Written Answers of 13 April 1988

TRANSPORT

  Underground Trains
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has held with London Regional Transport about the introduction of rolling stock on the London Underground designed to reduce crime opportunities and increase passenger protection;

  (2) what studies he has undertaken or commissioned into the design of underground train carriages so as to increase passenger protection against crime.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  My Department maintains close contact with London Underground Ltd. on measures to combat crime on the Underground. Features to improve passenger security have been incorporated in the prototype trains built to evaluate the replacement stock to serve the Central line in the 1990s. These include alarms which allow passengers to talk to the driver and greater visibility between carriages. The trains will undergo passenger service trials later this year.

  Autoguide Electronic Route Guidance System
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made with the Autoguide electronic route guidance system.

  Mr. Channon
  I have today helped the private sector to launch its Autoguide demonstration scheme, which covers much of the Westminster area and the corridor to Heathrow airport. I have also issued a consultation document on the following stage on the project : the London pilot system. I have placed copies in the Library.

  Both the demonstration scheme and the London pilot system are important steps towards a national commercial Autoguide service, which will make an important contribution towards keeping traffic moving and improving the quality of road travel.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Rehvot (Bombing Incident)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what report he has received from Her Majesty's ambassador in Tel Aviv regarding the claim by the Palestine Liberation Organisation to have detonated bombs on 20 March in a bus shelter in Rehvot; and whether he will instruct the ambassador to convey the regrets of Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Israel about this terrorist incident.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have seen no report of such a claim.

  Syria (Mr. Philip Habib)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has raised through the British interests section in the Australian embassy in 126
  Damascus Her Majesty's Government's reaction to the refusal of the Syrian Government to receive President Reagan's envoy, Mr. Philip Habib; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  No.

  Iraq (Peace Initiative)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what report he has received from Her Majesty's ambassador in Baghdad regarding the public statement made there on 26 March by Mr. Yasir Arafat rejecting Mr. George Shultz's peace initiative; and whether Her Majesty's ambassador has made any representations to the Government of Iraq regarding this statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The "Summary of World Broadcasts" edition of 29 March quotes Mr. Arafat as saying in Baghdad on 27 March :"We are not against any peace initiative, but we are not ready to respond to any initiative that ignores the Palestinian people and their rights".

  We have not raised this statement with the Government of Iraq.

ENVIRONMENT

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average period of time for holding an inquiry into a planning appeal, from the date of the original planning application to the local authority to the commencement of the inquiry.

  Mrs. Roe
  For the 1,922 planning appeals decided in 1987, following public inquiries, the median time from the date of the planning application to the start of the inquiry was 54 weeks. It must be borne in mind that an appeal can be lodged at any time up to six months after the local planning authority's decision, or after the date by which that decision should have been made.

  Tenants' Choice Interviews (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if Nottingham city council was informed of the tenants' choice interviews conducted in Nottingham in the current week; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what contact and co—operation his Department had with Nottingham city council prior to the setting up of research interviews with tenants on the sale of estates.

  Mrs. Roe
  A small sample of tenants in Nottingham, from estates selected in consultation with the city council's director of housing, are taking part in group discussions to identify factors which are important in a choice of landlord. The project is not concerned with the sale of these estates or of any other particular estates.

  Rushmoor Borough Council
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Rushmoor borough council had a legal agreement, endorsed by his Department at the time of the transfer of the Greater London council housing stock, whereby subsidy will continue to be paid on the major technical repairs programme for the Prospect Estate at no cost to the borough.
  127
  Mrs. Roe
  No.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what basis he will issue the capital allocation of £25 million for the preparation costs of the community charge which he announced on 24 March.

  Mr. Howard
  The £25 million capital allocations will be issued pro rata to adult population. Letters have been sent to each charging authority in England informing it of its individual allocation. A list of these allocations has been placed in the Library. Subject to parliamentary approval of the community charge legislation, the allocations will assist councils to begin preparing for the introduction of the community charge in 1990. Although authorities are unlikely to incur significant additional current expenditure in the financial year 1988–89, it is likely to be helpful for them to be able to begin preparations on capital projects such as the installation or adaptation of computer systems. These allocations show that the Government recognise the need for authorities to make an early start on these so that the collection of the community charge will run efficiently from the beginning. These early allocations will enable councils to plan sensibly for the operation of the new system, which will for the first time make them truly accountable to the people they serve.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those bodies that have made representations to his Department on the possible effects of the introduction of the poll tax on rural areas and on the services provided by local authorities.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]: A summary of the 1,271 responses received by 31 October 1986, when the consultation period on the Green Paper ended, was placed in the Library on 15 December 1986. Since June 1987 my Department has received some 8,300 letters, the majority of which—about 6,100—are from private individuals. However, the letters contain a variety of comments on specific aspects of our proposals, or requests for further information, and for this reason do not readily lend themselves to an analysis of correspondents' views.

  Rates
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the projected rate increases for all counties, boroughs and districts in England for the financial year 1988–89.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]: The following is the available information for county precept increases and local rate increases in boroughs and districts in 1988–89:

  Increases in local rates and county precepts 1988–89

  Per cent.

  Avon

  7·9

  Bedfordshire

  6·1

  Berkshire

  8·5

  Buckinghamshire

  9·2

  Cambridgeshire

  4·9

  Cheshire

  10·0

  Cleveland

  11·9

  Cornwall

  12·9

  128

  Per cent.

  Cumbria

  5·5

  Derbyshire

  13·5

  Devon

  11·3

  Dorset

  7·4

  Durham

  15·0

  East Sussex

  14·1

  Essex

  17·8

  Gloucestershire

  11·9

  Hampshire

  8·8

  Hereford and Worcester

  9·8

  Hertfordshire

  16·9

  Humberside

  20·3

  Isle of Wight

  9·7

  Kent

  12·5

  Lancashire

  18·5

  Leicestershire

  11·0

  Lincolnshire

  14·0

  Norfolk

  10·0

  Northamptonshire

  15·1

  Northumberland

  114·6

  North Yorkshire

  11·9

  Nottinghamshire

  7·2

  Oxfordshire

  9·3

  Shropshire

  8·7

  Somerset

  11·7

  Staffordshire

  8·3

  Suffolk

  7·9

  Surrey

  10·5

  Warwickshire

  15·9

  West Sussex

  9·1

  Wiltshire

  7·8

  1 Excluding Northumbria police precept.

  Increases in local rates and county precepts 1988–89

  Per cent.

  Isles of Stilly

  3·1

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  6·3

  Bury

  7·4

  Manchester

  -9·7

  Oldham

  10·1

  Rochdale

  7·4

  Salford

  8·6

  Stockport

  10·0

  Tameside

  7·9

  Trafford

  10·1

  Wigan

  9·5

  Merseyside

  Knowsley

  3·7

  Liverpool

  1·2

  St. Helens

  5·7

  Sefton

  7·4

  Wirral

  7·2

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley

  8·9

  Doncaster

  8·3

  Rotherham

  7·6

  Sheffield

  12·1

  Tyne and Wear

  Gateshead

  10·0

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  -7·2

  North Tyneside

  9·0

  South Tyneside

  8·5

  Sunderland

  3·8

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  3·2

  Coventry

  8·0

  Dudley

  1·9

  Sandwell

  5·0

  Solihull

  0·4

  129

  Per cent.

  Walsall

  4·7

  Wolverhampton

  3·5

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford

  11·0

  Calderdale

  18·1

  Kirklees

  12·8

  Leeds

  8·0

  Wakefield

  12·2

  Increases in local rates and county precepts 1988–89

  Percentage

  City of London

  4·1

  Camden

  -2·6

  Greenwich

  12·5

  Hackney

  9·3

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  5·2

  Islington

  13·6

  Kensington and Chelsea

  -26·4

  Lambeth

  -17·9

  Lewisham

  3·7

  Southwark

  -9·3

  Tower Hamlets

  11·6

  Wandsworth

  31·7

  Westminster

  -0·4

  Barking and Dagenham

  6·2

  Barnet

  15·6

  Bexley

  13·4

  Brent

  10·7

  Bromley

  7·3

  Croydon

  8·0

  Ealing

  -24·5

  Enfield

  20·5

  Haringey

  -9·9

  Harrow

  8·5

  Havering

  8·0

  Hillingdon

  7·4

  Hounslow

  7·3

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  10·5

  Merton

  10·8

  Newham

  11·6

  Redbridge

  0·5

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  10·7

  Sutton

  9·6

  Waltham Forest

  -31·3

  Increases in local rates and county precepts 1988–89

  Per cent.

  Avon

  Bath

  0·0

  Bristol

  15·0

  Kingswood

  0·7

  Northavon

  9·5

  Wansdyke

  8·1

  Woodspring

  14·5

  Bedfordshire

  North Bedfordshire

  0·9

  Luton

  -3·6

  Mid Bedfordshire

  5·4

  South Bedfordshire

  12·5

  Berkshire

  Bracknell

  3·0

  Newbury

  11·4

  Reading

  21·7

  Slough

  0·2

  Windsor & Maidenhead

  0·2

  Wokingham

  29·4

  Buckinghamshire

  Aylesbury Vale

  1·6

  South Bucks

  21·4

  130

  Per cent.

  Chiltern

  7·3

  Milton Keynes

  3·9

  Wycombe

  3·0

  Cambridgeshire

  Cambridge

  27·0

  East Cambridgeshire

  -0·9

  Fenland

  11·1

  Huntingdonshire

  4·6

  Peterborough

  8·8

  South Cambridgeshire

  1·7

  Cheshire

  Chester

  5·9

  Congleton

  5·2

  Crewe and Nantwich

  10·3

  Ellesmere & Neston

  5·0

  Halton

  5·0

  Macclesfield

  4·7

  Vale Royal

  9·8

  Warrington

  10·8

  Cleveland

  Hartlepool

  11·1

  Langbaurgh-on-Tees

  11·7

  Middlesbrough

  -27·8

  Stockton on Tees

  23·2

  Increases in local rates and county precepts 1988–89

  per cent.

  Cornwall

  Caradon

  21·8

  Carrick

  14·1

  Kerrier

  17·1

  North Cornwall

  12·5

  Penwith

  12·9

  Restormel

  5·1

  Cumbria

  Allerdale

  0·0

  Barrow in Furness

  16·5

  Carlisle

  0·3

  Copeland

  0·6

  Eden

  6·0

  South Lakeland

  0·7

  Derbyshire

  Amber Valley

  -8·6

  Bolsover

  9·7

  Chesterfield

  0·6

  Derby

  -5·7

  Erewash

  16·4

  High Peak

  6·2

  North East Derbyshire

  17·8

  South Derbyshire

  8·0

  Derbyshire Dales

  13·9

  Devon

  East Devon

  1·5

  Exeter

  7·8

  North Devon

  11·2

  Plymouth

  16·2

  South Hams

  7·8

  Teignbridge

  13·7

  Mid Devon

  13·6

  Torbay

  6·8

  Torridge

  1·0

  West Devon

  22·7

  Dorset

  Bournemouth

  0·0

  Christchurch

  7·6

  North Dorset

  24·7

  Poole

  5·6

  Purbeck

  6·8

  131

  per cent.

  West Dorset

  15·7

  Weymouth and Portland

  0·0

  East Dorset

  18·6

  Durham

  Chester le Street

  7·3

  Darlington

  9·7

  Derwentside

  20·6

  Durham

  10·1

  Easington

  53·8

  Sedgefield

  9·5

  Teesdale

  9·7

  Wear Valley

  11·8

  Increases in local rates and county precepts 1988–89

  Per cent.

  East Sussex

  Brighton

  33·3

  Eastbourne

  0·0

  Hastings

  4·8

  Hove

  from 0p to 4·9p

  Lewes

  6·7

  Rother

  2·8

  Wealden

  6·3

  Essex

  Basildon

  -6·0

  Braintree

  17·4

  Brentwood

  -5·0

  Castle Point

  5·6

  Chelmsford

  36·1

  Colchester

  14·9

  Epping Forest

  5·0

  Harlow

  6·3

  Maldon

  -6·0

  Rochford

  14·9

  Southend on Sea

  0·0

  Tendring

  0·5

  Thurrock

  17·5

  Uttlesford

  2·5

  Gloucestershire

  Cheltenham

  5·0

  Cotswold

  6·1

  Forest of Dean

  2·1

  Gloucester

  5·6

  Stroud

  20·7

  Tewkesbury

  1·7

  Hampshire

  Basingstoke and Deane

  18·8

  East Hampshire

  16·6

  Eastleigh

  5·8

  Fareham

  7·7

  Gosport

  9·3

  Hart

  12·2

  Havant

  21·7

  New Forest

  20·4

  Portsmouth

  3·4

  Rushmoor

  -3·8

  Southampton

  4·0

  Test Valley

  9·7

  Winchester

  7·3

  Hereford and Worcester

  Bromsgrove

  15·1

  Hereford

  -33·6

  Leominster

  9·4

  Malvern Hills

  5·3

  Redditch

  7·4

  South Herefordshire

  2·4

  Worcester

  4·1

  Wychavon

  6·6

  Wyre Forest

  13·6

  132

  Increases in local rates and county precepts 1988–89

  Per cent.

  Hertfordshire

  Broxbourne

  0·0

  Dacorum

  5·1

  East Hertfordshire

  13·1

  Hertsmere

  0·6

  North Hertfordshire

  21·3

  St. Albans

  39·4

  Stevenage

  0·0

  Three Rivers

  0·8

  Watford

  0·0

  Welwyn Hatfield

  7·1

  Humberside

  Beverley

  11·2

  Boothferry

  13·9

  Cleethorpes

  9·0

  Glanford

  0·6

  Great Grimsby

  11·5

  Holderness

  25·0

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  -17·0

  East Yorkshire

  24·4

  Scunthorpe

  5·9

  Isle of Wight

  Medina

  3·9

  South Wight

  4·3

  Kent

  —

  Ashford

  5·1

  Canterbury

  8·8

  Dartford

  1·1

  Dover

  26·0

  Gillingham

  42·3

  Gravesham

  5·8

  Maidstone

  1·4

  Rochester on Medway

  0·3

  Sevenoaks

  13·0

  Shepway

  33·0

  Swale

  5·2

  Thanet

  9·8

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  10·8

  Tunbridge Wells

  20·3

  Lancashire

  Blackburn

  -4·1

  Blackpool

  6·9

  Burnley

  0·0

  Chorley

  5·0

  Fylde

  4·5

  Hyndburn

  1·7

  Lancaster

  8·0

  Pendle

  9·6

  Preston

  18·4

  Ribble Valley

  7·2

  Rossendale

  9·2

  South Ribble

  11·4

  West Lancashire

  0·2

  Wyre

  3·3

  Increases in local rates and county precepts 1988–89

  Per cent.

  Leicestershire

  Blaby

  -4·3

  Charnwood

  -2·6

  Harborough

  5·5

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  15·7

  Leicester

  9·5

  Melton

  41·2

  North West Leicester

  6·3

  Oadby and Wigston

  4·9

  Rutland

  1·3

  133

  Per cent.

  Lincolnshire

  Boston

  12·8

  East Lindsey

  18·3

  Lincoln

  14·8

  North Kesteven

  6·5

  South Holland

  6·7

  South Kesteven

  1·9

  West Lindsey

  7·1

  Norfolk

  Breckland

  16·5

  Broadland

  15·5

  Great Yarmouth

  3·9

  North Norfolk

  9·7

  Norwich

  4·1

  South Norfolk

  20·0

  Kings Lynn/West

  Norfolk

  9·0

  Northamptonshire

  Corby

  0·0

  Daventry

  0·0

  East Northampton

  24·1

  Kettering

  8·1

  Northampton

  15·8

  South Northampton

  16·4

  Wellingborough

  1·1

  Northumberland

  Alnwick

  22·3

  Berwick·upon·Tweed

  16·9

  Blyth Valley

  9·6

  Castle Morpeth

  15·0

  Tynedale

  8·0

  Wansbeck

  7·4

  North Yorkshire

  Craven

  10·5

  Hambleton

  20·7

  Harrogate

  6·8

  Richmondshire

  13·3

  Ryedale

  7·6

  Scarborough

  7·6

  Selby

  3·8

  York

  9·6

  Increases in local rates and county precepts 1988–89

  Per cent.

  Nottinghamshire

  Ashfield

  8·8

  Bassetlaw

  8·9

  Broxtowe

  5·7

  Gedling

  13·0

  Mansfield

  16·1

  Newark and Sherwood

  23·5

  Nottingham

  0·0

  Rushcliffe

  1·3

  Oxfordshire

  Cherwell

  4·4

  Oxford

  88·2

  South Oxfordshire

  5·0

  Vale of White Horse

  2·4

  West Oxfordshire

  3·2

  Shropshire

  Bridgnorth

  5·6

  North Shropshire

  26·5

  Oswestry

  24·6

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  9·3

  South Shropshire

  12·5

  The Wrekin

  15·2

  Somerset

  Mendip

  12·0

  134

  Per cent.

  Sedgemoor

  0·2

  Taunton Deane

  4·2

  West Somerset

  19·4

  South Somerset

  31·0

  Staffordshire

  Cannock Chase

  2·4

  East Staffordshire

  3·0

  Lichfield

  7·6

  Newcastle under Lyme

  5·5

  South Staffordshire

  6·9

  Stafford

  21·7

  Staffs, Moorlands

  22·6

  Stoke-on-Trent

  3·6

  Tamworth

  0·0

  Suffolk

  Babergh

  5·8

  Forest Heath

  17·5

  Ipswich

  9·8

  Mid Suffolk

  11·4

  St. Edmundsbury

  16·0

  Suffolk Coastal

  39·1

  Waveney

  7·8

  Increases in local rates and county precepts 1988–89

  Percentage

  Surrey

  Elmbridge

  2·5

  Epsom and Ewell

  10·8

  Guildford

  0·0

  Mole Valley

  6·2

  Reigate and Banstead

  7·4

  Runnymede

  -14·6

  Spelthorne

  -72·9

  Surrey Heath

  10·5

  Tandridge

  4·5

  Waverley

  9·4

  Woking

  11·5

  Warwickshire

  North Warwickshire

  4·6

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  8·4

  Rugby

  1·5

  Stratford-on-Avon

  -1·7

  Warwick

  7·4

  West Sussex

  Adur

  7·8

  Arun

  8·4

  Chichester

  7·0

  Crawley

  12·3

  Horsham

  9·0

  Mid Sussex

  17·6

  Worthing

  0·0

  Wiltshire

  Kennet

  7·4

  North Wiltshire

  25·9

  Salisbury

  13·9

  Thamesdown

  -7·4

  West Wiltshire

  41·4

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many grammar schools are operated by local authorities; what was the figure for 1979; and if he will make a statement.
  135
  Mr. Dunn
  The numbers of grammar schools maintained by local education authorities in England in January 1987 and in January 1979 were 152 and 254 respectively.

  University Admissions (Ethnic Monitoring)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to meet the University Grants Committee to discuss proposals for ethnic monitoring in relation to admission proposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Further to my reply to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 29 February 1988, at columns 404–5, the Department issued on 8 March its consultative document addressing the issues and options for consideration in the collection of ethically based statistics for students in further and higher education. The University Grants Committee was included among the bodies in the university sector to which copies were sent. In addition, as adumbrated in my previous reply, the Department has raised the question of the ethnic monitoring of university applicants with the Universities Central Council on Admissions, which is now considering the proposal in consultation with other interested bodies.

  Research Centres
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek additional funding for setting up interdisciplinary research centres in 1989–90.

  Mr. Jackson
  Funding in 1989–90 for inter-disciplinary research centres and for the science base generally will be subject to review in this year's public expenditure survey.

  Reception Classes
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he proposes to take to ensure that reception classes in primary schools are adequately staffed.

  Mr. Dunn
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) on 15 March, at column 531.

  Further Education
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received concerning his plans for further education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  362 responses have been received to the consultation paper. "Maintained Further Education : Financing, Governance and Law", from a wide range of local education authorities, colleges, educational and other organisations, and individuals.

  Horniman Museum
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for the future of the Horniman museum; and if he will make a statement.
  136
  Mr. Dunn
  We are urgently considering the most appropriate arrangements for the Horniman museum and will make an announcement as soon as possible.

  Child Guidance Service
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he is developing for the future of the Child Guidance Service within inner London, in the light of the proposed abolition of the Inner London education authority.

  Mr. Dunn
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright) on 28 March, at column 273.

  Supply Teachers
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance his Department has given to local education authorities in Wales concerning the salary scales of supply teachers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It is for local education authorities to determine to pay of supply teachers within the framework set down in the "School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 1987."

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Attorney-General whether there are any plans to initiate a review of the use of the Welsh language in courts in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Government are committed to the principle of equal validity in the use of English and Welsh in court proceedings in Wales as provided for in the Welsh Language Act 1967. The Lord Chancellor will willingly consider any specific representations about the facilities for the use of Welsh in courts for which he is responsible, but a further general review is considered to be unnecessary.

  Welsh Social Security Commissioner
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Attorney-General what recent representations he has received concerning the Welsh Social Security Commissioner; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Since the closure of the Cardiff office of the social security commissioners on 4 August 1986 my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has received written representations on that subject from nine Members of Parliament, one peer and two members of the public, to which replies were sent explaining the reason for the closure and the steps taken to ensure that hearings continue to take place in Cardiff as necessary.

DEFENCE

  Morocco
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restriction Her Majesty's Government impose on the
  137
  use of British military equipment and weapons supplied to the kingdom of Morocco to ensure that they are used neither for external aggression against the Saharawi people nor for internal repression.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 14 July, at column 442.

  Nuclear-powered Submarines
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear-powered submarines he expects to have been taken out of service by the year 2000; and what proposals he is considering for their decommissioning.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  On current plans 10 nuclear-powered submarines will have been taken out of service by the year 2000. Sea disposal of the entire submarine, land burial of the intact reactor compartment and piecemeal disposal of the reactor machinery in a deep disposal site to be

  Inward investment into Wales by county from 1 April 1983 to 31 December 1987

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Total

  County

  Project

  Investment £ Millions

  Project

  Investment £ Millions

  Project

  Investment £ Millions

  Project

  Investment £ Millions

  Project

  Investment £ Millions

  Project

  Investment £ Millions

  Clwyd

  2

  120·1

  5

  29·1

  10

  39·7

  22

  49·9

  29

  45·8

  68

  284·6

  Dyfed

  1

  —

  3

  6·0

  5

  10·5

  1

  27·0

  7

  12·9

  17

  56·4

  Gwent

  6

  3·0

  18

  51·8

  15

  22·8

  23

  38·8

  17

  69·6

  79

  186·1

  Gwynedd

  1

  —

  1

  0·8

  —

  —

  1

  —

  3

  0·7

  6

  1·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  3

  9·9

  8

  25·7

  23

  49·3

  24

  37·6

  30

  66·1

  88

  188·6

  Powys

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  0·6

  —

  —

  1

  0·1

  3

  0·7

  South Glamorgan

  6

  28·0

  7

  29·3

  10

  18·9

  2

  0·2

  13

  37·3

  38

  113·8

  West Glamorgan

  3

  0·4

  3

  21·2

  4

  16·5

  8

  22·2

  13

  6·5

  31

  66·9

  Total Wales

  22

  161·4

  45

  163·9

  69

  158·3

  81

  175·7

  113

  239·0

  330

  898·6

  Note Investment figures have been individually rounded and therefore may not equal totals.

  Teaching Hospitals
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the teaching hospitals in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Undergraduate medical and dental education is provided by the University of Wales college of medicine and the Cardiff Dental school on the site of the University Hospital of Wales. Clinical training is provided primarily at the University hospital of Wales, the Cardiff royal infirmary and Llandough hospital.

  The postgraduate education of doctors continues through to the senior registrar grade and there are training posts in all the larger hospitals in Wales.

  Green Pound
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to press for a devaluation of the green pound; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The European Commission proposal not to make any changes in the green pound in the price package for 1988–89 will be subject to discussion at the forthcoming meetings of the Council of Ministers. We strongly support the Commission's aim of removing all MCAs by 1992 and we have already made clear our commitment to press for the immediate abolition of our MCAs in the pigmeat sector.138
  developed by Nirex are options which are under consideration by the MOD but no decisions have yet been taken.

  The safety and environmental implications of these options will, of course, form part of the Government's deliberations.

WALES

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ynys Mon of 21 March,Official Report, column 26, if he will give the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The numbers of inward investment projects secured for Wales by county during the period 1 April 1983 to 31 December 1987 are shown in the following table. Figures for the years prior to the establishment of WlNvest in April 1983 are not available.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department currently applies outside financial appraisals for straightforward regional development grant applications.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]:No

  Morriston Hospital
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department first received a request that Morriston hospital should be made a sub-regional centre. for prenatal services; what progress has been made in considering the proposal; when he expects to make a decision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]: The response of West Glamorgan health authority to consultation on the recommendations of the perinatal mortality initiative report relating to the establishment of a regional perinatal intensive care service were received in May 1987. Together with the responses of other health authorities in Wales it has been the subject of detailed study and an announcement of the Welsh Office proposals, in the light of consultation, will be made as soon as possible.

PRIME MINISTER

  Council of Europe
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will announce the composition of the United Kingdom delegation for the 40th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  The 40th Session Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will be opened in Strasbourg on 2 May 1988. The delegation from the United Kingdom for the Session will consist of eleven Members of the Conservative party, six Members of the Labour party and one Member of the Social Liberal and Democratic party. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.

  The appointments of representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the Leaders of those parties concerned.

  The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the Assembly of the Western European Union, which next meets in Paris on 6 June.

  Representatives from the Government Benches will be:
  My hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Sir Geoffrey Finsberg)— who will act as leader of both delegations.
  The hon. Members for:

  Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith)

  Southampton, Test (Mr. Hill) (Government Whip)

  Twickenham (Mr. Jessel)

  Northampton, South (Mr. Morris)

  Halesowen and Stourbridge (Mr. Stokes)

  Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson)

  Ashford (Mr. Speed)

  Streatham (Mr. Shelton)

  Medway (Dame P. Fenner)

  The Earl of Kinnoull.

  Representatives from the Labour Party will be:
  The hon. Members for:

  Neath (Mr. Coleman)

  Wallsend (Mr. Garrett)

  Wentworth (Mr. Hardy)

  Tooting (Mr. Cox)

  Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry)

  Falkirk, East (Mr. Ewing)

  Representatives from the Social Liberal and Democratic Party will be:
  The hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir R. Johnston).
  The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates.

  From the Government Benches:
  The hon. Members for:

  Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson)

  Eastwood (Mr. Stewart)

  Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell)

  Thanet, North (Mr. Gale)

  Lewes (Mr. Rathbone)

  Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden)

  Suffolk, Central (Mr. Lord)

  Ravensbourne (Mr. Hunt)

  Lord Newall and Lord Rodney

  From the Labour Party :
  The hon. Members for:

  Wansbeck (Mr. Thompson)

  Manchester, Central (Mr. Litherland)

  Don Valley (Mr. Redmond)

  Warley, East (Mr. Faulds)

  Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock)

  Cunninghame, South (Mr. Lambie)

  Lord Kirkhill

  140
  From the Social Liberal and Democratic Party The Lord Mackie of Benshie

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the United Kingdom to ratify the convention establishing the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I am glad to announce that the United Kingdom's instrument of ratification of the MIGA convention was deposited by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the World Bank's offices in Washington on 12 April 1988. Sufficient ratifications have now been received for the convention to enter into force. The United Kingdom has therefore become an original member of the agency and will play a full part in its formative stages. MIGA, which will encourage private investments in developing countries, principally by issuing contracts of guarantee against defined non-commercial risks, is a welcome addition to the World Bank group and we hope it will have a long and successful life.

SCOTLAND

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current level of employment in(a) the coal industry in Scotland and (b) the electricity using industries in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  British Coal has about 5,000 employees in Scotland at present. In addition, roughly 1,000 people are employed on opencast and deep mining by subcontractors. There are also a small number working in licensed private mining.

  There is no generally accepted definition of "the electricity using industries". Estimates of the numbers of employees in employment in Scotland in September 1987 by broad industry categories are given in table 1·5 of the March Employment Gazette, available in the Library of the House. A more detailed industry breakdown, from the 1984 census of employment, appears in an article in "Scottish Economic Bulletin" number 36, also available in the Library of the House.

  Rate Support Grant
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing for each district council area in Scotland(a) the rate of support grant for 1987–88, (b) that figure expressed per capita of the population of the authority, (c) the rate support grant in 1978–79 in 1986 prices, (d) expressed as a sum per capita of the then population of the authority, and (e) the percentage difference between (c) and (d).

  Mr. Lang
  The figures show for each local authority the total and per capita amounts of rate support grant paid in 1987–88, the total and per capita amounts of rate support grant paid in 1978–79 expressed in 1986–87 prices, and the percentage difference between the 1978–79 and 1987–88 per capita figures. The GDP deflator is used to convert the
  141
  figures for 1978–79 from cash to 1986–87 prices. The grant figures used for 1987–88 are based on the Rate Support Grant (Scotland) Order 1987. No adjustment has been

  (1) Total RSG 1987–88

  (2) Total RSG per head 1987–88

  (3) Total RSG 1978–79 in 1986–87 prices

  (4) Total RSG per head 1978–79 in 1986–87 price

  (5) Percentage change between column 2 and column 4

  Regions

  Borders

  39,903,204

  391·96

  37,585,671

  374·04

  5·0

  Central

  73,894,672

  271·85

  74,802,201

  275·19

  -1·0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  53,254,149

  362·84

  49,262,167

  343·36

  6·0

  Fife

  97,346,577

  283·13

  100,201,708

  292·07

  -3·0

  Grampian

  145,915,693

  290·18

  148,270,940

  319·42

  -9·0

  Highland

  89,287,275

  444·74

  90,335,804

  479·17

  -7·0

  Lothian

  188,261,970

  253·75

  228,644,362

  304·73

  -17·0

  Strathclyde

  868,415,907

  370·39

  900,064,841

  368·08

  1·0

  Tayside

  124,784,343

  31805

  124,661,542

  309·39

  3·0

  Islands

  Orkney

  9,421,381

  489·02

  8,241,727

  452·92

  8·0

  Shetland

  11,139,709

  472·42

  11,887,137

  554·18

  -15·0

  Western Isles

  29,665,079

  941·93

  23,576,297

  794·75

  19·0

  Districts

  Berwickshire

  453,691

  24·20

  773,274

  43·24

  -44·0

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  700,083

  21·07

  1,281,908

  39·00

  -46·0

  Roxburgh

  1,497,245

  42·51

  1,710,379

  47·68

  -11·0

  Tweeddale

  287,902

  19·71

  453,246

  32·69

  -40·0

  Clackmannan

  1,042,782

  21·91

  1,978,584

  41·16

  -47·0

  Falkirk

  1,650,467

  11·54

  3,226,336

  22·38

  -48·0

  Stirling

  933,493

  11·50

  2,458,923

  30·89

  -63·0

  Annandale and Eskdale

  840,120

  23·39

  1,212,824

  34·57

  -32·0

  Nithsdale

  996,694

  17·38

  1,623,543

  28·87

  -40·0

  Stewartry

  452,270

  19·55

  657,241

  29·33

  -33·0

  Wigtown

  706,293

  23·25

  1,010,377

  33·96

  -32·0

  Dunfermline

  1,485,223

  11·50

  4,412,015

  34·53

  -67·0

  Kirkcaldy

  1,953,516

  13·18

  4,965,083

  33·19

  -60·0

  North East Fife

  983,908

  14·79

  2,040,632

  31·04

  -52·0

  Aberdeen City

  4,180,520

  19·33

  6,230,813

  29·87

  -35·0

  Banff and Buchan

  958,713

  11·53

  3,013,947

  38·32

  -70·0

  Gordon

  1,967,205

  27·79

  3,565,627

  62·31

  -55·0

  Kincardine and Deeside

  738,280

  15·44

  1,414,273

  36·99

  -58·0

  Moray

  1,166,722

  13·76

  3,265,358

  40·05

  -66·0

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  120,125

  11·33

  249,434

  26·03

  -56·0

  Caithness

  1,122,787

  41·38

  1,286,147

  46·25

  -11·0

  Inverness

  676,472

  1113

  1,576,523

  28·46

  -61·0

  Lochaber

  361,610

  18·67

  1,096,253

  54·47

  -66·0

  Nairn

  276,063

  26·96

  352,922

  34·69

  -22·0

  Ross and Cromarty

  1,297,308

  27·08

  3,166,531

  74·17

  -63·0

  Skye and Lochalsh

  515,714

  44·74

  427,913

  42·41

  5·0

  Sutherland

  698,277

  52·85

  997,605

  78·81

  -33·0

  (1) Total RSG 1987–88

  (2) Total RSG per head 1987–88

  (3) Total RSG 1978–79 in 1986–87 prices

  (4) Total RSG per head 1978–79 in 1986–87 price

  (5) Percentage change between column 2 and column 4

  Regions

  East Lothian

  1,512,254

  18·47

  2,812,136

  35·7

  -48·0

  Edinburgh City

  12,513,104

  28·55

  13,283,327

  29·1

  -2·0

  Midlothian

  3,100,730

  38·16

  4,280,388

  50·71

  -25·0

  West Lothian

  3,617,707

  25·74

  5,526,067

  42·31

  -39·0

  Argyll and Bute

  3,712,326

  56·60

  3,724,008

  57·56

  -2·0

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  615,782

  15·33

  1,704,323

  43·82

  -65·0

  Clydebank

  4,362,463

  88·66

  4,474,560

  82·52

  7·0

  Clydesdale

  2,375,903

  40·76

  2,399,805

  42·79

  -5·0

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  1,964,426

  31·43

  2,427,921

  39·23

  -20·0

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  2,787,310

  64·03

  3,107,957

  66·61

  -4·0

  Cunninghame

  3,697,912

  26·96

  5,508,373

  40·8

  -34·0

  Dumbarton

  1,409,745

  17·78

  3,218,793

  40·5

  -56·0

  East Kilbride

  1,449,300

  17·71

  3,108,537

  37·15

  -52·0

  Eastwood

  951,835

  16·98

  2,095,626

  40·98

  -59·0

  Glasgow City

  46,813,579

  64·56

  53,811,989

  66·46

  -3·0

  Hamilton

  3,903,354

  36·50

  7,160,877

  66·81

  -45·0

  142
  made for grant penalties since they will be restored if authorities bring their expenditure down to guideline at outturn.
  143

  (1) Total RSG 1987–88

  (2) Total RSG per head 1987–88

  (3) Total RSG 1978–79 in 1986–87 prices

  (4) Total RSG per head 1978–79 in 1986–87 price

  (5) Percentage change between column 2 and column 4

  Inverclyde

  3,675,399

  37·80

  5,570,393

  54·17

  -30·0

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  3,060,252

  37·75

  4,281,200

  52·6

  -28·0

  Kyle and Carrick

  2,313,844

  20·46

  4,658,043

  41·4

  -51·0

  Monklands

  5,516,803

  51·55

  8,478,040

  77·01

  -33·0

  Motherwell

  4,898,964

  33·10

  7,484,757

  49·06

  -33·0

  Renfrew

  7,869,812

  38·73

  9,961,113

  46·72

  -17·0

  Strathkelvin

  3,522,383

  39·46

  3,991,223

  47·46

  -17·0

  Angus

  2,394,766

  25·71

  3,597,592

  39·13

  -34·0

  Dundee City

  7,085,771

  40·21

  8,848,163

  46·2

  -13·0

  Perth and Kinross

  2,280,834

  18·55

  3,612,413

  30·24

  -39·0

  Scotland

  1,896,760,000

  370·39

  2,031,109,723

  392·15

  -6·0

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each district council area in Scotland those services on which authorities spend below the national average; and by how much.

  Mr. Lang
  This information is not readily available, and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Arts and Antiques Squad
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to reconstitute the arts and antiques squad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is for chief officers to take operational decisions about the deployment of the resources available to them. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the need for a specialist arts and antiques squad is kept under review, but that there are no plans at present to re-establish the squad.

  Economic League
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance to police forces concerning contacts with the Economic League.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We see no grounds for doing so.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now inquire into alleged connections between the Economic League and the police forces of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  An inquiry was made by North Yorkshire police in March 1987 into allegations about the activities of the Economic League in that force's area. I am not aware of any other allegations about connections between the Economic League and the police. If the hon. Member has a specific case in mind, perhaps he would let me know.

  Drug Trafficking
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advance there has been in making British law match more closely United Nations guidelines for legal sanctions on drug trafficking.
  144
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom has, since 1964, been a party to the United Nations single convention on narcotic drugs 1961, which requires the application of stringent controls over the production, manufacture, distribution and availability of such drugs, with the aim of preventing their diversion to the illicit trade. In 1986 the United Kingdom ratified the United Nations convention on psychotropic substances 1971, which requires similar controls over a wide range of synthetic drugs liable to misuse. The provisions of these conventions are embodied in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, as amended by subsequent modification orders, and its associated regulations. We are now participating in negotiations on a new United Nations convention against illicit trafficking.

  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what links have now been established between drug trafficking and terrorist activities.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no direct evidence of such links in respect of terrorism directed against the United Kingdom or United Kingdom interests, but we remain alert to the possibility both at national level and in multilateral organisations such as Trevi.

  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rate of interception for illegal trafficking in drugs he treats as providing a reasonable indication of effective policing and an effective deterrent.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is not possible to calculate an interception rate for covert illegal activity. But there are a number of indicators (for example, information over time about the availability, purity and street price of certain drugs) which chief officers can use to help them assess the effectiveness of their enforcement activities including their efficacy as a deterrent.

  Law Officers
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration has been given to rationalising international law enforcement agreements so that law officers can have the same freedom of movement and operation on the people they are watching or pursuing.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Police officers may already follow suspects from one country to another when this appears to be necessary. The facilitation of international cooperation of this kind is one of the functions of the International Police Organisation (Interpol).

  British Broadcasting Corporation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet the chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation; and what issues he hopes to discuss.

  Mr. Renton
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet the chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the immediate future. But, generally, we keep in close touch with the broadcasting authorities in order to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to seek to give members of the public greater protection against rape and other crimes of violence in subways: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are strengthening the police and we have put before Parliament proposals which will increase certain penalties, strengthen existing controls over the possession of firearms and shotguns, prohibit the sale of specified offensive weapons, and make it an offence to possess a knife in a public place without good reason. Our current crime prevention publicity campaign is directed against the 4 per cent. of crime committed against the person as well as the 96 per cent. committed against property. These measures will help tackle violent crime wherever it may occur.

  Drugs (Illicit Manufacture)
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for control of the manufacture or sale of raw materials which might be used to manufacture drugs illicitly.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Proposals to secure closer international collaboration for this purpose are being pursued vigorously alongside other major enforcement measures included in the draft of a new United Nations convention on drug trafficking.

  Psychiatric Patients (Voting Rights)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to revise the Representation of the People Act 1983 to take account of the difficulties experienced by voluntary psychiatric patients who are required to record an address, other than the psychiatric hospital, for voting purposes.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. Voluntary patients in psychiatric hospitals may register as electors in respect of any address with which they have been associated other than the hospital address. Guidance to psychiatric hospitals makes it clear that any former address is acceptable and that no voluntary patient need lose his vote for want of an address.

  Brixton Prison (Deaths)
  Mr. Holland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of deaths(a) by suicide and (b) misadventure in Brixton prison since 1981.
  146
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Twenty verdicts of suicide and three of misadventure have been returned on inmates who have died at Brixton since the beginning of 1981. Three open verdicts have also been returned during that period on inmates who were found hanged at the prison, and the inquest on one inmate thought to have committed suicide there has yet to be held.

  Prison Statistics
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) at what time prisoners are locked in their cells for the night at each of the following prisons: Birmingham, Leeds, Pentonville, Manchester, Wandsworth, Wormwood Scrubs and Holloway;

  (2) how many prisoners spent on average (a) 20 or more hours a day and (b) 23 or more hours a day in their cells in the most recent convenient week at (i) Birmingham prison, (ii) Leeds prison, (iii) Pentonville prison, (iv) Manchester prison, (v) Wandsworth prison, (vi) Wormwood Scrubs prison and (vii) Holloway prison.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The daily routine for prisoners may vary both within and between prisons and from day to day. The information, which has been collated locally by the establishments concerned, relates to the week beginning 20 March 1988.

  Numbers of prisoners who spent on average

  Establishment

  Average daily population

  20 or more hours a day in cells

  23 or more hours a day in cells

  Time locked in cells for night

  Birmingham

  1,149

  546

  Nil

  Between 1900 hours and 2100 hours

  Leeds

  1,372

  770

  Nil

  Between 1830 hours and 2030 hours

  Pentonville

  698

  99

  Nil

  Between 1830 hours and 2000 hours

  Manchester

  1,755

  916

  Nil

  2000 hours

  Wandsworth

  1,548

  950

  Nil

  2045 hours

  Wormwood Scrubs

  925

  350

  Nil

  Between 1915 hours and 2015 hours

  Holloway

  470

  16

  16

  2000 hours

  1 Patients in hospital unit.

  Firearms Certificate (Gwent)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the letter reference MLB/JD, dated 19 January 1985, from the prosecuting solicitor's office of Gwent Police Authority to an applicant for a firearms certificate, has been drawn to the attention of Her Majesty's inspector of constabulary.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

EMPLOYMENT

  Significant Private Sector Employers
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of
  147
  significant private sector employers in the United Kingdom; and if he will indicate what definition of significant his Department uses for this purpose.

  Mr. Fowler
  There is no statistical definition of "significant employers" and different firms will be significant in different contexts.

  Training Schemes (The Arts)
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide the best available estimate of the proportion of individuals on YTS, the job training scheme and the community programme involved in working in the arts.

  Mr. Cope
  At 31 December 1987, it is estimated that 1·6 per cent. of YTS trainees were on training programmes in creative, educational and recreational service occupations. This figure excludes sports occupations.

  Of the 224,000 people working on the community programme at 29 February 1988, approximately 2 per cent. were on projects defined as "cultural".

  Similar information for the job training scheme is not available.

  Wages Inspectorate
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each year from 1979 to 1987 in relation to (i) all wages councils, (ii) the Hat, Cap and

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  All wages councils

  Number of homeworkers whose pay was checked in employers' records

  3,570

  2,565

  1,665

  1,358

  1,974

  1,883

  1,606

  1,374

  858

  Number of homeworkers visited to check pay

  922

  658

  439

  288

  426

  300

  NA1

  Total number of homeworkers found to be underpaid

  101

  160

  91

  113

  59

  122

  21

  8

  14

  Total amount of arrears assessed as due to homeworkers

  £4,065

  £5,326

  £4,815

  £10,221

  £8,325

  £25,814

  £2,909

  £2,174

  NA1

  Hat, Cap and Millinery wages council

  Number of homeworkers whose pay was checked in employers' records

  77

  86

  65

  5

  75

  92

  54

  71

  2

  Number of homeworkers visited to check pay

  11

  79

  19

  5

  36

  15

  NA1

  Total number of homeworkers found to be underpaid

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  NA1

  Total amount of arrears assessed as due to homeworkers

  0

  0

  £150

  0

  0

  0

  0

  NA1

  Clothing Manufacturing2 wages council

  Number of homeworkers whose pay was checked in employers' records

  2,373

  1,641

  957

  985

  1,085

  1,440

  1,187

  1,041

  464

  Number of homeworkers visited to check pay

  703

  555

  308

  222

  266

  244

  NA1

  Total number of homeworkers found to be underpaid

  16

  6

  43

  38

  25

  120

  20

  6

  12

  Total amount of arrears assessed as due to homeworkers

  £489

  £233

  £1,448

  £2,960

  £2,559

  £20,545

  £2,179

  £1,842

  NA1

  Made-up Textiles wages council

  Number of homeworkers whose pay was checked in employers' records

  27

  0

  10

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  148
  Millinery wages council, (iii) the Clothing Manufacturing wages council, (iv) the Made-Up Textiles wages council and (v) the Retail Bespoke wages council (a) the number of homeworkers in respect of whom the Wages Inspectorate examined employers' records, (b) the number of homeworkers who were visited to check the accuracy of employers' records, (c) the number of homeworkers found to be underpaid as a result of a visit to check the accuracy of employers' records, (d) the amount of arrears assessed as due to those homeworkers, (e) the amount of arrears collected for them (f) the total number of homeworkers found to be underpaid, (g) the total amount of arrears assessed as due to them and (h) the total amount of arrears collected for them.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The statistics compiled by the Wages Inspectorate do not provide for separate identification of homeworkers visited to check employers' records who were found to be underpaid. Although figures are available for the amount of arrears assessed as due to all homeworkers, the amounts collected for them are not separately identifiable. However, in the experience of the inspectorate it is rare for arrears assessed as due to homeworkers not to be paid.

  I regret that the figures stated in the Official Report for 23 May 1986, at columns 359 and 360, were incorrectly stated to be "arrears paid". The relevant line should have read "arrears assessed". The information requested which is available is in the following table:
  149

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Number of homeworkers visited to check pay

  2

  0

  4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  NA1

  Total number of homeworkers found to be underpaid

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total amount of arrears assessed as due to homeworkers

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Retail Bespoke Tailoring wages council

  Number of homeworkers whose pay was checked in employers' records

  56

  33

  15

  15

  26

  24

  26

  24

  26

  Number of homeworkers visited to check pay

  39

  11

  4

  7

  13

  8

  NA1

  Total number of homeworkers found to be underpaid

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  Total amount of arrears assessed as due to homeworkers

  £5

  £323

  0

  0

  0

  0

  £30

  £332

  0

  1 NA—Not available due to a change in method of compiling statistics.

  2 Statistics for 1979 and 1980 relate to seven councils which were merged in 1980 to form the Clothing Manufacturing wages council.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list for each year from 1979 to 1987(a) the total number of homeworkers found by the Wages Inspectorate to be earning less than the statutory minimum hourly rate but who were assessed as not being underpaid, (b) the total number of homeworkers found by the Wages Inspectorate to be earning less than the statutory minimum hourly rate and who were assessed as being underpaid and (c) (a) as a percentage of (b);

  (2) if he will list for each year from 1979 to 1987 in respect of (i) the Clothing Manufacturing, (ii) the Hat, Cap and Millinery (iii) the Made-Up Textiles and (iv) the Retail Bespoke Tailoring wages councils (a) the number of homeworkers found by the Wages Inspectorate to be earning less than the statutory minimum hourly rate but who were assessed as not being underpaid, (b) the number of homeworkers found by the Wages Inspectorate to be earning less than the statutory minimum hourly rate and who were assessed as being underpaid and (c) (a) as a percentage of (b).

  Mr. Nicholls
  I regret that the comparisons requested cannot be provided. As virtually all homeworkers in the wages council trades are pieceworkers, what is checked and recorded by inspectors is whether the rates per piece paid by the employer meet the statutory minimum remuneration required of section 15 of the Act. If they do, no homeworker employed on that work is being underpaid. If any do not, all the workers (aged 21 or over) employed on the work concerned are being underpaid and arrears are assessed accordingly. The actual earnings of homeworkers are not therefore a factor in determining whether they are being paid at least the statutory minimum remuneration due. Provided an adequate piece rate has been fixed by the employer, it is up to individual pieceworkers how much they earn.

  The numbers of homeworkers found to be underpaid in the wages council trades specified are provided in a separate reply.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will publish for 1986 and 1987 a table showing(a) the total number of workers found by the Wages Inspectorate to be earning less than the statutory minimum hourly rate but who were assessed as not being
  150
  underpaid, (b) the number of workers found by the Wages Inspectorate to be earning less than the statutory minimum hourly rate and who were assessed as being underpaid and (c) (a) as a percentage of (b);

  (2) if he will publish for 1986 and 1987 in respect of (i) the Clothing Manufacturing, (ii) the Hat, Cap and Millinery, (iii) the Made-Up Textiles and (iv) the Retail Bespoke Tailoring wages councils (a) the number of workers covered by the Clothing Manufacturing wages council found by the Wages Inspectorate to he earning less than the statutory minimum hourly rate but who were assessed as not being underpaid, (b) the number of workers covered by the Clothing Manufacturing wages council found by the Wages Inspectorate to be earning less than the statutory minimum hourly rate and who were assessed as being underpaid and (c) (a) as a percentage of (b).

  Mr. Nicholls
  I regret that the comparisons requested cannot be provided. Although the Wages Act 1986 enables wages councils to fix a minimum hourly rate, whether or not workers are earning above or below that rate is not necessarily recorded by wages inspectors. What inspectors check and record is whether the legal requirement is met, that is, whether the total sum paid to workers for the week is at least the statutory minimum remuneratin due for that week. Only workers found by inspectors to be receiving less are assessed and recorded as being underpaid. For time workers, statutory minimum remuneration is defined in section 14(4) of the Act. For pieceworkers, the definition is in section 15.

  The figures requested for workers found to be underpaid in 1986 and 1987 are as follows:

  1986

  1997

  All wages councils

  15,533

  9,129

  Clothing Manufacturing

  942

  630

  Hat, Cap and Millinery

  None

  5

  Made-up Textiles

  2

  1

  Retail Bespoke Tailoring

  10

  4

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will publish in relation to all wages councils for 1986 and 1987(a) the amount of arrears assessed by the Wages Inspectorate as due to workers but

  151
  not recovered, (b) the amount where recovery was not considered practicable, (c) the amounts in (a) and (b) expressed as percentages of the arrears actually recovered, (d) the number of workers in respect of whom arrears were assessed but not recovered, (e) the number of workers for whom recovery of arrears was not considered practicable and (f) the numbers in (d) and (e) expressed as percentages of the number to whom arrears were actually paid;

  (2) if he will publish in relation to (i) the Clothing Manufacturing, (ii) the Hat, Cap and Millinery, (iii) the Made-Up Textiles and (iv) the Retail Bespoke Tailoring wages councils for 1986 and 1987 (a) the amount of

  All wages council trades

  Clothing manufacturing

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  1986

  1987

  1986

  1987

  1986

  1987

  (a) Arrears assessed but not recovered

  £756,707

  £416,596

  £38,425

  £38,681

  £136

  £765

  (b) Arrears where recovery was not considered practicable

  £349,006

  £193,135

  £35,487

  £34,058

  £136

  £765

  (c1) (a) above as percentage of the arrears recovered

  47·6

  50·4

  66·9

  80·0

  5·8

  440

  (c2) (b) above as a percentage of the arrears recovered

  22·0

  23·4

  61·8

  80·0

  5·8

  440

  (d) Workers for whom arrears were assessed but not recovered

  2,591

  1,624

  246

  138

  1

  2

  (e) Workers for whom recovery was not considered practicable

  1,298

  826

  231

  117

  1

  2

  (f1) (d) above as a percentage of workers paid arrears

  20·0

  21·5

  35·3

  27·7

  11·1

  100

  (f2) (e) above as a percentage of workers paid arrears

  10·0

  10·9

  33·2

  23·5

  11·1

  100

  In 1986 and 1987, all arrears were fully recovered in the Hat, Cap and Millinery and the Made-Up Textiles wages council trades. The figures in the table do not indicate the extent to which arrears were recovered in the Clothing Manufacturing and Retail Bespoke Tailoring trades, or in wages council trades overall. The position in 1987 for wages council trades overall was as follows:

  £

  Per cent.

  Total arrears assessed

  1,242,524

  —

  Arrears not pursued at the request of workers

  223,461

  18·0

  Arrears not pursued for other reasons

  193,135

  15·5

  Arrears paid

  825,928

  66·5

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will publish for each year from 1979 to 1987 the total number of establishments where employers were found by the Wages Inspectorate not to have displayed copies of wages orders as required by the wages council legislation: and if he will express this number as a percentage of the establishments visited by the inspectorate;

  (2) if he will publish for each year from 1979 to 1987 the total number of establishments classified to the Clothing Manufacturing wages council where employers were found by the Wages Inspectorate not to have displayed copies of wages orders as required by the wages council legislation: and if he will express this number as a percentage of the establishments classified to the Clothing Manufacturing wages council visited by the inspectorate;

  Numbers of establishments found not to be displaying copies of wages orders

  Percentages

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  All wages council trades

  (a) numbers of establishments checked by

  8,555

  9,188

  6,822

  6,568

  7,388

  8,525

  8,370

  8,057

  6,275

  152
  arrears assessed by the Wages Inspectorate as due to workers but not recovered, (b) the amount where recovery was not considered practicable, (c) the amounts in (a) and (b) expressed as percentages of the arrears actually recovered, (d) the number of workers in respect of whom arrears were assessed but not recovered, (e) the number of workers for whom recovery of arrears was not considered practicable and (f) the numbers in (d) and (e) expressed as percentages of the number of workers to whom arrears were actually paid.

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

  (3) if he will publish for each year from 1979 to 1987 the total number of establishments classified to the Hat, Cap and Millinery wages council where employers were found by the Wages Inspectorate not to have displayed copies of wages orders as required by the wages council legislation: and if he will express this number as a percentage of the establishments classified to the Hat, Cap and Millinery wages council visited by the inspectorate;

  (4) if he will publish for each year from 1979 to 1987 the total number of establishments classified to the Made-up Textiles wages council where employers were found by the Wages Inspectorate not to have displayed copies of wages orders as required by the wages council legislation; and if he will express this number as a percentage of the establishments classified to the Made-up Textiles wages council visited by the inspectorate;

  (5) if he will publish for each year from 1979 to 1987 the total number of establishments classified to the Retail Bespoke Tailoring wages council where employers were found by the Wages Inspectorate not to have displayed copies of wages orders as required by the wages council legislation: and if he will express this number as a percentage of the establishments classified to the Retail Bespoke Tailoring wages council visited by the inspectorate.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is in the following table:
  153

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  visit found not to be displaying notices of wages orders

  (b) (a) as percentage if all establishments checked by visit

  24·6

  26·5

  27·9

  128·2

  28·0

  32·1

  31·9

  33·1

  33·1

  Clothing Manufacturing wages council

  (a) numbers of establishments checked by visit found not to be displaying notices of wages orders

  295

  155

  161

  205

  216

  271

  354

  246

  216

  (b) (a) as percentage of all establishments checked by visit

  25·7

  19·8

  23·0

  31·4

  27·1

  27·2

  30·6

  28·8

  24·4

  Hat, Cap and Millinery wages council

  (a) numbers of establishments checked by visit found not to be displaying notices of wages orders

  0

  2

  1

  4

  5

  3

  0

  0

  0

  (b) (a) as percentage of all establishments checked by visit

  —

  11·1

  7·7

  36·3

  15·6

  12·0

  —

  —

  —

  Made-up Textiles wages council

  (a) numbers of establishments checked by visit found not to be displaying notices of wages orders

  8

  4

  3

  13

  7

  4

  7

  9

  7

  (b) (a) as percentage of all establishments checked by visit

  26·6

  18·2

  14·3

  54·1

  17·9

  14·8

  23·3

  21·9

  30·4

  Retail Bespoke Tailoring wages council

  (a) numbers of establishments checked by visit found not be displaying notices of wages orders

  14

  12

  8

  11

  10

  11

  14

  26

  9

  (b) (a) as percentage of all establishments checked by visit

  20·5

  26·1

  19·5

  31·4

  18·2

  13·9

  24·5

  43·3

  27·2

  The proportion of establishments found not to be displaying notices is not representative of all employers covered by wages councils. Visits by inspectors tend to be concentrated on establishments more likely to be underpaying workers and less likely, therefore, to be displaying the current notice stating the minimum rates.

  1 This figure was wrongly stated as 18·2 per cent. in a previous reply on 23 May 1986, at column 359 of the Official Report, due to an error in transcription.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Ornamental Horticulture
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the contribution of ornamental horticulture to the environment to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 16 to 20 May.

  Pigmeat
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of pigmeat production is accounted for by each member state of the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The latest date for which this information is available is 1986. Details are as follows:

  Per cent.

  West Germany

  27

  Netherlands

  14

  France

  13

  Spain

  11

  Denmark

  9

  Italy

  9

  United Kingdom

  8

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  6

  154

  Per cent.

  Ireland

  1

  Greece

  1

  Portugal

  1

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much in tonnes of pigmeat is in private storage presently; what is the amount of pigmeat remaining from 1987 storage that has been and is presently being released into a 1988 system; and if he will make a statement on the state of the pigmeat market and the United Kingdom average price per kilogram dead weight of pigs in the first quarter of the 1988 forecast.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  During the first four weeks of the current scheme, almost 70,000 tonnes of pigmeat were contracted to go into store in the EC of which 671 tonnes will be in the United Kingdom. No pigmeat now remains in store from the 1987 scheme. The average all pigs price appears to have stabilised. Cereal prices continue to show a downward trend. The pigmeat MCA has fallen in the last four weeks by 4·8 points to -6·1 per cent. due to a strengthening of sterling. Our commitment to the removal of MCAs from the pigmeat sector remains.

  Boxworth Experimental Husbandry Farm
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the research project into the effects of intensive farming methods on wildlife at
  155
  Boxworth experimental husbandry farm will be terminated; what the reasons for the termination are; whether he will publish the findings of the project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  There is no question of any premature termination of the Boxworth project. The five years of field work originally planned are scheduled to end with the 1988 harvest, but certain extensions have been agreed to enable further information to be obtained before final results are published. In the light of the interim reports, which have been published annually throughout the life of the project, we are already considering future research needs in this area and are in the process of inviting comments from interested organisations.

  Research and Development
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place a copy of the Barnes review on the future of research and development in agriculture, fisheries and food in the Library.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo) on 1 March at column 546.

  Horticultural Development Council
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the anticipated level of grants for research and development services to the Horticultural Development Council in the next three years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  No grants are made to the Horticultural Development Council; it is self-financing from a levy on growers and exists to commission research and development of benefit to growers.

  Milk Powder
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any evidence that milk powder from the United Kingdom or European Community exported to Malaysia and the Philipines after April 1986 was subsequently rejected by those countries due to radioactive contamination; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  These countries have established extremely strict maximum permitted levels of radiocaesium in milk products and have rejected a small number of consignments of milk powder from EC countries (including the United Kingdom) on the grounds that these very low levels have been exceeded.

  I must reiterate that in the light of the rigorous monitoring we have undertaken post-Chernobyl the United Kingdom Government are fully satisfied of the safety of all foodstuffs both on the domestic market and exported.

  Bees
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many incidents of suspected poisoning of bees by pesticides his Department has investigated since the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 received Royal Assent; and if he will make a statement.
  156
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Since the Food and Environment Protection Act received Royal Assent on 16 July 1985 the Ministry has investigated a total of 191 incidents of suspected poisoning of honeybees in England and Wales. Of that total 132 were confirmed to be incidents involving pesticides. Several of the complaints clustered on particular periods and in particular vicinities and the figures may therefore represent a more limited number of spray applications.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline the procedures for protecting bees from the misuse of pesticides.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The system of official approval of pesticide products and the progressive introduction of strict controls over their use give considerable protection to bees and other wildlife.

  General protection from the misuse of pesticides has been provided since October 1986. Each user of pesticides is required to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health of human beings, creatures and plants, to safeguard the environment and in particular to avoid the pollution of water. Employers and employees must meet additional requirements to ensure that people who apply pesticides are competent for their tasks. Aerial application of pesticides is further regulated, and aerial operators must give at least 48 hours notice to beekeepers of intended operations.

  The pesticides approvals process takes full account of the need to protect bees and, where appropriate, additional conditions of use are specified for individual products. Since 1 January 1988 any such conditions have had the force of law.

  Beekeepers themselves have an important role to play in ensuring that the safeguards provided by the legislation are fully effective: all keepers ought to be members of local spray warning liaison schemes so that information about aerial and ground operations can be communicated to them.

  The Ministry investigates any wildlife deaths in England and Wales that might have been caused by pesticides. Similar arrangements are operated in Scotland. Information about harm to wildlife caused by pesticides is fed back into the pesticide approvals system. Cases involving possible misuse of pesticides are investigated with a view to detecting and prosecuting the offender.

  In the case of honeybees, for England and Wales, deaths are investigated by bee experts at Luddington experimental horticulture station. In certain cases, particularly if disease is ruled out as the apparent cause of death, a field investigation by officers authorised under part III of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and an analysis for traces of pesticides follow.

  Country Landowners Association
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the purpose of the meeting between his Department and the Country Landowners Association on 21 April; and what subjects will be discussed.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]: This meeting was offered by my officials in the light of the publication of a report by the north Wales group of the CLA on the effects of the Chernobyl accident which

  157
  contained a number of errors of fact as well as suggestions for further research. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the contents of the report and other matters of mutual concern with the CLA.

  The meeting will be held later this month because it was not possible to find a mutually acceptable earlier date.

  Peanuts
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Government have taken and propose to take to prevent the import of peanuts containing aflatoxin.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]: Imports of peanuts for human consumption are subject to the Importation of Food Regulations 1984 under which it is an offence to import food which is unsound or unwholesome or otherwise unfit for human consumption. Supplementing this general provision, a voluntary agreement with the trade aims to ensure that the level of aflatoxin in imported peanuts is no greater than 0·03 mg/kg. However, following a recommendation of the Food Advisory Committee I intend to consult the interests concerned in the near future on the introduction of a statutory limit of 0·01 mg/kg on aflatoxin in nuts and nut products for sale for human consumption.

  Under the Feedingstuffs Regulations 1988, peanuts for use in animal feedingstuffs may not be imported if the level of aflatoxin B1, exceeds 0·05 mg/kg.

  Horses (Reclassification)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to reclassify the horse as an agricultural animal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]: The classification of all horses as agricultural animals would involve amending a number of different legislative provisions concerned not only with agriculture but with such matters as planning and rating. I believe that horses do have a valuable contribution to make as the agricultural industry adjusts, but it is likely that much of this potential could be achieved without any comprehensive amendment of existing legislation.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Research and Development
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to encourage a higher level of research and development expenditure by industry in the United Kingdom regions.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Government have created the right climate to enable industry to invest more in research and development in all parts of the United Kingdom. Within my Department's enterprise initiative, particular attention is given to the needs of the regions. In the assisted areas and urban programme areas support of up to two thirds of the cost of consultancy projects is available rather than half elsewhere. We have also introduced a special scheme—regional enterprise grants—firms in the development areas, with fewer than 25 employees, to finance their innovation projects and have expended 158
  SMART (Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology), reserving 20 awards for the urban programme areas.

  British Steel
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further progress has been made in transferring British Steel to the private sector.

  Mr. Atkins
  The British Steel Bill is currently in Committee. Other preparations for privatisation are also proceeding and a number of Government advisers have been appointed.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received from Wales concerning the privatisation of the British Steel Corporation.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have received a small number of letters from various parties in Wales about points of detail. I have so far received few representations about the principle of privatisation itself.

  Confectionery Retailers
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has of the numbers of retailers of confectionery in the United Kingdom in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  It is estimated that at least 75,000 retail businesses in Great Britain sold some confectionery in 1986, but this figure does not cover incidental sales by small retailers or by many non-retail businesses.

  Trade Deficit
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the trade deficit for each of the years 1975 to 1988.

  Mr. Maude
  The current account deficit was £1·7 billion for 1987. Figures for previous years will be printed in the Official Report. However, in the years 1975–1979 there was a cumulative deficit of over £2 billion, while in the years 1980–1986 there was a cumulative surplus of over £23 billion.

  Total United Kingdom trade on a BOP basis

  £ million

  Year

  Current account balance

  1975

  -1,582

  1976

  -895

  1977

  -112

  1978

  +965

  1979

  -604

  1980

  +3,035

  1981

  +6,743

  1982

  +4,480

  1983

  +3,753

  1984

  +2,009

  1985

  +3,276

  1986

  +46

  1987

  -1,679

  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the expenditure per head on industrial
  159
  research and development; and what information he has as to the comparable figures for the United States, Japan, France and West Germany.

  Mr. Butcher
  In 1985, the latest year for which internationally comparable information is available, expenditure on industrial research and development per head of population in the United Kingdom was £91. Corresponding figures for France, Japan, West Germany and the United States were £88, £126, £133 and £190, respectively. The information is obtained from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development using exchange rates at purchasing power parities calculated by them to convert foreign currencies to sterling. Where the population estimate for 1985 was not available that for the nearest available year has been taken.

  USSR
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the latest annual balance of trade between the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

  Mr. Maude
  The balance of trade between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union for 1987 shows a deficit of £384 million though turnover increased by almost 10 per cent. in 1987; United Kingdom exports fell by about 9 per cent. Ministers have emphasised to their Soviet counterparts our hope that a more balanced increase in bilateral trade can be achieved.

  Rover Group
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will outline the current state of negotiations between Rover Group and British Aerospace; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in the negotiations for the sale of the Rover Group.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have nothing further to add to my statement on 29 March.

  Inner-city Policy
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what level of co-operation he is receiving from the private sector with regard to inner-city policies.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have been greatly encouraged by the response from the private sector to the action for cities drive launched by the Prime Minister on 7 March. I took part this morning in a breakfast presentation to around 200 business leaders in Newcastle. This was the first of a series of presentations to stimulate the involvement of companies in urban regeneration.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to visit Bermondsey to discuss his inner cities policy.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have no such plans at the moment.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his policy towards the lifting of steel quotas within the European Community.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  At a meeting of the Council of Industry Minister on 22 December which I attended, the Council unanimously concluded that production quotas should end on 30 June unless sufficient commitments on capacity reductions are made by member states. I will press the Council to stick to that clear agreement.

  Airbus
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in discussions with other partner Governments about future management of the Airbus programme.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The partner Governments have recently received a report by a small group of senior advisers, colloquially known as the "wise men", which the Airbus Ministers had asked to consider how the management of Airbus programmes should develop over the next years. I attended a meeting of the Airbus Ministers in Madrid yesterday at which we began our consideration of that report. We approved the principles underlying the report as a basis for future discussion and invited Airbus Industrie and the partner companies to put forward proposals and a precise schedule in order to put in place the new organisation before the end of 1988. We expect to receive and discuss those proposals at the next meeting of Airbus Ministers in Hanover on 5 May.

  I have arranged for copies of the report to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  London Weighting Allowance
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department spent on London weighting for its staff during 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The cost of London weighting for the DTI for the 1987–88 financial year was £11·3 million.

  Japan (Ministerial Visit)
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the Secretary of State's recent visit to Japan.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. and noble Friend visited Japan on 10 to 16 March accompanied by nine leaders of British industry. His visit combined meetings with Prime Minister Takeshita and his colleagues with further steps, in the light of the "Opportunity Japan" campaign, to identify the potential for an improved trading relationship with Japan and the scope for mutually beneficial industrial co-operation.

  My right hon. and noble Friend had a constructive meeting with Mr. Tamura, Minister for International Trade and Industry. In addition to pressing for the speedy resolution of outstanding problems of access to the Japanese market, the Secretary of State noted the recent positive developments in bilateral trade and welcomed the continuing investment by Japanese companies in the

  161
  United Kingdom. Both Ministers welcomed the relaunch on a broader basis of official level talks between the two Departments.

  My right hon. and noble Friend also met the Telecommunications Minister, Mr. Nakayama, with whom he confirmed an agreement on the liberalisation of value added telecommunication services between the United Kingdom and Japan.

  Overall, my right hon. and noble Friend found the Japanese market to be one in which there was now a much greater role for imports: borne out by the recent steady increase in volume imports both globally and from the United Kingdom. The task now is to encourage British business to take maximum advantage of the opportunities opening up in Japan, and my Department will be working to this and through the "Opportunity Japan" campaign, recently launched by my right hon. and noble Friend.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the launch of the Government's inner cities revival programme arranged by his Department.

  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister launched action for cities on 7 March. She was joined by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and colleagues from all the main Departments which have a part to play in helping regenerate our inner cities.

  The Government will be spending about £3,000 million on urban regeneration in 1988–89, bringing in several times that amount in private investment. The Prime Minister announced 12 new Government initiatives, including a series of action for cities working breakfasts, aimed at business leaders, explaining to them how they and their companies can help the inner cities.

  Waste (Recycling)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for the promotion of recycling of waste materials.

  Mr. Butcher
  My Department encourages the economic reclamation and recycling of waste in three principal ways.

  Table 1

  The number of inward investment projects: proportions of each year's total (in percentage terms) for each United Kingdom region

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  England

  North East

  12

  12

  11

  11

  9

  9

  7

  9

  10

  North West

  5

  10

  9

  10

  9

  12

  7

  10

  7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  15

  11

  4

  5

  4

  2

  4

  3

  7

  West Midlands

  6

  2

  5

  1

  5

  4

  17

  22

  17

  East Midlands

  8

  3

  6

  10

  5

  3

  5

  4

  4

  South East

  13

  15

  11

  19

  25

  21

  22

  18

  17

  South West

  7

  4

  6

  5

  4

  4

  4

  3

  4

  Scotland

  15

  19

  21

  21

  21

  23

  15

  11

  10

  Wales

  10

  10

  15

  13

  13

  13

  12

  14

  19

  Northern Ireland

  10

  13

  11

  4

  5

  8

  6

  5

  6

  United Kingdom

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Note: Some non-addition due to rounding errors.
  162
  There is an awareness campaign through a video, literature, conferences and other meetings. The issues and opportunities in individual sectors are taken up through specialist conferences and meetings. These have covered or will cover glass, paper, plastics, oil and the role of voluntary collectors. The Department's Warren Spring laboratory carries out research and development work on recycling problems and provides technical advice through its recycling advisory unit.

  Enterprise Initiative
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the response to the enterprise initiative from business in Derbyshire.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Six hundred and three consultancy support inquiries under the Department's enterprise initiative have been received from businesses in Derbyshire up to 25 March 1988. To that date these inquiries had resulted in 40 applications for consultancies being processed.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give a breakdown of inward investment in Britain by standard English region and for Scotland and Wales for each year since 1979, showing the amount received in each region as a proportion of the total in each year.

  Mr. Atkins
  The following are the Invest in Britain Bureau (IBB) figures for inward investments announced in each year since 1979 for the United Kingdom by standard English region, Scotland and Wales (with Northern Ireland added). Table 1 shows for each region the number of projects as a proportion of the total for each year. Table 2 shows for each region the number of associated jobs (both new and safeguarded) as a proportion of each year's total. The data include only those inward investment projects currently known to the IBB. The associated capital investment is not known.
  163

  Table 2

  The number of associated jobs (both new and safeguarded): proportions of each year's total (in percentage terms) for each United Kingdom region

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  England

  North East

  10

  16

  6

  5

  6

  10

  8

  10

  14

  North West

  3

  5

  7

  12

  6

  7

  8

  10

  7

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  8

  5

  1

  1

  3

  2

  12

  1

  6

  West Midlands

  6

  6

  3

  1

  14

  15

  15

  23

  16

  East Midlands

  8

  2

  2

  8

  3

  2

  2

  2

  3

  South East

  6

  6

  6

  12

  18

  8

  21

  12

  10

  South West

  13

  5

  13

  12

  3

  4

  3

  6

  3

  Scotland

  19

  24

  35

  21

  28

  22

  18

  9

  18

  Wales

  6

  18

  12

  9

  13

  19

  9

  17

  16

  Northern Ireland

  20

  15

  15

  18

  6

  11

  5

  9

  7

  United Kingdom

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Note: Some non-addition due to rounding errors.

  Shipbuilding Industry
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received about his Department's policy towards the shipbuilding industry.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have received a number of representations.

  Inner-city Policies (Sheffield)
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress is being made with Government inner city policies in Sheffield.

  Mr. Atkins
  Sheffield will benefit directly from the inner city measures announced by the Prime Minister and other Ministers on 7 March. In particular the new urban development corporation in the lower Don Valley will unlock the enormous potential of some 2,000 acres of blighted land to the north-east of the city centre. The UDC will have a budget of about £50 million over seven years.

  British Technology Group
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has for the future of the British Technology Group.

  Mr. Butcher
  The British Technology Group (BTG) comprises the National Enterprise Board and the National Research Development Corporation. The Government consider that BTG is a public body whose operations may be appropriate for transfer to the private sector. Accordingly I have engaged Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited to carry out a study into the feasibility and mechanics of privatising BTG.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Hospital Services, East Antrim
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish those plans of the Northern health board for hospital services in East Antrim which are based on the assumption that only a 300-bed hospital will be provided at Antrim.

  Mr. Needham
  In its area strategic plan for 1987 to 1992 which it published at the end of 1986, the Northern health 164
  and social services board has already set out in detail its proposals for all acute services in its area taking into account the services to be provided at the Antrim hospital.

  Antrim Hospital
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated additional revenue expenditure which will be required by the Northern health and social services board to fund the proposed Antrim hospital for(a) phase I, and (b) phase II.

  Mr. Needham
  The new 300-bed hospital at Antrim will not be completed until 1992 and therefore final estimates of its revenue consequences are not yet available.

  The possibility of further developments at Antrim falls outside the current planning period and no estimates can yet be made of either the capital or revenue costs of such developments.

  Houses in Multiple Occupation
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dwellings in each of the six housing executive regions in Northern Ireland are classified as houses in multiple occupation.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chief executive that the number of dwellings classified as houses in multiple occupation is not known at present. However, the results of a survey should be available during May 1988.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a definitive survey of houses in multiple occupation was last undertaken.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chief executive that fieldwork on the first large scale survey of houses in multiple occupation was completed at the end of February 1988. The survey looked in particular at the physical condition of such dwellings, the degree of sharing of facilities and profiles of tenants. Results of the survey should be available during May 1988.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tenants live in houses in multiple occupation in(a) Belfast and (b) Northern Ireland.
  165
  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chief executive that information on the number of tenants living in houses in multiple occupation in Belfast and in Northern Ireland will be available only on completion of the analysis of a survey recently carried out.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tenants live in houses in multiple occupation in each of the following district offices areas in South Down:(a) Downpatrick office area, (b) Kilkeel office area, (c) Newry district 1 office area and (d) Newry district 2.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chief executive that this information is not available.

  It is unlikely that the survey method employed in a recent survey will enable the disaggregation of information to district council levels.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many instances management directions have been made in respect of houses in multiple occupation since the operative date of the 1981 Housing (Northern Ireland) Order.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chief executive that no management directives have been issued.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) in which district office areas special grants have been made payable by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive under the 1983 Housing (Northern Ireland) Order in respect of works required for the provision of a means of escape from fire in houses in multiple occupation since the operative date of the order;

  (2) how many special grants have been made payable by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive under the 1983 Housing (Northern Ireland) Order in respect of works required for the provision of a means of escape from fire in houses in multiple occupation since the operative date of the order.

  Mr. Needham
  These are matters for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chief executive that no special grants have been paid by the Housing Executive in respect of works required for the provision of a means of escape from fire in houses in multiple occupation.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide details of grants and loans made to each housing association in Northern Ireland by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, and indicate the years in which such grants were made.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chief executive that no grants have been made to housing associations by the Housing Executive. Details of loans made to housing associations are as follows:166

  Name of Association and Year

  Amount of Loans £

  Derry Housing Association

  1975

  18,000

  Downpatrick Self Build Housing Association Ltd.

  1983–84

  241,509

  Millisle Self Build Housing Association Ltd.

  1982–83

  139,775

  1983–84

  83,443

  Cairnbeg Self Build Housing Association Ltd.

  1983–84

  187,042

  1984–85

  76,938

  Larne Self Build Housing Association Ltd.

  1983–84

  240,813

  1984–85

  21,634

  Dunlusken Self Build Housing Association Ltd.

  1982–83

  216,682

  1983–84

  147,153

  1984–85

  9,651

  Galgorm Self Build Housing Association Ltd.

  1981–82

  71,896

  1982–83

  125,850

  1983–84

  19,125

  Antrim Self Build Housing Association Ltd.

  1982–83

  138,153

  1983–84

  93,178

  Tenancies (Allocation)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what basis of need tenants are selected by housing associations in Northern Ireland; arid what additional provisions are made to ensure that such tenancies are allocated on the basis of housing needs.

  Mr. Needham
  Registered housing associations in Northern Ireland operate housing selection schemes based on the Housing Executive's tenant selection procedures. Some additions and revisions to individual schemes have been approved by the Department of the Environment (NI) in recognition of the specialist nature of many associations currently operating in the Province.

  The Department monitors regularly the management of each association's day-to-day affairs, including the operation of its selection schemes to ensure that tenancies are allocated in accordance with approved schemes.

  Unregistered housing associations operate in the private housing sector and are not under the control of the Department of the Environment (NI).

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Sittings of the House
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the occasions on which the House has sat later than 1.30 am since 1958; and what was the main business under discussion.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Details of the main business under discussion each time the House has sat later than 1 30 am could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The House sat later than 1.30 am during the 1957–58 Session and 1958–59 Session on the following occasions :
  167

  House sits after 1.30 am

  Session

  Number of occasions

  Time at which adjourned (a.m. unless stated)

  Date

  1957–58

  4

  1.53

  23 July 1958

  2.25

  1 July 1958

  2.41

  2 July 1958

  3.50

  6 March 1958

  1958–59

  3

  1.37

  6 July 1959

  1.53

  3 March 1959

  3.56

  27 July 1959

  Detailed information about the occasions when the House sat after 1.30 am during the period 1959–60 Session up to and including the 1984–85 Session was published in the Official Report, columns 569–78 on 14 February 1986 in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor). The number of occasions when the House sat later than 1.30 am during these Sessions is as follows:

  Occasions when House sat after 1.30 am

  Session

  Number

  1959–60

  8

  1960–61

  16

  1961–62

  10

  1962–63

  9

  1963–64

  4

  1964–65

  27

  1965–66

  7

  1966–67

  40

  1967–68

  21

  1968–69

  24

  1969–70

  9

  1970–71

  33

  1971–72

  30

  1972–73

  24

  1973–74

  4

  1974

  10

  1974–75

  35

  1975–76

  39

  1976–77

  23

  1977–78

  21

  1978–79

  8

  1979–80

  41

  1980–81

  28

  1981–82

  22

  1982–83

  13

  1983–84

  34

  1984–85

  35

  The information requested for the period 1985–86 Session to date is as follows:
  168

  Session

  Number of occasions

  Time at which adjourned (a.m. unless stated)

  Date

  1985–86

  18

  1.34

  25 March 1986

  1.40

  10 December 1985

  1.43

  20 May 1986

  1.49

  20 January 1986

  1.50

  16 July 1986

  1.56

  19 February 1986

  2.04

  17 February 1986

  2.12

  21 May 1986

  2.12

  1 July 1986

  2.21

  11 February 1986

  2.48

  14 July 1986

  2.51

  9 June 1986

  4.29

  21 October 1986

  5.24

  23 July 1986

  8.25

  24 July 1986

  8.30

  13 March 1986

  9.27

  18 December 1985

  9.47

  5 June 1986

  1986–87

  6

  2.07

  11 March 1987

  2.52

  3 February 1987

  3.17

  1 April 1987

  9.29

  24 March 1987

  9.30

  15 December 1986

  14.38

  10 December 1986

  1987–882

  18

  1.34

  14 July 1987

  1.40

  17 February 1988

  1.50

  9 February 1988

  1.53

  6 July 1987

  1.53

  7 July 1987

  1.53

  15 December 1987

  2.20

  8 February 1988

  2.23

  30 March 1988

  2.31

  2 December 1987

  2.47

  2 March 1988

  2.55

  29 March 1988

  2.56

  3 February 1988

  3.27

  20 July 1987

  4.01

  21 October 1987

  4.07

  9 March 1988

  8.30

  10 March 1988

  9.27

  13 July 1987

  10 November

  18.55

  1987

  1 pm.

  2 To date.

THE ARTS

  Attendance Figures
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what estimates he can give of the total annual attendance figures at(a) London dance centres, (b) provincial dance centres, (c) London art centres, (d) provincial art centres, (e) London museums and galleries, (f) provincial museums and galleries, (g) London cinemas, (h) provincial cinemas and (i) all arts and museums, including theatre, concerts and opera, for the years 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.

  Mr. Luce
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  European Monetary System
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from other European Community members or central bankers about the United Kingdom joining the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.

  Mr. Lilley
  A number of our partners have expressed views on United Kingdom participation in the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.

  Building Societies Commission
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the reasons for the increase in funds raised for the Building Societies Commission under the General Charge and Fees Regulations from £1.95 million in 1987–88 to £3·322 million in 1988–89; to what extent this increase is attributable to an increase in

  Firm

  Subject of assignment

  KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Multi Departmental Review of Budgeting and associated work

  Douglas Llambias Associates

  Advice on advertising with the aim of attracting more applicants for accountancy vacancies and suggesting potential applicants

  Wyatt and Company UK Ltd. Actuaries and Consultants

  To assess the suitability of the multicomp approach to job evaluation in the Civil Service

  M N Pickett

  Advice on contracts and contract conditions

  B J Stent

  Advice on documentation for Central Unit on Purchasing internal planning and control

  Atkins Consultancy

  Public Sector Procurement

  Carnell Computer Technology Ltd.

  Upgrade of the Government Accounting Package (GAP)

  Spicer and Pegler Associates

  Study on Impact of 4th Generation Software

  Advance Management Limited

  Security in IT Turnkey Systems

  SIS Applied Systems

  Production of an Automated Support Tool for CRAMM

  PA Computers and Telecommunications

  Physiological Access Control Study—Phase 2

  Logica UK Limited

  Government Open Systems Interface (OSI) Addressing

  BIS Applied Systems

  Government Data Network (GDN) Security Support

  National Computing Centre (NCC) Limited

  Office Documentation Architecture

  Intersect Limited

  Assistance with QA of Third Party Maintenance (TPM) Suppliers

  Professor K. Counter

  Review of standard contract conditions

  Yale Data Management Consultants

  Provision of systems consultant

  C Cubed Services

  Provision of systems consultant

  PE Computer Services

  Provision of systems consultant

  Computer Capacity Management Services Limited

  Development of Guidance on cost management

  170
  the value of assets owned by building societies; and what is the cost of administering the Building Societies Commission in 1987–88 and in 1988–89.

  Mr. Lilley
  I regret that there was a printing error in the explanatory note to the Building Societies (General Charge and Fees) Regulations 1988; the expected receipts from the general charge for 1988–89 are £2,322,000, not £3,322,000. A correction slip is being issued. The explanatory note does not form a part of this order, which remains valid.

  The final outturn of the Building Societies Commission's expenditure on services to societies in 1987–88 is not yet available. It is expected to be slightly higher than the actual receipts from the general charge of £1·96 million. The expected cost of the services for 1988–89 is £2·3 million.

  The increase in costs is due to the development of the prudential work of the commission and rises in salary and price levels. The fees schedule for 1988–89 has been adjusted to reflect the increased costs, the increase in assets of societies and to recoup the under-recovery of costs from 1986–87.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency in 1987, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment;

  (2) if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by Her Majesty's Treasury in 1987, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 30 March 1988]: The following management or computer consultancy contracts were awarded by Her Majesty's Treasury in 1987. With the exception of the first six, all were placed by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA):
  171

  Firm

  Subject of assignment

  BIS Applied Systems

  Employment of a Technical Author

  Logica Consultancy Limited

  Preparation of an IBM Company profile

  C. J. Makemson

  GOSIP (Government OSI Profile) virtual terminal profiles

  EPI Limited (Electrical Power Interface)

  Study of Power supply to DHSS Birkenhead

  Butler Cox and Partners

  User System Interaction Study

  EFD Limited (Electronic Facilities Design)

  MITSY Evaluation Project

  The Instruction Set Limited

  Common Applications Environment for Government

  BIS Applied Systems Limited

  Study on Video Teleconferencing in Government (Vitesse)

  Oasis Limited

  Study to produce a plan for standards

  Model Systems Limited

  Ad hoc support to SSADM Implementation Field Trials

  Data Dictionary Systems Limited

  Ad hoc support to SSADM Implementation Field Trials

  Model Systems Limited

  Review of Computer assisted support environment (CASE)

  Coopers and Lybrand plc

  Quality Assurance on Terms of Reference for PROMPT Enhance Project

  National Computing Centre (NCC) Limited

  Enhancement to PROMPT II Methodology

  Knudsen Computer Systems

  Database Conversion

  Kermon Associates Limited

  Consultancy for Government Data Network (GDN) Project

  N Way Associates

  Review of Contracts Handbook

  J Kenny Microelectronic Services

  Provision of consultancy services for MITSY Project

  Advance Management Limited

  Security in IT Turnkey Systems

  Lorien Computer Services Limited

  Provision of consultancy for Programme and Data Management Branch

  Online People Incorporated

  Development of Proteo demonstrator

  Metron Technology Limited

  Development of a protype interface between SSADM and a capacity planning tool

  PA Computers and Telecommunications

  Consultancy Support for the Government Data Network (GDN) Project

  Systems Designers Scientific

  Network security consultant

  Systems Designers Scientific

  Distributed Secure Systems Technology Demonstrator

  ICL (Defence Technology Centre)

  Project SPACE

  Logica Space and Defence Systems

  Audit Trail Analysis

  Praxis System plc

  Development of Computer Aided Support Environment (CASE)

  Nolan Norton and Company

  Investigation into Function Point Analysis (FPA)

  Babelease Limited

  ERA Model of SSADM Implementation in COBOL and Quickbuild

  Babelease Limited

  Computer Supported Process Logic Definition

  ICL (UK) Limited

  Knowledge Engineering Consultancy

  Learmonth and Burchett Management Systems (LBMS)

  SSADM Consultancy Support

  EOSYS Limited

  Integrated Information Systems Study

  Learmonth and Burchett Management Systems (LBMS)

  Development of Compact Support Tools

  Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co.

  Production of an IT Management Guide on Fault Tolerant Systems

  PA Computers and Telecommunications

  Consultancy support for the Government IT Infrastructure Management Methodology (GITIMM)

  Computer Sciences Company Limited

  Consultancy support for the Government IT Infrastructure Management Methodology (GITIMM)

  IBM (UK) Limited

  Consultancy support for the Government IT Infrastructure Management Methodology (GITIMM)

  ICL (UK) Limited

  Consultancy support for the Government IT Infrastructure Management Methodology (GITIMM)

  Financial Institutions (Consumer Loans)
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to discuss with the Governor of the Bank of England capital adequacy requirements for financial institutions engaged in the provision of consumer loans; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]: No.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Mental Hospitals
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the mental hospitals which are scheduled to(a) open and (b) close in each health region in England and Wales in each of the next seven years.
  172
  Mrs. Currie
  The table lists those mental illness hospitals which have, or have had, over 200 beds and which the regional health authorities in England have indicated they plan to close by about 1995, subject to the results of the public consultation which has yet to take place, or is now under way, and to the provision of appropriate alternative accommodation and services.

  We have no comprehensive information available on those mental illness hospitals or units which are scheduled to open by 1995.

  Details relating to hospitals in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  Mental illness hospitals which have, or have had, over 200 beds which regional health authorities have indicated they plan to close, subject to consultation and to suitable alternative provision being made, by about 1995.

  Region and hospital:

  Yorkshire

  173

  Broadgate Hospital, Beverley

  Storthes Hall Hospital, Huddersfield

  Clifton Hospital, York

  Scalebor Park Hospital, Ilkley

  Highroyds Hospital, Ilkley

  Stanley Royd Hospital, Wakefield

  Trent

  Pastures Hospital, near Derby

  Carlton Hayes Hospital, Narborough

  St. John's Hospital, Lincoln

  Rauceby Hospital, Sleaford

  Saxondale Hospital, Nottingham

  Mapperley Hospital, Nottingham

  Middlewood Hospital, Sheffield

  East Anglian

  St. Audry's Hospital, Woodridge

  St. Nicholas Hospital, Great Yarmouth

  Hellesden Hospital, Norwich

  or

  St. Andrew's Hospital, Norwich

  North West Thames

  Hill End Hospital, St. Albans

  North East Thames

  Friern Hospital, New Southgate

  Clayhury Hospital, Woodford Bridge

  South East Thames

  Cane Hill Hospital, Coulsdon

  Tooting Bee Hospital, Tooting Bec

  Hellingly Hospital, Hailsham

  South West Thames

  Long Grove Hospital, Epsom

  Brookwood Hospital, Brookwood

  Wessex

  Knowle Hospital, Farcham

  Whitecroft Hospital, Isle of Wight

  Herrison Hospital, West Dorset

  St. James Hospital, Portsmouth (with some residual provision expected to remain on site)

  Old Manor Hospital, Salisbury (with some residual provision expected to remain on site)

  Oxford

  St. John's Hospital, Aylesbury

  St. Crispin's Hospital, Northampton

  South Western

  Mendip Hospital, Wells

  Moorhaven Hospital, Ivybridge.

  West Midlands

  Powick Hospital, Worcester

  Mersey

  Rainhill Hospital, Prescot (with some provision remaining on site)

  North Western

  Prestwich Hospital, Salford (with some MI Regional Specialities remaining on site)

  Pathology Staff
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of the independent study commissioned by the National Health Service Management Board's manpower planning advisory group on the provision of pathology staffing; and what representations he has had on the subject of this provision.

  Mr. Newton
  The report of the independent review commissioned by the NHS management board's174
  manpower planning advisory group on pathology staffing has been received, and is under consideration. The Institute of Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers has requested a meeting with the chief executive of the management board to discuss the report, and about a dozen letters have been received on various aspects of the review.

  Amphetamines
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration has been given to reclassifying amphetamines as class A drugs so as to ensure that illegal production, trafficking and supply of such drugs attracts the higher criminal penalties associated with such a category.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply

  Offences involving amphetamines in injectable form already attract the highest level of maximum penalties under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. We have no plans to reclassify other forms of amphetamines; trafficking in these attracts penalties of up to 14 years' imprisonment.

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the numbers of community psychiatric nurses employed by each district health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  Information in the exact form requested is not available. However the number of nursing staff employed in the community psychiatric service in each district health authority in England at 30 September 1986 is shown in the table.

  NHS community psychiatric nursing staff at 30 September 1986 England

  Region

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Northern

  158

  Yorkshire

  199

  Trent

  260

  East Anglian

  106

  North West Thames

  168

  North East Thames

  137

  South East Thames

  208

  South West Thames

  209

  Wessex

  176

  Oxford

  122

  South Western

  147

  West Midlands

  255

  Mersey

  156

  North Western

  228

  London post-graduate special health authorities

  2

  England Total

  2,532

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  District health authorities

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Hartlepool

  9

  North Tees

  10

  South Tees

  13

  East Cumbria

  11

  South Cumbria

  10

  West Cumbria

  2

  Darlington

  15

  Durham

  l0

  North West Durham

  4

  175

  District health authorities

  Whole-time equivalent1

  South West Durham

  14

  Northumberland

  20

  Gateshead

  4

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne (T)

  18

  North Tyneside

  —

  South Tyneside

  —

  Sunderland

  18

  Regional Total

  158

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  District Health Authorities

  Whole-Time Equivalent1

  Hull

  7

  East Yorkshire

  31

  Grimsby

  7

  Scunthorpe

  12

  Northallerton

  11

  York

  22

  Scarborough

  9

  Harrogate

  2

  Bradford

  9

  Airedale

  17

  Calderdale

  6

  Huddersfield

  9

  Dewsbury

  5

  Leeds Western (T)

  22

  Leeds Eastern (T)

  11

  Wakefield

  11

  Pontefract

  8

  Regional Total

  199

  Trent regional health authority

  District health authorities

  Whole-time equivalent1

  North Derbyshire

  26

  South Derbyshire

  33

  Leicestershire (T)

  43

  North Lincolnshire

  25

  South Lincolnshire

  16

  Bassetlaw

  7

  Central Nottinghamshire

  13

  Nottingham (T)

  39

  Barnsley

  14

  Doncaster

  9

  Rotherham

  12

  Sheffield (T)

  24

  Regional Total

  260

  East Anglia Regional Health Authority

  District Health Authorities

  Whole-Time equivalent1

  Cambridge (T)

  14

  Peterborough

  13

  West Suffolk

  4

  East Suffolk

  18

  Norwich

  24

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  12

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  8

  Huntingdon

  13

  Regional Total

  106

  176

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  District health authorities

  Whole-time equivalent1

  North Bedfordshire

  9

  South Bedfordshire

  11

  North Hertfordshire

  7

  East Hertfordshire

  10

  North West Hertfordshire

  8

  South West Hertfordshire

  4

  Barnet

  16

  Harrow

  15

  Hillingdon

  8

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  12

  Ealing

  27

  Brent

  10

  Paddington and North Kensington (T)

  6

  Riverside

  26

  Regional Total

  168

  North-East Thames Regional Health Authority

  District Health Authorities

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Basildon and Thurrock

  11

  Mid Essex

  13

  North East Essex

  18

  West Essex

  11

  Southend

  4

  Barking/Havering/Brentwood

  13

  Hampstead (T)

  20

  Bloomsbury (T)

  10

  Islington

  8

  City and Hackney (T)

  7

  Newham

  9

  Tower Hamlets (T)

  2

  Enfield

  3

  Haringey

  2

  Redbridge

  3

  Waltham Forest

  3

  Regional Total

  137

  South East Thames regional health authority

  District health authorities

  Whole-time equivalents1

  Brighton

  21

  Eastbourne

  21

  Hastings

  23

  South East Kent

  29

  Canterbury and Thanet

  —

  Dartford and Gravesham

  10

  Maidstone

  11

  Medway

  12

  Tunbridge Wells

  9

  Bexley

  13

  Greenwich

  11

  Bromley

  1

  West Lambeth (T)

  20

  Camberwell (T)

  9

  Lewisham and North Southwark (T)

  20

  Regional Total

  208

  South West Thames regional health authority

  District health authorities

  Whole-time equivalent1

  North West Surrey

  14

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  9

  South West Surrey

  8

  Mid-Surrey

  20

  East Surrey

  13

  Chichester

  25

  177

  District health authorities

  Whole-lime equivalent1

  Mid-Downs

  25

  Worthing

  13

  Croydon

  13

  Kingston and Esher

  15

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  9

  Wandsworth (T)

  32

  Merton and Sutton

  14

  Regional Total

  209

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  District Health Authorities

  Whole-Time equivalent1

  East Dorset

  35

  West Dorset

  19

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  20

  Southampton and South West Hampshire (T)

  20

  Winchester

  16

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  8

  Salisbury

  12

  Swindon

  13

  Bath

  34

  Isle of Wight

  —

  Regional Total

  176

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  District Health Authorities

  Whole-time equivalent1

  East Berkshire

  24

  West Berkshire

  15

  Aylesbury Vale

  21

  Wycombe

  11

  Milton Keynes

  5

  Kettering

  15

  Northampton

  14

  Oxfordshire (T)

  18

  Regional Total

  122

  South Western regional health authority

  District health authorities

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Bristol and Weston (T)

  16

  Frenchay

  12

  Southmead

  17

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  15

  Exeter

  29

  North Devon

  9

  Plymouth

  6

  Torbay

  10

  Cheltenham

  11

  Gloucester

  12

  Somerset

  12

  Regional Total

  147

  West Midland Regional Health Authority

  District Health Authorities

  Whole-Time equivalent1

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  10

  Herefordshire

  12

  Kidderminster and District

  6

  Worcester and District

  14

  Shropshire

  27

  Mid-Staffordshire

  18

  North Staffordshire

  25

  South East Staffordshire

  9

  Rugby

  —

  178

  District Health Authorities

  Whole-Time equivalent1

  North Warwickshire

  4

  South Warwickshire

  18

  Central Birmingham (T)

  6

  East Birmingham

  9

  North Birmingham

  12

  South Birmingham

  18

  West Birmingham

  6

  Coventry

  16

  Dudley

  15

  Sandwell

  10

  Solihull

  14

  Walsall

  —

  Wolverhampton

  6

  Regional Total

  255

  Mersey regional health authority

  District health authorities

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Chester

  11

  Crew

  10

  Halton

  11

  Macclesfield

  7

  Warrington

  20

  Liverpool (T)

  29

  St. Helens with Knowsley

  38

  Southport and Formby

  9

  South Sefton

  7

  Wirral

  15

  Regional Total

  156

  North Western regional health authority

  District health authorities

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Lancaster

  13

  Blackpool Wyre and Fylde

  17

  Preston

  15

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  18

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  —

  West Lancashire

  8

  Chorley and South Ribble

  15

  Bolton

  12

  Bury

  13

  North Manchester

  13

  Central Manchester (T)

  10

  South Manchester (T)

  16

  Oldham

  6

  Rochdale

  —

  Salford (T)

  19

  Stockport

  14

  Tameside and Glossop

  11

  Trafford

  15

  Wigan

  14

  Regional Total

  228

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

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest whole-time equivalent.

  (T) Denotes Teaching District Health Authorities.

  Long-stay Patients
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that departmental statistics will in future distinguish places in accommodation in an informal domestic environment providing long-stay patients with 24-hour medical and nursing supervision, in each district health authority.
  179
  Mrs. Currie
  Separate information has been collected centrally on small National Health Service units in the community for mentally handicapped people since 1984. At present there are no figures for such units for mentally ill people, but the need for separate data will be monitored in conjunction with the National Health Service.

  Abortion
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of women resident in the United Kingdom who had an abortion in 1986 who already had(a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four or (e) five previous abortions;

  (2) if he will list the number of women not usually resident in the United Kingdom who had an abortion in 1986 who already had (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four or (e) five previous abortions.

  Mr. Newton
  The available information is given in the table.

  Number of notifications of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 to (a) residents of United Kingdom and (b) non-residents of United Kingdom by number of previous abortions under the Act England and Wales 1986

  Number of previous abortions under the Act

  Residents of the United Kingdom

  Non-residents of the United Kingdom

  1

  23,838

  3,042

  2

  3,228

  359

  3

  548

  79

  4

  131

  22

  5

  23

  4

  Women having more than one abortion in 1986 will be counted more than once in this table.

  Smoking and Health
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what review of health research has been set in hand to reflect the conclusions of the World Health Organisation congress on smoking and health held in Tokyo in 1987;

  (2) if his Department is in possession of any scientific evidence on the health implications of tobacco published since 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department keeps in touch with all published research work on the health implications of tobacco and takes expert advice from the committee for research into behavioural aspects of smoking and health, and from the independent scientific committee on smoking and health, the fourth of whose reports was published by the Health Departments last month. No additional review of research has been set in hand as a result of the Tokyo conference, which was attended by officials of the Department, but the report of the conference will be carefully studied when it is available in order to consider its implications for the development of policy on smoking and health.

  My hon. Friend may like to refer to the independent scientific committee's report which quoted a large number of research studies done both in the United Kingdom and overseas. A copy is in the Library.

  Health Index
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Livingston, of 17 March,Official Report, column 679, when he expects to receive the result of the feasibility study of creating a health index; and what arrangement he is making to publish it.

  Mr. Newton
  We hope to receive advice from officials, based on their initial consideration of the feasibility of this idea, in the next few weeks. Such advice is not intended for publication, but rather to enable consideration to be given to what further action if any, including a statement or publication, is appropriate.

  AIDS
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those district health authorities which have received money from the extra allocation of £10 million for the treatment of AIDS announced by him on 16 December,Official Report, column 1094; and what monitoring arrangements he has made to ensure that these moneys are spent efficiently and specifically on AIDS patients.

  Mr. Newton
  The £10 million allocated in December 1987 was an additional recognition of the particular pressures faced by three of the Thames regional health authorities in providing services for people with HIV infection and AIDS during 1987/88. The money was allocated as follows: £6 million to North-West Thames, £2·5 million to North-East Thames and £1·5 million to South-East Thames. These authorities will be asked to account for their total expenditure on AIDS-related services as part of the usual health authority planning and outturn procedures.

  Maternal Deaths
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many(a) direct and (b) indirect maternal deaths in England in each year between 1979 and 1981 occurred in National Health Service hospitals without consultant obstetric units; and how many were associated with anaesthesia.

  Mrs. Currie
  In 1979–81 there were 22 direct maternal deaths directly due to anaesthesia in England and Wales. There were also a further seven deaths where the administration of anaesthesia made a contribution and of these deaths two were direct and five indirect maternal deaths. Information on where death occurred and the type of obstetric unit is not available.

  Consultants
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of regional health authorities and special health authorities which have instituted disciplinary proceedings against consultants for failure to fulfil the terms of their National Health Service contracts.

  Mr. Newton
  We do not become involved in disciplinary proceedings against consultants other than in those cases where a consultant appeals to the Secretary of State against dismissal under paragraph 190 of the terms and conditions of service. The information requested is not therefore held centrally.
  181
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to publish guidelines for regional health authorities and special health authorities to help them to monitor consultants.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute a survey to determine the 182
  numbers of hours a week devoted by consultants to (a) National Health Service work and (b) private practice; and if he will break this down by specialty, region and by type of contract.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to carry out such a survey.

  Midwives and Health Visitors
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of midwives and health visitors employed in each district health authority, health region and in the United Kingdom; and what knowledge on a national or regional basis his Department has about the case load each midwife and health visitor has.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many midwives and health visitors are employed by each of the health authorities in the North-West regional health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 1 February 1988]: The number of midwives and health visitors in each district health authority in England at 30 September 1986 is shown in table 1. The total number of live and still births in each region in England during 1986 and the number of home visits by health visitors over the same period are shown in tables 2 and 3 respectively. A direct comparison between the staffing and activity figures may be misleading as the activity information given does not reflect the full work load of these staff.

  The information for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is 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.

  Table 1

  Midwifery staff and health visitors by district health authority 30 September 1986

  whole-time equivalents1

  District Health Authority

  Midwives2

  Health Visitors3

  England4

  19,153

  10,428

  Northern RHA

  1,305

  691

  Hartlepool

  53

  22

  North Tees

  84

  33

  South Tees

  145

  61

  East Cumbria

  77

  35

  South Cumbria

  47

  36

  West Cumbria

  70

  32

  Darlington

  58

  24

  Durham

  71

  42

  North West Durham

  39

  20

  South West Durham

  63

  35

  Northumberland

  105

  71

  Gateshead

  57

  54

  Newcastle

  176

  80

  North Tyneside

  56

  45

  South Tyneside

  59

  30

  Sunderland

  144

  71

  Yorkshire RHA

  1,524

  743

  Hull

  102

  47

  East Yorks

  64

  41

  Grimsby

  87

  27

  Scunthorpe

  60

  38

  Northallerton

  26

  27

  York

  98

  51

  Scarborough

  54

  31

  Harrogate

  60

  22

  Bradford

  202

  86

  Airedale

  68

  35

  Calderdale

  93

  48

  Huddersfield

  77

  49

  Dewsbury

  88

  35

  Leeds Western

  123

  71

  Leeds Eastern

  149

  73

  184

  District Health Authority

  Midwives2

  Health Visitors3

  Wakefield

  78

  26

  Pontefract

  96

  36

  Trent RHA

  1,778

  956

  North Derbyshire

  113

  79

  Southern Derbyshire

  160

  91

  Leicestershire

  307

  187

  North Lincolnshire

  84

  52

  South Lincolnshire

  107

  58

  Bassetlaw

  30

  19

  Central Nottinghamshire

  128

  64

  Nottingham

  296

  141

  Barnsley

  83

  48

  Doncaster

  115

  59

  Rotherham

  99

  53

  Sheffield

  256

  106

  East Anglian regional health authority

  800

  375

  Cambridge

  114

  60

  Peterborough

  95

  42

  West Suffolk

  111

  46

  East Suffolk

  93

  57

  Norwich

  199

  78

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  59

  36

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  71

  31

  Huntingdon

  59

  26

  North West Thames regional health authority

  1,223

  810

  North Bedfordshire

  88

  54

  South Bedfordshire

  121

  64

  North Hertfordshire

  82

  39

  East Hertfordshire

  70

  53

  North West Hertfordshire

  72

  51

  South West Hertfordshire

  87

  48

  Barnet

  114

  71

  Harrow

  94

  48

  Hillingdon

  89

  49

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  99

  68

  Ealing

  59

  82

  Brent

  62

  56

  Paddington and North Kensington

  87

  46

  Riverside

  100

  82

  North East Thames regional health authority

  1,620

  737

  Basildon and Thurrock

  106

  47

  Mid Essex

  73

  52

  North East Essex

  109

  55

  West Essex

  93

  45

  Southend

  102

  49

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  136

  64

  Hampstead

  53

  33

  Bloomsbury

  74

  35

  Islington

  112

  41

  City and Hackney

  170

  56

  Newham

  51

  39

  Tower Hamlets

  112

  60

  Enfield

  93

  42

  Haringey

  67

  42

  Redbridge

  101

  41

  Waltham Forest

  104

  37

  Regional health authority and headquarter units5

  65

  —

  South East Thames RHA

  1,531

  834

  Brighton

  43

  71

  Eastbourne

  58

  54

  Hastings

  60

  35

  South East Kent

  86

  60

  Canterbury and Thanet

  119

  53

  Dartford and Gravesham

  114

  54

  Maidstone

  60

  38

  Medway

  163

  65

  185

  District Health Authority

  Midwives2

  Health Visitors3

  Tunbridge Wells

  96

  35

  Bexley

  97

  49

  Greenwich

  85

  53

  Bromley

  110

  66

  West Lambeth

  108

  49

  Camberwell

  179

  56

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  153

  97

  South West Thames RHA

  1,014

  639

  North West Surrey

  85

  45

  West Surrey and North East Hants

  69

  67

  South West Surrey

  62

  37

  Mid Surrey

  47

  39

  East Surrey

  53

  41

  Chichester

  58

  32

  Mid Downs

  98

  65

  Worthing

  65

  45

  Croydon

  119

  57

  Kingston and Esher

  80

  41

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  46

  59

  Wandsworth

  142

  40

  Merton and Sutton

  92

  73

  Wessex RHA

  1,053

  608

  East Dorset

  110

  79

  West Dorset

  53

  38

  Portsmouth and South East Hants

  198

  108

  Southampton and South West Hants

  162

  83

  Winchester

  90

  53

  Basingstoke and North Hants

  77

  51

  Salisbury

  56

  35

  Swindon

  118

  50

  Bath

  142

  84

  Isle of Wight

  48

  28

  Oxford RHA

  961

  563

  East Berkshire

  135

  81

  West Berkshire

  157

  98

  Aylesbury Vale

  60

  38

  Wycombe

  100

  67

  Milton Keynes

  84

  41

  Kettering

  93

  57

  Northampton

  136

  67

  Oxfordshire

  196

  114

  South Western RHA

  1,047

  680

  Bristol and Weston

  158

  85

  Frenchay

  26

  50

  Southmead

  146

  51

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  105

  96

  Exeter

  75

  58

  North Devon

  40

  25

  Plymouth

  156

  70

  Torbay

  56

  43

  Cheltenham and District

  65

  43

  Gloucester

  101

  68

  Somerset

  119

  91

  West Midlands RHA

  2,145

  1,118

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  55

  33

  Herefordshire

  50

  31

  Kidderminster and District

  29

  32

  Worcester and District

  81

  51

  Shropshire

  135

  96

  Mid Staffordshire

  92

  60

  North Staffordshire

  197

  98

  South East Staffordshire

  83

  51

  Rugby

  29

  20

  North Warwickshire

  92

  40

  South Warwickshire

  64

  42

  Central Birmingham

  166

  42

  186

  District Health Authority

  Midwives2

  Health Visitors3

  East Birmingham

  26

  36

  North Birmingham

  98

  36

  South Birmingham

  104

  49

  West Birmingham

  127

  51

  Coventry

  135

  62

  Dudley

  98

  62

  Sandwell

  87

  65

  Solihull

  146

  40

  Walsall

  96

  65

  Wolverhampton

  155

  58

  Mersey RHA

  1,005

  502

  Chester

  115

  38

  Crewe

  83

  37

  Halton

  18

  29

  Macclesfield

  60

  33

  Warrington

  82

  37

  Liverpool

  224

  113

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  129

  74

  Southport and Formby

  36

  27

  South Sefton

  103

  44

  Wirral

  155

  70

  North Western RHA

  1,962

  1,173

  Lancaster

  53

  37

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  93

  88

  Preston

  104

  42

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  136

  83

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  127

  70

  West Lancashire

  46

  36

  Chorley and South Ribble

  44

  55

  Bolton

  151

  36

  Bury

  69

  45

  North Manchester

  91

  54

  Central Manchester

  133

  40

  South Manchester

  157

  50

  Oldham

  105

  68

  Rochdale

  98

  57

  Salford

  135

  60

  Stockport

  113

  84

  Tameside and Glossop

  105

  58

  Trafford

  68

  64

  Wigan

  135

  96

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

  1 Figures independently rounded to nearest whole time equivalent.

  2 Includes Agency Midwifery Staff; excludes midwifery students.

  3 Includes health visitors in both the community and school health services, HV fieldwork teachers, TB visitors with HV certificates, dual/triple posts and bank health visitors. Excludes HV students.

  4 Includes London Post-Graduate Special Health Authorities' Staff.

  5 No further breakdown is available from RHA.

  Table 2

  Total Births (live and still) by RHA and England 1986

  1986

  England

  626,946

  Northern RHA

  40,462

  Yorkshire RHA

  48,601

  Trent RHA

  59,608

  East Anglian RHA

  24,703

  North West Thames RHA

  48,354

  North East Thames RHA

  53,242

  South East Thames RHA

  47,819

  South West Thames RHA

  36,905

  Wessex RHA

  35,959

  Oxford RHA

  33,348

  South Western RHA

  38,331

  187

  1986

  West Midlands RHA

  70,833

  Mersey RHA

  32,892

  North Western RHA

  55,889

  Source: OPCS Birth registrations.

  Table 3

  Health Visiting: Regional Health Authorities Home visits (First visit in calendar year)

  Numbers

  1986

  First visits (all ages)

  England

  4,129,365

  Northern

  265,491

  Yorkshire

  360,657

  Trent

  388,494

  East Anglia

  166,011

  North West Thames

  336,924

  North East Thames

  308,203

  South East Thames

  313,554

  South West Thames

  267,258

  Wessex

  236,346

  Oxford

  194,099

  South Western

  256,889

  West Midlands

  490,764

  Mersey

  166,087

  North Western

  378,588

  Source: LHS 27/3 DHSS Statistics Division

  Notes:

  (1) A visit includes each occasion when professional help or advice is given by health visiting staff.

  (2) The "first visit" refers to the first visit received by a person from any member of the health visiting staff during the calendar year for any problem.

  (3) Visits to households where there is tuberculosis or other infectious diseases or visits by school health visitors are not included in the table.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the numbers of midwives and health visitors(a) in post and (b) in training for the years 1985, 1986 and 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 1 February 1988] : The information requested for September 1985 and September 1986 is given in the table. Similar information for 1987 is not yet available.

  NHS Midwives and Health Visitors in Post—England at 30 September Whole Time Equivalents1

  1985

  1986

  Qualified Staff

  Midwives2 3

  18,690

  19,150

  Health Visitors4

  10,280

  10,430

  Trainees

  Student Midwives

  4,380

  4,180

  Health Visitor Students

  870

  830

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

  1 Figures independently rounded to nearest ten (10) whole-time equivalents.

  2 Includes agency staff.

  3 Includes staff in the Hospital and community services.

  4 Includes Health Visitors in community and school health services, Health Visitor Field Work Teachers, TB visitors with Health Visitor certificate, holders of Dual/Triple posts (Health Visitor/District Nurse/Midwife) and Bank Health Visitors.

  Income Support
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made any assessment of the effects on the 188
  discharge of long-stay mental hospital patients under the care in the community programme by the withholding of higher level supplementary benefit from such patients.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 15 March 1988]: The income support that will be available to patients discharged from a mental illness or mental handicap hospital after a long stay, subsequent to 11 April, will depend on their individual needs and situation. Some will qualify for the disability premium, and some for the severe disability premium. We do not have information about the individual situations of people who may be discharged from long-stay in-patient care in the near future.

  Health Authorities (Expenditure)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the £109 million cost of the regional health authorities and £325 millon cost of the district regional health authorities and special health authorities is spent directly on patient care in a hospital ward, clinic or surgery, as shown in the draft March 1987 Health Service accounts.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 15 March 1988] : The sums quoted include the headquarters costs of vital management and support functions such as finance, planning, supplies procurement, personnel, computer services, etc., which help to ensure the provision of patient treatment services at hospital and unit level.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if the £630 million cost of administration, general managers and medical record-keeping shown in the March 1987 draft Health Service accounts for England, hospital services, is in addition to the administrative costs of the districts and regions.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 15 March 1988]: Yes. This operational expenditure at hospital level includes medical records (that is the administration of patients' clinical records) and secretarial and clerical support within hospital wards, diagnostic and treatment departments, accident and emergency and outpatient departments, and so on, without which patient treatment could not be carried out.

  Nurses
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish a table showing(a) the establishment figures, (b) the funded establishment figures and (c) the in-post figures of each regional health authority in England for the following nursing grades : regional nursing officer 1 and 2, regional nurse 1 and 2, district nursng officer grades 1 to 7, director of nursing service grades 1 + to 6, senior nurse grades 1 + to 8, sister I; sister II, health visitor, deputy nursing sister, staff nurse, senior enrolled nurse, enrolled nurse and nursing auxiliary/assistant; and if he will publish, for each grade category, the number of employees in full-time posts, the number of part-time employees and the whole-time equivalent of those part-time employees;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing (a) the establishment figures; (b) the funded establishment figures and (c) the in-post figures of each special health authority in England for the top nursing posts and each nursing grade below that; and if he will publish, for each

  189
  grade category, the number of employees in full-time posts, the number of part-time employees and the whole-time equivalents of those part-time employees.

  Mr. Tony Newton
  [holding answer 30 March 1988]: I regret that information on establishments is not collected

  Nursing and Midwifery staff by specified grades1

  (including agency) within regional health authorities and special health authorities at 30 September 1986

  Whole-time equivalent2

  Northern

  Yorkshire

  Trent

  East Anglia

  North West Thames

  North East Thames

  South East Thames

  South West Thames

  Wessex

  Oxford

  South Western

  West Midlands

  Mersey

  North Western

  London post graduate special health authorities

  England

  Regional Nursing Officer 1 and 2

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  12

  Regional Nurse 1 and 2

  3

  2

  1

  1

  3

  2

  4

  2

  2

  1

  2

  4

  3

  1

  —

  31

  District Nursing Officer 1 to 7

  10

  13

  10

  6

  10

  17

  15

  9

  5

  8

  6

  18

  8

  12

  1

  148

  Director of Nursing services 1 to 63

  56

  78

  74

  35

  74

  78

  61

  62

  58

  47

  34

  105

  51

  92

  19

  924

  Senior Nurse Grade 1 to 8

  621

  635

  773

  327

  733

  822

  801

  643

  501

  447

  499

  865

  411

  858

  145

  9,079

  Sister I

  48

  95

  51

  42

  136

  109

  53

  52

  97

  36

  114

  127

  64

  62

  19

  1,102

  Sister II

  4,088

  4,666

  5,610

  2,251

  4,298

  4,909

  4,629

  3,786

  3,321

  2,723

  3,808

  6,910

  3,639

  6,593

  609

  61.838

  Health Visitor4

  615

  658

  868

  332

  649

  621

  729

  543

  553

  487

  600

  942

  444

  1,030

  9,070

  Deputy Nursing Sister

  202

  279

  385

  116

  207

  311

  276

  136

  147

  183

  191

  431

  252

  330

  7

  3,452

  Staff Nurse; Senior Enrolled Nurse

  5,764

  5,985

  7,419

  3,467

  7,047

  7,783

  7,302

  5,652

  5,162

  4,078

  6,020

  7,764

  3,758

  7,181

  1,963

  86,343

  Enrolled Nurse

  5,613

  5,87.3

  7,034

  2,603

  4,762

  5,930

  5,339

  3,850

  3,381

  2,498

  4,487

  7,624

  4,596

  6,972

  955

  71,515

  Nursing Auxiliary/Assistant

  5,776

  6,682

  8.924

  3,856

  5,214

  6,104

  5,902

  5,508

  6,418

  3,926

  7,210

  9,992

  5,456

  8,503

  459

  89,928

  Total of above

  22,797

  24,966

  31,148

  13,036

  23,135

  26,685

  25,110

  20,244

  19,645

  14,434

  22,971

  34,782

  18,680

  31,634

  4,177

  333,443

  Others5

  4,591

  5,326

  5,975

  2,558

  5,538

  7,650

  5,259

  4,108

  3,416

  2,512

  4,005

  7,734

  36,48

  6,221

  707

  69,248

  Grand Total

  27,388

  30,292

  37,122

  15,593

  28,672

  34,336

  30,369

  24,352

  23,061

  16,946

  26,976

  42,516

  22,328

  37,855

  4,883

  402,690

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

  1 Identified as staff paid on the appropriate payscales. Some staff may therefore be paid on a particular payscale but are not necessarily working in a post indicated by that payscale. There might be small discrepancies between these figures and similar ones given previously.

  2 Figures are independently rounded to nearest whole time equivalent.

  3 Includes top nursing posts in Special Health Authorities.

  4 Includes all staff paid on Health Visitor payscale, in the Community and School Health Services.

  5 Includes all Tutorial staff, all student and pupil nurses, nursing cadets, nursery nurses, nursing staff employed in day nurseries and a small number of senior nursing staff in obsolete grades.

  Committee on Safety of Medicines
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the current sub-committees of the Committee on Safety of Medicines, giving the names and professional background of each of their members.

  Members of the Safety, Efficacy and Adverse Reactions Sub-committee

  Members

  Professional background

  Professor K. G. M. M. Alberti, MA, D. Phil. MRCP, MRCPath

  Professor of Medicine, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  Dr. L. Beeley, MA (Oxon), FRCP

  Consultant Clinical Pharmacologist, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

  Professor A. T. Birmingham, BSc, MB, BS (London)

  Professor of Pharmacology, Nottingham University

  Professor A. M. Breckenridge, MD, MSC, FRCP

  Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Liverpool University

  Dr. C. J. Bulpitt, MSc, MD, MRCP,

  Reader in Pharmaco-Epidemiology, Hammersmith Hospital,

  MRCS

  London

  Dr. R. L. Carter, MA, DM, DSc,

  Reader in Pathology and Consultant Pathologist, London

  FRCPath

  School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London

  Dr. J. Davidson, MB, BS, FRCGP

  General Practitioner, Cardiff

  Professor D. S. Davies, BSc, PhD, C.

  Professor of Biochemical Pharmacology, Hammersmith

  Chem, FRSC

  Hospital, London

  Dr. R. Finch, FRCP, MRCPath

  Consultant Physician and Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, City Hospital, Nottingham

  Dr. E. S. Harpur, BSc, PhD, MPS

  Lecturer in Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Aston, Birmingham

  Dr. D. Jones, BA, MSC, PhD

  Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology, St. Georges Hospital Medical School, London

  Dr. B. J. Kirby, MB, ChB, FRCP

  Deputy Director, Post Graduate Medical School, Exeter University

  Professor M. J. S. Langman, BSc, MD, MBBS, FRCP

  Professor of Medicine, University of Birmingham

  190
  centrally. The whole-time equivalent staff in post information for the grades requested is given in the table. Separate information for numbers of whole-time and part-time staff is not readily available to this depth of detail arid can be provided only at disproportionate Cost.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 31 March 1988]: The information requested is as follows:
  191

  Members

  Professional background

  Dr. A. V. P. Mackay, PhD, MA, BSc,

  Macintosh Lecturer in Psychological Medicine, Glasgow

  MRCP

  University

  Professor J. Malpas, D. Phil, FRCP,

  Director, Department of Medical Oncology, St. Bartholomew's

  FRCR

  Hospital, London

  Professor A. E. M. McLean, BM, PhD, FRCPath

  Professor of Toxicology, University College Hospital, London

  Professor W. S. Nimmo, BSc, MD, FRCP, FFARCS

  Head of Department of Anaesthesia, University of Sheffield

  Professor M. D. Rawlins, BSc, MD, FRCP (London), FRCP (Edinburgh)

  Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Newcastle

  Professor C. G. Swift, PhD, MRCP

  Professor of Health Care of the Elderly, King's College School of Medicine, London

  Members of the Biologicals Sub-Committtee

  Members

  Professional background

  Professor J. E. Banatvala, MD, MA, FRCPath, DPH, DCH

  Professor of Clinical Virology, St. Thomas' Hospital Medical School, London

  Professor W. J. Brammar, PhD, BSc

  Professor of Biochemistry, Leicester University

  Professor J. G. Collee, MD, FRCP, FRCPath

  Professor of Bacteriology, University of Edinburgh

  Professor H. Keen, MD, FRCP

  Professor of Human Metabolism, Guy's Hospital Medical School, London

  Dr. R. S. Lane, MD, MRCP, FRCPath

  Director, Blood Products Laboratory, Elstree, Hertfordshire

  Professor A. McMichael, PhD, CMAA, MRCP

  Professor of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford

  Professor J. Melling, BSc, MSc, PhD, FIBiol, FPS

  Director of Vaccine Research and Production Laboratories, Porton Down, Salisbury

  Professor E. R. Moxon, MB, BChir, FRCP

  Professor of Paediatrics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford

  Dr. R. J. Perry, BSc, PhD, MRSC, CChem

  Director, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Centre, Edinburgh

  Dr. G. Schild, BSc, PhD, FIBiol

  Director of National Institute of Biological Standards and Control

  Dr. D. P. Thomas, DPhil, MD, FRCPath

  Head, Division of Blood Products, National Institute of Biological Standards and Control

  Dr. E. G. B. Tuddenham, MD, FRCP, FRCPath

  Director of Haemostasis Research Group, Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Research Centre

  Dr. D. A. J. Tyrrell, CBE, MD, DSc, FRCP, FRCPath, FRS

  Director of MRC Common Cold Unit, Harvard Hospital, Salisbury

  Members of the Chemistry, Pharmacy and Standards Sub-committee

  Members

  Professional background

  Dr. M. C. Allwood, B Pharm, PhD, MPS

  Principal Pharmacist, Addenbrook's Hospital, Cambridge

  Professor B. W. Barry, BSc, PhD, MPS, C. Chem, FRIC

  Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Bradford

  Professor J. R. Brown, MSc, PhD, MPS, C. Chem, FRSC, MI Biol

  Head of Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Sunderland Polytechnic

  Dr. D. H. Calam, MA Phil, C. Chem, FRSC

  Head of Chemistry and Antibiotics, National Institute of Biological Standards and Control

  Dr. R. T. Calvert, BSc, PhD, MPS

  District Pharmaceutical Officer, General Infirmary, Leeds

  Professor J. E. Carless, B Pharm, MSC, PhD, FPS

  Emeritus Professor of Pharmaceutics, University of London

  Dr. A. G. Davidson, BSc, PhD, MPS

  Lecturer in Pharmacy, Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Strathclyde

  Dr. D. J. Davies, MSc, PhD, MPS

  Reader in Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University of Bath

  Professor P. H. Elworthy, B Pharm, PhD,

  Emeritus Professor of Pharmacy University of Manchester,

  DSc, MSc, C. Chem, MRSC

  Visiting Professor in Pharmaceutics, King's College, London and School of Pharmacy, London

  Professor F. Fish, B Pharm, PhD, FPS

  Dean of School of Pharmacy, University of London

  Professor A. T. Florence, BSc, PhD, Chem, FRSC, MPS

  Professor of Pharmaceutics, University of Strathclyde

  Professor, I. W. Kellaway, B Pharm, PhD, MPS

  Professor of Pharmaceutics, UWIST, Cardiff

  Professor D. W. Mathieson, PhD, BSc, C. Chem, FRSC

  Emeritus Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Bradford

  Professor J. M. Newton, B Pharm, PhD, FPS

  Head of Department of Pharmacy, University of London

  Mr. G. F. Phillips, MSc, C. Chem, FRSC

  Superintendent, Health Services Division, Laboratory of the Government Chemist, London

  Dr. A. E. Theobald, B Pharm, PhD, MPS

  Chelsea Department of Pharmacy, King's College, London

  192 193

  Members of the Adverse Reactions to Vaccines and Immunological Products Sub-committee

  Members

  Professional background

  Professor J. E. Banatvala, MD, MA, FRCPath, DPH, DCH

  Professor of Clinical Virology, St. Thomas' Hospital Medical School, London

  Professor A. M. Breckenridge, MD, MSC, FRCP

  Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Liverpool University

  Dr. J. Cameron-Bowie, MRCP, MFCM

  Director of Community Medicine, Somerset Health Authority

  Dr. N. Cavanagh, MD, MRCP

  Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, Cheyne Centre for Spastic Children, London

  Professor J. G. Collee, MD, FRCP, FRCPath

  Professor of Bacteriology, University of Edinburgh

  Dr. P. E. M. Fine, VMD, PhD

  Senior Lecturer, Ross Institute, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

  Professor D. Hull, BSc, FRCP, D obst, RCOG, DCH

  Professor of Child Health, University Hospital and Medical School, Nottingham

  Dr. B. W. McGuiness, MD, FRCGP, D obst, RCOG, DCH, RCPS

  General Practitioner, Frodsham, Cheshire

  Professor S. R. Meadow, MA, FRCP, DCh

  Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, St. James University Hospital, Leeds

  Professor D. Miller, MA, FRCP, FFCM, DPH, MD

  Professor of Community Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, London

  Dr. E. Miller, MB, BS, BSc

  Principal Microbiologist, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London

  Dr. D. Reid, MD, FRCP, FFCM, DPH

  Director Communicable Diseases, Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow

  Dr. S. Wallace, FRCP, D obst, RCOG

  Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff

  Barnet Health Authority
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the percentage increase in funding for the Barnet health authority in 1987–88 over 1986–87; and what were the separate percentage figures for(a) wages and salaries and so on part of this and (b) the remainder.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]: Allocations to district health authorities are the responsibility of regional health authorities. I understand however that Barnet health authority was, subject to adjustments regarding minor transfers, allocated an estimated increase in funding of 9·95 per cent. between 1986–87 and 1987–88. Funds are not allocated for specific purposes and it is for the health authority to determine how the fund available to it should be spent. My hon. Friend may care to approach the chairman of Barnet health authority for more detailed information.

  Staff

  Number employed whole-lime on cervical cytology

  Staff employed part-time on cervical cytology

  Number

  Whole-time equivalent

  Pathologists and other medically qualified staff

  19

  294

  67·96

  Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers, scientific officers and laboratory cytology screeners

  289

  900

  488·82

  Where necessary, laboratories have been recruiting additional staff. The figures above represent a 12 per cent. increase in whole-time equivalent staff employed on cervical cytology over the preceding year end. Increasing the number of staff is only one of the ways in which health authorities can improve the throughput of smear tests and avoid backlogs. Health authorities may also use other laboratories including those in the private sector.

  Cervical Cancer Screening
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the pathology laboratories which process smears resulting from the implementation of a computerised call and recall cervical cancer screening programme; if he will list the funded establishment for each of those laboratories; if he will list the total numbers of staff in post; and what arrangements have been made to recruit extra staff to deal with the increased work load generated by the implementation of this programme.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray) on 23 February at columns 183–6 which listed NHS laboratories in England that dealt with cervical cancer smear tests. Information on the funded establishment for each laboratory is not collected centrally. Information for non-NHS laboratories is not available.

  The total number of trained staff reported by NHS laboratories in England as being in post on 31 December 1986 (the latest date for which figures are available) was as follows:

  NHS (Growth)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) following the announcement of additional money to the National Health Service on 16 December 1987, what he now expects the real growth in National Health Service resources to be during the current year;
  195
  (2) if he will detail the calculations supporting his statement, Official Report, 16 December 1987, column 1102, that National Health Service expenditure will grow by 3 per cent. in 1988–89.
  196
  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 March 1988, c. 88]: I regret that my earlier reply to the hon. Member contained an error. The reference to a forecast of general inflation of 4·25 per cent. for 1988–89 should have read 4·5 per cent. This does not affect the rest of my reply.

  MoD BUILDING: EXTERNAL CLEANING
  MoD BUILDING: EXTERNAL CLEANING
  PENSION AND WELFARE PAYMENTS: COSTS
  PENSION AND WELFARE PAYMENTS: COSTS
  BA/B.CAL MERGER
  BA/B.CAL MERGER
  STORM DAMAGE TO WOODLANDS: AID TO OWNERS
  STORM DAMAGE TO WOODLANDS: AID TO OWNERS