Written Answers of 12 April 1988

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mr. John T. Saxon
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Attorney-General if Her Majesty's Government plan to proceed against Mr. John T. Saxon, of Springfield, New Jersey, for alleged breach of duty of confidentiality to the Crown in respect of observations attributed to him as a former member of the British Security Service, in the recent biography of Klaus Fuchs, by Professor Robert Williams; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  No.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Passport Office, Birmingham
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give consideration to the provision of a passport issuing office in Birmingham.

  Mr. Renton
  We have no plans to do so.

  Sports (Fire Safety)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notices have been issued under sections 7(1), 9(1) and 23, respectively, of the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 since the Act came into force.

  Mr. John Patten
  Section 7 of the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 has not been brought into force. We have ascertained that between 1 January 1988, when section 9(1) came into force, and 31 March 15 notices prohibiting and 31 restricting use have been issued, under section 10 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971, by 12 tire authorities in England and Wales in respect of 25 buildings. For some of the buildings in multiple occupation more than one notice was served. Information about notices issued by local authorities under section 10 of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 as amended by section 23 of the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act is not collected centrally.

  Prisoners (Remission)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases of conviction on indictment he has recommended to Her Majesty the Queen(a) a free pardon, (b) remission of imprisonment, (c) remission of detention and (d) remission of time in the years 1986 and 1987.

  Mr. John Patten
  No free pardons were granted in 1986 or 1987 to any person convicted on indictment. In 1986, 94 persons and in 1987, 81 persons convicted at a Crown court were granted remission of sentences as follows :2

  1986

  1987

  Imprisonment

  79

  66

  Youth custody

  15

  15

  Fines

  —

  —

  Total

  94

  81

  ANC Representatives
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the murder of the representative of the African National Congress in France, he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the level of police protection he intends to provide for the African National Congress's representatives in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Leading members of the African National Congress were given further advice about their personal security by the police on 29 March. The police have also instituted other measures, but it would not be appropriate to disclose these publicly.

  Brockhill Remand Centre
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if consideration has been given to the recommendation in the Chief Inspector of Prisons report on the Brockhill remand centre to the effect that regular meetings be held between the governors of remand centres and prison department officials to identify common problems and solutions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Existing regional and national conferences should normally provide an adequate opportunity for discussion of matters common to particular classes of establishment. But we do not rule out the possibility at some future date of an ad hoc conference along the lines suggested by the chief inspector.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the context of his response to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons report on Brockhill remand centre, he will indicate(a) if routine monitoring of the allocation of prisoners from ethnic minorities to accommodation and work has been introduced; if disciplinary charges are recorded according to race; and if time has been allocated on the essential task list for the work of the race relations liaison officer and (b) what steps have been or are due to be taken to improve the state of accommodation and the poverty of the regime at Brockhill.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The position is as follows :(a) yes, except that the number of adjudications by race is monitored regularly (one week per month) but not continuously; and
  (b) considerable improvements have been made. Defective windows have been replaced and floor surfaces repaired; improvements to the kitchen and servery have been carried out and repairs to the activity centre, recess areas, and waiting accommodation for visitors completed. An additional association and activities room has been provided for D wing and day-time association has been increased for other wings. Visits have been extended for 15 minutes to up to two hours.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken in response to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' report on Brockhill remand centre, and in particular(a) what action is being

  3
  taken to reduce the proportion of prisoners who are unemployed and who spend 15 to 20 hours per day in their cells and (b) what plans exist to provide integral sanitation and to improve sanitary facilities on the landings.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The chief inspector made a total of 95 recommendations. Many of the deficiencies identified have been remedied. In particular, following the introduction of new working arrangements known as fresh start, the frequency of day-time association has been increased for inmates on all wings and an additional association and activities room has been provided for D wing. Those inmates not in employment are now offered education classes, on a roster basis. The length of visits has also been extended considerably. Remedial repairs have been carried out to existing sanitary facilities and a continuous programme of cleaning and repairs has been introduced. There are no plans to introduce integral sanitation in advance of the intended closure of the establishment in 1990 and its conversion to other use.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the context of his response to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' report on Brockhill remand centre he will indicate whether(a) prisoners now receive one kit change per week, (b) any remand prisoners are still sharing accommodation with convicted prisoners and (c) there are now pillows in all cells and fire retardant covers for all mattresses.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The position is as follows :

  (a) it is now the normal practice for kit to be changed twice a week;

  (b) no;

  (c) yes.

  Immigration
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration cases have been referred to the Minister of State responsible for immigration by right hon. and hon. Members for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Renton
  The available information relates to the number of immigration files created following representations by right hon. and hon. Members, and is as follows :

  Number

  1979

  10,395

  1980

  10,029

  1981

  8,945

  1982

  9,931

  1983

  11,456

  1984

  13,164

  1985

  16,024

  1986

  17,511

  1987

  11,842

  Notes:

  1.These figures include a number of letters dealing with general issues rather than individual cases.

  2.Representations made on behalf of a single family may be counted as more than one case where the immigration circumstances of more than one member of the family are under consideration.

  3.Further representations made after a reply has been sent are included separately in these figures.

  4.Representations received about the same case from more than one right hon. Member or hon. Member are counted separately.

  The figures include representations on all categories of immigration cases.
  4
  The great majority of these representations were handled by my office and that of my predecessors as Ministers of State.

  Entry Refusals
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of arrivals in the United Kingdom refused entry at the port of entry for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Renton
  The numbers of persons removed from the United Kingdom, after being refused entry at a port, for the years 1979 to 1986 are given in table 4·2 of the Home Office publication "Immigration Nationality and Passports—A Report on the Work of the Departments; October 1987" a copy of which is in the Library. The corresponding figure for 1987 was 19,319.

  Arsenal Football Club
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask 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 how many arrests there have been arising from incidents at Arsenal football ground since January 1987.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There have been 424 such arrests since January 1987.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask 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 total number of police deployed per match since September 1987 in the vicinity of Arsenal football ground.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The number of police officers on duty at football matches depends on the teams involved, and the police assessment of the likelihood of disorder. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that Arsenal has played 21 matches at Highbury since September 1987, and that the average number of police officers deployed per match was 332.

  Official Secrets Act (Police Officers)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Official Secrets Act so as to provide that police officers investigating alleged breaches of the law or of police regulations shall be authorised persons for the purposes of the Act.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are in the course of preparing proposals for the reform of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 and are not yet in a position to announce detailed conclusions.

  Michael Ryan (Shootings)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he received a full report of the shootings by Michael Ryan in Hungerford; whether he sought further information; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The chief constable's full report on the police handling of the Hungerford incident was received on 1 October 1987. My right hon. Friend did not ask for any further information. He did, however, arrange for Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary to discuss
  5
  some of the issues raised in the report with the chief constable and to identify any lessons which the police service as a whole might learn from the incident. Her Majesty's inspector's report is expected shortly.

  Recidivism
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he estimates to be the size of the recidivist prison population; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The readily available information shows the sentenced prison population analysed by the number of previous convictions (tables 3.11, 4.10, 5.10 of the latest issue of "Prison Statistics England and Wales", for 1986, Cm. 210, copies of which are in the Library). Table 8(a) provides the information also available on the proportion of prisoners who were reconvicted within two years of the discharge from their sentence.

  Rural Areas (Policing)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received concerning the policing of rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As I explained in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 21 January, at column 785, it is for chief officers of police to determine the most suitable methods of policing rural areas.

  Extradition (USA)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for extradition in respect of British citizens deserting from United States of America armed forces have been received from the United States Government in the past three years.

  Mr. John Patten
  Requests by the United States authorities for the return of deserters from the United States armed forces are dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Visiting Forces Act 1952. I understand that there have been three requests in the last three years in respect of persons with dual British and United States citizenship.

  North Wales Police
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the manpower levels of the North Wales police, in the light of the representations by the North Wales chief constable; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The North Wales police authority has applied for 40 additional police posts in 1988–89. The application is being considered, together with those from other police authorities, in the light of advice from Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recently published crime statistics in north Wales.
  6
  Mr. John Patten
  In 1987 the increase in recorded crime in north Wales was greater than in England and Wales as a whole, but the number of offences per 100,000 population was well below the national average. The increase in the clear-up rate from 32 to 43 per cent. is encouraging. We also welcome the above-average fall in domestic burglaries, and the increase in the number of these offences cleared up following a growth in neighbourhood watch and other crime prevention activities.

  Trespass and Illegal Occupation
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to bring trespass and illegal occupation of land and buildings, including squatting, entirely within the terms of the criminal law so as to enable land and home owners to gain more rapid repossession of their land, building and homes.

  Mr. John Patten [holding answer 24 March 1988]The criminal law already applies to various circumstances in which trespassers enter or occupy land or buildings.

  For example, it is an offence under the Criminal Law Act 1977 to use or threaten to use violence against persons or property to secure entry to premises against the opposition of a person present there, to refuse to leave residential premises having entered as a trespasser when required to do so by a displaced occupier or intended occupier, to have a weapon of offence having entered premises as a trespasser or to obstruct or resist an officer of a court enforcing a civil judgment or order for recovery of the premises. Section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986 gives the police powers to direct trespassers to leave land in certain circumstances, and it is an offence to disobey such a direction.

  We have no plans at present for further legislation in this area.

  Racing (Drug Misuse)
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has about the number of cases of drug misuse involving animals within the racing industry since 1979.

  (2) if he will introduce legislation to make it a criminal offence to misuse restricted drugs, particularly steroids, in the horse and dog racing industries; and if he will make a statement.

  (3) if he has received any request for funds from the horse and dog racing industries to help combat the misuse of drugs on either race horses or dogs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 January, 1988, c. 564]If drugs are used on racing animals, in appropriate circumstances conspiracy to defraud could be charged. The Law Commission, in its working paper number 104, has asked for views on whether this law should be reformed and, in particular, whether gambling swindles involving drugs on animals should be covered by statutory offences. My right hon. Friend will consider its advice in due course. We do not have occasion to collect information about the incidence of positive tests for drugs in horses and dogs which are raced. But I understand such information is made available, respectively by the Jockey Club in its weekly "Calendar" and annual report, and by
  7
  the British Greyhound Racing Board in its fortnightly "Calendar." We have received no request to contribute to the relevant expenditure by the industries.

PRIME MINISTER

  Fiji
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Prime Minister on what basis she met the Head of Government of the regime in Fiji; what subjects were discussed at the meeting; what agreements were reached in relation to the resumption of training of Fijian military personnel in the United Kingdom and the selection of participants for such training; what assurances she was given regarding the return to elected conventional Government in Fiji; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I met the Prime Minister of Fiji on 29 March for talks on all aspects of our relations. He told me of his efforts to return Fiji to parliamentary democracy and constitutional rule. These have the full support of Her Majesty's Government. We have offered to increase our technical assistance programme in Fiji. On military training, we shall resume the acceptance of a number of trainee officers from Fiji at staff colleges and other training establishments in the United Kingdom. Candidates will be selected by Fiji and approved by us in the normal way.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions since 1979 she has met the elected Head of Government of Fiji at 10 Downing street.

  The Prime Minister
  I met the Prime Minister of Fiji at 10 Downing street on 1 April 1981, 27 April 1983 and 29 March 1988.

  Illegal Regimes
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Prime Minister when she last met a Head of Government from an illegal regime.

  The Prime Minister
  The British Government recognise states, not Governments.

  Turkey (Visit)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister whom she plans to meet during her visit to Turkey.

  The Prime Minister
  I visited Turkey between 6 and 8 April. I had talks with President Evren, Prime Minister Ozal and the Leader of the Opposition, Professor Inonu, and met a large number of others active in public life.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers from the Foreign Office accompanied her on her recent official visit to Turkey.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Chile (Ministerial Statement)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Prime Minister if the statements made to the Chilean press by the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food concerning the conduct of the plebiscite, and expressing support by the United Kingdom, represent the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

  The Prime Minister
  During his visit to Chile in January my right hon. Friend the Minister of State made it clear,8
  both in public and private discussions, that the British Government remained concerned about human rights violations in Chile and wanted that country to return peacefully to its democratic tradition. He also met the Cardinal Archbishop and other Church leaders active in the field of human rights as well as a widely representative group of opposition leaders. He indicated that it was not for the British Government to comment on the rectitude or otherwise of a plebiscite.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to improve the co-ordination of the Government's information effort on the subject of schools opting out of local authority control in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The Government's position is clear. There are no plans to allow Scottish schools to opt out of education authority control in the School Boards (Scotland) Bill which is currently before Parliament. For the future, provision for opting out in Scotland remains a possibility.

  Regional Editors (Reception)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost per editor of the reception for editors of regional daily newspapers at 10 Downing street in the evening of 21 March; and what was its purpose.

  The Prime Minister
  The cost per person was £7·20. The purpose of the reception was to meet the editors of regional daily newspapers.

  British Citizenship Applications
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister if, in the light of complaints about the processing of applications to register for British citizenship, she will dismiss the Minister of State, Home Office, the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton).

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Engagements
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 April.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 April.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 April.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 April.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 April.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 April.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 April.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 April.

  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 April.
  9
  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I was also present at Windsor for the arrival of His Majesty The King of Norway. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I will be attending a state banquet in honour of His Majesty the King of Norway.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Sittings of the House
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will seek to amend Standing Order No. 10 to extend to all right. hon. and hon. Members the current power of a Minister to move that a sitting be suspended and be resumed at 10 am the next day.

  Mr. Wakeham
  No.

  Select Committee on Procedure
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what representations he has received seeking an early debate on each of the outstanding reports of the Procedure Committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  A number of hon. Members have made representations to me. Motions relating to two of the outstanding recommendations of the Procedure Committee are now on the Order Paper. Discussions are continuing through the usual channels about the most appropriate way of handling the main body of the Committee's other recommendations.

  "Official Report" (Parliamentary Questions)
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Lord President of the Council why the issue of the Official Report, number 125 of volume 130, dated 29 March did not contain all the written answers to parliamentary questions; and when he expects each daily issue to be complete up to 10.30 pm with debates and answers to questions.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The volume of copy for written answers received on 28 and 29 March 1988 was considerably above the norm. It also included some intricate tabular matter which further extended production time scales. The carry over of written answers from the night of 28 March for inclusion in the issue referred to was such that the available capacity for printing written answers received on 29 March was severely reduced. It was, therefore, necessary to publish the remaining written answers in subsequent issues of the Official Report.

  Hansard Press regularly incorporates in the daily Official Report all proceedings of debates up to the cut-off time of 10.30 pm or even later. Written answers are generally produced the same night or within 24 hours, as agreed with the Editor.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Mozambique
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which the economic policies of Mozambique have responded to the World Bank's report of June 1985 on the Mozambican economy.
  10
  Mr. Chris Patten
  In the aftermath of the World Bank's. report of June 1985 the Mozambican Government held extensive consultations with the bank and the International Monetary Fund on economic policy. They then embarked on a radical programme of liberalisation and economic reform. This covered, inter alia, agricultural prices, controls on the prices of other goods and services, freedom to trade, the exchange rate and monetary and fiscal restraint. There have now been further steps to adjust the exchange rate, increase producer prices, reduce the bureaucracy, improve financial management in government and put enterprises and the banks on a more commercial footing. Foreign investment is welcomed.

  The economy of Mozambique has, within the limits imposed by constant guerrilla warfare, dislocation of communications and drought, responded positively to these measures. GNP growth in 1987 is estimated at 3 to 4 per cent., after years of stagnant or falling income.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the extent to which Mozambique has benefited from joining the third Lomè convention (1984) and her improved access to European Community markets.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Over the five years to 1990 Mozambique will get 145 million ecu (about £100 million) in planned aid from the European development fund, in addition to benefiting from SADCC and other regional projects. Mozambique is also eligible for lending by the European Investment Bank, finance under the STABEX scheme, aid to heavily indebted poor ACP countries and emergency aid. Last year Mozambique received EDF emergency aid worth about £4 million.

  Mozambique has not so far benefited significantly from the trade arrangements of the Lomè convention, but under it her industrial products and the great majority of her agricultural products can enter the Community free of tariff or other restrictions.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement, on the role of the Southern Africa development co-ordination conference as an agency for diminishing Mozambique's economic dependence on the Republic of South Africa.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference aims to enhance the economic prospects of its member states, and to give them greater freedom of choice in their economic relationships, by developing sectors of mutual economic benefit. The rehabilitation of transport routes through Mozambique under the auspices of SADCC will contribute to the country's development both through the foreign exchange they generate and indirectly through the establishment of ancillary economic activity. SADCC also aims to diversity the sources of goods and services in the region, to provide common research services in the natural resources sector and to encourage co-operation in attracting investment and tourism from outside the region. Mozambique should benefit from these activities as they develop.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list United Kingdom contributions to Mozambican development through national, Commonwealth and European Community action since 1983.
  11
  Mr. Chris Patten
  Gross bilateral aid and the estimated British share of European Community aid to Mozambique since 1983 have been as follows :

  £'000

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Gross bilateral aid

  1,805

  4,182

  8,366

  7,424

  Estimated UK share of EC aid

  2,280

  3,690

  4,560

  5,090

  Figures for 1987 are not yet available

  In addition, the United Kingdom's share of expenditure from the Commonwealth special fund for Mozambique set up in 1976 was £17,637 in the year ending 30 June 1983, and £2,619 in the year ending 30 June 1984.

  Saharawi Refugees
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now consider the provision of humanitarian aid to Saharawi refugees through the mediation of British non-governmental organisations.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 14 July 1987, at column 431.

  We have no current requests for help from nongovernmental organisations, but are maintaining our assistance through existing multilateral channels.

  UNICEF
  Sir Bernard Braine
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office whether he will make a contribution towards the UNICEF programme for child immunisation and water supplies in Lebanon; and what additional support he is able to give to other UNICEF programmes for mother and child care elsewhere.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I recently approved a grant of £1·093 million for UNICEF to help mothers and children in extremely difficult circumstances in the Lebanon. The money will be used for immunisation, essential drugs, water supply and education.

  I also made grants to UNICEF programmes in the following countries :
  Angola—£820,000 for support of water supply and sanitation, control of diarrhoeal diseases, growth monitoring and nutrition.
  Zambia—£820,000 to support the general child survival and development programme.
  Sudan— £1·640 million to provide support for nutritional surveillance, diarrhoeal diseases control, family health care, nutrition and children in difficult circumstances.
  Belize—£60,000 to cover the cost of the country's five year national plan for integrated rural development to develop a model and infrastructure for channelling Government and donor funds and technical support.

  Including these grants the total British Government contribution to UNICEF in the financial year 987–88 was £15.223 million.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Education Reform
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in relation to the Sheffield 12
  education authority area, how many responses he has received in support of the proposals contained in the Education Reform Bill from that area; and how many of these responses express concern or opposition to the proposals.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received representations from some 30 organisations in the Sheffield area and a substantial number from individual parents and teachers. Many of the responses commented in detail on our proposals and cannot be categorised in the form requested by the hon. Member. Copies of all responses, except those from individuals, are available in the Library of the House.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the National Union of Students concerning student loans.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Student Support Review Group has received written and oral evidence from the National Union of Students, and I have had informal discussions with representatives of the union about the review and the possibility of a loans scheme. Several hon. Members have also drawn my attention to a letter from the president of the NUS about student loans which they received last month.

  Universities and Polytechnics
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of his policy that universities and polytechnics should enjoy parity of esteem, he will take steps to ensure that they enjoy similar staffing levels.

  Mr. Jackson
  Levels of staffing are matters for individual universities and polytechnics to decide having regard to the teaching and research they aim to provide and to available resources.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider allowing polytechnics to be renamed polytechnic universities to underline their parity with universities.

  Mr. Jackson
  Subject to the passage of the Education Reform Bill, it will fall to my right hon. Friend to reestablish the polytechnics and colleges now maintained by local education authorities under names to be given in a statutory order. He is not persuaded of the merit of the title "polytechnic university".

  GCSE
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost of introducing the general certificate of secondary education both in aggregate and per capita terms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government have made available some £250 million for the introduction of GCSE in England over the three financial years 1986–87 to 1988–89, including £40 million expenditure on GCSE-related in-service training. This is equivalent to some £145 per pupil in each of the first three GCSE cohorts.

  Mentally Handicapped Children
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide information on the numbers of mentally handicapped children leaving ESN(S) schools for each year from 1978–79 to 1986–87, and on the expected numbers leaving in each of the five years from 1987–88

  Mr. Dunn
  The information is not available. Pupils in special schools are not included in the Department's annual sample survey of school leavers. Moreover, since 1983 pupils in England and Wales have not been classified in accordance with categories of handicap. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible for special education in that area.

  Stoke (School Reorganisation)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the reasons for the delay in the decision on Stoke-on-Trent school reorganisation in Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend approved on 5 April Staffordshire's proposals to cease to maintain Burnwood and Chell high schools in Stoke-on-Trent and establish a new secondary school in the Chell premises, and to cease to maintain Chell and Fegg Hayes primary schools and establish a new primary school at Fegg Hayes. I am meeting representatives of the authority on 13 April regarding its proposals to cease to maintain Brookhouse and Willfield high schools and establish a new secondary school at Brookhouse and it is hoped that a decision will be announced very soon. The other proposals to rationalise provision in Stoke-on-Trent attracted no statutory objections and the LEA has therefore determined to implement them.

  Student Loans
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates he has made of the cost of the creation and administration of a student loans scheme.

  School closures

  Approved

  Rejected

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary

  Total

  Primary

  Secondary

  Total

  1980

  83

  27

  110

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1981

  189

  36

  225

  4

  6

  10

  1982

  175

  72

  247

  9

  17

  26

  1983

  225

  70

  295

  15

  24

  39

  1984

  203

  56

  259

  13

  7

  20

  1985

  148

  61

  209

  2

  12

  14

  1986

  81

  53

  134

  3

  17

  20

  1987

  88

  43

  131

  11

  10

  21

  Totals

  1,192

  418

  1,610

  57

  93

  150

  n/a—Not available.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of the proposed abolition of the Inner London education authority, he will obtain and publish the views of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education concerning future optimum arrangements for the educational facilities within that area, in respect of
  14
  Mr. Jackson
  The costs would depend on the nature of the scheme and the arrangements for its administration. We are examining various models.

  Schools (Closures and Mergers)
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of local education authority-supported primary and secondary schools which have submitted proposals for school closures or mergers in each year under the provisions of the Education Act 1980; how many of these schools actually closed or merged; how many of these schools were not closed or merged; what was the average length of time from the submission of the proposal for closure or merger until he either approved, modified, or rejected the proposals; what was the shortest period and what was the longest period; and how many proposals have not yet received a reply.

  Mr. Dunn
  In the period from 1980 to 1987, 1,192 primary and 418 secondary schools were approved for closure as a result of proposals published by local education authorities under section 12 of the Education Act 1980 which were either approved by my right hon. Friend or his predecessors or determined by the local education authorities. In the same period my right hon. Friend or his predecessors rejected proposals which would have resulted in the closure of a further 57 primary and 93 secondary schools. Details are given in the table. Local education authorities have a statutory duty to implement all such proposals which have been approved or determined.

  Information on the average time taken to reach decisions on school closure proposals is not available in the form requested. In 1987 the average time taken to decide all proposals under sections 12 to 15 of the Education Act 1980 which came before my right hon. Friend was 7·1 months. My right hon. Friend is currently considering 84 proposals by local education authorities to cease to maintain schools.

  (a) provision for statemented pupils in special schools, (d) provision for statemented children in non-special schools, (c) provision and administration of facilities for pupils with learning difficulties, (d) use of boarding establishments of all types which serve the needs of children from more than one London borough, (e) the

  15
  use, funding and administration of all premises currently engaged in purchasing, preparation and holding of learning materials, books and other equipment, or their maintenance and distribution, and (f) a general and special Inspectorate of Schools.

  Mr. Dunn
  The Department will be issuing draft guidance on the preparation of development plans shortly. This will provide a basis for discussion with the inner London councils of subjects such as those mentioned by the hon. Member. Members of Her Majesty's inspectorate will be closely involved in these discussions.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to obtain and publish the views of(a) the Sports Council, (b) the Greater London and South Eastern Sports Council, and (c) governing bodies or national representative bodies of all sports and recreational facilities presently available within the Inner London education authority area, on the retention of the standards and range of facilities for all such activities for school pupils and others after the proposed abolition of the Inner London education authority.

  Mr. Dunn
  This is one of the subjects the Department will wish to discuss with the inner London councils over the coming months as the councils draw up their development plans. Any representations by organisations such as those mentioned by the hon. Member would of course be taken into account in those discussions.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of the proposed abolition of the Inner London education authority, he will seek to obtain and publish the views, in respect of the teaching, appreciation of, and opportunities for, performance of music, together with supply of instruments and specialist advice relating thereto, of(a) the boards or presidents of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music, respectively, (b) the Council for Music Education and Training, (c) Her Majesty's Service Inspectors of Music in Schools and (d) the Master of the Queen's Music, as to the best means of retaining, or improving, the standards achieved and opportunities currently available.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department will seek to discuss with the inner London councils and others with an interest in this subject the best arrangements for securing high quality music provision in inner London. Any representations by organisations and individuals such as those mentioned by the hon. Member would of course be taken into account in those discussions.

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the per capita spending on primary and secondary education in each local education authority.

  Mr. Dunn
  The latest information available on actual expenditure is for the financial year 1986–87. The net institutional expenditure per pupil in primary and secondary schools in each local education authority is set out in the table. The figures include the cost of salaries and wages, premises and certain supplies and services. They do not include the cost of school meals, central administration and inspection, debt charges and revenue contributions to capital outlay.
  16

  Expenditure per pupil 1986–87

  LEA

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  £

  £

  Barking

  1,010

  1,470

  Barnet

  1,060

  1,510

  Bexley

  915

  1,370

  Brent

  1,105

  1,805

  Bromley

  925

  1,420

  Croydon

  935

  1,535

  Ealing

  1,135

  1,650

  Enfield

  890

  1,380

  Haringey1

  n/a

  n/a

  Harrow

  1,020

  1,600

  Havering

  905

  1,510

  Hillingdon

  1,000

  1,520

  Hounslow1

  n/a

  n/a

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  915

  1,530

  Merton

  950

  1,325

  Newham1

  n/a

  n/a

  Redbridge

  935

  1,465

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,000

  1,330

  Sutton

  855

  1,300

  Waltham Forest

  1,095

  1,915

  ILEA

  1,465

  2,350

  Birmingham

  835

  1,345

  Coventry

  910

  1,486

  Dudley

  830

  1,350

  Sand well

  960

  1,410

  Solihull

  845

  1,280

  Walsall

  970

  1,430

  Wolverhampton

  985

  1,395

  Knowsley

  960

  1,515

  Liverpool

  980

  1,445

  St. Helens

  860

  1,340

  Sefton

  800

  1,275

  Wirral

  815

  1,280

  Bolton

  780

  1,230

  Bury

  795

  1,340

  Manchester

  1,020

  1,660

  Oldham

  870

  1,255

  Rochdale

  850

  1,460

  Salford

  840

  1,385

  Stockport

  805

  1,270

  Tameside

  910

  1,325

  Trafford

  855

  1,315

  Wigan

  860

  1,460

  Barnsley

  925

  1,325

  Doncaster

  980

  1,325

  Rotherham

  890

  1,230

  Sheffield

  1,060

  1,490

  Bradford

  945

  1,235

  Calderdale

  895

  1,330

  Kirklees

  875

  1,250

  Leeds

  905

  1,230

  Wakefield

  955

  1,290

  Gateshead

  980

  1,360

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1,020

  1,530

  North Tyneside

  995

  1,455

  South Tyneside

  965

  1,430

  Sunderland

  85

  1,305

  Avon

  850

  1,310

  Bedfordshire

  875

  1,250

  Berkshire

  845

  1,280

  Buckinghamshire

  845

  1,320

  Cambridgeshire

  815

  1,205

  Cheshire

  810

  1,235

  Cleveland

  895

  1,365

  Cornwall

  795

  1,175

  Cumbria

  915

  1,315

  Derbyshire

  875

  1,305

  Devon

  800

  1,225

  Dorset

  870

  1,190

  Durham

  920

  1,225

  East Sussex

  825

  1,235

  Essex

  820

  1,250

  Gloucestershire

  835

  1,260

  Hampshire

  825

  1,220

  17

  LEA

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  £

  £

  Hereford and Worcester

  815

  1,180

  Hertfordshire

  870

  1,350

  Humberside

  920

  1,270

  Isle of Wight

  785

  1,150

  Kent

  760

  1,145

  Lancashire

  780

  1,255

  Leicestershire

  885

  1,390

  Lincolnshire

  795

  1,185

  Norfolk

  850

  1,230

  North Yorkshire

  850

  1,240

  Northamptonshire

  815

  1,250

  Northumberland

  840

  1,230

  Nottinghamshire

  935

  1,365

  Oxfordshire

  905

  1,350

  Shropshire

  850

  1,285

  Somerset

  780

  1,195

  Staffordshire

  880

  1,255

  Suffolk

  830

  1,165

  Surrey

  820

  1,260

  Warwickshire

  845

  1,220

  West Sussex

  785

  1,220

  Wiltshire

  850

  1,230

  England

  895

  1,340

  1Expenditure returns have not been submitted by LEAs thus marked.

  School Trips
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, when he receives the report from the Berkshire education committee on the deaths of four boys from Altwood school, Maidenhead, he will make it his policy to draw up guidelines defining the responsibilities at all times of teachers or those in charge of authorised school trips, both at home and abroad.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My Department expects shortly to receive a preliminary report on the accident from the Berkshire LEA and this will receive very careful consideration.

  Guidance from the Department on safety aspects of school visits is provided in the booklet "Safety in Outdoor Pursuits". A revised version of this is in preparation and any lessons emerging from the tragedy in Austria will be taken into account in this.

  The responsibilities for safety matters, both statutory and common law, of local authorities, schools and teachers were re-emphasised in a document the Department circulated last year on first aid.

  Higher Education (Contingency Reserves)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether institutions in the new polytechnics and colleges sector will be able to hold contingency reserves and carry over unspent balances from one financial year to the next.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Subject to the passage of the Education Reform Bill, the institutions in the new sector will be able to earn income from a variety of sources, to maintain balances in their accounts and to carry balances forward from year to year, subject to the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council's general oversight of the level of balances.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information is available regarding the level of subsidy or grant aid available from the relevant Government to those;(a) European shipbuilders in each EC country, (b) far east shipbuilders and (c) Brazilian shipbuilders who are perceived to be the main competitors of United Kingdom shipbuilders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  There is no direct support to shipbuilders in Japan or South Korea. I shall write to the hon. Member about Brazil in the light of inquiries now in hand.

  All assistance to the shipbuilding industry within the EEC has to conform with the framework established by the Council directive of 26 January 1987 on aid to shipbuilding (87/167/EEC) (the sixth directive) which came into effect on 1 January 1987 and will last to 31 December 1990. This directive ensures that both direct and indirect aids are taken into account and, in addition, establishes a ceiling on aid which is based on the monitored gap between the costs of the most efficient European shipbuilders and the prices quoted by the far east market leaders. The ceiling on aid in 1988 has again been set at 28 per cent. of the cost of building a ship. Member states wishing to establish support schemes for their shipping industries have to submit their proposals for approval to the EC Commission before putting them into effect. The following countries have had their schemes approved:

  The United Kingdom

  1.

  (a) Small merchant ships

  (i) A maximum of 20 per cent. of cost for ships cosing less that £10 million reducing by three quarters of one percentage point for each £1 million reduction in the cost of build below £10 million;

  (ii) Shipbuilders' relief of 2 per cent. of contract price.

  (b) A maximum of 28 per cent. of cost, including shipbuilders' relief, for vessels costing more than £10 million.

  2. Credit terms, for both home and export orders, conforming with the OECD understanding on export credits for ships (ie eight and a half year loans at 7·5 per cent. interest per annum covering 80 per cent. of contract price).

  3. Loss of compensation in public sector yards.

  4. Regional development grants.

  Denmark

  1. A home credit scheme allowing for 14-year loans (four-year grace period) at 8 per cent. interest covering 80 per cent. of contract price.

  2. Alternatively an aid scheme for ship owners offering, until the end of 1988, for deliveries at latest by end 1990, credit facilities for 80 per cent. of contract price running for 14 years (four-year grace period) at either 2·5 per cent. or 4 per Cent. per annum combined with an inflation guarantee linked to the net consumer index beyond 3 per cent. per annum (for 2·5 per cent. bonds) or beyond 1·5 per cent. (for 4 per cent. bonds).

  3. State guarantee free of charge to cover second mortgages, typically 30 per cent. of contract price, for small cargo vessels.

  4. Specific tax concessions concerning the use of capital from tax relief funds for investment in shipbuilding or conversion for ships.

  5. Specific tax concessions provided for accelerated advance depreciation at 50 per cent. for the two-year period 1987 to 1988 by investment of ships against 30 per cent. for investments in other capital goods.

  19

  6. Exchange risk guarantee at 0-5 per cent. per annum for credit granted in foreign currencies.

  Federal Republic of Germany

  1. Grants to shipowners of up to 12·5 per cent. of procurement costs for new building and up to 20 per cent. of cost for conversions.

  2. Tax concessions in the form of accelerated depreciation.

  3. Home credit and export credit schemes in accordance with the OECD understanding on export credits for ships.

  4. Guarantees for new building and conversions for second mortgages on ships under construction.

  5. Competition aid in the form of grants of up to 20 per cent. of contract value to meet aided competition from other member states and third countries.

  Exporters (Sterling Exchange Rate)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what advice his Department is giving to export industries regarding the level of sterling.

  Mr. Atkins
  As with other market conditions, the Department can provide factual information but industry must form its own view of future developments. The Department also offers industry a range of practical assistance through the enterprise initiatives to help improve performance in both home and overseas markets.

  Data (Accuracy)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will make a statement on the failure of the sponsorship and assistance management information systems as uncovered by the National Audit Office; and what plans his Department has to remedy the loss of data through its inaccuracies on the reports of regional grants;

  (2) what was the total amount of pounds sterling in real terms wasted through the inaccuracies and poor quality control of the sponsorship and assistance management information systems, as uncovered by the National Audit Office;

  (3) what steps he will take to improve the accuracy of data which have been found to be deficient by the National Audit Office.

  Mr. Butcher
  The National Audit Office report on "Arrangements for Regional Industrial Incentives" (report no. 346) says (para 4·6) that the sponsorship and assistance management information systems was less useful for monitoring or evaluation than it might be because :

  (a) the expected timing of jobs to be created in projects approval for regional development grants was not stated; and

  (b) there were minor inaccuracies in 34 out of 80 cases examined, while total payments as recorded on SAMIS could not be reconciled with the Department's financial management information system: hence data were not wholly reliable.

  Concerning (a) the Department does not consider that the absence of information on the forecast timing of jobs to be created is a serious deficiency. Grant is only paid once jobs have actually been created, and data on actual job creation are available from payments records; moreover most projects are completed within two years.

  Concerning (b) the Department has accepted the need to improve the accuracy of data held on SAM IS. Officials have been instructed to update the entries for which they are responsible and to enter data promptly in future. A systematic programme of "data cleaning" to remove inaccuracies was instituted last year. Between September 1987 and February 1988 the identified error rate was halved. There has also been a substantial reduction in
  20
  discrepancies between SAMIS and FINMIS data on payments of regional selective assistance. The position on RDG payments is less good but this is the result of the increase in case load resulting from the Government's decision to terminate the scheme following a period of notice. The Department will continue its efforts to improve data quality. The NAO's reference to "minor inaccuracies" should however be seen in the context that each case may contain several hundred data items.

  There is no reason to think that any money has been lost as a result of the deficiencies in SAMIS noted by the NAO: the NAO report itself does not suggest that losses could have resulted from these weaknesses.

  Columbus Space Platform Programme
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received asking him to reconsider his decision not to contribute to the European Space Agency's Columbus space platform programme.

  Mr. Atkins
  Since 10 February, when my right hon. and learned Friend announced that the United Kingdom would not be joining the Columbus programme in the form then proposed, we have received representations on the subject from hon. and right hon. Members, interested parties and members of the public. In the meantime the European Space Agency has been re-assessing with NASA the polar platform requirement, and significant modifications to the target configuration are likely to result. Against the background of these developments, we are reconsidering our position in consultation with ESA, United Kingdom industry and users.

  Motor Cycles and Bicycles
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what was the total output of motor cycles, the percentage exported and the proportion of the domestic market taken by imports in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) West Germany, (c) Italy, and (d) Japan and (e) France in 1958, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and in each year from 1979 to 1987;

  (2) what was the total output of bicycles, the percentage exported and the proportion of the domestic market taken by imports in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) West Germany, (c) Italy, (d) Japan and (e) France, in 1958, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and in each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Atkins
  For the United Kingdom and for years from 1975 onwards I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 29 February 1988 in the Official Report columns 412-13 The information available for earlier years is shown in the table. Information on West Germany, Italy, Japan and France could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  £ million

  1965

  1970

  Motor Cycles

  Sales by United Kingdom manufacturers

  1·7

  1·6

  Exports

  8·3

  15·6

  Imports

  4·4

  4·4

  Bicycles

  Sales by United Kingdom manufacturers

  12·6

  17·4

  21

  1965

  1970

  Exports

  8·9

  10·6

  Imports

  —

  0·4

  Airbus
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will investigate whether the French and German Governments are giving financial assistance to equipment subcontractors bidding for work on the A330 and A340 Airbus projects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  I understand that financial support may be made available to French and German equipment companies by the Governments in those countries. It is too early to be more specific since the equipments for the A330 and A340 have not yet been selected.

  Launch Aid
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list grants made under the relevant legislation to United Kingdom equipment suppliers seeking launch aid; what applications are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  No launch aid has been provided to equipment suppliers under section 1 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. An approach from the Dowty Group has been made, seeking launch aid to assist its bid for work on the A330'340 Airbus programme. It has been the Department's policy to provide launch aid only to airframe and aeroengine manufacturers, and while Dowty is free to submit a formal application, the Department has not been persuaded, by the arguments that have been made, to depart from this policy.

  Air Combat Manouevring System Platforms
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consultations there have been between his Department and British Aerospace as regards the construction of air combat manouevring system platforms in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  There have been no such consultations.

  EC Single Market
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether in the light of the Cecchini report published by the European Commission on 31 March, relating to the gains for the European Community as a whole from achieving the single market in 1992, he will take steps to assess the relative economic gains for the United Kingdom within this total, and to publish his conclusions.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Community member states have committed themselves to completing the single market by 1992 and it will provide major opportunities for the Community as a whole. The initial results of the recent study by the European Commission appear to confirm the potential benefits. We shall, of course, analyse carefully the findings of the full report when it is published, but we have no plans to commission any formal studies. The extent of the relative economic gains for the United Kingdom will depend crucially on how business responds to the opportunities that will arise.

  Footwear
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the number of pairs and the value of imports of footwear from Taiwan for the last 12 quarters for which figures are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is given in the following table:

  United Kingdom imports of footwear from Taiwan 1985–87

  Pairs in million

  Value £ million

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1st quarter

  Number of pairs

  8·5

  7·1

  7·8

  Value

  £22·0

  £13·3

  £22·8

  2nd quarter

  Number of pairs

  4·2

  4·1

  7·4

  Value

  £15·7

  £13·3

  £23·9

  3rd quarter

  Number of pairs

  3·7

  4·6

  6·6

  Value

  £11·3

  £13·4

  £24·7

  4th quarter

  Number of pairs

  2·4

  4·0

  4·9

  Value

  £6·8

  £13·9

  £16·4

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Notes:

  i. Footwear defined as SITC R2 Division 85.

  ii. Imports valued cif; Country of origin (COO basis).

  iii. All figures provisional.

  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has recently received on footwear imports from Taiwan; and if he intends to take any action in response to such imports.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have received representatives of the industry recently to discuss their concern about footwear imports from Taiwan. The industry is currently drawing together the facts in order that we can consider what action, if any, would be appropriate.

  Yorkshire and Humberside
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received any response from the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Association to the recent White Paper from his Department; what action he intends to take to assist the Yorkshire and Humberside region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  A copy of a paper by the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Association, "Implications of the current Department of Trade and Industry White Paper for Yorkshire and Humberside", was sent to me last week.

  Firms in the Yorkshire and Humberside region can benefit from assistance offered under the enterprise initiative, which includes support for consultancy in the areas of design, marketing, quality, manufacturing technology, business planning and business information systems (available at a higher rate in assisted areas and urban programme areas), together with support for exports, research and technology and business education.

  In the assisted areas of the region regional selective assistance is also available to support projects which would not otherwise go ahead. In development areas small firms (with fewer than 25 employees) are eligible for regional enterprise grants for investment and innovation.

  Credit Cards (Report)
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to publish its report on the operations of Access and Barclaycard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is due to submit its report on the supply of credit card services in the United Kingdom to my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State by 26 May 1989.

  Consumer Credit Register
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce legislation to establish a national consumer credit register; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  I welcome current moves by some lending organisations to increase the effectiveness of the role played by the existing credit reference agencies by providing them with full and comprehensive information. The availability of such information should help to ensure responsible lending and minimise consumer over-indebtedness. I have no plans to introduce legislation to establish a national consumer credit register.

  Telecommunications (Competition)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he is considering to introduce further competition into United Kingdom based telecommunications following the expiry of the British Telecom/Mercury duopoly in November 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Government remain committed to the duopoly policy in telecommunications which was announced in November 1983. The duopoly is not due to be reviewed until at least November 1990 and it would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome at this stage.

  North Peckham Task Force
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) when the north Peckham task force was first approached for assistance in respect of a co-operative shop on the Gloucester grove estate;

  (2) what ministerial involvement there was in the consideration of the application to the north Peckham task force for funds for a co-operative shop on the Gloucester grove estate.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have been closedly involved in the progress of the proposal to establish a co-operative shop on the Gloucester grove estate since the north Peckham task force was first approached formally by the Gloucester grove co-operative in August 1986 for a £500 grant to carry out market research to determine the feasibility of establishing such a shop. I approved this grant on 1 September 1986. Following the completion of the feasibility study and the decision to locate the shop in part of derelict garages at Winchcombe court, I approved a further grant of £86,000 on 23 March 1987 to pay for conversion costs, together with a grant of £1,200 to pay for drawing up a business plan and temporary office costs. The grant of £86,000 for conversion was subject to Southwark council agreeing to fund revenue costs initially.
  24
  Despite many attempts by the task force to obtain the council's agreement it was not until February this year that the council agreed to make a grant of £20,000 to the cooperative for revenue costs.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the annual pay of the north Peckham task force leader Daniel Levy.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The leader of the north Peckham task force is a fee-paid consultant. It is not the practice to disclose the value of individual contracts between my Department and its consultants and advisers in order to preserve commercial confidentiality.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total annual cost of the north Peckham task force, including travel, office, furniture, publicity and staff and including an estimate of the cost of administrative work carried out at his Department in respect of the task force, and the amount paid to outside organisations to monitor its work.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The administrative cost of the north Peckham task force during 1987–88 was around £125,000. It is not possible to estimate the cost of work carried out exclusively on behalf of the north Peckham task force by the headquarters unit, which is responsible among other matters for the operation of the Government's task forces. It is not the practice to disclose the value of individual contracts between the Department and outside consultants and advisers in order to protect commercial confidentiality.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the cost to the north Peckham task force of(a) the local link leaflet, and how many were produced and distributed, (b) the buffet lunch on the open day on 1 February and (c) any other costs of the open day on 1 February.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The information requested is as follows:

  £

  (a)

  Design, printing and distribution of 10,000 local link leaflets

  2,678

  (b)

  Buffet available throughout open day on 1 February 1988

  1,906

  (c)

  (i) Invitations for open day

  62

  (ii) Fees for plans and display in connection with the Spike community association's presentation of proposals for developing managed workspace in north Peckham

  200

  Departmental Television Advertisement Campaign
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the cost of his Department's current television advertisement campaign.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The cost of the Department's enterprise initiative television advertising campaign, which ended on 27 March 1988, was £5·6 million.

  Poppy Products and Derivatives
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from which countries Britain purchased poppy products or poppy derivatives, by amount, for each of the last 10 years.
  25
  Mr. Alan Clark
  These products are not separately identified in the overseas trade statistics.

  EC Mergers Directive
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the Council of Ministers in the European Community to discuss and reach decisions on the proposed European Economic Community mergers directive: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  A progress report on the draft EC regulation on the control of concentrations "merger control" regulation may he made for a meeting of the Council of Ministers in June this year. At the meeting of the Internal Market Council on 30 November 1987, when this proposal was last discussed at Council level, I reserved the United Kingdom's position on the principle of such a regulation, but said that Her Majesty's Government would continue to participate constructively in discussions. A number of working level discussions have since taken place, but the timing of any decision remains uncertain.

  Sub-Post Office, Southchurch Road, Southend-on-Sea
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in the light of the hardship caused to customers by the temporary closure of the sub-post office at the Strand, Southchurch road, Southend-on-Sea, he will take steps to ensure that the Post Office be obliged to limit the period of time for which sub-post offices may be closed temporarily.

  Mr. Butcher
  This is an operational responsibility of the Post Office Board. I have drawn my hon. Friend's observations to the attention of the chairman of the Post Office.

  Manufactures
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the latest estimate of the United Kingdom surplus or deficit in trade in manufactures with the European Economic Community, the United States of America, the European Free Trade Association, Japan and the rest of the world, respectively, during the last recent 12 months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Because of the introduction in January 1988 of the new Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev 3) figures for trade in manufactures by country are not at present available on a consistent basis between 1987 and 1988.

  United Kingdom Crude Balance of Trade in Manufactures

  Overseas Trade Statistics basis3 £ billion

  19871

  19882

  Jan to Feb

  European Community

  -11·1

  -2·5

  USA

  +0·9

  —

  EFTA

  -3·1

  -0·7

  Japan

  -4·2

  -0·7

  Rest of World

  +7·5

  +1·0

  1 Standard International Trade Classification Revision 2.

  2 Standard International Trade Classification Revision 3.

  3 The figures on the OTS basis include insurance and freight
  26
  charges for imports, but not for exports, so surpluses are understated and deficits are overstated by comparison with Balance of Payments data, which are not available by partner country.

  Source: United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Industry (Nottingham, North)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will put forward proposals to regenerate industry in the Nottingham, North constituency.

  Mr. Atkins
  Firms in the Nottingham, North constituency, as in the rest of the country, can benefit from assistance offered under the enterprise initiative, which includes support for consultancy in the areas of design, marketing, quality, manufacturing technology, business planning and business information systems (available at a higher rate as Nottingham, North lies in an urban programme area), together with support for exports, research and technology and business education. The new Nottingham, Leicester and Derby city action team will also contribute to economic development in the constituency.

  Libya
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total value of goods and services exported to Libya during 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  For the 12 months January to December 1987 the United Kingdom exported goods to the value of £220·6 million. Information on the value of services is not available.

  Turkey (Clothing Products)
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in view of the imbalance which exists in the association treaty between the European Economic Community and Turkey, he will ensure that in the renegotiation of the garment categories contained in the current VRAs, due to be held in the current year, any permitted growth in Turkish access reflects this imbalance.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I am aware of the concern being expressed by the United Kingdom clothing and knitwear industry at the prospects for the terms of the renewal of voluntary restraint arrangements with Turkish exporters on clothing products. These concerns will be taken fully into account by my Department when the European Community's position is being prepared in Brussels and officials will be consulting the industries concerned as the negotiations draw nearer.

  Origin Marking
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what steps he is taking to ensure in the successor regime to the Trade Descriptions Act 1972 that goods sold under a British brand name or one which purports to be will still be required to bear a clear indication of the country of origin, if those goods are not made in Britain;

  (2) if he will give a progress report on the successor regime to the Trade Descriptions Act 1972 relating to origin labelling.
  27
  Mr. Butcher
  My Department has consulted widely on a draft order under section 8 of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 to provide for a successor regime to the Trade Descriptions Act 1972. The responses to the consultations exercise are currently being analysed.

  The proposed order is intended to supplement the existing prohibition (under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968) of misleading indications of the place of manufacture of goods. It would require an indication of the place of production to be given where goods are presented in a way which would otherwise be likely to mislead prospective purchasers about where the goods were produced. Although as the proposed order currently stands the fact that a particular language or trade mark was used in the presentation of goods would not in itself require such origin marking, it would be required if the trade mark or use of language appeared to suggest that the goods were made in a particular place but they were not in fact made there.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects now to reply to the correspondence sent to him by the hon. Member for Gower regarding Kingrosia park, Clydach.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I explained to the hon. Member in my reply—Official Report 18 December column 754—why, most regrettably, his letter had not been answered, and I invited him to write again. I repeat this invitation. If the hon. Member cares to write to me, I shall take steps to ensure that he receives a speedy reply from the responsible Department.

  New Enterprise Consultancy Package
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will reconsider the eligibility criteria of 500 employees contained in the new enterprise consultancy package, particularly in those industries such as the knitting industry which are comparatively labour-intensive and thus disadvantaged in comparison with firms in capital-intensive sectors.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No. I am satisfied that the eligibility criteria we have adopted will ensure that the new enterprise initiative consultancy services will encourage greater use of outside expert advice by those firms which are most likely to benefit from such advice but which are less likely to use such advice without assistance from the Government. Larger firms are more likely to pay for their own outside advice as a matter of normal commercial policy.

  Textile and Clothing Exports
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the barriers facing United Kingdom textiles and clothing exports to Turkey; and what is the extent of(a) Turkish, (b) British and (c) other European Community countries' Government aids and subsidies for their domestic textile, knitting and clothing industries.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Leyland Bus Division
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements were made for the payment of the purchase price of the Leyland Bus Division from Austin Rover; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  This is a matter for the Rover Group plc, which was the vendor of the Leyland Bus business.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if Austin Rover has received the full amount of the purchase price of the sale of the Leyland Bus Division in January 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  While this is strictly a matter for the Rover Group plc, I understand from the company that the due sum was paid.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what dates payments of the purchase price of Leyland Bus Division were made to Austin Rover.

  Mr. Atkins
  The dates of payments to the Rover Group plc are a matter for the company.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department was involved in negotiating the recent sale of the Leyland Bus Division to Volvo; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department was not involved in negotiating the sale of Leyland Bus Ltd. to Volvo.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department has any plans to recover its investment in Leyland Buses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  No.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the total level of state aid to Leyland Buses in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  In none of the past five years has the European Commission approved or rejected any specific proposals to state-aid the continuing Leyland Bus operations. Following the sale of Leyland Bus by the Rover Group plc the Government subscribed for £680 million of new capital in the Rover Group plc. This was to fund the write-off of the accumulated debts of Leyland Bus and Leyland Trucks left in the Rover Group plc, together with the restructuring costs arising from their sale.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Resistencia Nacional Mocambica
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if since 1983 he has had any meetings with, or made approaches to, or received approaches from representatives of the Resistencia Nacional Mocambica movement or intermediary spokesmen of that movement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No direct meetings have taken place. A number of telephone contacts have occurred for humanitarian purposes over the capture of British citizens.
  29
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Resistencia Nacional Mocambica.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We do not recognise RENAMO. We deplore RENAMO's terrorist activities in Mozambique and neighbouring countries, with whose Governments we have full diplomatic relations.

  Mozambique
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what status he accords the Nkomati agreement of 1984 in his dealings with Mozambique and the Republic of South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has stressed on many occasions the importance of the two parties concerned abiding by the letter and spirit of the Nkomati accord.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the extent to which the economy of Mozambique is dependent on the economy of the Republic of South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A degree of interdependence exists between the economies of Mozambique and South Africa.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Mozambique.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our relations with the Government of Mozambique are close. We support President Chissano's efforts to restore peace and stability in Mozambique and more widely in the region. We also welcome and support his economic reform programme, agreed with the IMF.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which Commonwealth countries have implemented the Vancouver summit commitment to embark upon a process of consultations with a view to enabling those of its members in a position to do so to make appropriate contributions to the security needs of Mozambique.

  Mrs. Chalker
  General Obansanjo recently visited certain front-line states, including Mozambique, on a mandate from the Vancouver Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting to consider what support might be needed to assist with Mozambican security needs.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Hong Kong citizens have emigrated in each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Hong Kong Government do not keep statistics on emigration from Hong Kong.

  Fiji
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the status of the representative of the Government of Fiji resident in London.
  30
  Mr. Eggar
  The representative of Fiji resident in London is at present charge d'affaires ad interim, pending the arrival of an ambassador, who is expected shortly.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the terms of Lord Salisbury's Dispatch, the treaty between the Governments of Fiji, India and the United Kingdom. are still in force; and what is his assessment of its validity in the current circumstances in Fiji.

  Mr. Eggar
  The dispatch from the Secretary of State for India to the Viceroy of India dated 24 March 1875 indicated principles by which British colonial Governments should be guided in their dealings with emigrants from India. The proposals in this dispatch were never formally accepted, however, although they were occasionally upheld by some colonial administrations in the British empire. The dispatch's only relevance to present circumstances in the modern Republic of Fiji is as an example of attempts to manage race relations in the past.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to initiate with other nuclear non-proliferation treaty member states an investigation into alleged collaboration between Israel and South Africa on nuclear weapons research and testing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have no evidence of such collaboration. It is our long-standing policy to follow as closely as possible all developments which might lead to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received any reports from the British Antarctic Survey concerning nuclear weapons tests in the Norwegian section of Antarctica.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have received no such reports from the British Antarctic Survey.

  European Parliament
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given by the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community to attendance by Ministers or officials of the Governments of member states at any meeting of the European Parliament or its committees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Council has discussed the question of requests from the European Parliament for evidence from the Governments of member states, and has agreed that it is for each member state to decide how to reply. There is no legal obligation on member states to give evidence to the European Parliament or its committees.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests have been received by Her Majesty's Government from any organ of the European Parliament requesting or requiring evidence in writing or attendance of any Government Minister or civil servant; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are aware of no such requests.

  Treaty of Rome
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to publish as a Command Paper in the treaty series an amended version of the treaty of Rome incorporating the provisions of the Single European Act.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Her Majesty's Stationery Office is working on a Command Paper containing the treaties establishing the EEC, the EAEC and the ECSC as revised by the Single European Act. This is a major undertaking. It seems likely that it will be ready for publishing in early September.

  Western European Union (Co-location)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to discuss the co-location of the Western European Union with other member states; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The subject of co-location is on the agenda of the Western European Union ministerial meeting in The Hague on 18–19 April.

  NATO Headquarters (Arrested Britons)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions were taken by Her Majesty's Ambassador to Belgium in respect of British citizens arrested outside NATO headquarters on 2 March.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 16 March, at column 576, and to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 30 March, at column 518.

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings Her Majesty's high commissioner in Bangladesh has had with(a) trade unions, (b) political parties and (c) human rights groups in Bangladesh.

  Mr. Eggar
  The British high commissioner in Dhaka and his staff regularly meet representatives of trade unions, political parties and human rights groups in Bangladesh.

  Turkey
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings Her Majesty's ambassador to Turkey has had with(a) trade unions, (b) political parties, (c) human rights groups, (d) Kurdish groups and (e) Armenian groups in the last year.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Her Majesty's ambassador and his staff have regular contact with people of all backgrounds, views and political persuasions in Turkey.

  Munich Opera
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by him to the Commission of the European 32
  Economic Community and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany about the compatibility with the treaty of Rome and other international legal obligations of the refusal under German law of the orchestra of the Munich Opera to play Scott Joplin scores for a performance arranged by an English choreographer, on the alleged grounds of the composer's ethnic origins; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  None. Initial reports were inaccurate. There is no reason for us to intervene.

  "Cry Freedom"
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for the showing of the film "Cry Freedom" at the British embassy in South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There are no plans to do so.

  Drugs
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what collaboration there has been within the Commonwealth in tackling national and international drug misuse and trafficking problems.

  Mr. Eggar
  Successive Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings have stressed the importance of cooperation in this field. Regular and effective co-operation takes place through established channels within the United Nations, Interpol and the Customs Co-operation Council; and through close bilateral links between individual countries. A scheme relating to mutual assistance in criminal matters within the Commonwealth was launched in 1986 which will provide a framework for co-operation for countering drug and other serious international crime trafficking. The Commonwealth Secretariat is assisting Commonwealth countries through the provision of training in a number of drug-related areas.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any plutonium from unsafeguarded electricity board magnox reactors has been exported to the United States of America since May 1979 under bilateral or international Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

  Mr. Mellor
  There are no unsafeguarded Electricity Board Magnox reactors.

  World Food Conference
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government were represented at the recent world food conference in Brussels organised by the President of the Parliament of the European Economic Community; if he will place any documents circulated prior to, during, or subsequent to the conference in the Library; and what representations were made by Government Departments.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The world food conference, which was organised by Lord Plumb as a personal initiative, was attended by a senior Foreign Office official who delivered
  33
  a speech on my behalf and a message from my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Copies will he placed in the Library of the House.

  Morocco
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government intend to make to the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, in view of that Government's refusal to implement United Nations resolution 42/78.

  Mr. Mellor
  None. Such representations would not be consistent with our own abstention on United Nations General Assembly resolution 42/78.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will launch an initiative to bring about a negotiated settlement of the conflict in the western Sahara between the Polisario and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. We believe that the dispute is one for the people of the region to resolve. We support the mediation efforts of the United Nations Secretary General and have welcomed his initiative in sending a technical mission to the region.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why, in the light of Her Majesty's Government's neutrality in the western Sahara, permission for the supply of military equipment for the armed forces of the Kingdom of Morocco continues to be given.

  Mr. Mellor
  Our policy of strict impartiality over the western Sahara dispute does not preclude the sale of conventional military equipment to friendly Governments in the region.

  UN African Peace Plan
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Her Majesty's Government abstained from the vote on the United Nations Organisation for African Unity peace plan at the United Nations General Assembly in October 1987.

  Mr. Mellor
  We abstained on United Nations General Assembly resolution 42/78 on 4 December 1987 in accordance with our policy of strict impartiality over the western Sahara dispute.

  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the implications of Her Majesty's Government's acquiescence to the European Economic Community-Kingdom of Morocco fishing agreement of 1987 for Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Morocco's claim to the waters in dispute between the Polisario and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The European Community/Morocco fisheries agreement has no implications for our existing policy towards Morocco's claim to the disputed waters.

  WEU (Collaborative Equipment Projects)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what collaborative equipment 34
  projects have been initiated within the countries of the Western European Union since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have been asked to reply.

  The active part that WEU nations play in both intra-European and transatlantic collaborative defence equipment projects can be seen from table 8 in Volume 1 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates, 1987". In addition to those listed as
  "In development of earlier study phases"
  the M483A1 and MLRS phase 1 were initiated after 1983.

  A further three projects have been launched since the statement was published:

  Modular Stand-Off Weapons (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, US)

  NATO Anti-Air Warfare System (Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, UK, US)

  Family of Air Missiles (France, Italy, Spain, UK)

  Israel (Non-proliferation Treaty)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy,Official Report, 25 March, columns 241–42, when he last made a specific representation to the Israeli Government to sign the non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Mellor
  [pursuant to his reply, 31 March 1988, c. 628]: My answer should have said :
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not had a recent opportunity to raise the non-proliferation treaty with the Israeli Government. But, at his request, the permanent undersecretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office did so on 22 October 1987 with the political director of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

DEFENCE

  Tucano
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when trials on the Tucano training aircraft commenced at the aircraft and armaments experiemental establishment, Boscombe Down.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Rhondda (M r. Rogers) on 11 January at column 65.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours have been flown by the Tucano training aircraft during its trials at the aircraft and armaments experimental establishment, Boscombe Down.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Some 36 hours.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects the Tucano training aircraft to enter service with the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The first Tucano aircraft is expected to enter service shortly.

  Air Combat System
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations there have been between his Department and British Aerospace as regards the construction of air combat manouevring system platforms in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.
  35
  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have nothing to add to my reply of 31 March, at column 622.

  US Air Force Headquarters
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to transfer the United States Air Force headquarters from Mildenhall to Greenham common.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  There are no current plans to move the headquarters of the United States Third Air Force from RAF Mildenhall.

  Military Mission (Bangladesh)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British officers are currently stationed in Bangladesh as part of a military mission.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The British military advisory team in Bangladesh consists of three officers seconded as instructors at the Bangladesh defence services command and staff college.

  Nimrod Project
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of jobs lost or forgone as a result of the cancellation of the Nimrod project.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is a matter for the companies concerned to advise on the effect on jobs resulting from the cancellation of the Nimrod project. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 29 March at column 365.

  Ammunition Transport (Caerwent)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to improve security arrangements for the transport of ammunition from the Caerwent, Gwent, Royal Air Force base, following the conviction of a civilian driver for drunken driving at Chepstow magistrates' court on 29 March.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  RAF Caerwent is made available to the United States army which is responsible for the safety and security of the ammunition stored at the base and associated transport arrangements. The United States authorities are subject to the same regulations governing the storage and handling of ammunition as Her Majesty's forces.

  I am informed that the United States army at RAF Caerwent has contracted out the transport of ammunition to a commercial haulage firm. In the incident referred to the driver in question was detained by the Gwent constabulary before entering the secure ammunition storage area. Had he entered this area whilst under the influence of alcohol he would not have been permitted to load ammunition or remain in the secure area in accordance with standard United States army procedures.

  House Sales
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that married quarters declared surplus to requirements and offered for sale to civilian 36
  employees should attract the same rate of discount as his Department's civilian housing offered for sale in similar circumstances.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No. When married quarters which are capable of individual sale are declared surplus to requirements they are normally offered for sale to service personnel at 30 per cent. discount under the services' discount scheme. However, if any of these quarters are occupied by civilian tenants these occupants may be permitted, as an exceptional measure, to purchase the properties, but it would be unfair to allow them a larger discount than that available to service personnel for similar properties.

  Low Flying
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy on 20 January,Official Report, column 764, if the figure for the number of complaints received about low flying includes complaints from the vicinity of airfields about aircraft landing and taking off;

  (2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 20 January, Official Report, column 765, if low flying sorties by United States Navy, Army and Marine Corps aircraft are included in the United States Air Force category.

  Mr. Freeman
  No.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 20 January.Official Report, column 765, if the figure for low flying sorties over the United Kingdom in 1987 includes flights by Ministry of Defence (Procurement Executive) aircraft and company trials aircraft.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which counties are covered by low flying area 3.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The only county covered by low flying area 3 is Cornwall.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which counties are covered by low flying area 2.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: Low flying area 2 covers Avon, Devon, Somerset, most of Dorset and parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which counties are covered by low flying area 1.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: Low flying area I covers parts of Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

  Fighter Evasion Exercises
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what minimum separation distance was authorised for fixed wing aircraft participating in the fighter evasion exercise held in the vicinity of Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, from 18 to 22 January;

  (2) what minimum separation distance was authorised for fixed wing aircraft participating in the fighter evasion exercise held in the vicinity of Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, from 2 to 5 November 1987;
  37
  (3) what minimum separation distance was authorised for fixed wing aircraft participating in Exercise Border Baron and Regal Burst, held in Yorkshire in July 1986;

  (4) what minimum separation distance was authorised for fixed wing aircraft participating in the fighter evasion exercise held in the vicinity of Holsworthy, Devon, on 14 October 1987.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The authorised minimum separation distance for fixed wing aircraft participating in all the exercises referred to was 250 ft.

EMPLOYMENT

  Wages Inspectorate
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for 1986 and 1987 in relation to (i) all wages councils, (ii) the Clothing Manufacturing wages council, (iii) the Hat, Cap and Millinery wages council, (iv) the Made-Up Textiles wages council and (v) the Retail Bespoke wages council(a) the number of homewokers in respect of whom the wages inspectorate examined employers' records and who were shown as being aged under 21 years, (b) the number of homeworkers shown as being aged under 21 years who were visited, (c) the number of homeworkers who were found to be aged 21 years or over as a result of a visit, (d) the amount of arrears assessed as due to homeworkers found to be aged 21 years or over as a result of a visit and (e) the amount of arrears collected for them.

  Availability

  Restricted availability

  30 June 1987

  September 1987

  30 June 1987

  30 September 1987

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Northern

  96·4

  96·4

  88·9

  88·9

  Eastern

  84·8

  84·4

  92·7

  85·4

  Southern

  86·2

  91·9

  90·8

  94·4

  Wales

  94·9

  93·9

  92·3

  96·3

  Midlands

  86·7

  79·0

  80·0

  78·2

  North West

  94·1

  100

  94·9

  100

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  97·4

  96·9

  94·5

  99·0

  South West

  95·5

  88·8

  94·9

  95·1

  Scotland

  No return

  89·9

  No return

  92·3

  The creation of the Employment Service on 26 October 1987 involved changes in the regional structure. These figures are not, in all instances, therefore, directly comparable with those given in the response to the previous question.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will publish(a) the total number of establishments on the wages inspectorate's register, (b) the number of establishments on the wages inspectorate's register classified to the Clothing Manufacturing wages council, (c) the number of establishments on the wages inspectorate's register classified to the Hat, Cap and Millinery wages council, (d the number of establishments on the wages inspectorate's register classified to the Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household Goods and Linen Piece Goods, wages council, (e) the number of establishments on the wages inspectorate's register classified to the Made-up Textiles wages council, and (f) the number of establishments on the wages inspectorate's register classified to the Retail Bespoke Tailoring wages council;
  38
  Mr. Nicholls
  Statistics relating to the ages of homeworkers are not compiled by the wages inspectorate.

  Adjudication Officers
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide details of the sample survey of delays in adjudication officers making decisions on availability for work, by regions, for each quarter from 31 December 1986.

  Mr. Lee
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. However, the speed with which adjudication officers make decisions (that is, the time between their receiving a referral and reaching a decision after making all necessary inquiries), is monitored in a 5 per cent. sample of cases. This sampling was instigated only from 1 April 1987 (from 1 July in Scotland), and therefore I am only able to provide details for three-month periods ending 30 June 1987 and 30 September 1987. For information on the three-month perod ending 31 December 1987, I refer the hon. Member to my reply in the Official Report on Friday 25 March at column 259. The samples show that, for the three-month periods ending 30 June 1987 and 30 September 1987, the percentage of all availability questions (on both new and existing claims and including decisions on availability during holidays) decided within four weeks of referral to an adjudication officer, for each employment service region, was as follows :-

  (2) if he will publish the best available estimate by his Department of (a) the total number of establishments covered by wages councils, (b) the number of establishments covered by the Clothing Manufacturing wages council, (c) the number of establishments covered by the Hat, Cap and Millinery wages council, (d) the number of establishments covered by the Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household goods and Linen Piece Goods wages council, (e) the number of establishments covered by the Made-up Textiles wages council, and (f) the number of establishments covered by the Retail Bespoke Tailoring wages council.

  Mr. Nicholls
  At December 1987, the figures requested were:
  39

  Number

  All wages councils

  379,253

  Clothing Manufacture

  6,964

  Hat, Cap and Millinery

  123

  Linen and Cotton Handkerchief etc.

  114

  Made-up Textiles

  292

  Retail Bespoke Tailoring

  509

  The above figures are updated annually and are regarded as sufficiently reliable for departmental needs. No other such figures or estimates are compiled for the numbers of establishments covered by wages councils.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of occasions on which section 23 of the Wages Act 1986 has been used to bring civil or criminal prosecutions against individuals for offences by bodies corporate.

  Mr. Nicholls
  None.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the instructions issued to wages inspectors on the use of section 23 of the Wages Act 1986.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No specific instructions on the use of section 23 of the Act have been issued to inspectors.

  EC Single Market
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in the light of the findings of the Cecchini report, published by the European Community on 31 March relating to the benefits to the European Community as a whole from achieving a single market, he will assess the employment implications for the United Kingdom of realising this 1992 target.

  Mr. Cope
  This Department had undertaken a preliminary look at the employment implications of the completion of the single market before the Cecchini report was published. It is considering what work will be necessary to assess these implications further.

  Gas Appliance Installers
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce the mandatory registration of installers of gas appliances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Commission and the Council for the Confederation for the Registration of Gas Installers have been asked to develop proposals for an independent, broadly based, and representative body to promote safety in gas installation. Mandatory registration of gas installers with such a body is among the proposals currently being considered.

  Tourism
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the development of tourism in the rural areas.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Devon, West and Torridge (Miss Nicholson),Official Report, Monday 7 December 1987, at column 30. The English tourist board's rural tourism strategy referred to in my reply will be published later this year.
  40
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the development of tourism in the seaside resorts.

  Mr. Lee
  Seaside resorts play an important role in English tourism. But the quality of the accommodation and attractions they offer needs to be maintained and improved. The English tourist board is helping resorts through its marketing activities, tourism development action programmes, and the section 4 scheme of selective financial assistance.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many overseas tourists visited Suffolk and Norfolk in the last year for which figures are available; and how much he estimates they contributed to the local economy.

  Mr. Lee
  There were an estimated 120,000 overnight visits to Suffolk and 130,000 overnight visits to Norfolk by overseas visitors in 1986. Their expenditure is estimated to have been £19 million in Suffolk and £23 million in Norfolk.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people employed in tourism and tourism-related industry in Suffolk and Norfolk.

  Mr. Lee
  The latest estimates of employees in employment in tourism-related industries, which relate to September 1984, are 12,900 for Suffolk and 16,200 for Norfolk. These estimates do not include the self-employed, for whom comparable estimates are not available.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is being done overseas to promote holidays in East Anglia.

  Mr. Lee
  The British Tourist Authority has, in conjunction with the East Anglia tourist board, developed a range of overseas promotional activities to encourage visitors to East Anglia. These include the publication and distribution of brochures on holidays in East Anglia, and special promotions aimed at overseas travel agents.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is being done in the United Kingdom to promote holidays in East Anglia.

  Mr. Lee
  The promotion of holidays in East Anglia is undertaken by individual operators and resorts in the area, complemented by the work of the English tourist board and the East Anglia tourist board.

  The prime objective of the East Anglia tourist board is to improve the region's share of the holiday market. In the 1987/88 financial year the East Anglia tourist board spent some £643,000 on promoting holidays in East Anglia. This represented an increase of some 23 per cent. on the previous financial year.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the development of the caravan, holiday park and water-based holiday industry in East Anglia.

  Mr. Lee
  These sectors of the holiday industry play a major role in East Anglian tourism. But continued investment and upgrading of facilities is essential to counter the increased competition from both this country and abroad.

  The tourism industry in the area will benefit from the English tourist board's recently launched tourism

  41
  development action programme for Norwich, South Norfolk and Broadland. The Center Pares holiday village near Thetford due to open in spring 1989 will also significantly increase the number of visitors to the area.

  The caravan and holiday park industry is benefiting from the efforts of the National Caravan Council and the British Holiday and Home Parks Association to raise standards and improve quality through their codes of practice and grading scheme.

  The Broads boating holiday industry will gain from initiatives by the English tourist board and British Tourist Authority to promote water-based holidays in England. The diversification into good quality riverside self-catering accommodation by some of the traditional boatyards should also help bring additional visitors and extend the season.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of people aged 18 and 19 years who are unemployed in north Yorkshire.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. On the 14 January 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the county of north Yorkshire aged 18 and 19 years, were 983, and 1,047 respectively.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his reply of 1 March,Official Report column 542, he will initiate inquiries into the reasons for the substantial differences in the level of unemployment in the European Free Trade Association and in the European Economic Community, respectively.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department has no plans to conduct an inquiry as specific as my hon. Friend suggests. However, my Department is continually reviewing the reasons for differing levels of unemployment in other industrial countries, including most of the European Free Trade Association and EC member states.

  Job Vacancies (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of notified job vacancies in each jobcentre covering the Nottingham, North constituency for each month since June 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  Following is the available information. The table shows the numbers of unfilled vacancies notified to each of the jobcentres which together cover an area most closely corresponding to the parliamentary constituency of Nottingham, North for each month from April 1983, the earliest date from which consistent local figures are available.

  Unfilled vacancies

  Bulwell Jobcentre

  Nottingham Jobcentre

  Ilkeston Jobcentre

  1983

  April

  128

  952

  62

  May

  132

  1,055

  48

  June

  113

  1,132

  64

  July

  125

  1,056

  69

  August

  128

  1,153

  59

  September

  159

  1,169

  68

  October

  143

  1,257

  96

  November

  134

  1,072

  100

  42

  Bulwell Jobcentre

  Nottingham Jobcentre

  Ilkeston Jobcentre

  December

  143

  849

  61

  1984

  January

  159

  758

  47

  February

  148

  820

  50

  March

  167

  672

  53

  April

  143

  661

  50

  May

  127

  637

  46

  June

  130

  687

  48

  July

  121

  760

  37

  August

  142

  1,036

  42

  September

  157

  1,291

  80

  October

  186

  1,251

  77

  November

  207

  1,026

  70

  December

  159

  904

  67

  1985

  January

  176

  761

  62

  February

  142

  687

  49

  March

  147

  667

  67

  April

  166

  732

  61

  May

  158

  806

  70

  June

  187

  1,135

  78

  July

  174

  1,059

  60

  August

  214

  1,017

  72

  September

  220

  1,182

  67

  October

  274

  1,321

  172

  November

  243

  1,182

  188

  December

  160

  953

  63

  1986

  January

  176

  919

  42

  February

  198

  839

  73

  March

  173

  891

  57

  April

  165

  767

  79

  May

  170

  902

  73

  June

  158

  981

  88

  July

  182

  1,053

  77

  August

  147

  1,205

  62

  September

  143

  1,179

  62

  October

  137

  1,075

  67

  November

  157

  1,024

  93

  December

  145

  856

  69

  1987

  January

  142

  763

  51

  February

  156

  679

  118

  March

  149

  726

  117

  April

  151

  796

  110

  May

  163

  1,033

  106

  June

  181

  1,126

  135

  July

  157

  921

  129

  August

  185

  907

  130

  September

  228

  1,046

  148

  October

  207

  1,142

  126

  November

  195

  1,077

  149

  December

  143

  910

  91

  1988

  January

  143

  899

  67

  February

  144

  896

  78

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people had their unemployment benefit stopped because they were considered to be not available for work in the periods(a) January, five weeks, and (b) February, four weeks; and what percentage these were of the total number of decisions made by the adjudicating officers in the two periods.

  Mr. Lee
  Information is not readily available about the number of persons who have their entitlement to
  43
  unemployment benefit disallowed because they are considered not to be available for work in the periods January and February, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  However, in the six-month period ending 31 December 1987 the total number of claims for unemployment benefit disallowed by the adjudication officer, on the grounds of not being available for work was 50,588. This totalled 8·3 per cent. of all the claims disallowed by the adjudication officers during the period.

  Adult Training Scheme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the differential benefits for under and over 25-year-olds were taken into account in planning the resources for the new adult training scheme; whether those who have their 25th birthday during their time on the course will automatically receive an increase in allowance in line with the Social Security Act 1986 differentials; and if he is prepared to reconsider such differentials in order to pay the same allowance to all participants of whatever age.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Payments to trainees in the new employment training programme will be those unanimously recommended by the Manpower Services Commission. The resources available for the new programme take into account the range of benefits that trainees may be receiving, including differential income support rates for people aged over and under 25. Those trainees who are in receipt of income support before joining employment training will continue to receive an element of income support while they train. Any change in circumstances—including reaching the age of 25—will therefore be reflected in the overall payment received by the individual. It is a basic principle of employment training that all participants should be better off while training than they would be if they remained unemployed and in receipt of benefit, and this will be ensured by the payment system we have adopted.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of jobless claimants referred from each jobcentre to benefit offices in each of the months January, February and March of this year.

  Mr. Lee
  This information is not available. Jobcentre staff do not keep a record of the numbers of jobless claimants referred to the unemployment benefit offices.

SCOTLAND

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has any proposals to place consultations over new afforestation proposals on a more public footing;

  (2) if he has any proposals to widen the membership base of the Forestry Commission's regional advisory committees.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply of 10 December 1987, columns 251–54, to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro).

  Water Supplies
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he anticipates any increase in the demand for laboratory services by district councils, to analyse samples of water taken to comply with European Community directive 80/778/EEC;

  (2) how many private water suppliers there are in each district council area;

  (3) what research has been done by his Department into the costs to district councils of implementing European Community directive 80/778/EEC; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The distribution of private water supplies among districts is very uneven—the numbers vary from a single supply to more than 2,000—and the demand for laboratory services and the costs of implementing directive 80/778/EEC are likely to vary accordingly.

  My Department asked district councils in December 1987 to provide details of the number of private supplies in their areas, classified according to the size of supply. Most authorities have now given this information, but some returns are still awaited, and I cannot yet give total figures for these supplies.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how long he estimates it will take to complete a thorough programme of sampling of the water supplies in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Sampling of public and private water supplies to maintain up-to-date information on their quality is of its nature a continuing process.

  Rating Reform
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the position of people, in the financial year 1989–90, who have their main residence in Scotland and are paying poll tax, but who live for some of the year in rented accommodation in England and so are also paying a rates element within their rental and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  It is right that visitors to England and Wales should in appropriate circumstances continue to contribute towards the cost of local authority services through the system of domestic rates until that system is abolished in April 1990.

  Departmental Correspondence (Confidentiality)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is now taking to safeguard the confidentiality of information in his Department, in the light of the unauthorised disclosure of correspondence on opting-out of the educational system between No. 10 Downing street and his office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The measures taken in the Scottish Office to protect official information are in accordance with standards laid down for application throughout Government Departments. The circumstances of the unauthorised disclosure of recent correspondence between the Prime Minister's office and my own are being investigated.

  School Clothing Grants
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report, for each education authority in Scotland, the number of applications received for financial assistance for school clothing under the Education Acts, the number of grants

  £'000

  Financial year

  Education authority

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Borders

  13

  18

  30

  37

  48

  Central

  248

  324

  393

  375

  369

  Dumfries and Galloway

  26

  32

  44

  —

  1

  Fife

  18

  33

  116

  128

  190

  Grampian

  4

  8

  11

  9

  32

  Highland

  32

  63

  93

  119

  116

  Lothian

  122

  180

  248

  126

  168

  Strathclyde

  1,937

  2,917

  3,034

  3,227

  3,294

  Tayside

  90

  139

  188

  224

  229

  Orkney

  4

  4

  5

  5

  7

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Western Isles

  19

  37

  18

  20

  20

  Total

  2,513

  3,755

  4,180

  4,270

  4,474

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the amounts budgeted for expenditure in the next financial year by each local education authority in Scotland to meet the demand for clothing grants under the education grants, shown separately as an amount per eligible pupil at school in each region.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider making a specific grant to each education authority in Scotland to cope with increases in applications for financial assistance for clothing grants under the Education Acts.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to direct resources into a specific grant for the purpose of supporting expenditure by local authorities on clothing grants made under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. It is for authorities to determine the level of their spending for this purpose from within the resources available to them.

  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) why he has cut the grant to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations from £349,000 to £250,000; why only three weeks' notice was given; and why no prior consultation was held with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations;

  (2) if he will reconsider the decision to reduce the grant to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations; what assessment he has made of the implications of the proposed cut in grant for redundancies and for the level of service provided by the voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement;
  46
  awarded and the amount of money expended by the education authority for each of the last five most recent years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Details regarding the number of applications for clothing grants and the number of grants awarded under section 54 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 are not held centrally. Information on total expenditure is set out in the table:

  (3) what action has been taken in the light of the review of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations carried out by John S. Gibson and presented to the Government in March 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  After considering Mr. Gibson's report, together with a lengthy submission made by SCVO in response to my request for its views, I concluded that there was a strong case for providing additional funds for local councils of social service in rural areas. I also took the view that there was scope for a reduction in support for SCVO as a contribution to the additional funding for local initiatives. Accordingly, grant to local councils will be increased in total by £120,000 in 1988–89 and grant to SCVO will be reduced by £90,000. There is, of course, nothing to prevent local councils from purchasing services from SCVO. Additionally, I have authorised consultations with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on the possibility of further joint action by central and local government in the longer term to promote the development of local voluntary initiatives in both rural and urban areas.

  Notwithstanding the reduction in grant, SCVO will receive substantial support from central Government funds in 1988–89 and I am confident that after re-assessing priorities it can continue to make a useful contribution to the promotion of voluntary sector interests. It is for the council to consider ways and means of assimilating the reduction in grant including the effect on staffing levels, but departmental officials are ready to offer advice and assistance. I wished to convey my decisions personally to SCVO and did so at the first opportunity in the course of a meeting with the vice-convenor and other representatives on 11 March.

  My right hon. and learned Friend and I see no grounds for reconsidering these decisions.

  Speech Therapy (Twechar)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to improve the provision of speech therapy to primary school children in Twechar; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provision of speech therapy services in any particular area is a matter for the relevant health board to determine in the light of its own assessment of needs and its priorities within the available resources. I understand that the hon. Member recently met the chairman and senior officials of the Greater Glasgow health board to discuss speech therapy services.

  Inshore Fishing
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to review the operation of the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing and Fishing Methods) (Scotland) Order 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The current inshore fishing regime in Scottish waters has been in force since July 1985. We have indicated previously that we would review the regime once it had been in operation for about three years, and we have therefore today issued a consultation paper proposing a number of changes. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library. The paper is being circulated widely and responses have been requested by 3 June. Thereafter, officials of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland will meet interested parties to discuss any contentious issues. If changes in the current inshore fishing regime are thought to be needed, a new order under the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984 will be required.

  South of Scotland Electricity Board
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue a direction to the South of Scotland Electricity Board to rescind its recent contract with Shell for the supply of 20,000 tonnes of South African coal per month.

  Mr. Lang
  Contracts for the purchase of coal are a matter for the commercial judgment of the board. As regards the board's recent contracts for the purchase of foreign coal, I understand that no contract for South African supplies has been concluded by the board.

  Private Medical Schemes
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the private medical schemes which the Scottish Development Agency has discussed with Scottish Homes and Health Department.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 28 March 1988]: The Scottish Development Agency ensures that the appropriate health board or social work department registration requirements have been met.

  In the case of Health Care International there was a statutory requirement for the company to make application to my right hon. and learned Friend for approval. In that context, discussions took place involving officials of the Scottish Home and Health Department and agency staff.

WALES

  Spastics Society
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the Spastics Society in Wales seeking a meeting to discuss initiatives for people with physical handicaps; when the need for such a meeting was first discussed; and when it is now expected to take place.

  Mr. Grist
  A meeting was held with the regional manager of the society on 17 March, at which a number of matters were discussed. My understanding is that the society, in conjunction with the Wales Council for the Disabled, is currently preparing a report outlining its proposals for a strategy for those in Wales with physical handicaps. Further discussions can be arranged when this report is ready.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assistance his Department will give to the Spastics Society in Wales towards providing a computer facility to the society's work in Wales; and whether any assistance can be funded out of underspending on his Department's votes for 1987–88.

  Mr. Grist
  Our Department is still considering the request which has been made by the society although it was not possible to make any assistance available in 1987–88.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to reply to the correspondence of 23 February from the hon. Member for Caerphilly addressed to the Secretary of State for Social Services concerning cyclo progynova, which has been forwarded to his Department.

  Mr. Grist
  I wrote on 8 April 1988.

ENERGY

  Eastcrop District Heating, Nottingham
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to encourage the Eastcrop district heating schemes in Nottingham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My Department encourages the promotion of combined heat and power technology where it is economic, whether in conjunction with district heating schemes or not. It is for the promoters of CHP/DH schemes to ensure successful implementation.

  Air Combat System
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations there have been between his Department and British Aerospace as regards the construction of air combat manouevring system platforms in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  In September 1987 an official from my Department attended a presentation by BAe on its proposal, at which the company was advised of the statutory consents which would be needed before any
  49
  platforms could be emplaced and the conditions likely to be imposed to ensure that they would be removed when disused. My Offshore Supplies Office subsequently brought to BAe's attention the considerable capability of the United Kingdom fabrication industry and asked that, if the project went ahead, British fabrication companies be given every opportunity to bid for the contracts.

  Plutonium
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the specific current location and use to which all of the plutonium produced in(a) each United Kingdom electricity board advanced gas-cooled reactor and Magnox reactor and (b) each United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority reactor at Dounreay and Winfrith is put.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No irradiated fuel from the United Kingdom generating boards' advanced gas-cooled reactors has yet been reprocessed. For details of the plutonium produced in the boards' magnox reactors and its uses, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 24 July 1987, at columns 515–16 and to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) on 16 December 1987, at column 516.

  Plutonium in the spent fuel from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's prototype fast reactor is recovered at Dounreay and reused in the manufacture of fresh fuel. As the prototype is a net consumer of plutonium, the balance has to be made up from thermal reactors and this is supplied at Sellafield. All these processes are subject to safeguards.

  The spent fuel from the UKAEA's steam generating heavy water reactor at Winfrith is stored under safeguards pending reprocessing in the THORP plant at Sellafield.

  Nuclear Fuel
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether, after the co-processing of safeguarded and unsafeguarded spent nuclear fuel at BNFL Sellafield since May 1979, the nuclear materials have been deemed to be civil or military according to a pro rata system.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member on 11 March 1988, at column 362.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, in the light of his reply to the hon. Member for Chiselhurst (Mr. Sims),Official Report, 14 March, column 429, on the increased cost limit to reply to parliamentary questions, he is now in a position to answer the questions put by the hon. Member for Newport, West on 26 November 1987, Official Report, column 279, on safeguards.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas),Official Report, 16 March, column 593, he will explain more fully the specific safeguards agreement covering the import of uranium from Durban on 28 February 1987.
  50
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  All uranium imported into the United Kingdom for civil use is subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the UK/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the European Commission has fully informed(a) the United Kingdom Government and (b) other Governments of the partner countries in supply and cooperation agreements or contracts of the safeguards conventions applied to the accountancy of nuclear materials subject to these agreements in mixed civil-military installations.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 February 1988, at column 481.

  River Aire (Flooding)
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has about recent flooding of the River Aire and its effects on a large opencast site in Yorkshire; what assessment is available to him of the danger of further flooding from the Aire and Calder canal if the banks continue to be eroded; if he will take action to ensure that the river and canal banks are secured; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I am advised by the British Coal Corporation that on Saturday 19 March the River Aire in West Yorkshire entered the St. Aidans opencast coal site through a breach in the river bank. A large volume of water remains within the site, which has temporarily ceased production, at a loss of 15,000 tonnes of coal per week output. No lives or property were lost during the incident.

  Some erosion occurred on the river bank adjacent to the canal during the flooding. The position has now been stabilised and remedial work to the river bank is now substantially complete. There is now no danger of flooding from the canal.

  British Coal is currently examining proposals with the relevant authorities which will permanently repair the breached river bank and enable work to be resumed on the site.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  ACE Funding
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to reinstate the ACE funding withdrawn from Twinbrook tenants and community association; and what interim arrangements have now been made for the provision of comparable services to the local community.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  My hon. Friend with responsibilities for such matters has no plans to reinstate ACE funding withdrawn from Twinbrook tenants and community Association. Forty-two ACE places are presently allocated for the provision of community services in the Twinbrook area.

  Terrorists (Sentence Remission)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many convicted terrorists have been granted remission of part of their sentence since 1980; arid how many committed subsequent crimes.
  51
  Mr. Stanley
  During the period 1980 to 1987 a total of 5,109 inmates serving fixed sentences for scheduled offences were released with remission. Complete information on how many of these committed subsequent crimes is not readily available. However, a recent survey of a sample of former prisioners shows that some 40 per cent. of those released in 1984 from serving a sentence for a scheduled offence were subsequently convicted of either a scheduled or a non-scheduled offence committed within two years of their release.

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a decision will be taken on the next phase of generating capacity in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  As the decision on the next phase of generating capacity to be provided in the Province will determine the future shape and scale of Northern Ireland Electricity's business, meaningful discussions on privatisation cannot be held until after that decision has been taken.

  Lecturers
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost to public funds in each of the past five years of the investigation of all complaints by the Commissioner for Complaints, the Fair Employment Agency and the Equal Opportunities Commission regarding the selection or promotion of lecturing staff in further education colleges.

  Mr. Viggers
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints relating to the selection or promotion of lecturing staff in further education colleges were investigated by(a) the Commissioner for Complaints, (b) the Fair Employment Agency and (c) the Equal Opportunities Commission, in each of the past five years; and how many of these complaints were upheld.

  Mr. Viggers
  The available information is as follows

  Northern Ireland commissioner for complaints

  Fair employment agency

  Investigated

  Upheld

  Investigated

  Upheld

  1983

  2

  1

  3

  1

  1984

  11

  0

  4

  3

  1985

  3

  0

  3

  2

  1986

  8

  0

  0

  0

  1987

  1

  1

  24

  0

  1 This information is not available in advance of the laying before Parliament of the 1987 annual report of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints. The report is due to be laid in May 1988.

  2 Two pending.

  The Equal Opportunities Commission does not segregate or record complaints by the complainant's occupation and would be unable to produce the information requested without disproportionate cost.

  Prison Population
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing figures for the Northern Ireland prison population broken down into(a) male, (b) female and (c) juvenile, and showing each category the number of (i) Roman Catholics, (ii) Protestants and (iii) others.

  Mr. Stanley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Northern Ireland prison population as at 31 March 1988 showing religious denominations as slated at time of committal to prison

  Roman Catholic

  Protestant

  Others

  Totals

  Male

  799

  933

  5

  1,737

  Female

  17

  9

  —

  26

  Juvenile

  119

  104

  1

  224

  Totals

  935

  1,046

  6

  1,987

  Juveniles are those inmates detained in young offenders centres and do not include young persons held on remand or under sentence in prison.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show the names of the members of each of(a) the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights, (b) the Fair Employment Agency, (c) the Equal Opportunities Commission, (d) the Police Authority, and (e) the Police Complaints Board, indicating the date and term of appointment, and the sections of society or interest groups from which they were each drawn or represent.

  Mr. Tom King
  [holding answer 29 March 1988: I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

  Sinn Fein
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions has he had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland about proscribing Sinn Fein; what was the view of the Government of the Republic on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom King
  [holding answer 29 March 1988]: Discussions with the Irish Government are generally confidential, in conformity with the usual international practice. The Government keep the question of proscription of a number of organisations under review.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Green Rates
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the gap between the United Kingdom green rates and the market rate; and how in real terms this gap compares with those of the other European Economic Community member states.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The real monetary gap (RMG) is the difference between a currency's green and market rates of exchange calculated as a percentage of the former. In sectors where monetary compensatory amounts (MCAs) apply, they are derived from the RMG by the subtraction of a "franchise". The real monetary gaps applying in the Community in the week commencing 11 April 1988 were:
  53

  Member state/Sector

  Real monetary gap (per cent.)

  United Kingdom

  Beef

  -5·1

  Crops

  -13·8

  Pigmeat

  -7·6

  Sheep

  -14·4

  Others

  -12·2

  Belgium

  Sheep

  -2·0

  Luxembourg

  All others

  -0·5

  Denmark

  Pigmeat

  -0·5

  Sheep

  -4·1

  Others

  -2·0

  France

  Beef

  -2·0

  Eggs and poultry

  -5·3

  Pigmeat

  -1·5

  Sheep

  -4·1

  Wine

  -5·6

  Others

  -5·0

  Germany

  Beef, sheep

  +0·9

  Cereals

  +2·4

  Others

  +1·9

  Greece

  Beef, milk

  -49·5

  Cereals

  -39·1

  Pigmeat

  -39·0

  Sheep

  -24·2

  Others

  -45·4

  Ireland

  Crops

  -5·1

  Milk, eggs and poultry

  -5·0

  Pigmeat

  -3·6

  Sheep

  -6·9

  Others

  -3·5

  Italy

  Cereals

  -8·0

  Fruit and vegetables

  -5·9

  Pigmeat

  -3·1

  Sheep

  -11·0

  Wine

  -7·6

  Others

  -7·0

  Netherlands

  Beef

  +0·3

  Cereals

  +1·9

  Milk

  +1·4

  Others

  +1·3

  Portugal

  Sheep, structures

  -4·7

  Fishery products

  -9·7

  Others

  -10·9

  Spain

  Crops

  -1·8

  Sheep

  -3·4

  Others

  -0·8

  Monetary Compensatory Amounts
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to consult 54
  other European Economic Community members both on a formal and informal basis as to the removal of monetary compensatory amounts to help the pig farming industry.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I raised this issue in the opening discussions on the Commission's price proposals which took place at the meeting of the Agricultural Council on 28/29 March. I stressed the acute problems faced by United Kingdom pig producers and that pigmeat MCAs were producing distortions in competition. I urged an immediate complete devaluation for the green pound in this sector, as part of the price-fixing proposals.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the attitude of other European Economic Community countries to monetary compensatory amounts.

  Mr. MacGregor
  A number of member states are seeking MCA changes.

  Farming Industry (Assistance)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is being done to revive the farming industry in the light of current levels of production.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The agriculture industry requires a. stable framework of policy against which to plan its business decisions. This was lacking while CAP spending was not subject to proper budgetary control and while exhaustion of CAP funds, notably on storage and disposal of surpluses, threatened the collapse of the system. The decisions reached on CAP reform at the recent European Council have averted that threat and provided a clearer framework within which farmers can now plan ahead.

  Radioactivity
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is investigating the possibility of having aerial monitoring for measuring radioactivity on agricultural land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  This possibility is being actively investigated, in the light of relevant information on technical performance and cost effectiveness of current proposals.

  Bass
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the representations he has had about his proposals for bass fishing; how many fishery protection offices are responsible for the Channel; and if he will list the number of prosecutions for undersize bass and the level of fines imposed.

  Mr. Gummer
  We have received over 100 representations on the proposals for the management of the bass fishery published on 29 February.

  The Ministry's Sea Fisheries Inspectorate, which undertakes a wide range of duties, has 25 officers operating from nine offices situated along the Channel coast. Since the introduction of the Community minimum landing size of 32cm. in January 1987 there have been no prosecutions by the Ministry for landing undersize bass, but one case is pending.

  Food Surpluses
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the amount to be expended per week in disposing of food surpluses following the decisions of the European Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The 1988 draft budget provides for Community expenditure on export refunds and internal disposal subsidies (including stock depreciation and loss on sale out of intervention) for commodities in structural surplus (cereals, sugar, olive oil, wine, beef, milk and milk products) of £221 million per week. This figure is not comparable with earlier years because systematic stock depreciation of new stocks is now included for the first time.

  Production Subsidies
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the sum to be expected by his Department on the financing of agricultural production and export of produce in the current financial year, in the light of the decisions at the European Council.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Expenditure in the United Kingdom on production subsidies and export refunds (net of MCAs) is expected to be £950 million in 1988–89.

  Agricultural Production
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) by what date the United Kingdom will be required to introduce the scheme for set-aside for agricultural land agreed at the European Council on 11 to 13 February;

  (2) by what date the United Kingdom is required to introduce a scheme for (a) set-aside and (b) extensification of the production of surplus products; and when these decisions were taken in the European Council;

  (3) if he has yet introduced an aid scheme designed to encourage the extensification of production, as required by European Council regulation A60/87.

  Mr. MacGregor
  In accordance with the decisions of the European Council, regulation 1760/87 is being superseded by a new regulation providing both for set-aside of arable land and for extensification by reduction of production. The Council of Agriculture Ministers agreed on 8–9 March that set-aside schemes should be introduced by member states within two months of the adoption of the Commission implementing rules, decisions on which are to be taken by 30 April 1988. Extensification is to be implemented by 1 January 1989, but until 31 December 1989 member states may restrict this to beef and veal and to wine.

  EAGGF and Set-aside Scheme
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the annual cost to(a) the European agricultural guarantee and guidance fund, and (b) the United Kingdom of the set-aside scheme agreed at the European Council meeting held on 11–13 February.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No estimate of the annual cost to EAGGF has been released by the Commission. For the 56
  United Kingdom, public expenditure planning totals were increased in the last survey by £16 million for 1989–90 and £22 million for 1990–91 to cover the cost of set-aside and extensification.

  Food Aid
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if when planning the distribution of surplus European Community beef and butter, he will make it his policy to have regard to the problems experienced at the previous distribution; and what steps he will take to improve the arrangements;

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that organisations which will be authorised to distribute European Community surplus beef and butter are better equipped than they were last time to carry out the task; and what additional help he is making available to that end.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 31 March 1988: The free food scheme, which was the subject of my right hon. Friend's announcement on 12 January, is more limited than the 1987 scheme and different in form. In particular, we shall be designating organisations which are willing and capable to handling butter and beef withdrawn from intervention stores and of arranging for its distribution exclusively to eligible recipients with due safeguards against abuse or risks to health. Designated organisations will be eligible to receive contributions from Community funds for costs of administration and transport.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he is planning to distribute surplus European Community beef and butter to retirement pensioners and others in need; through which organisations he is planning to do this in Devon; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 31 March 1988: I shall be announcing the list of designated organisations as soon as possible : once designated, organisations will be entitled to withdraw butter and beef from intervention stores for distribution.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much European Community surplus beef and butter is available for distribution in the United Kingdom; and what steps he is taking to see that it is fairly distributed.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 31 March 1988]: The quantities to be distributed will depend on the allocation from the Commission, on which I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 31 March at column 638, to the hon. Member for Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins). As for distribution arrangements, my right hon. Friend announced on 12 January that butter and beef would be made available on response to specific applications from suitable organisations. I shall have regard to the coverage of distribution and other factors in deciding which organisations should be designated under the scheme.

  Food and Environment Protection Act 1985
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many notices have been issued under sections 19(5) and 19(6), respectively, of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 since the Act came into force.
  57
  Mr. Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply as under an agency agreement, the Health and Safety Executive became the enforcing authority for part III of the Act and its regulations on 27 June 1987.

  Between that date and 31 December 1987 32 enforcement notices were served, 29 under section 19(5) and three under section 19(6).

THE ARTS

  Arts Council
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what the total grant from the Arts Council to the 12 English regional arts associations is for 1988–89; and what percentage increase this represents over 1987–88.

  Mr. Luce
  The total of basic allocations for 1988–89 is £28,946,840, which represents a 2·7 percentage increase over the total of total allocations for 1987–88. Additional development moneys have not yet been allocated by the Arts Council to individual RAAs, but once this is done the increase will be of the order of 3 per cent.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will publish a table showing(a) his office's grant to the Arts

  National Theatre

  Royal Shakespeare Company

  English National Opera

  Royal Opera House

  1979–80

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  1980–81

  107·9

  119·8

  114·1

  111·5

  1981–82

  120·0

  136·0

  95·2

  128·9

  1982–83

  136·3

  192·5

  113·3

  148·3

  1983–84

  142·9

  220·1

  124·8

  165·5

  1984–85

  145·8

  249·7

  123·3

  177·0

  1985–86

  144·7

  254·7

  125·7

  192·5

  1986–87

  162·5

  245·5

  137·0

  187·1

  1987–88

  162·5

  245·5

  140·6

  189·0

  1988–89

  162·5

  251·6

  144·1

  192·7

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will publish a table which shows the Arts Council grants to(a) the National Theatre, (b) the Royal Shakespeare Company, (c) the English National Opera, and (d) the Royal Opera House, in each year from 1979–80 to 1988–89.

  Mr. Luce
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Buchan) on 16 February 1988 at column 570.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what additional sum would be required to restore the real value of the Office of Arts and Libraries' grant to the Arts Council to the level of 1979–80.

  Mr. Luce
  None. If the Arts Council's grant had remained constant in real terms, it would have been about £112 million in 1988–89. In fact, it will be £127 million excluding post-abolition funding.

  Mr. Fisher: To ask the Minister for the Arts what additional sum would be required to restore the real value
  58
  Council in cash terms in each year since 1979–80 up to and including 1988–89 and (b) each of those years' grant as a percentage of 1979–80.

  Mr. Luce
  The information requested is follows:

  Arts council grant

  Percentage of 1979–80

  £

  1979–80

  61,476,000

  100

  1980–81

  70,470,000

  114·6

  1981–82

  80,361,000

  130·7

  1982–83

  90,850,000

  147·8

  1983–84

  94,580,000

  153·8

  1984–85

  100,000,000

  162·7

  1985–86

  105,000,000

  170·8

  1986–87

  135,600,000

  220·6

  1987–88

  138,400,000

  225·1

  1988–89

  150,000,000

  244·0

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will publish a table which expresses the Arts Council grant to(a) the National Theatre, (b) the Royal Shakespeare Company, (c) the English National Opera and (d) the Royal Opera House in each year from 1979–80 to 1988–89 as a percentage of 1979–80.

  Mr. Richard Luce
  The information requested is as follows:

  of the Arts Council grant to the level of 1979–80 for (a) the National Theatre, (b) the Royal Shakespeare Company, (c) the English National Opera and (d) the Royal Opera House.

  Mr. Luce
  The National Theatre and English National Opera would need cash increases of £954,418 and £1,836,964 respectively.

  The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House already receive more than the 1979–80 level in real terms.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what additional sum would be required to restore the real value of the Arts Council grant to each of the 12 English regional arts associations to the level of 1979–80.

  Mr. Luce
  I have excluded abolition money from the answer, but in every case, the 1988–89 grant is well above the real-terms equivalent of the 1979–80 grant, as the following table shows:
  59

  RAA

  1979–80 Total Grant

  1988–89 Real Term Equivalent

  1988–89 Basic Grant (Abolition money excluded)

  Eastern

  419,398

  768,024

  1,942,560

  East Midlands

  428,033

  783,837

  1,976,625

  Greater London

  652,301

  1,194,528

  2,916,397

  Lincs/Humberside

  335,893

  615,105

  955,920

  Merseyside

  338,147

  619,233

  735,907

  Northern

  1,088,960

  1,994,161

  2,285,515

  North West

  578,474

  1,059,332

  1,768,557

  Southern

  525,050

  961,499

  1,647,615

  South East

  318,807

  583,816

  1,380,330

  South West

  535,794

  981,174

  1,765,500

  West Midlands

  696,735

  1,275,898

  2,064,108

  Yorkshire

  444,425

  813,854

  1,521,769

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing (a) the Arts Council's grant to each of the 12 regional arts associations

  Eastern

  East Midlands

  Greater London

  £

  Percentage

  £

  Percentage

  £

  Percentage

  1979–80

  419,398

  100·0

  428,033

  100·0

  652,301

  100·0

  1980–81

  481,180

  114·7

  579,874

  135·5

  932,101

  142·9

  1981–82

  541,045

  129·0

  699,754

  163·5

  1,209,972

  185·5

  1982–83

  690,483

  164·6

  824,944

  192·7

  1,464,087

  224·4

  1983–84

  728,305

  173·7

  927,160

  216·6

  1,487,240

  228·0

  1984–85

  889,775

  212·2

  1,061,119

  247·9

  1,583,722

  242·8

  1985–86

  1,144,871

  273·0

  1,627,406

  380·2

  1,791,430

  274·6

  1986–87

  1,715,344

  409·0

  1,809,737

  422·8

  8,427,313

  1,292·0

  1987–88

  1,774,026

  423·0

  1,873,783

  437·8

  8,127,248

  1,245·9

  1988–89

  1,942,560

  463·2

  1,976,625

  461·8

  7,903,175

  1,211·6

  Lincolnshire and Humberside

  Merseyside

  Northern

  £

  Percentage

  £

  Percentage

  £

  Percentage

  1979–80

  335,893

  100·0

  338,147

  100·0

  1,088,960

  100·0

  1980–81

  390,747

  116·3

  386,083

  114·2

  1,306,630

  120·0

  1981–82

  460,691

  137·2

  444,877

  131·6

  1,456,051

  133·7

  1982–83

  523,048

  155·7

  497,419

  147·1

  1,733,236

  159·2

  1983–84

  556,740

  165·7

  535,158

  158·3

  1,819,020

  167·0

  1984–85

  591,050

  176·0

  583,903

  172·7

  1,938,659

  178·0

  1985–86

  782,836

  233·0

  656,000

  194·0

  2,086,802

  191·6

  1986–87

  904,490

  269·3

  1,096,830

  324·4

  3,543,845

  325·4

  1987–88

  962,235

  286·5

  1,094,270

  323·6

  3,556,920

  326·6

  1988–89

  955,920

  284·6

  1,102,155

  326·0

  3,526,910

  323·9

  North West

  Southern

  South East

  £

  percentage

  £

  percentage

  £

  percentage

  1979–80

  578,474

  100·0

  525,050

  100·0

  318,807

  100·0

  1980–81

  662,483

  114·6

  618,638

  117·8

  367,495

  115·3

  1981–82

  751,055

  129·8

  708,620

  135·0

  431,274

  135·3

  1982–83

  864,849

  149·5

  850,418

  162·0

  540,353

  169·5

  1983–84

  932,393

  161·2

  884,447

  168·4

  581,659

  182·4

  1984–85

  1,031,953

  178·4

  995,088

  189·5

  628,991

  197·3

  1985–86

  1,493,749

  258·2

  1,172,470

  223·3

  1,085,773

  340·6

  1986–87

  1,982,320

  342·7

  1,298,559

  247·3

  1,231,962

  386·4

  1987–88

  1,996,480

  345·1

  1,369,191

  260·8

  1,303,970

  409·0

  1988–89

  2,144,570

  370·7

  1,647,615

  313·8

  1,380,330

  433·0

  South West

  West Midlands

  Yorkshire

  £

  percentage

  £

  percentage

  £

  percentage

  1979–80

  535,794

  100·0

  696,735

  100·0

  444,425

  100·0

  1980–81

  637,082

  118·9

  803,105

  115·3

  520,779

  117·2

  1981–82

  702,175

  131·1

  896,095

  128·6

  586,900

  132·1

  1982–83

  876,133

  163·5

  1,034,811

  148·5

  717,002

  161·3

  1983–84

  883,678

  164·9

  1,100,434

  157·9

  737,914

  166·0

  1984–85

  970,894

  181·2

  1,221,727

  175·4

  841,602

  189·4

  1985–86

  1,225,052

  228·6

  1,558,134

  223·6

  1,338,899

  301·3

  60
  in cash terms in each year since 1979–80 up to and including 1988–89 and (b) each of those years' grants as a percentage of 1979–80.

  Mr. Luce
  The information requested is as follows:
  61

  South West

  West Midlands

  Yorkshire

  £

  percentage

  £

  percentage

  £

  percentage

  1986–87

  1,555,765

  290·4

  2,291,310

  328·9

  2,084,900

  469·1

  1987–88

  1,685,317

  314·5

  2,315,020

  332·9

  2,117,070

  476·4

  1988–89

  1,765,500

  329·5

  2,451,180

  351·8

  2,150,300

  483·8

  Figures for 1979–80 to 1987–88 are total allocations; the figures for 1988–89, however, are basic allocations as total allocations for 1988–89 have not yet been made by the Arts Council who will allocate some development money to some regions. The 1979–80 to 1987–88 grant figures have already been given in my reply to the hon. Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Buchan) on 16 February 1988 at columns 571–72.

  Museums (Storage Space)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister of the Arts what is his estimate, in the light of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the management of museums and galleries, HC 394, of the cost of providing adequate storage space at(a) the Victoria and Albert museum and (b) the British museum.

  Mr. Luce
  It is for the trustees of these two museums, and of the other national museums and galleries, to assess their institutions' storage needs and the cost of satisfying them, and to determine the priority that should be given to this purpose in their strategic plans.

  I have provided a major new storage facility of 32,000 m2 at Blyth road, Hammersmith for the use in particular of the British museum, the Victoria and Albert and the science museum. A total of some £11 million has so far been spent from the arts programme on the acquisition and refurbishment of this facility, in which further investment is planned for the future.

  British Museum
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what he estimates will be the cost of restoring(a) the Greek and Roman antiquities, (b) the drawings in the Satin collection; and (c) the letters, fragments and objects in the cuneiform table collection in the British museum.

  Mr. Luce
  The keeping of the British museum's collections is the responsibility of the museum's board of trustees. It is for them to assess the cost of restoring part of those collections. I will make inquiries and write to the hon. Member, and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Agencies
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service which Civil Service units, presently housed at the Chalfont drive Government buildings in Nottingham, are under consideration for the agency proposals recently announced.

  Mr. Luce
  Of the civil servants who currently work at Chalfont drive, Nottingham, I understand that only those from Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the Department of Employment are involved in the list of the first candidates for agencies announced on 18 February this year.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Tax Allowances
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women currently receive both the wife's earned income allowance and the married man's tax allowance.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  It is estimated that in 1988–89 about half a million married women will have both the wife's earned income allowance and the married man's tax allowance set against their earnings.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for 1987–88 the number of tax units claiming(a) the dependent relative allowance, (b) the housekeeper allowance, and (c) the son's or daughter's services allowance; and if he will give for each of these the cost of the allowance to the Exchequer in 1987–88, and the projected cost for 1988–89 had the allowances been retained.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information is given in the table :

  Cost of the allowance

  Number of tax units claiming the allowance (thousands)

  1987–88 (£ million)

  1988–89 (£ million)

  Dependent relative allowance

  360

  10

  10

  Housekeeper allowance

  5

  under ¼

  under ¼

  Son's or daughter's services allowance

  2

  negligible

  negligible

  Estimates are based on a projection of the 1985–86 survey of personal income and are therefore provisional.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many separated or divorced parents at present opt to claim two separate additional personal allowances; and if he will give the cost to the Exchequer of these claimants in 1987–88 and the projected cost had the allowance continued to be allowed to both parents in 1989–90.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Information about the numbers of separated or divorced parents claiming the additional personal allowance is not available. Under the Budget proposals, separated or divorced parents who are eligible will both continue to be able to claim the additional personal allowance in 1989–90 except where the parent making the claim is one of an unmarried couple living together as husband and wife and that couple have more than one child between them.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost of reducing the basic rate of income tax to 20 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.
  63
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The cost of reducing the basic rate of income tax from 25 per cent. to 20 per cent. in 1988–89 is estimated to be £6·4 billion in 1988–89 and £8 billion in 1989–90. These estimates include the costs of the consequential reduction in the rate of advance corporation tax.

  Credit Card Companies
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of the rates of interest charged by the major credit companies for his policy of reducing inflation.

  Mr. Lilley
  Credit card borrowing represents less than 5 per cent. of total personal debt. So the impact of credit card interest rates both as a cost and as restraint on the growth of total liquidity is correspondingly small. However, credit card services have been referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission by the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the present level of exchange rate and its effects on the economy.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend receives representations on the exchange rate and its effects on the economy whatever its level.

  Freeports
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present position of his review of existing freeport operations; and what plans he is considering for the expansion of freeport status to other ports.

  Mr. Lilley
  On 17 December 1987, at columns 651–52, I gave my considered response to the report by Customs and Excise of its review of VAT and other aspects of free zones.

  Credit Controls
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to reintroduce credit controls; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  No.

  Mortgage Repayments
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from individual taxpayers about the extent to which recently announced increases in mortgage repayments counteract the effects on their real disposable income of the tax reductions announced in his Budget Statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  None.

  Queen's Warehousekeeper
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the salary of the Queen's warehousekeeper; and how many staff are employed at his office.

  Mr. Lilley
  One or more Queen's warehouses is located in each of the 21 regional collections of Customs and Excise according to the nature and volume of local 64
  passenger and freight traffic. Day-to-day responsibility is normally laid to staff at executive or higher executive officer level, who currently receive a maximum salary of £10,292 or £12,878 a year respectively outside London. They may be supported by up to three other staff according to the needs of the work.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many goods, and to what approximate value, presently remain unclaimed at the office of the Queen's warehousekeeper; and what happens to these goods after six months.

  Mr. Lilley
  Records are not kept centrally of goods seized and detained that remain unclaimed at individual Queen's warehouses. Where goods are detained pending the production of an import licence they are liable to be seized and disposed of if a licence is not produced within a reasonable time. Since the circumstances of particular importations can vary significantly, no single period is set for disposal.

  Loxodonta Africana
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many items of loxodonta Africana were detained by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in 1987 and subsequently given approval for importation by the endangered species branch of the Department of the Environment.

  Mr. Lilley
  Records of such detentions are not maintained centrally and the information sought could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

  EC (UK Contribution)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the net contribution which the United Kingdom will require to make to the European Economic Community in the financial year 1987–88, in the light of the decisions taken at the European Council.

  Mr. Brooke
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 31 March at column 601.

  Taxation Statistics
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give(a) the percentage of average wages paid in tax of all kinds for each year since 1979, (b) the percentage paid in income tax and (c) the percentage paid in indirect taxes for each of those years.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The figures in the table refer to a married man on average male earnings. It is assumed that his wife has no earnings, that he is not contracted out of SERPS and that they have no children. The figures do not include domestic rates.

  Taxes as a percentage of gross earnings for a married man on average earnings

  Income tax NIC and indirect taxes

  Income tax

  Indirect taxes

  1978–79

  39·6

  21·3

  11·8

  1979–80

  39·1

  19·8

  12·8

  1980–81

  40·0

  20·6

  12·7

  65

  Income tax NIC and indirect taxes

  Income tax

  Indirect taxes

  1981–82

  42·4

  21·5

  13·1

  1982–83

  42·4

  21·0

  12·6

  1983–84

  42·4

  20·6

  12·8

  1984–85

  42·5

  20·2

  13·3

  1985–86

  42·3

  20·0

  13·3

  1986–87

  41·7

  19·4

  13·3

  1987–88

  40·5

  18·4

  13·1

  1988–89

  39·3

  17·0

  13·3

  EC Intergovernmental Agreement
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum he expects will be raised by the proposed intergovernmental agreement described in European Commission document COM (88) 81; what is the purpose of the proposal; what is the part of the draft budget to which it relates, expressing those sums in both European currency units and pound sterling, together with the terms of any reimbursement; and what is the method by which Her Majesty's Government propose to seek parliamentary approval for this draft agreement.

  Mr. Brooke
  As I said in reply to my hon. Friends the Members for Sevenoaks (Mr. Wolfson) on 24 February, at columns 194–96, and for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 9 March, at columns 208–9, respectively, the Intergovernmental agreement (IGA) was provided for in the conclusions of the Brussels European Council on 11–12 February. Its purpose is to cover the Community's 1988 budget requirements in excess of the existing own resources ceiling pending entry into force of the new own resources decision. The amount which member states would contribute under the IGA depends on the level at which the 1988 budget is eventually adopted. The provisional and indicative amount in respect of the draft budget established at the Economic and Finance Council on 7 March is 7·647 billion ecu (around £5·304 billion), with a United Kingdom contribution of 1·263 billion ecu (around £0·876 billion). The IGA would not be related to any particular part of the budget. It would take the form of non-repayable advances corresponding to the new fourth resource.

  Parliament's approval for the IGA will be sought before the money is paid to the Community, probably by means of a special Estimate or by a Bill—following the precedent of the 1984 or 1985 IGAs respectively. The method chosen will depend mainly on the timing of the necessary formal agreements between member states.

  Shares of income tax payers' total income before tax

  Financial year

  1978–79

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–861

  1986–871

  1987–881

  Top 1 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  5·1

  9·7

  10·9

  13·6

  14·6

  16·1

  Share per cent.

  5

  5

  5

  6

  6

  6

  Top 5 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  15·0

  28·3

  31·4

  36·4

  39·4

  43·3

  Share per cent.

  15

  16

  16

  16

  16

  17

  Top 10 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  24·3

  45·0

  49·6

  56·7

  61·4

  67·4

  Share per cent.

  24

  25

  25

  25

  26

  26

  Policy Work (Financial Management Initiative)
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in applying the financial management initiative to policy work.

  Mr. Major
  Since my predecessor's announcement of 10 June 1985, at column 294, Departments have made considerable improvements, particularly in evaluation. The Treasury has today published "Policy Evaluation : A Guide for Managers", which builds on the work which has been done in Departments and which sets out the approach which has been found most useful. I am arranging for copies of this guide, and of the accompanying press release which describes the background, to be sent to the hon. Member and to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Staff Productivity and Efficiency
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to assess the effect on the productivity and efficiency of staff in his own Department of the tax cuts announced in his Budget Statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The reductions in income tax rates proposed in the Budget will improve incentives for all taxpayers, including the staff in my Department, and will encourage individual effort generally by allowing people to keep more of what they earn.

  Personal Incomes
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for each of the top(a) 1 per cent., (b) 5 per cent., (c) 10 per cent., and (d) the remaining 90 per cent. of taxpayers (i) the total amount of income before tax and (ii) the total amount of income after tax for each of the years 1978–79 to 1987–88.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 10 March 1988] : Estimates are given in the tables for 1978–79 and 1983–84 to 1987–88. Information for other years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All estimates are based on information reported to tax offices and collected through the annual surveys of personal incomes. For years before 1985–86, estimates exclude employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes and some investment income on which tax is deducted at source.
  67

  Financial year

  1978–79

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–861

  1986–871

  1987–881

  Remaining 90 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  78·5

  136·0

  147·0

  166·0

  178·0

  192·0

  Share per cent.

  76

  75

  75

  75

  74

  74

  All taxpayers

  Amount £ billion

  102·8

  181·0

  197·0

  223·0

  239·0

  259·0

  Share per cent.

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Shares of income tax payers' total income after tax

  Financial year

  1978–79

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–861

  1986–871

  1987–881

  Top 1 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  2·7

  5·9

  6·7

  8·1

  8·7

  9·5

  Share per cent.

  3

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Top 5 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  10·1

  19·8

  22·0

  25·2

  27·3

  30·0

  Share per cent.

  12

  13

  14

  14

  14

  14

  Top 10 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  17·3

  32·9

  36·2

  41·2

  44·8

  49·6

  Share per cent.

  21

  22

  22

  23

  23

  23

  Remaining 90 per cent.

  Amount £ billion

  65·2

  115·0

  125·0

  142·0

  152·0

  166·0

  Share per cent.

  79

  78

  78

  77

  77

  77

  All taxpayers

  Amount £ billion

  82·6

  147·0

  162·0

  183·0

  197·0

  215·0

  Share per cent.

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  1 Provisional; includes estimates of occupational pension contributions and investment income not reported to tax offices.

  Seabed Mooring Rentals
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the increases in sea bed mooring rentals recently proposed by the Crown Estate Commissioners.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 29 March 1988] : Mooring charges around the United Kingdom generally are reviewed at regular intervals in fulfilment of the Crown Estate Commissioners' statutory responsibilities. I am informed by the Crown Estate Commissioners that mooring rates applicable to the Clyde estuary within the jurisdiction of the Clyde moorings committee have recently been revised from 1 January 1988. (The previous review took effect in January 1981). The new rates are :

  £ per annum per mooring

  1 January 1988

  1 January 1990

  Single mooring

  37

  42

  2–5 moorings

  25

  30

  6–9 moorings

  20

  25

  10 or more moorings

  18

  23

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenues were yielded to the Crown Estate Commissioners in each of the past 10 years from seabed mooring rentals; and what information he has on the formula on which such rentals are assessed.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 29 March 1988]Information on revenues is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Crown 68
  Estate is now computerising its accounting systems in a way which will enable information of this type to be provided in the future.

  The Crown Estate's charges for seabed used for mooring purposes are recommended by the district valuers of the Inland revenue valuation office in pursuance of section 3(1) of the Crown Estate Act 1961 and undertakings given to Parliament during the passage of that Act.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many boat owners in each coastal area around the United Kingdom pay seabed moorings rentals to the Crown Estate Commissioners(a) individually and (b) through moorings associations formed for the purpose.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 29 March 1988]The information on the number of boat owners who pay a licence fee or rental direct to the Crown Estate is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  The Crown Estate does not hold information on the number of boat owners who may currently have moorings within all areas of Crown seabed leased to mooring associations or fairway committees. There are also many other forms of letting arrangements which regulate the placing of moorings including leases to yacht clubs, harbour and port authorities, commercial boatyards and others.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the steps being taken by the Crown Estate Commissioners to identify seabed moorings on which no rental is currently being paid and on the sanctions being proposed.
  69
  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 29 March 1988]: Visits are made as frequently as necessary to all parts of the estate by agents and officials of the Crown Estate. This does result in the identification of unauthorised uses of Crown Estate interests including moorings. Amicable arrangements are always sought to regularise the situation with the user of the moorings concerned either individually or by suitable group arrangements but civil remedies are available should they prove necessary.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing(a) the total cost of mortgage interest tax relief in 1988–89, (b) the average value of relief per mortgagor, (c) the numbers receiving mortgage relief broken down into the following income ranges: under £4,000, £4,000 to £5,000, £5,000 to £6,000, £6,000 to
  £7,000, £7,000 to £8,000, £ £8,000 to £9,000, £9,000 to £10,000, £10,000 to £12,000, £12,000 to £15,000, £15,000
  to £20,000, £20,000 to £25,000, £25,000 to £30,000, over £30,000.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 30 March 1988]: Provisional estimates based on the proposed rates of ax for 1988–89 are given in the table. They are derived from projections of data from the 1985–86 survey of personal incomes and the 1985 family expenditure survey. The estimates include mortgages formerly under the option mortgage scheme, which are now subsumed within MIRAS.

  Income tax thresholds, tax free income and break-even points

  Tax Year

  Threshold at current prices

  Threshold at 1949–50 prices

  Threshold as percentage of average manual earnings1

  Tax free income2 at current prices

  Tax free income at 1949–50 prices

  Tax free income as percentage of average manual earnings1

  Break-even point3 at current prices

  Break-even point3 at 1949–50 prices

  Break-even point3 as percentage of average manual earning1

  £

  £

  per cent.

  £

  £

  per cent

  £

  £

  per cent.

  Single person

  1978–79

  985

  171

  22·0

  985

  171

  22·0

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1988–894

  2,605

  216

  24·2

  2,605

  216

  24·2

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Married man—no children

  1978–79

  1,535

  266

  34·3

  1,535

  266

  34·4

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  1988–894

  4,095

  399

  38·0

  4,095

  339

  38·0

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Married man—with two children5

  1978–79

  1,735

  300

  38·8

  2,002

  346

  44·7

  2,727

  472

  61·0

  1988–894

  4,095

  339

  38·0

  4,849

  402

  45·0

  7,111

  589

  65·9

  Married man—with four children6

  1978–79

  2,035

  352

  45·5

  2,570

  445

  57·5

  3,836

  664

  85·8

  1988–894

  4,095

  339

  38·0

  5,603

  464

  52·0

  10,127

  839

  93·9

  1 Average manual earnings are for full-time males aged over 21 working a full week.

  2 Tax-free income is defined as the tax threshold plus child benefit.

  3 Break-even point is the level of income at which income tax liability is equal to the money received through child benefit. It therefore gives the level of income above which the family pays more income tax than it obtains in benefits for children.

  4 On the basis of the 1988 Budget proposals. Estimates of thresholds and break-even points as a percentage of earnings are provisional.

  5 Both children aged under 11.

  6 Two children aged under 11, one aged between 11 and 15 and one aged 16 or over.

ENVIRONMENT

  Property Services Agency (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many buildings the Property Services Agency rents for Government Departments in the Doncaster metropolitan borough council area; and what is the annual cost and the rent per square metre.
  70

  Tax units1 receiving mortgage interest relief by range of total income for 1988–89

  Range of total income

  Number receiving mortgage interest relief

  Average value of relief per mortgagor

  Total cost of relief

  (£'000)

  (thousands)

  (£)

  (£ million)

  Under 4

  550

  320

  180

  4 to 5

  140

  340

  50

  5 to 6

  130

  370

  50

  6 to 7

  210

  380

  80

  7 to 8

  280

  390

  110

  8 to 9

  330

  420

  140

  9 to 10

  350

  440

  150

  10 to 12

  1,000

  480

  480

  12 to 15

  1,440

  510

  730

  15 to 20

  1,880

  520

  980

  20 to 25

  1,120

  530

  590

  25 to 30

  470

  680

  320

  Over 30

  700

  910

  640

  Total

  8,600

  520

  4,500

  1 Single persons and married couples.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing(a) the tax threshold, (b) tax free income, and (c) break-even points at current prices, at 1949–50 prices, and as a percentage of average manual earnings for a single person, married man without children, married man with two children and married man with four children in 1978–79 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Lamont
  [holding answer 30 March 1988]: The information is in the table.

  Mr. Chope
  The Property Services Agency rents 21 buildings in the Doncaster metropolitan borough council area. The average rent is £27·82 per sq m and the annual costs are as follows:

  £

  Rents

  394,825

  Rates

  314,441

  71

  £

  Landlords service charges

  33,961

  Insurance

  3,657

  Maintenance

  132,502

  Utilities

  87,442

  966,828

  Tourism
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the impact on the environment of Suffolk and Norfolk caused by tourists.

  Mrs. Roe
  The Government support the policies of local authorities and other bodies in promoting and providing for the tourist industry while preventing unacceptable effects upon the environment. So far as Norfolk and Suffolk are concerned, the structure plans for those counties, both recently approved by the Secretary of State, contain appropriate policies for controlling tourism development.

  Pollution
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding staged percentage reductions in emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust from large combustion plants in the United Kingdom within the context of the proposed European directive on large combustion plants and as to the dates by which the proposed percentage reductions will be achieved in the United Kingdom;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the reason for the rejection by Her Majesty's Government of the compromise proposals put forward by the Federal Republic of Germany, at the meeting of the Council of Environment Ministers on 21 March, on emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust from large combustion plants.

  Mr. Moynihan
  On 30 March the Department submitted a memorandum on the large combustion plants directive, which addresses the issues raised by the hon. Member, to the Environment Select Committee which is currently conducting an inquiry on air pollution. Copies of the memorandum are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimates he had of the total cost to the United Kingdom car industry of meeting emission limits of HC + NOx = 8g/test and CO= 30g/test for the second stage of regulations affecting small cars, below 1·4 litre engine capacity, within the terms of the European directive on emissions of air pollution from petrol-engined vehicles; what would be the increase in the average cost of manufacture of each vehicle; and what percentage of the extra cost of production would be passed on to the consumer;

  (2) what estimates he had of the additional cost to the United Kingdom car industry of meeting emission limits of HC + NOx = 5g/test and CO = 20g/test, proposed by the European Commission for the second stage of regulation affecting small cars, below 1·4 litre engine capacity, within the terms of the European directive on emissions of air
  72
  pollution from petrol-engined vehicles, compared with meeting the emission standards of HC + NOx = 8g/test and CO = 30g/test;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the reasons for the rejection by Her Majesty's Government at the Council of Environment Ministers on 21 March, of the compromise proposals put forward by the European Commission on emissions of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide from new cars with petrol engines smaller than 1·4 litres.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The European Directive 88/76/EEC on gaseous emissions from cars, gave limit values for three vehicle categories. It recognised that the market for small cars, below 1·4 litre engine capacity, was the most sensitive to cost and fuel consumption. Accordingly the limits set for small cars were less stringent than those for medium and large cars. The recent proposal put forward by the European Commission for the second stage limits for small cars, as part of the Luxembourg agreement, was 30g/test for CO and 8g/test for HCs + NOx. These are also the limits for medium cars in 88/76/EEC. The United Kingdom Government, in common with several other member states, believes that the limits would place disproportionate costs on small cars. We remain to be convinced that the proposed limits would not entail an increase in motoring costs out of proportion to the benefits obtained.

  The average increase in costs to meet the Commission's proposals are estimated to be £100/vehicle. The annual costs to the car industry are estimated to be £100 million. It is a matter for the motor industry to decide what percentage of the extra cost is to be passed on to the motorist.

  Some member states are seeking limits of 20g/test for CO and 5g/test for HCs + NOx. To meet these limits the estimated annual increase in manufacturers' costs compared to the Commission proposal is a further £150 million.

  Canals and Waterways
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requests he has received for assistance from organisations whose interests are to develop canals and waterways throughout the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Applications have been received from five canal societies concerned with waterway restoration for funding under the Department's special grants programme 1988–89. Decisions on these will be given shortly. The Department has also had notice of a proposed application for assistance from the European regional development fund in respect of the upper reaches of the Manchester ship canal.

  Shopping Developments
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance has been issued to planning authorities in respect of the criteria to be applied in consideration of applications for regional shopping developments and their effect on existing shopping facilities; and if he will make a statement.
  73
  Mrs. Roe
  Guidance on these issues is given in a planning policy guidance note on major retail development (PPG6) issued jointly by my Department and the Welsh Office on 20 January this year. Copies are in the Library.

  Merseyside Development Corporation
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Birkenhead of 17 March, if he will appoint women to the Merseyside development corporation board.

  Mr. Trippier
  Board members are appointed on the basis of their ability to do the job. Members include people 74
  with a special knowledge of the locality and appropriate business or professional experience. My right hon. Friend will appoint suitable people, women or men, as appropriate.

  Greenham Common
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to review the common land designation of Greenham common; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has no powers to review common land designations.

  Local Authorities (Rating and Capital Expenditure)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he had with local authorities in Cornwall before his statement on the subject on 9 March concerning his plan to outlaw a number of kinds of leaseback and other accounting arrangements.

  Mr. Chope
  The measures announced by my right hon. Friend on 9 March were not preceded by any consultation because, as he explained in his statement, prior consultation would have rendered the measures ineffective. But the amending regulations made on 9 March are temporary and my right hon. Friend is now consulting local government about whether any changes or clarification are required before permanent regulations are made.

  Nuclear Materials (Mislabelling)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will initiate an investigation into the links between(a) Rio Tinto Zinc (UK) Ltd., (b) Imperial Smelting Corporation (UK) Ltd., (c) Nuclear Transport Ltd., and (d) British Nuclear Fuels plc ad Transnuklear and Nukem in the Federal Republic of Germany, currently under investigation for corrupt practices and mislabelling of nuclear materials by the European Commission and the European Parliament.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no responsibility for links between, or the commercial operations of, these companies.

  Unity Houses (Southend)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why his Department advised Southend borough council on 8 March (ref: ENV/PS/HAS) that its request for a higher expenditure limit for reinstating 17 Unity homes should be rejected; and what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the work involved can be completed satisfactorily within the limits set by his Department.

  Mrs. Roe
  Although each individual limit approved was considerably higher than the national eligible expenditure limit for Unity houses (currently £20,000), the basic repair costs requested by the council were higher than we would have expected, having regard to the extent of the works and the level of building costs in the area. However, following the council's reapplications for two of these properties, containing additional information about unusual works, we were able to issue decisions on 5 April, approving higher figures. If the council wishes to reapply, with further information, for the other 15 properties we shall consider each case again carefully on its merits.

  We are currently consulting on proposed revisions to the national expenditure limits for all designated types.

  Caravan Sites
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to repeal the legislation making it the duty of local authorities to provide caravan sites for gipsies.

  Mrs. Roe
  No. My right hon. Friend informed the House, in a written reply to my hon. Friend the Member 76
  for Hornsey and Wood Green (Sir H. Rossi) on 6
  February last year,—Official Report, Vol. 109, columns 856–58—that a review had been completed and that there was to be no amendment of the present law.

  Stud Farms (Rates)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to revert stud farms and other facilities for the breeding and keeping of horses to their former status of not being liable for rates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The decision of the House of Lords in the case of Hemens (VO) v. Whitsbury Farm and Stud Ltd. has confirmed that the breeding of horses is not an agricultural activity for the purposes of rating. We are now considering representations that the law should be changed so as to extend the benefits of agricultural derating to stud farms.

  Mobile Homes
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether planning permission is required(a) to site a mobile home in a private garden and (b) to connect a mobile home sited in a private garden to the main drainage; and if he will list the regulations which apply to such cases.

  Mrs. Roe
  It is for local planning authorities to decide in each case whether a development or use of land requires planning permission. Siting a mobile home in a private garden of a dwellinghouse is not development as defined in section 22 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 and so would not require planning permission provided the use of the mobile home was confined to a purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse. Connecting a mobile home sited on a private garden to mains drainage would not require planning permission, but making such a connection, particularly if associated with providing other mains services, may indicate use for purposes not incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse.

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received concerning Government action to protect the ozone layer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  In the first three months of 1988 the Department received approximately 300 letters about the ozone layer, either directly from members of the public or forwarded by right hon. and hon. Members.

  Conservation
  Mr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met his counterparts from the other European Community states; and what issues relating to co-ordinated measures to protect the environment were discussed.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Patnick) on 24 March, at column 186.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the reason for the delay in the purchase by Mr. John Kellers of his home at 16 Gylcote Close, Denmark Hill, SE5 8EU; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  According to Southwark council, shortage of staff and high volume of work.

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will explain the calculations behind the statement in "Paying for Local Government, Questions and Answers", published in December 1987, that businesses in the north and the midlands stand to be better off by £700 million every year as a result of the introduction of the national non-domestic rate and revaluation; and if he will provide comparable figures for each standard region in England.

  Mr. Ridley
  The figure is based on exemplifications of the effect if a uniform national non-domestic rate had been in force in 1987–88. That would have produced a gain to the north and midlands of £490 million. The best forecasts available of the likely effects of a concurrent non-domestic revaluation suggest a further reduction in business rates in the north and midlands in excess of £200 million. Estimates of the effect of the revaluation in 1990 disaggregated for different areas and classes of property are not yet available.

TRANSPORT

  British Railways (Luffenham) Level Crossing Order
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from Rutland district council regarding the British Railways (Luffenham) Level Crossing Order; what reply he has sent; and on how many occasions in the last five years he or his predecessors have(a) confirmed such orders and (b) withdrawn them, following a critical submission from the local authority covering the area in question.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I have received no representations to date from Rutland district council regarding the British Railways (Luffenham) Level Crossing Order. The British Railways Board circulated the draft order on 2 February and the period within which representations may he made ended on 2 April.

  A total of 751 statutory orders have been issued in the last five years authorising changes in the protection arrangements at level crossings. The precise number of orders that have been rejected is not readily available but it is not thought that there have been more than six such cases.

  Fishing Vessels (Radio Batteries)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of batteries for radios on fishing vessels using 2182 kilocycles for marine distress frequencies, in the light of the requirements of the Safety at Sea Act.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  When a major supplier withdrew from the market, the Department initiated the approval of 78
  an alternative supply of batteries for the portable radio equipment operating on 2182 KHz required to be carried on fishing vessels. In addition where owners are experiencing problems with the supply of batteries for such equipment, the Department is prepared to grant exemptions from the requirements for annual replacement in appropriate circumstances as a temporary measure.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of British-registered fishing vessels using 2182 kilocycle marine dishes frequency radios; and if he will list in the Official Report those companies which manufacture batteries for such radios.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  All United Kingdom fishing vessels of 17m in length and above (approximately 1,100) are required to carry portable radio equipment operating on 2182 KHz. Crompton Parkinson Ltd. manufacture the specialised batteries required for the available type-approved equipment.

  Fishing Vessels (Approval)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report how many British-registered fishing vessels have sought approval under the Safety at Sea Act; how many have not met requirements; and for what reasons.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Detailed requirements to implement the life-saving equipment provisions for fishing vessels in the Safety at Sea Act 1986 have now been introduced by the Fishing Vessels (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1988. The requirement to carry lifejackets on smaller fishing vessels came into force on 15 February 1988. Those relating to the carriage of emergency position indicating radio beacons and automatic release of liferafts will be phased in from 15 April 1988 to 15 January 1989. The Act does not require specific approval of fishing vessels.

  Crewe Bus Station
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State For Transport if he has received any guarantees from Carlton PSV Ltd. or the National Bus Company, concerning the maintenance of the Crewe bus station following Carlton PSV's purchase of Crosville Motors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  No. The hon. Lady will know from the answers given on 1 February that it has not been the National Bus Company's policy to seek to prevent rationalisation or replacement of particular assets.

  Higham and Strood Tunnels (Flooding)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has on the connection between the recent flooding in the Higham and Strood tunnels and the concreting over of nearby drainage channels.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I am advised that British Railways has no knowledge of any concreting over of drainage channels and that it is unlikely that any such action without its knowledge would have significantly contributed to the recent flooding at Higham and Strood tunnels. The flooding occurred at the end of January this
  79
  year after a period of unusually prolonged and heavy rainfall, which caused a rise in the level of the local water table, up to the level of the bottom of the electric conductor rail, causing the suspension of electric-hauled services. Additional pumping combined with a general lowering of the local water table enabled normal services to be resumed on 23 February. However, high water table levels persist and pumping is continuing.

  Clotton Bypass
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for constructing a bypass round Clotton on the A51.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  None. We are currently considering whether there is a case for including a Clotton bypass as a candidate for future addition to our forward programme.

  Coastguards (Equipment)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider granting a consultation period to interested parties before withdrawing the 41mm pistol and rockets and light line and floating head attachments from the coastguards and beach rescue services; what is he annual cost of maintenance for this equipment for the last five years; and how often this equipment has been used in the last five years to effect a rescue or to place a light line aboard a small craft.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  This is an operational matter and not one on which wider consultation is appropriate. The equipment, which is obsolete, is being withdrawn as from 31 March.

  The floating head attachments were withdrawn from use in 1979. They caused an imbalance in the rocket projectile leading to an erratic and dangerous trajectory. The total cost of maintaining the line throwing equipment over the last five years was £170,143.

  Using the present statistical system it is not possible to determine how many times the equipment was used to effect a rescue or place a light line aboard a small craft.

  North Review
  Sir Antony Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the report of the North review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Channon
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and I have today published the report of the road traffic law review which has been carried out under the chairmanship of Dr. Peter North, the Principal of Jesus College, Oxford. Dr. North's terms of reference asked him to examine ways of making the law simpler, more effective and more acceptable. The Government are grateful for the wide range of constructive proposals which the report contains and welcome its concentration on ways to reduce the number of accidents and the casualties, damage and misery which they cause. The many organisations consulted during the review will wish to study its recommendations in their final form. Meanwhile, we shall press on with our own consideration of the report, and will report to the House on our progress before the summer recess.

  Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  Aircraft Safety
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will obtain a definitive statement from the Civil Aviation Authority of the time scale for(a) equipping all newly constructed aircraft used by British carriers with water-based fire-suppression systems and (b) the completion on a retro-fit basis of existing aircraft used by British carriers with water-based fire-suppression systems;

  (2) if he will obtain an estimate from the Civil Aviation Authority of the cost of retro-fitting B747 aircraft with a water-based fire-suppression system; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if the Civil Aviation Authority will ensure that the case for providing passengers in British-registered aircraft with protection from toxic fumes and gases together with irritant smoke in aviation fire-related accidents will not be influenced or delayed by the desire to gain international agreement on this subject; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) if he will ascertain from the Civil Aviation Authority why the authority's "Smokehoods : Net Safety Benefit Analysis" gives credit for floor-level lighting in circumstances of heavy irritant smoke, in the light of research undertaken by the Federal Aviation Authority purporting to show its ineffectiveness in such situations.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have drawn the hon. Member's questions to the attention of the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority and I have asked the chairman to write to him.

  Drivers (Licence Requirements)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in relation to the EEC directive on drivers' licence requirements, any exemptions or dispensations will be made in requirements for volunteers driving community service vans with more than eight seats.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  At present drivers of these vehicles need to have an ordinary driving licence. The licence requirements in the new system will not be known until the second EC Directive on driver licensing is published. The rights of existing licence holders to drive minibuses should not be affected by the new arrangements.

  The responses to the Department's consultation paper on proposals to bring the driver licensing system into line with the EC licence category system have clearly indicated that tighter controls on new minibus drivers would cause serious problems for voluntary and community service operations.

  We shall be pressing the EC to preserve the existing arrangements for these vehicles in the negotiations on the forthcoming directive.

  Crossbush, West Sussex
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when was the last official visit by a Minister in his Department to Crossbush in West Sussex; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  During my visit to West Sussex on 2 March this year, 1 had a useful meeting in Crossbush village with my hon. Friend and the chairman of Lyminster parish council. I shall make an announcement as soon as I can on the possibility of building the Crossbush section of the Arundel bypass in advance.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  NHS Building Programme
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital building schemes costed at more than £1 million were completed in 1974 to 1979; and how many have been completed since 1979.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many building schemes costed at more than £1 million were completed in 1974 to 1979; and how many have been completed since 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  Information held centrally on health building schemes, each costing over £1 million, shows that 120 schemes were completed between April 1974 and March 1979 and 300 more have been completed from April 1979 to date.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the National Health Service capital expenditure projects, costing more than £1 million, which have been completed in the Staffordshire, Moorlands parliamentary constituency during the past 14 years and those projected in the next five years.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information is as follows:

  Completed Schemes:
  New Cheadle Geriatric Unit—completed July 1987—cost £5 million.

  Projected Schemes:
  Leek Moorlands Hospital redevelopment—estimated completion date 1989—cost £2·079 million.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of the Health Service building programme.

  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of the Health Service building programme.

  Table 1 Resident mental illness in-patients1 by estimated duration of stay

  England

  Year

  All durations

  Less than 1 year

  per cent.

  1 year-5 years

  per cent

  More than 5 years

  per cent.

  1981

  73,170

  27,150

  37

  17,190

  23

  28,830

  39

  1982

  70,880

  26,740

  38

  17,130

  24

  27,010

  38

  1983

  69,030

  26,350

  38

  17,060

  25

  25,620

  37

  1984

  66,050

  26,380

  40

  15,870

  24

  23,800

  36

  1985

  63,970

  27,400

  43

  14,950

  23

  21,620

  34

  1986

  60,280

  25,790

  43

  14,780

  25

  19,710

  33

  All columns are expressed as a percentage of total resident in-patients. Percentages may not add up to 100 per cent, because of rounding.

  The reducing numbers of in-patients with duration of stay exceeding five years have been divided between:

  Discharges

  Deaths

  1981

  818

  2,657

  1982

  733

  2,551

  1983

  821

  2,417

  1984

  981

  2,397

  1985

  986

  2,346

  1986

  1,082

  2,194

  1 Excludes patients in the four special hospitals.

  82
  Mrs. Currie
  The largest ever building programme in the history of the National Health Service is still under way. Information held centrally shows that there are currently over 500 health building schemes, each costing over £l million, at various stages of planning, design and construction. The total value of the programme is estimated at over £3·5 billion, and the total capital expenditure this year (1988–89) is expected to exceed £1 billion.

  These building schemes, which are located throughout the country, are providing a better health care environment for National Health Service patients and more attractive working conditions for staff. They are helping to improve productivity and value for money. Newer designs have been generally very well received by patients and the public and are being completed on time and to budget.

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many capital schemes in the Health Service are under construction; and how many have been completed since 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) earlier today.

  Psychiatric Patients
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently patients in psychiatric institutions compared with each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Since 1981 there has been a welcome reduction of nearly 20 per cent. (to just over 60,000) in the number of in-patients in mental illness hospitals. The figures are as follows :

  Table 2 Mental illness services—other than in-patient provision

  England

  1981

  1986

  Day hospital places

  15,300

  18,660

  Day centre places1

  7,600

  9,220

  Local authority, private and voluntary residential accommodation2

  6,040

  8,270

  Community psychiatric nurses (whole-time equivalents)

  1,080

  2,530

  1 Including an estimate of places in mixed centres.

  2 The great majority of mentally ill people in the community live in ordinary family homes. Others have their home in

  83
  accommodation (including group homes) provided by eg housing associations and local authority housing departments. These figures are not identified in central statistics.

  Benefits (Proof of Need)
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of claimants and their dependants who are eligible for benefits payable on proof of need; what proportion are currently in receipt of benefit; and if he will take steps to reduce the number of people obliged to depend on benefit payable on proof of need.

  Mr. Portillo
  The latest available estimates suggest that around 7·5 million to 8 million claimants are likely to be in receipt of income-related benefits following the introduction of the new structure, but a corresponding figure for dependants is not available. Falling unemployment, rising earnings, higher pensioner incomes from savings and occupational schemes and tax reductions will all tend to reduce the numbers who need to turn to such help.

  Disabled People (Assistance)
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services by what criteria applications for assistance from the special fund to help the severely disabled are to be judged; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I announced the eligibility criteria for the independent living fund in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander) on 31 March. The fund will be primarily to make payments to very severely disabled people on low income who receive attendance allowance and need to employ domestic help to enable them to live independently in the community.

  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there will be any mechanism for the review of or appeal against a refusal of assistance from the special fund set up to help the severely disabled.

  Mr. Scott
  It will be for the trustees of the independent living fund to determine how to deal with cases which have been turned down by the fund. I am sure that they will wish to give very careful consideration to any cases which give rise to dissatisfaction.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the special fund set up to help the severely disabled to be in operation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the special fund set up to help the severely disabled to be in operation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. Mackay) earlier today.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there will be any mechanism for the review of or appeal against a refusal of assistance from the special fund set up to help the severely disabled.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Derbyshire North-East (Mr. Barnes) and Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mrs. Golding) earlier today.

  Community Care
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received following the publication of the report "Community Care: Agenda for Action", and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the implications for Government policy of the Griffiths report on community care; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We have received a number of comments on Sir Roy Griffiths' report and will take account of them in framing our own proposals.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to make a definite statement on the Government's response to the recommendation of the Griffiths report.

  Mr. Newton
  Sir Roy Griffiths' recommendations raise issues of far-reaching significance which need careful consideration. We intend to bring forward our own proposals as soon as possible.

  Social Security Reform
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants he expects to be better off(a) in cash terms, and (b) in terms of their real disposable income, following on the changes in social security in April.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's reply to the hon. Members for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) and Dundee, West (Mr. Ross) earlier today.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the inclusion of loans within the new social security system, he will make it his policy to help to expand independent debt counselling and advice services by providing financial support in addition to that currently provided by the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Mr. Portillo
  Money advice for supplementary benefit recipients who have serious financial difficulties has been provided in this Department by special case officers for several years. Social fund officers have been trained to undertake these duties in future.

  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the number of families with children who will gain financially, and the numbers who will be unaffected, following implementation of social security reforms.

  Mr. Scott
  Many commentators have noted favourably that 90 per cent. of all families with children in receipt of benefit will gain or experience no change in cash terms.

  Firemen
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how the transitional protection arrangements will operate in the case of part-time firemen transferring from supplementary benefit to income support on 11 April; and how their benefit entitlement will be affected by any subsequent fluctuations in their earnings.
  85
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how the transitional protection arrangements will operate in the case of part-time firemen transferring from supplementary benefit to income support on 11 April; and how their benefit entitlement will be affected by any subsequent fluctuations in their earnings.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how the transitional protection arrangements will operate in the case of part-time firemen transferring from supplementary benefit to income support on 11 April; and how their benefit entitlement will be affected by any subsequent fluctuation in their earnings.

  Mr. Scott
  Part-time firemen working fewer than 24 hours a week will receive transitional protection at the point of change if their benefit income under income support is lower than that under supplementary benefit. This includes protection against a reduction in entitlement arising from the change in the disregard of earnings. For those entitled to income support and a transitional addition, the amount of the addition will not be affected by fluctuating earnings. Those receiving only a transitional addition will have that addition reduced by any increase in income.

  Social Fund
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding the allocations to his Department's offices to cover social fund payments during 1988–89; and if he will review these allocations.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding the allocations to his Department's offices to cover social fund payments during 1988–89; and if he will review these allocations.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding the allocations to his Department's offices to cover social fund payments during 1988–89; and if he will review these allocations.

  Mr. Portillo
  We have received letters from about 45 hon. Members and from about 10 members of the public. In addition, about 25 local offices have raised operational questions relating to their budget allocation. Allocations will be reviewed only in exceptional circumstances; for example, if a boundary change between offices occurs, or if there is a sudden unforeseen and unforeseeable call on a local office's budgets arising, for example, from a local disaster or emergency such as a flood.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will define the term "poor risk" in connection with his Department's local offices refusing loans under the new social security arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The term "poor risk" is not one which is used in the directions and guidance issued to social fund officers to enable them to decide applications for loans made to the social fund. The directions and guidance issued for this purpose are contained in parts 3 and 4 of the "Social Fund Manual", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Child Benefit
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if any decision has yet been taken about the future uprating of child benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The level of child benefit is reviewed each year as part of the annual review of benefits.

  Hospitals (Nucleus System)
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the use being made of the nucleus system of hospital design.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) earlier today.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals halve been built to the nucleus design since its inception.

  Mrs. Currie
  So far 43 hospital building schemes, each costing over £1 million, have been completed using the nucleus standard design and briefing system; a further 22 nucleus schemes are under construction. We estimate that a total of at least £30 million has been saved by the use of this standardised approach in comparison with the conventional construction.

  1991 Census
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how widely he has consulted on arrangements for the 1991 census.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how widely he has consulted on arrangements for the 1991 census.

  Mrs. Edwina Currie
  The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is formally consulting Government Departments, local authorities and health authorities. The consultation process is described in "Census Newsletter No. 2", a copy of which is in the Library. Additionally, the Registrar General has written to a number of other organisations, inviting views. When my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 2 November 1987, at column 573, that a census is to be taken in 1991 he stated that submissions to the Registrar General from any source would be welcome.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mrs. Rosie Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to promote the flow of up-to-date information on waiting times for each speciality between health authorities by means of a computer network; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no present plans to set up a national computerised database of waiting times for hospital treatment. However, as part of the waiting list initiative we are encouraging health authorities to provide general practitioners with regularly updated information about waiting times in their own and neighbouring districts. Some authorities are using computer systems for this purpose.

  Births, Marriages and Deaths (Registration)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent the unit cost of registration of births, marriages and deaths has changed, in real terms(a) since 1979 and (b) since the efficiency scrutiny in 1985.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent the unit cost of registration of births, marriages and deaths has changed in real terms(a) since 1979 and (b) since the efficiency scrutiny in 1985.

  Mrs. Currie
  Firm local figures are available to 1985–86, current figures will be available later this year. From 1979–80 to 1985–86 the aggregate unit cost of registering births, civil marriages and deaths rose in real terms by 4·2 per cent. when compared against the retail prices index. This was, however, significantly less than the average salary increase of those administering the local registration service over the same period.

  Health and Personal Social Services
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide an updated version of table 3·16 from "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics 1987", giving data for 1986 and 1987 whenever possible.

  Mr. Newton
  The information for September 1986 is shown in the table. Similar information for September 1987 is not yet available.

  Nursing and Midwifery staff Analysis by Area of work and Grade in England at 30 September 1986

  Whole-time equivalents

  All Nursing and midwifery1

  Total

  397,240

  Administrative nursing

  2,340

  Nursing staff in centrally based services

  1,775

  Blood Transfusion Service

  1,151

  Administrative midwifery

  179

  Hospital nursing:

  Total

  330,830

  Qualified:

  Total

  182,319

  Senior Nurse 1–5

  440

  Senior Nurse 6–8

  5,458

  Tutorial nursing

  4,935

  Other registered nurses

  104,613

  Enrolled nurses

  66,875

  Learners:

  Total

  62,524

  Post-registration student nurses

  2,169

  Post-enrolment student nurses

  1,648

  Pre-registration student nurses

  48,350

  Pupil nurses

  10,358

  Unqualified:2

  Total

  85,987

  Other nursing staff

  85,981

  Nursing cadets

  6

  Hospital midwifery:

  Total

  18,722

  Qualified:

  14,543

  Senior Nurses 1–5

  28

  Senior Nurses 6–8

  579

  Tutorial midwifery

  534

  Other state certified midwives

  13,403

  Learners: Student midwives

  4,179

  88

  Whole-time equivalents

  Primary health care nursing:

  Total

  38,116

  Senior nurse 1–5 and above

  91

  Senior nurse 6–8

  1,254

  Health visiting

  Health visitors3

  10,393

  Other registered

  460

  Other enrolled

  93

  Student health visitors

  832

  Other nursing staff

  224

  District nursing

  District nurses4

  9,119

  District nursing tutorial

  43

  Other registered

  1,315

  Other enrolled5

  4,296

  Student district nurses

  680

  Other nursing staff

  3,203

  School nursing service

  Registered nurses6

  2,485

  Enrolled nurses

  182

  Dual/triple duty posts:

  Health visitor/district nurse/midwife (and health visitor/midwife)

  37

  District nurse/Midwife (and SRN/midwife)

  457

  Enrolled nurse/Midwife

  —

  Other registered nurses

  1,207

  Other enrolled nurses

  368

  Other unqualified staff

  1,378

  Community health midwifery:

  Senior nurses 1–5 and above

  —

  Senior nurses 6–8

  117

  Other midwifery staff

  4,011

  Agency nurses (Hospital)7

  4,866

  Agency midwives (Hospital)7

  268

  Agency nurses (PHC)7

  282

  Agency midwives (PHC)7

  35

  Source: DHSS Annual Census of NHS non-medical manpower.

  1 Excludes agency staff.

  2 Includes nursing auxiliaries and nursery nurses.

  3 Includes Health Visitor Fieldwork Teachers, HV School Nurses, TB visitors with HV certificates and Bank HVs.

  4 Includes District Nurse Practical Work Teachers and Bank District Nurses.

  5 Includes enrolled nurses with District Nurse Training.

  6 Includes School nurses and other registered nurses working in the school health services and Bank School Nurses.

  7 Not included in the totals.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list(a) total staff in Great Britain, full-time and part-time, for the National Health Service, (b) the number of occupied beds, (c) the waiting lists and (d) the ratio of staff to occupied beds for the years 1960, 1982 and 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  The available figures for England are given in the tables. Staffing figures for 1960 are not available on a basis consistent with those for later years.

  Staff in the National Health Service cover a wide range of Health Service activities, not simply those related to hospital beds. Moreover, staff-in-post figures are a "snapshot" relating to a particular day (the main census being on 30 September), whereas numbers of occupied

  89
  beds are based on a daily count averaged over a full calendar year. For those reasons any ratios of staff-in-post to occupied beds would be meaningless and have not, therefore, been provided.

  Over the period in question, the number of in-patient cases treated rose by over 63 per cent. from 3,931,938 in 1960 to 6,413,789 in 1987. Data on day cases are not available for 1960 but between 1982 and 1987 the number of day cases treated rose by over 48 per cent. from 706,495 to 1,050,158.

  The figures for the rest of Great Britain are matters for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Numbers of staff directly employed1 by the National Health Service at 30 September: England

  Numbers and whole-time equivalent2

  Whole-time number

  Part-time WTE3

  Total WTE34

  1982

  619,500

  211,000

  830,600

  1986

  595,500

  206,000

  801,600

  Sources: DHSS annual censuses of National Health Service medical and non-medical manpower.

  1 Includes nursing and midwifery agency staff and medical and dental locum staff.

  2 Figures are independently rounded to the nearest one hundred (100).

  3 Includes honorary medical and dental staff.

  4 Community Health Service locums, for whom a breakdown by nature of contract is not available, are included in the totals.

  Average number of beds occupied and number of patients on the National Health Service waiting list for England at 31 December

  Average number of beds occupied

  Number of patients on the in-patient waiting list

  1960

  387,229·0

  437,988

  1982

  279,833·0

  746,086

  11986

  254,597·2

  676,475

  National Health Service directly employed hospital and community health service staff—selected main staff groups at 30 September

  Whole time equivalents1

  England

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Nursing and Midwifery (including agency)2

  358,400

  370,100

  391,800

  397,100

  397,100

  397,500

  401,200

  402,700

  Medical and Dental (including locums)3

  39,000

  40,200

  41,000

  41,500

  42,300

  42,300

  43,000

  43,200

  Professional and Technical (excluding works)4

  60,100

  61,900

  65,200

  67,200

  68,700

  72,700

  74,300

  76,100

  Administrative and Clerical

  103,000

  105,400

  108,800

  108,800

  110,000

  110,300

  111,000

  111,400

  Ancillary4

  171,900

  172,000

  172,200

  170,500

  166,200

  152,200

  139,400

  124,300

  Others5

  42,900

  44,200

  45,400

  45,500

  45,100

  44,300

  44,000

  43,900

  Total Directly Employed (including agency and locums)

  775,300

  793,800

  824,400

  830,600

  829,400

  819,300

  812,900

  801,600

  Source: DHSS Annual censuses of National Health Service medical and non-medical manpower.

  1 Figures are independently rounded to nearest one hundred (100) whole time equivalents.

  2 Not adjusted for the reduction in nurses' contractual hours-from 40 to 37-5 per week during 1980/81.

  3 Includes all permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.

  4 On 1 April 1984 Operating Department Assistants transferred from Ancillary to Professional and Technical Staff Group. Figures not adjusted to take account of change.

  5 Includes works, maintenance and ambulance staff.

  National Health Service directly employed hospital staff at 30 September

  Whole time equivalents1

  England

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Hospital Nursing and Midwifery2

  319,300

  330,200

  347,700

  351,900

  350,500

  350,200

  352,500

  354,700

  Hospital Medical and Dental3

  34,700

  35,800

  36,600

  37,100

  37,800

  38,800

  38,600

  38,800

  90
  1 Latest data available are for 1986.

  Dr. Owen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each year since 1979 the total number, and the number per occupied bed, in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, of(a) all hospital staff, (b) hospital administrators and clerks, (c) nurses, (d) hospital doctors, (e) professional and technical workers and (f) ancillary staff.

  Mr. Newton
  Such information as is available for England is shown in the tables.

  Staffing figures have been given (a) for all hospital and community staff and (b) for hospital nursing and midwifery staff and medical and dental staff. (These are the only two staff groups that can be split between those working in the community and in hospitals).

  Individual staff groups with the NHS cover a wide range of health service activity, not just that related to hospital bed provision. Staff-in-post figures are a "snapshot" on a particular day (the census date being 30 September), whereas occupied beds are a daily count averaged over a full calendar year.

  For these reasons, and taking account of the variations in case load and patient dependency, staff-in-post/ occupied beds ratios are crude and not meaningful. Staff and occupied bed statistics are therefore shown in separate tables.

  Figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Northern Ireland.
  91
  Source: DHSS (SR7) Annual censuses of NHS medical and non-medical manpower.

  1 Figures are independently rounded to the nearest one hundred (100) whole-time equivalents.

  2 Includes agency staff. Not adjusted for reducation in nurses' contractual hours during 1980/81 (from 40 to 37·5 hours per week). Includes permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 15 December 1987,Official Report, columns 493–96, why costs incurred in respect of clerical and secretarial support employed in departments at hospitals and unit levels are considered operational rather than administrative.

  Mr. Newton
  Administrative, clerical and secretarial staff at hospital and unit level are operational in that they are an essential part of the day-to-day delivery of patient care services. They would include medical secretaries, ward clerks, interpreters and sometimes care assistants, who provide direct support to clinical staff. Administrative staff employed at regional and district headquarters are mainly concerned with the co-ordination of services between hospitals, planning and policy matters, and the maintenance of centralised services such as finance, supplies, personnel, procurement and computing.

  Eye Operations (Newcastle)
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time for patients awaiting eye operations in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and what was the number five years ago.

  Mr. Newton
  The estimated median waiting interval between the time an in-patient was placed on the waiting list and admission to a National Health Service hospital in the Newcastle district health authority area for an eye operation was three weeks in 1980 and 12 weeks in 1985, the latest year for which information in this form is available. The number of eye patients treated in Newcastle over the same period rose from 3,608 in 1980 to 3,737 in 1985.

  Urgent Cases
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has of the cost of treating all non-urgent cases waiting for more than one year and all urgent cases waiting more than one month, so that no one was in either position by July.

  Mr. Newton
  It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the cost of reducing waiting time in the way suggested. The cost would depend on a range of factors, including the types of treatment needed, the extent to which extra staff, beds, equipment, operating theatre sessions and other facilities would be required and the number of new patients who would join the list between now and July.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if all districts will reach the target of all urgent cases being admitted within one month and all non-urgent cases within one year by March.

  Mr. Newton
  Targets of this kind, set in 1975, would no longer be appropriate in relation to the waiting list statistics now being collected, since these do not maintain the distinction between urgent and non-urgent cases, which is widely recognised to be too subjective to give reliable figures. However, as part of the waiting list 92
  initiative, we are encouraging health authorities to draw up local statements of policy on achievable in and out-patient waiting times.

  Waiting Lists (Eye Treatment)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to the answer,Official Report, 8 March, column 178, he is yet in a position to announce the distribution of a further £30 million for reducing waiting lists; and what proportion is for reducing waiting lists for eye treatment.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) on 10 March at columns 341–42. Regional health authorities are currently finalising their programmes to tackle waiting lists and times in 1988–89. They have so far put forward over 350 projects for funding from within their allocations from the £30 million waiting list fund; 44 of these are in the specialty of ophthalmology.

  Benefit System
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received regarding the changes in the benefit system.

  Mr. Scott
  Many.

  Training Schemes
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether individuals with transitional protection of benefit will retain their transitional benefit if they take a place on the community programme and leave when the adult training scheme is introduced in September.

  Mr. Scott
  Earnings from work done on the community programme will reduce or remove transitional additions in the same way as any other earnings. People not in full-time work who remain entitled to income support and transitional protection while they are on the community programme will not lose the protection as a result of leaving the community programme and joining employment training.

  Mental Patients
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many long-term mental patients he estimates there will be in each health authority in England and Wales in each of the next seven years.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have no centrally collected information on which to base estimates.

  Leukaemia
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence he has of connection between the electromagnetic field attending high voltage transmission lines and the occurrence of leukaemia.

  Mrs. Currie
  There have been a number of studies published over the years on the possible health effects of exposure to the electro-magnetic fields produced from
  93
  high voltage power lines. Although some studies have indicated the possibility of a small increased risk of leukaemia, these studies have been limited and far from conclusive, and others have failed to find such evidence.

  I am aware that the authors of one recent study done in the United States of America reported a possible association of magnetic fields with incidence of leukaemia and certain childhood cancers but that they did not regard their results as conclusive and recommended further study.

  Further studies are under way or planned, including an independent survey of childhood cancer cases in England and Wales using new techniques for measuring magnetic fields in homes. The United Kingdom electricity supply industry expects to spend in the order of £1 million on supporting research in this area in 1988. The Department will continue to keep the evidence under review.

  "Charities Digest"
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many copies of the "Charities Digest" his Department has purchased for distribution.

  Mr. Portillo
  A total of 1,100 copies of the "Charities Digest" were purchased in December 1987 and two copies distributed to each local office of the Department.

  National Childbirth Trust
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to announce the Department's response to the grant application of the National Childbirth Trust.

  Mrs. Currie
  We expect to respond shortly.

  Regional Health Authorities (Civil Defence)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list what financial allocations for civil defence planning have been made to each of the regional health authorities in England and Wales for each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Currie
  Allocations to regional health authorities in 1981–82 included £38,000 provided to meet the costs of creating posts with responsibility for home defence planning and co-ordination. Since 1982–83 this funding has been built into authorities' baseline cash limits and has not been allocated separately.

  Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Poverty Trap
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the Government's measures, implemented in April, to help eliminate the poverty trap.

  Mr. Scott
  We have received numerous representations welcoming our measures to end the worst aspect of the poverty trap.

  Women's National Cancer Control Campaign
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the women's national cancer control campaign to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
  94
  Mrs. Currie
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 13 June to 17 June.

  City Hospital, Nottingham
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what saving has been made by the closure of a geriatric ward in the City hospital, Nottingham; and what further saving is anticipated from continued closure.

  Mrs. Currie
  Responsibility for the management of local health services rests with the district health authority (in this case Nottingham). I suggest the hon. Member contacts the chairman of that authority for the information he seeks.

  Consultants
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will provide for 1986–87, or the latest figures available, a breakdown of the reasons for the absence of consultants from National Health Service hospitals with regard to(a) study leave, (b) holidays, (c) sick leave and (d) other;

  (2) what is the latest cost of providing locums for National Health Service consultants; how much of this is to cover the cost of study leave; and if he will provide comparable figures for previous years.

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

  Drugs and Therapies (Licences)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the policy of his Department and appropriate committees on the granting of licences or provisional licences for drugs and therapies when full licences have already been granted by well-recognised national organisations, such as the United States Food and Drugs Authority; what priority the Committee on Safety of Medicines gives to consideration of such drugs and therapies when there are no known alternative cures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Under the Medicines Act 1968 and EC directives the United Kingdom licensing authority must be satisfied as to the safety, quality and efficacy of a medicinal product for human use before granting a product licence. In making a decision, the licensing authority must consider for itself the evidence which the directives require the applicant to submit, and also takes account of other relevant information which may include licensing decisions by other national regulatory agencies.

  Licence applications are normally assessed in strict chronological order of receipt. Exceptionally, a product licence application may be fast-tracked when there are compelling reasons for believing that the product would provide a major therapeutic breakthrough in the treatment of patients for indicated conditions. "Fast tracking" means that the application is considered out of turn; it does not mean that normal standards are lowered.

  Hospital Beds
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current number of National Health
  95
  Service beds per 1,000 of the population; and if he will give comparable figures for previous years at 10-yearly intervals, including the earliest year available.

  Mrs. Currie
  The available information is given in the table.

  National Health Service hospital beds per thousand population, England

  Year

  Average daily available beds

  2 Population (thousands)

  Beds per thousand population

  1949

  1428,314

  40,529·2

  10·57

  1956

  1450,240

  42,059·5

  10·70

  1966

  434,846

  45,264·5

  9·61

  1976

  383,132

  46,659·9

  8·21

  1986

  315,714

  47,254·5

  6·68

  1 Estimate.

  2 Mid year population estimates.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide the latest figures available on the number of National Health Service hospital beds per 1,000 of the population in the United Kingdom and in other European countries.

  Mrs. Currie
  The table gives the available information published by the OECD in 1985. It does not, however, distinguish between private and state provision of hospital beds.

  Table 27

  In-patient medical care beds per 1,000 population, 1980s

  (Actual year in brackets)

  Country

  1980s

  Austria

  10·8 (1983)

  Belgium

  9·5 (1982)

  Denmark

  7·4 (1983)

  Finland

  15·5 (1982)

  France

  11·6 (1983)

  Germany

  11·1 (1982)

  Greece

  6·2 (1981)

  Iceland

  11·1 (1982)

  Ireland

  9·7 (1980)

  Italy

  7·7(1983)

  Luxembourg

  13·0 (1983)

  Netherlands

  12·0 (1983)

  Norway

  6·5 (1983)

  Portugal

  5·1 (1982)

  Spain

  5·4 (1981)

  Sweden

  14·0 (1983)

  Switzerland

  11·5(1982)

  Turkey

  2·1 (1982)

  United Kingdom

  8·1 (1981)

  Note: Data for Ireland in this table include long·term hospitals.

  Source: Measuring Health Care 1960–1983, OECD, Paris, 1985, Table D.4.

  Griffiths Report
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps his Department has taken to initiate a formal policy of consultation on the Griffiths report.

  Mr. Newton
  We are not undertaking a formal process of consultation, but have indicated our intention to take account of any views put to us by interested groups or organisations as part of our consideration of Sir Roy Griffiths' recommendations.

  Europe Against Cancer Campaign
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has discussed the Europe against cancer campaign with the European Commission; and what response he has had to proposals he has made.

  Mrs. Currie
  The European Commission's proposed plan of action for Europe against cancer was discussed by the Council of Health Ministers in May 1987, and progress will be reviewed at the next Council of Health Ministers in May 1988. Discussion of a number of detailed aspects has continued with officials of the Commission, whose responses have generally been constructive.

  Tobacco Products
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his policy towards the proposals made by the European Commission to harmonise the regulation of all tobacco products in the EEC;

  (2) if he proposes to take any action on the regulation of tobacco products in the light of the opinion of the European Parliament of 11 February.

  Mrs. Currie
  Current action by the EC regarding the regulation of tobacco products arises from the Commission's Europe against cancer proposals, which have been endorsed by the European Parliament. The United Kingdom is participating in a working group considering two draft directives concerned with harmonising the labelling of tobacco products and reducing the tar yields of cigarettes.

  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration was given to the definition of tobacco products adopted by the European Commission and European Parliament in deciding to ban Skoal Bandits.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Government were aware of a number of definitions of tobacco products, including those by the European Commission and European Parliament when proposals were made to make safety regulations under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 in respect of certain oral tobacco products.

  Cancer Prevention
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will modify his policy on cancer prevention to take account of the European Commission's recent conclusion on the contributory role of diet, alcohol and tobacco in causing cancer.

  Mrs. Currie
  Recommendations on smoking, alcohol and diet in the European code against cancer are entirely consistent with our own preventive strategies. The European code, together with information on cancer prevention, will be widely publicised during European cancer week, 1–7 May 1988, and European cancer year in 1989.

  AIDS
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about the proportion of United Kingdom employers who have some employees with AIDS; and if he has any equivalent information about the United States of America.
  97
  Mr. Newton
  The Government have no such information for United Kingdom employers. I am aware of the Alexander and Alexander Consulting Group 1987 AIDS survey on AIDS and employment undertaken in the United Slates of America, in which 17·8 per cent. of the 11,300 employers approached replied to a questionnaire; 10·1 per cent. of those employers indicated that they had, or had had, one or more employees with AIDS, 18·8 per cent. indicated that they had not and the remainder stated that they did not know.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is now in a position to forecast the number of new cases of AIDS in 1989.

  Mr. Newton
  The Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre estimates that a total of 1,450 new cases of AIDS will be reported in 1988. A group of experts under the chairmanship of Sir David Cox is now considering the issues involved in forecasting numbers of cases for future years.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people, excluding haemophiliacs, have now been infected with the AIDS virus as a result of blood transfusions in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  The latest statistics on cases of HIV infection, and AIDS, broken down by patient characteristic, were published on 11 April. Copies are in the Library.

  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest figures for the probability of contracting the HIV virus and AIDS in the United Kingdom of the following groups(a) needle sharing drug abusers, (b) male homosexuals, (c) haemophiliacs and (d) heterosexuals having casual sexual contact.

  Mr. Newton
  It is not possible to assess the probability of people in the groups listed acquiring HIV infection in the United Kingdom, except in the case of haemophiliacs, for whom blood products are now made entirely from screened donations and are heat-treated to inactivate HIV. The figures on the latest numbers of reports of cases of AIDS and HIV infection were published on 11 April and copies are in the Library.

  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what screening for AIDS is being carried out in order to ensure the future proper operation of the national organ donor programme.

  Mr. Newton
  On 2 March 1987 the Department's chief medical officer wrote to all doctors to remind them of the precautions needed to prevent the transmission of HIV through the transplant of infected tissue or organs. He made it clear that it was essential that blood from the donor is tested and found negative for HIV antibodies before the organ or tissue is transplanted and that inquiries should also be made to exclude donors most likely to have been exposed to the AIDS virus.

  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that AIDS patients are not treated at the Royal Free hospital, Hampstead, in the same wards as haemophiliacs.

  Mr. Newton
  It is for individual health authorities to determine how best to provide in-patient care for those people with AIDS who require it, taking into account the guidance issued by the Department on control of infection 98
  procedures. My hon. Friend may wish to write to the chairman of Hampstead health authority, which is responsible for services at the Royal Free hospital, about the arrangements it is making.

  Teaching Hospitals
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the teaching hospitals in England.

  Mrs. Currie
  The main university teaching hospitals of each of the 19 English medical schools are as follows. All the medical schools use, in addition, other NHS hospitals to meet their requirements for clinical facilities for undergraduate medical education. Such use is subject to change. Information about current usage can be obtained from individual medical schools.

  Medical school

  Main university teaching hospital(s)

  Birmingham

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital

  Cambridge

  Addenbrooke's Hospital

  Leeds

  The General Infirmary St. James' University Hospital

  Leicester

  Leicester Royal Infirmary

  Liverpool

  Liverpool Royal Infirmary

  London Charing Cross and Westminster

  Charing Cross Hospital

  Westminster Hospital

  King's College

  King's College Hospital

  The London

  The London Hospital,

  Whitechapel

  The Royal Free

  The Royal Free Hospital

  St. Bartholomew's

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital

  St. George's

  St. George's Hospital

  United Medical Schools of Guy's/

  Guy's Hospital

  St. Thomas

  St. Thomas' Hospital

  University College and Middlesex

  University College Hospital

  The Middlsex Hospital

  Manchester

  Manchester Royal

  Infirmary

  Hope Hospital

  University Hospital of

  South Manchester

  Newcastle Upon Tyne

  The Royal Victoria

  Infirmary

  Nottingham

  The University Hospital,

  Nottingham

  Oxford

  The John Radcliffe

  Hospital

  Sheffield

  The Royal Hallamshire

  Hospital

  Southampton

  The Southampton Genera]

  Hospital

  Regional Health Authorities
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has recently received calling for the abolition of regional health authorities.

  Mr. Newton
  We have received a number of representations about the organisation of the NHS. We shall be considering these carefully alongside other proposals for reforms as part of the review of the NHS.

  Mentally Handicapped People
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer to the hon.
  99
  Member for Monklands, West of 15 March, Official Report, column 553, what steps he takes to ensure that the provision of day care and adult training places is sufficient, in the absence of central information on the numbers of mentally handicapped people either leaving full-time education or being discharged from hospitals and needing such care.

  Mrs. Currie
  It is for local and health authorities to cooperate in the planning and provision of appropriate day services for mentally handicapped people in the light of their assessed needs and the authorities' knowledge of local requirements and resources.

  Personal Social Services
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Monklands, West of 15 March,Official Report, columns 558–59, if he will list those local authorities which did, and those which did not, experience real expenditure increases on the personal social services, as indicated by the national personal social services current expenditure revaluation factor, of 3·5 per cent. or more, and by how much, during 1987–88.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is given in the tables. Table 1 lists those local authorities whose budgeted personal social services expenditure for 1987–88 exceeded their estimated expenditure for 1986–87, uprated by the national personal social services current expenditure revaluation factor, by more than 3·5 per cent. and indicates the difference in cash terms. Table 2 lists those authorities whose expenditure increased by less than 3·5 per cent. on the same terms as table 1.

  Table 1

  Amount by which budgetted expenditure for 1987–88 exceeded 3·5 per cent, increase over 1986–87 estimated expenditure uprated for PSS pay and prices

  Local authority

  £000s

  Barking and Dagenham

  928

  Barnet

  774

  Barnsley

  463

  Bedfordshire

  325

  Birmingham

  1,159

  Bolton

  130

  Buckinghamshire

  419

  Bury

  149

  Calderdale

  713

  Cambridgeshire

  269

  Cheshire

  1,597

  City of London

  126

  Cleveland

  13

  Cornwall

  67

  Croydon

  1,250

  Cumbria

  1,167

  Derbyshire

  1,314

  Doncaster

  650

  Dorset

  843

  Dudley

  535

  Durham

  158

  Ealing

  2,198

  Enfield

  293

  Gloucestershire

  611

  Hackney

  8,684

  Haringey

  1,036

  Havering

  929

  Hertfordshire

  1,806

  Hillingdon

  1,590

  Hounslow

  617

  Islington

  5,313

  100

  Local authority

  £000s

  Kirklees

  17

  Leeds

  3,454

  Leicestershire

  1,079

  Lewisham

  1,414

  Liverpool

  1,156

  Manchester

  766

  Merton

  69

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  803

  Newham

  514

  North Tyneside

  1,117

  Northamptonshire

  75

  Northumberland

  227

  Oxfordshire

  888

  Rochdale

  268

  Rotherham

  281

  Salford

  325

  Sandwell

  1,784

  Sefton

  1,483

  Shropshire

  587

  Solihull

  133

  Somerset

  106

  South Tyneside

  619

  Suffolk

  1,519

  Surrey

  1,728

  Sutton

  396

  Tameside

  143

  Tower Hamlets

  233

  Trafford

  889

  Wakefield

  964

  Walsall

  718

  Waltham Forest

  3,230

  Warwickshire

  352

  West Sussex

  561

  Wigan

  210

  Wiltshire

  505

  Wirral

  2,624

  Wolverhampton

  1,051

  Table 2

  Amount by which budgetted expenditure for 1987–88 fell short of 3·5 per cent, increase over 1986–87 estimated expenditure uprated for PSS pay and prices.

  Local authority

  £000s

  Avon

  2,589

  Berkshire

  21

  Bexley

  156

  Bradford

  401

  Brent

  1,353

  Bromley

  642

  Camden

  2,104

  Coventry

  1,507

  Devon

  781

  East Sussex

  384

  Essex

  930

  Gateshead

  1,384

  Greenwhich

  1,937

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  624

  Hampshire

  182

  Harrow

  1,494

  Hereford and Worcester

  637

  Humberside

  201

  Isle of Wight

  75

  Isles of Scilly

  13

  Kensington and Chelsea

  91

  Kent

  1,428

  Kingston upon Thames

  124

  Knowsley

  456

  Lambeth

  8,109

  Lancashire

  498

  Lincolnshire

  868

  Norfolk

  1,599

  North Yorkshire

  126

  Nottinghamshire

  2,401

  Oldham

  155

  Redbridge

  372

  101

  Local authority

  £000s

  Richmond upon Thames

  549

  Sheffield

  1,729

  Southwark

  4,586

  St. Helens

  714

  Staffordshire

  356

  Stockport

  406

  Sunderland

  54

  Wandsworth

  1,864

  Westminster

  1,971

  HIV Screening
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make it his policy to encourage the general public to come forward for HIV screening;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to encourage all those who suspect they may be HIV-positive to come forward for HIV testing.

  Mr. Newton
  It is for individuals to decide whether to have an HIV antibody test in the light of their particular circumstances. Free and confidential counselling and testing are available through general practitioners and genito-urinary medicine clinics to everyone who wishes to have them.

  Hospital Development Programmes
  Sir Barney Hayhoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time between the submission of plans for a major hospital redevelopment or development programme to his Department and Her Majesty's Treasury and their formal approval in part or whole, based upon the last 20 such cases.

  Mrs. Currie
  Departmental approval in principle is required for all schemes with works costs of over £5 million. Treasury approval is required for schemes in excess of £10 million and for those which start a cycle of development of over £25 million in total.

  Each scheme needs to be considered on its merits. Fourteen of the 21 schemes given approval in principle in the last two financial years were cleared within 12 months. Seven of these were cleared within about six months. The longest took approximately 21 months. The time taken can be greatly affected by the quality of the initial submission, the complexity of the scheme and the issues raised. In most cases the process involves detailed discussion with the health authority and revisions to the submissions.

  Hounslow and Spelthorne DHA
  Sir Barney Hayhoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the effect on the hospital and community health services of the Hounslow and Spelthorne district health authority of the level of financial resources allocated for the financial year 1988–89.

  Mrs. Currie
  Allocations to district health authorities are the responsibility of the regional health authority. My right hon. Friend may wish to ask the chairman of the North West Thames regional health authority for his assessment.

  Abortion
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to in how many cases an abortion performed at 18 weeks or more gestation has been on the grounds that a mother had been in contact with the AIDS virus or had contracted AIDS.

  Mr. Newton
  Of the notifications received for the period 1 January 1983 to 30 September 1987 (the 1987 data being provisional), there have been two at 18 completed weeks and over gestation where AIDS has been given as the principal medical condition on the notification form.

  Technical Guides
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when the new social security technical guides will be available to the public.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish an income support and family credit handbook comparable with the supplementary benefit handbook.

  Mr. Portillo
  The technical guides dealing with the major reformed benefits, income support, social fund, family credit and housing benefit are available this week. Others will be produced shortly. These guides replace the existing priced handbooks on supplementary benefit and non-contributory benefits for disabled people, and are free of charge. They are primarily aimed at those who give professional advice to the public, such as citizens advice bureaux staff, but they will be available to members of the public who can obtain copies from social security offices.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will lay before the House draft regulations providing for payments from the independent living fund to be disregarded in the calculation of entitlement to income support and other means-tested benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  Regulations will be laid as soon as possible after the fund is formally constituted.

  Pathology Services
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received following a recent London Weekend Television programme on the standards of testing by private sector pathology companies; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what representations he as received with regard to the General Medical Services Committee's position on accepting a pathology service which cannot be certain to produce accurate test results; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  No such representations have been received.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received and from what organisations, regarding any privatisation of the National Health Service pathology services, since 1 January; and if he will make a statement on his present policy towards privatisation of pathology services.
  103
  Mrs. Currie
  Since 1 January the only representation received regarding privatisation of the NHS pathology services is that from the Royal College of Pathologists.

  We have no plans for a central initiative involving privatisation of pathology services.

  NHS Cleaning Contracts
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding contracts awarded to the private sector for laundry and ward cleaning in National Health Service hospitals which have had to be cancelled as a result of inadequate performance; and if he will give the number of such contracts cancelled for each year since 1982.

  Mrs. Currie
  None; nine in total.

  Unemployed Councillors
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's practice with regard to asking an unemployed person who serves as a councillor whether he would be prepared to give up his duties as a local councillor in order to establish his availability for work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Unemployed people serving as councillors are subject to the same requirement as all other claimants who are required to be available for work in employed earner's employment as a condition for receiving unemployment benefits. They are expected to demonstrate that they are available for work in keeping with their skills but they are not required to give up their council duties in order to satisfy the availability condition. However, days on which they are engaged in approved council duties and which attract an attendance allowance are treated as days worked and the allowance is treated as earnings to be taken into account in determining entitlement to benefit.

  Retirement Pensions
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the value in real terms of the basic retirement pension with effect from 11 April, taking November 1978 as the base and calculated according to the rise in average earnings since that date.

  Mr. Scott
  It will not be possible to compare the level of basic pension from April 1988 with that in November 1978 against the rise in average earnings over that period until earnings figures for April become available in mid-June.

  Dental Charges
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the receipts from patient charges for treatment in the general dental service, in England, in each of the years 1979–87; what are the estimated receipts for 1987–88; and what is his estimate of receipts in 1988–89 and 1989–90, taking account of the changes in dental charges proposed in the White Paper on primary health care and of the likely movement in dentists' fees in those years.

  Mr. Newton
  Receipts from patient charges in the general dental service in England in the years 1979–80 to 1987–88 have been :104

  General dental service: England receipts from patient charges

  £ million

  1979–80

  70

  1980–81

  92

  1981–82

  115

  1982–83

  141

  1983–84

  155

  1984–85

  171

  1985–86

  196

  1986–87

  221

  11987–88

  240

  1Estimated.

  The Government's current expenditure plans for England which reflect the changes proposed in the White Paper on primary health care, show estimated receipts from dental charges of £285 million in 1988–89, which includes estimated income from the proposed introduction of dental examination charges together with an increased income of £15 million (out of £17 million for Great Britain as a whole) from dental treatment charges compared with what was assumed for that year in the previous public expenditure White Paper. For 1989–90 the expenditure plans for England show estimated receipts of £334 million.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of receipts from patient charges in England in 1988–89 and 1989–90, based on the system of charges introduced in April 1985, with a ceiling charge of £115 maintained, and taking account of the likely movement in dentists' fees in those years;

  (2) what percentage charge rate, applied to all currently charged treatment and maintaining all current exemptions, would raise the receipts expected in 1988–89 and 1989–90 under the April 1985 charge system; and what would be the effect on that percentage charge rate of (a) raising the ceiling charge to £150, (b) maintaining the ceiling charge at £115 and extending charges to dental examinations and (c) raising the ceiling charge to £150 and introducing an examination charge.

  Mr. Newton
  Had no changes of any kind been made, for example to take account of inflation, to maintain receipts as a proportion of the gross costs of the general dental service, to move to proportionate charging for treatment currently charged at 100 per cent. or for items whose cost is currently fixed, or to introduce charges for dental examinations, receipts from patient charges would probably have been about £250 million in 1988–89 and about £260 million in 1989–90. To raise this amount, the following are estimates of the percentage charge rate which would be required, on the assumption that the charges illustrated and had been brought into effect from 1 April 1988:

  1988–89

  1989–90

  (a) with present maximum of £115

  68

  65

  (b) with maximum of £150

  66

  62

  (c) with present maximum of £115 and with a charge for dental examination

  61

  56

  (d) with maximum of £150 and a charge for dental examination

  60

  53

  NHS Charges (Income Generation)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the income for (i) pharmacists, (ii) dentists and (iii) opticians from National Health Service charges for each year from 1978–79.

  Mr. Newton
  The income from prescription charges collected by pharmacists and from patients' charges for general ophthalmic services for each year from 1978–79 is given in the table. There have been no charges to patients under the general ophthalmic service since National Health Service spectacles were discontinued from 1 July 1986.

  For the income received from dental charges paid by patients in recent years I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) today.

  Year

  Income from prescription charges England £million

  Income from ophthalmic charges England £ million

  1978–79

  23·2

  25·5

  1979–80

  36·9

  27·6

  1980–81

  67·6

  28·9

  1981–82

  82·7

  32·3

  1982–83

  97·9

  38·1

  1983–84

  104·7

  43·8

  1984–85

  114·8

  44·1

  1985–86

  120·7

  11·8

  1986–87

  140·2

  0·8

  Social Security Offices (Birmingham)
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether all supplementary benefit payments were converted to income support at the social security offices at Kingsbury road and St. Margaret's road in Birmingham by 11 April.

  Mr. Portillo
  I can confirm that both local offices completed the conversion of supplementary benefit payments to income support by 11 April.

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for single payments were outstanding at the social security offices at Kingsbury road and St. Margaret's road in Birmingham on 31 March and 11 April.

  Mr. Portillo
  The offices at Kingsbury road (Erdington ILO) and St. Margaret's road (Washwood Heath ILO) had single payments outstanding as at 31 March 1988, and 11 April 1988 as shown in the following table :

  Number of Single Payments Outstanding

  Office

  31 March 1988

  11 April 1988

  Kingsbury Road

  1,113

  1,029

  St. Margaret's Road

  1,056

  1,251

  NHS (Injury Costs)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated annual cost to the National Health Service of treating injuries arising in shops, offices, factories, railways, roads, mines and quarries affecting employees covered by those activities; and if he will make a statement.
  106
  Mrs. Currie
  The cost to the National Health Service of treating injuries which arise from accidents at work is not separately recorded and cannot be estimated.

  Nurses (Mortgages)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 15 December 1987,Official Report, columns 495–6, what arrangements have been made to monitor the take up of the low cost 100 per cent. mortgage scheme being run by the Nationwide building society for nurses; and how many applications have been received from (a) single buyers, (b) dual buyers and (c) multiple buyers.

  Mr. Newton
  The recently launched low-cost mortgage scheme involves direct arrangements between Nationwide Anglia and individual members of NHS staff. The Department keeps in touch with the building society over the broad state of developments, but does not monitor the details of numbers of applications. It is for the society to decide when and in what manner to publicise these. The society's last public statement quoted in the Health Service Journal on 7 April, reported that there had been 3,000 expressions of interest in the scheme and of those about 300 applications had been made.

  Heating Addition
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit claimants received the estate rate heating addition(a) at the lower rate and (b) at the higher rate in each year since 1984.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is not available for all of the years requested. Figures from the annual statistical inquiry for 1984 and 1986 are as follows. There was no statistical inquiry in 1985 and the 1987 figures a re not yet available.

  Estate rate heating additions

  Numbers 000s

  December 1984

  February 1986

  Lower rate

  39

  51

  Higher rate

  10

  13

  Performance-related Additions (Yorkshire)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which district and unit general managers within health districts in the Yorkshire region received performance-related additions to their basic salaries in 1987–88; and if he will indicate the basis on which these payments were made.

  Mr. Newton
  The criteria for awarding performance-related pay to general managers were set out in a m:morandum (PM (86)11) issued by the Department to health authorities in 1986. The scheme is designed to reward both short-term achievements and a sustained long-term contribution to the management of the authority. The payments made to individual managers are confidential between them and their employing authority.

  Staff (Assaults)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he expects his Department's committee on violence against social services staff to publish its report; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will issue guidance to local authorities regarding the collation of statistics concerning assaults on social services staff; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what guidance he has issued to local authorities regarding measures to improve the working environments of social services staff in an effort to reduce the number of assaults to which such staff are subject;

  (4) what guidance he has issued to local authorities concerning the training of social services staff in dealing with potentially violent situations; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) if he has issued any guidance to local authorities on the provision of adequate insurance cover for social services staff who may be subjected to assault during the course of their duties; and if he will make a statement;

  (6) what guidelines he has issued to local authorities regarding the provision of appropriate counselling and support to social services staff who have been subject to assault; and if he will make a statement;

  (7) if he will make additional resources available to local authorities to enable them to take steps to reduce the number of assaults upon social services staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The Department's advisory committee on violence to staff which is looking at staff in the health services and social security as well as in the personal social services is expected to report soon to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The issues that it has been looking at include monitoring incidents, staff training, environmental conditions, staff support and counselling. In 1987 the Association of Directors of Social Services published "Guidelines and Recommendations to Employers on Violence Against Employees", which give local authorities advice on the same issues plus insurance cover. The British Association of Social Workers has also published "Social Workers at Risk : The Prevention and Management of Violence" (1986) and is currently drawing up further guidance. Regarding resources each year, as part of the process of consultation leading to the rate support grant settlement, local and central Government officials discuss pressures on the social services in the PSS expenditure group. The problem of violence to social services staff has been among the subjects discussed in recent years. It is expected that this subject will again be covered in this year's expenditure group discussions which will lead to the 1989–90 rate support grant settlement, but I cannot at this stage anticipate the outcome of these discussions.

  Old-age Pensioners (Kidney Dialysis)
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if an old-age pensioner receiving kidney dialysis will be financially worse off when the social security changes come into force in April; and if he will list the payments which will be made under the new scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  Pensioners whose benefit entitlement on the introduction of the income support scheme would be less than their existing supplementary benefit entitlement will have their total benefit income maintained in cash terms.
  108
  This protection will be enhanced by an average amount for those who will have to pay a 20 per cent. contribution towards the general domestic rate.

  The payments for which a pensioner receiving kidney dialysis under the income support scheme may qualify are as follows :
  The personal allowance—

  £33·40 for a single person, or

  £51·45 for a couple;

  The severe disability premium—

  £24·75 for a single person, or

  £49·50 for a couple where both members qualify;

  The pensioner premium—

  £10·65 for a single person, or

  £16·25 for a couple;

  The higher pensioner premium—

  £13·05 for a single person or

  £18·60 for a couple.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if pensioners who receive benefit on Thursday or Friday will receive one payment at the old rate on 7 April and 51 payments at the new rate, following the increase in the state retirement pension in the week commencing 11 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Payments of retirement pension in the week commencing Monday 6 April will be at 1987–88 rates, whether the pay day is Monday, Thursday or Friday. Pensions will be paid at 1988–89 rates during the 52 benefit weeks from the week commencing Monday 11 April 1988 to that commencing Monday 6 April 1989, inclusive.

  Nuclear Installations (Cancer)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list data on the incidences of cancer among(a) workers in the nuclear industry and (b) citizens residing in the locality of nuclear plants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The incidence of disease among specific groups of workers is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  In respect of persons residing in the vicinity of nuclear installations, a report entitled "Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the vicinity of nuclear installations, England and Wales 1959–80, (HMSO 1987)" was presented by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in the series "Studies on Medical and Population Subjects", (No. 51). The report was published on 27 March 1987; copies were placed in the Library.

  Nurses (Recruitment)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there are any plans for a television advertising campaign to recruit nurses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We are currently revising our strategy for national recruitment publicity for nursing; the use of television is being considered.

  Cervical Cancer Screening
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services in which health authorities the implementation of call and recall cervical cancer screening has been delayed by concern about(a) the capacity of pathology laboratories to cope with the additional smears and (b) surgical capacity to deal with the cases which need treatment.

  Mrs. Currie
  We are not aware of any.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services with which district health authorities he has had discussions about the adequacy of the Exeter software used in the computerised call and recall cervical cancer screening programme; and what was the outcome of the discussions.

  Mrs. Currie
  The computer software for cervical cancer screening call and recall systems has been discussed with a number of users of that software, including district health authorities. Account is taken of those discussions as additions and amendments to the software are made.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those district health authorities who did not start to implement a computerised call and recall cervical cancer screening programme by 31 March; and if he will give the reasons for the delays.

  Mrs. Currie
  In my reply to the hon. Member on 10 March at column 344 I stated that after 31 March we would publish a full list of district health authorities which had implemented computerised call and recall systems for cervical cancer screening. This information is being provided by health authorities and we shall publish a list when the information has been collected.

  Generic Medicines
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether interested parties will be able to submit evidence to the study into the market for generic medicines in Britain to be carried out by Touche Ross management consultants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Yes. The consultants are making their own inquiries, but, in addition, anybody who has information which they think is relevant may write either directly to the consultants or to the Department, which will pass on any such correspondence to them.

  Homoeopathic Medicine
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on his policy towards the use of homoeopathic medicine within the National Health Service; and what resources have been made available for(a) the current and (b) the forthcoming financial year to the regional health authorities for allocation to homoeopathic hospitals.

  Mrs. Currie
  Homoeopathic medicine is currently available within the National Health Service and this treatment will continue to be provided for as long as there are patients wishing to receive such treatment and doctors willing to provide it.

  Information on the resources allocated to homoeopathic hospitals is not held centrally. Health authorities
  110
  locally are responsible for determining priorities in all forms of care provided by the NHS and are in the best position to allocate resources accordingly.

  Family Income Supplement
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing how many claimants of family income supplement pay rent only, rent and rates and rates only, broken down into two-parent and one-parent families at the latest date available.

  Mr. Scott
  Claimants for family income supplement are not required to provide details of their housing costs or tenure type, and information of the type requested cannot therefore be derived from data extracted from administrative records. However, it is possible to make some estimates from the family expenditure survey, although because of the small number of sample cases available it is necessary to combine several years' data. On the basis of the FES data for 1983–86 inclusive, 66 per cent. Of family income supplement recipients appear to be tenants, 28 per cent. owner-occupiers and 6 per cent. non-householders. These proportions relate to two-parent and one-parent families combined, and if applied to the latest administrative information on family income supplement caseload (May 1986) would imply :

  135,000 tenants

  55,000 owner occupiers

  15,000 non-householders.

  For the two groups separately the proportion of tenants is very similar, but two-parent families contain a rather higher proportion of owner occupiers and one-parent families a rather higher proportion of non-householders.

  Consultants
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for 1987 the number of consultants on maximum part-time contracts who have merit awards, giving the number in each category : at, A, B and C.

  Mr. Newton
  The number of consultants in England and Wales on maximum part-time contracts with distinction awards in 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, is as follows:

  Level of award

  Number

  A+

  13

  A

  149

  B

  560

  C

  1,399

  Total

  2,121

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for the National Health Service for the years 1979 and 1987 the number of consultants with full-time and maximum part-time contracts.

  Mr. Newton
  Figures for 1979 and 1986 are set out in the table. Comparable figures for 1987 are not yet available.

  NHS Consultants (England): as at 30 September

  Full time contracts

  Maximum part-time contracts

  1979

  5,057

  3,261

  1986

  6,611

  4,668

  Pharmaceutical Products
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the increase, in cash and percentage terms, on intramural expenditure on research and development of pharmaceutical products in the United Kingdom in each year from 1983–84 to 1986–87.

  Mr. Newton
  Information on research and development expenditure by the British pharmaceutical industry is contained in the annual report 1986–87 of The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry at table 6 on page 35. A copy is in the Library.

  Regional Secure Units
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many places are(a) planned and (b) available in each regional secure unit;

  (2) how many places in each regional secure unit are not currently available for patients; and if he will give reasons for any discrepancy between (a) planned places, (b) existing places and places currently occupied;

  (3) if he will list those regional secure units for which there are waiting lists for places; for how many patients; how long they have been awaiting admission; and where they are currently accommodated.

  Mrs. Currie
  Thirteen of the 14 regional health authorities now have permanent regional secure units (RSUs) in operation. The remaining region, South West Thames, proposes RSU provision which will function in association with several "close supervision" units already operating in existing hospitals.

  Details of permanent regional secure units in operation are shown in the table. Figures relating to staffed and available beds are based on latest available information.

  Region and location

  Bed complement

  Number of beds staffed and available

  1. Northern

  St. Luke's hospital, Middlesbrough

  30

  25

  2. Yorkshire

  Fieldhead hospital, Wakefield

  48

  48

  3. Trent

  Towers hospital, Leicester

  45

  30

  4. East Anglian

  St. Andrew's hospital, Norwich

  36

  36

  5. North West Thames

  Ealing hospital, [St. Bernards wing]

  40

  40

  6. North East Thames

  Runwell hospital, near Southend

  10

  10

  7. South East Thames

  Bethlem Royal hospital + linked units managed by Bexley, Bromley, Maidstone and Eastbourne Health Authorities

  90

  90

  8. Wessex

  Knowle hospital, Fareham

  31

  22

  9. Oxford

  Borocourt hospital, Reading

  14

  14

  10. South Western

  Langdon hospital, Dawlish

  30

  30

  11. Mersey

  Rainhill hospital, Prescot

  50

  50

  112

  Region and location

  Bed complement

  Number of beds staffed and available

  12. West Midlands

  Rubery Hill hospital, Birmingham

  100

  46

  13. North Western

  Prestwich hospital, Manchester (adolescent)

  20

  20

  (adult)

  88

  44

  632

  505

  In addition to the details provided in the above table, the North East Thames region has plans to provide two further permanent RSUs, providing 62 beds, to complement the one already in operation at Runwell hospital; two further RSUs in the Oxford region, providing 26 beds, are due to be completed in 1988; and a second permanent RSU in the South Western region (30 beds) is also due to be completed at Glenside hospital, Bristol this year.

  In most units, regions have decided to bring their bed provision into use on a phased basis as and when staff are recruited and resources permit.

  We are awaiting the results of a research study which, together with other relevant evidence on secure facilities, will help us to take decisions on the eventual capacity and requirements of the regional secure unit programme.

  Information on bed occupancy and waiting lists is not collected centrally.

  Mental Nurses
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the conclusions of the sub-group of the Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee in its examination of the role of the registered mental nurse; and when he expects the committee to report.

  Mr. Newton
  The Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee considered at its meeting on 5 April a draft report, prepared by a sub-group of its members, on issues arising in mental illness nursing in the light of developments in services for mentally ill people.

  An amended report will be considered at the next meeting of the committee in July, when it is likely that members will also discuss the form and timing of any advice they wish to offer to Ministers, especially about wider consultation.

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the conclusions about the training of community psychiatric nurses of his predecessor's discussions with regional nursing officers; and what action he proposes to take.

  Mr. Newton
  Consultation with regional nursing officers has established that the number of mental illness nurses working in the community continues to increase as district-based services expand. There is an identifiable need to expand and develop education and training programmes to ensure an adequately qualified workforce to meet present needs and planned expansion.

  Action taken includes discussion with the English national board which has already increased the number of

  113
  centres where appropriate training can be conducted. It has introduced and is evaluating the use of part-time and distance learning to improve access to courses.

  Community psychiatric nursing staff have increased from 1,083 whole-time equivalents in September 1981 to 2,532 whole-time equivalents in September 1986.

  Mentally Ill Patients
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy, where health authority assessments of the local needs of chronic severely mentally ill patients discharged since 1955 from mental illness hospitals have not been made, as distinct from existing patients' needs, to withhold approval of further reductions in mental hospital beds and of plans for the closure of such hospitals until assessments of their needs have been made and alternative services to meet such needs provided.

  Mrs. Currie
  We anticipate that the comprehensive mental illness services being developed by district health authorities, in accordance with current policy, will reflect the total range of local needs, including the need for hospital in-patient care on a short or longer term basis as well as alternative forms of care.

  Chronic Psychotic Illness
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what opportunities for training and sheltered work are available for present and former patients suffering from a chronic psychotic illness in each health district(a) within psychiatric hospitals or units and (b) in the community.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that the information is not available centrally.

  Industrial and Occupational Therapy
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the plans of each district health authority affected to replace the industrial and occupational therapy provision in the psychiatric hospitals proposed for closure by 1995.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information on the plans of each health district is not routinely collected centrally but I would expect that, where appropriate, the replacement of any existing service would be part of the new services developed prior to the closure of a psychiatric hospital.

  Elderly Patients (Crewe)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultation he has had regarding the proposals for development by the Crewe health authority of a private nursing home or private trust company to care for long-term elderly patients.

  Mrs. Currie
  None.

  Funding and Medical Staff Employment (Trent)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage change in(a) National Health Service funding in real terms and in cash terms and (b) employment of medical staff, from 1979 to 1988, in the Trent regional health authority.
  114
  Mr. Newton
  The latest available information for the hospital and community health services in the Trent region is shown in the table.

  Cash

  Real terms2

  Change

  Percentage change in net revenue expenditure 1979–80 to 1986–871

  103·4

  21·9

  —

  Percentage change in whole time equivalent medical staff3 1979–1986

  —

  —

  19·9

  1 Figures are based on health authorities' summarised income and expenditure accounts.

  2 Adjusted by the gross domestic product deflator.

  3 Includes permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.

  Private Patients (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of private patients using pay beds in the Nottingham district health authority on the latest available date, and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

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

  Private patients using pay beds in the Nottingham District Health Authority 1979 to 1986

  Year

  Average daily occupied beds2

  In-patient cases treated

  1979

  14·4

  1,210

  1980

  15·5

  1,359

  1981

  15·5

  1,405

  1982

  14·9

  1,400

  1983

  10·9

  1,033

  19841

  3·2

  312

  1985

  3·7

  285

  1986

  3·6

  259

  1 The reduction results from the following:

  (a) the closure of Nottingham general hospital pay bed wing during 1984.

  (b) the withdrawal of authorisation from Nottingham eye hospital and Nottingham hospital for women.

  2 Excludes occupation of authorised pay beds by NHS patients.

  Eye Tests and Dental Examinations (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many(a) eye tests and (b) dental examinations took place in the Nottingham health authority in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the eye tests which are carried out under the general ophthalmic service and the dental examinations carried out under the general dental service. These are the responsibility of the family practitioner committee. The following table gives the relevant available figures for Nottinghamshire family practitioner committee which includes the area covered by Nottingham health authority.

  Nottinghamshire FPC

  Year

  Number of eye tests1

  Number of dental examinations

  1979

  ..

  500,900

  1980

  ..

  538,660

  1981

  ..

  570,690

  115

  Year

  Number of eye tests1

  Number of dental examinations

  1982

  ..

  591,490

  1983

  180,578

  591,810

  1984

  195,150

  618,580

  1985

  199,724

  635,560

  1986

  206,524

  2652,660

  1987

  221,955

  ..

  1 Information is not readily available on eye tests before 1983.

  2 The Dental Estimates Board altered its presentation of statistics from a calendar year to financial year as from 1986–87 and this figure relates to the financial year.

  ..= Not available.

  General Practitioners (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the number of general practitioners in the area covered by the Nottingham district health authority in 1979 and the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will estimate the corresponding change in costs.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is collected from family practitioner committees which are not necessarily conterminous with health authority boundaries. The number of unrestricted general medical practitioners in the area covered by Nottingham family practitioner committee (which includes Nottingham DHA) has risen from 403 at 1 October 1979 to 464 as at 1 October 1986, the latest date for which figures are available. Information about the corresponding change in costs is not available centrally.

  Supplementary Benefit Claimants (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the number of supplementary benefit claimants in each of his Department's offices covering the Nottingham, North constituency for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Portillo
  Nottingham, North constituency is served by the Department's local offices at David lane and Shakespeare street, although their boundaries are not conterminous.

  The numbers of supplementary benefit claimants for the years requested are :

  Nottingham

  Date of count

  David lane

  Shakespeare street

  27 November 1979

  6,674

  9,204

  2 December 1980

  7,721

  9,915

  9 December 1981

  9,508

  12,088

  7 December 1982

  10,604

  13,731

  6 December 1983

  10,756

  13,583

  12 December 1984

  11,694

  14,956

  11 December 1985

  12,342

  15,743

  10 December 1986

  12,962

  16,279

  17 November 1987

  12,543

  15,420

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

  Staff (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of staff employed by each office of his Department in the Nottingham, North constituency for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Portillo
  The available information is in the table.
  116

  Staff-in-post

  1986

  1987

  1988

  David lane

  146

  153·5

  156

  Shakespeare street

  177·5

  183·5

  187·5

  The numbers above were the staff employed on 1 April each year. I regret that the information for earlier years is not available.

  Nottingham Health Authority
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of(a) physiotherapists, (b) speech therapists, (c) radiographers, (d) chiropodists, (e) occupational therapists, (f) dieticians and (g) laboratory technicians employed by the Nottingham health authority in each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Currie
  The figures are shown in the table.

  National Health Service staff in post: 30 September Nottingham District Health Authority

  whole time equivalents1

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Physiotherapists23

  136

  143

  150

  155

  148

  Speech Therapists3

  51

  45

  36

  40

  40

  Radiographers3

  132

  137

  145

  150

  148

  Chiropodists3

  52

  44

  29

  32

  29

  Occupational Therapists3

  60

  72

  74

  84

  80

  Dieticians

  16

  17

  17

  20

  21

  Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers

  212

  210

  205

  211

  205

  Source: DHSS Annual Census of NHS non-medical manpower.

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest whole time equivalent.

  2 Includes Remedial Gymnasts.

  3 Excludes helpers.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the projected levels of funding for the next three years for the Nottingham district health authority, expressing year-on-year changes as a percentage in both cash and real terms.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department issues resource assumptions and allocates funds to regional health authorities which then determine district health authority funding. In 1988–89 Trent RHA's revenue allocation was increased to £1,050 million; a 6·3 per cent. cash increase or 1·7 per cent. in real terms. The initial resource assumptions for 1989–90 show a further real terms increase of between 1·5 and 1·7 per cent.; a revised assumption for 1989–90 and an assumption for 1990–91 will be issued in due course. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Trent RHA for information on funding for Nottingham district health authority.

  Examinations, Operations and Beds
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the current waiting lists for(a) examinations, (b) operations and (c) beds in each specialty in each hospital in the Nottingham health district.

  Mr. Newton
  The available information, for 31 December 1986, is given in the table. It should be noted that in certain specialties a clinician may maintain a waiting list which is common to more than one hospital within a district health authority.
  117

  In-patients waiting lists as at 31 December 1986, by hospital, Nottingham District Health Authority

  Hospital and Specialty

  Waiting list

  Nottingham City

  General surgery

  140

  Traumatic and orthopaedics

  290

  Urology

  77

  Plastic surgery

  1,160

  Thoracic surgery

  47

  Gynaecology

  658

  Total

  2,372

  Nottingham General

  Oral surgery1

  844

  Total

  844

  University

  Dermatology

  16

  Neurology

  22

  Geriatrics

  7

  General surgery

  811

  Ear, Nose and Throat

  1,491

  Traumatic and orthopaedics

  352

  Ophthalmology

  666

  Urology

  124

  Neurosurgery

  26

  Gynaecology

  355

  Total

  3,870

  Saxondale

  Total

  0

  Highbury

  Total

  0

  St. Ann's

  Psychiatry children

  1

  Adolescent psychiatry

  2

  Total

  3

  Basford

  Total

  0

  St. Francis

  Psychogeriatric

  11

  Total

  11

  Mapperley

  Mental illness

  22

  Total

  22

  The Coppice

  Total

  0

  1 Patients on the waiting list are treated at Nottingham City and University Hospitals.

  Bed Occupancy (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the bed occupancy rates in each specialty in each hospital in the Nottingham district health authority in 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) on 24 March 1988 at column 211.

  Cardiac Unit (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all those who have made representations to him regarding a cardiac unit in Nottingham.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have received no such representations.

  National Health Service (Leasing)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the use of leasing as a form of capital finance within the National Health Service.

  Mrs. Currie
  The National Health Service may employ leasing as a means of acquiring capital assets, but it should be used only where it represents best overall value for money to the Exchequer as a whole. Where leasing of capital assets is proposed the full costs of the leasing option must be shown to be lower than outright purchase, and the Department's and, in most cases, Treasury's approval is required. Leasing is not regarded as a form of additional capital finance for the National Health Service.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek powers to prevent community health councils from using public money for party political purposes.

  Mr. Newton
  Community health councils are established and funded by regional health authorities to represent the interests of the public in the Health Service. A community health council is independent both of the health authorities and the Department in the way in which it goes about its task. A community health council must, however, remain within the law and is accountable to the regional health authority for the way in which the funds have been used. If my hon. Friend has evidence of the misdirection of community health council funds to party political purposes I will arrange for it to be considered.

  Housing Benefit Scheme
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will name the 45 local councils listed in his Department's housing benefit reform implementation progress report as not being ready to meet the deadline of 1 to 4 April for the implementation of the new housing benefit scheme;

  (2) if he will name the local councils which indicated in their replies to his Department's survey, "Housing Benefit Reforms April 1988: Progress on Implementation—Progress Report Form A", that they expect problems and delays with their computer software;

  (3) if he will name the local councils which indicated in their replies to his Department's survey, "Housing Benefit Reforms April 1988: Progress on Implementation—Progress Report Form A", that they expect problems and delays in training staff;

  (4) if he will name the local councils which indicated in their reply to his Department's survey, "Housing Benefit Reforms April 1988: Progress on Implementation—Progress Report Form A", that they expect problems and delays in converting existing cases to the new housing benefit scheme;
  119
  (5) if he will place in the Library the detailed responses from each local council replying to his Department's survey, "Housing Benefit Reforms April 1988: Progress on Implementation".

  Mr. Portillo
  I have placed in the Library a summary of the responses received to the questionnaire issued to local authorities by the Department in January of this year. It is not our practice to publish correspondence with individual authorities.

  Cigarettes and Tobacco (Regulation)
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to follow the policy of the World Health Organisation on the regulation of cigarettes and tobacco.

  Mrs. Currie
  The World Health Organisation recommends that Governments should adopt a full range of policies on cigarette smoking and tobacco consumption. The Government have a comprehensive policy including restrictions on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, a ban on sales to children, controls on the composition of tobacco products and a programme on health education to make people aware of the dangers of smoking.

  World Health Organisation
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which conferences held by the World Health Organisation were attended by officials from his Department in 1986 and 1987; and how many officials attended in each case.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the annual contribution of the United Kingdom to the World Health Organisation since 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  The United Kingdom's annual contributions to the World Health Organisation since 1979 were :

  Year

  £

  1979

  3,916,870·99

  1980

  4,487,613·48

  1981

  4,286,214·93

  1982

  5,548,167·23

  1983

  6,512,426·45

  1984

  7,484,053·40

  1985

  8,956,020·70

  1986

  7,730,188·60

  1987

  7,298,735·75

  The contribution is assessed in US dollars and the variations reflect, in part, fluctuations in the exchange rate.

  District Health Authorities
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the amount of money paid in rates or in lieu of rates by each district health authority in England for the financial year 1987–88.

  Mr. Newton
  Health authorities' annual accounts for 1987–88 are not due for submission to the Department until the end of June 1988. Information for that financial year will be available in the autumn.

  Member's Correspondence
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to reply to correspondence sent to him by the hon. Member for Gower dated 21 January with regard to Mr. Harris and his cataract operation.

  Mrs. Currie
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 29 March.

  Nurses
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses are currently employed by health authorities in England; and how many are undertaking further training to improve the scope and standard of their skills.

  Mr. Newton
  There were 236,800 whole-time equivalent qualified nurses and midwives employed in the NHS in England at 30 September 1986.

  Information supplied by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting showed that about 10,000 qualified nurses and midwives entered some form of post-basic nurse training during the year ended 31 March 1987. Details are :

  Numbers

  Midwifery, District Nursing and Health Visiting

  4,830

  Teachers training

  1,180

  Other Post basic training

  3,880

  In addition, an unknown number would have received further training organised by individual health authorities and in-service training.

  Whitley Hospital, Coventry
  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if following the decision to close the Coventry Whitley hospital, he will publish in the Official Report the letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie) of 16 March 1988, to the Coventry district health authority about its duty to have regard to the particular circumstances of each elderly individual whose care provision will be transferred from the hospital consultants to the local housing association.

  Mrs. Currie
  The following is the text of the letter to the chairman of Coventry health authority."As you know we have been considering your proposals for the future pattern of services in Coventry and in particular the plans for the Whitley Hospital. We have weighed the arguments very carefully and have concluded that the proposals should proceed. We are satisfied that the proposals are in the best interests of patients and will allow more effective and efficient use to be made of health care resources in Coventry. In developing your plans for collaboration with the local housing association for the care of those elderly people not requiring consultant oversight in hospital, you will need to take into account the particular circumstances of each individual likely to be concerned.
  In agreeing to these proposals I hope you will bear in mind our concern that patients should not be compelled to transfer from NHS beds to a fee-charging home unless they have indicated their willingness to do so with a clear understanding on their part of the arrangements by which such charges would be met. You will continue to provide for patients in NHS beds under consultant care, who will require continuing nursing care and who do not wish to transfer to the new facility on the Whitley Hospital site."

  NHS Spending
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present level of spending on the National Health Service; and what was the comparable figure in real terms in 1978–79.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is as follows:

  £ Million (at 1987–88 prices)

  1978–79

  1987–88 (estimated outturn)

  Gross National Health Service expenditure (Great Britain)

  15,687

  20,789

  Note:

  Expenditure for 1978–79 has been revalued using the GDP deflator.

  Patients (Physiotherapy)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy with regard to the treatment of NHS patients in need of physiotherapy continuing to be restricted to state registered physiotherapists.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to change the current requirement of state registration as a prerequisite for the employment of physiotherapists within the NHS.

  Blood Donors (North Staffordshire)
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) for each year since 1983, what was the number of blood donors in north Staffordshire and the amount of blood collected from them;

  (2) how many people have been employed in the blood transfusion service in north Staffordshire in each year since 1983; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether there are any delays in the collection of blood from donors in north Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret we do not hold this information centrally. The hon. Member may therefore wish to write to the chairman of West Midlands regional health authority, which is responsible for the blood transfusion service in the west midlands, for advice on these issues.

  Income Support
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide a breakdown of the extra expenditure on income support for families with children in 1988–89, broken down into expenditure incurred by transitional protection and expenditure not incurred by transitional protection; and, in each case, how much of this expenditure is attributable to compensation for the 20 per cent. rates contribution, on the same basis as his reply to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East on 7 March,Official Report, columns 56–7.

  Mr. Scott
  Of the £150 million extra expenditure on income support for families with children in 1988–89, extra expenditure on transitional protection will be £20 million and that on structural changes £130 million.

  Extra expenditure on income support for families with children in 1988–89 to compensate for the 20 per cent. rates contribution will be £80 million. This relates entirely to the structural effect. However, in calculating the amount of
  122
  benefit payable at the point of change to income support, compensation for the rates contribution is also to be built into the supplementary benefit levels. But for this, the cost of transitional protection for families with children would have been reduced by £10 million and the total additional expenditure in 1988–89 reduced from £150 million to £140 million.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to undertake to estimate the number of disabled claimants by constituency who will receive a lower entitlement under income support than they currently receive.

  Mr. Scott
  The effects of the reformed structure of income-related benefits on all the various client groups, including the disabled, will he monitored. It will not, however, be possible to provide information on an individual constituency basis.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the extra £220 million to be spent on family credit from April is attributable to the freeze in child benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  About £18 million.

  Retirement Age
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to bring forward proposals for retirement ages and pensions following the review he announced in answer to the hon. Member for Dorset North (Mr. Baker) on 25 February,Official Report, column 295.

  Mr. Scott
  We cannot at this stage predict when the work we are doing on considering options for change in pension age will yield results. In carrying forward this work, we must also have regard to the proposed EC directive completing the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in statutory and occupational social security schemes which is currently under discussion.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates have been made of the reduction in numbers of people taking sight tests which will arise from the levying of charges.

  Newton
  [holding answer 25 March 1988]: It would not be practicable to attempt any such estimate, particularly in the absence of information about possible charges for sight tests conducted privately under the proposed arrangements. However, on the basis of experience with the more competitive market already introduced for spectacles, we would expect charges to be modest; and since some 30 per cent. of the population, including the least well-off, will continue to be entitled to a free NHS sight test, we see no reason to expect a significant reduction in demand.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was Government spending on the
  123
  hospital and community health services per household as a proportion of the average household income in 1978–79, 1982–83 and 1986–87.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 25 February 1988]: Gross expenditure on the hospital and community health services (United Kingdom) represented 4·5, 5 and 4·5 per cent. Of
  124
  average income per household in 1978–79, 1982–83 and 1986–87, respectively. However, as these figures are affected by changes in the number and composition of households, a more reliable indicator is expenditure per person which rose from £106 in 1978–78 to £198 in 1982–83 and to £249 in 1986–87.

  NORTH REPORT: TRAFFIC LAW REVIEW
  NORTH REPORT: TRAFFIC LAW REVIEW
  VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY EVASION: ACTION
  VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY EVASION: ACTION
  NATO SATELLITE LAUNCHERS: BIDS
  NATO SATELLITE LAUNCHERS: BIDS
  DIABETICS: PRESCRIPTION CHARGES
  DIABETICS: PRESCRIPTION CHARGES
  SUMMER TIME
  SUMMER TIME
  PASSPORTS
  PASSPORTS