Written Answers of 16 December 1988

WALES

  Nurses (Grading)
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many nursing and midwifery staff from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the clinical grading structure in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Sir R. Gower) on 30 November at columns 244-46 and on 1 December at columns 349-50.

  Public expenditure on grants and subsidies payable in Wales under the CAP1 (£ million; calendar year unless indicated otherwise)

  Total

  Against which receipts from EAGGF

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  (Per cent. EAGGF reimbursement 19872)

  Hill livestock compensatory allowances

  23·8

  23·9

  25·4

  28·7

  28·9

  10·8

  5·7

  —

  5·6

  6·0

  25

  Suckler cow premium scheme

  2·1

  3·4

  3·6

  3·9

  4·8

  1·6

  1·3

  1·4

  1·5

  2·4

  50

  Non-marketing of milk and conversion scheme

  1·4

  0·8

  0·4

  —

  Scheme terminated

  1·4

  0·8

  0·4

  —

  —

  100

  Sheep annual premium scheme

  5·0

  26·3

  26·8

  31·2

  28·3

  5·0

  26·3

  26·8

  31·2

  28·3

  100

  School milk subsidy

  0·7

  0·8

  0·6

  0·4

  0·4

  0·6

  0·5

  0·8

  0·9

  1·0

  100

  Farm capital grants scheme (EC element)

  15·4

  14·6

  9·8

  9·1

  9·1

  4·9

  —

  3·2

  5·0

  1·7

  25

  Marketing and processing improvement grants3

  0·8

  0·7

  0·9

  0·3

  0·2

  0·8

  0·7

  0·9

  0·2

  0·1

  25

  Beef premium scheme

  4·5

  5·0

  5·0

  5·0

  3·7

  4·9

  4·7

  5·0

  5·3

  5·7

  40

  Sheep variable premium scheme

  28·2

  22·4

  21·3

  23·3

  17·3

  30·3

  21·4

  21·0

  21·0

  21·4

  100

  Common fisheries policy awards3

  —

  0·5

  0·2

  0·7

  0·1

  0·4

  0·1

  0·2

  0·8

  0·4

  25

  Milk supplementary levy (Outgoers) scheme

  —

  0·1

  0·6

  0·8

  0·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·1

  100

  TOTALS4

  81·9

  98·5

  94·6

  103·3

  93·5

  1 Excludes expenditure by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce on market regulation under the CAP because separate figures are not available for Wales.

  2 The figures shown for reimbursements from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) may not correspond exactly to these percentages because of lags between expenditues and reimbursement from EAGGF. The percentage rates of reimbursement have also changed over time for some schemes.

  3 Awards from EAGGF under these schemes arc made up to a maximum cif 25 per cent. For both these schemes and the beef premium scheme the figures shown for EAGGF reimbursement are on a financial year basis.

  4 Total EAGGF reimbursements arc not shown because figures for the individual schemes arc based on financial and calendar years.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total amount of European regional development fund moneys allocated to Wales in each of the years 1983 to 1987, inclusive, broken down by county areas.

  European regional development fund (1983 to 1987) commmitments (net)1

  County

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Total 1983–1987

  Clwyd

  9,658,852

  4,293,245

  18,312,315

  19,155,531

  10,204,739

  61,624,682

  Dyfed

  3,393,893

  3,922,841

  14,417,924

  2,730,857

  4,285,535

  28,751,050

  Gwent

  10,341,870

  7,679,511

  2,927,907

  10,020,199

  17,408,377

  48,377,864

  Gwynedd

  1,664,076

  1,305,972

  3,773,701

  4,102,332

  1,247,940

  12,094,021

  Mid Glamorgan

  5,828,655

  18,455,007

  3,733,570

  3,639,302

  24,769,400

  36,425,934

  Powys

  -5,139

  1,413,387

  1,328,249

  693,832

  74,161

  3,504,490

  South Glamorgan

  6,438,275

  22,712,497

  2,136,124

  1,755,475

  14,541,500

  47,583,871

  West Glamorgan

  6,894,318

  2,179,691

  8,318,214

  2,432,747

  5,256,395

  25,081,365

  Other3

  914,298

  1,050,000

  —

  5,167,911

  —

  7,132,209

  TOTAL

  45,129,098

  63,012,151

  54,948,004

  49,698,186

  57,788,047

  270,575,486

  1 Commitment figures are shown net of grants which have been decommitted.

  2 Includes £3,930,400 drawn down for schemes within the Mid Glamorgan programme.

  3 Commitments that cannot be disaggregated to a county level.

  Haverfordwest Bypass
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when work on the Haverfordwest eastern bypass is to commence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The road programme for Wales is presently under review. Details of individual schemes will be given in "Roads in Wales", to be published in the new year.

  Economic Assistance
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total amount of agricultural guidance and guarantee fund moneys allocated to Wales in each of the years 1983 to 1987, inclusive, and for each assisted area or function so designated to receive such funds.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information is as follows:

  Mr. Peter Walker
  European regional development fund commitments to Wales since 1983 have amounted to more than £270 million. The county breakdown is shown in the following table:
  739
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total amount of loans made to Wales by the European investment bank; and to whom they were given in each of the years 1983 to 1987, inclusive.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The annual breakdown of loans provided to Wales between 1983 and 1987 by the European investment bank is as follows:

  £ million

  1983

  23·1

  1984

  13·2

  1985

  47·1

  1986

  25·3

  1987

  31·7

  Details of individual loans are listed in the bank's annual reports for the years in question.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the geographical areas or functions in Wales which are eligible for moneys from(a) the European regional development fund, (b) the social fund, (c) agricultural guidance and guarantee fund and (d) the European investment bank.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Eligibility for each of the four sources of finance is as follows:

  (a) European regional development fund—Grants are available to local and public authorities for the promotion of regional development projects and programmes undertaken in the assisted areas and in the area covered by Mid Wales Development;

  (b) European social fund—Assistance is available throughout Wales including the following areas to which the Commission accords priority:

  Clwyd, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, West Glamorgan and the Llanelli travel-to-work area;

  (c) Agricultural guidance and guarantee fund—Assistance under the individual grant schemes is available throughout Wales except for the environmentally sensitive areas grant which is limited to the Lleyn peninsula and the Cambrian mountains, and the hill and livestock compensatory allowances which are limited to the designated less favoured areas;

  (d) The European investment bank—Loans are available to public and private sector borrowers throughout Wales.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice his Department is giving to parents who wish their children's school to be exempted from the requirement to include Welsh as a foundation subject from September 1990.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I would advise parents who are interested in the position of Welsh in their children's school to read the interim report of the national curriculum Welsh working group and to let the working group know their views. When we have received the final report of the working group—due at the end of April 1989—the Government will publish proposals on which there will be wide-ranging consultation. Until then it would be premature to consider cases where it might be appropriate for schools to be exempted. I hope that the working group's report will be widely acceptable and will minimise the need for exemptions.

  Housing (Expenditure)
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how expenditure which needs to be incurred by housing for Wales between now and 31 March 1989 is to be met.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Housing for Wales has been established under powers contained in the Housing Act 1988. Parliamentary approval of expenditure on this new service will be sought in a supplementary Supply Estimate for the "Tourism, roads and transport, housing, other environmental services (including civil defence), education and science, arts and libraries, and health and personal social services, Wales" vote. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £106,000 will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

TRANSPORT

  Minibus Drivers
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that drivers of mini-buses for voluntary organisations, charitable organisations and community transport organisations will be exempted from the provisions of the European Community directive on driver licensing harmonisation.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There is no justification for tougher controls on minibus drivers. Statistics show that minibuses are at least as safe as cars.

  Public consultations confirmed that the EC proposals would cause serious problems for voluntary and community transport organisations. The groups that they serve would suffer as a result.

  We want to support a modified directive. We want to maintain and enhance safety. We want to maintain and enhance mobility for special needs groups and common interest groups. We do not want statutory additional driving and medical tests for non-commercial drivers of minibuses.

  The United Kingdom has wide experience in safe mobility for the handicapped. We aim to share our approach with others. We aim to achieve the modification needed so that each country may choose to develop safe services like ours.

  Clapham Junction (Disaster Fund)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give further details of the Government's contribution to the disaster fund set up by the London borough of Wandsworth for the victims of the Clapham junction railway accident and their families.

  Mr. Channon
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House yesterday, the Government will be making a contribution of £250,000 to the Clapham junction disaster fund. I very much hope that the Government's example will encourage others to join in helping the bereaved and those who suffered in the accident. Neither the fund nor the Government's donation to it will affect claims for compensation.

  Parliamentary approval for this payment will be sought in a supplementary Supply Estimate for the administration and transport services vote. Pending that approval, the

  741
  £250,000 donation will be met by a repayable advance from the contingencies fund. As savings have occurred in class VIII, 2, there will be no increase in the public expenditure planning total.

  Rail Closures
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chairman of British Rail on the status of British Rail's plans to close 36 lines, including the Swansea to Milford Haven line; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I see no need to call for a report. The 36 lines referred to in an article in The Guardian newspaper concern a review of engineering costs by BR's freight business; they are not a list of planned closures for passenger services.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of trainees in companies, employing 100 or more YTS trainees, in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the east midlands region and (c) Leicestershire, are from (i) the Afro-Caribbean community, (ii) the Asian community and (iii) ethnic minorities in general.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available in the form requested. Percentages of YTS trainees from Afro-Caribbean, Asian and all ethnic minorities in employer-led schemes are given in the table.

  Percentages of YTS trainees stating their ethnic origin as being from Afro-Caribbean, Asian and all ethnic minorities in employer-led schemes at 31 March 1988.

  Afro-Caribbean Per cent.

  Asian Per cent.

  Total ethnic minorities Per cent.

  Great Britain

  1·1

  1·1

  2·6

  East midlands

  0·8

  1·0

  2·3

  Leicester

  1·1

  2·4

  4·4

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many local authorities are co-operating with employment training; and how many authorities and other public employers are known to the Training Agency to be boycotting employment training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Contracts have been signed with 55 local authorities to be training agents and with 176 local authorities to be training managers. In addition, many other local authorities are involved as members of consortia or as subcontractors to training managers. We are aware of a small number of local authorities which are boycotting the programme or campaigning against it.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion and number of trainees on employment training had either been offered or undertaken work placements by early December.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to his earlier question on 28 November at column 114.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what effect the decision by a number of 742
  Labour-controlled local authorities to boycott employment training has had on (a) the number of work placements available to trainees and (b) the overall quality of the programme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The opposition to employment training by some Labour-controlled local authorities has had no long-term effect on the number of training places available to trainees and has not impeded the development of good quality training.

  However, the opposition to employment training by a small number of local authorities has in some cases unncessarily restricted opportunities for training, particularly in some inner city areas where co-operation by local authority is important in helping to secure access to suitable premises for training activities. I very much regret that in a small number of such cases the deplorable attitude of Labour local authorities is making it more difficult than necessary for long term unemployed people to undertake the quality training they need and want to get back into a job.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what proportion of registered disabled people who have received career development loans have gained employment within three months of completion of the training course funded by the loan;

  (2) how many registered disabled people have taken up career development loans since their introduction.

  Mr. Lee
  Career development loans were launched nationally in July. An in-depth survey next year will provide information about participants which is not sought on the application form, including whether the individual is registered as disabled. The survey will also cover employment after completing training with a loan.

  Overseas Visitors
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of overseas visitors enter the United Kingdom by(a) plane and (b) ship; and in (i) the latest available annual period, and (ii) 10 years previously.

  Mr. Lee
  The information readily available from the international passenger survey relates to the mode of transport used by overseas visitors when leaving the United Kingdom rather than when arriving. During 1987, 66 per cent. of overseas visitors left the United Kingdom by air and 34 per cent. left by sea. The equivalent figures for 1977 were 59 per cent. and 41 per cent.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees are in employment by industry in(a) non-metropolitan areas and (b) rural areas giving the figures by region and by county for 1979 and the most recent year available.

  Mr. Lee
  Information on employees in employment classified by non-metropolitan and rural areas is not available.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give long and short-term unemployment rates in rural areas for 1979 and 1987.
  743
  Mr. Lee
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  Earnings
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give average gross hourly earnings for males and females in(a) non-metropolitan and (b) rural areas in 1979 and 1987.

  Mr. Lee
  The available information is published in table 110 for males, and table 113 for females, of part E of the reports on the new earnings surveys for 1979 and 1987. Copies of the reports are in the Library.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Civil Service Manpower
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if copies of the Treasury report on Civil Service manpower changes in 1987–88 will be made available to hon. Members.

  Mr. Major
  Yes. The report for 1987–88 has been passed to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee today and copies placed in the Library of the House.

  EEC
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Lawson
  The ECOFIN Council met in Brussels on 12 December. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council agreed in principle on two own resources implementing regulations, successors to 2891/77 and 2892/77, and agreed on declarations to cover arrangements after 31 December until the new regulations are formally adopted.

  The Council agreed the Commission's annual economic report for 1988–89 as amended in discussion with member states.

  The Council reached a common position on the draft directive on own funds of credit institutions and on the draft directive on public offer prospectuses.

  The Council agreed that the Commission's proposals for the abolition of fiscal frontiers need further study by the new Commission and the Council.

  The Council agreed a two-year extension modifying a Danish derogation on traveller's allowances.

  The Council agreed on proposed increases in the limits on travellers' allowances and tax relief for small consignments within the Community.

  The Council heard a proposal from the Commission for a further instalment of the New Community Instrument (NIC V).

  Court of Auditors
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which body within the Community has the responsibility for pursuing the reports made by the Court of Auditors; and what action was taken on the report by the Court that 19 million lire of Community funds were spent on financing the delivery of non-existent fruit juice to NATO in Palermo by the Mafia-connected firm.
  744
  Mr. Brooke
  The court's annual report is discussed chapter by chapter by the Council's budget committee, which formulates a draft council recommendation for discharge of the accounts to which the report relates. Under article 206(b) of the treaty of Rome, the European Parliament has the final responsibility for deciding whether or not to grant the discharge.

  I am looking into the specific issue referred to in the second part of the question and will let my hon. Friend have an answer as soon as possible.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the report of the Court of Auditors published on 13 December.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Government will consider the court's report in detail, preparatory to a chapter by chapter examination of its findings by the Council's budget committee. In line with established practice, the House of Commons will have an opportunity to debate the report before it is considered by the Economic and Finance Council.

  Interest Rates
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out figures showing his estimates of:(a) how many families with children have lost more as a result of increased interest rates than they gained as a result of the Budget tax cuts, (b) the amounts by which they are worse off and (c) the income groups worst affected.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 29 November 1988]: I regret the delay in replying.

  Out of some 6·9 million families with children, the number whose income tax and mortgage interest payments during 1988–89 are likely to exceed the payments which would have been made if the tax rates, allowances and average mortgage interest rates in force in 1987–88 had applied is estimated to be about 570,000. The table shows a breakdown by total income and also the average difference in tax and interest payments.

  Total income £

  Number of families with children paying more in tax and interest at 1988–89 rates1 (thousands)

  Average extra payment £

  Up to £5,000

  225

  85

  £5,000 to £10,000

  220

  100

  Over £10,000

  125

  60

  TOTAL

  570

  85

  1 Assumes that current mortgage rates remain unchanged for the rest of the financial year.

  Most of these 570,000 families are likely to be in receipt of a pay increase which comfortably exceeds the extra payment that they will make, quite apart from any extra income from higher interest on savings.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Oil
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what factors he attributes the fall from
  745
  £1,063 million in the period August to October 1987 to £393 million in the period August to October 1988 in the United Kingdom's trade in oil.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I have been asked to reply.

  The biggest single factor explaining the change in the United Kingdom trade balance in oil over the period was the significant fall in crude prices, which reflects a weakening in the world oil market.

  In addition, oil production is provisionally estimated to have fallen by around 14 per cent. between the two periods—a significant part of which is due to the loss in output from fields affected by the Piper accident. Domestic oil consumption has also increased.

  Non-Life Insurance
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why the non-life insurance directive to operate in 1992 and later years does not include provisions for freedom of trade in mass risks; and if he will explain the purpose of the Cumul rule included in the directive.

  Mr. Maude
  The non-life insurance services directive, which will enter into force in July 1990, lays down procedures for the conduct of business on a services basis for both large and mass risks. A majority of member states considered that for mass risks it should be open to them to impose measures needed in their view to protect consumers. The distinctions between mass and large risks was endorsed by the European Court of Justice judgments in December 1986 on certain insurance cases. The purpose of the Cumul rule is to assist these member states with the regulation of mass risks.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Gloucestershire Regiment (Official Visits)
  Mr. Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many visits he or Ministers and officials in his Department paid to the Gloucestershire regiment at Bally Kelly, Northern Ireland, during the past 12 months.

  Mr. Tom King
  None.

  Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motor cars have been stolen from the grounds of the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, in the past 12 months; how many of those cars were recovered intact; how many were recovered damaged; how many were not recovered; and what measures he will take to improve security for staff and visitors' vehicles within the grounds of this hospital.

  Mr. Needham
  A total of 238 cars were stolen from the grounds of the Royal Victoria hospital between 15 January 1988 and 7 December 1988; 23 were recovered intact, 195 were recovered damaged and 20 have not been recovered.

  Security at the Royal Victoria hospital site is primarily the responsibility of the eastern health and social services board which, I understand, recently spent £400,000 on security measures recommended by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The board is seeking at present to identify what additional steps can reasonably be taken to improve security.

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the information he has readily available on the accountancy firms which have submitted business plans or proposals in each of the last three years to the local employment development unit and the industrial development board on behalf of clients.

  Mr. Viggers
  Although most applicants to the industrial development board and the local enterprise development unit for selective financial assistance are supported by business plans, these are not necessarily prepared by accountancy firms. Information on the authors of business plans for the approximately 2,900 applications received by IDB and LEDU over the last three financial years is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual applications.

  Health Visitors (Grading)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the effect of the new grading structure on health visitors in Northern Ireland and upon individual health visitors.

  Mr. Needham
  As a result of the clinical grading review, 98·9 per cent. of health visitors in Northern Ireland were placed on scale G and are now on salary scales 13·7 per cent. to 19·1 per cent. higher than those applying prior to the review. 1·1 per cent. of health visitors were placed on scale H are are now on salaries 25·3 per cent. to 33·2 per cent. higher than before.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the guidance issued to health boards by his Department as to how they should determine gradings for health visitors and any further advice he has issued.

  Mr. Needham
  Guidance on the grading of health visitors is contained within the management guidance issued to health and social services boards in the departmental circular HSS(TC5)3/88, copies of which are available in the Library. No other advice relating specifically to the grading of health visitors has been issued.

  Secondary Schools
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate pupil numbers and expenditure for each of Northern Ireland's secondary schools in the past three school years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  RUC (Statistics)
  Mr. Ken Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the number of officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary serving in Northern Ireland in each year from 1969 to the current date.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 15 December 1988]: The information is as follows:

  747

  Strength of the Royal Ulster Constabulary

  Royal Ulster constabulary

  Royal Ulster constabulary reserve (full time)

  Royal Ulster constabulary reserve (part time)

  31 December

  1969

  3,044

  —

  —

  1970

  3,809

  —

  578

  1971

  4,086

  —

  1,284

  1972

  4,257

  153

  1,981

  1973

  4,391

  290

  2,224

  1974

  4,565

  510

  3,350

  1975

  4,902

  661

  4,158

  1976

  5,253

  870

  3,827

  1977

  5,692

  1,002

  3,684

  1978

  6,110

  1,188

  3,417

  1979

  6,614

  1,305

  3,209

  1980

  6,935

  1,685

  3,067

  1981

  7,334

  2,060

  2,810

  1982

  7,718

  2,173

  2,666

  1983

  8,003

  2,294

  2,198

  1984

  8,127

  2,533

  1,907

  1985

  8,259

  2,755

  1,753

  1986

  8,234

  2,753

  1,659

  1987

  8,236

  2,987

  1,657

  30 November

  1988

  8,245

  3,000

  1,666

  Robert McConnell
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, in the light of the undertaking given in the reply to the hon. Member for Brent, East on 23 May,Official Report, column 35 on firearms, he will look into the case of Robert McConnell, convicted for the murder of John Turnley at Belfast Crown Court in June 1982.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 15 December 1988]: The murder of Mr. Turnley has been fully investigated by the RUC. In the absence of any new evidence, there are no plans for the case to be reopened.

  Police and Criminal Evidence Act
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to seek to extend the Police and Criminal Evidence Act to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  [holding answer 15 December 1988]: A proposal for a draft Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order was published on 20 July 1988, and distributed widely to political parties both here and in Northern Ireland and to a number of other interested groups and individuals.

  We are presently assessing all the responses that we have received. After considering these, we intend to finalise the contents of the order and lay it before Parliament early in the new year.

  Dromara Police Station
  Mr. Molyneaux
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will ensure that Dromara police station will not be disposed of before 30 June 1989.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 8 December 1988]: Operational matters concerning the Royal Ulster Constabulary are the responsibility of the chief constable, but I understand that no decision has yet been taken regarding the disposal of Dromara police station.
  748
  Mr. Molyneaux
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will give the financial savings resulting from the closure of Dromara police station, including a breakdown of the sum in terms of wages and running costs.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 8 December 1988]: Operational matters concerning the Royal Ulster Constabulary are the responsibility of the chief constable. I understand, however, that the decision to redeploy the police personnel from Dromara police station was one of several measures recently announced by the chief constable to support and maintain the current thrust of police operations against terrorist activities rather than produce actual financial savings. The savings resulting from the closure of Dromara police station would therefore be limited to running costs.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  North Atlantic Assembly
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last attended a meeting of the North Atlantic Assembly.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has never attended a meeting of the North Atlantic Assembly in plenary session.

  Kampuchea
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any progress is being made to find an international solution to the problems of Kampuchea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  While a number of difficult issues remain to be solved, progress is being made in talks between the Cambodian factions, through the "JIM" process initiated by the Jakarta informal meeting in July, in which the countries of south east Asia also participate, at the United Nations, and in bilateral meetings between those most concerned.

  Visas
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Hobbein Zaminpour, reference 885675/704 and Mr. Mortela Faghih of the National Petroleum Company of Iran applied to the United Kingdom post in Geneva for permission to visit the United Kingdom to purchase equipment; and when decisions are likely to be made on their applications.

  Mr. Eggar
  Mr. Zaminpour and Mr. Faghih applied on 8 December and 14 December respectively at the British consulate-general in Geneva for business visit visas. After personal interview, which is an essential part of our entry clearance procedure, both applications were referred to London for decision. Authority to issue visas was sent to Geneva today.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the National Petroleum Company of Iran's office in London about delays experienced by
  749
  members of their staff at present in Geneva in coming to the United Kingdom to purchase equipment in consequence of delays in securing interviews at the United Kingdom post to discuss visa applications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Correspondence
  Sir Barney Hayhoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the right hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth may expect the reply, hastened four weeks ago, to his letter of 18 August originally addressed to the Secretary of State for Defence, and transferred by him on 22 August.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State replied to the right hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth's letter today (16 December).

ENERGY

  Plutonium
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the total annual sales of safeguarded plutonium to the United States of America for each year since the end of December 1982.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Total sales of safeguarded plutonium to the United States since the end of December 1982 have amounted to significantly less than one gram. Transfers of plutonium under the fast reactor collaborative programme announced by the UKAEA in 1979 were covered in my reply to the hon. Member on 14 December 1988 at column 582.

  Laser Isotope Separation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on progress made by research sponsored by his Department through the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority or British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. on laser isotope separation (LIS); for how long, and with what financial resources for the research and development, the laser isotope separation programme has continued; and what specific attention has been paid to safeguarding laser isotope separation technology in conjunction with the International Atomic Energy Agency and Euratom.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Laser isotope separation studies have been proceeding for some years in the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and British Nuclear Fuels plc, but it is too early to quantify progress towards a competitive commercial system. It is also too early to formulate specific safeguards measures since these measures will depend on the physical feature of the production unit.

  Private Sector Power Stations
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many projects there are of which he has knowledge for power stations to be built by the private sector; and if he will outline(a) the average capacity per plant, (b) whether any station exceeds 1,000MW and (c) the aggregated capacity involved.
  750
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  We already know of nearly 20 proposed independent generation projects, with a total capacity of some 7 gigawatts. Specific details of individual projects are commercial-in-confidence until the companies announce them.

ENVIRONMENT

  Radioactive Waste
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has had any recent discussions with the chairman of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, following on the concern he expressed at a Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive technical seminar at Didcot, that excavations for deep underground repositories would disturb the integrity of surrounding rock strata, and allow for transmigration of radionuclides from the repository.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend has not met the chairman of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee since the United Kingdom Nirex Ltd. seminar at Didcot.

  Greenhouse Effect
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the European Commission report on the causes of and solutions to atmospheric warming (greenhouse effect) presented at the meeting of European Environment Ministers on 24 November; and if he will make a statement on his response to the Commission report.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A copy of the report has now been received. We are arranging through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for this document to be deposited in Parliament in accordance with the usual procedures. An explanatory memorandum will be prepared in due course.

  Water Abstraction
  Sir Charles Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report, for the most recent period for which figures are available, the total amounts of licensed abstraction of water in each water authority area and the amount, expressed as a percentage, of water actually taken up in each area.

  Mr. Howard
  For the calendar year 1987, the latest period for which figures are available, the information requested is as follows:

  Water authority (England)

  Amount of water licensed for abstraction (megalitres per day)

  Percentage taken up

  Anglian

  3,614

  57

  Northumbrian

  12,629

  9

  North West

  5,922

  64

  Severn-Trent

  10,282

  62

  Southern

  2,849

  60

  South West

  2,542

  36

  Thames

  18,033

  25

  Wessex

  1,775

  57

  Yorkshire

  6,368

  48

  Old Perry Bridge, Birmingham
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the delay in granting schedule monument consent for the repairs to the medieval packhorse bridge known as Old Perry, Aldridge road, Birmingham.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A provisional decision indicating that the Secretary of State is minded to grant conditional scheduled monument consent for the repairs to the bridge was issued on 18 November 1988. A final decision can be issued as soon as Birmingham city council has indicated its acceptance of the proposed conditions.

  Redundant Farm Buildings
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussion his Department has had with local authority planning committees on the granting of planning permission on redundant farm buildings to be developed as holiday accommodation.

  Mr. Chope
  We have had no recent discussions with local authority planning committees specifically about this. The re-use of redundant farm buildings for a range of purposes arises quite frequently in correspondence with local authorities and others. The Government's policy is to encourage the granting of planning permission for beneficial re-use of such buildings whenever possible.

  Nature Reserves
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to make funds available to voluntary conservation bodies to assist them with the purchase and management of those national nature reserves which are currently owned or part-owned by the Nature Conservancy Council in the event of such areas being taken out of the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones) on 9 December at column 350. The Government will consider whether any financial assistance to voluntary bodies is required in the light of the Nature Conservancy Council's report.

  Nitrate Desk Studies
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when a report on the nitrate desk studies will be published.

  Mr. Howard
  Today I, together with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, have published a research study of the economic and other consequences of various local options for limiting nitrate concentrations in drinking water. I have placed a copy in the Library. The Government will take these studies into account in developing its nitrate strategy and a further announcement will be made in the new year.

  Ten widely different catchment areas were chosen for the study. They were selected to provide a good mixture of farming type, geology and climate. There is no implication that the choice of areas in any sense increases the possibility that measures will be introduced in these particular locations.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what capital allocations he is making available to charging authorities in England in 1989–90 for the capital costs of preparing for the community charge.

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. Friend announced on 21 October that capital allocations totalling £135 million will be made for the capital costs in 1989–90 of preparing for the community charge. This level of allocations derives from the forecast made by Price Waterhouse in its independent report on costs.

  Letters have today been sent to each charging authority in England informing them of their individual allocations. A list of these allocations has been placed in the Library. The allocations have been made to charging authorities on a basis which reflects the number and relative mobility of charge payers in each area.

  Now that these allocations have been made and charging authorities know the resources they have for 1989–90 they have no excuse for not getting on with the job of implementing the community charge.

  National Rivers Authority
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many professional staff there are in the legal departments of each of the shadow National Rivers Authority unit of each regional water authority.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 9 December 1988]: The information is as follows:

  Shadow National Rivers Authority unit in regional water authority

  Fully qualified Legal staff

  Legal assistants

  Anglian

  2

  3

  Northumbrian

  1

  0

  North West

  1

  2

  Severn Trent

  3

  0

  Southern

  3

  3

  South West

  3

  1

  Thames

  3

  4

  Welsh

  4

  4

  Wessex

  1

  1

  Yorkshire

  2

  2

  TOTAL

  23

  20

  These figures do not include the contracting out by many water authorities of the legal work on prosecutions for pollution incidents.

  Water (Disconnections)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many disconnections of water supplies there have been in each water authority for the half year since April.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 14 December 1988]: This information is not held centrally.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Community Care Grants
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether he has any plans to extend community care grants to persons leaving hospital and in receipt of invalidity benefit; and if he will make a statement;
  753
  (2) if he will amend his direction 25 in such a way as to enable those discharged from mental institutions and who are in receipt of invalidity benefit to be eligible for community care grants;

  (3) if he will extend the criteria for allowing community care grant as a means of increasing the take up of the current budget.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no such plans, but we have undertaken to monitor the operation of the recent social secrity reforms, including the social fund.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of (i) all pensioners, (ii) male single pensioners, (iii) female single pensioners, (iv) pensioner couples, (v) newly retired single men, (vi) newly retired single women and (vii) newly retired pensioner couples are in receipt of a state additional pension; and, for each group, what is the average amount received.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the information is not available in the form requested, as records of recipients of the state additional pension are not broken down by marital status.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is (i) the total number and (ii) the proportion of(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples who are in receipt of housing benefit.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The latest available information is for autumn 1987 when the estimated total number of pensioners receiving housing benefit was 3·8 million. Information about the number of single pensioners and pensioner couples is not available.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons and what proportion of those over pensionable age in Derbyshire are in receipt of payments from occupational pension schemes.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the information is not available.

  Benefit Take-up
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for 'Social Security what assumptions his Department has made for the percentage take-up of each social security benefit in making its calculations for the impact upon public expenditure for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Forward expenditure estimates are based on expected caseload. Estimates for 1989–90 will be published in the next public expenditure White Paper. Precise take-up estimates are available only on the basis of historical surveys. For the latest available estimates, I refer the hon. Member to pages 272 and 273 of Cm. 288 "The Public Expenditure White Paper". Later take-up estimates, for 1985, will be published in the new year.

  Credit Transfer System
  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will seek to amend existing legislation to permit the direct payment of income support into the 754
  personal bank accounts of disabled pensioners already receiving all other benefits through the credit transfer system.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The facility to have benefit paid directly into a bank account is restricted to beneficiaries paid by computer because a transfer of magnetic tapes is required to effect the payment to the bank. Income support is paid clerically in local social security offices and the direct payment facility cannot be made available at present.

  However, it is anticipated that payment of income support will be computerised by the early 1990s and direct payment to bank accounts will then be offered as an option. Amending legislation is not required.

  Social Security Schemes (Equal Treatment)
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has for implementing Council directive 86/378/EEC on the principle of equal treatment for men and women in occupational social security schemes.

  Mr. Scott
  The Social Security Bill published today includes provisions to equalise treatment for men and women in occupational schemes. The Occupational Pensions Board will be given powers to assist schemes to modify their rules to conform with the equal treatment requirements, but scheme rules which by 1 January 1993 do not comply will be overridden so that the more favourable treatment accorded to persons of one sex will apply equally to persons of the other sex. An exception to the general principle of equal treatment will he allowed for survivors' benefits, and we intend to introduce an amendment during the passage of the Bill permitting schemes to retain in accordance with the terms of the directive different ages at which retirement benefits come into payment.

  Miss B. M. Shaw
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will investigate why the Post Office has failed to pay the national insurance contributions deducted from Miss B. M. Shaw, formerly sub-post mistress of the Freshwater East sub-post office, for the first nine months of the financial year 1986–87; how many other Post Office employees are similarly affected; what action is being taken by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Department is currently investigating the deficiency in the 1986–87 contribution record for Miss B. M. Shaw. I regret that I cannot as yet say how many other Post Office employees are similarly affected. I shall write to my hon. Friend when investigations are completed.

  Unemployment Benefits
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he is planning any further changes in benefits for unemployed people.

  Mr. Scott
  In addition to the legislative measures that we introduced into the House yesterday, we propose to abolish the outdated and complicated rules applying to
  755
  seasonal workers claiming unemployment benefit. At the same time, the income support rules for calculating notional earnings of seasonal workers will be removed. We also propose to amend the unemployment benefit earnings rules where they operate harshly on people earning very small amounts and yet leave the benefit of people in highly paid weekend jobs unaffected. Our proposals to add a de minimis provision to the so-called "full extent normal" rule and to introduce a cut-off point, at which those on high earnings from part-time work will lost all benefit in the week concerned, will remove these anomalies.

  Fuel Direct
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will indicate for each of the Hoxton, Bloomsbury, and Finsbury Park Department of Social Security local offices, the number of cases of fuel direct payment in(a) 1981, (b) 1983, (c) 1985 and (d) 1987; and if he will indicate the amount of the average deduction made under fuel direct in each category.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No reliable data are available before 1987. The number of fuel direct cases in the local offices requested is set out in the table.

  Local office

  November 1987

  Bloomsbury

  514

  Finsbury Park

  1,807

  Hoxton

  2,167

  Note: Information about the average amount of deductions is not available at a local level.

  Source: Internal management information returns.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Ashford Remand Centre
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the nature and extent of library services at Ashford remand centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are two library facilities available at this establishment. A non-fiction paperback collection is available on the two wings to which all inmates have access. There is a central library containing a non-fiction book stock which is situated in the education department to which all inmates who wish have access.

  Remand in Custody
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time spent on remand in custody by those who had completed their period of remand in the three months before 1 April 1987 and 1 April 1988 and who were remanded from courts in(a) Avon, (b) Somerset, (c) Kent, (d) the west midlands and (e) the rest of England and Wales.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Armley Prison
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in Armley prison are on remand in respect of charges of violent crime, murder, burglary and theft, expressed by number and percentage of the total on remand.
  756
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 8 December 1988]: Details of the offences with which remand prisoners are charged are not recorded centrally until the completion of court proceedings. The readily available information is given in the table.

  Untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners initially received into Leeds prison: by type of offence, 1987

  Offence with which charged2

  Number1

  Per cent

  Murder

  9

  0

  Other violence against the person

  454

  14

  Sexual offences

  125

  4

  Burglary

  914

  28

  Robbery

  118

  4

  Theft

  540

  17

  Handling, fraud and forgery

  162

  5

  Drugs offences

  68

  2

  Arson

  40

  1

  Criminal damage

  122

  4

  Motoring offences

  101

  3

  Other offences

  216

  7

  Not recorded

  398

  12

  Total

  3,267

  100

  1 The figures, which are provisional, are those recorded centrally and are approximate.

  2 In the case of prisoners convicted, the offence is that for which convicted.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  A-Level Results
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the percentages of those aged 18 years in both schools and colleges obtaining two or more A-levels for each year since 1970–71.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Information is not readily available for years before 1974–75. The table below shows the numbers of English school leavers and students at colleges of further and higher education, of any age, who attained two or more A-levels, expressed as a percentage of the average of the 18 and 19 year age groups.

  England Qualifiers with two or more A-levels at schools and colleges as a percentage of the relevant age group1

  Academic years

  Per cent.

  1974–75

  14·0

  1975–76

  14·7

  1976–77

  14·7

  1977–78

  14·8

  1978–79

  14·4

  1979–80

  14·4

  1980–81

  14·6

  1981–82

  15·1

  1982–83

  15·6

  1983–84

  16·1

  1984–85

  16·2

  1985–86

  16·0

  1986–87

  16·7

  1 The numbers of qualifiers are derived from sample surveys. The figures are therefore subject to sampling error.

  "Learning in Terror"
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the implications
  757
  for his policies of the report of the Commission for Racial Equality on racial harassment in schools, entitled "Learning in Terror".

  Mr. Butcher
  There is no place in our schools or colleges for racial antagonism or intolerance. The Government are pursuing a range of measures to try to promote racial harmony. These include action on initial and in-service teacher training and a number of projects funded through the education support grant activity on educational needs in a multi-ethnic society. It is Government policy that ethnic minority pupils should have the same opportunity as all others to profit from what schools can offer them and that schools should preserve and transmit our national values in a way which accepts Britain's ethnic diversity and promotes tolerance and racial harmony.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the rates of student grants and parental contributions for 1989–90.

  Mr. Jackson
  Subject to Parliament's approval of the necessary regulations, the main rates of grant will be increased in the 1989–90 academic year by 5 per cent. for students studying outside London and students who study from the parental home. For those studying in London, the main rate of grant will be increased by 9·3 per cent. in recognition of their higher living costs. In England and Wales the new rates will be as follows (rates for 1988–89 are shown in brackets):

  undergraduate (£)

  postgraduate (£)

  Halls or lodgings

  (i) London

  2,650 (2,425)

  3,970 (3,630)

  (ii) Elsewhere

  2,155 (2,050)

  3,125 (2,975)

  Parental home

  1,710 (1,630)

  2,270 (2,160)

  The threshold for parental contributions, and the points on the contribution scale at which the rate of contribution changes, will be uprated to reflect the movement of earnings. Parents whose residual income is below 10,600 will not be assessed for a contribution.

  The full parental contribution scales for 1989–90 are as follows:

  Residual income

  Contribution

  Scale 1

  Scale 2

  £

  £

  £

  10,000

  0

  0

  10,600

  60

  45

  11,000

  117

  88

  12,000

  260

  195

  13,000

  402

  302

  13,500

  474

  356

  14,000

  574

  431

  15,000

  774

  581

  16,000

  974

  731

  17,000

  1,174

  881

  18,000

  1,374

  1,031

  19,000

  1,574

  1,181

  19,800

  1,734

  1,301

  20,000

  1,784

  1,338

  21,000

  2,034

  1,526

  22,000

  2,284

  1,713

  23,000

  2,534

  1,901

  24,000

  2,784

  2,088

  25,000

  3,034

  2,276

  758

  Residual income

  Contribution

  Scale 1

  Scale 2

  £

  £

  £

  26,000

  3,284

  2,463

  27,000

  3,534

  2,651

  28,000

  3,784

  2,838

  29,000

  4,034

  3,026

  30,000

  4,284

  3,213

  31,000

  4,534

  3,401

  32,000

  4,784

  3,588

  33,000

  5,034

  3,776

  34,000

  5,284

  3,963

  34,064

  5,300

  3,975

  35,000

  5,300

  4,151

  36,000

  5,300

  4,338

  37,000

  5,300

  4,526

  38,000

  5,300

  4,713

  39,000

  5,300

  4,901

  40,000

  5,300

  5,088

  41,000

  5,300

  5,276

  41,130

  5,300

  5,300

  Notes:

  (1) The second scale of parental contribution was introduced following the announcement on 15 March 1988 that tax relief on new non-charitable covenants would cease. Contributions assessed on scale 2 are 25 per cent. less than those assessed on scale 1.

  (2) For 1989–90 the level of contribution will be assessed as follows:

  Residual income

  Scale 1

  Scale 2

  From £10,600 to £13,500

  £1 in £7

  £1 in £9·3

  From £13,501 to £19,800

  £1 in £5

  £1 in £6·6

  From £19,801

  £1 in £4

  £1 in £5·3

  (3) The maximum contribution, which applies to parents with more than one child holding an award, will rise from £4,900 to £5,300. The minimum contribution will be increased from £50 to £60 for parents whose student children began their courses before the 1988–89 academic year (and whose grant is assessed on scale 1) and from £37 to £45 where students first entered higher education in 1988–89 or later (and whose grant is assessed accordingly to scale 2).

  (4) The contribution payable may be less than the amounts shown on the scale, particularly at its top end and where the contribution is in respect of one award-holder only. This will depend on the amount of grant against which the contribution has to be set and whether any of the assessed contribution is offset by allowances for other dependent children.

  Technology Training
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the European Community programme, second phase, on co-operation between universities and enterprises regarding training in the field of technology (Comett II); what funds will be available to the United Kingdom under this phase; and what will be the net cost to Her Majesty's Treasury.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Her Majesty's Government are today negotiating at the Labour and Social Affairs Council the terms of the proposed second phase of the European Community programme on co-operation between universities and enterprises regarding training in technology. As soon as a final decision has been reached, I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Schools (Computers)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to ensure that schools have access to computers capable of running MS-DOS software.
  759
  Mr. Butcher
  Education support grants are now available to LEAs for the purchase of microcomputers, including those which run MS-DOS software.

HEALTH

  Personal Social Services
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) amount and (b) proportion of total public

  Local authority net expenditure on PSS: capital and current combined £million revalued by GDP deflator (base 1987–88)

  1971–72

  1972–73

  1973–74

  1974–75

  1975–76

  1976–77

  1977–78

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  Local authority PSS (current and capital)

  1,295

  1,542

  1,889

  2,173

  2,314

  2,327

  2,231

  2,276

  2,391

  2,504

  Local authority as percentage of total

  94·1

  95·3

  96·8

  98·2

  99·1

  99·4

  99·4

  99·5

  99·4

  99·5

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Local authority PSS (current and capital)

  2,528

  2,574

  2,672

  2,707

  2,670

  2,870

  3,060

  3,151

  3,086

  3,092

  Local authority as percentage of total

  99·4

  99·5

  99·4

  99·5

  99·5

  99·5

  99·5

  99·5

  99·4

  99·4

  Figures are derived from public expenditure White Papers up to and including the 1988 edition, as subsequently amended by the 1988 Autumn Statement. The figures up to and including 1986–87 are final outturn, 1987–88 are provisional outturn, 1988–89 are local authority budgets and 1989–90, 1990–91 are planned provision.

  It should be noted that from 1977–78 local authority net expenditure includes recharged central administration.

  Grading
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each health authority in the northern region the number of nurses in each grade prior to any review or appeal.

  The new clinical grading structure for nursing, midwifery and health visitor staff

  Numbers of old clinical grades assimilated to each of the new clinical grades on the basis of duties and responsibilities on 1st April 1988:

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  District

  Staff in post (whole time Equivalents)

  Numbers transferred to each new clinical grade

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  G1

  H

  I

  Hartlepool

  676·00

  108·00

  5·00

  128·00

  75·00

  162·00

  73·00

  108·00

  17·00

  —

  North Tees

  1,037·00

  164·00

  42·00

  152·00

  140·0

  275·00

  59·00

  170·00

  28·00

  7·00

  South Tees

  2,343·00

  381·00

  60·00

  125·00

  574·00

  558·00

  274·00

  294·00

  41·00

  36·00

  East Cumbria

  1,319·00

  300·00

  22·00

  202·00

  181·00

  307·00

  79·00

  185·00

  26·00

  17·00

  South Cumbria

  1,010·00

  240·00

  11·00

  158·00

  146·00

  186·00

  47·00

  180·00

  26·00

  16·00

  West Cumbria

  979·00

  246·00

  30·00

  62·00

  206·00

  182·00

  58·00

  152·00

  30·00

  13·00

  Darlington

  1,042·00

  175·00

  56·00

  168·00

  238·00

  191·00

  35·00

  138·00

  40·00

  1·00

  Durham

  1,067·00

  223·00

  20·00

  113·00

  228·00

  180·00

  58·00

  212·00

  24·00

  9·00

  North West Durham

  597·00

  131·00

  1·00

  44·00

  127·00

  139·00

  53·00

  89·00

  7·00

  6·00

  South West Durham

  1,321·00

  389·00

  10·00

  15·00

  304·00

  274·00

  109·00

  176·00

  37·00

  7·00

  Northumberland

  2,836·00

  968·00

  34·00

  375·00

  314·00

  398·00

  216·00

  446·00

  58·00

  27·00

  Gateshead

  1,237·00

  293·00

  20·00

  119·00

  252·00

  211·00

  95·00

  206·00

  31·00

  10·00

  Newcastle

  4,253·00

  758·00

  103·00

  509·00

  1,009·00

  850·00

  333·00

  529·00

  103·00

  59·00

  North Tyneside

  845·00

  155·00

  12·00

  99·00

  137·00

  159·00

  73·00

  176·00

  21·00

  13·00

  South Tyneside

  846·00

  211·00

  13·00

  94·00

  132·00

  164·00

  56·00

  151·00

  18·00

  7·00

  Sunderland

  2,117·00

  430·00

  31·00

  277·00

  33500

  466·00

  146·00

  359·00

  66·00

  7·00

  Blood Transfusion

  68·00

  59·00

  —

  3·00

  3·00

  1·00

  —

  1·00

  1·00

  —

  TOTAL

  23,593·00

  5,231·00

  470·00

  2,643·00

  4,401·00

  4,703·00

  1,764·00

  3,572·00

  574·00

  235·00

  1 Excludes some additional '6' posts which health authorities have indicated they intend to create in future on existing two-sister wards.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff
  760
  spending on personal social services is accounted for by local authorities for each year since 1967–68 projected to 1990–91 in 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requestd is shown in the table for 1971–72 and later years. Information prior to 1971–72 is not available in a comparable form.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is given in the table.

  from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the recent clinical grading structure in South Manchester district health authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is given in the table.
  761

  The new clinical grading structure for nursing, midwifery and health visitor staff

  Old clinical grades assimilated to each of the new clinical grades on the basis of duties and responsibilities on 1 April 1988: South Manchester

  Numbers transferred to each new clinical grade

  Previous grade

  Staff in post whole time equivalents

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  1G

  H

  I

  Nursing Auxiliary

  598·10

  556·60

  40·50

  1·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nursery Nurse

  36·60

  —

  36·60

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled Nurse2

  497·90

  —

  —

  186·61

  306·29

  5·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled District Nurse2

  22·00

  —

  —

  —

  22·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Senior Enrolled Nurse2

  52·10

  —

  —

  —

  39·90

  10·20

  1·00

  1·00

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse2

  535—60

  —

  —

  —

  175·30

  257·20

  103·10

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Midwife2

  64·40

  —

  —

  —

  12·20

  52·20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister2

  13·30

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12·30

  1·00

  —

  —

  Nursing Sister II2

  362·40

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  152·50

  205·40

  4·50

  —

  Midwifery Sister II2

  113·20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65·15

  47·05

  1·0

  —

  District Nurse (Sister II)2

  40·80

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5·40

  29·00

  4·40

  2·00

  Nursing Sister I

  7·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5·00

  —

  2·00

  Midwifery Sister I

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Health Visitor

  43·30

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  41·30

  2·00

  —

  Senior Nurse 8

  53·70

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20·00

  33·70

  Senior Nurse 8 (Midwife)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Senior Nurse 7

  18·80

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6·80

  12·00

  Senior Nurse 7 (Midwife)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clinical Teacher

  6·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6·00

  —

  Fieldwork Teacher

  5·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5·00

  —

  Practical Work Teacher

  10·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10·00

  —

  Tutor

  5·60

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5·60

  Tutor Midwife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Post Basic Students

  Enrolled

  22·00

  —

  —

  22·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse

  87·00

  —

  —

  —

  87·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sister II

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Others

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTALS

  2,594·80

  556·60

  77·10

  209·61

  642·69

  324·60

  33945

  329·75

  59·70

  55·30

  1 Excludes some additional G posts which health authorities have indicated they intend to create in future on existing two-sister wards.

  2 Excludes Post Basic Students.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  The new clinical grading structure for nursing, midwifery and health visitor staff

  Old clinical grades assimilated to each of the new clinical grades on the basis of duties and responsibilities on 1 April 1988: Durham

  Numbers transferred to each new clinical grade

  Previous grade

  Staff in post whole time equivalents

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  1G

  H

  I

  Nursing Auxiliary

  240·00

  223·00

  17·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nursery Nurse

  3·00

  —

  3·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled Nurse2

  235·00

  —

  —

  104·00

  130·00

  1·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled District Nurse2

  14·00

  —

  —

  —

  14·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Senior Enrolled Nurse2

  14·00

  —

  —

  —

  14·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse2

  219·00

  —

  —

  —

  50·00

  150·00

  18·00

  1·00

  —

  —

  Staff Midwife2

  35·00

  —

  —

  —

  2·00

  30·00

  3·00

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister2

  11·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11·00

  —

  —

  —

  Nursing Sister II2

  106·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22·00

  82·00

  2·00

  —

  Midwifery Sister II2

  33·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4·00

  28·00

  1·00

  —

  District Nurse (Sister II)2

  57·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  56·00

  1·00

  —

  Nursing Sister I

  1·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  —

  —

  Midwifery Sister I

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Health Visitor

  37·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  35·00

  2·00

  —

  Senior Nurse 8

  6·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  5·00

  —

  Senior Nurse 8 (Midwife)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Senior Nurse 7

  10·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  1·00

  8·00

  Senior Nurse 7 (Midwife)

  1·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  —

  Clinical Teacher

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Fieldwork Teacher

  8·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3·00

  5·00

  —

  Practical Work Teacher

  9·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3·00

  6·00

  —

  Tutor

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tutor Midwife

  1·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the recent clinical grading structure in Durham district health authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is given in the table.
  762 763

  Numbers transferred to each new clinical grade

  Previous grade

  Staff in post whole time equivalents

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  1G

  H

  I

  Post Basic Students

  Enrolled

  6·00

  —

  —

  6·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse

  20·00

  —

  —

  —

  18·00

  2·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sister II

  1·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  —

  —

  Others

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTALS

  1,067·00

  232·00

  20·00

  110·00

  228·00

  183·00

  58·00

  212·00

  24·00

  9·00

  1 Excludes some additional G posts which health authorities have indicated they intend to create in future on existing two-sister wards.

  2 Excludes Post Basic Students.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  The new clinical grading structure for nursing, midwifery and health visitor staff

  Old clinical grades assimilated to each of the new clinical grades on the basis of duties and responsibilities on 1 April 1988: Sheffield

  Numbers transferred to each new clinical grade

  Previous grade

  Staff in post whole time equivalents

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  1G

  H

  I

  Nursing Auxiliary

  1,441·58

  1,277·91

  163·67

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nursery Nurse

  45·13

  —

  45·13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled Nurse2

  1,060·54

  —

  —

  280·47

  581·35

  198·72

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled District Nurse2

  81·00

  —

  —

  —

  81·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Senior Enrolled Nurse2

  85·55

  —

  —

  —

  33·55

  52·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse2

  1,202·05

  —

  —

  —

  198·51

  901·25

  102·29

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Midwife2

  100·40

  —

  —

  —

  12·00

  87·35

  1·05

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister2

  36·91

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  34·91

  1·00

  —

  —

  Nursing Sister II2

  691·46

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  300·43

  359·30

  31·73

  —

  Midwifery Sister II2

  80·94

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  52·54

  28·40

  —

  —

  District Nurse (Sister II)2

  160·32

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  160·32

  —

  —

  Nursing Sister I

  2·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  1·00

  —

  Midwifery Sister I

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Health Visitor

  88·73

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  88·73

  —

  —

  Senior Nurse 8

  57·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5·00

  29·00

  23·00

  Senior Nurse 8 (Midwife)

  5·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·00

  3·00

  Senior Nurse 7

  60·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4·00

  56·00

  Senior Nurse 7 (Midwife)

  7·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  6·00

  Clinical Teacher

  21·22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  21·22

  —

  Fieldwork Teacher

  12·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12·00

  —

  Practical Work Teacher

  16·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  16·00

  —

  Tutor

  35·90

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  35·90

  Tutor Midwife

  8·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8·00

  Post Basic Students

  Enrolled

  48·00

  —

  —

  48·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse

  218·50

  —

  —

  —

  200·50

  18·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister

  3·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3·00

  —

  —

  —

  Sister II

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Others

  2·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  1·00

  —

  TOTALS

  5,570·23

  1,277·91

  208·80

  328·47

  1,106·91

  1,258·85

  493·69

  644·75

  118·95

  131·90

  1 Excludes some additional G posts which health authorities have indicated they intend to create in future on existing two-sister wards.

  2 Excludes Post Basic Students.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from how many nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff
  764
  from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the recent clinical grading structure in Sheffield district health authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is given in the table.

  from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the recent clinical grading structure in Newcastle district health authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is given in the table.
  765

  The new clinical grading structure for nursing, midwifery and health visitor staff

  Old clinical grades assimilated to each of the new clinical grades on the basis of duties and responsibilities on 1 April 1988: Newcastle upon Tyne

  Numbers transferred to each new clinical grade

  Previous grade

  Staff in post (whole time equivalents)

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  1G

  H

  I

  Nursing Auxiliary

  845·00

  758·00

  85·00

  2·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nursery Nurse

  26·00

  —

  18·00

  7·00

  1·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled Nurse2

  997·00

  —

  —

  452·00

  523·00

  22·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled District Nurse2

  19·00

  —

  —

  —

  19·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Senior Enrolled Nurse2

  24·00

  —

  —

  —

  12·00

  12·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse2

  1184·00

  —

  —

  —

  280·00

  735·00

  167·00

  2·00

  —

  —

  Staff Midwife2

  82·00

  —

  —

  —

  3·00

  56·00

  23·00

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister2

  24·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  24·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nursing Sister II2

  459·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  116·00

  316·00

  27·00

  —

  Midwifery Sister II2

  90·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25·00

  61·00

  4·00

  —

  District Nurse (Sister II)2

  80·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  77·00

  3·00

  —

  Nursing Sister I

  25·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  9·00

  12·00

  3·00

  Midwifery Sister I

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Health Visitor

  63·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  62·00

  1·00

  —

  Senior Nurse 8

  24·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·00

  11·00

  11·00

  Senior Nurse 8 (Midwife)

  9·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·00

  7·00

  Senior Nurse 7

  38·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12·00

  26·00

  Senior Nurse 7 (Midwife)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clinical Teacher

  8·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8·00

  —

  Fieldwork Teacher

  11·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11·00

  —

  Practical Work Teacher

  12·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12·00

  —

  Tutor

  6·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6·00

  Tutor Midwife

  6·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6·00

  Post Basic Students

  Enrolled

  48·00

  —

  —

  48·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse

  171·00

  —

  —

  —

  171·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sister II

  2·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2·00

  —

  —

  —

  Others

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTALS

  4253·00

  758·00

  103·00

  509·00

  1009·00

  850·00

  333·00

  529·00

  103·00

  59·00

  1 Excludes some additional G posts which health authorities have indicated they intend to create in future on existing two-sister wards.

  2 Excludes Post Basic Students.

  Hepatitis B
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy for encouraging a programme of vaccination against hepatitis B; what guidance he has given to general medical practitioners on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 12 December at column 450 about immunisation programmes for health authority staff. The guidance from the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation, which was sent to all doctors in the United Kingdom in July, deals also with other at risk groups for whom immunisation by general medical practitioners may be appropriate.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has any current plans to review the Registered Homes Act 1984;

  (2) whether there are any current plans to extend registration requirements to all residential nursing homes with more than two residents;

  (3) whether he has any plans to seek to change the existing statutory requirements for head managers of residential homes to be suitably qualified; and whether he
  766
  will consider setting out prescribed training to be undertaken on a continuing basis by staff directly involved in caring for residents;

  (4) whether he will introduce regulations to ensure that individual programme plans are introduced and published for each client in a registered residential home.

  Mr. Mellor
  Sir Roy Griffiths' report, "Community Care: An Agenda for Action" and Lady Wagner's "A Positive Choice" contain recommendations with implications for the registration system for residential care homes including the regulation of homes with fewer than four residents. Some of these recommendations would require amendment of the Act. The latter report also included proposals concerning the qualifications and training of the management and staff of homes and arrangements for the care of residents. We are considering these reports and the responses to them and will be bringing forward our own proposals in due course. Copies of both reports are in the Library. There are no legislative provisions governing the qualifications of managers of residential homes; that is a matter for registration authorities to determine.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of recorded deaths(a) from drug addiction and (b) from smoking-related diseases for the last year for which figures are available.
  767
  Mrs. Currie
  The number of deaths of persons aged 28 days and over registered with drug dependence (ICD1 304) as the underlying cause of death in England and Wales in 1987 is 165.

  It is not possible to be precise about smoking-related deaths. Most deaths associated with cigarette smoking arise from three diseases: lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and "heart attacks" due to obstruction of the arteries of the heart. However, the proportion of deaths attributable to smoking from each of these diseases varies. Furthermore, smoking is also implicated in certain other conditions where no estimate of the numbers of the deaths caused by smoking is available—for example, obstruction of the arteries of the lower limbs, and strokes.

  It is estimated that at least 90 per cent. of deaths from cancers of the lung, lip, oesophagus and larynx, and 90 per cent. of deaths from chronic brochitis, obstructive lung disease, chronic pulmonary heart disease and aortic aneurysm are attributable to smoking. The total number of deaths from these conditions involved is given in the table.

  England and Wales 1987

  ICD1 code

  Number2

  162

  Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung

  35,138

  140-149

  Malignant neoplasm of lip, oral cavity and pharynx

  1,689

  150

  Malignanat neoplasm of oseophagus

  4,770

  161

  Malignanat neoplasm of larynx

  866

  416

  Chornic pulmonary heart disease

  680

  441

  Aortic aneurysm

  7,844

  490-492,

  Bronchitis and emphysema chronic airways

  24,996

  496

  obstruction, not elsewhere classified

  In its report "Health or Smoking" (1983) the Royal College of Physicians estimated that perhaps 20 per cent. of deaths due to obstruction of the arteries of the heart were related to smoking. The medical term for this condition is "ischaemic heart disease", but it is commonly referred to as "coronary heart disease". The total number of deaths from this condition for England and Wales is as follows:

  England and Wales 1987

  ICD1 code

  Number2

  410-414

  Ischaemic heart disease

  155,235

  1 International Classification of Diseases 9th revision.

  2 Persons, at ages 28 days and over.

  Medicines
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total value of parallel imports of prescription medicines in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Mellor
  The latest information is for 1986 when a representative sample survey of purchasing of prescription medicines for the National Health Service by pharmacists gave an estimate of about £30 million as the value of parallel imported medicines dispensed by pharmacists.

  Resources
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to ensure that the scientific services involved in patient care are adequately staffed and funded; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The numbers of staff working in scientific services overall continues to increase.

  Regional health authorities have been asked to prepare for all staff groups—including scientific staff—manpower supply strategic assessing demand; supply measures necessary to meet assessed demand together with proposed steps to deal with any shortfalls. Also where necessary to produce training strategies.

  Overall staffing levels and funding of scientific services is a matter for local determination.

  Community Care
  Sir Geoffrey Pattie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is possessed by his Department in relation to the provision of services in the community for the mentally ill as set out in the 1975 White Paper, and whether the targets set out in the White Paper still apply.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Command Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Ill", published in 1975 by the then Labour Government, did not set illustrative targets.

  The development of mental illness services, including the shift to locally-based services, is a regular feature of the annual review meeting which Ministers and the National Health Service management board hold with each regional health authority. This forum is the main method by which health authorities are held accountable for their work. In addition, the Department's social services inspectorate maintains liaison with local social services departments, taking an interest in the development of their services, including those for patients discharged from mental hospitals.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make a further statement on the alleged salmonella outbreak in eggs.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Today's newspapers will carry the first run of an advertisement advising consumers about eating eggs. The advertisement will be carried by national daily, Sunday and leading regional newspapers over the coming weekend. These advertisements set out the facts of the matter and give clear and sensible advice to consumers.

  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much evidence there is of salmonella enteriditis existing in the egg yolk before the egg is laid; and by whom and where this evidence was obtained.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  A number of scientific papers by American and European researchers report that certain salmonella serotypes including salmonella enteritidis may infect the ovaries and oviducts of laying hens with the resulting potential to contaminate egg contents before the egg is laid. Two recent papers by research workers in the United Kingdom report the isolation of salmonella enteritidis from the ovary of birds from a broiler breeder flock and the ovary, oviducts and yolk of soft shelled egg in hens from a commercial laying flock.
  769
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures were taken to warn egg producers that the catering trade should use pasteurised bulk egg prior to the comments made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health concerning salmonella in fresh eggs.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Liaison with producer representatives has been a feature of the joint consultation between my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Producer representatives have known since July this year that caterers were being advised to use pasteurised egg instead of raw shell eggs in foods that were not to be cooked.

  Radiographers and Pathologists
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many radiographers and pathologists are employed in the National Health Service; and how many of those radiographers and pathologists who have contracted out in the last 12 months were state registered.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 12 December 1988]: We are not aware of such services at present being contracted out.

  Such information as is available for radiographers and pathologists employed in the National Health Service is as follows:

  NHS staff in post in England at 30 September 1987

  Number1

  Whole time equivalent2

  Non medical staff

  Radiographers3

  9,400

  8,250

  Helpers

  370

  270

  Radiography4

  9,770

  8,530

  Medical staff

  Pathologists5

  2,910

  2,390

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

  1 Figures are headcount independently rounded to the nearest ten (10).

  2 Figures are whole time equivalent independently rounded to nearest ten (10).

  3 Excludes helpers and technical assistant/driver technician.

  4 Includes helpers, excludes technical assistant/driver technician.

  5 Includes permanent paid, honorary and directly employed locums. Excludes agency locums (not separately identified).

DEFENCE

  Aircraft (Permitted Speeds)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the maximum permitted speeds for military aircraft in the United Kingdom low-flying system apply to aircraft authorised to fly down to 100 ft in the three tactical training areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes.

  Low-level Flying
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which unit of the Royal Air Force Police has responsibility for surveying potential new areas for low flying.

  Mr. Freeman
  The flying complaints flight of the headquarters provost and security services (United 770
  Kingdom) is the unit responsible for surveying potential new areas for low flying, at the direction of the Ministry of Defence.

  Aircrew Training (Nuclear Power Stations)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what means are used to provide realistic training of Royal Air Force aircrews in attacks on nuclear power stations in wartime.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is not our practice to comment on wartime targeting policy. The RAF does not use nuclear power stations as targets during low flying training.

  Aircraft (Noise)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the locations of complaints about noise from low-flying aircraft are mapped by his Department in order to monitor the distribution of noise disturbance.

  Mr. Freeman
  The locations of inquiries and complaints about low-flying aircraft are mapped to show their distribution and indicate particular problem areas. Not all representations are primarily concerned with aircraft noise, and the map does not purport to indicate the distribution of aircraft noise disturbance.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all research work currently being carried out(a) by his Department and (b) by external agencies under contract to his Department investigating the health effects of aircraft noise on human beings and animals.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No specific research work on the health effects of external aircraft noise is currently being carried out by MOD, either internally or under outside contracts, but we do, of course, monitor developments in this field. The MOD contributed to early work on the human response to noise measurements units which are embodied in the current aircraft noise legislation.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the final report of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's committee on the challenges of modern society's pilot study "Aircraft Noise in a Modern Society" will be published.

  Mr. Freeman
  Work on the pilot study is continuing and the final report is unlikely to be completed before the end of 1989. The timing of its subsequent publication is a matter for NATO.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what additional measures have been introduced in the United Kingdom, following the recommendation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's committee on the challenges of modern society's interim report "Aircraft Noise in a Modern Society," that efforts to inform the public of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's reasons for low flying and the steps taken to mitigate the effects of aircraft noise, should be expanded;

  (2) what contribution is being made by his Department to the development by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation committee on the challenges of modern society, of a public information package on the noise impact of aircraft operations.

  Mr. Freeman
  Following publication of the North Atlantic Organisation (NATO) committee on the
  771
  challenges of modern society's interim report, it was decided that expansion of the reasons for low flying and the steps taken to mitigate the effects of aircraft noise should take the form of a NATO public information package.

  The development of this package is being led by the NATO directorate of information. The Ministry of Defence has made available examples of the material in use in the United Kingdom and has responded to a questionnaire circulated by the director of information. The Department is participating fully in the programme of work through its representation on the committee established under the chairmanship of the dirctor of information. Meanwhile, the Department continues to recognise the importance of providing adequate infomation to the public about low flying, the need for it, and the steps taken to minimise consequent disturbance. Our efforts include responding to complaints and inquiries, distributing a pamphlet and making available a video on low flying, briefing journalists and flying them in front-line aircraft, and arranging presentations to the public by both the RAF presentation team and the low flying presentation team.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by his Department to implement the recommendation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's committee on the challenges of modern society's pilot study "Aircraft Noise in a Modern Society" that multinational research into the long-term effects of aircraft noise on humans, animals and structures should be vigorously pursued.

  Mr. Freeman
  When I wrote to the hon. Member on 31 July 1987 I explained that the analysis of international data on the effects of aircraft noise on humans, animals and structures with a view to working towards the development of agreed technical assessment criteria was one of the tasks to be addressed further by the pilot study. This is continuing. In parallel, the Ministry of Defence continues to participate in international symposia and is also in discussion with academic institutions.

  Calder Hall and Chapelcross (Replacement Reactors)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has had any meetings with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. officials on the future funding of replacement plutonium and tritium production reactors at Calder Hall and Chapelcross, respectively.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No.

  Military Personnel (Travel Restrictions)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions on travel to Communist countries exist for serving military personnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  Serving personnel who wish to visit a Communist country are required to seek approval in advance of their visit. Each application is considered on its merits.

  Equipment Procurement (Anglo-French Meeting)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress arising from the 772
  third Anglo-French meeting on co-operation in procurement of military equipment held on 23 November; and if short and intermediate range nuclear weapon systems have been discussed at any of these three meetings.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Anglo-French conference which was held on 23 and 24 November covered air systems equipment. Previous conferences have covered land and sea systems. The conferences form part of an initiative aimed at increasing co-operation to avoid costly duplication of development effort in conventional equipment. Progress on this initiative has been good and a framework of administrative measures, including the publication of contracts bulletins in both countries, has now been established. Some contracts have already been signed and more tenders are under consideration on both sides of the Channel. No nuclear projects have been discussed.

  Radioactive Waste (Devonport)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the total volume and curie content of the radioactive waste stored at Plymouth, Devonport.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No. It is not our practice to disclose information about quantities and radioactivity levels of intermediate level nuclear waste.

  Low Flying (Public Meetings)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and locations of public meetings on low flying held by his Department in Wales since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  According to available records, the Ministry of Defence has held the following public meetings on low flying in Wales since 1979.

  Date

  Location

  30 September 1982

  Carmarthen,Dyfed

  15 October 1986

  Raglan, Gwent

  27 July 1987

  Aberedw, Powys

  27 May 1988

  Dolgellau,Gwynedd

  27 July 1988

  Kidwelly, Dyfed

  28 July 1988

  Tumble, Dyfed

  Royal Aircraft Establishment
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the acreage of the site currently occupied by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Farnborough site comprises 1,196 acres. This includes the airfield and the 50 acre site which is being leased out as a civil enclave. The nearby Royal Aircraft Establishment site at Pyestock comprises 257 acres.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report details of the number of people employed at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough together with a breakdown of their Civil Service grades and total salaries paid for each grade.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The total number of people employed by the Royal Aerospace Establishment as a whole at 1 April 1988 was 5,378. It is not our policy to provide further breakdown of this figure.

  Farnborough (Runway Length)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the length of each runway at Farnborough.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The lengths are:

  Metres

  Runway 07-25

  2,400

  Runway 18-36

  1,196

  Runway 11-29

  1,350

  Army Guns (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the use by the Army in Northern Ireland of guns previously withdrawn from Regular Army service.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Guns which have been withdrawn from Regular Army service are not used by the Army in operations in Northern Ireland.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist for further troops and equipment withdrawals from Hong Kong.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Government intends to retain until 30 June 1997 a garrison in Hong Kong to demonstrate British sovereignty and assist the Hong Kong Government in maintaining the stability, and security of the territory. We plan, however, to reduce the strength of the garrison during the period to 1997, as the Royal Hong Kong police become capable of resuming full responsibility for anti-illegal immigration. Adjustments to the strength of the garrison will be made in consultation with the Hong Kong Government and in the light of the security situation at the time.

  Harwell
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the nature of the work being carried out by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's Harwell research centre for(a) his Department and (b) any other institutions or Governments; and what is the value of any contracts on which Harwell is engaged under those categories.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 14 December at column 581 by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Energy regarding work undertaken at UKAEA Harwell for MoD. I am not in a position to comment upon work undertaken at Harwell for other institutions or governments. It is not our policy to provide commercial details of contracts.

  Procurement
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in the procurement division of his Department; and at what grades and remuneration.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 6 December 1988]: The information requested is as follows:
  774

  Grades

  Numbers employed

  Annual salaries

  Non-Industrial Civilians Senior Staff

  Grade 1 (Chief of Defence Procurement)

  £108,454

  Grade 2

  5

  £45,800—£48,000

  Grade 3

  31

  £35,800—£39,000

  Grade 4

  20

  £32,219—£34,987

  Grade 5

  160

  £27,087—£30,387

  Grade 6

  550

  £19,905—£27,087

  Grade 7

  1,907

  £16,692—£21,737

  Administration Group

  Senior Executive Officer

  326

  Higher Executive Officer

  658

  £6,134—£16,489

  Executive Officer

  1,243

  Administration Support Group

  Chief Typing Manager

  3

  Typing Manager

  35

  Typist

  382

  Senior Personal Secretary

  46

  £3,523—£13,458

  Personal Secretary

  237

  Administrative Officer

  2,493

  Administrative Assistant

  1,027

  Scientists

  Senior Scientific Officer

  1,369

  Higher Scientific Officer

  1,364

  Scientific Officer

  962

  £4,254—£17,032

  Assistant Scientific Officer

  392

  Professional and Technology Officers (PTO)

  Senior PTO

  1,875

  Higher PTO

  2,785

  PTO

  2,872

  Probationary Assistant Constructor

  23

  £4,254—18,422

  Technical Grade 1

  164

  Technical Grade 2

  19

  Process and General Supervisory Grades (P & GS)

  P & GS 'A'

  10

  P & GS 'B'

  35

  P & GS 'C'

  144

  £7,606—£17,713

  P & GS 'D'

  232

  P & GS 'E'

  30

  Stores Officer Grades (SOG)

  SO Grade 'A'

  3

  SO Grade 'B'

  11

  £8,090—£17,032

  SO Grade 'C'

  30

  SO Grade 'D'

  46

  Reprographics Officers

  Reprographics Manager

  3

  Assistant Chief/Chief Reprographics Officer

  26

  Leading Reprographics Operator

  21

  £5,550—£13,650

  Reprographics Operator I

  105

  Reprographics Operator II

  45

  Photographers

  Superintending Chief

  Photographer

  1

  Chief Photographer

  7

  Principal Photographer

  40

  £8,090—£19,926

  Senior Photographer

  105

  Photographer

  19

  Telephonists

  Superintendent of Government Telephonists

  4

  £6,150—£9,750

  Government Telephonists

  83

  Retired Officers (RO)

  Retired Officer 1

  9

  Retired Officer 2

  52

  £8,907—£16,489

  Retired Officer 3

  11

  775

  Grades

  Numbers employed

  Annual salaries

  Graphics Officers

  Senior Graphics Officer

  3

  Higher Graphics Officer

  12

  £9,057—£18,422

  Graphics Officer

  46

  Librarians

  Senior Librarian

  9

  Librarian

  18

  £8,090—17,032

  Assistant Librarian

  13

  Teleprinter Operators

  Superintendent Teleprinter Operator

  3

  Specialist Teleprinter Operator

  23

  £3,609—£9,337

  Teleprinter Operator

  3

  Investigating Officers

  Senior Investigating Officer

  3

  Investigating Officer I

  11

  £10,994—£19,926

  Investigating Officer II

  9

  Messengers/Paperkeepers

  Senior Paperkeeper

  3

  Paperkeeper

  12

  £5,550—£7,630

  Messenger

  1

  Medical and Allied Grades

  Senior Psychologist

  3

  Psychologist

  4

  Sister

  9

  Civilian Consultant

  1

  Civilian Medical Practitioner

  1

  £8,090—£35,500

  Senior Medical Officer

  3

  Medical Officer

  5

  Senior Radiologist II

  1

  Miscellaneous Specialists

  96

  £8,574—£23,534

  Trainees/Students

  591

  £3,523—£10,994

  Craft £139·17

  (per week)

  Non-Craft

  £110·42—£135·50

  (per week)

  Industrial Civilians

  9,825

  Total Civilian Personnel

  32,731

  Service Personnel Ranks

  Admiral/General/Air Chief Marshal

  3

  £68,500

  Vice-Admiral/Lieutenanat General/Air Marshal

  1

  £48,000

  Rear-Admiral/Major General/Air-Vice Marshal

  9

  £39,000

  Commodore/Captain (Senior)/Brigadier/Air commodore

  29

  £36,555

  Captain (Junior)/Colonel/Group Captain

  67

  £30,514—£33,726

  Commander/Lieutenant Colonel/Wing Commander

  224

  £26,459—£29,247

  Lieutenant Commander/Major/Squadron Leader

  443

  £19,053—£22,849

  Lieutenant/Captain/Flight Lieutenant

  240

  £14,987—£17,418

  Other Ranks

  324

  £7,296—12,932

  Total service personnel

  1,340

  GRAND TOTAL

  34,071

  776
  Notes:

  1. Salary rates shown are basic pay, excluding additions such as allowances, London Weighting, bonuses and special pay additions.

  2. Under pay agreements concluded during 1988 certain grades can qualify for discretionary increments above the scale maximum on the basis of good performance and occupancy of posts requiring certain scarce specialist disciplines.

  3. The numbers employed include full-time, part-time and casual staff.

  4. Industrial craftsmen in research and development establishments receive a craft allowance on top of their basic pay. All industrial staff are eligible to participate in bonus scheme.

  Fraud
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many suspected frauds involving £500,000 or more are currently being investigated by his Department's investigators; and what is the average time elapsing between the commencement of an investigation and the matter being brought to court.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Three cases each involving more than £500,000 are currently being investigated by the Ministry of Defence police fraud squad. The time needed to complete an investigation, to the satisfaction of the Serious Fraud Office where appropriate, depends on a variety of factors, including the nature and complexity of the alleged offences.

  If, on the evidence obtained, it is then considered that criminal procedures should be instituted, the case will have to come to trial—this is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farm Interpretation Project
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to support the national farm interpretation project, based at the Open University, Milton Keynes, after its present funding ends in January 1989.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I understand that the Open university's new countryside interpretation unit will absorb the work of the farm interpretation project when that project ceases at the end of January 1989. The countryside interpretation unit will, unlike the farm interpretation project, be able to raise its own income by operating on a fully commercial basis.

  EC (Breeders' Rights Registrations)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what account he will take of the proposed new European Community breeders' rights registrations, when considering the recommendations of his Department's review of plant variety rights and seed certification systems in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The EC Commission has not yet forwarded any proposal to the Council for a Community plant breeders' rights scheme. However, in anticipating such a proposal, the review report recommended that the United Kingdom should support the principle of such a scheme and ensure that the testing systems operate in a practical and efficient way.

  Egg Production
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of(a) breeders of laying chickens and (b) egg producers in England and Wales at the latest available date.

  Mr. Ryder
  The total number of agricultural holdings in England arid Wales at June 1987 with breeding fowls was 9,877, but at least 90 per cent. of those will have breeding fowls only for meat production. The number of agricultural holdings in England and Wales with laying fowls at June 1987 was 34,200. Very small holdings, which make only occasional returns, are excluded from these figures.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated value of the egg industry, including the breeding of laying chickens and food production in England and Wales in 1988.

  Mr. Ryder
  The value of United Kingdom output of eggs in 1987 is now estimated to have been £511 million. The first estimate for 1988 will be published early in the new year. The breeding of laying chickens is an input to egg production and is covered within the above valuation. Consumers' expenditure on eggs for household consumption in 1987 is estimated to have been about £660 million. However, substantial volumes of eggs are used in catering and food manufacture and the total value of the United Kingdom egg market is probably well over £1 billion.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has as to the likely loss of egg production in England and Wales in 1988 following recent publicity about possible salmonella infection.

  Mr. Ryder
  It is too early to make such an estimate.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the egg industry and farming unions concerning financial compensation for lost production, the destruction of laying chickens and other associated costs occasioned following recent publicity about the possibility of salmonella infection in eggs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to assist the egg industry to overcome its current problems by(a) buying eggs off the market, (b) assisting in a hen culling scheme, and (c) providing facilities for the disposal of unwanted eggs and carcases.

  Mr. Ryder
  The Government have already embarked upon an advertising campaign giving clear advice to consumers and putting the salmonella problem in eggs into its proper perspective. The other requests from the egg industry are being considered.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any regulations will be introduced to prevent the feeding of dead creatures to grain eating creatures of the same type; and if he will make a statement.
  778
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Government have no plans to introduce further legislation to prevent the feeding of animals on material derived from other animals of the same type.

  Feed derived from carcases may not be fed to other animals unless the material has been processed in accordance with statutory requirements. The Diseases of Animals (Waste Food) Order 1973 requires plants which process waste material intended for use as animal feed to be licensed. Under the Diseases of Animals (Protein Processing) Order 1981 all rendering plants are subject to monitoring for salmonella contamination in processed animal protein. The correct application of heat and other treatment in the course of processing will desroy all salmonella organisms.

  The feeding to ruminant animals of feed derived from the carcases of ruminant animals is statutorily forbidden in accordance with the advice of the expert working party on bovine spongiform encephalopathy under the chairmanship of Professor Southwood.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a system of random sampling of the output of each egg producer in order that where eggs are found to be free of infection the public may be so informed at the point of sale.

  Mr. Ryder
  The number of eggs which have been found to be contaminated with salmonella enteritidis to date is very small, particularly when compared with the large overall number of eggs consumed in this country. In these circumstances random sampling of eggs would be unlikely to produce any meaningful results. A far more fruitful use of resources is the investigations which my officials conduct into all outbreaks of salmonella food poisoning which are traceable to particular farms.

  Hormone Growth Promotion
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the provisions of which Act he issued the Medicines (Hormones Growth Promoter) (Prohibition of Use) Regulations 1986.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Medicines (Hormone Growth Promoters) (Prohibition of Use) Regulations 1986 were made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.

  Nephrops
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to designate nephrops contained in ICES VIa area a pressure stock for licensing purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  On the basis of traditional fishing effort, I see no reason for doing so. In 1987 we caught 72 per cent. of our quota in an unrestricted fishery; so far for 1988 (3 December) we have caught 75 per cent. Looking ahead we have maintained the precautionary TAC for 1989 at the current level of 15·620 tonnes.

SCOTLAND

  Health Service (Grading)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by health board the number of midwives on each grade of the previous grading structure

  Former midwife grades

  Health Board

  Staff midwives

  Sister II midwives

  Sister I midwives

  Senior nurse 8 midwives

  Senior nurse 7 midwives

  Tutor midwives

  Argyll and Clyde

  142·06

  109·44

  1·00

  10·00

  3·00

  —

  Ayrshire and Arran

  138·87

  99·68

  —

  6·00

  1·00

  3·00

  Borders

  26·25

  11·54

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  39·40

  30·07

  28·60

  22·00

  —

  1·00

  Fife

  93·27

  54·17

  —

  2·00

  —

  —

  Forth Valley

  81·46

  35·09

  8·00

  —

  —

  4·00

  Grampian

  153·42

  83·38

  1·00

  —

  —

  4·00

  Greater Glasgow

  340·31

  179·67

  4·00

  32·00

  8·00

  18·00

  Highland

  82·03

  68·36

  7·00

  3·00

  1·00

  —

  Lanarkshire

  140·00

  86·00

  —

  9·00

  3·00

  4·00

  Lothian

  220·23

  115·85

  —

  16·00

  3·00

  12·00

  Orkney

  3·00

  4·35

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Shetland

  6·00

  3·80

  3·80

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  143·88

  43·80

  1·00

  12·00

  —

  6·00

  Western Isles

  16·70

  —

  —

  1·50

  —

  —

  Totals

  1,626·88

  925·20

  54·40

  113·50

  19·00

  52·00

  22

  Midwives on new grades

  Health Board

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  G

  H

  I

  Argyll and Clyde

  —

  —

  —

  —

  80·61

  68·25

  98·24

  8·40

  10·00

  Ayrshire and Arran

  —

  —

  —

  0·56

  76·01

  83·71

  78·27

  4·00

  6·00

  Borders

  —

  —

  —

  —

  26·25

  8·54

  3·00

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  —

  —

  —

  —

  38·61

  11·86

  58·60

  10·00

  2·00

  Fife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  84·03

  9·24

  54·17

  2·00

  —

  Forth Valley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  69·55

  34·17

  12·83

  8·00

  4·00

  Grampian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  98·80

  77·44

  58·56

  3·00

  4·00

  Greater Glasgow

  —

  —

  —

  3·06

  299·93

  144·96

  77·03

  34·00

  23·00

  Highland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  45·55

  46·24

  65·60

  —

  4·00

  Lanarkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65·00

  94·00

  68·00

  9·0

  6·00

  Lothian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  126·81

  96·75

  113·52

  15·00

  15·00

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3·00

  —

  4·35

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6·00

  3·80

  3·80

  —

  —

  Tayside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  102·54

  46·34

  38·80

  13·00

  6·00

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10·20

  6·50

  —

  0·50

  1·00

  Totals

  —

  —

  —

  3·62

  1,132·89

  731·80

  734·77

  106·90

  81·00

  Note: Data reflect Boards' assimilation of posts to new scales based on duties and responsibilities as at I April and are correct as at 31 October 1988.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff from each of the old grades have been assimilated to each of the new grades in the recent clinical grading structure in Ayrshire and Arran health board.

  Percentages transferred to each new clinical grade

  Previous grade

  Staff in post whole time equivalents

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  G

  H

  I

  Nursing Auxiliary

  934·57

  94·30

  5·70

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hospital Staff NNEB

  16·34

  —

  100·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled Nurse

  457·37

  —

  —

  65·20

  34·80

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enrolled District Nurse

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Senior Enrolled Nurse

  16·86

  —

  —

  4·20

  95·80

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse

  713·71

  —

  —

  —

  24·60

  63·00

  12·40

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Midwife

  138·87

  —

  —

  —

  0·40

  54·70

  44·90

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nursing Sister II

  284·23

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  38·50

  59·70

  1·80

  —

  Midwifery Sister II

  99·68

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  21·50

  78·50

  —

  —

  District Nurse (Sister II)

  100·09

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100·00

  —

  —

  780
  and the number of midwives on each grade of the new grading structure, identifying separately hospital-based midwives and community midwives.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is given in the tables. Data which would permit separate identification of hospital-based and community midwives are not held centrally.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is given in the table:
  781

  Percentages transferred to each new clinical grade

  Previous grade

  Staff in post whole time equivalents

  A

  B

  C

  D

  E

  F

  G

  H

  I

  Nursing Sister I

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Midwifery Sister I

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Health Visitor

  78·20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100·00

  —

  —

  Senior Nurse 8

  29·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3·40

  10·30

  86·20

  Senior Nurse 8 (Midwife)

  6·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  66·70

  33·30

  Senior Nurse 7

  10·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100·00

  Senior Nurse 7 (Midwife)

  1·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100·00

  Clinical Teacher

  16·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12·50

  87·50

  —

  Fieldwork Teacher

  16·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100·00

  —

  Practical Work Teacher

  14·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100·00

  —

  Tutor

  13·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100·00

  Tutor Midwife

  3·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100·00

  Post Basic Students

  Enrolled Nurse

  36·00

  —

  —

  100·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Nurse

  86·00

  —

  —

  —

  94·20

  5·80

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Deputy Sister

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sister II

  8·00

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  37·50

  62·50

  —

  —

  Others

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTALS

  3,077·92

  28·60

  2·30

  10·90

  14·10

  17·20

  9·30

  14·10

  1·80

  1·70

  Exploration for Gold
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will define the licensing and planning requirements associated with exploration for gold in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Most of the gold rights in Scotland belong by ancient right to the Crown and are dealt with by the Crown Estate Commissioners in Edinburgh. There are some exceptions. Certain gold rights are owned by individual landowners.

  Applicants for a Crown Estate prospecting licence must convince the Commissioners that they have the necessary financial and technical backing to carry through a comprehensive exploration and eventually an exploitation programme. The applicant will be required to obtain any other necessary consents including that of the landowners. Planning permission is required from the relevant planning authority as for any mineral working.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the gold exploration work(a) in progress and (b) proposed in Scotland at present; and if he will name the companies involved.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The majority of gold prospecting licences are granted by the Crown Estate Commissioners. The information requested is commercially confidential to the companies concerned. Separate records are not kept of licences granted by private individuals who possess gold rights.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to tighten up environmental controls over gold exploration; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans for special controls for gold-mining. Developments of this kind are subject to the existing controls which apply, for example, to discharges to rivers and to the disposal of waste.

  Wildlife and Countryside Act
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the payments made to date under the Wildlife and Countryside Act in compensation for the non-planting of trees.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Details of individual payments made by the Nature Conservancy Council are confidential. Information on the numbers and costs of payments are published in the council's annual report, copies of which are in the Library.

  Student Allowances
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the levels of students' allowances and parental contributions for session 1989–90.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I propose to increase the main rates of allowances by 5 per cent. in the 1989–90 academic year, as previously indicated. In addition, I propose to increase the differential in the rate paid to students studying in London. The new rate for Scottish students will be as follows (rates for 1988–89 are shown in brackets):

  £

  £

  Student in the parental home

  1,575

  (1,500)

  Student living away from home

  — outside London

  2,090

  (1,990)

  — in London

  2,585

  (2,365)

  Students in receipt of maintenance allowances will be eligible for reimbursement of travelling expenses in excess of the ·55 included in the main rates.

  The threshold for parental contributions, and the points on the contribution scales at which the rate of contribution changes will be uprated to reflect the movement of earnings. Parents whose residual income is below ·10,600 will not be assessed for a contribution. The minimum contribution will be increased from £50 to £60 for parents whose contribution is assessed on scale 1 and from £37 to £45 for those assessed on scale 2. The

  783
  maximum contribution, which applies to parents with more than one award-holding child, will increase from £4,900 to £5,300.

  The full contribution scales for session 1989–90 are as follows:

  Residual income

  Contribution scale

  Scale 1

  Scale 2

  £

  £

  £

  10,000

  0

  0

  10,600

  60

  45

  11,000

  117

  88

  12,000

  260

  195

  13,000

  402

  302

  13,500

  474

  356

  14,000

  574

  431

  15,000

  774

  581

  16,000

  974

  731

  17,000

  1,174

  881

  18,000

  1,374

  1,031

  19,000

  1,574

  1,181

  19,800

  1,734

  1,301

  20,000

  1,784

  1,338

  21,000

  2,034

  1,526

  22,000

  2,284

  1,713

  23,000

  2,534

  1,901

  24,000

  2,784

  2,088

  25,000

  3,034

  2,276

  26,000

  3,284

  2,463

  27,000

  3,534

  2,651

  28,000

  3,784

  2,838

  29,000

  4,034

  3,026

  30,000

  4,284

  3,213

  31,000

  4,534

  3,401

  32,000

  4,784

  3,588

  33,000

  5,034

  3,776

  34,000

  5,284

  3,963

  34,064

  5,300

  3,975

  35,000

  5,300

  4,151

  36,000

  5,300

  4,338

  37,000

  5,300

  4,526

  38,000

  5,300

  4,713

  39,000

  5,300

  4,901

  40,000

  5,300

  5,088

  41,000

  5,300

  5,276

  41,130

  5,300

  5,300

  Notes:
  (1) The second parental contribution scale was introduced following the announcement on 15 March 1988 that tax relief on new non-charitable deeds of covenant would cease; it applies primarily to students who first entered higher education in session 1988–89 or later. The contributions assessed on scale 2 are 25 per cent. less than those on scale 1.
  (2) Contributions will rise with residual income, as follows:
  784

  Income

  Scale 1

  Scale 2

  From £10,600 to £13,500

  By £1 in £7

  By £1 in £9·33

  From £13,501 to £19,800

  By £1 in £5

  By £1 in £6·67

  From £19,801

  By £1 in £4

  By £1 in £5·33

  (3) The contribution payable may be less than the amount shown in the relevant table, particularly at the top of the scale where the contribution is in respect of one award holder only. It will depend on the level of grant against which the contribution is to be set and whether or not any of the assessed contribution is itself offset by allowances for other dependent children.

  Remand
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average time spent on remand in custody by those who had completed their period of remand during the three months prior to 1 April.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not available.

  Woodland Grant Scheme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his assessment of the achievement of the woodland grant scheme in maintaining the planting rates of(a) coniferous forest and (b) broadleaved woodland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The woodland grant scheme has only been open to applicants since the middle of June. It is too early to say how successful it will be in terms of planting rates.

  Language Teachers
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans there are to revise the draft review of secondary school staffing standards to take into account the inclusion of modern languages in the core curriculum.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 12 December 1988:] The draft proposals for staffing levels in secondary schools are not affected by the precise pattern of curriculum entries, but by the breadth of the curriculum offered. In the longer term there should be no overall effect on the number of staff required by schools but rather an adjustment in the balance between teachers of modern languages and of other subjects.