nursing staff in Dundee district is not available centrally.

  Ward Closures
  Mr. NIcAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a detailed list of hospital wards serving (a) the Tayside health board area and (b) the Dundee district authority area, which have closed due to lack of funds since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Operational management of hospitals is a matter for individual health boards. Temporary bed or ward closures may occur for a variety of reasons but there is no central record which is either comprehensive or detailed.

  Doctors
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of full-time doctors in hospitals in (a) the Tayside health board area and (b) the Dundee district authority area for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Number

  1980

  451

  1981

  475

  1982

  463

  1983

  471

  1984

  481

  1985

  474

  1986

  474

  The information for 1979 is not available. No separate details are available centrally for Dundee district.

  Nurse-Patient Ratios
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the nurse-to-patient ratio for each year since 1979 in (a) the Tayside health board area and (b) the Dundee district authority area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Ratio of Nursing Staff1to Average Occupied Hospital Beds 30 September

  Ratio

  1979

  1·1:1

  1980

  1·2:1

  1981

  1·3:1

  1982

  1·3:1

  1983

  1·3:1

  1984

  1·3:1

  1985

  1·3:1

  1986

  1·4:1

  1987

  21·4:I

  1 Includes qualified, unqualified and learner nurses.

  1 31 March 1987.

  The information for Dundee district is not available centrally.

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the number of convictions for (a) drug misuse and (b) drug trafficking in the Dundee area for each year since 1979; and what are the corresponding figures for the rest of Scotland.

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

  Persons with a charge proved

  Dundee

  Rest of Scotland

  All drugs offences

  Supplying, possession with intent to supply

  All drugs offences

  Supplying, possession with intent to supply

  1979

  73

  na

  1,077

  na

  1980

  57

  na

  1,098

  na

  1981

  64

  na

  918

  na

  1982

  81

  na

  1,292

  na

  1983

  94

  na

  1,577

  na

  1984

  96

  na

  2,175

  na

  1985

  78

  10

  2,582

  224

  1986

  85

  10

  2,572

  259

  na=Not available. Prior to 1985, offences of supplying and possession with intent to supply were not separately identifiable from other drugs offences in the Scottish Home and Health Department classification of crimes and offences.

  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the funding of treatment and rehabilitation facilities for drug misuses for each health board area in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  NHS services for drug misusers are generally provided as part of the usual range of community and hospital-based services. The Government have made substantial increases in resources available to health boards since 1979 and it is for individual health boards to determine the level of expenditure on particular services from within their overall financial allocations.

  In 1984 and 1985 in addition the Government provided funds to establish a range of local drug projects run by health boards, local authorities and voluntary bodies in places where drug misuse was prevalent. The support of these projects was the responsibility of the Scottish Office until April this year when this responsibility was devolved to the relevant health boards. The Government recently announced that a further £300,000 per annum was being made available, making the total allocation of funds to individual health boards for 1987–88 specifically for the support of local drug projects as follows:

  £

  Greater Glasgow

  415,035

  Lothian

  285,980

  Tayside

  78,900

  Ayrshire and Arran

  29,400

  Lanarkshire

  13,600

  Public Expenditure Statistics
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total identifiable allocation of public money made by the Government since 1979 to (a) Edinburgh, (b) Dundee, (c) Aberdeen and (d) Glasgow (i) in total, (ii) per person, (iii) per unemployed person, (iv) per unemployed person aged
  878
  under 21 years and (v) per retirement pensioner, in each named district; and if he will also express the figures at 1987 prices.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is not readily available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Identifiable provision for public expenditure by Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow district councils from 1979–80 to 1987–88 is set out in the table.

  Cash prices

  1987 prices

  £ million

  £ million

  Aberdeen

  317·452

  394·951

  Dundee

  264·259

  326·321

  Edinburgh

  638·383

  774·564

  Glasgow

  1,918·903

  2,359·128

  Notes:

  (1) table includes provision by way of housing capital allocations, general services capital allocations, housing support grant and current expenditure guidelines.

  (2) Expenditure financed from capital receipts is included in the provision for housing capital allocations but excluded from the provision for general services capital allocations.

  Private Hospital (Clydebank)
  Mr. Worthington
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he first heard of Health Care International's proposals for a private hospital in Clydebank; what advice his Department gave to locate in Scotland; and what advice the Scottish Department Agency gave about the development of this project.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: My right hon. and learned Friend first heard of Health Care International's formal proposal to build a private hospital at Clydebank in June 1987 when the company applied to proceed with construction. Under the terms of the Health Services Acts, consideration of such an application depends entirely upon the impact of the proposed development on the National Health Service, on which the Scottish Development Agency was not consulted and offered no advice. Partly in response to the hon. Member's own request for a further note on the impact of the project, the agency did, however, commission an independent study from Coopers and Lybrand on the economic and staffing implications of the project. The agency subsequently sent this to the Scottish Home and Health Department and also, I understand, to the hon. Member.

DEFENCE

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated unit cost of the European fighter aircraft.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not our practice to disclose the estimated costs of projects before they enter full development. In the case of collaborative projects, such as EFA, the interests of our international partners must also be borne in mind.

  Gulf Forces
  Mrs. Mahon
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of the Armilla patrol.
  879
  Mr. Wallace
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest weekly cost of maintaining a minesweeper force in the Gulf.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It is not practicable to separate the costs of individual fleet tasks since financial provision for manpower, fuel, supplies, and so on is made to cover the operations of the fleet as a whole.

  Nuclear Defence
  Mr. Ingram
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the number of times since 1979 that he has provided the Select Committee on Defence with confidential information relating to Britain's nuclear defence capacity.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  This information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Armilla Patrol
  Mr. Kaufman
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the live-day journey time and lack of toilet and other facilities aboard Hercules aircraft, he will arrange for crews in the Armilla patrol to be flown to leave in the United Kingdom aboard speedier aircraft with better facilities.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To date, crews of warships deployed on the Armilla patrol have generally returned to the United Kingdom either with their ships or by commercial airline.

  Over the Christmas leave period we plan to use VC10s or Tristars of the RAF air transport force for this purpose. There is at present a regular weekly flight by RAF Hercules to the Gulf area, carrying freight on the outward journey. These aircraft are used to carry small numbers of service men to and from the Gulf when necessary. Travel by Hercules involves a two-day journey made up of two eight-hour flying legs with an overnight stay in Cyprus.

  Mr. Kaufman
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the paucity of local facilities for rest and recreation, he will provide funds to improve furnishings and fittings in ratings mess-rooms aboard the minesweepers and other vessels of the Armilla patrol.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Mess decks in vessels serving with the Armilla patrol are furnished in accordance with standards applying to, and reflecting the operational and safety requirements of, the fleet as a whole.

  Within these limitations, we will continue to seek ways of reducing the particular discomforts of this task. For instance, as I told the House on 28 October at column 312, we are despatching additional air conditioning units to HMS Abdiel.

  Mr. Kaufman
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will arrange for crews of the minesweepers, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and support vessels attached to the
  880
  Armilla patrol to have the same opportunities for rest and recreation in Mombasa as the crews of other Armilla patrol ships.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Unlike the destroyers and frigates of the Armilla patrol, which operate on a rotational basis allowing one to be detached for recreation and maintenance visits to Mombasa or elsewhere, the mine counter-measures vessels and support vessels are all for the time being required to remain continuously in the area of the Gulf. It is, therefore, not possible to detach them for recreation and maintenance visits elsewhere. We endeavour to arrange, at appropriate intervals, rest and recreation visits for these vessels to ports in the area of the Gulf as operational circumstances permit. We are in the course of making arrangements for a period of mid-tour leave for the naval personnel on the MCM Vs and support vessels.

  Overseas Allowance
  Mr. Kaufman
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the local overseas allowance for Royal Navy crews in the Gulf has been reduced by 10 per cent.; and whether he will reinstate this cost as from the operative date of 1 October.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Seagoing local overseas allowance, which is designed to make up, where necessary, the estimated difference between the cost of essential expenditure incurred by naval personnel when ashore abroad and ashore in the United Kingdom, was reduced by 12 per cent. in sterling in the Gulf area with effect from 1 October 1987 because the basket of local currencies, from which the allowance is calculated, depreciated relative to the pound sterling in which the allowance is paid. The purchasing power of the allowance is therefore maintained at the same level.

  The SLOA rates are reviewed on a twice-yearly basis and may go up or down depending on the position of the relevant exchange rates at the time of the review. The next adjustment, if any, will be made on 1 April 1988.

  Household Brigade
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances officers of the Household Brigade are permitted to spend three days per week hunting in the winter and three days per week playing polo in the summer; and what implications this practice has for the proper supervision by an officer of his duties.

  Mr. Freeman
  Officers in the Household Cavalry have no special privileges in respect of leave or time off duty. Leave entitlement for Army officers is 42 days per annum (including Saturdays and Sundays) and is subject to approval by the relevant commanding officer. Officers may engage in hunting and polo only to the extent that it is consistent with the proper performance of their military duties. These pursuits develop equestrian skills.

  ARTS FUNDING 1988–91
  ARTS FUNDING 1988–91
  OFFICIAL REPORT: PRICE INCREASES
  OFFICIAL REPORT: PRICE INCREASES
  MAFF: MINIM RETURNS 1987
  MAFF: MINIM RETURNS 1987
  SOUTHWARK SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT OFFICES: STATISTICS
  SOUTHWARK SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT OFFICES: STATISTICS
  COMMUNITY PROGRAMME PART-TIME WORKERS: UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT
  COMMUNITY PROGRAMME PART-TIME WORKERS: UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT