Written Answers of 24 February 1988

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Education for Mutual Understanding Project
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the education for mutual understanding project, in the light of the delay in granting maintained status to fully integrated schools.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In addition to various initiatives designed to improve cross-community contacts I am continuing my support for the education for mutual understanding project under the auspices of the Northern Ireland Council for Educational Development. Work on an EMU guideline for teachers is at an advanced stage and should be published in time for the start of the 1988–89 academic year.

  The operation of this project has no relationship to the granting of maintained status to integrated independent schools. In order to achieve this status, these schools must be able to prove their future viability.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. Stanley
  There are some 23,800 non-industrial civil servants employed in the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments (excluding prison officer grades). The normal conditioned hours are 41 hours a week for staff in London and 42 for staff in Belfast inclusive of meal breaks.

  Taking each of the elements (a) to (d) in the hon. Member's question in turn:

  (a) about 12,300 staff work flexitime;

  (b) 64 staff participate in job-sharing schemes;

  (c) three staff are working a four-day week, but none works a nine-day fortnight; and

  (d) information about the number of staff who would be able to accrue 40 years' reckonable service for pension purposes by the age of 60 is not readily available.

  Children
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the number of four-year-olds in Northern Ireland, the number of three-year-olds and the proportion of the population which is under five years old.

  Mr. Needham
  The latest available figures, taken from the 1986 mid-year population estimates, are as follows:188

  Number

  Four-year-olds

  26,594

  Three-year-olds

  26,753

  Under five years old

  18·7

  1 Percentage of the population.

  Children (Education)
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what figures are available to indicate the numbers of four-year-olds in Northern Ireland who attend(a) nursery education, (b) pre-school playgroups or (c) primary school;

  (2) what figures are available to indicate the numbers of three-year-olds in. Northern Ireland who attend (a) nursery education, (b) pre-school playgroups or (c) primary school.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The available information is as follows:

  Numbers of three and four-year-olds in education in 1986–87

  Age three

  Age four

  Full time

  Part time

  Full time

  Part time

  Nursery schools

  1,232

  1,464

  1,321

  715

  Nursery classes in primary schools

  1,017

  361

  783

  215

  Primary schools (primary classes only)

  106

  —

  16,859

  —

  The information on pre-school playgroups is not available in the form requested. However, at 30 June 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, the total number of children under five years of age who attended pre-school playgroups, including playbuses, was 12,954.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the proportion of three-year-olds in Northern Ireland(a) in single parent families, (b) whose parents are unemployed and (c) whose parents receive family income supplement.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is not available. However the proportion of three-year-olds in families receiving one parent benefit is approximately one in 17 of all three-year-old children in families receiving child benefit.

  Public Expenditure Commentary
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish the Northern Ireland public expenditure commentary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  The "Northern Ireland Commentary on Public Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91" has been published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office. This is the first Northern Ireland commentary and it aims to improve the information available to Parliament and the public by amplifying the material in the Northern Ireland chapter of "The Government's Expenditure plans 1988–89 to 1990–91". (Cm. 288–II).

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been taken and convictions made under the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985, section 1.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is not available from the records of court proceedings held centrally.

  Licensed Premises
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions to date have arisen under the Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information held centrally, which may be incomplete, is given in the table.

  Persons proceeded against and found guilty under s.2 of the Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980 England and Wales

  Number of persons

  Year

  Total proceeded against

  Total found guilty

  1981

  1

  —

  1982

  9

  9

  1983

  3

  3

  1984

  3

  3

  1985

  2

  2

  1986

  1

  1

  Police Pensions
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to rescind regulation C5 of the Police Pensions Regulations 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. Regulation C5 provides for the payment of modified pension benefits to the widow of a police officer who marries in retirement, on the basis of service after 6 April 1978. To extend the provisions to cover service before that date would breach the important principle that improvements in public service pension entitlements are not made retrospectively.

  Immigration (Child Benefit)
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether child benefit is treated as support from public funds for the purposes of the immigration rules; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  No. The definition of "public funds" in the immigration rules deals with access only to those benefits that are means tested and non-contributory.

  London (Crime Trends)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the trends in crime in London in 1987.

  Mr. John Patten
  I am very pleased to note that the Metropolitan police recorded 4 per cent. fewer crimes in 190
  1987 than in 1986. The falls of 7 per cent. in theft of and from cars and 4 per cent. in burglary are an indication of what is possible and lend support to the efforts to persuade the public to take crime prevention measures. The drop of 11 per cent. in recorded rape offences is also encouraging. We are of course concerned about the increases in robbery (up 12 per cent.) and in violence against the person (up 11 per cent.), and we fully support the Commissioner's policy of concentrating resources on these types of crime.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will provide a breakdown by nationalities of people currently held under section 12 or section 13 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984, or articles 4 or 9 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Order 1984;

  (2) if he will provide a breakdown by nationalities of people currently held under section 12 or section 13 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984, or articles 4 or 9 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Order 1984.

  Mr. Hurd
  On 23 February 1988 no one was detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 or the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1984. Examinations at ports under article 4 of the order are recorded only where a person is examined for more than one hour. On 23 February 1988 no one was examined for more than one hour.

  Crime (International Co-operation)
  Mr. Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to furthering mutual assistance in criminal matters between the United Kingdom and other countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  At present the United Kingdom can provide only limited assistance to other countries in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences. Unlike most other European states, we are not a party to any treaties or conventions establishing mutual assistance arrangements of wide scope. The assistance we receive from other countries is inevitably limited by our inability to offer them the full assistance which we would wish. The nature of much crime ߞ terrorism, drugs, fraud, kidnapping, racketeering and so on ߞ has become increasingly international and we must play our part in combating it.

  In November 1986 my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set up an interdepartmental group of officials to review the position. They have concluded that there are strong arguments in favour of legislation which would enable us to accede to the European convention on mutual assistance, implement the scheme relating to mutual assistance in criminal matters within the Commonwealth adopted at Harare in 1986, and enter into bilateral arrangements of a similar nature. Their proposals are outlined in a discussion paper which has been issued today. Copies have been sent to a wide range of interested organisations, and I have placed a copy in the Library. The Government would welcome the views of hon. Members and others on the group's proposals, and we shall be glad to receive comments by 30 April.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Wines and Spirits
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has to the current price of wines and

  Country

  Wine Excise Duties

  Vat

  Excise Duty Spirits at 40 per cent. alcohol by volume (pence per 75 cl bottle)

  Spirits VAT

  Table wine not exceeding 12 per cent. alcohol by volume (pence per 70 cl bottle)

  Fortified wine at 18 per cent. alcohol by volume (pence per 75 cl bottle)

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Belgium

  17

  33

  25

  273

  25

  Denmark

  78

  154

  22

  1956

  22

  France

  2

  93

  18·6

  233

  18·6

  Germany

  0

  26

  14

  258

  14

  Greece

  0

  1

  6

  8

  26,16

  Ireland

  125

  194

  25

  524

  25

  Italy

  0

  7

  9

  47

  18

  Luxembourg

  30·7

  415,22

  56,12

  183

  12

  Netherlands

  17

  34

  20

  285

  20

  Portugal

  0

  0

  68,17

  43

  717,30

  Spain

  0

  0

  12

  83

  12

  United Kingdom

  69

  127

  15

  473

  15

  Notes:

  1 Duty on spirits in Denmark consists of a specific element (£12·57 per litre of pure alcohol) and an ad valorem element (60 per cent. of taxable value).

  2 The higher rate of VAT applies to ouzo and brandy.

  3 The nil rate applies to Luxembourg produced wines.

  4 The lower rate applies to Luxembourg and Netherlands produced wines.

  5 The lower rate applies to still wine not exceeding 13 per cent. alcohol of volume.

  6 The lower rate applies to table wine.

  7 The lower rate applies to non-aged wine brandy and grappa brandy.

  Rates of exchange as at 8 February 1988.

  Source: EC Excise Duty Tables.

  Royal British Legion (VAT)
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt the Royal British Legion from value added tax on goods and services connected with its welfare activities.

  Mr. Lilley
  Decisions on changes in taxation are a matter for my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

  Sherry
  Mr. Whitney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the policy of the European Community Commission on excise duty distinctions between sherries out of proportion to relative alcoholic strengths.

  Mr. Lilley
  Although the EC Commission has tabled certain proposals on the harmonisation of excise duties, the rates charged at present are a matter for individual member states.

  Customs
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence there is of an improvement in the speed with which goods are cleared through customs since the adoption of the single administrative document.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The introduction of the single administrative document and
  192
  spirits in the European Economic Community and the level of duty imposed on them; and what equivalent information he has for the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lilley
  Information on prices of wines and spirits in the EC member states is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Rates of excise duties and VAT in each of the member states, according to the latest information available, are set out in the table:

  the harmonised system of tariff classification on 1 January 1988 were designed to facilitate trade. The effect of the changes on customs staffing has been broadly neutral, but there should be savings in costs in the commercial sector.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his European Community colleagues about evidence of the incidence of bribery of customs officers at internal borders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: None.

  EC Budget Council
  Mr. Wolfson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of the European Community Budget Council on 23 February.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Budget Council met in Brussels on 23–24 February. I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council reached agreement in principle, subject to a reserve by Italy and clarification of some technical details, on a draft Community budget for 1988. The Italian delegation agreed to signify its assent or otherwise by Monday 29 February. The proposed draft budget reflects the conclusions of the Brussels European Council on 11–12 February.

  The proposed draft provides for total expenditure of 44·7 billion ecu (becu) (£31·0 billion) in commitment

  193
  appropriations and 43.4 becu (£30·1 billion) in payment appropriations, the latter being equivalent to about 1·11 per cent. of Community GDP. (All sterling equivalent figures are calculated at the rate of 1·44 ecu to the pound, used by the Commission in its latest budgetary proposals).

  In keeping with the Brussels European Council conclusions, the proposed draft makes basic provision for agricultural guarantee expenditure of 27·5 becu (£19·1 billion), with a further 1·24 becu (£0·9 billion) for disposals of existing stocks and a monetary reserve of 1 becu (£0·7 billion) to be called up, as agreed at the European Council, only if changes in the ecu/dollar rate increase spending requirements by more than 400 million ecu (mecu) (£277 million). The Council agreed that budgetary provision would be adjusted if necessary later in the year to enable implementation of the new arrangements which are to be agreed for systematic depreciation of new stocks. On other compulsory expenditure, the draft provides for 3·9 becu of commitment and payment appropriations, equivalent to £2·7 billion.

  On non-compulsory expenditure, the Council agreed on figures of 11·0 becu (£7·6 billion) for commitment appropriations and 9·8 becu (£6·8 billion) for payment appropriations. The increases over 1987 are 7 and 5·8 per cent. respectively, compared with the "maximum rate" of increase, calculated in accordance with the treaty, of 7·4 per cent. The European Parliament will have the right under the treaty to add a further half maximum rate "margin" to these amounts (some 380 mecu for commitment and 341 mecu for payment appropriations). The draft includes provision for the structural funds of 7·8 becu (£5·4 billion) in commitment appropriations, as agreed at the European Council, and 6.8 becu (£4·7 billion) in payment appropriations.

  The Brussels European Council conclusions provided that, in order to cover the Community's 1988 budget requirements pending entry into force of the new own resources decision, member states would make available any necessary sums in excess of the existing own resources ceiling, after completion of the appropriate national procedures, in the form of non-repayable advances on payments due after entry into force of the new own resources decision.

  In accordance with this, 11 members of the Council agreed to a provisional and indicative draft of an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA). This follows the precedent set after the 1984 Fountainebleau European Council. On the basis of the Commission's expenditure proposals, before amendment by the Council and the European Parliament, the indicative draft envisages that member states would pay a sum of some 7·7 becu (£5·3 billion) corresponding to the new fourth own resource, with a United Kingdom share of some 1,274 mecu (£884 million). This extra financing would be partially offset by smaller VAT payments, leaving total extra financing, compared with the maximum amount available under the existing own resources ceiling, of around 6·0 becu (some £4·2 billion). The intention is that member states should contribute to whatever extra financing is finally agreed in accordance with the amounts which they would have paid if the new own resources decision had taken effect immediately. I made it clear at the Council that the United Kingdom will not be able to pay over any of the additional sums unless and until the United Kingdom Parliament's approval has been obtained.
  194
  The Italian delegation argued that the GNP-based financing of the United Kingdom's abatement should be brought to account against the new fourth own resource (thus in effect increasing the proportion of the budget which would be financed in accordance with VAT shares) rather than (as proposed by the Commission) within the VAT ceiling. The delegation reserved its position accordingly on the draft budget and agreed to signify its agreement or otherwise by midnight on 29 February.

  The final figures for the Inter-Governmental Agreement will be determined in the light of the total budget as adopted later in the year and of the own resources decision as finally agreed. Meanwhile, technical details are still under discussion in Brussels.

  If the Italian delegation lifts its reserve, the draft budget will be sent forward to the European Parliament and the next step will be for the European Parliament to give the budget its first reading. If the Italian delegation does not lift its reserve, the German presidency hopes to arrange a further meeting of the Budget Council next week.

THE ARTS

  Museums (Attendance)
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Minister for the Arts, whether he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1987 reported by the national museums and galleries in England for which he is responsible, broken down into the individual institutions but comprising their outstations, with figures in each case of the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1986; and whether, in the case of such museums or galleries as charge for admission, he will in addition specify the number of tickets sold.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 18 January 1988]: The estimated numbers of visitors during 1987 to the 11 national museums and galleries for which I am responsible are as follows:

  Estimated attendance in 1987

  Percentage change from 1986

  British Museum

  4,007,885

  +3·6

  Imperial War Museum

  1,184,959

  +0·8

  National Gallery

  3,566,568

  +12·1

  National Maritime Museum

  442,005

  +16·3

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  1,328,844

  +14·2

  National Portrait Gallery

  590,841

  -14·5

  Science Museum

  4,732,784

  -1·9

  Tate Gallery

  1,742,156

  +51·1

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  1,398,668

  -2·8

  Wallace Collection

  168,109

  -1·6

  Note:

  Figures for the British Museum (Natural History) are not yet available.

  Museums record visitors by a variety of methods, which in most cases are regarded as being accurate to within 5 per cent. only. This limits the interpretation of apparent annual changes in attendance, which may also be affected by other factors including, for example, the numbers of overseas visitors to London at individual museums and galleries.

  Information on the numbers of admission tickets sold is not held centrally. The numbers will depend on the policies and practices and practices of individual

  195
  institutions, for example as regards the number and nature of events for which admission is charged and the treatment of parties and family groups.

DEFENCE

  Rapier
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to order a replacement for tracked Rapier.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is too early to say when, or with what, Tracked Rapier may be replaced. An improved mark of the existing equipment will shortly enter service to maintain the capability of the system against the threat.

  Research and Development Contracts
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many contracts or agreements for research and development have currently been placed directly or indirectly with United Kingdom universities and other educational institutions by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Burghfield; what is their total value; and with which United Kingdom universities or other such education institutions they have been placed;

  (2) how many contracts or agreements for research and development have currently been placed directly or indirectly with United Kingdom universities and other educational institutions by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Llanishen; what is their total value; and with which United Kingdom universities or other such educational establishments they have been placed;

  (3) how many contracts or agreements for research and development have currently been placed directly or indirectly with United Kingdom universities and other educational institutions by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Foulness; what is their total value; and with which United Kingdom universities or other such educational institutions they have been placed;

  (4) how many contracts or agreements for research and development have currently been placed directly or indirectly with United Kingdom universities and other educational institutions by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston; what is the total value and with which United Kingdom universities or other such educational institutions they have been placed.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Atomic Weapons Establishment has currently 41 contracts or agreements placed with 23 United Kingdom universities and other educational institutions, all arising from the work at Aldermaston. Their value is £2 million. It is not our policy to give further details of these arrangments.

  Weather Forecasts (Inquiry)
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when, following his announcement on 20 October 1987, he intends to publish the findings of the internal inquiry conducted by the director general of the Meteorological Office into the weather forecasts that the Meteorological Office made in the period preceding the storms of Thursday 15 and Friday 16 October 1987 over southern England; when he intends to publish the report 196
  prepared by Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer FRS, and Professor Robert Pearce; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. George Younger
  Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer and Professor Pearce presented their report in January. They considered the findings of the internal inquiry by the director general.

  Their report found that the lack of adequate public warning occurred because uncertainty about atmospheric conditions in the Biscay area led to a lack of agreement between computer forecasts and, although no individual was seriously to blame for this, because the forecasters did not recognise that the computer forecasts would underestimate the speed of wind over Britain.

  Their report recommends changes in training forecasters, the use of more senior staff for forecasting, enhanced computer and associated facilities, and changes in menthods of working (including the way in which weather information is presented by the media).

  In saying all this, their report endorses the findings and recommendations of the director general's report which are concerned in particular with the need for more and better observations, for developments in the computer models and for a review of the procedures for handling severe weather warnings to the emergency authorities.

  I have accepted all the recommendations of both reports, and where further action is required, it will be taken as soon as possible.

  Copies of both reports are being published; and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  La Belle Discotheque
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 February,Official Report, columns 540–41, why he is unwilling to call for a report from the general officer commanding British Sector, West Berlin, on the progress of police investigations into the La Belle discotheque outrage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The case of La Belle discotheque bombing has already been thoroughly investigated. The Government remain satisfied that there is no evidence available implicating Syria or any country other than Libya.

  Royal Navy
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy artificers left the following branches in each year since 1979; and how many left early(a) air engineering, (b) marine engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The numbers of Royal Navy artificers who left the specified branches in each year since 1979 are as follows:

  Air engineer

  Marine engineer

  Weapon/Electrical engineer

  (a) Total numbers leaving

  1979

  29

  298

  244

  1980

  31

  340

  169

  1981

  22

  233

  138

  1982

  33

  208

  131

  1983

  69

  291

  292

  1984

  62

  312

  314

  197

  Air engineer

  Marine engineer

  Weapon/Electrical engineer

  1985

  68

  326

  392

  1986

  70

  371

  444

  1987

  75

  345

  357

  (b) Numbers leaving prior to completion of engagement

  1979

  15

  201

  109

  1980

  13

  257

  87

  1981

  6

  178

  65

  1982

  5

  152

  83

  1983

  7

  170

  96

  1984

  14

  144

  119

  1985

  15

  159

  154

  1986

  18

  189

  184

  1987

  22

  176

  150

  Notes:

  1. Weapon and electrical engineers includes marine and air engineers with electrical engineering qualifications.

  2. From April 1983, artificers include all mechanicians.

  3. Promotions to officer are excluded from the above numbers.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy artificers qualified to serve in the following branches in each year since 1979(a) air engineering, (b) marine engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The numbers of Royal Navy artificers who qualified to serve in the trained strength of the specified branches is as follows:

  Air engineering

  Marine engineering

  Weapon and electrical engineering

  1979

  27

  85

  138

  1980

  21

  114

  152

  1981

  27

  107

  195

  1982

  13

  107

  183

  1983

  32

  162

  319

  1984

  41

  169

  417

  1985

  42

  180

  386

  1986

  63

  119

  311

  1987

  33

  167

  402

  Notes:

  1. From April 1983, artificers include all mechanicians.

  2. Joining the trained strength has been based on advancement of artificers to petty officer artificer, (previously artificer 2). For mechanicians the equivalent rate was mechanician 2–3 rate.

  3. Weapon and electrical engineers include marine and air engineers with electrical engineering qualifications.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy mechanicians qualified to serve in the following branches in each year since 1979(a) air engineering, (b) marine engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The numbers of Royal Navy mechanicians who qualified to serve in the trained strength of the specified branches are as follows:

  Air engineering

  Marine engineering

  Weapon and electrical engineering

  1979

  25

  121

  168

  1980

  23

  140

  189

  1981

  23

  83

  189

  1982

  22

  109

  158

  1983

  1

  1

  1

  198

  Air engineering

  Marine engineering

  Weapon and electrical engineering

  1984

  1

  1

  1

  1985

  1

  1

  1

  1986

  1

  1

  1

  1987

  1

  1

  1

  Notes:

  1. Joining the trained strength has been based on advancement to the old equivalent of petty officer.

  2. Weapon and electrical engineers include marine and air engineers with electrical engineering qualifications.

  1 No figures are available since the merger of mechanicians with artificers in April 1983.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy technicians qualified to serve in the following branches in each year since 1979(a) air engineering, (b) marine engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: There are no technicians in any of the branches quoted, and the term "technician" is therefore taken to refer to mechanics. The numbers of Royal Navy mechanics who qualified to serve in the trained strength of the specified branches in the years quoted is as follows:

  Year

  Air engineering

  Marine engineering

  Weapon & electrical engineering

  1983

  125

  284

  785

  1984

  50

  382

  708

  1985

  26

  255

  637

  1986

  85

  329

  744

  1987

  95

  335

  626

  1. Records for the years prior to 1983 do not reliably identify the groups specified.

  2. Weapon and electrical engineers include marine and air engineers with electrical engineering qualifications.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy mechanicians left the following branches in each year since 1979; and how many left early(a) marine engineering, (b) air engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The numbers of Royal Navy mechanicians who left the specified branches in each year since 1979 are as follows:

  Marine Engineer

  Air Engineer

  Weapon/Electrical Engineer1

  (a) Total numbers leaving

  1979

  131

  40

  251

  1980

  67

  27

  172

  1981

  80

  14

  122

  1982

  104

  26

  101

  1983

  15

  4

  34

  1984

  2

  2

  2

  1985

  2

  2

  2

  1986

  2

  2

  2

  1987

  2

  2

  2

  (b) Numbers leaving prior to completion of their engagement

  1979

  72

  18

  103

  1980

  24

  12

  61

  1981

  18

  3

  37

  1982

  26

  9

  13

  1983

  2

  2

  4

  1984

  2

  2

  2

  199

  Marine Engineer

  Air Engineer

  Weapon/Electrical Engineer1

  1985

  2

  2

  2

  1986

  2

  2

  2

  1987

  2

  2

  2

  1 "Weapon/electrical engineers" include marine and air engineers with electrical engineering qualifications.

  2 Because of the merger of artificers and mechanicians in April 1983, no separate figures for mechanicians are available for the later years. Note: Promotions to officer are excluded from the above numbers.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy technicians left the following branches in each year since 1979; and how many left early(a) marine engineering, (b) air engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: There are no technicians in any of the branches quoted, and the term "technician" is therefore taken to refer to mechanics. The numbers of Royal Navy mechanics who left the specified branches in each year since 1979 are as follows:

  Marine engineer

  Air engineer

  Weapon/Electrical engineer

  (a) Total numbers leaving

  1979

  1,180

  251

  1,266

  1980

  969

  167

  1,134

  1981

  662

  142

  736

  1982

  567

  90

  494

  1983

  547

  98

  496

  1984

  554

  122

  652

  1985

  825

  275

  912

  1986

  823

  180

  893

  1987

  715

  178

  839

  (b) Numbers leaving prior to completion of their engagement

  1979

  1,020

  174

  1,017

  1980

  847

  125

  942

  1981

  566

  115

  564

  1982

  459

  71

  358

  1983

  440

  75

  352

  1984

  433

  97

  465

  Engineers

  Seaman

  Supply

  Instructor

  Weapon

  Marine

  Pilot

  Observer

  1979

  274

  53

  55

  68

  62

  71

  33

  1980

  200

  42

  36

  56

  41

  68

  27

  1981

  236

  63

  44

  48

  37

  80

  36

  1982

  254

  57

  52

  60

  50

  93

  32

  1983

  290

  69

  74

  63

  48

  86

  43

  1984

  207

  46

  46

  58

  34

  60

  33

  1985

  192

  46

  46

  76

  48

  55

  35

  1986

  253

  53

  42

  57

  33

  66

  34

  1987

  250

  57

  50

  46

  42

  74

  64

  The numbers leaving before the end of their commission were:

  Engineers

  Seaman

  Supply

  Instructor

  Weapon

  Marine

  Pilot

  Observer

  1979

  181

  40

  16

  42

  46

  49

  26

  1980

  150

  32

  11

  37

  29

  54

  22

  1981

  167

  46

  21

  33

  18

  67

  30

  1982

  138

  35

  17

  28

  29

  80

  24

  1983

  151

  43

  38

  36

  27

  63

  34

  200

  Marine engineer

  Air engineer

  Weapon/Electrical engineer

  1985

  664

  200

  681

  1986

  621

  96

  666

  1987

  560

  129

  592

  Notes:

  1. Weapon and electrical engineers include marine and air engineers with electrical qualifications.

  2. Promotions to officer are not included.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy officers graduated in the following branches for each year since 1979(a) seaman, (b) supply and secretariat, (c) instructor, (d) weapons engineer, (e) marine engineer, (f) pilot and (g) observer.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The term "graduated" is taken to refer to those RN officers qualifying to join the trained strength. Numbers in respect of the specialisations and sub-specialiations listed were as follows:

  Seaman

  Supply

  Instructor

  Engineers1

  Pilot

  Observer

  1979

  127

  36

  37

  45

  36

  15

  1980

  187

  43

  56

  134

  53

  18

  1981

  199

  42

  36

  95

  57

  18

  1982

  207

  30

  35

  63

  40

  22

  1983

  234

  30

  17

  133

  61

  24

  1984

  133

  31

  32

  99

  45

  29

  1985

  144

  27

  23

  93

  44

  33

  1986

  181

  30

  24

  107

  42

  42

  1987

  154

  27

  36

  77

  50

  45

  1 All engineers join as engineer officers; separate figures for weapon and marine engineers are not available.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy officers left the following branches in each year since 1979; and how many failed to complete their engagement(a) seaman, (b) supply and secretariat, (c) instructor, (d) weapon engineer, (e) pilot and (f) observer.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The numbers of Royal Navy officers leaving the specialisations and sub-specialisations listed were as follows:
  201

  Engineers

  Seaman

  Supply

  Instructor

  Weapon

  Marine

  Pilot

  Observer

  1984

  119

  23

  18

  30

  20

  44

  28

  1985

  122

  28

  20

  38

  23

  43

  30

  1986

  152

  33

  14

  42

  17

  48

  24

  1987

  131

  30

  24

  25

  19

  50

  57

TRANSPORT

  Aircraft Noise
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken by his Department into any decrease in the value of properties adjacent to airports arising from the problems of aircraft noise.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  None.

  Second Severn Bridge
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made any estimates of the likely traffic flow over the second Severn bridge.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The consultant's study of the second Severn crossing showed that for a bridge of the kind proposed, that is at English Stones with links to the M4 and M5, the high growth forecast (16-hour average annual daily flow) for the year 2010 was 14,100 vehicles for the existing bridge and 41,200 vehicles for the second crossing.

  Smoke Hoods
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions have taken place between his Department, the Civil Aviation Authority and British industry on the specification for airline passenger protection smoke hoods;

  (2) when he expects the Civil Aviation Authority to publish their draft specification for airline passenger protection smoke hoods.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Civil Aviation Authority is wholly responsible for aviation safety regulation. I will ask the chairman of the authority to write to my hon. Friend.

  Road Maintenance (Hertfordshire)
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the underspending on road maintenance by Hertfordshire county council in(a) 1986–87 and (b) the current year.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Hertfordshire county council's expenditure on road maintenance in 1986–87 and its budgeted expenditure for 1987–88 are broadly in line with its share of Government provision for road maintenance as used in the calculation of its rate support grant entitlement. This grant-related expenditure assessment (GRE) is formula-based and represents the cost of providing a standard level of service in each authority.

  Outturn (£ million)

  GRE (£ million

  18·731

  18·752

  120·789

  20·163

  1 Budget figure.

  Flying Hours
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish draft regulations regarding the flying hours of two-pilot crews on long-distance flights.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Civil Aviation Authority is wholly responsible for aviation safety regulation. I will ask the chairman of the authority to write to my hon. Friend.

  Transport Supplementary Grant
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why no account is taken in the cost-benefit analysis for transport supplementary grant road schemes of benefits to be derived from new industrial developments occasioned by a road improvement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department requires local authorities to provide an assessment of the costs and benefits of highway schemes submitted for transport supplementary grant. In addition to an estimate of the benefits to traffic, the assessment should cover the effects of the scheme on the local community, local industry and commerce, road safety and the environment. Departmental circular 1/87, "Transport Policies and Programme Submissions for 1988–89" provides guidance to local authorities. A copy is in the Library.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report, in terms of pounds sterling per mile, the net present value returns for each transport supplementary grant approved road scheme (i) in Lancashire and (ii) for the highway authorities in the west midlands economic region, for the financial years 1987–88 and1988–89.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The table lists all local road schemes supported with transport supplementary grant (TSG) in 1987–88 and 1988–89 for which the net present value is available in (i) Lancashire, and (ii) the West Midlands economic region. A number of other schemes in both Lancashire and the west midlands are similarly supported with TSG. Net present values for these are not available. It is not always practicable to calculate a net present value for a scheme, particularly in an urban area; other measures, such as first year rate of return, are often more relevant.

  Authority and scheme

  TSG support in

  Net present value1 (£ million)

  Length (miles)

  (i) Lancashire

  M65 Nelson—Colne

  87–88 and 88–89

  32·8

  1·1

  A6068 Shuttleworth Hall link road

  87–88 and 88–89

  10·5

  1·1

  A56 North Valley link road, Colne

  87–88 and 88–89

  9·3

  0·7

  Burnley inner relief road (phase II)

  88–89

  4·6

  0·4

  (ii) Wolverhampton

  203

  Authority and scheme

  TSG support in

  Net present value1 (£ million)

  Length (miles)

  Black country route (Section 3,4,5A, 5B)

  87–88 and 88–89

  7·9

  2·1

  Hereford and Worcester

  A422 Worcester Southern Link

  87–88 and 88–89

  1·3

  2·9

  A456 Bewdley bypass

  87–88 and 88–89

  8·4

  32

  Shropshire

  A49 Reabrook to Telford Way link

  87–88 and 88–89

  8·2

  1·4

  A591 English bridge gyratory

  87–88 88–89 and

  3·0

  0·2

  Staffordshire

  A525 Keele bypass

  88–89

  0·8

  1·1

  A460 Cannock eastern bypass

  88–89

  9·6

  1·6

  Warwickshire

  A4390 Stratford Southern relief road

  87–88 and 88–89

  4·8

  0·9

  A429 Wellesbourne bypass

  88–89

  0·4

  1·3

  1 1979 prices discounted to 1979.

  Tyres (Safety)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the safety of tyres, tyre tread depths and acceptable tread depths across the tyres.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have nothing to add to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-West (Sir A. Grant) on 15 January,Official Report, columns 457–58 and my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King) on 22 February, Official Report, column 74.

  Passenger Transport Authorities (Financing)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, from the hon. Member for Hampshire, North-West (Mr. Mitchell), of 19 February, how many of the responses to the consultation paper support his Department's proposal; and when he expects to come to a decision on the proposal.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The responses so far received are, in varying degrees, opposed to the proposal. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales will be making an interim statement to Standing Committee E on 25 February. I will take into account further comments and representations in coming to a final decision before the Report stage of the Local Government Finance Bill is reached.

  Victoria Coach Station
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the present position on Victoria coach station.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  It remains the intention that Victoria coach station should be sold by the National Bus Company to London Regional Transport, so that it will stay in the public sector for the time being; as I have previously indicated, this will enable options to be kept open pending the outcome of the public inquiry into London Regional Transport's proposals for a new coach 204
  station at Paddington. The arrangements for this sale of Victoria coach station are now being made, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made a modification to the National Bus Company's disposal programme accordingly. A copy of the modification has been placed in the Library of the House.

ENVIRONMENT

  Cleveland (Rates)
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the employment consequences of the 30p increase in rates in Cleveland.

  Mr. Chope
  The 30p in the pound charge in rates in Cleveland is a 12 per cent. precept increase. If the council had decided to budget in line with the Government spending assumptions the precept need have increased by only 1.4 per cent. Whilst it is not possible to make any specific estimate, it can only harm employment opportunities in businesses in the area.

  Rate Support Grant (Sunderland)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the rate support grant paid to Sunderland borough council in each of the financal years since 1979, expressed in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms expressed in 1987–88 prices; and what percentage of the council's total spending in each year this represented.

  Mr. Chope
  The figure requested are provided in the table.

  Expenditure figures quoted are total expenditure as defined for the purpose of the rate support grant system. Comparable figures are not available for 1979–80 and 1980–81.

  The rate support grant figures for 1979–80 and 1980–81 are not comparable with those for 1981–82 and 1987–88. For the earlier two years they comprise needs, resources and domestic elements, whereas from 1981–82 onwards they comprise block grant and domestic rate relief grant.

  Figures for 1979–80 to 1982–83 are final entitlements. Figures for the later years are subject to change when RSG supplementary reports are implemented and when final entitlements to domestic rate relief grant are calculated. Real terms figures are cash figures uprated by the GDP deflator.

  Sunderland

  Rate support grant

  Total expenditure £ million

  Cash terms £ million

  Real terms £ million

  Rate support grant as a percentage of expenditure

  1979–80

  —

  656·46

  114·158

  —

  1980–81

  —

  77·125

  113·913

  —

  1981–82

  97·280

  63·787

  85·219

  65·5

  1982–83

  108·042

  64·724

  80·646

  59·9

  1983–84

  106·321

  65·252

  77·650

  61·3

  1984–85

  105·848

  65·556

  74·668

  61·9

  1985–86

  106·650

  67·012

  72·037

  62·8

  1986–87

  145·164

  69·813

  72·745

  48·0

  1987–88

  149·881

  79·761

  79·761

  53·2

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, further to his answer to the hon. Member
  205
  for Houghton and Washington, Official Report, 17 February, column 967, he will publish a table showing the cost of the use by the Property Services Agency of private contractors and consultants for each year since they were first used to the latest date for which data are available.

  £ million (cash)

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Private contractors

  new construction

  520

  599

  793

  968

  1,051

  1,109

  maintenance

  450

  550

  590

  581

  614

  685

  Consultants

  50

  61

  80

  125

  155

  171

  Total

  1,020

  1,210

  1,463

  1,674

  1,820

  1,965

  Information for earlier years would be obtainable only at disproportionate cost.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the increases in housing association rents which would be necessary on the level of housing association grant outlined in the report of his Department's senior economic advisor on "Grant Percentage and Rents Paid by Housing Association Tenants"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  West Midlands Councils (Planning Guidance)
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish planning guidance for the metropolitan district councils in the west midlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have today written to councillor Peter Kellie, chairman of the west midlands planning and transportation sub-committee of the metropolitan borough councils, to convey the Secretary of State's strategic planning guidance for the west midlands, which will provide a framework for the preparation of unitary development plans. Copies have been sent to all local authorities in the region. The west midlands is the first metropolitan area for which we have issued strategic guidance and I welcome the co-operative, constructive approach of the local authorities and everyone else involved in this process. A commencement order enabling six of the seven metropolitan boroughs to begin preparation of their plans will come into force on 29 February. Dudley has been excluded from the order for the moment, at its own request, because it is completing local plans for parts of its area. The effect of a commencement order there would be to halt work on local plans not yet completed, and to require procedural stages to be repeated unnecessarily in the preparation of the unitary development plan.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Postal Communications (Russia)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he had an opportunity to raise the subject of postal communications with the Soviet Foreign Minister during his recent visit to Moscow.
  206
  Mr. Chope
  The costs of private contractors and consultants used by the Property Services Agency since 1981–82 are as follows:

  Mr. Mellor
  No. However, my right hon. and learned Friend spent some time discussing general human rights questions with Mr. Shevardnadze and pressed for a more humane Soviet approach. We have made our concern about Soviet interference with postal communications known to the Soviet authorities on several occasions, notably at the CSCE meeting in Vienna where we have tabled a proposal on the privacy and integrity of postal and telephonic communication.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Disarmament
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his recent visit to the Soviet Union, he specifically raised with Mr. Shevardnadze outstanding scientific verification problems related to the completion of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. The scientific problems connected with verifying a comprehensive test ban are technical and complex. They must be solved by scientists rather than politicians. That is the purpose of the ad hoc group of scientists of the conference on disarmament which is working on precisely these problems.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his meetings with Soviet officials on his recent visit to the Soviet Union, he discussed the prospects for a joint Anglo-Soviet initiative to develop the 1963 partial nuclear test ban treaty into a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. My right hon. and learned Friend discussed with Mr. Shevardnadze the progress of the United States-Soviet negotiations on nuclear testing which are aimed at step-by-step progress. It is this approach which we support rather than the impractical aim of an immediate ban on testing.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 22 February.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 22 February. The Council confirmed agreement to the package of stabilisers for eight agricultural commodities
  207
  on which France had reserved its position at the European Council in Brussels. The adoption of these stabilisers, without amendment or reserve, enabled us, and our Netherlands colleagues, to confirm our agreement to all the other conclusions of the Brussels European Council and opens the way to their implementation.

  The consolidated text of the European Council conclusions, distributed in Brussels on 22 February (Document SN 461/1/88), has been placed in the Library. Copies are also available in the Vote Office.

  This Council thus concludes a further significant stage in the United Kingdom's long-standing campaign for effective Community action to deal with excess farm production and agricultural expenditure. The Community will now be able to concentrate on its major long-term goal; completion of the single market in goods and services by 1992.

  The Council also approved textile arrangements with Egypt and Turkey and adopted a proposal, for discussion in the GATT multilateral trade negotiations, on reductions in obstacles to trade. In addition, the Council discussed preparations for the forthcoming meeting with Foreign Ministers of the Central American and Contadora group countries in Hamburg from 29 February to 1 March (San José IV). The Council also agreed to a ministerial meeting on European demographic issues; and expressed interest in a French proposal for a congress of young people to discuss European Community issues.

PRIME MINISTER

  NATO
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters in Brussels, she discussed the military implications for NATO defences of developments in the bilateral discussions in Geneva between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on negotiating a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The current negotiations are aimed at agreeing a verification regime which would permit ratification of the threshold test ban and peaceful nuclear explosions treaties. Their ratification would not have military implications for NATO defences. Any further restrictions will be scrutinised to ensure their compatability with NATO security.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to NATO, she discussed the commitments made by NATO member states under article VI of the non-proliferation treaty for future nuclear weapon modernisation and adjustments within NATO.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to the NATO headquarters in Brussels, she made any initiative towards the updating of the Harmel report of December 1967 on redefining future tasks for NATO.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The course set out for the Alliance in the Harmel report in 1967 remains as valid today as it was then.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels, she raised 208
  the possibility of strengthening the role of the Eurogroup within NATO in terms of (a) nuclear weapons deployment, (b) conventional force deployment and (c) troop deployment in Europe and within European airspace and territorial waters.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to the NATO headquarters in Brussels, she discussed NATO's cultural arid scientific programmes arid the specific benefits which accrue to the United Kingdom from these programmes.

  The Prime Minister
  The subjects did not come up during my visit.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her most recent visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels, she raised the issue of the compatibility of the increase in warhead and strike capacity of the Trident II D-5 SLIM system with article I of the North Atlantic treaty of 4 April 1949.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  School Discipline
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he has given to evidence presented by the Professional Association of Teachers in the spring issue of the magazine The Professional Teacher, a copy of which has been sent to him, that 32 per cent. of teachers had suffered physical violence at the hands of pupils.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information provided by the association shows that 32 per cent. of the 1,500 members of the association who replied to their questionnaire which represents about 4 per cent. of the total membership, had been attacked by a pupil at some time. We are looking carefully at this and other available information in considering whether to establish a committee of inquiry into discipline in schools.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that effective disciplinary procedures exist in schools to ensure proper teaching can take place; and if he will set out those procedures, together with any guidelines that may have been laid down by his Department for their cases.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Disciplinary procedures within schools are primarily a matter for the headteacher and the governors of individual schools. The Education (No. 2) Act 1986, will strengthen their authority by giving them direct responsibility for maintaining discipline. A recently published report by Her Majesty's inspectorate, "Good behaviour and discipline in schools", which has been issued to schools, gives advice on best practice in maintaining discipline. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

  Schools (Ministerial Visits)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the schools in the Inner London education authority area that he has visited since
  209
  becoming Secretary of State and the date of each visit; and if he will list separately the schools in the Inner London education authority area that have been visited by any other of the present Ministers in his Department since their appointment, and the date of each visit.

  Mr. Dunn
  Since his appointment my right hon. Friend has visited one school within the Inner London education authority area, Notre Dame high school on 14 January 1988. On 4 November 1986 I visited Paragon Hill school, an independent school in Hampstead. Visits by other present Ministers in the Department are as follows:

  Date

  Minister of State (Mrs. Angela Rumbold)

  Alleyn's school (independent)

  22 May 1986

  Francis Holland school (independent)

  13 November 1986

  St. Luke's CE primary school

  31 March 1987

  St. Paul's girls school (independent)

  6 May 1987

  Mulberry girls school

  25 January 1988

  The Department does not maintain records for visits prior to 1986.

  Schools (Collective Worship)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those organisations which responded to the consultative letter issued in July 1987 on collective worship in schools; how many of these organisations expressed a view on whether the requirement to take part in collective worship should be relaxed in the case of pupils over the school leaving age; and how many of those organisations who expressed a view on this issue(a) favoured such a change and (b) were opposed to it.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Of the 34 bodies formally consulted, 28 responded. A list of those responding is given in the table. Fourteen expressed a view on the application of the law to pupils above compulsory school age. Five expressed support for a change in the law, so that the statutory requirement would no longer apply to pupils above the compulsory school age. Nine were against any change in the law. Copies of the responses are held in the Library.

  List of bodies which responded to consultation letter

  Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association

  Association of Advisers and Inspectors of Religious Education

  Association of Christian Teachers

  Association of County Councils

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  The Bishops' Conference

  Board of Education of the General Synod of the Church of England

  British Council of Churches

  Catholic Education Council

  Chief Rabbi

  Christian Education Movement

  Free Church Federal Council

  Islamic Cultural Centre

  Methodist Board of Education

  Muslim Education Trust

  National Association of Governors and Managers of Schools

  National Association of Head Teachers

  National Association of Inspectors and Educational Advisers

  National Association for Primary Education

  National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers

  National Council of Hindu Organisations

  National Muslim Education Council for the United Kingdom

  210

  National Union of Teachers

  Professional Association of Teachers

  Professional Council for Religious Education

  Religious Education Council

  Sikh Education Council

  Society of Education Officers

  Pupil Records
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of those organisations which responded to the consultation paper on the keeping and disclosure of pupil records and expressed a view on whether references should be disclosable stated that(a) they should be and (b) they should not.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Sixty one organisations commented on the disclosure of references. Twenty four favour disclosure, 27 do not. The remainder did not express a preference.

  Further and Higher Education (Student Fees)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recommendations have been issued by him about fees for students on courses of further and higher education in the academic year 1988–89.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  For the academic year 1988–89 I have recommended the following fee levels for home students and for students from other European Community countries on full-time courses (fees for 1987–88 are shown in brackets):

  £

  £

  Postgraduate courses

  1,800

  (1,730)

  First degree and diploma courses

  578

  (556)

  In relation to other courses I understand that the Council of Local Education Authorities has recommended fees for 1988–89 for home and EC students as follows (fees for 1987–88 are shown in brackets):

  Advanced further education

  Non-advanced further education

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Full-time

  578·00

  (556·00)

  390·00

  (360·00)

  Sandwich/block release (weekly rate)

  16·00

  (15·50)

  11·00

  (10·00)

  Part-time per course hour

  0·54

  (0·52)

  0·37

  (0·34)

  Part-time annual fee for one session per week

  57·80

  (55·60)

  39·00

  (36·00)

  The Government's policy is that students from outside the European Community should pay fees that reflect the full cost of their education here. It is for institutions and local authorities to determine the actual fees to be charged to overseas students in the light of this policy and of their own circumstances.

  For the universities, the University Grants Committee has recommended minimum fee levels for overseas students on undergraduate and postgraduate courses in 1988–89 as follows (recommended minima for 1987–88 are shown in brackets):

  £

  £

  Arts courses

  3,950

  (3,690)

  Science courses

  5,180

  (4,840)

  211

  £

  £

  Clinical courses in medicine dentistry and veterinary science

  9,590

  (8,960)

  For local authority institutions in England and Wales the Council of Local Education Authorities has recommended minimum fee levels as follows (recommended minima for 1987–88 are shown in brackets):

  £

  £

  Advanced courses

  4,017

  (3,720)

  Non-advanced courses

  2,226

  (2,055)

  Student Awards
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide for students attending international degree courses to receive mandatory awards.

  Mr. Jackson
  Subject to Parliament's approval of the necessary regulations, mandatory awards will be payable from the 1988–89 academic year to eligible students attending degree courses provided by an establishment in the United Kingdom in conjunction with a university or other institution in another country. Such courses will no longer require individual designation provided that they lead to a first degree of a United Kingdom university or of the Council for National Academic Awards.

  Inspectors of Education
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the number of inspectors of education in each of the outer London boroughs;

  (2) how many inspectors are employed by the Inner London education authority; what areas of the curriculum they cover; how many inspectors are employed in total by outer London boroughs who administer education; and how many inspectors he estimates will have to be employed by the proposed inner London local education authorities in order to ensure effective monitoring of the delivery of the curriculum.

  Mr. Dunn
  [holding answer 18 February 1988]: Figures on local education authority inspectors are not collated centrally. The structure of local inspectorates, including the allocation of inspectors to specialisms, is a matter for each local education authority. Inner London councils will be required to publish development plans during 1989, setting out the education service they propose to provide; these plans will be required to include their proposals for an inspectorate.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which new bodies he expects to set up under his proposal to abolish the Inner London education authority; and what he expects them to cost to operate in 1988–90.

  Mr. Bob Dunn
  [holding answer 18 February 1988]: My right hon. Friend has announced that he proposes to set up a staff commission to look after the interests of staff affected by the abolition of ILEA. The direct costs of the commission, which are not expected to be large, will be borne centrally.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Houghton and Washington (Grants)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will indicate the amount of regional development grants and regional selective assistance grants made in Houghton and Washington constituency for each year from 1979 to the latest date available.

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 26 January 1988, at column 148.

  Foreign Investment
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps and initiatives have been developed to encourage foreign investment in the United Kingdom with special reference to the car industry.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department's Invest in Britain Bureau continues to promote the United Kingdom as a location for foreign investment and to assist individual companies to establish themselves in Britain. No specific initiatives have been undertaken by the 1BB with regard to attracting foreign investment in the car industry, although my Department has provided assistance to a number of foreign companies wishing to invest in that market.

  Broadcasting Services
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration his Department has given 1.o the effects on the growth of the mobile communications industry of any change in current Government policy regarding bands I and III of the VHF spectrum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The needs of the mobile communications industry, both current and future, helped to determine the Government's current policy in respect of bands I and III. If there is any change in that policy those needs will help to frame the nature of the change. At present, study of the technical scope for sharing use of these bands between mobile radio and broadcasting is continuing as part of the Government's wider review of the technical options for additional broadcasting services.

  Furniture Foam
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what advice he has given to furniture retailers on the foam standards they should consider when forward ordering supplies; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he expects to lay before Parliament regulations relating to the safety standards of foam used in furniture; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what is the ignition source level selected for the consultation period on combustion modified high resilient foam for use in furniture; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  Draft regulations will be issued for consultation in the very near future. They will contain proposals for specifying combustion modifed foam to be used in upholstered furniture.

  Network Services Licences
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Worsley of 5 February,Official Report, columns 777–78,

  213
  what information he has as to the names of companies and individuals operating value added services under the class licence granted on 30 April 1987.

  Mr. Butcher
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: Only limited categories of licensees operating under the class licence are required to register with the Office of Telecommunications. Their names are maintained on a list available from the Oftel library. No information is available on other operators under the licence.

  Computers and Word Processors
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why special permits are required to take a personal computer or word processor abroad if its capacity is greater than 128K; how many computers have been confiscated since 1985 in accordance with this provision; whether the restrictions are ever revised, and what discussions he has had with other countries regarding the lifting of these restrictions.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: Controls on the export of such equipment in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1987 reflect those agreed with COCOM partners. The order raised the "total internal storage" level above which export licences are required from 128K to 640K. However, computers with a lower capacity may still require a licence for other reasons. The COCOM control lists are subject to periodic multilateral review. Aspects of the computer controls are still under consideration.

  Figures relating to the detention or seizure by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise of computers can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

WALES

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total regional selective assistance which he is committed to paying out under offer letters already issued expressed in outturn figures for each year from 1987–88 to 1990–91.

  Expenditure on regional development grant and regional selective assistance is as follows

  £ million

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  RDG

  RSA

  RDG

  RSA

  RDG

  RSA

  RDG

  RSA

  RDG

  RSA

  RDG

  RSA

  RDG

  RSA

  RDG

  RSA

  RDG

  RSA

  Wales

  71·5

  30·3

  50·7

  18·8

  103·5

  10·7

  122·2

  9·2

  121·5

  15·5

  72·1

  18·2

  92·7

  25·1

  84·4

  28·0

  88·7

  35·6

  Clwyd

  9·5

  0·9

  4·9

  1·0

  8·6

  1·4

  15·8

  1·5

  17·8

  3·5

  12·2

  3·2

  23·4

  3·2

  22·8

  5·1

  27·9

  6·3

  Dyfed

  5·7

  0·5

  8·1

  0·5

  29·1

  0·5

  21·9

  0·1

  20·0

  0·3

  13·0

  0·6

  8·8

  0·5

  4·9

  0·7

  4·8

  1·7

  Gwent

  5·5

  1·3

  3·0

  1·3

  6·0

  3·2

  8·7

  4·2

  12·1

  6·4

  6·4

  4·4

  7·8

  9·1

  7·4

  5·9

  12·5

  6·9

  Gwynedd

  0·3

  0·1

  0·7

  0·2

  1·1

  1·2

  0·5

  1·0

  0·9

  0·2

  0·4

  0·9

  0·8

  0·1

  0·9

  0·5

  2·3

  0·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  8·7

  0·7

  6·9

  1·8

  18·5

  1·2

  15·8

  1·0

  10·2

  1·0

  7·7

  3·0

  9·3

  3·5

  9·9

  4·6

  13·8

  6·4

  Powys

  0·4

  0·2

  0·3

  0·2

  0·7

  0·2

  0·5

  0·2

  0·4

  0·6

  0·3

  0·5

  0·1

  0·5

  0·1

  0·2

  0·4

  0·1

  South Glamorgan

  4·7

  26·4

  3·6

  13·4

  7·7

  2·7

  8·4

  1·0

  7·6

  1·3

  2·8

  1·4

  2·9

  0·7

  2·9

  3·3

  4·7

  3·7

  West Glamorgan

  14·4

  0·2

  5·3

  0·4

  8·9

  0·3

  26·7

  0·2

  22·6

  1·1

  7·8

  1·2

  15·8

  1·5

  14·1

  2·3

  5·1

  1·9

  Shotton TTWA

  2·8

  0·3

  1·7

  0·2

  1·4

  0·3

  7·6

  1·0

  8·8

  2·1

  8·8

  1·8

  12·4

  2·2

  12·9

  2·7

  6·9

  3·3

  Notes:

  (1) Regional development grant expenditure represents payments under the original scheme (RDG I) and, since 1985–86, the revised scheme (RDG II). Records of RDG 1 expenditure at a sub-Wales level are kept on the basis only of individual payments exceeding £25,000 and by employment office areas. Expenditure has been apportioned on a county basis on the most accurate basis consistent with these records. The sum of the county figures will not equate to total RDG I expenditure on an all-Wales basis.

  (2) Regional selective assistance expenditure for Wales represents industrial and training grants, loans until 1979–80, exchange risk losses on European loans and payments under the business improvement services scheme. Expenditure on the latter two elements cannot be broken down to a sub-Wales level and is therefore excluded from the county and TTWA figures.

  (3) RDG I data for the Shotton TTWA are based on the pre-November 1984 boundary. RDG II data are based on the present Shotton, Flint and Rhyl TTWA.
  214
  Mr. Peter Walker
  Regional selective assistance grants normally paid in annual instalments related to progress on a project. The amount and timing of RSA expenditure is therefore dependent upon individual companies implementing their projects as originally intended and it is not possible to predict with precision the amount of expenditure which will arise in any future year from past RSA offers.

  I am confident that planned provision for RSA over the next three years makes substantial allowance for both existing commitments and potential applicants who have yet to be offered grant assistance. I hope that industry in Wales will take full advantage of the additional RSA resources that have been provided.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total of regional development grant which he is committed to paying out under letters of offer already made, expressed in outturn figures for each year from 1987–88, to 1990–91.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The amount of regional development grant paid depends on applicants meeting the conditions under which approval is given. The timing of payments is related to the progress of individual companies in the implementation of the project concerned and the submission of claims. It is not possible, therefore, to predict with precision the amount of expenditure which will arise in any future year from past RDG approvals. Total planned provision for regional development grants over the next three years makes substantial allowance for both present and potential applicants who have yet to receive RDG approval. I hope that industry in Wales will take full advantage of the period until 31 March 1988 during which RDG applications can still be made.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total expenditure on(a) regional development grant and (b) selective assistance in (i) the Shotton travel-to-work areas, (ii) the county of Clwyd and (iii) the eight counties of Wales, for each year from 1978–79.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 15 February 1988]: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Immunisation Co-ordinators
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if every health authority in Wales has now appointed an immunisation co-ordinator; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The Welsh Office circular on childhood immunisation issued in 1985 asked all district health authorities in Wales to designate an individual to coordinate immunisation activity. All Welsh health authorities have advised that these designations have taken place. Responsibility in most cases rests with a specialist in community medicine.

  Howardian High School, Cardiff
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many written objections he has received(a) against and (b) in favour of South Glamorgan county council's proposal to close Howardian high school in Cardiff.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  There were 370 individual letters, 35 petitions and 28 letters on behalf of organisations, registering statutory and non-statutory objections to South Glamorgan county council's proposal to introduce tertiary education in the east of Cardiff and to close Howardian high school. The vast majority of the objections related to the part of the proposals involving the closure of Howardian high school.

  Caravan Sites Act 1968
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all county councils in Wales that have applied for designation under the provisions of the Caravan Sites Act 1968; and how many have been so designated.

  Mr. Grist
  Applications for designation, made jointly by the county council and the district council, have been received from Dyfed county council in respect of Dinefwr, Llanelli and Preseli districts; Gwynedd county council in respect of Aberconwy, Arfon and Ynys Môn districts; and Powys county council in respect of Montgomery district. No area in Wales has been designated.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any further changes to the cash limit on class XVII, Vote 5, for 1987–88.

  Community charge with "no safety net"

  Rating Authority

  Average domestic rate bill per property

  per adult

  Average per domestic property

  Community charge including "safety net" per adult

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Alyn and Deeside

  329

  132

  268

  163

  Colwyn

  336

  144

  258

  188

  Delyn

  327

  137

  273

  165

  Glyndwr

  263

  138

  258

  141

  Rhuddlan

  326

  134

  269

  163

  Wrexham Maelor

  292

  140

  274

  149

  Carmarthen

  220

  136

  270

  111

  Ceredigion

  232

  128

  243

  122

  Dinefwr

  197

  125

  243

  102

  Llanelli

  238

  150

  287

  124

  216
  Mr. Peter Walker
  Yes. The cash limit for 1987–88 on class XVII, vote 5 is being reduced by £1,652,000 to £212,017,000. This reduction will offset, in part, an increase in class XII, vote 3 to facilitate the creation of a new university institution in Cardiff.

  Morriston Hospital
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received, and on what dates, about the staffing needs of the neonatal and paediatric units at Morriston hospital; and what action he has taken.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: My right hon. Friend received representations about nurse staffing levels at the Morriston hospital special-care baby unit at a meeting with a delegation of Welsh Labour MPs on 18 January 1988, and during the course of the Welsh Grand Committee on 10 February 1988. No representations have been received concerning staffing needs of the paediatric unit. Detailed operational questions as to the proper level of nurse staffing are a matter which falls to the responsibility of the West Glamorgan health authority.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give his latest estimate for the community charge for district council areas in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: Average domestic bills, calculated as the estimated contribution made by domestic ratepayers to authorities' rate fund expenditure in 1987–88 (after allowing for domestic rate relief) divided by the number of hereditaments, are given in the following table. Estimated community charge figures for 1987–88 are also shown. These estimates are based on present expenditure patterns and aggregate levels of grant. They are given on two bases: first, community charges assuming the Government's proposals were implemented in full in 1987–88, with no "safety net", are provided; secondly, charges alter allowing for the "safety nets" envisaged in the Green Paper. The average community charge per property including "safety net" will, by definition, be the same as the average domestic rate bill per property.
  217

  Community charge with "no safety net"

  Rating Authority

  Average domestic rate bill per property

  per adult

  Average per domestic property

  Community charge including "safety net" per adult

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  221

  127

  241

  117

  South Pembrokeshire

  255

  124

  232

  137

  Blaenau Gwent

  282

  146

  280

  106

  Islwyn

  222

  137

  271

  112

  Monmouth

  311

  131

  277

  147

  Newport

  316

  132

  252

  166

  Torfaen

  271

  142

  277

  139

  Aberconwy

  292

  127

  239

  155

  Arfon

  198

  124

  215

  114

  Dwyfor

  225

  128

  200

  145

  Meirionnydd

  218

  127

  198

  140

  Ynys Mon

  256

  123

  224

  141

  Cynon Valley

  174

  135

  252

  93

  Methyr Tydfil

  206

  149

  284

  108

  Ogwr

  266

  142

  294

  129

  Rhondda

  144

  151

  283

  77

  Rhymney Valley

  235

  148

  294

  118

  Taff-Ely

  254

  147

  296

  126

  Brecknock

  229

  121

  239

  116

  Montgomeryshire

  213

  108

  201

  114

  Radnor

  212

  112

  200

  119

  Cardiff

  335

  103

  206

  168

  Vale of Glamorgan

  320

  117

  247

  152

  Port Talbot

  263

  181

  348

  137

  Lliw Valley

  237

  164

  321

  122

  Neath

  252

  148

  287

  130

  Swansea

  331

  172

  342

  166

  Wales average

  268

  136

  268

  136

  Motorways and Trunk Roads
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the amount of Government expenditure on the construction of motorway and trunk roads in Wales since 1979, the amount spent on improving motorway and trunk roads since 1979, and the estimated expenditure on motorway and trunk road construction during the next five years.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: Expenditure on new construction and improvement of motorways and trunk roads in Wales since 1979–80 is as follows:

  £ million

  1979–80

  63

  1980–81

  82

  1981–82

  87

  1982–83

  110

  1983–84

  136

  1984–85

  93

  1985–86

  85

  1986–87

  97

  11987–88

  111

  1 Estimated outturn.

  Note: Since 1982–83 the definition of new construction and improvement has included structural renewal. Prior to that date it was classified as current expenditure.

  Planned expenditure on new construction and improvement of motorways and trunk roads in Wales is as follows:
  218

  £ million

  1988–89

  118

  1989–90

  120

  1990–91

  120

  Notes:

  1. In accordance with public expenditure convention the figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91 are rounded to the nearest £10 million. Also they are illustrative only, as no firm decisions have been taken on the Secretary of State's allocation of block resources for these years.

  2. No figure is available for 1991–92.

  Patient Expenditure
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the average annual expenditure per patient in Wales in 1986–87.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: For the latest year for which data are available, that is 1986–87, the information requested is as follows:

  Average cost in pounds per

  £

  In-patient case

  1,002·61

  In-patient day

  71·34

  New out-patient

  123·10

  Out-patient attendance

  27·41

  New accident and emergency

  26·05

  Accident and Emergency attendance

  18·83

  New day patient

  917·68

  Day patient attendance

  23·42

  Day case attendance

  62·48

  However, care should be taken in making comparisons between countries on the basis of these figures as the costs incurred will have varied with the case mix, age and sex of

  219
  the patients, with the range of facilities available for treatment and as a result of other factors such as the costs associated with teaching. A more meaningful assessment can thus be made by comparing the costs of hospitals within roughly homogeneous groups, particularly where these have been related to case loads which have been statistically adjusted for differences in the specialty and age/sex mix of the patients concerned. To this end I would refer my hon. Friend to "Welsh Costings Returns" and "Key Statistical Indicators for NHS Management in Wales", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Jobs

  Number of projects

  Initially

  Safeguarded

  Capital investment £ million

  1985–86

  New

  40

  3,851

  1,080

  77·320

  Expansions

  23

  1,606

  250

  72·907

  Acquisitions

  3

  10

  103

  0·825

  Joint Ventures

  3

  29

  0

  0·640

  Total

  69

  5,496

  1,433

  151·692

  1986–87

  New

  58

  2,392

  65

  33·432

  Expansions

  27

  1,889

  1,231

  144·439

  Acquisitions

  11

  81

  1,685

  33·600

  Joint Ventures

  3

  11

  51

  2·300

  Total

  99

  4,373

  3,032

  213·771

  1 April 1987 to 31 December 1987

  New

  52

  4,952

  2

  101·306

  Expansions

  24

  1,508

  593

  62·827

  Acquisitions

  4

  248

  144

  11·200

  Joint Ventures

  3

  342

  0

  1·620

  Total

  83

  7,050

  739

  176·953

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Facsimile Service
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will explain the reasons for the cost of using the facsimile machine in the Central Lobby post office; and whether there are any plans to provide faxing facilities for right hon. and hon. Members at a lower rate.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Post Office provides a facsimile service within the House at the standard rate. With regard to any plans to provide faxing facilities for Members at a lower rate, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the exchanges in the House on 7 December 1987, at column 19. I can confirm that the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee will subsequently be considering this matter again shortly.

  Committee Rooms (Acoustics)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to engage consultants to examine the potential for improvements in acoustics of the Committee Rooms.

  WINvest
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many industrial companies new to Wales have commenced investment projects in Wales as a result of the work of WINvest on the years 1985–86 and 1986–87; and what is the estimated figure for 1987–88.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The numbers of inward investment projects for the financial years 1985–86, 1986–87 and the latest available information for financial year 1987–88 are as follows. There are a number of potential inward investment projects considering Wales at the present time which I hope will come to fruition before the end of the financial year.

  Mr. Wakeham
  This matter has already been referred to the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee, which expects to consider it at an early meeting.

  Vote Office
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make it his policy to ensure that the service provided by the Vote Office meets the demands of right hon. and hon. Members for publications whether they collect them in person or delegate a member of their staff to do so on their behalf.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have no evidence to suggest that the service provided by the staff of the Vote Office does not meet the requirements of hon. Members. However, I understand that where constraints of time, space, or the availability of documents arise, priority is necessarily given to supplying Members in person. It is not usually practicable to distinguish between priorities expressed by other callers.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Lord President of the Council on how many sitting days since the summer recess it has been possible for hon. Members to collect from the Vote Office at 8.30 am copies of both the full
  221
  Vote bundle and the Hansard for the previous day's sitting; and what percentage of total sitting days in the period this figure represents.

  Mr. Wakeham
  It has been possible for hon. Members to collect the Vote bundle, as supplied to Members, together with Hansard for the previous day by 8.30 am on 65 sitting days since the summer recess. This represents 90 per cent. of the total sitting days during the period.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Lord President of the Council (1) why the Vote Office refuses to deal with requests for publications made at the request of hon. Members by individuals working for hon. Members until 8.45 am;

  (2) if he will seek to ensure that the Vote Office meets the demands of hon. Members for publications from 8 am whether made in person or where the request for publications is dealt with by a member of their staff on an hon. Member's instructions.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Vote Office will always provide a service for Members whenever staff are on duty and in possession of the document required. This being said, the constraints of time and space preclude dealing with the generality of other callers until after the documents received from Her Majesty's Stationery Office have been sorted and despatched on the early morning delivery service to Members. I understand that, despite the Vote Office not being formally staffed to provide a service to other callers earlier than 9.30 am, the Deliverer of the Vote provides such a service from 8.45 am. This time is kept under review and it is hoped that, in due course, it may be brought forward again without detriment to the overall service provided.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many people are currently employed in the Vote Office; on what salary scales; and to what other benefits they are entitled.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is set out in the following tables:

  Staff in post

  Salary scale £

  Effective date

  1 Deliverer of the Vote

  20,313–26,862

  1 September 1987

  1 Deputy Deliverer of the Vote

  15,054–19,790

  1 September 1987

  1 Assistant Deliverer of the Vote

  11,512–14,405

  1 January 1988

  3 Superintending Clerks

  10,014–12,473

  1 January 1988

  4 Vote Office Assistants

  8,839–11,819

  1 January 1988

  9 Office Clerks-Senior Office Clerks

  7,377–9,761

  1 January 1988

  15 Porters (25 part-time, 20·5 hours)

  12,915

  1 Rises to £3,050 per annum after five years' service.

  Staff in receipt of allowance

  Number and nature of allowances

  Amount per annum £

  Deliverer and Deputy

  Three nights' allowance

  13,045

  Deliverer of the Vote; Assistant Deliverer of the Vote; Superintending Clerk

  222

  Staff in receipt of allowance

  Number and nature of allowances

  Amount per annum £

  Superintending Clerk Vote Office; Chief Office Clerks; Vote Office Assistants

  Five nights' allowances

  12,535

  Superintending Clerk (Sales Office) and junior staff

  Four late duty

  11,510

  Superintending Clerk; Vote Office assistant

  Two morning duty

  1,925

  Superintending Clerk; Vote Office assistant

  Two morning responsibility allowance

  225

  Junior staff

  Nine morning duty as Vote Office porters (17 hours)

  22,415

  Junior staff

  One cleaning allowance

  985

  1 Expressed as the amount paid for two nights' extra duty; some staff work only one night and therefore receive half of this amount.

  2 Rises to £2,535 per annum after five years service.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the total cost of running the Vote Office.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have been asked to reply.

  The cost of the staff of the Vote Office, including employer's national insurance contributions, is estimated at £344,000 for the current year, including £31,500 for the cost of staff of the sale office. Separate figures are not available for the cost of accommodation and other office services (such as telephones and office machinery) used by the Vote Office.

EMPLOYMENT

  Trainees
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many trainees have gone into(a) work, (b) further education and (c) training in (i) the Northwich travel-to-work area, (ii) the Chester travel-to-work area and (iii) the Runcorn travel-to-work area, in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available in the form requested. The following table shows the destination of YTS leavers from schemes in Cheshire since June 1984:

  Leavers between:

  June 1984 to March 1985

  April 1985 to March 1986

  April 1986 to August 1987

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  In work

  57

  55

  56

  On a full time course

  4

  3

  4

  On another YTS scheme

  7

  9

  14

  The Manpower Services Commission has conducted 100 per cent. follow-up surveys of YTS leavers since April 1985. Prior to that date the figures are estimates derived from a national sample survey.

  Information from the follow-up survey is not available on a travel-to-work area basis, but I shall write to my hon. Friend with further information relevant to his question.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places on community programmes listed by geographical area or agency, were not taken up during the year 1986–87; whether he will in future take these figures into account in the allocation of places on such schemes, particularly with regard to future allocations to areas or agencies which were fully subscribed.

  Mr. Lee
  Information in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate costs. However, the table shows for each MSC area the amount by which filled community programme places on 31 March 1987 exceed or fall short of the area allocation. Past performance in filling places is one of the factors that is taken into account in the allocation of places, both to areas and to individual schemes.

  Community programme—filled places at 31 March 1987

  Region/area office

  Variance from area allocation

  South East Region

  Kent

  +188

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  -151

  Sussex

  -90

  Reading

  -77

  Surrey

  -69

  High Wycombe

  -35

  Essex

  -366

  London Region

  North London

  +526

  East London

  -6

  Inner London North

  +471

  Inner London South

  -132

  West London

  -73

  South London

  -45

  South West Region

  Devon

  +89

  Avon

  +340

  Cornwall

  +45

  Dorset/Somerset

  -605

  Gloucester

  +62

  West Midlands Region

  Worcester

  +1

  Coventry

  +110

  Dudley and Sandwell

  -622

  Wolverhampton

  -41

  Birmingham

  -35

  Staffordshire

  -237

  East Midlands and Eastern Region

  Ipswich

  +20

  Luton

  +70

  Norwich

  +289

  Derby

  -296

  Leicester

  -159

  Nottinghamshire

  -37

  Lincolnshire

  -17

  Northamptonshire

  -135

  Yorkshire and Humberside Region

  Leeds

  -383

  Bradford

  -398

  Sheffield

  -165

  Hull

  -122

  North Yorkshire

  -123

  Wakefield

  -1

  Grimsby

  -92

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  -109

  224

  Region/area office

  Variance from area allocation

  North-West Region

  Cumbria

  —

  South Lancashire

  -139

  Manchester North

  -45

  Manchester Central

  -123

  Manchester East

  -71

  Middleton

  -60

  Merseyside Inner

  -302

  Wirral

  -105

  Merseyside Outer

  +3

  Cheshire

  -98

  Lancashire North

  -204

  Northern Region

  North Tyne

  -337

  County Durham

  -15

  Teesside

  -297

  South Tyne

  -278

  Office for Wales

  Gwent

  -2

  Mid and South Glamorgan

  -103

  West Wales

  +251

  Clwyd/Powys

  +11

  Office for Scotland

  Glasgow

  -320

  Hamilton

  -222

  Paisley

  -44

  Ayr

  -161

  Highlands and Islands

  +102

  Tayside and Grampian

  -33

  Central and Fife

  -109

  Lothian and Borders

  -67

  Clydebank

  -225

  Enterprise Agencies
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the performance of enterprise agencies.

  Mr. Cope
  As private sector led, wholly independent bodies, the performance of individual local enterprise agencies is primarily a matter for their boards and their supporters.

  However, the Government are anxious to encourage greater professionalism among local enterprise agencies and one of the requirements of the local enterprise agency grant scheme is that agencies prepare a three-year business plan which includes performance targets.

  This Department has also supported business in the community and a number of large private sector sponsors of local enterprise agencies who are working to develop guidelines to assist local enterprise agencies to evaluate their own performance and effectiveness.

  Deaf People
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his proposals for an adult training programme will include a communications service for deaf people.

  Mr. Cope
  Yes. This service will be along the lines of the provision made in YTS.

  Quarrying
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what were(a) the total numbers of fatal accidents and (b) the total numbers of major accidents in the quarrying industry in each year since 1978;

  (2) what was the incidence rate per 100,000 employees for fatal and major accidents combined in the quarrying industry in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Quarry accidents

  Combined incidence

  Fatal

  Major injuries

  Rate (Fatal and major) per 100,000 employees

  19781

  15

  67

  170

  19791

  12

  90

  210

  19801

  17

  64

  175

  19812

  14

  105

  315

  19822

  18

  106

  326

  19832

  5

  88

  231

  19842

  15

  115

  404

  19852

  13

  94

  330

  1986–873

  11

  168

  488

  1 Fatal and major injuries reported under the Mines and Quarries Act 1954.

  2 Fatal and major injuries reported under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1981, which widened the definition of major injury.

  3 Fatal and major injuries reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985, which further widened the definition of major injury. The figures for the three periods are not directly comparable.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of prosecutions brought by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate in each year since 1978 for breaches of relevant health and safety legislation in the quarrying industry.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is as follows:

  Number of prosecutions: Informations laid

  Year

  Number

  1978

  2

  1979

  2

  1980

  2

  1981

  0

  1982

  2

  1983

  0

  1984–85

  0

  1985–86

  0

  1986–87

  0

  1987–88

  0

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of(a) prohibition notices and (b) improvement notices brought in each year since 1978 by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate in respect of the quarrying industry.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Prohibition Notices

  Improvement Notices

  1978

  3

  —

  1979

  2

  —

  1980

  4

  2

  1981

  3

  —

  1982

  3

  —

  226

  Year

  Prohibition Notices

  Improvement Notices

  1983

  4

  1

  1984

  2

  —

  1985

  2

  2

  1986

  3

  —

  1987

  10

  1

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to alter the duration of the enterprise scheme or the rules affecting eligibility to take part in it.

  Mr. Cope
  I have no plans to alter the duration of the enterprise allowance scheme or the rules affecting eligibility.

  As part of its regular programme of value for money scrutinies the Efficiency Unit has recently examined the scheme. I am currently considering its report.

SCOTLAND

  Industrial Policy
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss industrial policy.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans.

  "The Way Forward"
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to hold discussions with Nirex concerning the executive's document, "The Way Forward."

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to meet Nirex again, but expects the executive to keep him informed of its progress.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average waiting time for in-patient treatment in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The figures show that there has been a dramatic reduction in waiting times from the peak of 95 days in 1983 following the industrial action of 1982 to 72 days in 1985, which is the latest year for which information is available.

  Following is the information:

  Mean waiting times for all specialties in Scotland 1976–85

  Year

  Mean waiting time (days)

  1976

  77

  1977

  75

  1978

  68

  1979

  80

  1980

  73

  1981

  71

  227

  Year

  Mean waiting time (days)

  1982

  65

  1983

  95

  1984

  80

  11985

  72

  1The latest year for which information is available.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average number of patients awaiting in-patient treatment at National Health Service hospitals in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The figures show increases of 10,000 and over 20,000 caused by industrial action in 1979 and 1982.

  Following is the information:

  Persons awaiting in-patient treatment at NHS hospitals in Scotland at 30 September in each year

  Year

  Number of patients

  1978

  62,464

  1979

  71,247

  1980

  67,387

  1981

  65,228

  1982

  86,365

  1983

  88,338

  1984

  83,077

  1985

  77,677

  1986

  80,708

  11987

  81,324

  1 Latest figure as at 31 March. (The figure for March 1986 is 81,250.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what new measures he is taking to reduce hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I regard reduction of the length of time patients have to wait for treatment as one of the most urgent tasks facing the Health Service. An additional sum of £3·6 million has been allocated to health boards for this purpose during the current financial year. Further measures to make more progress will be discussed with health board chairmen and general managers in the next few weeks.

  Forth Road Bridge
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost of collecting tolls on the Forth road bridge.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The collection of tolls on the bridge is the responsibility of the Forth road bridge joint board. However, I understand that collection costs for the year 1986–87 amounted to £571,000.

  Road Building (Strathclyde)
  Mr. Lambie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to review the present road-building programme in the Strathclyde region; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We shall be announcing shortly the 1988–89 trunk road programme for Scotland, including Strathclyde. The construction programme for 228
  local roads is the responsibility of Strathclyde regional council, within its capital allocation for roads arid transport.

  Infrastructure
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further steps he plans to take to improve communications between Scotland and England.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Feasibility studies are under way to consider the best way of implementing our manifesto commitment to upgrade the A74 trunk road to motorway standard.

  Lanarkshire Health Board
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the capital expenditure plans, at current prices, for Lanarkshire health board for each of the next five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The board has submitted bids for capital expenditure of £8·6 million for 1988–89 and £10·5 million, £7·7 million, £5·5 million and £4·3 million for the four years thereafter. The board's capital allocation for 1988–89 and provisional allocations for the ensuing two years will be announced shortly.

  Forestry
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding his policy towards commercial forestry planting in Scotland.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received on forestry policy.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received many representations in recent months, particularly with regard to planting in Caithness and Sutherland.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that the Forestry Commission is paying sufficient regard to the need to sustain broadleaf woodland in its tree planting policy and its storm damage replacement plans and in advice concerning agricultural set-aside.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied with the way in which the Forestry Commission are implementing the Government's policy on broadleaves, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger) on 24 July 1985,Official Report, columns 557–62.

  Newbattle Abbey College
  Mr. Buchan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further consideration he is giving to the future development of Newbattle abbey college.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend is not prepared to continue funding the college on the present basis. But he is prepared to consider proposals which would benefit significantly more people than at tend Newbattle and which made better use of other existing means of entry to higher education.
  229
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the representations he has received concerning the proposed withdrawal of funding from Newbattle abbey college.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We have received 126 representations from hon. Members and others following announcment of my right hon. and learned Friend's decision to withdraw funding from Newbattle abbey college at the end of the 1988–89 academic year. My right hon. and learned Friend has met the hon. Members for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar), for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) and for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (Mr. Hogg) to discuss his decision.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the allocation for health contained in the document "Public Expenditure to 1991: A Commentary on the Scotland Programme."

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have received no representations concerning the substantial funds we are planning to provide for the National Health Service in Scotland. Gross expenditure this year is expected to be £2,334 million, an increase of 120 per cent. since 1979–80; and we plan to increase this figure still further by some £120 million in 1988–89 and by about £100 million in each of the following two years.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet the National Farmers Union of Scotland to discuss the allocation for agriculture in "Public Expenditure to 1990–91—A Commentary on the Scotland Programme".

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My noble Friend the Minister of State meets the union regularly to discuss a wide range of issues of common interest.

  The union has not asked for a meeting on the commentary, which gives details of planned increases in Government expenditure in support of Scottish agriculture over the three years to 1990–91, thus underlining the Government's continuing commitment to the industry.

  Unemployment (TUC)
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has plans to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss unemployment in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have no plans to do so in the near future. I am delighted to say that seasonally adjusted unemployment in Scotland fell byover 42,000 between January 1987 and January 1988 and is now at its lowest level since April 1983.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many responses he has received from health boards in Scotland to his circular on competitive tendering; and how many have been entirely supportive of his proposals.
  230
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  All health boards have agreed to proceed to implement the programme of competitive tendering set out in the Scottish Home and Health Department's letter of 11 December.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the decrease in Scottish unemployment since January 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Between January 1987 and January 1988 seasonally adjusted unemployment in Scotland fell by over 42,000 and is now at its lowest level since April 1983.

  Hospital Building
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of hospital building projects completed since 1979 and the numbers either at the building stage or planned; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Since 1979, new capital investment in the National Health Service in Scotland has resulted in the completion of 51 major new hospital developments providing some 5,770 beds. A further 34 major developments are in planing, under construction or in course of being commissioned. These will provide 4,484 more new beds. This represents a substantial and continuing capital investment programme in the National Health Service in Scotland.

  School Closures
  Mr. Millan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had on his recent decision to introduce new regulations relating to school closures.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Since the Education (Publication and Consultation Etc) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1988 were made, I have received 1,676 representations supporting my decision to make these regulations. However, before I made those regulations I had received some 2,000 representations asking me to take action.

  Elderly People
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what means he has to ensure that admissions to private institutions for the elderly infirm, at the expense of the National Health Service, accommodate the most needy, whether in National Health Service hospitals or privately.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no locus in relation to admissions to private institutions. Where a health board funds in-patient treatment for the elderly infirm in a private institution, the patient's health needs should be assessed before admission.

  Investment
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to how much is spent per capita on attracting initial investment to Scotland and the northern region, respectively.

  Mr. Lang
  I regret that comprehensive information in the form requested is not available.

  Tourism
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent developments there have been in promoting the Scottish tourist industry.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer my hon. Friend, to the Government report "Tourism '87" which was published last year and which includes information on major developments in Scottish tourism. Copies are available in the Library.

  Two of the most important recent initiatives are the Scottish tourist board's successful classification and grading scheme for accommodation and the board's overseas promotion activities, especially in the key north American market.

  Avalanche Monitoring and Warning System
  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consult chief constables and mountain rescue organisations on the feasibility of establishing an avalanche monitoring and warning system for Scottish mountains during the winter period; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I am happy to consider the views of chief constables and mountain rescue organisations to see what improvement is practicable in the availability of local information about avalanche risks.

  The nub of the problem is to secure access to authoritative local information. General warnings are often of limited relevance because the risk of avalanche depends on slope aspect, temperature, wind and precipitation and may therefore vary widely on and between individual hills.

  The best insurance against avalanche accidents is to encourage all those who go on the hills to learn to recognise the conditions which can cause avalanches and to seek local knowledge and advice which is readily available in popular winter climbing areas such as Lochaber and the Cairngorms.

  NHS Funding
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the health service trades unions to discuss the funding of the National Health Service in Scotland; and what plans he has for the future meetings.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not met representatives of the Scottish Health Service trades unions to discuss the funding of the National Health Service in Scotland and has no immediate plans to do so.

  NHS Ancillary Services (Privatisation)
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the response received from Fife health board to his most recent circular on the contracting out of hospital ancillary services.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Fife health board has indicated that after some minor delay in the issue of invitations to tender, it will be undertaking the required programme of competitive tendering. it is preparing the necessary tender documents and has said it will use its best endeavours to complete the programme in line with other health boards.
  232
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet Lanarkshire and Greater Glasgow health boards to discuss Government policy in respect of the privatisation of services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have no plans to meet these boards to discuss competitive tendering. Both boards are pressing ahead with the programme of competitive tendering which I have asked them to undertake. I shall, however, discuss progress with chairmen collectively when I meet them next month.

  Hospital and Community Health Services
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the expenditure on the hospital and community health services in Scotland for each of the years from 1982–83 to date, at constant prices, using the hospital prices index.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No separate price index is maintained for hospital and community health services in Scotland.

  Greater Glasgow Health Board
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the projects initiated as a result of joint funding between Greater Glasgow health board and Strathclyde regional council; what projects have been agreed to start in the near future; and if he plans to increase the funding to Greater Glasgow health board to enable the board to expand this field of its work.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally. Since 1979 gross expenditure on the National Health Service in Scotland has grown by 28 per cent. in real terms. In addition, the planning figure for current expenditure on local authority social work services for 1988–89 is 36 per cent. greater in real terms than for 1979–80. The allocation of these very substantial resources is a matter for health boards and local authorities.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what communication he or any of his representatives had with Mr. L. Peterkin, general manager of Greater Glasgow health board, on Thursday 4 February.

  Mr. Rifkind
  My Department is in contact with the general manager of the Greater Glasgow health board over a wide range of issues on an almost daily basis.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase there has been in Scottish manufacturing productivity since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Between 1979 and the first half of 1987 manufacturing output per employee in Scotland increased by an average of 5·6 per cent. per annum. Over this period, Scottish manufacturing productivity growth was higher than in any of the seven major OECD economies.

  Maternity and Neonatal Services
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received
  233
  about proposals published by Grampian health board and its consultative document, on maternity and neonatal services in the region.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Twenty-six. The consultation period set by Grampian health board does not, however, expire until 29 February 1988 and within this period, representations should be made to the board.

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those departments within Glasgow royal infirmary which are refusing out-patient referrals due to shortages of medical staff; what effect this is having on patient care; what steps are being taken to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It has proved necessary to curtail the number of out-patients seen in the ophthalmology department of Glasgow royal infirmary because of a shortage of medical staff. Alternative arrangements have been made for patients to be seen either at Stobhill hospital or the Glasgow eye infirmary. The Greater Glasgow health board has recently appointed two junior doctors to the department, and is taking steps to increase the number of consultant sessions there. Temporary difficulties in the out-patient urology department have been resolved by the appointment of a senior registrar.

  Unified Business Rate
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he now has any further proposals for the introduction of a unified business rate in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  No. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 14 January to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) at column 367.

  Ayrshire and Arran Health Board
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many ancillary staff are employed by Ayrshire and Arran health board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A total of 1,879 as at 30 September 1987.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current stage of consultations between his Department and relevant bodies in Scotland with regard to the registration of severely mentally handicapped people for poll tax purposes.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has consulted widely on the procedures required to identify severely mentally handicapped persons to be exempted from liability to pay the personal community charge. Responses to this consultation are currently being considered.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he proposes to take to prevent the evasion of the standard community charge through the registration of one spouse at a married couple's main residence and the other at a second home.
  234
  Mr. Lang
  The standard community charge is payable only in respect of dwelling houses which are not the sole or main residence of any person. The question where a person is solely or mainly resident will depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. It will be for community charges registration officers, in making up the community charges register, to satisfy themselves in each case as to whether a person is solely or mainly resident in particular premises: their decisions will be subject to appeal under the provisions of Section 16 of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987.

  South of Scotland Electricity Board
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy on the proposal of the South of Scotland Electricity Board to go out to tender for coal purchases and its effect on the Scottish coal mining industry.

  Mr. Lang
  The purchase of coal for electricity generation is essentially a commercial matter for the two industries and not one in which it would be appropriate for the Government to intervene. However, I do recognise the importance to British Coal's operations in Scotland of securing further orders for supplying coal to the South of Scotland Electricity Board when the existing contract terminates at the end of March and I remain hopeful that agreement will be reached on terms acceptable to both parties.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next be meeting the chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board to discuss the importance of foreign coal.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend meets the chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest. However, he has no plans for a meeting on this matter, which is for the commercial judgment of the board.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the progress of sales of council houses under the right-to-buy legislation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since 1979 some 83,000 local authority house sales have taken place, and more than 30,000 applications to purchase have been made during 1987.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the proceeds from sales of public sector housing in Scotland since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As at December 1987, sales of public sector houses to sitting tenants in Scotland since 1979 total £1,016 million. Some 10 per cent. of public sector stock has been sold, and since the receipts generated are available to enhance housing capital programmes it is very much in the housing agencies' interest to continue to encourage tenants to buy.

  Royal College of Nursing
  Mr. Harry Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with representatives of the Roy al College of Nursing.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I met the college's Scottish board on 5 February and discussed waiting lists, competitive tendering and nurse education and training. I took particular note of its views that action to reduce waiting lists required adequate nursing support, and assured it that savings from competitive tendering would be retained by health boards for patient care and that there was every opportunity for existing staff to compete for tenders. We agreed to meet regularly in future.

  Health Care
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings(a) his Department and (b) any public body for which he has responsibilities have had with any member of the AMI group of companies, The Murrayfield plc., Whatlings plc., and any other operator of private health care in order to discuss the provisions of health care in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have had one meeting with AMI representatives, at their request, and have subsequently visited Ross Hall hospital. There have been two other meetings at which representatives of AMI and the Scottish Home and Health Department were present, to discuss health matters. Meetings are also held from time to time with the bodies which represent private nursing and residential homes. Certain health boards have held discussions about the contribution which private hospitals can make to their own needs and the Common Services Agency has regular discussions with private hospitals about their requirements for blood products.

  NHS (Internal Inflation Rate)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the National Health Service internal inflation rate in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No records of inflation in the NHS in Scotland are kept. Financial provision for the NHS is planned and made on a cash basis.

  Health Services (Privatisation)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will discuss his proposals for privatisation of National Health Service services with the National Union of Public Employees, the Confederation of Health Service Employees, and other trade unions representing hospital workers.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  If events up to and including the "day of action" on 24 February demonstrate a genuine attempt by the trade unions to protect patients I would be prepared to consider a meeting.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to meet the chairmen of the health boards in order to discuss his plans for the privatisation of certain services and functions.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans for privatisation. Competitive tendering for 236
  support services has been discussed with health board chairmen on a number of occasions. Boards are now proceeding with a limited programme of tendering and I propose to discuss progress when I meet chairmen next month.

  Health Boards (Funding)
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that the present level of funding for Scottish health boards is sufficient to allow them to achieve the priorities set out in the report entitled, "Scottish Health Boards-Revised Priorities for the Eighties and Nineties."

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The SHARPEN report — the "Scottish Health Authorities Review of Priorities for the Eighties and Nineties"—is a report by a working group set up by the Scottish Health Service Planning Council which is at present considering the recommendations made in it. The priorities for the NHS in Scotland remain those set out in the report "Scottish Health Authorities Priorities for the Eighties". With the very substantial resources made available to them—resources which have increased by about 28 per cent. in real terms since 1979–80—health boards in Scotland are expected to develop these priority services.

  NHS (Efficiency Savings)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the efficiency saving made within the ancillary services of the National Health Service since 1983.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Savings from in-house efficiency measures reported by health boards and the Common Services Agency since 1983 on catering, domestic and laundry services represented 0·6 per cent. of the total expenditure on these services in 1984–85, 1·9 per cent. in 1985–86 and 5·7 per cent. in 1986–87. The total savings by September 1987 were £16·1 million in cash terms.

  NHS Ancillary Services (Privatisation)
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had in the past three months with private contractors on the subject of ancillary services in the National Health Service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 arid (d) able to retire with full pension rights at 60 years.

  Mr. Malcolm Rifkind
  At 1 February 1988, the number of civil servants employed in the Scottish Office, excluding the Scottish prison service, was 6,496. The great majority of non-industrial staff work 37 hours (net); most industrial staff work 39 hours per week (net). On the basis of a recent survey, it is estimated that some 3,600 staff participate in the flexible working hours arrangements. There are 10
  237
  staff on job-sharing schemes and four staff working four-day weeks. All staff are able to retire with pension rights at age 60; to receive full pension rights an officer has to have accrued 40 years' reckonable service (actual service or purchase of added years).

  Museums
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will respond to the report by a working party of the Museums and Galleries Commission on museums in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have written today to the chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission to thank Professor Miles and his working party for a thorough and interesting piece of work. The Government have responded positively by increasing grant to the Scottish Museums Council by over 13 per cent. to £500,000. The Secretary of State and I look to Scotland's national museums and galleries to give continuing priority to their national responsibilities. We hope that the report will encourage museums and galleries throughout Scotland to improve their management, widen their appeal and raise more income.

  Copies of my letter to the chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission and the Scottish Museums Council containing the Government's responses to the working party's 96 individual recommendations are being placed in the Library.

  Queen's College, Glasgow
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the development of Queen's college, Glasgow.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My Department has today written to Queen's college, Glasgow, indicating that after consultation with the Greater Glasgow health board, I am prepared to agree to the proposed transfer of radiography, chiropody and occupational therapy courses from the board to the centrally funded higher education sector.

  The college is being asked to confirm that it wishes to assume responsibility for these courses. If so, I am prepared to make capital funds available in 1988–89 for the adaptation, after consultation with the governors of Jordanhill college of education, of accommodation at Jordanhill to allow its use for Queen's college's purposes.

  Given the availability of good quality accommodation at Jordanhill, I will not now be making funds available for the development of the Eldon street site, and I am asking the governors to make arrangements for its early disposal.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the system of notification of sites of special scientific interest; what discussions he has had with the Nature Conservancy Council on the subject; and whether he will institute a review of current practice.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 11 February 1988]: In addition to the hon. Member's letter to me dated 11 November 1987, I have received representations from four persons within the past 12 months including the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir R.
  238
  Johnston) about the current system. Two of these suggested that there should be a right of appeal against notification and two expressed concern about the size of individual areas that may be notified. Discussions on various aspects of SSSI notification arrangements have been held from time to time mainly at official level between the relevant Government Departments and the Nature Conservancy Council. With regard to current practice I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) to my hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Sir J. Farr) Official Report, 20 January 1988, at column 747 concerning consultation arrangements.

ENERGY

  Plutonium
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, in assessing the commercial advantages of an international trade in plutonium, the costs of the physical protection of the plutonium have been taken into account.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel by British Nuclear Fuels plc is carried out under contract for its customers on a commercial basis. BNFL's customers have to take into account all the costs involved including the costs of protection.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the expected annual cost to Her Majesty's Government for the transport of reprocessed plutonium being transported from Sellafield to Japan in the 1990s.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  None.

  Electricity Prices
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action he proposes to take in response to the report by Price Waterhouse, relating to the electricity tariff offered by the Central Electricity Generating Board to private producers; and if he will make its conclusions available to private producers.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Electricity tariffs are the responsibility of the electricity supply industry and it is therefore for the industry to consider the relevant recommendations in the Price Waterhouse report. It is for area boards, not the CEGB to publish purchase tariffs. Since the Price Waterhouse report was made to the Electricity Council, any question of making its conclusions available to private producers is for the council to consider.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Quarantine Regulations
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the Single European Act will have on existing animal quarantine regulations.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We intend to retain our quarantine regulations as long as they are necessary to protect the United Kingdom.

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the receipts from profits on the sale of milk quotas in the current financial year.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to the statement on the meeting of the European Council,Official Report, 15 February, columns 710–11, if he will provide the evidence for the statement that the United Kingdom would need enormous deficiency payments or considerable price increases in other directions through the imposition of even heavier levies at the port of entry, to which products this refers; and why such payments or price increases would be necessary.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The prices available on world markets for agricultural products supported by the CAP are mostly well below existing support levels. For example, for wheat and butter world prices are about a quarter of the CAP support level; for sugar they are about a third and for skimmed milk powder they are about two thirds of the CAP support price.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he agreed to the European Economic Community decision to pay farmers not to produce; and whether such payments will be debited to the agricultural budget.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in her statement on 15 February that the scheme to take agricultural land out of production was agreed by the European Council as a complement to the stabiliser arrangements and as a further discouragement to overproduction. A proportion of the costs to member states of making payments under the scheme is to be carried by the Community's agricultural fund.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) European Economic Community spending on the common agricultural policy and for non-agricultural purposes in the year before the Dublin and Fontainebleau summits respectively, (b) the estimate for 1987, (c) the forecast for 1992 and (d) gross United Kingdom contributions on each occasion.

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

  Mecu

  1983

  11987

  EC expenditure on the CAP (guidance and guarantee)

  16,637

  24,101

  EC expenditure excluding the CAP

  7,720

  12,067

  United Kingdom contribution to EC budget (before abatement)

  5,084

  6,938

  1 The estimate for CAP expenditure in 1987 excludes some 4,512 mecu of expenditure in November and December 1987 which will fall on the 1988 Budget.

  Figures are not available for 1992.
  240
  Source:

  1983 EAGGF financial report, Court of Auditors report.

  1987 Supplementary and amending budget.

  Natural Mineral Waters
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the natural mineral waters produced in the United Kingdom which are officially recognised by the European Economic Community under the terms of Council directive 80/7775/EEC.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The following natural mineral waters have been recognised by the responsible authorities in the United Kingdom under the provisions of the Natural Mineral Waters Regulations 1985, which implement in the United Kingdom EC Directive 80/777, and have been notified to the Commission for publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities:

  Abbey Well

  Bath Natural Mineral Water

  Braeuisge Spring

  Buxton Water

  Campsie Spring

  Caithness Spring

  Chiltern Hills

  Cwm Dale Spring

  Decantae

  Dorset Spring Water

  Glendale Spring

  Highland Spring

  Hilden Natural Mineral Water

  Kingshill Forest Glade

  Malvern

  Mountain Spring

  Northumbrian Spring

  Penryddlan, Llandinam

  Prysg Spring

  Scottish Spring

  Strathmore Spring

  Wool
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is able to announce the guaranteed price for wool for the 1988 clip; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Together with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, I have reviewed the state of the wool market and prospects for the 1988 clip. We have decided to maintain the price guarantee for the 1988 wool clip at 129p/kg.

  The prices achieved by the British Wool Marketing Board for United Kingdom wool continued to improve in 1987. Average market prices for the 1987 clip rose above the prevailing guarantee, enabling the board to make repayments to the stabilisation fund from August last year. This brings the outstanding deficit down to about £17·8 million.

  Stocks of wool are low; demand continues to be good; and the Wool Board is confident of the prospects for 1988.

  Agricultural Land Classification
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress his Department has made in revising the agricultural land classification system for England and Wales.

  Mr. Gummer
  With the assistance of other experts in the field, my Department has now completed its work. A
  241
  consultation document on the revised guidelines and criteria for grading the quality of agricultural land is being issued to external practitioners and other interested bodies today. I have placed a copy of the consultation document in the Library of the House. Comments are invited by 25 April 1988.

  Bees
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to ban the import of foreign honey bees.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: I have no plans at present to ban imports of honey bees which are permitted only under licence. However, our bee import controls are kept under constant review to ensure minimum risk to bee health in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent the spread of varroasis among bees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: Imports of bees into the United Kingdom are strictly controlled by licence. Licences are issued only for queen bees, with attendant workers, from countries with a high bee health status. They are not issued for imports coming from countries where varroasis is known to exist. To minimise the risk of accidental or illegal import of bees we are again writing to port authorities in England drawing their attention to this disease and asking them to display a warning poster which the national beekeeping association have prepared.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the number of cases of varroasis among bees in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: Selective searches which my Department has undertaken in October in each of the last three years in eastern and south-eastern regions of England have found no evidence of varroasis. Nor has varroasis been found in any of the hive debris which beekeepers have themselves sent to us for free examination as part of our campaign to encourage greater vigilance against this disease.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Health Services (Administration Costs)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the most recent information he has as to the administration costs of(a) the National Health Service and (b) private insurance-based schemes.

  Mr. Newton
  The 1986–87 annual accounts of health authorities, family practitioner committees, and so on, comprising the National Health Service in England show that 3·72 per cent. of their total revenue was incurred on headquarters administration. We do not collect comparable information for the private sector.

  Surgical Operations
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the 10 most frequently performed 242
  surgical operations carried out in (a) the Crewe, (b) the Chester and (c) the Halton health district: and what estimates he has of the average cost of each type in each area.

  Mrs. Currie
  The table shows estimates from a 10 per cent. sample of hospital records for 1985. The operations shown are those from OPCS condensed list of operations—third revision—which identify specifically groups of related procedures. No information is available for Halton, as Halton district general hospital opened during 1985.

  Estimated number of the 10 most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-psychiatric, non-maternity hospitals, Chester and Crewe district health authorities, 1985

  Condensed1 list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  Chester

  1.

  093

  Treatment of fracture by operations

  680

  2.

  080

  Dilatation, curettage, biopsy and excision of lesion of cervix

  580

  3.

  023

  Tonsils and adenoids

  560

  4.

  092

  Post-natal or post-abortion operations

  330

  5.

  044

  Operations on appendix

  310

  6.

  078

  Hysterectomy

  310

  7.

  014

  Operations on lens

  290

  8.

  039

  Inguinal hernia operations

  260

  9.

  061

  Cystoscopy (with destruction of lesion)

  250

  10.

  100

  Arthroplasty

  250

  Crewe

  1.

  093

  Treatment of fractures by operations

  680

  2.

  080

  Dilatation, curettage, biopsy and excision of lesion of cervix

  640

  3.

  061

  Cystoscopy (with destruction of lesion)

  470

  4.

  039

  Inguinal hernia operations

  360

  5.

  078

  Hysterectomy

  340

  6.

  036

  Mastectomy

  310

  7.

  044

  Operations on appendix

  290

  8.

  014

  Operations on lens

  260

  9.

  023

  Tonsils and adenoids

  240

  10.

  = 092

  Post-natal or post-abortion operations

  210

  10.

  = 100

  Arthroplasty

  210

  1 OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  Health Districts (Administrative Staff)
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give(a) the number of administrative staff employed and (b) the total sums each years spent on administrative salaries in (i) the Crewe health district (ii) the Chester health district and (iii) the Halton health district in each of the past five years.

  Mrs. Currie
  Staff-in-post figures are shown in the table. Comparable information on staff costs is not available centrally and my hon. Friend may care to contact the appropriate district chairmen.
  243

  National Health Service administrative and clerical staff in post1 Crewe, Chester and Halton health authorities at 30 September

  Whole Time Equivalents2

  Year

  Crewe

  Chester

  Halton

  1982

  344

  3305

  100

  1983

  350

  501

  123

  1984

  364

  486

  135

  1985

  372

  408

  165

  1986

  372

  409

  173

  Source: DHSS Annual Census of Non-Medical Manpower

  1 Includes General Managers.

  2 Figures independently rounded to nearest whole time equivalent.

  3 Figures do not include 222·7 (WTE) administrative and clerical staff who continued to provide support to supra district services to the five Cheshire health authorities after NHS Reorganisation.

  Hospital and community health services1—total expenditure per head (at 1987–88 prices)

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  (a) England

  151

  167

  186

  207

  231

  (b) Mersey region

  155

  170

  189

  209

  237

  (c) District health authorities

  Crewe

  107

  119

  134

  141

  155

  Chester

  191

  204

  217

  233

  257

  Halton

  70

  84

  85

  105

  118

  1 Includes revenue and capital expenditure on hospital, community health, ambulance, blood transfusion and other services.

  Sources:

  1. Annual accounts of:

  (a) regional and district health authorities in England and those of the London post-graduate teaching hospitals

  (b) the regional health authority and district health authorities comprising the Mersey region

  (c) the district health authorities shown.

  2. Mid-year estimates of population 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 (Office of Population and Censuses Surveys).

  Notes:

  1. The figures have been expressed at 1987–88 prices by the use of the Gross Domestic Product deflator.

  2. Expenditure on family practitioner services is excluded: such expenditure is accounted for by family practitioner committees (FPCs) and cannot be attributed to particular regions or districts. However, prior to 1 April 1985 some 90 district health authorities in England (including Chester and others within the Mersey region) had an associated FPC and those authorities total expenditure figures for the years before that date include elements relating to FPCs' administration expenses which are not separately identifiable.

  3. Expenditure by special health authorities and other bodies providing central services to the National Health Service and expenditure met centrally by the Department is also excluded.

  4. Prior to 1 April 1982 the district health authorities' predecessor health districts formed part of the Cheshire Area Health Authority and district based figures were not collected centrally.

  5. The expenditure figures used for each district health authority include both revenue and capital expenditure together with sums in respect of capital schemes within each district recorded in the annual accounts of the Mersey Regional Health Authority. Revenue and capital expenditure incurred by the latter authority for the region as a whole is included in the figures for Mersey region but excluded from the districts' figures.

  6. Significant variations in figures of expenditure per head at district level arise principally because:—

  (a) people travel across district boundaries for treatment and sub-regional resource allocations reflect the pattern of service provision locally;

  (b) the population figures used make no allowance for people resident in one district who receive treatment in another or for the differences in morbidity and age/sex structure of particular populations.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made with the National AIDS Trust; and how much public money has been committed to it.

  Mr. Newton
  The National AIDS Trust has made considerable progress since its inception last year. A director has been appointed, advisory committees to help determine policy priorities set up, and systems are in place for distributing grants to voluntary organisations throughout the United Kingdom. The Government have made a grant of £500,000 to the trust for distribution to the voluntary sector, and have also contributed towards the trust's administrative costs in 1987–88.

  NHS (Expenditure)
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the expenditure per head in real terms on the National Health Service(a) nationally, (b) in the Mersey region, (c) in the Crewe health district, (d) in the Chester health district, and (e) in the Halton health district in each of the past 10 years.

  Mrs. Currie
  Figures of expenditure per head (based on total populations) for the years since the establishment of district health authorities on 1 April 1982 are shown in the table.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services 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. Portillo
  The number of civil servants employed in the Department on 1 January 1988 was 101,920; their conditioned hours of service are mainly 41 hours per week in the London pay area and 42 hours elsewhere:

  (a) the opportunity to work flexible working hours is available to most staff apart from those on shift work. No record of the number of staff who work such hours is kept;

  245

  (b) 662 staff participate in job-share arrangements.

  (c) there is no scheme for an option to work a four-day week or nine-day fortnight in the Department.

  (d) awards of pensions are based on the length of reckonable service and pensionable pay at the time of retirement; full pension rights are available to all staff retiring at 60 years of age who have 40 years' reckonable service.

  Foetal Material
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if parental consent is required before supplying foetal material to medical schools; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will place in the Library the regulations governing the supply of foetal material to medical schools for use in experiments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The use of foetuses and foetal material in research is covered by the code of practice recommended by the Peel report on the use of foetuses and foetal material for research, 1972, a copy of which is in the Library. This code of practice which has been commended to all health authorities recommends, inter alia, that research should only be carried out with the direct sanction of the local ethical committee and that where the Human Tissue act does not apply, a pre-condition of the research should be that there is no objection on the part of the parent. There are no additional specific regulations governing the supply of foetal material to medical schools.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the figures for the Northern regional health authority's in-patient waiting lists for each of the years from 1979 to the latest year for which figures are available.

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

  In-patient waiting lists, Northern Regional Health Authority, at 31 March

  Year

  Total cases

  1979

  47,642

  1980

  36,470

  1981

  34,070

  1982

  34,475

  1983

  47,566

  1984

  40,390

  1985

  36,221

  1986

  35,711

  1987

  37,334

  Hospital Social Workers
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many social workers working in hospitals are employed by district health authorities.

  Mr. Newton
  The National Health Service (Transfer of Social Services Staff) Order 1974 transferred NHS hospital social workers to the employment of local authorities. We are therefore not aware of any in the employment of district health authorities.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social workers are estimated to be working in hospitals; and what is the approximate number per 100,000 population in each health region.
  246
  Mr. Newton
  I regret that the information needed to make these estimates is not available centrally.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will instruct the regional health authorities to monitor the withdrawal of local authority social workers from hospitals resulting from local authority spending reductions.

  Mr. Newton
  There is a duty on health authorities and local authorities to collaborate in the provision of services and we would expect them to be in close touch about changes which would have an effect on those services.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what figures he has as to how many hospitals have or are threatened with loss of the services of social workers because of the local authority spending reductions.

  Mr. Newton
  Information on the number of hospitals affected is not available centrally. In London, however, six boroughs (Brent, Camden, Haringey, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark) are known to have made, or to be planning, reductions in their hospital social work service.

  Children's Heart Surgery
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many hospitals specialise in children's paediatric heart surgery; in which regions they are located; by what percentage their revenue allocation has increased since 1984; and what is the current urgent in-patient waiting list for each one.

  Mrs. Currie
  All regional health authorities have cardiothoracic units which undertake cardiac surgery on children. Cardiac surgery on neonates and infants is funded as a supraregional service. The nine designated supraregional centres are located in the following regions: Northern, Yorkshire, South East Thames, Wessex, South Western, West Midlands and Mersey and at the Brompton hospital and the hospital for sick children, Great Ormond Street, which are administered by special health authorities. We are aware that some cardiac surgery on neonates and infants is carried out in non-designated centres but comprehensive information on these is not held centrally.

  The total revenue allocation for the designated centres has risen from £7,121,000 in 1985–86 to £8,933,000 for 1988–89, an increase of approximately 25 per cent. The allocation of funds to surgery on children over the age of one year is a matter for the health authorities.

  I regret that the information requested on waiting lists is not held centrally. Waiting list statistics are collected centrally by consultant department, not by age of patient or intended method of treatment.

  Ear, Nose and Throat Departments
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the latest figures available for the in-patient waiting lists of ear, nose and throat departments in each of the English regional health authorities to update the table published in his answer to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South of 16 December 1986, Official Report, columns 469–70; and if he will indicate the percentage changes over the preceding year and since December 1984.
  247
  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is given in the table. I regret that the waiting list figures for 31 December

  In-patient waiting lists NHS Ear, nose and throat departments

  Number of cases on list

  Percentage change

  Regional Health Authority

  31 December 1984

  31 March 1986

  31 March 1987

  December 1984-March 1986

  March 1986-March 1987

  December 1984-March 1987

  Northern

  6,137

  4,311

  4,742

  -29·8

  10·0

  -22·7

  Yorkshire

  9,755

  8,373

  8,817

  -14·2

  5·3

  9·6

  Trent

  8,544

  8,977

  8,509

  5·1

  -5·2

  -0·4

  East Anglian

  4,740

  3,946

  3,565

  -16·8

  -9·7

  -24·8

  North West Thames

  6,002

  7,658

  7,363

  27·6

  -3·9

  22·7

  North East Thames

  11,649

  14,134

  13,653

  21·3

  -3·4

  17·2

  South East Thames

  6,541

  8,420

  9,056

  28·7

  7·6

  38·4

  South West Thames

  5,256

  5,111

  4,630

  -2·8

  -9·4

  -11·9

  Wessex

  6,904

  5,846

  5,195

  -15·3

  -11·1

  -24·8

  Oxford

  4,556

  4,564

  4,437

  0·2

  -2·8

  -2·6

  South Western

  5,272

  4,790

  4,931

  -9·1

  -2·9

  -6·5

  West Midlands

  14,422

  14,346

  14,745

  -0·5

  2·8

  2·2

  Mersey

  3,838

  3,982

  3,268

  3·8

  -17·9

  -14·9

  North Western

  9,870

  10,525

  11,042

  6·6

  4·9

  11·9

  All Regional Health Authorities

  103,486

  104,983

  103,953

  1·4

  -1·0

  0·5

  Calder Girls School
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what specific study has been undertaken(a) by his Department, (b) by his Department in collaboration with the environment and health departments, (c) by consultants to his Department, (d) by the National Radiological Protection Board, (e) by the Medical Research Council, (f) by COMARE and (g) by the Black committee, of the comparative health of girls who attended the Calder girls school in Seascale from 1952 to its closure, with cohorts of girls from different regions over the same period.

  Mrs. Currie
  A study of children who attended schools in Seascale, but were born elsewhere, commissioned and part-funded by this Department following a recommendation of the Black advisory group, was undertaken by Professor M. J. Gardner of the M RC epidemiology unit, Southampton, and colleagues, and reported in the British Medical Journal of 3 October 1987.

  The study compared deaths from any cause, and nonfatal cancer incidence among the pupils, with that expected on the basis of national rates. Calder girls' school was amongst those whose pupils were included in the study. We know of no other similar studies on the health of this group.

  Lorazepam
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to restrict further or to introduce a ban on the prescribing of lorazepam or any other benzodiazepine; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no such plans. Our present advice is that benzodiazepines, including lorazepam, have a place in medical practice if prescribed with appropriate care. The Committee on Safety of Medicines has recently advised doctors on the use of these drugs in "Current
  248
  1984 and the changes in waiting list between 31 December 1984 and 31 March 1986 given in my earlier reply were incorrect. Amended figures are given in the table.

  Problems No. 21"; a copy is being placed in the Library. Companies have been asked to change their data sheets in line with the CSM's advice.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those organisations which have made representations to him since the beginning of 1987 about the represcribing of lorazepam; and what his response has been.

  Mr. Newton
  No organisation has made such representations but we have received a number of letters from hon. Members and individuals on the matter.

  Tranquilliser Abuse
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those organisations engaged in combating tranquilliser abuse which have been either totally or partially funded by his Department in each of the years 1981 to 1987; and if he will give the amounts provided in each case.

  Mrs. Currie
  The following organisations catering for those dependent on tranquillisers have received grants under the central funding initiative set up by the Government in 1983 to pump-prime services for drug misusers.

  Organisation

  Amount £

  Duration of funding

  TRANX (Harrow)

  89,483

  1983 to 1986

  TRANX Release (Northampton)

  28,592

  1984 to 1986

  MIND (Copeland)

  94,367

  1985 to 1988

  NECA (North East Council on Addictions)

  124,241

  1985 to 1988

  Many of the other 184 projects funded under this scheme also provide a service to those dependent on tranquillisers.

  Radiotherapy Services
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when his Department's review of its
  249
  guidance to health authorities on the organisation of radiotherapy services will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moore
  The guidance on the organisation of radiotherapy services issued to health authorities in 1978 has been reviewed with the help of our cancer experts in order to take account of subsequent epidemiological and scientific developments. The review has concluded that the minimum combination of equipment and staff for a viable unit has not significantly altered. However, the use of radiotherapy has increased substantially, and is likely to continue to increase. Furthermore, the importance of access to a unit may have been underestimated.
  250
  Accordingly the minimum catchment population needed to generate sufficient demand for a viable unit has fallen from the 1 million previously recommended. The precise figure for each unit will depend on local factors, including transport facilities and clinical practice. However, in normal circumstances the minimum would now be about two thirds of a million.

  The review nevertheless concluded that units larger than the minimum remain the ideal; they permit greater specialisation, which is especially valuable in this time of rapid change and development in cancer therapy; they are necessary for teaching purposes; and they reduce costs by making fuller use of ancillary equipment.

  COAL MINING STATISTICS
  COAL MINING STATISTICS
  METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE INQUIRY
  METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE INQUIRY
  TRIDENT FORCE: EXPANSION POLICY
  TRIDENT FORCE: EXPANSION POLICY
  INDUSTRIAL DESIGN REGISTRATION
  INDUSTRIAL DESIGN REGISTRATION
  CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS: INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
  CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS: INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
  "HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE": CARGO
  "HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE": CARGO
  CROWN SUPPLIERS: PRIVATISATION
  CROWN SUPPLIERS: PRIVATISATION