Written Answers of 15 April 1988

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Departmental Memoranda
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has any plans to increase the security of internal departmental memoranda; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It is not the usual practice to give information on such matters.

  National Curriculum (Staffing Levels)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received concerning the implications of the implementation of a national curriculum for staffing levels in schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We have received over 10,000 responses to our proposals; a number of these raised questions about the implementation of the national curriculum, including the teaching and other resources required for it. Our decisions on the phasing of its introduction will take account of all relevant factors, including staffing levels.

  Merchant Navy College, Greenhithe
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the proposed closure of the Merchant Navy college at Greenhithe; and what reply he has given.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received representations from right hon. and hon. Members, from the principal and staff of the college, and from parents or employers of past, current and prospective students.

  While recognising that the college has won praise for the quality of its work; the question of its future is a matter for the college itself and for the Inner London education authority which maintains it.

  Education Assets Board
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the emoluments to be paid to the chairman of the education assets board; and what other posts in the public service the chairman holds.

  Mr. Jackson
  The chairman of the education assets board, Mr. Tom McDonald OBE, will be paid £17,330 per annum for a time commitment of two days a week. Mr. McDonald is currently also chairman of the West Yorkshire residuary body and unpaid chairman of the Yorkshire and Humberside and East Midlands industrial development board.

  NERC Centre, Barry
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what representations he has received concerning the future of the Natural 244
  Environment Research Council's research vessels services centre at Barry in South Glamorgan; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the future of the Natural Environment Research Council's research vessels services centre at Barry in South Glamorgan.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend has received no representations concerning the future of the Natural Environment Research Council research vessels services centre at Barry in South Glamorgan. The future of the centre is a matter for NERC, and I understand that the council is investigating the feasibility of resiting the centre to Southampton as part of a proposed interdisciplinary research centre on deep sea oceanography.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Extradition
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of officials which took place on 7 April to which he referred in his written answer to the hon. Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) on 30 March,Official Report, column 484. when he expects next to meet the Attorney-General of the Irish Republic and when he now expects to agree extradition arrangements with the Government of the Irish Republic.

  The Attorney-General
  The meeting of officials on 7 April clarified several matters. I am very hopeful that there will shortly be effective extradition between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland under the new Irish legislation.

  Birmingham Pub Bombings
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General who selected the Law Lords to hear the application for leave to appeal by the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

  The Attorney-General
  In accordance with the usual practice the principal clerk of the Judicial Office, acting under the general authority of the Lord Chancellor, selected the names of the law lords to sit on the appeal committee which considered the application for leave to appeal in the Birmingham pub bombings case.

  As a matter of general practice the Lord Chancellor does not intervene in the arrangements for particular law lords to hear particular cases and did not do so in this case.

PRIME MINISTER

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received over the suggested introduction of value added tax charges on children's shoes; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of representations about value added tax including on children's clothing.

  Pakistan (Explosion)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what messages of sympathy have been conveyed by Her Majesty's
  245
  Government to the bereaved relatives and friends of those killed in the arms explosion in Pakistan, and to relatives and friends of those injured in the explosion; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Her Majesty the Queen sent a message of sympathy to President Zia, to the families of those who suffered, and to the people of Pakistan. I sent a similar message to Prime Minister Junejo.

  Water (Nitrate Levels)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the remit of the Cabinet Office working party set up to look at nitrate levels in drinking water; what external representatives are on the working party; when any recommendations are due to be made; and if the conclusions will be published.

  The Prime Minister
  It is not the practice to provide such information. I also refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 26 January 1988 at column 133.

  Departmental Correspondence (Confidentiality)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what action her Office has taken to investigate the circumstances of the unauthorised disclosure of recent correspondence between her Office and that of the Secretary of State for Scotland concerning opting out of the educational system in Scotland.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 12 April 1988, at column 44, and my reply of 14 March 1988 at column 425.

  Visits
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister when she last visited(a) a jobcentre, (b) a Department of Health and Social Security office (c) a military establishment and (d) a trade union office.

  The Prime Minister
  In the course of each year I visit a wide variety of companies, offices, organisations and establishments. Information going back to 1979 is not immediately available in the form requested. I did, however, recently visit Wellington barracks. I have not visited a trade union office.

SCOTLAND

  "Management of Private Practice in NHS Hospitals"
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of the Home and Health Department's handbook, "Management of Private Practice in NHS Hospitals".

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A copy of the handbook has already been placed in the Library.

  Health Boards (Agency Workers)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much each Scottish health board spent on agency workers in the most recent available year; and what percentage this was of their overall nursing costs.
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  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Relevant information in health boards' annual accounts is recorded under the category of "non-payroll" nursing costs. While this relates principally to the cost of engaging agency nursing staff, some other expenditure (such as payments for nursing staff in non National Health Service hospitals which have contractual arrangements with health boards) is also included. The figures for 1986–87 are given in the table.

  Health board

  Non-payroll nursing costs £ thousand

  Per cent.1

  Argyll and Clyde

  2

  0·01

  Ayrshire and Arran

  —

  —

  Borders

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  —

  —

  Fife

  —

  —

  Forth Valley

  —

  —

  Grampian

  27

  0·05

  Greater Glasgow

  1,030

  0·78

  Highland

  28

  0·13

  Lanarkshire

  —

  —

  Lothian

  1,757

  2·11

  Orkney

  —

  —

  Shetland

  21

  0·99

  Tayside

  140

  0·27

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  Total

  3·005

  0·78

  1 As proportion of total expenditure on nurses' salaries and wages.

  Homeless Persons
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current cost to each district council of housing homeless persons; and what proportion of this is for bed and breakfast accommodation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally.

DEFENCE

  Military Personnel
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many military personnel have left the armed services in each year since 1974;

  (2) how many military personnel have left the armed services at the end of a fixed term of service in each year since 1974;

  (3) how many military personnel have left the armed services for medical reasons in each year since 1974;

  (4) how many military personnel have left the armed services at retirement age in each year since 1974;

  (5) how many military personnel have been dismissed from the armed services in each year since 1974;

  (6) how many military personnel have left the armed services for reasons other than (a) end of a fixed term of service, (b) medical reasons (c) retirement age (d) dismissal, in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Freeman
  Details of the numbers leaving the armed forces by cause in each financial year are shown in the table. It is not possible to distinguish between exits at the end of a fixed term of service and exits at retirement age and a single category covering these two groups has therefore been shown. This category includes those leaving
  247
  the Army having given notice. The numbers shown as dismissed include administrative dismissals as well as disciplinary discharge.

  Year

  Total Outflow

  Time and age expiries

  Medical and Death

  Dismissal

  All other reasons

  1974–75

  53,109

  20,338

  2,892

  5,814

  24,065

  1975–76

  48,530

  18,583

  2,253

  6,188

  21,506

  1976–77

  46,412

  17,257

  2,228

  6,367

  20,560

  1977–78

  48,002

  16,963

  2,177

  6,018

  22,844

  1978–79

  49,306

  15,385

  2,087

  5,673

  26,161

  1979–80

  45,042

  13,926

  1,713

  5,556

  23,847

  1980–81

  37,535

  11,967

  1,423

  6,383

  17,762

  1981–82

  29,451

  10,289

  1,235

  7,165

  10,762

  1982–83

  28,657

  11,625

  1,475

  6,426

  9,131

  1983–84

  31,926

  12,430

  1,228

  6,587

  11,681

  1984–85

  34,554

  12,955

  1,578

  6,092

  13,929

  1985–86

  36,521

  13,911

  1,709

  5,589

  15,312

  1986–87

  36,961

  14,811

  1,550

  5,657

  14,943

  Apr-Dec 1987

  27,167

  10,548

  1,173

  4,344

  11,102

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many military personnel have left the Army in each year since 1974;

  The numbers shown as dismissed include administrative dismissals as well as disciplinary discharges

  Total outflow

  Time and age expiries

  Medical and death

  Dismissal

  All other reasons

  1974–75

  28,889

  10,578

  1,570

  3,584

  13,157

  1975–76

  26,797

  9,418

  1,353

  4,254

  11,772

  1976–77

  26,610

  9,227

  1,365

  4,377

  11,641

  1977–78

  29,072

  10,033

  1,328

  4,016

  13,695

  1978–79

  29,807

  9,168

  1,265

  3,783

  15,591

  1979–80

  26,348

  8,877

  1,055

  3,722

  12,694

  1980–81

  21,919

  7,554

  792

  4,221

  9,352

  1981–82

  17,094

  6,242

  713

  4,995

  5,144

  1982–83

  17,178

  7,117

  897

  4,776

  4,388

  1983–84

  19,959

  7,936

  681

  4,931

  6,411

  1984–85

  21,448

  8,322

  998

  4,422

  7,706

  1985–86

  21,301

  8,621

  1,120

  4,009

  7,551

  1986–87

  21,761

  9,418

  1,032

  3,875

  7,436

  April to December 1987

  16,707

  6,861

  814

  2,931

  6,101

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have joined the armed services as military personnel in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Freeman
  The numbers of people joining the Army from civil life in each financial year since 1974–75 are shown below:

  Year

  Number

  1974–75

  24,264

  1975–76

  29,591

  1976–77

  24,088

  1977–78

  22,550

  1978–79

  25,254

  1979–80

  29,189

  1980–81

  28,871

  1981–82

  14,204

  1982–83

  13,071

  1983–84

  22,348

  1984–85

  22,278

  1985–86

  20,268

  1986–87

  19,918

  April-December 1987

  15,379

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have joined the armed services as military personnel in each year since 1974.
  248
  (2) how many military personnel have left the Army at the end of a fixed term of service in each year since 1974;

  (3) how many military personnel have left the Army for medical reasons in each year since 1974;

  (4) how many military personnel have left the Army at retirement age in each year since 1974;

  (5) how many military personnel have been dismissed from the Army in each year since 1974;

  (6) how many military personnel have left the Army for reasons other than (a) end of fixed term of service, (b) medical reasons (c) retirement age, or (d) dismissal, in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Freeman
  Details of the numbers leaving the Army by cause in each financial year are shown in the table below. It is not possible in the available statistics to distinguish between exits at the end of a fixed term of service and exits at retirement age and a single category covering these two groups has therefore been shown. This category includes those leaving the Army having given notice.

  Mr. Freeman
  The numbers of people joining the armed services from civil life in each financial year since 1974–75 are shown below:

  Year

  Number

  1974–75

  42,236

  1975–76

  46,906

  1976–77

  40,244

  1977–78

  38,237

  1978–79

  43,366

  1979–80

  50,652

  1980–81

  50,488

  1981–82

  22,607

  1982–83

  21,647

  1983–84

  36,991

  1984–85

  34,721

  1985–86

  32,651

  1986–87

  34,049

  April-December 1987

  24,553

  Hanover Air Show
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to visit the Hanover air show in May.

  Mr. Younger
  I hope to do so subject to the pressure of Government business.

  Low Flying
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of complaints received about low flying in 1987 were identified as relating to(a) fast jets, (b) light jet trainers, (c) heavy propeller-driven aircraft, (d) light propeller-driven aircraft and helicopters.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The proportion of complaints and inquiries about low flying received in 1987 identified as relating to fast jets, light jet trainers, heavy propeller-driven aircraft and light propeller-driven aircraft and helicopters is, respectively, 71·4 per cent., 0·1 per cent., 2·1 per cent. and 2·7 per cent. In the remaining 23·7 per cent. of cases the type of aircraft involved is not known.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of complaints received about low flying in 1987 were identified as relating to(a) British military aircraft, (b) United States air force aircraft and (c) other military aircraft.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The nationality of the aircraft involved is rarely mentioned in complaints, and the majority of complaint records do not include this information. Where it is available, in 5·71 per cent. of all cases, the percentages of the total relating to British military aircraft, United States air forces aircraft and other military aircraft are 4·51 per cent., 1·18 per cent. and 0·02 per cent. respectively.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying sorties were carried out over(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland during 1987.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: Fixed-wing low-flying training is not currently undertaken in Northern Ireland. Otherwise, a typical low-level sortie covers some 300–500 miles and commonly covers more than one of the areas mentioned. The information requested is not available.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Baltic States
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the question of the self-determination of the Baltic states under principle VIII of basket 1 of the Helsinki Final Act at the current review conference in Vienna; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have no plans to do so. Our position of de facto but not de jure recognition of the incorporation of the Baltic states into the Soviet Union is well-known. Our delegation in Vienna have raised a number of human rights violations which have taken place in the Baltic states.

  Gibraltar (Shootings)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to when the inquest on the shootings of the three Irish Republican Army members in Gibraltar will take place.
  250
  Mr. Mellor
  The timing of the inquest into the deaths of the three IRA terrorists is a matter for the coroner in Gibraltar. A date has not yet been fixed for the inquest hearing.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice is made available to British travel companies as to the inadvisability of offering holidays in the western Sahara, the war zone of the conflict between the Polisario guerillas and the Moroccan army, in view of the fact that a number of holiday makers have been killed in that area.

  Mr. Eggar
  Our current advice is that the territory of the western Sahara is disputed and the United Kingdom regards sovereignty as undetermined.

  Much of the territory is under military jurisdiction and travel is subject to restriction. We have no diplomatic representation in the territory and normal consular services are not available. We would, therefore, discourage travel outside the tourist areas.

  To the best of our knowledge there are no organised tours to the area.

  Pakistan (Explosion)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for information about the names of the dead and injured in the recent explosion disaster in Pakistan to be available and for telephone inquiries for information to be received from British citizens or overseas nationals, settled in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Her Majesty's embasssy in Islamabad reports that its checks have not revealed any deaths or injuries amongst the British community.

  Inquiries about the safety of non-British nationals in Pakistan should be addressed to either the Pakistan embassy in London or the authorities in Pakistan.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been offered by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Pakistan to relieve suffering following the armament explosion disaster; what assistance has been sought of Her Majesty's Government by the Pakistan Government; and if Her Majesty's Government will make a contribution to any disaster appeal established in Pakistan.

  Mr. Eggar
  My noble Friend, Lord Trefgarne, who was in Islamabad at the time of the disaster, asked the Pakistan Prime Minister to let us know if there was any assistance which we could provide. If a specific request for help is received, we shall do what we can to meet it.

  South African Embassy
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sums were paid to his Department in compensation for damage to the South African embassy following the conviction of Mr. Adam Bowles and two associates of offences during an antiapartheid demonstration.

  Mr. Eggar
  Mr. Adam Bowles was sentenced at Southwark crown court on 23 March to 14 days'
  251
  imprisonment. His two associates were conditionally discharged and ordered to pay £250 each compensation for damage, the payment to be made within 60 days. No payment has yet been made.

  Immigration
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost of dealing with a genuine application for immigration into the United Kingdom from Bangladesh(a) where DNA fingerprinting is used to verify the genuineness of the application, and (b) where only existing administrative techniques are used; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The cost of commercial DNA testing is met by those who initiate it. The time taken to process cases, whether or not DNA testing is involved, varies considerably from case to case. For this reason costs are not broken down as to type of application or on an individual basis.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Budget Changes
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount by which the increased revenues from changes in taxes and duties announced in his Budget Statement will be offset by additional expenditure on benefits and other payments linked to the retail price index; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  The direct impact on the retail price index of the changes in taxes and duties announced in the Budget is estimated to be an increase of 0·4 per cent. The cost of a corresponding increase in social security benefits linked to the index from April 1989 is estimated to be about £165 million in 1989–90. Other payments directly affected by changes in the retail price index include public sector pensions. However, these costs are not additional to the Government's public expenditure plans set out in the public expenditure White Paper Cm. 288 for two reasons:

  (a) the impact of the Budget measures on the retail price index is not additional to the assumption on inflation underlying the provision for social security; indeed, the forecast of the increase in the retail price index to the fourth quarter of 1988 published at the time of the Budget is slightly lower than was assumed at the time of the White Paper;

  (b) the plans included large unallocated reserves of £7 billion in 1989–90 and £10·5 billion in 1990–91 which will be available to meet unforeseen requirements, including any revised estimates of demand-led expenditure; and

  (c) the reduction in income tax announced in the Budget should have the effect of reducing social security expenditure by about £30 million in a full year.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission an audit of Government expenditure by region.

  Mr. Major
  All central Government expenditure throughout the United Kingdom is subject to audit by the National Audit Office. The Government also publish 252
  extensive information on the geographical distribution of public expenditure as was explained in evidence provided by the Treasury to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee (published as appendix 5 to the Committee's Second Report of the current Session).

  Government Securities (Redemption)
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of redeeming(a) 3½ per cent. war loan and (b) all undated Government securities.

  Mr. Lilley
  The cost of redeeming 3½ per cent. war loan would be £1,909 million. The cost of redeeming all undated Government securities would be £3,220 million.

  Personal Debt
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the adult average per capita personal debt, not including mortgages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]: The adult average per capita stock of personal sector debt, excluding mortgages, is estimated to have been a little over £1,300 at the end of the third quarter 1987.

  This figure includes debts of unincorporated businesses since these are part of the personal sector.

WALES

  Farmers Union of Wales
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the president of the Farmers Union of Wales; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I last met the president of the Farmers Union of Wales on Wednesday 10 February when we discussed the full range of issues of concern to the union.

  Fishing
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimates of the yield of fishing rates in Wales are available to him.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  This information is not held centrally.

  A548 (Shotton-Connah's Quay Bypass)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he estimates the start of the A548 Shotton to Connah's Quay bypass rail bridge; and what is(a) the target completion date, (b) its estimated cost and (c) the length of carriageway.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  These matters are for Clwyd county council, the local highway authority responsible for the scheme. I understand that the scheme is in progress.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the A548 Shotton to Connah's Quay bypass river crossing and completion of dualling will begin; what is the length of carriageway; and what is its estimated cost.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  These matters are for Clwyd county council, the local highway authority responsible for the scheme.

  Voluntary Bodies (Grants)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those voluntary organisations, projects and bodies assisted by his Department with grant aid during the financial year 1986–87, together with the amount of grant in each case.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman shortly, and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Foreign Languages
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the non-European languages taught as foreign languages in Wales and list those secondary schools in which they are taught.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Japanese is taught to a group of sixth-formers, on an informal basis, at Heol Ddu comprehensive school, Mid Glamorgan, and is available as a nine-week module to fourth and fifth-formers in Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, Clwyd. No other maintained schools teach non-European languages.

  Pupils Who …

  speak Welsh at home

  do not speak Welsh at home but who can speak it with fluency

  speak Welsh but not fluently

  cannot speak Welsh at all

  Welsh Counties

  Number

  Proportion

  Number

  Proportion

  Number

  Proportion

  Number

  Proportion

  Clwyd

  1,351

  4·7

  1,579

  5·5

  6,566

  22·7

  19,345

  57·1

  Dyfed

  4,850

  20·1

  2,040

  8·4

  4,913

  20·3

  12,396

  51·2

  Gwent

  37

  0·1

  452

  1·4

  127

  0·4

  31,620

  98·1

  Gwynedd

  6,500

  40·2

  3,016

  18·6

  5,412

  33·5

  1,252

  7·7

  Mid Glamorgan

  297

  0·7

  3,707

  9·1

  1,742

  4·3

  35,057

  85·9

  Powys

  467

  5·7

  342

  4·2

  1,268

  15·6

  6,074

  74·5

  South Glamorgan

  346

  1·2

  580

  2·1

  1,632

  5·8

  25,641

  90·9

  West Glamorgan

  724

  2·8

  658

  2·5

  1,871

  7·1

  22,918

  87·6

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Public Service Broadcasting
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government plans for public service broadcasting in the next decade.

  Mr. Renton
  We have it in mind to publish a White Paper within the next few months setting out proposals for the future of broadcasting, including public service broadcasting which will continue to play a major part in the broadcasting system in the 1990s.

  Drug Trafficking
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of present national and international methods of control of the laundering of illegal drug trafficking money.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The powers to trace, freeze and confiscate the proceeds of drug trafficking in the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 provide an effective new weapon against drug trafficking and money laundering. Intelligence about the financial activities of suspected drug traffickers is now co-ordinated centrally in the national

  Education
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those primary schools in Wales where a language other than Welsh or English is employed as a language of instruction.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  There are no maintained primary schools in Wales where the language of instruction is a language other than Welsh or English.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the numbers and proportion of primary school pupils in each Welsh county who(a) speak Welsh as their first language, (b) speak Welsh fluently as their second language, (c) speak some Welsh and (d) speak very little or no Welsh at all.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information is not collected centrally in the form requested. However, data in respect of primary school pupils, aged five and over, by home spoken language at September 1987 are as follows:

  drugs intelligence unit. We recently signed an agreement with the United States on co-operation in this field, and we expect to conclude further such agreements this year. We are also active in discussions in the Council of Europe and the United Nations towards more effective international co-operation.

  London Roads (Access)
  Mr. Tebbit
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many weekends during(a) January, (b) February and (c) March, public access to roads in central London was restricted in order to allow demonstrations to take place; in each case to which roads access was impaired and for what period; and whether he expects such restrictions to increase during the summer months.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, in relation to larger demonstrations, he issued directions enabling constables to stop or to divert vehicular and pedestrian traffic in central London on two weekends in each of January and February and on one weekend in March (when two separate directions were made). I have placed copies of the directions in the Library which give their
  255
  duration and which show the roads affected. The number of directions issued during the summer is expected to decrease.

  Prevention of Terrorism
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the actions taken following the arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act of (i) Dierdre Whelan, (ii) Patrick Shanahan, (iii) Tina Smith, (iv) Pamela Kane, (v) James Keegan, (vi) Hugo Reavey and (vii) David Kane and with particular reference to(a) the length of time each was held prior to any charge, (b) which of them were released bail having been charged, (c) which of them were released without charge, (d) what criminal charges have been preferred and against whom and (e) at what stage each was allowed to see a solicitor.

  Mr. Hurd
  No charges were brought against any of those named. Martina Smith was told at the start of her detention that she could have access to a solicitor and David Kane saw a solicitor within 24 hours of his detention. Deirdre Whelan, Patrick Shanahan, Pamela Kane, Joseph Keegan and Hugo Reavey were all allowed access to a solicitor after they had been detained for 48 hours.

  Bail Hostels
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hail hostels there are in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  There are 16 approved bail hostels in England and Wales and a further 85 approved probation/ bail hostels, the majority of which provide places for persons on remand.

  Bail Beds
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bail beds are currently available to the courts in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  There are 248 places available in approved bail hostels and a further 1,593 in approved probation/bail hostels, the majority of which are available to persons on remand.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners occupied a place in a bail hostel during(a) 1986 and (b) 1987 in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  In 1986, at all approved probation/ bail and bail hostels in England and Wales, 410 places were occupied on average each month by persons on remand; the corresponding figure for 1987 was 538. Based on an average length of stay of nine weeks it is estimated that 2,378 persons on remand occupied approved hostel places in 1986 and 3,120 occupied places in 1987.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many remand prisoners who were resident in bail hostels absconded during(a) 1986 and (b) 1987;

  (2) how many remand prisoners who were resident in bail hostels committed a further offence whilst on bail during (a) 1986 and (b)

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

  Immigration
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a statement concerning the outcome of his Department's pilot study into the use of DNA fingerprinting for the identification of genuine applicants for immigration into the United Kingdom; and if he will provide statistics evidencing the use of DNA testing techniques during the pilot study, and the results.

  Mr. Renton
  My right hon. Friend expects to place a copy of the report of the pilot trial in the Library shortly. The report will include statistical information about the outcome of DNA tests during the trial.

  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers arriving at Heathrow airport from abroad during 1987 were new arrivals to the United Kingdom; and how many were referred for medical examination on arrival.

  Mr. Renton
  Information about the total number of new arrivals is not available, but in 1987 14,387 passengers were given leave to enter for settlement on first arrival at Heathrow airport. In the 12 months 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987 34,708 passengers at Heathrow were referred by immigration officers for medical examination. This figure includes other categories in addition to settlement cases. The figures for 1987 are not yet available.

  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers are employed at Heathrow airport; and how many are medically qualified.

  Mr. Renton
  On 29 February 1988, 533 immigration officers were in post at Heathrow airport. As far as I am aware, none is medically qualified.

  Heathrow Airport (Medical Checks)
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the procedure for checking the medical condition of passengers arriving from abroad at Heathrow airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Immigration officers have the power to refer for medical examination any passenger subject to control who(a) intends to remain in the United Kingdom for more than six months; (b) mentions health or medical treatment as a reason for his visit; (c) appears not to be in good health; or (d) appears to be mentally or physically abnormal.

  Immigration officers also have discretion, which the immigration rules require them to exercise sparingly, to

  257
  refer for examination in any other case. Medical examinations are conducted by port medical inspectors, appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers on flight BA 222 from Islamabad which arrived at Heathrow airport on the evening of Monday 11 April were referred for medical examination; and how many received subsequent treatment.

  Mr. Renton
  Twenty-four, none of whom was referred for treatment as a result.

  Prisoners (Suicide)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female prisoners in police or court cells committed suicide between 1 April 1987 and 31 March; and how many of these were on remand.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There were no deaths in police or magistrates court cells, between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988, in which a coroner's inquest returned a verdict of suicide. There were three instances where an open verdict was returned. In a further case the inquest is pending. None of these prisoners was on remand.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female prisoners committed suicide between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988; and how many of these were on remand.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Verdicts of suicide have been returned on 31 inmates who died in prison department establishments in England and Wales between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988. Thirty of these were male, of whom 18 were on remand; the one female was also on remand. Inquests are yet to be held on eight other inmates (all male, four of whom were on remand) who die in prison department custody during the period in question and whose deaths are thought to have been suicide.

  South Africa (Trade Ban)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent action Her Majesty's Government have taken to secure the return to the United Kingdom of the four business men accused of smuggling goods to South Africa in breach of a trade ban, who broke their undertaking, given as a condition of bail, to return to the United Kingdom to face those charges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The United Kingdom has no extradition treaty with South Africa, and therefore no means of securing the return of these men. Bail of £400,000 has been forfeited.

  Civil Defence
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to review the state of Britain's civil defence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Civil defence arrangements are kept under continual review.

  Prisons (Contract Provision)
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government will reply to the fourth report of the Select Committee on Home Affairs on contract provision of prisons, published on 6 May 1987, HC 291.

  Mr. Douglas Hurd
  I have today written to my hon. Friend setting out the Government's response to the report. I have mentioned in particular my intentions, which I announced to the House on 30 March, at columns 1083–85, as part of the measures I am taking to deal with the current and projected growth of the prison population, to invite the private sector to make proposals for the faster provision of urban remand facilities and open prisons; to publish a Green Paper and set up a consultancy on the scope for involving the private sector in all aspects of the remand system; and to examine the possibility of the private sector providing and managing secure bail hostels. I am arranging for a copy of my letter to be placed in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  RUC (Chief Constable)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his reasons were for asserting recently that the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary was to meet his Garda counterpart.

  Mr. Tom King
  The Chief Constable of the RUC and the Commissioner of the Garda Siochana attended a meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference on 25 March.

  Sinn Fein
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any proposals to seek to limit Sinn Fein's access to the broadcasting media in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Stanley
  No, but all measures which might assist the combating of terrorism are kept under review.

  Woodland Grant Scheme
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what are the present rates of grant for planting conifers and broadleaves; whether he proposes to amend the woodland grant scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stamford and Spalding (Mr. Davies) on 23 March 1988, at columns 167–68.

  RUC Code of Conduct
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place a copy of the Royal Ulster Constabulary code of conduct in the Library.

  Mr. Tom King
  The guidance to officers entitled "Professional Policing Ethics" has been incorporated in chapter 1 of the RUC manual which is issued to each member of the force. The Chief Constable has agreed that
  259
  this guidance should be publicly available. At his request, therefore, l have today placed a copy in the Library of both Houses and copies are available in the Vote Office.

  Sea Fish Industry Authority
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the sum allocated to the Sea Fish Industry Authority for boat building grants in each year since 1984–85(a) in cash terms and (b) at 1987 prices.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is as follows:

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  £m

  £m

  £m

  £m

  Cash terms

  7·02

  8·91

  10·00

  15·10

  At 1987 prices

  7·97

  9·58

  10·42

  15·10

  Chernobyl (Press Conference)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which newspapers and other publications were invited to his Ministry's press conferences on Chernobyl on(a) 21 April 1987 and (b) 21 March 1988.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No press conferences on Chernobyl were held by my Ministry on 21 April 1987 and 21 March 1988. However, officials did give background briefings, as they do from time to time on various issues.

EMPLOYMENT

  Institute of Personnel Management (Exhibition)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the 75th anniversary of the work of the Institute of Personnel Management in the Upper Waiting Hall; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fowler
  The Institute of Personnel Management has invited me to open this exhibition on 23 May, and I have accepted.

  ACAS (North-West Branch)
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in how many cases the north-west branch of ACAS has been involved or instrumental in producing a settlement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I understand from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service that in 1987, the latest complete calendar year for which figures are available, ACAS north-west region was involved in conciliation in 245 disputes. A settlement, or progress towards a settlement, was achieved in 209 (85·3 per cent) of these cases.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has about the employment and industrial background of serving members of the north-west region ACAS board.

  Mr. Nicholls
  ACAS has no regional boards.

TRANSPORT

  Thrapston Bypass
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when construction work on the A 1 /M1 link Thrapston bypass will start.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Construction work on this section is programmed to start towards the end of this year.

  Concessionary Bus Fares
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has monitored changes arising in the provision of concessionary bus fares for children arising from the Transport Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  My Department sought information from local authorities on a voluntary basis in 1986–87 about their concessionary fares schemes. The information supplied is still being analysed. But the preliminary indications confirm that, as I stated in reply to the hon. Member's similar question on 20 July 1987, some local authorities have used the powers introduced under the Transport Act 1985 to provide for new or improved concessionary fares for children, but in most cases there has been no change.

  Public Service Vehicle Licence Test
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average waiting time for a public service vehicle licence test in(a) Scotland, (b) Orkney and (c) Shetland.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The average waiting time for public service vehicle driving tests in Scotland is five weeks. Arrangements for tests on Orkney and Shetland depend on the level and incidence of local demand. On average the waiting time for tests on the islands is about eight weeks.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications for public service vehicle tests were received in 1987 from(a) Scotland, (b) Orkney and (c) Shetland.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This information is not readily available. Some 2,711 test appointments were booked in Scotland in 1987. Four tests were conducted in Orkney and 16 in Shetland.

  Tourist Coaches
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the impact of tourist coaches on traffic movement on roads for which he is responsible near the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Responsibility for all roads in the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster rests with Westminster city council as local highway authority.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to mitigate the effects of tourist coaches in central London traffic.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Traffic management and the provision of parking for tourist coaches in central London
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  are primarily the responsibility of London borough councils as highway and planning authorities. We encourage local authorities and private bodies to improve existing facilities and provide additional ones.

  We issued a report on tourist coaches in London in 1986. Copies were placed in the Library of the House. More recently we have co-operated with the Bus and Coach Council, Westminster city council, the Metropolitan police and the London tourist board in developing a code of practice. This was launched on 2 March. It should lead to better routeing and parking of coaches.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current salaries and other remuneration of board members of London Regional Transport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Current annual salaries of the board members of London Regional Transport are as follows:

  Salary £

  Time Commitment

  Chairman

  Sir Keith Bright

  64,000

  Full time

  Full-time Members

  Dr. Tony Ridley

  60,000

  Full time

  Mr. John Telford Beasley

  55,000

  Mr. Michael Marsh

  60,000

  Part-time Members

  Sir Neil Shields

  18,000

  2 days per week

  Mr. Keith Brown

  5,500

  Half day per week

  Miss Eileen Cole

  Dr. Stephen Glaister

  Mrs. Helen Robinson

  Miss Patricia Steel

  Mr. Roy Thomas

  Mr. Marsh and Mr. Thomas take up their appointments on 18 April.

  The total remuneration of board members in 1986–87 is published in the corporation's annual report and accounts for that year, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The corresponding figures for 1987–88 will appear in that year's annual report and accounts, which will be published shortly.

  British Rail
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the Government's expenditure on public service obligation grant to British Rail during each year since 1979; and what was the percentage in each of the British Rail's regions.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The figures for central Government support for the British Railways Board taken from the final claims for grant in compensation for the public service obligation under EC regulation 1191/69 and section 3 of the Railways Act 1974 in respect of the years since 1979 are as follows:

  £ million

  1979

  485·1

  1980

  575·9

  1981

  749·2

  262

  £ million

  1982

  817·0

  1983

  853·6

  1984–85

  1,065·9

  1985–86

  820·0

  1986–87

  712·9

  1987–88

  794·7

  1984–85 is a 15-month period reflecting a change in the British Railways Board financial year. The figures for 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88 remain provisional; final claims have not been agreed. All figures are cash.

  The public service obligation grant is not paid on the basis of allocation between British Rail's regions and it is not possible to provide a percentage breakdown between regions.

  Road Signs
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the total public expenditure on road signs on trunk roads and motorways in England in each year since 1966 at outturn and 1986–87 prices.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This information is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  Rail Safety
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, separately for freight and passenger trains, all the reported occasions in the last 10 years when locomotive drivers have passed signals at danger; and in which of those incidents wheel slide has been a contributory factor.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Signals passed at danger by train drivers are reported to this Department only if a notifiable accident results. The number of collisions attributed to drivers passing signals at danger over the past 10 years is as follows. The numbers involving freight trains and passenger trains separately are not readily available, nor are the numbers in which wheel slide has been a contributory factor.

  Collisions caused by train crews passing signals at danger

  Year

  Number of collisions

  1978

  1

  1979

  4

  1980

  6

  1981

  7

  1982

  5

  1983

  7

  1984

  5

  1985

  4

  1986

  4

  1987

  17

  1 The figures for 1987 are provisional at this time.

  Motor Cyclists
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of serious leg injuries sustained by motor cyclists in road traffic accidents result in disability.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 29 March 1988]: Just before Easter, the hon. Gentleman asked what

  263
  proportion of serious leg injuries sustained by motor cyclists in road traffic accidents resulted in disabilities. The information was not available at the time. I said that I would write.

  A transport and road research laboratory study at a hospital accident and emergency department showed that about half of motor cyclists sustaining serious leg injuries were still suffering disability six months after their accident. As this study was at one hospital only, this figure may not be representative of the national situation.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Teaching Hospitals
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received representations about the funding of the teaching hospitals as part of the National Health Service review.

  Mr. Moore
  Yes, and we shall bear in mind the importance of medical teaching and research.

  West Middlesex University Hospital
  Sir Barney Hayhoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether the detailed plans for the redevelopment of the West Middlesex University hospital, set out in the Minister for Health's letter dated 5 March 1987 to the right hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth, remain generally valid; and if any amendments have been made;

  (2) when proposals for the redevelopment of the West Middlesex University hospital were submitted for approval by Her Majesty's Treasury and his Department; and when he expects that approval will be given;

  (3) what action he has taken with reference to the approval of phase one of the new West Middlesex University hospital since the debate on the National Health Service on 26 November 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  The plans outlined in my right hon. Friend's letter related to the total redevelopment of the hospital, which would cost some £47 million.

  The submission on the phase 1 redevelopment of the West Middlesex University hospital is under consideration. A revised submission was received in June 1987. Further information on the proposals has been required, some re-costing work has been necessary, and there have been detailed discussions with the health authority about the provision proposed for elderly mentally ill patients. Proposals of this magnitude will also require Treasury approval. Decisions will be taken as soon as possible.

  Detailed work on later phases—which will require separate submissions—is still in progress at the regional health authority.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people will receive reduced housing benefit as a result of the changes in social security in April;

  (2) how many people who lose entitlement to housing benefit in April are families with children.
  264
  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 18 December 1987 at columns 916–18. This continues to be the most up-to-date information available.

  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 1976 and 1978 occurred in National Health Service hospitals without consultant obstetric units; and how many were associated with anaesthesia.

  Mrs. Currie
  In 1976–78 there were 30 direct maternal deaths directly due to anaesthesia in England and Wales. There were also a further 10 deaths where the administration of anaesthesia made a contribution, and of these deaths five were direct and five were indirect maternal deaths. Information on where death occurred and the type of obstetric unit is not available.

  Westfield House, Bradford
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of repairing the damage done to the reception area of the Westfield house office of his Department in Bradford, including the replacement of reinforced glass screens; when the office will reopen; what arrangements have been made to refer callers to other DHSS offices in Bradford; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The cost of repairing the damage to the public area, including replacement of reinforced glass screens, has been estimated at between £1,700 and £2,000. It is hoped that the work will be completed in time for the office to reopen to the public by the beginning of the week commencing Monday 18 April. Callers are being directed to Bradford south local office which is situated about one mile away. A notice on the public entrance sets out the alternative arrangements, which have also been publicised in the local press. The public caller office at Shipley is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays and extra staff have been deployed to deal with inquiries.

  Performance-related Payments
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer of 12 April to the hon. Member for Wakefield, what policy objective is served by maintaining the confidentiality of performance-related payments to Health Service general managers.

  Mr. Newton
  It respects the position of those individuals who do not wish the awards they have received to be made public.

  Eye Tests and Dental Examinations
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of Tuesday 12 April, how many of the 206,524 eye tests and 652,660 dental examinations were undertaken free of charge in 1986; and for which additional categories charges will be levied under terms of the Health and Medicines Bill.

  Mr. Newton
  All the 206,524 sight tests and the 662,660 dental examinations carried out in Trent region in 1986 under the general optical and dental services were free of
  265
  charge. Once enacted the Health and Medicines Bill will permit charges to be made for dental examinations and will confine the NHS sight test to specified groups.

  As regards dental examinations, these will continue to be free for children and young people under 18, full-time students under 19, expectant and nursing mothers and people on a low income. This will account for nearly half of the dental examinations provided in the future.

  As regards sight testing, a free NHS sight test will continue for children under 16, full-time students under 19, the registered blind and partially-sighted people on a low income and also, as I announced in the House on 14 April 1988, those with diabetes or glaucoma who are referred by the doctor managing their condition. It is estimated that these groups account for over one third of sight tests.

  Single Payments (Sunderland)
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many outstanding claims for single payments there were at(a) Dunn house and (b) Phoenix house in Sunderland on 11 April.

  Mr. Portillo
  There were 3,118 single payment claims outstanding at Dunn house (Sunderland, North office) and approximately 7,000 at Phoenix house (Sunderland, South office) on 11 April 1988.

  Income Support (Sunderland)
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many assessments for income support were outstanding at(a) Dunn house and (b) Phoenix house in Sunderland on 11 April.

  Mr. Portillo
  The exercise to convert supplementary benefit payments to income support was completed in both these offices by 11 April.

  Richmond Terrace (Ministerial Cars)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that ministerial cars are not parked outside his Department's new headquarters in Richmond terrace in such a way as to cause an obstruction to those seeking to enter the building; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am not aware of a general problem resulting from the existing arrangements although current work to complete the building sometimes causes some necessary short-term disruption to Ministers, staff and visitors to the building.

  Income Support Regulations
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if Her Majesty's Government will take steps to ensure that any British citizens or overseas nationals, settled in the United Kingdom, who visit Pakistan for urgent family reasons arising from the recent explosion disaster in Pakistan are not penalised on their return under the provisions of the new social security regulations, relating to the effect on benefit entitlements of time spent outside the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Portillo
  The new Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 and the Income Support (General)266
  Amendment Regulations 1988 carry forward into income support the former rules for the payment of supplementary pensions and allowances during absences abroad. Under these rules certain people who are not required to be available for work for income support purposes and who temporarily go abroad remain entitled to income support for the first four weeks of absence. If the absence abroad results in a break in entitlement, that break will lead to the immediate loss of any transitional addition of less than £10, and to the loss, after eight weeks, of transitional additions of £10 or more. In the case of certain unemployed couples, breaks in entitlement of eight weeks or more will lead to the loss of the higher (£15) earnings disregard.

  If a husband and wife go abroad and the wife is widowed while in Pakistan she will be entitled to widow's payment if she returns to the United Kingdom within four weeks of her husband's death.

  We have no plans to change these rules.

  Social Security Provisions
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will arrange for British citizens or overseas nationals settled in the United Kingdom, who are dependent on benefit, to be able to apply for help towards their expenses to travel to Pakistan for urgent family reasons, arising from the recent explosion disaster in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  It would be inappropriate to make provision in this way since the social security system is not, and was not previously, designed for this purpose.

  Foreign Visitors (Medical Examinations)
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the variety of medical conditions found amongst those passengers who arrived at Heathrow airport during 1987 and were referred for examination on arrival; and how many were refused entry on medical grounds.

  Mrs. Currie
  The principal port medical officer at Heathrow has listed the following medical conditions as found amongst passengers arriving at Heathrow airport between 1 April 1986 and 31 March 1987 referred to the health control unit:

  Tuberculosis

  Malaria

  Pyrexia of unknown origin

  Hepatitis

  Food poisoning

  Dysentery

  Diarrhoea

  Typhoid

  Meningitis

  Salmonella

  Gastroenteritis

  Glandular fever

  Bornholm's Disease

  Chicken pox

  Shingles

  Cardiac Arrest/Failure

  Renal Colic/Failure

  Accidents

  Drug Abuse

  Obstetric Emergency

  Attempted Suicide

  Abdominal Pain

  Urine Retention

  Non Hodgkins Lymphoma

  267

  Anxiety State

  Malnutrition

  Hypoglycaemia

  Tachycardia

  Gastritis

  Chest Pains

  Appendicitis

  Cancer

  Neuritis

  Acute Asthmatic Attack

  Acute Allergic Condition

  Emphysema

  Tonsillitis

  Dehydration

  Acute Back Pain

  Mental Illness

  In 1987, the number of those refused entry on medical grounds at Heathrow airport was 41.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will redistribute social fund budgets between the local office at Liverpool, West Derby, and Liverpool, Edge Hill.

  Mr. Scott
  Following the announcement of social fund allocations in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 4 November 1987, at columns 774–81, the local office at Liverpool, Edge Hill has assumed from the local office at Liverpool, West Derby the responsibility of serving the residents of the postal district Liverpool 13. Accordingly, the allocation to Liverpool, West Derby has been reduced proportionately and the money reallocated to Liverpool, Edge Hill. The new allocations are as follows:

  Grants budget £

  Loans budget £

  Liverpool, West Derby

  70,780

  167,504

  Liverpool, Edge Hill

  258,534

  714,113

  Income Support
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether women who have left the marital home for fear of violence will be excluded from income support where their share of the marital home exceeds £6,000; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  It is not our policy to deny income support to the partner who has left the marital home in the event of marital breakdown simply because of the capital value of her or his share in the home. We shall propose amending regulations as soon as possible so as to be able to disregard the person's interest in the property until its value can be realised. In the interim, arrangements have been made to pay such claimants the amounts that they would have received had income support been payable.

  National Health Service Administrators
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish all annual figures available to him on the numbers and ratio of administrators to total staff in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 24 February 1988]: Such information as is available is shown in the table.
  268

  30 September: England1

  Wholetime Equivalents2

  Year

  Administrative and Clerical3

  Total Directly Employed4

  Administrative and clerical as percentage of tatal directly employed5

  1971

  70,400

  629,500

  11·2

  1972

  74,300

  655,000

  11·3

  1973

  77,100

  664,100

  11·6

  1974

  82,800

  675,800

  12·2

  1975

  91,900

  719,500

  12·8

  1976

  98,500

  744,400

  13·2

  1977

  99,000

  749,500

  13·2

  1978

  100,300

  761,500

  13·2

  1979

  103,000

  775,300

  13·3

  1980

  105,400

  793,800

  13·3

  1981

  108,800

  824,400

  13·2

  1982

  108,800

  830,600

  13·1

  1983

  110,000

  829,400

  13·3

  1984

  110,300

  819,300

  13·5

  1985

  111,000

  812,900

  13·7

  1986

  111,400

  801,600

  13·9

  1 Because of the 1974 NHS reorganisation figures prior to 1974 are not consistent with those for 1974 and later years.

  2 Figures are not independently rounded to the nearest (100) one hundred wholetime equivalents.

  3 Includes general managers.

  4 Includes medical and dental locums and nursing and midwifery agency staff. Not adjusted to take account of the reduction in nurses working hours (from 40 to 37·5 per week) during 1980–81. Reduction in total staff since 1983 is mainly due to effects of competitive tendering of ancillary staff services.

  5 Percentages calculated on unrounded figures.

ENVIRONMENT

  Lower Don Valley
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what type of partnership was recommended for the regeneration of the Lower Don Valley in the Coopers and Lybrand report, jointly sponsored by local and central government.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Coopers and Lybrand report, which was jointly sponsored by the Government, local business and Sheffield city council, considered a range of management mechanisms including an urban development corporation. The preferred option was for an urban regeneration project, but this could not guarantee the necessary resources to secure the regeneration of the lower Don Valley. An urban development corporation would bring that certainty.

  Water (Nitrate Content)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases have been reported in the past 12 months in the Nottingham area of water containing nitrate in excess of the European Economic Council recommended levels.

  Mr. Moynihan
  One water supply serving the Hucknall area of Nottingham has marginally exceeded the EC drinking water directive limit for nitrate during the last 12 months. Although this level of nitrate is not considered to be a public health risk, the water authority is now drawing up a programme of action which will ensure compliance with the directive.

  Water Quality
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the maximum penalty for non-compliance with European Community law relevant to water quality standards in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Moynihan
  European Community measures relevant to water quality standards are contained in directives which are implemented in member states through national legislation. In the United Kingdom the individual laws contain their own penalty provisions.

  British Standards Institution
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to implement the recommendations of the Bennett committee published in 1979 in respect of the separation of the standards-making function of the British Standards Institution and procedures for the certification of innovative products.

  Mr. Trippier
  Following consideration of the Bennett report, the Government concluded in 1980 that the Agrement Board (now the British Board of Agrement), which issues certificates primarily for innovative building products, should remains independent. That remain our view.

  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the overlap between the roles of the British Board of Agrément and the British Standards Institution.

  Mr. Trippier
  Under an agreement reached between the chairman of the BSI and the chairman of the BBA in April 1983, the BBA offers"to assess materials, products, systems and techniques for Agrément Certification when there is no relevant British Standard or, if a relevant British Standard exists, when the subject of the certificate:

  (a) contains some innovative element of manufacture or use and has a level of performance in use at least as good as that of the material, product, system or technique complying with the British Standard, or

  (b) has a performance in use which is substantially better than that of the material, product, system or technique complying with the British Standard."

  The agreement goes on to say that the
  "BBA will not renew or maintain existing Agrément Certificates once a product or system is fully covered by amendments or revision of existing British Standard specifications or by new British Standard specifications."

  A joint BSI/BBA liaison committee meets regularly, under an independent chairman, to resolve any problems as they arise.

  Unused Sites
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the unused sites owned by public bodies within the district of Corby, together with their owners and sizes in acres.

  Mr. Trippier
  Registers of public bodies' land which is unused or underused are compiled and maintained by the Secretary of State under section 95 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. The following sites are currently entered on the register for the district of Corby:270

  Corby District Council

  Owner/location

  Size (in acres)

  British Steel Corporation

  Iron and Steelworks, Corby works

  1·4

  Timber stores road one, Corby works

  1·2

  Ex-steelworks buildings, Corby works

  5·6

  Training centre, Corby works

  2·6

  Northamptonshire County Council

  Bears lane junction, Weldon

  1·4

  Oakley road roundabout, Corby

  2·4

  Rear of Tresham college, Corby

  2·9

  Rowlett road, Corby

  12·5

  Oakley road roundabout, Corby

  3·0

  Part of Earlstrees playing field, Corby

  8·8

  Commission for the New Towns

  Gretton brook road, Corby

  8·9

  Causeway road, Corby

  3·4

  Causeway road, Corby

  6·9

  Causeway road, Corby

  3·7

  Land off Macadam road, Corby

  11·7

  Gretton brook road, Corby

  8·6

  Brunel road, Corby

  5·2

  Hunters road, Weldon

  1·4

  Land in Great Oakley village

  27·2

  Land in Great Oakley village

  6·1

  George street, Corby

  1·2

  Pywell road, Corby

  2·0

  Pywell road, Corby

  1·4

  Shelton road, Corby

  1·4

  Shelton road, Corby

  4·5

  Shelton road, Corby

  3·2

  Sondes road, Corby

  6·7

  Sondes road, Corby

  9·7

  Sondes road, Corby

  7·1

  Shelton road, Corby

  5·0

  Shelton road, Corby

  11·8

  Saxon way east, Oakley Hay

  6·3

  Saxon way east, Oakley Hay

  2·8

  Saxon way east, Oakley Hay

  2·4

  Sedge close, Oakley Hay

  4·1

  Sedge close, Oakley Hay

  5·4

  Pywell road, Corby

  2·0

  Pywell road, Corby

  2·4

  Kettering road roundabout, Oakley Hay

  1·2

  Corby District Council

  Orchard close, Weldon

  1·0

  Church street, Weldon

  2·6

  Southfield road, Gretton

  1·0

  Rockingham road, Corby

  1·6

  Weldon road, Corby

  5·0

  Geddington road, Corby

  1·0

  Ennerdale road, Corby

  6·5

  Saxon way, Oakley Hay

  41·6

  "The heavy end", Weldon road, Corby

  201·4

  Longhills slag bank site, Weldon

  22·5

  Ex-British steel site, Weldon road, Corby

  24·8

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  Willow brook road, Corby

  4·0

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the unused sites owned by public bodies within the district of East Northamptonshire, together with their owners and sizes in acres.

  Mr. Trippier
  Registers of public bodies' land which is unused or underused are compiled and maintained by the Secretary of State under section 95 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. The following sites are currently entered on the register for the district of East Northamptonshire:
  271

  East Northamptonshire district

  Owner/location

  Size (in acres)

  Anglian water authority

  Northampton road, Rushden

  30·5

  Kings meadow lane, Higham Ferrers

  15·8

  Barnwell road, Oundle

  1·2

  Stanwick road, Raunds

  3·5

  British rail

  Ex-station site, King's Cliffe

  11·0

  Ex-branch line north of Fineshade

  1·5

  Ex-branch line north east of Fineshade

  4·4

  Ex-branch line east of Fineshade

  10·7

  Ex-branch line south east of Fineshade

  5·0

  Ex-branch line north west of King's Cliffe

  2·2

  Ex-branch line north east of King's Cliffe

  8·5

  Nassington goods yard

  6·2

  British steel corporation

  Kettering road, Islip

  26·7

  Northamptonshire county council

  Ex-railway land, Rushden

  22·0

  Ex-station yard, Higham Ferrers

  2·0

  Melloway school site, Keats way, Rushden

  2·9

  East Northants district council

  Newton road, Rushden

  17·0

  Bedford road, Rushden

  10·4

  Ditchford lane, Rushden

  31·7

  Midland road, Thrapston

  3·9

  Ashton road, Oundle

  2·9

  Wood lane, King's Cliffe

  6·3

  Eastfields, upper Queen street, Rushden

  6·6

  East midlands electricity board

  Allan road, Irthlingborough

  8·5

  Colleyweston road, King's Cliffe

  1·6

  Aldwincle road, Islip

  5·7

  Oxford regional health authority

  Rushden hospital, Wymington road, Rushden

  1·5

  Rushden hospital, Wymington road, Rushden

  3·5

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ban the use of chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We are in negotiation with our partners in the European Community on a proposed regulation that will bring into force the reductions in consumption of chlorofluorocarbons required by the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

  Thistlebrook Caravan Site
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the effect of the Appeal Court's judgment that the Thistlebrook caravan site does not meet the requirements of the Caravan Sites Act 1986 on(a) the London borough of Greenwich and (b) local authorities generally; and what steps he is taking to clarify the situation.

  Mrs. Roe
  We have noted the Court of Appeal's Judgment in Greenwich LBC v. Powell. I understand that the London borough of Greenwich has made application to appeal. We must now await the outcome of that application.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each urban development corporation, the amount of money attracted in investment commitments the amount of public money spent.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information is as follows:

  English urban development corporations

  Grant-in-aid (cumulative to 31 March 1988) £ million

  Estimated private sector investment committed £ million

  Black country Development Corporation

  2

  0·2

  London docklands Development Corporation

  390

  13,000

  Merseyside Development Corporation

  168

  68

  Teesside Development Corporation

  5

  2

  Trafford park Development Corporation

  10

  5

  Tyne and Wear Development Corporation

  4

  5

  Note: Figures over £½ million shown to nearest £ million.

  1 (approx).

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each urban development corporation the amount of loans outstanding.

  Mr. Trippier
  The only English urban development corporation with outstanding borrowing at present is Merseyside development corporation, amounting to £785,000.

  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken, or plans to take, to ensure that motorists are given full information on the availability of lead-free petrol at filling stations in their areas.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, North (Sir T. Skeet) on 22 March at column 58.

  Toad Tunnels
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many additional toad tunnels have been constructed since May 1987.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I am pleased to report the recent construction of a further toad tunnel at Stamford Bridge, near York.

  London Residuary Body
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his reply of 13 January,Official Report, column 277, if he will state the total amount owed to the London residuary body by Government Departments, what are the subjects of the discussions between the London residuary body about his Department.

  Mr. Chope
  The total amount owed to the London residuary body (LRB) by Government Departments will not be known until all final audited claims for grants and subsidies have been submitted by the LRB to the
  273
  appropriate Departments. Discussions between Departments and the LRB are continuing and good progress towards settlements is being made.

  My Department has regular meetings with the LRB to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Hampstead Heath
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his reasons for agreeing to the transfer of Hampstead heath to the charge of the City of London corporation.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has not yet reached a conclusion on the proposal submitted on 30 March by the London residuary body that its functions, properties, rights and liabilities in respect of Hampstead heath be transferred to the corporation of the City of London.

  Pakistan (Visits)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if Her Majesty's Government will provide support for local authorities seeking to assist British citizens, or overseas nationals, settled in the United Kingdom, who are in financial hardship, wishing to visit Pakistan for urgent family reasons arising from the recent explosion disaster in that country; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The main means of central Government support for local authorities is by way of block grant, which is in aid of their services generally. It is entirely for local authorities to decide what provision to make for particular activities.

  Local Valuation Panel Offices (Staffing)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take on the recommendations made by Messrs Ernst and Whinney, following its review of the staffing and procedures of local valuation panel officers.

  Mr. Chope
  I have today placed in the Libraries of the House a summary of the recommendations of the Ernst and Whinney report and the Government's proposals for action on them.

  The report made a number of useful recommendations for improving administrative efficiency in local valuation panel offices and making more efficient use of staff. The Government accept the majority of these recommendations. Work is already in hand on the introduction of computer systems and a review of staffing will follow.

  Rate Increases
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to the answer given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Chope), on 13 April,Official Report, column 127, he will explain how the figure for local rate increases is made up; and if he will list in ascending order by class of authority the local rate poundages for all counties, boroughs and districts in England.

  Mr. Chope
  The local rate for a district or borough is made up from the rate charged by the district itself 274
  together with the average of parish precepts and special district expenses and precepts charged by certain other specialised bodies such as waste disposal authorities. It does not include the precepts charged by higher tier authorities, that is, county councils in the shires, police, fire and civil defence and transport authorities in metropolitan areas and London, and the Inner London education authority. A ranked list of the available information on local rates poundages in 1988–89 for districts and boroughs and precepts for county councils by class of authority is as follows.

  Shire County Precepts 1988–89

  P

  Hereford & Worcester

  185·0

  Norfolk

  190·9

  Kent

  192·0

  West Sussex

  192·0

  Berkshire

  193·6

  Shropshire

  200·0

  Hampshire

  200·3

  Surrey

  202·7

  Dorset

  203·0

  Lincolnshire

  204·0

  Suffolk

  204·0

  Cornwall

  207·7

  Devon

  209·8

  Staffordshire

  215·0

  Cambridgeshire

  216·0

  North Yorkshire

  217·0

  East Sussex

  217·1

  Gloucestershire

  217·3

  Wiltshire

  219·3

  Leicestershire

  221·2

  Somerset

  224·0

  Warwickshire

  227·1

  Isle of Wight

  227·2

  Buckinghamshire

  227·7

  Northamptonshire

  229·0

  Cheshire

  232·0

  Lancashire

  234·0

  Essex

  235·0

  Oxfordshire

  238·6

  Hertfordshire

  240·4

  Northumberland

  1244·5

  Durham

  246·0

  Bedfordshire

  246·4

  Avon

  246·5

  Nottinghamshire

  253·0

  Cumbria

  260·0

  Humberside

  261·0

  Cleveland

  282·0

  Derbyshire

  297·5

  1 includes Northumbria Police Authority precept

  London boroughs local rates 1988–89

  P

  City of London

  67·1

  Inner London

  Kensington and Chelsea

  4·2

  Wandsworth

  36·1

  Westminster

  51·0

  Islington

  89·7

  Lambeth

  92·3

  Southwark

  101·0

  Camden

  117·0

  Tower Hamlets

  123·2

  Lewisham

  131·8

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  133·3

  Hackney

  134·7

  Greenwich

  136·0

  275

  P

  Outer London

  Redbridge

  130·8

  Croydon

  136·9

  Bromley

  140·9

  Merton

  151·0

  Havering

  157·4

  Ealing

  167·0

  Bexley

  168·3

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  169·4

  Harrow

  173·4

  Barnet

  177·6

  Sutton

  178·9

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  180·0

  Barking and Dagenham

  181·4

  Enfield

  185·9

  Hillingdon

  190·7

  Waltham Forest

  199·1

  Haringey

  214·7

  Hounslow

  221·1

  Brent

  249·0

  Newham

  259·7

  Metropolitan districts local rates 1988–89

  P

  Solihull

  170·7

  Trafford

  201·2

  Stockport

  209·6

  Dudley

  211·0

  Leeds

  212·1

  Sefton

  217·8

  Wolverhampton

  218·3

  Bolton

  218·8

  Sandwell

  219·6

  Birmingham

  220·3

  Oldham

  239·0

  Walsall

  239·5

  Wirral

  242·7

  Bury

  244·7

  Coventry

  250·6

  St. Helens

  253·2

  Gateshead

  254·6

  South Tyneside

  254·6

  Salford

  257·6

  Barnsley

  261·1

  Wakefield

  262·3

  Kirklees

  263·0

  Rotherham

  263·7

  Doncaster

  264·5

  Sunderland

  264·6

  Knowsley

  265·9

  Liverpool

  268·2

  Tameside

  268·5

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  270·0

  Wigan

  270·2

  Bradford

  277·6

  Rochdale

  281·6

  Calderdale

  283·9

  Manchester

  285·6

  North Tyneside

  289·8

  Sheffield

  290·4

  Shire Districts local rates 1988–89

  P

  Spelthorne

  4·2

  Hove

  4·9

  Melton

  5·8

  Bath

  7·0

  Gillingham

  7·0

  Vale of White Horse

  9·2

  Basingstoke and Deane

  9·7

  Rochester on Medway

  10·2

  Slough

  10·3

  Cherwell

  11·9

  276

  P

  East Northampton

  12·2

  Wansdyke

  12·4

  Aylesbury Vale

  12·7

  South Northampton

  13·0

  Salisbury

  13·0

  East Cambridgeshire

  13·5

  South Cambridgeshire

  14·1

  Purbeck

  14·3

  Bracknell

  14·8

  York

  14·8

  Newbury

  15·1

  Wycombe

  15·6

  Hereford

  15·8

  West Dorset

  15·9

  Exeter

  16·0

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  16·1

  Huntingdonshire

  16·1

  South Buckinghamshire

  16·4

  South Herefordshire

  16·4

  Kingswood

  16·5

  Tewkesbury

  16·7

  West Oxfordshire

  16·7

  Colchester

  16·8

  South Oxfordshire

  16·9

  Runnymede

  17·0

  North Dorset

  17·1

  Tandridge

  17·6

  Charnwood

  18·2

  North Norfolk

  18·5

  Bridgnorth

  18·6

  South Kesteven

  18·7

  St. Edmundsbury

  18·7

  Brentwood

  18·9

  Maldon

  18·9

  Cotswold

  18·9

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  18·9

  Poole

  19·0

  Castle Point

  19·0

  Wellingborough

  19·0

  Taunton Deane

  19·0

  Tamworth

  19·0

  Local rates 1988–89

  P

  East Devon

  19·1

  Blaby

  19·3

  South Shropshire

  19·4

  South Lakeland

  19·5

  Forest Heath

  19·5

  Chelmsford

  19·6

  Cheltenham

  19·7

  Rutland

  19·9

  Mendip

  19·9

  Chiltern

  20·1

  Chichester

  20·1

  Bromsgrove

  20·2

  Stafford

  20·2

  Breckland

  20·6

  Guildford

  20·6

  Kennet

  20·6

  Surrey Heath

  20·7

  South Staffordshire

  20·8

  Teesdale

  20·9

  Southend on Sea

  21·0

  Dacorum

  21·0

  Broadland

  21·0

  Fenland

  21·1

  Stratford-on-Avon

  21·2

  Erewash

  21·3

  Plymouth

  21·5

  Maidstone

  21·5

  Oadby and Wigston

  21·5

  Christchurch

  21·6

  Uttlesford

  21·6

  Test Valley

  21·6

  277

  P

  West Somerset

  21·6

  Macclesfield

  21·8

  Gloucester

  22·0

  Boston

  22·0

  South Norfolk

  22·2

  Kings Lynn/West Norfolk

  22·2

  Broxbourne

  22·3

  North Bedfordshire

  22·4

  Epping Forest

  22·5

  Ryedale

  22·5

  Worthing

  22·5

  Lichfield

  22·6

  Wokingham

  22·7

  Restormel

  22·7

  Eden

  22·7

  Lewes

  22·8

  Sedgemoor

  22·9

  Mole Valley

  22·9

  Horsham

  22·9

  Weymouth and Portland

  23·0

  Braintree

  23·0

  Babergh

  23·0

  East Staffordshire

  23·2

  Cambridge

  23·5

  Rother

  23·5

  Eastleigh

  23·5

  Gosport

  23·5

  Mid Bedfordshire

  23·8

  Caradon

  23·8

  Alnwick

  23·8

  Havant

  24·1

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  24·2

  South Somerset

  24·2

  North Shropshire

  24·5

  Kettering

  24·6

  Northavon

  24·7

  Ashford

  24·7

  Amber Valley

  24·8

  Derby

  25·0

  Bournemouth

  25·0

  Tendring

  25·0

  Forest of Dean

  25·0

  Rushmoor

  25·0

  Glanford

  25·0

  Wyre

  25·0

  Broxtowe

  25·0

  Mid Devon

  25·1

  Craven

  25·1

  Dover

  25·2

  Warwick

  25·2

  West Devon

  25·3

  Leominster

  25·3

  Wavenley

  25·3

  Hambleton

  25·4

  Elmbridge

  25·4

  Dartford

  25·5

  Corby

  25·5

  South Hams

  25·6

  Daventry

  25·6

  North Cornwall

  25·7

  West Wiltshire

  25·8

  East Hertfordshire

  25·9

  Copeland

  26·0

  Hastings

  26·0

  Southampton

  26·0

  Allerdale

  26·1

  Winchester

  26·2

  Holderness

  26·2

  Mid Suffolk

  26·2

  South Derbyshire

  26·3

  Gravesham

  26·3

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  26·3

  Rugby

  26·3

  Rochford

  26·5

  St. Albans

  26·5

  Arun

  26·5

  Luton

  26·6

  278

  P

  Eastbourne

  26·6

  Waverley

  26·6

  Teignbridge

  26·7

  East Dorset

  26·7

  Penwith

  26·8

  Tunbridge Wells

  26·8

  North Kesteven

  26·8

  Woodspring

  26·9

  North Devon

  26·9

  East Hampshire

  26·9

  Lancaster

  27·0

  Gedling

  27·2

  Carrick

  27·3

  Torridge

  27·3

  Wealden

  27·3

  Medina

  27·3

  South Holland

  27·4

  Tynedale

  27·4

  South Bedfordshire

  17·7

  Richmondshire

  27·7

  Congleton

  27·8

  Rushcliffe

  27·8

  Reading

  28·0

  Fareham

  28·0

  East Lindsey

  28·1

  Harhorough

  28·2

  West Lancashire

  28·6

  North Hertfordshire

  28·7

  Canterbury

  28·7

  Three Rivers

  28·9

  Great Grimsby

  29·0

  Nottingham

  29·0

  Stoke-on-Trent

  29·0

  Woking

  29·0

  Derbyshire Dales

  29·1

  Sevenoaks

  29·1

  Reigate and Banstead

  29·1

  Swale

  29·2

  South Ribble

  29·2

  New Forest

  29·3

  Milton Keynes

  29·6

  Chester

  29·6

  Kerrier

  29·6

  Beverley

  29·7

  Fylde

  29·7

  Cannock Chase

  29·9

  Brighton

  30·0

  Portsmouth

  30·0

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  30·0

  Chorley

  30·1

  Worcester

  30·2

  Wychavon

  30·3

  Newcastle under Lyme

  30·3

  Stroud

  30·4

  Malvern Hills

  30·4

  Great Yarmouth

  30·5

  Oswestry

  30·5

  Carlisle

  30·8

  Watford

  30·9

  Lincoln

  31·0

  Hertsmere

  31·1

  Selby

  31·2

  Newark and Sherwood

  31·3

  Ellesmere and Neston

  31·5

  Vale Royal

  31·5

  West Lindsey

  31·7

  Scarborough

  31·8

  Tonbridge and Malling

  31·9

  Middlesbrough

  32·2

  Ribble Valley

  32·7

  Thanet

  32·8

  North Wiltshire

  33·0

  Mid Sussex

  33·1

  Ashfield

  33·2

  Halton

  33·5

  Castle Morpeth

  33·5

  Boothferry

  33·8

  279

  P

  Crewe and Nantwich

  33·9

  Epsom and Ewell

  33·9

  Torbay

  34·5

  Northampton

  34·6

  Chesterfield

  34·7

  South Wight

  34·9

  Warrington

  35·1

  Barrow in Furness

  35·2

  North West Leicester

  35·7

  High Peak

  35·8

  Cleethorpes

  35·8

  Mansfield

  36·0

  Hart

  36·3

  Redditch

  36·5

  Suffolk Coastal

  36·6

  Peterborough

  37·0

  Stockton on Tees

  37·2

  Shepway

  37·3

  Wyre Forest

  37·4

  Welwyn Hatfield

  38·5

  Blackpool

  38·5

  Hartlepool

  40·0

  Harrogate

  40·1

  The Wrekin

  40·2

  Ipswich

  40·5

  Stevenage

  41·3

  Oxford

  41·6

  Bassetlaw

  43·2

  Chester le Street

  43·8

  Hyndburn

  43·9

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  44·1

  Scunthorpe

  45·0

  Preston

  45·1

  Norwich

  45·5

  East Yorkshire

  46·0

  North East Derbyshire

  46·2

  North Warwickshire

  46·3

  Thurrock

  46·9

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  47·0

  Blackburn

  47·0

  Adur

  47·3

  Bristol

  47·4

  Crawley

  48·0

  Langbaurgh-on-Tees

  48·4

  Durham

  49·0

  Basildon

  49·7

  280

  P

  Bolsover

  50·2

  Thamesdown

  51·1

  Pendle

  51·5

  Leicester

  52·3

  Blyth Valley

  54·0

  Rossendale

  54·2

  Easington

  55·5

  Wansbeck

  58·0

  Darlington

  62·2

  Burnley

  63·0

  Derwentside

  64·3

  Sedgefield

  66·6

  Wear Valley

  66·7

  Harlow

  92·9

  Peanuts
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of fatalities caused to the British wild bird population by aflatoxin poisoning; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]: I am informed by the Government's advisers on nature conservation matters, the Nature Conservancy Council, that there is no evidence of fatalities caused to the British wild bird population by aflatoxin poisoning.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that aflatoxin-poisoned peanuts are not sold for use as wild bird food; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 12 April 1988]: Controls which exist for levels of contaminants in feeding-stuffs for domesticated animals and birds do not cover materials fed to wild birds. However, officials at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have been in contact with the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) on this matter. The PFMA has recommended all its member companies not to use these peanuts—or any other material similarly contaminated—for feeding to wild birds or for any other purpose.