Written Answers of 20 April 1988

WALES

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to increase capacity in health authority laboratories in Wales which handle cervical cancer smear tests; how many additional laboratory staff have been employed in each of the Welsh district health authorities to deal with cervical cancer smear tests in the past 12 months; what are the procedures for dealing with abnormal cervical cancer smear results; what private clinics in Wales give cervical cancer smear tests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The cervical cytology screening service is the responsibility of individual district health authorities. A total of £800,000 a year of central funds has been allocated to authorities in Wales to help them improve their cervical screening services. Laboratory staff and equipment are two of the uses to which these funds have been put.

  Figures for the number of laboratory staff employed in 1987 are not yet available, but I shall write to the hon. Gentleman when they are to hand.

  The procedure for dealing with abnormal cervical smear test results is a matter of operational policy for district health authorities to determine in the light of guidance given in Welsh Office circular WHC(86)31.

  Information is not held centrally on smear tests in private clinics.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the average waiting time for the results of cervical cancer smear tests for each of the Welsh district health authorities for 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The Welsh Office is monitoring the cervical cytology screening service on an annual basis. The most recent information relates to the quarter ended 31 March 1987 and was given to the hon. Gentleman in my letter to him of 11 January 1988. As I also explained in that letter, the waiting times for results during the first quarter of 1987 do not reflect the impact of developments since then including the recurring allocation of the additional £400,000 to health authorities in 1987–88. Authorities have been asked to provide up-to-date information on the time taken to notify results in connection with the annual review of their performance which will take place in the summer.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with British Rail about links from the Channel tunnel to Wales; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend discussed the Channel tunnel with the chairman of British Rail on 5 February. He underlined the importance to Wales of good links for passengers and freight.

ENERGY

  Magnox Reactors
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the current progress of the long-term safety reviews for the Magnox nuclear reactor programme.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The CEGB has completed its reviews of Bradwell and Berkeley Magnox stations and the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has published its findings of the assessments of these reviews. Copies of the reports have been placed in the Library of the House. The SSEB has nearly completed its review of Hunterston A Magnox station and the HSE expects to publish NII's findings of the assessment later this year. Assessments are in hand for the other Magnox stations.

  Nuclear Safety
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the agreement signed on 31 March between the Health and Safety Executive and the Soviet Atomic Energy Authorities on mutual co-operation on nuclear safety matters, in so far as it affects the pursuit of his departmental responsibilities.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  On 31 March 1988 the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate initialled proposals for an arrangement with the state committee on the supervision of nuclear power safety of the USSR on the exchange of information on nuclear safety matters. I welcome these as a further sign of international co-operation on nuclear safety.

  Wind Farms
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to evaluate the prospects for public acceptability of the three wind farms announced by his Department at the recent British Wind Energy Association conference in London.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  One of the main objectives of the wind research and development programme to be carried out in collaboration between my Department and the Central Electricity Generating Board is to evaluate the public acceptability of wind farms.

  Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are(a) the current levels of support and (b) the levels of support, given by his Department each year since 1970, towards research on decommissioning techniques for advanced gas-cooled reactors; and through which organisations research support has been given.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Research support from the Department of Energy into decommissioning techniques is channelled through UKAEA R and D programmes. The
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  Department supports generic research into decommissioning techniques of general applicability to nuclear plant. Funding is estimated at £0·71 million in 1987–88, and was £0·60 million in 1986–87 and £0·30 million in 1985–86. This work is not related to specific reactor types. Support for research, development and operational expenditure relating to the demonstration decommissioning of the Windscale advanced gas-cooled reactor in 1987–88 is estimated at £2·4 million, and was £1·9 million in 1986–87 and £3·7 million in 1985–86. Total support for the project to date is estimated at £15 million.

  Comparable figures for earlier years are not readily available.

PRIME MINISTER

  Turkey
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to Turkey, she took the opportunity to discuss the prospects of the sale of United Kingdom nuclear reactors to Turkey.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to Turkey, she raised the matter of the imprisonment of political dissidents, peace campaigners and trades unionists in Turkey.

  The Prime Minister
  No. Since Mr. Ozal's election in 1983, there have been substantial improvements in human rights in Turkey.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Greenham Common
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the estimated cost of the prosecution case against Jean Hutchinson and Georgina Smith in which the Greenham Common byelaws were found invalid; what is the estimated cost of the appeal against this decision; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  This prosecution was commenced prior to 1 October 1986 when the Crown Prosecution Service was formed and took over the conduct of the case. The information to assess the costs incurred prior to 1 October is no readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Since 1 October 1986 the legal fees expended to date are approximately £3,600. I am unable to estimate the future costs of the case, which is at present the subject of an appeal.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will state the detailed criteria governing eligibility for legal aid.

  The Attorney-General
  The precise criteria are set out in the Legal Aid Acts 1974 and 1982 and regulations made under them. Broadly the arrangements are as follows (the financial limits were revised on 11 April):

  Civil Legal Aid

  The applicant must have reasonable grounds for taking or defending the proceedings. His disposable income must not
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  exceed £5,765 a year and his disposable capital must not exceed £5,000, or he must be in receipt of income support. Decisions on granting civil legal aid in individual cases are made by the legal aid administration of the Law Society.

  Legal Aid for Criminal Proceedings

  It must be in the interests of justice for the applicant to receive legal aid and, having regard to his disposable income and capital, his resources must be such that he requires assistance in meeting his costs. Decisions on the granting of criminal legal aid and assessment of contributions in individual cases are made by the court.

  Advice and Assistance

  The applicant's disposable income must not exceed £122 a week or he must be in receipt of income support or family credit. For advice and assistance his disposable capital must not exceed £850. For assistance by way of representation (ABWOR), the applicant's disposable capital must not exceed £3,000, or he must be in receipt of income support. Decisions on the approval of ABWOR in individual cases are made by the legal aid administration of the Law Society. Legal advice and assistance is available from a solicitor without prior authorisation.

  If the hon. Member has a particular problem in mind perhaps he would care to write to the Lord Chancellor.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  South Africa
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding the export of Land Rovers to South Africa for use by the South African military and police.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Military and paramilitary versions of the Land Rover are subject to export licensing. Any application to export such vehicles to South Africa would be likely to be refused. However, the basic Land Rover, which has a widespread civilian and commercial use in South Africa, can be freely exported. To prohibit their export would be unreasonable interference with normal civil trade with South Africa.

  Northern Region
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the recommendations so far agreed of the seven sector working parties established in the northern region of his Department; and if he will place in the Library the working papers of those working parties.

  Mr. Atkins
  The sector working groups do not make recommendations. The groups were formed to facilitate the informal exchange of ideas between industrialist and academic members on such issues as technology and training. They are not Government bodies or responsible to my Department and it is therefore not appropriate to place their working papers in the Library.

  Business Improvement Services Scheme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the annual expenditure in each British standard region on grants under the business improvement services grant scheme; what it was for the last half year; what was the share in the national total of such expenditures; what steps are being taken in the northern region to promote this grant scheme; and what liaison
  435
  arrangements exist between the Tyne and Wear and Teesside urban development corporations in the administration of this scheme.

  1985

  1986

  1987

  October 1987-March 1988

  £000

  per cent.

  £000

  per cent.

  £000

  per cent.

  £000

  per cent.

  North East

  188

  6

  1,206

  10

  1,886

  13

  981

  17

  North West

  1,488

  45

  5,358

  44

  4,259

  30

  1,634

  29

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,493

  45

  5,433

  45

  7,414

  52

  2,951

  52

  East Midlands

  152

  5

  57

  1

  715

  5

  112

  2

  TOTAL

  3,322

  100

  12,055

  100

  14,274

  100

  5,678

  100

  The regional distribution results from the selection of eligible areas, on criteria determined by the European Community regulations. Funds available under the scheme are now substantially committed, so it is no longer appropriate to promote it. The administration of the scheme lies with my Department.

  Experience from the business improvement services scheme has been valuable in devising the new measures contained in the enterprise initiative. The latter is receiving widespread and extensive publicity in all areas of the business community, including of course Tyne and Wear and Teesside.

  Blyth Valley
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what new proposals he has to encourage private sector investment in Blyth Valley; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Private sector investment will be encouraged by the enterprise initiative, with its help for design, quality, marketing, manufacturing systems, business planning and financial information systems; regional enterprise grants for investment and innovation; regional selective assistance where necessary to bring about desirable projects; exports; research and technology; and in the relationship between business and the world of education.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate the amount of industrial support given to Blyth Valley since 1985.

  Mr. Atkins
  Since 1985, £11·93 million of industrial support has been approved or offered through the regional selective assistance, revised regional development grant and support for innovation schemes to firms in the Blyth Valley parliamentary constituency area. Individual payments of over £25,000 under the original regional development grant scheme have, in addition, amounted to £2·4 million in the three calendar years 1985, 1986 and 1987.

  New Zealand
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the latest figures for the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In the first two months of 1988 trade between the United Kingdom and New Zealand showed a crude deficit of £21·9 million.

  These figures should be treated with more than the usual caution because of major changes to the Customs
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  Mr. Atkins
  Expenditure on the business improvement services scheme in the English regions, for which my Department is responsible has been as follows:

  procedures introduced in January 1988, details of which were given in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Page), on 7 December 1987, at columns 34–35.

  Child Care
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of the Department's employees; what child care provision for school holiday and/or after-school care is provided for employees' children aged five and over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

  Mr. Butcher
  The DTI encourages child care schemes where there is a clear need, where the scheme is financially viable without continuing subsidy and commands sufficient local support for its effective administration.

  Any scheme would need to be financially self-supporting, although accommodation would be provided free of charge if it were available and suitable. In the event that accommodation was not available the Department would be prepared to cover the cost of securing outside premises for the first year of operation. There are at present no schemes operating in this Department. However, discussions have been held which may result in the setting-up of holiday play schemes in south Wales, and interdepartmentally, in London.

  EC Trade Mark Office
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations Her Majesty's Government are making to ensure that the proposed European Economic Community trade mark office is sited in London; and what financial provision it proposes to achieve this.

  Mr. Butcher
  London has a very strong case, and we will continue to pursue it with vigour with our Community partners. We have made it clear that we are prepared to back our bid with financial support, subject of course to the approval of this House, and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Bill currently awaiting its Second Reading in this House contains the necessary enabling clause. It would not, however, be appropriate to divulge what we have offered at the moment.

  Company Account (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many prosecutions have been initiated by
  437
  his Department against companies for failing to register their accounts in each year since 1958; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The available information, which relates mainly to prosecutions of directors rather than companies, is as follows:

  Prosecutions initiated for failure to file1

  Year

  Annual returns/accounts2

  1958

  653

  1959

  514

  1960

  687

  1961

  652

  1962

  620

  1963

  751

  1964

  1,041

  1965

  1,249

  1966

  865

  1967

  732

  1968

  151

  1969

  146

  1970

  284

  1971

  517

  1972

  731

  1973

  3,355

  1974

  2,201

  1975

  2,635

  1976

  4,483

  1977

  2,589

  Year

  Accounts

  Annual returns

  1978

  818

  2,245

  1979

  3,103

  1,933

  1980

  2,290

  1,430

  1981

  1,952

  1,270

  1982

  1,886

  1,442

  1983

  1,920

  1,494

  1984

  2,928

  2,190

  1985

  4,409

  3,019

  1986

  5,160

  3,359

  1986–873

  5,454

  3,503

  1987–883

  5,339

  2,868

  1 Prosecutions for failure to deliver accounts can be initiated only against individual directors. Prosecutions for failure to deliver annual returns can be initiated against companies and/or their officers. The majority of prosecutions are, however, initiated against individual directors.

  2 Until 1978, when the separate filing provisions for accounts and annual returns contained in the Companies Act 1976 began to take effect, accounts were required to be annexed to the annual return. There was no separate offence of failure to deliver accounts.

  3 Figures are now produced on a financial year basis.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many offices of the Government and their agencies in the United States of America are involved in encouraging investment by United States companies in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Atkins
  The encouragement of inward investment from the United States, on a national basis, is the responsibility of the Invest in Britain Bureau of the Department of Trade and Industry. The bureau operates in the United States through the embassy in Washington and the 10 consulates general. In addition the Scottish Development Agency, the Welsh Development Agency 438
  and the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland have a total of six representative offices in the USA.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will take steps to encourage and assist industry to develop alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons;

  (2) what provisions there are under his Department's enterprise initiative programme for the chemical industry to receive assistance for the development of alternatives to ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons.

  Mr. Atkins
  Assistance to companies which is available within the enterprise initiative is described in the White Paper "DTI—the department for Enterprise", presented on 12 January (Cm. 278) and in the enterprise initiative booklets, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Chemical companies within the relevant eligibility criteria should make full use of this assistance.

  Companies themselves are, of course, best placed to assess the implications of changes in their markets. The Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer gives encouragement to the commercial development of alternatives and I understand that industry, including users of controlled substances, is doing this.

  Official Hospitality
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent by his Department on official hospitality in the financial year 1987–88.

  Mr. Butcher
  [holding answer 18 April 1988]: During the financial year 1987–88 this Department has incurred expenditure of approximately £300,000 on official entertainment and hospitality. This excludes similar expenditure incurred as an integral part of external expenditure programmes.

TRANSPORT

  Roads (Maintenance)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average cost of the annual maintenance and upkeep of the United Kingdom's trunk roads and motorways.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The average cost per mile of all maintenance on trunk motorways and other trunk roads in Great Britain is estimated to be about £42,000 in 1988/89. Comparable figures for Northern Ireland are not available because of the different classification of roads there.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that no extension of the practice of securing the management of motorway maintenance by engineering consultations, as set down in "Policy for Roads in England : 1987," Cm 125/1, will take place until the initial five-year contract periods in Greater Manchester and south-west Yorkshire have been completed; and if he will publish his Department's assessment of the relevant consultant's performance.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I see no reason to delay assessment of the consultants' performance until the end
  439
  of the five-year period. The Department intends to carry out in the next few months an assessment of the cost and the level of service of contracted-out motorway maintenance in comparison with those of conventional agency arrangements. We intend to present the results and conclusions of the appraisal to the standing committee on highway maintenance.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to publish any audits resulting from his Department's proposal for the technical auditing of motorways and trunk road maintenance.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Technical audit is intended to improve the performance of the Department's agents and consultants through the indentification of good practice that can be brought to the attention of other agents and consultants. The Department intends to commence technical audit on a general basis in 1989–90. The Department will discuss with representatives of its agents and consultants whether publication of individual audits would help or hinder the objective.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish immediately the details of the contract between his Department and the engineering consultants engaged in motorway maintenance for his Department in Greater Manchester and South and West Yorkshire; and if he will make it his policy to publish future such contracts.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The details of all departmental contracts are commercially confidential. They are not published. I am placing the model agreement for motorway maintenance commissions in the Library.

  A50 (Stoke-on-Trent)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) pursuant to his parliamentary reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, 25 March,Official Report, column 267, about the A50, if he will name the main roads in urban areas which have all the following : (a) a higher traffic count than on the A50 at the Meir Stoke-on-Trent, (b) a percentage of heavy vehicles of over 19 per cent. and (c) within 5 miles of the point where the traffic count is taken, have only one main lane in each direction and have private housing bordering on to the road;

  (2) pursuant to his replies about the A50 to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, 25 March, Official Report, column 267, which of (a) the roads named as having the highest traffic counts and (b) the roads in the west midlands named as carrying a higher volume of traffic than on the A50 at the Meir Stoke-on-Trent, have a percentage of heavy vehicles greater than the 19 per cent. at the Meir;

  (3) pursuant to his answers to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, 25 March, Official Report, column 267, how many traffic lanes there are at the points where the traffic counts were taken for (a) the A50 at the Meir, Stoke-on-Trent and (b) for those built up roads having the highest traffic count; and if he will express the traffic count figures in terms of traffic per 12 hours per traffic lane;

  (4) pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, 25 March, Official Report, column 267, as to the A50, for those parts of the roads within five miles of the point where the traffic count is taken, what is
  440
  the maximum number of traffic lanes on the (a) A50 at the Meir, in Stoke-on-Trent and (b) roads named as having the highest traffic count; and if he will express the traffic count as the number of vehicles per minimum number of traffic lanes on these roads;

  (5) pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South on 25 March, Official Report, column 267, how many of the roads in the west midlands conurbation named as carrying higher volumes of traffic than on the A50 at the Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, have, within 5 miles of the point where the traffic count is taken (a) only one main lane in both directions and (b) houses bordering directly on to the road.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The requested information is not readily available. I shall write to the right hon. Member.

  Ships (Radio Officers)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the circumstances under which permission is granted for(a) any vessel and (b) a passenger ferry to travel without carrying a radio officer.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Radio communications equipment on ships has become simpler to operate over recent years. Use of the on-board radiotelegraphy (morse) — which requires a radio officer — is declining in favour of simpler and more effective radiotelephone systems.

  Circumstances in which the Department is prepared to grant passenger or other vessels exemptions from the relevant regulations are considered on a case-by-case basis. They take into account both guidelines issued by the International Maritime Organisation and the results of trials carried out by the Department on the introduction of new radio equipment and practices.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects to publish the report of the public inquiry into the east London river crossing and to announce his decision on the project.

  Mr. Channon
  The inspector's report is being given very careful consideration. I cannot yet say when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I will be able to announce our decision and publish the report.

  Air-sea Rescue Services (Helicopters)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if there has been any discussion or consultation between his Department and the Civil Aviation Authority as to whether the replacement of Sea King helicopters with Wessex helicopters at RAF Coltishall may reduce the effective capability of the air-sea rescue services in the event of a civilian emergency.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The deployment of military search and rescue helicopters is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Defence, but he consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport about the planned changes. The new deployment of RAF helicopters on the east coast will more than meet the minimum criteria recommended by the Helicopter Coverage Group, and my
  441
  right hon. Friend is satisfied that they adequately meet the civil requirement. The Civil Aviation Authority is not responsible for search and rescue arrangements.

  Underground Trains
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has undertaken or commissioned concerning the design and construction of underground train carriages on the open plan system adopted by the MRT in Singapore.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  [holding answer 13 April 1988]: Under the terms of an agency agreement between my Department and the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, inspecting officers of railways have inspected and carried out safety audits of the Singapore system. These inspections included the rolling stock and, in accordance with the agreement, reports have been made to the board of the MRT Corporation.

  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will pay an offficial visit to study and report on the design and operation of the MRT subway system in Singapore.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  [holding answer 13 April 1988]: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for drawing my attention to certain crime prevention aspects of coach design, including that of the Singapore MRT system, and when an opportunity presents itself I shall look closely at the open plan feature to which my right hon. Friend has drawn my attention.

  Road Programme
  Mr. Carttiss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to add any further schemes to the road programme.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 April 1988, c. 370]: The estimated works cost of schemes 1 and 4 includes sums of £5·2 million and £2·2 million respectively shown in table 4 of the White Paper "Policy for Roads in England : 1987" (Cm. 125).

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Unemployment and Crime
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies he has made of any correlation between the change in regional unemployment rates with the change in crime rates over the last 18 months; and what were the results.

  Mr. John Patten
  Research has not shown significant associations between changes in recorded crime and changes in unemployment. The article "Unemployment and Crime", in Home Office research bulletin No. 14/82, copies of which are in the Library, reviewed research evidence on the association between unemployment and crime and concluded that little further could be learnt from studies of this topic at aggregate level.

  Prison Population (Statistics)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the proportion of the prison population with literacy or numeracy problems.
  442
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The prison department does not have information on the proportion of the prison population with serious literacy or numeracy problems.

  However, a recent survey showed that of those adult inmates who were tested, 6·2 per cent. were found to have a reading age of eight years or less, and 9·4 per cent. one of 10 years or less. The figures for youth custody centre trainees were 5·9 per cent. and 11·3 per cent., and for detention centre trainees, 5·3 per cent. and 2·8 per cent., respectively.

  Prisoners (Statistics)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the proportion of prisoners in each security category.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 31 March 1988, the most recent date for which information is available, 1·6 per cent. of sentenced adult male prisoners were in security category A, 17 per cent. in category B, 45·1 per cent. in category C and 17 per cent. in category D. The remaining 19·3 per cent. were recorded as uncategorised.

  Kirkham Prison
  Ms. WalleY
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances prisoners at Kirkham prison are currently prevented from making telephone calls; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Payphones have been provided for use by inmates at Kirkham prison since last year. I am not aware of any interruption to this facility.

  Ballot Papers
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Representation of the People Act or the rules thereunder to ensure that the layout of the ballot papers for parliamentary elections comply precisely with the Local Elections (Principal Areas) rules 1986 and the Local Elections (Parish & Communities) Rules 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The form of ballot papers for parliamentary elections is laid down in the Parliamentary Election Rules (schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983). The Local Election (Principal Areas) Rules 1986 and the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 1986 relate only to local elections. We have no reason to believe that these statutory rules are not being complied with, but if my hon. Friend is aware of a particular problem perhaps he would write to me about it.

  Marconi (Fire Service Equipment)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received representations on the delays in the delivery of fire service central mobilising systems by Marconi to fire and civil defence authorities.

  Mr. John Patten
  No. I understand that of the seven fire and civil defence authorities, only London is in the process of installing a Marconi system. We are informed by the authority that, despite some delay, it is anticipated that the system will be operational by the end of the year.
  443
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department will monitor the cost of the central mobilising system on order by fire brigades.

  Mr. John Patten
  No. The provision of brigade mobilising systems, including costs, is the responsibility of fire authorities.

  Child Care
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of the Department's employees; what child care provision for school holiday and/or after school care is provided for employees' children aged five and over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

  Mr. Douglas Hurd
  No facilities are provided for the pre-school age children of staff. For older chidren, we participate in an interdepartmental holiday playscheme in the Bootle area. We have no immediate plans to increase the provision of child care facilities but would be willing to consider proposals put forward by staff or trade union representatives for schemes which would be expected to become self-financing.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force to indicate, from his inspection of the membership records and applications for membership of the Dunmore shooting centre, Abingdon, how many of the memberships issued which commenced at number 50 to number 92 had been granted to those applicants resident in the Thames Valley police force area; and how many applications resulted in full membership being granted prior to or on 8 December 1986.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that the information is not available.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force naming the source of advice and individuals that gave expert testimony to the chief constable that the ammunition used by the late Michael Ryan was classified as armour piercing;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force naming the source of advice and individuals that gave expert testimony to the chief constable that the rifle possessed and used by the late Michael Ryan was a Kalashnikov.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable that he received some technical advice from within the Thames Valley and from the forensic science service.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to what good reason and on what date the late Michael Ryan gave for the purchase of his first two rifles(a) an assault 7·62
  444
  mm calibre and (b) an assault 0·30 in calibre and appropriate ammunition, for his introduction to rifle shooting; and on what ranges.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to his question on 31 March 1988, at column 692. There is no requirement in the Firearms Act 1968 for the purchaser of a firearm authorised to be held by the police to notify them of its acquisition.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to what special circumstances were taken into consideration when agreeing to accept provisional membership of three months with the Dunmore shooting centre, Abingdon, as suitable for the issue to its members of firearms certificates by Thames Valley police.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that it is not the practice to issue firearms certificates to applicants holding probationary membership.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to how many firearms clubs were sent letters from the chief constable signed by Inspector Lambert for or on behalf of the chief constable prior to 19 August 1987 requiring provisional membership of a firearms club for the purpose of obtaining a firearms certificate issued by the Thames Valley police force to be a minimum period of six months.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The chief constable of Thames Valley is not aware of any such letters.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to what firearms the late Michael Ryan requested authority to possess on his original firearms form I application for the grant of a firearms certificate from the chief constable;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to what firearms were subsequently granted by the chief constable to the late Michael Ryan as a result of his original firearms form 1 application for the grant of a firearms certificate.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that Michael Ryan originally applied for and was granted authority to possess one 9mm pistol and one ·38 revolver.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force listing for each calibre of firearm the maximum quantity of ammunition for which the late Michael Ryan requested authority to possess on his applications for variations of his firearms certificate;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force listing for each calibre of firearm the maximum quantity of ammunition at any one time for which the chief constable granted authority for the late Michael Ryan to possess as a result of his original firearms form 1 application for the grant of a firearms certificate;

  (3) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force listing for each calibre

  445
  of firearm the maximum quantity of ammunition at any one time the late Michael Ryan requested authority from the chief constable to possess on his original firearms form 1 application for the grant of a firearms certificate;

  (4) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force listing for each calibre of firearm the maximum quantity of ammunition at any one time the chief constable granted authority for the late Michael Ryan to possess as a result of his firearms form 1 application for the variation of his firearms certificate.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police that Michael Ryan applied for and was granted authority to possess a maximum at any one time of 500 rounds of 9mm, ·38, ·22, ·32, 7·62mm and ·30 calibre each.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to the dates and ranks of police officers carrying out the checks with the local intelligence officers with respect to the applications by the late Michael Ryan for the grant and variations of his firearms certificate;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as the dates and ranks of police officers who acted as local intelligence officers in respect to the applications for the grant and variations of the firearms certificate issued to the late Michael Ryan.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that detailed records of the checks made are not available.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Thames Valley to establish at what time the late Michael Ryan is alleged to have put on his bulletproof vest on 19 August 1987.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that witnesses' recollections put the time at which Michael Ryan put on his bullet-proof vest as between 12·45 and 12·55pm

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to on what dates police officers, and of what ranks, acting as crime prevention officers, visited the house of the late Michael Ryan for the purpose of inquiries regarding the applications he made in relation to his firearms certificate.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to his question on 31 March 1988, at columns 689–90.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Thames Valley as to the possessions recovered from the car of the late Michael Ryan, and to where, and by what ranks of officers they were conveyed, giving times.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The chief constable of Thames Valley tells me that a police constable and scenes of crime officer recovered from Ryan's car the following items :

  (a) A number of spent fragmented bullets

  (b) 7 live rounds of ammunition

  (c) Empty pistol magazine

  (d) Rifle magazine for a ·30 rifle containing 29 rounds

  (e) Leather shoulder holste

  (f) Shooting magazine (periodical)

  (g) Petrol receipts

  (h) Instruction leaflet for a shotgun

  446

  (i) Street map of Newbury

  (j) Body armour waistcoat

  (k) Gas mask

  (m) Water bottle

  (n) Survival kit

  (o) Waterproof jacket

  (p) Camouflage trousers

  (q) Waxed cotton over-trousers

  (r) Waterproof poncho

  (s) Green haversack

  (t) Beige-coloured haversack

  (u) Ear defenders

  Items (a) to (e) were taken to the forensic science laboratory for examination. The further information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Thames Valley as to the ranks of officers who attended to the body of the late Michael Ryan; if he will list the possessions recovered from the body; and to where, and by whom, the body and possessions were conveyed from the school at Hungerford, giving times.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that a detective superintendent, detective inspector and sergeant attended Michael Ryan's body at the John O'Gaunt school. At the school they recovered :

  (a) Two 9mm spent cartridge cases.

  (b) One pair of handcuffs.

  (c) One weapon cleaning kit.

  (d) One 9mm misshapen bullet from classroom noticeboard.

  (e) One 9mm spent cartridge case under body.

  (f) One 9mm Beretta pistol and magazine containing 5 live rounds.

  (g) One 9mm live round.

  These items were taken by the sergeant to the forensic science laboratory and following examination were retained in police custody.

  At the post mortem the following items were taken from the body and retained in police custody :

  (a) Flak jacket.

  (b) Pair of boots.

  (c) Pair of socks.

  (d) Pair of trousers.

  (e) Pair of underpants.

  (f) Shirt.

  (g) Vest.

  (h) Handkerchief.

  (i) Knotted cord.

  (j) Shoe lace.

  (k) Library ticket.

  (l) 2 x 2p bronze coins.

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

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of all questionnaires developed by his Department to assist police officers in their inquiries when visiting applicants for the grant, variation and renewal of firearms certificates and all such amended variations of such questionnaires since 1968 to include drafts and any final copies of those forms recommended by his recent working parties.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No forms have been devised by the Department to assist in firearm certificate applications save for those prescribed in the Firearms Rules 1969.
  447
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the reports prepared by the chief constable of Thames Valley police force for his Department, which were sought as a result of the parliamentary question asked by the hon. Member for Londonderry, East about the murders committed by the late Michael Ryan.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has anything to add to his answer of 31 March to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East Official Report, columns 693–4, concerning the sale and transfer by the late Michael Ryan of all firearms possessed by him; if he will make a statement as to what further information is held by the chief constable of Thames Valley police; and if he will also provide information on the date of purchase, sale or transfer of all shotguns in the possession of the late Michael Ryan, giving the make, model and quantity of ammunition in each case and the names of all firearms dealers involved.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have nothing to add to my reply of 31 March concerning the firearms possessed by Michael Ryan. He was granted a shotgun certificate in 1978. The Firearms Act 1968 does not contain a requirement to notify the sale or transfer of a shotgun or shotgun cartridges.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to whether on 19 August 1987 a police constable offered to a police officer the use of his personal and privately owned handgun stored in Hungerford for the purpose of containing the late Michael Ryan.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The chief constable of Thames Valley tells me that he knows of nothing to substantiate this statement.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to whether the late Michael Ryan practised police pistol and other styles of target shooting with officers of the Thames Valley police.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The chief constable of Thames Valley has no such information.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Thames Valley police as to what route Michael Ryan was taking from Hungerford on 19 August 1987 when he killed his first victim; and how far the site of this murder was from the direct route between Ryan's home and the Wiltshire shooting centre.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that inquiries have not established Michael Ryan's route from Hungerford to the Savernake forest, the location of the first killing. However, the forest borders the A4 road which would have been the most direct route between his home and the Wiltshire shooting centre.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to how 448
  many Thames Valley police officers, shot at, or were members of the club run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury, when managed by proprietor George Sturm;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to how many Thames Valley police officers, shot at, or were members of the club run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury, when managed by proprietor George Sturm, on the date the late Michael Ryan applied for membership;

  (3) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to the date on which the late Michael Ryan was granted full membership of the club run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury, when managed by proprietor George Sturm, stating by whom, after what assessment, and by what procedure;

  (4) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to the date the late Michael Ryan was granted provisional membership of the club run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury. when managed by proprietor George Sturm, stating by whom, after what assessment, and by what procedure;

  (5) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to the date the late Michael Ryan's application for membership was received by the club run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury, when managed by proprietor George Sturm, and by whom;

  (6) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to what date the late Michael Ryan made written application for membership of the club run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury, when managed by proprietor George Sturm;

  (7) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to how many entries were made by the late Michael Ryan in the register of users of the range facilities of the club run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury when managed by proprietor George Sturm;

  (8) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to how many visits were made, and on what dates, the late Michael Ryan paid visits to the club run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury when managed by proprietor George Sturm.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of the Thames Valley that one of his officers was a member of the club in question. He has no knowledge of Michael Ryan having been a member.

  Greenham Common
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions at Newbury magistrates court under the Greenham common military lads byelaws were found invalid on 25 February; how many cases are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  There were two cases before the Crown court at Reading on 25 February. The number of other cases outstanding is not available from records of
  449
  court proceedings held centrally. The Crown Prosecution Service has now appealed against the decision given on 25 February, and it would not be appropriate for me to make any further statement.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what date the club, run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury when managed by proprietor George Sturm, was first granted Home Office approval; and on what subsequent dates this approval was reviewed and certificates reissued or renewed;

  (2) if he will (a) list and (b) place in the Library copies of all relevant documents relating to inquiries made and completed by the Home Office and Thames Valley or other police forces into the applications by the club run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury when managed by proprietor George Sturm, for consideration for the issue, amendment, addition to, or renewal of, the Home Office approval certificates;

  (3) if he will (a) list and (b) place in the Library a copy of all documents submitted in the course of the applications by the club run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury when managed by proprietor George Sturm, to the police or the Home Office for the issue, amendment, addition to, or renewal of the Home Office approval certificates;

  (4) if he will place in the Library a copy of the original Home Office approval certificate for the club run by the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company based in Membury when managed by proprietor George Sturm, and any subsequent amendments or additions to, and renewals of it.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The club was approved for the use of small and full-bore rifles and pistols on 30 April 1986. The approval was withdrawn on 27 May 1987 in the light of information from the Thames Valley police that the club had ceased to operate.

  It is not the practice to place such documents in the Library.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force to establish whether or not the chief constable placed before the coroner, for his consideration prior to or during the inquest into events on 19 August 1987 involving the late Michael Ryan, statements and copy documents provided by the Wiltshire shooting centre and its proprietors.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that statements and copy documents provided by the Wiltshire shooting centre and its proprietors were placed before the coroner prior to the inquest.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force listing all the firearms clubs that his inquiries have revealed the late Michael Ryan either visited, applied to join, or joined;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force listing all the firearms ranges that his inquiries have revealed the late Michael Ryan visited to shoot.
  450
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that Michael Ryan is not known to have visited firearms clubs other than the two of which he was a member.

  Firearms Certificate (Gwent)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for East Londonderry of 13 April, what is his assessment of the implications for policy on the efficiency of police procedures of the failure to draw the letter, reference MLB/JD, dated 19 January 1985, to the attention of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Nil.

  Crime Detection
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to chief officers of police about the practice of recording crimes as detected following visits to persons serving custodial sentences.

  Mr. Hurd
  Copies of the guidance circulated to all chief officers by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary have today been placed in the Library.

  Lunar House, Croydon
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of unopened letters on 21 March at Lunar house, Croydon; and of those how many were(a) applications for citizenship and (b) applications for variation of leave.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 18 April 1988]: On 21 March, 54,700 applications for citizenship were unopened and a further 41,700 applications for citizenship were opened but not acknowledged; 40,400 other items of mail, principally relating to variations of leave, were unopened. The position has since been further substantially improved, as set out in my reply, on 19 April, at column 410, to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Knight) about the position as at 11 April.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Derelict and Unused Land
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement as to what steps are being taken to sell off vacant, dormant and derelict land in the ownership of Government Departments.

  Mr. Major
  Government Departments are encouraged to list all their surplus land on the land registers. Since the land registers were set up in 1981, over 42 per cent. of Crown land listed has been sold or brought back into use. Departments assess their land holding operational requirements regularly, and discuss plans for disposals with the Treasury.

  Child Care
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what child care provision his Department
  451
  provides for pre-school children of the Department's employees; what child care provision for school holiday and/or after school care is provided for employees' children aged five and over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

  Mr. Brooke
  No child care provision is currently provided by my Department. Any provision which was set up in the next five years would have to be self-financing.

  Finance Ministers Meeting
  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meetings of Finance Ministers in Washington.

  Mr. Lawson
  A number of meetings of Finance Ministers took place in Washington last week.

  There was useful progress on a range of issues. The major industrial countries reaffirmed their commitment to co-ordinate economic policies and promote greater exchange rate stability.

  The problems of the poorest, most heavily indebted countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa were again highlighted. I welcome in particular the establishment of the enhanced structural adjustment facility (the ESAF) where the United Kingdom has pledged the largest single contribution to the interest rate subsidy on ESAF lending; and the World Bank's special programme of assistance for sub-Saharan Africa. Progress has also been made on the United Kingdom's own initiative to provide debt relief to the poorest countries through the Paris Club, and I am continuing to work to secure agreement on interest rate reductions on Paris Club reschedulings.

  There was general agreement that the continuing problems of highly indebted middle-income countries are best dealt with by continuation of the present approach and by further exploring market-related solutions, including extensions of the "menu" of options.

  Copies of the communiques issued and of my statements to the meetings have been deposited in the House of Commons Library.

  Number and proportion of pupils in one teacher classes of over 30 pupils January 1987

  Primary1

  Secondary1

  Pupils

  per cent.

  Pupils

  per cent.

  Barking

  714

  5·7

  95

  1·2

  Barnet

  2,260

  11·3

  1,092

  6·6

  Bexley

  3,813

  24·4

  808

  6·1

  Brent

  898

  5·1

  286

  2·5

  Bromley

  4,226

  22·8

  1,279

  8·2

  Croydon

  4,456

  20·6

  1,657

  9·9

  Ealing

  2,885

  14·3

  384

  3·4

  Enfield

  5,083

  27·2

  2,123

  13·5

  Haringey

  247

  1·7

  31

  0·3

  Harrow

  3,684

  26·5

  426

  4·9

  Havering

  3,303

  18·8

  1,345

  8·3

  Hillingdon

  3,044

  18·5

  941

  7·1

  Hounslow

  3,158

  21·5

  928

  7·8

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,715

  33·5

  849

  12·4

  Merton

  1,930

  25·1

  515

  4·7

  Newham

  589

  3·3

  312

  2·4

  Redbridge

  7,383

  49·2

  1,451

  11·5

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,278

  15·5

  440

  7·2

  Sutton

  3,289

  32·8

  1,638

  15·9

CIVIL SERVICE

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will announce the results of ethnic monitoring of recruitment by the Civil Service Commission.

  Mr. Luce
  The Civil Service Commissioners' annual report, published today, reports on the commission's recruitment activities in the calendar year ending 31 December 1987. It also sets out and reviews the results of the first year of their ethnic monitoring. A copy of the annual report and of two research studies relating to the work on ethnic monitoring is available in the Libraries of Parliament.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service on what basis the categories of human groups listed on the official forms for the purposes of ethnic monitoring of Civil Servants were chosen.

  Mr. Luce
  The ethnic origin categories used in the Civil Service monitoring surveys were based on advice from the Commission for Racial Equality and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and on the results of a pilot survey in Leeds in 1982.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Primary and Secondary Pupils
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number and proportion of primary and secondary pupils in classes of over 30 pupils in each local education authority.

  Mr. Dunn
  The number and proportion of pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools in classes of over 30 pupils in each local education authority in England in January 1987 is given in the table. The analyses relate to classes taught by one teacher at a selected time on the day of the census count in January and do not necessarily represent the pattern of classes over the academic year as a whole.
  453

  Primary1

  Secondary1

  Pupils

  per cent.

  Pupils

  per cent.

  Waltham Forest

  2,115

  14·5

  93

  0·8

  Inner London

  3,159

  2·5

  2,165

  2·3

  Birmingham

  28,543

  33·0

  7,632

  11·8

  Coventry

  5,065

  21·2

  1,035

  5·2

  Dudley

  7,118

  29·0

  736

  4·0

  Sandwell

  6,426

  25·0

  828

  4·2

  Solihull

  5,199

  32·3

  1,520

  10·2

  Walsall

  3,172

  15·4

  1,048

  5·0

  Wolverhampton

  2,832

  14·1

  753

  4·4

  Knowsley

  1,931

  12·9

  552

  5·4

  Liverpool

  6,048

  14·6

  2,572

  9·0

  St. Helens

  3,741

  25·0

  956

  7·0

  Sefton

  5,726

  24·9

  1,970

  10·3

  Wirral

  4,528

  17·1

  1,875

  8·9

  Bolton

  9,378

  42·3

  1,411

  8·0

  Bury

  4,049

  30·3

  1,668

  15·4

  Manchester

  6,765

  19·4

  1,702

  6·6

  Oldham

  7,282

  38·2

  1,035

  7·3

  Rochdale

  4,845

  31·5

  707

  4·7

  Salford

  3,674

  18·9

  573

  4·0

  Stockport

  6,117

  27·6

  1,849

  9·8

  Tameside

  5,051

  28·1

  1,210

  8·5

  Trafford

  5,470

  37·2

  426

  3·5

  Wigan

  7,241

  29·6

  1,305

  5·7

  Barnsley

  1,795

  10·1

  375

  2·5

  Doncaster

  2,801

  11·9

  1,369

  6·5

  Rotherham

  2,216

  10·3

  1,516

  8·6

  Sheffield

  3,314

  9·0

  924

  3·1

  Bradford

  4,191

  14·2

  3,199

  8·3

  Calderdale

  4,187

  25·5

  1,088

  8·8

  Kirklees

  6,536

  21·9

  1,620

  5·9

  Leeds

  10,449

  25·7

  4,807

  9·2

  Wakefield

  4,599

  20·5

  2,037

  8·9

  Gateshead

  825

  5·1

  945

  7·7

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  3,245

  18·6

  583

  3·4

  North Tyneside

  417

  3·0

  441

  3·2

  South Tyneside

  1,357

  10·7

  283

  3·0

  Sunderland

  3,680

  14·1

  2,052

  10·5

  Isles of Scilly2

  0

  0·0

  0

  0·0

  Avon

  32,201

  46·1

  5,323

  9·8

  Bedfordshire

  8,165

  24·3

  3,510

  8·7

  Berkshire

  16,784

  32·8

  4,889

  10·6

  Buckinghamshire

  23,699

  43·6

  2,066

  6·4

  Cambridgeshire

  14,641

  29·7

  4,285

  11·2

  Cheshire

  28,981

  37·7

  9,871

  14·7

  Cleveland

  8,046

  16·5

  1,788

  4·4

  Cornwall

  11,714

  34·3

  3,657

  12·6

  Cumbria

  5,897

  16·5

  2,048

  6·2

  Derbyshire

  18,316

  26·6

  6,218

  10·3

  Devon

  17,363

  26·0

  5,123

  9·2

  Dorset

  13,800

  40·0

  3,293

  9·1

  Durham

  11,600

  23·8

  3,644

  10·0

  East Sussex

  13,783

  33·7

  4,135

  12·0

  Essex

  30,912

  26·8

  8,796

  8·8

  Gloucestershire

  12,972

  34·2

  4,022

  12·7

  Hampshire

  33,760

  29·9

  7,496

  8·5

  Hereford and Worcester

  13,386

  30·9

  6,355

  13·0

  Hertfordshire

  17,240

  24·2

  6,431

  9·7

  Humberside

  10,135

  16·5

  5,524

  8·4

  Isle of Wight

  1,753

  29·5

  1,085

  11·4

  Kent

  40,142

  36·8

  6,828

  7·0

  Lancashire

  41,735

  38·6

  8,446

  9·9

  Leicestershire

  13,422

  19·5

  1,323

  2·3

  Lincolnshire

  17,091

  39·7

  3,073

  8·6

  Norfolk

  12,049

  21·8

  2,295

  5·5

  North Yorkshire

  11,161

  23·2

  5,063

  11·6

  Northamptonshire

  10,243

  24·2

  3,335

  8·2

  454 455

  Primary1

  Secondary1

  Pupils

  per cent.

  Pupils

  per cent.

  Northumberland

  7,340

  40·0

  2,339

  9·3

  Nottinghamshire

  7,611

  10·7

  3,419

  5·6

  Oxfordshire

  8,212

  24·3

  2,488

  7·6

  Shropshire

  5,389

  18·4

  2,356

  8·6

  Somerset

  10,582

  34·5

  3,267

  11·5

  Staffordshire

  17,290

  23·4

  8,987

  12·4

  Suffolk

  6,042

  15·5

  2,485

  5·9

  Surrey

  13,935

  21·1

  4,338

  9·6

  Warwickshire

  11,019

  28·9

  2,412

  9·2

  West Sussex

  11,914

  26·0

  4,709

  11·8

  Wiltshire

  8,593

  21·9

  3,048

  8·7

  England

  848,960

  24·8

  243,230

  8·3

  1 Includes middle schools as deemed.

  2 There were no classes with over 30 pupils in the Isles of Scilly in either primary or secondary schools.

  Child Care
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of the Department's employees; what child care provision for school holiday and/or after-school care is provided for employees' children aged five and over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department does not currently provide child care provision for employees' children. There are no firm proposals for making such provision during the next five years, although the possibility of providing creche facilities for the Department's Darlington office is under consideration.

  Computing (Women Students)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to counter the decline in the numbers of women studying computing at universities and polytechnics.

  Mr. Jackson
  The overall number of women starting computing courses at universities and polytechnics has increased over the past five years.

  The figures are:

  Female enrolments on computing courses

  Polytechnics1 in England (full-time equivalent)

  Universities2 in the United Kingdom (full-time)

  1982

  496

  412

  1983

  589

  381

  1984

  557

  342

  1985

  688

  363

  1986

  785

  367

  1 All advanced courses in computing.

  2 Full-time courses for first degrees or diplomas.

  Annex A

  Proposals for the ESG programme in England in 1989–90 Activities with New Starts in 1989–90

  Expenditure in 1989–90 cash

  Total in new starts plus committed

  Rate of Grant

  NEW ACTIVITIES

  Financial Delegation to Schools

  1. Financial Delegation to Schools

  25·0

  25·0

  70

  Education Reform
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State far Education and Science if he will publish his proposals for the programme of education support grants in 1989–90.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have written to the local authority associations proposing expenditure of £125·5 million on the programme next year. Some £48·5 million of this will be for the continuing support of projects begun in earlier years, and £77 million will be for new and extended activities. The purposes for which I propose to pay grant are set out in the table. My main priority in drawing these proposals has been to reflect the priorities of the Education Reform Bill now before Parliament. £35 million of the new expenditure would be devoted to activities relating to financial delegation, including over £5 million for training governors in schools and colleges. I propose to make some £30 million of support available in areas relating to the introduction of the national curriculum, including £10 million for information technology equipment as well as almost £9 million earmarked for science and English.

  I also intend to make £9 million available for adult literacy and educational guidance programmes, open learning and the training of youth leaders for the inner cities. There will be further funding for advanced computer-aided engineering equipment.

  I believe that this programme will help local education authorities introduce the national curriculum and the wide-ranging changes in the management of schools and colleges proposed in the Education Reform Bill.
  457

  Expenditure in 1989–90 cash

  Total in new starts plus committed

  Rate of Grant

  2. Financial Delegation to Colleges

  1·2

  1·2

  70

  3. Training for School Governors

  4·9

  4·9

  70

  4. Training for FE College Governors

  0·2

  0·2

  70

  National Curriculum Related

  5. LEA Inspection

  1·9

  1·9

  70

  6. National Curriculum

  10·0

  10·0

  70

  7. English in the Curriculum

  4·8

  4·8

  70

  Social Responsibility and Inner Cities

  8. Youth Leaders for the Inner Cities

  2·4

  2·4

  70

  9. Establishment of Adult Literacy Centres

  3·0

  3·0

  70

  10. Improvement and expansion of Educational Guidance for Adults

  2·0

  2·0

  70

  EXTENSIONS

  Financial Delegation—Related

  11. Management Information Systems in FE

  3·5

  6·8

  70

  National Curriculum—Related

  12. IT in Schools—expansion of hardware scheme

  10·0

  20·9

  150/70

  13. Science and Technology in Primary Schools

  4·0

  10·9

  50

  Social Responsibility and Inner Cities

  14. Open Learning

  1·7

  3·0

  70

  15. Computer Aided Engineering

  2·3

  2·3

  70

  Activities Continuing without New Starts

  16. Action to combat misuse of drugs

  —

  0·3

  70

  17. Maths in Schools

  —

  8·3

  50

  18. Improving the Quality of Education in Rural Primary Schools

  —

  1·5

  70

  19. Improving the Quality of Education in Urban Primary Schools

  —

  0·4

  70

  20. Education for a Multi-Ethnic Society

  —

  2·7

  70

  21. PICK UP

  —

  0·2

  70

  22. IT in Non-Advanced FE

  —

  4·6

  70

  23. Education for the Unemployed

  —

  0·4

  70

  24. Support for Parents of Children under 5 with Severe Learning Difficulties

  —

  1·9

  70

  25. Pilot projects to develop the use of the spoken word

  —

  0·3

  70

  26. Promotion of social responsibility in young people

  —

  1·3

  70

  27. Pilot project to develop Records of Achievement

  —

  1·2

  50

  28. Diversification of First Foreign Language in Schools

  —

  0·5

  70

  29. Learning by Achievement for 14–21 year olds

  —

  2·1

  70

  30. School teacher and lecturer appraisal

  —

  0·5

  70

  Totals

  76·9

  125·5

  1 It is proposed that grant should be paid at 50 per cent. on the second tranche of expenditure and at 70 per cent. on commitments arising from 1988–89.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  El Salvador
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his assessment of the level of human rights abuses in El Salvador including those by both Government and non-Government agencies.

  Mr. Eggar
  We share the view of the United Nations Special Representative in his latest report that the human rights situation in El Salvador has continued to improve, although there is still room for further progress. We are concerned about the abuses noted by the Special Representative on the part of the guerrillas, including indiscriminate use of land mines, summary executions and kidnappings.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest assessment of the presence of oil reserves near the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Eggar
  Studies undertaken by companies in the petroleum industry have been inconclusive.

  Child Care
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of the Department's employees; what child care provision for school holiday and/or after school care is
  459
  provided for employees' children aged five and over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no child care provision at present, either for the preschool age group or for those aged five and over.

  There is a proposal to provide child care facilities for the pre-school age group and/or a holiday play scheme. Both would be user-funded.

  Government Communications Bureau
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the role and function of the Government Communications Bureau; when it was created; what has been its annual budget for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government Communications Bureau was founded shortly after world war II. It is a non-departmental body advising on international communications systems principally for the Foreign and Commonweath Office and Ministry of Defence. It does not have a separate budget.

  United Nations Council for Namibia
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any information concerning the total cost of the United Nations Council for Namibia conference held in Istanbul on 21 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No.

  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline any representations which he has made to the United Nations concerning the activities of the United Nations Council for Namibia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have made no representations about the United Nations Council for Namibia. However, at the last session of the General Assembly we made it plain that we remained concerned at the continued financial extravagance of some of the activities of the Council for Namibia.

  Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any Soviet inspectors have yet been permitted access to the United States cruise missile sites at Royal Air Force Molesworth and Royal Air Force Greenham Common for the purposes of verification under the intermediate nuclear forces treaty.

  Mr. Mellor
  No.

  South Africa (Submarines)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom is party to(a) any United Nations agreement or (b) European Economic Community agreement prohibiting the provision of blueprints, materials or hardware for submarines to the Republic of South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We adhere strictly to

  (a) Security Council resolution 418 of 1977, which embodies the United Nations arms embargo against South Africa; and

  460

  (b) the agreement reached by Foreign Ministers of the European Community in September 1985 to refuse to co-operate with South Africa in the military sphere and on a rigorously controlled embargo on exports of arms to that country.

  We would therefore not permit British companies to supply blueprints, materials or hardware for submarines to South Africa.

  Russia—PLO Meeting
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what report he has received from Her Majesty's ambassador in Moscow regarding the recent meeting between Mr. Gorbachev and Mr. Yasser Arafat; and whether the ambassador has been able to substantiate, through contact with the Soviet Foreign Ministry, the report in Tass that Mr. Gorbachev asked the Palestine Liberation Organisation to recognise the state of Israel.

  Mr. Mellor
  It is not clear whether the welcome remarks which Mr. Gorbachev is reported as having made concerning recognition of the state of Israel were, in fact, directed at the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

  Mr. Jack Lewis-Walker
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by his Department to the Government of Zimbabwe about the imprisonment without trail of Mr. Jack Lewis-Walker, about whom the hon. Member for Macclesfield has written to him; and on what date he expects to be able to announce that Mr. Lewis-Walker has been released.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have not yet received any letter from my hon. Friend on this subject, although I received letters from other hon. Members with constituency interests.

  The British high commission at Harare is in touch with the authorities in Zimbabwe and has been granted consular access to Mr. Lewis-Walker, who is detained under the emergency powers regulations.

  We cannot speculate when Mr. Lewis-Walker may be released. This is a matter for the Zimbabwe authorities. The British high commission has made formal representations to try to secure his release on the basis that this has been recommended by the review tribunal.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  NHS Staff
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the numerised and percentage increases or decreases in the following categories of National Health Service hospital service manpower since 1973–74(a) nursery and midwifery, (b) ancillary, (c) medical and dental and (d) administrative and clerical.

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

  Staffing figures have been given (a) for all hospital and community staff and (b) for hospital nursing and midwifery staff and medical and dental staff. (These are the only two staff groups that can be split between those working in the community and in hospitals).
  461

  NHS Staff in Post England 30 September

  Whole-time equivalents1

  1973

  1986

  Change 1973–86 WTE Change

  Percentage Change

  Nursing and Midwifery23

  308,500

  402,700

  94,200

  +30·5

  Ancillary4

  165,100

  124,300

  -40,900

  -24·7

  Medical and Dental5

  32,300

  43,200

  10,900

  +33·8

  Administration and Clerical6

  77,100

  111,400

  34,200

  +44·4

  Source: DHSS annual censuses of NHS medical and non-medical manpower.

  1 Figures are independently rounded to the nearest (100) hundred whole-time equivalents. Percentages are calculated on unrounded figures.

  2 Not adjusted for reduction in nurses working hours during 1980–81 (from 40 to 37·5 hours per week).

  3 Includes agency staff.

  4 Not adjusted for transfer of Operating Theatre Assistants from Ancillary to Professional and Technical Staff group on 1 April 1984.

  5 Includes permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.

  6 Clinically related staff = 35,900, non-clinically related staff = 75,400 (Difference in total due to rounding).

  General Note: Figure for 1973 and 1986 are not consistent due to the effects of the 1974 NHS reorganization.

  NHS Hospital Staff in Post England 30 September

  Whole time equivalents1

  Change 1973 to 19861

  1973

  1986

  WTE

  Percentage

  Nursing and Midwifery234

  266,400

  354,700

  88,300

  +33·2

  Medical and Dental1

  28,300

  38,800

  10,500

  +37·2

  Source: DHSS (SR7) annual censuses of NHS medical and non-medical manpower.

  Notes:

  1 Figures are independently rounded to nearest one hundred (100) whole-time equivalents. Changes calculated on unrounded figures.

  2 Because of the 1974 NHS reorganisation, which involved definition and classification changes, figures for 1973 are not consistent with those for 1986.

  3 Includes agency staff.

  4 Not adjusted for reduction in nurses working hours (from 40 to 37·5 per week) during 1980–81.

  5 Includes permanent paid, honorary and locum staff. Locum staff for 1973 are estimated.

  Solvent Abuse
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been spent by Her Majesty's Government in each year since 1980(a) directly and (b) through grants to non-Government organisations, on education measures to reduce solvent abuse.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Government have directly spent the following sums on specific education and information measures designed to inform young people, parents, professional workers and retailers about the problems of solvent misuse.

  Direct Expenditure£

  Via Voluntary Agencies£

  1980–81

  —

  —

  1981–82

  —

  1,100

  1982–83

  —

  1,000

  1983–84

  10,000

  —

  1984–85

  10,000

  38,667

  1985–86

  —

  33,600

  1986–87

  —

  55,200

  1987–88

  —

  34,333

  20,000

  163,900

  Total £183,900

  The Government have also funded drug education coordinators in every local education authority, whose work has included activities aimed at preventing solvent misuse; have funded the Health Education Authority which (as the Health Education Council) produced a leaflet on solvent misuse; and have invested in a major expansion of drug misuse services, some of which offer help to solvent misusers.

  NHS Property (Kettering)
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all National Health Service property within the Kettering district health authority area, stating acreage and current open market valuation.

  Mrs. Currie
  A list of NHS property, and acreage, within Kettering district health authority is as follows. Information on the current open market valuation is not readily available and to obtain it would involve disproportionate cost. Disclosure of the open market value may also be prejudicial to any future sale of this property.

  Property

  Acreage

  Mayfair Day Hospital, 32–34 Headlands, Kettering

  0·2710

  Redcliffe Day Hospital, 49–51 Hatton Park Road,Wellingborough

  0·4600

  Stockburn Mein Home, Southlands, Kettering

  0·7380

  Ambulance Station, Forest Gate Road, Corby

  0·2440

  St. Mary's Hospital, London Road, Kettering

  11·5840

  Corby Health Complex, Cottingham Road, Corby, Community Hospital and Health Centre

  14·1600

  Isebrook Hospital, Irthlingborough Road, Wellingborough

  11·5560

  Hardwick Park Health Centre, Olympic Way, Wellingborough

  0·6120

  Health Clinic, British Lane/School Lane, Kettering

  0·2500

  Health Clinic, Stuart Road, Corby

  0·3440

  Health Centre, High Street, Burton Latimer

  0·2800

  18a Oxford Street, Wellingborough

  0·1160

  150 Rothwell Road, Kettering

  0·0810

  142 Rothwell Road, Kettering

  0·1060

  140 Rothwell Road, Kettering

  0·1090

  126 Rothwell Road, Kettering

  0·3720

  Kettering General Hospital, Rothwell Road, Kettering (includes Ambulance Station)

  37.9920

  247, 249 Stamford Road, Kettering

  0·1800

  123 Headlands, Kettering

  0·1650

  Health Centre, Bridge Street, Rothwell

  0·5000

  463

  Property

  Acreage

  Health Clinic, Sharman Road, Wellingborough

  0·8480

  Health Centre, Regent Street, Finedon

  0·1900

  Health Centre, School Lane, Chester

  0·1560

  114 Rothwell Road, Kettering

  0·1150

  156 Rothwell Road, Kettering

  0·0700

  154 Rothwell Road, Kettering

  0·0820

  152 Rothwell Road, Kettering

  0·0790

  8 Queensberry Road, Kettering

  0·1150

  10 Legion Crescent, Kettering

  0·0790

  Rushden Hospital

  17·7625

  Rushden Memorial Clinic

  0·9820

  Health Clinic. Rectory Road, Rushden

  0·4310

  Land at Adnitt Road, Rushden

  0·1350

  Ambulance Station, Glapthorne Road, Oundle

  0·2500

  Ambulance Station, Station Road, Rushden

  0·2110

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will indicate his latest estimates of the numbers of persons gaining and losing as a result of social security changes coming into effect in April, in the following categories(a) those affected by the abolition of housing benefit supplement, (b) those affected by the reductions in housing benefit related to amenity charges paid to landlords and (c) those affected by the increase in housing benefit non-dependant deductions.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that data are not available in the form requested. Available information is contained in "The Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income-Related Benefits." These tables allow for the effect of the abolition of housing benefit supplement, but not for the change to the structure of non-dependant deductions. The tables make no allowances for changes to the support received under the former housing benefit scheme by those people on supplementary benefit who were paying for their fuel with their rent—around 90,000 claimants. This help is being phased out over the next five years.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage loss in income in(a) Burnley and (b) Pendle due to housing benefit reductions of those earning (i) £60 per week, (ii) £80 per week and (iii) £150 per week.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that the information is not available.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the local government housing authorities which failed to convert their housing benefit regulations in line with the Social Security Act 1986 by the designated time;

  (2) if he will investigate those housing authorities which failed to convert their housing benefit regulations in line with the Social Security Act 1986 by the designated time and deposit his findings in the Library.

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the local authority housing departments which have failed to convert all their housing benefit claimants' cases from the old system to the new, as defined by the Social Security Act 1986, by the due date of 4 April; and what percentage of claimants for each authority had not been notified of their precise entitlements by that date.
  464
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which local authorities had housing benefit systems in operation in time for the start of the new housing benefit scheme on 1 April.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that the information requested is not held centrally.

  Cochlea Implants
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of a cochlea implant; how many such operations have been performed under the National Health Service in the most recent 12-month period; what steps have been taken to evaluate the effectiveness of the operation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Implantation of cochlea stimulation devices is undertaken at University College hospital, London, from non-National Health Service funds and with support from the National Institute of the Deaf. There are also research programmes at other National Health Service hospitals. Cochlea implants are still at a research and development stage and it is for health authorities to decide whether and when to make them generally available, taking into account medical advice as to benefits for patients and results of research and evaluation. Cost estimates vary according to the type of device from about £6,000 to £10,000 per patient.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any medical research relating to AIDS being undertaken on chimpanzees is financed by the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Under its fourth medical and health research programme the European Community contributes to the funding of a breeding colony of chimpanzees in the Netherlands. It is proposed that 20 animals should be used in AIDS research to the end of 1991.

  Social Security Appeals (Carlisle)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many social security appeals were made by claimants who live in Carlisle city in the years 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987; and what percentage of these claimants were represented during the appeals.

  Mr. Portillo
  The table gives the available information. The national administrative statistics for social security appeal tribunals are not disaggregated for areas smaller than a social security region and the figures relate to the north-western region, which includes Carlisle city. Equivalent information is not available prior to April 1984.

  Social security appeal tribunal statistics are now published annually in "Social Security Statistics" The 1986 edition contains information on social security tribunal statistics from April 1984 to December 1986 while the 1987 edition contains information from January 1986 to December 1986.
  465

  Social security appeals in north-western region 1984 to 1987

  Number attended by the appellant

  Number where the appellant was represented

  Year

  (1) Number of appeals lodged

  (2) Number of appeals heard

  (3) Total number

  (4) As percentage of column (2)

  (5) Total number

  (6) As percentage of column (2)

  19841

  30,686

  12,125

  6,997

  57·7

  2,745

  22·6

  1985

  38,777

  19,631

  10,888

  55·5

  4,261

  21·7

  1986

  42,584

  18,167

  9,864

  54·3

  3,849

  21·2

  19872

  23,367

  11,821

  6,193

  52·4

  2,450

  20·7

  1 April to December.

  2 January to June.

  Maternity Grants
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women claimed maternity grants in the last year of availability in Blyth Valley; and what is his best estimate of the number of women who will receive social fund payments for maternity in the first year of availability.

  Mr. Portillo
  The figures requested (for Blyth local office area) are as follows :

  Number

  Maternity grant claims (15 April 1986–13 April 1987):

  1,281

  Social fund maternity payments (6 April 1987–8 April 1988):

  353

  Death Grants
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many death grants were claimed in Blyth Valley last year; and how many were awarded.

  Mr. Portillo
  Death grants ceased with the introduction of the social fund funeral payments in April 1987.

  During the last year of availability (9 April 1986 to 6 April 1987) 1,094 death grants were claimed at Blyth local office. Figures on the number of payments made are not available.

  In the first year of operation (7 April 1987 to 8 April 1988) 97 claims to social fund funeral payments resulted in 59 payments.

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which pupils will be entitled to free school meals in the Northumberland education authority currently on supplementary benefit; and what is his estimate of the number of pupils on the new family credit scheme and income support who will be entitled to free meals.

  Mr. Portillo
  In October 1987, (the latest date for which information is available) there were 5,863 children receiving free school meals in the Northumberland education authority area on account of their family's receipt of supplementary benefit. We estimate that a similar number are now entitled on account of receipt of income support. Children from families in receipt of family credit are not entitled to free school meals. Instead, provision is made in cash by including an additional amount of £2·55 in the child credit rates for each child for each week of the year.

  Haringey Health Authority
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of hospital beds available in the Haringey health authority area on the latest available date, and for each year since 1979.

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

  Average Daily Number of Available Beds, Haringey District Health Authority1. 1979–1986

  Year

  Average daily number of available beds

  1979

  1,236

  1980

  1,122

  1981

  1,143

  1982

  1,157

  1983

  1,109

  1984

  1,028

  1985

  986

  1986

  1,072

  1 Haringey district prior to 1982.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of people on hospital waiting lists in the Haringey health authority area on the latest available date; and what are corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

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

  Number of patients on in-patient waiting list at 31 March, Haringey District Health Authority1, 1979–87.

  Year

  Total cases

  1979

  2,063

  1980

  1,721

  1981

  1,602

  1982

  1,710

  1983

  1,456

  1984

  1,108

  1985

  1,208

  1986

  1,225

  1987

  1,004

  1 Haringey district prior to 1982.

  Industrial Death Benefit
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his Department's decision to withdraw the industrial death benefit of those widows receiving it whose husbands died before 11 April.
  467
  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) and for Paisley, South (Mr. Buchan) on 18 April 1988 at columns 344–45.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the formula which determined the allocation of social fund grants and loans to local offices, what was the expenditure on single payments for each office in the period used for assessment under the formula; what that figure is as a percentage of the national total; and what the social fund loan and grants allocations to each office for 1988–89 were as a percentage of the national total.

  Mr. Scott
  A note explaining the basis of the allocation of the social fund budgets for 1988–89 has been in the Library since December. For information on single payment expenditure for the 32-week period ending 7 April 1987, I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 18 February at column 701. Social fund allocations were announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 4 November 1987 at columns 774–81.

  Abortion
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total number of abortions, under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, in the Sheffield health authority area for each of the last seven years for which figures are available; how many of these abortions were performed on ground 4 where there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped; and how many of these abortions were performed on ground 5 to save the life of the pregnant woman.

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

  Notifications of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 to usual residents of Sheffield health areas, by selected grounds 1980–1986

  Area of usual residence

  All grounds

  Ground 4

  Ground 5

  Sheffield area health authority

  1980

  1,299

  16

  —

  1981

  1,317

  22

  —

  1982

  1,322

  21

  —

  Sheffield district health authority

  1983

  1,308

  22

  —

  1984

  1,398

  29

  —

  1985

  1,402

  17

  —

  1986

  1,486

  10

  —

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations his Department has received from the Disablement Income Group with reference to the decision not to disregard savings of mobility allowance for the purchase of a car in evaluating 468
  capital and entitlement to income support; when they were received; what action has been taken; what reply he is sending; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Mr. Peter Large of the Disablement Income Group wrote to me on 27 February on this subject. I shall reply as soon as possible.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations his Department has received from the joint committee on mobility for the disabled with reference to the decision not to disregard savings of mobility allowance for the purchase of a car in evaluating capital and entitlement to income support; when they were received; what action has been taken; what reply he is sending; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  No representation has been received from the joint committee on mobility for the disabled.

THE ARTS

  Child Care
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what child care provision his Office provides for pre-school age children of the Office's employees; what child care provision for school holiday and/or after-school care is provided for employees' children aged five and over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to he funded.

  Mr. Luce
  At present no child care provision is provided by the Office of Arts and Libraries for employees' children.

  There are no plans to introduce such facilities in the next five years.

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts (1) whether he has figures updated from the 1980 Department of Education and Science review of the Victoria and Albert museum conservation department for(a) the proportion of 16th to 20th century miniatures which now require conservation; (b) how many 16th to 20th century miniatures now require major treatment; (c) how many objects in the prints and drawings departments now require urgent treatment and (d) how many items in the reserve collection of tapestries are now decaying;

  (2) what have been the receipts from the sale of Army objects in the collections of (a) the British museum and (b) the Victoria and Albert museums in each of the past 10 years;

  (3) whether the Clore gallery at the Tate gallery has a computerised alarm system; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what he estimates would be the cost of introducing computerised alarm systems at (a) the Tate gallery and (b) the Victoria and Albert museums;

  (5) whether the collections in (a) the Tate gallery, (b) the British museum and (c) the Victoria and Albert museum are insured; and if he will make a statement;

  (6) whether, pursuant to paragraphs 4.17 of the National Audit Office report "The Management of English Museums", he will name the collection of manuscripts in the Victoria and Albert museum's national

  469
  art library which, according to that report, is in a distressing condition with widespread deterioration of paper and bindings; and what is its estimated value;

  (7) whether he will list the off-site storage locations of (a) the British museum and (b) the Victoria and Albert museum and indicate (i) which are devoted solely to storage and (ii) the storage space of each in square metres;

  (8) what estimates he has of the cost of installing (a) temperature controls, (b) humidity controls and (c) an air filteration system for the storage of the British museum's prints and drawings department;

  (9) how many duplicates of objects are in the collections of (a) the British museum and (b) the Victoria and Albert museum;

  (10) how many objects in the collections of (a) the British museum (b) the Victoria and Albert museum have become useless for the purposes of the collection over the past 10 years by reason of (a) damage, (b) deterioration or (c) infestation;

  (11) whether, pursuant to paragraphs 2–4 of the National Audit Office report, "The Management of National Museums" he will list the potential acquisitions which have been rejected by (a) the Tate gallery, (b) the British museum and (c) the Victoria and Albert museum in each of the last five years on the grounds of consequential resource costs;

  (12) how many objects in the collection of (a) the British museum and (b) the Victoria and Albert museum have been (i) given away, (ii) sold or (iii) transferred to other museums and galleries, over the past 10 years; and whether he will list all such objects whose value is greater than £1,000;

  (13) how many professional and qualified staff were employed in conservation at (a) the Tate gallery, (b) the British museum and (c) the Victoria and Albert museum in (i) 1977 and (ii) 1987;

  (14) what information is available to his Department, pursuant to paragraph 1.10 of the National Audit Office report, "Management of National Museums", Cm. 394, to make it possible to identify areas where action is most urgently required at (a) the Tate gallery, (b) the British museum and (c) the Victoria and Albert museum;

  (15) how many objects are in the collection of (a) the British museum and (b) the Victoria and Albert museum.

  Mr. Luce
  I shall write to the hon. Member and will place copies of my letter in the Library of the House.

EMPLOYMENT

  Industrial Tribunals (Appeals)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many appeals to industrial tribunals were made by workers living in the city of Carlisle in the years 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987; and what percentage of those workers were represented during the tribunal hearings.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The relevant statistics for residents within the Carlisle postal district are as follows:470

  Number of complaints heard by industrial tribunals

  Per cent of applicants represented at hearings

  1983

  21

  48

  1984

  19

  58

  1985

  68

  99

  1986

  8

  75

  1987

  15

  80

  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to require claims for unfair dismissal to be made in writing to industrial tribunals and to be made available to the employers against whom complaint is made before the hearing.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The industrial tribunal rules of procedure already require this to be done.

  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to require claimants who fail in their applications to industrial tribunals for unfair dismissal to bear their own costs.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Parties to unfair dismissal cases generally bear their own costs, though under their rules of procedure industrial tribunals may order a party who has acted frivolously, vexatiously or otherwise unreasonably to pay the costs of the other party.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the actual and percentage changes in employment for the years 1977 and 1987 were in (i) Yorkshire and Humberside and (ii) Don Valley constituency in the following main industry groups:(a) mining, (b) manufacturing, (c) construction, (d) distribution and leisure, (e) financial services and (f) public and other services.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information is as follows:

  Employees in Employment in Yorkshire and Humberside Region Changes in the levels of employment between June 1977 and June 1987

  Numbers

  Percentages

  Manufacturing

  -273,000

  -37·9

  Construction

  -16,000

  -15·2

  Wholesale distribution, hotels and catering

  56,000

  34·6

  Retail distribution

  -6,000

  -3·4

  Banking, insurance and finance

  57,000

  64·0

  Public administration and defence

  -1,000

  -0·8

  Education, health and other services

  59,000

  17·4

  The available employee estimates for parliamentary constituencies are from censuses of employment taken in September 1981 and September 1984. An industry breakdown is not available for the earlier year, but, overall, the estimated number of employees in employment in the Don Valley constituency showed a reduction of 2,700, or 12 per cent., between the two census dates.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each standard region the most recent figures which are available showing the annual change in (i) the number of employees in employment and (ii) the number of full-time equivalent employees in employment.
  471
  Mr. Lee
  There is insufficient detail in the quarterly employment estimates to form the basis of a calculation of a full-time equivalent series. The available information is as follows:

  Employees in employment Changes in the levels of employment between December 1986 and December 1987

  Thousands

  Males

  Females

  All

  All

  All

  Part time

  employees

  South East

  40

  107

  40

  149

  East Anglia

  19

  17

  9

  35

  South West

  1

  17

  8

  17

  West Midlands

  11

  32

  21

  43

  East Midlands

  13

  20

  7

  33

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  5

  18

  10

  22

  North West

  -7

  12

  11

  4

  North

  4

  10

  7

  13

  Wales

  1

  7

  2

  8

  Scotland

  -10

  14

  14

  4

  The labour force survey provides information on a different basis from which can be calculated the person hours usually worked by employees. The changes between spring 1986 and spring 1987 are shown in the following table.

  Increase between spring 1986 and spring 1987 in person hours usually worked by employees

  Thousand person hours per week

  Per cent.

  South East

  154

  0·1

  East Anglia

  223

  0·8

  South West

  2,064

  3·4

  West Midlands

  -1,379

  -1·9

  East Midlands

  -838

  -1·5

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  332

  0·5

  North West

  1,882

  2·2

  North

  830

  2·1

  Wales

  51

  0·1

  Scotland

  -516

  -0·7

  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the rate of change in unemployment levels in the last 12 months in the northwest.

  Mr. Lee
  On 10 March 1988 the number of unemployed claimants in the north-west region, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers was 347,800, a fall of 15.8 per cent. since March 1987.

  Termination of Employment
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to require employers to provide dismissed employees with reasons in writing for the termination of their employment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Section 53 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 gives an employee the right, subject to certain qualifying conditions, to be provided with a written statement giving particulars of the reasons for dismissal.

  Race and Sex Monitoring
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will institute an inquiry to seek detailed information on the full extent of race and sex monitoring in the workplace.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. To institute such an inquiry would have considerable resource implications and impose additional burdens on employers.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of the 374 major private sector employers visited by the Department of Employment's race relations advisory service(a) have introduced ethnic monitoring and (b) are actively considering the introduction of ethnic monitoring; and if he will place a list of such employers in the Library.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Of the 374 major private sector employers visited in the period April 1985 to December 1987, 79 had introduced ethnic monitoring and 47 were actively considering the introduction of ethnic monitoring. I cannot place a list of these employers in the Library for the reasons I gave to the hon. Member in my reply of 18 April 1988, at column 319.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will issue a circular to major employers in the private sector, requesting them to comply with the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and of the Equal Opportunities Commission, in respect of monitoring and positive action.

  Mr. Nicholls
  An initiative of this kind would be more appropriate for the commissions to undertake. The Government encourage the adoption of the recommendations in the CRE and EOC codes of practice, including those relating to monitoring and positive action. This Department's race relations employment advisory service is at the present time giving particular publicity to the positive action provisions within the Race Relations Act and is encouraging employers to use them whenever appropriate. It will also be supporting the CRE's forthcoming campaign to promote its code of practice.

  Race and Sex Monitoring
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) by whom the research project will shortly be commissioned to investigate the benefits that accrue from the introduction of ethnic monitoring systems by employers; by whom the project will be carried out; how long the project will take; how much it will cost; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he will commission a research project to investigate the benefits that accrue from the introduction of sex monitoring systems by employers.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The research project to investigate the benefits of ethnic monitoring systems will be commissioned by my Department. It will be carried out by an independent university-based research team, will take one year, and will cost up to £40,000

  The research project to investigate the benefits of ethnic monitoring should also throw some light on those that accrue from sex monitoring. It would therefore be premature to consider further research on sex monitoring until the current project has been reported.

  Child Care
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of the Department's employees; what child care provision for school holiday and/or after-school care is provided for employees' children aged five and over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

  Mr. Lee
  In the Department of Employment group a care-parent scheme operates for staff with children under five years old at the Health and Safety Executive headquarters in Bootle. Holiday play schemes, for employees' children aged five years and over, operate in the Department of Employment's headquarters at Runcorn, the Manpower Services Commission headquarters at Sheffield and the Health and Safety Executive headquarters in London. Additionally, we participate in two interdepartmental holiday play schemes in Bootle and Edinburgh. Several initiatives are under consideration or are proposed. These include the provision of creche facilities, at the Department of Employment in Runcorn and at the Health and Safety Executive in Bootle; also a care-parent scheme for Manpower Services Commission staff at Sheffield and an interdepartmental holiday play scheme in London (SW1). As regards plans to increase provision in the next five years, the Department will continue to consider sympathetically proposals for day care and holiday play schemes and, where possible, will provide practical help where there is evidence of sufficient demand to make it financially viable. The Department may be able to offer initial financial support to new daycare schemes but they must be viable without a continuing subsidy.

  Former Chemical Factory, Ilford
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the Health and Safety Inspectorate last visited the site of a former chemical factory in Uphall road, Ilford; what were the results of its monitoring; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive last visited this site on 1st March 1988 to meet the prospective developers of the site and discuss their plans for development. No monitoring of the site was carried out by the Health and Safety Executive during the visit.

  Member's Correspondence
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now reply to the letter sent to him on 3 February by the hon. Member for Gower in relation to a constituent residing in Llanmadoc, Gower.

  Mr. Lee
  I have now written to the hon. Member.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Potatoes
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the market support prices for 474
  potatoes to apply in Northern Ireland for the 1988–89 crop year beginning on 1 July have been determined; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  Yes, following consultation with the Ulster Farmers Union it has been decided that the support price for the 1988 ware potato crop should remain at the level which applied to the 1987 crop, namely £46 per tonne. Any support operation will be limited to a maximum of 60,000 tonnes and as previously announced the target area for Northern Ireland planting in 1988 is 12,500 hectares.

  I believe that these arrangements will provide growers with a reasonable degree of assistance should it be necessary to introduce potato market support measures. I would, however, hope that support measures will not be necessary and I look to producers to make a positive contribution to market equilibrium by avoiding over-planting.

  China (Trade Delegation)
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the Northern Ireland trade delegation to China.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding reply 14 April 1988.]: I visited China from 20–31 March with a trade delegation comprising representatives of eight Northern Ireland companies. The delegation, which was organised and supported by the Industrial Development Board, visited Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing.

  The companies representatives visited a large number of potential customers and orders have been secured as a result of contacts made. I also met a number of organisations interested in investing outside China and these discussions have already led to a follow-up visit by a major Chinese clothing manufacturer to Northern Ireland.

  School Assemblies
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy towards the holding during school assemblies, of public signings of pledges as part of campaigns organised by bodies which do not recognise or support the role of the security forces in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding reply 15 April 1988]: This is primarily a matter for school authorities operating within existing legislation. I am not aware of any campaign in schools being organised by bodies opposed to the security forces.

SCOTLAND

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the privatisation of the electricity industry in Scotland will require any minimum level of electricity generation by non-nuclear plant; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government have no such proposals in mind.

  Low-alcohol Lager
  Mr. Michael Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will take to prevent licensed grocers from selling low-alcohol lager to children under 18 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The sale of any beverage which in strength exceeds 1·2 per cent. of ethyl alcohol to children under the age of 18 years is an offence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976. Anyone possessing evidence of such an offence should bring the matter to the attention of the police.

  Child Care
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration is being given by him to the EEC resolution on child care.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I assume the hon. Member is referring to the resolution on child care infrastructures adopted by the European Parliament at its session on 10 March 1986 and published subsequently in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Such resolutions are not binding on member states.

  Scottish Ferry Companies
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the level of subsidy paid to the Scottish ferry companies expressed per head of the population in the islands for the last five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The figures requested are as follows :

  £

  1983–84

  95·41

  1984–85

  100·91

  1985–86

  106·42

  1986–87

  102·75

  1987–88

  190·82

  1 Estimate.

  The subsidies are the deficit subsidies paid to Caledonian MacBrayne and the Orkney Islands Shipping Company (OISC) and the fare subsidies payments made to P and O Ferries. Payments to OISC ended in 1986–87 when responsibility for support was transferred to the Orkney Islands council. This figure was £1·0 million in the final year. The population figures are from the 1981 census for Orkney, Shetland, the Outer and Inner Hebrides and islands in the Clyde.

  Torness Power Station
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the rate of return to be obtained by the South of Scotland electricity board and the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board currently and after completion of the Torness power station.

  Mr. Lang
  In 1986–87, the latest year for which figures were available, the current cost rate of return on net assets employed achieved jointly by the Scottish electricity boards was 2·8 per cent. The agreed financial target for 1987–88 is 2·7 per cent, and for 1988–89 is 2·8 per cent. The rate of return for the period beyond 1988–89 is still to be discussed.
  476
  Torness power station is expected to start supplying the grid in the course of this year and should be fully commissioned by the early 1990s.

  Courts Administration
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been employed by the Scottish courts administration in the last five years for which information is available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of staff in terms of full-time equivalents employed by the Scottish courts administration at 1 April in each of the last five years was as follows :

  Year

  Number

  1 April 1984

  880

  1 April 1985

  882½

  1 April 1986

  868½

  1 April 1987

  869

  1 April 1988

  872½

  District Courts
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by court the number of criminal cases dealt with in the district courts in Scotland in the last five years for which information is available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply given to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) on Monday 18 January 1988, at column 518.

  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the establishment of the Crown Office and procurator fiscal service in Scotland; and how many people have been employed in each of the last five years for which information is available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The numbers of staff who are and have been employed in the Crown Office and procurator fiscal service, on 1 April each year, are as follows:

  Year

  Staff

  1988

  1,007

  1987

  981

  1986

  956

  1985

  968

  1984

  942

  1983

  927

  Air Pollution
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the dangers that can be caused by the discharge of an excessive level of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere over Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Emissions of sulphur dioxide from Scottish sources amount to less than 5 per cent, of United Kingdom emissions. There is no evidence that current levels of SO2 in the atmosphere are having any direct effect on human, animal or plant health, but SO2 emissions can contribute to the acidification of

  477
  freshwaters. A considerable monitoring and research programme, with substantial Government funding, is being undertaken in Scotland to assess the levels and effects of deposition.

  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the dangers that can be caused by the discharge of an excessive level of heavy metals into the atmosphere over Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There is no evidence that current levels of heavy metals discharged into the atmosphere in Scotland are having any effect on human, animal, fish or plant health.

  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment is made by his Department of the level of heavy metals discharged into the atmosphere over Scotland annually from the burning of fossil fuels by electricity generating stations in England and Wales; what are the levels for the remaining discharge of heavy metals; and what is treated as a safe level.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Assessments of the concentrations of heavy metals in the atmosphere in Scotland are carried out on behalf of the Scottish Development Department by the Warren Spring laboratory. It would he very difficult at present to establish the proportion arising from power stations in England and Wales, but it is likely to be negligible.

  The concentrations of lead recorded in Scotland have been within the limit value set by the EC directive for lead in air. No generally accepted concentration is set for other elements, but the levels recorded in Scotland have been below mean levels normally recorded in urban atmospheres in the United Kingdom.

  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measurements are made by his Department to assess the emissions of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Measurements of the levels of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere are not made as a matter of routine by the Scottish Development Department, but are undertaken as part of a survey organised on a national basis under the auspices of the Warren Spring laboratory of the Department of Trade and Industry and funded by the Department of the Environment.

  Ski Facilities
  Sir Russell Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has given further consideration to the proposals for a ski facility at Aonach Mor in Fort William; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I understand that new proposals for the ski development at Aonach Mor near Fort William are under discussion between the developers and the public bodies involved. The proposals have not yet been submitted to the Industry Department for Scotland.

  Sir Russell Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any proposals for the extension of the Glencoe ski facility; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I am not aware of any plans for extending the Glencoe ski facility at present. New facilities were 478
  opened for the 1987–88 season with Government financial assistance from the Highlands and Islands Development Board and the Scottish Sports Council.

ENVIRONMENT

  Water Purity
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on progress made towards full implementation of the European Economic Community directives on drinking water and bathing water.

  Mr. Ridley
  Most public water supplies for which derogations have been sought from the European Commission are expected to comply with the EC drinking water directive by 1990. In addition, I have asked water undertakers in England to review their investment programmes in the light of my statement of 2 December 1987 about a revised interpretation of this directive.

  All significant seaside resorts are included within the scope of the bathing water directive. More than half the bathing waters comply with the directive's standards and major improvement schemes are in hand or planned to bring the others up to these standards.

  Planning Laws
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received seeking legislation to reform the planning laws.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I receive frequent representations asking for planning legislation either to he tightened or to be relaxed.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met representatives of(a) Age Concern, (b) the Child Poverty Action Group, (c) the Low Pay Unit, (d) the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, and (e) the British Council of Churches to discuss the effects of the poll tax; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Chope
  I have not had a request for a meeting to discuss the community charge from any of these bodies.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of electors in the boroughs of Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough currently pay domestic rates; and what forecast he has of the proportion that will pay the community charge.

  Mr. Chope
  About half the electors in Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees pay rates, whereas virtually all electors will pay the community charge.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of gainers and losers from the proposed poll tax in Lewisham.

  Mr. Howard
  The estimates of gainers and losers from the introduction of the community charge which I published on 13 Janaury were produced using data from the family expenditure survey. Projections for individual local authority areas are not possible because of the limitations of the sample survey data.
  479
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people and how many organisations have made representations to him in favour of the community charge since June 1987.

  Mr. Nicholas Ridley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion).

  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the average community charge that would be levied in 1988–89 if the Local Government Finance Bill were in force.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 28 March at column 312.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of people who will be exempt from paying any community charge under the proposals in the Local Government Finance Bill.

  Mr. Howard
  I estimate that about ½ million people will be exempt from the community charge.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps, following the introduction of the community charge, to ensure that landlords allow a reduction in rents equivalent to the amount of community charge which the tenant will thereafter have to pay personally.

  Mr. Howard
  Many tenants already pay rent exclusive of rates, and pay their rates direct to the local authority. Tenants with registered rents, which are always fixed exclusive of rates, will no longer be liable for any separate rates contribution to their landlord when the community charge is introduced. For tenancies granted before the current Housing Bill becomes law, tenants who do not have a registered rent, and who do not know what the rates element of their rent may be, can if necessary at any time register a rent to establish this.

  Where a rent assessment committee arbitrates on market rents for new-style assured and shorthold tenancies granted after the Housing Bill becomes law, but before domestic rates are abolished, these rents will also be exclusive of rates. For other assured tenancies granted before the introduction of the community charge, where the tenant has not been paying rates direct to the local authority, it will be for the parties to negotiate a reduction in the rent to reflect the abolition of rates. We shall be issuing advice to tenants on this. We see no need for further measures.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost to local authorities of developing computer systems for the poll tax.

  Mr. Howard
  This is one of the aspects of a study now being undertaken by Price Waterhouse on which a report is expected next month.

  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the increase in the maximum net weekly incomes that would qualify for community charge rebates by using a taper of 15 per cent. instead of a taper of 20 per cent. in calculating rebate entitlement.

  Mr. Howard
  The increase in maximum net weekly incomes that would qualify for community charge rebates 480
  by using a taper of 15 per cent. instead of a taper of 20 per cent. would vary according to circumstances of the claimant and the level of the community charge.

  I have today placed in the Library a table showing the increase over a range of community charges, for a single person aged 18–24, a couple with two children under 11, and a pensioner couple aged 60–79.

  So, for example, on the basis of a taper of 15 per cent., a couple with two children aged under 11, where the community charge is £224 would qualify for a rebate with a net weekly income of up to 131·77. In gross terms this would be approximately £7,700 per annum or nearly three quarters of the national average wage.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to announce the appointment of the chairman of the National Rivers Authority.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Next year. However, I hope shortly to make an announcement about the chairmanship of the National Rivers Authority Advisory Committee.

  Waste Disposal Sites
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received about safety arrangements for waste disposal sites; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have received my hon. Friend's letter of 22 March about building houses on or near old waste disposal sites.

  Following a letter in December last to all waste disposal authorities, my Department is currently in the process of establishing the numbers of sites capable of generating methane, and will publish later this year a waste management paper on how to deal with the problem.

  Housing (South of England)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further plans he has for increasing the amount of land available for housing in the south of England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend has asked the south east regional planning conference to consider the implications for housing requirements in the south-east of the new population and household projections. In light of SERPLAN's advice, we shall consider the need for revised regional guidance to county planning authorities on the appropriate scale and distribution of housing provision in county structure plans.

  Derelict and Unused Land
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reviews his Department is undertaking with regard to the release of derelict, vacant, dormant, underutilised and unused land in public ownership.

  Mr. Ridley
  My Department keeps under constant review the extent of unused and underused land owned by public bodies that is entered on the land registers; and, where necessary, statutory procedures to force disposal are initiated.
  481
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether details of vacant, dormant, derelict and underutilised land in Crown ownership are included in the register of vacant land held in his Department.

  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that details of vacant, dormant, derelict and underutilised land in Crown ownership to be included in the register of vacant land held in his Department.

  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now arrange for details of vacant, derelict and underutilised land in Crown ownership to be included in the register of vacant land held by his Department.

  Mr. Ridley
  Details of unused and underused land in Crown ownership are included in the registers of such land compiled and maintained under part X of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.

  Sir Charles Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites of under one acre of vacant, dormant and derelict land are in the ownership of his Department; and when he expects to sell them.

  Mr. Chope
  Fifteen sites, all of which are in varying stages of disposal, and I expect to complete sales by the end of this financial year.

  Litter
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any recent representations from tourist authorities for more effective powers to combat litter.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No, but I am aware of their concern about litter, which I share.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the chairman or board of the London Docklands development corporation concerning its response to the letter from Messrs. Robson Rhodes concerning its financial procedures.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department has examined the issues identified by Messrs. Robson Rhodes following its 1985–86 external audit of the corporation and the LDDC board's response. I will make a statement shortly about the Department's conclusions.

  Reddish Vale (Sale)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the sale of Reddish Vale by the Greater Manchester residuary body.

  Mr. Chope
  I have received representations from hon. Members, from Stockport and Tameside district councils, from the Tame Valley joint committee and from local residents.

  Local Authorities and Housing Associations
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is planning to take to reinforce the partnership between local authorities and housing associations.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have provided the framework for partnership between local authorities and housing associations. We are considering ways in which Exchequer support might be continued for local authority funding of housing association schemes. It is up to local authorities and housing associations themselves to develop partnership.

  Private Rented Accommodation
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the demand for private rented accommodation at market rents.

  Mrs. Roe
  It is not possible to make any precise estimate of the demand for private rented accommodation at market rents. It is, however, clear that there will always be people who want to rent, in particular, the young, single and mobile and those who cannot afford owner-occupation. We owe it to these people to provide a healthy private sector and we are confident that deregulation of future lettings will help to achieve this objective.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to meet the chairman of Nirex to discuss matters relating to the management of nuclear waste.

  Mr. Moyniham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) on 17 February at column 673.

  Vacant Land (Disposal)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much vacant land has been handed over to the Property Services Agency by Government Departments for disposal and has not been sold after 12 months.

  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much land has been handed over to the Property Services Agency by Government Departments for disposal and has not been sold after 12 months.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the owners of public vacant land in respect of which he has issued more than three disposal notices since the procedures were introduced.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information is as follows :

  My right hon. Friend has given notice, under section 99 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, on more than three occasions, to the following public bodies in respect of unused and underused land in their ownership :

  Barking and Dagenham LB

  Cheshire CC

  Derbyshire CC

  Doncaster MBC

  Hounslow LB

  483

  Kingston LB

  Kingston-upon-Hull City Council

  Lambeth LB

  Leeds City Council

  Manchester City Council

  Sheffield MDC

  Shropshire CC

  Southwark LB

  Sunderland MBC

  Tameside MBC

  Trafford MBC

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by size of land holding, the largest public owners of vacant land.

  Mr. Trippier
  The information is as follows: On 31 March 1988, the 10 public bodies with the largest areas of land recorded on the registers of publicly-owned unused and underused land were:

  Acres

  1. British Rail

  8,613

  2. DHSS

  3,926

  3. CEGB

  2,724

  4. Commission for New Towns

  2,507

  5. Telford Development Corporation

  1,878

  6. British Coal

  1,781

  7. Warrington Development Corporation

  1,640

  8. Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority

  1,410

  9. Bristol City Council

  1,312

  10. Leeds City Council

  1,222

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much dormant land has been handed over to the Property Services Agency by Government Departments for disposal and has not been sold after 12 months.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) earlier today.

  Rates
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement in respect of the average increase in rates from 1 April.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) earlier today.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the average increase in domestic rates from 1 April.

  Mr. Howard
  8·8 per cent.

  Public Vacant Land
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average time that public vacant land sites remain on the land register.

  Mr. Trippier
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Southern England (Development)
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce new controls to restrain development pressures in southern England.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are pursuing a range of policies designed to encourage development in other parts of the 484
  country, particularly the inner cities. But provision for economic growth and new housing will still need to be made in southern England. It is the job of the planning system to ensure that necessary development is accommodated in ways which do not conflict with our policies for the green belt and the protection of the countryside.

  Rubbish (Illegal Dumping)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with local authorities about the possibility of strengthening present legislation on the illegal dumping of rubbish in residential areas.

  Mr. Moynihan
  There have been no recent discussions with local authorities about illegal dumping. but the Government remain concerned that action should be taken to reduce or eliminate it. Our proposals for strengthening the law on waste disposal, including a duty of care on waste producers and registration of waste carriers, were made in a consultation paper issued in September 1986. We are considering the responses and hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Metaldehydrate and Methiocarb
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any evidence of harmful effects to land, rivers and plant life caused by the use of metaldehydrate and methiocarb.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I am advised that the substance referred to in the question as metaldehydrate is probably metaldehyde. Products containing metaldehyde and methiocarb are approved under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 for specified uses, mainly as molluscicides. Both substances are toxic and can be harmful to pets and to wildlife, including birds and fish. Pesticides containing these substances should not present an undue hazard to the environment when used according to the conditions of approval.

  Rugby Union
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the president of the Rugby Union; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I last met the president of the Rugby Football Union on 16 December 1987. We discussed taxation and rates, sporting links with South Africa, drug abuse in sport, the rugby World Cup and the redevelopment of Twickenham.

  Berkshire Structure Plan
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received concerning his proposed modifications to the Berkshire structure plan.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend has received 2,188 written representations to his proposed modifications to the replacement structure plan for Berkshire, together with a substantial petition. The six-week period for representations ended on 31 March 1988.

  Green Belt Development (Legal Costs)
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make provision for assistance with legal costs for objections against substantial planning applications affecting rural land and land within the green belt.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have no plans to alter the longstanding arrangement that the cost of promoting and of resisting development proposals falls to the respective parties. Nevertheless, applicants who unreasonably pursue on appeal proposals which are contrary to established planning policy, whether in the green belt or elsewhere, may find that the costs of the proceedings where there is an inquiry, including the costs of objectors, are awarded against them.

  Benthall Park Development
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his decision on the proposed Benthall park development, in the light of the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the green belt.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Benthall park development was allowed because of the pressing need to provide new housing for Harlow and the Stansted airport expansion. The detailed boundary of the green belt in the area has yet to be defined. The circumstances of that case were exceptional, and the decision does not signify any lessening of the Government's commitment to protect the green belt from inappropriate development.

  Vacant Inner-City Land
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies his Department has commissioned to examine the causes of inner city land remaining vacant.

  Mr. Trippier
  In February 1988 we published "Vacant Urban Land : A Literature Review 1976–86", the central part of which outlines the current state of knowledge on the nature of the urban land market and in particular the causes of urban land vacancy. The Property Advisory Group is presently examining the problems of vacant inner city land, and we expect to commission further research in the near future.

  Tree Preservation Orders (Compensation)
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to limit the compensation that may be paid when a tree preservation order is issued to a valuation as woodland.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Adjournment debate which took place in the House on 22 March at columns 335–38. The Government are giving urgent consideration to the most appropriate action to maintain the general effectiveness of tree preservation orders affecting woodland, following the recent decision by the Court of Appeal.

  Housing Tenancies (Fiscal Neutrality)
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to create greater fiscal neutrality amongst the different housing tenancies.
  486
  Mrs. Roe
  One of the aims of the Government's housing policy is to encourage the revival of private investment in rented housing. The Chancellor's proposal, announced in the Budget, to extend the business expansion scheme to cover the provision of private rented housing will be a major help in encouraging investment in this sector.

  Ancient Monuments
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding the care and protection of ancient monuments.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We receive various representations and correspondence from time to time about the care and protection of ancient monuments. Many of these relate to applications for scheduled monument consent, suggestions that monuments should be scheduled, or other policy matters connected with the subject. If my hon. Friend has a particular problem in mind, perhaps he would care to write to me so that I can look into the matter properly.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to strengthen the powers of local planning authorities in respect of protecting open spaces and the green belt.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Planning authorities already have adequate powers to protect these areas.

  Home Improvement Grants
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to increase the home improvement grants available to home owners.

  Mrs. Roe
  The number of improvement grants awarded is determined by local authorities in the light of their assessment of the stock condition in their area and the resources available to them through their housing investment programme allocation and the prescribed proportion of capital receipts. The eligible expense limits used for calculating individual grants are expected to be increased later this year.

  Westminster City Council (Cemetery Sales)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement in respect of investigations by the district auditor into the disposal of cemeteries by Westminster city council.

  Mr. Chope
  The district auditor is still investigating the matter and I cannot anticipate the outcome.

  Land Disposal
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking in the context of the recent Government policy statement "Action for Inner Cities", to speed up the disposal of land from the land registers.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 7 March at columns 75–76. The policy

  487
  outlined then is additional to action already in train: the provisions of the Local Government Act 1988 streamline the procedures for directing disposals; and since 7 March further disposal directions have been issued and statutory procedures initiated in respect of other pieces of land.

  Government-owned Empty Property
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is initiating any action to bring Government-owned empty property into use for families in housing stress.

  Mrs. Roe
  Departments are fully aware of the need to bring empty dwellings back into use or, where they are no longer needed, to sell them as quickly as possible. Operational requirements are reviewed regularly and targets (agreed with the Treasury) set to reduce their vacant stock.

  Where Departments have no immediate operational need for empty dwellings but disposal is not practicable, they are encouraged to let them temporarily to local authorities or housing associations so that they may be used for homeless people. So far more than 275 lettings have been arranged by the Ministry of Defence.

  House Repairs
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage local authorities to find their own schemes for repairing houses designated as defective under the Housing Act 1985.

  Mrs. Roe
  Of the 50 repair systems for designated house types now licensed by PRC Homes Ltd., six have been commissioned by local authorities, and three more are currently under appraisal. Local authorities are already encouraged to submit their own schemes for licensing, particularly where they possess house types not commonly found elsewhere.

  London (Voluntary Sector)
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent study he has made of the effect of Greater London council abolition on the voluntary sector in London.

  Mr. Chope
  I have not commissioned such a study and have no plans to do so.

  Water Companies Association
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met representatives of the Water Companies Association; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Moynihan
  With the Minister for the Environment, Countryside and Water, I met representatives of the Water Companies Association on 25 January. We discussed their response to our two consultation papers on the statutory water companies.

  Out-of-Town Shopping Centres
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he uses, with particular reference to the impact on employment in the inner cities, when deciding upon planning applications for out-of-town shopping centres; and if he will make a statement.
  488
  Mr. Trippier
  I refer my hon. Friend to a planning policy guidance note on major retail development (PPG6) issued by my Department and the Welsh Office on 20 January this year. Copies are in the Library. The note advises that, exceptionally, it will be necessary to consider whether the cumulative effects of other recent and proposed large scale retail developments in a locality could seriously affect the vitality and viability of a nearby town centre as a whole.

  Housing Action Trusts
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now announce the areas where the first housing action trusts will he established.

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Litherland) on 16 March 1988 at column 598.

  London Residuary Body
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to add an additional member nominated by the Association of London Authorities to the London residuary body; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 April at column 233.

  Redundant Farm Buildings
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to take to encourage the conversion of redundant farm buildings for small businesses.

  Mrs. Roe
  The planning policy guidance note on rural enterprise and development (PPG7), issued jointly by my Department and the Welsh Office on 20 January this year, emphasised yet again the contribution that reuse of redundant farm buildings can make to the rural economy without harm to the rural environment. Grants for the conversion of redundant buildings in rural development areas are available from the Rural Development Commission.

  System Built Housing
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the types of building systems designated under the Housing Defects Act.

  Mrs. Roe
  We have no general plans to review the list of nationally designated property types; but we are currently reconsidering Milton Keynes borough council's request that certain properties in its area be designated nationally and hope to reach a decision shortly.

  Special Need Housing
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning the future provision of special needs housing by housing associations; and when he will publish the planned consultation paper on the future of hostel deficit grant.

  Mrs. Roe
  The Government recognise the achievements of the housing association movement in the provision of
  489
  special needs housing, and continue to attach great importance to the work of associations in this area. The Department's consultation paper on the future of hostel deficit grant will be issued within the next few weeks.

  Private Empty Properties (Lease-back Arrangements)
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is making additional funds available for local authorities to enter into lease-back arrangements with the owners of private empty properties.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend's statement of 9 March indicated that he would consider giving additional capital allocations to facilitate projects which were brought within the capital control system by the measures announced in his statement, but which had not primarily been entered into for the purpose of avoiding capital expenditure or borrowing controls. In addition, my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning announced on 24 March that £28 million extra capital allocations would be targeted on local authorities where homelessness pressures are most acute. These allocations will not be confined to schemes for the leasing of property as these are not necessarily the most cost-effective means of providing accommodation.

  East Deane Local Plan
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the inspector into the East Deane local plan, relating to Taunton Deane, Somerset.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Inspectors who conduct inquiries into local plans report not to my right hon. Friend but to the local planning authority which prepared the plan. I understand that the inspector's report on the East Deane local plan was sent to Taunton Deane borough council on 15 April.

  Haringey (Rate Support Grant)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of rate support grant to Haringey borough council in each year since 1979 at current prices; and what proportion this represented of their total income.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is as follows :

  Rate support grant £ million

  Per cent. of total income1

  1979–80

  52·902

  56·7

  1980–81

  61·816

  51·9

  1981–822

  56·489

  38·9

  1982–832

  60·325

  41·0

  1983–843

  56·986

  33·5

  1984–853

  56·691

  31·0

  1985–863

  63·605

  30·0

  1986–874

  51·047

  n/a

  1987–884

  71·511

  n/a

  1988–894

  84·667

  n/a

  1 Total income is defined as rate fund revenue account gross income comprising sales, fees, charges, interest receipts, local rates, specific grants and rate support grant. It is net of general administration recharged to other services and accounts.

  2 The grant figures and grant as a percentage of total income are not comparable with those for years before 1981–82 because the arrangements for paying grant changed in 1981–82; the needs
  490
  resources and domestic elements of grant were replaced by block grant and domestic rate relief grant.

  3 Income and grant as a percentage of total income are not comparable with those for years before 1983–84 due to the introduction of the unified housing benefit scheme in 1983–84 when arrangements for paying grant to local authorities were changed.

  4 The grant figures are not comparable with those for years before 1986–87 because of changes in local authorities' responsibilities following the abolition of the GLC.

  n/a = not available.

  Rhinoceros Populations and Products
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 28 January,Official Report, column 375, what progress he has made in formulating a detailed response to the resolution passed at the sixth meeting of the parties to CITES, relating to rhinoceros populations and trade in rhinoceros products.

  Mr. Moynihan
  A detailed response to this resolution remains a matter for discussion with our European Community partners. Meanwhile the controls on international trade in rhino horn remain as set out in my reply of 28 January. We have in addition, through our embassies in Kinshasa and Dhubai registered with the Burundi and UAE authorities, United Kingdom's concern about illegal trade in this product.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions are in existence to ensure that employment opportunities are made available to local residents in those areas where urban development corporations have been established.

  Mr. Trippier
  All urban development corporations see the creation of employment opportunities for those who live in and around their areas as an important part of their work. Each makes provision which seems appropriate to its circumstances.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each urban development corporation the percentage change in unemployment that has been realised since their establishment.

  Mr. Trippier
  Unemployment statistics are not available specifically for the areas of urban development corporations, although certain surveys have been carried out in Merseyside and London docklands. The Department of the Environment, the Manpower Services Commission and the corporations themselves have recently presented evidence on this complex subject to the Employment Committee. This will be published in due course, but in the meantime I refer the hon. Member to the uncorrected proofs which have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each urban development corporation the percentage and real term increase in value of property for sale and lease since their inception.

  Mr. Trippier
  Property values vary widely within each urban development corporation's area. There is no single measure of property values in each area currently available. The answer I gave the hon. Member on March 22, at column 55, may be helpful in indicating current values in the areas of the first two corporations, the range of those values and the factors which influence them.

  Heveningham Hall
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the identity of the present owner of Heveningham hall, and as to their nature and status.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Heveningham hall was conveyed in November 1981 to ID Investment Development AG, a company registered in Switzerland.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to identify the persons or bodies responsible for discharging the undertakings given at the time of the sale of Heveningham hall: and what steps are being taken to enforce the discharge of those undertakings.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Heveningham hall was conveyed to ID Investment Development AG in November 1981. Mr. Abdul-Amir Misr Al-Ghazzi personally covenanted with the Secretary of State in December 1981 that he would himself, so far as he was able, observe, or procure the observance of, the covenants of sale if the company should in any respect fail to fulfil them.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) on 18 February in respect of the discharging of the covenants of sale. We continue to monitor the situation carefully.

  River Bailiffs
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision there will be for bailiffing of rivers when the National River Authority is created.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The National Rivers Authority will assume the responsibility of the water authorities for fisheries conservation and management, and will he expected to adopt positive policies for fisheries management, including bailiffing.

  Hydrologic Code Comparison Project
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the hydrologic code intercomparison project sponsored by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development nuclear energy agency has been completed; and whether the United Kingdom has contributed any technical assistance to the project.

  Mr. Moynihan
  If the hon. Member is referring to the international HYDROCOIN (hydrological code inter-comparison) project, which was started in May 1984 by the Swedish nuclear power inspectorate (SKI), the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development participates as a member of the project secretariat, I understand that the project is complete and that reports of the various test cases are being prepared for publication in the near future. The British Geological Survey, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and Atkins Research and Development Ltd. have participated in the project.

  Montreal Protocol
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when Her Majesty's Government will ratify the Montreal protocol.
  492
  Mr. Moynihan
  The text of the protocol was laid before both Houses on 26 January 1988 and the necessary parliamentary procedures are, therefore, complete for the United Kingdom. We are now consulting the dependent territories and expect this process to be completed in good time to meet the target date for the protocol to enter into force on 1 January 1989. We are also discussing with our European partners a proposed decision that would enable the Community and its member states to ratify the protocol simultaneously.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what nations are currently signatories to the Montreal protocol; and which of them have ratified it.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The information is as follows:

  At a Diplomatic Conference on 16 September 1987 the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer was signed by :

  Belgium

  Canada

  Denmark

  European Economic Community

  Egypt

  Finland

  France

  Germany, Federal Republic of

  Ghana

  Italy

  Japan

  Kenya

  Mexico

  Netherlands

  New Zealand

  Norway

  Panama

  Portugal

  Senegal

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  Togo

  United Kingdom

  United States of America

  Venezuela

  We understand from the United Nations environment programme that it has since been signed by :

  Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic

  Greece

  Israel

  Luxembourg

  Morocco

  Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

  So far as we have been informed, the United States is the only country to have ratified the protocol.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures for the amount by which (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the European Community will have to cut consumption of chlorofluorocarbons by (a) 1990, (b) 1994 and (c) 1999 to meet the requirements of the Montreal protocol.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Under the Montreal protocol all parties are required by 1990 to freeze consumption of CFCs 11, 12, 113, 114 and 115 at 1986 levels; to reduce their consumption by 20 per cent. by 1994; and by a further 30 per cent. by 1999. The proposed regulation for implementing the protocol envisages that obligations in regard to consumption will he fulfilled by the Community as a whole but complete information about its level of consumption is not yet available. Separate figures are riot available for the United Kingdom or other individual member states.
  493
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on (i) the outcome of the European Community Council of Ministers meeting on 21 March regarding implementation of the Montreal protocol, (ii) what implementation programmes have been and will be undertaken by each of the European Community member states and (iii) future plans for consultation among European Community member states.

  Mr. Moynihan
  On the hon. Member's first point, I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Patnick) on 24 March at columns 186–87. Communitywide implementation of the protocol is the subject of a proposed regulation which is being examined by member states and which will be discussed by the Environment Council on 16 June.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he plans to request a review of the terms of the Montreal protocol in the light of new scientific data particularly that published by the International Ozone Trends Panel on 15 March; and if he will make a statement.

  £'000s

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  DOE

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  25

  48

  118

  140

  171

  Met Office

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  221

  164

  180

  353

  n/a

  NERC

  n/a

  531

  493

  912

  455

  443

  344

  505

  n/a

  SERC

  50

  100

  100

  200

  850

  1,000

  2,000

  1,100

  n/a

  Note: n/a indicates figures not readily available. SERC current commitments for 1988–89 arc £335,000.

  Expenditure by the Department has risen steadily over this period, and we are considering a further increase.

  Sewers (Leeds)
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what request he has received for an increase in the capital funding for the Yorkshire water authority for the completion of resewering of the Rothwell area of Leeds; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what request he has had for additional assistance to the Yorkshire water authority to help prevent raw sewage entering the river Dolphin in Rothwell, Leeds; what response he has made, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  None. This year my right hon. Friend increased capital expenditure provision for Yorkshire Water to £132 million.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with the Water Authorities Association about the regulation which will apply in the water industry following the privatisation legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Pursuant to my answer on 9 March to the hon. Member for Ynys Mon (Mr. Jones) at column 228, the Minister for Environment, Countryside and Water met the chairman of the Water Authorities
  494
  Mr. Moynihan
  The Montreal protocol contains its own provisions for regular reviews of the control measures on the basis of scientific, environmental, technical and economic information. The first such review will be undertaken in 1990. In the meantime the Department's stratospheric ozone research group is studying all the latest scientific evidence, including that of the ozone trends panel, and will publish an up-to-date assessment in the autumn.

  Ozone Research Programme
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures for public expenditure on each stratospheric ozone research programme receiving grants from Her Majesty's Government for each year since 1980 for which figures are available; and whether he plans to increase expenditure on such research.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Expenditure on stratospheric ozone research by the Department, the Meteorological Office, the Natural Environment Research Council and the Science and Engineering Research Council, for each year since 1980 is as follows:

  Association on 8 March and 19 April to discuss a range of issues relating to the privatisation of the water industry, including regulation.

  Water Services
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assurances he has given to the Water Authorities Association about the maintenance of the efficiency of water authorities' services after the demise of the integrated river basin concept of management; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the hon. Member to the consultation paper and policy memorandum, published by the Government in July and December last year. Copies of both were placed in the Library of the House.

  Air Pollution
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the dangers that can he caused by the discharge of an excessive level of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere over England and Wales.

  Mr. Moynihan
  There is extensive literature on health and other effects of sulphur dioxide, a convenient summary of which is contained in WHO "Air Quality Guidelines for Europe," WHO regional publications, European series No. 23. The permitted level for SO2 in air is set by the EC directive 80/779/EEC.
  495
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has on the dangers that can be caused by the discharge of an excessive level of heavy metals into the atmosphere over England and Wales;

  (2) what assessment is made by his Department of the level of heavy metals discharged into the atmosphere annually from the burning of fossil fuels by electricity generating stations in England and Wales; what are the levels for the remaining discharge of heavy metals; and what is treated as a safe level.

  Mr. Moynihan
  There is extensive literature on the health and environmental effects of excessive levels of heavy metals. In England and Wales Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution ensures that best practicable means are used to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from power stations and other scheduled works to safe levels set on the basis of the available scientific data. Current presumptive emission limits are given in appendix 7 of the industrial air pollution report for 1986, copies of which are in the Library of the House. Total emissions are not assessed as a matter of routine in the United Kingdom, but concentrations of a wide range of metals in the environment are regularly measured in both urban and rural areas. The results are reported in Department of the Environment "Statistical Bulletin (87) 1", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. For lead the permitted level in the air is set in the EC directive (82/884/EEC).

  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measurements are made by his Department to assess the emissions of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere in England and Wales; and what comparable information he has for France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Sweden and Finland over the years since 1980.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Estimates of sulphur dioxide emissions are made from the quantity of fossil fuel used and of its sulphur content. The results are published annually in the Department of the Environment's "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics", copies of which are placed in the Library of the House. Details of the methods used are given in the Warren Spring laboratory report WSL. LR634 a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House. In 1986 the executive body of the convention on long-range transboundary air pollution published a major review entitled "National strategies and policies for Air Pollution Abatement" which contains estimates of SO2 emissions provided by France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Sweden and Finland for years since 1980. A copy of the report is in the Library of the House.

  Water Byelaws
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the new model water byelaws.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The latest edition of the model water byelaws was published in June 1986.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to bring the quality of 496
  drinking water in England and Wales up to the standard required by the European Economic Community in advance of the date previously given.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 19 April 1988]: I welcome any steps being taken by water undertakers to comply with the EC drinking water directive in advance of dates already set.

  Water (Nitrates Pollution)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what evidence he has of increased pollution of public water supplies by nitrates over the past 20 years; and what are the reasons for the increase;

  (2) what evidence he has of the increased pollution of groundwater supplies by nitrates over the past 20 years; and if he will make a statement on the implications of this for public health policy.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer, 19 April 1988]: In 1986, 152 groundwater sources occasionally or persistently contained nitrate concentrations exceeding 50 mg per litre, compared with approximately 90 in 1980 and 60 in 1970. The increased nitrate concentrations can be attributed to the substantial change in farming methods over the last few decades.

  As a result of action by water undertakers, nitrate concentrations regularly exceed 50 mg per litre in only 50 public supplies though the concentrations are not considered unsafe by medical advisers. Nevertheless, the rising trend in some areas is a matter of concern and the Government are considering ways of tackling the problem.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why he agreed to the European Community directive restricting nitrate pollution of water supplies to 50 mg; what expert advice was received from outside his Department on the health aspects of the issue; and what is the level now recommended by the World Health Organisation and other comparable bodies.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 19 April 1988]: The EC directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption was adopted in 1980. The nitrate standard was agreed because the figure of 50 mg of nitrate per litre had been recommended by the World Health Organisation as a guideline value since 1970, and medical experts in this country accepted that recommendation. Guideline values are intended to safeguard health, assuming life-long consumption at that value.

  The World Health Organisation has since reviewed its guideline values for substances in drinking water and in 1984 published recommendations which included a revised value of 10 mg of nitrate as nitrogen per litre (equivalent to 44·6 mg of nitrate per litre). The apparent reduction from 50 mg of nitrate per litre to 44·6 mg per litre is of no medical significance.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of public water supplies which exceed the 50 mg limit in relation to nitrate pollution; what will be the cost of bringing these supplies within the directive; and what is the body responsible for paying such costs.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 19 April 1988]: Fifty public water supplies are estimated to contain nitrate concentrations above 50 mg per litre. The Department is

  497
  currently seeking information on how much it would cost water undertakers to comply with the EC drinking water directive limit for nitrate.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications of the Single European Act provisions on the responsibilities for pollution in relation to Government policy; how these are determined; and if consideration has been given to the allocation of the cost of preventing nitrate pollution.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 19 April 1988]: The Single European Act introduced changes to the treaty of Rome. Among these is a new chapter on the environment. This lays down broad objectives in the area of environmental protection. It also confirms the principles of preventive action, that environmental damage should as a priority be rectified at source, and that the polluter should pay. However, the Act does not have specific implications for Government responsibilities; rather, it serves as a platform for the production of further Council legislation, which will be more specific in its terms.

  The articles in the new environment chapter (Articles 1308, 1305 and 130T) now provide the usual legal base for environmental measures. These articles proceed on the basis of unanimity, at least in the first instance.

  Limestone Purchases
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice was given by his Department to the Central Electricity Generating Board on purchases of limestone for flue gas desulphurisation from quarries outside the national parks.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 19 April 1988]: My Department was one of a number of organisations consulted by the Central Electricity Generating Board on its proposals for obtaining the supplies of limestone it needed for flue gas desulphurisation. My Department drew the board's attention to the importance of the Government's policy on winning and working of minerals in national parks and the statement by my hon. Friend the member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) on 9 April, at columns 393–94. We also called attention to reports published by the British Geological Survey which described the location and quality of limestone resources both inside and outside national parks. We advised the board to discuss its needs with the mineral planning authorities, in order to establish whether suitable supplies of limestone would be available from outside the national parks, and the wider planning issues.

  Richmond Terrace
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proportion of the annual budget for property valuation and revaluation was used over the valuation of Richmond terrace;

  (2) whether he will make a statement as to the effect on resources available to the Property Services Agency for valuation and revaluation of property arising from his decision to employ Cluttons to value Richmond terrace.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 18 April 1988]: Sums for valuation and revaluation of property are made available from resources set aside for expenditure on consultants' fees. Final figures for PSA expenditure on consultants' fees in 1987–88 for the civil estate are not yet available, but the
  498
  total is expected to be about £56 million. Cluttons' fee for the valuation of Richmond house comprised substantially less than 0·1 per cent. of this expenditure. The effect on resources available to PSA for the employment of consultants was therefore minimal.

DEFENCE

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress being made by the National Employer Liaison Committee on stimulating recruitment into the Territorial Army.

  Mr. Freeman
  Provision has been made to find the central major publicity campaign recommended by the National Employer Liaison Committee. Preparatory work had already been carried out and planning is now under way, in order to launch the campaign in autumn 1988. Although this campaign is intended primarily to improve the status, and promote public awareness, of not only the Territorial Army, but the other reserve forces, we would hope to see benefits in both recruitment and retention.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what number of beds there are, and what is the average level of occupancy, in each of his Department's hospitals in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel) on 12 January, at columns 200–2.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the movement of United States' nuclear weapons from continental Europe to the United Kingdom as part of the redistribution of nuclear forces in Europe under the terms of the Montebello decision.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on the location of nuclear weapons.

  NATO
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the next nuclear planning group meeting will be discussing modernisation and redeployment of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation maritime tactical nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) on 22 January at column 899.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement regarding his definition and understanding of the use of the expression class of firearm in relation to the civilian use of firearms on ranges either constructed, maintained or approved by his Department;

  (2) on what dates and for what calibre of firearms his Department granted or amended range safety certificates

  499
  for ranges at (a) Dunmore shooting centre, Abingdon, (b) Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company and (c) Wiltshire shooting centre, Devizes, Wiltshire.

  Mr. Freeman
  The expression "class of firearm" accepted by my Department is as set out in the current Firearms Act and in the Firearms (Amendment) Bill. Range safety certificates have been issued as follows:

  a. To Dunmore shooting centre, Abingdon on 18 August 1986 for 0·455in centre fire weapons;

  b. To Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company (now known as the Lambourn Valley gun club) on 11 May 1987 for centre fire pistol and rim fire rifle 0·455in calibre weapons;

  c. To Wiltshire shooting centre, Devizes, initially on 19 September 1983 for 0·455in pistol on the 25m range and 0·455in rifle and pistol on the 100m range. This was amended on 8 April 1985 to increase the calibre for both ranges to 0·8in; on 10 September 1985 to permit single shot firing of 0·5in maching gun into a special bullet catcher from a fixed breach block on the 100m range; on 22 May 1986 to include handheld and tripod mounted automatic weapons on the 100m range; on 6 February 1987 to allow firing of 0–5in Browning machine gun in the automatic mode on the 100m range; and finally on 19 June 1987 to permit a 20m Hispano Suiza cannon to be fired on the 100m range.

  MOD range certificates and inspections cover only the safety of range structures and the adequacy of safety rules.

  Greenham Common
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total number of charges brought by the Ministry of Defence police under the Greenham common byelaws that were ruled invalid by Reading Crown court; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The total number of charges brought under those provisions of the Greenham common byelaws which have been held to be invalid cannot be identified without disproportionate effort. The Crown Prosecution Service has appealed against the decision given at Reading Crown court on 25 February 1988 and it would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment further.

  Enford (Firing Incident)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate an inquiry into the accidental firing of a 105mm artillery shell into the village of Enford on Salisbury plain in Wiltshire, on 11 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  On 11 April a 105mm artillery shell fired by 14 Field Regiment from a light gun on Salisbury plain landed outside the range danger area in the back garden of a resident in Enford. A young boy at school in Enford was hit by a piece of metal, but, fortunately, he was not injured. There were no other injuries, but there was some damage to property and windows. Claims relating to the damage to property will be handled by the Property Services Agency on my Department's behalf and a representative from the Property Services Agency has already visited the properties concerned. The claims branch in my Department is empowered to pay compensation where a causal link has been established between the loss or damage incurred and the military activity.

  A preliminary investigation of the incident has been carried out. It has concluded that it was not caused by a
  500
  fault either in the ammunition or the gun. It is, therefore, likely that the incident was caused by an error in drill by one or more members of the gun crew.

  In view of the fact that the incident is believed to have been caused by human error, artillery firing on Salisbury plain has not been suspended. The crucial importance of closely following safety procedures has been drawn to the attention of the regiment concerned. Investigations into the incident are continuing and a board of inquiry will be convened when appropriate. All incidents involving public safety are treated extremely seriously and all practical steps will be taken to find the cause of this incident and to prevent any recurrence. Further safeguards may be introduced in the light of the outcome of the board of inquiry.

  Ports (Category 2 Berths)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all category 2 berths in the United Kingdom by port.

  Mr. Sainsbury:

  Barrow-in-Furness

  Barry

  Brodick Bay

  Campbeltown

  Cardiff

  Coulport

  Devonport

  Firth of Forth

  Glen Malian

  Lamlash Bay

  Lerwick and Shetland Isles

  Liverpool

  Loch Ewe

  Loch Fyne

  Loch Goil

  Loch Striven

  Portland

  Portree

  Portsmouth

  Raasay

  Rosyth

  Rothsay

  Southampton

  Spithead

  Thurso Bay

  Torbay

  RAF Bentwaters
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why two squadrons of United States Air Force A-10As are being moved from RAF Bentwaters to RAF Alconbury; on what dates this move is to be started and completed; what are his plans for the future use of the facilities at Bentwaters vacated by these aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The redeployment of United States Air Force A-10 aircraft from RAF Bentwaters to RAF Alconbury, which was announced in August last year, is part of the continuous process by which the United States seeks the most cost-effective disposition of its assets based in this country in support of NATO. The move began this month and is planned to be complete by the autumn. RAF Bentwaters will continue to be an operational flying station used by the United States Air Force.

  Wessex Helicopters
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be(a) the range, (b) the poor-weather performance, (c) the station-keeping abilities, (d) the speed and (e) the accuracy level of the navigational equipment of the Wessex helicopters to be used by the air-sea rescue squadron at RAF Coltishall in place of Sea King helicopters.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Wessex search and rescue helicopters which will replace those Sea Kings presently at RAF Coltishall have a range of 120 nautical miles. They can operate in most weather conditions, by day and night but for station keeping reply on visual reference only. The maximum speed is 110 knots and they carry a sophisticated navigation system which is highly accurate for low-level flying. Each aircraft also has a fully trained SAR navigator.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that the replacement of Sea King helicopters with Wessex helicopters at RAF Coltishall will not reduce the performance of the air-sea rescue service covering the North sea.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes. The search and rescue service covering the North sea will not be reduced following the replacement of the Sea King helicopters at RAF Coltishall with Wessexes.

  Woolwich Arsenal
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the various establishments now occupying the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, indicating the number of people employed at each.

  Mr. Sainsbury

  Number of employees

  MOD Units

  Directorate General of Defence Quality Assurance

  1,256

  Naval Publications Store

  83

  Air Publications and Forms Stores

  105

  RAF Movements Unit (London)

  33

  RAF Signals Unit

  206

  Ministry of Defence Police

  50

  Non MOD Units

  Books Supply Department (British Library)

  24

  Her Majesty's Customs & Excise Stores

  50

  National Maritime Museum

  3

  Civil Service Catering Organisation

  14

  Property Services Agency/Department of the Environment

  65

  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans for a new headquarters building for the directorate general of quality assurance at Woolwich arsenal were drawn up; and what costs have so far been incurred on the project;

  (2) how long the location of the headquarters building of the directorate general of quality assurance has been under review; what sites have been considered during that period; and when a decision will finally be taken.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Sketch plans for a headquarter building at the royal arsenal, Woolwich for the quality assurance directorate (ordnance) were completed in 1983 at a cost to the Property Services Agency of £300,000. This directorate 502
  became part of the directorate general of defence quality assurance in 1984. Since then the directorate general has concentrated on three of its five original sites and a dozen sites in the midlands and the north and south of England including the royal arsenal have been studied by accommodation staffs for suitability as a single headquarter location. This is an expensive project and a decision will be taken when the complex and continuous preparatory work of exploring options is complete.

  Tain Bombing Range
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed privatisation of certain services at Tain bombing range.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  On 24 March 1988, we informed the trades unions of our intention to seek tenders for the provision of services at Tain. If these services are put out to contract, some seven civilian staff would be affected. However, no final decision will be made until the tenders have been assessed and compared with the cost of current arrangements.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects to receive the results of the current review of search and rescue operations;

  (2) if it is the Government's intention to maintain search and rescue operations at RAF Leuchars.

  Mr. Freeman
  Certain elements of our review of the most effective deployment of military search and rescue helicopters have been completed and announced. Studies into the deployment of the remaining aircraft continue, and I shall announce the outcome as soon as possible.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the need to maintain search and rescue operations at RAF Leuchars.

  Mr. Freeman
  A number of hon. Members, including the hon. Member and my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker), have raised with me the importance of search and rescue operations at RAF Leuchars.

  Low Flying
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the statutory and other powers under which his Department authorises military low flying training.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: Military low flying training is carried out in the essential interests of national defence under the royal prerogative.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Child Care
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what child care provision his Ministry provides for pre-school age children of the Department's employees; what child care provision for school holiday and/or after school care is provided for employees' children age five and over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.
  503
  Mr. MacGregor
  Summer holiday play schemes are currently being arranged at two locations and pump-priming finance has been made available to help them succeed. Similar assistance will be given to any other appropriate child care scheme presented by parents.

  Brucellosis
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish the number of cases of beef cattle found to have brucellosis in on-farm tests for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The information cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. However, the numbers of beef and dairy herds from which brucella abortus has been isolated since 1983 are:

  Herds from which brucella abortus isolated

  Year

  Number

  1983

  25

  1984

  32

  1985

  69

  1986

  39

  1987

  3

  Fresh Water Fisheries
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money is spent on fresh water fisheries research in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Wales.

  Mr. Gummer
  Government expenditure on research and development related to salmon and freshwater fisheries in 1987–88 is estimated at £2 million. Of this amount, £625,000 was expenditure by my Department on work relating to both England and Wales. Expenditure on research and development related to salmon and freshwater fisheries is also incurred by the water authorities and NERC research institutes, but details are not held centrally.

  Council of Agriculture Ministers
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting on 18 and 19 April in Luxembourg; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The greater part of this meeting, at which I represented the United Kingdom, was devoted to discussion of the Commission's proposals for farm prices and related measures in 1988–89. No decisions were taken, and no real progress was made. The Council will return to the subject at its next meeting. I again emphasised the 504
  importance I attach to the devaluation of the green pound and the removal of monetary compensatory amounts for pigmeat.

  The Council had, at its two previous meetings, reached agreement on the Commission's proposals for detailed implementation of the arrangements for stabilising agricultural expenditure and related matters, including the set-aside of arable land, following the outcome of the summit in February. This Council meeting included a session with representatives of the European Parliament, at which the Parliament's opinions on the Commission's proposals were discussed, with the exception of the stabiliser in the wine sector, on which the Parliament's opinion is not yet available. Following this discussion, it was decided that the texts of these measures should be formally adopted without further discussion next week except for wine which will be formally adopted as soon as the Parliament's opinion has been received. I made it clear that since it has always been crucial to the United Kingdom Government that the stabiliser package must be approved as a whole it would be necessary that appropriate arrangements were agreed for ensuring that the wine stabiliser was not weakened; I secured a satisfactory Council declaration on this point.

  The Council reached agreement on the remaining technical points on a draft directive on quick-frozen foods. I successfully resisted attempts to reduce the 10-year transitional period for retail cabinets and temperature tolerance, which are of substantial importance to our industry. This directive will be finalised after further discussion on the implementing details.

  I opposed the adoption of the proposals for the harmonisation of meat inspection charges, which is unsatisfactory in its present form. This proposal, together with those on the therapeutic use of hormones and the import of meat for pet food will come back to the Council at its next meeting after further discussion at official level.

  Sea Fish Industry Authority
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many grant applications received by the Sea Fish Industry Authority in 1987(a) have been successful, (b) have been unsuccessful and (c) are still to be processed.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 15 April 1988]: The information requested is as follows:

  Type of application

  Received

  Approved

  With-drawn/rejected

  Under consideration

  New vessel

  122

  49

  13

  60

  Re-engining

  131

  122

  6

  3

  Improvement

  2,348

  1,954

  97

  297

  COMMON LAND: CONSULTATION PAPER
  COMMON LAND: CONSULTATION PAPER
  FARM WOODLAND SCHEME
  FARM WOODLAND SCHEME
  SECURE PLACES FOR OFFENDERS
  SECURE PLACES FOR OFFENDERS
  VHF: BROADCASTING SERVICES FEASIBILITY STUDY
  VHF: BROADCASTING SERVICES FEASIBILITY STUDY