Written Answers of 29 October 1987

WALES

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

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Ten per cent., but see (c) below.

  (b) The equal opportunities officer is also responsible for pay and allowances policy, superannuation, training including the senior management development programme, pay superannuation and conditions of service of staff of non-departmental public bodies, terms of appointment of consultants and line management of operational staff.

  (c) This is not separately identifiable. The equal opportunities officer is responsible for co-ordinating the Civil Service policy on non-discrimination in my Department; other staff within personnel management division and line managers are to varying degrees responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring equal opportunities policy.

  (d) There is a number of occasions throughout the year when equal opportunities officers from all Departments meet.

  (e) The general guidelines on training were included in the "Programme of Action for Women in the Civil Service" issued by the OMCS(MPO) in 1984 and these were brought to the attention of the equal opportunities officer and departmental training officer.

  (f) Applications for job sharing, part-time working and parental leave are sympathetically considered against the needs of efficient management. My Department will shortly be issuing to all staff a leaflet on coping with domestic changes which will provide comprehensive information and advice on the facilities available for part-time working and job sharing, special leave, maternity leave and reinstatement.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how much was spent by his Department in each of the last five years on the care and treatment of patients suffering from schizophrenia: and what percentage each figure was of total expenditure on (a) mental and (b) all health services;
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  (2) what is the current annual cost overall per patient to his Department's health and social security budget of the care and treatment of patients with a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is not collected in Wales.

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many current occupants of National Health Service hospital and unit beds in Wales have a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis; and what those figures are as a percentage of (a) mental and (b) all hospital beds in Wales; and how those figures compare with each of the past five years;

  (2) how many people discharged from hospital following a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis and subsequently taken by the police under section to hospital have been refused admission by hospitals in Wales in each of the last five years;

  (3) if he will list for each of the last five years in Wales how many people discharged from mental illness hospitals, after a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis, having been proved vulnerable boarders, subsequently became voluntary boarders.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people with a main diagnosis of schizophrenic pychosis were discharged from mental illness hospital in Wales in each of the last five years; and how many of them were taken into local authority residential care in the same year.

  Mr. Grist
  Information on the number of people discharged from, mental illness hospitals with a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis is not collected centrally. The following table provides a breakdown of the total number of discharges, giving the numbers of discharges directly to local authority residential care (including those discharges to local authority homes for the mentally disordered), the number of deaths, and the numbers of those discharged elsewhere. These figures relate only to the number of discharges and will therefore include a number of patients who were subsequently readmitted and re-discharged within the same year.

  Schizophrenic psychosis: Discharges from mental illness hospitals and units in Wales: 1982–1986

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Discharges directly to Local Authority residential care

  26

  14

  19

  21

  18

  Other discharges

  1,627

  1,701

  1,682

  1,812

  1,750

  Deaths

  31

  21

  20

  22

  26

  All deaths and discharges

  1,684

  1,736

  1,721

  1,855

  1,794

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what funds have been specifically earmarked for the care of the mentally ill following the closure of mental hospitals in Wales in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  There have been no closures of mental illness hospitals in Wales in the last year. However, over £1·7 million of central funding has been allocated during
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  1987–88 under the joint finance and mental health development schemes to new projects designed to cater for mentally ill people in the community.

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many community psychiatric nurses there have been in Wales in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Grist
  The required information, measured on the basis of whole-time equivalents as at 30 September, is as follows:

  Mental Illness Community Psychiatric Nurses

  Whole-time equivalents

  1983

  143·5

  1984

  143·5

  Schizophrenic psychosis, admissions by diagnosis and order of admission

  Mental illness hospitals and units in Wales

  Numbers

  Percentage change in numbers

  Rates per 100,000 population

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1984–86

  1984

  1985

  1986

  All Admissions

  All types

  1,731

  1,888

  1,836

  +6·1

  62

  67

  65

  Simple type

  31

  55

  37

  +19·4

  1

  2

  1

  Hebephrenic type

  23

  18

  26

  +13·0

  1

  1

  1

  Catatonic type

  12

  20

  11

  -8·3

  —

  1

  —

  Paranoid type

  232

  265

  247

  +6·5

  8

  9

  9

  Acute schizophrenic episode

  25

  32

  59

  +136·0

  1

  1

  2

  Latent schizophrenia

  4

  —

  3

  -25·0

  —

  —

  —

  Residual schizophrenia

  303

  286

  284

  -6·3

  11

  10

  10

  Schizoaffective type

  129

  167

  145

  +12·4

  5

  6

  5

  Other

  15

  13

  13

  -13·3

  1

  —

  —

  Unspecified

  957

  1,032

  1,011

  +5·6

  34

  37

  36

  First Admissions

  All types

  209

  222

  193

  -7·7

  8

  8

  7

  Simple type

  4

  12

  5

  +25·0

  —

  —

  —

  Hebephrenic type

  3

  2

  1

  -66·7

  —

  —

  —

  Catatonic type

  1

  6

  2

  +100·0

  —

  —

  —

  Paranoid type

  51

  32

  36

  -29·4

  2

  1

  1

  Acute schizophrenic episode

  10

  6

  16

  +60·0

  —

  —

  1

  Latent schizophrenia

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Residual schizophrenia

  11

  3

  10

  -9·1

  —

  —

  —

  Schizoaffective type

  12

  19

  15

  +25·0

  —

  1

  1

  Other

  7

  5

  3

  -57·1

  —

  —

  —

  Unspecified

  109

  137

  105

  -3·7

  4

  5

  4

  Source: Mental Health Inquiry

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the discharges and deaths by length of stay, including percentage change in numbers and percentage distribution, of patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis in Wales for the years 1984–86 inclusive.

  Schizophrenic psychoses, discharges and deaths by length of stay

  Mental illness hospital and units in Wales

  Numbers

  Percentage change

  Percentage distribution

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1984–86

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Discharges and Deaths

  All lengths

  1,721

  1,855

  1,794

  +4·2

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

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  Whole-time equivalents

  1985

  138·0

  1986

  142·5

  1987

  150·1

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the admissions by diagnosis and order of admissions, including percentage change in numbers and rates per 100,000 population, of patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis in Wales for the years 1984–86 inclusive.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is given in the following table:
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  Numbers

  Percentage change

  Percentage distribution

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1984–86

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Under one month

  977

  1,109

  1,088

  +11·4

  56·8

  59·8

  60·6

  One month

  478

  504

  462

  -3·3

  27·8

  27·2

  25·8

  Three months

  212

  186

  190

  -10·4

  12·3

  100·

  10·6

  One year

  54

  54

  51

  -5·6

  3·1

  2·9

  2·8

  Five years

  —

  2

  3

  —

  —

  0·1

  0·2

  Discharges

  All lengths

  1,701

  1,833

  1,768

  +3·9

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  Under one month

  972

  1,107

  1,085

  +11·6

  57·1

  60·4

  61·4

  One month

  474

  503

  459

  -3·2

  27·9

  27·4

  26·0

  Three months

  209

  182

  181

  -13·4

  12·3

  9·9

  10·2

  One year

  46

  40

  40

  -13·0

  2·7

  2·2

  2·3

  Five years and over

  —

  1

  3

  —

  —

  0·1

  0·2

  Deaths

  All lengths

  20

  22

  26

  +30·0

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  Under one month

  5

  2

  3

  -40·0

  25·0

  9·1

  11·5

  One month

  4

  1

  3

  -25·0

  20·0

  4·5

  11·5

  Three months

  3

  4

  9

  +200·0

  15·0

  18·2

  14·6

  One year

  8

  14

  11

  +37·5

  40·0

  63·6

  34·6

  Five years and over

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  4·5

  —

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what representations he has received on the provision of community care for patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis discharged from mental illness hospitals; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what guidance his Department gives to mental illness hospitals on the retention of patients whose condition is unlikely to improve; and what is the current policy of each hospital in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Representations are received from time to time from patients, their families, carers, voluntary organisations and others. Our policy is for the development by district health authorities, in collaboration with other authorities, of a locally based pattern of services for those suffering from mental illness, including schizophrenia. To this end authorities are developing services to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and long-term institutional care.

  District Health Authorities (Expenditure)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current level of over or underspending by each Welsh district health authority.

  Mr. Grist
  A number of health authorities in Wales are currently reported to be experiencing overspending relative to the budgets which they determined in their

  At January each year

  Welsh counties

  1978–79

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Clwyd

  19·1

  18·4

  17·8

  18·7

  18·5

  18·8

  Dyfed

  17·0

  16·6

  16·4

  16·7

  16·8

  16·7

  Gwent

  18·6

  18·0

  17·7

  17·7

  17·6

  18·0

  Gwynedd

  18·3

  17·0

  16·1

  16·2

  16·0

  15·8

  Mid Glamorgan

  18·7

  18·3

  17·5

  18·2

  17·5

  18·1

  Powys

  16·4

  16·0

  15·5

  15·8

  15·3

  15·1

  South Glamorgan

  18·9

  18·6

  18·4

  18·5

  18·3

  18·1

  West Glamorgan

  17·2

  16·9

  16·9

  17·0

  16·7

  16·5

  Data Protection Act
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's policy towards fees for subject access
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  operational plans at the start of the year. There are particular difficulties in Gwynedd, but while minor overspendings on programmes have also been reported in Clwyd, East Dyfed, Gwent, Mid Glamorgan, Pembrokeshire, West Glamorgan and the Welsh Health Common Services Authority, it is not expected that these authorities will exceed their cash allocations this year.

  In all cases, authorities have a statutory duty to keep their cash spending each year within allocated resources; they must therefore take action to ensure that cash limits are not breached. As in the case of Gwynedd, the Department is prepared to assist by providing temporary cash loans to prevent any breach of cash limits until spending is brought back under control.

  Pupil-Teacher Ratios
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each Welsh local education authority the pupil to teacher ratio for 1978–79, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88, respectively.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The overall pupil-teacher ratios in maintained nursey, primary and secondary schools are given in the following table. Information in respect of 1987–88 is not yet available.

  under the terms of the Data Protection Act; how many register entries his Department has; and what would be the total cost to a data subject seeking access to personal data held under all register entries.
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  Mr. Walker
  My Department has registered 42 uses of personal data under the terms of the Data Protection Act. Details are contained in the register of data users, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  No charge will be made for the provision of information which is presently made available free of charge. In other cases, my Department will recover the costs, which will vary from one data holding to another, of complying with requests for access to data holdings, within the limit of the maximum fee which may be charged.

  Welsh Development Agency spending in Alyn and Deeside constituency

  £ million

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Cash prices1

  2·5

  3·6

  9·0

  3·6

  2·4

  1·3

  6·1

  1·6

  Percentage change on previous year (per cent.)

  —

  44

  150

  -150

  -33

  -46

  369

  -74

  1986·87 prices2

  4·2

  5·1

  11·5

  4·3

  2·7

  1·4

  6·3

  1·6

  Percentage change on previous year (per cent.)

  —

  21

  125

  -63

  -37

  -48

  350

  -75

  1 The figures comprise WDA spending on land reclamation, investment, and factory building (including site development).

  2 Adjusted using GDP deflator.

  Industrial Support and Development
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the expenditure upon industrial support and development in Clwyd for each of the years since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Expenditure on regional selective assistance and regional development grants in Clwyd for the financial years 1980–81 to 1986–87 is as follows:

  £ million

  1980–81

  10·0

  1981–82

  17·3

  1982–83

  21·3

  1983–84

  15·4

  1984–85

  26·6

  1985–86

  27·9

  1986–87

  34·2

  Total

  152·7

  Pre-School Playgroup Association
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the annual funding of the Pre-School Playgroup Movement in Wales for each of the years from and including 1980 up to the most convenient date.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The annual grants paid to the Pre-School Playgroup Association in Wales in respect of its headquarters expenses for the years ending 31 March 1981–87 were as follows:

  £

  to 31 March 1981

  57,000

  31 March 1982

  70,000

  31 March 1983

  84,928

  31 March 1984

  95,699

  31 March 1985

  97,450

  31 March 1986

  101,800

  31 March 1987

  118,500

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total amounts paid to projects in the Alyn and Deeside constituency by the Welsh Development Agency in each year since 1979 in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms based on 1986–87 prices showing the percentages in payments between years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information is as follows:

  Maternity Statistics (Clwyd)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many maternity beds there are in Clwyd; what percentage of births of residents in (a) Alyn and Deeside and (b) Clwyd take place in (i) Clwyd hospitals and (ii) hospitals in Cheshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The figures for 1986 are as follows:

  (a) average number of maternity beds available each day—134·22

  (b) percentage of births of residents in Alyn and Deeside taking place in Clwyd hospitals—38·7 per cent.

  (c) percentage of births of residents in Clwyd taking place in Clwyd hospitals—82·3 per cent.

  The figures at (b) and (c) above include both live and still births. Figures for births in Cheshire hospitals either in respect of Alyn and Deeside residents or of those in Clwyd are not available centrally.

  Waiting Lists (Clwyd)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to reduce waiting lists in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Clwyd health authority was given additional funds of £56,000 in 1986–87 and has been offered some £80,000 in 1987–88 to help tackle the worst problems on hospital waiting lists. In addition, the authority is being encouraged to carry out management action aimed at shortening the time which patients have to wait.

  Schoolchildren (Deafness)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to help those who are deaf or hard of hearing in the schools of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Education Act 1981 imposes duties on local education authorities to make appropriate
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  provision for children with special education needs, including those who are deaf or who have impaired hearing.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Barry Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy not to introduce legislation imposing the community charge on Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I have already announced my intention that a complete changeover in Wales from domestic rates to the community charge should take place in 1990.

NORTHERN IRELAND

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

  Mr. Stanley
  Equality of opportunity for Northern Ireland civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments is the responsibility of an equal opportunities unit within the Department of Finance and Personnel. For the much smaller group of Home civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office, responsibility lies with the establishment division in London.

  Taking each of the elements (a) to (f) in the hon. Member's question in turn:

  (a) The equal opportunities unit of the Northern Ireland Civil Service has a staff of seven full-time officers and one part-time officer headed by a grade 7 officer (principal). The Home Civil Service has one equal opportunities officer who is a senior executive officer and spends a small but varying amount of his/her time on equal opportunities duties.

  (b) The other duties carried out by NICS staff of the equal opportunities unit are negligible. The duties of the HCS equal opportunities officer include a range of personnel management policy issues.

  (c) As far as the NICS is concerned, this information is not readily available in the form requested. In addition to the eight staff of the equal opportunities unit many other officers throughout the NICS have a responsibility for equal opportunities as part of other duties and the unit is also supported in its analytical work by other specialist staff within the Department of Finance and Personnel. Since the HCS equal opportunities officer undertakes that role in conjunction with a number of other duties, it is similarly difficult to quantify the budgetary implications.

  (d) Equal opportunities are frequently the subject of consideration at inter-departmental meetings of
  350
  Personnel Officers of the NICS. The HCS equal opportunities officer normally meets his/her counterparts at least once a year.

  (e) The training branch within the Department of Finance and Personnel, in association with the equal opportunities unit, is reviewing its policy on single sex training for women. This has involved the use of a questionnaire together with a number of pilot courses. The departmental training officer and equal opportunities officer in the HCS are ready to promote the use of section 47 where appropriate.

  (f)Formal guidance in respect of part-time working and job sharing arrangements recently agreed with trade unions has been circulated widely throughout the NICS. Each application for parental leave is considered on its merits under the special leave provisions which are widely known throughout the NICS. The Civil Service policy statements on equal opportunities have been circulated to HCS staff. Officers are free to apply for job sharing, part-time working and parental leave and any such applications are considered sympathetically. The HCS equal opportunities officer is also in the process of producing a guide on equal opportunities' policies and practices. This will be issued to all staff.

  Dr. Twinn
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he proposes to take to follow up the publication of the consultative paper, "Equality of Opportunity in Employment in Northern Ireland.'

  Mr. Tom King
  [pursuant to his reply, 15 July 1987, c. 490–1]The chairman of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights submitted the commission's "Report on Fair Employment" to me on 30 September. It forms part of a major review by the commission of the laws and institutions dealing with religious and political discrimination and equality of opportunity in Northern Ireland. The report is being published today as a Command Paper (Cm. 237). A study on "Equality and Inequality in Northern Ireland", undertaken by the Policy Studies Institute as part of the commission's review, is also being published today and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.

  I am grateful to the commission for the work which has gone into its detailed report, which will be of great value to the Government. We shall be taking the report's recommendations into account in framing our detailed proposals for new legislation on fair employment. We are firmly committed to ensuring equality of opportunity in employment for everyone in Northern Ireland whatever their religious background.

TRANSPORT

  M4 Motorway
  Mr. Coombs
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of constructing the M4 between London and Maidenhead Thicket; what was the cost of widening this section of the M4 from two lanes to three; and what estimate was made at the time of construction of the cost of constructing with three lanes.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information in the precise form sought is not readily available. I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Highway Inquiries
  Mr. Cash
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider appointing two independent assessors to

  351
  sit with an inspector in relation to public inquiries into highway routes, the assessors having relevant experience in the field of conservation and agriculture.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Inspectors nominated by the Lord Chancellor and appointed by the Secretary of State to conduct public inquiries into road scheme proposals are experienced in the general nature of problems faced, including conservation and agriculture. In certain cases, where particular specialist knowledge is required, assessors have been appointed to assist inspectors, and this practice will continue.

  Mr. Cash
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will propose changes in the existing regulations so that in his decision in relation to inquiries affecting highway routes and related matters, the statement giving the inspector's decision should be accompanied by the reasons of the inspector.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The regulations governing highways inquiries procedures are the Highways (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1976 (S.I. 1976 No. 721).

  Under these rules the Secretary of State is required to notify objectors and others of his decision and the reasons for it. The rules also require the inspector to report to the Secretary of State his conclusions and recommendations, if any, or his reasons for not making any recommendations. In practice, the inspector's conclusions amount to the reasons for his recommendations.

  There are no plans to amend these rules.

  If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, perhaps he will write to me.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's policy towards fees for subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act; how many register entries his Department has; and what would be the total cost to a data subject seeking access to personal data held under all register entries.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department proposes to charge two fees for subject access by members of the public: £3·50 for inquiries of the driving licence record and £10 for other inquiries. There is no current intention to charge the Department's own staff seeking access to personal data held about them as employees.

  There are eight register entries. Each covers a number of separate systems. In the unlikely event of a data subject wishing to have access to all entries, the total cost would be £73·50.

  Buses
  Mr. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate the number of bus routes (a) registered and (b) deregistered between 26 October 1986 and 30 September 1987.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The number of services registered between 1 November 1986 and 30 September 1987 was 4,257 and the number deregistered 3,200.

  Taxis
  Mr. Morley
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many taxi registration plates have been issued since the Transport Act 1986 and deregulation.
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  Mr. David Mitchell
  On the latest figures available it is estimated that between mid-1985 and mid-1986, 1,900 new taxi licences were issued by licensing authorities in England and Wales (excluding London).

  Airports
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the procedures adopted by the Civil Aviation Authority relating to the licensing of new passenger airports.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. The licensing of airports is the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority, which has the necessary technical competence in such matters.

  London City Airport
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the arrangements made by the Civil Aviation Authority concerning emergency procedures at London City airport.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The approval of emergency procedures is wholly a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority in conjunction with aerodrome managers. The authority satisfied itself on these procedures before issuing the aerodrome licence.

  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the emergency orders relating to emergency procedures at London City airport, stating which of the non-airport local emergency services have assented to its provisions.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Copies of emergency procedure instructions have been sent by the airport management to the local emergency services concerned, who were consulted in drawing them up. Provision of a copy for the Library is a matter for the discretion of the airport managers. I have drawn their attention to the hon. Member's request.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he anticipates announcing an increase in the salaries due to the board members of London Regional Transport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 October, at columns 849–50. The salaries of the board members of London Regional Transport are still under review.

  Hydraulic Fluid
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are any plans to introduce quality checks on hydraulic fluid being sold to motorists and car manufacturers.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Hydraulic fluid is produced in accordance with specific international standards and is sold to car manufacturers and motorists in sealed containers. We have no reason to suspect the quality of brake fluid sold in Britain. There are no plans to introduce quality checks.

  Knaresborough and Harrogate (Bypass)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out his reasons for ordering a further public inquiry into the proposals for the southern bypass of Knaresborough and Harrogate; and if he will give details of such evidence as he received.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The orders for the bypass require confirmation by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State cannot decide whether or not to confirm orders unless he is fully informed as a result of a public inquiry. In this case he received 79 representations after the inquiry closed, including one from the Nature Conservancy Council. These representations raised points material to the decision which the Secretary of State was to make.

  He has decided that the inquiry should be reopened. If he were to make a decision without being fully informed on the points in question, he would not be properly discharging his statutory functions.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Select Committees (Staff)
  Mr. Frank Field
  asked the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will detail the number of staff, and their grades, who are employed to staff the House's Select Committees; and if he will detail the work they have been involved in, Committee by Committee, since the middle of May, and the salary costs of their staffs since that date.

  Mr. Beith
  The following staff in the Department of the Clerk of the House are currently wholly or mainly employed in connection with the work of select committees:

  Number

  Clerk of Committees (Grade 2)

  1

  Principal Clerks (Grade 3)

  3

  Deputy Principal Clerks (Grade 5)

  11

  Senior Clerks (Grade 7)

  12

  Assistant Clerks (AT/HEO (D))

  7

  Senior Executive Officers

  4

  Higher Executive Officers

  10

  Specialist Assistants

  3

  Chief Office Clerks

  1

  Senior Office Clerks

  6

  Senior General Assistant/General Assistants

  6

  Personal Secretaries (Grade 4)

  20

  The particular duties carried out by the staff of the House are the responsibility of the heads of the House Departments concerned. There are currently 13 Select Committees in existence; however, staff will not be fully deployed until the departmentally-related Committees have been set up.

  Total salaries, at the mean of the salary scale for the grades of those listed above, from 1 June to 31 October (excluding night allowances) would amount to £544,727. Inner London weighting has been included, but allowances and proficiency payments have not. The salary cost does not include provision for superannuation or employer national insurance, which together add 30 per cent. to the above figure. It is not practicable to break down this figure Committee by Committee.

PRIME MINISTER

  Northern Region
  Mr. Fallon
  asked the Prime Minister when she next expects to visit the northern region.

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

  Warrington
  Mr. Butler
  asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Warrington.

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

  Fraud
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Prime Minister if she will estimate the current level of fraud at the expense of the European Economic Community (i) in Britain and (ii) in all the countries in the EEC; and what proposals she has to reduce the level of fraud.

  The Prime Minister
  Reliable estimates of fraud in the Community are not available.

  The United Kingdom has taken the lead in pressing for more effective Community action against all financial irregularities. Under our presidency we secured agreement on a revised food aid regulation to tighten control in this sector. When the results of a Commission review into all aspects of Community financial control is completed we shall press for such further measures as may be necessary.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Favell
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the trend on employment in the north-west.

  The Prime Minister
  The latest estimate for the civilian employed labour force (that is employees in employment plus the self-employed) in the north-west is 2,545,000 in June this year. This compares with 2,530,000 in June 1986.

  To help in the process of job creation, the north-west attracts very high levels of Government assistance. Many parts have assisted area status and benefit under the urban programme. Two city action teams, two urban development corporations and three inner city task forces operate there and there are three enterprise zones.

  The Department of Employment and the Manpower Services Commission operate over 30 employment, enterprise and training measures described in the "Action for Jobs" booklet, all of which are available in the northwest. For example, around 63,000 in the north-west are training under YTS and around 35,000 are currently benefiting from the community programme.

  Parliamentary Answers (Cost)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Prime Minister what is the sum above which an answer to a parliamentary question is considered to represent disproportionate cost.

  The Prime Minister
  It is for Ministers to decide whether to decline to answer a question on grounds of disproportionate cost. Any question likely to cost more than £200 is referred to the responsible Minister before significant resources are committed.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Prime Minister how many questions she has refused to answer since 1979 on the grounds of disproportionate cost.
  355
  The Prime Minister
  This information can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  USA (Official Duties)
  Mr. Tony
  Banks asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply of 22 October, Official Report, column 847, if she will give details of the official duties she undertook in the United States of America.

  The Prime Minister
  My visit to the United States was a private one, during which I continued in the normal way to fulfil my duties as Prime Minister.

  Paintings (10 Downing Street)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply of 22 October, Official Report, columns 845–46, if she will give such details of the paintings, engravings and photographs (a) removed and (b) hung in 10 Downing street as are available.

  The Prime Minister
  Excluding personal possessions, the paintings, reproductions (engravings or otherwise) and photographs currently at 10 Downing street are as follows:

  Prints—Reproductions of Prime Ministers—Prints and photos on grand staircase

  Reproduction—Milsuoki Tosa—Quails and flowers

  Reproduction—Pissarro—View from Louveciennes

  Reproduction—Helder—Eynsford

  Reproduction—Klee Paul—Fish magic

  Reproduction—Turner (Michael)—Out with the rolls

  Photograph—Anon—Largs, Baron Kelvin of

  Reproduction—Monet Claude—Venice

  Reproduction—Hobbema—Avenue of trees

  Reproduction—Anon—Prospect of the city of London (facsimile of engraving)

  Reproduction—Van Gogh—Basket of fruit with blue gloves

  Reproduction—Monet—Le Seine Bougival

  Reproduction—Utrillo—Rue de village

  Reproduction—Pissarro—Seine at Marly

  Reproduction—Jean Baptiste Corot—St. Nicholas-lez-Arras

  Reproduction—Turner—Calais Sands

  Reproduction—Canaletto—Eton College

  Reproduction—Canaletto—City of London from Somerset House

  Photograph—Photo of copy of 17 Century painting—Downing, Sir George (Copyist: R. Pratt)

  Reproduction—Turner J. M. W.—Grand canal Venice

  Reproduction—Canaletto—Regatta

  Painting—Beer Richard—Oxford: Oriel college 30/100

  Painting—Beer Richard—Oxford: Magdalen college A/P

  Print—Danckerts Hendrik—Whitehall from St. James's park circa. 1675

  Painting—Lambert George—St. James's park from the terrace of 10 Downing street

  Painting—Salisbury Frank O—Churchill, Sir Winston (1874–1965) Prime Minister

  Painting—Loo Jean Baptiste Van—Orford, Sir Robert Walpole, Earl (1676–1745) Prime Minister.

  Painting—Stuart Gilbert—Siddons, Sarah (1755–1831) Actress circa 1785.

  Painting—Gainsborough Thomas—Garrick, David (1717–79) Actor.

  Painting—Stuart Gilbert—West, Benjamin (1738–1820) History Painter.

  Painting—Phillips Thomas—Chantrey, Sir Francis (1781–1841) Sculptor.

  Painting—Organ Bryan—Macmillan, Harold (B. 1894) Prime Minister.

  Painting—Chapman John—Horseguards Parade circa 1760.

  Painting—Loo Jean Baptiste Van—Orford, Sir Robert Walpole, Earl (1676–1745) Prime Minister.

  Painting—Hoare William—Chatham, William Pitt, 1st Earl (1708–78) Prime Minister.

  356

  Print—Boys Thomas Shotter—Westminster from Waterloo Bridge.

  Print—Boys Thomas Shotter—The Club Houses and Pall Mall.

  Painting—Velde William Van De II—Dutch Men-of-War and small vessels in a calm.

  Painting—Greenwood Ernest—Downland Path, Hollingbourne 1977.

  Painting—Troubetskoy Pierre—Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) Prime Minister.

  Print—Gilbert John—The Aberdeen Cabinet considering Crimea Expedition.

  Print—Gales Henry—The Derby Cabinet of 1867

  Painting—Watts George Frederick—Terry, Dame Alice Ellen (1847–1928) Actress.

  Painting—West Benjamin—Leeds, Francis Osborne, 5th Duke of (1751–99).

  Painting—Lawrence Thomas—Moore, Sir Graham (1764–1843) Admiral.

  Painting—Landseer Edwin—Melbourne, William Lamb 2nd Viscount (1779–1848) Prime Minister 1836.

  Painting—Watts George Frederick—Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) Prime Minister 1859.

  Print—Tombleson William—Windsor Castle.

  Print—Beer Richard—St. Lawrence Jewry 1970 35/75.

  Print—Beer Richard—St. Augustine, Watling Street 1970 35/75.

  Print—Beer Richard—St. Martin, Ludgate 1970 35/75.

  Print—Beer Richard—St. Bride's Fleet Street 1970 35/75.

  Print—Beer Richard—St. Benet, Paul's Wharf 1970 35/75.

  Print—Beer Richard—St. Magnus the Martyr 1970 35–75.

  Print—Collins James—North Prospect of Westminster Abbey.

  Painting—Turner William (of Oxford)—A Watermill.

  Print—Robbie Enid—Westminster circa 1972 4/5 1974.

  Print—Hawkins George Junior—Tower of the Grey Friars.

  Painting—Gainsborough Thomas—Vestris, Marie Auguste.

  Painting—Luny Thomas—River Scene.

  Painting—Maris Jacobus H.—A Beach (Seashore and Boats).

  Painting—Gainsborough Thomas—Marlborough, A Duke of.

  Print—Anon 19 century (Waterworks London Bridge)—Waterworks at London Bridge.

  Print—Orr Chris—The Ruskin Portfolio: Ruskin's Room 1972.

  Print—Moss William—Somerset House Internal View circa 1777.

  Print—King Cecil—Berlin Suite IV 22/75 1970.

  Print—King Cecil—Berlin Suite VI 22/75 1970.

  Print—Faber Johan Senior—Gasparus, Johannes: Probably J. B. Gasparus (16207–1691).

  Painting—Burne-Jones, Edward Coley—Kipling, Rudyard (1865–1936) Writer 1899.

  Print—Birley Oswald—Baldwin, Stanley, 1st Earl (1867–1947) Prime Minister.

  Print—Anon French 18 century (Falkland)—Map of Bay and Port to East of Falkland Islands.

  Print—Seeman Enoch—Newton, Sir Issac (1642–1727) Scientist.

  Print—Beer Richard—Oxford: St. John's College A/P.

  Print—Beer Richard—Oxford: Worcester College 76/100.

  Print—Beer Richard—Oxford: Queen's College 48/100.

  Painting—Kneller Godfrey—Lexington, Lady Margaret (1673–1703).

  Painting—Cox Marian Roalfe—Young man in open neck shirt.

  Painting—Cox Marian Roalfe—Man in waistcoat.

  Print—Rowlandson T. and Pugin A. C.—St. Paul's Cathedral

  Print—Rowlandson T. and Pugin A. C.—Westminster Abbey

  Print—Marlow William—View near Blackfriars bridge

  Print—Marlow William—View near Westminster bridge

  Print—Buck S. N.—Worcester: S. W. Prospect

  Print—Tillemans Peter—Town of Stanford from Parsons cross

  Print—Buck S. N.—Canterbury: S. W. Prospect

  Painting—Scanlan Robert Richard—Peel, Sir Robert (1788–1850) Prime Minister

  357

  Painting—Romney George—Matthews, Dr. John 1786

  Painting—Romney George—Fane, the hon. Thomas (1760–1807) MP

  Painting—Romney George—Matthews, Mrs. John (Elizabeth Ellis) 1786

  Painting—Romney George—Westmoreland, John Fane, Lord Burghersh, 10th Earl of

  Painting—Abbott Lemuel Francis—Nelson, Horatio Nelson, First Viscount (1758–1805)

  Painting—Ward James—Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, First Duke (1769–1852) 1829

  Painting—Marlow William—A view of St. Pauls and Blackfriars bridge

  Painting—Orchardson William Q—Four generations: Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Duke of Windsor

  Painting—Sickert Walter Richard—Belvedere, Bath Circa 1917

  Painting—Gilman Harold John Wilde—Edwardian interior

  Painting—Gilman Harold John Wilde—Interior with Nursemaid

  Painting—Niemann Edmund John—Nottingham landscape

  Painting—Stark James—Landscape: A Country road

  Painting—Buchanan George F.—Derwentwater Circa 1850

  Painting—Buchanan George F.—Derwentwater Circa 1850

  Painting—Wilkinson Norman—The "Winston Churchill" goes to sea, 1970

  Painting—Fergusson David—Summer Landscape 1963

  Painting—Turner William (of Oxford)—Skating

  Print—Houbraken Jacobus—Sunderland, Charles Spencer, Third Earl of (1674–1722)

  Print—Reynolds Joshua—Pulteney, William, Earl of Bath (1684–1764)

  Print—Kneller Godfrey—Montagu, Charles Earl of Halifax (1661–1715)

  Print—Anon 18th Century (Duke of Shrewsbury)—Shrewsbury, Charles Talbot, First Duke of (1660–1718)

  Print—Kneller Godfrey—Carlisle, Charles Howard, Third Earl of (1669–1738)

  Print—Kneller Godfrey—Oxford, Robert Harley, First Earl of (1661–1724) Politician

  Painting—Orpen William—Lloyd George, David, First Earl (1863–1945) 1927

  Print—Constable John—Dedham vale

  Print—Constable John—Salisbury cathedral

  Print—Constable John—The lock

  Print—Constable John—The cornfield

  Print—Constable John—The young waltonians

  Painting—Laszlo Philip a de—Balfour, Arthur J. Balfour, First Earl of (1848–1930) Prime Minister

  Print—Constable John—A heath

  Print—Constable John—Old sarum

  Painting—Lawrence Thomas—Canning, George (1770–1827) Prime Minister

  Painting—Cappelle Jan Van de—Coast scene with passengers disembarking

  Painting—Constable J. Imitator of—A landscape

  Painting—O'Connor James Arthur—Landscape

  Painting—Nasmyth Patrick—Landscape with haystack

  Painting—Norwich School—Landscape with cottage and figures

  Painting—Constable John—A water mill

  Painting—Nasmyth Patrick—Landscape with boy on horseback

  Painting—O'Connor James Arthur—The devil's glen, county Wicklow 1828

  Painting—Romney George—Pitt, William (1759–1806) Prime Minister

  Painting—Aikman William—Kent, William (1685–1748) architect

  Painting—Dobson William—Two cavaliers

  Painting—Reynolds Joshua—Fawcett, Sir William (1728–1804) general and privy counsellor

  Painting—Riley John—Boyle, Robert (1627–91) chemist and natural philosopher

  Painting—Lawrence Thomas—Bloomfield, John A. D. Second Baron (1802–79) diplomat

  Painting—Velde Willem Van De II—Dutch Man-of-War
  358
  and other vessels. Strong breeze

  Painting—Anon 18 century Joseph Priestley—Priestley, Joseph (1733–1804), Theologian and Scientist

  Painting—Hogarth William—Schomberg, Sir Alexander (1720–1804) Navy Captain

  Painting—Linnell John—Davy, Sir Humphry (1778–1829), Scientist

  Painting—Northcote James—Graves, Sir Thomas (1747–1814), Admiral 1801

  Painting—Shackleton John—George 11 (1683–1760) Reigned 1727–60

  Painting—Scott Samuel—View of Horseguards circa 1760

  Print—Highmore Anthony—The East Front of Kensington Palace

  Print—Highmore Anthony—The South Front of Kensington Palace

  Print—Nash Joseph—Opening of London Bridge, I st August 1831

  Print—Wickes Charles—St. Peter's, Oundle, Northants

  Print—Turner William (of Oxford)—Abingdon from the Thames Navigation

  Painting—Nasmyth Patrick—The Angler's Nook

  Print—Westall William—Staines Bridge

  Print—Turner William (of Oxford)—Donnington Castle

  Print—Farington Joseph—Truro

  Print—Farington Joseph—Poulton Bridge and Launceston

  Print—Farington Joseph—North View of Polperro

  Painting—Piper John—Covehithe Church 1983

  Painting—Corot J. B. C.—Cows Standing in a Marsh

  Painting—Lavery John—Spencer-Churchill, Clementine (1885–1977) and Sarah

  Painting—Churchill Winston Spencer—Seascape

  Painting—Sherlock Marjorie—Liverpool Street Station 1917

  Painting—Fuger Friedrich Heinrich—Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount (1758–1805) Vice-Admiral

  Painting—Gainsborough Thomas—Hilly Landscape

  Print—Beer Richard—Oxford: Wadham College 55/100

  Print—Malton Thomas Jnr—Lothbury Court, Bank

  Print—Jameson Susan E.—Castle Rigg II 1977 9/100

  Print—Kip Jan—Dumbleton, Seat of Sir Richard Cocks Baronet

  Print—Disbrey Stephen—Landmark 29/50 1976

  Print—Disbrey Stephen—Loch 18/46 1976

  Print—Piranesi Giov. Battista—Carcere, Plate IX No. 357

  Print—Anon circa 1820 Highgate Archway—Highgate Archway from Turnpike Gate at Holloway

  Print—Knyff Leonard—Badminton, Seat of Prince Henry, Duke of Beaufort

  Print—Dyck Anthony Van—Cromwell, Oliver (1599–1658), Lord Protector

  Painting—Applebee Leonard—The Path Dardenne

  Print—Salt Henry—The Town of Abha in Abyssinia

  Painting—Dobson William—Man in Buff Jerkin with Cuirass circa 1645

  Print—Westall William—Oxford from Iffley

  Print—Westall William—Oxford from the South West

  Print—Buck S. and N.—Leicester: South Prospect

  Print—Bawden Edward—Audley End House 1973 97'150

  Print—Hofland Thomas C.—South East view of Bolton Priory No. 6

  Print—Werff Adriaen van der—Mary I of England

  Print—Werff Adriaen van der—Philip II of Spain

  Print—Buck S & N—Norwich: South East Prospect

  Print—Anon 17 C Engr(Chas II)—Statue of Charles II (1630–1685) reigned 1630–85

  Print—Buck S & N—Ely: South East Prospect

  Print—Nash Joseph—Drawing Room at Broughton Castle Oxford, 1845

  Print—Nash Joseph—Hall, Penshurst, Kent

  Painting—Milner Donald Ewart—Across the Stour

  Print—Northcote James—Pius VI Blessing British Officers

  Print—Buck S & N—Hereford: North East Prospect

  Painting—Salisbury Frank D—Stanmore, Arthur Hamilton Gordon, 1 Baron (1829–1912)

  Print—Robertson Archibald—View of the East Front of the Bridge at Veja

  Print—Robertson George—Fort William Estate, Jamaica showing Roaring River

  Print—Buck S.& N.—Salisbury: North East prospect

  359

  Print—Pockock Nicholas—Engagement of Frigate Java and Constitution

  Print—Eastlake Charles Lock—Napoleon Buonaparte (1769–1821) Emperor

  Print—Weisz Victor ("Vicky")—Perhaps we should have Second Thoughts

  Print—Buck S & N—Warwick: South East Prospect

  Print—Rushbury Henry George—Adelaide House

  Print—Frith William Powell—Life at the Seaside, Ramsgate 1854

  Print—Rushbury Henry George—St. Olave's, Tooley Street 1927

  Painting—Salisbury Frank O.—Churchill, Sir Winston (1874–1965–) Prime Minister 1943

  Print—Boydell John—View of Lord Duncannon's House, Kent

  Print—Schnebbelie Robert B.—North View of the Interior of Furnival Inn

  Print—Boydell John—View of the Treasury and Canal in St. James's Park

  Painting—Spear Ruskin—Low tide

  Print—Maurer John—Perspective view of Whitehall and Whitehall Gate C.I753

  Print—Alexander William—South West View of Thorney Abbey Church

  Print—Burgess William—Camp of the 93rd Highlanders, Western Heights, Dover

  Print—Burgess William—A Field Day of the Highland Brigade, Dover

  Print—Burgess William—Camp of the 41st Regiment, Dover Heights

  Print—Burgess William—Camps of the 44th and 49th Regiments, Dover

  Print—Mornewick Henry Claude—50th Queen's Own Regiment 1850

  Print—Martens Henry—14th King's Light Dragoons

  Print—Martens Henry—2nd Royal North Dragoons, 1846

  Print—Campion George Bryant—Review at the Moat park of East and West Kent Yeomanry

  Print—Farington Joseph—Penryn

  Print—Farington Joseph—Matlock Church

  Print—Havell Robert—Horseguards and Melbourne House

  Print—Pugin Augustus Charles—New Palace, St. James's Park

  Print—Marchant J.—West Front of the Horse Guards

  Painting—Lowry Laurence Stephen—Lancashire Fair: Good Friday, Daisy Nook 1946

  Print—Marchant J.—The New Extended Front at Buckingham Palace

  Print—Barry Charles—The New Treasury Offices Whitehall

  Print—Boys Thomas Shotter—Guildhall

  Print—Kip Jan—The Tower of London

  Print—Daniell William—Black Marble Quarry near Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey

  Print—Bawden Edward—The Guildhall A/P

  Painting—Gore Frederick—Puig Major from Forna Luxh, near Soller, Majorca

  Print—Bicat Andre—Aubergines 14/100

  Painting—Elwyn John—Savernake Encounter, 1965

  Print—Kay Bernard—Cathedral School, Hereford (final state proof)

  Print—Turner William (of Oxford)—Newbury from Speen Hill

  Painting—Roussel Theodore Casimir—Rochester Harbour: a September Afternoon

  Photograph—Wakefield, Paul—Honister Pass

  Photograph—Wakefield, Paul—Old Man of Hoy

  Photograph—Wakefield, Paul—Snow Mountains

  Photograph—Wakefield, Paul—Theedmir Hill

  Photograph—Wakefield, Paul—Loch Quoich

  Photograph—Wakefield, Paul—Chichester Harbour

  Hospitality (10 Downing Street)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply of 22 October, Official Report, column 845, if she will provide such details of the number of Conservative
  360
  right hon. and hon. Members who have received hospitality in 10 Downing street as are readily available for any convenient recent period.

  The Prime Minister
  Since 1 January 1987, 71 Conservative right hon. and hon. Members have attended lunches (including working lunches), dinners (including working dinners) and receptions in 10 Downing street.

  South Africa
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Prime Minister if she will arrange for publication in the Official Report in a suitable format of all the information which she used to support her remarks at the recent Commonwealth Conference about the growth of trading links between each other Commonwealth country and the Republic of South Africa.

  The Prime Minister
  The figures on which I drew at Vancouver are available from published sources, including those relating to trade between Canada and South Africa.

  Privatised Companies (Ex-Ministers)
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make it a condition of acceptance of ministerial office that an individual who subsequently leaves office will not undertake work as a consultant to or a director of a company privatised from public ownership during the time the Minister was in office.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Engagements
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 October.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 October.

  Mr. Stern
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 October.

  Mr. Pike
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 October.

  Mr. Fearn
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 October.

  Mr. Alton
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 October.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I attended the memorial service for Lord Soames at Westminster Abbey. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Inner London Weighting
  Mr. John Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which education authorities in London pay their teachers inner London weighting; and what criteria are used in determining such authorities.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  London allowances at the inner area rate are paid to primary and secondary school teachers
  361
  who serve in the area of the Inner London education authority, and of the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Brent, Ealing, Haringey, Merton, and Newham. The arrangements were agreed by the Burnham committee and remain unchanged. My right hon. Friend has invited the interim advisory committee to examine and report to him on whether there should be any change in London area allowances.

  British Geological Survey
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on his decision regarding the future of the British Geological Survey, following the report of Sir Clifford Butler, a copy of which he has received.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to make a statement on Sir Clifford Butler's report on geological surveying.

  Mr. Jackson
  The recommendations of the report of the study group into geological surveying, chaired by Sir Clifford Butler, that fall to be considered by Government are being discussed with the Departments concerned. My right hon. Friend will make a statement when these consultations have been completed.

  School Meals
  Mr. Pendry
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give, for each education authority in England and Wales the number of children who take school meals who are entitled to free school meals by reason of (a) their family entitled to family income supplement or supplementary benefit and (b) the discretionary power of the local authority to extend free meal provision.

  Mr. Dunn
  The information requested is included in the October 1986 school meals census, copies of which are available in the Library.

  CERN
  Mr. Blunkett
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement regarding his policy towards continued British membership of CERN.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to make a statement on United Kingdom's participation in CERN.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 28 October.

  Mr. Blunkett
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from Sheffield university about the implications for the university of continued United Kingdom membership of CERN; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have received a letter from the hon. Member for Sheffield Heeley (Mr. Michie) relaying the views of staff in the department of physics at the University of Sheffield.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he estimates as being the additional cost likely to be incurred by local education authorities by the proposed legislation on the core curriculum. grant-maintained schools, increased financial responsibility to head teachers and open enrolment.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  All these proposals are designed to give local authorities and schools the opportunity to achieve better value for the resources provided for education. Implementation of the proposals will involve some redirection of funds; any particular requirements which emerge as LEAs and governing bodies progressively put them into practice will fall to be considered in the annual public expenditure discussions.

  School Places
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many surplus secondary school places there are in England and Wales; and if he will give a breakdown by individual local education authorities.

  Mr. Dunn
  It is estimated that in January 1987 there were approximately 720,000 surplus secondary school places in England. The Department does not collect information about the position in Wales or in individual local education authorities.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated total cost of providing surplus secondary school places.

  Mr. Dunn
  The premises-related costs of retaining a surplus secondary place are estimated at £200 a year. There is also an additional but unquantified teaching cost.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many surplus primary school places there are in England and Wales; and if he will give a breakdown by individual local education authorities.

  Mr. Dunn
  It is estimated that in January 1987 there were approximately 710,000 surplus primary school places in England. The Department does not collect information about the position in Wales or in individual local education authorities.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated total cost of providing surplus primary school places.

  Mr. Dunn
  The premises-related costs of retaining a surplus primary place are estimated at £120 a year. There is also an additional but unquantified teaching cost.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he measures the pupil capacity of secondary schools.

  Mr. Dunn
  I shall write to my hon. Friend to explain how the stock of school places was assessed for the purpose of setting national targets for the removal of surplus places.

  Teachers (Salaries and Conditions)
  Mr. Stern
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish a consultation document on the future machinery for the negotiation of teachers' salaries and conditions.
  364
  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend laid before Parliament on 27 October a Green Paper entitled "Teachers' Pay and Conditions: A Consultative Document".

  Education Authority Staff
  Mr. William Powell
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many (a) teachers and (b) non-teaching staff, whole-time equivalent, are employed by each local educational authority in England at the latest convenient date.

  Teaching and non-leaching staff-—First half 1987

  Teaching Staff Full-time equivalent

  Non-teaching Staff Number

  Local Education Authority

  Schools

  Further education

  Total

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  Barking

  1,422

  856

  2,278

  650

  1,568

  2,218

  Barnet

  2,633

  380

  3,013

  1,007

  2,453

  3,460

  Bexlcy

  1,828

  270

  2,098

  493

  1,939

  2,432

  Brent

  2,629

  644

  3,274

  1,252

  2,417

  3,669

  Bromley

  2,117

  380

  2,497

  562

  1,939

  2,501

  Croydon

  2,644

  551

  3,195

  780

  2,780

  3,560

  Ealing

  2,378

  702

  3,080

  994

  2,020

  3,014

  Enfield

  2,367

  961

  3,328

  617

  1,963

  2,580

  Haringey

  2,056

  478

  2,534

  1,121

  2,358

  3,479

  Harrow

  1,616

  377

  1,994

  491

  1,544

  2,035

  Havering

  2,202

  291

  2,493

  621

  1,815

  2,436

  Hillingdon

  1,863

  183

  2,046

  640

  2,103

  2,743

  Hounslow

  2,025

  404

  2,429

  618

  1,840

  2,458

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,083

  843

  1,926

  874

  1,156

  2,030

  Merton

  1,314

  164

  1,478

  346

  636

  982

  Newham

  2,405

  364

  2,769

  1,147

  1,989

  3,136

  Redbridge

  1,783

  214

  1,998

  453

  1,616

  2,069

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  997

  389

  1,367

  319

  976

  1,295

  Sutton

  1,245

  217

  1,461

  444

  1,316

  1,770

  Waltham Forest

  2,390

  336

  2,727

  862

  2,466

  3,328

  Inner London

  22,180

  9,654

  31,834

  19,676

  29,481

  49,157

  City of London

  —

  —

  —

  120

  37

  157

  Birmingham

  10,319

  2,060

  12,379

  4,155

  9,764

  13,919

  Coventry

  3,107

  1,197

  4,305

  2,031

  4,327

  6,358

  Dudley

  2,764

  585

  3,349

  867

  2,665

  3,532

  Sandwell

  3,113

  655

  3,768

  1,252

  3,183

  4,435

  Solihull

  1,960

  314

  2,274

  431

  1,875

  2,306

  Walsall

  3,054

  633

  3,687

  1,121

  3,998

  5,119

  Wolverhampton

  2,814

  1,130

  3,944

  1,628

  2,626

  4,254

  Knowsley

  1,864

  196

  2,060

  789

  2,140

  2,929

  Liverpool

  4,933

  1,708

  6,641

  2,814

  6,185

  8,999

  St. Helens

  1,936

  345

  2,281

  732

  2,211

  2,943

  Sefton

  2,608

  412

  3,019

  1,067

  2,471

  3,538

  Wirral

  3,017

  544

  3,561

  829

  3,679

  4,508

  Bolton

  2,575

  650

  3,225

  1,222

  2,872

  4,094

  Bury

  1,634

  251

  1,885

  524

  1,779

  2,303

  Manchester

  4,981

  2,317

  7,298

  4,193

  6,891

  11,084

  Oldham

  2,253

  330

  2,582

  876

  2,041

  2,917

  Rochdale

  2,267

  237

  2,504

  966

  2,200

  3,166

  Salford

  2,316

  577

  2,893

  1,095

  2,575

  3,670

  Stockport

  2,554

  492

  3,046

  929

  2,316

  3,245

  Tameside

  2,067

  260

  2,327

  862

  2,024

  2,886

  Trafford

  1,669

  355

  2,024

  538

  1,797

  2,335

  Wigan

  3,315

  680

  3,995

  1,103

  3,076

  4,179

  Barnsley

  2,106

  298

  2,404

  811

  2,412

  3,223

  Doncaster

  2,852

  413

  3,265

  1,139

  3,592

  4,731

  Rotherham

  2,597

  444

  3,040

  772

  2,621

  3,393

  Sheffield

  5,097

  1,884

  6,981

  2,814

  6,754

  9,568

  Bradford

  5,191

  906

  6,097

  2,103

  6,075

  8,178

  Calderdale

  1,961

  280

  2,240

  650

  1,861

  2,511

  Kirklees

  3,797

  1,298

  5,095

  1,771

  5,080

  6,851

  Leeds

  6,982

  1,908

  8,890

  3,103

  7,119

  10,222

  Wakefield

  3,041

  629

  3,669

  1,263

  3,529

  4,792

  Gateshead

  1,979

  224

  2,204

  868

  1,651

  2,519

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,789

  1,232

  4,021

  2,282

  3,281

  5,563

  North Tyneside

  2,171

  216

  2,387

  926

  1,787

  2,713

  South Tyneside

  1,571

  412

  1,982

  770

  1,698

  2,468

  Sunderland

  2,995

  753

  3,748

  1,663

  3,169

  4,832

  Isles of Scilly

  25

  0

  25

  —

  —

  —

  Avon

  7,670

  2,209

  9,880

  —

  —

  —

  Bedfordshire

  4,951

  1,064

  6,015

  —

  —

  —

  366
  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. The table shows 1987 numbers in full-time equivalent terms and full-time and part-time non-teaching staff. Non-teaching staff numbers are riot available for individual non-metropolitan counties, nor in full-time equivalent terms for any individual local education authority.
  367

  Teaching Staff Full-time equivalent

  Non-leaching Staff Number

  Local Education Authority

  Schools

  Further education

  Total

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  Berkshire

  6,312

  1,555

  7,867

  —

  —

  —

  Buckinghamshire

  5,131

  986

  6,117

  —

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  5,429

  1,177

  6,607

  —

  —

  —

  Cheshire

  8,618

  1,492

  10,110

  —

  —

  —

  Cleveland

  5,867

  1,465

  7,338

  —

  —

  —

  Cornwall

  3,717

  619

  4,336

  —

  —

  —

  Cumbria

  4,553

  862

  5,415

  —

  —

  —

  Derbyshire

  8,542

  1,348

  9,890

  —

  —

  —

  Devon

  7,458

  2,134

  9,593

  —

  —

  —

  Dorset

  4,569

  1,147

  5,716

  —

  —

  —

  Durham

  5,261

  939

  6,200

  —

  —

  —

  East Sussex

  4,730

  1,344

  6,074

  —

  —

  —

  Essex

  12,285

  2,198

  14,483

  —

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire

  4,377

  699

  5,076

  —

  —

  —

  Hampshire

  12,141

  3,393

  15,533

  —

  —

  —

  Hereford and Worcester

  5,494

  1,227

  6,721

  —

  —

  —

  Hertfordshire

  8,999

  2,011

  11,010

  —

  —

  —

  Humberside

  8,209

  1,649

  —

  —

  —

  —.

  Isle of Wight

  993

  190

  1,183

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  12,083

  2046

  14,128

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  12,346

  3,199

  15,545

  —

  —

  —

  Leicestershire

  8,046

  2,195

  10,241

  —

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire

  4,668

  833

  5,501

  —

  —

  —

  Norfolk

  5,848

  907

  6,755

  —

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire

  3,702

  1,054

  6,756

  —

  —

  —

  Northamptonshire

  5,541

  978

  6,519

  —

  —

  —

  Northumberland

  2,829

  208

  3,037

  —

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  9,125

  2,443

  11,568

  —

  —

  —

  Oxfordshire

  4,431

  1,272

  5,704

  —

  —

  —

  Shropshire

  3,664

  558

  4,221

  —

  —

  —

  Somerset

  3,449

  887

  4,336

  —

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  9,131

  2,106

  11,237

  —

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  5,066

  862

  5,928

  —

  —

  —

  Surrey

  7,128

  1,461

  8,589

  —

  —

  —

  Warwickshire

  4,288

  1,090

  5,378

  —

  —

  —

  West Sussex

  5,164

  819

  5,983

  —

  —

  —

  Wiltshire

  4,276

  976

  5,252

  —

  —

  —

  Non-Metropolitan Counties

  248,122

  53,602

  301,724

  89,462

  280,272

  369,734

  Total England

  421,530

  99,085

  520,616

  174,508

  470,018

  644,526

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Equal Opportunities
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Attorney-General what is (a) the proportion of working time allocated to the Lord Chancellor's departmental equal opportunities officer for equal opportunities duties, (b) the other duties carried out by the departmental equal opportunities officer, (c) the proportion and amount of the departmental budget allocated to equal opportunities work, (d) the number of occasions when the departmental equal opportunities officer meets equal opportunities officers from other Government Departments each year, and (e) the guidelines issued to departmental training officers and departmental equal opportunities officers to promote the use of section 47 of the Sex Discrimination Act; and what action has been taken to facilitate job share, part-time working and parental leave.

  The Attorney-General
  (a) The Lord Chancellor's departmental equal opportunities officer spends about 50 per cent. of his time on these duties. Two and a half other members of staff are also fully engaged on them;

  (b) He also deals with employment and industrial relations matters;
  368
  (c) No specific budget is allocated for equal opportunities work; The cost is subsumed in other departmental budgets and could be quantified only at disproportionate cost;

  (d) The equal opportunities officer meets other equal opportunities officers, formally and informally, several times a year;

  (e) Central guidance on equal opportunities matters has been issued to departmental training officers and departmental equal opportunities officers. The Department has run courses for women middle managers and nominates women for similar courses. A domestic absence scheme has recently been established; similar agreements in relation to job sharing and part-time working are currently being discussed with the departmental trade union side.

  Marconi
  Mr. Soames
  asked the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement as to the nature of inquiries into Marconi by the Ministry of Defence police.

  The Attorney-General
  The inquiries by the Ministry of Defence police relate to allegations of fraud in connection with Ministry of Defence contracts with Marconi.

  Personation
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Attorney-General when was the last occasion the Director of Public Prosecutions ordered the prosecution of an individual for falsely claiming to be a police officer.

  The Attorney-General
  No separate records are kept by the Crown Prosecution Service of prosecutions brought under section 52 of the Police Act 1964. It would not therefore be possible to give an accurate answer to the hon. Member's question for the period since the inception of the Crown Prosecution Service in October 1986. Prior to that date the Prosecution of Offences Regulations 1978 did not require chief officers of police to report cases of personating a police officer to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  Small Claims
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Attorney-General whether he is satisfied with the operation of the small claims procedure in the county court in England and Wales; and what plans the Government have for amendment of the procedure.

  The Attorney-General
  A factual study of the small claims procedure, carried out as part of the Lord Chancellor's civil justice review, indicates that the procedure is generally working well and that there is a high level of satisfaction among those who have used it. Any recommendations for reform will be contained in a report of the review as a whole which is due to be put before the Lord Chancellor in early 1988.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Attorney-General how many cases, for the most recent five years for which figures are available, were dealt with under the small claims procedure in the county courts of England and Wales.

  The Attorney-General
  The numbers of arbitration cases heard under the small claims procedure in county courts in the years 1982 to 1986 are shown in the table.

  Number of arbitration cases heard under the small claims procedure in county courts in England and Wales, 1982–86

  Year

  Number

  1982

  31,609

  1983

  39,266

  1984

  43,576

  1985

  44,652

  1986

  44,670

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Attorney-General if he will estimate the additional cost to public funds in operating the small claims procedure in the county court in England and Wales if disputes currently referred to outside arbitration in accordance with compulsory arbitration clauses in contracts with consumers were instead, at the option of the consumer, made subject to disposal through the county court.

  The Attorney-General
  No accurate information is available as to the number of disputes currently referred to outside arbitration of the number which falls within the limits of the small claims procedure. It is therefore not possible to estimate the possible additional cost to public funds of handling these cases in the county courts.

ENERGY

  Coal
  Mr. John Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has about the price of coal on the world market; and how this compares with the price charged by British Coal to the Central Electricity Generating Board.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Ranges of spot prices for steam coal at Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp are published regularly in "Coal Week International". The prices paid by the CEGB for its coal are a commercial matter for the board.

  Bradwell
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the Central Electricity Generating Board to respond to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's report requiring the integrity of the pressure circuits and the direct examination of components in inaccessible and highly radioactive areas of the reactor at Bradwell power station; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I am advised by the CEGB that the agreed programme of further work is under way and is on schedule to meet the time scales set by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Power Stations (Low-grade Heat)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated annual value of the low-grade heat which remains in water emerging from steam condensers in coal and nuclear power stations and which is unable to be put to economic use.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Low grade heat emerging in water is equivalent to some 50 per cent. of the calorific value of fuel burnt in power stations. Any economic uses for such heat are a matter for the CEGB.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his Department's policy towards fees for subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act; how many register entries his Department has; and what would be the total cost to a data subject seeking access to personal data held under all register entries.

  Mr. Parkinson
  My Department will not charge employees or ex-employees for subject access under the Act; other persons will be charged £8 per inquiry.

  My Department has seven entries in the Data Protection Register covering 21 standard purposes.

  In the unlikely event of other persons seeking access to personal data held under all register entries, the total cost would be £56.

  Electricity
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in the event of privatisation of the national electricity system, he will consider the establishment of a public authority with sufficient powers and resources to monitor and ultimately decide about the standards, quality of supply and cost of electricity.
  371
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  We shall ensure that the electricity supply industry is properly regulated after privatisation, for the benefit of consumers. The precise nature of the regulatory regime will depend on the decisions to be taken about the future structure of the industry.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps would be necessary for the protection of the environment and of the health and safety of the people in the event that nuclear electricity plants were transferred to private or foreign ownership.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Very high safety standards currently exist for the operation of nuclear power stations to protect the environment and the health and safety of both the work force and the general population. The Government have not yet decided on the structure of the privatised electricity supply industry but there will be no question of compromising safety standards or the regulatory framework which ensures that current standards are maintained.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what special provisions he will make for the protection of electricity supplies to pensioners in the event of privatisation of electricity supply;

  (2) what consultation he is having so as to ensure that privatisation of the electricity system does not worsen the situation as regards electricity supplies to pensioners, single parent families, the unemployed and students living on their own.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Our aim is to create a more efficient, economic and competitive industry for the benefit of all consumers. We are developing plans and consulting widely on the issues involved.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy that the national electricity service gives priority to the satisfaction of the energy requirements of the population.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My right hon. Friend and I are developing proposals for privatisation. Consumer service is a top priority.

  Gas
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list, for every year since 1974, the number of gas supplies cut due to unpaid bills.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  This is a matter for British Gas plc. I have asked the chairman of British Gas to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Nuclear Energy
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he is having with medical experts and others on the health risks affecting people living in areas where nuclear electricity plants operate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  In fulfilment of a recommendation of the independent advisory group. which undertook an investigation of the possible increased incidence of cancer in West Cumbria (the Black report, a copy of which is in the Library), the Government established the independent Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) in 1985. Its terms of reference 372
  are to assess and advise the Government on the health effects of natural and man-made radiation in the environment and assess the adequacy of the available data and the need for further research. My Department maintains a close interest in the work of COMARE.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what safeguards he proposes to introduce as regards the further use of nuclear materials by the electricity generation industry, in the event of privatisation of electricity gereration.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  All nuclear material in civil use is subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the United Kingdom—Euratom—IAEA agreement regardless of whether it is in the private or public sector.

  Coal Industry (Subsidence)
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he now expects the White Paper in reply to the Waddilove report on "The Repair and Compensation System for Coal Mining Subsidence" to be published.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Government's response to the report of the subsidence compensation review committee, chaired by Mr. Lewis Waddilove CBE JP, has been published and laid before Parliament today by the Secretaries of State for Energy, for the Environment, for Scotland and for Wales.

  The Government endorse the view of the Waddilove committee that a balance must be achieved between the justified claims of individuals who have experienced subsidence damage and the need to avoid an undue burden of cost to the British Coal Corporation and, indirectly, to the taxpayer.

  The Government also endorse Waddilove's view that it is British Coal's primary duty to repair damage. British Coal has already made a significant number of improvements to the management of its compensation scheme in line with this and other of the committee's recommendations.

  BCC has accepted the Government's view that there should be further improvements in line with the committee's recommendations. These include extending the scope of non-statutory compensation to householders and to tenants and owners of agricultural land; and allowing claimants, subject to the agreement of British Coal, to choose their own contractors to carry out repairs.

  Information about and monitoring of the compensation system will continue to be improved. British Coal will make an annual report on the operation of the scheme to the Secretary of State for Energy which he will lay before Parliament.

  The Government are considering introducing legislation to put on a statutory basis a number of the committee's recommendations, which would provide a single basis for coal mining subsidence compensation. A consultation document will issue early next year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mental Health
  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many current occupants of Her Majesty's prisons in England and Wales have ever been

  373
  admitted to National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units with a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis;

  (2) how many people were admitted to Her Majesty's prisons in England and Wales who had previously been discharged from mental illness hospitals and units after a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psyschosis in each of the last five years; and how many were recidivists;

  (3) how many people were admitted to Her Majesty's prisons in Wales who had previously been discharged from mental illness hospitals and units after a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychosis in each of the last five years; and how many were recidivists.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Prison Places
  Mr. Steinberg
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison places have been made available by the opening of ex-Army camps; and how many vacancies there are at existing prison establishments.

  Mr. John Patten
  One Army camp, at Rollestone on Salisbury Plain, has been brought into use as a temporary prison this year. Since it opened on 3 August it has accommodated 430 prisoners who would otherwise have been held in other prison establishments. It is staffed by prison service personnel.

  The population in all prison establishments on Friday 23 October was 47,494 against a total certified normal accommodation of 42,957, a shortfall of 4,537 places. The total number of vacancies at individual establishment, including Full Sutton (which has just opened and has begun to receive prisoners), and at establishments which have been temporarily closed to allow staff to be deployed elsewhere, was 2,826.

  Fiji
  Mr. Boswell
  asked the Secretary of state for the Home Department what are the consequencies of Fiji's current withdrawal from the Commonwealth for these areas within the responsibilities of his Department, including specifically entitlement to register as British citizens and to vote in British elections.

  Mr. Renton
  Our understanding is that unless and until the law is changed citizens of Fiji who meet the requirements for registration as British citizens under section 7 of the British Nationality Act 1981 are eligible to be registered and retain the right to vote.

  Automatic Weapons
  Mr. Steel
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the numbers of people that have been killed by automatic weapons from 1979 to date.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The available information on homicides is published in table 4.3 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1986", (Cm. 233) a copy of which is in the Library. The information collected centrally does not distinguish automatic weapons from other types of firearms.

  Opium Poppies
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that existing statutory controls are adequate to deal with the cultivation in the United Kingdom of opium poppies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The production of opiates from poppies is already controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, having assessed the level of risk from commercial opium poppy cultivation in this country, has advised us that there is no case at present for extending those powers.

  We have studied the advisory council's report very carefully, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. We have concluded that poppy cultivation on the present scale seems unlikely to be an additional source of illicit drugs and that the 1971 Act provides an adequate level of control. However, it is important that we continue to watch the situation and I have arranged for the Home Office drugs inspectorate to monitor all such crops in future for any evidence of improper diversion.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the procedures which operate in respect of inquiries to the police national computer to ensure that information is divulged only to those entitled to it; that the reasons for inquiries are subject to check to ensure that they are justified; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the procedure for ensuring that information from the police national computer is divulged only to those entitled to it, is as described in my reply to the hon. Member of 18 November 1986, at column 89.

  A sample of the requests for information from the police national computer is checked each day to ensure that these related to a bona fide police purpose and that the appropriate records were correctly completed.

  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police authorities have not fully implemented the guidelines proposed in paragraph 38 of the report by the Police Complaints Authority on the police national computer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  The attention of all chief officers has been drawn to the guidelines proposed in paragraph 38 of the Police Complaints Authority report on the police national computer. Records are not held centrally on the way in which each chief officer acted on these guildelines.

  In addition, the Association of Chief Police Officers is preparing a code of practice for police computer systems, including the police national computer, as encouraged under section 36(4) of the Data Protection Act, 1984. This will take full account of the recommendations of the Police Complaints Authority. The intention is to make this available to the public and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Prisons (Mothers and Babies)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mother and baby places there are in prisons; how many current prisoners gave birth in the past two years; how many in the second category are not allowed their babies with them despite requesting it.

  Mr. John Patten
  There are 37 mother and baby places in prisons. Information on how many current inmates gave birth in the past two years, and how many of these are not allowed to have their babies with them despite requesting it, is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  AIDS
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prison inmates reported as having been indentified as HIV antibody positive, at the latest available date.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 23 October 1987 the prison population of England and Wales included 33 inmates reported as having been identified as HIV antibody positive. 128 such cases had been reported since central monitoring began in March 1985.

  Data Protection Act
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's policy towards fees for subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act; how many register entries his Department has; and what would be the total cost to a data subject seeking access to personal data held under all register entries.

  Mr. Renton
  Following an internal assessment of the actual cost likely to be incurred in responding to subject access requests, data subjects will be charged a subject access fee of either £5, £7·50 or £10, depending on the particular Home Office registration to which they are seeking access, for each application.

  On 26 October 1987 the Home Office had 88 confirmed entries in the register, with a further seven applications at various stages of consideration by the registrar. Twenty of these registrations contain data used solely for preparing statistics or carrying out research and, as such, will not contain any data which the Home Office is required to reveal to data subjects, and two relate solely to the provision of bureau services. Of the remaining 73 registrations, four will attract a subject access fee of £5, and four a fee of £7·50. The remainder will attract a fee of £10. This means that fees totalling £700 would be payable if a data subject were to apply for subject access to all Home Office registrations: this is an unlikely eventuality given the wide spread of Home Office registrations as listed in the departmental pamphlet, "Summary of Home Office Registrations", a copy of which I am placing in the Library.

  Police (Efficiency)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance indicators are at present being used to measure the efficiency and cost effectiveness of police forces in England and Wales.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The setting of objectives, and the monitoring and evaluation of performance, is part of the 376
  responsibility of police managers at all levels. Central guidance on this and other good management practices is set out in the Home Office circular 114/1983, a copy of which is in the Library. Objectives are set in relation to local circumstances, and their evaluation is a matter for each chief officer of police, in consultation where appropriate with the local police authority.

  The Home Office has traditionally judged a force's efficiency and effectiveness by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary's professional assessment of its overall performance, taking into account such matters as the extent and nature of policing problems in the area and the level of resources available to it. Statistical and other information is collected centrally from forces.

  Suspects (Questioning)
  Mr. Bermingham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if all interviews and questioning that takes place in police stations will be subject to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act codes of practice.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The provisions of the code of practice for the detention, treatment, and questioning of persons by police officers relate primarily to the questioning of persons suspected of an offence and who are detained in police custody. All such interviews must be conducted in accordance with the code's provisions.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will be taking any action in regard to the Spastics Society's report on disabled people and the 1987 general election, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby, (Mr. Wareing) on 21 October, at column 779.

  Anti-Apartheid Movement
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding telephone and mail interceptions affecting the staff and property of the Anti-Apartheid Movement.

  Mr. Hurd
  None.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning attacks against the staff and property of the Anti-Apartheid Movement.

  Mr. Hurd
  Representations have been received direct from the Anti-Apartheid Movement about the safety of members of the African National Congress following the arrest of persons later charged with conspiracy to kidnap members of the ANC. A reply was sent on 21 August. I have not received any representations related specifically to attacks against the staff and property of the Anti-Apartheid Movement.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will take measures to protect the property of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in the United Kingdom;

  (2) if he will take measures to protect the safety of the staff working at the offices of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in the United Kingdom.
  377
  Mr. Hurd
  Advice on security measures is freely available from the police.

  Airports (Security)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what standing arrangements exist between the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the Civil Aviation Authority concerning procedures for dealing with emergencies at airports within the Metropolitan police area.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand that it is a condition of licences issued to the operators of civil airports by the Civil Aviation Authority that the operators draw up and review contingency plans for emergencies, in consultation with the police and other emergency services. The Commissioner has informed me that he has been consulted about such contingency plans by the operators of the Heathrow, London City, Biggin Hill and Elstree airports and the Westland heliport, Battersea.

  London Residuary Body
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much is owed by his Department to the London Residuary Body in respect of unsettled Greater London council accounts.

  Mr. Hurd
  Pending receipt of audited grant claims, we estimate that £1·1 million still remains due to the London Residuary Body.

  Anti-Apartheid Demonstration
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were deployed in connection with the anti-apartheid demonstration on 24 October; what was the estimated cost; what was the police estimate of the number of demonstrations; and how many arrests were made.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that 809 police officers were deployed in policing this demonstration at an additional cost of about £25,000. Some 25,000 people took part and there were seven arrests.

  Impersonation of Police Officers
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each of the past five years have been prosecuted for impersonating a police officer.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information recorded centrally is given in the following table:

  Defendants proceeded against under section 52 of the 1964 Police

  Act for impersonating a police officer:

  England and Wales

  Year

  Total proceeded against

  1982

  120

  1983

  108

  1984

  79

  1985

  74

  1986

  72

  Illegal Passport (Waterfield)
  Mr. Gorst
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to withdraw the illegal passport in the name of Waterfield, being used by Preta, the German-born common law wife of a Scottish narcotics criminal, Forbes Mitchell, to enable her to travel between Ibiza and Sweden with the knowledge of the Swedish authorities, for the purpose of visiting Mitchell while he is in prison; if he will institute inquiries with a view to taking appropriate action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The passport department cannot trace any passport application in the name of Preta Waterfield. If my hon. Friend can provide any further information about the alleged passport irregularity and will write to me, the matter will be further investigated.

  Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
  Mr. Corbett
  asked the Secretary of State for the home Department whether he will allocate specific additional funds to police authorities to pay for the erection on lighting columns of approved neighbourhood watch scheme signs at the discretion and under the control of local police forces.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no plans to provide Funds additional to those provided directly through the police grant, which is paid on 51 per cent. of all police expenditure. It is for police authorities to decide on the allocation of the resources at their disposal. I understand that some have funded the erection of neighbourhood watch street signs. However, many schemes have obtained private sponsorship to cover the cost of signs and this is to be encouraged. Effective local crime prevention initiatives such as neighbourhood watch need and deserve the support of all sectors of the community.

  Metropolitan Police (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 22 October, Official Report, column 841, why he is not able to state how many Metropolitan police officers have been temporarily attached for duties in Northern Ireland in each of the past three years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that Metropolitan police officers are temporarily attached for duties in Northern Ireland in response to operational requirements as they arise. No central record is kept of these attachments, which are few and usually of short duration.

  Immigration
  Mr. Terry Davis
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to introduce a quota for the admission of husbands and wives of British citizens to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Renton
  Whilst a quota would be among the options if changes were to be made, no proposals are now before me.

  Fresh Start
  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the progress being

  379
  made in the implementation of new working practices in the prison service known as fresh start; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  Seventy-three establishments and part of Her Majesty's remand centre, Pucklechurch are now on fresh start. Firm plans are made for the rest of Pucklechurch remand centre and another 23 establishments to move to full or transitional fresh start working during November, mostly on 1 November. Local discussions continue about moving the remaining 21 establishments on to fresh start. I know that prison service managers are doing their best to iron out problems so that these establishments can move to fresh start at the earliest possible date.

  We are continuing to aim to have every establishment on full fresh start working by the end of February 1988. To this end we plan to recruit a total of about 1,800 new officers in 1987–88. This will use our two training schools to full capacity throughout the year. In addition, we are hiring two police training centres in which to train 160 staff. After allowing for wastage and the staff needed for new accommodation this should produce about 750 additional staff for fresh start. The balance will come from a mix of redeployment and the recruitment of civilians, prison auxiliaries and night patrols.

  The next stage of the implementatiotn process is to establish as objectively as possible what has been the outcome of every aspect of the change to fresh start, including staffing levels. Information will be collected on every establishment and visits will be paid to a representative group of 10 establishments. It will be open to the trade union side to make its views known to the evaluation team. This work will be done in November, evaluated quickly and the results reviewed by senior management in the first part of December.

  I recognise that the change to fresh start is a formidable task for the prison service. There is accumulating evidence that we are set on the right course. I am satisfied with progress so far and look forward to full implementation relatively soon.

EMPLOYMENT

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his Department's policy towards fees for subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act; how many register entries his Department has; and what would be the total cost to a data subject seeking access to personal data held under all register entries.

  Mr. Cope
  The Department of Employment group, comprising the Department of Employment, the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service, the Health and Safety Executive, and the Manpower Services Commission has a total of 94 entries on the data protection register. A fee of £10 will be charged for access to information held on most of its register entries, except that free access will be allowed to information held for the following purposes: the national unemployment benefit central computer system; job finding, training and related activities; the Department of Employment small firms service; the administration of the redundancy payments scheme; the 380
  Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service; industrial tribunals administration; and internal departmental personnel administration.

  Employees (Reductions)
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that those employees who heeded police warnings to stay at home on 16 October do not have deductions made by their employers from their pay.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have no power to intervene in matters of this kind.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much is owed by his Department to the London residuary body in respect of unsettled Greater London council accounts.

  Mr. Lee
  No central record is kept of my Department's non-statutory financial liabilities under contract to individual local authorities.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  International Space Year
  Mr. Warren
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements Her Majesty's Government are making to participate in International Space Year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  Arrangements for the United Kingdom's participation in International Space Year 1992 are being co-ordinated by the Royal Society through its British National Committee on Space Research (BNCSR)

  The Government are represented on the BNCSR and play a full part in the work of the committee.

  Financial Services Act
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the Director General of the Office of Fair Trading did not obtain from Arthur Young Management Consultants specific data concerning the effects of the proposed regulations pursuant to the Financial Services Act upon the incomes and viability of single-person firms of practitioners in the financial services industry before communicating his final recommendations to the Secretary of State prior to the coming into force of the new regulations; and whether he will ensure that this action is taken forthwith.

  Mr. Maude
  The Financial Services Act provides that, in deciding whether to give leave for the recognition of a self-regulation organisation, my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State must have regard to the report made by the Director General of Fair Trading under section 122(2) of the Act. No such report has yet been submitted in respect of any of the organisations whose applications for recognition are currently under consideration. I understand that, in order to assist him in preparing these reports, the director general commissioned a report from Arthur Young Management Consultants (AYMC) on the effect of certain rules on small financial intermediaries. I am informed that the sample surveyed by AYMC included a number of sole practitioners.

  Space Research
  Mr. David Atkinson
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the current total public expenditure on United Kingdom space research; and if he has any plans to increase it.

  Mr. Butcher
  The current total public expenditure on civil space research and development is £112 million a year. There are no plans to increase this figure.

  European Space Agency
  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will state how much is the current United Kingdom contribution to the European Space Agency comparing it in percentage terms with those of other member states.

  Mr. Butcher
  United Kingdom expenditure on European Space Agency activities in the financial year 1986–87 was £79 million. Member states' contributions in percentage terms to European Space Agency expenditure in 1986 were:

  Per cent.

  Belgium

  3·4

  Denmark

  1·1

  France

  30·6

  Germany

  25·8

  Ireland

  0·2

  Italy

  15·0

  European Space Agency: Director General's Proposals of June 1987 (All figures in million European currency units, constant prices)

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Total

  Columbus Development

  —

  158

  258

  324

  418

  427

  453

  443

  423

  350

  109

  —

  —

  —

  3,363

  Ariane 5 Development

  —

  72

  410

  485

  510

  565

  565

  430

  350

  109

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,496

  Hermes Development

  —

  76

  170

  318

  322

  380

  464

  535

  565

  560

  525

  475

  39

  —

  4,429

  Other expenditure

  1,486

  1,288

  1,043

  1,010

  1,101

  1,152

  1,180

  1,254

  1,326

  1,608

  1,993

  2,153

  2,583

  2,618

  21,795

  Total

  1,486

  1,594

  1,881

  2,137

  2,351

  2,524

  2,662

  2,662

  2,664

  2,627

  2,627

  2,628

  2,622

  2,618

  33,083

  Note: Today's exchange rate is £1 = 1·44 ecu.

  Space Industry
  Mr. David Atkinson
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps his Department is taking to encourage public awareness of the potential and importance of the British space industry; and to encourage private sector investment.

  Mr. Butcher
  Through the British National Space Centre (BNSC), the Government aim to encourage public awareness of the potential and importance of the British space industry to scientific research and to industrial applications. This it does through press notices; publications; newsletters and posters; the encouragement of articles and a programme of speeches. The BNSC also participates in major aerospace exhibitions and has published a directory of United Kingdom space capabilities.

  The BNSC also works closely with the Department of Education and Science to encourage an awareness of the uses of space activity in school curricula and has published a guide to courses, research opportunities and sponsorship for students.
  382

  Per cent.

  Netherlands

  3·7

  Spain

  2·5

  Sweden

  2·5

  Switzerland

  2·0

  United Kingdom

  13·1

  100·0

  Austria and Norway were riot members in 1986

  Mr. Warren
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the breakdown of annual expenditure proposed to Her Majesty's Government by the European Space Agency, listing it in the following four categories: Ariane 5, Hermes spacecraft, Columbus spacecraft, and other ventures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The latest comprehensive proposal from the European Space Agency, dated June 1987, gives total expenditure figures (in million European currency units (ecu) at today's prices) for the Columbus, Ariane 5 and Hermes development programmes as listed in the table.

  We are still awaiting the ESA director generals's final proposals for the Ministerial Council on 9–10 November, but one change of which we have been informed is that the cost of Columbus development has increased to 3.9 billion ecu.

  The proposed development programmes are optional, and, if they are agreed, it will be for each member state to decide on its level of participation.

  Following the Prime Minister's invitation to the Private sector to come forward with further resources, major aerospace companies agreed to continue work at company expense on certain key national space programmes until the European Space Agency Ministerial Council meeting in November. Meanwhile, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is having discussions with industry on possible long-term cooperation in the United Kingdom's space activities.

  Space Policy
  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recommendations for future United Kingdom space policy arose from the recent meeting of the Advisory Council on Science and Technology.

  Mr. Butcher
  The advice received from the Advisory Council on Science and Technology on the subject of space research and development was given in confidence.

  HOTOL
  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the future of HOTOL.

  Mr. Butcher
  For the present until end-1987 British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce have agreed to continue on their own responsibility the proof of concept studies on HOTOL commenced in 1986. We are currently reviewing the future progress of HOTOL with the companies.

  Ariane 5 Launch Vehicle
  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much British investment is required for United Kingdom companies to qualify for contracts for the Ariane 5 launch vehicle; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The preparatory work for the Ariane 5 programme has indicated a potential United Kingdom industrial involvement amounting to 2·8 per cent. At this rate of contribution the United Kingdom would have to contribute about £84 million to ESA between now and 1997. This programme will be one of the programmes to be considered at the ESA ministerial meeting on 9–10 July.

  Shipbuilding Industry
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate the projected number of jobs in the shipbuilding industry from 1987 to 1991.

  Mr. Atkins
  There are presently some 32,000 employed in shipbuilding in Great Britain, 8,000 in BS and other merchant yards and 24,000 in yards privatised by BS. There is no reliable basis on which to forecast the position in future years.

  Advisory Committee on Science and Technology
  Mr. Warren
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on how many occasions the Advisory Committee on Science and Technology has met since its formation; what subjects have been discussed at its meetings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  One full meeting of the Advisory Council on Science and Technology (ACOST) has taken place since its inception.

  Among the items discussed were draft reports on optoelectronics and on the industrial impact of the decision to go ahead with the construction of a pressurised water reactor at Sizewell B; and the second stage of a study on barriers to growth for small companies.

  The meeting also gave preliminary consideration to national priorities for science and technology, both in basic science and in strategic areas, such as space research, and Sir Francis Tombs reported progress in setting up the centre for exploitation of science and technology.

  ACOST derives considerable benefit from the ability to conduct its business in confidence. It is not customary for the outcome of its discussions to be made public unless the chairman specifically requests the Prime Minister's permission to publish the council's advice. However, in the past, ACOST's predecessor, the Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development (ACARD) has
  384
  published many valuable reports on a range of important subjects and I anticipate that ACOST will produce similar reports within its enlarged terms of reference in due course.

  EC Trade Marks Office
  Mr. Warren
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on recent developments in the bid by the United Kingdom to house the European Community Trade Marks office in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  There has been little progress in Brussels recently towards reaching a decision on where to house the Community trade marks office. The European Commission drew up a short-list, including the United Kingdom bid, in February, but has not yet decided what its recommendation to the Council of Ministers should be. The Government are continuing to pursue their hid with vigour in Community circles.

  Pensions
  Mr. Butterfill
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from the National Consumer council on proposed revisions to the Lautro rule book permitting pension quotations to be made in both monetary and real terms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  No such representations have been received.

  Invisibles and Surpluses
  Mr. Tim Smith
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what extent he estimates official statistics to he understating (a) the United Kingdom's surplus on trade in invisibles and (b) the United Kingdom's share of world trade in services.

  Mr. Maude
  Although the official statistics on invisibles, especially for recent periods, are recognised to be subject to a significant range of possible error, there is no clear evidence to indicate that either the United Kingdom surplus on invisibles or the United Kingdom share of world trade in services is being significantly understated.

  Whale Products
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will impose a ban on the import of all whale products as separate items or as part of fully or semi-manufactured goods; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what efforts are made by his Department to establish the extent of the use of whale products in manufactured or semi-manufactured goods imported into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  EC regulation 3626/82 (in force since 1 January 1984) bans the import of all whale products for commercial purposes. The Department of the Environment, through the agency of Customs and Excise, is responsible for ensuring compliance with it.

  Arbitration
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the Government's policy on approval by

  385
  the Director General of Fair Trading under section 124 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 of a code of practice promoted by a trade association under which arbitration is compulsory, so excluding a consumer's right to recourse to the courts for settlement of disputes.

  Mr. Maude
  The exercise of the powers under section 124 of the Fair Trading Act is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. I will ask him to write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which trade associations have codes of practice approved by the Director General of Fair Trading under section 124 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 which make provision for arbitration to settle disputes under the code which is compulsory, and exclude the right of the consumer to take the matter to court.

  Mr. Maude
  This is a matter for the director general. I will ask him to write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the codes of practice approved by the Director General of Fair Trading under section 124 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 which make provision for arbitration to settle disputes, while at the same time preserving the right of the consumer to have recourse to the courts.

  Mr. Maude
  The codes of practice drawn up in consultation with the Director General of Fair Trading which make such provision are as follows:

  Association of British Travel Agents: Tour Operators Code of Conduct and Guidelines for Booking Conditions.

  Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Electrical Appliances Principles for Domestic Electrical Appliance Servicing.

  British Holiday and Home Parks Association and National Caravan Council.

  Code of Practice for Selling and Siting Holiday Caravans:

  Code of Practice for Letting Holiday Caravans

  Code of Practice for the Photographic Industry.

  Domestic Electrical Appliance Servicing by Electricity Boards in England and Wales.

  Domestic Electrical Appliance Servicing by Scottish Electricity Boards.

  Finance Houses Association Code of Practice.

  Glass and Glazing Federation: Code of Ethical Practice.

  Mail Order Traders Association: Code of Practice.

  National Association of Funeral Directors: Code of Practice.

  Voluntary Code of Practice for Furniture.

  Code of Practice for Postal Services.

  Code of Practice for Vehicle Body Repairs

  Code of Practice for the Motor Industry.

  Code of Practice for the Motorcycle Industry.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the trade organisation in respect of which the Director General of Fair Trading has refused approval of the organisation's proposed code of practice under the Fair Trading Act 1973 on the grounds that arbitration under the proposed code was to be compulsory, without the option for the consumer to have recourse to the courts for the disposal of disputes.

  Mr. Maude
  This is a matter for the director general. I will ask him to write to my hon. Friend.

  Inner Cities
  Mr. Adley
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about progress on his Department's inner cities initiatives.
  386
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I am pleased to say that the work of our 16 inner city task forces is going ahead well with more than 200 projects supported since the initiative began in February 1986. The private sector is playing a growing part in our efforts.

  Clydesdale Tube Plant
  Dr. Reid
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if Her Majesty's Government plan to announce any further investment in plant and machinery at the Clydesdale tube plant at Mossend.

  Mr. Atkins
  Investment by BSC at individual plants is a matter for the Corporation, subject to requirements for Government approval laid down under the Iron and Steel Act. BSC are continuing to invest in their Clydesdale plant as part of their overall programme of capital investment agreed with Government.

  Regional Development
  Ms. Quin
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of the decline in regional development grant payments to the north-east of England results from changes in development and special development areas since 1980, what proportion results from a fall in investments by manufacturing industry in the region and what proportion results from changes in the scheme itself.

  Mr. Atkins
  It is not possible to quantify separately the effects of these various factors on the level of regional development grant payments in the north-east. Between 1980 and 1984, however, the proportion of the region's working population covered by development and special development areas—the latter status being abolished in November 1984—fell from nearly 100 per cent. to around 80 per cent.

  The north-east region's share of RDG payments in Great Britain in 1986–87 was higher than in the preceding four years and has risen further in the first six months of 1987–88.

  Iraq (Credit)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent lines of credit have been made available to Iraq; of what value and with what conditions as to the use of the funds made available; and what loans have been made available in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Butcher
  One. The Governments of the United Kingdom and Iraq signed a financial protocol on 24 September 1987 under which ECGD will provide support for a £100 million line of credit for the supply of United Kingdom capital goods, equipment and services on credit terms of up to five years and a £75 million line of credit for the supply of prepared pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, veterinary medicines, the bulk supply of semi-processed pharmaceuticals, insecticides, powdered milk and baby milk powder on credit terms of up to 18 months. These loan facilities will be signed in 1988.

  2. Two earlier protocols for £250 million each were signed in 1983 and 1984 and the uptake of these loans is as follows. All of the pharmaceutical lines of credit were additional to the protocol amounts.

  1983–84

  £250 million general purpose line of credit (including two project buyer credits).

  387

  £25 million pharmaceutical line of credit.

  1985

  £100 million general purpose line of credit.

  £50 million pharmaceutical line of credit.

  1986

  £50 million pharmaceutical line of credit.

  1987

  £50 million pharmaceutical line of credit.

  £20 million veterinary medicine line of credit.

  £50 million general purpose line of credit.

  £28 million buyer credits for 3 water resource projects

  £52 million general purpose line of credit.

  Greenock and Port Glasgow (Enterprize Zone)
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received regarding the possibility of creating an enterprize zone in Greenock or Port Glasgow.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have received no recent representations regarding the possibility of creating an enterprise zone in Greenock or Port Glasgow.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mrs. Peacock
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the growth of manufacturing output in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Curry
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the growth of manufacturing output in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the growth of manufacturing output in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Major
  In the three months to August 1987 manufacturing output was 6 per cent. higher than a year earlier.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to how United Kingdom performance in terms of the growth of manufacturing productivity compares with that of other major industrialised countries.

  Mr. Brazier
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to how United Kingdom performance in terms of the growth of manufacturing productivity compares with that of other major industrial countries.

  Mr. Stevens
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to how United Kingdom performance in terms of the growth of manufacturing productivity compares with that of other major industrialised countries.

  Mr. Lilley
  Over the year to the second quarter of 1987, manufacturing productivity in the United Kingdom grew 61 per cent. which is substantially faster than in any other major industrial country.

  Mr. Hargreaves
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the growth of manufacturing productivity in the north-west.

  Mr. Major
  On the accepted definition of productivity, no figures are available on a regional basis. In the United 388
  Kingdom as a whole manufacturing productivity in the three months to August was 6·8 per cent. higher than a year earlier.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Gregory
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to alter the 15 per cent. value added tax rate for United Kingdom to bring confectionery into zero rate like other foods.

  Mr. Lilley
  No.

  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the time limit within which traders must account for value added tax compared with the average time it takes them to collect the value added tax owed to them on their own invoices.

  Mr. Lilley
  As my hon. Friend will be aware, subsequent to him putting down this question my hon. Friend the Paymaster General made an announcement about cash accounting on 17 August. There have been persistent representations from small businesses that they frequently have to pay VAT before their own bills are paid. To meet this, my hon. Friend the Paymaster General introduced, from the start of this month, an optional system of cash accounting for VAT, under which small traders no longer have to pay VAT until they have received their payment from their customers.

  World Debt
  Mr. David Nicholson
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report recent progress following his debt initiative for the benefit of the poorer countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

  Mr. Lawson
  There has been wide recognition of the need for special help for the poorest, most heavily indebted countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Good progress has been made on two of the proposals in my initiative: the United Kingdom has converted aid loans into grants for 13 African countries, and other creditor countries are following suit, and five countries have had their official debts rescheduled over longer than usual periods in the Paris club. I am continuing to press for international action to reduce interest rates on rescheduled official debt.

  Mr. Skinner
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent meetings he has had with other Finance Ministers regarding world debt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  Last month my right hon. Friend attended the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' meeting and the meetings of the IMF and World Bank where the Debt problems of some of the developing countries, especially those of the poorest in sub-Saharan Africa, were discussed.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report recent progress following his debt initiative for the benefit of the poorer countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

  Mr. Wells
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report recent progress following his debt initiative for the benefit of the poorer countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
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  Mr. Key
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report recent progress following his debt initiative for the benefit of the poorer countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

  Mr. Lilley
  Considerable progress has been made towards implementing two of the specific proposals that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor made at the April meeting of the Development Committee: The United Kingdom has converted aid loans into grants for 13 African countries; other creditor countries are following suit. Five countries have had their official debts rescheduled over longer than usual periods in the Paris club. We are continuing to press for international action to reduce interest rates on rescheduled official debt.

  Service Sector
  Mrs. Gorman
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the growth of the service sector in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the growth of the service sector in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Couchman
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the growth of the service sector in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Major
  The service sector grew by 5 per cent. over the year to the second quarter of 1987.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Watts
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to how the growth of the United Kingdom economy compares with that of the other major industrialised countries.

  Mr. Boswell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to how the growth of the United Kingdom economy compares with that of the other major industrialised countries.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to how the growth of the United Kingdom economy compares with that of other major industrialised countries.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Over the year to the second quarter of 1987, the United Kingdom economy grew almost 4 per cent., which is substantially faster than any other major industrial economy.

  Dr. Twinn
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been the change in output in the first six months of 1987 compared with the equivalent period of 1986.

  Mr. Hayward
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the rise in output in the first six months of 1987 compared with the equivalent period in 1986.

  Mr. Haselhurst
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been the rise in output in the first six months of 1987 compared with the equivalent period in 1986.

  Mr. Major
  4·3 per cent

  IMF
  Mr. Carrington
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington.

  Mr. Arnold
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington.

  Mr. Wareing
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his recent discussions at the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Gentleman to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Cash).

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. McAllion
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the public spending planning total for 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Livingstone
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the public spending planning totals for 1986–87 and 1987–88.

  Mr. McLeish
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the public spending planning total for 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Graham
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the public spending planning totals for 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Major
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Barnsley, East (Mr. Patchett).

  Mr. Nelson
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the public sector borrowing requirement in the current financial year.

  Mr. Major
  The Budget forecast for the public sector borrowing requirement in 1987–88 was £3·9 billion. A new foreast will be published in the autumn statement.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Fisher
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the proceeds from privatisation sales in 1987–88.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen (Mr. McAvoy).

  Unemployment Costs
  Mr. Haynes
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual cost to the Exchequer of unemployment in the east midlands.

  Mrs. Walley
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will prepare a region-by-region estimate of the total annual cost to the Exchequer of unemployment.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual cost to the Exchequer of unemployment in Wales.
  391
  Mr. Buckley
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual cost to the Exchequer of unemployment in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual cost to the Exchequer of unemployment in Scotland.

  Mr. Clelland
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual cost to the Exchequer of unemployment in the northern region.

  Mr. Illsley
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will prepare a region-by-region estimate of the annual cost to the Exchequer of unemployment.

  Mr. Major
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle).

  National Economic Development Council
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the National Economic Development Council.

  Ms. Primarolo
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the National Economic Development Council.

  Mr. Macdonald
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the National Economic Development Council.

  Mr. Hardy
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the National Economic Development Council.

  Mr. Major
  My right hon. Friend plans to attend the next meeting of the National Economic Development Council, which will be on 13 January 1988.

  Exchange Rates
  Sir John Farr
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of the pound sterling—US dollar exchange rate.

  Mr. Lilley
  At the London close on 28 October the sterling-dollar exchange rate was 1·71.

  Oil Revenues
  Mr. Mullin
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total (a) gross and (b) net revenue received since 1979 by the Exchequer from North sea oil.

  Mr. Lilley
  Available information was provided to the hon. Member on 14 July, at column 568, by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

  Mr. Corbyn
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of North sea oil revenues in 1987–88.

  Mr. McFall
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of North sea oil revenues in 1987–88.

  Mr. Lilley
  An updated forecast for Government revenues from United Kingdom oil and gas production in 1987–88 will be provided in the 1987 autumn statement.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Gwilym
  Jones asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised by the higher rates of income tax in 1978–79 and 1986–87, respectively.

  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised by the higher rates of income tax in 1978–79 and 1986–87, respectively.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised by the higher rates of income tax in 1978–79 and 1986–87, respectively.

  Mr. David
  Shaw asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised by the higher rates of income tax in 1978–79 and 1986–87, respectively.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The total tax liability resulting from the difference between the higher rates of income tax and the basic rate rose from £810 million in 1978–79 to about £2,500 million in 1986–87. This represent an increase in real terms of about 60 per cent. calculated by reference to the movement in the retail prices index.

  Mr. Baldry
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the total yield of income tax is paid by the top 5 per cent. of taxpayers; and how this figure compares with five years ago.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Income tax liabilities of the top 5 per cent. of taxpaying single people and married couples are estimated to be 28·5 per cent. of the total in 1987–88 compared with 25·4 per cent. in 1982–83. The estimate for 1987–88 is based on a projection of the 1984–85 survey of personal incomes and is therefore provisional.

  Disposable Incomes
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth in real personal disposable incomes over the past year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of personal disposable incomes over the past year.

  Mr. Major
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Forth).

  £2 Coin
  Mr. Janner
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any proposals for the introduction of a £2 coin.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Government have no plans to introduce a £2 coin for general circulation.

  Inflation
  Mr. William Powell
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of inflation.

  Mr. Soames
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of inflation.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current level of inflation.

  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of inflation.
  393
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of inflation.

  Mr. Lilley
  The increase in retail prices over the 12 months ending September 1987 was 4·2 per cent.

  European Monetary System
  Mr. MacLennan
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement as to his policy on British membership of the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.

  Mr. Hunter
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given recently to the United Kingdom seeking full participation in the European monetary system.

  Mr. Peter Lilley
  The matter is kept under review.

  Company Investment (Rate of Return)
  Mr. Grylls
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the net real rate of return in the company sector.

  Mr. Major
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier today by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack).

  Unit Labour Costs
  Mr. Hind
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for unit labour costs in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for unit labour costs in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Major
  The latest figures show that in the first quarter of 1987 unit labour costs for the whole economy rose by 3·7 per cent. Manufacturing unit wage costs rose by 1·5 per cent. over the previous year in the three months ending in August.

  Invisible Earnings
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current level of invisible earnings in the United Kingdom; and how it compares with the levels five and 10 years ago.

  Mr. Evennett
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current level of invisible earnings in the United Kingdom; and how it compares with the levels five and 10 years ago.

  Mr. Major
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood).

  Private Shareholding
  Mr. Wood
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest figures on the extent of private shareholding in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest figures on the extent of private shareholding in the United Kingdom.
  394
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor to my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Fallon).

  Taxation
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to reduce capital taxation.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce measures to extend the mortgage interest relief allowance for married couples.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The level of mortgage interest relief has to be fixed each year and will be considered in framing the Budget proposals.

  Price Stability
  Mr. Latham
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on progress towards achieving Her Majesty's Government's ultimate objective of price stability.

  Mr. Major
  Price stability remains the Government's ultimate objective. Recent movements in the retail prices index have been consistent with the Budget forecast of 4 per cent. inflation in the fourth quarter of 1987. A new forecast will be published in the autumn statement.

  Tax Reform
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement outlining his longterm plans for tax reform.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Chancellor has made clear that he will continue to pursue policies of tax reform and tax reduction aimed at sharpening incentives, stimulating enterprise and thus promoting sustained economic growth. The hon. Member will not expect me to comment on any specific measures in advance of the Chancellor's Budget statement.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Butler
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further fiscal measures he intends to implement to benefit small businesses.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Government will continue to pursue policies designed to promote a vigorous, enterprising economy in which small businesses can flourish.

  I cannot anticipate decisions on specific measures which may be announced in my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's next Budget statement. A list of some of the measures helpful to the small businesses which have been introduced was given in the Chief Secretary's written replay to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 20 July 1987, at column 72.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Darling
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of interest rates.

  Dr. Reid
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of interest rates.

  Mr. Pike
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of interest rates.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer my right hon. Friend the Chancellor gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall).

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Warren
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the absence of tax relief on the sale of milk quotas and the effect this has on farmers moving between farms or leaving the industry.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Legislation will be introduced in next year's Finance Bill extending capital gains tax rollover relief to both milk and potato quotas. The relief will be available where there is a disposal or acquisition of milk or potato quota after midnight tonight.

  Parliamentary Papers (Printing)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current difficulties in printing parliamentary papers and particularly questions and motions at Her Majesty's Stationery Office's Parliamentary Press.

  Mr. Lilley
  With St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press now closed the new Parliamentary Press began to produce the Votes and Proceedings bundle from 20 October using new technology. Everything possible has been done in the summer recess to simulate live production and to ensure the necessary computer formats have been tested but there is no substitute for live production.

  I regret that the very heavy submission of questions in the first few days following the recess led to difficulties which were compounded by a computer system fault which caused delays to the provision of printed papers in the usual form.

  The Parliamentary Press is very conscious of the inconvenience caused to right hon. and hon. Members and is sparing no efforts to restore normal service. In the meantime copies of the papers will be produced in an alternative form and held in reserve for use if necessary until it is clear that system faults have been overcome.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Cyprus
  Mr. John David Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the proposed EEC/Cyprus customs union agreement will in practice include the Turkish Republic of northern Cyprus; whether it will only apply in practice to that part of the island of Cyprus governed by the Greek Cypriots; and if he will make a statement to explain how this new agreement can help both Greek Cypriots in the south and Turkish Cypriots in the north of Cyprus.
  396
  Mrs. Chalker
  The protocol to the EC—Cyprus association agreement, implementing the commitment in the agreement to develop a customs union, which was signed on 19 October, is governed by article 5 of the association agreement. This rules out discrimination between nationals or the companies of Cyprus. The Community has made it clear that the provisions of the protocol apply to the whole population of Cyprus. The interests of the Turkish Cypriot community were taken fully into account during the negotiations. We shall continue to trade with them. I am confident that they will benefit in practice.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. John Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for Her Majesty's Government's ability to act as an honest broker in the middle east of its policy on arms exports to different middle east countries.

  Mr. Mellor
  All exports of defence-related equipment are considered on a strict case-by-case basis. Each transaction is subject to stringent export licensing procedures, including an assessment of foreign policy and regional security implications and consideration of the human rights record of the country concerned.

  These strict procedures are applied uniformly to all defence equipment exports worldwide, including the Middle East. In addition, special ministerial guidelines or restrictions are applied to exports to certain Middle Eastern countries, reflecting Her Majesty's Government's wish not to exacerbate or prolong conflicts in the region, and our determination to take a firm line on state-sponsored terrorism. Consequently, our policy on the export of defence related equipment in no way compromises our ability to work for a negotiated settlement to problems in the Middle East.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. John Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the status of Gibraltar; what was the outcome of the most recent expression of opinion on their future by the people of Gibraltar; and what discussions are currently taking place with the Spanish Government on this matter.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We will continue to stand by the undertaking in the 1969 Gibraltar constitution to respect the wishes of the people of Gibraltar on the future status of Gibraltar. Repeated opinion polls have confirmed the findings of the 1967 referendum in which the people of Gibraltar voted overwhelmingly in favour of retaining their links with Britain. My right hon. and learned Friend meets the Spanish Foreign Minister at regular intervals for discussions under the 1984 Brussels agreement. He will be doing so again at the end of November.

  Mr. and Mrs. Vladimir Tufeld
  Mr. John Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Soviet Government about the case of Mr. and Mrs. Vladimir Tufeld of Moscow and the

  397
  refusal of the Soviet authorities to allow them to join their son and daughter-in-law in Israel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We deplore the refusal of the Soviet authorities to allow Mr. and Mrs. Vladimir Tufeld to join their family in Israel. Their name was included on the list of refusenik cases which my right hon. and learned Friend handed to Mr. Shevardnadze in March. We shall continue to press the Soviet Government to adopt a more humane approach in cases of this kind.

  Fiji
  Mr. Boswell
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the consequences of Fiji's current withdrawal from the Commonwealth for those areas within the responsibilities of his Department, including specifically the accreditation of the respective high commissioners and under Commonwealth auspices and the subscription to the Commonwealth Secretariat and other bodies.

  Mrs. Chalker
  If Fiji remains outside the Commonwealth. the application of a number of Acts of Parliament will have to be reviewed. Fiji's lapsed Commonwealth membership does not invalidate the accreditation of diplomatic representatives. The question of a reallocation of Fiji's share of the budgets of various Commonwealth organisations—0·75 per cent. of the total in respect of the Commonwealth Secretariat—is a matter for the organisations themselves.

  Namibia
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new measures Her Majesty's Government will apply in order to bring help to the international community trying to end the occupation of Namibia by South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 26 October 1987.

  Benguela Railays
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the offer made in Vancouver at the Commonwealth conference of British aid to the front-line states includes funds, technical cooperation and military protection of the Benguela railways.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A programme of co-ordinated Commonwealth assistance to the front-line states was agreed at Vancouver, giving priority attention to the Limpopo railway and port of Maputo initially, to which we had already committed £16 million. No separate British offer was made.

  Southern Africa (Attacks)
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the last information received by Her Majesty's Government of the cost of the damages inflicted by the attacks by South African troops or their mercenaries on the economies of Mozambique, Angola, and other front-line states.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have no reliable information.

  Mr. Oscar Arias (Congratulations)
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the date of the congratulatory messages sent by Her Majesty's Government to the President of Costa Rica, Mr. Oscar Arias, for his Nobel peace prize.

  Mr. Eggar
  14 October.

  Chile (University Students)
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest information he has received from Her Majesty's embassy in Santiago with regard to the new wave of repression against university students and academics; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Her Majesty's embassy in Santiago has reported fully on the current strike and regrettable disturbances at the University of Chile.

  Human Rights (Commonwealth)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining information available to Her Majesty's Government on the human rights record of each member country of the Commonwealth, stating specifically in each case the extent to which that country practises racial, religious, political or colour discrimination.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No country currently a member of the Commonwealth has a constitution which discriminates on the grounds of race, religion or colour. Where Commonwealth countries' practice on human rights gives cause for concern, we make representations as necessary. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State told the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) on 23 January 1986, such representations are sometimes more productive if undertaken without publicity, and it would therefore not be helpful to disclose full details.

  Mr. Scallan (Detention)
  Mr. Loyden
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Italian Government about the detention of Mr. Scallan, the captain of a ship held by the Italian authorities in Savona; what consular access has been granted to Mr. Scallan; and what information he has received from the Italian Government about the circumstances of his arrest.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have made no representations to the Italian Government about the detention of Mr. Scallan. He is a citizen of the Republic of Ireland and we understand that the Irish embassy in Rome are providing consular assistance to him.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the efforts of the United States and the Soviet Union to eliminate the whole range of nuclear weapons which are located on European soil.

  Mr. Mellor
  We warmly welcome the prospect of an intermediate nuclear force agreement which, if attainable,
  399
  will eliminate a whole class of nuclear weapons, many of which are deployed in Europe. It is not United States or NATO policy to seek the complete elimination of all nuclear weapons from Europe. Even after an INF agreement, NATO faces a formidable threat from Soviet and Warsaw Pact nuclear, conventional and chemical forces. It is our policy to continue to rely for our security on deterrence based on a mix of conventional and nuclear weapons for the foreseeable future.

  East Timor (Civil Rights)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his intention to raise with the Indonesian authorities the question of the provision of arms and the protection of civil rights in East Timor.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have no plans to do so. Defence equipment is supplied to Indonesia in accordance with our normal criteria. The Indonesian Government are well aware of our views on human rights in East Timor.

THE ARTS

  Business Sponsorship Incentive Scheme
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  asked the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the business sponsorship incentive scheme.

  Mr. Luce
  The Government's business sponsorship incentive scheme has been an outstanding success, bringing in £15 million of new money into the arts and attracting 600 new sponsors. During the summer sponsorship continued to grow and there was a marked increase in awards at the maximum amount. This led to the cash-limited annual funds being used up earlier than anticipated. However, I was able to allocate further modest sums to enable the scheme to continue at a reduced maximum amount per head. The scheme will be strengthened next year.

DEFENCE

  Weather Forecasts
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate inquiries into the nature of weather forecasts provided for the south of England in respect of 15–16 October, and in particular the reasons for the discrepancies between the forecasts issued by his Department and the meteorological services of other countries on that night.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Director-General of the Meteorological Office is already conducting an internal investigation into the nature and sequence of meteorological events surrounding the storm which struck the south and east of England on 15 and 16 October. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer FRS, chairman of the University Grants Committee, and Professor Robert Pearce, head of the department of meteorology at Reading university, to examine the findings of that inquiry and to present their conclusions to him. He proposes to make these public. In the meantime, I do not wish to anticipate the outcome of the inquiries.

  Directorate General of Quality Assurance
  Mr. Cartwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to be able to announce a decision about the future location of the headquarters of the Directorate General of Quality Assurance.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The appraisal of future locations for the work done by the Directorate General of Defence Quality Assurance continues to make steady progress.

  Low-flying Exercises
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the different parts of the territory of the United Kingdom which are affected by low-flight exercises.

  Mr. Freeman
  Since the introduction of the revised United Kingdom low-flying system in 1979, all parts of Great Britain have, in principle, been open to low-flying aircraft, the aim being to spread the activity as widely and evenly as possible. To reduce disturbance on the ground, however, aircraft avoid overflying major population centres, and, for safety reasons, civil air traffic zones. Major low-flying exercises also take place throughout Great Britain, although many tend to be centred on military ranges or training areas.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flight exercises the Royal Air Force carried out over United Kingdom territory for each year since 1975.

  Mr. Freeman
  The numbers of military low-level training sorties flown in the United Kingdom since 1975 are as follows:

  Number

  1975

  78,000

  1976

  77,700

  1977

  76,000

  1978

  76,000

  1979

  108,860

  1980

  122,850

  1981

  131,840

  1982

  130,310

  1983

  128,000

  1984

  133,500

  1985

  141,760

  1986

  151,160

  1987

  1113,405

  1 Up to 30 September.

  Approximately 82 per cent. of these involved United Kingdom military aircraft; 70 per cent. involved RAF aircraft.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average cost of each low-flight exercise since 1975.

  Mr. Freeman
  The cost of a low-level flight varies according to the duration of the flight, the aircraft type and the sort of training involved. Major exercises are only part of our low-flying training programme and are not costed separately. The figures requested could not be produced without disproportionate effort.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average duration of low-flight exercises over populated parts of United Kingdom territory.

  Mr. Freeman
  The average duration of a low-level flying training sortie is approximately 45 minutes during
  401
  which time a distance of around 400 miles may be covered. Aircrew are instructed to avoid overflying the centres of main built-up areas but cannot always avoide overflying the outskirts of such areas, or other smaller settlements. These instructions apply both to day-to-day training and major low-flying exercises.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians affected by human or property loss due to accidents of low-flight operations have pending claims for damages from his Department; and if he will detail how long such claims have awaited a decision.

  Mr. Freeman
  No civilian has a claim pending in respect of human loss but 20 have claims outstanding for property damage. Two arise from a crash in December 1984, five from two crashes in December 1986 and the remainder from crashes earlier this year.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will instruct the commanding officers in charge of low-flight operations to consult local authorities and local communities about the scale, frequency and timing of such exercises.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is no need to issue new instructions: all use of the United Kingdom low-flying system is already regulated carefully in order to minimise any disturbance to those on the ground. Where major low-flying exercises are concerned, it is our policy to give advance warning to hon. Members whose constituencies will see additional low-flying activity, as well as to the local press and local organisations such as the National Farmers' Unions.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many people have been killed, injured or had their property damaged or destroyed as a consequence of low-flight exercise accidents; and how many of these were civilians;

  (2) how many low-flying exercise accidents occurred for each year since 1975; where they took place; and what was the population for each of the areas affected by such accidents.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information prior to 1979 is not readily available. Since 1 January 1979, 11 Royal Air force personnel have died and a further seven Royal Air force personnel have suffered major injuries as a result of the following accidents on land in the United Kingdom involving low-flying operations by fast jet aircraft.

  Date

  Location

  6 July 1979

  Tintagel, Cornwall

  One major injury

  23 November 1979

  Central Scotland

  One fatality

  10 December 1979

  Lumsden, Aberdeenshire

  One fatality and one major injury

  12 February 1980

  Isle of Skye

  One fatality

  18 November 1981

  Lock Luichart, Ross

  One fatality

  13 May 1982

  Near Aberystwyth, Wales

  One major injury

  24 June 1983

  Near Ramsey, Isle of Man

  Two fatalities

  12 July 1984

  Near Sheringham, Norfolk

  One major injury

  7 October 1985

  Alston, Cumbria

  One fatality

  7 January 1986

  Aysgarth, North Yorkshire

  Two major injuries

  17 June 1987

  Near Keswick, Cumbria

  One fatality

  24 June 1987

  Buillh Wells, Wales

  One fatality

  402

  Date

  Location

  27 July 1987

  Fadmoor, North Yorkshire

  One major injury

  26 August 1987

  Near Aberystwyth, Wales

  Two fatalities

  Two civilians sustained minor injuries as a result of the accident on 6 July 1979. There have been no civilian fatalities. All of these accidents occurred in sparsely populated areas. Resulting claims for compensation to the value of £80,804 have been settled so far, but some claims originating from recent accidents are still under consideration.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if, after consultations with the local authorities of areas affected by low-flight exercises, he will instruct the commanding officers in charge of such operations to reduce to a minimum such flights and to conduct them at the hours of the day or night at which they are likely to cause the minimum of inconvenience to the people affected by them;

  (2) what specific instructions exist about the time of the day or night in which low-flight operations are conducted in case they affect populated areas of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Freeman
  Every effort is already made to minimise the disturbance caused by this essential activity as far as possible, commensurate with our training needs and safety considerations. Most low-flying training takes place on weekdays between 7 am and 11 pm. Only a small amount of activity takes place outside these hours and this is strictly limited.

  Environment Protection
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will detail the instructions given to the armed forces with regard to the respect and protection of the environment when building accommodation for their personnel, preparing exercises or conducting any kind of operations.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Crown is exempt from the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Acts but Government Departments are required to consult local planning authorities before proceeding with development, and the Ministry of Defence adheres strictly to this procedure. Plans to build accommodation for the armed forces are therefore submitted to the local planning authorities, which will take environmental aspects into consideration at that stage.

  The Ministry of Defence takes seriously its responsibility to conserve the land used for military purposes and puts much effort into protecting the environment on its estate. When preparing exercises the armed forces consult the landowners and environmental agencies as appropriate and seek to minimise disturbance to the environment from their activities.

  Personation
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the past five years individuals have been apprehended in possession of a false Ministry of Defence police warrant card.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Only one instance, the recent Larsen case, has come to the notice of the Ministry of Defence
  403
  police. We know of no instance where the use of a false MOD police warrant card has been used in the commission of a crime, or to attempt to gain unauthorised access to MOD property.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents have been recorded in the last five years of individuals entering defence establishments wearing military uniforms to which they were not entitled.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No central records are held of individuals entering or attempting to enter defence establishments in these circumstances and it would require a disproportionate effort to collect them.

  Marconi
  Mr. Key
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the chief constable of the Ministry of Defence police liaised with or operated in conjunction with the chief constable of Hampshire in executing the recent Ministry of Defence police raid on the Marconi company's premises in Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Ministry of Defence police, in accordance with guidelines, informed the Hampshire constabulary on 22 October of their intention to execute a warrant to search the premises of Marconi Defence Systems at. Portsmouth on the following day.

  Inter-force Working Arrangements
  Mr. Key
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the chief constable of the Ministry of Defence police and the Association of Chief Police Officers reached an agreement on inter-force working arrangements, when a copy of that agreement will be placed in the Library as announced to Standing Committee B on the Ministry of Defence Police Bill [Lords] on 12 February, Official Report, column 58; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  During the passage of the legislation my predecessor referred to the fact that discussions were taking place with the Association of Chief Police Officers about the relationship between MOD police and Home Department forces. I am glad to say that the Association and the Ministry of Defence police committee have now agreed the terms of guidelines on this matter. These guidelines have been disseminated to chief constables of Home Department forces under cover of circulars issued by the Home Office and the Scottish Home and Health Department. I am arranging for copies of both circulars to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  £ per tonne

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Buying-in prices

  819·41 (until 19 May)

  904·66 (until 22 May)

  925·76 (until 2 April)

  1,026·23 (until 26 May)

  1,076·71 (until 11 May)

  904·66 (after 19 May)

  925·76 (after 22 May)

  1,026·23 (after 2 April)

  1,076·71 (after 26 May)

  1,106·24 (after 21 May)

  Average incidental costs1

  n/a

  21·11

  18·40

  22·08

  20·43

  Average sale prices for animal feed

  198·50

  146·90

  150·44

  152·12

  139·43

  Contracts (Overcharging)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 22 October, Official Report, column 874, if he will give a breakdown of the £14·5 million refunded by contractors in 1984 following a post-costing review of contract prices.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No; such information is subject to commercial confidentiality.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Dry Sow and Tether Stalls
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce regulations to phase out the use of dry sow and tether stalls; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Farm Animal Welfare Council is currently carrying out a review of pig production systems including the dry sow and tether stall. I expect to receive the council's conclusions around the end of this year. I have no plans at present to phase out dry sow and tether stalls.

  Pate de Foie Gras
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will support action (i) to end the production of pate de foie gras in the European Community or (ii) to ban its import into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I cannot support either action. My Department has no plans to impose a ban on the import of pate de foie gras, as I am advised that such a step would contravene the Treaty of Rome. In any case it is for individuals to decide whether or not to buy or consume foie gras.

  Intervention Stores
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply of 22 October, Official Report, column 889, if he will give details of (a) the intervention cost, (b) the storage cost, and (c) the sale price of the 278,612 tonnes of skimmed milk powder sold for manufacture into animal feed between 1982 and 1986.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, details of buying-in prices and average incidental costs for all purchases of SMP, together with average sale prices of SMP destined for animal feed over the period in question are as follows:
  405

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Amounts sold (tonnes)

  4,310

  60,927

  145,444

  34,561

  33,370

  1 Includes transport, storage and handling costs.

  Food (Radioactive Contamination)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to establish from the EEC Commission whether the radioactive skimmed milk powder which was sent from West Germany to Ghana under the EEC food relief programme was imported to West Germany from East Europe under the inner German trade agreement; if, in the light of the restrictions on the movement of radioactive food from Czechoslovakia announced on 8 May 1986, he will further inquire if the skimmed milk powder which was also sent from Czechoslovakia was transported through the EEC and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no plans to do so, although if the hon. Gentleman has evidence that Community rules may have been infringed I will arrange for it to he passed to the Commission.

  Storm Damage
  Mr. Warren
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the financial problems facing farmers whose farm buildings were uninsured and damaged in the recent hurricane; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I made it clear when replying to my Hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith) on 22 October that I saw no reason to depart from the principle that farmers normally bear the cost of bad weather and that the Government should not compensate them for such losses—against which the majority would normally be insured. It would not be equitable for the Government to take action to make good insurable losses.

  Religious Slaughter
  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will announce the Government's response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on religious slaughter.

  Mr. MacGregor
  With my ministerial colleagues responsible for agriculture in Great Britain I have considered carefully the report by the Farm Animal Welfare Council on religious slaughter of animals. We have also studied the many comments on the report which have been made by interested organisations and individuals.

  Fifteen of the Council's recommendations were directed to improving the methods and procedures for religious slaughter. We are determined that religious slaughter must be performed humanely and we share the council's view that it must be subject to proper legislative control. We believe that the council's recommendations will provide substantial safeguards for animal welfare, and we shall therefore implement all 15 of these recommendations.

  In particular we shall ban the use of the casting pen for cattle. This will he an important new welfare advance.
  406
  Inversion in a casting pen imposes discomfort and stress on cattle and the prohibition of this procedure will be widely welcomed. The ban will take effect two years after the necessary legislation has been made. In addition, in line with the council's 15 recommendations, there will be new statutory rules for the handling of animals prior to and after slaughter and for the equipment used. We shall extend the existing requirements for the licensing of premises and slaughtermen to ensure that the new standards can be properly enforced.

  A paper containing our detailed proposals for implementation of the FAWC recommendations is being issued to interested organisations today; a copy will be placed in the Library of the House. The interested organisations will be consulted on the draft statutory instrument required to give effect to these decisions; it will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible thereafter.

  The abolition of casting cattle is a substantial change in established Jewish practice and was not easy for the Jewish authorities to accept under their religious law. My right hon. Friends and I appreciate their readiness to overcome the difficulties they found and so to accept the change.

  In addition, we have considered carefully the exemption which the legislation provides for the Jewish and Muslim communities from the requirement to stun animals before slaughter. The arguments for and against this exemption are those of religious belief and of animal welfare, both issues of great importance to those who have expressed views to us.

  From their studies the Council concluded that the Jewish and Muslim communities should be required to develop alternative arrangements for slaughter, in order that the exemption from stunning could be repealed. In response to this recommendation, we have explored in detail with leaders of the Jewish and Muslim communities their slaughter requirements and arranged for them to consider very carefully the scope for removal of the exemption from stunning. They have co-operated fully in these discussions.

  The religious communities have made clear that elements of their slaughter requirements are fundamental obligations, forming part of their religious law which it is not open to them to alter. They have also rejected the council's assessment of the welfare implications of religious slaughter.

  I can well understand why the council should recommend that the interest of the animals would best be safeguarded by ensuring efficient stunning prior to slaughter, including slaughter by decapitation. However the Government has to recognise the serious implications for the religious communities if they were no longer allowed to prepare meat as their faiths require. We do not believe that we would be justified in imposing such a burden on these communities. We do not therefore propose to ask Parliament to reverse the attitude which it has taken to this issue in the past.

  We have also considered carefully the recommendation that cuts of meat from religiously slaughtered animals

  407
  should be labelled down to the point of retail sale. We have concluded that a statutory requirement for labelling is not a practical proposition. There would be serious difficulties in administration and enforcement. Moreover, our freedom unilaterally to introduce additional mandatory labelling requirements is severely constrained by EC food labelling law. I am however writing to the religious communities to ask them to take note of the concern expressed by many on this subject, and am asking them to take all steps open to them to minimise the amount of meat produced by religious methods which is diverted from the religious market.

  I wish to record the appreciation of my colleagues and myself of the work undertaken by the Farm Animal Welfare Council on this complex subject. Our decisions were particularly difficult. The fact that over the years we have accepted so many of the recommendations in the wide range of reports which the council has made indicates the value we place on its advice.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farm visits have been made by Health and Safety Executive inspectors in total this year to date, and in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  The total number of farm visits made by the Health and Safety Executive Her Majesty's agricultural inspectorate for the past five yeas is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1982

  29,591

  1983–84

  27,255

  1984–85

  29,468

  1985–86

  30,562

  1986–87

  30,605

  Figures for this year so far are not yet available.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the level of public funding devoted to monitoring and enforcing safety legislation in agriculture by the Health and Safety Executive; what proportion is devoted separately to monitoring and enforcing legislation regarding pesticides use; and if he will give the relevant information for each of the last five years and the projection for 1988.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  The salary budget for the Health and Safety Executive's agricultural inspectorate for each of the last five years is as follows:

  NHS Community Psychiatric Nursing Staff (Mental Illness)

  Whole-time equivalent

  Region

  30 September 1982

  30 September 1983

  30 September 1984

  30 September 1985

  30 September 1986

  Northern

  70

  72

  95

  121

  158

  Yorkshire

  73

  90

  132

  167

  199

  Trent

  112

  124

  175

  215

  260

  East Anglian

  47

  52

  88

  101

  106

  North West Thames

  99

  108

  123

  163

  168

  North East Thames

  111

  108

  132

  140

  137

  South East Thames

  50

  80

  147

  163

  208

  South West Thames

  137

  134

  165

  207

  209

  408

  Financial Year

  Salary Budget £

  1983–84

  2,835,000

  1984–85

  2,972,000

  1985–86

  3,092,000

  1986–87

  3,322,000

  1987–88

  3,472,000

  The budget for 1988–89 is not yet available.

  The monitoring and enforcement of pesticides legislation is undertaken as part of the agricultural inspecorate's overall work programme and no separate budget allocation is made.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Health and Safety Executive inspectors are presently engaged in monitoring and enforcing existing legislation with regard to the use of pesticides; how many farm visits have been made this year to date; and how does this information compare with 1986.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  On 1 October 1987 the Health and Safety Executive employed 142 agricultural inspectors and 528 factory inspectors in the field. Their duties include responsibility for pesticide safety. Figures for the number of farm visits made since 1 April 1987 to date are not yet available. On 1 October 1986, 156 agricultural inspectors and 543 factory inspectors were employed in the field. Agricultural inspectors made 30,605 visits to farms during 1986–87. A recruitment competition for factory and agricultural inspectors has just started.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Christmas Bonus
  Mr. Holt
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the annual Christmas bonus paid to pensioners from £10 to £20 in the current year.

  Mr. Scott
  An order setting the 1987 Christmas bonus at £10 was approved by affirmative resolution of both Houses in July.

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many community psychiatric nurses there have been in each health region in each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Currie
  The figures relating to all NHS staff in community mental illness nursing are shown in the table:
  409

  Region

  30 September 1982

  30 September 1983

  30 September 1984

  30 September 1985

  30 September 1986

  Wesscx

  105

  113

  137

  166

  176

  Oxford

  72

  76

  86

  114

  122

  South Western

  103

  115

  127

  143

  147

  West Midlands

  66

  92

  155

  239

  255

  Mersey

  95

  116

  124

  148

  156

  North Western

  94

  148

  195

  220

  228

  London PG SHAs

  5

  5

  2

  3

  2

  England

  1,237

  1,432

  1,882

  2,309

  2,532

  Source: DHSS (SR7) Annual Census of NHS Non-Medical Manpower.

  Note: All figures independently rounded to the nearest whole-time equivalent.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what funds have been specifically earmarked for the care of the mentally ill following the closure of mental hospitals in each health region in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I am sorry I cannot give my hon. Friend the information he seeks as it is not centrally collected. My hon. Friend may like to seek information from any individual regional health authority in whose area there has been such a closure.

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received on the provisions of community care for patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis discharged from National Health Service mental illness hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  We receive representations from time to time about the quality of community care for those people discharged from hospital following treatment for schizophrenia.

  The effectiveness of modern treatment means that patients are usually well enough, and prefer, to leave after a short stay in hospital, and to receive further treatment on an out-patient or day-patient basis. We are very conscious that the patient when at home needs good quality support. Studies have shown that in many places the quality of support is patchy and we will not be satisfied until we see evidence of a high level of support everywhere. We emphasise the importance of the professional team agreeing an individual care plan with the patient and carers at the time of discharge.

  Community care services to mentally ill people are still in the process of development, as my hon. Friend will see from the rapid expansion of the community psychiatric nursing service. Health authorities have been asked to make the needs of this group a priority. More needs to be done both in terms of the range, quality and distribution of facilities and in the co-ordination between the statutory, voluntary and private sectors which collectively provide the services. Sir Roy Griffiths is conducting a review on community care and will report around the end of the year on how it can be made more effective.

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people discharged from hospital following a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis and subsequently taken by the police under section to hospital have been refused admission in each health region in each of the last five years;

  (2) how many people discharged from mental illness hospitals, after a main diagnosis of schizophrenic
  410
  psychosis, having been proved vulnerable boarders, subsequently became voluntary boarders in each of the last five years in each health region.

  Mrs. Currie
  I am sorry I cannot give my hon. Friend the information he seeks, as it is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance his Department gives to mental illness hospitals on the retention of patients whose condition is unlikely to improve; and what is the current policy in each health region.

  Mrs. Currie
  In our policy paper on mental illness services (Cmnd. 9674) we advised health authorities that every district will require long-stay accommodation for those patients whose psychiatrists find that discharge would not be in the patient's interest. The paper says:"Patients who would he better off outside hospital should have a planned discharge to suitable care even if no closure is foreseen; patients who are better off in in-patient care should continue to receive such care, by a transfer if necessary, even if a closure is planned."
  I believe all regional health authorities' policies are in line with this guidance.

  Abortions
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of abortions on nonresident women in the latest year for which figures arc available were performed under ground 2 of the Abortion Act.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is shown in the table.

  Percentage of abortions performed on non-resident women under Ground 2 of the 1967 Abortion Act, England and Wales 1986

  Total notification of abortions to nonresident women

  Mentions of Ground 2

  Percentage

  (a)

  (b)

  (b) of (a)

  24,667

  24,633

  99·9

  Mr. Alton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the numbers of abortions carried out at 18 weeks and over on non-resident and resident women together with the numbers and percentages of such women aged under 18 years, 18 to 40 years and over 40 years, for the last year for which figures are available;

  (2) if he will list the numbers of abortions carried out below 18 weeks on non-resident and resident women, together with the numbers and percentages of such women aged under 18 years, 18 to 40 years and over 40 years, for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is shown in the table:
  411

  Notifications of Abortions performed in England and Wales on resident and non-resident Women by age of Mother and gestation weeks, 1986

  Age of Mother (Years)

  Total

  0–17

  18–40

  41 and over

  Unknown

  GESTATION WEEKS

  Residents

  All weeks number

  147,619

  18,378

  125,886

  3,333

  22

  Percentage

  100

  12·4

  85·3

  2·3

  1

  0–17 weeks

  Number

  143,025

  17,440

  122,322

  3,241

  —

  Percentage

  100

  12·2

  85·5

  2·3

  —

  18 weeks and over

  Number

  4,594

  938

  3,564

  92

  —

  Percentage

  100

  20·4

  77·6

  2

  —

  Non-residents

  All weeks number

  24,667

  1,638

  22,228

  801

  —

  Percentage

  100

  6·6

  90·1

  3·3

  —

  0–17 weeks

  Number

  20,979

  1,129

  19,144

  706

  —

  Percentage

  100

  5·4

  91·3

  3·4

  —

  18 weeks and over

  Number

  3,688

  509

  3,084

  95

  —

  Percentage

  100

  13·8

  83·6

  2·6

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has plans to seek to amend abortion legislation in the light of the report of the fourth conference of the International Right To Life Federation in Zagreb, a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to do so.

  Emergency Alarm Systems
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much of the current expenditure by his Department on housing benefit is accounted for by charges for emergency alarm systems, and what was this figure in 1986, 1985 and 1984;

  (2) how many people are estimated to use emergency alarm systems; and how many emergency alarm systems are fitted in dwellings that are not classified as sheltered.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that the information requested on charges is not available, nor do we have a reliable basis for an estimate of the number of people who use emergency alarm systems.

  Elderly, Sick and Disabled Persons (Accommodation)
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the accommodation referred to in deposited paper 3042, page 111, as specifically intended for and occupied by elderly, sick or disabled persons includes (i) property that is owned by elderly, sick or disabled persons, (ii) accommodation that is not officially recognised as sheltered accommodation and (iii) accommodation that has not been physically altered specifically for elderly, sick or disabled persons.

  Mr. Portillo
  The intention of the draft housing benefits regulations published in May 1987, to which the hon. Member refers, is that the costs of an emergency alarm system which a tenant has no choice but to meet should be eligible for housing benefit where the system is provided 412
  either in accommodation, such as sheltered housing, which has been specially designed or adapted for elderly, sick or disabled people, or in accommodation that is particularly suitable for such people. The local authority associations are currently being consulted on amendments to the draft regulations for the reformed housing benefit scheme which, among other things, will make this intention clear. Help for owner-occupiers with the costs of emergency alarm systems will be available under the income support scheme, using the same criteria.

  Nursing Homes (NHS Staff)
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what regulations have been issued regarding serving National Health Service staff becoming involved in private nursing homes to which patients, originally under their care, are transferred.

  Mrs. Currie
  None. This is a matter for health authorities to determine locally in the light of individual circumstances. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind he may like to consult the health authority concerned.

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about the health risks and other possible damage to people and food production which further deterioration in the ozone layer would bring about.

  Mrs. Currie
  Any reduction in the ozone layer would allow a greater amount of ultra-violet light to penetrate to ground level. However, other factors, such as latitude and degree of cloud cover, are normally the major determinants of ultra-violet light levels in a given area. The implcation for health of increased exposure to ultra-violet light is of an increase in the risk of skin cancer on exposed parts of the body. The extent of deliberate exposure of
  413
  untanned and unprotected skin directly to sunlight is believed to be the most important factor determining the risk of skin cancer to an individual in any given area.

  Food production is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Speech Therapy
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the numbers of speech therapists employed in England and Scotland for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The figures for England are shown in the table. Figures for Scotland are matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  NHS Speech therapists as at 30 September: England

  Year

  Whole-time equivalent

  1982

  1,900

  1983

  1,970

  1984

  2,150

  1985

  2,340

  1986

  2,510

  Note: All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 10 whole-time equivalent.

  Source: DHSS Annual census of NHS Non-Medical Manpower.

  These figures reflect a 32 per cent. increase in whole-time equivalent staff employed in the years in question.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to improve the provision of speech therapy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  It is for individual health authorities to determine the appropriate level of provision of their speech therapy services, having regard to local circumstances, competing priorities and available resources. The numbers of speech therapists employed has risen by nearly 50 per cent. since 1979 and the expenditure on speech therapy services has also increased at a much faster rate than the general increase in National Health Service expenditure.

  Family Income Supplement
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding the proposed changes in the family income supplement rules from 1 April 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Family income supplement will be replaced by the new family credit scheme in April 1988. The change has been widely welcomed as a major improvement in the help available to low income working families with children, and has been extensively debated both in Parliament and more widely.

  Benefits
  Mr. Blunkett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement regarding the level of support, following their disentitlement to supplementary benefit. for the dependants of unemployed heads of households who take up full-time training.

  Mr. Portillo
  Unemployment or supplementary benefit for both a claimant and his dependents is payable only if 414
  an unemployed person can demonstrate that he or she is available for employment. It follows that the Government's general policy towards unemployed persons who embark on a course of training or study is that their financial support should be the responsibility of the employer, local education authority or other organisation concerned. This policy continues that applied during previous administrations.

  There is one exception to the availability rule for unemployed people in that a supplementary benefit claimant who is receiving a Government training allowance—usually from the Manpower Services Commission—is exempt from the requirement to be available for work. This enables the training allowance to be topped up by supplementary benefit if the allowance is insufficient for the trainee's requirements. Trainees who cease to be entitled to supplementary benefit are still able to claim other income-related benefits (such as refunds, exemption from prescription charges, housing benefit, welfare foods) in respect of themselves and their dependants and, of course, child benefit, depending on their individual circumstances.

  Maternity Care
  Mr. Eastham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the current provision of maternity care in each of the health authorities in the north-west.

  Mrs. Currie
  The latest available information held centrally on provision for maternity care in districts in the North Western regional health authority is contained in the table.

  North Western regional health authority, average daily available beds in the maternity1 sector by district health authority, 1986

  District health authority

  Available beds

  Occupied beds

  Percentage occupancy

  Lancaster

  47·6

  33·6

  70·6

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  90·0

  67·3

  74·8

  Preston

  93·9

  64·8

  69·0

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  123·0

  71·5

  58·1

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  80·3

  58·6

  73·0

  West Lancashire

  34·0

  35·8

  75·9

  Chorley and South Ribble

  25·9

  9·6

  37·1

  Bolton

  108·0

  73·0

  67·6

  Bury

  72·4

  41·2

  56·9

  North Manchester

  66·4

  48·7

  73·3

  Central Manchester

  125·0

  87·5

  70·0

  South Manchester

  151·8

  84·5

  55·7

  Oldham

  86·5

  56·7

  65·5

  Rochdale

  51·4

  29·3

  57·0

  Salford

  92·6

  63·4

  68·5

  Stockport

  93·7

  66·8

  71·3

  Teeside and Glossop

  82·2

  59·2

  72·0

  Traflbrd

  41·1

  28·8

  70·1

  Wigan

  106·2

  63·4

  59·7

  Total

  1,572·0

  1,033·7

  65·8

  1 Obstetrics and GP maternity specialties.

  If the hon. Member seeks more recent information, or has more detailed local enquiries, he may wish to approach the chairman of the North Western regional health authority.

  North-Western Health Authorities
  Mr. Eastham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health authorities in the north-west are proposing to reduce clinical services or close facilities in 1987–88 or 1988–89 to provide a balanced budget.

  Mrs. Currie
  Revenue expenditure by north-western regional health authority on hospital and community health services has increased in real terms by some 24 per cent. between 1978–79 and 1986–87. This has enabled substantial increases between 1978 and 1986 in the numbers of patients treated in the region: 22 per cent. more in-patients, 16 per cent. more out-patients and 85 per cent. more day cases. The key to maintaining and building on this success is sound resource management by district health authorities, within balanced budgets. The hon. Member may wish to address his detailed inquiries, about how this is achieved, to the chairman of the north-western regional health authority, which is responsible for ensuring north-western district health authorities balance their budgets.

  Mr. Eastham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the projected year-end situation for each of the health authorities in the north-west on an income/expenditure basis.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is not collected on an in-year basis and the annual accounts of health authorities for 1987–88 are not due for submission to our department until the end of June 1988.

  The hon. Member may wish to approach the chairman of the north-west regional health authority, who may be able to assist with the information he seeks.

  Mr. Eastham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost of the 1987–88 pay awards to date of the north-west health authorities; and how this cost compares with the funding allocated by his Department.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information is not available centrally on the cost of pay awards by district health authority. The hon. Member may wish to ask the chairman of the northwestern regional health authority for this information.

  North-western RHA's share of the additional resources allocated following this year's pay review body awards to nurses, doctors and allied professions was £22·9 million. It was for the regional health authority to determine how those funds should be distributed amongst its districts.

  Mr. Eastham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cumulative cost of pay award underfunding over the past three years in each of the health authorities in the north-west.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is not available. Health authorities operate within the cash planning system which means that they are expected to met all pay and price increases and develop services from within the total resources available to them. Between 1983–84 and 1986–87 north-western regional health authority's gross revenue expenditure increased by 5·1 per cent. in real terms. In 1987–88 the region has received a further real terms increase of 3·7 per cent.

  Regional Health Authorities (Creditors)
  Mr. Eastham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance his Department issues to regional
  416
  health authorities about the acceptable level of creditors for a health authority to have in terms of (a) the number of weeks of creditors and (b) the percentage of trade creditors to allocation; and what were those levels for the past three years and projections for 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department has issued no specific guidance on an acceptable level of creditors, but health authorities are expected to keep these within the bounds of financial prudence.

  The Department does not collect in-year information on creditor balances and any attempt at estimates for 1987–88 or 1988–89 would be purely speculative.

  Following are figures for the past three years derived from the summarised accounts of health authorities in England:

  Regional and District Health Authorities1

  Column (a) Total creditors as at 31 March related to total expenditure for the year

  Column (b) "Other" revenue creditors as at SI March related to total revenue allocation for the year

  Weeks

  per cent.

  1984–85

  2·5

  3·2

  1985–86

  2·6

  3·3

  1986–87

  2·8

  3·7

  1 Includes the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.

  Notes:

  1. the figures for 1986–87 are based on provisional (that is, as yet unaudited) information.

  2. The figures in column (a) cover revenue and capital creditor balances and expenditure.

  3. "Other" revenue creditors includes mainly trade creditors which are not separately identified in the annual accounts of health authorities.

  Peto Institute, Budapest
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's assessment of the work being undertaken in the Peto Institute, Budapest; and if he will indicate the level of research resources being made available for parallel treatment in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Currie
  We are aware of the favourable reports on the work being undertaken at the Peto Institute and the claims made for the success of the treatment. However as yet no proper evaluation of the benefits of conductive education has been undertaken either here or abroad. The Department of Education and Science has agreed to make available over a period of five years £326,000 in support of the evaluation of the conductive education project being established in Birmingham by the National Foundation for Conductive Education.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's policy on the condition popularly known as ME; if he will estimate the number of sufferers; what are the current totals of research expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a distressing complaint for which there is at present no agreed medical treatment. Data on incidence are not held centrally. The Department does not currently fund
  417
  research in this field. Research is taking place at St. Mary's, Paddington. Seriological surveillance studies supported by the Scottish Home and Health Department at the Regional Virus Laboratory, Ruchill hospital, Glasgow, may also throw light on this condition. I understand that good progress on causation has been made by a combined team from the Royal Free and St. Thomas's hospitals.

  Other current research into antiviral agents, allergies and immunological mechanisms may also improve knowledge of ME. The Medical Research Council is the main Government agency for the promotion of medical and biological research. Information about total expenditure on research in this field is not held centrally.

  Immunisation Officers
  Ms. Harman
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which district health authorities have appointed an officer to be accountable for immunisation performance in that district.

  Mrs. Currie
  I am pleased to record that all except two authorities, which are making arrangements to do so, have made such appointments.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Special Housing Association
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of tenants living in Scottish Special Housing Association rented accommodation in the Clydesdale constituency for each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally by constituency area.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of tenants living in Scottish Special Housing Association rented accommodation in East Lothian in each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally. The numbers of Scottish Special Housing Association dwellings in the area of East Lothian district council are set out below.

  At 31 March

  Number of dwellings

  1979

  1,231

  1980

  1,275

  1981

  1,287

  1982

  1,275

  1983

  1,256

  1984

  1,225

  1985

  1,148

  1986

  1,156

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his Department's policy towards fees for subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act; how many register entries his Department has; and what would be the total cost to a data subject seeking access to personal data held under all register entries.
  418
  Mr. Rifkind
  A fee of £10 per registry entry has been set for access under section 21 of the Data Protection Act 1984; there are at present 72 register entries for the Scottish Office; the total cost to a data subject for access to all register entries would therefore be £720.

  Health Care
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet reached a decision as to whether to accept the conclusion of the Sharpen report on health care spending; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 28 October 1987.

  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Sharpen report on health care spending will be published.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 26 October 1987.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing for each year since 1979 (i) the number of National Health Service inpatient beds in East Lothian and (ii) the number of National Health Service staff, in terms of full-time equivalents.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally on a constituency basis.

  Mr. Doran
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing, for each year since 1979 (i) the number of National Health Service in-patient beds in the Aberdeen, South constituency and (ii) the number of National Health Service staff, in terms of full-time equivalents.

  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of National Health Service in-patient beds in Cunninghame. North constituency since 1978.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally on a constituency basis.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department is doing to reduce waiting times for ear, nose and throat surgery in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I regard reduction of the length of time patients have to wait for in-patient treatment or consultations as one of the most urgent tasks facing the Health Service. I have therefore established a working group within my Department, which is currently studying various methods of reducing waiting lists and waiting times and I have impressed on health boards the importance of the task.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many of the Clydesdale patients on 1984, 1985 and 1986 waiting lists for more than three months were over 60 years of age;
  419
  (2) how many patients in Clydesdale 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 1974.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally on a constituency basis.

  Hospital Patients (Early Discharge)
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department is doing to encourage early discharge from hospital following surgical procedures.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Explicit advice on detailed aspects of clinical practice is not normally given by the Department but by the royal colleges and other sources within the profession itself. More general advice is given in, for example, reports from the National Medical Consultative Committee which are published through the Scottish Health Service Planning Council and the Department. The recently published report on the management of orthopaedic services in Scotland is an example of this.

  The appropriate use of clinical resources of all kinds including acute post-operative care is a central aspect of the work of the clinical resource use group set up recently under the chairmanship of the chief medical officer with members drawn from a number of professional medical fields.

  Medical Staffing
  Dr. Moonie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the Shaw report on medical staffing in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I understand that the report "Staffing the Service—The Next Decade" will be presented to the Scottish Home and Health Department and to the Scottish joint consultants committee and published around the middle of December.

  North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board
  Mr. Macdonald
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to retaining the social remit of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board after privatisation.

  Mr. Lang
  I am giving this matter close consideration.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Macdonald
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Crown Estate Commissioners charge rent for pipes leading into the sea emanating from and owned by Dounreay, Windscale and Hunterston nuclear power stations.

  Mr. Lang
  I am advised by the Crown Estate Commissioners that they have received or are receiving payments in respect of pipelines and associated works on the seabed at Dounreay, Sellafield (formerly Windscale) and Hunterston nuclear establishments.

  Highlands and Islands Development Board
  Mr. Macdonald
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total amounts paid to projects
  420
  in the Western Isles by the Highlands and Islands Development Board in each year since 1979 in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms, based on 1986–87 prices, showing the percentage changes in payments between years.

  Mr. Lang
  Expenditure approved by the Highlands and Islands Development Board on businesses and projects in the Western Isles is as follows:

  (a) Cash terms

  (b) 1987 prices

  £000s

  per cent, change

  £000s

  per cent, change

  1979

  2,045

  —

  3,681

  —

  1980

  1,719

  -15·9

  2,623

  -28·8

  1981

  3,763

  +118·9

  5,132

  +95·7

  1982

  3,316

  -11·9

  4,164

  -18·9

  1983

  4,500

  +35·7

  5,402

  +29·8

  1984

  4,254

  -5·5

  4,865

  -10·0

  1985

  7,159

  +68·3

  7,717

  +58·6

  1986

  3,564

  -50·2

  3,715

  -51·9

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Macdonald
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing for each year since 1979 (a) the number of National Health Service inpatient beds in the Western Isles and (b) the number of National Health Service staff in terms of full-time equivalents.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally on a constituency basis.

  Tourism
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a working party to co-ordinate all the appropriate statutory bodies and local authorities involved in the development of a suitable tourist stopping place on the Al trunk route where it crosses the English/Scottish border at Dumbarton toll in Berwickshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so.

  A1 (Cockburghton)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will sanction the use of double white lines to prohibit overtaking throughout the length of Cockburghton at the A1 as a temporary safety measure pending the realignment of the main road; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have reviewed the earlier decision that the white lines near the Cockburnspath junction should not be extended and, although the usual criteria are not met, I have decided that the continuous double white lines down the centre of the road should be continued past the village and just beyond the brow of the hill on the north side.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to announce a date for the public inquiry into the proposed route for the Al realignment at Cockburghton in Berwickshire.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Preparations are being made for an inquiry to consider objections to the A1 Tower to Dunglass diversion orders. I expect this to be held in early 1988.

  Local Councillors (Allowances and Expenses)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now authorise a full scale review of members allowances and expenses for serving councillors in local government in Scotland, with particular reference to the particular expenses involved in travelling to rural areas.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. The level of travel and subsistence allowances for councillors is reviewed each year as a matter of routine. The views of the local authority associations, as expressed from time to time, are taken into account in these reviews. The Government are at present considering the Widdicombe committee's recommendations on councillors' remuneration.

  Forestry
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he has any plans to change the consultation procedures undertaken by the Forestry Commission prior to approving planting applications under the forestry grant scheme;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the revised composition of regional advisory committees involved in the Forestry Commission process of consultation in approving planting grants.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The consultation procedures are refined from time to time to meet changing circumstances.

  My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to be in a position soon to make a statement to the House on the composition and procedures of the regional advisory committees.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider setting up a system of planting licences to replace the existing forestry grant scheme administered by the Forestry Commission.

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

  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report all those voluntary bodies that may be consulted by the statutory authorities involved in the existing consultation procedures in the forestry grant scheme.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The statutory authorities may consult with voluntary bodies as they see fit. There is no prescribed list of bodies to be consulted.

  Passenger Ferries
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the implications of suggested alterations to stability criteria for passenger ferries following the Zeebrugge disaster for vessels operated by Caledonian MacBrayne and P and O from and between Scottish ports; and what funds are available for him to support the replacement and modification of ferries serving the Scottish islands.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Responsibility for marine safety and for consideration of the recommendations of the Zeebrugge inquiry report rest with the 422
  Secretary of State for Transport. He is at present consulting all ferry operators, including Caledonian MacBrayne and P and O, on these recommendations, including those involving stability. It will not be clear what the implications are for ferry operators until the results of the consultations have been considered.

  A1 (Gladsmuir)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to initiate any improvements to the A1 road at Gladsmuir following the meeting between the acting Under-Secretary and the hon. Member for East Lothian on 8 October.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  At the meeting on 8 October I proposed that a scheme of hatching and right-hand turning lanes be provided at Gladsmuir on the Al. Arrangements will be set in hand if this is the wish of local people.

  Housing
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing (a) the number of people on housing waiting lists, (b) the number of new public sector houses built, (c) the number of new private sector houses built, (d) the number of new lets and re-lets from waiting lists and (e) the number of people housed under the homeless persons legislation in each district and islands area in 1978–79 and in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Consistent reliable information on the number of people on housing waiting lists and the number of lets and re-lets from waiting lists is not available. The table below shows the numbers of new public and private sector dwellings completed in the years 1978–79 and 1985–86, the latest year for which figures are available, together with the numbers of applicants housed in permanent or temporary accommodation under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 in those years.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list actions taken by the Government to improve the choice of rented accommodation for people in Scotland since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government's commitment to extending choice for those who wish to rent is reflected by action taken to stimulate housing provision in both the public and private sectors. Total gross investment in Scottish public sector housing has risen by 14 per cent. in real terms since 1979. Within this total, capital allocations to local authorities have risen by 82 per cent., or £188 million, over the last three years. Substantially increased resources have been made available to the housing association movement for which over £100 million has been provided in each of the last six years, and where 30,000 new tenancies have been created. Other action taken by the Government includes the introduction of short tenancies, under part IV of the Tenants' Rights Etc (Scotland) Act 1980, to stimulate the supply of accommodation to rent in the private sector. The Local Government Bill at present before Parliament includes provisions to give Scottish local authorities new powers to give financial assistance to private landlords, including housing associations, to encourage the provision of housing for rent.
  423

  New dwellings completed and applicants housed under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977, 1978–79 and 1985–86—Scotland

  Numbers

  New dwellings completed

  1978–79

  1985–86

  Applicants housed

  Public sector

  Private sector

  Public sector

  Private sector

  1978–79

  1985–86

  Berwickshire

  16

  12

  12

  26

  18

  4

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  114

  31

  0

  62

  23

  11

  Roxburgh

  26

  22

  8

  31

  24

  17

  Tweeddale

  39

  13

  0

  56

  22

  ..

  Clackmannan

  32

  111

  30

  53

  167

  273

  Falkirk

  158

  496

  45

  428

  202

  1,474

  Stirling

  91

  324

  39

  179

  266

  ..

  Annandale and Eskdale

  233

  61

  34

  60

  22

  32

  Nithsdale

  71

  216

  128

  221

  117

  136

  Stewartry

  49

  78

  52

  47

  30

  62

  Wigtown

  34

  103

  109

  67

  67

  43

  Dunfermline

  132

  367

  167

  274

  317

  383

  Kirkcaldy

  484

  295

  149

  336

  227

  385

  North East Fife

  107

  211

  68

  205

  120

  301

  Aberdeen

  1,070

  658

  250

  858

  268

  908

  Banff and Buchan

  488

  242

  95

  181

  51

  29

  Gordon

  159

  690

  138

  307

  20

  44

  Kincardine and Deeside

  57

  266

  187

  409

  16

  18

  Moray

  48

  252

  97

  206

  54

  158

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  0

  36

  0

  63

  16

  ..

  Caithness

  126

  39

  36

  57

  22

  2

  Inverness

  310

  442

  194

  374

  63

  129

  Lochaber

  47

  43

  28

  17

  20

  25

  Nairn

  26

  67

  20

  19

  21

  16

  Ross and Cromarty

  127

  170

  45

  189

  27

  14

  Skye and Lochalsh

  0

  42

  52

  17

  14

  ..

  Sutherland

  26

  19

  50

  25

  2

  0

  East Lothian

  110

  153

  123

  347

  154

  389

  Edinburgh

  574

  1,685

  67

  1,710

  386

  926

  Midlothian

  2

  174

  64

  64

  56

  65

  West Lothian

  477

  601

  91

  556

  277

  169

  Argyll and Bute

  145

  124

  43

  128

  155

  144

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  66

  207

  0

  93

  5

  40

  Clydebank

  21

  42

  28

  110

  114

  214

  Clydesdale

  31

  303

  30

  136

  76

  38

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  398

  292

  6

  199

  101

  198

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  92

  35

  23

  60

  41

  35

  Cunninghame

  524

  326

  72

  411

  277

  268

  Dumbarton

  4

  240

  14

  187

  236

  282

  East Kilbride

  29

  78

  19

  406

  199

  247

  Eastwood

  0

  213

  54

  412

  5

  7

  Glasgow

  1,448

  304

  302

  1,697

  1,931

  2,148

  Hamilton

  147

  235

  12

  281

  305

  313

  Inverclyde

  217

  95

  74

  205

  176

  214

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  175

  247

  30

  261

  48

  149

  Kyle and Carrick

  75

  636

  58

  178

  188

  230

  Monklands

  93

  315

  0

  205

  366

  144

  Motherwell

  160

  231

  55

  310

  494

  539

  Renfrew

  455

  427

  28

  642

  696

  1,041

  Strathkelvin

  242

  557

  6

  148

  155

  145

  Angus

  123

  292

  132

  90

  148

  131

  Dundee

  166

  240

  78

  196

  264

  601

  Perth and Kinross

  102

  445

  0

  456

  185

  342

  Orkney Islands

  30

  59

  8

  35

  4

  11

  Shetland Islands

  90

  96

  30

  112

  37

  79

  Western Isles

  222

  160

  70

  106

  54

  25

  .. Not available.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many households are overcrowded in each district and islands area.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on overcrowding under part VII of the Housing (Scotland)424
  Act 1987 is not available centrally. Limited information on number of persons per room is available from the census 1981 Scotland housing and household report, table 33 "Small area statistics".
  425

  New dwellings completed and applicants housed under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977, 1978–79 and 1985–86—Scotland

  Numbers

  New dwellings completed

  Applicants housed

  1978–79

  1985–86

  1978–79

  1985–86

  Public sector

  Private sector

  Public sector

  Private sector

  Berwickshire

  16

  12

  12

  26

  18

  4

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  114

  31

  0

  62

  23

  11

  Roxburgh

  26

  22

  8

  31

  24

  17

  Tweeddale

  39

  13

  0

  56

  22

  n.a.

  Clackmannan

  32

  111

  30

  53

  167

  273

  Falkirk

  158

  496

  45

  428

  202

  1,474

  Stirling

  91

  324

  39

  179

  266

  n.a.

  Annandale and Eskdale

  233

  61

  34

  60

  22

  32

  Nithsdale

  71

  216

  128

  221

  117

  136

  Stewartry

  49

  78

  52

  47

  30

  62

  Wigtown

  34

  103

  109

  67

  67

  43

  Dunfermline

  132

  367

  167

  274

  317

  383

  Kirkcaldy

  484

  295

  149

  336

  227

  385

  North East Fife

  107

  211

  68

  205

  120

  301

  Aberdeen

  1,070

  658

  250

  858

  268

  908

  Banff and Buchan

  488

  242

  95

  181

  51

  29

  Gordon

  159

  690

  138

  307

  20

  44

  Kincardine and Deeside

  57

  266

  187

  409

  16

  18

  Moray

  48

  252

  97

  206

  54

  158

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  0

  36

  0

  63

  16

  n.a.

  Caithness

  126

  39

  36

  57

  22

  2

  Inverness

  310

  442

  194

  374

  63

  129

  Lochaber

  47

  43

  28

  17

  20

  25

  Nairn

  26

  67

  20

  19

  21

  16

  Ross and Cromarty

  127

  170

  45

  189

  27

  14

  Skye and Lochalsh

  0

  42

  52

  17

  14

  n.a.

  Sutherland

  26

  19

  50

  25

  2

  0

  East Lothian

  110

  153

  123

  347

  154

  389

  Edinburgh

  574

  1,685

  67

  1,710

  386

  926

  Midlothian

  2

  174

  64

  64

  56

  65

  West Lothian

  477

  601

  91

  556

  277

  169

  Argyll and Bute

  145

  124

  43

  128

  155

  144

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  66

  207

  0

  93

  5

  40

  Clyedebank

  21

  42

  28

  110

  114

  214

  Clydesdale

  31

  303

  30

  136

  76

  38

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  398

  292

  6

  199

  101

  198

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  92

  35

  23

  60

  41

  35

  Cunninghame

  524

  326

  72

  411

  277

  268

  Dumbarton

  4

  240

  14

  187

  236

  282

  East Kilbride

  29

  78

  19

  406

  199

  247

  Eastwood

  0

  213

  54

  412

  5

  7

  Glasgow

  1,448

  304

  302

  1,697

  1,931

  2,148

  Hamilton

  147

  235

  12

  281

  305

  313

  Inverclyde

  217

  95

  74

  205

  176

  214

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  175

  247

  30

  261

  48

  149

  Kyle and Carrick

  75

  636

  58

  178

  188

  230

  Monklands

  93

  315

  0

  205

  366

  144

  Motherwell

  160

  231

  55

  310

  494

  539

  Renfrew

  455

  427

  28

  642

  696

  1,041

  Strathkelvin

  242

  557

  6

  148

  155

  145

  Angus

  123

  292

  132

  90

  148

  131

  Dundee

  166

  240

  78

  196

  264

  401

  Perth and Kinross

  102

  445

  9

  456

  185

  342

  Orkney Islands

  30

  59

  8

  35

  4

  11

  Shetland Islands

  30

  96

  30

  112

  37

  19

  Western Isles

  222

  160

  70

  106

  54

  25

  n.a.—Not available.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will commission a comprehensive national house condition survey in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have no immediate plans to do so but am considering representations from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and others on this subject at the present time.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest numbers for houses in need of urgent repair in Scotland.
  426
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many people are on housing waiting lists in Glasgow Provan, and in the whole of the Greater Glasgow area, respectively;

  (2) what is the number of people on housing waiting lists in Scotland.
  427
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Reliable and consistent information on waiting list figures is not available centrally.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what urgent steps he is taking in order substantially to reduce the number of young unemployed in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  We shall continue with our successful policies of keeping inflation down, stimulating enterprise, sustaining competitiveness in industry and strengthening the private sector, which are the key to creating a stronger economy and reducing unemployment. The guarantee of a YTS place means that no one under 18 need be unemployed. The new job training scheme aimed primarily at 18 to 25-year-olds together with the expansion of places available under the enterprise allowance scheme (to 9,500 places in Scotland in 1987–88) and the assistance to employers through the new workers scheme will all help young people into employment. While unemployment among young people remains too high the number of unemployed claimants under 25 in Scotland has fallen substantially since the beginning of the year.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what urgent steps he is taking substantially to reduce the total number of unemployed people in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  We shall continue with our successful policies of keeping inflation down, stimulating enterprise, sustaining competitiveness in industry and strengthening the private sector, which are the key to creating a stronger economy and reducing unemployment. The wide range of the Manpower Services Commission's training programmes will provide over 50,000 adult training opportunities in Scotland this year to enable many people to retrain in the skills needed today. In addition some 30,000 people in Scotland are currently gaining useful work experience in the community programme and 9,500 people will have the opportunity this year to join the enterprise allowance scheme for unemployed people setting up their own businesses. Since January 1987 unemployment in Scotland has fallen by almost 48,000.

  Local Authority Facilities
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what new funds he is making available to Scottish local authorities in order to tackle the problems of street lighting and home safety, in particular for elderly people, lack of entertaining and sporting facilities, and other similar deficiencies.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  On 23 July my right hon. Friend announced provision for local authority current expenditure in 1988–89. This is £3,640 million, 4 per cent. above local authorities' budgets in 1987–88. There is ample scope within this generous figure for authorities to choose their own priorities for expenditure, including the services mentioned by the hon. Member.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the most recent statistics for people in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in Scotland paid for by public funds;
  428
  (2) how many people are at present in bed-and-breakfast accommodation paid by public funds in Glasgow, Provan and in the whole of the Greater Glasgow area, respectively.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no overall figures for the number of persons in bed-and-breakfast accommodation paid out of public funds. However, it is estimated that the number of households placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation under The Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 at 30 June 1987 for Scotland was approximately 400. The comparable Glasgow district figure was 124.

  Information held centrally does not identify areas other than at district council level or their aggregates.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest assessment of the impact on voter registration of the implementation of the poll tax in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has made no such assessment. The implementation of the community charge system is a quite separate process from electoral registration and should have no adverse impact on it.

  Hospital Staff
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the number of full-time nurses serving in hospitals in the Clydesdale area for each year since 1974;

  (2) what was the number of full-time doctors serving in hospitals in the Clydesdale area for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally on a constituency basis.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many elderly people have been in National Health Service residential homes in Clydesdale since 1974;

  (2) how many elderly people have been in National Health Service residential homes in Scotland for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are no National Health Service residential homes for the elderly.

  Retirement
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated number of people coming into retirement in the whole of Scotland in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Registrar General estimates that the number of people reaching pensionable age in Scotland in each of the years specified will be in the range 51,000 to 52,000.

  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated number of people coming into retirement in the Clydesdale area in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Registrar General estimates that the number of people reaching pensionable age in Clydesdale in each of the years specified will be about 550.

  Forestry Rangers
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of forestry rangers employed by the Forestry Commission at each grade in Scotland for each of the last five years.

  Year (as at 1 April)

  Senior Ranger (Grade 1)

  Senior Ranger (Grade 2)

  Ranger (Grade 1)

  Ranger (Grade 2)

  Trainee Ranger

  Totals

  1983

  102

  37

  15

  9

  3

  166

  1984

  105

  31

  18

  5

  3

  162

  1985

  109

  30

  12

  3

  2

  156

  1986

  115

  26

  3

  4

  3

  151

  1987

  116

  24

  1

  3

  1

  145

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review the pay scales of forestry rangers working for the Forestry Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Following a recent review of the terms and conditions of all forestry workers, including rangers, the Forestry Commission will shortly be seeking to negotiate a revised pay structure with the trade unions concerned.

  Red Deer Stalkers
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of red deer stalkers employed by the Forestry Commission at each grade, in Scotland, for each of the last five years, and the pay scale for each grade.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Commission does not employ persons to act solely as deer stalkers. Some forestry rangers carry out deer stalking as part of their duties.

  Andrew Marshall
  Mr. Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to appeal against the findings of Sheriff James R. Smith in the case of the Procurator Fiscal v. Andrew Marshall; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The question of an appeal against the decision of a sheriff in a criminal case is not one for the Secretary of State for Scotland. The procurator fiscal in whose name the proceedings were raised has, however, marked an appeal against the sheriff's decision and the matter will, accordingly, come before the High Court of Justiciary shortly. In the circumstances any further statement would be quite inappropriate.

  Macaulay Land Use Research Institute
  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in establishing the new Macaulay land use research institute in Aberdeen, particularly with regard to its physical location on one site in Aberdeen.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The new research institute came into being on 1 April 1987. A board of governors under the chairmanship of Professor Ian Cunningham CBE has been established, and a director, Professor T J Maxwell
  430
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the following table:

  appointed. The board has given further consideration to the question of where in Aberdeen the new institute should be located, and have decided, following consultation with my Department, that location at Craigiebuckler, rather than at Bucksburn, would be preferable, and that further detailed planning on the feasibility of this should be pursued. It also considers that development at this site should be accompanied by further developments al: Glensaugh and Hartwood research stations. I have agreed that the board should proceed to develop its plans on the basis it has outlined.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many current occupants of Her Majesty's prisons in Scotland have ever been admitted to National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units with a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychoses;

  (2) how many people were admitted to Her Majesty's prisons in Scotland who had previously been discharged from mental illness hospitals and units after a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychoses in each of the last five years; and how many were recidivists.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not readily available in the form requested. The number of inmates in Scottish penal establishments diagnosed as suffering from psychoses in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1982

  88

  1983

  32

  1984

  56

  1985

  62

  1986

  63

  Mr. Goodlad
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many community psychiatric nurses there have been in Scotland in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not at present collected centrally. Arrangements are being made to do so as part of a more general development of manpower and personnel information systems in health boards.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give a detailed list of hospital wards serving the Clydesdale area since 1974 which have closed due to shortage of funds;

  (2) how many hospital wards serving the Clydesdale area were closed for each year since 1974;

  (3) if he will give a detailed list of hospital wards in Scotland which closed due to shortage of equipment, for each year since 1974;

  (4) if he will give a detailed list of hospital wards serving the Clydesdale area since 1974, and the detailed reasons for closure in each case.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 October to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray).

ENVIRONMENT

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the list of the scientific organisations and individual scientists he has consulted or is consulting with regard to the problems posed by the damage inflicted to the ozone layer.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Department has established, jointly with the Meteorological Office, the stratospheric ozone review group, to advise on the effect of man-made pollutants on the ozone layer. Its members are:

  Dr. J. Pyle (University of Cambridge)—Chair

  Dr. R. Jones, Dr. A. O'Neill (Meteorological Office)

  Dr. J. Farman (British Antarctic Survey)

  Dr. H. Roscoe (University of Oxford)

  Dr. L. Gray (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)

  Dr. S. Penkett (University of East Anglia)

  Dr. R. Cox (Harwell Laboratory)

  Dr. G. Jenkins (Department of the Environment)

  Their first report—"Stratospheric Ozone", Her Majesty's Stationery Office—was published in August this year and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he or his colleagues in the European Community or other European countries have held consultations aimed at a joint response to the problems which certain industrial and chemical activities cause to the ozone layer;

  (2) whether Her Majesty's Government are preparing a joint governmental response to the serious problems caused by damage to the ozone layer.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The United Kingdom, the European Community and seven other member states have signed the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. The remaining member states expect to sign by the end of the year. We are already consulting producing and using industries on how to put the provisions of the protocol into practice. In due course the Environment Council will consider those aspects which have to be implemented at Community level. At a meeting of European Environment Ministers on 25 October my noble Friend Lord Belstead suggested wider consultations between the Community and EFTA countries, and in particular closer cooperation on the protocol's provisions for regular scientific review.
  432
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what scientific advice he has received about delays in the adoption of the measures needed in order to avoid further destruction of the ozone layer.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The assessments in the report of the stratospheric ozone review group show that, according to our current knowledge, the stringency and timetable of the measures agreed in the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer will be adequate to avoid any significant depletion of the global ozone layer. We are keeping in close touch with scientific developments and, as provided in the protocol, will keep the adequacy of the measures under review.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he is giving to British industries which produce aerosol and other similar chemicals about the damage inflicted to the ozone layer of our planet by such products.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Concern about the ozone layer is well known to industries in the United Kingdom producing and using chlorofluorocarbons—(CFCs)—and halons, chemicals which have the potential to damage the ozone layer. My Department kept in close touch with them during negotiation of the recently agreed Montreal protocol and we are now consulting them on its implementation. ICI is represented as an observer on the stratospheric ozone research group which will be watching developments closely with a view to producing a second report next year. Discussions were also held at a recent seminar organised by the Chemical Manufacturers Association in Edinburgh to review the subject of the antarctic ozone hole and related matters.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his assessment of the outcome of the meeting recently held in Canada about the problems created by the ozone layer.

  Mr. Moynihan
  It is the Government's view that the agreement at the diplomatic conference in Montreal on 16 September of a protocol to control production and consumption of ozone layer depleting substances is a significant environmental achievement.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has had talks regarding extra funding to research departments of universities on matters related to aerosols and similar products and about their impact on the ozone layer.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Department is funding a programme of research into stratospheric ozone, including the effects of aerosols propellants at the following establishments:

  Harwell Laboratory (laboratory Kinetics)

  University of Cambridge (Computer Modelling)

  University of Oxford (Balloon Measurements)

  British Antartic Survey (Antarctic Ozone)

  National Physical Laboratory (Instrument Development)

  Inscon (Monitoring Chlorofluorocarbons)

  In addition, there are substantial research programmes run by the Meteorological Office and Science and Engineering Research Council, with which we keep in close touch.

  Rate Support Grant Settlement
  Mr. Rogers
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the date for making the announcement of details in respect of the rate support grant settlement for 1988–89.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend issued a consultation paper on 27 October setting out details of his proposals for the 1988–89 rate support grant settlement in England.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy towards fees for subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act; how many register entries his Department has; and what would be the total cost to a data subject seeking access to personal data held under all register entries.

  Mr. Ridley
  I propose to charge a fee of £10 for subject access by members of the public. There is no current intention to charge the Department's own staff seeking access to personal data held about them as employees.

  My Department—including PSA and the Crown Suppliers—has 13 register entries, each of which covers several separate systems. In the unlikely event of a data subject requesting access to all entries, the total cost would be £130.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Amess
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new companies opened up in enterprise zones throughout the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Trippier
  The numbers of incoming firms to the enterprise zones in the United Kingdom and, among those, the numbers of new start-ups are contained in the table1

  All incoming firms

  New start-ups

  June 1981-May 1982

  295

  165

  June 1982-May 1983

  474

  281

  June 1983-September 1984

  45

  2—

  October 1984-December 19853

  506

  2—

  1 The information from 1981 to May 1983 has been derived from the publication "Monitoring Enterprise Zones, Year Three Report" by Roger Tym and Partners 1984. From June 1983 the data was collected from the publications "Enterprise Zone Information 1983–84" and "Enterprise Zone Information 1984–85", both by the Department of the Environment. There were differences between the methods used. Thus the changes between 1981–83 and 1983–85 may be due in part to differences in definition.

  2 Data not available.

  3 The data for Belfast and Londonderry Enterprise Zones extends to September 1985.

  Figures for later years will be available shortly with the publication of "An Evaluation of the Enterprise Zone Experiment" and "Enterprise Zone Information 1985–86".

  Rating Reform
  Mr. John Evans
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further consideration he has given to the implementation of the proposed poll tax.

  Mr. Howard
  I have given, and continue to give, a high priority to this issue.
  434
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest assessment of the effect on the rate of electoral registration of his proposal for a poll tax.

  Mr. Howard
  The basis for compiling the electoral register in England and Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. I understand that he has no proposals for changing the date for electoral registration.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply of 22 October, Official Report, column 866, he will set out the information he has about the number of domestic properties in each local authority in the rateable value bands listed in the answer.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today placed the available information in the Library.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the studies leading to the Green Paper Cmnd. 9714 "Paying for Local Government" which are referred to in the final paragraph of the ministerial foreword.

  Mr. Howard
  No. The conclusions arising out of the studies are contained in the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government"—Cmnd. 9714.

  Mr. Blunkett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the total cost to date of government initiatives to promote the community charge; and if he will also supply specific figures for the cost of (a) the tours by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Southampton, lichen (Mr. Chope) and by the Minister of State, the hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe, (Mr. Howard) respectively, (b) the production of the booklet entitled "Paying for Local Government" and (c) the production of a video by the same name.

  Mr. Howard
  Since the publication of our Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" in January 1986, successive Ministers have taken the usual steps to ensure that Parliament, the media and all those affected, including local businessmen and the general public, are informed about the detail of the three-part package of reforms. It is not possible to put specific figures to the costs involved.

  The three particular information exercises mentioned by the hon. Member all address the detail of the Government's proposals for local government finance as a whole, rather than focusing on the community charge.

  (a) The total cost of the regional visits made by my hon. Friend and myself, when we held discussions with leaders and officers of 20 local authorities as well as 11 meetings with local businessmen, was some £9,200, which includes the cost of back-ground panels explaining the three-part package. Some of the visits took place in association with other Government business.

  (b) Production and printing 100,000 copies of the booklet cost £16,200.

  (c) Fifty copies of the video were produced at a cost of £15,000.

  Sand and Gravel
  Sir Dudley Smith
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against refusal to allow

  435
  sand and gravel extraction operations have been made over the past eight years; and how many of those appeals have been allowed by him and his predecessors.

  Mr. Trippier
  Information is available only in respect of cases decided by the Secretary of State. Of the 63 sand and gravel appeals determined between 1 October 1980 and 30 September 1987, 25 were allowed.

  Falconry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of falconry licences issued during each of the last five years, giving the categories and numbers of prey species involved; and whether details are collected by his Department of the numbers of prey finally taken.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Details of the number of falconry licences issued in the past five years and of the prey species involved are set out in the table. All licensees are required to submit returns of numbers of prey taken.

  England and Wales

  Year

  Licences issued

  Prey species involved

  Number authorised

  Birds actually taken

  1983

  66

  Blackbird

  1,080

  319

  Skylark

  200

  37

  Meadow Pipit

  65

  21

  Moorhen

  112

  14

  Song Thrush

  75

  11

  Partridge

  55

  7

  Coot

  46

  5

  Pheasant

  40

  0

  1984

  68

  Blackbird

  917

  198

  Skylark

  437

  120

  Meadow Pipit

  100

  17

  Song Thrush

  60

  6

  1985

  68

  Blackbird

  978

  246

  Skylark

  620

  179

  Meadow Pipit

  110

  12

  Moorhen

  10

  3

  Song Thrush

  120

  15

  Blackheaded Gull

  68

  17

  Lapwing

  15

  1

  1986

  69

  Blackbird

  921

  222

  Skylark

  600

  163

  Meadow Pipit

  95

  26

  Song Thrush

  155

  7

  Moorhen

  10

  0

  Blackheaded Gull

  150

  60

  Fieldfare

  10

  0

  Redwing

  10

  0

  1987

  61

  Blackbird

  858

  Skylark

  695

  160

  Meadow Pipit

  70

  Song Thrush

  90

  Blackheaded Gull

  50

  Fieldfare

  15

  Redwing

  10

  1 Only report received to date.

  Scotland

  Year

  Licences issued

  Prey species involved

  Number authorised

  Birds actually taken

  1983

  5

  Blackbird

  4

  2

  Skylark

  10

  10

  Thrush

  10

  0

  436

  Year

  Licences issued

  Prey species involved

  Number authorised

  Birds actually taken

  1984

  6

  Blackbird

  80

  14

  Thrush

  20

  0

  1985

  3

  Blackbird

  70

  0

  Skylark

  90

  43

  Meadow Pipit

  20

  5

  Thrush

  5

  0

  1986

  3

  Skylark

  70

  35

  Meadow Pipit

  20

  0

  1987

  5

  Blackbird

  75

  1

  Skylark

  65

  1 None reported.

  Sewage
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will detail resources needed to bring up to the required standards the sewage systems in the whole of the United Kingdom;

  (2) what plans he has to tackle the crisis in British sewage systems in the event of privatisation of water authorities.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The regional water authorities are spending enough on the renewal and replacement of their sewerage and other assets to maintain the integrity of these systems and to improve the performance and quality of their services. In 1986–87 their capital expenditure on sewerage and sewage treatment and disposal was £465 million, 25 per cent. more than in 1980–81 in volume terms.

  Water services in other parts of the United Kingdom are a matter for the Secretaries of State concerned.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take urgent steps in order to make urban development corporations accountable to the local communities and their elected local authorities in matters related to green areas, shopping, transport and educational facilities and to environmental requirements.

  Mr. Trippier
  No. The UDCs are appointed by the Secretary of State and are accountable through him to Parliament. They seek to work closely with local authorities and are required to consult local authorities about the exercise of UDC powers.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures are in his view needed in order to avoid speculation in the housing sector, in the event of the creation of further urban development corporations.

  Mr. Trippier
  None.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many of the occupants of the homes built by the London Docklands development corporation were previously residents in that area;

  (2) how many families previously resident in the London docklands and with an annual income of £9,000

  437
  or less have been able to acquire new homes made available by the London Docklands development corporation;

  (3) how many new homes have been built by the London Docklands development corporation.

  Mr. Trippier
  A total of 6,928 new homes were completed within the LDDC's area between July 1981 and 31 March 1987. None was built by or for the corporation itself. Of 4,210 homes built on corporation-owned land, 3,263 were for owner occupation. Of these 1,490–46 per cent.—were sold to individuals previously resident in one of the three docklands boroughs.

  No information is available about the previous residence of tenants of homes provided on LDDC land or of owners of homes built on non-LDDC sites. No income data is available relating to occupants of new homes in docklands.

  Rents
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the estimates for the years 1989, 1990 and 1991 of the increased cost of housing benefits which will result from his proposals to end the present protection on rent prices in the private sector.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Our deregulation proposals will apply only to tenancies granted after the legislation comes into effect. The rights of existing tenants in respect of both rent and security, will not be affected.

  Any estimate of the effects of the proposals on housing benefit payments would at this stage be purely speculative.

  Low-cost Houses
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many low-cost houses are at present needed in order to extend private home ownership to low income families.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Not all low-income families would wish to try to buy a house on mortgage and many would have insufficient means to do so, even on low-cost home ownership terms. There is, therefore, no point in attempting to estimate how many low-cost houses are needed to enable all low-income families to buy.

  Water (Privatisation)
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the European countries where the national water resources have been privatised.

  Mr. Moynihan
  A number of countries involve private companies in water supply services either directly or through franchise arrangements. In France 62 per cent. of the population receives water from private companies.

  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific steps he is taking for the protection of the health of British people in the event of privatisation of water authorities.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The legislation giving effect to our proposals for the restructuring and privatisation of the water authorities in England and Wales will clarify and strengthen the legal basis for drinking water quality standards. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and local authorities will continue to have monitoring roles in 438
  this area. The National Rivers Authority will be responsible for granting consents for discharges to rivers, estuaries and coastal waters, including the discharge of effluent from the sewage treatment works of the privatised utilities.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give a detailed response to the European Community report which found that drinking water in Britain is not up to the standards required.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The European Commission has queried some aspects of the implementation of the EC drinking water directive in the United Kingdom. The Government are examining the queries and will be replying to the Commission shortly.

  Development Corporations
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what relative priority is accorded to (a) the commercial interests of development, and (b) the needs of the local community in deciding the policies of a develqpment corporation.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is for the UDCs to decide how to regenerate their areas. In doing so, they will have in mind the need to strike a balance between commercial interests and the needs of the local community.

  Housing (Consultations)
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in tackling the housing crisis in Britain, he will make it his policy to consult fully and regularly with local authorities.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  It is already my practice to do so.

  Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Wray
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest statistics for people in bed and breakfast accommodation in the United Kingdom, paid by public funds.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There are no overall figures of the number of people in bed and breakfast accommodation paid for by public funds. However, there were an estimated 11,300 households in Great Britain, who were being accommodated in bed and breakfast at the end of June 1987 by local authorities under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Acts. In almost all of these cases at least part of the costs will have been met from public funds.

  National Coal Board (Tenants)
  Mr. Hood
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what protection he will give to the tenants of National Coal Board houses once such houses are sold to private owners.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Tenants of British Coal who are transferred to private landlords will continue to have the full protection of rent, Iandlord and tenant and housing legislation. They will enjoy the same security of tenure, the
  439
  right to a registered rent, and continue to have protection against the harassment and illegal eviction. New landlords will have repairing obligations under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987. Existing tenants will continue to enjoy protection in respect of rents and security when our proposals for reform of the rent legislation are implemented.

  Storm Damage
  Mr. Warren
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans there are to give assistance to private householders to remove fallen trees following the recent hurricane.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Removal of fallen trees is financially a matter for the owners of those trees. My right hon. Friend has already issued advice to householders on tree removal and the case of damaged trees. The Task Force, Trees, of the Countryside Commission will be considering what further advice to offer.

  Mr. Blunkett
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's latest available estimate as to the cost to local authorities of making good storm damage consequent upon the gales of 15 and 16 October; what amount of grant will be lost to local authorities as a result of their paying up to a penny rate on repair; and how this sum breaks down between the individual affected authorities.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has asked local authorities to give initial estimates of the costs of dealing with the storm damage by Friday 30 October.

  Prudent local authorities will have budgeted for their likely level of grant after taking account of contingencies. They therefore should not suffer additional grant losses as a result of having to meet emergency-related costs up to the threshold of the Bellwin scheme.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what grounds he disagreed with the inspectors view that the advantage of retaining the main building of County Hall for local government activities was an overriding consideration.

  Mr. Chope
  The grounds are set out in the decision letter issued on 20 October, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigation are being pursued by his Department on the listed building implications for the development of County Hall as a hotel.

  Mr. Chope
  None. These are matters for the London residuary body, as the owners of County Hall.

  London City Airport
  Mr. Tony Banks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if any inquiries have been made in his Department for the use of London City airport by any aircraft other than the Dash-7.

  Mr. Chope
  No.

  Parkinson and Woolaway Houses
  Mr. Stern
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of Parkinson and Woolaway houses in private ownership he now expects to be repurchased by local authorities on the grounds that the cost of repair would exceed the value of the repaired house.

  Mrs. Roe
  Local authorities have reported some 800 Woolaway and 1,000 Parkinson dwellings in private ownership. It is not possible to forecast reliably the proportion likely to be repurchased by authorities under the housing defects legislation, but we would expect the majority to be repaired. We are currently considering whether the Act's rules concerning repurchase as against repair can be made more flexible.

  Brixham Harbour (Development)
  Dr. Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he chose not to call in the recent planning application for a housing development and marina at Brixham harbour, Devon; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  Because I considered that it did not meet the criteria for doing so, which are set out in my Department's circular 2/81.

  Peterborough Development Corporation
  Mr. Quentin
  Davies asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the date on which Peterborough development corporation is to be wound up.

  Mrs. Roe
  On 11 June 1986 my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Tracey) announced that 30 September 1988 had been set as the target wind up date for the corporation. Consultations under section 41 of the New Towns Act 1981 with Cambridgeshire county and Peterborough city councils have been undertaken, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have considered the responses received. Having taken these into account, my right hon. Friend confirms his intention to wind up Peterborough development corporation on 30 September 1988. The necessary order will be made next year.

  Local Government Act 1985
  Mr. Dicks
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the latest information returned by London boroughs and metropolitan districts under section 56 of the Local Government Act 1985 shows.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has today placed the information relating to September 1986, December 1986 and March 1987 in the Library of the House. The remaining information for June 1987, March 1988 and March 1989 will be placed in the Library when it becomes available.

  I announced in February that some 6,300 posts had been saved immediately on abolition. The residuary bodies employed nearly 4,500 staff in June 1986. They are making good progress towards the early completion of these tasks and their staff had fallen by 600 by March 1987.

  The information returned under section 56 shows that the number of staff engaged on functions inherited from the abolished councils rose by nearly 1,200 between June 1986 and March 1987.
  441
  The estimates include all staff reported as taken of by successor councils to discharge their inherited functions, whether as an immediate consequence of abolition or subsequently. It is evident that some successor councils have not taken full advantage of the opportunity created by abolition for the streamlining of services and the elimination of duplication. Such councils remain accountable to their electorates for failing to pass on to ratepayers the real benefits in cash savings and improved services which abolition has achieved.

  Barnacle Geese
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the removal of barnacle geese from the EEC protected birds list; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have not received any representations to remove the barnacle goose from the species listed on annex 1 to the Council directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds.

  SECURITY SERVICE: ALLEGATION BY MR. ALLASON
  SECURITY SERVICE: ALLEGATION BY MR. ALLASON
  VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: CONFERENCE PROPOSAL
  VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: CONFERENCE PROPOSAL
  VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG: RESETTLEMENT
  VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG: RESETTLEMENT
  BULGARIAN BONDS: REPURCHASE
  BULGARIAN BONDS: REPURCHASE
  RUSSIAN BONDS: SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS
  RUSSIAN BONDS: SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS
  PATENT OFFICE
  PATENT OFFICE
  TAXI LICENCES: DoT CIRCULAR 3/85
  TAXI LICENCES: DoT CIRCULAR 3/85