Written Answers of 23 February 1988

WALES

  Rate Relief
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what would be the value to the average ratepayer in Wales, in 1988–89 prices, if domestic rate relief were at 33·5 p in the pound.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  £42·20 (compared with the present value of £23·30) for domestic ratepayers.

  Sport
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the amount of Government financial assistance to sport in Wales since 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  Direct central Government support for sport and recreation in Wales is provided by way of grant-in-aid to the Sports Council for Wales. From 1979–80 to 1986–87, which is the last year for which outturn figures are available a total of £22·5 million was paid in grant. In the same period central Government support of £4·3 million

  Designated

  Expenditure £ million

  Employment

  Delyn enterprise zone

  21 July 1983

  6·6

  +1,200

  Swansea enterprise zone

  11 June 1981

  10·8

  +1,900

  Milford Haven enterprise zone

  24 April 1984

  6·1

  +420

  Regional industrial assistance paid to individual companies on the zones is not included.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much of the planned provision for the Welsh Development Agency, at constant prices, is expected to be from(a) rents, sales and services and (b) Government funding, in each of the years 1988–89 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information is as follows:

  £ million, 1987– prices1

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Rents, sales and other receipts

  46·1

  47·5

  47·8

  Net provision

  62·0

  58·3

  57·7

  1 The planning figures have prices using the GDP deflator.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the amount of public expenditure under the urban programme in Wales for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  Capital and revenue public expenditure under the urban programme (including urban development grant) in Wales for each year since 1979 is as follows:
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  was provided to local authorities via the urban programme. Of this the Welsh Office met 75 per cent. of the approved expenditure, the remaining 25 per cent. being met by the sponsoring local authority.

  Local authorities' gross current expenditure on sport and recreation in this period was £345·5 million. This was financed in part by the rate support grant which is unhypothocated and by specific and supplementary grants of £18·3 million.

  Housing (Renovation)
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent on the renovation of public and private housing stock in Wales since 1979.

  Mr. Grist
  Local authorities and housing associations have, since April 1979, spent £570 million on the renovation of public housing and £414 million on the renovation of private housing.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the amount of Government financial assistance to, and (b) the number of jobs created in, each enterprise zone in Wales since their designation.

  Mr. Grist
  Welsh Office expenditure, by way of payments under the urban programme and of compensation in respect of rate relief, is estimated as follows:

  £ million

  1979–80

  4·2

  1980–81

  8·7

  1981–82

  9·1

  1982–83

  17·4

  1983–84

  15·0

  1984–85

  20·8

  1985–86

  24·9

  1986–87

  126·5

  1987–88

  126·5

  1 Estimated.

  Morriston Hospital
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will direct the West Glamorgan health authority to ensure that the names of the people undertaking the inquiry into the intensive baby care unit at Morriston hospital are made public and that the results of the inquiry are published.

  Mr. Grist
  I understand that West Glamorgan health authority has initiated an internal inquiry following serious allegations about the special-care baby unit, Morriston hospital. The inquiry team will consist of the chairman of the authority and two members to be specified. The intention is for their report to be presented
  115
  to a meeting of the authority in March 1988. In the circumstances I have no reason to consider the issue of a direction to the authority on this question.

  Glanrhyd Bridge
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the chairman of British Rail about the replacement of Glanrhyd bridge on the central Wales line.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I met the chairman of British Rail on 5 February 1988. I am pleased to say that the chairman informed me that he hoped a new bridge would be in place by the autumn of this year.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid Budget
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of gross national product was allocated to official overseas development aid in 1987.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  This information will not be available until later this year.

THE ARTS

  Public Libraries
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if has any proposals to enlarge the scope for public libraries to generate increased revenues; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  I have today presented to Parliament a Green Paper, "Financing our public library service: Four subjects for debate." In it, I ask for views on the best means of achieving the Government's objectives of supporting the provision of the free basic library service at public expense, while at the same time enlarging the scope for library authorities to generate increased income by joint ventures with the private sector and by charging for specialised services.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Earlsfield Police Station
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to close Earlsfield police station in Wandsworth, London, SW18; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that there are no plans to close Earlsfield police station.

  London (Policing Costs)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost per inhabitant of policing London; and what is the average cost per inhabitant of policing areas outside London.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Expenditure per thousand population for each police force in England and Wales is 116
  given in "Police Statistics 1986–87 Actuals" published by The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, a copy of which is in the Library.

  The publication recognises that because of differences between the Metropolitan police and other forces direct comparisons of costs may be misleading.

  Sentries
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to what steps the police are taking to ensure that sentries on duty outside the royal palaces and royal residences, and their horses, are not subjected to unpleasant attentions from tourists and others; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The police have the necessary powers to deal with any difficulties which may arise.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Lawn Mowers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total output of lawn mowers, 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 is shown in the table. That for West Germany and Japan could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  £ million

  Sales1

  Exports

  Imports

  1975

  40·4

  10·4

  1·5

  1979

  86·9

  17·2

  9·0

  1980

  98·1

  18·3

  10·4

  1981

  108·6

  18·1

  12·4

  1982

  99·2

  17·3

  14·9

  1983

  101·8

  15·7

  12·6

  1984

  103·6

  20·1

  20·0

  1985

  115·7

  22·9

  20·5

  1 Output figures relate to sales by manufacturers in the United Kingdom with a minimum employment of 25 in years up to 1980 and 50 from 1981 onwards.

  Red Cross Emblem
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has given his authority under section 6(2)(b) of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957 for the use by the Labour party of a design so nearly resembling the Red Cross designated in section 6(1) of the Act as to be capable of being mistaken for or understood as referring to that emblem.

  Mr. Butcher
  No authority has been given in the matter by either the Secretary of State or by the Board of Trade.

  Marmosets
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has on attempts by the Danish Government to secure marmosets from the United Kingdom for the purpose of chemical warfare research;
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  whether he intends to take steps to prevent those animals being exported for such purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: I have been asked to reply.

  The Department has no information on attempts by the Danish Government to secure marmosets from the United Kingdom for the purpose of chemical warfare research.

ENERGY

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many civil servants are employed in his Department; what are their average weekly working hours; and how many are(a) on flexitime, (b) on job-sharing schemes, (c) on a four-day working week or nine-day fortnight and (d) able to retire with full pension rights at 60 years.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Numbers employed fluctuate over time; currently the Department employs around 1,000 civil servants whose normal hours are 41 per week for full-time staff, and of whom 10 per cent. are on flexitime. Four are on job-sharing schemes and two are on a four-day working week. All except casual staff acquire the pension rights provided by the principal Civil Service pension scheme; last year five out of 34 officers who retired qualified for a full pension.

  £/tonne

  Calender year

  Belgium

  France

  Federal Republic of Germany

  Spain3

  Portugal3

  Financial year

  United Kingdom2

  19781

  27·70

  15·80

  11·91

  —

  —

  1978–79

  1·60

  1979

  31·16

  16·56

  13·69

  —

  —

  1979–80

  2·30

  1980

  27·75

  15·17

  12·19

  —

  —

  1980–81

  2·30

  1981

  25·46

  11·95

  10·94

  —

  —

  1981–82

  3·28

  1982

  16·47

  17·72

  8·65

  —

  —

  1982–83

  4·96

  1983

  15·47

  19·19

  12·06

  —

  —

  1983–84

  12·71

  1984

  20·09

  19·87

  12·30

  —

  —

  1984–85

  87·15

  1985

  21·68

  22·00

  11·72

  —

  —

  1985–86

  6·37

  1986

  34·90

  23·76

  21·25

  —

  —

  1986–874

  10·02

  19874

  57·55

  22·16

  29·45

  12·08

  4·92

  1 It is not possible to make absolute comparisons between the figures from different member states as the numerical basis may vary.

  2 United Kingdom figures are on a financial year basis. The others are in calender years.

  3 Spanish and Portuguese data are not available prior to 1987.

  4 1987 data are the latest published estimates.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Student Grants
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what, according to his best estimate, is the proportion of the whole amount of money spent on student grants is accounted for(a) in theory and (b) in practice by parental contributions for each year since 1979 until the latest year for which the Government can estimate.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information relates to mandatory and full-value discretionary awards made by local

  Hinkley Point Power Station
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the reports of incidents at Hinkley Point power station from 1985 to date, indicating(a) in which cases the alarm was sounded and (b) in which cases the alarm failed to sound.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Since 1985 there have been three incidents at the Hinkley Point site reported to the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate under the arrangements reported to Parliament on 26 July 1982 and revised on 30 April 1987. These occurred on 25 October 1985, 29 November 1985 and 31 October 1986, and details are included in the Health and Safety Executive's quarterly statement on nuclear incidents, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Only the incident on 29 November 1985 included the declaration of a site incident requiring the sounding of the site's sirens, and I am advised that they performed satisfactorily.

  Deep-mined Coal (Subsidies)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the average level of Government subsidy per tonne of deep-mined coal in each year since 1978 in each of the member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 11 February 1988]: The OECD does not publish details of aid to member states' coal industries. The information in the table has been obtained from European Commission publications.

  education authorities in England and Wales. Assessed parental contributions are expressed as a percentage of the combined total of all assessed contributions (from parents, spouses and students themselves) and LEA expenditure on maintenance awards.

  Academic years

  Percentage

  1979–80

  19·3

  1980–81

  19·0

  1981–82

  21·3

  1982–83

  23·7

  1983–84

  24·4

  1984–85

  31·3

  1985–86

  36·8

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  How much in practice parents contributed to the maintenance of their student children is not known.

  General Certificate of Secondary Education
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent there is a shortfall in providing examiners and moderators for the forthcoming GCSE examinations.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The GCSE examining groups are responsible for recruiting and employing GCSE examiners and moderators, and I understand that they are currently reviewing progress.

  English Grammar
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to encourage the teaching of English grammar; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government attach great importance to the study of English language. Last year my right hon. Friend established a committee under the chairmanship of Sir John Kingman to advise on what, in general terms, children need to know about how the English language works, and in consequence what they should have been taught and be expected to understand on this score at ages 7, 11 and 16. The committee's report is expected next month. Under our proposals for a national curriculum, English will be a core subject. A working group will be established after Easter, following and building on the work of the Kingman committee, to advise on attainment targets for ages 7, 11, 14 and 16 and the associated programmes of study for all aspects of English.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, where the physical capacity of a school is above the 1979 intake, he will then allow that capacity to be the determining factor in deciding how many pupils should be admitted; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  Under the existing legislation, admissions authorities for maintained schools are at liberty to set admissions limits above the standard number of such schools if they so wish.

  Under the provisions of chapter II of the Education Reform Bill, if admissions to a school are higher than the existing standard number in the school year immediately prior to implementation of the new legislation, that number will become the new standard number for the school and therefore the number up to which the school must be prepared to admit. If LEAs and governors agree that a school can admit pupils in excess of the standard number, they will be able to do so without reference to the Secretary of State, and if there is no agreement, there is provision in the Bill for the matter to be referred to the Secretary of State for decision.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many more staff he expects to employ at his Department for the purposes of recalculating grants for the 12 inner London local education authorities;

  (2) how many more staff he expects to employ in his Department for the purpose of administering capital
  120
  expenditure bids for the proposed 12 inner London local education authorities following the abolition of the Inner London education authority;

  (3) whether he is able to make any estimate as to additional staffing requirements in his Department in connection with the administration of grant-related in-service training after the proposed date of transfer of the functions of the Inner London education authority to the inner London boroughs;

  (4) whether he will estimate the staffing implications for his Department of the monitoring and approval of local management schemes proposed by inner London boroughs prior to the proposed transfer of functions to them after the abolition of the Inner London education authority.

  Mr. Dunn
  [holding answer 18 February 1988]: My right hon. Friend is setting up a special unit in the Department of Education and Science to advise and assist boroughs in preparing to take over responsibility for education. The unit will be mainly formed by the reallocation of existing staff, but two new posts have been allocated.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out his estimate of the aggregate of the appropriate levels of spending for inner London councils on the education service in 1990–91; and what is the Inner London education authority's estimated spending in 1987–88 in cash terms and in volume terms.

  Mr. Dunn
  [holding answer 18 February]: It will be for each council to determine the appropriate level of spending on the education service in 1990–91. The Inner London education authority's budgeted spending for 1987–88 at outturn prices, as shown in its published estimates, is £1,024·7 million.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many extra staff will need to be employed, and at what cost, to provide returns under statutory requirements to collect statistics and information in the proposed 12 inner London local education authorities, following the abolition of the Inner London education authority.

  Mr. Dunn
  [holding answer 18 February 1988]: It will be for each inner London council to determine the staffing they consider appropriate for the collection of statistics.

  Teachers (Assessment and Testing Report)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will initiate a study on the implication for teachers' working time arising from the recommendations of the assessment and testing group's report;

  (2) if he has assessed the cost and resource implications of the task group's report on assessment and testing; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what is his estimate of the cost of implementing the recommendations of the assessment and testing group, arising from his answer of 12 January, Official Report, column 205.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has invited the task group on assessment and testing to undertake a more detailed study of arrangements for implementing and administering the national assessment system proposed in its recent report. The group's advice on this, and public reaction to its report, should enable the organisational and resource implications to be gauged.

  Pupil Statistics
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was(a) the expenditure per pupil and (b) the average size of classes in (i) infant, (ii) primary and (iii) secondary schools in (1) England, (2) East Sussex and (3) the borough of Eastbourne on the available date closest to 3 May 1979; and what are the equivalent figures for the latest available date, adjusted in the case of expenditure for inflation.

  Mr. Dunn
  The available information is given in the table. Information in respect of separate districts within local education authorities is not held centrally.

  Nursery schools

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Net institutional recurrent expenditure per pupil (£)1

  England

  1979–802

  1,305

  609

  980

  1985–86

  1,370

  815

  1,175

  East Sussex

  1979–802

  1,295

  670

  970

  1985–86

  1,190

  760

  1,085

  Average class size3

  England

  1979–80

  not available

  25·4

  20·9

  1985–86

  not available

  25·5

  20·3

  East Sussex

  1979–80

  not available

  25·2

  21·4

  1985–86

  not available

  26·3

  21·0

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

  2 The cash prices for 1979–80 have been repriced to 1985–86 prices using the gross domestic product (market prices) deflator.

  3 The analyses are in respect of classes taught by one teacher in a specified period on the day of the census count in January each year and may not be representative of the pattern of classes over the academic year as a whole.

  School Meals
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of children who will no longer qualify for free school meals on the Isle of Wight after 1 April(a) numerically and (b) expressed as a percentage.

  Mr. Dunn
  Children currently receiving free school meals at the LEA's discretion or because the family is in receipt of family income supplement will no longer do so when the Social Security Act 1986 comes into effect on 11 April. In October 1986, the latest date for which data are available, the number of children receiving free school meals in these two categories was 446, or 6 per cent. of the total number of pupils taking meals.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Arms Control
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much time has been spent by arms control officials in his Department on work specifically relating to naval arms control during the last six months.
  122
  Mr. Mellor
  It is not possible to quantify separately the time devoted by FCO officials to different arms control issues. However, naval matters constitute one aspect of their work.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list any naval arms control proposals put forward by the Government during the last 10 years.

  Mr. Mellor
  A bilateral agreement was concluded with the Soviet Union in 1986 on preventing incidents at sea. The text of this agreement was laid in the House as Command Paper No. 57 in January 1987.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what naval arms control measures he is putting forward in response to Mr. Gorbachev's statement in October 1987 that nuclear weapons should be withdrawn from the Soviet Baltic fleet and from the Baltic and Leningrad military districts, that an Arctic peace plan should be drawn up, that there should be a Nordic nuclear free zone and that consultations should begin on limiting military activity in the Baltic sea, North sea, Norwegian sea and Greenland sea.

  Mr. Mellor
  We have made clear in the course of bilateral contacts that proposals aimed at limiting freedom of movement on the high seas would create difficulties for the Alliance given its need to reinforce Europe by sea in times of crisis. As far as the proposal for a Nordic nuclear-free zone is concerned, our view is that such a zone would do little to enhance international security because of the direct relevance to the Nordic area of nuclear and conventional forces stationed elsewhere.

  San José IV Ministerial Conference
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the San José IV ministerial conference.

  Mr. Eggar
  We will make available to the House the economic and political communiqués which we expect the conference to adopt once it has taken place on 29 February to 1 March.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Governments of(a) the United States of America, (b) the other countries of the EEC, (c) Argentina and (d) other countries, regarding the proposed military exercise in the Falkland Islands from 7 to 31 March; and what has been the nature of the representations in each case.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have had discussions with a number of interested Governments regarding the reinforcement exercise to take place in the Falkland Islands from 7 to 31 March. The content of these discussions is confidential.

ENVIRONMENT

  Docklands
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the London Docklands
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  development corporation's budget has been spent using its powers under the Inner Urban Areas Act to give grants and loans to existing firms in docklands.

  Mr. Chope
  LDDC has spent £1,984,253 to date—which is 0·5 per cent. of its grant-in-aid.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public money the London Docklands development corporation has received to date.

  Mr. Chope
  To date the London Docklands development corporation has received £387·1 million grant-in-aid.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who is responsible at the London Docklands development corporation for liason with the Docklands Forum following the dismissal of Mr. John Mills.

  Mr. Chope
  The LDDC board is to consider which of its members should represent the corporation on the Docklands Forum.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to appoint a new deputy chairman of the London Docklands development corporation.

  Mr. Chope
  Consultations are continuing and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil servants are employed in his Department; what are their average weekly working hours, and how many are(a) on flexitime, (b) on job-sharing schemes, (c) on a four-day working week or nine-day fortnight and (d) able to retire with full pension rights at 60 years.

  Mr. Ridley
  On 1 February 1988 there were 32,820 staff employed in my Department (including the PSA); 741 of these work part-time, including job-sharers. Separate figures for job-sharing schemes are not available. Non-industrial staff in central London work 41 hours per week (gross); elsewhere 42 hours. Industrial staff work 44 hours per week, gross. The average weekly hours of part-time staff is 19·7 hours.

  Most full-time staff work a five-day week—except those working shifts. Numbers of staff working a four-day week or nine-day fortnight are not readily available.

  Flexible working hours agreements operate on a local basis; there are currently 115 local schemes in operation. Staff are free to participate in them, or not to do so, if they wish. Figures for participants are not kept centrally.

  All staff are entitled to retire on pension at age 60. Maximum pension rights normally accrue after 40 years total service; 4,128 of present non-industrial staff would have 40 years service by age 60. Those with shorter service do, however, have the opportunity to purchase some additional qualifying years for pension purposes. Corresponding figures for industrial staff are not readily available.

  Nuclear Waste Disposal Dumps
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans Nirex has to create nuclear waste disposal dumps in Lancashire and Cumbria, other than Sellafield; and if he will make a statement.
  124
  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend expects UK Nirex Ltd to make proposals early in 1989 for a deep dual-purpose disposal facility for two-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste, after evaluation of the response to the discussion document "The Way Forward" and scientific studies. At this stage neither Nirex nor the Government has any firm proposals for the siting of a radioactive waste repository and no part of the country can be ruled out.

  Local Authority Property Assets
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take to compel those local councils which are not using, under-using, inefficiently managing, or wasting £100 billion of assets, as identified in the recent Audit Commission report on local authority property assets, to dispose of those assets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Mr. Trippier) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Evans) on 17 February 1988 at column 660.

  Moore Manor Park Development, Runcorn
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a decision about the Moore Manor park development near Runcorn.

  Mrs. Roe
  I hope to do so shortly.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when, pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 968, he expects to announce the areas he intends to designate as urban development corporations; and if he will detail the locations under consideration.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend expects to make a further announcement shortly.

  Northamptonshire Structure Plan
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decision on the revised Northamptonshire county structure plan.

  Mrs. Roe
  The modifications which the Secretary of State proposes to make to the submitted replacement plan will be published in the near future. There will then be an opportunity for representations to be made on them to my right hon. Friend before he makes his final decision on the plan.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the composition of the community charge implementation unit; what are its terms of reference; and if it will publish guidance for local authorities.

  Mr. Howard
  The implementation sub-group of the community charge working group was established in November 1987 to provide a forum for discussion of issues arising from the implementation of the community charge.
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  The group comprises officials of the Department of the Environment, the Department of Health and Social Security and the Welsh Office, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, Association of District Councils, Association of County Councils, the London Boroughs Association and the Association of London Authorities.

  The terms of reference of the group are to consider the practical issues arising from registration for, and billing, collection and recovery of the community charge, with a view to (a) providing an input to the preparation of regulations; (b) providing advice to local authority practitioners; (c) assessing the resource implications of implementing rate reform.

  The sub-group will produce a series of practice notes on the implementation of the community charge for use by local authorities, professional bodies and other interested parties.

  St. George's Hospital Site
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications of the recent planning consent granted by Westminster city council for the redevelopment of the St. George's hospital site, Hyde park corner, for the implementation of the conditions laid down in his appeal decision of 21 December 1982; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I understand that Westminster city council has resolved to grant planning permission and listed building consent for the redevelopment as an hotel and offices of the St. George's hospital site. The planning permission is subject to a section 52 agreement and the listed building consent to further procedures, including consideration by HBMC and possible notification to the Secretary of State. If permission is subsequently granted it is for the owner to decide whether to take up the new permission or that granted on appeal in 1982, provided the latter is still valid.

  MOD Properties (Sales)
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Ministry of Defence houses in(a) Scotland and (b) Renfrew, West and Inverclyde have been sold in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Chope
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 February 1988, c. 62]: The answer given to the hon. Member on Monday 22 February was not given in full. The complete answer is as follows:

  a. Scotland

  Year

  b. Renfrew, West/Inverclyde

  5

  1979–1981

  Nil

  7

  1982

  Nil

  13

  1983

  1

  12

  1984

  5

  12

  1985

  6

  13

  1986

  1

  57

  1987

  46

  Nil to date

  1988

  —

PRIME MINISTER

  NHS Hospitals (Visits)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to a National Health Service hospital.

  The Prime Minister
  I visit a number of hospitals during the course of each year, but I have no immediate plans for further visits at present.

  Confectionery Industry
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on Government support for the confectionery industry.

  The Prime Minister
  The confectionery industry continues to be important both to the economy as a whole and to our exports. The Government's policies seek to promote a climate within which industry is encouraged to compete effectively, and with special and increasing emphasis on the opportunities offered by the wider internal market of the Community.

  Currently food manufacturers are eligible to apply for assistance towards new capital investment under Government schemes administered by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment. These include a variety of measures described in the recent White Paper "DTI — the department for Enterprise". The industry is also covered by a range of measures from information and counselling to financial incentives designed to assist small business, including those in the confectionery manufacturing sector.

  Poland
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Prime Minister, what plans she has to visit Poland.

  The Prime Minister
  I hope to visit Poland this year.

  Year 2000
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans the Government have to celebrate the year 2000.

  The Prime Minister
  None as yet.

  Engagements
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 February.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 February.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 February.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 February.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 February.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 February.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties
  127
  in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty The Queen.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent visit to the Channel tunnel.

  The Prime Minister
  I visited Shakespeare Cliff on 5 February and met representatives of Eurotunnel and the various contractors working on the Channel tunnel. I was most impressed by the substantial progress they have clearly made with this most exciting civil engineering project.

EMPLOYMENT

  Job Training Scheme
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of entrants to the job training scheme have obtained a credit or qualification as a direct result of their time on the scheme since its inception.

  Mr. Cope
  Information on credits or qualifications is not yet available. The Manpower Services Commission has commissioned a follow-up survey which will give information on qualifications. The results should be known in the spring.

  Table 1

  ILO/OECD unemployed1 looking for work as an employee2 and wanting a full or part-time job or having no preference Spring 1987, thousands

  Full-time

  Part-time

  No preference

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Great Britain

  1,105

  431

  68

  421

  127

  167

  Northern

  90

  25

  *

  25

  *

  12

  Yorkshire & Humberside

  114

  37

  *

  40

  14

  15

  East Midlands

  70

  30

  *

  36

  10

  *

  East Anglia

  27

  14

  *

  17

  *

  *

  South East

  221

  104

  25

  105

  21

  33

  of which Greater London

  119

  44

  *

  39

  13

  13

  South West

  54

  33

  *

  36

  *

  13

  West Midlands

  130

  38

  *

  45

  17

  22

  North West

  157

  65

  *

  57

  17

  23

  Wales

  73

  26

  *

  21

  *

  *

  Scotland

  169

  58

  *

  40

  21

  28

  1 People without a job who were available for work and had either looked for work at some time in the last four weeks or were waiting to start a job they had already obtained.

  2 People looking for work as self-employed were not asked if they would prefer to work full or part-time.

  * Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

  Table 2

  unemployed1 persons looking for work as an employee2 and wanting a full or part-time job or having no preference Spring 1987, thousands

  Full-time

  Part-time

  No preference

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  Great Britain

  1,106

  433

  58

  368

  124

  153

  Northern

  92

  26

  *

  22

  4

  11

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  111

  37

  *

  33

  14

  14

  East Midlands

  73

  31

  *

  30

  *

  *

  East Anglia

  27

  15

  *

  13

  *

  *

  South East

  222

  107

  21

  97

  22

  31

  of which Greater London

  117

  45

  *

  36

  12

  12

  South West

  52

  33

  *

  31

  *

  11

  West Midlands

  128

  40

  *

  36

  16

  19

  North West

  155

  62

  *

  55

  15

  21

  Wales

  77

  24

  *

  17

  *

  *

  Scotland

  169

  58

  *

  32

  20

  24

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show by region, including Greater London, and by male and female, the numbers of people who were(a) without jobs and who looked for work in the four weeks before their labour force survey interview and were available to start work within two weeks, who wanted full-time jobs, the number who wanted part-time jobs and the number who had no preference, (b) unemployed according to the standard labour force survey definition who were looking for full-time jobs and the number looking for part-time jobs and the number who had no preference, (c) in part-time jobs who were looking for a different job with longer hours or looking for an additional job, (d) looking for a different job with shorter hours, (d) claimants not unemployed by the definition using broad International Labour Organisation guidelines on the grounds that they were employed and (f) claimants not unemployed by the conventional labour force survey definition on the grounds that they were employed.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The available information from the preliminary results of the 1987 labour force survey is as shown in the following tables:
  129
  1 GB labour force definition.

  2 People looking for work as self-employed were not asked if they would prefer to work full or part-time.

  * Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

  Table 3

  Persons in employment in part-time jobs1 looking for a different job with longer hours or an additional job Spring 1987

  Thousands

  Males

  Females

  Great Britain

  141

  239

  Northern

  11

  15

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  17

  24

  East Midlands

  11

  15

  East Anglia

  *—

  11

  South East

  31

  66

  of which Greater London

  14

  21

  South West

  10

  20

  West Midlands

  11

  28

  North West

  19

  34

  Wales

  15

  *—

  Scotland

  11

  18

  1 Based on the respondent's own assessment, not on the number of hours usually worked.

  * Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

  Table 4

  Persons in employment looking for a different job with shorter hours Spring 1987

  Thousands

  Males

  Females

  Great Britain

  209

  97

  Northern

  *—

  *—

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  20

  14

  East Midlands

  17

  *—

  East Anglia

  *—

  *—

  South East

  78

  34

  of which Greater London

  29

  17

  South West

  18

  *—

  West Midlands

  15

  11

  North West

  25

  *—

  Wales

  11

  *—

  Scotland

  *—

  *—

  * Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

  It is estimated that there were 114,000 male and 80,000female claimants employed in Great Britain in spring 1987. However, a reliable analysis of employed claimants by region is not available.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment under what circumstances and which categories of claimants are issued with the form CFN 982A at unemployment benefit offices; and what instructions are issued to benefit staff.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: Form CF(N)982A is a questionnaire issued by unemployment benefit offices to claimants who do not qualify for unemployment benefit on their United Kingdom contribution record but who have been employed abroad in an EC country or a country with which the United Kingdom has a reciprocal agreement.

  Completed questionnaires enable inquiries to be made to establish whether any contributions paid abroad may assist claimants to qualify for unemployment benefit. Completed forms are forwarded to the overseas branch of the DHSS.

  "Training for Employment"
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the JEFF Research Ltd. survey of 1,400 employers referred to in the "Training for Employment" White Paper (Cm. 316).

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: I plan to publish details of the results of the IFF Research Ltd. survey, quoted in the White Paper, "Training for Employment" (Cm. 316) in the Employment Gazette shortly.

SCOTLAND

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the unemployment totals for Cunninghame, North constituency by ward in(a) January 1983, (b) January 1987 and (c) January 1988.

  Mr. Lang
  Unemployment statistics on a ward basis are available only from June 1983. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants by ward in the Cunninghame, North parliamentary constituency for January 1984, 1987 and 1988.

  Unemployed claimants

  Ward

  January 1984

  January 1987

  January 1988

  Ardrossan North

  536

  581

  454

  Ardrossan South

  593

  616

  572

  Arran

  296

  260

  273

  Beith

  321

  368

  305

  Dalry

  298

  321

  305

  Fairlie, Skelmorlie and Cumbrae

  212

  250

  220

  Garnock East

  267

  281

  277

  Kilbirnie North

  382

  399

  351

  Kilbirnie South

  459

  467

  372

  Largs North

  279

  265

  284

  Largs South

  158

  195

  198

  Saltcoats East

  558

  520

  478

  Saltcoats North

  513

  501

  408

  South Beach

  370

  507

  448

  West Kilbride

  312

  330

  264

  Total

  5,554

  5,861

  5,209

  These figures are not directly comparable due to a change in the compilation of the statistics in March 1986.

  This information is available in the Library.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of unemployed people in(a) the Dundee, East constituency and (b) the Dundee travel-to-work area who are (i) under 25 years, (ii) between 25 years and 35 years, (iii) between 35 and 50 years and (iv) over 50 years on the latest available date.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The number of unemployed claimants on 8 October 1987 is given in the table.
  131

  Age group

  Dundee, East constituency Total

  Dundee travel-to-work area Total

  Under 25

  2,510

  5,051

  25–34

  1,729

  3,524

  35–49

  1,773

  3,337

  50 and over

  1,195

  2,513

  All ages

  7,207

  14,425

  This information is available in the Library.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people under 25 years in(a) the Dundee, East constituency and (b) the Dundee travel-to-work area have been unemployed for more than one, two, three and four years on the latest available date.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The numbers of unemployed claimants under 25 years of age on 8 October 1987 are shown in the table.

  Duration Unemployed

  Dundee, East Parliamentary Constituency

  Dundee Travel-to-Work Area

  Up to 1 year

  1,693

  3,554

  1 to 2 years

  396

  759

  2 to 3 years

  185

  332

  3 to 4 years

  96

  161

  over 4 years

  140

  245

  Total

  2,510

  5,051

  This information is available in the Library.

  NHS (Voluntary Contributions)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give what information he has about voluntary and charity contributions to the Health Service for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on voluntary contributions to the Health Service is not held centrally.

  Hospital Charges
  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums were collected by each health board from non-United Kingdom residents for hospital charges in 1985–86 and 1986–87; and what is the estimated net sum after deductions of costs of administration.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The amounts collected are given in the table. The administrative costs associated with the collection of income are not separately identifiable.

  Income from patients resident outside United Kingdom

  Board

  1985–86 £

  1986–87 £

  Argyll and Clyde

  2,057

  11,006

  Ayrshire and Arran

  7,220

  8,375

  Borders

  3,064

  3,450

  Dumfries and Galloway

  8,303

  1,112

  Fife

  3,297

  4,988

  Forth Valley

  2,296

  8,699

  Grampian

  23,555

  14,241

  Greater Glasgow

  68,022

  159,809

  Highland

  13,828

  21,758

  Lanarkshire

  3,880

  1,773

  Lothian

  126,884

  89,490

  Orkney

  686

  565

  Shetland

  —

  —

  132

  Board

  1985–86 £

  1986–87 £

  Tayside

  45,368

  34,166

  Western Isles

  490

  744

  Total

  308,950

  360,176

  Source: Annual accounts of health boards.

  Afforestation
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the area of land newly afforested in the United Kingdom in 1987.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the year to 31 March 1987, the Forestry Commission planted 5,342 hectares and grant-aided the planting of 19,147 hectares by the private sector. In addition, a total of 831 hectares was planted in Northern Ireland.

  Solicitors
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases have occurred since 1972 where solicitors have been found to have passed on to a third party or parties, from clients held in police custody, information which has interfered in the police investigation of the case or any subsequent prosecution.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I regret this information is not collected centrally.

  Home Security Grants
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to introduce home security grants for tenants and home owners.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Not at present.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are over(a) 65 years, (b) 75 years and (c) 85 years in each region in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The registrar general's population estimates for 30 June 1986 are as follows:

  Ages

  65+

  75+

  85+

  Scotland

  742,568

  308,871

  56,704

  Regions

  Borders

  18,855

  8,320

  1,593

  Central

  37,296

  15,123

  2,708

  Dumfries and Galloway

  24,154

  10,047

  1,890

  Fife

  50,413

  20,648

  3,681

  Grampian

  69,309

  30,346

  5,837

  Highland

  28,146

  12,129

  2,242

  Lothian

  109,641

  47,261

  9,109

  Strathclyde

  328,266

  131,200

  23,149

  Tayside

  64,488

  28,064

  5,391

  Islands Areas

  Orkney

  3,224

  1,404

  257

  Shetland

  3,132

  1,444

  288

  Western Isles

  5,644

  2,885

  559

  133
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many places there are in local authority residential care for the elderly for each region; and what has been the percentage change since 1979;

  (2) how many places there are in private residential care homes for the elderly; and what has been the percentage change since 1979;

  (3) how many places there are in homes for the elderly owned or operated by churches, charities, housing associations or other voluntary organisations; and what has been the percentage change since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Provisional figures are available separately for places in voluntary and private homes for the elderly in 1987, but for 1979 a single total only is available. There were 2,306 places in private homes and 4,441 places in voluntary homes in 1987 an increase of 30·1 per cent. over the 1979 total. The information requested on places in local authority homes for the elderly is as follows:

  Places in local authority residential homes for the elderly

  19871 (Number)

  Change since 1979 (per cent.)

  Regions

  Borders

  348

  +6·7

  Central

  469

  +61·7

  Dumfries and Galloway

  328

  +2·5

  Fife

  699

  +37·6

  Grampian

  990

  +5·0

  Highland

  457

  +3·6

  Lothian

  1,417

  +16·0

  Strathclyde

  3,904

  -4·5

  Tayside

  1,046

  +8·6

  Orkney

  70

  0

  Shetland

  70

  +14·8

  Western Isles

  195

  +61·2

  Scotland

  9,993

  +6·8

  1 Provisional.

  Health Services
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report his Department's staff targets for the Scottish hospital and community health services for each year from 1979 up to the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish Home and Health Department does not set annual targets as such. In medical services the establishment of senior registrars is determined annually. Targets are being negotiated with health boards for the numbers of recruits to nursing training and annual discussions take place with health boards about requirements for staff in certain professions allied to medicine. health boards are being encouraged to develop manpower planning in the context of the Department's monitoring of progress towards the priorities set out in "Scottish Health Authorities Priorities for the Eighties"—the SHAPE report.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the proportion of Scottish gross domestic product spent on (a) the Health Service as a whole, (b) hospital and community health services and (c) family practitioner services, for each year from 1970 until the latest year for which figures are available.
  134
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information in the form requested is only available from 1974–75 and is set out in the table:

  NHS Expenditure as a proportion of Scottish gross domestic product*

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Total national health service

  Hospital and community health services

  Family practitioner services

  Percentage

  Percentage

  Percentage

  1974–75

  6·4

  4·9

  1·1

  1975–76

  6·7

  5·1

  1·2

  1976–77

  6·5

  4·9

  1·2

  1977–78

  6·5

  4·9

  1·2

  1978–79

  6·6

  5·0

  1·3

  1979–80

  7·0

  5·2

  1·3

  1980–81

  7·8

  5·9

  1·4

  1981–82

  8·1

  6·1

  1·5

  1982–83

  8·0

  6·0

  1·6

  1983–84

  8·0

  5·9

  1·6

  1984–85

  8·1

  6·0

  1·6

  1985–86

  7·9

  5·8

  1·6

  * calculated at factor cost.

  Widdicombe Committee
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his reply of 20 January,Official Report, column 719, he is in a position to announce the publication of the Government's conclusions following consultations on recommendations made!by the Widdicombe Committee.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We are not yet in a position to announce a publication date.

  Family Protection
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his reply of 20 January,Official Report, column 716, he is in a position to announce the publication date of the report on the working of the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I regret that I can not yet announce the publication date of the report of this research; I shall write to the lion. Member when it has been determined.

  Cancelled Operations
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a table showing, for the latest available year, the number of operations or theatre lists cancelled in Lothian and Fife health boards, by specialty.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is not available centrally.

  Housing (Improvements)
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many successful applications have been made by housing authorities in relation to housing action area and improvement order declarations for an enhanced level of approved expense for grant purposes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the period from May 1983 to date, approval has been given to 626 applications
  135
  by local authorities for increases in the maximum eligible expense limits in respect of 4,375 houses and non-residential premises within housing action Areas. Approvals relating to improvement order cases cannot be separately identified.

  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many housing action area and improvement order declarations have been made by each local authority in Scotland over the last 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the 10-year period to 1987 the total number of housing action areas declared by each of the Scottish local authorities and submitted to the Secretary of State as draft resolutions is set out in the table. Information on the number of improvement orders made by local authorities is not held centrally.

  Housing action areas declared in Scotland (1 January 1978–31 December 1987)

  Number

  Borders Region

  Berwickshire

  —

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  9

  Roxburgh

  4

  Tweeddale

  2

  Central Region

  Clackmannan

  12

  Falkirk

  10

  Stirling

  22

  Dumfries and Galloway Region

  Annandale and Eskdale

  —

  Nithsdale

  2

  Stewartry

  —

  Wigtown

  —

  Fife Region

  Dunfermline

  1

  Kirkcaldy

  68

  North East Fife

  —

  Grampian Region

  Aberdeen City

  54

  Banff and Buchan

  4

  Gordon

  —

  Kincardine and Deeside

  —

  Moray

  —

  Highland Region

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  —

  Caithness

  —

  Inverness

  2

  Lochaber

  1

  Nairn

  —

  Ross and Cromarty

  2

  Skye and Lochalish

  —

  Sutherland

  4

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  7

  Edinburgh City

  57

  Midlothian

  1

  West Lothian

  —

  Strathclyde Region

  Argyll and Bute

  151

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  2

  Clydebank

  8

  Clydesdale

  6

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  2

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  —

  Cunninghame

  48

  Dumbarton

  4

  136

  Number

  East Kilbride

  1

  Eastwood

  —

  Glasgow City

  478

  Hamilton

  18

  Inverclyde

  24

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  —

  Kyle and Carrick

  1

  Monklands

  3

  Motherwell

  15

  Renfrew

  57

  Strathkelvin

  3

  Tayside Region

  Angus

  7

  Dundee City

  76

  Perth and Kinross

  53

  Islands Areas

  Orkney

  —

  Shetland

  —

  Western Isles

  117

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on assurances given by British Coal about the safety of houses which are near opencast mining works(a) in the village of Coalburn and (b) in other places affected by similar activities.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am not aware of the assurances to which the hon. Member refers. I understand that conditions attached to the planning permission granted to British Coal in respect of its opencast operations at Dalquhandy, Coalburn, include a requirement, prior to the commencement of work on the site, to provide an independent report into the potential effect of the proposed opencast coal development on all properties in the Coalburn area, particularly with regard to the potential loss of hydraulic pressure in former coal workings under the area and blasting.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of reports for drugs offences by children in(a) the Tayside region and (b) the Dundee area on the latest available date and for each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The information requested is given in the table.

  Initial police reports on children for drugs offences

  Year

  City of Dundee District

  Tayside Region

  1979

  1

  1

  1980

  1

  1

  1981

  1

  1

  1982

  —

  —

  1983

  —

  —

  1984

  4

  6

  1985

  —

  —

  1986

  —

  1

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of reports on children for
  137
  offences involving handling offensive weapons in (a) the Tayside region and (b) the Dundee area on the latest available date and for each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The information requested is given in the table.

  Initial police reports on children for offences involving the handling of offensive weapons

  Year

  City of Dundee District

  Tayside Region

  1979

  5

  10

  1980

  18

  26

  1981

  27

  46

  1982

  12

  28

  1983

  17

  26

  1984

  11

  20

  1985

  14

  22

  1986

  11

  19

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of reports for crimes and offences per 1,000 children in(a) the Tayside region and (b) the Dundee area on the latest available date for each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The information requested is given in the table.

  Number of initial police reports on children for crimes and offences per 1,000 children aged 8 to 15.

  Year

  City of Dundee district

  Tayside region

  1979

  59

  43

  1980

  61

  46

  1981

  72

  53

  1982

  59

  45

  1983

  63

  60

  1984

  56

  48

  1985

  56

  48

  1986

  58

  47

  The rebasing of the population estimates following the 1981 census results in a discontinuity between 1980 and 1981.

  Interdicts
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Lord Advocate takes, pursuant to the answer of 27 January,Official Report, column 295, when seeking interdicts, to ensure that the media are not subject to restrictions in Scotland to which they would not be subject in England.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: Where Ministers decide to seek orders against the media both in England and Wales and in Scotland in respect of the same material, appropriate consultation takes place to secure that the Lord Advocate, in approaching the Scottish courts, seeks interdict in terms which are compatible with any injunction sought from or granted by the English courts.

  Catering and Domestic Service Contractors
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer of 19 January,Official
  138
  Report, column 664, if he will list the employing company of those making representations on behalf of the trade associations at the meeting held on 2 October 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The representatives of the trade associations which took part in the seminar on 2 October 1987 were employees of Gardner Merchant Ltd.; Gemini Taylorplan Services Ltd.; Compass Services (UK) Ltd.; Mediclean Ltd.; and RCO Contract Services Ltd. Mr. John Hall of the Contract Cleaning and Maintenance Association also took part.

  Johnstone Infectious Diseases Hospital
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) why it was not decided until after contracts had been signed for a new kitchen that a recreation area would be built at Johnstone infectious diseases hospital at Renfrewshire;

  (2) why it took 18 months to plan the new purpose-built block at Johnstone infectious diseases hospital; and why four to five weeks after the signing of the construction contract, work was stopped on the kitchen.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: After the Argyll and Clyde health board had let the contract, advice was received that the service to patients could be improved by the introduction of a cook-chill system for food, which would also generate revenue savings. The board therefore cancelled the part of the contract relating to the fitting-out of the kitchen, and revised the scheme to improve the recreational facilities for the patients instead. The project falls within the board's delegated limit; it is up to boards to manage the progress of such projects through the various building procedures subsequent to approval-in-principle, taking account of the availability of resources at the tender stage.

  NHS Staff (Telephone Fault Repair System)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase health boards' budgets to cover the cost of maintaining health service employees on British Telecom's priority fault repair system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: Health boards are given expenditure allocations which are not generally related to specific items.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to reduce hospital waiting lists in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: I regard the reduction of the time patients have to wait for consultation and treatment as one of the urgent tasks facing the NHS. An additional sum of £3·6 million has already been allocated to health boards for this purpose during the current financial year. I am presently considering what further action needs to be taken. I hope to discuss this with health board chairmen in the next few weeks.

  Nurses
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures showing the number of nurses who have left the National Health Service in Scotland for every year since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: This information could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the policy of the Forestry Commission with regard to the rent and accommodation of(a) employees in general and (b) forest keepers.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: In common with Government Departments generally, the Forestry Commission charges its employee tenants a "fair rent" in the spirit of the Rent Acts. Where, for management reasons, it is necessary for an employee to live in a particular commission house (a "key house") a standard rent is charged in accordance with the Civil Service pay and conditions code. The Commission's policy on accommodation is to retain only key houses and houses in locations where no alternative accommodation is available. Forest keepers in the New Forest are treated in the same way as other commission employees.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average rent charged on accommodation provided for Forestry Commission forest keepers at the latest available date; and what has been the figure on the same date for each of the last five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The information is as follows:

  Year (at 1 December)

  Average Weekly Rent Charged £

  1983

  11·56

  1984

  11·56

  1985

  13·09

  1986

  13·09

  1987

  24·75

  The rents for 1983 to 1986 were "standard rents" determined on the basis of Civil Service rules. The 1987 rent represents a full "fair rent".

  Dyslexic Children
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schools or educational centres for the teaching of dyslexic children there are in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In accordance with the recommendations made in the report of the committee of inquiry into the education of handicapped children and young people (1978) local authorities make provision, as far as practicable, for children with special educational needs in the school system as a whole rather than in specialised establishments. Information about the number of schools providing for dyslexic children is not held centrally.

  Raigmore Hospital
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of operating theatres at Raigmore hospital of the Highland health board, the number of operations done in each, for the last three years for which figures are available, and the percentage utilisation in terms of hours for each theatre.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 February 1988]: There are 11 operating theatres at Raigmore hospital. The other information requested is not available centrally.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  European Community Budget
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report the annual ceiling on EEC expenditure in terms of pounds sterling at current prices and so on, estimated division between the four own resources, and the estimated United Kingdom contribution after deduction of the rebates.

  Mr. Brooke
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to him on 22 February, at column 17, and to her second reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend East (Mr. Taylor) on 17 February, at column 613. The Commission's latest estimates for 1988 envisage yields of agricultural and sugar levies (less 10 per cent. to cover collection costs) of 2·8 becu and of customs duties (less collection costs) of 8·6 becu, and contributions in respect of VAT of 23·6 becu. The residual financing requirement will depend on decisions still to be taken on the overall level of expenditure.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the statement on the meeting of the EEC Council,Official Report, 15 February, columns 705–17, whether he will include in the Official Report his estimate of the amount now made available to EEC under own resources, including the United Kingdom rebate, expressed in terms of the original value added tax contribution.

  Mr. Brooke
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to him on 22 February, at column 15.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has revised his estimates in the Autumn Statement of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Economic Community for the current and future financial years, in the light of the agreement reached at the European Council on 11 and 12 February; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding reply 22 February 1988]: I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 22 February, at column 17.

  VAT (Spectacles and Medical Goods)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement following the decision of the European Court of Justice in the proceedings taken against the United Kingdom over exemption from value added tax for spectacles and certain other goods supplied with medical care.
  141
  Mr. Lilley
  This decision arises from the EC sixth directive on VAT, which was adopted in 1977. The Government will abide by the court's decision, but we need to study the judgment in detail, and consult interested trade bodies, before we can make any firm decisions about how to proceed. The United Kingdom has a treaty obligation to implement rulings from the European Court. Any amendment to United Kingdom law imposing taxation would have to be proposed to, and approved by, the House of Commons.

  Civil Service Manpower
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if copies of the annual report by the Treasury on Civil Service manpower changes in 1986–87 will be made available to right hon. and hon. Members.

  Mr. Major
  Yes. The 1986–87 annual report has been given to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee today and copies placed in the Library of the House.

  Government Departments (Staff)
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of staff in post in central Government Departments at 1 January.

  Mr. Major
  On 1 January 1988 there were 583,485 staff in post in central Government Departments. Of these 508,628 were non-industrials and 74,857 were industrials.

  Smoke Detectors and Fire Extinguishers
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue received in the financial year 1986–87 from the imposition of value added tax on(a) smoke detectors and (b) fire extinguishers; and what is the estimated figure for 1987–88.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: I regret that the information is not available.

  Bank of England (Registrar Department)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects a decision to be reached on the relocation of the Bank of England's registrar department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The relocation of the Bank of England's registrar's department is a matter for the Bank of England.

  VAT (Funeral Charges)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received seeking the imposition of zero rate value added tax on funeral charges rather than to exempt them from value added tax; and what impact the introduction of zero-rate value added tax on funeral charges would have upon Exchequer revenue.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received no such representations. It is not possible to estimate the revenue effect of introducing zero rating of VAT on funeral charges without disproportionate cost.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil servants are employed in his Department; what are their average weekly working hours, and how many are(a) on flexitime, (b) on job sharing schemes, (c) on a four day working week or nine day fortnight and (d) able to retire with full pension rights at 60 years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  On 1 January 1988 there were 10,357 staff in post counting part-timers as half and excluding casuals and those working fewer than 10 hours a week.

  Average weekly working hours of MAFF staff are not available. However, full-time pay is normally related to "conditioned hours" for non-industrial civil servants of 36 hours per week net of meal breaks in London and 37 hours outside.

  The number of staff using the Ministry's flexible working hours scheme is not available. However, use of the scheme is open to all non-industrial civil servants up to and including grade 7 with limited exceptions such as travelling officers and those employed in small units which have to be staffed throughout the day.

  Thirty staff are now sharing jobs and further plans are in hand.

  Nineteen staff work a four-day week; none work a nine-day fortnight.

  The only officers who can retire on full pension are those who have served 40 years or have bought added years to bring them up to 40 years. We estimate that over the past three years about 8 per cent. of awards at age 60 fell in this category.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much common agricultural policy prices would rise in the event of the value of the deutschmark rising 5 per cent. within the ERM of the European monetary system against all EEC currencies; what would be the effect on the stabilisers; and how any increase in surpluses would be forced.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Arrangements agreed in 1987, but not yet activated by an EMS realignment, provide that green rates will be altered following any such realignment (which would take place in the circumstances the hon. Member cites) if the net effect of the realignment is to widen the gaps between green and market rates of exchange. The effect on common agricultural support prices expressed in national currencies would depend upon changes in the central rates of all EMS currencies, including those such as sterling, which are not in the ERM. It cannot be predicted in advance.

  The stabiliser arrangements, which are not linked to agrimonetary considerations, will act to penalise production in excess of the thresholds set for the various commodities, and therefore help to constrain expenditure.

  Food Prices
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the oral reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North of 4 February,Official

  143
  Report, column 1154, what estimate he has made of income forgone as a result of the difference between the rate of increase in food prices and all items included in the retail prices index (a) in total since 1979 and (b) for each year since 1979 assuming that the extra price of food was all passed on to the producers.

  Mr. MacGregor
  It is not possible to estimate the levels of farm income forgone in the hypothetical situation envisaged without making a large number of arbitrary assumptions. Such estimates would in any case be open to different interpretations.

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the statement on the meeting of the European Council,Official Report, 15 February, column 711–12, whether he will explain how the milk quotas are working; and if he will give his estimate of the distribution of the benefit between the producer, the consumer and the taxpayer.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  While they were not the Government's preferred solution to the problems of the dairy sector, milk quotas have acted as an effective limitation on surplus production within the Community. By comparison with the situation that would have prevailed had no action been taken, they are of general benefit.

  Green Pound
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the impact of 1 per cent. change at the margin in the average rate of the green pound on(a) United Kingdom net Exchequer cost, (b) farm incomes and (c) the retail prices index.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The impact of a green pound devaluation designed to reduce United Kingdom monetary gaps and, where relevant, MCAs in all commodity sectors by one percentage point would depend on a number of factors, including the effects of recent changes in support arrangements. However, once all the effects had fed through a broad estimate is that it could, in a full year(a) increase United Kingdom expenditure by around £13 million (provisional); (b) add approximately £45 million to producer revenues, after taking account of increased prices of purchased feed and seed; (c) add of the order of 0·02 per cent. to the RPI.

  Sheep Monitoring
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many scintillators were available to, and used by, his Department for the monitoring of live sheep in the restricted areas of Cumbria in each month from May 1986 to May 1987.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: After development and testing of suitable equipment in the period of August 1986, sets of live monitoring equipment became available to, and were used by, my Department for the routine monitoring of live sheep in the "mark and release" scheme in the Cumbria restricted area as follows:
  144

  Total number of Ministry sets available for use

  Number of sets in Cumbria restricted area

  September

  9

  9

  October

  9

  9

  November

  17

  10

  December

  18

  7

  January 1987

  18

  7

  February

  18

  7

  March

  20

  14

  April

  19

  14

  May

  18

  13

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when live monitoring of sheep on a general basis was introduced in the restricted areas of Cumbria following the Chernobyl accident.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The option of live monitoring sheep became generally available to producers in the Cumbria restricted area from late September 1986.

  Forest Damage
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the research studies currently being undertaken (a) within his Department or (b) commissioned by him into forest damage in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 19 February 1988]: A range of publicly funded research into this area is being carried out by the Forestry Commission and the Department of the Environment.

  Farm Land and Rural Development Bill
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Forestry Commission about the Farm Land and Rural Development Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: One of the purposes of the Farm Land and Rural Development Bill is to provide enabling powers for the proposed farm woodland scheme. Since this scheme is to be administered jointly by the Forestry Commission and the Agriculture Departments, the Forestry Commission has been closely involved in work on the Bill from the outset.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Rubbish Dumps
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evidence he has of botulism and leptospirosis affecting humans and animals being spread from rubbish dumps by rats and seagulls.

  Mr. Needham
  None.

  Cloghogue Primary School
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what what is the distance from Cloghogue primary school of the new Army look-out post at Cloghogue, Newry.

  Mr. Stanley
  Approximately 400 m.
  145
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the distance from Cloghogue primary school of the new police/Army building which acts as a road check on the Newry to Dublin road.

  Mr. Stanley
  Approximately 400 m.

  Army and Police Installations
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Army and police installations are presently situated in South Armagh and Newry; and on average how many helicopter flights are made in and out of each installation per day.

  Mr. Stanley
  There are 18 security force installations in the South Armagh area. Helicopter flights vary considerably with weather, operational and other factors; it is not the practice to give details of operational flights.

  Location

  Claims for fence cutting received 1 January 1987— 1 January 1988

  Compensation paid

  Offers made

  Under consideration

  Drummacavall

  35

  31

  2

  2

  Creevekeeran

  32

  27

  4

  1

  Glassdrummon

  33

  31

  1

  1

  Totals

  100

  89

  7

  4

  Note: The figures quoted in the table include claims (a) for fence damage only and (b) for fence and other damage (eg to land, crops and livestock).

  Claims made against the Ministry of Defence are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

  Arms and Ammunition (Seizures)
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many seizures of arms and ammunition belonging to the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Freedom Fighters have been made by the security forces during November 1987, December 1987, January

  Date

  Location

  Firearms

  Live Ammunition (Rounds)

  3 November 1987

  Belfast

  2

  10

  7 November 1987

  Newtownards

  1

  —

  9 November 1987

  Belfast

  1

  —

  10 November 1987

  Belfast

  1

  29

  11 November 1987

  Belfast

  1

  12

  13 November 1987

  Omagh

  1

  —

  18 November 1987

  Omagh

  —

  5

  19 November 1987

  Magherafelt

  7

  6,600

  26 November 1987

  Limavady

  —

  1

  7 December 1987

  Belfast

  —

  1

  10 December 1987

  Lisburn

  4

  1,360

  25 December 1987

  Belfast

  3

  37

  29 December 1987

  Lurgan

  2

  74

  31 December 1987

  Belfast

  3

  329

  31 December 1987

  Belfast

  1

  —

  6 January 1988

  Belfast

  —

  1

  7 January 1988

  Belfast

  2

  —

  7 January 1988

  Belfast

  5

  99

  8 January 1988

  Portadown

  91

  11,520

  8 January 1988

  Belfast

  1

  15

  14 January 1988

  Holywood

  —

  1,047

  15 January 1988

  Belfast

  —

  3

  Fencing (Compensation Claims)
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many claims for compensation have been made at Drummacavall, Crossmaglen, as a result of fencing being cut by Army and police personnel during the period from January 1987 to January 1988; and how many payments have been made by way of compensation;

  (2) how many claims for compensation have been made at Creevekeeran, Crossmaglen, as a result of fencing being cut by Army or police personnel during the period from January 1987 to January 1988; and how many payments have been made by way of compensation;

  (3) how many claims for compensation have been made at Glassdrummon, Crossmaglen, as a result of fencing having been cut by Army or police personnel during the period from January 1987 to January 1988; and how many payments have been made by way of compensation.

  Mr. Stanley
  The information is as follows:

  1988 and February to date; where these seizures were made; and what quantity of arms and ammunition were seized.

  Mr. Stanley
  Weapons and ammunition recovered by the security forces in Northern Ireland during the period 1 November 1987 to 12 February 1988 and which are believed to belong to Loyalist paramilitary organisations are as follows:
  147

  Date

  Location

  Firearms

  Live Ammunition (Rounds)

  19 January 1988

  Limavady

  5

  —

  23 January 1988

  Belfast

  1

  67

  25 January 1988

  Belfast

  —

  2

  29 January 1988

  Belfast

  1

  —

  4 February 1988

  Belfast

  54

  40,910

  Army Look-out Posts
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Army look-out posts, of the type presently being operated at Drummacavall, Creevekeeran, Glassdrummon and Cloghogue, are sited in each of the constituences of South Down, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Mid-Ulster, Foyle and East Londonderry.

  Mr. Stanley
  None.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what how many Army look-out posts, of the type presently being operated at Drummacavall, Creevekeeran, Glassdrummon and Cloghogue, are sited in the constituency of Upper Bann.

  Mr. Stanley
  None.

  Gas Connections
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will increase the amount of financial assistance given to new Housing Executive tenants for gas connection.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I am informed by the chief executive that the Housing Executive does not give financial assistance to new tenants for gas connection.

  Units of Management
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been employed in all the administration and clerical grades in each of the last 10 years in(a) Down unit of management, (b) Newry and Mourne unit of management, in County Down and (c) Banbridge unit of management.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:

  Numbers of administrative and clerical staff at 31 December Unit of management

  Year

  Down

  Newry and Mourne1

  Craigavon and Banbridge

  1978

  140

  123

  246

  1979

  147

  132

  252

  1980

  149

  133

  256

  Numbers of nursing staff employed at 31 December

  Down

  Unit of management Newry and Mourne1

  Craigavon and Banbridge1

  Trained

  Student

  Others

  Trained

  Student

  Others

  Trained

  Student

  Others

  1978

  476

  66

  140

  305

  20

  59

  769

  277

  237

  1979

  509

  56

  139

  364

  21

  58

  797

  311

  229

  1980

  501

  93

  137

  392

  22

  52

  824

  310

  232

  1981

  520

  99

  133

  453

  25

  72

  853

  307

  236

  1982

  538

  111

  131

  458

  31

  67

  883

  314

  230

  1983

  545

  103

  129

  465

  24

  67

  897

  326

  222

  148

  Year

  Down

  Newry and Mourne1

  Craigavon and Banbridge

  1981

  154

  151

  264

  1982

  161

  152

  268

  1983

  155

  161

  265

  1984

  153

  164

  279

  1985

  158

  176

  284

  1986

  125

  179

  277

  1987

  119

  187

  282

  1 A breakdown in the form requested is not readily available.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been employed in various physician grades in each of the last 10 years in(a) Down unit of management, (b) Newry and Mourne unit of management, in County Down and (c) Banbridge unit of management.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:

  Numbers of medical Staff (excluding consultants) employed at 31 December1 Unit of Management

  Year

  Down

  Newry and Mourne2

  Craigavon and Banbridge2

  1978

  26

  30

  78

  1979

  26

  30

  76

  1980

  25

  36

  73

  1981

  28

  39

  76

  1982

  28

  39

  73

  1983

  29

  42

  69

  1984

  30

  44

  68

  1985

  29

  46

  72

  1986

  31

  44

  72

  1987

  27

  45

  73

  1 Consultants have not been included as they are employed by the board and not by units of management.

  2 A breakdown in the form requested is not readily available.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been employed in various nursing grades in each of the last 10 years in(a) Down unit of management, (b) Newry and Mourne unit of management, in County Down and (c) Banbridge unit of management.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:
  149

  Down

  Unit of management Newry and Mourne1

  Craigavon and Banbridee1

  Trained

  Student

  Others

  Trained

  Student

  Others

  Trained

  Student

  Others

  1984

  543

  84

  125

  468

  6

  66

  913

  321

  215

  1985

  546

  79

  127

  469

  —

  69

  936

  322

  209

  1986

  551

  84

  137

  468

  —

  62

  934

  304

  191

  1987

  554

  78

  139

  482

  —

  67

  960

  278

  182

  1 A breakdown in the form requested is not readily available.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been employed in all the technical and ancillary grades in each of the last

  Number of Professional and Technical/Ancillary and General Staff employed at 31 December Unit of Management

  Down

  Newry and Mourne

  Craigavon and Banbridge

  Year

  Professional and Technical

  Ancillary and General

  Professional and Technical

  Ancillary and General

  Professional and Technical

  Ancillary and General

  1978

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1979

  87

  948

  73

  1,279

  163

  1,694

  1980

  88

  1,011

  82

  1,290

  173

  1,714

  1981

  90

  1,100

  84

  1,393

  179

  1,855

  1982

  91

  1,171

  93

  1,452

  188

  1,908

  1983

  102

  1,227

  98

  1,465

  173

  1,961

  1984

  78

  1,107

  104

  1,455

  178

  1,881

  1985

  80

  1,056

  109

  1,416

  175

  1,911

  1986

  74

  1,016

  91

  1,391

  154

  1,824

  1987

  69

  1,055

  75

  1,362

  135

  1,815

  n/a = not available.

  Hospital Casualty Services
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of hospital casualty services in Belfast.

  Mr. Needham
  The responsibility for managing these services lies in the first instance with the Eastern health and social services board which has only recently issued a consultative document containing proposals to rationalise casualty services. It would therefore not be right for me to comment further at this stage.

  Ground Rents
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to bringing forward legislation(a) to abolish ground rents and (b) to allow house owners and tenants to buy ground rents out for a nominal sum.

  Mr. Viggers
  The subject of ground rents is being considered by the land law working group as part of that body's overall review of the land law of Northern Ireland. The working group produced an interim report on ground rents in 1983 which recommended the prohibition of the future creation of ground rents and a simplified procedure for buying out existing ground rents. The working group's final report is expected to be published later this year and the Government will then give careful consideration to all the recommendations contained in that report in the light of consultations which will follow its publication.
  150
  10 years in (a) Down unit of management, (b) Newry and Mourne unit of management, in County Down and (c) Banbridge unit of management.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:

  Flats
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost per housing unit for the conversion of the Russell court flats by Belfast Improved Houses; and what was the cost per housing unit of building the Belgravia flats by the Northern Ireland Housing Association.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: Until final accounts in respect of these two schemes have been received it will not be possible to calculate average unit costs precisely. However, based on expenditure to date, average construction and related costs per unit in the Russell court and Belgravia schemes should be in the region of £25,500 and £30,000 respectively.

  Castledawson Bypass
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there has been any slippage in the original start date for the Castledawson bypass; what is now the proposed start date; and what is the present estimated cost.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 16 February 1988]: No start date has ever been announced for the Castledawson by-pass, and at this stage it is not possible to forecast one.

  The present estimated cost is £2·5 million.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the same guidelines apply for visits into Northern Ireland for Ministers from the Republic of Ireland as apply to Ministers from other
  151
  foreign countries; if there has been any change in these guidelines for Irish Ministers since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement; and if he will publish the details of these guidelines.

  Mr. Tom King
  [holding answer 12 February 1988]: No such formal guidelines exist.

TRANSPORT

  M1
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the accident statistics for both the

  M1 junctions 1–10 (Luton) Vehicle numbers and type involved in all accidents

  Year and month

  Number of accidents

  Motorcycles

  Cars

  Buses/Coaches

  Light goods

  Heavy goods

  Total vehicles

  North

  South

  North

  South

  North

  South

  North

  South

  North

  South

  North

  South

  North

  South

  1985

  January

  2

  4

  —

  1

  1

  9

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  4

  10

  February

  4

  11

  1

  —

  8

  25

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  2

  9

  29

  March

  5

  7

  1

  1

  10

  9

  —

  2

  —

  —

  2

  7

  13

  19

  April

  4

  6

  —

  1

  9

  8

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  3

  9

  13

  May

  6

  5

  1

  —

  4

  5

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1

  3

  8

  8

  June

  7

  7

  —

  —

  8

  10

  1

  —

  1

  1

  3

  —

  13

  11

  July

  7

  7

  1

  1

  6

  7

  1

  —

  2

  —

  3

  2

  13

  10

  August

  10

  12

  1

  2

  27

  15

  —

  —

  4

  —

  6

  2

  38

  19

  September

  7

  11

  —

  1

  14

  18

  1

  —

  1

  1

  3

  4

  19

  24

  October

  14

  8

  1

  2

  30

  16

  1

  —

  1

  4

  3

  1

  36

  23

  November

  6

  7

  2

  —

  10

  12

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  12

  15

  December

  8

  8

  —

  1

  24

  12

  —

  1

  3

  —

  1

  5

  28

  19

  Total

  80

  93

  8

  10

  151

  145

  4

  4

  15

  9

  24

  31

  202

  200

  1986

  January

  7

  5

  —

  —

  14

  11

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1

  18

  12

  February

  7

  5

  —

  —

  15

  10

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  3

  16

  14

  March

  8

  10

  2

  1

  16

  26

  —

  3

  1

  1

  —

  3

  19

  34

  April

  7

  3

  2

  2

  10

  4

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  1

  15

  7

  May

  4

  10

  —

  1

  11

  14

  —

  2

  —

  —

  6

  —

  17

  17

  June

  10

  6

  1

  —

  20

  5

  2

  —

  —

  3

  1

  1

  24

  9

  July

  15

  5

  3

  2

  12

  5

  —

  —

  5

  —

  7

  1

  27

  8

  August

  8

  13

  —

  —

  13

  33

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  3

  14

  28

  September

  17

  8

  2

  —

  47

  9

  —

  2

  1

  2

  2

  3

  52

  16

  October

  2

  7

  —

  1

  6

  19

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  3

  8

  23

  November

  10

  10

  2

  1

  23

  21

  —

  —

  1

  3

  4

  4

  30

  29

  December

  17

  6

  —

  —

  64

  7

  2

  —

  3

  —

  7

  3

  76

  10

  Total

  112

  86

  12

  8

  251

  164

  6

  7

  13

  12

  34

  26

  316

  217

  1987

  January

  2

  6

  —

  —

  2

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  5

  3

  9

  February

  3

  6

  —

  —

  6

  10

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  6

  14

  March

  13

  6

  —

  —

  21

  7

  —

  1

  1

  —

  9

  2

  31

  10

  April

  9

  5

  —

  —

  19

  4

  —

  1

  3

  —

  3

  —

  25

  5

  May

  11

  9

  —

  1

  18

  14

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  19

  17

  June

  6

  8

  —

  1

  7

  13

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  8

  17

  July

  11

  11

  1

  1

  24

  15

  2

  1

  1

  2

  4

  2

  32

  21

  August

  17

  11

  2

  1

  31

  23

  —

  —

  3

  —

  13

  2

  49

  26

  September

  12

  9

  1

  1

  38

  25

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  40

  29

  October

  8

  10

  —

  1

  17

  21

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  3

  20

  26

  November

  6

  18

  1

  2

  10

  43

  —

  —

  2

  1

  4

  3

  17

  49

  December

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Total

  98

  99

  5

  8

  193

  179

  3

  3

  11

  8

  38

  25

  250

  228

  35 months total

  290

  278

  25

  26

  595

  489

  13

  14

  39

  29

  96

  82

  763

  640

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles are using the southern end of the M1 from Luton to junction 1, and what is the design capability of the relevant sections of the motorway.
  152
  north and south-bound carriageways of the M1 between Luton and junction 1, broken down by type of vehicle and month of occurrence.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The total number of recorded accidents during the years 1985 to 1987 was 290 northbound and 278 southbound. Full details are in the following table:

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The current annual average daily flow of traffic on the M1 between the various junctions is as follows:
  153

  Lanes

  Vehicles per day (two way)

  Junctions

  1–2

  D3

  42,000

  2–4

  D3

  66,000

  4–5

  D3

  77,000

  5–6

  D3

  69,000

  6A-7

  N4-S3

  127,000

  7–8

  D4

  143,000

  8–9

  D3

  117,000

  9–10 (Luton)

  D3

  105,000

  Departmental standards used in the assessment and design of roads give an upper design threshold for a new dual three-lane motorway of 79,000 vehicles per (annual average) day. There is no upper design threshold for dual four-lane motorways. The design flow for any road is less than its maximum capacity and many sections of existing motorway are currently carrying more traffic than the upper design threshold.

  M40 Extension
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth on 4 February,Official Report, column 683, on the relief to be given by the M40 extension to the M1, what percentage of traffic currently using the M1 he estimates will use the M40.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  It is estimated that between 13,000 and 15,000 vehicles per day will transfer from the M1 to the M40 in the first year after its opening. This would represent between 11 per cent. and 17 per cent. of the total traffic on the M1 between London and the M6 junction.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants are employed in his Department; what are their average weekly working hours; and how many are(a) on flexitime, (b) on job-sharing schemes, (c) on a four-day working week or nine-day fortnight and (d) able to retire with full pension rights at 60 years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  On 1 February 1988 there were 14,492 staff employed in the Department. Eight hundred and twenty three of these work part-time, including job-sharers. Separate figures for job-sharing schemes are not available. Non-industrial staff in central London work 41 hours per week (gross); elsewhere 42 hours. Industrial staff work 44 hours per week, gross. The average weekly hours of part-time staff is 19·7 hours.

  Most full-time staff work a five-day week — except those working shifts. Numbers of staff working a four-day week or nine-day fortnight are not readily available.

  Flexible working hours agreements operate on a local basis; there are currently some 90 local schemes in operation. Staff are free to participate in them, or not to do so, if they wish. Figures for participants are not held centrally.

  All staff are entitled to retire on pension at age 60. Maximum pension rights normally accrue after 40 years' total service. A total of 2,578 of present non-industrial staff would have 40 years' service by age 60. Those with shorter service do, however, have the opportunity to
  154
  purchase some additional qualifying years for pension purposes. Corresponding figures for industrial staff are not readily available.

  Smoke floods
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place between his Department, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States of America on the introduction of airline passenger protection smoke hoods.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Civil Aviation Authority has statutory responsibility for aviation safety. The authority has told me that the CAA has discussed airline passenger smoke hoods with the FAA during their annual meetings. Discussions have also been held with representatives of the Transport Canada and the French Directorate General for Civil Aviation.

  Tristar-Tupolev Air Miss
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the air accidents investigation branch of his Department to report on the circumstances of the air miss between a British Airways Tristar and a Bulgarian Tupolev 154 on Saturday 6 February.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The final report will not be available for some months but relevant implications will be passed to the Civil Aviation Authority, which is wholly responsible for civil aviation safety regulation, as they arise.

  Heathrow Airport
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has reached his conclusions with regard to surface access to Heathrow, following his consultations on the Howard Humphreys and Partners study; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Howard Humphreys and Partners is currently considering the proposals put forward during the consultation period, and is due to make a further report to me shortly. We shall then announce how the project is to be taken forward.

  Ryde-Portsmouth Catamaran Service
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if any of his Departmental surveyors inspected damage to the hull of the catamaran operating between Ryde and Portsmouth; what information he has as to the existence of any risk to passengers carried on the trip back to Portsmouth after the vessel was damaged; and whether he proposes to conduct any inquiry into the incident or to make any recommendations.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  It is assumed that the question refers to the incident on 31 January 1988 involving the catamaran ferry Our Lady Pamela. During the passage towards Ryde, heavy seas damaged the decking to the passenger accommodation, between the two hulls. There was some ingress of water—not, however, serious. The master, after personally inspecting the damage, decided that it was safe to complete the passage and then to return to Portsmouth at reduced speed, with the few passengers who were waiting to make the crossing.
  155
  Our Lady Pamela was taken out of service on her return to Portsmouth. Surveyors in the marine office, Southampton, investigated the incident and the craft did not resume operations until repairs were completed to their satisfaction. I do not propose any further inquiry into the incident.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Weapons (French Vessels)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on the use of British ports by French vessels carrying nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on the use of British ports by French vessels carrying nuclear weapons.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on the use of British ports by French vessels carrying nuclear weapons.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on the use of British ports by French vessels carrying nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  None.

  Frigates
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he makes of the number of frigates available for active service when publishing total figures of such vessels.

  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he makes of the number of frigates available for active service when publishing total figures of such vessels.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he makes of the number of frigates available for active service when publishing total figures of such vessels.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he makes of the number of frigates available for active service when publishing total figures of such vessels.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Following the acceptance into service last Friday of HMS Cornwall, the current total of our destroyers and frigates is 49, of which 42 are available for operational deployment immediately or within a short period.

  WE-177 Nuclear Bomb
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the replacement of the WE-177 nuclear bomb.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the replacement of the WE-177 nuclear bomb.
  156
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the replacement of the WE-177 nuclear bomb.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the replacement of the WE-177 nuclear bomb.

  Mr. Younger
  Some technical studies in this area have been and are being carried out. However, no decisions on a possible replacement have yet been taken.

  Joint Projects
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of defence projects in which the United Kingdom and France are currently engaged in joint research, development or procurement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Britain and France fully support the initiatives of the Independent European Programme Group aimed at enhancing collaboration in defence research, and both countries are participating in efforts to launch 14 such projects with a variety of other partners. In development we are jointly participating in the RTM322 helicopter engine programme, and both countries participate with a variety of other partners in 13 other major development programmes.

  Dog Training
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the future arrangements for dog training at the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

  Mr. Freeman
  Peat Marwick McLintock has been awarded a consultancy contract to cost the various options for dog training in the armed services and to recommend the most suitable arrangements for the future. The study started at the beginning of January 1988. The report is expected in the early summer.

  TAVR (National Employer Liaison Committee)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve national employer liaison committee.

  Mr. Freeman
  Since 1986 the Department has accepted a number of the committee's recommendations on the recruitment, conditions of service, training and organisation of TA officers and men. A number of other recommendations remain under consideration, notably a plan for a wide-ranging press and TV campaign to be undertaken to enlist further support from young people and employers. This proposal remains under consideration along with other measures for inclusion in the Department's programme and we hope to make a decision shortly.

  Intermediate Nuclear Forces Agreement
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has made any further studies of the implications for the defence of Britain of the intermediate nuclear forces agreement.
  157
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  NATO is still considering the force adjustments which might be required as a result of the elimination of GLCMs and Pershing missiles from Europe. No decisions have yet been taken.

  Multiple Launch Rocket System
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is planned that a nuclear warhead will be developed for the multiple launch rocket system.

  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is planned that a nuclear warhead will be developed for the multiple launch rocket system.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is planned that a nuclear warhead will be developed for the multiple launch rocket system.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Redcar (Ms. Mowlam) on Friday 19 February at column 757.

  Nuclear Strategy
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from the French Government regarding nuclear strategy.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from the French Government regarding nuclear strategy.

  Mr. Younger
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond).

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from the West German Government regarding nuclear strategy.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from the West German Government regarding nuclear strategy.

  Mr. Younger
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short).

  Air-Sea Rescue Services
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet completed his consideration of privatisation of air-sea rescue services.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet completed his consideration of privatisation of air-sea rescue services.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet completed his consideration of privatisation of air-sea rescue services.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet completed his consideration of privatisation of air-sea rescue services.

  Mr. Freeman
  As my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces announced in this House on 11 February, we have decided that, wherever there is a military requirement for search and rescue, the service will continue to be provided by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
  158
  Our consideration of the most effective deployment of our military search and rescue helicopters continues, and we shall announce the outcome as soon as possible.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now in a position to give a decision on the proposals by Bristow Helicopters Ltd. to take over the search-and-rescue units currently operated by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.

  Mr. Freeman
  As my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces announced in this House on 11 February, we have decided that, wherever there is a military requirement for search and rescue, the service will continue to be provided by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Our consideration of the most effective deployment of our military search and rescue helicopters continues, and we shall announce the outcome as soon as possible.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends that the helicopters presently deployed at RAF Leuchars, for search and rescue operations, should be replaced by more modern equipment.

  Mr. Freeman
  Studies are continuing into the deployment of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force helicopters for search and rescue requirements. The results will be announced shortly.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours have been flown by each of the helicopters deployed at RAF Leuchars for search and rescue operations.

  Mr. Freeman
  During their time in service with the Royal Air Force, the helicopters currently deployed to RAF Leuchars for search and rescue (SAR) operations have flown 8,744 hours and 6,046 hours respectively (as of 19 February 1988). It is not possible to state precisely the proportion of time these have spent on SAR operations, but on average, Royal Air Force helicopters assigned to SAR operations in the United Kingdom fly for 470 hours each year, including training.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the dates of manufacture and of coming into service of all the helicopters deployed at RAF Leuchars for search and rescue operations.

  Mr. Freeman
  The in-service dates of the two aircraft currently deployed at RAF Leuchars are 1964 and 1968 respectively. The precise dates of manufacture are not readily available.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters, and of what make and type, are deployed at RAF Leuchars for search and rescue operations.

  Mr. Freeman
  Two Westland mark 2 Wessex helicopters.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to conclude current discussions on the future of air-sea rescue services.

  Mr. Freeman
  As my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, announced in the House on 11 February, we have decided that, wherever there is a military requirement for search and rescue, the service will continue to be provided by the Royal Navy and Royal Air
  159
  Force. Our consideration of the most effective deployment of our military search and rescue helicopters continues, and we shall announce the outcome as soon as possible.

  Pilots
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current ratio of pilots entering training to those leaving the forces prematurely.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current ratio of pilots entering training to those leaving the forces prematurely.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current ratio of pilots entering training to those leaving the forces prematurely.
  160
  Mr. Freeman
  In 1987 the ratio of students entering training as pilots to trained pilots leaving the services prematurely was approximately 2.2:1. This ratio is derived from numbers of entries to and exits from the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Army Air Corps.

  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current ratio of pilots entering training to those leaving the forces prematurely.

  Mr. Freeman
  In 1987 the ratio of students entering training as pilots to trained pilots leaving the services permanently was approximately 1.3:1. The ratio is derived from numbers of entries to and exits from the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, and the Army Air Corps.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the number and nature of nuclear weapons accidents or systems malfunctions.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the number and nature of nuclear weapons accidents or systems malfunctions.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the number and nature of nuclear weapons accidents or systems malfunctions.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Preston (Mrs. Wise).

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the extent to which the new generation of nuclear weapons will have a lower threshold of use.

  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the extent to which the new generation of nuclear weapons will have a lower threshold of use.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The British Government, like their NATO allies, remain firmly committed to nuclear deterrence and to the strategy of flexible response. Our policy is to ensure that deterrence is sufficiently effective to prevent any need for present nuclear weapons or future ones ever to be used. No change in strategy is contemplated which would increase the likelihood of nuclear weapons being used. In order to maintain deterrence at the minimum forces necessary, the Alliance must maintain nuclear forces which are effective, responsive and survivable.

  Nuclear Test Veterans (Compensation)
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on proposed compensation to ex-service men following the recent report on United Kingdom nuclear test veterans.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on proposed compensation to ex-service men following the recent report on United Kingdom nuclear test veterans.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on proposed compensation to ex-service men following the recent report on United Kingdom nuclear test veterans.

  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on proposed compensation to ex-service men following the recent report on United Kingdom nuclear test veterans.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The National Radiological Protection Board published a study on the health of British nuclear tests veterans on 28 January. In the light of the conclusions of that study, which I set out in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 28 January at column 309, the Ministry of Defence does not consider
  162
  there is any basis for claims for common law compensation for damage to health from exposure to ionising radiation arising from participation in the British nuclear test programme. Claims for war pensions are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the effect of nuclear weapons testing upon ex-service men who served in previous contaminated areas.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the report published by the National Radiological Protection Board on 28 January, which I referred to in my answer on 28 January, at column 309, to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key).

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding the case of a judicial inquiry following the report of the National Radiological Protection Board on the incidence of cancer amongst ex-service men involved in nuclear tests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My noble Friend the Minister of Stale for Defence Procurement met a deputation of right hon. and hon. Members and two officers of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association on 16 February, at which this proposition was raised. My noble Friend made it clear that we do not consider that a judicial inquiry would be appropriate or would serve any useful purpose in this case particularly in view of the National Radiological Protection Board's recently published study.

  Frigate Building Programme
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the frigate building programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Since the answer I gave on 26 January, at columns 181–82, the type 22 frigate, HMS Cornwall was delivered to Portsmouth by her builders, Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd., on 19 February.

  Nuclear Modernisation (Conference)
  Mr. Heffer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which representatives of his Department attended the Wehrkunde conference discussions on nuclear modernisation.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which representatives of his Department attended the Wehrkunde conference discussions on nuclear modernisation.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which representatives of his Department attended the Wehrkunde conference discussions on nuclear modernisation.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which representatives of his Department attended the Wehrkunde conference discussions on nuclear modernisation.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The theme of this year's Wehrkunde conference was United States-Soviet disarmament
  163
  negotiations and their consequences. I attended, together with the permanent under-secretary of state (designate) and the deputy under-secretary of state (policy).

  Trident
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the safety of the Trident missile programme of the recent test firing of a Trident 2 missile at Cape Canaveral.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications for the safety of the Trident missile programme of the recent test firing of a Trident 2 missile at Cape Canaveral.

  Mr. Younger
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon).

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimated cost of the Trident missile project to date.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  As announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 21 January, at column 775, the currently estimated total cost of the United Kingdom Trident programme is £9,043 million (at 1987–88 prices and £1 = $1·62). Actual expenditure to the end of December 1987 was £1,370 million.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the progress of the Trident programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In total, fewer than 20 representations concerning the progress of the Trident programme have been received from members of the public since the general election.

  Conventional Defence Improvement Initiative
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in the conventional defence improvement initiative.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The conventional defence improve-ments exercise, which is fully supported by the United Kingdom, was reviewed by NATO Defence Ministers at their December meeting. Ministers welcomed the progress made in addressing key deficiencies in NATO's defence posture.

  Military Personnel (Training)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what countries are currently receiving help or advice on the training of military personnel from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The countries which have received military training from the United Kingdom, either through United Kingdom training courses or the loan of service personnel to their particular Governments, in the current financial year are as follows:

  Algeria

  Belgium

  Australia

  Belize

  Austria

  Bermuda

  Bahamas

  Botswana

  Bahrain

  Brazil

  Bangladesh

  Brunei

  Barbados

  Burma

  164

  Cameroon

  Mauritius

  Canada

  Mozambique

  Chile

  Nepal

  China

  Netherlands

  Congo

  New Zealand

  Cyprus

  Nigeria

  Denmark

  Norway

  Dominica

  Oman

  Egypt

  Pakistan

  E1 Salvador

  Philippines

  Federal Republic of

  Portugal

  Germany

  Qatar

  Fiji

  Republic of Korea

  Finland

  Saudi Arabia

  France

  St. Lucia

  Gambia

  St. Vincent

  Ghana

  Senegal

  Gibraltar

  Sierra Leone

  Greece

  Singapore

  Guyana

  Somalia

  Hong Kong

  Spain

  India

  Sri Lanka

  Indonesia

  Sudan

  Iraq

  Swaziland

  Iceland

  Sweden

  Ireland

  Switzerland

  Israel

  Tanzania

  Italy

  Thailand

  Jamaica

  Trinidad

  Japan

  Tunisia

  Jordan

  Turkey

  KenyaKuwait

  Uganda

  Lesotho

  United Arab Emirates

  Luxembourg

  United States of America

  Malawi

  Yemen Arab Republic

  Malaysia

  Zambia

  Maldives

  Zimbabwe

  Malta

  Nuclear Weapons (Modernisation)
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had about plans for the modernisation of short-range and of intermediate-range nuclear weapons in western Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has frequent meetings with his NATO colleagues during which a wide range of issues affecting the defence and security of the Alliance are discussed, including the need to maintain effective nuclear forces.

  Staff Dispersal
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all current plans for relocation(a) within Greater London and (b) elsewhere of units of his Department.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all current plans for relocation(a) within Greater London and (b) elsewhere of units of his Department.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all current plans for relocation(a) within Greater London and (b) elsewhere of units of his Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith).
  165
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many divisions within his Department have been relocated out of London since 1979; what plans he has for further relocation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is not possible to provide this information without undue cost and effort. However, the Glasgow dispersal programme has resulted in 1,330 jobs moving to Scotland and will meet its 1,400 target later this year. The overall number of civilian employees in London has fallen by over 10,000 since 1979, though this reduction also reflects the continuing search for efficiency and economy in the Department.

  Future relocation possibilities will continue to be examined; but moves must be justifiable in both operational and economic terms.

  AWRE Aldermaston
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the A90 building at AWRE Aldermaston; and when he expects it to be ready for production.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the A90 building at AWRE Aldermaston; and when he expects it to be ready for production.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of A90 building at AWRE Aldermaston; and when he expects it to be ready for production.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Members to the answers I have recently given to the hon. Members for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 20 January 1988, at column 763, and for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 1 February 1988, column 446.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the A90 building at AWRE Aldermaston; and when he expects it to be ready for production.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I have recently given to the hon. Members for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 20 January 1988, at column 763 and for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 1 February 1988, at column 446.

  Tucano Aircraft
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the introduction of Short's Tucano into Royal Air Force service.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the introduction of Short's Tucano into Royal Air Force service.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett) and for Ashfield (Mr. Haynes).

  "Discriminate Deterrence" (Report)
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications 166
  for United Kingdom nuclear weapons policy of the United States Department of Defence report "Discriminate Deterrence."

  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom nuclear weapons policy of the United States Department of Defence report "Discriminate Deterrence."

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom nuclear weapons policy of the United States Department of Defence report "Discriminate Deterrence."

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Commission on Integrated Long-Term Strategy, which produced the report entitled "Discriminate Deterrence", is independent of the United States Department of Defence. It remains the British Government's view that the NATO strategy of flexible response provides the best basis for Alliance security.

  Jet Provost
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current cost of maintaining the Jet Provost planes in operation.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current cost of maintaining the Jet Provost planes in operation.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current cost of maintaining the Jet Provost planes in operation.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien).

  Polaris
  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent arrangements Her Majesty's Government have entered into with the United States Government governing the use of Polaris.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  None.

  Northern Ireland
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the operations of the armed forces in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Military operations in support of the Royal Ulster Constabulary carried out by the armed forces continue to make an invaluable contribution to the fight against terrorism in Northern Ireland.

  Following a review by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland of the deployment of security forces in the Province, a new brigade headquarters is to be established to improve anti-terrorist operations and patrolling in the border areas, leaving the existing two brigades responsible for supporting the police in the rest of the Province.

  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the conditions in which soldiers are billetted in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Freeman
  Some of the accommodation for the Army's permanent garrison in Northern Ireland is not up
  167
  to modern standards, and a modernisation programme is in hand. However, certain accommodation which is below the normal scaled provision has been provided specifically for personnel on short tours of duty. Single men serving in Northern Ireland pay no accommodation charges and charges for married quarters are abated by the single quartering charge appropriate to rank.

  Dual-Capable Aircraft
  Mr. Allen Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft types there are in the Royal Air Force currently classified as dual-capable.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft types there are in the Royal Air Force currently classified as dual-capable.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft types there are in the Royal Air Force currently classified as dual-capable.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes).

  Nuclear Forces (Modernisation)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on developments in modernisation of nuclear forces.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about the programme to modernise NATO nuclear forces.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I have nothing to add to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) on 24 March 1987 at column 162 and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) on 26 January 1988 at column 167.

  Departmental Land
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much land in the United Kingdom is owned by his Department; and what were the comparable figures five, 10 and 15 years ago.

  Mr. Freeman
  As at 1 October in each of the years requested, MOD land holdings (freehold and leasehold) were as follows:

  Acres

  1987

  592,537

  1982

  609,908

  1977

  623,245

  1972

  656,634

  Western European Union
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to meet representatives of the Western European Union; whether he supports enlargement of the Western European Union; and if he will make a statement on the defence implications of such enlargement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State next plans to meet his WEU colleagues in The Hague 168
  on 18–19 April. All member countries have agreed that the WEU is not a closed shop, but that any enlargement should strengthen, not jeopardise, its cohesion. We would therefore expect any new members to accept and give concrete expression to the obligations of both the Brussels treaty and the WEU's platform on European security interests, agreed by WEU Ministers at their meeting in The Hague last October.

  Personnel Training (Fatalities)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have died in service in the past 10 years as a result of training.

  Mr. Freeman
  The number of service personnel who have died in service in each of the last 10 years, as a result of training, is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1978

  55

  1979

  32

  1980

  38

  1981

  25

  1982

  33

  1983

  32

  1984

  29

  1985

  29

  1986

  30

  111987

  29

  1provisional figures only.

  Cruise Missiles
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy not to permit the basing of air-launched cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I cannot add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member on 26 January 1988 at column 155.

  French Defence Minister (Co-operation)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on co-operation with the French Minister of Defence on nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 18 December 1987 at column 752.

  Marconi (Contracts)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the value of Government defence contracts placed with Marconi over the past five years.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The overall value of contracts placed by my Department with the Marconi group of companies over the past five years is approximately £2·5 billion.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects the European fighter aircraft to enter service with the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Sir J. Farr) on 8 December at column 142.

  Racism (Armed Forces)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further action he is taking to eliminate racism in the armed forces.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 February 1988, at column 82. Any complaint of racial discrimination brought by a member of the armed forces would be fully investigated under redress of grievance procedures provided for in the Service Discipline Acts. If proven, appropriate action would be taken against those involved.

  Warsaw Pact
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation country counterparts on a draft mandate for negotiations on conventional stability between the members of the Alliance and the Warsaw pact; what is the date for convening of negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the implications for United Kingdom defence expenditure.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions, which must remain confidential, with his NATO colleagues on a wide range of issues, including arms control. We hope that the proposed talks on conventional stability will begin this autumn. It would be premature to speculate on what the outcome of the talks might be or on the possible implications for United Kingdom defence expenditure.

  Land Disposal
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will speed up the disposal of surplus Ministry of Defence land.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is MOD policy to keep its property holdings under review and to dispose of any properties for which there is no longer a defence requirement. We have a major disposal programme in hand and in the year ending 31 March 1987 we disposed of property worth about £75 million. We hope to do at least as well this year, and even better next year.

  Sentries
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that sentries on duty outside the royal palaces and royal residences, and their horses, are not subjected to unpleasant attentions from tourists and others; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 19 February.

  Arms Control
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much time has been spent by arms control officials in his Department on work specifically relating to naval arms control during the last six months.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Ministry of Defence does not record the time spent by officials on particular arms control issues.

  Naval Operations
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what studies his Department has undertaken on the probability of forward naval operations during a time of heightened international tension, or during a war; if he will list the scenarios considered in any such studies; and if he will place a copy of such studies in the Library;

  (2) if the Royal Navy has prepared any plans for attacks against Soviet ballistic missile submarines stationed in the Barent and Norwegian seas for use in the event of war.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The tasks of the Royal Navy in tension and war are described in paragraphs 404 to 406 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987". My Department carries out a continuous programme of studies into the conduct of those tasks, but, in accordance with the practice of successive Governments, I am not generally prepared to disclose details of operational plans.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has had discussions with his counterpart in the United States about United States naval plans contained in the United States maritime strategy, which calls for major forward naval operations to be undertaken against Soviet ballistic missile submarines in the Barent and Norwegian seas in the event of war.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend regularly holds discussions with the United States Secretary of State for Defence on a wide range of defence matters of mutual interest. It is not our general practice to disclose the details of such discussions.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if British nuclear submarines have exercised during the last five years in support of United States naval vessels practising the naval operations called for by the United States maritime strategy, including exercises against simulated Soviet ballistic missile submarines.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Royal navy nuclear-powered submarines regularly exercise with the navies of the United States and other NATO allies to practise their NATO wartime roles.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Health Authorities (Administration)
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the annual administration cost of the North West Thames regional health authority and of the North East Thames regional health authority since 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  The following information is derived from the annual accounts of health authorities comprising the North West Thames and North East Thames regions it would be misleading to interpret regional health authority data in isolation from that for the districts they manage. Regions are managed in an integrated way and, therefore, to provide a more accurate picture, regional health authority and district health authority figures have been combined.
  171

  Expenditure on headquarters administration1

  £ thousands

  Regional Health Authority

  District Health Authorities2

  Total

  North West Thames Region

  1979–80

  3,356

  22,747

  26,103

  1980–81

  4,096

  28,413

  32,509

  1981–82

  4,661

  30,856

  35,517

  1982–83

  5,122

  27,730

  32,852

  1983–84

  5,072

  27,694

  32,766

  1984–85

  5,665

  28,012

  33,677

  1985–863

  5,240

  23,758

  28,998

  1986–87

  6,926

  25,506

  32,432

  North East Thames Region

  1979–80

  4,524

  23,544

  28,068

  1980–81

  5,638

  29,990

  35,628

  1981–82

  5,307

  30,892

  36,199

  1982–83

  5,845

  32,766

  38,611

  1983–84

  6,269

  33,165

  39,434

  1984–85

  8,113

  33,221

  41,334

  1985–863

  9,167

  29,950

  39,117

  1986–87

  10,187

  32,628

  42,815

  1 Expenditure on headquarters administration includes all current expenditure on the pay and pay related costs of staff of all disciplines (including general managers) employed at regional and district/area headquarters levels and their office costs and overheads. It excludes the cost of secretarial and clerical support staff employed in departments at hospital and unit levels: such costs are regarded as operational.

  2 Predecessor area health authorities for the years prior to NHS restructuring (1 April 1982).

  3 Prior to 1 April 1985 many of the district/area health authorities within each region had an associated family practitioner committee (FPC) and those authorities' expenditure figures for the years before that date include elements relating to FPCs' administrative expenses which are not separately identifiable.

  National Insurance
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how long it would take for(a) a married man, (b) a single man and (c) a single woman, all of whom retired on 31 December 1987, all of whom started work at the age of 16 years and all of whom were on the average national wage throughout their working life, to get back by way of retirement pension all the money they had paid in national insurance contributions, assuming that the current basic pension remains constant.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is in the table. Line 1 represents the time taken to recover in retirement pension the whole cash value of employee national insurance contributions paid by a man or woman on average manual earnings, if the whole NI contribution allocated to benefit purposes is assumed to be available for the purpose. Line 2 assumes that only the share of NI contributions required to fund retirement pensions is available for the purpose. The figures for a married man include pension paid to his wife on his contribution record.

  (years)

  Line 1

  Line 2

  (a)1·6

  1·2

  (b)2·3

  1·6

  (c)1·7

  1·3

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the change in the number of 172
  beds in Northumberland district health authority for each year since 1982, including whatever data are available for 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  The available information is given in the table. Over the period the number of in-patient cases treated increased by 11 per cent. from 24,973 to 27,713 and the number of in-patient cases treated per available bed increased by 23 per cent. from 6 ·5 to 8 ·0

  Average daily available beds, Northumberland District Health Authority

  Change

  Year

  Average daily number of available beds

  Number

  Per cent.

  1982

  3,826·6

  -43·8

  -1·1

  1983

  3,766·1

  -60·5

  -1·6

  1984

  3,727·4

  -38·7

  -1·0

  1985

  3,664·3

  -63·1

  -1·7

  1986

  3,481·7

  -182·6

  -5·0

  Community Care
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards elderly patients discharged from National Health Service hospital to be cared for in the community, either in a residential home at their own cost or with relatives, who refuse to enter a home or where the relatives refuse to care for them.

  Mrs. Currie
  The objective of all services for elderly patients must be to provide the right care to meet the individual's needs. The decision on whether and when a patient is ready for discharge is for the clinical judgment of the doctor in charge of the case, but we would expect the planning of the discharge to be based on co-operation between all the professions involved. We would also expect there to be a multi-disciplinary assessment of future care needs, involving both the patient and his or her family. The Department is currently working on a draft circular setting out the requirements for discharge and the planning to be undertaken.

  The provision of good services depends on effective co-operation at the local level between the different professions, the patient and his or her family and, where appropriate, the local authority, voluntary agencies and the private sector. If a need for residential care is assessed, the local authority has a general duty, under part III of the National Assistance Act 1948, to provide residential care where this is not otherwise available.

  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the requirements for claimants of community care grants to give information on their social worker to his Department; and what kind of information social workers will be required to provide for his Department.

  Mr. Scott
  Applicants for community care grants are not obliged to give information on their social worker nor is there any requirement that social workers must provide information to the social fund officer. Social workers will not be asked to make decisions on applications nor to assess priorities between individual clients—that is for the social fund officer. Social fund officers may contact social workers with the agreement of an applicant but this will be done, subject to strict confidentiality rules, solely
  173
  to clarify or supplement information in cases where the social services are also involved, for example on resettlement into the community.

  Mastectomy
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mastectomies were performed in England and Wales for(a) female patients and (b) male patients in the latest two-month period for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information is not available centrally in the form requested. Statistics in respect of the last complete year for which information is available are given in the table. Information for Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Estimated number of mastectomies performed in NHS hospitals, by sex In-patients and day cases combined, England 1985

  Estimated Numbers

  Male

  Female

  Partial Mastectomy1

  730

  35,630

  Total Mastectomy

  670

  9,290

  All Mastectomies

  1,400

  44,920

  1 Includes all excisions of breast tissue, local or otherwise (for example, removal of lumps and cysts), whether for malignant or benign conditions.

  Hospital Referrals
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to rates of patient referral to hospitals by different general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  While there has been some basic research into general practitioners' referral rates, no data are held centrally on rates of patient referral by different doctors.

  Rates (Cleveland)
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much he estimates the rates bill borne by his Department in Cleveland will be increased in money terms, consequent upon the increase in rates determined by Cleveland county council for 1988–89.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that any increase in the rates level in Cleveland for 1988–89 and, hence, the cost to this Department, has not yet been finally determined.

  Royal Victoria Hospital (Newcastle)
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants are employed in the department of ophthalmology at the Royal Victoria hospital at Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and what was the number five years ago.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that this information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may therefore wish to write to the chairman of Newcastle district health authority for the information he requires.

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he is taking to assess the effectiveness of the Government's publicity campaign against drug misuse.

  Mrs. Currie
  Each stage Of the anti-drugs campaign in the mass media has been carefully developed to ensure credibility and effectiveness, through interviews with young people, and testing of ideas and creative materials on representatives of the target audience. The campaign has also been evaluated through a series of surveys of young people and parents.

  A report of the most recent survey findings, a copy of which is available in the Library, shows that the 1986–87 stage of the campaign was very widely noticed across all media, with radio commercials having been particularly successful at reaching large numbers of young people. Awareness of the health risks of using heroin was broadly sustained, while there was an increase in awareness of adverse social consequences, particularly in the belief that heroin makes the user lose interest in the opposite sex. Overall, claimed resistance to trying heroin or cocaine remains high, with 93 per cent. of those interviewed in each case claiming that they would definitely not try the drug if offered it by a friend.

  The 1987–88 stage of the campaign will be evaluated at the start of 1988, and results should be available in the spring.

  Abortions
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, assuming a continuation of the current rate at which abortion is performed, he will give an estimate of the total number of abortions which will have been performed under the Abortion Act 1967 by the 20th anniversary of the implementation of that Act.

  Mr. Newton
  The total number of notifications of abortions to resident and non-resident women, which will have been carried out under the Abortion Act 1967, from 27 April 1968 to 31 March 1988 in England and Wales; is estimated at 2,648,000, assuming a continuation of the current rate at which abortions are performed. This estimate does not take into account any seasonal variation, nor other changes which may affect the numbers of notifications.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown by district health authority of the average number of abortions performed in that district on each working day of the latest year for which figures are available, in(a) National Health Service hospitals, (b) private clinics and (c) in total.

  Mr. Newton
  No, for reasons of maintaining confidentiality.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total number of abortions under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967; how many of these abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother; and what is the latter figure expressed as a percentage of the former.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is shown in the table, including all notifications received by 30 September 1987.
  175

  Total number of notifications of abortions performed under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, and the number performed under Ground 5 of the Act, England and Wales, residents and non-residents

  Number

  Total (a)

  2,761,637

  Ground 5 (b)

  126

  Percentage (b) of (a)

  0·005

  Ground 5 of the 1967 Abortion Act states that abortions may be performed in emergency to save the life of the pregnant woman.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total number of abortions performed at 18 weeks or more gestation under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, since the passage of the Act; how many of these abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother; and what is the latter figure expressed as a percentage of the former.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that the full information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, statistics already available are as follows: Between 1

  Table A

  Number of notifications of abortions performed by area of usual residence, and number of mentions of ground 51, Regional Health Authorities, England and Wales 1974–86

  Area of usual residence

  (a) total

  (b) mention of ground5

  Per cent. age (b) of (a)

  Northern

  71,952

  4

  0·006

  Yorkshire

  92,749

  4

  0·004

  Trent

  119,990

  7

  0·006

  East Anglian

  47,996

  2

  0·004

  North West Thames

  183,077

  4

  0·002

  North East Thames

  181,097

  4

  0·002

  South East Thames

  138,139

  2

  0·001

  South West Thames

  105,935

  3

  0·003

  Wessex

  69,944

  4

  0·006

  Oxford

  69,087

  3

  0·004

  South Western

  78,973

  3

  0·004

  West Midlands

  172,779

  5

  0·003

  Mersey

  70,899

  4

  0·006

  North Western

  113,030

  2

  0·002

  Wales

  75,617

  3

  0·004

  1 Ground 5 of the 1967 Abortion Act permits abortions to be performed "in emergency in order to save the life of the pregnant woman."

  Table B

  Number of notifications of abortions performed by area of usual residence, and number of mentions of Ground 5, Hospital regions, England and Wales 1968–731

  Area

  (a) Total

  (b) Ground 5

  percentage (b) of (a)

  Newcastle

  24,694

  2

  0·008

  Leeds

  21,377

  7

  0·033

  Sheffield

  31,880

  3

  0·009

  East Anglian

  14,010

  4

  0·029

  North West Metropolitan

  71,835

  4

  0·006

  North East Metropolitan

  34,857

  5

  0·014

  South East Metropolitan

  37,560

  8

  0·021

  South West Metropolitan

  49,272

  3

  0·006

  Wessex

  14,705

  4

  0·027

  Oxford

  16,962

  1

  0·006

  South Western

  25,963

  2

  0·008

  Birmingham

  46,708

  7

  0·015

  Manchester

  34,289

  10

  0·029

  Liverpool

  15,201

  1

  0·007

  Wales

  22,513

  2

  0·009

  Note: Ground 5 of the 1967 Abortion Act permits abortions to be performed "in emergency in order to save the life of the pregnant woman."

  1 1968—27 April to 31 December only (after the Act came into force).

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown, by regional 176
  January 1981 and 30 June 1987, 53,682 notifications were received of abortions performed at 18 weeks or more gestation. Of these, 15 (0·028 per cent.) were carried out in emergency in order to save the life of the pregnant woman.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown, by regional health authority in England and Wales, of the total number of abortions so far performed under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, stating in each case how many of the abortions in each region were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother; and if in each case he will express the latter figure as a percentage of the former.

  Mr. Newton
  The information is shown in the tables. The pre-1974 hospital regions are not, with the exception of Wales and Birmingham (which became West Midlands), precisely the same geographical areas as the post-1974 regional health authorities. The data for the two groups of areas are thus presented separately.

  health authority, using his estimate of the cost of an abortion in the answer of 26 October 1987, Official Report,

  177
  column 178, of the total cost to the National Health Service of all the abortions performed in that region both in National Health Service facilities and through agency arrangements, under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967.

  Mr. Newton
  The estimated total revenue cost of abortions performed in each regional health authority area in 1986, including abortions performed in NHS facilities and through agency arrangements, on the basis requested is as follows:

  Regional Health Authority of Termination

  Estimated Total Cost £

  Northern

  911,370

  Yorkshire

  633,420

  Trent

  1,037,510

  East Anglian

  677,960

  North West Thames

  1,017,280

  North East Thames

  1,382,440

  South East Thames

  891,140

  South West Thames

  745,110

  Wessex

  599,250

  Oxford

  612,340

  South Western

  875,160

  West Midlands

  1,288,770

  Mersey

  521,560

  North Western

  754,120

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will make it his policy

  Persons (thousands)

  Health Authority

  Estimated resident population at mid year

  (a) Actual

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  South West Thames RHA

  2,932

  2,935

  2,941

  2,948

  2,948

  North West Thames RHA

  3,468

  3,463

  3,455

  3,454

  3,454

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton DHA

  237

  235

  233

  232

  232

  Hounslow and Spelthorne DHA

  297

  297

  297

  297

  297

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  South West Thames RHA

  2,946

  2,948

  2,954

  2,962

  2,965

  North West Thames RHA

  3,449

  3,456

  3,471

  3,482

  3,488

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton DHA

  229

  229

  229

  230

  230

  Hounslow and Spelthorne DHA

  296

  292

  289

  286

  284

  (b) Projected (1985-based)

  1991

  1996

  2001

  South West Thames RHA

  3,012

  3,074

  3,132

  North West Thames RHA

  3,541

  3,600

  3,644

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton DHA

  229

  230

  231

  Hounslow and Spelthorne DHA

  287

  289

  290

  Elderly People (Care)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the percentage change in Department of Health and Social Security payments made in respect of people in private residential care homes or nursing homes for the elderly, since 1979 and in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that information is not available in the form requested. Information on expenditure for all client groups was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 17 December 1987 at column 704. In that reply I gave the percentage change in expenditure since 1979 as 4,580 per cent. This should have been 4,490 per cent. Between 1984 and 1986 the increase was 129·5 per cent.
  178
  to introduce legislation to prevent the use of National Health Service resources for the termination of pregnancy in cases where the abortion is not performed for health reasons;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to introduce legislation to make it an offence to receive payment for the performing of an abortion or for referring a woman for an abortion.

  Mr. Newton
  As my hon. Friend is aware, the Government's general policy is that legislation on abortion is for the initiative of private Members.

  Health Authorities (Population)
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the estimated population for each of the last 10 years for(a) the South West Thames regional health authority area, (b) the North West Thames regional health authority area, (c) Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton district health authority area and (d) Hounslow and Spelthorne district health authority area; and what estimates are available for the future.

  Mrs. Currie
  The latest available information is given in the table. Population projections based upon the mid 1985 estimates have been produced for each year up to 2010. The projected figures for a selection of years are given in the table.

  Hospital Admissions (West Midlands)
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of frequency the 10 most common forms of surgery for which patients are admitted to hospitals in the West Midlands regional hearth authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table.
  179

  Estimated number of the 10 most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-psychiatric, non-maternity hospitals, West Midlands regional health authority, 1985

  Condensed1 list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  1.

  080

  Dilatation, Curettage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  13,380

  2.

  093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  10,200

  3.

  061

  Cystoscopy (with Destruction of Lesion)

  9,090

  4.

  038

  Operations on Abdominal Wall, Peritoneum and Mesentery

  9,010

  5.

  023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  8,410

  6.

  092

  Post-natal or Post-abortion Operations

  7,440

  7.

  078

  Hysterectomy

  7,110

  8.

  039

  Inguinal Hernia Operations

  6,750

  9.

  100

  Arthroplasty

  5,770

  10.

  044

  Operations on Appendix

  5,580

  1 OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  Source: Hospital In-patient Enquiry (HIPE).

  Net revenue expenditure 1982–83 to 1986–87 expressed in 1986–87 prices as measured by the hospital and community health services pay and price deflator

  (£ million)

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Northern

  647·831

  655·353

  655·829

  659·965

  661·827

  Yorkshire

  723·166

  730·179

  732·431

  742·156

  742·884

  Trent

  864·674

  877·279

  888·487

  897·057

  910·134

  East Anglian

  356·701

  367·017

  372·521

  379·397

  385·890

  North West Thames

  780·766

  781·037

  778·043

  769·287

  769·150

  North East Thames

  986·170

  986·690

  977·813

  964·913

  965·116

  South East Thames

  864·084

  868·345

  857·396

  852·994

  847·591

  South West Thames

  657·089

  659·274

  653·518

  645·461

  645·521

  Wessex

  517·740

  528·812

  537·594

  537·968

  545·371

  Oxford

  412·533

  414·130

  423·446

  424·674

  427·887

  South Western

  629·645

  637·660

  637·083

  640·741

  645·921

  West Midlands

  1,004·986

  1,016·644

  1,025·778

  1,034·512

  1,043·458

  Mersey

  541·585

  539·271

  539·656

  539·104

  539·042

  North Western

  905·975

  908·425

  909·223

  913·661

  916·526

  Source: Health authorities' summarised income and expenditure accounts.

  Pensions
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to how many new applications for pensions have been made as a result of the publication by Thames Television of Paul Lewis's pamphlet, entitled "Pensions from the 1940s", and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available.

  Shropshire Health Authority
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the capital expenditure on administrative buildings of the Shropshire health authority for 1986–87 and the figures projected in its capital expenditure programme.

  Mrs. Currie
  The 1986–87 annual accounts of the Shropshire health authority show capital expenditure relevant to administrative offices of the authority as £99,421. This sum represents about 1 per cent. of the year's total capital expenditure incurred on schemes within the district (£8·65 million) which is recorded mainly in the annual accounts of the West Midlands regional health authority.

  Regional Health Authorities (Allocations)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the allocation to each regional health authority in each year since 1982–83, adjusted by the hospital and community health services pay and price deflator.

  Mr. Newton
  The table shows net revenue expenditure by each region in each year between 1982–83 and 1986–87 at 1986–87 prices as measured by the hospital and community health services pay and price deflator. Comparable figures for 1987–88 will not be available until after the end of the financial year.

  For more detailed information and projected figures my hon. Friend may wish to contact the chairman of the Shropshire health authority, who may be able to assist.

  Interpreters
  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision there is for full-time interpreters(a) at his Department's office in Manningham lane, Bradford, and (b) at other offices of his Department.

  Mr. Portillo
  As an experiment, an existing member of staff at Bradford (West) local office has acted as a full-time interpreter and liaison officer to the local Asian community. This has been a successful venture and we are considering whether it can be extended to similar offices in other parts of the country.

  Social Fund Forms
  Mr. Wall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what provisions have been made for social fund application forms to be available in languages other than in English.
  181
  Mr. Portillo
  Claim forms for the social fund, in common with other social security claim forms, will be available only in English, apart from the customary separate provision for Welsh speakers in Wales.

  Funeral Costs
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the maximum grant or loan paid to applicants in respect of funeral costs after April 1988; and what will be the maximum period over which loans will have to be repaid.

  Mr. Portillo
  Regulations provide for a funeral payment from the social fund to cover the essential expenses of certain prescribed items commensurate with a simple funeral. After April 1988 provision will continue as before April, except that the claimant or his partner must be in receipt of income support or family credit (which replace supplementary benefit and family income supplement respectively), or housing benefit. The claimant or a member of his family must be responsible for the costs of a funeral but any payment made is recoverable from the estate of the deceased only if there is sufficient money in the estate once it is settled.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria will be used to decide whether an applicant receives a grant or a loan to meet the funeral costs of a relative or close friend; how quickly decisions will be given on such applications; and whether there will be a right of appeal against refusal to make a grant or loan.

  Mr. Portillo
  Regulations [The Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations 1987] prescribe the criteria for payment of funeral costs. The claimant or member of his family must be responsible for the funeral costs and the claimant or partner must be in receipt of certain qualifying income-related benefits. Capital over £500 held by the claimant and partner is taken into account in assessing the amount payable, as is other money available for funeral costs such as contributions from relatives or insurance settlements. Decisions are made by adjudication officers as soon as possible and are subject to appeal, in the first instance to a social security appeal tribunal.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single childless people under the age of 25 years are on the householder rate of supplementary benefit.

  Mr. Portillo
  At February 1986, the latest date for which the information is available, the number was 129,000.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the total cost of compensating claimants on(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) housing benefit for the 20 per cent. contribution to domestic rates following the implementation of the Social Security Act 1986.

  Mr. Portillo
  Estimates of additional public expenditure costs in 1988–89 are as follows:182

  £ million

  (a)

  280

  (b)

  25

  (c)

  64

  Total

  369

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much he estimates the case load for housing benefit will increase as a consequence of the proposals to deregulate the private rented sector in 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Portillo
  It is not possible to make such estimates with any degree of precision.

  Health Authorities (Amalgamation)
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has taken a decision on the proposal submitted to him by the North West Thames regional health authority to amalgamate the district health authorities of Brent and Paddington and North Kensington; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I have today approved this proposal and am arranging for orders to be laid before Parliament. We are proposing that the new authority will come into being on 1 April 1988 and will be called the Parkside health authority.

  In view of the comments made on the consultation document issued last autumn I am writing to the regional chairman indicating areas to which I wish special attention to be paid. A number of respondents drew attention to the problems posed to the City of Westminster by the configuration of health authority boundaries in this part of inner London. I think that it is important to try and find a solution to these difficulties, and I have therefore asked the chairmen of NE and NW Thames regional health authorities to see what might be done.

  Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made since the oral reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, from the Minister for Health on 16 December 1987,Official Report, column 1097, towards the institution of a day case cataract unit at the Manchester royal eye hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 17 February 1988]: I understand that the Central Manchester health authority is discussing proposals for the unit with the regional health authority.

  Medical Equipment (Maintenance)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library the report on in-house maintenance of medical equipment in the National Health Service, compiled by David Fernandez; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: I am arranging for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library. The report makes a number of useful

  183
  recommendations on which action has been proceeding. Some of the recommendations relating to the allocation of responsibilities for equipment management and to the commercial arrangements for maintenance contracts need further examination and in some cases more detailed development of guidelines. Work is continuing under the direction of the director of NHS procurement.

  Cervical Cancer Smear Tests
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many laboratories in the United Kingdom deal with cervical cancer smear tests; and what are their locations.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The available information for NHS laboratories in England is given in the table. Figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

  ENGLAND—TOTAL 196

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Hartlepool General Hospital

  North Tees General Hospital

  Middlesbrough General Hospital

  Cumberland Infirmary

  West Cumberland Hospital

  Darlington Memorial Hospital

  Shotley Bridge General Hospital

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead

  Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne

  Newcastle General Hospital

  Sunderland District General Hospital

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Castle Hill Hospital

  Grimsby District General Hospital

  Scunthorpe General Hospital

  Northallerton Maternity Hospital

  York New District General Hospital

  Scarborough Hospital

  New Harrogate District Hospital

  St. Lukes Hospital, Bradford

  Royal Halifax Infirmary

  Huddersfield Royal Infirmary

  General Hospital (Dewsbury)

  Wharfedale Hospital (Otley)

  Clarendon Wing General Infirmary Leeds

  St. James Hospital

  Pinderfields General Hospital, Wakefield

  Pontefract General Infirmary

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Royal Hospital

  Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derby

  The Leicester Royal Infirmary

  Lincoln County Hospital

  Pilgrim Hospital, Boston

  Victoria Hospital, Worksop

  Kings Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield

  Nottingham City Hospital

  Barnsley District General Hospital

  Doncaster Royal Infirmary

  Rotherham District General Hospital

  Northern General Hospital, Sheffield

  The Jessop Hospital for Women, Sheffield

  East Anglia Regional Health Authority

  Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge

  Peterborough District Hospital

  West Suffolk General Hospital, Bury St. Edmunds

  Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road Wing

  184

  Norfolk and Norwich Hospital

  The James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth

  Queen Elizabeth District General Hospital, Kings Lynn

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Bedford General Hospital (North and South Wings)

  Luton and Dunstable Hospital

  Lister Hospital, Stevenage

  Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City

  Watford General Hospital-Shrodells Wing

  Barnet General Hospital

  Edgware General Hospital

  Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow

  Hillingdon Hospital

  Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood

  West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth

  Ashford Hospital

  Ealing Hospital-General Wing

  Central Middlesex Hospital, London NW10

  St. Marys Hospital, London W2

  Charing Cross Hospital, London W6

  Westminster Hospital, London SW1

  St. Stephens Hospital, London SW10

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  St. Andrews Hospital, Billericay

  Chelmsford and Essex Hospital, Chelmsford

  Essex County Hospital, Colchester

  Herts and Essex General Hospital, Bishops Stortford

  Southend General Hospital

  Oldchurch Hospital, Romford

  Harold Wood Hospital

  University College Hospital, London WC1

  Middlesex Hospital, London W1

  St. Pauls, London WC2

  Royal Northern Hospital, Londn N7

  St. Bartholomews Hospital, London EC1

  St. Andrews Hospital, London E3

  London Hospital Whitechapel, London El

  Chase Farm Hospital, Enfield

  North Middlesex Hospital, London N18

  King George Hospital, Ilford

  Whipps Cross Hospital, London E11

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Brighton General Hospital

  Eastbourne District General Hospital

  Royal East Sussex Hospital, Hastings

  William Harvey Hospital, Willesborough, Ashford

  Kent and Canterbury Hospital

  Joyce Green Hospital, Dartford

  All Saints Hospital, Chatham

  Pembury Hospital, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells

  Queen Marys Hospital, Sidcup

  Greenwich District Hospital

  Brook General Hospital, London SE18

  Orpington Hospital, Orpington, Kent

  St. Thomas' Hospital, London SE1

  King's College Hospital, London SE5

  Guy's Hospital, London SE1

  Lewisham Hospital

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority

  St. Peter's Hospital, Chertsey

  Friary Park Hospital, Camberley

  New Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford

  Epsom District Hospital

  New East Surrey Hospital, Redhill

  Royal West Sussex, Chichester

  Cuckfield Hospital

  Worthing Hospital

  Kingston Hospital

  Queen Mary's Hospital, London SW15

  St. George's Hospital, London SW17

  Reg Cell Path Unit Merton and Sutton

  Wessex

  Christchurch Hospital

  Poole General Hospital

  Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester

  185

  St. Mary's General Hospital, Portsmouth

  Southampton General Hospital

  Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester

  Salisbury General Hospital

  Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon

  Royal United Hospital, Bath

  Royal Isle of Wight County Hospital, Ryde

  Oxford

  Wexham Park Hospital, Slough

  Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading

  Stoke Mandeville Hospital

  Wycombe General Hospital

  Kettering and District General Hospital

  Northampton General Hospital

  Churchill Hospital, Oxford

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  Bristol Maternity Hospital

  Southmead Hospital

  Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske)

  Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Heavitree

  Derriford Hospital, Plymouth Torbay Hospital

  Cheltenham General Hospital

  Gloucester Royal Hospital

  Taunton and Somerset Hospital, Musgrove Park Branch

  Yeovil General Hospital

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Bromsgrove General Hospital

  Hereford County Hospital

  Worcester Royal Infirmary (Castle Street Branch)

  Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

  Staffordshire General Hospital, Stafford

  Central Outpatients Department, Stoke

  Burton General Hospital, Burton-upon-Trent

  St. Cross Hospital, Rugby

  George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton

  Warwick General Hospital

  Birmingham and Midland Hospital for Women

  Birmingham Maternity Hospital

  Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield

  Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham B29

  Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham B18

  Walsgrave General Hospital, Coventry

  Russells Hall District General Hospital, Dudley

  Sandwell District General Hospital, West Bromwich

  Solihull Hospital

  Walsall Manor Hospital

  The Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  The Countess of Cheshire Hospital, Chester

  Leighton Hospital, Crewe

  Halton General Hospital, Runcorn

  Macclesfield D.G.H.

  Warrington District General Hospital

  The Womens Hospital, Liverpool 8

  Royal Liverpool Hospital

  Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool L14

  Whiston Hospital, Prescot

  St. Helens Hospital (including Peasley Cross)

  Southport General Infirmary

  Walton Hospital, Liverpool 9

  Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool 9

  Arrowe Park District General Hospital, Wirral

  Clatterbridge Hospital, Wirral

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  Lancaster Moor Hospital

  Blackpool Victoria Hospital

  186

  Royal Preston Hospital

  Blackburn Royal Infirmary

  Burnley General Hospital

  Ormskirk and District General Hospital

  Bolton General Hospital

  Bury General Hospital

  North Manchester General Hospital, Crumpsall

  St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester 13

  Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester 23

  Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute, Manchester 20

  Oldham and District General Hospital

  Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale

  Hope Hospital, Salford

  Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport

  Tameside General Hospital, Ashton-under-Lyne

  Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan

  Special Health Authorities

  The Royal Marsden Hospital Fulham Road

  Hammersmith Hospital

  Queen Charlottes Maternity Hospital

  Chelsea Hospital for Women

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average period of time which each laboratory in the United Kingdom takes to send the results of cervical cancer smear tests back to patients.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: I regret that this information is not held centrally in the form requested. According to Health Circular (88)1 published on 12 January, the target for laboratories is that they should aim to send the result of a cervical smear to the doctor who submitted it within a maximum of one month of receiving it. Health authorities in England reported that in December laboratories serving 56 out of 191 districts were not achieving the target. The average processing time for these 56 districts was seven weeks. Where backlogs do exist they are being tackled mainly by the recruitment and training of more staff, by the use of other laboratories and by overtime working.

  Orthotists
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to make a decision on his Department's report on the training and provision of orthotists in the National Health Service; what is his policy on the provision of additional orthotists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: There is no departmental report On this. Training of orthotists is a matter for the Orthotic and Prosthetic Training Council. I understand that the council's joint assessment panel has established a working party to consider the future of education and training. It is expected to present its final report to the council in March. Recruitment of NHS orthotists is a matter for individual health authorities. A small departmental team has undertaken a study of the arrangement for the delivery of the orthotics service, its efficiency and efficacy. Its report which considers management rather than manpower issues, is now being finalised.

  UNIVERSITY GRANTS ALLOCATION
  Baroness Blatch
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether a decision has been taken on university grant allocations for 1988–89.

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Education and Science (Baroness Hooper)
  The University Grants Committee's initial allocation of recurrent grant to universities for 1988–89 was announced on 11th February. A copy of the chairman's general letter of guidance to all universities is in the Library.

  EDUCATION POLICY AND DES PERSONNEL
  Baroness David
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What are the total numbers of administrative grade civil servants in the Department of Education and Science in the ranks of (i) Principal, (ii) Assistant Secretary, and (iii) Under Secretary, who have had (a) any teaching experience in schools, further education colleges, polytechnics or universities, or (b) any administrative experience in local government or higher education.

  Baroness Hooper
  The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost. In formulating their education policies the Government draw on a wide range of advice, including in particular from HMI, who have a wealth of teaching and administrative experience in all sectors of education.

  HANDICAPPED CHILDREN: EDUCATIONAL PROVISION
  Lord Chelwood
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many children are known to have special educational needs for physical or mental reasons, how many of these have "statements", and how many attend (a) special local authority schools, (b) other schools run by local authorities and (c) grant-maintained schools.

  Baroness Hooper
  : The information is not available in the form requested. Since 1983 pupils in England and Wales have not been classified in accordance with categories of handicap. The total number of children with statements in England and Wales in January 1987 was 144,841. Of these 94,693 were attending special schools maintained by local education authorities and 35,082 were attending ordinary schools maintained by local education authorities. The Bill to establish grant-maintained schools is at present before Parliament.

  SOCIAL SECURITY SINGLE PAYMENT EXPENDITURE
  The Countess of Mar
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What was the total budget for the social security single payment fund for 1986–87; what was the actual expenditure on single payments, and what was the cost of administration as a percentage of the budget.

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Skelmersdale)
  Single Payment expenditure is not budgeted. The outturn expenditure for 1986–87 was £330 million. The cost to the Department of salaries and employer's national insurance contributions was a further £39 million, equivalent to 12 per cent. of the benefit disbursed.
  1194

  SOCIAL FUND: ADMINISTRATION COSTS
  The Countess of Mar
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the report in New Society of 22nd January 1988 that "no less than 18 per cent. of the money set aside for the [social] fund would be spent on administration", is correct; and if it is correct, will the money be deducted from, or added to, that already allocated to local DHSS offices.

  Lord Skelmersdale
  The administration costs of the social fund will not be met from the national social fund budget for the discretionary parts of the social fund scheme of £203 million. The salary costs (including employer's national insurance contributions) of the administration of these parts of the scheme will be £37 million at 1988–89 prices, which will be met from the department's administration vote. This is equivalent to 18 per cent. of the budget.

  PENSIONERS' BENEFITS IN THE EC
  Lord O'Hagan
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Which is the most recent year for which they have information about retirement pensions and other benefits for pensioners in all member states of the European Community.

  Lord Skelmersdale
  The most recent year for which we have this information is set out in the publication Tables of Social Benefit Systems in the European Communities (Position at 1 January 1987), a copy of which is in the Library.
  It is expected that the next edition reflecting the position at 1st January 1988 will be published by August 1988.
  1195

  DHSS STAFF SHORTFALL STATISTICS
  Baroness Jeger
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What difficulties are being encountered in the staffing of local DHSS offices, what steps they are taking to improve conditions, especially in view of the changes in benefits due to take place in April 1988 and to what extent the number of personnel falls short of the required establishment.

  Lord Skelmersdale
  The table gives details of the shortfall of staff in post below the planned staffing levels for 1st February 1988. The figures provided indicate the position in the regional and local offices of this department. The department continues to develop initiatives to ease the situation where difficulties are encountered in the recruitment and retention of staff.

  The Treasury announced proposals in September 1987 for the introduction of "local pay additions". These have been designed specifically to alleviate problems of recruitment and retention in the areas where they occur. The timescale for implementation will depend upon the progress of consultation with the Civil Service trade unions.

  Opportunities for part-time working, job sharing, reinstatement, as well as flexible working hours are already available to staff. A recent report on Working Patterns by Anne Mueller, CB, Second Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office, is currently being discussed within the department. Proposals put forward in this report would offer staff a variety of terms and conditions of employment tailored to suit the needs of the individual employee.

  SHORTFALL OF STAFF?POSITION ON 1st FEBRUARY 1988

  Region

  Planned staff in

  Actual no. of

  Percentage shortfall

  post target

  staff in post

  of staff

  North East

  11,085

  11,027.5

  0.52

  Midlands

  10,994.5

  10,919

  0.69

  London North

  11,409

  11,348

  0.54

  London South

  11,484

  11,432.5

  0.45

  Wales and South Western

  9,358

  9,225

  1.42

  North West

  10,304

  10,255.5

  0.47

  Scotland

  8,882

  8,807

  0.84

  Total

  73,516.5

  73,014.5

  0.68

  "ULSTER YEAR BOOK" 1985
  Lord Blease
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What was the cost of publishing the 1985 edition of the Ulster Year Book, How many copies were published and how many sold, and whether they will review the proposal to discontinue publication.

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Lyell)
  Printing costs for the 1985 edition of the Ulster Year Book amounted to £11,000. The cost of staff time could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The total print was 2,000, of which only 500 were sold.

  It is not proposed to resume publication of the Ulster Year Book because of:

  (i) The substantial cost of publication, particularly in terms of staff, which could not be justified for a publication of which only 500 copies were actually purchased when last published;

  (ii) The availability today, in many other forms, of the statistical and descriptive information contained in the year book; these were not available for much of the period during which it was published.

  CHANNEL ISLANDS: DRUG TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION
  Lord Harris of Greenwich
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the drug trafficking legislation to be introduced in Jersey and Guernsey is likely to come into force before the end of 1988.

  The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)
  The States of Jersey and of Guernsey, the parliaments of the Channel Islands, have undertaken to produce such legislation. I am assured that it is likely to be enacted in the next six months.