Written Answers of 28 April 1988

WALES

  National Health Service
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the performance indicators for the Health Service in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The Welsh Office has since 1982 published a booklet of key statistical indicators for NHS management in Wales which shows comparative information on the district health authorities in Wales over a wide range of services. The latest edition of the booklet (No. 6 1987) was published on 21 January and a copy is available in the House of Commons Library.

  The Department has also produced its own version of the DHSS computerised performance indicator package, which enables comparisons to be made between England and Wales at regional, district and unit level. A copy of the first edition of this package relating to 1985–86 data is available in the Library of the House and a 1986–87 edition will be issued during the summer.

  Performance indicators are intended for use as a management tool for planning services and reviewing achievement. They help identify variations in the way services and resources are used both between authorities and over time. The indicators are intended to raise questions and provide a means of helping to diagnose problems. They do not, indeed cannot, offer any kind of judgment about the relative quality of the services provided, since it must be recognised that a wide and complex range of factors affect this.

  As part of the 1988–89 planning process, district health authorities have been asked to set themselves performance targets, by reference, as appropriate, to published performance indicators. These targets will be reviewed as part of the 1988 annual review process and their achievement will be monitored in subsequent years.

  Ewe Premium
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to obtain European Community acceptance of a principle whereby the ewe premium is paid on existing flocks and on the number of ewes in the flock on a specified reference date.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  No.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the amount of financial assistance given to small firms in Wales in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Information on the aid given to small firms in Wales by agencies and Departments other than the Welsh Office is not held centrally. Under the 208
  grant schemes directly administered by my Department the following amounts have been offered to small firms1 in 1987:

  £ thousands

  Regional selective assistance

  6,404

  Regional development grant

  36,818

  Business improvement services

  2,158

  1 Employers of 200 or less (including associated and group companies).

  In addition, substantial support is provided to the small firms sector by a number of other Departments and agencies, including the Welsh Development Agency, Mid Wales Development, the Wales Tourist Board, British Coal Enterprise, BSC (Industry) and the Department of Trade and Industry. The recently-launched enterprise Wales intitiative places a special emphasis on support for small firms by way of consultancy, investment and innovation grants.

  Rates
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the level that the Welsh non-domestic rate would be in the current financial year.

  Mr. Grist
  The Welsh average non-domestic rate poundage for 1988–89 is 257·6p.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in descending order the percentage increase in(a) the domestic rate, and (b) the commercial rate together with the poundages of each Welsh district in 1988–89.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested on domestic and non-domestic rate increase between 1987–88 and 1988–89 for Welsh districts is shown in the following table:

  Data for PQ1422 1987–88

  (a) The Domestic Rate

  Local authority

  1987–88 Domestic poundage (p)

  1988–891 Domestic poundage (p)

  Percentage change 1987–88 to 1988–89

  Neath

  235·68

  287·87

  22·14

  Swansea

  251·04

  295·43

  17·68

  Lliw Valley

  243·89

  285·83

  17·20

  Port Talbot

  245·84

  283·82

  15·45

  Meirionydd

  200·65

  228·77

  14·01

  Aberconwy

  210·16

  238·32

  13·40

  Arfon

  205·30

  231·38

  12·70

  Dwyfor

  209·81

  234·79

  11·91

  Monmouth

  211·60

  235·86

  11·47

  Ynys Mon

  204·52

  227·82

  11·39

  Torfaen

  218·78

  241·58

  10·42

  Glyndwr

  210·96

  232·20

  10·07

  Islywn

  212·00

  233·00

  9·91

  Newport

  212·04

  232·01

  9·42

  Radnor

  195·25

  213·42

  9·31

  Blaenau Gwent

  219·78

  239·89

  9·15

  Brecknock

  207·01

  225·45

  8·91

  Rhymney Valley

  239·34

  258·85

  8·15

  Wrexham Maelor

  216·49

  233·69

  7·94

  Alyn and Deeside

  209·97

  226·58

  7·91

  Ogwr

  241·64

  260·55

  7·83

  Cardiff

  192·15

  207·05

  7·75

  Llanelli

  235·13

  252·44

  7·36

  Carmarthen

  221·04

  236·67

  7·07

  Montgomeryshire

  192·23

  205·82

  7·07

  Vale of Glamorgan

  199·42

  213·48

  7·05

  209

  Local authority

  1987–88 Domestic poundage (p)

  1988–911 Domestic poundage (p)

  Percentage change 1987–88 to 1988–89

  Delyn

  214·70

  228·45

  6·40

  Merthyr Tydfil

  239·46

  254·76

  6·39

  Taff Ely

  240·91

  255·83

  6·19

  Rhondda

  243·50

  258·50

  6·16

  Cynon Valley

  232·45

  246·73

  6·14

  South Pembroke

  220·22

  233·08

  5·84

  Rhuddlan

  215·18

  227·42

  5·69

  Ceredigion

  217·70

  229·55

  5·44

  Colwyn

  227·59

  239·60

  5·28

  Dinefwr

  216·91

  227·66

  4·96

  Preseli

  216·70

  226·84

  4·68

  Total Wales

  218·07

  238·76

  9·49

  1 1988–89 figures are provisional.

  Data for PQ1422 1987–88

  (b) The non-domestic rate

  Local authority

  1987–88 Non-domestic poundage (p)

  1988–891 Non-domestic poundage (p)

  Percentage change 1987–88 to 1988–89

  Neath

  254·18

  306·37

  20·53

  Swansea

  269·54

  313·93

  16·47

  Lliw Valley

  262·39

  304·33

  15·98

  Port Talbot

  264·34

  302·32

  14·37

  Meirionnydd

  219·15

  247·27

  12·83

  Aberconwy

  228·66

  256·82

  12·32

  Arfon

  223·80

  249·88

  11·65

  Dwyfor

  228·31

  253·29

  10·94

  Monmouth

  230·10

  254·36

  10·54

  Ynys Mon

  223·02

  246·32

  10·45

  Torfaen

  237·28

  260·08

  9·61

  Glyndwr

  229·46

  250·70

  9·26

  Islwyn

  230·50

  251·50

  9·11

  Newport

  230·54

  250·51

  8·66

  Radnor

  213·75

  231·92

  8·50

  Blaenau Gwent

  238·28

  258·39

  8·44

  Brecknock

  225·51

  243·95

  8·18

  Rhymney Valley

  257·84

  277·35

  7·57

  Wrexham Maelor

  234·99

  252·19

  7·32

  Alyn and Deeside

  228·47

  245·08

  7·27

  Ogwr

  260·14

  279·05

  7·27

  Cardiff

  210·65

  225·55

  7·07

  Llanelli

  253·63

  270·94

  6·82

  Carmarthen

  239·54

  255·17

  6·53

  Vale of Glamorgan

  217·92

  231·98

  6·45

  Montgomeryshire

  210·73

  224·32

  6·45

  Merthyr Tydfil

  257·96

  273·26

  5·93

  Delyn

  233·20

  246·95

  5·90

  Taff Ely

  259·41

  274·33

  5·75

  Rhondda

  262·00

  277·00

  5·73

  Cynon Valley

  250·95

  265·23

  5·69

  South Pembrokeshire

  238·72

  251·58

  5·39

  Rhuddlan

  233·68

  245·92

  5·24

  Ceredigion

  236·20

  248·05

  5·02

  Colwyn

  246·09

  258·10

  4·88

  Dinefwr

  235·41

  246·16

  4·57

  Preseli

  235·20

  245·34

  4·31

  Total Wales

  236·47

  257·60

  8·93

  1 1988–89 figures are provisional.

  Grant-related Expenditure Allocation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in rank order the budgeted spending per head over grant-related expenditure allocation at ratepayer level 210
  for Welsh local authorities on the same basis as the criteria announced on 17 November in respect of the phasing out of domestic rates.

  Mr. Grist
  The difference between budgeted expenditure and grant-related expenditure for1987–88, per head and at ratepayer level, is as follows:

  Difference

  Port Talbot

  56

  Swansea

  46

  Lliw Valley

  39

  Rhondda

  26

  Llanelli

  24

  Merthyr Tydfil

  24

  Neath

  23

  Rhymney Valley

  23

  Taff Ely

  22

  Blaenau Gwent

  21

  Colwyn

  19

  Ogwr

  17

  Torfaen

  17

  Wrexham Maelor

  14

  Glyndwr

  12

  Delyn

  12

  Islwyn

  11

  Carmarthen

  11

  Cynon Valley

  10

  Rhuddlan

  9

  Alyn and Deeside

  7

  Newport

  7

  Monmouth

  6

  Dwyfor

  3

  Ceredigion

  3

  Meirionnydd

  1

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  1

  Aberconwy

  1

  Dinefwr

  0

  South Pembrokeshire

  -1

  Arfon

  -1

  Ynys Môn

  -2

  Brecknock

  -4

  Vale of Glamorgan

  -8

  Radnor

  -13

  Montgomeryshire

  -18

  Cardiff

  -22

  My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment, announced on 25 April that the threshold in England for inclusion within the residual rating arrangements will be increased so that only those areas where combined budgeted expenditure for 1987–88 of the authorities operating in that area exceeded the combined needs assessments for the area by more than £200 per head will be affected. In any case, part IV of the Local Government Finance Bill is not applicable to Wales.

PRIME MINISTER

  Flecknote
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Flecknote, near Rugby.

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

  Vacant Land
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to a publicly owned site of vacant land.

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

  British Time
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Prime Minister what interdepartmental consultation she has established to assess the financial and commercial consequences of British time being one hour behind the rest of Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary explained in a reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 31 March, at column 683, all Departments are being asked to consult interested groups as to the likely effect of harmonising summer time, and time in general, with other members of the Community.

  Engagements
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Benefits
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will provide for better co-ordination of benefits for those on the community programme, by ensuring that social security benefits are as payable by the Department of Health and Social Security to participants for the first week as unemployment benefit is payable in similar circumstances.

  The Prime Minister
  Unemployment benefit ceases to be payable as soon as a person joins the community programme. Similarly, title to income support ceases immediately where the work is for more than 24 hours a week. Because both benefits are normally paid fortnightly in arrears, a person joining the community programme will receive his last benefit payment either immediately before joining the programme or during the first week.

  European Community (Unemployment)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy at the next meeting of the European Council to call for an inquiry into the level of unemployment in the EEC by comparison with the European Free Trade Association group of European countries; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Child Care
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is yet in a position to publish the outcome of his review of the case for extending to the voluntary sector the arrangements for disclosure of information about those seeking to work with children; and if he will make a statement;
  212
  (2) what safeguards have been devised to ensure that employers in the voluntary sector respect the confidentiality of information disclosed to them by the police under the arrangements for disclosure of information about those seeking to work with children.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Department is currently discussing with representatives of the voluntary sector detailed plans for the setting up of a national unit on a pilot basis which would act as a contact point between the police and selected voluntary organisations on the disclosure of information from police records on those seeking to work with children. These discussions will cover arrangements for ensuring that the confidentiality of information disclosed will be respected.

  Remand Centres and Open Prisons
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the proposals invited for the construction of private urban remand centres and open prisons emanate from non-United Kingdom companies; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what proportion of submitted proposals for the construction of private urban remand centres and open prisons involves the conversion of existing property; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  All but one of some 40 invitations to submit proposals for the construction of urban remand centres and open prisons were sent to companies registered in the United Kingdom. An advertisement was also placed in the EC journal, and a press release was sent to national newspapers and trade journals, It is not possible to say what proportion of the proposals may involve the conversion of existing property until the responses have been received and analysed.

  Police Interviews (Tape-recording)
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations now operate the procedure for tape-recording interviews with suspects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I regret that information is not available in the form requested.

  The rate at which tape-recording is implemented in individual force areas is for chief officers to decide having regard to the available resources and after consulting other agencies in the criminal justice system.

  I understand that, as at 31 March 1988, most forces in England and Wales had begun phased implementation programmes, and that two forces were tape-recording interviews at stations throughout their force areas. I further understand that the small number of forces, which have not yet started pilot tape-recording schemes, plan to do so over the next few months. It remains the intention to secure full implementation of tape-recording arrangements throughout England and Wales by 1991.

  Children (Penal Custody)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many regions sentenced no 14-year-olds to penal custody in the last year for which information is available.

  Mr. John Patten
  The central records available to me for 1986, which may be incomplete, show no custodial
  213
  sentences imposed on males aged 14 by the courts in four of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales: City of London, Gloucestershire, Suffolk and Warwickshire. Custodial penalties are not available for female offenders aged 14.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the subsequent criminal behaviour of 14-year-olds who have been sentenced to penal custody over the past 10 years.

  Mr. John Patten
  The readily available information relates to detention centre trainees aged 14 to 16 reconvicted within two years of discharge from a prison department establishment and is published in table 8.8 of "Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1986" (Cm. 210), copies of which are in the Library. Information specific to 14-year-olds could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Television
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many hours of television are produced for regional consumption by BBC Wales—Cymru and HTV Wales in 1988; and what are his estimates for each year to 1992.

  Mr. Renton
  The most recent available information is as follows. In 1987 HTV Wales produced for broadcast by the IBA 391 hours of regional interest material, and in the year ending 31 March 1988 410 hours of Welsh regional service material were broadcast on BBC1 and BBC2. In addition HTV produced 455 hours and the BBC 520 hours for broadcast by S4C. The additional information sought is not readily available.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what categories of programmes are excluded from contributing to the independent producers 25 per cent. target announced in November 1986;

  (2) what categories of programmes are excluded when calculating the total hours of new programmes produced by broadcasters for the purpose of assessing the proportion to be produced by independent broadcasters announced in November 1986.

  Mr. Renton
  Both the BBC and the IBA have accepted, subject to satisfaction on the cost and quality of programmes provided by independent producers, the target of commissioning from them by the end of 1992 25 per cent. of original television output, drawn from a wide range of programmes but excluding, in the case of programmes broadcast by the BBC, news and news-related daily current affairs programmes, continuity and Open University output. In the case of programmes broadcast on ITV, material provided by ITN, continuity, the news-related studio output of TV-am and regional service material provided out of regional newsrooms will be outside the 25 per cent. target, but the IBA does not rule out the possibility that independent producers may contribute material in these categories.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the total number of new programmes produced by the BBC and ITV companies in 1988; and what are his forecasts for each year to 1992, showing in each case the total number of hours.
  214
  Mr. Renton
  The most recent available information relating to programmes originated for network broadcast on BBC and ITV is as follows. In the year ending 31 March 1988 6,065 hours of such programmes were broadcast on BBC] and BBC2, and in 1987 3,165 hours were broadcast on ITV (including programmes provided by ITN but not by TV-am). Present BBC plans envisage an increase to 6,241 hours by 1992. Comparable forecasts for ITV are not readily available.

  Passports
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that Mrs. Margaret Cynthia Moss of 9 Dungannon Drive, Thorpe Bay, Essex, who submitted her passport for renewal on 6 February receives her passport as soon as possible; and if he will consider establishing a procedure for cases of urgency so long as the current delays in passport applications and renewals continue.

  Mr. Renton
  The passport was returned by registered post on 25 April. As Mrs. Moss had not indicated a date of travel on the application form, her application was not accorded the priority it would otherwise have received under existing procedures.

  Member's Correspondence
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate will receive a definitive answer in respect of Mr. S. Taggert, Home Office reference number T160429, about whom a letter was sent on 25 March.

  Mr. Renton
  A reply will be sent shortly.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reply to the letter dated 7 December 1987 from the hon. Member for East Lothian concerning an application for naturalisation by Miss Anne-Margarethe Stroobants.

  Mr. Renton
  The application was approved in January, and a certificate sent to the applicant in March after she had taken the oath of allegiance. The certificate has, however, recently been returned, because the applicant had left her last known address.

  I shall be replying shortly to the hon. Member's letter.

  Lotteries
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received from experts in the running of state lotteries for charitable purposes; and what consideration he is giving to any such representations;

  (2) what recent consideration he has given to the running of a national state lottery to raise and distribute funds for good causes.

  Mr. John Patten
  As far as I am aware, none of the representations about state lotteries for charitable purposes which we have received in the past year has been from people expert in running such lotteries. We keep the question of running a national state lottery under review but have no current plans to introduce one.

  Offensive Weapons
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of individuals and organisations to whom Mr. F. J. Warn, an official in his office, wrote on 7 March, concerning offensive weapons and the Criminal Justice Bill [Lords].

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The list for the letter of 7 March is as follows:

  The Retail Consortium

  British Sports and Allied Industries Federation

  British Toy and Hobby Manufacturers Association Ltd.

  Gun Trade Association Ltd.

  British Importers Confederation

  British Wholesale Traders Association

  Federation of Wholesale and Industrial Distributors

  Mail Order Traders Association

  Co-operative Union Ltd.

  Association of Toy, Stationery and Fancy Goods Wholesalers

  British Cutlery and Silverware Association

  Whitby and Co.

  Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Association of County Councils

  British Hardware and Homeware Association

  Martial Arts Commission

  British Veterinary Association

  British Antique Dealers Association Ltd.

  Association of Chief Police Officers

  A number of Government Departments

  Officials subsequently wrote to a number of other organisations in the same terms including the Angling Foundation, the National Anglers Council and the London and Provincial Antique Dealers' Association Ltd.

TRANSPORT

  Airedale Route
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a further announcement about sections of the A629–A650 Airedale route to the east of Crossflatts, Bingley.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement in the summer. It should be followed shortly thereafter with the publication of draft orders for Airedale stage 3 (Crossflatts to Cottingley Bar).

  Vehicle Licensing
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles are currently licensed for public highway use in Britain, and if he will express the figures by class of vehicle.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  At 31 December 1987 there were 22,151,831 vehicles licensed for use on the road in Great Britain. The main classes are as follows:

  Number

  Private/Light Goods:

  19,249,459

  Motorcycle

  977,728

  Heavy Goods:

  608,857

  Hackney (includes buses and coaches)

  129,012

  Other vehicles subject to duty:

  442,447

  Vehicles exempt from duty (includes emergency service vehicles and exemptions for the disabled):

  744,328

  Coaches (Speed Limiters)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if speed limiters are to be fitted on all coaches regardless of age.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Conway) on 18 April, at columns 364–65.

  Vehicles (British Standards)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the light transmission requirements embodied in BS4110 will be applied to all roadgoing vehicles; and when the noise limits embodied in BSAU193T2 will be applied to all roadgoing vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  These British standards are being applied where they are relevant. In the case of BS4110, this is motor cyclists' eye protectors. Other standards apply to light transmission requirements for motor vehicles. BSAU 193 sets standards for replacement exhaust systems and silencers for motor cycles which are not appropriate to other vehicles.

  Life-jackets
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether life-jackets carried on helicopters and aircraft operating over the North sea are required to meet the criteria described in specification No. 5, issue 2, dated 23 November 1979 issued by the airworthiness division of the Civil Aviation Authority; if he will define the use of the term "choppy sea" and the term "disturbed water" contained in paragraph 7.1 of the specification document, according to wave height; and whether this specification has been superseded;

  (2) if he will be reconsidering the specifications relating to life-jackets in the near future; and if he will make it his policy to seek to ensure that legislation requires life-jackets to keep the wearer's head clear of the water even if the wearer is unconscious and the water is rough or choppy.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The Department of Transport is responsible for the approval of life-jackets carried in United Kingdom registered ships and the Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the approval of life-jackets carried in aircraft.

  The specifications for Department of Transport or CAA approved life-jackets have both for many years required the support of an unconscious person in a seaway in an effective manner. Experience to date has not suggested that their performance was in question. However, the findings of a recent research project commissioned by the Department of Energy suggest that in certain rough sea conditions these life-jackets may not be as effective as previously thought.

  My Department therefore intends to give very serious consideration to the findings of this particular research. project to determine whether changes to the specifications for ship life-jackets are now necessary.

  The Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that aircraft life-jackets are required to meet the criteria described in CAA specification No. 5, issue 2, which has not been superseded. The terms "choppy sea" and

  217
  "disturbed water" in the specification are intended to mean sea state 3, which is consistent with wave heights of 3 to 5 ft and a mean wind speed of 18 knots.

  The authority believes that the specification No. 5 requirements are adequate and life-jackets approved to this standard are satisfactory. The need to ensure compatibility with intended immersion suits is catered for in working draft CAA specification No. 19, issue 1 (dated March 1988) para. 31. Any immersion suit approved by the CAA must be fully evaluated for its compatibility with the intended life-jacket; righting tests being performed by live but limp subjects. Such tests may be more representative of an unconscious person than those achieved using authometric dummies, but the CAA has initiated a review of the various test methods currently used to establish which of these is the most realistic.

  Dalton-in-Furness Bypass
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement as to the current position and progress on the Dalton-in-Furness bypass on the A590; whether there has been a delay in determining the route; and what are the estimated dates for laying of the order and public inquiry for commencement and completion of the bypass.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Progress of the scheme has been slightly delayed by the need to investigate further the ground conditions along the proposed route of the bypass. We expect to publish statutory orders towards the year end. If required a public inquiry will be held in mid 1989. Construction could start in 1991 and the road open to traffic in 1993.

  Swarthmoor Bypass
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position and progress on the Swarthmoor bypass on the A590.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We expect to receive our consultant's report on route investigations in June. I shall make a further announcement when we have considered it.

  Melton Brow Road Improvement
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position and progress on the Melton Brow road improvement on the A590 near Lindal-in-Furness.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Following a report by Cumbria county council acting as the Department's agent, an improvement scheme has been accepted into the regional trunk road programme. The next stage will be the publication of orders under the Highways Acts towards the end of the year.

  Motor Cycles (Leg Protectors)
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of comments made in response to his consultation on motor cycle leg protectors, he is satisfied that there has been no misrepresentation of results in the research carried out by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory.
  218
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I am completely satisfied that the laboratory's work has been carried out in a totally unbiased manner and to the highest professional standards, including the publication of methodology and results.

  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made by his Department in preparing the specification for motor cycle leg protectors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Further tests have been carried out at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory using a wider variety of vehicles and different angles of collision. The results have continued to confirm the potential benefits of well-designed leg protection. Results of independent testing have also been brought to our attention. More testing will be carried out and will include collisions at higher speeds. We are looking at our technical specification in the light of the expert views we have received and of the continuing research. It is our long-established policy and practice to be thoroughly assured of the safety benefits of any specification before steps are taken to propose it in draft regulations.

ENERGY

  Plutonium
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy in what form Her Majesty's Government have received assurances from the United States Government that none of the United Kingdom plutonium exported to the United States of America since 1958 under the Anglo-American mutual defence agreement, and arising from civil reactors in the United Kingdom, has been put to any form of defence research in the United States of America.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 2 July 1984 at column 36.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock), 12 April,Official Report, column 49, from which thermal reactors plutonium originated before being used at Sellafield to supplement the fuel for Dounreay fast reactor fuel; and how much thermal reactor plutonium in each year since 1979 has been put to fast reactor fuel fabrication use.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  On 31 March 1987 some 6½ tonnes of safeguarded plutonium originating from thermal reactors had been made available for fuel for the Dounreay prototype fast reactor. Some 5½ tonnes of this originated from electricity board reactors and the remainder from reactors operated by British Nuclear Fuels plc. Quantities for individual years can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Coal Imports (Holland)
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the amount of coal imported from Holland for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Coal imports from the Netherlands were as follows:
  219

  Thousand tonnes

  1979

  22

  1980

  23

  1981

  8

  1982

  43

  1983

  86

  1984

  304

  1985

  306

  1986

  218

  1987

  664

  Non-fossil Fuel
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the proposed statutory obligation on the distribution companies to contract for a specified minimum proportion of non-fossil-fuelled generating capacity will include generators using as fuel municipal refuse and other waste as non-fossil-fuelled generators.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The details of the obligation are still under consideration, but I recognise the potential value of waste as a source of fuel.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of full-time employees in the coal industry; and what proportion of the numbers so employed in 1979 this represents.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The number of full-time employees in the coal industry at the end of February 1988 was 123,822, which is 43 per cent. of the corresponding number at the end of February 1979.

  Life-jackets
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library a copy of the report prepared by the Robert Gordon institute of technology on lifejackets and immersion suits for the oil industry advisory committee of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I have today instructed that copies of the report entitled "Lifejacket/Immersion Suit Combinations—In-water Performance Assessment" be placed in the Library.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Small Firms
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the various forms of assistance available from his Department for the assistance of small firms; and what is the respective expenditure involved.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  We operate a number of schemes which are specifically directed at small firms. Details are set out as follows.

  (i) The consultancy initiatives which are available under the enterprise initiative offer financial support to independent companies or groups with fewer than 500 employees for between five and 15 days specialist consultancy in the following key management functions: quality, design, marketing, manufacturing systems, business planning, financial and information systems. DTI
  220
  pays two thirds of the cost in the assisted areas and urban programme areas and 50 per cent. of the cost outside these areas. Total provision is £274 million over the next three years.

  (ii) Regional enterprise grants, which were introduced on 1 April 1988, provide assistance to small firms with fewer than 25 employees for investment and innovation projects in the development areas. Grants of 15 per cent. of the cost of fixed assets in an investment project are available up to a maximum of £15,000. Grants of 50 per cent. of eligible costs in an innovation project are available up to a maximum of £25,000. DTI expenditure on these grants is expected to rise to over £50 million per year by 1990–91.

  (iii) The business improvement services (BIS) scheme, which is jointly funded by the DTI and the European regional development fund, comprises a package of measures designed to assist firms with fewer than 200 employees. It includes an element which enables firms to claim grants of up to 70 per cent. of the cost of consultancy advice. The scheme is available to firms located in specified areas of England affected by the decline in the steel, shipbuilding, textiles and fishing industries. More recently BIS has been introduced in west Cornwall following the closure of the Geevor tin mine and in the Thanet travel-to-work area. Total expenditure on BIS will amount to £56·5 million over the period 1984–90, when the scheme will come to an end.

  (iv) The competition for small firms merit awards for research and technology (SMART) is open to firms employing fewer than 200. The 100 best ideas put forward will each receive a 75 per cent. grant towards total costs of £50,000 (a maximum grant of £37,500) to develop a new product or process over the course of a year. The closing date for entries is 30 June 1988; the winners will be announced in November 1988. It is expected that after one year about half the winners will go on to a second stage in which the maximum award per firm will be £50,000.

  In addition to these specific schemes, small firms may also take advantage of other forms of DTI assistance which is available to firms of all sizes:

  Regional selective assistance

  The export initiative

  The research and technology initiative

  The business and education initiative

  Small firms in the inner cities are also helped through many of the projects supported by the Government's inner city task force, for which my Department is responsible. Overall expenditure by the task force is expected to total some £16 million in 1988–89.

  EC Fusion and Eureka Programmes
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on progress evaluated on the EC fusion and Eureka programmes arising from the Research Council of the European Council of Ministers meeting on 11 April.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I represented Her Majesty's Government at the meeting of the Community's Council of Ministers (Research) in Luxembourg on 11 April. I should like to take the opportunity to give a brief account of the progress achieved on each of the main agenda items as well as the two specifically raised in the question.

  On fusion, there was a general exchange of views on the Community's programme of research but no decisions

  221
  were taken. The general hope was, however, that there would be further progress at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers (Research) at the end of June.

  The Council discussed the relationship between the Community's research programmes and Eureka. There was agreement that the relationship needed to be clearly defined so as to ensure the two complemented each other and to avoid duplication of effort wherever possible. The Commission will prepare further ideas on this for the Council to consider at its next meeting.

  The Council adopted a common position on DRIVE, a Community programme of research in the fields of IT and telecommunications applied to road transport. The programme, which will provide Community funding of 60 mecu (£40 million) over a period of three years, should help improve road transport efficiency and safety, and reduce its environmental impact.

  On the Community Bureau of Reference, BCR, the Council adopted a common position on an R and D programme costing some 59 mecu (£39 million) over five years in the fields of applied metrology and chemical analysis. This will be important in the context of the completion of the single market, and will assist in the elimination of certain technical barriers to trade.

  The Council also took a major step forward in unanimously adopting ESPRIT II, the largest single programme in the Community's 1987–1991 framework programme for R and D. It will over five years provide 1600 mecu (£1,056 million) of Community funding, with matching contributions from industrial partners and other contractors, for projects in micro electronics and peripheral technologies, information processing systems and some "applied" fields, namely, computer-integrated manufacture and integrated information systems. British companies and research institutes will undoubtedly make a major contribution to this programme and will benefit substantially from it. It is important to note that this major programme has a management structure modelled on that already successfully used in the earlier programme, ESPRIT I.

  A common position was also adopted on DELTA, an exploratory programme of research extending over a maximum period of two years to apply new technologies including IT to open and distance learning. Community funding will amount to 20 mecu (£13 million).

  The science programme, on which the Council adopted a common position, will promote co-operation and exchanges between scientists and laboratories in the Community: the funds will amount to 167 mecu (£110 million) over five years. The programme offers grants for travel, to fund research projects involving laboratories in more than one country and larger grants for specific projects of scientific promise, usually bringing together many laboratories in different Community countries.

  In the field of biotechnology, the Council adopted a common position on the revision of the current multiannual research programme (1985–1989) which will increase Community funding from 55 mecu (£36 million) to 75 mecu (£50 million). More generally, it was agreed that the Community should develop a strategy in the area of biological research, taking account of wider international developments in this field. There was also an informal exchange of views on bioethical issues.

  The Council had a further useful exchange of views on the joint research centre (JRC). Agreement was reached on the overall financial framework for the JRC's work and
  222
  the Council gave further directions for the reforms which are needed to make the JRC successful and viable. We hope that it will be possible for the Council to reach agreement in June on improvements which will give scientific and technological value for money for the considerable Community investment there.

  The Commission was also invited to prepare ideas for the Council on the relationship of technical norms and standards to technological developments in Europe, an issue which also has a bearing on the development of the single market.

  Economic League
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the Crown Prosecution Service will now begin prosecution of the Economic League for failure to file accounts and failure to complete an annual return; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  As the latest accounts and annual return for the Economic League have now been received and are on the public record, it is not intended to bring proceedings in this matter.

  Voluntary Restraint Agreements
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions have taken place within or at the time of meetings of the Council of Ministers, on interindustry voluntary restraint agreements, and within or at the time of which meetings.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Inter-industry voluntary restraint agreements are negotiated by the industries concerned. I am not aware of any recent discussion within or at the time of meetings of the Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 30 March,Official Report, column 478, by what means the Government informed the industries concerned with certain voluntary restraint arrangements that they saw no case for continuation; and whether they will place copies of such communications in the Library.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The industries concerned were informed in writing through their trade associations. I have placed copies of these letters in the House Library.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will place in the Library a copy of the arrangements on footwear concluded between the industry concerned and the Republic of Korea, and a copy of the proposals for their renewal.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  This is a matter for the United Kingdom footwear industry and its counterpart in the Republic of Korea between whom the voluntary agreement is negotiated.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in what form restraint agreements negotiated by the European Commission on behalf of the United Kingdom are notified to(a) the House and (b) the Select Committee on European Legislation.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The contents of the informal voluntary restraint arrangements negotiated by the Commission on behalf of the United Kingdom are confidential and are not published.
  223
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will list those restraint agreements negotiated by the European Commission in addition to the multi-fibre arrangement in certain limited textiles and clothing, giving the date of commencement and extent of each such agreement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The European Community has negotiated the following informal restraint arrangements on textile and clothing products. Apart from the arrangement with China, these arrangements cover trade in multifibre arrangement (MFA) products with the Community's preferential trading partners (with whom there is no separate bilateral MFA agreement). The restraint arrangement with China is linked to the EC/China bilateral textiles agreement, but relates to a product which is not classified in Customs terms as a textile product. Details of these arrangements are not published.

  Turkey

  Textile products: cotton yarn, certain cotton fabrics and acrylic yarns1.

  Present arrangements commenced 1 January 1987 (1 January 1988 for cotton yarn)

  Egypt

  Cotton yarn, cotton fabric and bed linen 1. Present arrangement commenced 1 January 1987 (1 January 1988 for cotton yarn).

  Malta

  Trousers1. Present arrangement commenced 1 January 1988.

  Morocco

  Trousers2. Present arrangement commenced 1 January 1987.

  Tunisia

  Cotton fabric and trousers 3 Present arrangement commenced 1 January 1987.

  China

  Surgical dressings. The restraint arrangement was negotiated at the same time as the current bilateral textile agreement with China and commenced 1 January 1984.

  1 Other products in these arrangements are subject to surveillance licensing. Coverage may differ between the United Kingdom and other member states.

  2 Coverage may differ between the United Kingdom and other member states.

  3 Coverage may differ between the United Kingdom and other member states. Certain other member states have special arrangements for goods subject to outward processing.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the United Kingdom asked the Commission of the European Communities to negotiate restraints on leather footwear from certain Eastern European countries; and on what date such restraints came into effect.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In 1975 the United Kingdom footwear industry negotiated bilateral arrangements with its counterparts in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania to restrain imports of men's leather footwear during 1976. Further restraint arrangements were made covering women's and children's leather footwear during 1977. From 1977 the European Commission has annually renegotiated a continuation of these arrangements on behalf of the United Kingdom industry.

  Car Telephones
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate how many(a) car and (b) portable telephones were purchased in Britain for the first three months of the current year; and if he will express the figures as a percentage change for the same period for each of the last three years.

  Mr. Butcher
  There are no official statistics but the information I have is as follows:

  Number of units 1988 First quarter

  Mobile telephones

  33,000

  Portable telephones

  17,000

  Note: Includes transportable and hand portable.

  Source: BIS Mackintosh Ltd.

  Information comparing these figures with figures for the same period in each of the last three years is not available.

  Investment
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the level of investment by insurance companies and pension funds, as a percentage of total investment for each year since 1970; and what information he has as to comparable figures for(a) the European Economic Community, (b) the United States of America,(c) Japan, (d) India, (e) South Korea, (f) Taiwan, (g) Bangladesh, (h) Pakistan and (i) South America.

  Mr. Maude
  The table shows net investment by insurance companies and pension funds as a percentage of total gross domestic fixed capital formation (excluding that by general government) for the United Kingdom.

  Comparable figures for the other countries and areas listed in the question are not easily available. Some figures on financial accounts are published by the OECD for member countries but separate figures for insurance companies and pension funds are not given for all members. Data on fixed capital formation are published by the IMF for its members although a few are unable to supply these statistics. The relevant publications are "Financial Accounts of OECD Countries" and "International Financial Statistics", copies of which may be obtained from the Library of the House.

  Net investment by insurance companies and pension funds, 1970–87 as a percentage of GDPCF (other than by general government)

  Percentage

  1970

  25

  1971

  26

  1972

  30

  1973

  27

  1974

  27

  1975

  32

  1976

  34

  1977

  35

  1978

  35

  1979

  36

  1980

  35

  1981

  41

  1982

  40

  1983

  40

  1984

  37

  225

  Percentage

  1985

  36

  1986

  40

  1987

  37

  Sources: DTI and CSO.

  Note.: —There are some breaks in the series due to definitional changes. The main ones are between 1983 and 1984 and between 1984 and 1985.

  Life Assurance and Unit Trusts Regulatory Association
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if a decision has been reached on whether to give leave for the recognistion of the Life Assurance and Unit Trusts Regulatory Association.

  Mr. Maude
  In accordance with the procedure laid down in the Financial Services Act, the Director-General of Fair Trading has reported on the rules and guidance submitted by LAUTRO to the SIB in support of its application for recognition as a self-regulating organisation. The director-general has reported that, as amended, LAUTRO's rules do not and are not likely or intended to have significant anti-competitive effects. Having had regard to the director-general's report, the Secretary of State has concluded that on the basis of the information presently available, LAUTRO's rules and guidance do not have, and are not intended or likely to have, to any significant extent, the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition. The Secretary of State also has had regard to European Community considerations. Her Majesty's Government and the Commission have a common objective in promoting full competition and transparency in the marketing of life assurance. In order to comply with Community law LAUTRO will be notifying shortly its rules formally to the Commission in order to seek an exemption under article 85 EEC. The Commission will examine them, having regard to Community competition law and practice and the particular circumstances of the EEC insurance market as a whole. Against this background the Secretary of State has therefore today given leave to the SIB for the recognition of LAUTRO as a self-regulating organisation.

  The director-general has also made a separate report on the rules and guidance submitted by LAUTRO in support of its application for recognition as a self-regulating organisation for friendly societies. Having had regard to this report, the Secretary of State has concluded that on the basis of the information presently available LAUTRO's rules and guidance do not have, to any significant extent, the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition. The Secretary of State has also therefore today given consent to the SIB for the recognition of LAUTRO as a self-regulating organisation for friendly societies.

  Unichem
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to make a decision as to whether to institute proceedings against Unichem plc for alleged breach of the Prevention of Fraud (Investment) Act 1958.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 26 April 1988]: My Department has obtained strict undertakings from
  226
  Unichem to comply with the relevant statutory provisions in future. In the light of these assurances and having regard to all the circumstances, I have decided not to institute proceedings.

  Securities and Investments Board
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether leave has yet been given under section 120(2) of the Financial Services Act for the Securities and Investments Board to make recognition orders in respect of any investment exchanges or clearing houses.

  Mr. Maude
  [pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1988, c. 47]: My right hon. and noble Friend has now considered, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, reports made by the Director General of Fair Trading on the rules, regulations, guidance and arrangements submitted by the international stock exchange of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Ltd. and the Baltic Futures Exchange Ltd. and has concluded that on the basis of the information presently available to him he does not consider there is anything in the material submitted which has, or is intended or likely to have, to any significant extent the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition. He has therefore given his leave to the SIB to make recognition orders in respect of both these investment exchanges.

ENVIRONMENT

  BAOR Contracts
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made to the West German Ministry of Construction to broaden the specifications required to allow British manufacturers to compete on equal terms when tendering for BAOR contracts; and what the result of such representations has been.

  Mr. Chope
  My Department has made representations both directly to the West German Ministry of Construction and, in common with other NATO partners, to the Federal German Government for the greater use of harmonised standards in respect of electrical and lighting products.

  All electrical products which have a European (EC) standard and some with international (IEC) standards, are given the status of a German national (DIN) standard without alteration. However, only the DIN standard can be referred to in documentation because German construction regulations are based on them.

  Discussions are continuing. Currently I am seeking to establish a list of those British products which have an EC/ IEC standard which is referred to in the German DIN standard.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the value of the electrical and lighting contracts awarded for BAOR premises in 1987; and what proportion of these contracts were placed with(a) British and (b) German companies.

  Mr. Chope
  In 1987, of the £1¼million worth of contracts for specialised electrical and lighting equipment placed directly by the PSA on behalf of the British forces in Germany, approximately £¾ million (60 per cent.) had
  227
  been placed with British firms. The bulk of major electrical installation work carried out in Germany is, however, performed through contracts with the Federal Government's construction agencies as required under the status of forces agreement. The total value of work placed by these German authorities with electrical contractors was approximately £11½ million in 1987, but it is not possible to obtain a breakdown of this figure.

  Rate support grant in real1 terms: 1978–79 to 1988–89

  London borough of Newham

  Rate support grant (1987–88 prices) £ million

  Year on year percentage difference in RSG Percentage

  Rate support ant per capita (1987–88 prices) £

  Year on year percentage difference in RSG per capita Percentage

  1978–79

  96·549

  425

  1979–80

  90·261

  -6·5

  388

  -8·7

  1980–81

  89·200

  -1·2

  401

  3·4

  1981–822

  79·243

  -11·2

  370

  -7·7

  1982–83

  89·738

  13·2

  423

  14·3

  1983–84

  71·768

  -20·0

  341

  -19·4

  1984–85

  86·051

  19·9

  411

  20·5

  1985–86

  84·844

  -1·4

  407

  -1·0

  1986–873

  75·875

  -10·6

  370

  -9·1

  1987–88

  82·445

  8·7

  402

  8·6

  1988–89

  94·171

  14·2

  459

  14·2

  1 Cash values expressed in constant (1987–88) prices using the GDP deflator.

  2 The system of paying grant changed in 1981–82 when the needs resources and domestic elements of grant were replaced by block grant and domestic rate relief grant.

  3 Grant entitlements changed in 1986–87 following the abolition of the GLC.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the successfully completed environmental programme schemes funded under the urban programme in 1985–86 and 1986–87 between £10,000 and £30,000 in value in the programme authorities.

  Mr. Trippier
  The number and total value of approved environmental schemes between £10,000 and £30,000 in urban programme authorities in 1985–86 and 1986–87 was:

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Number

  Value

  Number

  Value

  511

  £9·29

  527

  £9·35

  These figures may exclude some late approvals, including some projects approved within larger environmental blocks and pools. Information about successfully completed schemes is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Small Shops
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the powers under which a local authority can offer financial assistance to the owner of a small shop to make it accessible to disabled people.

  Mr. Chope
  It is for local authorities to consider which powers might authorise the giving of financial assistance for access to the disabled to non-local authority premises.

  Newham (Rates)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for the London borough of Newham(a) the rate support grant for 1978–79, expressed in 1987 prices, (b) that figure expressed per capita of the population of the borough, (c) the same figures, expressed in 1987 prices, for each year since and (d) the percentage differences between the figures for each year.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is as follows:

  I wrote to the hon. Member on 21 March setting out a number of discretionary powers which might be appropriate for this purpose.

  Civil Service Chauffeurs
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many chauffeurs are employed in the Civil Service.

  Mr. Chope
  There are no central records held for this grade. The Government car service, which provides a chauffeur driven service to Ministers and heads of Department, employs 153 staff in this capacity.

  Rates Exemption
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received seeking exemption of buildings used in connection with horse and pony breeding from rates.

  Mr. Chope
  The campaign by the Thoroughbred Breeders Association and other bodies interested in this matter has been carried on for some years now. Since January this year, however, we have received approximately 100 representations on this subject.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any request from British Coal's Opencast Executive for the relaxation of planning regulations for opencast coal mining.
  229
  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. British Coal did comment on my Department's draft planning guidance on opencast coal mining. A copy of its letter of 17 June has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Richmond House
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent buying stone for walls and paved areas, trees, shrubs, tubs and compost for the Richmond house office of the Department of Health and Social Security; and what is the latest estimate for the total cost of the building.

  Mr. Chope
  The cost of buying stone for paved areas and associated walls and steps around Richmond house was £450,000. The cost of buying trees, shrubs, turf and associated materials was £38,000. The current estimate of the total cost of the project is £41·4 million. This includes some additional work and acceleration costs to ensure DHSS occupation by the end of 1987. As I said in my answer on 8 December 1987 to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman), at column 97, the final cost will depend on settlement of the final account, including claims still being negotiated.

  United States Military Bases
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to recover as promptly as possible the debt of £31 million owing by the United States armed forces to the Property Services Agency from building works on military bases.

  Mr. Chope
  The steps outlined in paragraph 22 of the Public Accounts Committee's report on "Repayment Arrangements for Works Expenditure for US Forces", published on 20 April, have already yielded a substantial improvement. The estimated deficit at the end of the 1987–88 financial year is between £20 million and £22 million.

  Employment
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the calculations made by Mr. H. B. Lloyd in his paper entitled "The Financial Effects of Increasing Employment by One Million," a copy of which was sent to the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave), the Minister for Housing and Planning, in November 1987.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. I am writing to the hon. Member enclosing a comment on Mr. Lloyd's paper which I sent to him in December 1987.

  London Boroughs
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the total indebtedness of each of the London boroughs; and if he will express this information also in per capita terms per resident in each case.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the information placed in the Library of the House on 14 March 1988 in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) at column 459.

  Local Authorities (Employees)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take in the light of responses to his consultation paper which proposed an amendment to the Local Government Finance Act 1982 to restrict the rights of the public to inspect at the time of audit, information which a local authority holds about its employees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have decided in the light of responses to their consultation paper to seek at the next convenient opportunity an amendment to the Local Government Finance Act 1982 so that, as proposed, all information which an authority holds about its employees would be excluded from public inspection, except information about gross pay, allowances, bonuses and overtime payments, which would continue to be open to inspection at the time of audit. My right hon. Friends consider that such an amendment would strike the right balance between safeguarding personal privacy and providing adequate public inspection for proper accountability.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Magnisite Ltd.
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will prosecute Magnisite Ltd., operating as Magnivision, for offering for sale ready-made reading spectacles without a prescription from a suitable registered practitioner, under section 21 of the Opticians Act 1958.

  The Attorney-General
  If the hon. Member has any evidence tending to disclose the commission of a criminal offence, he should give that evidence to the police.

  Mr. Anthony Parnes
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library a copy of that part of the evidence submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the Los Angeles court in connection with the extradition proceedings against Mr. Anthony Parnes which was made publicly available in the United States of America.

  The Attorney-General
  No.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  China
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next hopes to pay an official visit to the People's Republic of China.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no immediate plans to visit the People's Republic of China.

  European Foreign Ministers
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his counterparts from the other European Community countries; and what matters were discussed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 27 April at column 156.

  Tel Aviv (Passport Renewals)
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average time taken for the British consulate in Tel Aviv to process an application from a British citizen for the renewal of a passport; and if any measures are being taken to reduce this time.

  Mr. Eggar
  Routine applications for renewal or replacement of passports are at present processed within an average period of two and a half weeks. More urgent applications are handled within one or two days and emergency cases are dealt with immediately. Staffing improvements are expected soon to reduce the routine waiting period to around one week.

  Fentanyl
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place within the Geneva negotiations on chemical and biological weapons about the problems posed by the compound fentanyl; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The chemical weapons convention will apply to all chemical warfare agents whether or not they are explicitly named. It will also include a verification regime for certain chemicals produced in industry which are assessed to pose a risk to the objectives of the convention. Many detailed aspects of this verification regime remain to be resolved including the implication of chemicals such as fentanyl which are capable of modification. These issues are under consideration in Geneva.

  Persian Gulf
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has been given by the United States Administration on their plans for broadening the scope of their role in the Gulf.

  Mr. Mellor
  We remain in close contact with the United States and other western countries with naval forces deployed in the Gulf. Our common objective remains to ensure the freedom of navigation in international waters. The practicalities of so doing are regularly reviewed.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any evidence of the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in its recent offensive in the Fao peninsula; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We continue to examine reports of the recent battle in the Fao peninsula. To date we have no conclusive evidence of the use of chemical weapons in that offensive.

  Ethiopian Army (Chemical Weapons)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any representations have been made regarding the use by the Ethiopian Army of chemical weapons, nerve gas, cluster bombs and napalm against people in Eritrea and Tigré.
  232
  Mrs. Chalker
  No. We have no evidence that the Ethiopian Army intends to use such weapons. The United Kingdom unreservedly condemns the use of chemical weapons anywhere.

  Mr. Abu Jihad
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the involvement of any Israeli Government organisation in the murder of the PLO official Mr. Abu Jihad in Tunisia; and what are the implications for his policy towards access to the United Kingdom of certain categories of Israeli citizens.

  Mr. Mellor
  Suspicions of Israeli involvement in the murder of Abu Jihad fall short of absolute proof. There are no implications for Israeli visitors to the United Kingdom.

  Panama
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any additions have been made to the staffing of Her Majesty's embassy in Panama in the past six months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  No additions have been made to the staff accredited to Her Majesty's embassy in Panama.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the current trading situation of British banks in Panama.

  Mr. Eggar
  We understand that the one British bank in Panama is operating within the same constraints, applied by the Panamanian authorities, as all other banks in Panama.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information is currently being offered to British commercial interests in Panama.

  Mr. Eggar
  Her Majesty's embassy regularly exchanges information with British commercial interests in Panama in the course of its normal contacts, as do other posts overseas.

  Commonwealth Institute
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider providing additional resources to the Commonwealth Institute to enable urgent repairs to the copper roof to be undertaken.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The nature and urgency of work which may be required on the roof of the main galleries of the Commonwealth Institute, Kensington, is still being studied by the institute, and the implications for the institute's resources are not yet clear.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the amount of grant paid to the Commonwealth Institute in each of the past five years.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The total grants-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Vote for the last five years for the London and Edinburgh operations of the Commonwealth
  233
  Institute, including occasional ad hoc elements for special events, redecoration, maintenance and so on were as follows:

  £ million

  1987–88

  2·665

  1986–87

  2·673

  1985–86

  2·515

  1984–85

  2·350

  1983–84

  2·518

EMPLOYMENT

  Docklands Liaison Group
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people form the Docklands liaison group; what are their names; and what has been their previous experience.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Currently nine people constitute the Docklands liaison group. With one exception, they had all worked for the Manpower Services Commission or the employment service in east London before joining the group.

  The names and grades of the officials concerned are as follows:

  Grade

  Mr. R. Mann

  Grade 7

  Mr. P. Kendrick

  SEO

  Mr. T. Goepfort

  HEO

  Ms. C. Hughes

  HEO

  Ms. J. Crosweller

  EO

  Mr. N. Reeve

  EO

  Mr. K. Crossman

  EO

  Ms. R. Sammons

  AO

  Mr. G. Rihal

  AA

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of employment in(a) the north-east and (b) Houghton and Washington in numerical and percentage terms; and what are the comparable figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  Full working population figures are not available for areas of this size. Employee figures can be given, but only for dates when censuses of employment are taken. At September 1984, the latest date for which census estimates are available, there were 882,700 employees in employment in the north-east; the figure for the Houghton and Washington constituency was 28,400. The figures exclude the self-employed and members of Her Majesty's forces.

  The earliest estimates on a comparable basis are for September 1981 when the previous census of employment was taken. There were then 940,600 employees employed in the north-east and 28,600 in the Houghton and Washington constituency.

  Employees in employment in the textile1 industry in Great Britain

  Thousands

  Males

  Females

  Full-time

  Part-time

  All

  Full-time

  Part-time

  All

  June 1971

  —

  —

  255·4

  201·3

  42·8

  244·1

  June 1972

  —

  —

  248·1

  192·8

  39·7

  232·5

  234
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current unemployment and unfilled vacancies figures on his Department's register for the Castleford travel-to-work area.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. On 10 March 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the Castleford and Pontefract travel-to-work area was 7,947. On 4 March 1988, the number of unfilled vacancies, excluding vacancies of the community programme, registered at jobcentres which closely correspond to the Castleford and Pontefract travel-to-work area was 385.

  Mr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage fall in unemployment in each of the parliamentary constituencies in Cheshire since 1984; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants at 8 March 1984 and 10 March 1988, together with the percentage change for each parliamentary constituency in the county of Cheshire. The figures are affected by the change in the coverage of the count in March 1986.

  Unemployed claimants

  Constituency

  March 1984

  March 1988

  Percentage change

  City of Chester

  5,495

  4,565

  -16·9

  Congleton

  3,211

  2,124

  -33·9

  Crewe and Nantwich

  4,674

  3,636

  -22·2

  Eddisbury

  5,131

  3,444

  -32·9

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  6,711

  4,992

  -25·6

  Halton

  8,245

  6,184

  -25·0

  Macclesfield

  3,326

  2,344

  -29·5

  Tatton

  3,569

  2,699

  -29·4

  Warrington North

  6,641

  4,965

  -25·2

  Warrington South

  6,172

  4,862

  -21·2

  Textile Workers
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of full-time and part-time workers employed in the textile industry for each year from 1970.

  Mr. Lee
  The Department's employment statistics are analysed according to the standard industrial classification (SIC), and the series is broken by the introduction of the 1980 SIC, which reclassified certain activities, including the textile industry. The table gives the available information on the industry on a consistent 1980 SIC basis from June 1971.

  Part-time male figures on this basis are available only from the censuses of employment carried out in September 1981 and September 1984, and quarterly thereafter. Comparable figures are not available for dates prior to June 1971.
  235

  Males

  Females

  Full-time

  Part-lime

  All

  Full-time

  Part-time

  All

  June 1973

  —

  —

  247·8

  186·6

  43·0

  229·6

  June 1974

  —

  —

  240·7

  176·2

  47·8

  224·0

  June 1975

  —

  —

  218·6

  155·6

  44·1

  199·7

  June 1976

  —

  —

  212·3

  149·7

  41·7

  191·4

  June 1977

  —

  —

  211·6

  151·6

  42·6

  194·2

  June 1978

  —

  —

  202·8

  145·6

  39·9

  185·5

  June 1979

  —

  —

  192·6

  141·9

  37·0

  178·9

  June 1980

  —

  —

  166·3

  127·0

  31·4

  158·4

  June 1981

  —

  —

  140·7

  106·4

  25·9

  132·3

  September 1981

  136·3

  3·5

  139·8

  106·8

  25·5

  132·3

  June 1982

  —

  —

  130·9

  101·3

  23·9

  125·2

  June 1983

  —

  —

  122·7

  96·0

  20·1

  116·1

  June 1984

  —

  —

  119·5

  94·6

  19·4

  114·0

  September 1984

  118·5

  2·1

  120·6

  94·4

  19·9

  114·3

  June 1985

  116·8

  2·1

  118·9

  94·3

  19·6

  113·9

  June 1986

  117·4

  2·4

  119·8

  95·2

  19·2

  114·4

  June 1987

  112·4

  2·3

  114·7

  91·7

  15·2

  106·9

  December 19872

  110·4

  2·4

  112·8

  91·9

  14·3

  106·2

  1The textile industry is defined as Class 43 of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification.

  2 The latest date for which estimates are available.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has had from the organisers of the community programme about problems faced by those seeking work in the programmes as a result of benefit not being paid for the first week of the programme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have received no representations on this matter.

  Hospitals (Staffing Levels)
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the recommended staffing levels by patient category in English hospitals; and what are the current staffing levels in hospitals within the Pontefract area health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no recommended staffing levels by patient category in hospitals. Although regions have manpower staffing targets, the distribution between staff groups is a matter for regional decision.

  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Mr. Favell) on 31 March at columns 665–69 which gave staff in post figures by health authority.

SCOTLAND

  New Towns
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, for each of the five Scottish new towns for the years 1974–75 to 1989–90, actual or estimated figures for housing stock within the host district council area analysed by the following ownership categories (a) development corporation, (b) district council, (c) other public sector, (d) owner-occupied and (e) private rented.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The available information on the numbers of domestic subjects on the valuation roll is published in the rating review estimates of income and expenditure summary volume by the Chartered
  236
  Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) for the years to 1987. Details of owner-occupied and private rented stock by district are not available. Estimates for later years are also not available.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for (a) each of the five Scottish new towns (b) each of the district councils with new towns and (c) Scotland as a whole for the years 1974–75 to 1989–90 inclusive, the actual or estimated (i) capital expenditure, gross and net of capital receipts (ii) revenue expenditure and (iii) capital debt, expressed both in cash and as per capita amounts.

  Mr. Lang
  I regret that this information is not held in the form requested and could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.

  "The Scotsman" (Break-in)
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Strathclyde as to the progress of inquiries into the break-in at the office of The Scotsman newspaper in Queen street, Glasgow, during the weekend of 23–24 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No.

  Boundary Commission
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Boundary Commission for Scotland intends to conduct any further interim review of parliamentary constituencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The Boundary Commission for Scotland has informed me that it intends to conduct interim reviews of seven parliamentary constituencies under section 3 of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986. The constituencies are as follows:

  Angus East, and Kincardine and Deeside:

  Clackmannan, Dunfermline West, and Perth and Kinross;

  Clydebank and Milngavie, and Glasgow Garscadden.

  I understand that the reviews have arisen from alterations to local authority boundaries which those of the parliamentary constituencies concerned no longer follow exactly.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the average class size for schools in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) West Germany, (iii) the United States of America and (iv) Japan.

  Mr. Dunn
  The readily available information is shown in the following table. There are no readily available data for the United States of America.

  Country

  Year

  Class size up to 1st level1

  Class size up to 2nd level2

  United Kingdom

  1984–85

  325·2

  421·4

  1985–86

  325·9

  421·3

  Germany, Federal Republic of5

  1982–83

  22·7

  627·3

  Japan7

  1984–85

  833·3

  638·1

  1 Equates broadly with nursery and primary education.

  2 Equates broadly with secondary school education and non-advanced further education.

  3 Covers maintained primary schools in England. Includes classes where more than one teacher may be present.

  4 Covers maintained secondary schools in England. Includes classes where more than one teacher may be present.

  5 Data extracted from reply to a written European Parliamentary Question (1503/84).

  6 Covers lower secondary schools only.

  7 Includes private education.

  8 Covers only primary school education.

  Literacy
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the literacy rates for (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) West Germany, (iii) the United States of America and (iv) Japan.

  Mr. Dunn
  Comparable information on literacy rates in these countries is not available.

  Pupil Expenditure
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the expenditure per primary school pupil for each of the years from 1976 to 1986 in Wakefield metropolitan council area.

  Mr. Dunn
  The information requested is set out in the following table.

  Net institutional recurrent expenditure per pupil1 in primary schools

  £ (Real Terms)2

  1975–76

  720

  1976–77

  730

  1977–78

  700

  1978–79

  715

  1979–80

  705

  1980–81

  740

  1981–82

  790

  1982–83

  815

  1983–84

  875

  1984–85

  870

  1985–86

  905

  1986–87

  955

  238
  1 Net institutional recurrent expenditure covers the cost of salaries and wages, premises and certain supplies and services. It does not include the cost of school meals, central administration and inspection, debt charges or revenue contributions to capital outlay.

  2 The cash figures for the earlier years have been repriced to 1986–87 prices using the gross domestic product (market prices) deflator.

  English Teaching (Kingman Report)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he received the Kingman report on the teaching of English in schools; and when he expects to publish it.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I received the report before Easter and expect to publish it tomorrow.

  A-level Examinations (Higginson Reports)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has now received the Higginson reports on A-levels; and when he expects to publish it.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I expect to receive the Higginson report shortly.

  Residential Colleges
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to review the functions of long-term residential colleges.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department is currently reviewing the outcomes of various experimental projects conducted at some of the long-term residential colleges. The colleges were asked for their views on their future role recently and their ideas will be discussed with them later in the year.

  Pen Tops
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) of 15 March,Official Report, columns 982–23, what advice he has given to local education authorities in respect of detachable pen tops.

  Mr. Dunn
  The Department has now written to all local education authorities along the lines indicated in my previous answer. I am arranging for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in the light of the recent launch of a specially designed safety air flow cap for detachable pen tops, what criteria he plans to recommend to chief education officers over the use of such products.

  Mr. Dunn
  The Department's letter of 21 March to chief education officers, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, gives advice on various types of pen top and takes into account recent and imminent developments as reported to the Department.

  Bracken Spores and Stomach Cancer
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on current research into a possible link between bracken spores and stomach cancer in humans.
  239
  Mrs. Rumbold
  I understand that the expert advisory committee on carcinogenicity, which reports to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, will shortly advise on the possible hazards to human health from bracken in air, food and water. The need for further research in this area will be considered in the light of that advice.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will issue guidance on the provisions he would expect to be contained in the planning and establishment of schemes of financial delegation for schools which local education authorities would be required to prepare under clauses 25 to 41 of the Education Reform Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I am today issuing draft guidance to all local education authorities and other interested parties on the action which local education authorities would be required to take tinder clauses 25 to 41 of the Education Reform Bill if it receives Royal Assent in its present form.

  The principle of financial delegation to schools, the provisions for which are a central part of the Education Reform Bill. has been widely welcomed. The Bill affords only a broad framework. Within that, if the Bill receives Royal Assent in its present form, it will be for each local education authority to prepare its own scheme of financial delegation setting out their proposed arrangements for distributing resources between all their maintained county and voluntary schools, and for delegation to the governing bodies of all secondary schools and all primary schools with 200 or more pupils the responsibility for managing their budgets.

  'The draft guidance is being issued now to inform discussion of financial delegation to schools during the remaining stages of the Bill's passage through Parliament, to help local education authorities in their planning, and to give all concerned an early opportunity to comment. Comments are invited by 15 July 1988.

  Copies of the draft guidance have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and in the Vote Office.

  Students (Income and Expenditure)
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the results will be made public of the comprehensive survey into students' income and expenditure referred to in the Government's response to the first report from the Education, Science and Arts Committee, Session 1986–87.

  Mr. Jackson
  The report on the survey is being published by Research Services Limited today. A copy has been placed in the Library.

DEFENCE

  Exercise Excalibur
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates Exercise Excalibur is to be held; how many and what types of aircraft will be participating; and what areas of the United Kingdom will be affected.

  Mr. Freeman
  Exercise Excalibur III will be held on 29 April 1988 and will involve 44 USAFE aircraft including 240
  RF-4s, F-4s, F-16s, F-15s, F-5s, F-111s and A-10s. The exercise will be centred on Spadeadam range, but parts of north Yorkshire and Cumbria are expected to see aircraft at low level during their approach to the range.

  NATO
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent report from the 13 member state independent European programme group of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on armament development and procurement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The European defence industry study was commissioned by IEPG Defence Ministers with the aim of identifying ways in which the competitiveness of Europe's defence industries might be enhanced. It was carried out by a group of eminent individuals under the chairmanship of Mr. Vredeling of the Netherlands. The group recommended a range of measures, including increased collaboration in defence research and the development of a more open and competitive European market in defence equipment.

  IEPG Defence Ministers welcomed the report at their meeting last june. In particular, they agreed to press ahead with the IEPG's work on generating more joint research projects; and they tasked their armament directors to make proposals for the framework of a scheme within which a more open defence equipment market might be developed, for their consideration at their next ministerial meeting in the autumn.

  Uranium
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United Kingdom has imported any uranium for non-nuclear explosive defence purposes from the United States of America in any year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The then Minister of State for Defence Procurement informed the House on 17 January 1985, at columns 183–84, of the procurement of depleted uranium for the development programme of an anti-armour ammunition. Some of the material to which he referred was purchased from the United States as trial feed for prototype production. The House was informed on the same day of the Phalanx system deployed with the Royal Navy, which is purchased from the United States together with its depleted uranium alloy ammunition.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what chemical form any uranium imported from(a) Namibia and (b) the Republic of South Africa has been received in the United Kingdom for defence use.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In line with the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) on 20 July 1987, at column 97, it has never been the policy of any Government to disclose the sources of our defence stockpile of uranium.

  Plutonium
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any United Kingdom plutonium has been exported, without safeguards, to the United States of America since May 1979 under the Anglo-American mutual defence agreement.
  241
  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State for Energy, the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), on 19 November 1984, at column 25, which quoted several earlier replies, including that given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Chertsey and Walton (Sir G. Pattie) to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 25 April 1984, at column 506, which may now be updated to read, "during the past 17 years". I have nothing further to add.

  Property Damage (County Donegal)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in each of the last three years there have been complaints from(a) the Government of the Irish Republic, (b) Donegal county council or Donegal county councillors, and (c) persons residing in County Donegal, regarding damage to property alleged to have been caused by explosives set off by the Army in County Londonderry; what was the extent of such alleged damage; what compensation has been claimed; and what sums have been involved.

  Mr. Freeman
  As a result of explosives tests carried out at Magilligan point, County Londonderry, between November 1985 and 1986, a total of 53 claims for alleged structural damage to property were received from residents of the Greencastle area of County Donegal. Of these, 30 were pursued by the claimants. After careful investigation, those claims were repudiated by my Department in February 1987. My Department has received no complaints from Donegal county council or Donegal county councillors. Information relating to these claims has been exchanged with the Irish Government on a number of occasions since 1985.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying sorties over the United Kingdom in each year since 1979 were accounted for by aircraft from RAF Germany.

  Mr. Freeman
  Central records of usage of the United Kingdom low-flying system have not in the past distinguished between RAF aircraft based in the United Kingdom and those based elsewhere, including the Federal Republic of Germany. The information requested is not therefore available.

  Mr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the land area of Scotland is included within the United Kingdom low flying system.

  Mr. Freeman
  The whole of the land area of Scotland is included within the United Kingdom low-flying system.

  Forward Air Control Exercise
  Mr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent local press and hon. Members will be informed about the Forward Air Control exercise to be held in the Elan valley, Powys, from 11 to 13 May.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is normal practice to provide hon. Members with advance notice of any major exercise that is likely to have a significant effect on low-flying activity in their constituencies. The Press Association, local papers 242
  and local TV and radio stations are similarly informed about major exercises. Notification is not, however, given for all small exercises, such as the Forward Air Control exercise referred to, although this exercise may be mentioned in the formal notification concerning the annual OSEX exercise, to which it relates.

  Fast Jet Operational Training Programme
  Mr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which elements of the Royal Air Force fast jet operational training programme were considered by the 1985 Gibson report.

  Mr. Freeman
  The report considered the pattern, content and duration of Royal Air Force fast jet operational flying training following completion of advanced flying training.

  US Military Personnel (Arrests)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has to the power under which United States military personnel claim to have acted in effecting arrests at(a) United States bases, (b) training areas in use by United States forces and (c) any other areas, over the last five years.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The powers of arrest of United States military personnel in the United Kingdom are the same as those of an ordinary British citizen.

  Air Staff Requirement 1584
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature and purpose of the requirements set out in air staff requirement 1584.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Air staff requirement 1584 concerns the provision of new sensors for the identification and location of airborne radars as part of the improved air defence ground environment.

  Army Equipment Exhibition
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether right hon. and hon. Members will be invited to attend the British Army equipment exhibition to be held in Aldershot from 27 June to 1 July.

  Mr. Freeman
  A number of right hon. and hon. Members have been invited to attend the British Army equipment exhibition on 28 June as the guests of the Ministry of Defence.

  Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital, Woolwich
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the number of National Health Service patients treated as(a) in-patients and (b) outpatients at Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, during the last 12 months for which figures are available together with comparative figures for the preceding five years.

  Mr. Freeman
  The numbers of NHS patients, including dependants, treated at the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich, in 1987 and the preceding four years are as follows:
  243

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Inpatients

  4,788

  5,693

  6,500

  6,070

  6,042

  Day Patients

  220

  833

  991

  781

  1,287

  Outpatients

  4,725

  4,787

  5,953

  4,977

  4,767

  Notes:

  1. The out-patient numbers represent individual new cases and do not include follow up appointments.

  2. The comparable figures for 1982 and the preceding years are not yet readily available.

  Armilla Patrol
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for the role of the Armilla patrol of United States plans to broaden the scope of its rôle in the Gulf.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The policy for the Armilla patrol is kept under constant review in the light of all relevant factors. Any change in the operating pattern of a friendly navy would, of course, be taken fully into account.

  Exercise Elder Forest
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the results of the recent Exercise Elder Forest.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Exercise Elder Forest 1988 was the latest in a biennial series of exercises the purpose of which is to test procedures for the air defence of the United Kingdom. The exercise took place from 18 to 22 April. A full assessment of the lessons learned is in hand, but will take some time to complete. Initial indications are that the exercise was successful in meeting its aims.

  United States Forces
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation procedures are currently in force regarding military action by United States forces based in the United Kingdom; if he has received any requests from the United States Government for the use of bases in the United Kingdom for possible military action in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Churchill/Truman understanding of 1952 reaffirmed that the use of United States basis in the United Kingdom in an emergency would be a matter for joint decision by Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time. Appropriate arrangements exist to cover both conventional and nuclear United States forces, whether under national or NATO command. These arrangements are classified. It is not our usual practice to comment on any discussions between the United States and United Kingdom Governments about the details of operational plans.

  360 Squadron RAF
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any plans to privatise the electronic countermeasures training role currently carried out by No. 360 Squadron RAF.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have no plans to privatise the task of No. 360 squadron RAF.
  244
  The MoD will, however, in the normal way, continue to keep under review the most cost-effective way of meeting this requirement.

  100 Squadron RAF
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any plans to privatise the target facilities functions carried out by No. 100 Squadron RAF.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have no plans to privatise the task of No. 100 squadron RAF.

  The MOD will, however, in the normal way, continue to keep under review the most cost-effective way of meetting this requirement.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his statement of 25 April,Official Report, columns 21–22, for what reasons Her Majesty's Government declared production offtake of the new European fighter aircraft was set at a figure of 250; and what are the comparable offtakes set out by the other participant nations

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Each of the partner nations declared its projected production offtake in 1985 on the basis of its perceived needs. These declared offtakes and the development workshares for which they formed the basis remain unchanged as follows:

  Number of aircraft

  Percentage

  United Kingdom

  250

  33

  Federal Republic of Germany

  250

  33

  Italy

  165

  21

  Spain

  100

  13

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his statement of 25 April,Official Report, columns 21–22, whether the actual expenses incurred by the European fighter aircraft development programme will be made public; and whether the United Kingdom financial liability will relate only to the work contracted for by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Details of United Kingdom expenditure on the development of the European fighter aircraft will be made available to Committees of the House in the normal way, but any consideration of wider publication would need to take account of our obligations to our international partners. Contracts will be let on behalf of the participating nations by NEFMA (the Eurofighter management agency) on the two prime contractors, Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH and Eurojet Turbo GmbH, at the request of the four participating nations. In the context of the agreements among the four nations, the United Kingdom will have a financial liability within the terms of the prime contracts for the United Kingdom's workshare. The United Kingdom will in addition have a financial liability to fund a 33 per cent. share of the international administrative costs of the programme.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if a decision has yet been made on the organisation or body which will determine the sale price of the European fighter aircraft offered for sale abroad in the event of the project proceeding to production.
  245
  Mr. Sainsbury
  No. It would be premature at this stage to reach a decision on the price of EFA for export. We are confident, however, that EFA will prove to be very attractive to potential customers.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if a decision has yet been made on the location of the headquarters of the Eurofighter consortium; what will be the legal structure of that organisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The corporate headquarters of Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH has been established at Munich since 1986. It is there colocated with the international government management agency (NEFMA). Eurofighter is wholly owned by the partner aircraft companies (British Aerospace, Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm, Aeritalia, Construcciones Aeronauticas) of the four nations, and will be the prime contractor responsible for the whole weapon system including integration of the avionics and the engine system.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he proposes in his defence programme to accommodate the £1·7 billion development cost of the European fighter aircraft development within the planned expenditure totals published last autumn; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  When the public expenditure totals for defence were set last autumn, the probable need was already recognised to provide for the development cost of EFA. Only a small proportion of the total development cost falls within the public expenditure planning period. We do not, therefore, propose to make changes to the defence programme for those years as a result of the decision which my right hon. Friend announced on 25 April. The period of highest expenditure on EFA is expected to be around the turn of the century, but the defence programme for those years is, of course, at only a preliminary planning stage and will be shaped reflecting the priority accorded to EFA.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has reassessed the likelihood of the loss through(a) mines or (b) missiles of a major ship in the Gulf, in the light of the incident involving the USS Samuel Roberts.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the safety of British minesweepers in the light of recent military action in the Gulf.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The likely threat to Royal Navy ships serving in the Gulf area is kept under constant review in the light both of general circumstances and of particular incidents. Although there is, of course, always some risk inherent in the Armilla patrol's duties, the ships have self-defence equipment relevant to the range of threats in the region. No Royal Navy ship was involved in the recent military action between United States and Iranian forces in the Gulf and Armilla's non-provocative and de-escalatory operating pattern is designed to minimise the risk of conflict at any time.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Pass Holders
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list by name all those persons currently employed by right hon. and hon. Members on a permanent or temporary basis, showing by which right hon. or hon. Member they are employed and indicating which persons possess passes entitling them to access to the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. Wakeham
  It is not possible to provide this information, since it is not the practice, on security grounds, to make public the names of individual Palace of Westminster photo-identity pass holders.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Hospital Services (Privatisation)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on below the line redundancy costs as a result of hospital domestic services privatisation.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) on 31 March, at column 660. No further information is held centrally.

  Rampton Special Hospital
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the capital expenditure on Rampton special hospital for each year since 1980; and what is the planned future capital expenditure.

  Mr. Newton
  Major and minor capital expenditure combined was as follows:

  Financial year

  £000

  1980–81

  972

  1981–82

  350

  1982–83

  294

  1983–84

  935

  1984–85

  1,891

  1985–86

  378

  1986–87

  834

  1987–88

  1,250

  Future major capital expenditure planned for the current financial year up to and including 1992–93 is £17·26 million. Provision for minor capital expenditure will be determined annually from within the resources available for the special hospitals service.

  Teaching Hospitals
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to provide for an element of direct central funding of teaching hospitals.

  Mr. Newton
  The additional service costs associated with providing teaching facilities are already protected through the service increment for teaching (SIFT) which is distributed in relation to the numbers of medical students in each region.
  247
  SIFT along with other aspects of the resource allocation working party (RAWP) formula is currently under review. Any recommendations which may emerge will be carefully considered.

  Nurses and Midwives
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what courses are available for nurses and midwives to undertake further training to improve the scope and standard of their skills.

  Mr. Newton
  The English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting has issued outline curricula for 106 post-basic clinical courses, designed to enhance the scope and standard of skills of nurses and midwives. These courses cover clinical nursing skills, work with particular client groups, or research. Most are available at more than one centre throughout the country.

  The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the English national board for further information.

  In addition, schemes are available through the NHS training authority to assist nurses and midwives who wish to obtain a first degree in a subject relevant to their work and career aspirations and for those who wish to train for general management in the NHS. There are also a variety of management development programmes to assist nurses in their careers.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the recommended staffing levels by patient category in hospitals; and what are the current staffing levels listed by each health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  Staffing levels for particular patient categories are a matter for local decision. For current staff in post figures, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Mr. Favell) on 31 March, at columns 665–69.

  Alarm Systems
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, if he will investigate the cost-effectiveness of a national centrally funded scheme of meeting the charges necessary to upgrade domestic telephone sockets to enable elderly residents to have house alarm systems installed by local authorities where that provision would enable them to live in the community and not in institutions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to do so. The supply of emergency alarms is a matter for local authorities, which would no doubt approach British Telecom in suitable circumstances.

  Pathology
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Management Advisory Service report on pathology staffing will be published.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the Management Advisory Services' report on pathology staffing in England;
  248
  (2) when he expects publication of the Management Advisory Services' report on pathology staffing in England.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Members to my reply to my hon. Friends the Members for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) and for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns), and to the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) on 28 March 1988, at column 336.

  Vibration White Finger
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average percentage payment to recipients of the vibration white finger prescribed industrial disease benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  Average payments for vibration white finger on claims made since 1 October 1986 have been at the 30 per cent. rate (currently £20·16 per week). Since that date disablement benefit has not generally been payable where disablement is assessed at less than 14 per cent.

  Consultants
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in which National Health Service regions consultants' contracts are held at regional and district level, respectively; and if he will list the districts which hold consultant contracts;

  (2) how many National Health Service consultants' contracts are held at regional and district levels, respectively; and what criteria determine whether contracts are held by district health authorities.

  Mr. Newton
  With the exception of
  teaching districts, consultants' contracts in England are held by regional health authorities. The teaching districts are listed as follows:

  Newcastle

  Camberwell

  Leeds Western

  Lewisham and North

  Leeds Eastern

  Southwark

  Leicestershire

  Wandsworth

  Nottingham

  Southampton and South

  Sheffield

  West Hampshire

  Cambridge

  Oxfordshire

  Parkside

  Bristol and Weston

  Riverside

  Central Birmingham

  Hampstead

  Liverpool

  Bloomsbury

  Central Manchester

  City and Hackney

  South Manchester

  Tower Hamlets

  Salford

  West Lambeth

  Social Workers (Vetting)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has in relation to the number of social workers and medical staff who have been vetted by police before they are employed in jobs where they work with children; and whether his Department keeps information as to the number of people refused employment and the reasons therefor.

  Mr. Newton
  This information is not collected by the Department. Such information as is available is collected by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

  Benefits (Advertising)
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much his Department is spending on(a) advertising as a whole and (b) television advertising to publicise the changes in the social security benefit system; and if he will give a breakdown on the spending in relation to each main such change.

  Mr. Portillo
  A breakdown of the costs incurred so far on advertising is as follows:

  Spent July 1986–May 1988

  (a) Total £

  (b) Television £

  General reform advertising

  270,650

  —

  Pensions

  205,800

  64,000

  Maternity benefits

  344,600

  —

  Housing benefits

  55,400

  —

  Family credit

  322,100

  322,100

  Income support

  126,300

  —

  Widows' benefits

  49,400

  —

  Funeral benefits

  59,100

  —

  In 1988–89 we plan to spend a further £4 million, mainly on pensions and family credit advertising. Approximately half of this will be spent on television.

  Free Milk
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what change he expects there to be in the numbers of families eligible for free milk on the implementation of clause 11 of the Social Security Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  At the latest date for which information is available (February 1986) around 786,000 families were entitled to free welfare milk because they were receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement, or were claiming under the low-income scheme. Following the changes introduced earlier this month by regulations made under the Social Security Act 1988, families receiving income support (about 633,000 on the basis of the numbers previously receiving supplemenary benefit) will still be entitled to free welfare milk. In family credit, provision is made in cash instead, by including an additional amount of £2–55 in the child credit rates for each child. The low-income scheme has been abolished. On the basis of the estimates in "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income Related Benefits" (October 1987) over 100,000 more children under five will receive the cash addition in family credit than were previously entitled to free welfare milk through receipt of family income supplement or under the low-income scheme.

  Eye Tests (Pontefract)
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in the Pontefract area health authority had eye tests in the last year for which figures are available; and what estimate he can make of how many would not have received free tests if his Department's new regulations had applied at the time.

  Mr. Newton
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to eye tests carried out under the general ophthalmic services. These are the responsibility of the family practitioner committee and it is not possible to give information for particular health authority areas.250
  However, the figures for the Wakefield FPC, which includes the area covered by the Pontefract district health authority, were 68,449 for the year ended 31 December 1987. The provisions of the Health and Medicines Bill would confine NHS eye tests to children under 16, full time students under 19, the registered blind and partially sighted, people on low incomes and those with diabetes or glaucoma who are referred by the doctor managing their condition. It is estimated these groups account for a little over one third of eye tests.

  Listeria Monocytogenes
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if(a) his Department and (b) the Yorkshire regional health authority will be represented at the international conference on the human pathogen listeria monocytogenes in Hungary in August;

  (2) by whom his Department was represented at the international conference on 1 March at Leatherhead on the human pathogen listeria monocytogenes.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department was represented by an environmental health officer at the conference "Listeria and its Implications for Food Safety" held on March 1 at the Leatherhead Food Research Association. There are no plans at present for the Department to be represented at the international conference to be held in Pesc, Hungary from 22 to 26 August 1988. Yorkshire regional health authority representation is a matter for that authority to decide. The hon. Member may therefore wish to contact the RHA chairman, Mr. Bryan Askew, for details.

  Brook Hospital, Woolwich
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to complete his consideration of the proposal to transfer the neuro-sciences unit from the Brook hospital, Woolwich; and if he is yet able to indicate when he plans to visit the hospital.

  Mrs. Currie
  Either my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State or my right hon. Friend the Minister for Health will visit the Brook hospital and the proposed site of the new centre at the Maudsley hospital, before a final decision is made. It is hoped to make this visit within the next two months.

  Cook-chill System
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what scientific evaluation of the cook-chill system has been carried out by his Department or any other relevant organisation;

  (2) if he will conduct a full inquiry into the cost and safety aspects of the cook-chill system.

  Mrs. Currie
  Cook-chill is a long established method of preparing food in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. As with any technically sophisticated system, safety rests on the strict application of procedures and principles developed over time. In the United Kingdom, these are described in the Department's "Guidelines on pre-cooked chilled foods" published in 1980, which have been reviewed and updated by an expert working group. The new edition will be published shortly. The review included consideration of scientific data from both long-established
  251
  and more recently established cook-chill units and took account of relevant published scientific papers. The guidelines will be kept under review.

  Decisions to introduce cook-chill are taken by commercial or institutional managers in the light of local catering needs. The design of each system, including its cost effectiveness, must relate to those needs.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if the provisions relating to food hygiene circulated in a letter in January from Mr. David Thompson, head of catering, to all regional and district health authority general managers requiring that local environental health officers, control of infection officers, medical officers of environmental health and local medical microbiologists or public health laboratories are consulted before the introduction of cook-chill catering systems have been met by health authorities in the Yorkshire region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Health authorities determine their own catering strategies and pattern of delivery within the framework of broad guidelines and management principles issued centrally. Information is not routinely collected on the manner in which health authorities use this guidance and the hon. Member should consult the chairman of Yorkshire regional health authority on the practices adopted in that region.

  Social Security Expenditure
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the £4 billion increase in real terms in social security expenditure over the period 1978–79 to 1987–88 was accounted for by increases or offsetting decreases in real terms in the average amounts of benefit paid, for each of the benefits listed in table 15.1 of Cm. 288-II; and what was the year-on-year increase.

  Mr. Scott
  The estimated increase in real terms in social security expenditure over the period 1978–79 to 1987–88 is £13 billion. An analysis of the £4 billion increase over that period caused by increases in the average amounts of benefits paid cannot be provided in precisely the form requested, but the available information is set out in the table. Further analysis showing year-on-year increases could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Analysis of real changes in average amount of benefit paid1 Great Britain

  £ million

  Retirement Pension

  1,330

  Christmas Bonus

  (120)

  Widow's Benefit

  50

  Unemployment Benefit

  (360)

  Sickness Benefit

  (60)

  Invalidity Benefit

  160

  Death Grant

  (30)

  Industrial Disablement Benefit

  20

  Maternity Allowance

  (20)

  War Pension

  130

  Attendance Allowance

  30

  Invalid Care Allowance

  20

  NCIP/SDA

  60

  Mobility Allowance

  100

  Supplementary Benefit & Certificated Housing Benefit2 3

  840

  Standard Housing Benefit

  420

  Child Benefit4

  1,380

  252

  £ million

  One Parent Benefit

  60

  Family Income Supplement

  50

  Maternity Grant

  (30)

  1 Benefits where the change has an effect of less than £10 million have been excluded. Figures in brackets ( ) refer to decreases.

  2 Housing benefit is rent rebate and rent allowance. Rate rebates are excluded as they are not classified as public expenditure.

  3 Certificated housing benefit has been added to supplementary benefit to ensure a consistent basis for the comparison. The supplementary benefits figure for 1978–79 included the housing costs of supplementary benefit recipients.

  4 The increase is based on an analysis of public expenditure only and takes no account of tax allowance available in 1978–79.

  Nurses
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures the Government are taking to ensure that there are adequate staff in specialties, including geriatrics and psychogeriatrics, where pay increases will be between 4 and 6 per cent.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government share the view of the Nurses' Pay Review Body that the new clinical structure offers an outstanding opportunity to improve the attractions of nursing as a career and that it will play an important part in improving recruitment and retention. Nurses in geriatric and psychogeriatrics stand to benefit from the new structure and from this year's average pay award of 15·3 per cent. and many working in these specialties will receive pay increases significantly in excess of 6 per cent.

  Data Protection Act
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance he has given to local authorities with regard to the implementation of the Data Protection Act within local authority social services departments.

  Mrs. Currie
  In September 1987 we issued to all local authorities circular LAC(87)10, a copy of which is in the Library. This gave guidance on the limitations to an individual's right of access to personal information laid down in the social work order made under the Act. Guidance on the rights of children and parents under the Act is in preparation. Guidance generally on the operation of the Act has been issued by the Data Protection Registrar.

  Juvenile Offenders (Supervision)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take following the publication of his Department's report on the practice of supervision of juvenile offenders.

  Mrs. Currie
  This report was the result of a joint inspection by Her Majesty's inspectorate of probation and the inspectorate of social services on practice and supervision of juvenile offenders in two non-metropolitan counties in England. The inspection was designed to obtain information about the effectiveness of the supervision order; to assist those agencies involved in the inspection of the future development of their services; and to provide material to assist other social services departments and probation services in their work.

  The report was drawn to the attention of directors of social services by the chief inspector of the social services

  253
  inspectorate on 16 December 1987. In doing so he highlighted a number of matters of concern both in the treatment of young offenders and in maintaining the confidence of courts in making supervision orders to reduce the numbers sentenced to custody, and drew attention to the recommendations related to these points included in the report. Copies of the report were sent also to the relevant local authority and professional associations.

  The social services inspectorate continues to follow-up the implications of the inspection report in discussions with the two local authorities who participated in the study. The Department will continue to draw on the conclusions and recommendations in the report in considering future policy on supervision orders for juvenile offenders.

  Child Benefit
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to maintain the level of child benefit payments in real terms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 12 April, at column 86.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to promote the publication in local newspapers of information on individual consultants' waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  As part of the waiting list initiative we are encouraging district health authorities to make information about in and out-patient waiting times more widely available to general practitioners and the general public. It is for each health authority to decide how this may best be achieved.

  Income Support
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes changes to the income support scheme in the light of his announcement of 27 April.

  Mr. Scott
  In addition to the more flexible approach to the treatment of property as capital which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced yesterday, we propose making three other small changes to the rules governing the income related benefits.

  We will provide transitional protection for disabled people, lone parents and pensioners who were receiving supplementary benefit but who are not entitled to income support because of changes in the rules relating to full-time work.

  Secondly, we will also provide that certain young people in full-time education who lost their benefit on 11 April because they were over 19 years old will get protection. Both these groups of people will be able to look for this special help to the new central unit, announced yesterday.

  Thirdly, we intend to give additional protection to certain small groups who were temporarily away from home during the week before 11 April. We have in mind,
  254
  for example, people who were temporarily in hospital or respite care and those who were abroad getting medical treatment. This extra help will be provided through the income support scheme.

  These additional minor changes will be introduced as soon as practicable and will target help to particularly vulnerable groups. Procedures for claiming these new forms of transitional protection will be announced shortly.

  Chiropody
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the future of the chiropody service;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the future of the chiropody profession;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the future of the chiropody profession;

  (4) when he intends to reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East on the future of chiropody services in January and Februrary; and if he will give the reasons for the delay.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 22 April 1988, c. 596]: The Cartwright report, "More Trouble with Feet", pointed to the need to improve chiropody services for the elderly. We have concluded that a number of recommendations in the report should be implemented and we propose discussing with the chiropody profession and other interested bodies how this might be achieved.

  These discussions are likely to cover the wider use of foot care assistants, encouraging more contractual and sessional arrangements with private chiropodists, and the place which chiropodists might play in primary care teams in the future, as suggested in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health".

  Michael Forsyth Ltd.
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all contacts by(a) Ministers in his Department and (b) civil servants in his Department with representatives of Michael Forsyth Ltd; Michael Forsyth Associates and subsidiaries thereof, in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Portillo
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 April 1988, c. 545–46]: I have today attended the Pensions Journalist of the Year lunch arranged by Michael Forsyth Limited, acting on behalf of the Alexander Consultants Group.

  Mental Handicap Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to publish advice to local services on issues of common concern for people with mental handicaps, relating to the integration of people with additional needs such as challenging behaviour and people with (i) mental handicaps and (ii) mental illness.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 16 March 1988]: The Department's paper' "Mental Handicap: policies and priorities" draws attention to the need to identify mentally handicapped people with special needs and to plan services to meet them. "Helping Mentally Handicapped People with Special Problems", the report of a departmental study team, was published in 19842. It covered special needs such as multiple and sensory handicaps and behaviour

  255
  disturbance in severely mentally handicapped people. In recognition of the special needs of mentally handicapped people who are also mentally ill or behaviourally disturbed, a departmental team has undertaken a programme of visits and discussions with people who are currently providing or planning services to respond to the needs of these individuals. The Department is now considering how best to share information about services and facilities. We are also sponsoring a number of relevant research studies which it is hoped will help health and local authorities to plan services.

  1 Paragraph 32 of Annex 2 of the Government's response to the Second Report from the Social Services Committee on Community Care. (Cmnd. 9674).

  2DHSS.

  Labour Statistics (Castleford)
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployed persons over the age of 50 years and out of work for more than one year, broken down by sex. there are in the Castleford travel-to-work area.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. On 14 January 1988 there were 1,280 male and 186 female unemployed claimants aged over 50 years who had been unemployed for one year or more in the Castleford and Pontefract travel-to-work area.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Chickens
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions in respect of unnecessary pain or distress caused to broiler and battery chickens in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The number of prosecutions undertaken and convictions obtained by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in respect of causing unnecessary pain or unnecessary distress to poultry in England within the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  1987

  1

  1

  1986

  1

  1

  1985

  Nil

  Nil

  1984

  Nil

  Nil

  1983

  1

  1

  Pigs
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to improve the marketing of pigs.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Government support the action being taken by the Meat and Livestock Commission and Food From Britain to improve the marketing of British meat, including pigmeat. Assistance is also available for the improvement of pig processing facilities under EC regulations 355/77.

  Cows
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to increase the premium payable on suckler cows; and if lie will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We increased the suckler cow premium by £8·66 to £33·40 for the 1987–88 scheme year. The period for applications under the 1988–89 scheme cannot begin before 15 June and the arrangements to apply in that year will be announced nearer the time.

  Beef Variable Premium
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the retention of the beef variable premium; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have received representations from producers which point to the value of the beef variable premium scheme. Those involved in the meat trade, particularly those exporting beef, have pointed to the disadvantages which the BVPS has for them because of the clawback on exports. The retention of the BVPS until the end of this year was an important feature of the settlement in December 1986. We shall be negotiating later this year on the arrangements for 1989.

  Bovine Spongiform
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement regarding the extent of bovine spongiform throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  As at 22 April, 430 cases of BSE had been confirmed on 359 farms in Great Britain.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department will provide more information to farmers and veterinarians about the disease bovine spongiform.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  All the known facts about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) have been made available to the veterinary profession, the farming industry and the specialist media.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines his Department intends to give to farmers and veterinarians on the problem of bovine spongiform.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Advice, based on the current state of knowledge about the disease, is being provided, particularly through the Ministry's veterinary investigaton centres. There have also been a number of Ministry scientific presentations, publications and general articles on the subject including one, giving the latest advice, which will appear in this week'sVeterinary Record.

  Research and Development
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when lie expects to announce a decision on the future of research and development in agriculture, fisheries and food in the light of the finalisation of the Barnes review.
  257
  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo) on 25 April at column 43.

  Foodstuffs (Radioactivity)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to the answer of 13 April,Official Report, column 155, he will list (a) the maximum permitted levels of radioactive caesium in foodstuffs for

  Malaysia

  CS-127

  CS-134

  Bq/kg (CS-137+CS-134)

  (from 1 October 1986)

  Milk and Milk Products and Mineral Water

  120

  60

  180

  Fruit and Vegetables— Fresh and Processed

  216

  108

  324

  Meat, Meat Products, Fish and other Sea Food—Fresh and Processed

  360

  180

  540

  Cereals Including Cornflour and Barley

  168

  84

  252

  Philippines

  Bq/kg CS-137+CS-134

  From 1 July 1986

  Powdered whole or skimmed milk

  22·2

  Processed liquid milk

  14·8

  Cheese

  33·3

  Wheat, barley

  5·6

  Rice

  7·5

  Seafood

  27·8

  Meat except lamb

  6·0

  Lamb

  450·0

  Apples

  7·5

  From 1 October 1986

  Milk products

  Liquid milk

  15·0

  Milk powder (full cream/non fat)

  22·0

  Whey powder

  22·0

  Anhydrous milkfat/butterfat

  22·0

  Cream

  22·0

  Cheese/curd

  33·0

  Butter/raw butter

  22·0

  Food for infants/young children

  22·0

  Fruit products

  Fruit purees/concentrates

  8·0

  Fruits in syrup/brine

  8·0

  Jams/jellies/marmalades

  8·0

  Other preserved fruits (raisins, dates, glazed fruits etc.)

  8·0

  Vegetable products

  Purees/concentrates/flakes

  22·0

  Pickled/salted/dried/powdered

  22·0

  Vegetable starches

  22·0

  Protein hydrolysates

  22·0

  Meat products

  Meat pastes/spreads/extract

  6·0

  Corned beef/luncheon meat

  6·0

  Ham/pork shoulders

  6·0

  258
  Malaysia and the Philippines operated after April 1986, (b) how many consignments of milk powder were rejected (i) from the European Community and (ii) from the United Kingdom, (c) the volume or weight of these rejected consignments and (d) what happened to each rejected consignment.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 21 April 1988]: I understand that the maximum permitted radiocaesium levels in feedstuffs operated by Malaysia and the Philippines after April 1986 are as follows:

  Bq/kg CS-137+CS-134

  Sausages

  6·0

  Cereal products

  Oatmeal

  6·0

  Corn flakes/meal

  6·0

  Malt extract

  6·0

  Fish/marine products

  28·0

  Miscellaneous

  Cocoa powder/chocolate drink

  22·0

  Tonic food drink

  22·0

  Chocolate bars/chocolate candies

  22·0

  Roasted coffee (ground)

  22·0

  Dextrose/glucose/honey

  2·0

  I do not have the details requested of the consignments of milk powder rejected by these countries except in the case of three consignments from the United Kingdom. The information I have on these is as follows:

  Ultimate destination

  Weight (tonnes)

  Netherlands for use in animal feed

  390·0/6·5

  Republic of Ireland (from which this consignment originated)

  15·0

  I repeat the statement I made in replying to the previous question on this subject on 13 April at column 155. I am fully satisfied that these feedstuffs posed no risk to public health.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  War Loan
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the register of those holding 3½ per cent. war loan is computerised.
  259
  Mr. Lilley
  The 3½ per cent. war loan is held on four registers; at the Bank of England, the Bank of Ireland in Belfast and Dublin, and on the national savings stock register. All of these registers are now held on computer, but the computerised registers do not show changes in ownership of war loan prior to computerisation.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the average percentage effect of the rise from 140 to 187 in the sterling-dollar exchange rate, on the income received for manufactured goods exported from Britain to the United States of America in the last quarter of 1987 and the first quarter of 1988.

  Mr. Major
  The effect of exchange rate changes on the value of exports depends on a number of factors and is difficult to separate from other determinants of trade performance. In the three months to February 1988—the latest period for which published figures are available — the value of total exports of goods to the United States was 2½ per cent. higher than in the previous three months.

  Consumers' expenditure estimates—Current prices

  £ million

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Books

  619

  665

  706

  806

  911

  Records etc1

  691

  790

  895

  1,062

  1,239

  Cinema

  124

  104

  132

  142

  150

  Other admissions2

  1,635

  1,819

  2,065

  2,401

  2,658

  Newspapers and magazines

  1,967

  2,095

  2,334

  2,431

  2,594

  Catering (meals and accommodation)3

  10,439

  12,015

  13,306

  15,297

  17,571

  Alcoholic drink

  13,370

  14,430

  15,783

  16,474

  17,338

  Betting and gaming

  1,841

  1,969

  2,114

  2,250

  2,458

  Social etc. subscriptions4

  150

  163

  159

  177

  174

  Leisure goods except records etc. and on pets5

  2,566

  2,796

  3,109

  3,451

  3,799

  TV licences, hire and repairs

  2,027

  2,108

  2,307

  2,527

  2,640

  1 Also includes audio and video tapes.

  2 Has broadly similar coverage to theatres, live arts and spectator sports.

  3 Besides all meals purchased and consumed away from the home, includes hotel and residential accommodation.

  4 Includes subscriptions to sports clubs.

  5 Includes sports goods, toys, camping equipment, plants and seeds, photographic films and processing.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Photocopying Machines
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many photocopying machines there are within the Civil Service; and how many are fitted with a user code requirement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have been asked to reply.

  Civil Service Departments are no longer required to obtain all their photocopiers through Her Majesty's Stationery Office, but HMSO estimates that there are about 25,000 photocopiers in the Civil Service, of which around 1,000 are fitted with user code devices.

  Tea Ladies
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many tea ladies are employed in the Civil Service; and what steps are being taken to provide refreshment machines.

  Consumer Expenditure
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of consumer expenditure in each of the last five years on(a) books, (b) records and audio tapes, (c) video tapes, (d) cinema, (e) theatre, (f) live arts, (g) newspapers and periodicals, (h) restaurants, (i) alcoholic drinks, (j) sport and (k) leisure.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 26 April 1988]: Not all the categories of expenditure mentioned in the question are separately distinguished in the consumers' expenditure estimates compiled and published by the Central Statistical Office. The table gives figures of consumers' expenditure as closely as possible with the categories requested. A detailed breakdown of consumers' expenditure is published annually in the United Kingdom National Accounts (the CSC) Blue Book). An even finer level of breakdown is shown in an analysis available on subscription from the Central Statistical Office. This is the source of the figures given in this answer and I am arranging to have the latest version of the analysis placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Civil Service does not employ tea ladies. Refreshment machines are provided where these are cost-effective and where funds permit.

THE ARTS

  Ethnic Minority Arts
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Minister for the Arts hove much the Arts Council has spent on(a) Afro-Caribbean and Asian arts and (b) other ethnic minorities in each financial year since its ethnic minority action plan was launched; and what percentage of its total budget this represents in each year.

  Mr. Luce
  The Arts Council's spending on ethnic minority arts was £960,166 in 1986–87 and £1,024,178 in 1987–88.

  This figure covers only the council's direct expenditure in England and does not include expenditure by the

  261
  regional arts associations, Scottish and Welsh Arts Council programmes, activities promoted by client organisations of the Arts Council and visiting arts expenditure, in respect of which an ethnic breakdown is not held centrally.

  A report on ethnic minority arts will be published by the council later this year.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will list in the Official Report all the individuals and organisations which benefited from the Arts Council's expenditure on (a) Afro-Caribbean Arts and (b) other ethnic minorities, and the sums by which they benefited in the years 1986–87 and 1987–88.

  Mr. Luce
  The information requested as it relates to the Arts Council's direct expenditure in England, is as follows:

  Arts Council expenditure on ethnic minority arts 1986–87 to 1987–88

  £

  Music

  1986–87—Afro-Caribbean

  Sounds of Africa

  5,500

  WOMAD

  1,500

  Dade Krama

  3,300

  Wilf Walker Entertainments

  6,000

  National Steel Band Festival

  7,000

  23,300

  1987–88—Afro-Caribbean

  Black Music Fair

  15,000

  National Steel Band Festival

  20,000

  Sunsplash

  5,000

  Dade Krama

  7,000

  Wilf Walker Entertainments

  10,000

  L & H Promotions

  2,500

  Black Music Archives

  2,500

  Sunsplash

  3,500

  Arts Worldwide (African Tour)

  2,500

  Triple Earth

  3,500

  Caribbean Year

  2,500

  Training awards

  10,000

  84,000

  1986–87—Asian

  Ceylon Bloomsbury

  1,500

  Sanskritik Festival

  42,500

  UK. University Circuit

  900

  Alpana Sengupta

  3,800

  Arts Worldwide

  12,000

  60,700

  1987–88—Asian

  Sanskritik Festival

  41,200

  Arts Worldwide

  15,000

  Bhaven

  900

  One World

  6,850

  East West Musical Encounter

  2,000

  Arts Worldwide

  5,360

  Arts Worldwide

  4,000

  Recordings

  10,000

  85,310

  Film

  1986–87—Afro-Caribbean

  Aubrey Williams

  36,000

  H. Wilson

  1,000

  Carol Enahoro

  614

  Circles

  1,500

  262

  £

  39,114

  1987–88—Afro-Caribbean

  Association for Curriculum Development

  3,000

  Carol Enahoro

  1,500

  Keith Piper

  650

  Patricia Diaz and M. Mcintosh

  4,500

  9,650

  1986–87—Asian

  No awards were made in this financial year

  1987–88—Asian

  Parminder Vir and Julian Henriques

  40,000

  Pratiba Parmar

  3,000

  Alia Syed

  500

  43,500

  Literature

  1986–87—Afro-Caribbean

  Grace Nichols

  5,000

  1986–87—Asian

  Mahmood Jamal

  5,000

  Balraj Khanna

  5,000

  10,000

  Combined arts

  1986–87—Afro-Caribbean

  Carnival and Arts Committee

  98,000

  1987–88—Afro-Caribbean

  Carnival and Arts Committee

  100,000

  Art

  1986–87—Afro-Caribbean

  Sonia Boyce

  3,000

  Aubrey Williams

  3,500

  Demax: Eddie Chambers

  5,760

  Artists Maps

  416

  Daylight Club

  463

  Sculpture in the City

  320

  13,459

  1987–88—Afro-Caribbean

  Artangel Trust

  3,000

  Rochdale Gallery

  2,700

  Chisenhale

  4,758

  Paddington Printshop

  7,000

  Camden Press

  3,960

  Veronica Ryan

  10,000

  31,418

  1986–87—Asian

  Saleem Arif

  2,000

  Women Sculptors

  520

  2,520

  1987–88—Asian

  Third Text

  4,000

  Bazaar

  10,000

  Fires Publishing

  1,600

  15,600

  Photography

  1986–87—Afro-Caribbean

  Armet Francis

  5,000

  263

  £

  1987–88—Afro-Caribbean

  Black Women & Photography

  5,000

  Association of Black

  Photographers

  8,000

  13,000

  Touring—Contemporary Music Network

  1986–87—Asian

  Sumul Nori

  28,827

  1987–88—Asian

  Peshkar

  50,550

  Dance

  1986–87—Afro-Caribbean

  Black Dance Development Trust

  14,000

  Phoenix

  65,000

  Adinkra

  15,000

  Adzido

  12,500

  Delado

  7,500

  Irie

  3,000

  Kokuma

  7,500

  125,000

  1987–88—Afro-Caribbean

  Kokuma

  24,700

  Adzido

  17,500

  Beach Danel Development Trust

  16,500

  IDJ

  5,000

  Delado

  12,500

  Irie

  5,000

  81,200

  1986–87—Asian

  Suraya Hilal

  2,500

  Shobana Jeyasingh

  8,000

  Alpana Sengupta

  8,500

  Academy of Indian Dance

  6,000

  Natya Padam

  4,000

  Nahid Siddiqui

  2,000

  31,000

  1987–88—Asian

  Nahid Siddiqui

  3,500

  Pratap Pawar

  5,000

  Shobana Jeyasingh

  5,000

  Pushkala Gopal and Unnikrishnan

  6,000

  Natya Padam

  1,000

  A Fiercer Kind of Being

  4,000

  24,500

  Drama

  1986–87—Afro-Caribbean

  Black Theatre Co-op

  95,300

  Temba

  126,750

  Black Theatre Workshop

  14,000

  Bow Gamelan Ensemble

  4,744

  Carib Theatre

  12,000

  Double Edge

  20,000

  L'Ouverture Theatre Trust

  18,990

  Talawa

  33,000

  Theatre of Black Women

  26,200

  Umoja

  14,730

  365,714

  1987–88—Afro-Caribbean

  Black Theatre Co-op

  104,500

  Temba

  100,000

  Theatre of Black Women

  10,000

  264

  £

  Talawa

  31,700

  Gbakanda Afrikan Tiata

  4,100

  Staunch

  26,700

  277,000

  1986–87—Asian

  British Asian Theatre

  8,000

  Eastern Actors Studio

  2,530

  Tara Arts

  89,301

  99,831

  1987–88—Asian

  British Asian Theatre

  30,000

  Eastern Actors' Studio

  8,000

  Tara Arts

  105,500

  143,500

  Theatre Writing Schemes

  1986–87—Afro-Caribbean

  Focof Novo Ltd.

  2,400

  L'Ouverture Theatre Trust

  800

  Roots Theatre Company

  951

  Sickle Cell Clinic

  750

  Temba

  4,800

  9,701

  1987–88—Afro-Caribbean

  Action Transport

  1,500

  Caesar, Burt

  2,000

  Carib Theatre Co.

  1,200

  Good Co.

  900

  Ikoli, Tunde

  2,400

  Oval Womens Writers W/Shop

  1,200

  ReSisters Theatre Co.

  950

  Royal Court

  2,400

  Second Wave

  600

  Strange Fruit Theatre Co.

  1,500

  Worcester Arts W/Shop

  500

  15,150

  1986–87—Asian

  Asian Cooperative Theatre

  1,000

  1987–88—Asian

  Alrawi, Karim

  2,400

  Dance Umbrella

  500

  Raif, Ayshe

  2,400

  Yorkshire Womens Theatre Co.

  500

  5,800

  Planning

  1986–87

  Minorities Arts Advisory Service

  30,000

  Training Bursaries

  12,000

  42,000

  1987–88

  Minorities Arts Advisory Service

  44,000

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on the future generation of electricity in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on the future generation of electricity in Northern Ireland.
  265
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on the future generation of electricity in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  The results of an investment appraisal of the proposals for the next phase of generating capacity submitted by Northern Ireland Electricity and the Antrim Power Company Limited are currently being considered. Decisions will be taken as soon as possible.

  Health and Social Services
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current level of funding for health and social services in the Province.

  Mr. Needham
  Total funding for the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland in 1988–89 will amount to £873 million — equivalent to over £557 per head of the population.

  Social Security
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received concerning the effects of the social security changes in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allen Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received concerning the effects of the social security changes in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received concerning the effects of the social security changes in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Representations concerning the effects have been made by some district councils, some voluntary bodies and some Members of this House. The effects will generally be the same as in Great Britain and the additional transitional protection and other helpful measures announced yesterday by my right hon. Friend will apply in Northern Ireland as in the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Integrated Education
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding assistance other than capital moneys, his Department intends to target towards integrated maintained schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government's present proposal to facilitate the establishment of grant-maintained integrated schools includes 100 per cent. funding direct from the Department of Education for Northern Ireland. Recurrent grants would include special purpose grants to take account of special needs arising in particular circumstances.

  Economic Activity (West Belfast)
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any proposals to promote economic activity in west Belfast; and if he will make a statement.
  266
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any proposals to promote economic activity in west Belfast; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any proposals to promote economic activity in west Belfast; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  We are most anxious to see an improvement in economic activity in west Belfast, and we are considering urgently what additional practical steps we might take to promote it. Success, however, will not be achieved by the efforts of Government alone; the private and voluntary sectors must have a major role. The biggest single boost to the prospects of the area would come from the renunciation of violence which is a major obstacle to achieving better prospects for all who live there.

  Security
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on security in Northern Ireland.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the security position.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the present security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley).

  Health Service
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about his plans for the Health Service in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  My right hon. Friend's long-term strategy for the health and personal social services remains as set out in the regional strategy which was published in August 1987.

  I will shortly be meeting the chairman of each of the four health and social services boards at accountability reviews at which one of my aims will be to consider and agree with them on detailed plans for 1988–89.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next intends to meet the chairmen of the Province's health and social services boards to discuss the level of health provision in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  I will shortly be meeting each board chairman at the annual accountability review. These
  267
  meetings will concentrate largely on the revised operational plans for 1988–89 submitted by the boards and I shall agree with each chairman plans and objectives for the coming year. These will aim to continue progress with the regional strategy within the level of resources now made available.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next intends to meet the chairmen of the Province's area health and social services boards to discuss the level of health provision in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  I will shortly be meeting the chairman of each board at the annual round of accountability reviews.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received relating to legislation concerning disabled persons in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The hon. Member, two other hon. Members, and the Northern Ireland Council on Disability, have made representations regarding the application to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 affecting disabled persons.

  Regional Council
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any plans to set up a regional council in Northern Ireland, with widely developed powers over local matters.

  Mr. Tom King
  No, but in the present discussions I am prepared to listen to all constructive proposals that can command a broad measure of support and could genuinely provide a greater degree of involvement and responsibility for people in Northern Ireland.

  House Building
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to discuss the level of house building; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to discuss the level of house building; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The Secretary of State and I met the chairman and members of the board of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on 16 March 1988. We discussed the planned level of funding for the housing programme and the associated levels of physical activity, including new housebuilding.

  Sentences (Remission)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the policy of granting remission of sentences.

  Mr. Stanley
  In accordance with rule 26 of the Prison Rules (Northern Ireland) 1982, all prisoners serving fixed-term sentences of more than five days are awarded 268
  remission of 50 per cent. of their sentences. Periods of remission can be lost for offences against prison discipline, up to a maximum of 180 days for each offence. Those serving sentences of more than one year who are released with remission may, if convicted of a further imprisonable offence during the period until their sentence would (but for remission) have expired, be obliged by a court to serve the remainder of that period either concurrently or consecutively with their further sentence. This power is available only in Northern Ireland and not in the rest of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland does not, however have any parole system.

  Catholic Hierarchy (Meetings)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next expects to meet representatives of the Catholic hierarchy of Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  I have no meeting immediately planned, but I and my ministerial colleagues maintain regular contact with a range of Church and community leaders. I last met Cardinal O'Fiaich, together with other Church leaders, on 21 March.

  Political Parties (Talks)
  Mr Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has held recently with the political parties in Northern Ireland on constitutional proposals for the Province.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Sir J. Biggs-Davison).

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received any representations from the United States of America concerning the Government's proposals to promote equality of opportunity in employment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  My right hon. Friend received one written submission from an organisation in the United States of America, in response to the Government's consultative paper on equality of opportunity. American public representatives and business men have also expressed views on equality of opportunity directly to the Secretary of State and to ministerial colleagues. A White Paper on the Goverment's new proposals on fair employment is now being prepared with a view to publication in late spring.

  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ask the Fair Employment Agency to advise him with regard to an affirmative action programme for his Department to rectify the imbalances in employment opportunities in that office as highlighted by the reports of the equal opportunities unit for the Northern Ireland Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  The equal opportunities unit for the Northern Ireland Civil Service is already in touch with both the Fair Employment Agency and the Equal Opportunities Commission over the development of its monitoring role. The unit's method of operation and its future work programme were set out in reports published in July 1986 and December 1987.
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  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received any representations from the United States of America concerning the Government's proposals to promote equality of opportunity in employment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  My right hon. Friend received one written submission from an organisation in the United States of America, in response to the Government's consultative paper on equality of opportunity and a number of American public representatives and business men have also expressed views directly to my right hon. Friend and to ministerial colleagues.

  Aerosols
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if there are any plans to ban the use of aerosols in his Department's buildings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  There are no proposals to ban the use of aerosols in my Department's buildings.

  Unlawful Killings
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the trend of unlawful killings in Northern Ireland both connected and unconnected with the security situation; and what was the trend in the period before the death penalty was removed in the Province.

  Mr. Stanley
  In line with legislation in Great Britain the death sentence was removed from the statute books in Northern Ireland on 6 August 1966 in respect of ordinary crime. However, it was retained in the Province"for the murder of a policeman or person in the Service of the Crown acting in the course of any duty involving the enforcement of the law"

  until 8 August 1973.

  Only convictions for murder and not unlawful killing (manslaughter) could have resulted in the death penalty being imposed. The following table therefore shows the numbers of all murders committed in Northern Ireland during the period 1960 to 1987 (connected and unconnected with the security situation).

  Total murders in Northern Ireland 1960–1987

  Numbers

  1960

  9

  1961

  5

  1962

  2

  1963

  —

  1964

  1

  1965

  1

  1966

  3

  1967

  5

  1968

  5

  1969

  5

  1970

  14

  1971

  123

  1972

  376

  1973

  200

  1974

  205

  1975

  238

  1976

  280

  1977

  116

  1978

  82

  1979

  128

  1980

  85

  1981

  95

  270

  Numbers

  1982

  99

  1983

  86

  1984

  63

  1985

  59

  1986

  85

  1987

  100

  Constitutional Reform
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about progress towards creating a form of democratic administration in the Province.

  Mr. Tom King
  The Government believe that elected representatives should be more fully involved in decision-making. I have therefore been seeking to bring about a constructive dialogue between the constitutional political parties about the future government of Northern Ireland. These efforts are continuing.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the answer of 10 December 1987,Official Report, column 566, for how long he intends to monitor the operation of the community charge in Great Britain before reaching conclusions about its applicability to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  I cannot be specific about the duration of the monitoring process. It depends upon what emerges from the process and its evaluation in the light of local circumstances in Northern Ireland.

  Economic Prospects
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to meet trades union representatives in Northern Ireland to discuss economic prospects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 27 April 1988]: My right hon. Friend and I have no outstanding arrangements to meet trades union representatives, though we have met them on a number of occasions in the past to discuss economic prospects and other issues. We value these meetings.

  Fourth College, Belfast
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current position regarding the provision of a fourth college in Belfast; and if a suitable site has yet been identified in a non-sectarian part of the city.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 26 April 1988]: The provision of further education facilities in Belfast is a matter for the Belfast education and library board. I understand that a working party of the board is presently examining further education provision in Belfast but no conclusions have yet been reached.

  Consultants (Patient Referral)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the length of time between a patient being referred to a consultant for
  271
  an appointment by general practitioners and the patient actually seeing a consultant; and if he will publish this information for each area board and by specialty for the last five years.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 25 April 1988]: This information is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish out-patient waiting lists for the last five years for each area board by specialty broken down by length of time on the waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 25 April 1988]: I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

  PAROLE: EFFECT OF TIGHTER POLICY
  PAROLE: EFFECT OF TIGHTER POLICY
  SEAL SANDS: RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
  SEAL SANDS: RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL