Written Answers of 17 February 1988

WALES

  Job Creation
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of jobs he estimates will be made available in the next four years(a) in Clwyd and (b) in Wales, as a result of the new system of grants; and what was the number of jobs projected under the regional development grant system.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Under the regional development grant scheme, 22,500 jobs in Wales and 7,700 jobs in Clwyd are expected to be created as a result of projects already approved for grant. The number of jobs created under the new grants schemes will depend on the response from industry and on the number and size of individual projects for which assistance is sought. I am confident that the new schemes will have a very beneficial effect on employment in Wales as a result of the substantial increase in regional industrial expenditure planned over the next three years.

  Family Practitioner Committee Area

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Clwyd

  89

  89

  89

  89

  88

  87

  83

  83

  85

  Dyfed

  95

  96

  94

  93

  90

  90

  90

  92

  96

  Gwent

  92

  94

  93

  93

  91

  90

  90

  90

  90

  Gwynedd

  64

  64

  63

  62

  61

  60

  59

  59

  61

  Mid Glamorgan

  115

  117

  116

  115

  116

  120

  124

  126

  134

  Powys

  25

  24

  24

  22

  23

  23

  23

  23

  23

  South Glamorgan

  101

  99

  99

  97

  100

  96

  96

  98

  102

  West Glamorgan

  99

  100

  101

  99

  100

  100

  100

  105

  105

  Wales

  680

  683

  679

  670

  669

  666

  665

  676

  696

  Appointments
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the appointments he has made to organisations in Wales since June 1987.

  Chairman

  Deputy Chairman

  Members

  Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales

  —

  —

  4

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  —

  1

  —

  Committee on Agricultural Valuation for Wales

  —

  —

  1

  Committee for the Welsh Scheme for the Development of Health and Social Research

  —

  —

  1

  Court of University College, Bangor

  —

  —

  1

  Court of University College, Swansea

  —

  —

  1

  Community Health Council—Clwyd South

  —

  —

  1

  —Clwyd North

  —

  —

  1

  —South Gwent

  —

  —

  1

  —Ogwr

  —

  —

  1

  —Vale of Glamorgan

  —

  —

  1

  Cwmbran Development Corporation

  —

  —

  1

  District Health Authority—Mid Glamorgan

  —

  —

  1

  —Powys

  —

  —

  2

  —West Glamorgan

  —

  —

  1

  Family Practitioner Committee—Gwent

  —

  —

  2

  —Gwynedd

  —

  —

  2

  County Structure Plans
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the status of county structure plans; and what regard is given to them in deciding planning applications not in conformity with the structure plan.

  Mr. Grist
  In any area the structure plan forms part of the statutory development plan. A decision on an application for planning permission must have regard to the provisions of the development plan, so far as material to the application, and to any other material considerations. The latest central Government advice on these matters is set out in paragraphs 11 to 15 of planning policy guidance note No. 1 (PPG 1), dated January 1988, which was issued with Welsh Office circular No. 1/88, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Pharmacies
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will supply figures for the number of pharmacies in each family practitioner committee area in Wales for each year since 1978 to the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of pharmaceutical chemists in family practitioner committee areas in Wales at 31 December of each year is given in the table:

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 16 January 1988]: In the period from 13 June 1987 to 31 December 1987, I have made the following appointments to public bodies in Wales:
  599

  Chairman

  Deputy Chairman

  Members

  —Mid Glamorgan

  —

  —

  1

  —Powys

  —

  —

  2

  —West Glamorgan

  —

  —

  1

  Health Policy Board

  —

  —

  1

  Historic Buildings Council

  —

  —

  2

  Land Authority for Wales

  —

  1

  5

  Library and Information Services Council (Wales)

  —

  —

  4

  South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee

  —

  —

  1

  Wales Tourist Board

  1

  —

  1

  Welsh Committee on Drug Misuse

  —

  —

  1

  Welsh Development Agency

  —

  —

  2

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority

  —

  —

  4

  Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board

  —

  —

  1

  Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  —

  —

  1

  Welsh Water Authority

  —

  —

  4

  1

  2

  53

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the people he has appointed to public bodies since his appointment are normally resident outside Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]Of the 56 people I have appointed in the period from 13 June 1987 to 31 December 1987, 52 are normally resident within Wales. Of the remaining four, two are reappointments, one is Welsh by origin, and the other is a specialist in his field.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will make a statement on the criteria and conditions required by state and public schools for acceptance on the assisted places scheme;

  (2) if he will list those schools, both state and public, that have applied to join the assisted places scheme in the last 12 months; and when he expects to announce his decision as to whether or not they have been accepted.

  Mr. Dunn
  The assisted places scheme exists to give help with tuition fees at certain independent secondary schools to the parents of able children who might not otherwise attend these schools. The principal criteria for admission to the scheme cover overall and sixth form size, curricular breadth, examination success and general academic merit. In addition, the Secretary of State has regard to the desirability of securing an equitable distribution of assisted places both geographically and between boys and girls.

  A total of 128 schools have within the last 12 months submitted formal applications to join the scheme. These are listed in the table. Careful consideration is now being given to these applications and my right hon. Friend will announce the outcome in due course.

  Independent Schools which have submitted firmal applications to join the Assisted Places Scheme

  Abbotsholme School, Uttoxeter

  Ackworth School, Pontefract

  Ardingly College, Haywards Heath

  Ashville College, Harrogate

  Austin Friars, Carlisle

  Barnard Castle School, Co. Durham

  Bedstone College, Bucknell

  Bentham School, Nr. Lancaster

  Birkdale School, Sheffield

  600

  Bloxham School, Banbury

  Bootham School, York

  Box Hill School, Dorking

  Bromsgrove School, Worcs.

  Blue Coat School, Birmingham (Prep.)

  Burgess Hill School for Girls

  Cheltenham Ladies College

  Christ's Hospital School, Horsham

  City of London Freemans School, Ashstead

  Claremont Fan Court School, Surrey

  Clayesmore School, Dorset

  Combe Bank School, Sevenoaks

  Convent of Our Lady of Providence, Hants.

  Croft House School, Dorset

  Croham Hurst School, Croydon

  Culcheth Hall School, Altrincham

  Derby High School

  Douai School, Reading

  Dover College

  Downe House School, Newbury

  Durham School

  Edgbaston C of E College for Girls

  Ellerslie School, Worcs.

  Ellesmere College

  Elmslie Girls School

  Felixstowe College

  Fernhill Manor School, New Milton

  Fulneck Boys School, Pudsey

  Giggleswick School, Settle

  Godolphin School, The, Salisbury

  Guildford High School for Girls

  Haileybury and Imperial Service College

  Halliford School, Surrey

  Headington School, Oxford

  Heathfield School, Pinner

  Hipperholme G S, Halifax

  Hollygirt School, Nottingham

  Holy Child School, Edgbaston

  Holy Trinity Convent School, Bromley

  Hurstpierpoint College, Hassocks

  Huyton College, Liverpool

  Kelly College, Devon

  Kent College, Tunbridge Wells

  Kimbolton School, Cambridgeshire

  Kings School, Bruton

  Kings School, Gloucester

  Kingsley School The, Leamington Spa

  Laxton School, Peterborough

  Leicester G S

  Leicester High School for Girls

  Leighton Park School, Reading

  Lubavitch House School, N16

  Marist Convent Senior School, Ascot

  Menorah G S, NW11

  Moira House School, Eastbourne

  Mount School The, NW7

  Mount School, York

  Mount Carmel School, Cheshire

  601

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne Church High School

  Notre Dame Senior School, Cobham

  Oakham School, Rutland

  Oswestry School

  Our Lady's Convent Senior School, Abingdon

  Pangbourne College, Reading

  Pierrepont School, Farnham

  Polam Hall School, Darlington

  Presentation College, Reading

  Princethorpe College, Rugby

  Prior Park College, Bath

  Purcell School

  Reading Blue Coat School

  Reed's School, Cobham

  Rendcomb College, Cirencester

  Rickmansworth Masonic School, Hertfordshire

  Rosemead School, Littlehampton

  Royal Russell School, Croydon

  Royal Walverhampton School

  Ryde School, Isle of Wight

  St. Anne's School, Windermere

  St. Brandons School, Clevedon

  St. Columba's College, St. Albans

  St. Edmunds School, Canterbury

  St. Edwards School, Cheltenham

  St. Felix School, Southwold

  St. Francis College, Letchworth

  St. Georges School, Ascot

  St. Hildas School, Whitby

  St. Joseph's College, Stoke-on-Trent

  St. Lawrence College, Ramsgate

  St. Margaret's School, Bushey

  St. Margaret's School, Exeter

  St. Martin's School, Solihull

  St. Mary's Convent, Folkestone

  St. Mary's Convent, Worcester

  St. Mary's Convent, Shaftsbury

  St. Michael's School, Oxted

  St. Nicholas School, Fleet

  St. Teresa's Convent School, Dorking

  St. Ursula's High School, Bristol

  Sacred Heart College, Droitwich

  Sacred Heart School, Tunbridge Wells

  Scarisbrick Hall School, Lancashire

  Scarborough College

  Sevenoaks School

  Shebbear College, Devon

  Silcoats School, Wakefield

  Solihull School

  Stella Maris Convent School, Bideford

  Stratford House School, Bromley

  Surbiton High School

  Tettenhall College, Wolverhampton

  Tormead School, Guildford

  Upper Tooting High School, Balham

  Ursuline Convent School, Kent

  Wentworth Milton Mount School, Bournemouth

  Westonbirt School, Tetbury

  Westwood House School, Peterborough

  Worksop College, Nottinghamshire

  Wrekin College, Telford

  Higher Education (Allowances)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost of providing each 16 to 19-year-old student attending higher or further education with an allowance equivalent to the pay of a youth training scheme trainee, on the assumption that there would be a 50 pe cent. take-up of places.

  Mr. Jackson
  If 50 per cent. of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds participated in full-time education and received an allowance equivalent to the youth training scheme allowance, the annual cost of those payments would be some £1,900 million. This figure is based on 50 per cent. of the total population of 16-year-olds in England 602
  receiving £28.50 per week—the youth training scheme allowance for that age—and 50 per cent. of 17 and 18-year-olds in England receiving £35 per week—I he allowance for trainees in their second year.

  The figure does not discount awards currently made by LEAs to students in this age group. Nor does it take account of child benefit payments to the parents of students in full-time education up to their 19th birthday.

  Educational Assessments
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide the latest available figures of the number of children with statements under the Education Act 1981 in each local authority in England, Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Dunn
  The number of pupils with statements of special educational need attending maintained primary, middle and secondary schools and special schools in each local education authority in England in January 1987 is given in the table. Information on the number of pupils with statements of special educational need in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales.

  Pupils with statements in each LEA1 January 1987

  Pupils

  Barking

  272

  Barnet

  531

  Bexley

  525

  Brent

  492

  Bromley

  761

  Croydon

  835

  Ealing

  597

  Enfield

  503

  Haringey

  431

  Harrow

  396

  Havering

  484

  Hillingdon

  558

  Hounslow

  721

  Kingston upon Thames

  324

  Merton

  316

  Newham

  680

  Redbridge

  499

  Richmond upon Thames

  237

  Sutton

  394

  Waltham Forest

  893

  Inner London

  8,386

  Birmingham

  3,673

  Coventry

  1,052

  Dudley

  694

  Sandwell

  1,022

  Solihull

  410

  Walsall

  760

  Wolverhampton

  736

  Knowsley

  654

  Liverpool

  1,974

  St. Helens

  557

  Sefton

  803

  Wirral

  1,170

  Bolton

  632

  Bury

  432

  Manchester

  2,024

  Oldham

  735

  Rochdale

  713

  Salford

  940

  Stockport

  1,024

  Tameside

  585

  Trafford

  673

  603

  Pupils

  Wigan

  838

  Barnsley

  426

  Doncaster

  1,035

  Rotherham

  770

  Sheffield

  1,427

  Bradford

  1,388

  Calderdale

  411

  Kirklees

  1,003

  Leeds

  2,526

  Wakefield

  816

  Gateshead

  588

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1,036

  North Tyneside

  659

  South Tyneside

  402

  Sunderland

  882

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  Avon

  4,450

  Bedfordshire

  1,298

  Berkshire

  2,186

  Buckinghamshire

  2,459

  Cambridgeshire

  1,753

  Cheshire

  3,476

  Cleveland

  2,287

  Cornwall

  1,173

  Cumbria

  1,306

  Derbyshire

  3,135

  Devon

  3,107

  Dorset

  1,777

  Durham

  1,381

  East Sussex

  1,964

  Essex

  4,371

  Gloucestershire

  1,409

  Hampshire

  4,836

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,880

  Hertfordshire

  3,294

  Humberside

  2,129

  Isle of Wight

  352

  Kent

  4,882

  Lancashire

  4,207

  Leicestershire

  1,734

  Lincolnshire

  1,736

  Norfolk

  1,729

  North Yorkshire

  1,726

  Northamptonshire

  1,856

  Northumberland

  774

  Nottinghamshire

  2,597

  Oxfordshire

  1,040

  Shropshire

  1,353

  Somerset

  1,398

  Staffordshire

  2,576

  Suffolk

  1,708

  Surrey

  3,361

  Warwickshire

  1,633

  West Sussex

  1,522

  Wiltshire

  1,852

  England

  141,962

  1 Excludes independent schools and nursery schools.

  Middle Schools
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many middle schools of eight to 12 years and of nine to 13 years there are; and what are the approximate numbers of pupils in each category.

  Mr. Dunn
  The number of maintained middle schools of age eight to 12 and of nine to 13, and the number of pupils in these schools in January 1987 in England was as follows:
  604

  Middle schools with age range

  Schools

  Pupils

  8 to 12

  598

  147,737

  9 to 13

  569

  193,085

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Irish Republic
  Mr. McCusker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his answer of 9 February,Official Report, column 149, he will list in precise detail the views and proposals of the Government of the Irish Republic put forward by them at the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Inter-Government Council both in November 1985 and since that date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend cannot give details of specific proposals put forward in private by the Irish Government. Nonetheless, a detailed communiqué was issued after the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council at Hillsborough in November 1985, and joint statements have been issued after each meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference held since.

  Nuclear Power Stations (Attacks)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the discussions in the conference on disarmament on banning attacks on nuclear power stations; and if he will take steps to strengthen the provisions of article 56 of protocol I of the 1977 additional protocols to the 1949 Geneva convention.

  Mr. Mellor
  The prevention of attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities is the subject of discussion by the conference on disarmament's ad hoc committee on radiological weapons. The United Kingdom plays a constructive role in these talks and is chairing the committee this year.

  We do not believe that it would be appropriate to attempt to alter the text of the 1977 additional protocols, which were preceded by long and detailed negotiations.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Food Aid
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to(a) the estimated value of emergency food relief contributions, by country, for the years 1985 to 1987–88, (b) whether these contributions are deducted from the overseas aid budget of such countries, and (c) the proportion of the overseas aid budgets of such countries these payments represent.

  Mr. Patten
  The table contains details of total food aid by donor country for 1985 and 1986 and the percentage of total official development assistance of each country that these figures represent. Information on the value of food aid used for emergency relief is not separately available. Nor is information readily available on the relationships between the overseas aid budget and expenditure on food aid in all the countries listed.
  605

  DAC donor countries—food aid 1985 and 1986

  $ million

  1985 Food aid

  1985 As percentage of oda

  1985 Food aid

  1985 As percentage of oda

  Australia

  51

  6·8

  84

  11·2

  Austria

  8

  3·2

  3

  1·5

  Belgium

  44

  10·0

  20

  3·6

  Canada

  263

  16·1

  262

  15·5

  Denmark

  25

  5·7

  27

  3·9

  Finland

  12

  5·7

  21

  6·7

  France

  127

  3·2

  122

  2·4

  Germany

  204

  6·9

  227

  5·9

  Ireland

  8

  20·5

  2

  3·2

  Italy

  164

  14·9

  259

  10·8

  Japan

  27

  0·7

  66

  1·2

  Netherlands

  85

  7·5

  109

  6·3

  New Zealand

  1

  1·9

  —

  —

  Norway

  27

  4·7

  27

  3·4

  Sweden

  38

  4·5

  35

  3·2

  Switzerland

  29

  9·6

  30

  7·1

  United Kingdom

  137

  9·0

  98

  5·6

  United States

  1,859

  19·8

  1,518

  15·9

  Total DAC countries

  3,113

  10·6

  2,912

  7·9

  Note: Total bilateral and multilateral food aid ie includes food aid by EEC according to member states shares of EC budget.

  ODA = Official development assistance (net).

  Source:Development assistance committee (DAC) of the OECD.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Motor Manufacturers (Components)
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to which British-based motor manufacturers are in a position to fit(a) oxidation catalysts and (b) three-way catalysts to their products from 1 January 1989.

  Value: £ million

  1979

  1987*

  (a)

  (b)

  Crude balance

  (a)

  (b)

  Crude balance

  imports (cif)

  exports (fob)

  £ million

  as a percentage of (a)

  imports (cif)

  exports (fob)

  £ million

  as a percentage of (a)

  Total trade

  48,423

  42,802

  -5,621

  12

  94,016

  79,851

  -14,165

  15

  of which:

  (i) Cereals and cereal preparations

  668

  264

  -404

  60

  741

  831

  +90

  12

  (ii) Agricultural products

  6,264

  1,814

  -4,450

  71

  9,407

  4,080

  -5,327

  57

  (iii) Other

  42,160

  40,988

  -1,172

  3

  84,609

  75,771

  -8,838

  10

  of which:

  (iv) Motor vehicles

  2,997

  1,519

  -1,479

  49

  5,692

  2,452

  -3,240

  57

  (v) Electrical goods

  3,643

  3,633

  -9

  0

  13,529

  10,246

  -3,283

  24

  (vi) Steel

  998

  1,080

  + 83

  8

  1,603

  1,874

  + 271

  17

  (vii) Coal

  136

  62

  -74

  54

  368

  78

  -290

  79

  Sources: The following SITC/R2 data in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics: (i) Division 04, (ii) Sections 0 & 4 and Division 22, (iv) Groups 781, 782, 783 and Sub-group 784.1, (v) Divisions 75, 76, 77 and Group 716, (vi) Groups 672–675, Sub-groups 678.2, .3, .4 and 679.3 and Items 676.01 (part), .02 (part), 679.42 and 791.99 (part), (vii) Sub-groups 322.1 and 322.2.

  Notes: (i) crude balance is United Kingdom exports (fob) less United Kingdom imports (cif). (ii) 0 signifies a value of less than 0.5. (iii) * 1987 figures are provisional.
  606
  Mr. Atkins
  Some United Kingdom motor manufacturers are currently producing three-way catalyst versions of certain of their models for export markets which enforce emissions standards requiring such equipment. However, these models are not necessarily produced in specifications designed for United Kingdom conditions. No United Kingdom manufacturers are presently supplying cars fitted with oxidation catalysts. The future model plans of the manufacturers are a commercial matter for the companies concerned.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will update the information contained in his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 10 February 1987,Official Report, column 164, regarding the crude balance of imports and exports of (a) cereals and cereal preparations, (b) motor vehicles and (c) electrical goods in 1979 and 1987 and the net overall position in 1979 and 1987; and if he will also show (A) total imports and (B) total exports of (i) cereals and cereal preparations, (ii) all agricultural products, (iii) all other imports and exports, (iv) motor vehicles, (v) electrical goods, (vi) steel and (vii) coal for 1979 and 1987, giving in each case, the difference between (A) and (B) in actual and percentage terms.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is as follows:

  Fertilisers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total output of fertilisers, the percentage exported and the proportion of the domestic market taken by imports in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) West Germany and (c) Japan in 1958, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and in each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The available information for the United Kingdom for the value of output for years up to 1985 is published in the "Business Monitor" series PA 1002, "Report on the Census of Production", summary volume (table 11); 1986 output data are available in "Business Monitor" PA 251 (table 8). The available information on United Kingdom export and import ratios is published in "Business Monitor" series MQ12, import penetration and export sales ratios for manufacturing industry. These publications are available in the Library. Similar information for the Federal Republic of Germany and Japan is not available.

  Superconductivity
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures he is taking to promote the application of the principles of superconductivity in British industry.

  Mr. Butcher
  On 21 January 1988, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced a £16 million three-year programme to stimulate collaborative industrial research on superconductivity. The DTI will provide up to 50 per cent. of the programme cost and industry will find the balance. Work supported under the programme will include research into materials and device applications, as well as research aimed at producing superconductors that work at room temperature. The programme has been developed in consultation with the electronics and electrical engineering industries, and complements the Science and Engineering Research Council's programme of academic research in HEIs, including the first university research centre at Cambridge. The DTI and SERC have together established a National Committee for Superconductivity, announced in October 1987. Chaired by Sir Martin Wood, the national committee co-ordinates support for industrial and academic research and advises on national policy for superconductors.

  Financial Services Act
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from interested bodies concerning applications to register with self-regulating organisations under the Financial Services Act.

  Mr. Maude
  I have received many representations about this and other aspects of the Financial Services Act.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any estimate of the number of applications currently before the self-regulating organisations or the Securities and Investments Board.

  Mr. Maude
  I am informed by the Securities and Investments Board that the number of applications by 608
  investment businesses for authorisation by a recognised self-regulating organisation or the Securities and Investments Board which were either approved or in the course of consideration as at 12 February 1988 was approximately 9,800.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to advertise further the time limits for applications before self-regulating organisations or the Securities and Investments Board.

  Mr. Maude
  My Department will be issuing a further series of advertisements in both national and regional press drawing to the attention of investment businesses the need to apply for authorisation before 27 February. This follows two earlier series of advertisements which, regrettably, some investment businesses seem to have ignored.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is satisfied that the Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulating organisations have adequate staff and resources to deal with the applications before them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The then Secretary of State concluded before proposing the transfer of functions to the SIB in May 1987 that the staff and resources available to it were sufficient for the time. I believe that still to be the case. Before recognising a self-regulating organisation under the Act, the SIB is required to satisfy itself as to a number of factors, including the adequacy of the organisation's resources. I see no reason to differ from SIB's judgment.

  Wimbledon Citizens' Advice Bureau (Pamphlet)
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to cease the distribution by the citizens' advice bureau in Wimbledon of the pamphlet "Sex", published by the Terrence Higgins Trust, in view of its explicit promotion of exclusively homosexual activities.

  Mr. Butcher
  Policy and day-to-day running of the citizens' advice bureaux are matters for the National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux (NACAB). I understand that NACAB circulates to bureaux a monthly information pack on AIDS publications which provides a comprehensive list of leaflets available on AIDS, including the Terrence Higgins Trust leaflet "Sex", which bureaux may choose to look at to decide whether they might be helpful to clients. The NACAB has informed me that, in its view, this leaflet is not suitable for public display and that it has not distributed it to bureaux. The NACAB has also informed me that the leaflet has not been stocked, distributed or displayed by the Wimbledon CAB.

  Specialised Satellite Services
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he intends to liberalise the provision of specialised satellite services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Government remain committed to the duopoly policy in telecommunications which was announced in November 1983. The Government made clear then that they did not intend to license operators other than BT and Mercury to provide the basic telecommunication service of conveying
  609
  messages over fixed links whether cable, radio or satellite either domestically or internationally. This position will not be reviewed until November 1990.

  The Government also made clear that they would give consideration to ways of introducing new specialised services by satellite. We are now proposing a degree of liberalisation in this area. Before settling the final details, we are allowing a six-week consultation period on how the following arrangements should be brought into practice.

  Our present intention is to license up to another six operators to provide point to multi-point satellite-based third party services in the United Kingdom only. If more than six acceptable proposals are put to us in a one-month qualifying period after the consultation period has ended, we will ask the Director General of Telecommunications to advise us which of the applicants to license.

  We are also intending to license receive-only terminals on users' permises. Users will be licensed to receive all kinds of satellite-delivered services within the scope of the Telecommunications Act 1984, whether national or international. A licence under that Act will be issued shortly after the end of the consultation period. The

  Chemicals

  Sales (US $ million)

  Export ratio (percentage)

  Import penetration (percentage)

  United Kingdom

  FRG

  Japan

  United Kingdom

  FRG

  Japan

  United Kingdom

  FRG

  Japan

  1965

  5,675

  8,471

  5,506

  22·0

  291

  9·9

  14·6

  16·8

  7·6

  1970

  7,602

  13,625

  15,256

  24·6

  37·2

  8·1

  17·8

  24·0

  6·7

  1975

  15,093

  30,283

  34,845

  31·3

  38·6

  11·1

  22·3

  23·6

  6·2

  1979

  27,960

  55,870

  68,316

  34·9

  43·0

  8·9

  28·8

  29·2

  7·7

  1980

  31,772

  59,324

  79,461

  37·4

  43·9

  8·6

  27·8

  30·5

  7·9

  1981

  29,138

  51,710

  81,946

  38·5

  46·2

  8·3

  30·2

  32·4

  7·9

  1982

  26,438

  48,516

  74,097

  40·2

  47·2

  8·6

  32·9

  33·8

  9·1

  1983

  25,681

  49,733

  80,956

  41·1

  48·3

  8·6

  34·8

  34·6

  8·9

  1984

  25,193

  49,418

  84,881

  43·9

  50·8

  9·0

  38·2

  36·6

  9·7

  1985

  26,112

  50,527

  85,865

  46·6

  51·7

  9·0

  39·3

  38·1

  9·4

  1986

  30,499

  64,544

  115,674

  46·8

  51·4

  8·2

  40·1

  37·6

  8·4

  Notes:

  1. Information for 1958 and 1960 and 1987 is not readily available.

  2. Figures for United Kingdom and Japan exclude man-made fibres, whilst for FRG they include man-made fibres.

  Source: Basic International Chemical Industry Statistics 1963–1986 published by Chemical Industries Association.

  Sub-postmasters (Annual Revisions)
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to how many sub-postmasters' annual revisions are awaiting checking at postal finance depot, Chesterfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: This is an operational matter for the Post Office Board and I have therefore drawn my right hon. and learned Friend's question to the attention of the chairman of the Post Office.

  Acrylics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total output of acrylics, the percentage exported, and the proportion of the
  610
  licence will not permit users to convey the signals received onwards beyond their own premises. An announcement about the implications of this decision for the licensing regime under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 will be made shortly.

  Chemicals
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what was the total output of chemicals, the percentage exported, and the proportion of the domestic market taken by imports in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) West Germany and (c) Japan in 1958, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and in each year from 1979 to 1987;

  (2) what was the total output of chemicals, by value, the percentage exported and the proportion of the domestic market taken by imports in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) West Germany and (c) Japan in 1958, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and in each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: The available information is as follows:

  domestic market taken by imports in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) West Germany and (c) Japan in 1958, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and in each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: I regret that this information is not available. The only available information relates to the United Kingdom and is published in the "Business Monitor" PQ2514 (tables 2 and 5).

  Videotape
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total output of videotape, the percentage exported, and the proportion of the domestic market taken by imports in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) West Germany and (c) Japan, in 1958. 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and in each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: I regret that this information is not available. Information

  611
  for the United Kingdom on output of videotapes is not published because the figures would disclose information about individual undertakings.

PRIME MINISTER

  Brussels Council
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the agreed limit on agricultural spending for the current year in consequence of the Brussels Council agreement; and what was the agreed limit for 1987.

  The Prime Minister
  As I indicated in my statement of 15 February the guideline base for 1988 has been set at 27·5 billion ecu (about £19 billion). The limit for 1987 was just under 23 billion ecu (about £16 billion).

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister what estimate she has made of the maximum expenditure which the European Economic Community would be entitled to undertake if the 1·2 gross national product formula agreed at the Brussels Council were applied in full; and what limit would have applied if the 1·4 limit had remained in force.

  The Prime Minister
  The 1·2 per cent. gross national product ceiling on the Community's own resources agreed at the European Council is equivalent in 1988 to some 46·5 billion ecu (£32·2 billion), whilst the current 1·4 per cent. value added tax ceiling this year is equivalent, on a comparable basis, to some 36·7 billion ecu (£25·4 billion).

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what percentage levy of gross national product for the current year was agreed at the Brussels Council;

  (2) what voting system will apply, in consequence of the Brussels Councils agreement, to alterations in the gross national product levy; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The level of the new gross national product-related contributions will be subject to the overall ceiling on all own resources equivalent to 1·2 per cent. of Community GNP and to any annual sub-ceilings which the Council may agree. These ceilings, once adopted, cannot be changed except by unanimity and following ratification in all member states. Within that constraint, the level of GNP-related contributions required to balance the budget in 1988 and later years will reflect the expenditure decisions taken by qualified majority voting in the annual budgetary process, just as the actual rate of value added tax contributions is determined under the present system.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if there is any provision in the Brussels Council agreement to prevent the Commission underwriting spending levels in excess of legal limits in a manner similar to the metric year operated in 1987 when receipts were demanded one month in advance and receipts delayed for a month; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The decision on budget discipline described in my statement of 15 February will be legally binding.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister why she agreed to the exceptional circumstances clause in the Brussels Council agreement; and by which voting system it will be operated.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on Monday 15 February on the outcome 612
  of the European Council. The monetary reserve which I referred to in my statement will operate on the basis I described and the question of voting does not therefore arise. There is no other provision for so-called exceptional circumstances.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if the sum which is currently spent each week by the European Economic Community on dumping, storing and destroying food surpluses will change in consequence of the Brussels Council agreement; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The sums spent each week on storage and disposal of surplus depend on the level of surpluses and the prices at which they can be sold. As I said in my statement on 15 February, the agreement on the agricultural stabilisers is intended to control both output and spending on surpluses.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from the United States of America and other foreign governments about the Brussels Council agreement.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if the previous decision of the Finance Ministers' Council to transfer the responsibilities of financing the cost of butter dumping to member states, which was declared to be unlawful by the Court of Auditors, was discussed at the Brussels Council; and what changes were proposed in these arrangements following the increase in EEC resources.

  The Prime Minister
  The matter was not discussed and no changes are proposed.

  Cereal Production
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister by what amount the 160 million ton ceiling for cereal production payment without price reduction exceeds or is less than actual cereal production in 1987; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The 1987 cereals harvest was affected by exceptionally difficult weather conditions in many parts of the Community; the harvest is estimated at 153 million tonnes, which is well below the trend-line production figure for 1987 of 165 million tonnes.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Intestacy
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will introduce new regulations to simplify the settling of estates in intestacy cases.

  The Attorney-General
  No. I am not satisfied that there is any need to change the rules relating to the settlement and distribution, by personal representatives, of the estates of persons dying intestate. The rules are intended to enable the distribution of an intestate's estate in a manner that the intestate might have directed if he or she had left a valid will.

  Cash Limits and Running Costs
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes will be made to the 1987–88 cash limit and running costs limit for Class XX Vote 27 of covering the administration costs of the serious frauds office and the provision in Class XX Vote 28 covering the Department's prosecution costs.

  The Attorney-General
  Yes. The office will not, as earlier expected, take over the conduct of some cases from the Crown Prosecution Service before it becomes operational. Sections 1–3 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 are likely to be brought into force in April 1988. The cash limit for Class XX, Vote 27 will be reduced by £570.000 from £2,000,000 to £1,430,000 and the running costs limit by £570,000 from £1,500,500 to £930,000. With a shortfall of £1 million on prosecution costs under Class XX, Vote 28, £1,570,000 will be surrendered to the Reserve.

DEFENCE

  Weapons (Interoperability)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals exist for interoperability among NATO countries in(a) artillery barrels and (b) ammunition.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Existing arrangements within NATO already provide a substantial measure of artillery barrel and ammunition interoperability. These include a quadrilateral ballistics memorandum of understanding, and a NATO sub-panel with responsibility for ammunition information exchange. The United Kingdom is also fully involved in discussions on the interoperability of future artillery systems.

TRANSPORT

  Head Restraints
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the number and percentage of vehicles registered in the United Kingdom that are fitted with head restraints; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department has no statistical information on this. The majority of new cars are now being provided with head restraints that meet European standards.

  Public Service Vehicle Drivers
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what legislation is(a) in force and (b) proposed concerning the maximum and minimum ages of licensed public service vehicle drivers.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The Road Traffic Act 1972 and regulations made under the Act prescribe 21 years as the minimum age for driving public service vehicles with some closely defined exceptions where the minimum age may he reduced to 18 years. Drivers of these vehicles may continue to renew their licences until they fail to satisfy the traffic commissioners as to their fitness to hold a licence. There are no proposals to change these arrangements.
  614
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legislation is(a) in force and (b) proposed concerning the physical fitness, and medical examination, of licensed public service vehicle drivers.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 and the regulations made under the Act require all applicants for public service vehicles drivers' licences to satisfy the traffic commissioners that they are fit to hold the licence. A medical report is required on first application, on each five-year renewal when drivers reach 46 years of age and annually after 65. There is also a general requirement for all drivers to report any medical condition which could affect fitness to drive. Interested bodies are now being consulted on a proposal to require public service vehicle drivers to submit medical reports with licence renewals from the age of 45.

  Greater London (Traffic Disruption)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the approximate proportion of traffic disruption or major delay in Greater London over the latest convenient annual period attributable to(a) road repair works, (b) road improvement schemes, (c) road works by statutory undertakers, (d) traffic signal failure, (e) road accidents, (f) flooding or burst water mains, (g) vehicle breakdowns, (h) shed loads, other than in accidents, (i) illegal parking, (j) state occasions, processions and demonstrations and (k) excess of traffic demand over road capacity.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Information is not collected in this form.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has concerning the amount of road traffic congestion in Greater London; from what sources he obtains such information; and what definitions he adopts of(a) congestion and (b) serious delay to traffic flow.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Road traffic congestion in London is monitored by its effect on traffic speeds. Results of regular surveys are published in statistics bulletins available from the House Library. We have not adopted a definition of congestion or serious delay to traffic flow. The Department is considering whether specific indicators would be useful.

  M25
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has concerning the M25 in respect of(a) the number and distribution of major delays, (b) the causes of major delays, (c) the numbers, locations and causes of major accidents, (d) the times, places and degree of any excess of demand over effective road capacity and (e) hourly peak and minimum flows, expressed in passenger car units, in the most heavily and least used sections.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The information is not available in the form requested. The M25 is congested at certain times on some sections. Work has started to enable a fourth lane to be added to both carriageways between junctions 11 and 13. A study has been commissioned into the best way of adding a fourth lane between junctions 15 and 16.
  615
  We have recently invited proposals from consultants for a study of traffic patterns on the whole motorway which was announced in last year's roads White Paper. It will identify existing and potential problem areas and their causes, and suggest solutions. M25 traffic flows were set out in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 9 November 1987, Official Report, columns 79–80.

  Disabled People (Parking Concessions)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if there are any reciprocal arrangements for parking concessions for disabled people between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of New Zealand; and if he will consult the Royal Association on Disability and Rehabilitation on this matter.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Reciprocal arrangements for parking concessions for people with disabilities are confined to Europe. We intend to raise with the disabled persons transport advisory committee the question of extending reciprocity to countries outside Europe.

  French Minister of Transport
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met his French counterpart; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Channon
  I met M. Douffiagues on 7 December at a meeting of the EC Transport Council. Matters discussed included international air services, road haulage permits and traffic through non-EC transit countries.

  Coaches (Speed Governors)
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the requirement to install speed governors in coaches.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I made regulations on 15 February which will be laid before the House shortly. These require new coaches to be fitted with a speed limiter from 1 April 1989, coaches first used on or after 1 April 1984, from 1 April 1990, and coaches first used on or after 1 April 1974, from 1 April 1991. Older coaches or those which have a maximum design speed no higher than 70 mph will not be affected by the regulations.

  The limiters must comply with British Standard AU 217 and be set to a maximum speed of 70 mph. The regulations will be amended as necessary to refer to minor changes to this standard now under consideration.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken, following the meeting between the Minister responsible for aviation and directors of Manchester Airport plc held on 8 February, to communicate the Government's views on the issues which the Manchester Airport plc directors raised at the meeting concerning the serious implications of the Civil Aviation Authority's draft charging proposals for Manchester airport; if he will publish any letter sent to the Civil Aviation authority as a result of that meeting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The issues are for the Civil Aviation Authority. As promised at the meeting, my noble 616
  Friend sent a short letter to the chairman of the authority mentioning the Government's oft-repeated White Paper commitment to the development of Manchester airport, and the provisions of section 39(2)(c) of the Airport Act 1986.

  Motorway Accidents
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out in a table for each month of 1987(a) the number of accidents that occurred on motorways, (b) the number of vehicles involved, (c) the number of goods vehicles with an unladen weight of more than 3 tonnes or vehicles drawing a trailer involved and (d) the number of coaches involved.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Rear Seat Belts
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to require that all self-drive hire cars are equipped with rear seat belts.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  All cars, including self-drive hire cars, first used from 1 April 1987 are required to be fitted with rear seat belts or child restraints. We have no plans to extend this requirement to any type of car registered before this date. We hope that all concerned—the car hire firms and their customers—will consider on a voluntary basis, the safety advantages of fitting and using rear seat belts.

  Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Bill
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has placed in the Library a copy of the report by Mr. Aksel Frandsen, referred to in the Government response to the special report of the Select Committee on the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Bill.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I did so yesterday.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been brought under the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981; and how many were successful.

  Mr. Renton
  The available information, which may be incomplete, is given in the following table:

  Defendants proceeded against and found guilty of offences under the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981

  England and Wales

  Number of persons

  Year

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  19811

  —

  —

  1982

  17

  10

  1983

  20

  18

  1984

  22

  17

  1985

  24

  24

  1986

  22

  19

  1 The Act came into force on 27 October

  Arrest and Search
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place in the Library a copy of his reply to the letter from the joint central committee of the Police Federation on specific powers of arrest and search of suspected carriers of knives or other sharply pointed articles; whether he proposes to meet Mr. Leslie Curtis, chairman of the Police Federation, to discuss this matter; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have done so today. The chairman of the Police Federation has not requested a meeting to discuss the matter, but my right hon. Friend and I are always willing to discuss the matter with him and I have already met the Metropolitan branch of the federation.

  Section 128 of the Criminal Justice Bill makes it an offence to have a bladed or sharply pointed article (other than a pocketknife) in a public place without good reason. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 increased police powers by making available to all constables a power to stop and search for offensive weapons and prohibited articles, and the Criminal Justice Bill will extend these powers to enable the police to stop and search those reasonably suspected of carrying articles covered by section 128. The "reasonable suspicion" requirement, which is the basis of the federation's concern, is not specific to the new offence, but applies generally to stop and search powers. A definition of "reasonable suspicion" is contained in the codes of practice made under PACE. A review of the codes has now been initiated, during which my right hon. Friend will be consulting the Police Federation and others.

  Police (Computers)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will list the constabularies which will have computers connected to the upgraded police national computer network and those constabularies that have an existing mainframe computer linked to the police national computer;

  (2) whether he will list mainframe computers belonging to constabularies and indicate whether they are for command and control or criminal information purpose.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The following police forces have a direct link to the police national computer through their own force computer system(s); this indicates whether these are command and control or criminal information systems.

  Force

  Command and Control

  Criminal Information

  Avon and Somerset

  Yes

  —

  Bedfordshire

  Yes

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  Yes

  —

  Cleveland

  Yes

  —

  Cumbria

  Yes

  —

  Devon and Cornwall

  Yes

  —

  Dorset

  Yes

  —

  Durham

  —

  Yes

  Essex

  Yes

  —

  Hertfordshire

  Yes

  —

  Humberside

  —

  Yes

  Kent

  —

  Yes

  Lincolnshire

  —

  Yes

  Merseyside

  Yes

  —

  Metropolitan

  Yes

  —

  North Yorkshire

  Yes

  —

  618

  Force

  Command and Control

  Criminal Information

  Northamptonshire

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  —

  —

  South Wales

  Yes

  —

  South Yorkshire

  Yes

  Yes

  Staffordshire

  Yes

  Yes

  Suffolk

  Yes

  Yes

  Surrey

  —

  —

  Sussex

  Yes

  —

  Warwickshire

  Yes

  Yes

  West Mercia

  Yes

  —

  West Midlands

  Yes

  —

  Wiltshire

  Yes

  —

  Hampshire intends to implement a direct link to the police national computer within the next year.

  It is intended that all forces in England, Scotland and Wales will eventually have a direct link to the police national computer through the proposed upgraded network. Further information about force computer systems is not held centrally in the form requested.

  Local Development Agencies
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to amend the processes by which central Government funds are channelled to local development agencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The only central Government funds for local development agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible are those channelled through the experimental local development agencies development fund. We are at present awaiting the first progress report from the committee administering the fund and in the meantime have no plans to change it.

  My right hon. Friend has recently amended the terms and conditions under which the fund is administered to permit him to require the committee to withhold or vary the conditions attached to a particular grant in those exceptional circumstances where such action is justified in the public interest.

  This safeguard should not normally affect the day-to-day administration of the fund. We have, however, invited interested parties to make representations about the change and these are being considered.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the measures taken to advise the general public of their right of access for data subjects in the Data Protection Act following the introduction of the measure on 11 December 1987.

  Mr. Renton
  I am informed by the Data Protection Registrar that after 11 November 1987, when the right of subject access came into force, he carried out an advertising campaign in the national press for about one month, to advise the general public of their rights. In addition 2 million advisory leaflets and posters were distributed to public libraries, citizens' advice bureaux and similar information points, and arrangements were made for the Post Office to frank approximately 90 million pieces of mail with a special mark drawing attention to the subject access right. The registrar undertook a public relations campaign involving the distribution of publicity material to regional newspapers and radio stations and he and his staff participated in more than 40 radio and
  619
  television appearances and numerous press interviews. Copies of the registrar's advisory leaflet, together with the guidelines on the Data Protection Act, have been deposited in the Library.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will hold discussions with the Data Protection Registrar to produce a code of practice covering personal data held for the purpose of national security.

  Mr. Renton
  No. Under section 27(1) of the Data Protection Act 1984 it is for the Secretary of State concerned to determine, in the light of the particular circumstances, whether personal data should be exempt from the provisions of the Act for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

  Prisons (Bibles)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the annual budget within the prison service for the distribution of bibles to prisoners;

  (2) how much of the annual budget within the prison service for the distribution of bibles to prisoners remained unspent at 1 January;

  (3) if chaplains to Her Majesty's prisons are experiencing any difficulty in obtaining bibles to distribute to prisoners;

  (4) whether the remainder of the annual budget within the prison service for the distribution of bibles to prisoners will be spent on the purposes for which it was originally allocated by 31 March.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The budget for the distribution of bibles to prisoners is reviewed annually. The amount allocated for this purpose in 1987–88 was £7,260. All of this was spent by 1 January 1988. It was hoped that a further sum could have been made available in the current financial year, but this was not possible because of other severe pressures on the prison Vote.

  A small number of copies of the authorised version and the revised standard version (used by Roman Catholics) remain in stock, but all copies of the good news version of the bible have been distributed.

  British Standard Time
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider seeking to reintroduce a British standard time to give people in Britain an extra hour of evening daylight.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government are aware of the interest in having extended daylight hours in the evenings and are considering how best to assess support for any change in the present arrangements.

  Taxi Drivers (Assaults)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many reported assaults there have been on licensed taxi drivers for each of the last five years in(a) the United Kingdom, and (b) the Basildon area;

  (2) how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions were made for assaults on licensed taxi drivers in (i) the United Kingdom, and (ii) the Basildon area for each of the last five years, and if he will express the figures as a percentage of all prosecutions and convictions.
  620
  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is not available. It is not possible from the records held centrally to distinguish the occupation of victims of assault.

  Police Manpower
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of police officers to(a) population and (b) crimes in (i) Northumberland police authority area and (ii) Northumberland county.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information available is as follows:

  Northumbria police

  Northumberland county

  Police1/Population2 ratio

  1:413

  1:694

  Police1/Crime3 ratio

  1:47

  —

  1 Police strength as at December 1987.

  2 As at mid 1986.

  3 Notifiable offences recorded by the police as produced in volume 3 of "Criminal Statistics England and Wales Supplementary Tables 1986". The force does not have those figures broken down for Northumberland county.

  Miss A. A. Bergeman
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the scientific name of the antidepressant given to Audrey Ann Bergeman on 23 July 1987 at Risley remand centre; what other medical treatment was given to Miss Bergeman while she was at the centre; whether she made any requests for medical treatment whilst she was at the centre; whether she made any statements about her medical condition while she was at the centre; and what was the assessment of the medical staff who examined her upon her admission to the centre.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Miss Bergeman was received at Risley remand centre on 20 July 1987. At the reception examination she was found to be in good general health except for a bronchial condition, for which medication was prescribed. She reported sick on 23 July and was prescribed small doses of amitriptyline. No other medical application was made and no other treatment was given.

  AIDS
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is currently considering for the improved protection of prisoners from infection with the HIV virus.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  High priority continues to be given to preventive measures, which currently include systematic medical inquiry and examination at the reception stage, counselling of individual prisoners, precautionary regime restrictions at the discretion of the medical officer for prisoners identified as HIV antibody positive, and a strong emphasis on educational initiatives directed to all prisoners. A purpose-designed video film for prisoners is being developed. All aspects of the prevention strategy are kept under review.

  "Sex"
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek advice as to whether the pamphlet "Sex", published by the Terrence Higgins
  621
  Trust and distributed by Wimbledon citizens advice bureau, contravenes the provisions of the Obscene Publications Act.

  Mr. Renton
  Whether the publication of a particular article contravenes the Obscene Publications Act 1959 is a matter which only a court can determine. It is not a matter on which my right hon. Friend has any authority to offer advice.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Peachey Property plc (Investigation)
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why he has announced the appointment of inspectors to investigate possible contravention of the insider dealing legislation in relation to the securities of Peachey Property plc; and why when doing so he made reference to any transaction with which Mr. John Ritblat, chairman of British Land plc. may have been connected.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. and noble Friend decided that the appointment of inspectors in this case was necessary in the light of information provided. Such information is received from various sources including the stock exchange. It has been the practice for some time to announce such appointments where the fact that a particular person would be involved in an investigation might, if it became known, be likely to affect the share price of a company with which he is connected. The purpose — to which the stock exchange as the listing authority attaches importance—is to avoid a disorderly market in the shares of the company through such information becoming known only gradually and partially. The appointment of inspectors carries no implication of guilt, but only of the existence of circumstances needing investigation.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the responsibilities(a) of local authorities in relation to the administration of housing benefit locally and (b) of his Department in relation to the administration of housing benefit centrally; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Local authorities are statutorily responsible for the administration of the housing benefit scheme which includes informing the public about the scheme, determining claims, making payments and reviewing decisions on appeal. It also includes making payments to householders who qualify for housing benefit because they are in receipt of supplementary benefit (from April 1988 income support). The detailed rules and benefit rates which determine entitlement are set out in regulations issued by the Department. The Department is responsible for issuing guidance on the regulations and determining the arrangements for reimbursing most of the costs of the scheme incurred by local authorities. Information is collected centrally both to enable subsidy payments to be made and to inform Ministers, Parliament and the public on the costs and operation of the scheme nationally.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much rebate from community charge he estimates a young person in Coventry with an annual income of £2,500 would be entitled to, following the abolition of the domestic rating system.

  Mr. Scott
  The details of the community charge rebate scheme have yet to be decided and benefit rates for 1990 are not yet known, so it is not yet possible to make such an estimate. Rebate entitlement will also depend on a claimant's circumstances and on the level of community charge set by the local authority.

  Food Handlers
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision he is making to ensure that local authorities are able to secure adequate training for all food handlers in retail and manufacturing outlets.

  Mrs. Currie
  On 30 October 1987 my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced that officials had been asked to review the proposals contained in the joint consultation document on food legislation, which was issued in December 1984, in the light of comments received from interested organisations. One of these proposals is that local authorities should be empowered to provide food hygiene training for food handlers.

  Drugs
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current annual cost of providing drugs in the National Health Service as a whole and to family practitioners; if he is satisfied with the control and accountability of these costs; and what measures he proposes to prevent fraud by the sale of drugs overseas by those who have received them at public expense.

  Mr. Newton
  The net cost of providing drugs in the National Health Service in England in 1986–87, including fees, remuneration and payments to hospital pharmacists1 was £2,016 million. Of this £1,639 million was paid in the family practitioner services, including £120 million to dispensing doctors.

  For proprietary medicines, pharmaceutical companies with sales to the NHS of £4 million or more provide audited financial returns each year covering their costs and capital. These returns are scrutinised under the terms of the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme. Companies with sales of between £0·5 million and £4 million also provide information annually, but of a more limited nature. For generic medicines, the prices reimbursed to chemists are shown in the drug tariff. In the main, the drug tariff reflects the competing prices in this market.

  A patient may receive drugs at public expense only in exchange for a prescription form signed by a doctor. It is the doctor's responsibility to ensure that any drugs he prescribes are, in his judgment, needed by that patient. Once dispensed, the drugs become the patient's property. The clinical control expected of doctors militates against patients receiving drugs in large quantities, and there are special arrangements for drugs controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act and its regulations. Any cases of suspected fraud are investigated by family practitioner committees or health authorities in the first instance.
  623
  1This information has recently become available.

  Vaccination
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any new schemes to increase parental compliance with the need for increased vaccination against measles, whooping cough and polio.

  Mrs. Currie
  Levels of vaccination have risen in recent years to 67 per cent. for whooping cough, 86 per cent. for polio and 71 per cent. for measles (1986). We do not regard these figures as high enough to give adequate protection from these preventable diseases.

  We announced on 17 December plans to introduce a triple vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) from 1 October 1988. We intend that the introduction of MMR is preceded by a national and local publicity campaign aimed at parents and the health professions, which we hope will lead to a substantial increase in uptake levels. We are also considering how best to continue to promote the benefits of vaccination against whooping cough and polio.

  Every district health authority has now appointed an immunisation co-ordinator who will have a very important part to play in securing our objective of improved uptake of the childhood immunisation.

  Private Health Facilities (Operations Purchases)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will gather and publish from each district health authority information regarding the number, kind and cost of operations which they have bought from privately owned health facilities; and what priority his Department attaches to such information in the carrying out of the review on the funding of the National Health Service.

  Mr. Moore
  An annual return is made of contractual arrangements between National Health Service hospitals and private hospitals and a copy of the most recent return (1986) has been placed in the Library. This information relates to the number of patients treated by specialty. Details of the number, type and cost of operations performed under these arrangements are not kept centrally. We have already indicated that our internal review of the NHS will be wide ranging and fundamental. In reaching conclusions, we will want to take into account all relevant information.

  NHS Patients (Charges)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the effect on the percentage of the total funding available to the National Health Service taken by administrative costs of collecting "hotel charges" from patients.

  Mr. Newton
  Such an estimate could only realistically be made in relation to proposals for the introduction of such charges, which we do not have.

  NHS Waiting Lists
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much National Health Service waiting lists have changed between 1979 and 1987 in(a)
  624
  the North West regional health authority, and (b) the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley district health authority; and if he will make a statement.

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

  In-patient waiting list in the National Health Service at 31 March 1979 and 1987

  March 1979

  March 1987

  Change between 1979–1987

  North Western RHA

  Urgent

  4,614

  3,315

  -1,299

  Cases over one Month

  3,130

  1,824

  -1,306

  Non-urgent

  72,754

  60,566

  -12,188

  Cases over one year

  21,667

  15,056

  -6,611

  TOTAL

  77,368

  63,881

  -13,487

  Blackburn, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley DHA

  Urgent

  195

  9

  -186

  Cases over one month

  134

  0

  -134

  Non-urgent

  5,317

  2,395

  -2,922

  Cases over one year

  2,645

  450

  -2,195

  TOTAL

  5,512

  2,404

  -3,108

  Nurses (Geriatric Training)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he proposes to increase the number of nurses working within the National Health Service with special skills related to geriatric nursing.

  Mr. Newton
  The measures referred to in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 15 February at column 489 aimed at improving nurse recruitment and retention in all specialisms including geriatric nursing. In particular the recently agreed new clinical grading structure, for which the review body will recommend rates from 1 April 1988, will open up improved pay and career opportunities for those who wish to remain in clinical nursing. It will differentiate more clearly between levels of responsibility and competence and will recognise and reward additional skills and responsibility more appropriately.

  The health departments' evidence to the review body suggests that the geriatric lead of £165 per annum should continue pending a review during 1988 by the Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council, the body responsible for negotiating nurses' terms and conditions of service. The council aims to agree recommendations to the review body in the autumn of 1988.

  NHS (Staff Statistics)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of(a) medical laboratory scientific officers, (b) pharmacists and (c) medical physicists employed in the National Health Service in each of the last 12 months, distinguishing between trainees and fully qualified staff.

  Mr. Newton
  Information in the form requested is not held centrally. Such information as is available is shown in the table (the data for 30 September 1986 are the latest available to this level of detail):
  625

  Staff in Post (England) 30 September 1986 (Whole-Time Equivalents)1

  Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers

  Pharmacists

  Medical Physics Technicians

  Students

  23,530

  355

  114

  Qualified

  11,094

  2,789

  2,031

  Total

  14,624

  3,144

  2,144

  1 Figures are independently rounded to nearest whole-time equivalent.

  2 Includes all Junior A MLSOs and Junior B MLSOs. Some may not be in training, but none are qualified staff.

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  1979–80

  1985–86

  1979–80

  1985–86

  1979–80

  1985–86

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Inpatient case (acute hospitals)

  466

  718

  433

  712

  535

  849

  Outpatient attendance

  14

  26

  16

  25

  n.a.

  12

  Day Case attendance

  36

  66

  25

  56

  n.a.

  60

  Note:

  Comparison between the Scotland outpatient and day case figures and those for England and Wales is not valid because outpatient figures for England and Wales include day case and day patient attendances in respect of hospitals with less than 1,000 cases per year.

  One of the factors leading to the higher cost per inpatient case in Scotland is that Scotland has a higher proportion of the United Kingdom's teaching hospital places and proportionately more patient care therefore takes place in the relatively more expensive teaching hospital environment.

  District Health Authorities (Land Holdings)
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 26 November 1987,Official Report, columns 319–21, if he will list in league order, with the highest at the top, by acreage of land held, district health authority areas within the National Health Service in England, showing the valuation in each case (a) before the recent revaluation and (b) at the present valuation as decided by the district valuer.

  Mrs. Currie
  Returns from district valuers are currently being checked for completeness before being aggregated. It is likely to be several weeks before the information sought is available, when I will let my hon. Friend have a further reply.

  Retirement and Pension Rights
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the recent European Court decision on women's retirement and pension rights, he will seek to introduce equalisation between the sexes of working and retirement benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  Equal treatment between men and women in respect of working conditions and state and occupational benefits is already the subject of three EC directives. EC directive 76/207 provides for equal treatment at work, and following the European Court's decision that the age of retirement from work fell within the scope of that directive, the necessary provisions have been introduced into British law in the Sex Discrimination Act 1986. EC directive 79/7 deals with equal treatment in social security benefits and has been in force since December 1984. Pension age and survivors' benefits are excluded from the scope of that directive. Equal treatment in occupational social security is required by directive

  Patient Costs
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the average cost of(a) an operation, (b) an out-patient attendance and (c) a one-day attendance at all the hospitals in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland in 1979 and 1986.

  Mrs. Currie
  The nearest available figure for the average cost of an operation is the average cost per inpatient case. These figures, together with those for outpatients and day cases are shown in the table.

  86/378, which is not yet in force and excludes pension age and survivors' benefits until equalisation is required in the state scheme. The steps we have taken to comply with these directives mean that equal treatment between men and women exists in most areas of working and retirement benefits; some further steps will be needed to comply with EC 86/378 and we are considering these. We have no immediate plans to introduce equal treatment in areas excluded from the directives, but changes in pension age in particular have been under consideration for some time.

  Chlamydia
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what diagnostic services are available under the National Health Service for the detection of the disease Chlamydia; and what plans he has to extend these.

  Mrs. Currie
  Facilities to test for the presence of chlamydial infection are readily available at NHS laboratories. Research is proceeding to investigate the prevalance of chlamydial infection in patients attending ante-natal, genito-urinary medicine and family planning clinics, in order to determine at risk groups; and to establish whether there is any justification for screening pregnant women for this infection.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the mode by which two laboratory workers in the United States of America working with the AIDS virus were infected by it; and if he will make a statement regarding the implications for similar United Kingdom technicians.

  Mr. Newton
  The two laboratory workers in the United States of America found to be infected with HIV after working with it had both regularly handled large volumes of highly concentrated virus.
  627
  I am informed that in the first case it has been suggested that spillages of contaminated material not observed and adequately dealt with at the time, may have been a contributory factor. In the second case, in which a laboratory origin of infection has not been confirmed, infection may have been the consequence of accidental injury with a blunt needle.

  Our laboratory safety guidlines for HIV remain entirely appropriate; it is important that they be observed scrupulously. No case of laboratory acquired infection has been reported in this country.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will supply details of the following on(a) on a national basis, (b) on a regional basis, and (c) for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde: the number of married or cohabitating men in receipt of invalid care allowance who have been successful in claiming the supplementary benefit long-term scale rate since married women were allowed to claim invalid care allowance;

  (2) if he will list (a) on a national basis, (b) on a regional basis, (c) for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde, the number of married women in receipt of invalid care allowance who have been refused the supplementary benefits long-term scale rate because their husband is or has been unemployed and who has been deemed to be an alternative means of care;

  (3) if he will give the criteria whereby someone is categorised by his Department as representing a alternative means of care under regulation 6(b)(ii) of the Supplementary Benefit (Conditions of Entitlement) Regulations 1981;

  (4) if he will list (a) on a national basis, (b) on a regional basis, and (c) for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde, the number of times regulation 6(b)(ii) of Supplementary Benefit (Conditions of Entitlement) Regulations 1981 has been implemented against married or cohabiting men since married or cohabiting men were allowed to claim;

  (5) if he will list (a) on a national basis, (b) on a regional basis, and (c) for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde, the number of married or cohabiting women in receipt of invalid care allowance who have been successful in claiming the supplementary benefit long-term scale rate since that section of the community were allowed to claim invalid care allowance;

  (6) if he will list (a) on a national basis, (b) on a regional basis, and (c) for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde, the number of times regulation 6(b)(ii) of the Supplementary Benefit (Conditions of Entitlement) Regulations 1981 has been implemented against married or cohabiting women since they became eligible to claim;

  (7) if he will list (a) on a national basis, (b) on a regional basis, and (c) for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde, the number of couples, one of whom is in receipt of invalid care allowance, who have been refused the right to transfer the role of claimant due to regulation 6(b)(ii) of the Supplementary Benefit (Conditions of Entitlement) Regulations 1981 because the husband is unemployed and thus deemed by his Department to be an alternative of care.

  Mr. Scott
  It is the independent adjudicating authorities rather than the Department who decide whether a claimant for supplementary benefit should be exempt from 628
  the requirement to be available for work by virtue of regulation 6(b) of the Supplementary Benefits (Conditions of Entitlement) Regulations 1981. The guidance relating to alternative means of caring issued by the Chief Adjudication Officer is that the adjudication officer should:

  (1) have regard to medical opinion, the views of social workers and the wishes of the family;

  (2) consider whether the severity of the disablement of itself means that temporary relief from such as a friend or neighbour is inadequate or inappropriate;

  (3) consider whether there is anyone else in the household who could provide the necessary help or whether the disabled person is able to pay for professional assistance.

  The statistical information requested is not collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list(a) on a national basis, (b) on a regional basis and (c) for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde constituency, the number of married or cohabiting men in receipt of invalid care allowance in each of the years 1981 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986;

  (2) if he will list (a) on a national basis, (b) on a regional basis and (c) for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde constituency, the number of successful claims for invalid care allowance made by married or cohabiting men in each of the years 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that the requested information is not available. The information which is available is set out in the table.

  Invalid care allowance awards

  Men in Great Britain

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  Year

  Number of awards made

  Awards in (2) where the disabled person was the claimant's spouse

  Number of awards current at 31 December

  1981

  1606

  1333

  3,442

  1982

  1,825

  909

  4,113

  1983

  1,975

  958

  4,776

  1984

  2,272

  1,093

  5,409

  1985

  3,433

  1,089

  5,989

  1986

  3,248

  1,309

  7,135

  1 Commencing 30 April 1981.

  Eli Lilly
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now take steps to prevent the National Health Service purchasing any of Eli Lilly's drugs except those which are not replaceable.

  Mr. Newton
  As I explained to the right hon. Member when we met earlier this week, I do not think it would be appropriate for the Government to take such action.

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of women diagnosed as having breast cancer in the Central Nottinghamshire health authority area, together with the percentage of the totals screened for the years 1979–87, inclusive;
  629
  (2) if he will list the numbers of women on whom breast cancer screening was carried out in the Central Nottinghamshire health authority area for the years 1979–87 inclusive;

  (3) if he will list the number of women who sought breast cancer screening in the Central Nottinghamshire health authority area for the years 1979–87 inclusive;

  (4) if he will list the funds made available for breast cancer screening in the Central Nottinghamshire health authority area for the years 1979–1987 inclusive.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that the information requested is not centrally available.

  In 1979 the Government funded a seven-year, multi-centre, research trial in the United Kingdom to compare the effectiveness of different methods of early detection of breast cancer. The total financial support provided was £5 million. Nottingham was one of two centres testing the effectiveness of breast self-examination and women there were taught how to perform the examination and encouraged to report any abnormalities found. Diagnostic breast clinics were available for those who found abnormalities. The trial is not yet complete. A first report is expected later this year.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if National Health Service breast cancer screening is available on demand to women who reside or work in the Central Nottinghamshire health authority area; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the facilities available for breast cancer screening in the Central Nottinghamshire health authority area;

  (3) if he will list the facilities available for breast cancer screening in the Barnet health authority area;

  (4) if he will list the facilities available for breast cancer screening in the Southern Derbyshire health authority area;

  (5) if he will list the facilities available for breast cancer screening in the Leicester health authority area;

  (6) if he will list the facilities available for breast cancer screening in the Croydon health authority area.

  Mrs. Currie
  The programme for the national breast cancer screening service envisages a nationwide network of some 100 centres, each serving a population of about 500,000. All women between 50 and 64 will be invited for screening by mammography every three years, using computerised call and recall system. Older women will be screened on request. The programme will also involve the provision of the necessary back-up facilities for assessment, diagnosis, treatment, counselling and aftercare.

  Each regional health authority in England was allocated about one third of a million pounds in the current financial year to establish at least one centre by the end of March. The Government's cash plans include provision to meet the full, continuing estimated costs of the remaining centres to be set up by spring 1990.

  The first centre to be established in Trent regional health authority is located in Nottingham. It is one of four centres which will provide training for staff for the national programme and has received additional funds for this work. The first centre to be established in North West Thames regional health authority is located in Barnet. The
  630
  population of Southern Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Croydon health authorities will be served by centres to be set up over the next two years.

  More detailed information can be obtained from the Regional Health Authorities concerned.

  Social Security Reform
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the effect of non-householders deduction for claimants under 26 years receiving income support contained in the housing benefit scheme from April, has been taken into account when estimating the number of losers under income support in the Government's publication "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income Related Benefits".

  Mr. Scott
  Paragraph 11 of the preface to the "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income Related Benefits" makes clear that the tables contained in it do not include the effect of changes to the structure of non-dependant deductions.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how the numbers of people requiring transitional additions relate to the numbers of losers estimated in the Government's report entitled "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income Related Benefits".

  Mr. Scott
  Table 1B of the technical annex, "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income Related Benefits" shows an estimated 1·66 million claimants to have a lower entitlement to income support than to supplementary benefit. This is calculated by comparing the current system, uprated to 1988–89 values, with income support. It is estimated that at the point of change, around 1·4 million claimants will have a lower entitlement to income support than their current entitlement to supplementary benefit and these people will receive transitional protection.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent his calculations on the effect of the structural reform of social security benefits on sick and disabled people included(a) disabled pensions, (b) unemployed registered disabled people and (c) families with disabled children.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 1 February 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income Related Benefits" October 1987, a copy of which is in the Library. Within the category "pensioners aged 60–79" are 130,000 income support claimants who will qualify for the higher pensioner premium because they are disabled. Of these, about 100,000 will also be in receipt of housing benefit. The equivalent figure for housing benefit claimants not also in receipt of income support is 150,000. The 10,000 income support families expected to receive the disabled child's premium form part of the categories "Lone parents" and "Couples with children". There is no premium specific to unemployed registered disabled people; unemployed claimants who are blind or who receive mobility allowance or attendance allowance will qualify for the disability premium.

  National Insurance Rates
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has completed his review of national insurance contribution rates for 1988–89.
  631
  Mr. Portillo
  I have reviewed the national insurance contribution rates paid by mariners and registered dockworkers. In the past, these groups paid a reduced rate of contribution to reflect the fact that the standard rate of class 1 contributions paid by other employees included the employment protection allocation paid into the redundancy fund, on which mariners and registered dockworkers could not normally draw. In the light of the decision that no employment protection allocation should be paid from class 1 national insurance contributions into the redundancy fund in 1988–89, which I announced on 3 November 1987 at columns 704–5, the special rates of national insurance contributions paid by some mariners and registered dockworkers, and their employers will be abolished with effect from 6 April 1988.

  The special lower rates of national insurance contributions paid by employers of foreign-going mariners will remain unchanged in 1988–89.

  The special rates of national insurance contributions paid by members of Her Majesty's forces will also be changed following a review by the Government Actuary. The rate of abatement will be reduced by 0·1 per cent. for both employees and employers to 0·8 per cent. and 0·85 per cent. respectively with effect from 6 April 1988.

  The special class 2 contributions paid by sharefishermen, and volunteer development workers, will remain at £6·55 a week during the 1988–89 tax year.

  Aspirin
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when the conclusions of Dr. Warlow's study on the use of aspirin to prevent stroke and myocardial infarction are expected.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Numbers of patients awaiting treatment for Opthalmology by District Health Authority and Special Health Authority as at 31 March 1987

  Total cases

  Urgent Cases

  Non-urgent Cases

  All

  On list more than one month

  All

  On list more than one year

  Northern RHA

  Hartlepool

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Tees

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Tees

  612

  23

  12

  589

  188

  East Cumbria

  58

  0

  0

  58

  0

  South Cumbria

  77

  0

  0

  77

  1

  West Cumbria

  146

  0

  0

  146

  0

  Darlington

  348

  0

  0

  348

  1

  Durham

  90

  0

  0

  90

  0

  North West Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South West Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northumberland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Newcastle

  1,486

  103

  11

  1,383

  192

  North Tyneside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Tyneside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sunderland

  918

  6

  0

  912

  61

  Yorkshire RHA

  Hull

  375

  0

  0

  375

  21

  East Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grimsby

  187

  0

  0

  187

  4

  Scunthorpe

  488

  0

  0

  488

  210

  Northallerton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  York

  531

  4

  0

  527

  61

  Scarborough

  399

  1

  0

  398

  23

  Harrogate

  157

  3

  0

  154

  8

  Bradford

  705

  5

  4

  700

  6

  Airedale

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  96

  2

  0

  94

  0

  632
  I understand from the Medical Research Council that the preliminary results of Professor Warlow's United Kingdom transient ischaemic attack aspirin trial, on the prevention of stroke and myocardial infarction, were published in the British Medical Journal on Friday 29 January 1988.

  NHS (Expenditure)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was Government spending on the National Health Service per household as a proportion of the average household income in 1978–79 and 1986–87.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 11 February 1988]: Gross NHS expenditure per household in the United Kingdom represented 6·3 per cent. of average household income in 1978 and 6·7 per cent. in 1986. The figures for total health care expenditure are 6·9 per cent. and 7·5 per cent. respectively.

  Eye Treatment (Waiting Lists)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the numbers in each district health authority waiting for eye treatment as(a) in-patients (i) urgent over one month and (ii) non-urgent over one year, and (b) out-patients.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 11 February 1988]: The available information is given in the table.
  633

  Total cases

  Urgent Cases

  Non-urgent Cases

  All

  On list more than one month

  All

  On list more than one year

  Huddersfield

  211

  0

  0

  211

  2

  Dewsbury

  52

  0

  0

  52

  2

  Leeds Western

  446

  12

  8

  434

  55

  Leeds Eastern

  632

  0

  0

  632

  53

  Wakefield

  296

  0

  0

  296

  16

  Pontefract

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Trent RHA1

  North Derbyshire

  112

  0

  0

  0

  44

  Southern Derbyshire

  699

  0

  0

  0

  80

  Leicestershire

  727

  0

  0

  0

  29

  North Lincolnshire

  341

  0

  0

  0

  21

  South Lincolnshire

  176

  0

  0

  0

  14

  Bassetlaw

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Central Nottinghamshire

  71

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Nottingham

  651

  0

  0

  0

  16

  Barnsley

  160

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Doncaster

  65

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  499

  0

  0

  0

  176

  Sheffield

  685

  0

  0

  0

  37

  East Anglian RHA

  Cambridge

  201

  26

  7

  175

  2

  Peterborough

  381

  0

  0

  381

  23

  West Suffolk

  365

  12

  7

  353

  46

  East Suffolk

  498

  0

  0

  498

  42

  Norwich

  281

  0

  0

  281

  0

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  170

  0

  0

  170

  7

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  101

  0

  0

  101

  0

  Huntingdon

  152

  2

  0

  150

  3

  North West Thames RHA

  North Bedfordshire

  144

  0

  0

  144

  27

  South Bedfordshire

  410

  0

  0

  410

  27

  North Hertfordshire

  164

  0

  0

  164

  9

  East Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North West Hertfordshire

  210

  0

  0

  210

  59

  South West Hertfordshire

  170

  4

  4

  166

  36

  Barnet

  123

  0

  0

  123

  0

  Harrow

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hillingdon

  265

  0

  0

  265

  103

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  586

  0

  0

  586

  0

  Ealing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Brent

  476

  17

  15

  459

  138

  Paddington and North Kensington

  414

  0

  0

  414

  0

  Riverside

  719

  61

  48

  658

  78

  North East Thames RHA

  Basildon and Thurrock

  41

  1

  0

  40

  0

  Mid Essex

  326

  1

  1

  325

  41

  North East Essex

  282

  0

  0

  282

  7

  West Essex

  297

  44

  44

  253

  139

  Southend

  56

  39

  21

  17

  4

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  356

  6

  3

  350

  10

  Hampstead2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bloomsbury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Islington

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  City and Hackney

  53

  33

  15

  20

  5

  Newham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tower Hamlets

  11

  3

  3

  8

  6

  Enfield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Haringey

  278

  1

  0

  277

  50

  Redbridge

  5

  0

  0

  5

  0

  Waltham Forest

  366

  7

  0

  359

  0

  South East Thames RHA

  Brighton

  148

  9

  0

  139

  4

  Eastbourne

  286

  1

  0

  285

  31

  Hastings

  128

  7

  0

  121

  10

  South East Kent

  331

  0

  0

  331

  16

  Canterbury and Thanet

  497

  29

  24

  468

  187

  Dartford and Gravesham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  634 635

  Total cases

  Urgent Cases

  Non-urgent Cases

  All

  On list more than one month

  All

  On list more than one year

  Maidstone

  441

  0

  0

  441

  22

  Medway

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tunbridge Wells

  239

  48

  28

  191

  24

  Bexley

  508

  0

  0

  508

  0

  Greenwich

  279

  0

  0

  279

  4

  Bromley

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Lambeth

  647

  49

  1

  598

  12

  Camberwell

  166

  6

  4

  160

  1

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  67

  3

  3

  64

  6

  South West Thames RHA

  North West Surrey

  67

  3

  0

  64

  1

  West Surrey and North East Hants

  1,028

  183

  180

  845

  353

  South West Surrey

  234

  0

  0

  234

  30

  Mid Surrey

  754

  13

  4

  741

  411

  East Surrey

  624

  16

  16

  608

  150

  Chichester

  66

  3

  0

  63

  0

  Mid Downs

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Worthing

  555

  44

  34

  511

  84

  Croydon

  200

  1

  1

  199

  0

  Kingston and Esher

  375

  78

  47

  297

  44

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wandsworth

  238

  0

  0

  238

  4

  Merton and Sutton

  147

  0

  0

  147

  0

  Wessex RHA

  East Dorset

  572

  0

  0

  572

  20

  West Dorset

  257

  4

  0

  253

  0

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  899

  0

  0

  899

  137

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  560

  0

  0

  560

  0

  Winchester

  357

  7

  3

  350

  63

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  184

  4

  1

  180

  48

  Salisbury

  572

  12

  0

  560

  0

  Swindon

  360

  0

  0

  360

  19

  Bath

  555

  16

  8

  539

  99

  Isle of Wight

  64

  0

  0

  64

  0

  Oxford RHA

  East Berkshire

  763

  6

  3

  757

  286

  West Berkshire

  298

  0

  0

  298

  0

  Aylesbury Vale

  358

  0

  0

  358

  19

  Wycombe

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Milton Keynes

  54

  1

  0

  53

  2

  Kettering

  8

  0

  0

  8

  0

  Northampton

  82

  0

  0

  82

  5

  Oxfordshire

  596

  0

  0

  596

  12

  South Western RHA

  Bristol and Weston

  1,240

  8

  2

  1,232

  169

  Frenchay

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Southmead

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  597

  21

  11

  576

  89

  Exeter

  289

  0

  0

  289

  18

  North Devon

  56

  0

  0

  56

  2

  Plymouth

  554

  0

  0

  554

  179

  Torbay

  403

  36

  1

  367

  96

  Cheltenham

  178

  0

  0

  178

  0

  Gloucester

  507

  6

  0

  501

  105

  Somerset

  356

  13

  3

  343

  17

  West Midlands RHA

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  439

  0

  0

  439

  72

  Herefordshire

  251

  0

  0

  251

  0

  Kidderminster and District

  175

  0

  0

  175

  2

  Worcester and District

  269

  0

  0

  269

  37

  Shropshire

  813

  0

  0

  813

  286

  Mid Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Staffordshire

  642

  5

  2

  637

  168

  South East Staffordshire

  153

  0

  0

  153

  19

  636 637

  Total cases

  Urgent Cases

  Non-urgent Cases

  All

  On list more than one month

  All

  On list more than one year

  Rugby

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Warwickshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Warwickshire

  233

  0

  0

  233

  75

  Central Birmingham

  203

  39

  33

  164

  64

  East Birmingham

  651

  52

  41

  599

  332

  North Birmingham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Birmingham

  463

  20

  20

  443

  47

  West Birmingham

  973

  62

  40

  911

  307

  Coventry

  1,000

  12

  2

  988

  273

  Dudley

  295

  51

  37

  244

  89

  Sandwell

  331

  0

  0

  331

  115

  Solihull

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Walsall

  6

  0

  0

  6

  0

  Wolverhampton

  582

  139

  128

  443

  228

  Mersey RHA

  Chester

  417

  0

  0

  417

  12

  Crewe

  219

  0

  0

  219

  48

  Halton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Macclesfield

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Warrington

  185

  0

  0

  185

  18

  Liverpool

  631

  12

  7

  619

  16

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  89

  3

  1

  86

  0

  Southport and Formby

  419

  0

  0

  419

  140

  South Sefton

  26

  0

  0

  26

  4

  Wirral

  371

  0

  0

  371

  39

  North Western RHA

  Lancaster

  177

  0

  0

  177

  34

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  665

  50

  44

  615

  162

  Preston

  453

  0

  0

  453

  27

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  365

  0

  0

  365

  29

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  146

  9

  6

  137

  29

  West Lancashire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Chorley and South Ribble

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bolton

  508

  1

  0

  507

  154

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Manchester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Central Manchester

  2,003

  0

  0

  2,003

  246

  South Manchester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oldham

  770

  0

  0

  770

  289

  Rochdale

  612

  59

  35

  553

  249

  Salford

  21

  0

  0

  21

  2

  Stockport

  491

  1

  1

  490

  59

  Tameside and Glossop

  19

  0

  0

  19

  2

  Trafford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wigan

  928

  5

  0

  923

  426

  All Special health authorities

  The Hospitals for Sick Children

  52

  1

  0

  51

  0

  The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Moorfields Eye Hospital

  1,387

  0

  0

  1,387

  0

  Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  The National Heart and Chest Hospitals

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  The Royal Marsden Hospital

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  The Eastman Dental Hospital

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1 Data not available. Imputed figures shown for Non-urgent cases on the waiting list for more than one year.

  2 Figures not available.

  638

  Mental Illness (North-West)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what have been the levels of spending on the mentally ill in all the health authorities in the north-west region for each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 12 February 1988]: Information on health authority expenditure by type of patient is not collected centrally. Hospital cost returns

  Health district

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Bolton

  421,463

  435,586

  461,313

  488,433

  597,916

  Central Manchester

  —

  —

  —

  11,420,171

  1,658,503

  Lancaster

  876,038

  884,737

  923,538

  1,254,329

  1,304,985

  Preston

  13,318,178

  13,583,528

  13,439,427

  13,106,404

  13,356,038

  Rochdale

  326,400

  369,529

  410,166

  446,303

  284,626

  Salford

  13,955,531

  14,784,169

  15,343,857

  15,970,384

  17,632,609

  Stockport

  488,102

  512,560

  555,080

  572,547

  587,401

  1 Three units for mentally ill patients opened in 1985–86.

  2 The decrease in expenditure reflects reduced patient activity at Springfield Park Hospital in 1986–87.

  Schizophrenics
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his current estimate of the total number of people certified as schizophrenics.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: People have not been certified under mental health legislation since 1959. A proportion of the people detained annually under the Mental Health Act 1983 have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, but our statistics at present do not show the number with that diagnosis who are currently detained in hospital. New information systems in the NHS will provide such statistics as from 31 March 1988.

  NHS Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers at 30 September

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Health Authorities

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Northern Region

  Hartlepool

  30

  30

  30

  30

  31

  North Tees

  50

  50

  53

  50

  48

  South Tees

  72

  76

  75

  73

  75

  East Cumbria

  33

  33

  32

  33

  32

  South Cumbria

  29

  30

  31

  29

  29

  West Cumbria

  27

  29

  28

  28

  31

  Darlington

  33

  34

  34

  32

  31

  Durham

  35

  35

  34

  36

  35

  North West Durham

  24

  24

  25

  26

  24

  South West Durham

  21

  23

  22

  24

  25

  Northumberland

  37

  38

  39

  40

  41

  Gateshead

  42

  43

  44

  45

  48

  Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (T)

  268

  277

  282

  279

  273

  North Tyneside

  26

  26

  29

  28

  30

  South Tyneside

  33

  34

  36

  36

  39

  Sunderland

  69

  71

  71

  76

  77

  RHA HA and HQ units

  69

  67

  63

  68

  67

  Regional Totals

  897

  918

  926

  931

  934

  Yorkshire Region

  Hull

  96

  97

  96

  96

  93

  East Yorkshire

  28

  30

  29

  28

  30

  640
  submitted to the Department show expenditure on hospitals of different types and costing returns in respect of community health services show expenditure relating to the areas of activity only.

  Hospital cost returns submitted by district health authorities in the North Western region, since their establishment on 1 April 1982, show total current expenditure on hospitals categorised as mental illness as follows (Districts having no hospitals in this category have been excluded):

  Health Statistics
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list by district health authority(a) the establishment figure of medical laboratory scientific officers for each year since 1979, (b) the number in post for each year since 1979, and (c) the number who have left the National Health Service in the last year.

  Mr. Newton
  [pursuant to his reply, 2 February 1988 c. 591]: Establishment figures (a) and numbers of MLSOs leaving (c) are not available centrally. The table shows the number of medical laboratory scientific officers (including unqualified grades) employed by each district health authority at 30 September for the years 1982–1986. Comparable figures for 1979, 1980 and 1981 are not available.
  641

  Health Authorities

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Grimsby

  47

  50

  52

  55

  52

  Scunthorpe

  32

  34

  36

  39

  41

  Northallerton

  19

  19

  20

  19

  18

  York

  57

  58

  59

  59

  59

  Scarborough

  31

  29

  32

  32

  31

  Harrogate

  32

  32

  31

  32

  32

  Bradford

  93

  88

  92

  93

  89

  Airedale

  39

  38

  38

  41

  39

  Calderdale

  56

  54

  56

  56

  57

  Huddersfield

  58

  56

  56

  56

  57

  Dewsbury

  33

  32

  31

  39

  41

  Leeds Western (T)

  194

  204

  205

  208

  203

  Leeds Eastern (T)

  107

  112

  115

  112

  116

  Wakefield

  44

  45

  45

  44

  44

  Pontefract

  41

  40

  41

  41

  41

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  44

  45

  44

  50

  49

  Regional Totals

  1,050

  1,061

  1,077

  1,098

  1,091

  Trent Region

  North Derbyshire

  49

  53

  58

  59

  63

  South Derbyshire

  110

  109

  112

  110

  111

  Leicestershire (T)

  161

  183

  196

  198

  208

  North Lincolnshire

  41

  45

  45

  49

  48

  South Lincolnshire

  59

  59

  62

  60

  58

  Bassetlaw

  28

  28

  29

  27

  29

  Central Nottinghamshire

  70

  72

  71

  70

  69

  Nottingham (T)

  212

  210

  205

  211

  205

  Barnsley

  50

  51

  52

  49

  50

  Doncaster

  56

  61

  59

  56

  60

  Rotherham

  55

  54

  55

  54

  56

  Sheffield (T)

  224

  229

  232

  230

  232

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  71

  70

  72

  72

  72

  Regional Totals

  1,187

  1,222

  1,245

  1,244

  1,261

  East Anglia

  Cambridge (T)

  113

  110

  108

  95

  102

  Peterborough

  58

  57

  57

  58

  57

  West Suffolk

  38

  36

  35

  52

  53

  East Suffolk

  65

  67

  67

  65

  63

  Norwich

  74

  118

  114

  81

  83

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  50

  52

  54

  55

  54

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  50

  50

  45

  46

  47

  Huntingdon

  28

  40

  47

  51

  50

  RHA HQ and 11Q Units

  54

  55

  51

  55

  49

  Regional Totals

  530

  584

  577

  557

  559

  North West Thames

  North Bedfordshire

  44

  44

  43

  44

  53

  South Bedfordshire

  28

  30

  30

  33

  33

  North Hertfordshire

  41

  42

  42

  43

  45

  East Hertfordshire

  36

  37

  35

  38

  36

  North West Hertfordshire

  54

  66

  65

  67

  65

  South West Hertfordshire

  39

  49

  47

  47

  46

  Barnet

  89

  96

  88

  85

  83

  Harrow

  84

  80

  75

  77

  74

  Hillingdon

  91

  88

  89

  89

  91

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  89

  89

  88

  56

  89

  Ealing

  43

  48

  47

  49

  47

  Brent

  57

  65

  62

  59

  60

  Paddington and North Kensington (T)

  88

  96

  96

  91

  89

  Riverside

  184

  191

  175

  180

  180

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Blood Transfusion Centre

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  Regional Totals

  993

  1,039

  1,001

  1,008

  1,013

  North East Thames

  Basildon and Thurrock

  88

  87

  82

  85

  82

  Mid Essex

  60

  63

  62

  61

  68

  North East Essex

  73

  71

  72

  75

  69

  642 643

  Health Authorities

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  West Essex

  64

  62

  56

  53

  55

  Southend

  72

  71

  64

  64

  65

  Barking/Havering/Brentwood

  154

  158

  59

  164

  164

  Hampstead (T)

  138

  134

  129

  120

  131

  Bloomsbury (T)

  103

  120

  125

  131

  128

  Islington

  71

  75

  71

  73

  68

  City and Hackney (T)

  196

  205

  192

  184

  190

  Newham

  64

  64

  63

  59

  60

  Tower Hamlets (T)

  131

  129

  127

  118

  123

  Enfield

  52

  51

  52

  53

  54

  Haringey

  96

  91

  87

  74

  76

  Redbridge

  50

  51

  47

  50

  46

  Waltham Forest

  74

  76

  76

  74

  71

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Regional Totals

  1,486

  1,507

  1,463

  1,437

  1,451

  South West Thames

  North West Surrey

  49

  47

  48

  48

  47

  West Surrey and North East Hants

  48

  49

  49

  49

  49

  South West Surrey

  49

  52

  51

  52

  53

  Mid-Surrey

  49

  52

  53

  49

  44

  East Surrey

  62

  60

  55

  51

  48

  Chichester

  46

  46

  44

  44

  45

  Mid-Downs

  35

  43

  60

  65

  71

  Worthing

  50

  48

  47

  49

  53

  Croydon

  59

  55

  55

  56

  55

  Kingston and Esher

  60

  54

  51

  52

  50

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  39

  46

  45

  45

  50

  Wandsworth (T)

  67

  62

  58

  55

  50

  Merton and Sutton

  120

  116

  115

  118

  110

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  60

  54

  57

  62

  66

  Regional Totals

  794

  784

  788

  793

  790

  South East Thames

  Brighton

  66

  65

  67

  68

  73

  Eastbourne

  51

  56

  52

  50

  52

  Hastings

  38

  36

  37

  37

  39

  South East Kent

  62

  58

  61

  55

  59

  Canterbury and Thanet

  76

  78

  75

  68

  70

  Dartford and Gravesham

  46

  46

  46

  47

  47

  Maidstone

  30

  32

  38

  39

  42

  Medway

  46

  50

  50

  53

  54

  Tunbridge Wells

  52

  54

  58

  51

  52

  Bexley

  29

  29

  34

  32

  35

  Greenwich

  106

  109

  106

  106

  103

  Bromley

  90

  90

  89

  87

  83

  West Lambeth (T)

  177

  175

  172

  168

  169

  Camberwell (T)

  108

  103

  101

  100

  99

  Lewisham and North Southwark (T)

  198

  201

  197

  183

  171

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Regional Totals

  1,174

  1,181

  1,182

  1,144

  1,149

  Wessex

  East Dorset

  104

  110

  105

  103

  106

  West Dorset

  40

  39

  39

  38

  37

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  105

  98

  114

  112

  115

  Southampton and South West Hampshire (T)

  204

  211

  212

  216

  200

  Winchester

  54

  54

  51

  52

  54

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  41

  41

  41

  42

  42

  Salisbury

  48

  48

  47

  51

  49

  Swindon

  57

  57

  56

  56

  59

  Bath

  73

  69

  69

  67

  70

  Isle of Wight

  31

  31

  32

  34

  33

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Regional Totals

  762

  757

  765

  771

  764

  Oxford

  East Berkshire

  85

  74

  71

  68

  71

  644 645

  Health Authorities

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  West Berkshire

  77

  76

  78

  76

  78

  Aylesbury Vale

  67

  69

  67

  65

  63

  Wycombe

  58

  57

  54

  56

  60

  Milton Keynes

  —

  —

  33

  39

  38

  Kettering

  63

  67

  66

  65

  62

  Northampton

  95

  94

  93

  95

  86

  Oxfordshire

  194

  205

  204

  201

  203

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  45

  45

  43

  40

  43

  Regional Totals

  684

  686

  709

  706

  704

  South Western

  Bristol and Weston (T)

  122

  113

  110

  110

  114

  Frenchay

  50

  43

  42

  43

  44

  Southmead

  95

  85

  85

  86

  84

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  54

  57

  56

  60

  58

  Exeter

  71

  72

  73

  73

  74

  North Devon

  33

  36

  34

  35

  33

  Plymouth

  73

  73

  76

  79

  79

  Torbay

  54

  61

  62

  63

  66

  Cheltenham

  49

  50

  51

  56

  58

  Gloucester

  66

  58

  58

  59

  60

  Somerset

  66

  62

  62

  62

  62

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  60

  62

  47

  46

  50

  Regional Totals

  792

  772

  755

  772

  781

  West Midlands

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  36

  34

  36

  34

  38

  Herefordshire

  33

  35

  36

  34

  31

  Kidderminister and District

  23

  24

  20

  24

  24

  Worcester and District

  54

  54

  55

  59

  61

  Shropshire

  82

  84

  78

  82

  82

  Mid-Staffordshire

  41

  44

  42

  42

  42

  North Staffordshire

  115

  114

  105

  110

  106

  South East Staffordshire

  30

  32

  40

  44

  47

  Rugby

  21

  22

  22

  23

  24

  North Warwickshire

  32

  32

  32

  39

  40

  South Warwickshire

  33

  36

  34

  33

  40

  Central Birmingham (T)

  219

  224

  213

  210

  211

  East Birmingham

  102

  104

  104

  101

  103

  North Birmingham

  60

  59

  61

  65

  62

  South Birmingham

  66

  67

  65

  63

  62

  West Birmingham

  94

  92

  89

  91

  93

  Coventry

  117

  115

  112

  109

  109

  Dudley

  102

  100

  100

  89

  92

  Sandwell

  82

  83

  80

  80

  78

  Solihull

  51

  49

  47

  49

  50

  Walsall

  43

  46

  48

  50

  50

  Wolverhampton

  64

  65

  69

  69

  70

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  96

  93

  87

  94

  96

  Regional Totals

  1,596

  1,606

  1,573

  1,593

  1,610

  Mersey

  Chester

  42

  44

  42

  43

  38

  Crewe

  48

  45

  49

  47

  48

  Halton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Macclesfield

  36

  36

  38

  37

  39

  Warrington

  42

  44

  47

  58

  64

  Liverpool (T)

  263

  282

  273

  262

  289

  St. Helens with Knowsley

  65

  61

  63

  61

  61

  Sefton North

  23

  21

  22

  23

  23

  Sefton South

  98

  101

  100

  101

  104

  Wirral

  96

  96

  95

  96

  98

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  45

  44

  42

  43

  49

  Regional Totals

  756

  773

  772

  771

  811

  North Western

  Lancaster

  38

  38

  41

  39

  41

  Blackpool Wyre and Fylde

  65

  64

  66

  67

  69

  Preston

  74

  74

  77

  76

  83

  646 647

  Health Authorities

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  46

  48

  52

  49

  52

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  35

  36

  35

  33

  36

  West Lancashire

  31

  31

  29

  29

  30

  Chorley and South Ribble

  3

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Bolton

  61

  59

  64

  63

  63

  Bury

  38

  41

  38

  39

  36

  North Manchester

  116

  113

  116

  117

  112

  Central Manchester (T)

  157

  165

  164

  164

  164

  South Manchester (T)

  296

  302

  213

  205

  200

  Oldham

  58

  59

  59

  65

  65

  Rochdale

  43

  40

  39

  39

  36

  Salford (T)

  116

  123

  123

  115

  114

  Stockport

  56

  56

  57

  57

  57

  Tameside and Glossop

  36

  37

  37

  37

  36

  Trafford

  56

  58

  53

  57

  56

  Wigan

  61

  63

  61

  66

  67

  RHA HQ and HQ Units

  83

  86

  83

  83

  87

  Regional Totals

  1,467

  1,493

  1,407

  1,400

  1,406

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest whole-time equivalent.

  2 —Indicates nil.

  Source: DHSS Annual Census of NHS Non-Medical Manpower.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Stock Market Crash
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for economic stability of the growth in domestic demand since the stock market crash.

  Mr. Lilley
  The United Kingdom economy remains strong despite the stock market fall. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor will be publishing a new forecast at the time of the Budget.

  Accountants
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many accountants who are qualified members of United Kingdom professional bodies were employed within the Civil Service in financial and accounting roles in 1974, 1979 and 1988.

  Mr. Brooke
  At 31 December 1987 there were in the Government accountancy service approximately 740 members of one of the professional bodies forming the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) — that is, the Institutes of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, of Scotland and in Ireland, the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. About 90 per cent. were in financial or accounting roles. At the same time there were another 60 staff who had passed the final examination, but were not yet members and 500 staff studying for the examinations of one of these professional bodies.

  In July 1982, when the Government accountancy service was set up on its present basis, there were on a comparable basis a little over 600 members and 250 trainees. Figures for earlier years are not available on a consistent basis but the indications are of a rise in numbers in the mid to late 1970s.

  The figures exclude qualified accountants in certain departmental grades. There are currently about 80 professional accountants in the Inland Revenue tax inspectorate and the DTI insolvency service. The figures
  648
  also exclude members of accountancy bodies outside the CCAB, or of specialised bodies such as the Institute of Internal Auditors.

  Excise Duty
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received seeking changes in excise duty payable on non-alcoholic beers and lagers and dealcoholised wines.

  Mr. Lilley
  No excise duty is payable on non-alcoholic beers and lagers and dealcoholised wines. No recent representations have been received on this matter.

  EC (Payments)
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the information in his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk North of 22 April 1987,Official Report, columns 577–78, for each year since 1973, concerning (a) the overall payments by the Treasury to the European Economic Community, (b) the total payments and refunds made to the Treasury and (c) the net cost to the Treasury.

  Mr. Brooke
  The additional information required in respect of the United Kingdom's contribution to and receipts from the 1987 Community budget is as follows:

  £ million

  Gross payments

  5,202

  Receipts other than negotiated refunds

  2,336

  Negotiated refunds

  —

  VAT abatements

  1,153

  Net total

  1,713

  The increase in the net total figure compared with the estimate of £1,347 million in the "statement on the 1987 Community budget" (Cm. 194) is mainly accounted for by higher than expected payments of levies and duties, the autumn supplementary budget for 1987 and the August 1987 VAT adjustment.

  £1 Notes
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Bank of England £1 notes are still in circulation as at the latest convenient date; and how many were in circulation five years earlier.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: On 3 February 1988, some 108 million £1 notes remained in circulation, of which 69·9 million were series D £1 notes (those issued since 1978). There were 641 million £1 notes in circulation at the end of February 1983.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Opposition Whips' Office
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are employed in the Opposition Whips' Office in the House of Commons; and what are their salaries.

  Mr. Richard Luce
  There are four, one chief clerk superintendent (salary scale £8,469 to £9,841) and three office assistants (salary scale £5,880 to £6,971). In addition, both grades receive inner London weighting (£1,527 per annum) and night duty allowance (£3,803 per annum).

SCOTLAND

  Housing
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of new housing developments which have been planned to commence in the current year in Angus.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Angus district council's January 1986 housing plan sets out its general strategy for housing provision in its area. It is, however, for the council to deploy resources available for capital expenditure according to the priorities it determines on a year-to-year basis, and details of council projects programmed are not held centrally.

  The Scottish Special Housing Association has no plans to commence any projects in the current year in Angus. The Housing Corporation in Scotland has implemented one scheme in the district, comprising 10 units, in the current year.

  No detailed information is available centrally on private sector housing developments.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of new housing developments which have been planned to commence in the current year in Perthshire.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Perth and Kinross district council's October 1986 housing plan sets out its general strategy for housing provision in its area in the current year. It is, however, for the council to deploy resources available for capital expenditure according to the priorities it determines on a year-to-year basis, and details of council projects programmed are not held centrally.

  The Scottish Special Housing Association is currently providing 50 special needs in Perth. The Housing Corporation in Scotland has approved five housing
  650
  association projects in Perthshire, comprising 40 houses, which have started or are expected to start in the current year.

  No detailed information is available centrally on private sector housing developments.

  Criminal Offenders (Tayside)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether individuals charged with criminal offences by the Tayside police have their names put on public record, open for public inspection.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No.

  Dunkeld Cathedral
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provisions are made by him to make bell ringing possible in the part of Dunkeld cathedral which is run and controlled by him.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Arrangements can be made for teams of bell-ringers to ring the bells in the tower of Dunkeld cathedral which is in the care of the Secretary of State. A charge is payable to cover costs.

  Infant Mortality
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the six health authorities in Scotland with the highest percentage of post neonatal deaths, for each year since 1975.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Health Board Areas1 with the highest post-neonatal mortality rates,2 Scotland, 1975–86

  Health Board Area

  Rate per 1,000 live births

  1975

  Lanarkshire

  8·1

  Greater Glasgow

  6·8

  Fife

  6·7

  Dumfries and Galloway

  6·3

  Argyll and Clyde

  6·2

  Ayrshire and Arran

  5·8

  1976

  Greater Glasgow

  6·0

  Ayrshire and Arran

  5·5

  Lothian

  5·0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  5·0

  Lanarkshire

  4·5

  Highland

  4·5

  1977

  Fife

  5·9

  Ayrshire and Arran

  5·8

  Greater Glasgow

  5·5

  Highland

  5·4

  Lothian

  5·2

  Grampian

  5·0

  1978

  Western Isles

  7·2

  Highland

  5·8

  Greater Glasgow

  5·7

  Tayside

  4·4

  Lothian

  4·0

  Orkney

  3·9

  651

  Health Board Area

  Rate per 1,000 live births

  1979

  Borders

  7·9

  Fife

  6·0

  Highland

  5·7

  Dumfries and Galloway

  5·6

  Shetland

  5·5

  Forth Valley

  5·1

  1980

  Dumfries and Galloway

  6·7

  Highland

  6·2

  Ayrshire and Arran

  6·1

  Lothian

  4·6

  Greater Glasgow

  4·6

  Grampian

  4·5

  1981

  Orkney

  7·9

  Borders

  6·0

  Forth Valley

  5·4

  Lanarkshire

  5·0

  Grampian

  5·0

  Greater Glasgow

  4·9

  1982

  Orkney

  8·5

  Dumfries and Galloway

  8·2

  Shetland

  5·8

  Greater Glasgow

  5·0

  Lothian

  4·5

  Lanarkshire

  4·5

  1983

  Shetland

  12·7

  Borders

  7·2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  6·0

  Argyll and Clyde

  5·6

  Highland

  4·6

  Lothian

  4·6

  1984

  Grampian

  5·7

  Forth Valley

  5·5

  Dumfries and Galloway

  5·1

  Lanarkshire

  4·6

  Fife

  4·3

  Orkney

  4·2

  1985

  Orkney

  8·6

  Shetland

  6·5

  Highland

  6·1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  5·1

  Greater Glasgow

  4·6

  Borders

  4·3

  1986

  Orkney

  9·0

  Borders

  5·6

  Grampian

  4·6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  4·2

  Greater Glasgow

  4·2

  Lothian

  4·0

  Notes:

  1 Figures for the smaller health board areas, in particular Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles, are based on small numbers of live births and therefore rates vary considerably with small changes in the number of deaths.

  2 Deaths four weeks and over but under one year per 1,000 live births.

  Fire Service Training School
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the recommendations made by his Department's inspector for changes in procedures at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane were based on the evidence received during his Department's inquiry into allegations about conduct at the school; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The recommendations made by Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services were based on views formed by the inspector during his inquiry taking into account the evidence given to him by recruits and instructors and the surrounding circumstances.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has as to the veracity of complaints made by fire service recruits about practices at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Complaints were received from one brigade only; I am satisfied that these have been properly investigated and that the conclusions reached by the independent inspector were reasonable.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department published the report of the inquiry into allegations of malpractices at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and when the report was made available to the Lothian and Borders fire brigade.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The report of the inquiry was not published nor was it made available to Lothian and Borders fire brigade, but a very full news release was issued on 16 September 1987, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if a Fire Brigades Union representative was present at all interviews with recruits and other staff in connection with his Department's inquiry into complaints about the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Fire Brigades Union was invited to be represented at all the 24 interviews. I understand that a local office bearer was present at 20 of these but elected not to attend the other four and further that he expressed himself satisfied with the way in which the interviews were conducted.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will explain the reason for changes in procedures at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane which have been introduced following the recent inquiry into complaints about that establishment.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The changes in procedures were introduced following recommendations made by the inspector in his report.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the procedure used by a senior officer of the Strathclyde fire brigade to interview 12 recruits about allegations of humiliating and degrading treatment at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No special procedures were used. The senior officer of Strathclyde fire brigade
  653
  interviewed 13 recruits from his brigade, including one who has now left the service at Strathclyde's training establishment. None had any complaint to make nor had they seen anyone abused.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any senior officers of the Lothian and Borders fire brigade were formally interviewed in connection with his Department's inquiry into complaints about the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The inspector interviewed the third officer of the brigade on 17 June 1987.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (I) if he is satisfied with the way in which the firemaster and staff of the Lothian and Borders fire brigade dealt with complaints about the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the investigation carried out by the Lothian and Borders fire brigade into allegations of humiliating and degrading treatment of recruits at the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he is satisfied with the conduct of the brigade in relation to these complaints and the subsequent inquiries.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The inspector in his report commented on the handling of the matter, and these comments have been passed to the firemaster.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide the firemaster of the Lothian and Borders fire brigade with a copy of the report and associated evidence of his Department's inquiry into complaints about the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. The report was private and contained information which was given to Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services on the understanding that confidentiality would be observed. However, the findings and recommendations of the report were contained in a very detailed Scottish Office news release published on 16 September 1987, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Subsequently, Lothian and Borders fire board was given a detailed resume of the inquiry and I met representatives of the board on 29 January 1988 to discuss the matter further.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration was given to allegations about dangerous practices in his Department's recent investigation concerning the Scottish fire service training school at Gullane.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am unaware of any allegations of dangerous practices.

  'Excess' winter mortality Scotland, 1958–87

  Year

  Winter Deaths

  Summer Deaths

  Differences

  Percentage Excess

  A

  B

  A-B

  (A-B) × 100/B

  1958

  18,622

  12,667

  5,955

  47·0

  1959

  21,048

  12,900

  8,148

  63·2

  1960

  17,194

  13,705

  3,489

  25·5

  1961

  18,752

  13,514

  5,238

  38·8

  Parkhead Stadium
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last made an official visit to a football match at Parkhead stadium; whether he has received any report from the Strathclyde police concerning crowd control arrangements at Parkhead; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not been invited to the stadium. He has not received a report from Strathclyde police on crowd control arrangements there, nor does he see a need to ask for one.

  Modern Languages
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to implement the recommendations of European Community document 7706/84 on the teaching of modern languages in Scottish schools;

  (2) if he has any plans to include the teaching of a foreign language in the core curriculum for S3 and S4;

  (3) what future role he plans for the teaching of modern languages in Scottish secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 12 February at columns 369–70.

  In Vitro Fertilisation
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report those hospitals which are equipped to offer in vitro fertilisation services.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In vitro fertilisation (IVF) services are provided at centres approved by the Voluntary Licensing Authority. There are four such centres in Scotland. Clinical IVF services are provided at Ninewells hospital, Dundee, and at the Royal infirmary, Glasgow, and clinical IVF services in association with research work are provided at the Royal infirmary, Aberdeen, and the Simpson memorial maternity pavilion, Edinburgh.

  Winter Mortality
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish tables in the manner of those in the answer to the hon. Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) of 9 February,Official Report, column 170, relating to excess winter mortality in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:
  655

  Year

  Winter Deaths

  Summer Deaths

  Differences

  Percentage Excess

  A

  B

  A-B

  (A-B) × 100/B

  1962

  18,516

  13,460

  5,056

  37·6

  1963

  20,711

  13,775

  6,936

  50·4

  1964

  16,510

  13,644

  2,866

  21·0

  1965

  17,806

  13,860

  3,946

  28·5

  1966

  19,471

  13,655

  5,816

  42·6

  1967

  15,834

  13,365

  2,469

  18·5

  1968

  19,264

  13,482

  5,782

  42·9

  1969

  18,148

  13,970

  4,178

  29·9

  1970

  19,271

  14,157

  5,114

  36·1

  1971

  16,712

  14,145

  2,567

  18·1

  1972

  19,108

  14,349

  4,759

  33·2

  1973

  18,171

  14,303

  3,868

  27·0

  1974

  17,093

  14,490

  2,603

  18·0

  1975

  17,338

  14,114

  3,224

  22·8

  1976

  19,780

  14,071

  5,709

  40·6

  1977

  17,049

  13,859

  3,190

  23·0

  1978

  19,112

  14,433

  4,679

  32·4

  1979

  18,810

  14,580

  4,230

  29·0

  1980

  17,304

  14,246

  3,058

  21·5

  1981

  17,293

  14,269

  3,024

  21·2

  1982

  19,364

  14,165

  5,199

  36·7

  1983

  18,108

  14,245

  3,863

  27·1

  1984

  17,225

  13,831

  3,394

  24 5

  1985

  17,466

  14,354

  3,112

  21·7

  1986

  18,456

  14,273

  4,183

  29·3

  19871

  16,878

  14,088

  2,790

  19·8

  1 Provisional

  Five Year Period

  Percentage Excess Winter Mortality

  1958–1962

  42·1

  1963–1967

  32·3

  1968–1972

  32·0

  1973–1977

  26·2

  1978–1982

  28·2

  1983–1987

  24·5

  Notes:

  Winter: deaths registered in months January to March inclusive.

  Summer: deaths registered in months July to September inclusive.

  Catering and Domestic Services
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will place in the Library an account of the discussions of the seminar on 2 October 1987 addressed by representatives of the trade associations for catering and domestic services contractors, referred to in his letter from general managers of Scottish health boards in December 1987;

  (2) if he will list the names and companies of participants in the seminar on 2 October 1987 addressed by representatives of the trade associations for catering and domestic services contractors, referred to in his letter dated December 1987 sent to general managers of Scottish health boards.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies of 19 January at columns 664–65, to the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith).

  Clydesdale (Population)
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the population of each town and village in the Clydesdale constituency since the 1983 boundary change.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 February 1988 at column 142.

  The term "Clydesdale constituency" was taken to mean the constituency following the 1983 boundary reorganisation, since there was no constituency of that name before then.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the population of each of the villages in the Clydesdale constituency with fewer than 500 people.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  1981 census population figures are available for various predefined areas and for user-specified aggregations of postcode unit areas. Villages were not included in the former category because they did not have easily-defined boundaries.

  D and C Operations
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has concerning the total number of D and C operations performed in Scotland in each of the last 25 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [pursuant to his reply, 2 February 1988, c. 575]: The number of D and C operations performed in NHS hospitals in Scotland from 1961 to 1985 (the latest year for which information is held centrally) is given in the following table:
  657

  Year

  Number of operations

  1961

  18,167

  1962

  19,218

  1963

  18,524

  1964

  19,464

  1965

  18,918

  1966

  20,271

  1967

  20,255

  1968

  20,210

  11969

  19,000

  11970

  19,300

  1971

  19,538

  1972

  15,380

  1973

  13,824

  1974

  13,836

  1975

  13,016

  1976

  13,540

  1977

  11,916

  1978

  11,757

  1979

  10,889

  1980

  15,281

  1981

  12,931

  1982

  10,841

  1983

  13,031

  1984

  12,828

  1985

  13,210

  1 Estimated figures.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Official Opposition
  Mr. James Wallace
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will set out(a) the number of employees, (b) the machinery and equipment and (c) other benefits in kind which are provided to the official Opposition from public funds in addition to the assistance to Opposition parties, indicating the estimated annual value in each case.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The current annual cost to public funds of staff and benefits in kind provided to the official Opposition in addition to the moneys provided under the scheme for financial assistance to Opposition parties (`Short money') is estimated to be as follows:

  Estimated cost £

  (i) Opposition Whips Office (House of Commons)

  4 staff

  155,000

  Office equipment (photocopier)

  1,500

  Postal services

  15,000

  (ii) Opposition Whips Office (House of Lords)

  Postal services

  12,000

  HMSO supplies

  1,500

  1 Pay and Earnings Related National Insurance Contributions.

  In addition, a car is available to the Leader of the Opposition from the Government car service. The cost of this in the current financial year is estimated to be about £36,000.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list(a) the salary of the Leader of the Opposition, (b) the salaries of any Opposition Whips who receive a salary in excess of the salary of an ordinary hon. Member and (c) the annual cost to public funds of the use of the Government car service by the Leader of the Opposition.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information is as follows:
  658

  Salary at 1.1.1988 £ per annum

  (a) (i) Leader of the Opposition (Commons)

  148,148

  (ii) Leader of the Opposition (Lords)

  28,688

  (b)(i) Chief Opposition Whip (Commons)

  140,798

  Assistant Opposition Whips (Commons)

  131,738

  (ii) Chief Opposition Whip (Lords)

  25,618

  (c) The annual cost to public funds of the use of the Government car service by the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons is included in Class XX, Vote 1 and is estimated to be about £36,000 in the current financial year. The Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords is not provided with the use of the Government car service.

  1 The salaries quoted for office holders in the House of Commons include a reduced parliamentary salary of £16,911 per annum.

  Members' Pensions
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what Exchequer contribution will be payable to a personal pension scheme in respect of a right hon. or hon. Member who elects to withdraw from the parliamentary contributory pension fund; and what is the current Exchequer contribution to the parliamentary contributory pension fund.

  Mr. Wakeham
  In a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Page) on 4 December 1987, column 731, my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General explained that from July 1988 the Social Security Act 1986 will require employers to make a contribution for personal pension optants, as part of their national insurance contributions, at a rate no less than the contracted-out rebate (which currently stands at about 4 per cent. of the individual's salary). The Government consider that an employer's contribution at that level would be appropriate for public service employees opting for personal pensions, and that the same approach should be followed with the parliamentary pension scheme. The Exchequer currently makes a contribution of 13 per cent. of salary to the parliamentary contributory pension fund.

ENVIRONMENT

  Residuary Bodies
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he plans to take any action, in the light of the latest annual reports of the seven residuary bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The 1986–87 annual reports show that all seven residuary bodies are making good progress in discharging the functions they inherited from the former metropolitan county councils and the Greater London council. I congratulate all seven on their work.

  Young People (Homelessness and Crime)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will conduct a study on the alleged link between homeless young people and crime, drug abuse and alcohol abuse.
  659
  Mr. Waldegrave
  We published research in 1981 which suggested that only a very small percentage of young homeless people suffer from alcoholism and drug addiction.

  Land Disposal
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the performance of local authorities in disposing of unused and underused land.

  Mr. Trippier
  By the end of 1987 local authorities had disposed of over 16,000 acres of the unused and underused land entered on the registers of such land which the Department maintains.

  In its recent report on local authority property management the Audit Commission has drawn attention to the ways in which the management practices of local authorities can be improved, which I am now considering.

  Rate Capping
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the effectiveness of the rate capping of precepting authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has received numerous representations about rate and precept limitation, including a recent letter from the leader of the metropolitan borough of Solihull about the effectiveness of precept control in the west midlands next year to which we will be replying shortly.

  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to announce his final decisions on rate limits for authorities selected for rate limitation for 1988–89.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 12 February, at column 384.

  Fulmer (Sewerage)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Thames water authority to discuss mains sewerage in Fulmer.

  Mr. Ridley
  The provisions of mains sewerage in Fulmer is a matter for the Thames water authority and South Buckinghamshire district council.

  Planning Policy
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to increase the effectiveness of town and country planning laws relating to development commencing without the granting of permission, or in breach of conditions attached to permissions.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Effective enforcement of planning control depends on the local planning authority's vigilance and resolution in using its statutory powers in the Town and Country Planning Act 1971. So far as enforcement appeals are concerned, we have recently completed an efficiency scrutiny, and an action plan, to achieve all-round improvements, will be published shortly.
  660
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the practice in the outer London boroughs whereby estate developers demolish residential buildings to create large-scale development sites; and whether he will consider proposing changes in the planning laws in the light of this practice.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that no extension of control for this purpose is necessary. It is already necessary to obtain permission to demolish listed buildings of architectural or historic interest, and unlisted buildings in conservation areas; and redevelopment requires planning permission in the usual way.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received about improving planning procedures.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Hon. Members and others are rightly concerned about delays in reaching decisions on planning applications and appeals. We have recently urged local authorities to ensure that their procedures for dealing with planning applications operate efficiently and do not impose unwarranted delays. A substantial programme of measures is in hand to improve appeals procedures and to speed decision times.

  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that local planning authorities comply with the advice within circular 13/87 in general and paragraphs 11 and 12 in particular.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The advice in my Department's circulars about town and country planning is not mandatory, but it is a material consideration in decisions about development proposals. An applicant may appeal from a local planning authority's decision and an authority which has acted unreasonably on a case which goes to appeal by inquiry may face an award of costs. We are monitoring the extent to which local authorities impose conditions on planning permissions so as to restrict the freedoms in the general development order and the use classes order.

  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he and his inspectors will award costs against local authorities on appeal when evidence is laid before him that local planning authorities frustrate the spirit of circular 13/87.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The power, in section 250(5) of the Local Government Act 1972, for my right hon. Friend or a planning inspector to award a party's costs in appeal proceedings is discretionary in relation to the particular facts of any appeal and the parties' behaviour during the appeal proceedings. Paragraphs 7 and 13 of circular 2/87 make it clear, respectively, that if, without reasonable planning grounds, planning authorities fail to follow relevant advice given in departmental circulars, or they impose conditions which are unnecessary and unreasonable, an award of costs may be made against the planning authority when it is justified in the circumstances.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's latest estimate of the number of people who are homeless as a result of mortgage defaults.
  661
  Mr. Waldegrave
  In the year to September 1987 English local authorities accepted an estimated 10,300 households as homeless because of mortgage arrears.

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the total cost at 1986–87 prices to local authorities of housing homeless families in emergency accommodation(a) in 1986–87 and (b) in 1979–80.

  Mr. Ridley
  From information supplied by authorities in England and Wales and calculations made by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, net expenditure on hostels and bed and breakfast, when expressed at 1986–87 prices, amounted to £1,697 and £472 per 1,000 population in 1986–87 and 1979–80 respectively.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to seek to amend the homeless persons legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  No.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he proposes to reduce levels of homelessness.

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning gave to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 2 December 1987, at column 927.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish and distribute the leaflet giving guidance on homelessness which was circulated for consultation purposes on 8 April 1987.

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr. Soley) on 8 February, at column 22.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures for the number of households accepted as homeless in England(a) in 1980 and (b) in 1987 or the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Roe
  English local authorities are estimated to have accepted responsibility under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Acts for finding accommodation for 62,900 households in 1980 and for 108,100 in the 12 months to September 1987. The estimate for 1980 is not strictly comparable with more recent figures, because of a change in the method of reporting.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to issue a revised planning circular to provide clearer protection of the environment of the communities affected by opencast mining and similar activities; and what further consideration has been given to this subject since the Government's response to the recommendations of the Energy Committee's report on the coal industry.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department issued revised draft planning guidelines for opencast coal mining for consultation in April last year. We are currently considering all the representations received and propose to publish revised guidelines in the near future.

  Farm Buildings
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take further steps to ensure that planning authorities respond positively and quickly to applications for the alternative use of redundant farm buildings.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Our planning policy since 1980 has been that permission should be granted for the conversion of redundant farm buildings to alternative uses unless there are specific and convincing planning objections. We re-emphasised this most recently in two planning policy guidance notes entitled "Green Belts" and "Rural Enterprise and Development", issued on 20 January. We continue to urge planning authorities to process all planning applications as quickly as possible.

  Peak Park Planning Board
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to review the way in which members are appointed to the Peak Park planning board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a review.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning appeals have been decided by himself since 1986; and how many have been determined on his behalf by inspectors.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In 1987, 655 planning appeals were decided by the Secretary of State and 16,458 by inspectors acting on his behalf.

  Housing Improvement Schemes
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing improvement schemes involving Estate Action have been approved so far in the present financial year.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  With the schemes I have announced today, 112 new Estate Action schemes will have been approved in the current financial year. Substantial financial support has also been given to some 70 schemes which were started last year.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the potential for using Housing Corporation funds to support developments complementary to Estate Action programmes.

  Mrs. Roe
  There is considerable potential for housing associations to contribute to Estate Action programmes and this will be expanded by the provisions in the Housing Bill extending the power of registered associations to help with the regeneration of rundown areas and in providing services to other bodies such as tenants' groups. Decisions on whether to fund any particular association or project remain of course a matter for the Housing Corporation, but I am confident that its consultations with local authorities and associations will have alerted it to opportunities for funding association developments which will complement Estate Action programmes.

  Rates Collection
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to meet the leader of the London Boroughs Association to discuss rates collection; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has not received any request from the leader of the London Boroughs Association for such a meeting.

  Football (Membership Schemes)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider his policy on membership schemes for football clubs, in the light of representations made by senior officers of the Metropolitan police.

  Mr. Ridley
  I want to see football clubs make further progress on membership schemes, including where necessary by making appropriate structural alterations to their grounds. Representations from the Metropolitan police have largely been in respect of constraints imposed on membership schemes at individual clubs by the present configuration of their grounds.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the proportion of the adult population liable to pay the community charge who will pay the charge within due time.

  Mr. Howard
  All adults liable to the community charge will be invited to pay by 10 equal instalments each year, though collecting authorities will have discretion to agree other arrangements with chargepayers who prefer a different frequency.

  I have every confidence that local authorities will collect the community charge from those liable as efficiently as they now collect domestic rates.

  Bed-and-breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest available figure of people in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in urban areas.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of families in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in rural areas.

  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest available figure of people in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in non-urban areas and the figure for the previous year.

  Mrs. Roe
  The quarterly publication "Local Authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England, Supplementary tables" includes the numbers of households temporarily placed by authorities in bed-and-breakfast accommodation. The latest issue, with the results of the third quarter 1987, gives in table 4(a) estimates of the numbers being accommodated at the end of September 1987 and a year before, by London boroughs, by metropolitan district councils and by other councils.
  664
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he plans to meet representatives of Britain's local authorities to discuss the proposed community charge.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the local authority associations to discuss the proposals in the Local Government Finance Bill.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he plans to meet representatives of Britain's local authorities to discuss the proposed community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Chope) to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. Dunnachie) on 4 November 1987, at column 737.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide an up-to-date list of all those organisations supporting the community charge and uniform business rate proposals in the Local Government Finance Bill.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have made submissions to him in support of the Local Government Finance Bill.

  Mr. Howard
  A summary of 1,271 responses, received by my Department before 31 October 1986, when the consultation period on the Green Paper ended, was placed in the Library on 15 December 1986. Since June 1987 my Department has received some 3,800 letters, including about 200 from local authorities and local authority associations. The letters contain a variety of comments on specific aspects of our proposals or requests for further information, and for this reason do not readily lend themselves to an analysis of correspondents' views.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the position of parish and town councils under the community charge proposals, in the light of their prospective loss of the proceeds of rates from commercial premises.

  Mr. Howard
  I received a large number of representations from parish and town councils to the effect that the proposals in the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" would have deprived them of any benefit from business rate income. The introduction of the collection fund, whereby grant and redistributed non-domestic rates will be applied in support of the expenditure of all tiers of authority, should meet their concern.

  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received on the uniform business rate from the Confederation of British Industry and the National Association of Chambers of Commerce.

  Mr. Howard
  The CBI has made representations about some aspects of the uniform business rate and has asked for a £1·8 billion reduction in the total burden of rates on businesses, but has stressed that it considers the Government's proposals a substantial improvement on the status quo. The Association of British Chambers of
  665
  Commerce has expressed support for the uniform business rate, but has made representations seeking improved transitional arrangements and enhanced consultation arrangements between local authorities and business, which we are considering.

  Basildon District Council
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet received any request from Basildon district council for redetermination of his decision to rate cap the council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has received no request from Basildon district council for redetermination of his decision to rate-cap the council. He has, however, received representations from the council asking him to consider raising the rate limit proposed by him for 1988–89 and I met members and officials from the council on 27 January 1988 to consider the council's arguments for a higher rate limit in 1988–89.

  The Secretary of State has considered all the information available to him and in an order laid before the House of Commons on 12 February he specified for Basildon district council a maximum rate of 49·68p confirming his original proposal made on 9 December.

  Houses (Multiple Occupation)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the Government's policy towards houses in multiple occupation.

  Mrs. Roe
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning met a delegation from the Campaign for Bedsit Rights last December. Some representations have also been made to the Department, and to our environmental health adviser in the course of his visits to local authorities.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met members of the Nature Conservancy Council; and what matters were discussed.

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) to the hon. Member for Meironnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on Tuesday 9 February, at columns 128–29.

  Development Corporations
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the impact of the English urban development corporations since they were set up.

  Mr. Trippier
  London Docklands DC and Merseyside DC, which were both set up in 1981, have had a major impact on their areas. Information is contained in their annual reports, copies of which are laid before the House. The four English urban development corporations set up in 1987 have embarked on initial projects and have generated considerable interest in their areas.
  666
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money he has awarded to each of the urban development corporations he set up on 7 December 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend announced on 7 December his intention to set up further urban development corporations. No decisions have been taken on financial allocations.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to meet the chairman of Telford development corporation to discuss the future of the corporation's assets.

  Mrs. Roe
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present.

  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will visit Leeds to discuss his proposals for a mini urban development corporation there.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend has no present plans to visit Leeds, but I visited the city on 18 January and discussed the UDC proposal with leading local figures.

  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to establish a new mini urban development corporation for central Manchester.

  Mr. Trippier
  The order establishing the UDC will be made after my right hon. Friend has received the consultants' advice on the boundary in March and the views of local interests on the proposed boundary.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response there has been to his recent announcement of a proposed mini urban development corporation in Bristol.

  Mr. Trippier
  Generally welcoming.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet been informed by Nirex as to when he can expect a copy of its proposals for the disposal of intermediate nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  My right hon. Friend expects UK Nirex Ltd. to submit its proposals for a deep dual-purpose disposal facility for low-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste within a year, after careful consideration has been given to the response to the discussion document "The Way Forward" and to other technical factors.

  Anti-litter Strategy
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on plans to tidy up Britain.

  Mrs. Roe
  The Tidy Britain Group has prepared proposals for a fresh anti-litter strategy, which we are currently considering.

  Sulphur Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the light of the evidence contained in the report of the United Nations Economic Commission for
  667
  Europe about the increased emissions by Britain of sulphur dioxide compared with the year before, he will make a statement on what the Government is to do effectively to reduce such emissions.

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply give by my the Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Sir J. Biggs-Davison) on 12 November 1987, at column 185.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current cumulative amount owed in rent arrears to all local authorities in England; and what further steps he is taking to reduce this amount.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-East (Mr. Kirkhope) on 20 January, at columns 756–57, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) today.

  Housing Defects
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation so as to amend the Housing Defects Act to attach grants for repairs to the property and not to its owner.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have no plans to do so. I am writing to my hon. Friend, setting out our reasons for this.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in reviewing the national grant eligible expenditure limits under the housing defects legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have decided that the national limits set in 1986 need revision, given that a year and a half has passed since they came into force and that we now have much more experience of actual repair costs. In the light of all the information available, we are proposing the following new limits:

  House type

  Proposed limit

  Present limit

  £

  £

  Local designations and any new designations

  14,000

  14,000

  Cornish unit: 1 storey PRC

  17,000

  14,000

  Dorran: 1 storey PRC

  17,000

  16,000

  Gregory

  17,000

  14,000

  Myton: 1 storey PRC

  17,000

  16,000

  Newland: 1 storey PRC

  17,000

  16,000

  Tarran: 1 storey PRC

  17,000

  14,000

  Unity and Butterly: 1 storey PRC

  17,000

  20,000

  Wessex: 1 storey PRC

  17,000

  24,000

  Cornish unit: 2 storey PRC

  23,000

  16,000

  Stent

  23,000

  20,000

  Unity and Butterly: 2 storey PRC

  23,000

  20,000

  Airey

  27,000

  16,000

  Boswell

  27,000

  14,000

  Dorran: 2 storey PRC

  27,000

  16,000

  Dyke

  27,000

  24,000

  Myton: 2 storey PRC

  27,000

  16,000

  Newland: 2 storey PRC

  27,000

  16,000

  Reema Hollow Panel

  27,000

  20,000

  Schindler and Hawksley SGS

  27,000

  24,000

  Smith

  27,000

  20,000

  Stonecrete

  27,000

  16,000

  Tarran: 2 storey PRC

  27,000

  14,000

  668

  House type

  Proposed limit

  Present limit

  £

  £

  Underdown

  27,000

  20,000

  Waller

  27,000

  24,000

  Wates

  27,000

  20,000

  Winget

  27,000

  20,000

  Boot

  31,000

  20,000

  Orlit

  31,000

  24,000

  Parkinson

  31,000

  20,000

  Wessex: 2 storey PRC

  31,000

  24,000

  Woolaway

  31,000

  20,000

  These changes should help speed up the administration of the scheme. At present, local authorities often have to apply for individual higher eligible expenditure limits for particular properties: the new limits should reduce considerably the need for that. My officials will now be consulting the local authority associations, home owners groups, approved repairers and other interested bodies on these proposals. We hope to have all responses by early April and to reach a final decision soon after that. Bringing the new limits into force requires a negative resolution of the House of Commons. We hope to make such an order by May, so that new limits can be in operation by June.

  Structure Plan (Berkshire)
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on his proposed modifications to the management structure plan for central Berkshire.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  To date my right hon. Friend has received 10 representations to his proposed modifications to the replacement structure plan for Berkshire.

  Berkshire county council is advertising the proposed modifications this week, specifying a six-week period, ending on 31 March, in which representations on the proposed modifications may be made to my right hon. Friend. All representations will be carefully considered.

  HOTCHA Scheme
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of the HOTCHA scheme, which provides opportunities for house purchase for tenants of housing association properties.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations was introduced in September 1984 to help tenants who would have had the right to buy but for the charitable status of their landlords. Tenants assisted under the scheme receive discounts, funded by housing association grant, on the purchase of homes on the open market. Over 5,000 properties have been purchased at discounts totalling some £80 million. Because demand outstrips the resources available a waiting list has been in force since 1 October 1986. At the end of December 1987 2,645 applications were being held. A further £19 million has been allocated for the scheme for 1988–89 to cover outstanding purchases set in hand before 1 October 1986 and a proportion of the applications received since that date. Applications received up to 31 May 1987 will now be allowed to proceed.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairmen of the water authorities of England and Wales; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Ridley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on Thursday 11 February, at column 298, to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley).

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to meet the chairmen of the water authorities in England and Wales to discuss compliance with the relevant EEC directives.

  Mr. Ridley
  I meet the chairmen of water authorities regularly to discuss matters of current interest, including compliance with EC directives.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was discussed at his meeting with the water authority chairmen on 19 January.

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer the hon. Member for the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 11 February, at column 298.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Simon Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the performance of local authorities in dealing with planning applications.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. I believe that local authorities should be able to deal with at least 80 per cent. of planning applications within eight weeks of receiving them. On 1 February we published figures which showed that in the three months January-March 1987 41 authorities achieved that, but on average during that quarter English local authorities decided only 59 per cent. of applications within eight weeks. I hope that all local authorities will examine their procedures for handling planning applications and introduce improvements where appropriate, to make the system work more efficiently.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an estimate of the percentage by which he expects housing association rents to increase in real terms(a) over the next two years and (b) over the next four years.

  Mrs. Roe
  I can give no such estimate. Existing housing association tenancies will remain subject to rents registered by rent officers. Rents on lettings which take place after commencement of the relevant provisions of the Housing Bill will be for the associations to determine, taking account of their costs and of the grant available to them.

  UK 2000
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public money has been spent by UK 2000; what information he has as to how much private money has been spent; and what has been achieved.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend has paid grants to UK 2000 and its participating organisations totalling £600,000 in 1986–87 and £1·4 million in 1987–88. My right 670
  hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have also paid smaller grants. In 1986–87, £400,000 of private sector support, in cash and kind, was secured by UK 2000 and in 1987–88 this has risen to £1·4 million. At the end of 1987–88 UK 2000 will be supporting over 400 projects offering over 12,000 community programme places and involving over 12,000 volunteers.

  Westminster Pier
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the resolution of the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) of 2 February, he will now reconsider his earlier decision not to call in the planning application for Westminster pier; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. In considering whether to call in the Thames water authority's planning application for a new Westminster pier my right hon. Friend gave very careful consideration to all the material issues involved, including the impact of the proposed structure on the Palace of Westminster and its environs. We have looked again at the matter, in the light of the resolution referred to, but see no reason to take the decision out of the hands of Westminster city council, which is the local planning authority.

  Consultative Document (North Devon)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment upon what dates(a) the consultative documents on right to buy, deregulation of the private rented sector, housing action trusts, tenants' choice and home improvement policy were despatched to North Devon district council and (b) replies were required; and what length of time he treats as a resonable minimum for a local authority to receive, distribute, consider, discuss and provide reasoned comment on such papers.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The table provides the information requested about each of the consultation and explanation documents.

  Issued

  Comments invited by

  Right to buy

  2 October

  30 October

  Deregulation of the Private Rented Sector

  2 October

  30 October

  Housing Action Trusts

  8 October

  6 November

  Tenants' Choice

  2 November

  4 December

  Home Improvement Policy

  5 November

  4 January 1988

  In issuing these documents we thought it sensible to give respondents an indication as to when their comments would be most useful, as clearly the earlier the comments are made, the more helpful they are in developing policy. However, nothing absolute was intended about the target dates set for responses and all comments that we receive are being carefully considered. I am grateful to North Devon district council for the helpful comments it submitted on four of these documents.

  It is not possible to generalise about the timetable for submitting comments on any other consultation and explanatory documents, since this will inevitably vary depending on the particular circumstances.

  Derelict Land Grant
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department has spent on derelict land grant since 1979–80.

  Mr. Trippier
  Between 1 April 1979 and 31 December 1987 the total amount of derelict land grant paid by the Department was £416·73 million.

  Local Authorities (Property Management)
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he takes to monitor the performance of local authorities in managing their property assets effectively.

  Mr. Chope
  The recent major report from the Audit Commission, to which I referred in my answer given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Evans) sets out ways of making major improvements in property management. The local auditors will be following up and monitoring progress. Better property management can improve the performance of every local authority service, as well as generating increased capital receipts.

  Nirex
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will next meet the chairman of the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive; and what matters will be discussed.

  Mrs. Roe
  My right hon. Friend has had discussions .with the chairman of Nirex from time to time about the disposal of radioactive waste, but he has at present no plans to meet him.

  Fire Authorities (Competitive Tendering)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received seeking the exemption of fire authorities from competitive tendering for maintenance of fire tenders, under the Local Government Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend received a number of representations on this subject. The Government announced during proceedings on the Local Government Bill on 15 February that, while we were not willing to remove references to fire vehicle maintenance from the Bill, we had decided to use the order-making powers in the Bill to exempt that activity from compulsory competition when we make the first set of regulations and orders under the Bill.

  Water Supplies
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the areas that have provided bottled water to mothers feeding young infants when ground water supplies have exceeded limits in European Economic Community directives.

  Mrs. Roe
  Water undertakers are not required to inform my right hon. Friend when bottled water is provided for infant feeding because of high nitrate levels in public water supplies. However, I understand that bottled water was supplied to nursing mothers in a village 672
  in Worcestershire until July 1987 and will continue to be supplied to a village in the Yorkshire water authority area until the supply is replaced later this year.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the area of designated green belt land in the Eddisbury constituency in(a) 1979 and (b) the latest year for which information is available.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Green belt within the Eddisbury constituency was broadly defined in the Cheshire structure plan approved in July 1979. It fell to local plans to establish the precise areas and this has been done for the following areas:

  (a) In Vale Royal District:

  Frodsham and Helsby local plan (adopted May 1981)

  Northwich local plan (adopted May 1981)

  Tarporley local plan (adopted June 1982).

  (b) Chester District:

  Chester rural areas local plan (adopted October 1985).

  For those parts of the constituency not yet covered by local plans the green belt remains as broadly defined in the structure plan.

  Home Ownership Scheme
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to make changes to the Housing Corporation's home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations in the light of his review of the operation and effectiveness of the scheme.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have no present plans to change the scheme.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest number of new home owners estimated to have been assisted by the Housing Corporation's home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations; and how many are now on the waiting list.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Over 5,000 properties have been purchased through the home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations. At the end of December 1987 there were 2,645 applications on the waiting list.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds have been allocated for transferable discounts under the home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations for the financial year 1988–89.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A further £19 million has been allocated for the home ownership scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations in the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1988–89.

  Local Authority Services (Competitive Tendering)
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue draft regulations on the phasing-in of competitive tendering; and if he will make a statement.
  673
  Mr. Chope
  We are currently considering the responses to the Department's consultation paper on the implementation of the competitive tendering provisions in part I of the Local Government Bill. The necessary regulations and orders will be made as soon as possible after Royal Assent. I see no need to issue them in draft first.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the overall response was to the Government's proposals for the phasing-in of competitive tendering from local authorities; and whether those will be published.

  Mr. Chope
  Some 210 responses to the English consultation paper have been received so far. In general respondents welcome the proposed phasing-in, although many authorities consider that the overall period is too short and that they should be given greater local flexibility.

  Where the authors have agreed, copies of responses will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  Urban Programme
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the level of urban programme resource allocation has been for Leeds for each year since 1982–83; and if he will give the corresponding figures for Bradford.

  Mr. Trippier
  The initial allocations are in the following table:

  £ million

  Leeds

  Bradford

  1982–83

  4·98

  4·92

  1983–84

  4·93

  4·98

  1984–85

  4·13

  4·58

  1985–86

  4·14

  4·78

  1986–87

  4·13

  4·58

  1987–88

  4·50

  4·50

  1988–89

  4·40

  4·50

  In addition, the following urban development grant projects have been approved since 1983:

  Number of projects

  Amount of grant

  Associated private investment

  £ million

  £ million

  Leeds

  14

  6·265

  15·035

  Bradford

  4

  1·829

  5·016

  Ancient Woodlands
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to amend existing regulations on the protection of ancient woodlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  There are no present plans to do so, but we shall keep the position under review, in relation to both ancient woodlands and the amenity value of woodlands generally.

  Housing and Planning Act 1986
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the provisions in the Housing and Planning Act 1986, which would enable local housing authorities to pay home improvement grants for works to the common parts of buildings containing flats, are expected to come into force.
  674
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The orders required to bring into operation the provisions of the Housing and Planning Act relating to common parts grants came into force today. This will be of considerable benefit to flat-dwellers as, for the first time, discretionary grants will be available to help with the costs of repairing and improving those parts of buildings containing flats, such as roofs and staircases, which lie outside the flats themselves. Local authorities will be able to give common parts grants for a wide range of buildings from large purpose-built mansion blocks to small scale conversions.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the function and composition of the Royal Ulster Constabulary special support unit.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 12 February 1988]: There are no longer units in the Royal Ulster Constabulary called special support units. The RUC does have headquarters mobile support units (HMSUs). They are mobile sections of uniformed officers, under the command of an inspector, and comprise specially trained personnel who are readily available for flexible and sustained duties against terrorist and other serious criminal activities.

  Ulster Security Liaison Committee
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the function and composition of the Ulster security liaison committee.

  Mr. Stanley
  [holding answer 12 February 1988]: It is not the practice to comment on the security arrangements of the Northern Ireland Office.

  Discrimination
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many companies or public bodies in Northern Ireland have suffered Government sanctions for failure to observe the code on fair employment;

  (2) how many manufacturing service and commercial organisations, local councils and Government departments who have signed the fair employment undertaking have had Government sanctions taken against them for alleged discrimination in employment practice.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: Government Departments in Northern Ireland and the major public bodies sponsored by them do not normally accept tenders from employers unless they are in possession of an equal opportunity certificate issued under section 7 of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976, following the signature of a declaration of principle and intent. No central records are kept in respect of tenders not accepted.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Green Pound
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what estimated
  675
  amount, to the nearest £100 million, British farmers' incomes have been depressed due to the discrepancy between the value of the green pound and the real pound sterling for the two years 1986 and 1987.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Farmers' incomes in 1986 and 1987 were affected by many factors. I regret that it is not possible to assess reliably what the aggregate income levels would have been in these years given that the changes in the green pound as envisaged could have affected many other decisions on support levels.

  Intervention Stocks
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much British farmers have benefited from intervention purchases over the past five years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Over the five years up to 1 April 1987 the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce spent £2,575 million buying surplus produce into intervention and received £870 million from sales out of intervention. During that period the board's costs of storing intervened produce, excluding financing charges, were £385 million.

  Peanuts
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to make mandatory the display of warning labels against human consumption upon peanuts sold in petshops; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no plans to introduce such legislation. I would have thought it self-evident to the public that feed sold in pet shops was not intended for human consumption.

  Milk and Pigmeat
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give the figures for the value of United Kingdom exports of(a) milk and milk products and (b) pork and pigmeat for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The information requested on United Kingdom exports is as follows:

  (a) Milk and milk products

  Year

  Exports to the world

  Intra-Community

  Exports to Third countries

  £ thousand

  £ thousand

  1979

  187,147

  141,671

  45,476

  1980

  284,589

  203,627

  80,962

  1981

  315,695

  203,039

  112,656

  1982

  330,118

  214,707

  115,411

  1983

  301,284

  175,684

  125,600

  1984

  238,381

  123,320

  115,061

  1985

  273,459

  161,082

  112,377

  1986

  294,055

  211,939

  82,116

  1987

  274,010

  184,217

  89,793

  Source: Eurostat.
  676

  (b) Pork and pigmeat

  £ thousands

  Year

  Total

  Intra-Community

  Exports to Third countries

  £ thousand

  £ thousand

  1979

  22,528

  219,595

  2,933

  1980

  24,438

  21,915

  2,523

  1981

  26,726

  22,637

  4,089

  1982

  39,755

  33,907

  5,848

  1983

  58,050

  50,216

  7,834

  1984

  55,494

  49,733

  5,761

  1985

  66,315

  56,922

  9,393

  1986

  71,888

  65,293

  6,595

  19871

  47,435

  43,200

  4,235

  Source: Customs and Excise Overseas Trade Statistics.

  1 Figures to end of September.

  2Spanish figures included in Third country total.

  Milk
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures the Milk Marketing Board took to ensure the movement of milk and milk products during the trough months of milk production; and with what success.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Milk Marketing Board collects milk from producers and arranges for its delivery to dairies and manufacturers: it is not responsible for the movement of milk products. The board allocates milk so that the important liquid market is given first priority. During the seasonal trough in milk production additional supplies to meet this priority market are normally drawn from milk allocated to butter and milk powder factories. However, last year's trough was unusually deep and prolonged, with the consequence that, for a period, some milk also had to be drawn from cheese manufacture, but this was kept to a minimum.

  Butter
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the retail price of butter for each year since 1970, in actual prices and in constant prices, and also showing 1970 as 100.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The table below provides the information requested:

  Average Retail Price of Butter1

  Current p/500 gm.

  Constant2 p/500 gm.

  Constant2 p/500 gm. (1970 = 100)

  1970

  18·9

  18·9

  100

  1971

  26·2

  23·9

  126

  1972

  29·3

  25·0

  132

  1973

  25·6

  20·0

  106

  1974

  26·5

  178

  94

  1975

  34·9

  18·9

  100

  1976

  48·3

  22·5

  119

  1977

  58·7

  23·6

  125

  1978

  66·1

  24·5

  130

  1979

  78·4

  25·6

  135

  1980

  85·5

  23·7

  125

  1981

  92·4

  22·9

  121

  1982

  99·4

  22·7

  120

  1983

  99 1

  21·6

  114

  1984

  100·5

  20·9

  111

  1985

  102·8

  20·1

  106

  1986

  104·0

  19·7

  104

  1987

  103·0

  18·7

  99

  677

  1 Home-produced except for 1970–72 when no quotas were available and the price of New Zealand butter is used.

  2 Deflated by all items Retail Prices Index.

  Grain Production
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total quantity of grain produced in each of the European Economic Community countries in 1987 and also the total amount of co-responsibility levy paid by each member state, in pounds sterling.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Figures for production and co-responsibility levy revenue collected are only available for the 1986–87 cereals marketing year (July/June).

  Member state1

  Production million tonnes

  Levy3 £ million2

  Belgium

  2·3

  13·3

  Denmark

  8·0

  6·9

  West Germany

  25·6

  50·0

  Greece

  5·2

  2·6

  Spain

  16·0

  17·6

  France

  50·1

  57·3

  Ireland

  1·8

  3·3

  Italy

  17·8

  24·5

  Luxembourg

  0·1

  0·2

  Netherlands

  1·3

  11·7

  United Kingdom

  24·5

  39·4

  1 Portugal does not yet implement the EC cereals regime.

  2 Converted at spot rates for 31 July 1987.

  3 Collected by 31 July 1987 for transactions to 30 June 1987.

  Farm Rents
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will update the information in the reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North of 3 March 1987,Official Report, column 540, about average farm rents in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) England for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The table gives average farm rents for(a) Great Britain and (b) England. Information cannot be provided for the United Kingdom because Northern Ireland's land tenure system is not generally comparable with that of Great Britain.

  Average farm rents (£ per hectare)

  Year

  Great Britain

  England2

  1979

  38·23

  42·13

  1980

  45·27

  50·01

  1981

  52·91

  58·36

  1982

  60·39

  66·14

  1983

  67·70

  73·93

  1984

  74·37

  81·27

  1985

  80·42

  88·01

  1986

  86·52

  95·11

  11987

  89·21

  97·84

  1 Provisional.

  2 The figures for England are due to be published in a Ministry statistics release on 24 February 1988.

  Milk Imports
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the monthly imports into the United Kingdom of fresh milk from European Economic Community member states for each year since such
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  imports were first permitted.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Imports of UHT and sterilised milk have been allowed since November 1983. The latest data from Customs and Excise indicate that imports are running at about 500 tonnes a month, consisting mainly of skimmed milk from Belgium. More detailed information on this trade, and on Northern Ireland's imports of milk for processing, is given month by month in "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom".

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences have been issued for experimental injections of bovine somatotropin into cows; what is the number of cows covered by such licences and the length of period of licensing; and what proportion of British cows' milk is likely to originate from the farms licensed to use bovine somatotropin.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Animal test certificates authorising trials of bovine somatotropin have been issued under the Medicines Act 1968 to three companies. These certificates are normally issued for a period of two years and are renewable. The certificates currently granted permit the treatment of a maximum of 1,130 cows. However, the number of cows treated at any one time is likely to be less than this, information relating to the proportion of milk originating from farms involved in the trials is not available.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to which countries of the European Economic Community allow the experimental use of bovine somatotropin.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Information is not available for all member states of the EC as there is no requirement to notify the Commission of trials taking place. Nevertheless, it is understood that bovine somatotropin has been tested in Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to whether artificial bovine somatotropin has been tested on humans and found to be safe.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Before the certificates for trials of BST were granted the applications were considered by the veterinary products committee which was satisfied that the use of this product in trials in milk cows would cause no risks to human health. No information has since become available which would cast any doubt on the evidence considered at that time.

  Animal Medicines
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the independent study carried out by the Mr. Peter Cuncliffe into the licensing of animal medicines; and when the results will be made known to the interested parties.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The study, which I announced on 3 July last year, has been completed. Mr. Cuncliffe presented his report to me earlier this month and I am
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  placing a copy in the Library. The report makes 25 recommendations aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the animal medicines licensing operation. I am giving careful consideration to Mr. Cuncliffe's recommendations, and am most grateful to him for the work he has undertaken. Consultation will be undertaken as necessary and I will report further to the House.

  Wheat
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will update the information in his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North of 22 April 1987,Official Report, column 638, about the average price of wheat received by the producer in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France (a) in national currency and (b) converted to £ sterling at the market rates prevailing on the latest date for which this information is available.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: Producer prices are not available for the three countries. For the week ending 31 January 1988 market prices for milling wheat were as shown below:

  National currency per tonne

  £ per tonne

  Germany (Hamburg)

  426·30 DM

  143·50

  France (La Pallice)

  1,354·67 FF

  135·20

  United Kingdom (Hull)

  144·20

  Source: Commission of the European Community.
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  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will update the information in his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North of 11 March 1987,Official Report, columns 228–29, about the average ex-farm price of wheat received by (a) British farmers, (b) French farmers and (c) German farmers, as well as the average intervention price for common wheat, in 1979, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987, in £ sterling.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: The information requested by my hon. Friend is not yet available for the 1986–87 and 1987–88 marketing years. I set out in the table the information for the 1979–80 and 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 marketing years. Ex-farm prices for the European Community as a whole are not available.

  Producer Prices for Wheat

  1£/tonne

  1979–80

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  United Kingdom

  95·83

  127·10

  3112·00

  110·15

  West Germany

  122·18

  125·75

  118·83

  116·63

  France

  88·03

  101·04

  99·05

  100·85

  EC2

  91·44

  120·16

  119·01

  116·98

  1 Exchange rates based on average spot rate for marketing years except for EC prices which have been converted at the average UK green rate for the marketing years.

  2 Average intervention price for common wheat.

  3 Revised figure.

  Source: "Agricultural Situation in the Community" 1981, 1986 and 1987 reports.

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  WAR WIDOWS' BENEFIT
  WAR WIDOWS' BENEFIT
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  WAR WIDOWS' PENSIONS: UPRATING
  WAR WIDOWS' PENSIONS: UPRATING