Written Answers of 6 December 1988

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Human Rights (China)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South of 28 November,Official Report, column 108, what cases of human rights in China were discussed with the Chinese Foreign Minister during his visit to the United Kingdom in March.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The question of human rights arose in the context of discussion on Tibet. Specific cases were not mentioned.

  Health Services Review
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the terms of reference of the desk review of health services in the dependent territories; when he expects it to be completed; and if the House will be informed of the action to be taken in consequence of the review.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The terms of reference of the desk review
  of health services in the Caribbean dependent territories are:

  1. Assemble existing information including the current health plans and any readily available related statistical information from each of the four territories, WHO/PAHO reports, and reports by ODA medical advisers during 1983 to 1988, and other relevant information from ODA files. ODA medical advisers will provide guidance on the material to be examined and will provide oral briefing on the situation in the territories;

  2. Write a preliminary report covering

  a. the evidence on the state of health of the population establishing and ranking the main health problems which need to be addressed and their main causes (nutrition, sanitation, health care services, etc);

  b. the extent to which these health problems are being addressed by current policies and programmes of health services, public and environmental health, and nutrition;

  c. the costs of providing the health and environmental services identified under b. and assessing their cost effectiveness and value for money; examining how the provision of these services is financed and identifying implications for quantity and quality of services supplied and demanded and for other factors relevant to the study;

  d. recommendations for future health and environmental services, and measures to improve nutrition, which optimally address the main health problems identified under a. These recommendations should cover:

  (i) appropriate levels of health care and other services;

  (ii) division of services between those provided on island and those provided off island;

  (iii) sources of finance for services;

  (iv) the means of delivering health and other services;

  (v) levels of staffing and equipment for on island services taking account of financial, medical, physical, institutional and manpower constraints in a manner which makes optimum use of the available resources; and where relevant to identify options where choices can be made.

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  e. recommendations for future ODA-funded assistance, with particular attention to manpower, training and advisory services; an analysis of alternatives and recommendations for the administration of ODA programmes with particular attention to professional monitoring and supervision to the extent that existing information so permits.

  3. Identify the main gaps in information;

  4. Prepare a work plan and timetable for gathering the missing information and completing the work required by i. to v., with attention to the order of priority between countries, specify the inputs required for this work from the main professional disciplines;

  5. Prepare an outline for the final report, covering the main chapter and section headings with notes on what is to he covered by each.

  This desk study was completed last August. It was the first step, preliminary to a field study, in each of the Caribbean dependencies, for which consultants are at present being engaged. Their report should be available by about next spring; I shall keep the right hon. Member informed.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about financial relations with Nigeria.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The Nigerian Government's efforts to overcome the country's economic difficulties have been severely affected for some time by the fall in the oil price and its heavy debt burden. Foreign exchange earnings have fallen sharply. This has made it increasingly hard for Nigeria to meet its commitments and to rebuild its economy.

  Nigeria is now embarking on a series of important adjustment measures. It has reached agreement with the managing director of the IMF on a new standby arrangement and is negotiating for new loans from the World Bank.

  It will be seeking a further restructuring of its official debt in the Paris Club, to supplement the agreement already being negotiated with the commercial banks.

  In addition to this, it is clear that Nigeria will require further bilateral assistance in 1989. This will require a concerted effort on the part of the international financial community. I have therefore decided, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to offer a grant of US$100 million in 1989, on condition that the standby is approved and that other donors are prepared to make a substantial contribution.

  Over two thirds of the cost of the United Kingdom share will come from the reserve and the balance from the existing agreed aid programme.

  These arrangements demonstrate the strength of the United Kingdom's interest in the health of the Nigerian economy and our willingness to assist the Nigerian adjustment programme.

WALES

  Elderly Initiative
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money has been allocated by his Department to the elderly initiative; and what projects have been financed by the elderly initiative in Wales, listing each project and the amount allocated thereto on a county basis.
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  Mr. Grist
  £2,625,000 during the first two years. The projects funded so far, together with the amounts allocated to date, are:

  £

  Clwyd

  Rhuddlan Elderly Mentally Ill Team

  141,158

  Special Project Workers: Community Care for Elderly People

  22,500

  Dyfed

  Integrated Care Relief Scheme, Llanelli

  27,878

  Care Cross Foundation Community House Project

  39,740

  Night Hospital for Elderly Mentally Ill

  47,286

  Gwent

  Bridges Community Centre Project

  76,190

  Practical Case Finding and Surveillance of Elderly People at Home

  6,736

  Demonstration model for the Discharge and Aftercare of Elderly Patients

  22,165

  Home from Home Short Term Fostering for the Elderly

  35,250

  The Way Home, Islwyn

  9,300

  Gwynedd

  Hybrid Domicilliary Care Worker

  38,250

  Mid Glamorgan

  Diabetic Liaison Nurse Merthyr and Cynon Valley

  9,000

  Community Services Elderly Support Team, Rhymney Valley

  92,760

  Social Care Worker Scheme for Elderly Mentally Infirm and their Carers, Ogwr

  125,408

  Powys

  Powys Initiative for the Care of the Elderly in Rural Wales

  58,542

  South Glamorgan

  Community Memory Project

  73,468

  Development Team for Elderly Mentally Infirm Services

  58,275

  Practical Case Finding and Surveillance of Elderly People at Home

  9,446

  Elderly Persons' Support Unit, Grand Avenue

  113,988

  Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme

  15,262

  Carers Information and Support Officer

  15,695

  Daybreak Homecare and Companion Service

  35,048

  Alzheimers Disease Society: Community Support Project

  22,860

  West Glamorgan

  Staying at Home Initiative

  515,448

  Good Care Campaign

  20,948

  Business Headquarters
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he proposes to take to encourage the presence of business headquarters in Wales in advance of the single European market; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Since I became Secretary of State I have increased the Welsh Development Agency's provision by more than 50 per cent. so enabling WINvest to intensify its efforts in attracting new business, including headquarter operations, to Wales.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to increase the funding allocations to the health authorities in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  We will be making an announcement about the resources available to the NHS in Wales in 1989–90 very shortly. An announcement of the allocations to individual health authorities will be made early in the new year.

  Free Food Scheme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of foodstuffs distributed in the United Kingdom under the free food scheme is being made available to eligible applicants in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Designated organisations based in Wales have been authorised to withdraw 176 tonnes of butter and 332 tonnes of beef from intervention stores in 1988. These amounts represent 7·15 per cent. and 18·74 per cent., respectively, of the total withdrawals authorised in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to see that foodstuffs available free under the European Economic Community free food scheme are available to all eligible people in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Produce is being distributed within the rules of the scheme to eligible recipients in Wales by the organisations designated to carry out the distribution. Given the voluntary nature of the scheme it is not possible to ensure that foodstuffs are available to all eligible people.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will identify the distribution centres for free food in Wales; and how much of each product is being made available per centre.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Local distribution arrangements are a matter for the designated organisations to determine within the rules of the scheme.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those voluntary organisations participating in the free food scheme.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced to the House on 21 April that 127 organisations had been designated to distribute surplus produce to the most needy. A list of those organisation was placed in the Library on that day.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Bleaches
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) whether he has plans to restrict the use of chlorine bleached pulp in disposable nappies;

  (2) whether he has plans to restrict the use of coffee filters treated with dioxin producing bleaches.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of
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  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 28 November, at column 96. I understand that the quantities of dioxin which may occur in these products are very small. I will consider the matter further when the expert advice from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the committee on toxicity at the Department of Health is available.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the present and projected levels of investment in manufacturing industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Investment in manufacturing industry, including leased assets, in the first three quarters of 1988 is provisionally estimated to have been £8,232 million in 1985 prices and seasonally adjusted. In his Autumn Statement, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer forecast that the volume of manufacturing investment in 1988 would be 18 per cent. higher than in 1987 and would rise by a further 10 per cent. in 1989.

  VAT
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessments he has made as to the likely effect on(a) his Department's capital building programme and (b) the rent the Department will pay under occupational leases of implementation of the European Court of Justice's judgment on value added tax on non-domestic buildings.

  Mr. Forth
  Implementation of the European Court of Justice's judgment on VAT will have no effect on my Department's capital building programme since compensating adjustments have been made to the relevant expenditure provisions. At this stage, before landlords have decided whether to exercise their option to tax rents, it is not possible to offer meaningful estimates of the effects of the judgment on rental costs.

  Society of British Aerospace Manufacturers
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met representatives of the Society of British Aerospace Manufacturers.

  Mr. Atkins
  I last met the president and representatives of the Society of British Aerospace Manufacturers in September 1988 during the Farnborough air show.

  Elstree Film Studios
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assurances he has(a) sought and (b) received in relation to the continued use of Elstree film studios for film production following the recent deal for the disposal of the studio properties.

  Mr. Atkins
  No such assurances have been sought or received. It is the Government's view that the future use of the site is a matter for the new owners to determine, subject to any consents which may be required from the planning authorities.

  Design Initiative
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will publish a table showing the 94
  design initiatives which have benefited from the design initiative and the amount of money committed to each initiative.

  Mr. Forth
  Reasons of commercial confidentiality preclude giving details of the assistance offered to individual companies. However, since 13 January 1988 over 700 assisted design consultancies have been completed, over 700 are in progress and about 600 are subject to agreement of terms of reference before proceeding. The average contribution made by the Department towards the cost of completed consultancies is currently £2,387.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff are employed on the design initiative.

  Mr. Forth
  Administration of the design initiative is contracted out to the Design Council. Within the Department, policy on and management of the design initiative forms part of the duties of five full-time staff. DTI regional office staff both help promote and receive applications for enterprise initiative consultancies, including the design initiative.

  British Steel (Privatisation)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the cost of advertising(a) in the press, (b) on television, (c) on radio, (d) on posters and (e) by other means in relation to the privatisation of British Steel.

  Mr. Atkins
  The marketing costs of the British Steel flotation will be reported in due course in the usual way together with the other costs of the flotation.

  EC Research Council
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress was made at the meeting of the Research Council of European Community Ministers on 17 November, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I represented Her Majesty's Government at the meeting of the Community's Council of Ministers (Research) in Brussels on 17 November.

  The Council agreed common positions on three programmes within the overall provisions of the Community's 1987–91 framework programme for R and D:

  ECLAIR, a programme covering agro-industrial technologies which is aimed at improving links between agriculture and industry with Community funding of 80 mecu (£53 million) over five years; SPES, a programme with Community funding of 6 mecu (£4 million) over four years, which is intended to promote European collaboration in economic science by improving the training, communications and mobility of economists within the Community and stimulate economics research networks at the European level; and the large facilities programme designed to facilitate wider access by European researchers to large-scale European scientific facilities.

  The programme will provide Community funding of 30 mecu (£20 million) over four years for contributions to the operating costs of selected facilities, and, if necessary, to the costs of adaptations or enhancements needed to increase access together with expenditure incurred by visiting scientists.
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  The Council discussed a presidency paper on the technological gap between the developed and less developed regions of the Community. There was agreement that although Community R and D policy should take account of the need to strengthen the cohesion of the Community, the need for European industrial competitiveness and technical excellence should be the priority for EC R and D programmes.

  The Council also received a Commission presentation on proposed Community involvement in European space development.

TRANSPORT

  Motorway Maintenance
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is currently taking effectively to monitor the way that maintenance repair work is carried out on motorways so as to avoid unnecessary inconvenience being caused to motorists.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We avoid unnecessary inconvenience by the programming of essential maintenance work so as to minimise traffic disruption, by giving wide publicity to motorway lane closures, and by special measures such as lane rental schemes and mobile lane closures.

  M69 (Roadworks)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what temporary road signs were erected prior to and including 5 November informing motorists approaching the M69 of the total closure of the south-west-bound carriageway on 5 November.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Temporary road signs were displayed on all approaches to the M69/M1 junction on 5 and 6 November advising motorists of the closure and to follow the diversion route indicated by a circle symbol. No signs were displayed prior to 5 November.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advance warning or notice was given to motorists advising them of the intention to close the whole of the south-west-bound carriageway of the M69 on 5 November.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department issued a press notice on 1 November giving full details of the proposed closures between the M1 near Leicester and the A5 at Hinckley.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why the policy of phasing motorway repair work was not followed on 5 November in respect of the south-west-bound carriageway of the M69 so that at least one lane was kept open to vehicular traffic.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The main works were being carried out on the two-lane section of the M69 near its junction with the M1. There was insufficient space to allow the safe passage of vehicles and provide a safe working environment for the workmen in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. As the works were of short duration and there was a reasonable alternative route for the traffic volume involved, expensive contraflow traffic management could not be justified.
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  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why the whole of the south-west-bound carriageway of the M69 was closed on 5 November.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  It was closed to enable the removal and replacement of a cracked running surface close to the M1 junction. During the closure other routine maintenance works were carried out along the full length of the motorway between Leicester and Hinckley.

  The resurfacing work required the removal and replacement of the wearing course to both traffic lanes close to the M1/M69 roundabout. Due to physical constraints it was not possible to use the hard shoulder as a running lane. The joint report by the Department of Transport and County Surveyors Society provides notes for guidance about the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 as they affect personnel required to undertake work on motorways and trunk roads (revised 1985). It requires that a safety zone is provided between the works and live traffic. On motorways this is normally 1·2 m wide.

  On the two-lane section of the M69 it was not possible to carry out resurfacing works and provide a safety zone and therefore the decision was taken to close the motorway under a temporary traffic regulation order. The alternative of installing contraflow traffic management was not very practicable and would have been very expensive. Traffic flows on M69 are not as high as on other motorways, such as the M1, and therefore delays caused by diverting the traffic were not expected to be serious. The opportunity was taken to make the most of the closure by carrying out other works such as safety fence repairs, joint sealing, replacement of road studs and replacement of vehicle counting loops. Because there is limited access at junction 2 (A5070 at Hinckley) it was also necessary to close the section of motorway between junction 2 and junction 1 (A5 at Hinckley).

  Manchester Airport (Singapore Flights)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the availability of adequate capacity for north-western travellers wishing to fly to Singapore and about being able to fly direct from Manchester airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have received a number of representations this year about the level of capacity being mounted on the route between Manchester and Singapore.

  United Kingdom and Singapore aviation officials will be meeting early next year to review the possibilities for liberalising air services arrangements between our two countries. This will include arrangements on the Manchester-Singapore route.

  M20
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to make an examination of the capacity of the M20 to the west of Ashford to determine if it has sufficient reserve capacity to accommodate future growth beyond the opening of the Channel tunnel in 1993.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  This will be done in the context of the current regular review of the national trunk road programme.
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  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the proposed starting date for the contracts to be placed late this year and in the spring of next year for the construction of the M20 between Hollingbourne and Ashford; and how long this will take.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The first contract is expected to start in January, the second about one month after the contract is let next spring. The contract periods are 27 and 24 months, respectively.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the use of the driver and vehicle licensing centre facilities at Swansea for the preparation of Scottish poll tax forms; and if he will give details of what consultations were undertaken with the driver and vehicle licensing centre unions and of who provided the manpower to operate the machinery and to load and transport the forms.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The supplier of DVLC's paper handling equipment asked to use one of the machines for 10 days to process community charge forms. The request was agreed as the machine was not needed for DVLC work at the time. The forms were processed by company staff, so that there was no reason to consult the DVLC trade unions.

  Maritime Law
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to change maritime law to provide for adequate compensation to structures damaged by ships.

  Mr. Portillo
  Under an international convention agreed in 1976, which came into operation under United Kingdom law on 1 December 1986, shipowners can limit their liability in respect of damage caused by ships. The International Maritime Organisation is to review the limits in the 1976 convention, and as part of that review we will be pressing for a significant increase in the present limits. Parliament decided on the liability regime to be applied to pilots and pilotage authorities as recently as 1987 with the passage of the Pilotage Act 1987.

  M4 (Barrier Replacement)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current progress on the programme of barrier replacement on the M4; and what information he has on the standard and quality of the original installations.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In Wiltshire, the support posts for 10·6 km of safety barrier have already been replaced. A further 5·2 km is programmed for this financial year, and 3·4 km for next year. The remaining 26·8 km will be dealt with in subsequent years.

  Inspections have shown the original safety fence nowhere to be below the standard current at the time it was installed.

  Ports
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures the Government intend to introduce to ensure fair competition between British and foreign ports in 1992.
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  Mr. Portillo
  We are pursuing the need for open and fair financial relations between public authorities and port undertakings within the European Community. The completion of the single European market will not worsen the competitive position of our ports.

  Railways (Deaths)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year from 1979 to date, including the total so far this year, the number of deaths that have occurred on the railways in Yorkshire in(a) accidents, (b) suicides and (c) trespassing; and, of that total, how many were railway staff.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information on a county basis is not readily available.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year from 1979 to date the number of deaths that occurred on the United Kingdom railways in(a) accidents, (b) suicides and (c) trespassing incidents; how many have occurred to date in 1988; of the above totals, how many were railway staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The table gives the information requested in respect of railways in Great Britain. Details of accidents on Northern Ireland railways are not reported to the Department of Transport.

  Deaths occurring on the railways of Great Britain—1979 to 1988:

  Accidents (Staff included in total in total shown in brackect)

  Suicides

  Trespassers

  1979

  107 (43)

  180

  134

  1980

  69 (32)

  220

  140

  1981

  76 (27)

  222

  147

  1982

  57 (27)

  166

  130

  1983

  69 (28)

  212

  146

  1984

  76 (25)

  193

  146

  1985

  74 (25)

  168

  150

  1986

  72 (16)

  163

  162

  1987

  104 (16)

  173

  144

  1988

  55 (16)

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  1185

  1 Some may transfer to the suicides category when a coroner's verdict is received.

  M25 (Traffic Growth)
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the steps he is taking, apart from the construction of a Dartford bridge crossing and the current widening of the western sector of the M25, to ensure that there is sufficient capacity on the M25 and other orbital roads around London to cater for expected traffic growth over the next decade.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The construction of the new Dartford-Thurrock bridge and the widening of the south-western sector of the M25 will relieve those sections of the motorway where congestion regularly occurs. A study into ways of widening the length between junctions 15 and 16 is under way.

  Consultants are due to report on their review of the whole motorway early next year. Improvements to other London orbital routes are included in the national road programme.
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  A study is to begin shortly into orbital movements in the south-west quadrant of London.

  Lancaster Canal
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the current cost of restoring navigation to the northern stretch of the Lancaster canal between Tewitfield and Kendal by constructing the creeps in the M6 motorway bridges as referred to during the Second Reading debate of the British Waterways Bill on 22 February 1965,Official Report, volume 707, columns 106 to 134, together with any other necessary expenses.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Several million pounds in construction and traffic disruption costs.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what consultations he has had with British Nuclear Fuels Limited concerning the proposal to fly plutonium to and from Prestwick airport; and what action he is taking;

  (2) what representations he has received from British Nuclear Fuels Limited concerning the proposal to fly plutonium fuel to and from Prestwick airport.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No decision has yet been made on whether to return reprocessed plutonium to Japan by air.

  BNFL is developing a suitable container. When it is satisfied that this will meet all the regulatory provisions, the design will be submitted to the Department for assessment and approval.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Ex-President Marcos (Assets)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will request the United Kingdom banks to open private safe deposit boxes in order to facilitate the identification of assets fraudulently obtained by ex-President Marcos and his family.

  Mr. Lilley
  Well-established procedures are available to the courts to enable United Kingdom banks to provide assistance in appropriate circumstances.

  Indirect Taxes (Harmonisation)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect he estimates the harmonisation of indirect taxes, as proposed by the European Economic Community Commissioners, would have on(a) the poorest and (b) the richest 10 per cent. of households.

  Mr. Lilley
  Insufficient detailed information is available for assessing reliably the effect of these proposals on expenditure patterns across income groups.

  The Government have made it clear that they do not consider tax approximation to be necessary for the completion of the single market.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current ratio of public expenditure to gross domestic product: and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Major
  The Autumn Statement gave a forecast of 39¾ per cent. for the ratio of general Government expenditure (excluding privatisation proceeds) to gross domestic product in 1988–89. This ratio has declined from a peak of nearly 47 per cent. in 1982–83 and is now at its lowest level since 1966–67. It is expected to decline further to just under 39 per cent. in 1991–92.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the difference between his forecast for cash-limited vote expenditure for the first half of 1988–89 and the outturn; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  Table 1.8 of the Winter Supplementary Estimates (HC 690) shows Departments' estimates of outturn for cash-limited vote expenditure in the first six months of 1988–89. The table also shows Departments' forecasts of expenditure in the first six months, prepared earlier in the year.

  "Government Purchasing"
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made in implementing the report, "Government Purchasing", of December 1984.

  Mr. Brooke
  A report by the central unit on purchasing on progress in 1987–88 is published today. It records that in 1987–88 central Government Departments (excluding the Ministry of Defence) reported value-for-money improvements in their purchasing totalling £252 million, equivalent to just under 4 per cent. of total purchasing expenditure and an increase of £84 million on the previous year. For 1988–89 Departments have set targets for value-for-money improvements totalling £337 million, equivalent to 5 per cent. of expenditure and an increase on 1987–88 of £85 million. Taking into account that in 1985–86, the first full year after the purchasing initiative was launched, Departments reported value-for-money improvements of only £70 million, these successive increases in the savings reported by Departments are encouraging. Nevertheless, the report emphasises the need for continuing action by Departments to further improve their organisation, systems and staffing for purchasing and supply, so that efficient procurement becomes a standard part of good management practice. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Employee Share Ownership
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to encourage wider share ownership through employee share ownership plans.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Government remain firmly committed to supporting employee share ownership, as our record of legislation in nine out of the last 10 Budgets testifies. We shall continue to examine sympathetically the wide variety of proposals made for new initiatives or improvements in this area, to see how far they are capable of building on the impressive progress already achieved.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage from income tax will be
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  paid by the top (a) 1 per cent. and (b) 5 per cent. of incomes in the current financial year compared to 1978–79; and what are the corresponding figures for income before tax;

  (2) what percentage of the revenue from income tax will be paid by the top (a) 1 per cent. and (b) 5 per cent. of incomes in the current financial year compared to 1978–79; and what are the corresponding figures for income before tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 28 November 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 28 July at columns 488-92.

  Inflation and Exchange Rates
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is, for each year since 1978, the average(a) rate of inflation in Japan, West Germany, the United States of America and the United Kingdom and (b) the average rate of exchange in £ sterling of the yen, the mark and the dollar.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 5 December 1988]: "OECD Economic Outlook", June 1988, (table R11), gives the average annual inflation rates on a non-standardised basis for all the countries in question. Economic Trends, monthly, gives annual averages of the sterling exchange rate against the yen, mark, and the dollar.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Grant Maintained Schools
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether grant maintained schools will be allocated the same amount of money per pupil as locally financially managed schools within the same authority;

  (2) whether a grant maintained school will have its annual year-on-year budget altered in line with other schools which have local financial management in the same local education authority.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Department's circular 10/88 made clear that the maintenance grant for a grant-maintained school would be based on the funding which my right hon. Friend is satisfied fairly represents what the LEA would have been likely to have provided for the school had it continued to maintain it, including expenditure on services provided centrally by the LEA. Once formula funding is in operation for the authority as part of an approved scheme of local management, the formula will be applied to grant-maintained schools in the area in the same way as to LEA-maintained schools. The amounts will reflect the authority's decisions on funding of its schools, but will also include an allowance for centrally provided services which in the case of LEA-maintained schools will be excluded from the delegated budget determined by the formula.

  Capital Building Projects
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria will be used to assess applications for capital building projects in(a) grant
  102
  maintained schools and (b) local education authority schools under local financial management within the same authority.

  Mr. Butcher
  Applications for capital building projects in grant-maintained schools will be judged in the light of the total resources available for capital building in all maintained schools; my right hon. Friend has made clear his intention to treat grant-maintained schools no more favourably than LEA-maintained schools. Initially this will be done on a case by case basis, but once numbers are large enough a national bidding system is expected to be introduced similar to that which now operates for voluntary-aided schools. Local authorities' allocations for prescribed expenditure are unhypothecated—that is, authorities are free to spend them on whatever projects they wish. The size of an authority's allocation in respect of county and controlled schools depends on the extents to which its overall plans coincide with my right hon. Friend's priorities which are currently:

  i. committed expenditure up to a level previously indicated to the authority.

  ii. basic need for additional school places in areas of population growth;

  iii. the removal of surplus places as school rolls fall;

  iv. the improvement or replacement of existing school buildings.

  Allocations for major projects at aided and special arrangement schools relate to specific schemes and are determined according to the same priorities.

  Retraining
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to encourage mid-career retraining for those who wish to become teachers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  Courses of initial teacher training are available for all potential entrants to the profession—regardless of age and previous experience. We have encouraged the development of new courses to meet a range of needs, including those of people who want to switch to teaching in mid career. This year nearly 6,000 people aged 26 and over entered courses of initial teacher training—30 per cent. of the total. One of the main aims of our teacher recruitment activity through the teaching as a career unit (TASC) is to attract more older people from other careers into teaching.

  Solvent Abuse
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to promote the education of children, teachers and parents as to the dangers of solvent abuse.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Department currently funds annual expenditure by local education authorities of £4·1 million for the in-service training of teachers in drugs issues (including solvent misuse) and for the employment of drugs education co-ordinators in every local authority in England. The Department is also funding research at Newcastle university into the role of parents and families in the treatment and rehabilitation of young people with substance misuse problems.

  Teachers
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many teachers have been
  103
  recruited from the following countries, within the last year, to fill vacancies in schools in London; (a) Ireland, (b) Australia, (c) Canada, (d) New Zealand and (e) South Africa; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many applications for qualified teacher status were considered under paragraph 2(b) of Schedule 5 to the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1982 (S.I., 1982 No. 106) between 1 October 1987 and 30 September 1988 in respect of teachers who had trained in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa; and how many were accepted.

  Mr. Butcher
  [holding answer 25 November 1988]: The information is not available in the form requested. Between 1 October 1987 and 30 September 1988 applications for qualified teacher status from teachers with qualifications gained in the countries referred to by the hon. Member were received as follows:

  Country

  Total Number application

  Number accepted

  Number rejected

  Republic of Ireland

  327

  13

  314

  Australia

  585

  155

  430

  Canada

  52

  4

  48

  New Zealand

  359

  230

  129

  South Africa

  120

  33

  87

  Violence in Schools
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department is currently conducting any studies on violence in schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  An independent committee of inquiry into discipline in schools, under the chairmanship of Lord Elton, is currently considering what action might be taken to secure an orderly atmosphere in schools. Problems of violence form a part of the committee's remit. It aims to report around the end of this year.

ENERGY

  Nuclear Material Exports
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what quantities of nuclear material produced from uranium have been exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  In the five-year period ending 31 March 1988 some 3,000 tonnes of uranium in the form of natural uranium hexafluoride has been sent to the USSR for enrichment. The material exported was the property of the United Kingdom generating boards and various overseas utilities. It is all returned as product (enriched uranium) or tails (depleted uranium) to either the United Kingdom, or, in the case of overseas customers, a destination of their choice. All the material is subject to international safeguards.

  Berkeley Power Station
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the tonnage of fuel(a) loaded into and (b) withdrawn from, reactor 1 at Berkeley power station between 4 April and 17 July; and what was the average burn-up per tonne of irradiated fuel withdrawn at this time.
  104
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I have asked the chairman of the CEGB to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Coal and Electricity Industries (Privatisation)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will shelve plans to proceed with the privatisation of the coal and electricity industries until the environmental problems of sulphur and carbon dioxide emissions have been satisfactorily dealt with and legislation is in place which will avoid further environmental consequences such as the greenhouse effect.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No. Privatisation will make no difference to the Government's commitment to improving the environment. Environmental controls apply to private sector companies as they do to those in the public sector and will be strongly enforced when the electricity industry is privatised.

  Nuclear Materials (Transport)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what international safeguard arrangements exist to cover the shipping of spent nuclear fuel and other material from(a) Torness, (b) Hunterston, (c) Dounreay and (d) Chapelcross, to reprocessing plants.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  All nuclear material from Torness, Hunterston and Dounreay is subject to Euratom safeguards and the terms of the United Kingdom—Euratom—IAEA safeguards agreement. Nuclear fuel irradiated in Chapelcross is not subject to safeguards.

  Nuclear Reactor Safety
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what international safeguard arrangements exist to cover the nuclear reactors at Torness and spent nuclear fuel from the Torness reactors; and what facility attachments and particular safeguard provisions exist for Torness.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Nuclear material in the reactors at Torness, and spent nuclear fuel from the reactors, is subject to Euratom safeguards and the terms of the United Kingdom—Euratom—IAEA safeguards agreement. The particular safeguard provisions for Torness are not yet in force with Euratom. There is no facility attachment in place for Torness since the IAEA has not designated the facility for routine inspection.

  Mining Industry (Statistics)
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many men are employed in the mining industry, categorised in terms of(a) British Coal employees and (b) other contract companies.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I understand that British Coal employed 86,760 men on colliery books on 12 November 1988. The other information requested is not available.

  Heysham II
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list, on a year-by-year basis, the construction costs of Heysham 11 nuclear power station.
  105
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is an operational matter for the CEGB and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Power Stations (Costs)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the operating costs for nuclear and fossil fuelled power stations in England and Wales for 1983 to 1987 on a year-by-year basis and in the same form as set out in the Central Electricity Generating Board's statistical year book for 1982–83.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is an operational matter for the CEGB and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

DEFENCE

  Procurement
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the expenditure incurred by the procurement division of his Department is split(a) within the United Kingdom and (b) abroad.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement on the Defence Estimates 1988, Cmnd. 344-1, volume 1, page 37 paragraph 402, and page 49 figure II.

  Army Scholarship Scheme
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what has been the total cost in grants and tuition paid in respect of(a) boys and (b) girls receiving both grants and tuition in each year from 1979 to the present in respect of the Army scholarship scheme for children aged 15 and 16 years;

  (2) if he will list the schools in respect of which tuition fees were paid and from whose headteachers, endorsements of candidatures were received and the numbers of (a) boys and (b) girls from each school who have received awards under the Army scholarship scheme for pupils aged 15 and 16 years in each of the years from 1979 to the present.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is not available in the form requested. While references are obtained from headteachers, eligibility for the award of any Army scholarship does not rest on the headteacher's endorsement alone. Applicants are required to pass a test set by the Army, an interview and obtain good grades in seven GCSEs (or equivalents) including mathematics, English language and either a science or modern language. Girls have been eligible to apply for an award only since 1986.

  Currently there are 91 scholars, including 10 girls. Since September 1983 a flat rate grant of £750 a year has been made to parents of scholars, irrespective of the school which the scholar attends.

  Educational Allowances
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total sum paid to(a) officers and (b) other ranks in education allowances in the year 1986–87; what were the numbers of individuals receiving allowances in categories (a) and (b) above; and what is the average grossed up value of an allowance in each category.
  106
  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is as follows:

  Total Sum Paid In Educational Allowances

  Numbers of Individuals In Receipt of Allowances

  Average Allowances Per Child

  £ million

  £1 per annum

  (a) Officers

  58·840

  8,071

  4,701

  (b) Other Ranks

  34·761

  6,357

  3,964

  Note 1: This is the average allowance paid per child and takes into account the higher allowance paid for third and subsequent children and is inclusive of grossing up for income tax.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate cost of a holiday visit passages paid in respect of children of defence service personnel in receipt of education allowances, for the latest year available.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information available does not allow the costs of school children's visits to be identified separately from the costs of other types of travel.

  Burghfield Arms Factory
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the explosion on 2 December at Burghfield arms factory; and if he will skate its proximity to the materials held for the polaris warheads.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  A minor explosion occurred at AWE Burghfield in the early hours of 2 December during routine burning of surplus conventional explosive. There was no personal injury and no danger to the work force or public at any time and, to the best of our knowledge, no damage was caused outside the establishment. It is not our policy to disclose the nature or location of nuclear weapons; however no radioactive material was involved in this incident.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Social Fund
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will announce the total sum available for payments from the discretionary part of the social fund in 1989–90.

  Mr. Needham
  The total sum available for payments in Northern Ireland for 1989–90 will be the same as for 1988–89. The budget for community care grants will be £7·2 million and the gross budget for loans will be £13·9 million.

  Emission Controls (Crown Immunity)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will be seeking Crown immunity from prosecution for the institutions which are the responsibility of his Department when the anticipated new controls on emissions come into operation.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 30 November 1988]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 29 November 1988 at column 178.
  107
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how he proposes to finance the additional funds required for those nurses who will be regraded after appeal.

  Mr. Needham
  The funds allocated to boards which include £32 million as the assessed cost of the clinical grading review, are intended to cover all pay costs arising in the current financial year, including any costs arising from successful appeals about pay or grading.

  Housing Associations
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much new capital expenditure has been authorised to be undertaken by housing associations in Northern Ireland in each of August, September and October; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:

  £

  August

  456,325

  September

  894,224

  October

  660,222

  The total of approximately £2·01 million compares with £2·34 million in the same period last year.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums remained unspent in the budgeted expenditure for housing associations in Northern Ireland at 31 October.

  Mr. Needham
  Of the £31·47 million available for capital expenditure by housing associations in Northern Ireland in 1988–89, £12·7 million was unspent at 31 October.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Women's Issues
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the minutes of the meetings of the ministerial group on women's issues, from May 1986 to date; and whether he will place a copy of the equal opportunities proofing system and proofing checklist in the library.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is not the practice to publish the internal record of meetings of Ministers. A press release was made following the last meeting of the group. On the second part of her question, I refer the hon. Member to the reply to her question on 7 November at columns 10-11.

  Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Hurd
  I last met the Commissioner on 20 October at a lunch at New Scotland yard organised by the community involvement branch. It was an informal occasion, during which we discussed the work of the branch, and a number of other policing issues.

  Prisoners (Condoms)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from medical organisations on prisoners' access to condoms.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received one letter from the British Medical Association on this subject.

  Homosexuality and Drugs (Prisons)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he refused an application for a research project, proposed by the prison department's AIDS advisory committee, into homosexuality and drug use in prison.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Because we considered that the methodology proposed was unlikely to lead to reliable results.

  AIDS (Prisons)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to assess the risks of contracting HIV in prisons.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The risk in prison, as elsewhere, is determined by personal behaviour. This is stressed in the educational material available to prisoners. No research to assess the rate of HIV infection, or spread of infection, in the prison population is currently being undertaken by the Department; but prisoners will, where appropriate, be included in future approved research programmes based on anonymous blood testing. A central record is kept for statistical and monitoring purposes of prisoners identified as HIV antibody positive in the course of the careful screening undertaken by Medical Officers.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered the World Health Organisation's recommendation that consideration should be given to allow prisoners access to condoms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have, as the World Health Organisation recommended, considered whether condoms should be made available to prisoners, but have concluded that we would not be justified in changing our policy that prisoners should not be allowed access to condoms.

  Prisoners (Health Education)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what health education material is in preparation for prisoners; and when this will be available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  An AIDS resource pack comprising a video film, a user's guide and a companion leaflet is in an advanced state of development. A second leaflet for more general use is also in preparation. It is expected that these will be ready for use very early next year to supplement the material which is already available.

  Personal Freedom
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to require all organisations, which maintain the names of people on lists
  109
  without their knowledge and circulate the lists for a fee to others for employment and other purposes, to register with his Department; if he will investigate the procedure and role of such organisations; and if he will take steps to seek to ban those which interfere with personal freedom.

  Mr. Renton
  The Data Protection Act 1984 provides that data users holding personal data processed automatically shall register the fact and, interalia, the purpose for which the data are held and to whom they may be disclosed. My right hon. Friend has no plans to extend the registration requirement to manual files.

  Prison Officers (London Weighting)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the number of prison officers who have been transferred from London prisons to other prisons outside London who are still in receipt of London weighting under the mark-time proposals of the fresh start arrangements; how many are currently serving in Her Majesty's prison, Ashwell; and what is the total cost to public funds on an annual basis of this arrangement;

  (2) what is the number of prison officers who have been transferred from London prisons to other prisons outside London who are not still receiving London weighting under the mark-time proposals because their previous prison in London had not accepted fresh start; how many are currently serving in Her Majesty's prison, Ashwell; and what would be the total cost to public funds of extending the London weighting to those currently denied it.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  To provide the information in the form requested would require disproportionate cost because of the large number of variable factors in individual cases and the calculations involved in mark-time pay. Between July 1987 and November 1988, 187 prison officers were transferred from London prisons to other prisons outside London and retained London weighting on a mark-time basis. Of these four are serving at Her Majesty's prison, Ashwell.

  In the same period, 145 prison officers were transferred from London prisons to prisons outside London and did not receive London weighting under the mark-time rules because the London prison from which they were transferred had not moved to fresh start pay. Of these four are in post at Her Majesty's prison, Ashwell.

  Derbyshire County Council
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much section 11 grant, under the Local Government Act 1966, Derbyshire county council received in each of the last five financial years for which figures are available; and on what schemes this money was spent.

  Mr. John Patten
  The amount of grant paid to Derbyshire county council under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, in respect of each of the last five years is shown in the table. The grant represents 75 per cent. of the eligible expenditure by the authority on posts addressing the special needs of ethnic minorities of Commonwealth origin.110

  £

  Posts

  1983–84

  Education

  592,859

  161

  Social Workers

  11,171

  8

  Other Staff

  55,911

  10

  Grant paid on formula basis in respect of:

  (a) Children in care

  24,791

  (b) Day Nurseries

  39,204

  Total

  723,936

  (Payment of section 11 grant on a formula basis ceased at the end of 1983–84)

  1984–85

  Education

  714,537

  163

  Social Workers

  40,362

  9

  Other Staff

  73,181

  10

  Total

  828,080

  1985–86

  Education

  735,429

  168

  Social Workers

  39,684

  8

  Other Staff

  95,577

  15

  Total

  870,690

  1986–87

  Education

  876,520

  163·5

  Social Workers

  76,028

  18

  Other Staff

  114,737

  17

  Total

  1,067,285

  1987–88

  Education

  967,533

  116·5

  Social Workers

  96,833

  18

  Other Staff

  151,188

  17

  Total

  1,215,554

  Solvent Abuse
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has to the effect of the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 on the supply of such substances to children; and what measures are being taken by his Department to inform shopkeepers as to the law and to educate the public as to the dangers of solvent abuse;

  (2) what information he has as to the action being taken by the police to enforce the provisions of the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In 1987 there were 11 successful prosecutions under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985.

  As regards publicity and prevention, the lead is taken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, to whom my hon. Friend has addressed a similar question.

  New Prison (Merseyside)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to measure public reaction to any proposals for the construction of a new prison in the Field lane area of Merseyside.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Any proposal to build a prison in the Field lane area would be subject to the normal planning procedures which require local publicity and the assessment by the planning authority of local opinion.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, following his White Paper, "Broadcasting in the '90s," it is his intention to require applicants for Channel 3 franchises to make specific commitments about the production and broadcasting of religious programmes.

  Mr. Renton
  No.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates he has of the market for(a) video rental and (b) pre-recorded video tapes referred to in paragraph 2.4 of his White Paper, "Broadcasting in the '90s," Cm. 517.

  Mr. Renton
  According to a study on subscription television commissioned by the Home Office from Communications Studies and Planning International Limited, published in May 1987, a total of between £550 million and £600 million was spent on video software in 1986. Two thirds of the expenditure was on pre-recorded software, while the remainder was spent on blank cassettes. This is the equivalent of each household with a VCR buying or renting about one cassette a week. The study estimated that the market for pre-recorded VCR software would expand from £470 million in 1987 to £625 million in 1990. The equivalent estimates for expenditure on VCR rentals were £667 million in 1987 and £772 million in 1990.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with manufacturers about the development of technology for pay-per-view subscription referred to in paragraph 2.4 of his White Paper, "Broadcasting in the '90s," Cm. 517; and whether those manufacturers are British.

  Mr. Renton
  The subject of pay-per-view technology is one of a number of issues which has been discussed in the Government's day-to-day contact with the electronics industry. The choice of manufacturers for reception equipment is one for the broadcasters themselves to make.

  A variety of subscription and pay-per-view payment methods are being developed in Europe and the United States. Some satellite television services are expected to be subscription based, and British Satellite Broadcasting plans to introduce a pay-per-view system.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has commissioned any research into the production costs of(a) news, (b) current affairs, (c) dramas, (d) documentaries, (e) children's programmes, (f) religious programmes and (g) educational programmes in (i) BBC, (ii) ITV, (iii) independent production and (iv) other countries.

  Mr. Renton
  The study of subscription television prepared for the Home Office by Booz Allen and Hamilton and published in May 1987 contains information about production costs. Such information is also available to the Home Office from other sources.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those owning a television pay for(a) a colour licence and (b) a black and white licence.
  112
  Mr. Renton
  It is estimated that about 92 per cent. of television owners obtain a television licence. About 82 per cent. pay for a colour licence, and about 10 per cent. pay for a black and white licence.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been(a) detected and (b) prosecuted for not having a television licence in each of the last 10 years; and at what cost.

  Mr. Renton
  The available data which have been supplied by the national television licence records office are given in the following table. Corresponding information on costs is not available.

  Detections and prosecutions for TV licence evasion in the United Kingdom

  thousands

  Year ending 31 March

  Detected

  Prosecuted

  1978–79

  73·8

  55·4

  1979–80

  78·7

  49·9

  1980–81

  93·3

  65·8

  1981–82

  101·7

  70·5

  1982–83

  125·3

  85·4

  1983–84

  152·8

  97·4

  1984–85

  149·0

  110·0

  1985–86

  235·4

  123·1

  1986–87

  258·4

  174·5

  1987–88

  288·9

  158·2

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he estimates will be(a) the cost and (b) the staffing implications of transferring responsibility for the collection of the British Broadcasting Corporation licence fee on to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

  Mr. Renton
  There should be no increase in the cost of collecting licence revenue, and the BBC will clearly have a strong incentive to reduce costs so far as is practicable consistent with the maximisation of licence revenue. It is likely that the transfer of responsibility will save in the order of two central Government staff posts.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are employed in collecting the BBC licence fee.

  Mr. Renton
  About 1,300, excluding Post Office counter staff who issue television licences and sell television licence savings stamps as part of their general duties.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present administrative cost of collecting the BBC licence fee.

  Mr. Renton
  A total of £59·6 million for the year 1987–88.

  Animal Procedures Committee (Report)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received the first annual report of the Animal Procedures Committee; and when he intends to lay copies of the report before Parliament.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have now laid before Parliament copies of the report, which is published today by Her Majesty's Stationery Office as House of Commons Paper 36.

  This report reflects the significant contribution which the Animal Procedures Committee has made in the first

  113
  year of operation of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. I am sure that it will continue its work for the protection of animals used in experimental or other scientific procedures.

  I particularly welcome the report's conclusion that "the emerging system of control will match the high expectations of Parliament and the public".

  Pub Bombings
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in considering representations about the case of the four persons convicted of offences arising from the bombing of public houses in Guildford and Woolwich in 1974.

  Mr. Hurd
  In April I received a report from the Chief Constable of the Avon and Somerset police on the results of inquiries made into certain matters raised with me since my statement of 20 January 1987 at columns 735-38. Since then, and in particular during October and November, I have received further representations about the case, both from the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, and from firms of solicitors acting for the four persons convicted, some of which purport to disclose new evidence. I have been asked to take these further matters into account in reaching my decision on whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, in the exercise of my power under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968. I have agreed to do so. My decision should obviously be based on the fullest available information. Further inquiries are now being carried out by the police into some of the new matters which have been raised and I intend to reach a decision in January.

THE ARTS

  Tax
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if there have been any items accepted in lieu of tax or allocated since he last made an announcement on the subject to the House.

  Mr. Luce
  Since my announcement on 12 July, at column 101, I am pleased to announce that two items have been accepted in lieu of tax; a flower painting by Jacob Marrel and a print by William Blake, Frontispiece to the Book of Ahania. The tax liability satisfied was £61,369 and £19,658, respectively. The Blake print will go to the Fitzwilliam museum but a decision over the allocation of the Maud painting has not yet been taken.

SCOTLAND

  YTS
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if there are enough training places available under YTS for 16 to 17-year-olds in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  Yes. There were 13,000 unfilled YTS places in Scotland on 5 December 1988.

  "Curriculum and Assessment"
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total
  114
  number of responses he has received to the document, "Curriculum and Assessment", indicating the source in each case; and if he will make such responses available through publication.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Over 1,000 responses were received from a wide range of sources. All the responses were available for public inspection at West Register house, Edinburgh, between 4 October and 5 December.

  Special Schools
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many special schools in each region and division recorded no head teacher in the schools census of 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The numbers of education authority special schools and the numbers with no head teacher at September 1987 are as follows:

  (1)

  (2) Total

  (3) Number without a head teacher

  Borders

  1

  1

  Central

  ll

  3

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  0

  Fife

  12

  1

  Grampian

  19

  0

  Highland

  7

  1

  Lothian

  22

  1

  Strathclyde

  118

  37

  Tayside

  8

  2

  Orkney

  1

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  Scotland

  200

  46

  Argyll and Bute

  4

  1

  Ayr

  25

  13

  Dunbarton

  16

  5

  Glasgow (City)

  45

  12

  Lanark

  18

  3

  Renfrew

  10

  3

  In some cases recorded in column (3) above the post of head teacher will have been vacant at the time of the census; in others there will be no such post because of small size or because oversight is provided by an associated mainstream school. Responsibility for determining the complement of head teachers and for filling vacancies rests with regional and islands authorities.

  TVE1
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report those schools in each region and division which are currently involved in TVE1 schemes.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The schools within each region and division of Strathclyde currently participating in TVE1 are as follows:

  Region/Division

  Schools involved in TVE1 Schemes

  Borders

  All schools

  Central

  Bannockburn High School

  Graeme High School

  St. Mungo's Academy

  St. Modan's High School

  Lornshill Academy

  115

  Region/Division

  Schools involved in TVE1 Schemes

  Dumfries and Galloway

  All Schools

  Fife

  Glenwood High School

  Glenrothes High School

  Auchmuty High School

  Bell Baxter High School

  Kirkcaldy High School

  Beath High School

  Lochgelly High School

  Woodmill High School

  Buchhaven High School

  Grampian

  Buckie High School

  Elgin Academy

  Elgin High School

  Forrest Academy

  Milnes High School

  Highland

  Farr Secondary School

  Golspie High School

  Thurso High School

  Wick High School

  Lothian

  Tynecastle High School

  St. Augustine's High School

  Armadale Academy

  Blackburn Academy

  St. Kentigern's Academy

  St. Mary's Academy

  Whitburn Academy

  Craigmount High School

  Queensferry High School

  Royal High School

  Boroughmuir High School

  Firrhill High School

  James Gillespie High School

  St. Thomas of Aquins High School

  Cairnpark Special School

  Graysmill Special School

  Ainslie Park High School

  Forrester High School

  Wester Hailes Education Centre

  Bathgate Academy

  Craighroyston High School

  Drummond High School

  Leith Academy

  Trinity Academy

  Canonmills Special School

  Pilrig Park Special School

  St. David's High School

  Newbattle High School

  Lasswade High School

  Dalkeith High School

  Greenhill High School

  Orkney

  All Schools

  Shetland

  Anderson High School

  Brae Junior High School

  Sandwick Junior High School

  Scalloway Junior High School

  Strathclyde Argyll and Bute

  Campbeltown Grammar School

  Lochgilphead High School

  Oban High School

  Islay High School

  Ayr

  Grange Academy

  James Hamilpton Academy

  Kilmarnock Academy

  Part Special School

  St. Joseph's Academy

  Dumbarton

  Dumbarton Academy

  116

  Region/Division

  Schools involved in TVE1 Schemes

  Auchentoshan Special School

  St. Patrick's High School

  Notre Dame High School

  Vale of Leven Academy

  Glasgow

  Lochend Secondary School

  St. Leonard's Secondary School

  Westwood Secondary School

  Lanark

  Airdrie Academy

  Caldervale High School

  St. Margaret's High School

  Renfrew

  Gourock High School

  Port Glasgow High School

  St. Stephen's High School

  Greenock Academy

  Grovepark High School

  Eastwood High School

  Woodfarm High School

  Renfrew High School

  The Mary Russell Special School

  Hunterhill Tutorial Centre Special School

  Kersland Special School

  Greenock High School

  St. Columba's High School

  Lilybank Special School

  Cowdenknowes High School

  Notre Dame High School

  Mearns Castle High School

  St. Ninian's High School

  Linwood High School

  Clippens Special School

  Isobel Mair Special School

  Gateside Special School

  Tayside

  Craigie High School

  Linlathen High School

  St. Saviour's High School

  Whitfield High School

  Western Isles

  Lews Castle Day School

  Nicolson Institute

  Forestry
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from landowners, foresters and individuals engaged in wood processing industries about the Government's forestry policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 December 1988]: In the past two months, my right hon. and learned Friend has received nine letters from organisations and individuals about various aspects of the Government's forestry policy, including the support arrangements and the prospects for forestry. He has taken the opportunity to emphasise the Government's commitment to the continuing expansion of forestry.

PRIME MINISTER

  Right Hon and Learned Member for Richmond, Yorks
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister why and in what particular respects experience of the Home Office was a factor in the nomination of the right hon. and learned Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Brittan) as a European Commissioner.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 1 December 1988, at column 345.

  Barnsley
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Barnsley, Dorset.

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

  Engagements
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 December.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 December.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 December.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 December.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 December.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 December.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 December.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with the Prime Minister of Iceland. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

  President Gorbachev (Visit)
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will request President Gorbachev, during his forthcoming visit, to return to the national treasuries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania the gold reserves deposited by those countries with the Bank of England for safe keeping when still independent, which national reserves were handed over to the country which had invaded them by the United Kingdom Government in 1969.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 December 1988]: The gold of the former central banks of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia held in the Bank of England was not transferred to the USSR but its value was taken into account in the practical settlement of claims arising from the incorporation of these states into the USSR, under the Anglo-Soviet claims agreement of 5 January 1968. The proceeds of the subsequent sale of gold were used to meet the compensation claims of British property holders and investors whose assets had been seized or became worthless. The Anglo-Soviet claims agreement did not, of course, affect our continued non-recognition de jure of the forcible incorporation of the Baltic states into the USSR.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Grain
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost to the European Economic Community for export restitution and other costs of the export of grain for the latest year for which figures are available.
  118
  Mr. Ryder
  In the 1987 calendar year the European Community's expenditure on exports of whole and processed cereals other than rice, including food aid but excluding monetary compensatory amounts, was 3,673 million ecu (£2,642 million).

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the total loss of hedgerows in each year since 1983.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 1 December to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy) at columns 1859-60.

  Export Refund System
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what European Economic Community revisions to the export refund system have become operative since 1 January; and what effect this has had in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ryder
  A new integrated Community customs tariff known as the combined nomenclature and based upon the international standard harmonised system came into force on 1 January. At the same time use for customs' purposes of the Community single administrative document started.

  The effect of these two changes was to require traders and official bodies to modify databases and systems based on customs tariff nomenclature and to provide and use data in a different format. While the changes applied to all international trade, food and agriculture were particularly affected since a number of nomenclature-based systems, including the export refund system, are utilised under the CAP.

  Free Food Scheme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the total cost of the European Economic Community free food scheme in the United Kingdom in terms of(a) the cost of foodstuffs, (b) the administration and distribution costs incurred by the voluntary sector and (c) any other costs.

  Mr. Ryder
  A total of £10·4 million was allocated to the United Kingdom to operate the free food scheme in 1988. The figure of 2½ per cent. has been set aside to cover distribution costs and to reimburse the administration costs of designated organisations. The remainder has been released or will have been made available by the end of the year to designated organisations in the form of butter and beef. Other costs such as packing and canning will be met by payment in kind arrangements.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will estimate the number of people receiving food stuffs under the European Economic Community free food scheme;

  (2) if he will estimate the number of people eligible in the United Kingdom to receive foodstuffs under the free food scheme.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Government have estimated that about 6 million people in the United Kingdom are eligible to
  119
  receive food under the scheme. The designated organisations are responsible for the distribution arrangements, and they estimated early this year that about 1½million people would benefit.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of each of the surplus European Economic Community food products is being made available for distribution in Britain as part of the free food scheme.

  Mr. Ryder
  In the United Kingdom the designated organisations have been authorised to withdraw 2,463 tonnes of butter and 1,772 tonnes of beef.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the criteria for eligibility to the European Economic Community free food scheme.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Community legislation enables food from intervention stocks to be distributed to the most deprived persons in the Community. The Government

  Belgium

  Luxem-bourg

  Nether-lands

  France

  Spain

  Portugal

  Greece

  Italy

  United Kingdom

  Denmark

  Germany

  Ireland

  By issue of voucher

  x

  —

  —

  —

  —

  x

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  x

  Through soup kitchen

  —

  —

  x

  —

  x

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  x

  Through hospitals, orphanages, old people's homes etc.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  x

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Via charity networks

  —

  x

  —

  x

  x

  —

  —

  x

  x

  x

  x

  —

  Attempts to define the "most needy"

  x

  x

  —

  —

  x

  —

  —

  —

  x

  —

  x

  x

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what information he has concerning the incidence of BSE in other European Economic Community countries or other countries with trade in animal production with Britain;

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that animal products entering the United Kingdom for human consumption do not originate from BSE infected animals.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  BSE has not been reported in other member states of the European Community or any other country with which the United Kingdom trades.

  Dairy Quotas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many United Kingdom dairy farmers who participated in the milk non-marketing scheme or the dairy herd conversion scheme subsequently made an application for quotas to his Department between 31 March 1984 and 31 July 1988.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  For the vast majority of producers, the dairy produce quotas regulations provided for applications for quota to be made between 24 July and 28 August 1984. In England and Wales, well over 20,000 valid applications were received. It would be disproportionately expensive to estimate the number of these which were received from farmers who had participated in the non-marketing or dairy herd conversion schemes.
  120
  have defined such persons as those in receipt of income support or family credit, and those of no fixed abode or living in welfare hostels.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those voluntary organisations participating in the free food scheme.

  Mr. Ryder
  There are 127 organisations designated to operate the scheme in the United Kingdom. A list of the organisations was deposited in the Library of the House on 21 April 1988.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to in what respect the British scheme of free food distribution differs from that in other European Economic Community countries.

  Mr. Ryder
  No detailed up-to-date information is available but according to information gathered in March 1988, the various member states intended to operate the scheme as shown in the attached table.

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the use of bovine somatotropin; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have received a considerable number of letters from individuals and organisations expressing concern about the current field tests of bovine somatotropin.

  Food Hygiene
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take to increase public awareness of the importance of sound food hygiene and handling practices.

  Mr. Ryder
  My Department in collaboration with the Department of Health, the Health Education Authority, The Institution of Environmental Health Officers and the public health laboratory service, has been preparing a major nationwide public food hygiene education campaign to be launched early in 1989. We commissioned a consumer survey in January 1988 which demonstrated a general lack of awareness of elementary food hygiene precautions in the home. As a result of this survey we decided to test an education leaflet in a pilot launch at five locations (Shrewsbury, Hull, Taunton, Maidstone and the London Borough of Wandsworth) between July and October 1988. The results have now been evaluated and, together with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, I shall be launching a nationwide campaign early next year.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Young Share Fishermen
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will bring forward proposals to restore the payment of unemployment benefit to share fishermen between the ages of 16 and 18 years who are prevented from working by adverse weather or sea conditions.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to make special arrangements for this group.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will strengthen the requirements for potential unemployment pay beneficiaries to seek work.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in the debate on the Loyal Address on 24 November at column 245. We propose to introduce a requirement that those claiming unemployment benefits must take active steps to find work.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has regarding the proportion of unemployment benefit disqualification cases in which disqualification was imposed for the maximum period(a) when the maximum was six weeks, (b when it was 13 weeks and (c)> since it was increased to 26 weeks.

  Mr. Scott
  There is no information available on the proportion of cases in which the maximum unemployment benefit disqualification period was imposed when that maximum was six weeks.

  A very limited survey undertaken after the change in October 1986 showed that a maximum period of disqualification—13 weeks—was imposed in about 75 per cent. of cases. A copy of this survey was placed in the Library on 4 March 1988.

  The effect of the increase in the maximum period to 26 weeks in April 1988 is being monitored and results should be available next year. An early examination by the chief

  Family Type

  Family credit ceilings (£pw)

  Housing benefit ceiling (£pw)

  Rates

  Rent

  Gross earnings

  Net earnings

  Gross earnings

  Net earnings

  Gross earnings

  Net earnings

  Single parent, one child under 11

  130

  105·49

  56

  53·20

  55

  52·25

  Single parent, two children under 11

  143

  114·07

  55

  52·25

  54

  51·30

  Single parent, three children under 11

  156

  122·65

  52

  49·40

  51

  48·45

  Married couple, one child under 11

  130

  105·49

  95

  84·29

  93

  82·93

  Married couple, two children under 11

  143

  114·07

  93

  82·93

  90

  80·89

  Married couple, three children under 11

  156

  122·65

  80

  74·09

  78

  72·54

  Notes: Average local authority rent and rate figures for 1988 are:
  For one child family: rent £18·60 per week; rates £7·70 per week
  For two child family: rent £19·90 per week; rates £8·20 per week

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the numbers receiving housing benefit in each local authority.
  122
  adjudication officer of a small sample of decisions indicates that the maximum period of disqualification is now imposed in about 50 per cent. of cases.

  Students
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy towards the future provision of(a) free dental treatment, (b) free prescriptions, (c) free eye checks and (d) assistance with the community charge, for students in full-time education in receipt of loans under Her Majesty's Government's recent proposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 3.27 of the White Paper "Top-up Loans for Students" (Cm. 520). People receiving full-time education under 19 will continue to be exempt from dental and prescription charges and entitled to free NHS sight tests. Others on a low income will be able to get free prescriptions and full or partial help with the cost of dental treatment and sight tests depending on their circumstances. Students who are shown in the community charge register as undertaking a full-time course of education will continue to be liable to pay only one fifth of the personal community charge for which they would otherwise be liable.

  Family Credit and Housing Benefit
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish a table showing the cut-off points in net and gross terms for families with children claiming family credit and housing benefit based on average rent and rates for families with one, two and three children aged under 11 years, broken down into one and two parent families;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing the cut-off points in net and gross terms for families with children claiming family credit for families with one, two and three children aged under 11 years.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is set out in the table.

  Mr. Scott
  The closing date for submission of statistical returns by local authorities was 16 November 1988. Some returns are still awaited and those received to date are being validated. The information will be made available when checking of all local authority returns is complete.
  123
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to review the cut in housing benefit experienced by hospital patients after six weeks in hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The downrating of housing benefit after six weeks in hospital was introduced as part of the reforms in April to achieve common rules for the treatment of patients in the main social security benefits. The system ensures that, after downrating, all claimants will have sufficient income to meet their eligible housing costs over and above the basic income support level.

  We have undertaken to continue monitoring the effects of the reforms.

  Benefits
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the budget for publicity and associated costs to increase the take-up of benefits, for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Scott
  Total Social Security expenditure on publicity and associated costs for each year since 1979 is as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1979–80

  1·9

  1980–81

  1·7

  1981–82

  1·6

  1982–83

  2·6

  1983–84

  2·5

  1984–85

  4·3

  1985–86

  4·5

  1986–87

  12·6

  1987–88

  12·4

  1988–89

  112·8

  1 Projected expenditure.

  Students (Benefits)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimated savings will be made by his Department by the proposed withdrawal of students' rights to income support, unemployment and housing benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to annex E of the White Paper "Top-up Loans For Students" (Cm. 520) which estimates the saving at £65 million in the academic year 1990–91.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons, aged between the years of two and five, are in receipt of attendance allowance; and if he will provide figures for the number of claimants aged two, three, four and five for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available in the form requested. The information which is available is in the table.124

  Attendance allowance

  Number

  Estimated number of allowances in payment for children aged 2 to 5 years at 31 March 1987

  19,800

  Number of claims decided in the year to September 1988 for children aged 2 to 4 years

  8,666

  5 to 9 years

  4,637

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time from the lodging of an appeal against the refusal of attendance allowance to the appeal decision, for the years 1985 to 1988.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available in the precise form requested. The available information, which relates to applications for review made where a claim has been disallowed, where a lower-rate rather than a higher-rate allowance has been awarded or where the claimant believes the attendance allowance board should issue a certificate of attendance needs for a longer period, is in the table.

  Attendance allowance: Average processing times of applications for review of attendance allowance board decisions 1985–1988

  Year

  Average processing time (weeks)

  1988

  19·0

  1987

  18·5

  1986

  14·0

  1985

  13·0

  Family Credit
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the average lapse of time between applications being made for family credit and the determination thereof.

  Mr. Scott
  Just under 23 working days in respect of all cases cleared during November. Of this, less than seven working days was for work within the family credit branch. The other 16 days were taken up by waiting for responses to inquiries.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many local offices of the Department of Social Security have no staff or officials trained to answer questions from applicants for family credit; and if he will make it his intention to ensure that there is at least one in each local office.

  Mr. Scott
  All local offices have staff trained to answer inquiries about social security benefits, including family credit.

  Christmas Bonus
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the change in the real-terms value of the pensioners' Christmas bonus for each year since 1972.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 21 July at columns 839-40.

  Income Support
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will give, on the same basis as the tax/benefit tables, the total income support of an employed married man with children aged four and six, in December 1987, whose income was(a) £70 per week, (b) £120 per week and (c) £140 per week.

  (2) if he will state, on the same basis as the tax/benefit model tables, the total income support of an employed married man with children aged three, eight and eleven, in December 1987, whose income was (a) £70 per week, (b) £120 per week and (c) 140 per week.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to the April 1987 tax benefit model tables, copies of which are held in the Library.

  Tax/Benefit Model Tables
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how soon he expects to publish tax/benefit model tables for 1988.

  Mr. Scott
  We expect to publish these tables shortly.

HEALTH

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific progress has been made during the last three years by his Department in establishing methods for stockpiling medical supplies in the event of a nuclear war.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have reviewed peacetime storage arrangements to make greater use of direct supply systems, and introduced large regional distribution systems backed by more local satellite stores. New control systems are being introduced which would facilitate rapid exchange and borrowing between health authorities, the NHS and industry, where required. This is preferable to tying up

  Number of prescriptions (million)

  of which: dispensed by dispensing doctors (million)

  Total number of perscriptions per population

  Net ingredient cost (NIC) (£ million)

  of which: dispensed by dispensing doctors (£ million)

  NIC per thousand population (£)

  1985

  Northern

  24·0

  1·1

  7,780

  98·0

  3·9

  31,772

  Yorkshire

  27·5

  2·4

  7,641

  105·4

  8·8

  29,284

  Trent

  33·7

  2·8

  7,296

  128·8

  10·5

  27,851

  East Anglia

  13·3

  3·7

  6,754

  54·1

  13·8

  27,543

  North West Thames

  22·8

  0·5

  6,537

  92·0

  1·8

  26,413

  North East Thames

  25·9

  1·1

  6,912

  98·2

  3·7

  26,168

  South East Thames

  25·1

  1·1

  6,980

  99·2

  3·9

  27,535

  South West Thames

  19·0

  0·6

  6,421

  78·0

  2·3

  26,323

  Wessex

  19·0

  1·5

  6,671

  78·8

  5·5

  27,621

  Oxford

  14·6

  1·6

  5,990

  61·0

  6·2

  25,036

  South Western

  22·8

  2·6

  7,250

  91·0

  9·6

  28,874

  West Midlands

  38·5

  1·8

  7,426

  146·7

  6·8

  28,301

  Mersey

  19·8

  0·3

  8,173

  72·4

  11·0

  29,864

  North Western

  33·8

  0·3

  8,460

  125·6

  1·1

  31,450

  Total

  339·9

  21·3

  7,215

  1,329·1

  79·1

  28,211

  1986

  Northern

  24·2

  1·1

  7,864

  105·5

  4·3

  34,250

  Yorkshire

  28·3

  2·5

  7,862

  115·2

  9·7

  31,992

  Trent

  34·3

  2·9

  7,404

  141·2

  11·6

  30,473

  East Anglia

  13·5

  3·8

  6,760

  59·3

  15·2

  29,757

  126
  resources in large contingency stocks for emergency use. Further, more detailed planning is still in progress, and guidance will be issued once that work is completed.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the level of funding available to the North Western regional health authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  Health authorities summarised accounts show that gross revenue expenditure in the North Western regional health authority has increased from £383 million in 1978–79 to some £1,003 million in 1987–88, an increase of 162 per cent. in cash and 28 per cent. in real terms. The region has received further increases this year totalling over 9 per cent. in cash or 3 per cent. in real terms.

  We shall be announcing allocations for 1989–90 shortly.

  Community Care
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the proposed primary care authorities in the light of the Griffiths report on community care; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement regarding his Department's proposals to set up primary care authorities.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 29 November at column 198.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for the last three financial years(a) the number and value of prescriptions in each National Health Service region and express these figures on a per thousand of population basis and (b) the number and value of prescriptions by the source of the prescription in each National Health Service region.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested can be provided only for calendar years and is set out in the following table:
  127

  Number of prescription (million)

  of which: dispensed by dispensing doctors (million)

  Total number of prescriptions per population

  Net ingredient Cost (NIC) (£ million)

  of which: dispensed by dispensing doctors (£ million)

  NIC per thousand population (£)

  North West Thames

  22·7

  0·5

  6,511

  99·4

  2·0

  28,493

  North East Thames

  26·1

  1·1

  6,927

  107·0

  4·6

  28,460

  South East Thames

  25·5

  1·1

  7,042

  108·6

  4·3

  30,009

  South West Thames

  19·1

  0·7

  6,458

  85·2

  2·6

  28,735

  Wessex

  19·4

  1·5

  6,753

  86·6

  6·0

  30,124

  Oxford

  14·9

  1·7

  5,998

  67·0

  6·8

  27,055

  South Western

  23·4

  2·7

  7,375

  100·4

  10·7

  31,600

  West Midlands

  39·2

  1·9

  7,569

  161·1

  1·6

  31,098

  Mersey

  19·9

  0·3

  8,248

  79·4

  1·2

  32,902

  North Western

  34·2

  0·3

  8,563

  137·2

  1·2

  34,376

  Total

  344·4

  21·9

  7,289

  1,453·1

  87·1

  30,751

  1987

  Northern

  25·2

  1·1

  8,202

  117·9

  4·9

  38,312

  Yorkshire

  29·1

  2·6

  8,085

  129·1

  10·9

  35,810

  Trent

  35·9

  3·1

  7,730

  159·5

  13·3

  34,318

  East Anglia

  14·2

  4·0

  7,028

  67·0

  17·1

  33,261

  North West Thames

  23·4

  0·5

  6,711

  110·8

  2·5

  31,759

  North East Thames

  26·9

  1·1

  7,139

  120·3

  4·7

  31,900

  South East Thames

  26·4

  1·2

  7,265

  121·7

  4·9

  33,490

  South West Thames

  19·6

  0·7

  6,612

  94·9

  2·9

  32,061

  Wessex

  20·2

  1·5

  6,948

  97·7

  6·8

  33,634

  Oxford

  15·4

  1·8

  6,175

  75·5

  7·7

  30,180

  South Western

  24·3

  2·9

  7,591

  113·6

  12·3

  35,424

  West Midlands

  41·1

  2·0

  7,912

  182·7

  8·8

  35,154

  Mersey

  21·0

  0·3

  8,701

  89·9

  1·3

  37,315

  North Western

  35·7

  0·3

  8,939

  155·6

  1·4

  38,990

  Total

  358·5

  23·2

  7,562

  1,636·1

  99·5

  34,514

  Note: These figures relate to prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors within the family practitioner service but do not include items personally administered by prescribing doctors. The vast majority of prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacies are written by prescribing general medical practitioners but they also include a small number of prescriptions written by dentists, hospital doctors for outpatients, service doctors and doctors on board ship. Prescribing by hospital doctors (except as specified above) is not included as this information is not available centrally.

  Nurses (Grading)
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the percentages of nurses in each grade at the theatre department at North Tees general hospital; and what are the comparable surgical gradings at other similar establishments in the region.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not hold this information centrally.

  My hon. Friend may wish to consider requesting the information from the health authorities concerned.

  Private Companies
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what contractual constraints exist to prevent National Health Service financial officers who negotiate contracts with private companies from subsequently joining these firms;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to prevent by contract Health Service employees from leaving the service and taking immediate employment with private concerns with whom they were previously negotiating; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  It is for health authorities locally to determine such aspects in individual contracts of employment. We have no current plans to alter that position.

  Waiting Lists
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are currently on National Health Service waiting lists for general surgery(a) in the Crewe and Nantwich district health authority and (b) nationally.

  Mr. Mellor
  The latest figures show that, at 31 March 1988, there were 1,157 patients on the inpatient waiting list for general surgery in Crewe district health authority. The corresponding figure for England was 133,079.

  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the in-patient waiting list figures in March for the Trent regional health authority; and what were the figures for the previous year and 1979.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is given in the table.

  In-patient waiting lists, Trent regional health authority

  Total of all cases

  March 1979

  72,864

  March 1987

  57,111

  1 March 1988

  54,894

  1 on a comparable basis with previous statistics.

  Cook-chill Catering
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of National Health Service establishments currently using cook-chill catering; and if he will name each of the hospitals concerned.
  129
  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that information on those hospitals which provide cook-chill catering is not held centrally.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the total public sector National Health Service investment in cook-chill catering to date;

  (2) what is the total private sector National Health Service investment in cook-chill catering to date.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that we do not hold this information centrally.

  Nurses' Pay
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much nurses' pay has increased in real terms since 1979; and what was the comparable increase in the period from 1974 to 1979.

  Mr. Mellor
  The average pay of nurses and midwives has increased by 45 per cent. in real terms since 1979 compared with a fall of 21 per cent. between 1974 and 1979.

  Cyclists and Motor Cyclists (Casualties)
  Mr. David Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what number and proportion of admissions to casualty units in London are(a) cyclists and (b) motor cyclists.

  Mrs. Currie
  We do not hold this information centrally.

  Unleaded Petrol (Vehicle Conversion)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has had any discussions for all district health authorities concerning the conversion of their vehicles to the use of lead-free petrol; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Departmental officials have had preliminary discussions with appropriate staff in the National Health Service.

  Lead-free petrol offers benefits in terms of running costs, better health and a cleaner environment. We will shortly be inviting health authorities to follow the example already set by Mersey regional health authority and introduce a programme for progressively switching over to running on lead-free petrol. Steps are being taken to secure favourable terms for conversion and purchase from major manufacturers and distributors and we shall be issuing an information pack to all authorities early in the new year.

  Committee on Safety of Medicines
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those medical journals which are scanned by the Committee on Safety of Medicines and by his Department for reports on adverse reactions to medicines.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 5 December 1988]: Officials of the Department monitor reports of adverse drug reactions in the published literature by regularly scanning over 200 medical and scientific journals as well as using secondary abstracting sources to monitor other international publications. Regular searches of published literature are also carried out for reports relating to specific drugs. The Department also receives reports of
  130
  adverse reactions in international scientific journals from pharmaceutical companies, from overseas regulatory authorities and from the World Health Organisation.

  A wide range of sources of published information is available to the Committee on Safety of Medicines. It is not possible to produce a definitive list.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines indicating(a) their professional background, (b) whether their appointments are full-time or part-time and (c) their remuneration in each case.

  Mr. Mellor
  [pursuant to his reply, 28 November 1988, c. 149-50]: The entry for Professor M. J. S. Langman, BSc, MD, FRCP should read "—Professor of Medicine, University of Birmingham."

  Midwives
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives in the Mersey regional health authority have been graded as D, E, F, G, H or I; how many Of these midwives have appealed against their grade; and if he will list the number of years experience of each midwife at each grade.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 5 December 1988]: The numbers of midwives in the Mersey regional health authority transferred to each new clinical grade are given in the table. We do not hold centrally information on the number of appeals and on the length of service of individual midwives.

  Clinical grades of midwives in Mersey regional health authority

  Grade

  Number in each grade (whole time equivalents)

  D

  44

  E

  320

  F

  201

  G

  390

  H

  16

  I

  48

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information can be taken into account by the appeal machinery considering appeals for midwives in respect of their allocated grades other than shown on the assessment forms as submitted.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Appeals panels can take account of any information which they consider relevant.

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to licence mobile cancer screening units; and if he will list those regulations which currently govern their operation.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 25 November 1988]: The Department has asked health authorities to establish a breast cancer screening programme. It is for health authorities to decide whether this service would be provided most effectively by static centres, mobile units or a combination of the two. We do not propose to distinguish between these two types of NHS unit by requiring mobile units to be specially licensed.
  131
  The statutory regulations which govern the operation of mobile screening units are:
  Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
  The Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 1333)
  The Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988 (SI 1988 No. 778)

  The Department's NHS procurement directorate has also issued guidance notes for health authorities on equipment requirements for breast cancer screening which includes comprehensive guidance on mobile breast cancer screening units including the constructional requirements of the trailer and its equipment.

  Solvent Abuse
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to combat the problems of solvent abuse among young people.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have taken a number of steps to make solvent-based products harder to obtain by young people for the purpose of misuse; to educate young people about the dangers of misuse; and to help parents and those who work with young people to respond to the problem. Recent initiatives taken by the Department include funding a series of training seminars for residential care workers; contributing to the issue of advice to retailers, and the production of a video for parents; and funding an information officer post at the National Children's bureau.

  Hospital Buildings
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest information he has as to the average age of hospital buildings.

  Mrs. Currie
  We are now collecting information about the age of hospital buildings as a part of the Körner requirement. This information should be available to health authorities from May 1989.

  Teenage Pregnancies
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to introduce a campaign aimed at reducing unwanted teenage pregnancies.

  Mrs. Currie
  We are currently funding three local projects on family planning and pregnancy counselling specifically aimed at young people under 25 in three health districts. The projects began last year, are being centrally evaluated, and will continue until March next year. We hope to use the projects to identify principles of good practice which can be commended to the Health Service as a whole.

  Nurses
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give the latest estimates of the nurses who return to nursing each year;

  (2) what schemes his Department is currently operating to encourage nurses to return to nursing.

  Mr. Mellor
  We estimate that in the last year about 7,200 nurses and midwives returned to practice in the NHS in England.

  Employing authorities locally are best placed to judge the opportunity and need for return to nursing campaigns.
  132
  At national level we have helped by part-funding the Department of Health/Nursing Times "Recruit and Retain" campaign which has covered good practice on return to nursing and by analysing the professional register to identify inactive nurses by place of residence so that properly targeted local campaigns can be run. Next year, we plan to produce publicity and other material for use locally and are currently conducting a survey to identify the most useful types of material.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those district health authorities and Scottish health authorities which charge for a refresher course for those nurses wishing to return to nursing and those authorities which run free courses.

  Mr. Mellor
  We do not collect this information for England. This is a matter for individual health authorities.

  Information for Scotland is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many eye tests were paid for by the National Health Service in England and Wales for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Mellor
  The number of sight tests has been as follows:

  Millions

  1979

  8·6

  1980

  8·8

  1981

  8·9

  1982

  9·2

  1983

  9·6

  1984

  10·3

  1985

  10·8

  1986

  11·1

  1987

  11·7

  Dental Checks
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental checks were paid for by the National Health Service in England and Wales for each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is set out in the table, by calendar year up to 1985 and by financial year thereafter.

  General dental services England and Wales

  Dental examinations

  Year

  Number

  1979

  26,025,290

  1980

  27,428,770

  1981

  27,881,370

  1982

  28,838,890

  1983

  29,336,490

  1984

  29,798,070

  1985

  30,120,720

  1986–87

  30,606,430

  1987–88

  30,651,820

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when it was decided to stop collecting available bed figures broken down by specialty.
  133
  Mrs. Currie
  This decision was announced in April 1984 by health circular HC(84)10, which set out the agreement between Ministers and regional chairmen on the implementation of the first report of the steering group on Health Services information (Körner).

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the available bed figures for 1987 will be published;

  (2) if he will make it his practice in future to publish available bed figures within six months of their collection.

  Mrs. Currie
  We publish information about beds in the National Health Service as soon as thorough validation on returns from all authorities has been completed. The available figures for 1987–88 will be published during January.

EMPLOYMENT

  Self-employed People
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the United Kingdom are currently self-employed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  In June 1988, the latest date for which estimates are available, there were 2,985,000 self-employed people in the United Kingdom.

  VAT
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of new registrations for value added tax in 1987–88.

  Mr. Cope
  In 1987, the latest year for which figures have been published, the number of VAT-registered businesses in the United Kingdom increased by 45,000, or nearly 900 a week on average. The indications are that the rate of increase during 1988 has been faster.

  Child Care Facilities
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to introduce child care facilities for participants in Government training schemes.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Assistance with child care costs of up to £50 per week per child is already available to help all lone parents participating in employment training, the new programme for unemployed adults.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in the numbers of those employed in service industries in the last five years.

  Mr. Lee
  Between June 1983 and June 1988, there was a net increase of 2,205,000 in employment in the service industries in Great Britain.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current level of unemployment in the south-west of England.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In October 1988 seasonally adjusted unemployment in the south-west region was 123,100, a fall of 36,600 over the last 12 months.
  134
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current unemployment levels in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Fowler
  In October 1988 the level of seasonally adjusted unemployment in the United Kingdom was 2,160,200, the lowest for more than seven years. Unemployment has now fallen by 973,000 since July 1986, the longest and largest sustained fall on record.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current level of employment.

  Mr. Fowler
  Between March 1983 and June 1988 the work force in employment in Great Britain increased by 2,177,000 to 25,174,000, the highest level on record. Employment has now been on a rising trend for more than five years.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current trend of unemployment in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Lee
  In October 1988, seasonally adjusted unemployment in the Yorkshire and Humberside region was 214,800, a fall of 41,400 over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in the London region.

  Mr. Lee
  In October 1988, the level of seasonally adjusted unemployment in the London region was 267,100, a fall of 66,700 over the last 12 months. We know from the surveys carried out during the summer that there are also around 150,000 vacancies in London.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people under the age of 21 years are currently unemployed in Eccles.

  Mr. Lee
  Unemployment figures are not available for the requested age group. However, in October 1988 the number of unemployed claimants aged under 20 in the Eccles parliamentary constituency was 335.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many local employment offices have unemployment under 4 per cent.; and in which standard planning regions these offices are located.

  Mr. Lee
  The information is not available in the form requested. The smallest area for which unemployment rates are calculated are travel-to-work areas. In October 1988, 27 of these had rates of unemployment of less than 4 per cent., expressed as a percentage of employees in employment plus the unemployed (south-east 19 travel-to-work areas, East Anglia, four, north two, south-west one and east midlands one).

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of employment in the United Kingdom and other European Economic Community countries.

  Mr. Lee
  Increases in the level of employment in the United Kingdom compare most favourably with those in the European Community. Since 1983 our level of civilian employment has grown by well over 2 million. Between
  135
  1983 and 1987 the increase in employment in the United Kingdom was greater than that for any other European Community member and was in fact approximately equal to that in the rest of the Community combined. Comparisons of the percentage of working age population in employment show that the United Kingdom is well ahead of our major European partners and second only to Denmark in the whole Community.

  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current level of unemployment in the east midlands.

  Mr. Lee
  In October 1988 seasonally adjusted unemployment in the east midlands region was 134,800, a fall of 30,900 over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of long-term unemployed in June 1983 and September 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  Unemployment figures are analysed by duration quarterly. In October 1988 the number of unemployed claimants who had been unemployed for one year or more in the United Kingdom was 885,504, compared with 1,050,487 in July 1983, a fall of 64,983 over the period. This comparison is slightly affected by changes in the coverage of the count as well as seasonal influences.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to revise the basis for collecting unemployment statistics.

  Mr. Lee
  No.

  Mr. Kenneth Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of unemployment in Lancashire.

  Mr. Lee
  In October 1988 the number of unemployed claimants in the county of Lancashire was 48,347, or 9 per cent. of employees in employment plus the unemployed.

  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of unemployment in the north of England.

  Mr. Lee
  In October 1988 seasonally adjusted unemployment in the northern region was 165,700, a fall of 25,000 over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently in employment in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lee
  Between March 1983 and June 1988 the work force in employment in the United Kingdom increased by 2,178,000 to 25,739,000, the highest level on record. This rising trend has now continued for more than five years. The figures have been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations. The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, Her Majesty's forces, and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how many, and as a percentage of those registered as unemployed, the unemployment figures have fallen for Lincolnshire over the past three years.
  136
  Mr. Lee
  In October 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the county of Lincolnshire was 17,775 compared with 26,964 in October 1985, a fall of 9,189 or 34 per cent. over the three-year period. The figures are affected by the change in the compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording and by the change in the coverage from September 1988 due to new benefit regulations for young people aged under 18.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of(a) men and (b) women, over the age of 50 years who are at present unemployed in the Greater London area.

  Mr. Lee
  On 13 October 1988, there were 39,695 male and 14,178 female unemployed claimants, aged 50 or over, in Greater London.

  ACAS
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he plans to meet the chairman of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service before 31 December; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans. Ministers of the Department meet the chairman of ACAS from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Training
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the employment training scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Employment training is making very good progress indeed and interest amongst long-term unemployed people remains high. By 25 November there were already 91,500 people training with training managers.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if any individual trade unions have expressed an interest in co-operating with employment training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A number of trade unions and many individual trade unionists are helping to make employment training successful. I welcome this positive co-operation in helping longer-term unemployed people back into work.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of places taken up on the employment training programme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  At 25 November there were 91,500 people training on employment training.

  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the trades union council to discuss adult training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier to my hon. Friends the Members for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Patnick) and for Thurrock (Mr. Janman).

  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inquiries the Training
  137
  Commission has received from the public about the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Training Agency has received a large number of inquiries about employment training. There has been considerable interest in the programme by unemployed people, and by 25 November 91,500 people were already training with training managers.

  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the future of the loan guarantee scheme.

  Mr. Cope
  The loan guarantee scheme is currently due to run to 31 March 1989. An announcement about the future of the scheme will be made as soon as possible.

  Industry (Productivity)
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's report on productivity in British industry up to July.

  Mr. Cope
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the British Venture Capital Association to discuss investment in small businesses.

  Mr. Cope
  I met Mr. John Nash, chairman of the British Venture Capital Association, when I opened the British Venture Capital Association financial forum on 1 December.

  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals to improve the skills of entrepreneurs running small businesses.

  Mr. Cope
  The White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" published by my right hon. Friend describes new arrangements for delivering training, including that for entrepreneurs, and for the small firms service. This will lead to closer co-ordination of counselling and training for small firms. They are closely related activities and both will benefit.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the new registrations for value added tax by small businesses in 1980 and 1987.

  Mr. Cope
  The figures for numbers of VAT-registered businesses, new registrations and deregistrations are as follows:

  Business registrations, deregistrations and stocks in the United Kingdom: 1980–87

  Thousand

  1980

  Stock at start of year

  1,289

  Registrations

  158

  Deregistrations

  142

  138

  1980

  Net change

  16

  Stock at end of year

  1,305

  Note: The pattern of registrations and deregistrations may have been affected by disturbances in the regular processing of register amendments because of industrial action in 1979.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many small firms were registered for value added tax on 31 December 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  It is estimated that approximately 1,513,000 businesses were registered for VAT on 31 December 1987, and that some 96 per cent. of these firms are small.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the director-general of the Institute of Directors to discuss the development of small businesses.

  Mr. Cope
  Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I meet the director-general of the Institute of Directors frequently.

  Older Workers
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to encourage employers to recruit older workers into jobs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend and I have emphasised through public media the need for employers to recognise fully the potential contribution of older workers, particularly in view of the declining numbers of young people, and we will continue to do so. Jobcentres, where appropriate, raise with employers the need for age restrictions in vacancies they notify. We will keep under review how best to put the message across.

  Enterprise Agencies
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many enterprise agencies are currently operating in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  We know of 427 local enterprise agencies operating in the United Kingdom. Of these, 387 are approved under provisions of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (previously under provisions of the Finance Act 1982), which allow business sector sponsors tax relief on their contributions to such bodies.

  Long-term Unemployment (London)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received following the publication of his Department's survey on long-term unemployed in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  I have not received any representations following the publication of the surveys of vacancies and longer-term unemployed people in London. The surveys reveal that although there are nearly 300,000 people unemployed in the capital there are also 150,000 vacancies and there is scope for a substantial reduction in unemployment.
  139
  At least a third of the vacancies on offer require no special qualifications or experience. But in any case many of London's longer-term unemployed have academic or vocational qualifications, including nearly one in 10 who have degrees. Many of them also have experience in management or skilled jobs. They therefore already have the background which employers are seeking.

  A quarter of the longer-term unemployed people interviewed had not looked for work in the last week. Furthermore, many of those who said they were actively looking for a job did not do so using the methods which employers use to fill vacancies.

  Some unemployed people in London clearly need the opportunity to retrain in up-to-date skills, and we now have employment training for them. But others need to look more intensively for the available jobs for which they are already well suited. The surveys also underline the importance of the measures the Government are taking to ensure that benefit is drawn only by those who are genuinely unemployed.

  Trade Union Officials
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of hours taken off work by trade union officials for union business in 1987–88.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Statistics on this subject are not collected. These matters are determined between employers and union officials within the legal framework provided.

  Portsmouth
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to visit Portsmouth in the near future.

  Mr. Fowler
  I have no plans to visit Portsmouth in the immediate future.

  Young People (Working Hours)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department has conducted research into the possible effects on the physical and mental health of 16-year-olds of working hours considerably in excess of 48 per week without properly regulated rest periods.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Department has not conducted any such research as there is no medical evidence to suggest that young people are less capable of working extended hours than adults.

  Tourism (Far East and Japan)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals to encourage visitors to the United Kingdom from the far east and Japan.

  Mr. Lee
  The far east and Japan are increasingly important tourism markets, and the British Tourist Authority has developed a number of marketing initiatives specifically to increase visitor numbers from these areas. There were some 320,000 visitors to the United Kingdom from the region in the first six months of 1988, an increase of 24 per cent. over the same period in 1987.

  Self-employment (Report)
  Mr. Richard Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received following the publication of the Training Commission's report on the self-employed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Women
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he takes to ensure that current Government policies will enable women in sufficient numbers to join the work force in the next decade.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has taken, and will continue to take, steps to enable women to join the work force through deregulatory measures which free women to compete equally with men for jobs; and positive action to help women obtain the necessary training for employment.

  Nearly 1·5 million more women joined the labour force in the five years to March 1988.

  In addition, all Government policies are now equal opportunity-proofed so that their effect on women can be assessed. My own Department has equal opportunity-proofed new policies and programmes since 1985.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received on the increase of employment of women following the publication of the Training Commission report 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government place great importance on the contribution that women can make to meeting skill needs in the Labour market. In developing its training programmes the Government has listened carefully to the advice it has received from numerous organisations with an interest in the economic development of women.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of disabled people of working age are employed; and what action he is taking to increase job opportunities for disabled people.

  Mr. Lee
  The latest information relating to disability and employment is that provided by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in the recently published report on the financial circumstances of disabled adults living in private households, based on a survey in 1985. The survey estimated that 31 per cent. of all people of working age, who met the definition of disability used in that survey, were in employment. However, the survey information published to date does not make it possible to establish the proportion of those not in employment who would have been available for work.

  For answer to the second part of the question I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe).

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals to further improve the employment opportunities for the disabled.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department maintains a comprehensive network of services to help people with disabilities find and
  141
  retain jobs through advice, assessment, rehabilitation and training; and in the case of people with severe disabilities, support in the form of sheltered employment. My officers are continuing to give all possible help through the application of these services and are doing so against a background of increasing employment opportunities. The range of services and help supported by my Department are the subject of an internal review, set up in March, work on which is now well advanced.

  Small Firms (Report)
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations has he received following the publication of the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Department of Employment and Training Commission report on small firms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  I am not aware of any representations following the representations following the report. The Public Accounts Committee took evidence on it on 14 November.

  Job Clubs
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of job clubs.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Martin) on Wednesday 30 November, at column 274.

  British Tourist Board (Annual Report)
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received in response to the publication of the 1987 British Tourist Board's annual report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  My right hon. Friend has not received any representations in response to the British Tourist Authority's annual report for 1987–88.

  Tourism
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's proportion of the world tourist market.

  Mr. Lee
  It is provisionally estimated that in 1987 receipts from international tourism in the United Kingdom accounted for about 7 per cent. of the world total.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has taken steps to assess the efficiency of the operation of the section 4 financial assistance for tourist projects of the Development of Tourism Act 1969; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The efficiency and effectivemess of the section 4 scheme is being examined as part of the review of tourism policy announced by my right hon. Friend on 18 July.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the contribution of overseas tourists to invisible earnings in 1987.
  142
  Mr. Lee
  Overseas tourists contributed £6·2 billion (8 per cent.) to total invisible earnings of £80 billion in 1987.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many tourists visited the United Kingdom in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  Overseas residents made an estimated 15·4 million visits to the United Kingdom in 1987.

  School Leavers (Statistics)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many summer 1988 school leavers have yet to find either employment or a place on the YTS.

  Mr. Cope
  This information is not available.

  Textile Operatives (Skill Levels)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress he is making in improving the level of skill of textile operatives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Textile employers have the responsibility for determining and meeting the skill and training needs of operatives in their industry. The training agency has a close working relationship with the textile industry training organisations and is supporting projects run by them to develop standards of competence and to improve the level of skill of textile operatives. It is also currently funding over 900 YTS places in textile manufacturing.

  I hope that employers will seize the opportunity which the Government's employment training programme affords them to improve recruitment and training in the industry.

  Training Commission.
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for the Training Commission.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made to the House yesterday in which he announced the publication of the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s"; and to the Employment Bill.

  Skill Shortages
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement about proposals to deal with skill shortages.

  Mr. Cope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the chapter on training in the White Paper "Employment in the 1990s," published by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State yesterday.

  TVEI
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the technical and vocational education initiative.

  Mr. Cope
  All education authorities in Great Britain are now participating in the technical and vocation initiative and 48 of them have begun to extend the
  143
  initiative to all their secondary schools and colleges. Students in some 1,400 schools and colleges are benefiting from the enriched curriculum provided by TVEI, and the education of virtually all 14 to 18-year-olds in Great Britain will become more relevant to working life as the extension programme develops within the overall framework of the Government's education policies.

  Dock Labour Scheme
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the future of the national dock labour scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government are fully aware of views expressed about the drawbacks of the scheme. However, as was made clear in the previous parliamentary Session there are no current plans to change its operation.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide additional resources for the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Yes. The gross supply provision for 1988–89 is £109 million and the previously planned provision for 1989–90 is £112 million. This will now be increased following the outcome of PES discussions, and consideration is being given as to the amount.

  YTS
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of two-year YTS.

  Mr. Cope
  At the end of October 1988 there were 435,200 young people training on YTS and, since the launch of YTS in 1983, 2 million young people have joined the scheme.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to improve the level of safety for YTS trainees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to improve the level of safety for YTS trainees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Health and safety remain of paramount importance in YTS. YTS is fully covered by health and safety legislation. There is a contractual requirement on all managing agents to comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act both in work placements and off-the-job training. In addition, positive commitment to health and safety is one of 10 criteria a training organisation now has to satisfy before achieving approved training organisation status.

  We have in hand improved safety training packages both for young people and trainers.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds have accepted training places in YTS.

  Mr. Cope
  At the end of October 1988 YTS records show 435,000 young people in training on YTS. A total of 252,000 young people entered YTS for the first time between 1 April 1988 and 31 October 1988—the majority of these entrants were 16 and 17-year-olds.
  144
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report figures to show the categories of training and numbers of trainees on each, undertaken by females on YTS schemes (a) nationally and (b) in Durham, North-West constituency.

  Mr. Cope
  At the end of October 1988 there were 169,500 females in training on YTS nationally. The occupational breakdown of these trainees is shown in the following table.

  Information is not available for trainees in Durham, North-West constituency. However information on the numbers of females in training by training occupation for the Training Agency Durham area is available, but not immediately to hand. I will write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Occupational breakdown of females on YTS schemes, 31 October 1988

  Occupations

  Number of females in training

  Administrative and clerical occupations

  56,500

  Creative and educational and recreational service occupations

  3,700

  Health, community and personal service occupations

  44,600

  Selling and storage occupations

  27,900

  Scientific occupations

  700

  Catering and food preparation and processing occupations

  8,400

  Agricultural and related occupations

  5,100

  Fishing occupations

  1

  Transport operating occupations

  500

  Construction and civil engineering occupations

  1,600

  Mining, oil extraction and quarrying occupations

  1

  Electrical and electronic engineering occupations

  700

  Mechanical engineering and metal production and processing occupations

  1,400

  Motor vehicle repair and maintenance occupations

  800

  Non-metal processing occupations

  900

  Printing occupations

  700

  Clothing and textiles manufacturing occupations

  10,200

  Security service occupations

  1

  Others

  5,700

  TOTAL

  169,500

  1 Less than 50 trainees.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the vacancy factor on YTS schemes(a) nationally, (b) in the northern region and (c) in the Durham, North-West constituency.

  Mr. Cope
  At 31 October there were around 120,000 YTS places unfilled nationally, about 7,000 in the northern region and 395 in the local authority districts of Derwentside and Wear valley. It is not possible to provide separate figures for the constituency of north-west Durham.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number and proportion of YTS trainees who are of black or Asian origin.

  Mr. Cope
  Of the 396,100 young people in training on YTS at 31 March 1988, the latest available date, the number of young people who identified themselves as of black or Asian origin was 10,966 (2·8 per cent.). Number and participant rates for ethnic minority trainees on employment training is not yet available.
  145
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number and proportion of YTS trainees who are female.

  Mr. Cope
  Of the 435,200 young people in training on YTS at 31 October, 169,500 (39 per cent.) were female.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of YTS participants in(a) the northern region, (b) Durham,

  Percentage of YTS leavers in full-time employment — northern region, County Durham and Great Britain figures

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Northern region

  Total number of leavers

  n/a

  127,000

  130,000

  125,000

  123,000

  Percentage of leavers in full-time employment

  n/a

  242

  240

  242

  246

  County Durham

  Total number of leavers

  n/a

  n/a

  3

  3

  3

  Percentage of leavers in full-time employment

  n/a

  n/a

  241

  243

  247

  Great Britain

  Total number of leavers

  128,000

  368,000

  418,000

  356,000

  324,000

  Percentage of leavers in full-time employment

  249

  255

  253

  256

  257

  1Estimated.

  2 Information extracted from 100 per cent. follow-up survey.

  3 Information not readily available.

  Note: County Durham figures relate to the Training Agency's Darlington Area, the best available approximation.

  EC (Labour Statistics)
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet his European Economic Community counterparts to discuss the levels of unemployment in the Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The next meeting of the Council of Employment Ministers will be on 16 December. The main agenda items are in the area of health and safety at work. We will, of course, be taking every opportunity to raise employment issues and the contribution that the single market can make to employment growth.

  Training Opportunities
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department will undertake a survey of the training opportunities for those who enter employment at the age of 16 years.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department will undertake a survey of the training opportunities for those who enter employment at the age of 16 years.

  Mr. Cope
  This Department already collects information from a variety of sources on the training opportunities for young people who enter employment at 16. The principal sources at national level are the surveys undertaken through the youth cohort study and specifically commissioned research into vocational training standards in particular occupations.

  The best local source of information is from the local authority careers service.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to increase the number of apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement.
  146
  North-West constituency and (c) nationally moved into full-time employment at the conclusion of their training for each of the last available five years.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available in the form requested. Results for leavers from the northern region, the county of Durham and Great Britain, where available, are shown in the attached table. A substantial number of the remainder go into full-time education or training (16 per cent. in the northern region 1987–88).

  Mr. Cope
  It is for employers primarily to ensure the level of apprenticeship training that their industry needs. The Government encourage them to adopt cost-effective practices, in particular training to standards instead of wasteful timeserving, and also make a substantial contribution to support apprenticeship training through YTS.

  The extension of YTS to a two-year scheme has increased the opportunities for all 16 and 17-year-old school leavers to benefit from the structured training and work experience previously only available to those undertaking formal apprenticeships.

  European Social Fund
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements his Department is making for applications to the European social fund as part of the reformed European structural funds; and what action he proposes to take in regard to consultations with local authorities in drawing up the plans to be submitted to Brussels by 30 June 1989.

  Mr. Cope
  The European Commission is currently consulting member states about how best to implement the objectives of the reformed structural funds, including the European social fund. In the light of these consultations my Department is considering the arrangements which will need to be made and guidance will be issued as soon as possible to all the parties concerned, including local authorities.

  Women (Technical Training Courses)
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals to increase the number of women school leavers who enter technical training courses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The Government give priority to ensuring that school-leavers have equal opportunities to enter
  147
  technician training or other training courses in Technical or Information technology subjects. The training agency policies reflect this, including YTS special women-only courses, reserved place schemes, Local action plans and new initial training arrangements to help young women to enter training which is unconventional to their gender.

  The technical and vocational education initiative which is not being extended across all education authorities will also enable girls aged 14 to 18 to experience technology, and encourage them to obtain skills and qualifications of more direct relevance to working life, while still at school or college.

  Short-stay and Tourist Breaks
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to encourage English cities to promote short-stay and tourist breaks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  As part of the Government's action for cities campaign, my Department is supporting the English Tourist Board's inner city initiative, whose aim is to encourage the development of inner-city tourism potential. The board has also supported the great English city breaks promotion, which has so far led to the sale of 75,700 bed-nights in the 14 cities involved.

  Strikes (Lost Days)
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many work days were lost through strikes in October 1978 and October 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The number of working days lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in October 1978 was 1,857,000. The most recently available figure relates to September 1988, for which it is provisionally estimated that 1,210,000 working days were lost; the October 1988 figure will be published on Thursday 15 December in the labour market statistics press notice.

  Tourism and Hospitality Projects
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current capital investment in new tourism and hospitality projects.

  Mr. Lee
  The English Tourist Board's tourism investment report shows total investment in construction projects with a capital value of over £500,000 for the period January to June 1988 amounted to £1,984 million. This represents an increase of 60 per cent. over the same period in 1987.

  Manufacturing (North-West)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in 1979 in manufacturing industry in the north west; and what is the comparable figure for the latest date available.

  Mr. Lee
  In September 1979 there were 970,000 employees in employment in manufacturing industry in the north-west region. In September 1988 the latest date for which regional figures are available, there were 601,000.

  Job Vacancies (London)
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of job vacancies in the Greater London area.

  Mr. Lee
  In October 1988 the number of unfilled vacancies registered at jobcentres in the Greater London region, seasonally adjusted, was 29,000. This figure does not include all vacancies in the economy. A survey conducted in June 1988 showed that there were around 150,000 vacancies in total in Greater London, around four and a half times the level of vacancies recorded at the jobcentres at that time.

  Redundancy Fund
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to enable employees of an insolvent business to obtain payments from the redundancy fund without first obtaining a certificate from the receiver or liquidator; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend has it in mind to amend the provisions so as to clarify the circumstances in which the Department may pay an employee direct without being obliged to seek first a statement of the amount due from the relevant officer. The proposal will be included in the forthcoming Employment Bill.

  Restart Interviews
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information has been sought by Peat Marwick McClintock, as advisers to the Department of Environment on housing action trusts in Lambeth, about facts disclosed in job restart interviews.

  Mr. Lee
  Peat Marwick McClintock sought general statistical information from the employment service about unemployed people living in proposed housing action trust areas. No individual details disclosed at restart interviews have been retained by the consultants.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been interviewed for the restart scheme at the latest available date.

  Mr. Lee
  Between 1 July 1986 and 28 October 1988, 4,814,000 restart interviews have taken place.

  Youth Training Allowance
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider increasing the youth training allowance.

  Mr. Cope
  The weekly allowance for first-year YTS trainees was increased to £29·50 in July 1988. There are no plans at present to further increase YTS allowances.

  Tourism (Review)
  Mr. Bevan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress he has made on his tourism review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The review team has seen a wide range of people in the tourism industry and received many written representations. I expect to receive its report at the end of the year.

  National Community Service
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce a programme of national community service.

  Mr. Cope
  We have no plans to introduce a programme of national community service. Community benefit is taken into account, where appropriate, in the choice of training projects under employment training.

  Training Commission
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the chairman of the Training Commission; and what subjects they discussed.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Ministers of this Department meet the chairman regularly to discuss the performance of the Training Agency's (formerly Training Commission) functions.

  Regional Cost of Living (Survey)
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received any representations following the publication of the Reward group's September survey on cost of living in the regions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  My right hon. Friend has received no representations.

  Disabled Workers
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to take to improve the job opportunities for registered disabled workers, following the recent report of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Mr. Lee
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe).

  The recently published information in the report by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, on the financial circumstances of disabled adults living in private households, does not provide sufficiently precise information about the employment needs of people with disabilities. My Department has recently commissioned a survey to provide such information, the results of which will be available in the second half of next year.

  Mr. Martin Davies (Compensation Claim)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the case of Mr. Martin Davies, of 14 March way, Coventry, and his claims for compensation against the Training Commission, then the Manpower Services Commission.

  Mr. Lee
  No. A full investigation into Mr. Davies's case was held by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in 1980. I am not aware of any developments since then which would warrant a further review of Mr. Davies's claims.

  Youth Statistics
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number and proportion of 150
  16 and 17-year-olds in (a) northern region and (b) Durham, North-West constituency who are currently (i) in full-time employment, (ii) on recognised training schemes and (iii) unemployed.

  Mr. Cope
  The number of young people in training on YTS in the northern region on 31 October, the latest available date, was 33,200 and in Derwentside and Wear valley (the nearest approximation to north-west Durham constituency) 952. Comparable information at that date for 16 and 17-year-olds in full-time employment is not available.

  There are now hardly any under 18-year-olds recorded as unemployed.

  Industry-linked Schemes
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the numbers of school students currently participating in school industry-linked compact schemes.

  Mr. Cope
  My Department is currently assisting partnerships of employers and education authorities in 30 inner-city areas to develop plans to establish compacts in 1989. Applications for operational funding are due to be submitted early in the new year. Until then it will not be possible to provide any estimate of the numbers of young people who will be participating.

  Household Income
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average weekly household income for(a) the United Kingdom as a whole, (b) the northern region and (c) Durham, North-West constituency for each of the last available five years.

  Mr. Lee
  Information on average weekly household income is available from the family expenditure survey, but estimates are not available below regional level. Also, because of the relatively small sample size, estimates for some regions, including the northern region, are based on two years' data.

  The figures for 1984–85 and 1985–86 are as follows:

  Gross normal average weekly household income

  1984–85 £

  1985–86 £

  United Kingdom

  207·06

  225·37

  Northern Region

  170·78

  187·72

  Because of the introduction of the housing benefit scheme in November 1982, figures for earlier years are not available on a comparable basis.

  West Midlands
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of unemployment in the west midlands.

  Mr. Lee
  In October 1988 seasonally adjusted unemployment in the west midlands region was 212,200, a fall of 61,400 over the last 12 months.

  Training Programme
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the estimated number of people
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  who have been transferred from the community programme to the employment training programme in (a) Great Britain, (b) Scotland, (c) the Lothian region and (d) Edinburgh.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 5 December]: No community programme participants have been transferred to employment training. However, most community programme participants are eligible to join employment training and many have chosen to take up the worthwhile training opportunities that are available.

  Young People (Derbyshire)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in Derbyshire are currently employed, unemployed and on YTS schemes.

  Mr. Cope
  The number of young people in training on YTS in Derbyshire on 2 December 1988, the latest available date, was 8,280. Comparable information at that date for the number of young people in full-time employment is not available.

  With the guarantee of the offer of a YTS place to all 16 and 17-year-olds who apply for one and who are not in full-time education or employment, there are now hardly any under 18-year-olds recorded as unemployed.

ENVIRONMENT

  Charitable Housing Associations
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has consulted the Charity Commission about the vires of charitable housing associations entering into mixed funding schemes and taking over council housing under the provisions of the Housing Act 1988.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department is in regular contact with the Charity Commission. The precise form in which the objects of charitable housing associations are expressed varies, and the compatibility of any particular proposed action with those objects will depend on all the circumstances of the case.

  Council Houses (Devon)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much cash received by district councils from the sale of council housing is at present frozen(a) in total and (b) within each district council of Devon.

  Mr. Trippier
  Under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, a local authority may in any year use 20 per cent. of its accumulated and in-year receipts from the sale of council houses for prescribed expenditure as defined by schedule 12 to the Act and regulations made under it. It may also at its discretion use receipts to redeem debt or to finance expenditure which is not prescribed expenditure but which is properly chargeable to capital account.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much has been allocated by the Housing Corporation to individual Merseyside housing 152
  associations for adaptations to properties tenanted by disabled people; if he will list the associations' bids; and what were the comparable figures for 1987–88;

  (2) how much the Housing Corporation has allocated throughout the United Kingdom for adaptations for the disabled; and what were the comparable figures for 1987–88.

  Mr. Trippier
  This information is not held by the Department. The Housing Corporation is responsible for allocating its capital programme for grants and loans to individual housing associations and types of scheme within the broad framework agreed annually with Ministers. I have therefore asked the chairman of the corporation to provide the information requested to the hon. Member direct.

  House of Commons (Lighting)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of illumination was recorded from the pre-1941 lighting in the Chamber of the House; and what are the current levels.

  Mr. Chope
  I have no information pre-1941.

  For details of the current levels I refer the hon. Member to the answer to his question of 1 December at column 362.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the effects on PRC house reinstatements of the move to disallow for tax relief interest payments on mortgages required for loans to carry out reinstatements.

  Mr. Trippier
  We have received very few representations urging the removal of mortgage tax relief on loans where designated PRC houses are being reinstated. Decisions on changes to the tax system are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Housing Subsidies
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost to the Treasury of housing subsidies to local authorities in each of the last nine years.

  Mr. Trippier
  The annual cost of housing subsidies from 1979–80 onwards can be found in successive White Papers beginning with "The Government's Expenditure Plans, 1985–86 to 1987–88".

  Housing Co-operatives (Review)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how far the review of housing co-operatives has progressed; whether in this review, he is taking special notice of the needs of ethnic minorities; and whether he will be initiating legislation to give recognition to co-operative tenure.

  Mr. Trippier
  The co-ops review is making good progress. Its remit is to look at all aspects of co-op promotion and support, and it is currently addressing the many issues raised in the written responses received from co-ops and other interested parties, including those mentioned by the hon. Member.

  English House Conditions Survey
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the reasons for the delay in the publication of the 1986 English house conditions survey; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The report was produced as soon as the analysis was complete.

  Vacant Council Houses
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if his figure for national council house vacancies included the number of houses vacant due to major repairs and modernisation;

  (2) how he calculates the length of time council house vacancies exist; and how average figures for this are calculated.

  Mr. Trippier
  Local authorities report the number of council-owned dwellings empty at 1 April in their annual housing investment programme returns. They also provide a breakdown of this total according to the length of time that the dwellings have been empty (six months or less, over six months up to one year, over one year up to two years, and over two years) and the reasons why, including the number which are awaiting or undergoing major works of repair or modernisation.

  The Department is currently undertaking a more detailed survey of empty local authority dwellings at 1 October 1988, which will also include information about the types of dwellings which are empty, and the average time dwellings let between 1 April and 30 September 1988 were empty.

  Council of Environment Ministers
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions he has personally attended the European Economic Community Council of Environment Ministers.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have delegated the leadership of the United Kingdom delegation to this Council to the Minister responsible for the environment, currently my noble Friend the Minister for Housing, Environment and Countryside and previously my noble Friend the Minister for the Environment, Countryside and Water, and the Minister for the Environment, Countryside and Planning. They have all performed with outstanding success.

  Planning Application, Torquay
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether English Heritage has been informed of the planning application for housing development at Steps Cross Field, Torquay (SX9167).

  Mr. Chope
  Yes. This is not a matter before the Secretary of State but I understand that Devon county council notified English Heritage of this application.

  VAT
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made as to the likely effect on(a) his Department's capital building programme and (b) the rent the Department will pay under
  154
  occupational leases, of implementation of the European Court of Justice's judgment on value added tax on non domestic buildings.

  Mr. Ridley
  Implementation of the European Court of Justice's judgment on VAT will have no effect on my Department's capital building programme, since compensating adjustments have been made to the relevant expenditure provisions. At this stage, before landlords have decided whether to exercise their option to tax rents, it is not possible to offer meaningful estimates of the effects of the judgment on rental costs.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Allen Mckay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to bring in regulations to provide for his Department or any other Government Department to deliver to each household an estimate of the amount of poll tax to be paid by that household.

  Mr. Gummer
  No. But there will of course be regulations to enable the charging authority to provide each person liable to pay the community charge with details of the amount due and the payment arrangements.

  Calderdale (Homelessness)
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he intends to take to avoid further homelessness in Calderdale; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 1 December 1988]: A review of legislation relating to the subject of homelessness is under way. It is not possible to say when the review will be complete, but efforts are being made to bring it to a speedy conclusion. The Secretary of State has no plans to make a statement at present.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what circumstances a local authority withholds any moneys approved by him under the urban programme; and what action he will take to ensure that moneys approved by him under the urban programme are paid within a reasonable period.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 28 November 1988]: Urban programme grant from my Department reimburses a local authority for expenditure it has incurred on approved urban programme projects. It is therefore the authority's decision whether to fund a new urban programme project, once it has been approved by my Department. I would normally expect a local authority to continue to pay urban programme moneys for an ongoing approved project provided it was satisfied that the moneys are being properly spent.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State far the Environment if he will set out the number of appeals against right-to-buy valuations made in each London borough during the current financial year, indicating the numbers upheld by the district valuer.
  155
  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 5 December 1988]: The latest available information (at 1 December 1988) is as follows:

  Appeals made to the district valuer

  Valuations provided to date by the district valuer

  Original valuations upheld

  Barking and Dagenham

  53

  24

  6

  Barnet

  39

  18

  12

  Bexley

  3

  Nil

  Nil

  Brent

  27

  19

  5

  Camden

  197

  167

  19

  Croydon

  29

  18

  8

  Ealing

  1

  1

  1

  Enfield

  4

  4

  1

  Greenwich

  216

  169

  2

  Hackney

  30

  12

  5

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  26

  24

  6

  Haringey

  22

  20

  4

  Harrow

  4

  3

  3

  Havering

  31

  12

  3

  Hillingdon

  17

  14

  6

  Hounslow

  54

  44

  10

  Islington

  190

  169

  95

  Kensington and Chelsea

  8

  7

  4

  Kingston

  3

  2

  1

  Lambeth

  34

  21

  3

  Lewisham

  42

  21

  3

  Merton

  10

  11

  9

  Newham

  15

  12

  8

  Redbridge

  12

  6

  Nil

  Richmond

  42

  28

  19

  Southwark

  86

  77

  1

  Sutton

  16

  15

  Nil

  Tower Hamlets

  140

  120

  42

  Waltham Forest

  37

  26

  4

  Wandsworth

  61

  43

  22

  Westminister

  64

  35

  18

  City of London

  7

  6

  Nil

  Note: The figures for Lewisham include those for Bromley.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is to happen to sewage agency agreements between local authorities and present water authorities following privatisation of the water industry.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Paragraph 15 of schedule 23 to the Water Bill provides that existing sewerage agency agreements between water authorities and local authorities will continue to have effect after the privatisation of the water authorities. The agreements will be terminable by either party giving reasonable notice to the other. However, sewerage undertakers will not be able to give notice which expires before 1 April 1992. If agencies are terminated then local authority staff engaged on the sewerage work will be protected by the termination provisions in existing agreements.

  CFCs
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to change the arrangements for recovering CFCs from scrap refrigeration equipment: and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Officials of the Department of the Environment and of the Department of Trade and Industry are discussing with representatives of the refrigeration and rigid foam industries and of the CFC manufacturers possibilities for recovery of CFCs from scrap refrigeration equipment and their subsequent recycling or destruction with a view to developing advice on the matter. There are at present a number of economic, technical and logistical problems to overcome.

  WAR CRIMES ALLEGATIONS: INQUIRIES
  WAR CRIMES ALLEGATIONS: INQUIRIES
  BRAILLE UNITS IN THE PRISON SERVICE
  BRAILLE UNITS IN THE PRISON SERVICE
  BOMBING CASES: REPRESENTATIONS
  BOMBING CASES: REPRESENTATIONS
  NATURAL MEDICINES COMMITTEE
  NATURAL MEDICINES COMMITTEE
  ROYAL LONDON HOMOEOPATHIC HOSPITAL
  ROYAL LONDON HOMOEOPATHIC HOSPITAL
  HOMOEOPATHY: EUROPE
  HOMOEOPATHY: EUROPE
  THE HOMELESS: GP SCHEMES
  THE HOMELESS: GP SCHEMES
  SINGLE HOMELESS PEOPLE
  SINGLE HOMELESS PEOPLE
  AIDS: SECTION 1 REPORTS
  AIDS: SECTION 1 REPORTS
  DIOXINS: POSSIBLE HEALTH HAZARDS
  DIOXINS: POSSIBLE HEALTH HAZARDS
  AGRICULTURE: ANNUAL REVIEW
  AGRICULTURE: ANNUAL REVIEW
  SALMON DEALER LICENSING PROPOSALS
  SALMON DEALER LICENSING PROPOSALS
  ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS: PRIVATE BILL PROCEDURE
  ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS: PRIVATE BILL PROCEDURE
  PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND NATURE CONSERVATION
  PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND NATURE CONSERVATION
  RECYCLED PAPER: USE IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
  RECYCLED PAPER: USE IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
  YOUTH TRAINING COUNCIL
  YOUTH TRAINING COUNCIL
  ISLE OF WIGHT: A.3055 MILITARY ROAD
  ISLE OF WIGHT: A.3055 MILITARY ROAD