Written Answers of 26 February 1988

EMPLOYMENT

  Quarrying
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment why no prosecutions were undertaken in the period covered by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate's report for the period ended March 1986 in the light of the number of accidents therein reported.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive's inspectors make use of a range of enforcement techniques from advice and persuasion, through the issues of enforcement notices to prosecution. Prosecution is regarded as the last resort and was not judged to be appropriate in any case during this period.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed benefit claimants there were in each parliamentary constituency at January; and how many of them were(a) aged under 25 years, (b) aged under 25 years, and unemployed for 12 months or more, (c) aged under 25 years, and unemployed for six months or more or (d) of any age and unemployed for 12 months or more.

  Mr. Lee
  I am sending the hon. Member a table showing the number of unemployed claimants in each parliamentary constituency in Great Britain, for each of the age and duration categories requested, on 14 January 1988, which is also available in the Library.

  Construction Industry (Accidents)
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what form figures for the accident rate on building sites are collected.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Accident rates are calculated nationally for the construction industry by dividing the total number of relevant accidents to employees reported to the Health and Safety Executive by the estimated total number of employees in the construction industry.

  Tourism
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to how many local authorities(a) have a designated tourism office, (b) have a department or sub-department of tourism, or (c) have a tourism officer employed within an economic development unit.

  Mr. Lee
  This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, I welcome the fact that a large and increasing number of local authorities have staff with specific responsibilities for developing tourism within their areas.

TRANSPORT

  Cabotage
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects the European Transport Ministers to discuss the question of cabotage rights for European shipping within the European Economic Community.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  My right hon. Friend intends to raise the question of shipping cabotage at the Transport Council of Ministers next month with a view to a more substantive discussion at a subsequent Council under the current German presidency.

  Air Misses
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the official definition of a risk-bearing air miss;

  (2) what is the official definition of a reported air miss.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In the Civil Aviation Authority's published air miss statistics, air misses are categorised as A, B, or C depending upon whether there was a definite risk, a possible risk, or no risk of collision. Risk-bearing air misses are those in categories A and B.

  In the same context a reported air miss means an air miss reported by any civil or military pilot in United Kindom air space. Reports are filed when a pilot considers that his aircraft may have been endangered by the proximity of another aircraft to the extent that a risk of actual collision existed.

ENVIRONMENT

  Inner-city Partnership Programme
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the value of the inner-city partnership programme for Lambeth for 1988–89 in real terms as a percentage of the allocation for 1986–87/88.

  Mr. Chope
  The 1988–89 allocation is 82 per cent. of the 1986–87 allocation and 88 per cent. of the 1987–88 allocation, at 1988–89 prices. But in 1986–87 Lambeth underspent its allocation by over 13 per cent. and estimates for 1987–88 indicate an underspend of a similar proportion. The allocation for 1988–89 is a slight increase on the estimated 1987–88 out turn at 1988–89 prices.

  Vacant Land (Tower Hamlets)
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the London Residuary Body will transfer the open space on the junction of Bruce road and Powis road, E3, to the London borough of Tower Hamlets with a view to incorporating it into Bromley recreation ground and enabling plans for an under-fives playground to proceed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The future of this site is currently under discussion by the LRB and the council of the London borough of Tower Hamlets. It is open to the London residuary body to make a proposal to the Secretary of State for the transfer of this property to the council under section 67 of the Local Government Act 1985.

  Homeless Persons
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 1 February to the
  339
  hon. Member for Cornwall, South-East (Mr. Hicks) Official Report, columns 429–30, what are the criteria used to determine the allocation of money for housing projects for the homeless to the local authorities listed.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 20 January at cols.749–52.

  Rugby Matches (Crowd Control)
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the presidents of the home country Rugby football unions concerning crowd control before, during and immediately after major rugby matches.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I last met the president of the Rugby Football Union on 16 December 1987 and I had brief discussions with the presidents of the Welsh and Scottish Rugby Unions on 20 February 1988. The question of crowd control was not discussed at either meeting.

  Northamptonshire County Council
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of full-time equivalent employees of the Northamptonshire county council as at the end of December 1979, December 1983, December 1984, December 1985, December 1986 and December 1987.

  Mr. Chope
  The results of the joint manpower watch December 1987 survey are not expected until towards the end of March 1988. The numbers of staff employed by Northamptonshire county council, at September for each year, are as follows:

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total Staff (FT + PT)

  1979

  1

  1

  1

  1980

  9,775

  8,532

  18,307

  1981

  9,471

  8,321

  17,792

  1982

  10,327

  8,527

  18,764

  1983

  10,264

  8,330

  18,594

  1984

  10,331

  8,480

  18,811

  1985

  10,347

  8,837

  19,184

  1986

  10,163

  9,362

  19,525

  1987

  10,123

  9,656

  19,779

  1 Data not available.

  Source: Joint Manpower Watch for England.

  Full-time equivalent figures are not available for individual authorities.

  Derelict Land Survey
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the latest derelict land survey.

  Mr. Chope
  The returns for the next derelict land survey are due in by the beginning of October. Information will then be analysed, and we expect to be in a position to publish the results of the survey in the summer of 1989.

  Member's Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Walsall, North 340
  will receive a reply to his letter of 1 February regarding a representation to meet his officials over the Wimpey no-fines properties in Blallenall, Walsall.

  Mrs. Roe
  I replied to the hon. Member on 24 February.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the Property Services Agency is using external accountancy practices to check consultants' fees; how many instances of discrepancies have been discovered; and if he will list, by directorate and region, the amounts received from refunds or by a subsequent reduction of fees;

  (2) pursuant to the answer of 2 February, Official Report, columns 531–32, if he will describe the nature and scope of his Department's inquiries into the case of procedural irregularity involving the consultant Maurice Baguley in relation to the overseeing of maintenance contracts at the Property Services Agency's works offices at Westminster and Teddington.

  Mr. Chope
  There were no cases of irregularity arising from the employment of Maurice Baguley and Partners, on the maintenance management contract at the PSA district works office at Westminster, which was successfully completed in June 1987. No inquiries have therefore been instituted. The case to which I referred in my answer to a previous question, columns 531–32, related to an employee of the consultants T. Dunwoody and Partners who are employed at Teddington district works office on a similar contract.

  The procedural irregularity was uncovered during one of the routine management checks carried out at all district works offices which were instituted as part of the agency's drive to maintain efficiency and probity in its operations. Subsequent inquiries included interviews with the consultancy partners and the consultants' employee involved and also checks on all other contracts handled by that employee. It was following his interview that the employee handed in his resignation. There was no evidence whatsoever that any other employee of the consultants' firm was involved or had acted irregularly.

  Lambeth Bridge House
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the landlords and freeholders of Lambeth bridge house, Great Westminster house and Horseferry house; and whether the owners have recently expressed any concern about the state of repair of these buildings.

  Mr. Chope
  The landlords and freeholders of Lambeth bridge house, Great Westminster house and Horseferry house are, respectively, Adamant Investment Corporation Ltd., Legal and General Assurance Society Ltd. and Pearl Assurance Ltd.

  I can confirm that discussions have been held between PSA and the landlords of Lambeth bridge house and Horseferry house on the extent of necessary repairs and maintenance. Work on both buildings will commence in the next financial year. Repairs to Great Westminster house are the responsibility of the landlord. I am advised that the landlord does not propose to effect any repairs and intends instead to demolish and redevelop the

  341
  building. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food staff are due to leave the building by September this year, on lease expiry.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the projects funded in each of the London boroughs through the urban programme announced on 9 February.

  Mr. Chope
  The allocations announced on 9 February were provisional, and do not relate to an approved list of projects. They are subject to approval of the inner area programmes submitted by each authority.

  Water
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether domestic rateable values will continue to be used for water charging purposes once they are abolished for local authority purposes.

  Mr. Moynihan
  It is clearly not in the interests of consumers that the water industry should continue to use rateable values for water charging purposes indefinitely, once domestic rates are abolished for local authority purposes from 1990. The Government therefore intend to amend the Local Government Finance Bill to prohibit the use of all rateable values, both domestic and non-domestic, for water charging purposes from 1 April 2000. This will give each water undertaker a period of 10 years after domestic rates are abolished in which to choose and introduce alternative means of charging.

  Consultants
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of occasions where consultants employed by the Property Services Agency have been discovered by it to have overcharged for consultancy services; and if he will also identify in relation to each occasion the amount of money subsequently repaid, or the amount of subsequent fee reduction.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: As part of the agency's established procedures, PSA staff check all fee accounts submitted by consultants. Any inaccuracies or overcharging are dealt with immediately, normally by making the necessary adjustments to the consultants fee account before payment. Most adjustments are of a routine nature and bearing in mind that thousands of consultants' accounts are submitted on a monthly basis, no central record is kept of such adjustments.

  On some very large projects a firm of chartered accountants is being employed by PSA to conduct an independent audit on certain aspects of the consultants' bills. To date bills from nine major consultants have been audited by the firm and savings of over £1 million representing some 2·5 per cent. of consultant fees have been made in the fees claimed. The commissions concerned were let by two directorates, the Directorate of Defence Services 1 and the Directorate of Civil Accommodation.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of all spending over budget in the last financial year by each department of the London Docklands Development Corporation.
  342
  Mr. Chope
  Provision was made for LDDC's expected expenditure by votehead, as recorded in table 1 of class X, vote 3, of the main Supply Estimates (HC 227—IX, X: March 1987). A further £2,163 was transferred from the Merseyside development corporation when it became clear that MDC would not require its full allocation. Of this transfer, £1,163,000 was allocated to votehead (F) and £1,000,000 to votehead (G). Virements between other voteheads were either within the LDDC's delegation limits, or were approved by the Department. Outturn compared with final provision, as amended, in 1986–87 was therefore as follows:

  £ thousands

  Final Provision

  Outturn

  A. Running costs

  9,500

  10,624

  B. Estate management; maintenance, rates, security

  3,900

  3,301

  C. Environment improvement works

  6,200

  7,100

  D. Land purchase

  15,000

  12,800

  E. Land reclamation and site preparation

  8,118

  8,364

  F. Provision and renewal of gas, water, etc main services

  13,600

  5,363

  G. Roads and transport

  26,500

  8,701

  H. Support for industry — grants and loans under the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978

  700

  483

  I. Support for voluntary organisations and social facilities

  3,900

  4,114

  J. Docklands Light Railway

  6,000

  5,554

  K. Housing

  200

  —

  Gross Total

  65,781

  66,404

  Deduct: (Y) receipts used to offset items A and B

  900

  1,523

  Net Total

  64,881

  64,881

  1 Plus 1,163 transfer.

  2 Plus 1,000 transfer.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Acrylic Yarn Imports
  Sir Marcus Fox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the concerns of the United Kingdom acrylic yarn spinners about imports from Turkey have been raised with the European Economic Community in Brussels recently; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs informed the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 22 February of the industry's serious concern about these imports. I have previously indicated to my hon. Friend that there was an overriding need to agree textile restraint arrangements with Turkey. Nevertheless, I have ensured that our growing concern at the import levels for acrylic yarn is made clear to our Community partners and the Commission. They have been told of the mounting evidence of damage from Turkish imports to United Kingdom acrylic yarn producers who have been forced to introduce extensive short-time working. I shall continue to monitor the domestic situation closely. If sufficient justification for seeking action from the Commission emerges, I shall act accordingly.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans for the conversion of the pension funds of academic and technical officers in former British dependencies into pay-as-you-go schemes.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Four Indian family pension funds were converted into "pay-as-you-go" schemes in 1985. Nine colonial widows' and orphans' pension funds — Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, Malaysia (Sabah), Malaysia (Sarawak), Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Swaziland and Zambia — were converted in 1986. Three others — Guyana, Kenya (European Officers) and Kenya (Asian Officers)—will be converted once the apportionment of assets to be vested under the British Government's control has been agreed with overseas Governments concerned. The overseas superannuation scheme and the overseas service pensions scheme and fund are also scheduled for conversion in due course. None of these funds and schemes are exclusively confined to academic and technical officers.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the last audit was done on the pension funds of academic and technical officers in former British dependencies; and when the next one will take place.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Funds under the control of the Overseas Development Administration are audited annually. We do not have comprehensive information on funds administered by other Governments.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that all those entitled to benefit from the pension funds of academic and technical officers in former British dependencies are in receipt of those entitlements.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The primary responsibility for ensuring that any entitlements are put into payment rests with the beneficiary concerned. However, the Overseas Development Administration is also attempting to establish the present whereabouts of several thousand former contributors and contingent beneficiaries, the great majority of whom served on short-term contracts in the former British dependencies and who, for one reason or another, have lost contact with the schemes. In addition, upon receipt of notification of the death of an officer, the ODA checks whether any widow's or dependants entitlement exists under the funds and schemes under its control.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the pension funds for British academic and technical officers in former overseas dependencies run by the Overseas Development Administration are indexed; how this has been applied; and from what date the indexation began.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The pension funds and schemes administered by the Overseas Development Administration are not themselves index-linked, but all expatriate officers' individual pensions awarded under those schemes are elegible for an index-linked pension supplement under United Kingdom pension increase 344
  legislation. The date from which pensioners have the benefit of indexation varies with their individual circumstances.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commomwealth Affairs how many pension funds for British academic and technical officers in former overseas dependencies are run by the Overseas Development Administration; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Forty-eight widows' and orphans' pension schemes and funds are administered by the Overseas Development Administration. Details are as follows:
  Colonial and other Widows' and Orphans' Pension Schemes Administered by the Overseas Development Administration Aden Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1967.Barbados Public Officers' Widows' and Childrens' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1985 Barbados Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1985.Belize Public Officers' Widows' and Childrens' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1982.Belize Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 19821 4 Joint (Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland) Public Officers' Widows and Orphans' Pensions (Defunded) (UK) Scheme 1986.Cyprus Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1979.East African Community (East African Scheme) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1979.East African Community (Railways and Harbours Corporation) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1979.Fiji Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1975.The Gambia Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1974.1 Ghana Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (Defunded) (UK) Scheme 1986.2 Guyana Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Fund (UK) Scheme 1978.Jamaica Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1976.1 3 4 India Family Pensions (Transferred) (UK) Scheme 1985.2 Kenya Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1977.2 Kenya Asian Public Officers' Family Pension Fund (UK) Scheme 1977.Kenya Asiatic Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pension Fund (UK) Scheme 1977.Malawi Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1975.Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1979.1 Malaysia (Sabah) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (Defunded) (UK) Scheme 1986.1 Malaysia (Sarawak) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (Defunded) (UK) Scheme 1986.Malta Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1976.Mauritius Public Officers' Widows' and Childrens' Pension (UK) Scheme 1975.Mauritius Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1985.Nigeria Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1979.Seychelles Public Officers' Widows' and Childrens' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1976.1 Seychelles Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (Defunded) (UK) Scheme 1986.1 Sierra Leone Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (Defunded) (UK) Scheme 1986.Singapore Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1977.Sri Lanka Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1979.Sudan Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1973.345 Tanzania (Tanganyika) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1976.Tanzania (Zanzibar) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1976.Tanzania (Zanzibar Asiatic Officers) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1976.Trinidad and Tobago Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1986.Uganda (European Officers) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1985.Uganda (Asian Officers) Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1985.Zambia Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (UK) Scheme 1985.1 Zambia Public Officers' Widows' and Orphans' Pensions (Defunded) (UK) Scheme 1986.Zambia Transferred Federal Officers' (Dependents) Pensions (UK) Scheme 1985.2 Overseas Superannuation Scheme.2 Overseas Service Pension Scheme.1 Formerly funded schemes converted to "pay-as-you-go" schemes.2 Funds scheduled for conversion.3 The Indian family pensions scheme comprises the following defunded schemes:Indian Civil Service Family Pension Fund (Transferred)Indian Military Service Family Pension Fund (Transferred)Indian Military Widows' and Orphans' Fund (Transferred)Superior Services (India) Family Pension Fund (Transferred)4 The total of 48 includes the Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland schemes and the Indian family pension funds counted separately.

  Public Officers
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the criteria used by his Department for assessing whether or not those working in former British dependencies prior to independence were public officers.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The term "public officer" does not identify a single group of officers who worked in the former British dependencies. In broad terms, it covers those who worked in a territory's central Government service. But each country's law and administrative procedures have their own variations and exceptions: an assessment of whether an individual was a public officer for any particular purpose can only be made in context.

  Non-administrative Officers (Compensation)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many non-administrative officers in former British dependencies received lump sum compensation on independence; and what criteria were used in assessing who received such compensation.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  No central record exists of the occupational status of the tens of thousands of overseas officers whose pensions are the responsibility of the British Government, or of whether they received compensation for loss of career. The information could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. The criteria for determining eligibility for compensation, which varied from territory to territory, were set out in each country's schemes.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 February,Official Report, column 125, why it is not possible except at disproportionate cost to state (a) how much money given by Her Majesty's Government was applied for training and scholarships for (i) Greek Cypriots and (ii) Turkish Cypriots in the last three financial years and (b) how many (i) Greek Cypriots and (ii) Turkish Cypriots received training or scholarships funded wholly or partly by Her Majesty's Government in the last three financial years.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Within the technical assistance training programme expenditure on training and scholarships for the period in question is not recorded separately in terms of whether the recipients are from the Greek or Turkish parts of the island. The costs are attributed to the country as a whole as expenditure is incurred. To determine the sums expended by community would require examination of all the files of those who received awards in the three years concerned.

  Following my earlier reply, arrangements are being made to ensure that in future both numbers of recipients and sums expended from aid funds on each community are recorded.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Nursery Education
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many three and four-year-old children in each local education authority area in England are in(a) full-time and (b) part-time nursery education in private nursery schools; and what percentage of the estimated three and four-year-old population in each local education authority area this represents for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dunn
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many three and four-year-old children in each local education authority in England are in(a) full-time and (b) part-time nursery education, in nursery schools and nursery classes of primary schools, excluding any children in reception classes in primary schools and any children in private schools; what percentage of the estimated three and four-year-old population in each local education authority area this represents; and what is the average hourly attendance, per week, of these children in (i) full-time and (ii) part-time nursery education, for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dunn
  The information requested on the numbers and percentages of children in maintained nursery education in January 1987 is given in the table. Information on the average hourly attendance of these pupils is not collected centrally.

  Full-time and part-time pupils aged three and four in nursery schools and classes—January 1987

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Percentage2

  Barking

  95

  861

  24·5

  Barnet

  148

  1,706

  24·7

  347

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Percentage2

  Bexley

  24

  578

  11·6

  Brent

  355

  1,781

  30·1

  Bromley

  0

  122

  1·9

  Croydon

  90

  507

  7·0

  Ealing

  19

  2,310

  28·4

  Enfield

  0

  1,383

  21·0

  Haringey

  419

  1,427

  32·4

  Harrow

  0

  789

  16·1

  Havering

  1

  225

  4·4

  Hillingdon

  3

  2,592

  43·3

  Hounslow

  1,317

  2,294

  64·5

  Kingston upon Thames

  71

  777

  27·4

  Merton

  48

  1,321

  32·6

  Newham

  136

  3,404

  51·3

  Redbridge

  21

  426

  8·4

  Richmond upon Thames

  13

  503

  14·3

  Sutton

  0

  665

  15·8

  Waltham Forest

  148

  2,050

  36·6

  Inner London

  8,070

  11,833

  33·7

  Birmingham

  2,722

  5,114

  27·2

  Coventry

  190

  1,449

  19·7

  Dudley

  151

  1,989

  28·9

  Sandwell

  363

  2,595

  37·0

  Solihull

  0

  1,330

  30·2

  Walsall

  161

  3,026

  48·3

  Wolverhampton

  0

  3,432

  52·0

  Knowsley

  17

  1,551

  30·2

  Liverpool

  1,011

  3,892

  40·2

  St. Helens

  6

  1,184

  25·3

  Sefton

  63

  1,537

  23·2

  Wirral

  32

  1,435

  17·1

  Bolton

  531

  1,701

  30·2

  Bury

  203

  510

  15·8

  Manchester

  3,906

  2,269

  50·2

  Oldham

  703

  1,226

  30·6

  Rochdale

  182

  1,500

  27·6

  Salford

  1,920

  724

  44·1

  Stockport

  229

  670

  12·5

  Tameside

  97

  1,706

  32·2

  Trafford

  8

  593

  11·3

  Wigan

  25

  1,828

  22·6

  Barnsley

  41

  2,499

  44·6

  Doncaster

  62

  3,004

  39·3

  Rotherham

  380

  2,241

  38·5

  Sheffield

  585

  3,739

  37·6

  Bradford

  461

  3,933

  30·3

  Calderdale

  493

  798

  25·8

  Kirklees

  10

  3,627

  35·0

  Leeds

  420

  4,709

  29·5

  Wakefield

  118

  3,300

  42·2

  Gateshead

  48

  1,354

  28·6

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1,191

  1,259

  36·6

  North Tyneside

  111

  1,937

  45·5

  South Tyneside

  77

  1,477

  43·2

  Sunderland

  145

  2,677

  33·2

  Avon

  1,502

  1,399

  13·0

  Bedfordshire

  683

  3,619

  28·3

  Berkshire

  261

  4,438

  23·9

  Buckinghamshire

  0

  2,095

  12·8

  Cambridgeshire

  202

  1,644

  11·5

  Cheshire

  114

  3,741

  16·3

  Cleveland

  13

  7,200

  45·4

  Cornwall3

  41

  1,246

  13·4

  Cumbria

  154

  1,744

  16·8

  Derbyshire

  856

  4,610

  24·3

  Devon

  245

  1,700

  9·0

  348

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Percentage2

  Dorset

  0

  739

  6·0

  Durham

  324

  4,674

  33·3

  East Sussex

  7

  940

  6·9

  Essex

  193

  1,864

  5·5

  Gloucestershire1

  0

  0

  0·0

  Hampshire

  16

  1,706

  4·5

  Hereford and Worcester

  150

  753

  5·6

  Hertfordshire

  178

  7,213

  30·0

  Humberside

  1,015

  5,351

  29·9

  Isle of Wight

  15

  88

  4·3

  Kent

  5

  1,792

  4·9

  Lancashire

  174

  4,638

  13·4

  Leicestershire

  1,493

  3,483

  21·4

  Lincolnshire

  151

  768

  6·9

  Norfolk

  5

  825

  5·2

  North Yorkshire

  275

  2,171

  15·9

  Northamptonshire

  380

  1,943

  15·9

  Northumberland

  133

  1,373

  20·1

  Nottinghamshire

  370

  9,942

  42·4

  Oxfordshire

  164

  1,568

  12·4

  Shropshire

  2

  1,095

  11·3

  Somerset

  47

  25

  0·7

  Staffordshire

  2,430

  3,177

  21·3

  Suffolk

  16

  1,999

  13·4

  Surrey

  83

  2,437

  11·3

  Warwickshire

  28

  1,689

  14·8

  West Sussex

  25

  478

  3·4

  Wiltshire

  2

  201

  1·4

  ENGLAND

  39,392

  211,737

  21·3

  1This authority has no nursery schools or classes.

  2Total number of three and four year old children in nursery schools and classes as a percentage of the estimated three and four year old population.

  3Includes Isles of Scilly.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out, in respect of each inner London borough council(a) the actual number of staff transferring to it on 1 April 1986 as a result of the abolition of the Greater London council and (b) his estimate of the number of staff to be transferred to it at 1 April 1990 as a result of the abolition of the Inner London education authority.

  Mr. Dunn
  [holding answer 18 February 1988]: Some 100,000 staff were transferred from the Greater London council to successor authorities by the main statutory order. Of these, the majority transferred to the joint authorities and the Inner London education authority, and separate figures by boroughs are not available. My right hon. Friend has said that we expect block transfer arrangements to cover well over 80 per cent. of ILEA staff, that is over 56,000 full-time equivalent staff.

WALES

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of National Health Service prescriptions issued per year in Wales in respect of single-course treatments for which more than one prescription charge was levied; and what are the revenues accruing.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not available.

  It is not possible to identify from information given on prescription forms whether the items being prescribed are for a single course of treatment or otherwise.

  Felinheli (Port Dinorwic) Bypass
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he now anticipates building of the Felinheli (Port Dinorwic) bypass in Gwynedd will begin; and when he proposes to go out to tender with regard to this scheme.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Felinheli (Port Dinorwic) bypass is programmed to start in the period January 1988-December 1990, as set out in "Roads in Wales 1985". Invitation of tenders will depend on the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the availability of financial resources.

  Eye tests by hospital opticians1

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Clwyd

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Dyfed

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Pembrokeshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  119

  Gwynedd

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Mid Glamorgan

  215

  86

  77

  152

  41

  90

  51

  Powys

  28

  64

  49

  36

  27

  36

  39

  South Glamorgan

  12

  36

  44

  27

  50

  32

  46

  West Glamorgan

  118

  22

  200

  620

  331

  517

  518

  Wales

  373

  208

  370

  835

  449

  675

  773

  1 First attendance as an out-patient.

  Dental inspections by the community dental service1

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  21986–87

  Clwyd

  47,687

  59,584

  64,030

  54,259

  48,045

  44,667

  43,357

  East Dyfed

  54,967

  54,959

  33,601

  34,839

  32,901

  31,915

  38,494

  Pembrokeshire

  16,091

  15,508

  17,406

  19,861

  17,269

  Gwent

  68,063

  66,385

  60,562

  77,991

  60,344

  65,431

  56,609

  Gwynedd

  16,941

  11,349

  12,082

  12,426

  20,266

  21,799

  19,125

  Mid Glamorgan

  90,742

  99,859

  92,070

  84,760

  86.396

  77,365

  72,369

  Powys

  17,987

  22,071

  16,708

  20,275

  18,423

  19,200

  22,109

  South Glamorgan

  44,056

  44,694

  45,205

  45,128

  41,555

  43,383

  41,768

  West Glamorgan

  42,303

  42,276

  43,036

  40,971

  45,486

  49,366

  53,157

  Wales

  382,746

  401,177

  383,385

  386,157

  370,822

  372,987

  364,157

  1 Includes first and subsequent inspections.

  2 Financial year 1986–87.

  Hospital Out-patients (dental)1

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Clwyd

  2,987

  3,027

  2,941

  2,897

  2,635

  3,180

  3,573

  East Dyfed

  996

  937

  1,036

  1,642

  1,461

  1,715

  1,933

  Pembrokeshire

  356

  908

  687

  670

  641

  725

  768

  Gwent

  2,072

  2,258

  2,717

  3,210

  3,103

  3,237

  3,154

  Gwynedd

  1,506

  1,452

  1,455

  1,451

  1,567

  1,812

  1,364

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,357

  1,506

  1,686

  2,573

  2,878

  2,845

  2,303

  Powys

  —

  —

  —

  129

  191

  178

  227

  South Glamorgan

  22,451

  21,906

  18,413

  18,383

  19,878

  21,980

  20,927

  West Glamorgan

  4,352

  3,884

  4,317

  4,848

  5,033

  4,887

  4,114

  Wales

  36,077

  35,878

  33,252

  35,803

  37,387

  40,559

  38,363

  3 First visit as an out-patient (dental surgery and orthodontics).

  (thousands)

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Eye tests by the General Ophthalmic Service in Wales

  576

  489

  499

  519

  561

  597

  623

  Dental examinations by the General Dental Service in Wales

  1,458

  1,467

  1,542

  1,580

  1,637

  1,665

  11,751

  1 Financial year 1986–87

  Eye Test and Dental Examinations
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) eye tests and (b) dental examinations took place in Wales in each of the years 1980 to 1986 by area health authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 November 1987, c. 405–8]: I regret that the last line of the table—namely, that part which related to dental examinations by the general dental service—contained errors. The following table provides the amended information:

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the review of the Government's legal service will examine and make recommendations on all aspects of the management of legal staff of the Crown prosecution service and the office of the procurator fiscal.

  The Attorney-General
  The terms of reference of this review are to consider:

  1. what legal services are needed by the Government;

  2. how those services can most effectively and economically be provided and organised, taking account of the Government's policies of privatisation and of contracting out;

  3. what changes are needed in the management of legal staff in Government service, including their recruitment, retention, training, deployment and remuneration, so as to make best use of them;

  and to make recommendations.

  The review will therefore cover the work of the Crown prosecution service and, I understand, the office of the Procurator Fiscal. However, it is unlikely to look in detail at the structure and organisation of the Crown prosecution service because the department is so new.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he is satisfied with the workings of the Crown prosecution service; and whether he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown prosecution service has now been in existence for almost 18 months throughout England and Wales, and slightly longer in the old Metropolitan local authority areas. It has had a difficult time, principally because it has not yet been able to recruit all the lawyers needed, and this has placed great strains on its staff, who have had to work long and hard to cope with these shortages. I am more than satisfied with their work.

  There has also been a considerable amount of criticism of the service's work. Some of it has been well founded; more of it has not, deriving from shortcomings for which the service itself was not responsible. Despite its problems the Crown prosecution service is fulfilling the tasks set for it; there is now a prosecution service in every area of the country, national policies on prosecutions have been developed and implemented, and there is increasing evidence of an improvment in the quality of cases coming before the courts. The Director of Public Prosecutions has decide on a management strategy for the future of the service which will build on these achievements.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Attorney-General what changes have taken place in the remuneration of the staff of the Crown prosecution service since their salaries were debated in the House on 11 December 1985,Official Report columns 1009–24.

  The Attorney-General
  In addition to the 1986 and 1987 Civil Service pay awards the following changes have been made to the pay of staff employed within the Crown prosecution service:

  1. An allowance payable to Crown prosecutors and senior Crown prosecutors working within the London, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Kent and Thames Valley areas of the Crown prosecution service. This allowance is also payable to grade 6 lawyers working within the London, Surrey, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire areas.
  352
  2. An additional allowance is payable to Crown prosecutors and senior Crown prosecutors who cover some weekend or bank holiday court sittings.

  3. Following the transfer of staff from local authorities to the Civil Service a number of pay anomalies were identified. The great majority of these have been resolved and this has involved the payment of additional salary to some 500 staff.

  4. An additional increment has been added to the salary scale maxima of those staff at grades 4 to 7. This increment will be awarded to those officers whose performance meets the criteria for payment of a performance point.

  The following table indicates the salary scale minima and maxima of staff employed in the grades shown within the service, as they were at April 1985 and as they are now.

  Salary scales Minimum and maximum

  Grade

  As at April 1986

  As at January 1988

  5 Chief Crown Prosecutor (Mainly)

  20,964–25,533

  124,765–29,465

  6 Branch Crown Prosecutor (Mainly)

  17,000–22,926

  118,786–26,335

  7 Equivalent to Senior Crown Prosecutor

  13,508–18,363

  115,030–21,092

  Crown Prosecutor

  10,500–15,000

  11,603–16,576

  Senior Executive Officer

  10,980–13,801

  12,225–15,779

  Higher Executive Officer

  8,896–11,265

  9,985–12,878

  Executive Officer

  4,953–8,917

  5,870–10,292

  Clerical Officer

  3,149–6,293

  3,664–7,247

  Clerical Assistant

  2,898–5,054

  3,314–5,799

  Senior Personal Secretary

  6,088–7,797

  8,400–10,150

  Personal Secretary

  5,322–6,607

  6,607–7,846

  Typing Manager

  7,600–8,800

  8,400–10,100

  Typist

  4,400–5,720

  4,964–6,363

  1 Includes additional increment payable under the performance scheme.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Attorney-General how many officers have been seconded from outside London to London in each quarter since the Crown prosecution service was set up; what was the extra cost of such secondments, and what is the present shortfall of staff(a) generally and (b) in the London area.

  The Attorney-General
  The number of officers seconded from outside London to the three London areas since the Crown prosecution service became fully operational on 1 October 1986 was as follows:

  126 in the quarter ended 31 December 1986;

  160 in the quarter ended 31 March 1987;

  132 in the quarter ended 30 June 1987;

  33 in the quarter ended 30 September 1987;

  26 in the quarter ended 31 December 1987.

  The extra cost of such secondments was approximately £630,000.

  As at 30 January 1988 the Crown prosecution service had vacancies for 718·5 staff. Of these 253 were within the London area.

  Commonhold
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Attorney-General what is his response to the recommendations of the working group of the Law Commission on commonhold (Cm. 179); and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The working group report Cm. 179, to which my hon. Friend refers, was published in July
  353
  last. It makes far-reaching recommendations. A decision on implementation will be taken when these have been fully considered.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Government Offices (Smoking)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will give details of arrangements for designated non-smoking areas in Government buildings.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 25 February 1988]: This information is not held centrally. It is for each Government Department to determine arrangements for non-smoking areas in its buildings taking account of local circumstances.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make it his policy to ban smoking in all Government offices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 25 February 1988]: It is for individual Government Departments to decide what measures to take to restrict smoking in their offices. I encourage Departments to take whatever steps are practicable to achieve this and have asked Departments to give every encouragement to local managers to conduct surveys of the attitudes of their staff with a view to extending non-smoking areas in offices.

  In my own Department, management, staff and trade unions are co-operating in a trial ban on smoking at the workplace. I will pass on the lessons from this exercise to other Government Departments.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Out-patient Waiting Times
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to publish details of out-patient waiting times on a district by district basis; and if he will make a statement.

  Number of patients on in-patient waiting list at 31 March, 1981 to 1987, for Leicestershire District Authority.

  Specialty

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  General medicine

  10

  4

  3

  3

  15

  3

  6

  Neurology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  Cardiology

  165

  250

  298

  230

  172

  225

  183

  Rheumatology

  0

  0

  0

  6

  15

  0

  4

  Geriatrics

  87

  67

  51

  70

  65

  61

  10

  Units for younger disabled

  6

  11

  15

  12

  11

  16

  0

  General surgery

  1,232

  894

  983

  668

  912

  1,172

  928

  Ear, nose and throat

  759

  870

  852

  887

  1,208

  1,371

  1,553

  Traumatic and orthopaedic

  2,113

  2,112

  1,969

  1,596

  1,391

  1,226

  1,340

  Ophthalmology

  621

  442

  465

  492

  515

  573

  727

  Radiotherapy

  34

  59

  47

  71

  82

  106

  14

  Urology

  147

  113

  377

  358

  331

  396

  452

  Plastic surgery

  602

  500

  555

  436

  553

  818

  1,091

  Thoracic surgery

  154

  173

  246

  282

  358

  307

  446

  Oral surgery

  127

  225

  374

  373

  557

  482

  260

  Gynaecology

  815

  836

  603

  655

  1,040

  1,124

  1,151

  Mental handicap

  49

  42

  37

  37

  33

  0

  0

  Mental illness

  17

  0

  4

  2

  0

  7

  15

  G.P. other

  3

  3

  1

  1

  4

  4

  9

  Psychogeriatric

  41

  70

  86

  59

  57

  61

  68

  Forensic Psychiatry

  0

  0

  0

  0

  11

  10

  10

  Total

  6,982

  6,671

  6,966

  6,238

  7,330

  7,962

  8,278

  354
  Mr. Newton
  Information on out-patients waiting times is not at present collected centrally.

  Cervical Cancer
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time nationally for the results of cervical cancer smear tests; and what is the average waiting time for women in north Staffordshire.

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

  The average processing time in North Staffordshire districrt health authority in the same period was eight weeks.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the waiting list figures by specialty in the Leicestershire health authority as at 31 March for each year from 1981 to 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  The requested information is given in the table.
  355

  Specialty

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  of which percentage waiting over a year

  25·6

  25·1

  21·2

  19·6

  14·8

  14·2

  113·6

  1 Value imputed as numbers waiting over a year not available for Trent region.

  Cancer Screening
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cervical cancer screening laboratories there are in Great Britain; what is the ratio of adult women to laboratories; what are the levels of staffing per laboratory; and how much funding each laboratory receives.

  Mrs. Currie
  In 1986 in England there were 196 NHS laboratories. The number of women aged 20 to 64 (the eligible age group for routine screening within the computerised call and recall system) was 13·69 million, a ratio of 69,871 women to each laboratory. If they were all screened every five years, this would generate an average of 13,974 smears a year for each laboratory. On average in 1986 the number of cervical smears screened per laboratory was 18,923 and the average number of staff was 4·4*. Information on funding is not available centrally.

  * Source: DHSS form SBH 140.

  NHS (Management)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce an integrated National Health

  The number of patient on the in-patients waiting list in Crewe District Health Authority by specially as at 31 March 1981–87

  Specialty

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  General medicine

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Dermatology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  0

  Geriatrics

  3

  3

  0

  1

  7

  0

  0

  General surgery

  2,186

  2,366

  2,499

  2,169

  2,343

  1,681

  915

  Ear, nose and throat

  521

  702

  747

  675

  736

  654

  195

  Traumatic and orthopaedic

  160

  222

  290

  198

  361

  330

  335

  Ophthalmology

  140

  182

  151

  161

  153

  202

  219

  Urology

  308

  325

  505

  471

  689

  682

  665

  Oral surgery

  183

  219

  297

  353

  405

  362

  356

  Gynaecology

  592

  653

  698

  644

  754

  766

  824

  Mental handicap

  16

  15

  15

  15

  15

  15

  0

  Psychogeriatric

  0

  0

  0

  4

  4

  0

  0

  Total

  4,109

  4,687

  5,202

  4,691

  5,467

  4,695

  3,512

  of which percentage waiting over a year

  37·5

  43·4

  42·6

  42·6

  44·2

  44·7

  37·6

  Single Payments
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services for how long supplementary benefit single payments were made in the United Kingdom; what was the cost thereof for 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87; and what are the latest figures for 1987–88.

  Mr. Portillo
  Regulated single payments have been made since November 1980. The information requested on expenditure is given below:

  £ million

  1983–84

  183

  1984–85

  266

  356
  Service management system based on the United States of America model of Provider Review Organisations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moore
  As my hon. Friend will be aware, the Government are undertaking a wide-ranging, internal review of the National Health Service. At this stage we are not ruling out any proposals for reform.

  Crewe District Health Authority
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will tabulate by specialty the number of cases dealt with by the Crewe district health authority for each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) on 17 December 1987 at column 715.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will tabulate by specialty the waiting list figures in the Crewe health authority as at 31 March in each year since 1981.

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

  £ million

  1985–86

  368

  1986–87

  365

  1987–881

  166

  1 8 April 1987 to 12 Janary 1988.

  Note: Information for 1986–87 and 1987–88 is provisional.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report for each local office in Great Britain the single payment expenditure for the 32 weeks ended on 7 April 1987 and for the corresponding period in 1985–86 and 1984–85, and the supplementary benefit case load for each in the same period.
  357
  Mr. Portillo
  The single payment expenditure by each of the Department's local offices in Great Britain for the 32 weeks ended on 7 April 1987 is available in the table "Supplementary Benefit Single Payment Expenditure, 27 August 1986 to 7 April 1987".

  The number of people receiving supplementary benefit, by local office, on 10 February 1987 is available in the table, "Analysis of Supplementary Benefit Claimants as at 10 February and 28 July 1987".

  Copies of each of the tables are in the Library.

  Similar information for the corresponding periods in 1984–85 and 1985–86 is not available in the form requested and would be disproportionately costly to obtain.

  Church Hill House Hospitals
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to transfer mentally handicapped patients from the Church Hill House hospital, Bracknell, to community care settings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  It is for the health authority and the local authority to co-operate to provide a comprehensive range of co-ordinated health and social services for mentally handicapped people and their families. The total number of residents at Church Hill House is expected to fall from 220 in April 1987 to 165 by April 1990. Community provision is expected to increase by 75 long-term beds and 29 short-term care beds. The East Berkshire health authority has also made significant progress in the provision of four community teams and a range of day care in co-operation with social services to ensure that people in the community are adequately supported. A decision about the remaining residents and the long-term future of the hospital will be taken in the light of the success in developing new services.

  Health Centres
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to encourage general practitioners to purchase health centres from health authorities.

  Mr. Newton
  We already provide financial incentives to general practitioners to purchase health centres offered for sale by health authorities.

  Sickness and Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of people claiming sickness and invalidity benefit at the present time; and what was the number of people claiming sickness and invalidity benefit in February 1987.

  Mr. Portillo
  The total number of people claiming sickness and invalidity benefit as at 9 February 1988 was 1,298,000, and at 10 February 1987 was 1,297,000 (figures rounded to the nearest thousand).

  Drugs (Costs)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to encourage dispensing chemists to issue a receipt for each dispensed prescription showing the cost of the drugs dispensed.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to do so.

  South-East Thames Regional Health Authority
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the estimated population for each of the last 10 years for the South-East Thames regional health authority area and each of its constituent district health authority areas; and what estimates are available for the future.

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

  Persons (thousands)

  Estimated Resident Population at Mid Year

  Health Authority

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  (a) Actual South East Thames RHA

  3,601

  3,585

  3,580

  3,587

  3,589

  Brighton DHA

  302

  300

  299

  298

  298

  Eastbourne DHA

  205

  208

  210

  212

  213

  Hastings DHA

  151

  151

  152

  153

  154

  South East Kent DHA

  252

  253

  253

  255

  256

  Canterbury and Thanet DHA

  284

  285

  287

  291

  293

  Dartford and Gravesham DHA

  221

  222

  224

  225

  224

  Maidstone DHA

  185

  186

  187

  189

  190

  Medway

  315

  316

  318

  320

  322

  Tunbridge Wells DHA

  200

  200

  199

  199

  200

  Bexley DHA

  217

  217

  216

  217

  217

  Greenwich DHA

  214

  213

  214

  216

  216

  Bromley DHA

  299

  299

  298

  298

  299

  West Lambeth DHA

  184

  176

  170

  166

  163

  Camberwell DHA

  233

  227

  224

  222

  222

  Lewisham and North Southwark DHA

  339

  333

  329

  326

  323

  Estimated Resident Population at Mid Year

  Health Authority

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  South East Thames RHA

  3,585

  3,586

  3,595

  3,602

  3,619

  Brighton DHA

  299

  300

  299

  297

  298

  Eastbourne DHA

  216

  218

  221

  224

  228

  Hastings DHA

  155

  157

  159

  162

  164

  South East Kent DHA

  257

  257

  260

  262

  264

  Canterbury and Thanet DHA

  295

  294

  296

  300

  301

  Dartford and Gravesham DHA

  224

  223

  223

  221

  221

  Maidstone DHA

  191

  192

  194

  194

  196

  Medway

  322

  322

  321

  322

  324

  Tunbridge Wells DHA

  199

  198

  198

  196

  196

  Bexley DHA

  218

  218

  218

  219

  220

  Greenwich DHA

  216

  216

  216

  216

  218

  Bromley DHA

  298

  299

  298

  298

  297

  West Lambeth DHA

  159

  158

  157

  163

  164

  Camberwell DHA

  216

  214

  216

  212

  212

  Lewisham and North Southwark DHA

  321

  320

  319

  317

  317

  1991

  1996

  2001

  (b) Projected (1985-Based) South East Thames RHA

  3,685

  3,758

  3,822

  Brighton DHA

  298

  301

  304

  Eastbourne DHA

  236

  245

  252

  359

  1991

  1996

  2001

  Hastings DHA

  171

  178

  184

  South East Kent DHA

  273

  283

  292

  Canterbury and Thanet DHA

  312

  320

  327

  Dartford and Gravesham DHA

  221

  222

  222

  Maidstone DHA

  201

  207

  212

  Medway

  333

  341

  348

  Tunbridge Wells DHA

  194

  194

  194

  Bexley DHA

  218

  220

  222

  Greenwich DHA

  221

  227

  233

  Bromley DHA

  300

  304

  310

  West Lambeth DHA

  165

  165

  163

  Camberwell

  217

  220

  223

  Lewisham and North Southwark DHA

  326

  331

  335

  Repetitive Strain Injury
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure the compiling of statistics to indicate the scale of repetitive strain injury problems in Britain.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret we cannot do so as such problems are mostly treated by general practitioners. The cost of compiling comprehensive statistics on the wide range of conditions treated by general practitioners would greatly exceed the benefits obtained from the information.

  Free School Milk and Meals
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which pupils will be entitled to free school milk and free school lunches following the social securiy changes which come into force in April.

  Mr. Portillo
  Pupils in families who receive income support will he entitled to free school meals on the same basis as those in families who currently receive supplementary benefit. Milk may be provided as part of the meal. In the new family credit scheme, the child credits include an extra £2.55 a week, in each week of the year, in place of free school meals. It is estimated that around 100,000 more school-age children will benefit under the family credit scheme compared to those who currently receive free school meals under the family income supplement and local authorities' discretionary schemes combined.

  Mr. E. A. Kerrod
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services why the appeal against a reduction in the amount of his reduced earning allowance by Mr. E. A. Kerrod, of 49 New road, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, which was submitted to the clerk to the social security appeal tribunal in Cardiff on 26 October 1987, has still not been heard; how many other cases await decision by the tribunal; what is the average and longest period that an appeal is outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that Mr. Kerrod's appeal has been listed for hearing on 9 March 1988.

  In Wales, for the quarter ending 6 June 1987, (the latest available figures) there were 10,767 appeals awaiting to be heard and the average length of time from lodgement to hearing was 18.4 weeks. Individual figures are not available for appeals taking more than 21 weeks to clear; 25 per cent. of all social security appeals fall into this category.
  360
  The subject of delays in the hearing of social security appeals is of great concern both to me and to His Honour Judge Byrt, who, as the president of Social Security and Medical Appeal Tribunals, has the responsibility for administering the social security appeal tribunals in Great Britain.

  Judge Byrt has written a statement which sets out the practical difficulties presently facing his organisation and the steps which he is taking to overcome them. A copy of this statement of 4 February 1988 has been placed in the Library.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are in receipt of the long-term rate of supplementary benefit for the latest date and for equivalent dates in the previous five years.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is contained in table 34.40 of "Social Security Statistics 1987", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will seek to ban the sale of tobacco products for oral use; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department has written today to a number of companies that manufacture tobacco products for oral use, their representative organisations and other interested parties to inform them that, pursuant to section 11(5) of the Consumer Protection Act, the Government propose to make safety regulations under section 11 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 to prohibit persons from supplying or from offering to supply, agreeing to supply, exposing for supply or possessing for supply, certain oral tobacco products. The Government are concerned that the use of such products is causally associated with an increased risk of oral cancer. Bodies whose interests are affected are asked to make representations on the Government's proposals by 26 May 1988. The products we are considering are fine cut, ground or particulate tobacco products prepared, sold or advertised for oral use other than smoking or chewing. This does not include traditional solid chewing tobacco, loose tobacco for making up into cigarettes or snuff for nasal use. We are primarily concerned with products used in the mouth, often in a moist form held between the cheek and the gum, which can give rise to cancer of the mouth.

  Thalidomide
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received regarding a constituent of the hon. Member for Solihull, Miss Nancy Hood, of Beechwood Park road in Solihull, and her need for the drug thalidomide; and what steps he will take to ensure its availability to her;

  (2) if he will make a statement regarding the sources of availability of the drug thalidomide as a treatment for certain skin ailments.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 21 January 1988]: No product licences under the Medicines Act for thalidomide tablets are held in the United Kingdom. Two sources of the unlicensed medicine are available: the West German

  361
  orginators who impose supply requirements which are not possible to comply with and a Brazilian manufacturer whose product is of unknown quality and related safety. The Department is willing to conduct tests in which the Brazilian product is compared with that produced by the originator. If Miss Hood's doctor is satisfied with the results of these tests he would be able to obtain a sufficient supply to treat her on his own responsibility in accordance with the provisions of sections 9(1) and 13(1) of the Medicines Act 1968 and the Medicines (Exemption from Licences) (Importation) Order 1984.

  Health Services (Demand)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the most recently available estimates of the percentage changes in demand on the hospital and community health services due to demographic change for each year from 1972–73 to 1995–96; and if he will put in the Library details of the methods used to arrive at the estimates.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 18 February 1988]: The estimates of growth in demographic demand on the hospital and community health services for the years 1972–73 to 1995–96 are as follows:

  Year

  Per cent.

  1972–73

  0·0

  1973–74

  -0·1

  1974–75

  0·0

  1975–76

  0·1

  1976–77

  0·2

  1977–78

  0·3

  1978–79

  1·0

  1979–80

  1·3

  1980–81

  1·1

  1981–82

  0·4

  1982–83

  0·4

  1983–84

  0·5

  1984–85

  0·6

  1985–86

  1·3

  1986–87

  1·0

  1987–88

  1·0

  1988–89

  1·0

  1989–90

  1·0

  1990–91

  0·9

  1991–92

  0·7

  1992–93

  0·5

  1993–94

  0·3

  1994–95

  0·3

  1995–96

  0·9

  Details of the method used to arrive at the estimates are given in answer to question 2 of the Social Services Select Committee Report, Session 1986–87, "Public expenditure on the social services 1987" (HC413).

  Number of available beds in each London District Health Authority for the years 1979 to 1986.

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  District Health Authority

  Barnet

  2,840·7

  2,799·6

  2,771·3

  2,748·1

  2,670·4

  2,550·9

  2,444·8

  2,324·0

  Harrow

  908 ·1

  901·6

  914·0

  938·4

  934·8

  877·9

  904·5

  886·3

  Hillingdon

  1,627·5

  1,479·6

  1,528·04

  1,525·7

  1,498·9

  1,405·9

  1,378·2

  1,329·1

  Hounslow and Spelthorne1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1,548·1

  1,497·3

  1,446·9

  1,381·7

  1,356·3

  Ealing

  1,708·9

  1,712·9

  1,752·6

  1,724·9

  1,663·4

  1,622·3

  1,543·4

  1,509·2

  Brent

  2,315·9

  2,332·3

  2,262·5

  2,272·9

  2,203·1

  2,058·8

  1,939·0

  1,882·9

  Paddington and North Kensington

  1,364·7

  1,275·8

  1,235·7

  1,215·7

  1,210·9

  1,187·0

  1,2113

  1,208·4

  Riverside2

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  3,464·6

  3,090·6

  362
  Estimates of increased demand on services from demographic change are expressed in expenditure terms but this does not imply that increased spending is the only way in which increased demand can be met.

  Pharmaceuticals (Adverse Reactions)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions his Department or the Committee on Safety of Medicines has investigated allegations that a pharmaceutical company failed to report adverse reactions to one of its products; on what date each inquiry commenced; in each case whether or not the allegation was found to be generally justified; and when the allegations were justified, what action was taken.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 23 February 1988]: The Department is currently investigating allegations that two pharmaceutical companies failed to report known serious adverse reactions to the Committee on Safety Medicines. The investigations which began respectively in November 1986 and November 1987 are continuing. Because information on suspected under-reporting is held on files relating to specific products and containing full licensing information, a count of earlier possible instances cannot be made without disproportionate cost.

  Busparone
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the prescribing of the drug Busparone; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 24 February 1988]: I have received no representations about prescribing Busparone. This is a licensed medicinal product and doctors are free to prescribe it if they think it clinically appropriate for their patients. In common with all such products, Busparone will be subject to the special reporting arrangements of the Committee on Safety of Medicines in respect of suspected adverse drug reactions.

  Health Authority Statistics
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list by London health authority the total available patient beds for each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 2 February 1988]: The available information is given in the table.
  363

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  3,283·2

  3,237·8

  3,182·8

  3,095·0

  3,033·0

  2,984·2

  2,877·9

  2,764·8

  Hampstead1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1,963·4

  1,918·5

  1,893·7

  1,874·6

  1,818·3

  Bloomsbury1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  2,486·7

  2,489·5

  2,344·4

  2,115·8

  1,971·0

  Islington1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1,176·9

  1,104·8

  1,018·4

  916·6

  865·8

  City and Hackney1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1,887·2

  1,883·9

  1,852·8

  1,754·2

  1,685·8

  Newhara

  940·6

  923·5

  936·4

  886·5

  845·4

  877·2

  879·8

  8761

  Tower Hamlet1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1,433·2

  1,396·4

  1,363·3

  1,354·7

  1,289·6

  Enfield

  1,233·8

  1,216·6

  1,137·2

  1,087·1

  1,113·7

  1,076·3

  1,068·9

  1,055·2

  Haringey

  1,235·8

  1,122·3

  1,142·6

  1,156·6

  1,108·8

  1,027·9

  986·4

  1,071·9

  Redbridge

  1,654·8

  1,655·0

  1,650·4

  1,632·6

  1,644·3

  1,630·2

  1,616·9

  1,552·8

  Waltham Forest

  3,310·7

  3,317·9

  3,244·8

  3,050·5

  2,841·9

  2,667·4

  2,508·0

  2,406·6

  Bexley

  1,653·2

  1,666·9

  1,635·1

  1,584·8

  1,542·5

  1,468·4

  1,435·3

  1,386·3

  Greenwich

  1,776·9

  1,666·1

  1,623·0

  1,598·4

  1,611·1

  1,585·8

  1,516·6

  1,333·6

  Bromley

  2,590·8

  2,490·6

  2,466·4

  2,376·6

  2,295·6

  2,116·2

  1,988·9

  1,887·0

  West Lambeth1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  2,100·2

  2,119·4

  2,065·8

  1,992·8

  1,887·1

  Camberwell

  1,432·3

  1,366·4

  1,332·3

  1,289·3

  1,279·1

  1,232·4

  1,263·7

  1,231·7

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  2,335·5

  2,257·1

  2207·5

  2,184·7

  2,194·3

  2,058·0

  2,047·7

  1,909·5

  Croydon

  3,191·8

  3,089·0

  3,006·0

  2,928·9

  2,860·4

  2,728·2

  2,637·3

  2,396·5

  Kingston and Esher1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1,563·7

  1,517·0

  1,456·9

  1,416·2

  1,377·6

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  978·5

  970·0

  916·1

  867·7

  859·5

  Wandsworth

  2,870·9

  2,688·8

  2,543·4

  2,475·7

  2,493·8

  2,533·8

  2,337·5

  2,234·3

  Merton and Sutton

  2,687·1

  2,609·6

  2,509·7

  2,495·4

  2,477·0

  2,389·8

  2,332·4

  2,235·0

  The Hospitals for Sick Children

  517·4

  506·0

  543·8

  494·4

  473·7

  418·3

  409·8

  402·2

  The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases

  356·5

  355·4

  344·6

  355·7

  350·8

  341·1

  348·7

  337·9

  Moorfields Eye Hospital

  207·7

  203·9

  204·1

  207·8

  2101

  181·1

  163·1

  151·7

  Bethlea Royal and Maudsley Hospitals

  471·9

  492·0

  496·7

  500·8

  497·6

  505·9

  504·2

  511·3

  The National Heart and Chest Hospitals

  602·9

  570·3

  577·4

  555·6

  552·4

  540·1

  448·6

  423·2

  The Royal Marsden Hospital

  360·7

  360·6

  350·1

  340·2

  342·6

  332·6

  343·7

  354·2

  Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  891·4

  899·7

  916·6

  868·1

  844·6

  The Eastman Dental Hospital

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Total — GLC

  43,480·3

  42,297·6

  41,598·8

  56·751·6

  55,746·1

  53,672·6

  55,143·6

  52,707·9

  1 Comparable figures not readily available because of NHS restructuring on 1 April 1982.

  2 Comparable figures not available prior to 1985.

SCOTLAND

  Education Budgets
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent by each regional authority

  Expenditure on repairs and maintenance expressed as a percentage of the education budget.

  Region

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Borders

  1·96

  2·15

  2·49

  1·84

  2·29

  Central

  3·36

  3·32

  3·96

  3·83

  3·93

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2·89

  3·60

  3·94

  3·13

  3·93

  Fife

  4·42

  4·42

  4·13

  3·95

  4·00

  Grampian

  4·38

  3·95

  5·21

  3·35

  4·01

  Highland

  3·05

  3·58

  5·62

  3·05

  3·88

  Lothian

  3·81

  4·64

  4·13

  4·20

  5·10

  Strathclyde

  4·56

  5·06

  5·05

  4·97

  4·51

  Tayside

  3·91

  4·37

  3·97

  3·61

  3·96

  Orkney

  1·97

  3·16

  2·57

  3·73

  3·32

  Shetland

  3·96

  3·58

  3·39

  3·42

  3·60

  Western Isles

  3·41

  4·85

  2·73

  2·92

  2·66

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the percentage
  364
  in Scotland on repairs and maintenance of schools, expressing this as a percentage of each region's education budget in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information available is given in the following table which has been compiled from local authority financial returns and budget estimates.

  of each region's education budget spent on (a) teaching staff and (b) non-teaching staff in each of the past five years.
  365
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is given in the following tables:

  Region/Islands

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  (a) Expenditure on teaching staff as a percentage of total education spending

  Borders

  57·0

  57·9

  56·3

  58·0

  59·6

  Central

  57·7

  57·3

  57·1

  56·7

  59·1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  57·7

  57·5

  57·1

  58·8

  59·8

  Fife

  56·3

  57·6

  55·9

  57·5

  59·9

  Grampian

  58·0

  57·7

  57·0

  58·8

  59·6

  Highland

  56·6

  56·1

  56·1

  57·6

  59·4

  Lothian

  57·6

  56·7

  57·9

  55·6

  55·4

  Strathclyde

  50·5

  50·3

  49·9

  51·1

  52·9

  Tayside

  57·5

  56·6

  56·2

  56·7

  58·3

  Orkney

  52·4

  51 2

  46·9

  48·0

  48·3

  Shetland

  47·6

  48·3

  48·1

  47·8

  50·6

  Western Isles

  53·3

  50·0

  52·0

  51·1

  3·9

  (b) Expenditure on non·teaching staff as a percentage of total education spending

  Borders

  12·7

  12·9

  12 ·9

  13·4

  12·8

  Central

  14·9

  15·1

  15·2

  15·8

  15·7

  Dumfries and Galloway

  13·8

  13·6

  14·1

  14·2

  13·7

  Fife

  15·6

  16·1

  15·9

  16·8

  16·4

  Grampian

  15·8

  16·4

  16·0

  17·0

  16·5

  Highland

  13·6

  13·7

  13·5

  13·4

  12·9

  Lothian

  19·7

  19·8

  20·0

  19·4

  18·5

  Strathclyde

  19·4

  19·4

  19·3

  19·8

  19·1

  Tayside

  15·3

  15·6

  16·0

  16·1

  16·4

  Orkney

  16·0

  15·5

  16·4

  18·2

  17·5

  Shetland

  17·0

  17·2

  17·5

  18·5

  18·9

  Western Isles

  12·5

  13·8

  14·8

  15·1

  15·2

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the amount spent per pupil on books and relevant education material, adjusted for inflation by each regional authority in Scotland in 1978–79, 1982–83 and 1986–87.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information available is given in the following table which has been compiled from local authority financial returns. Expenditure on equipment was not separately identified in these returns until 1982–83.

  Expenditure per pupil on text and library books and educational tools, equipment and materials

  £s at 1986–87 prices

  Region

  1978–791

  1982–83

  1986–87

  Borders

  7·16

  11·76

  14·48

  Central

  7·53

  29·89

  32·41

  Dumfries and Galloway

  11·02

  27·91

  46·97

  Fife

  9·32

  24·63

  38·13

  Grampian

  8·80

  31·68

  35·25

  Highland

  22·86

  43·79

  43·32

  Lothian

  10·07

  30·12

  30·54

  Strathclyde

  13·11

  29·92

  31·60

  Tayside

  5·83

  35·81

  40·51

  Orkney

  4·76

  37·93

  40·51

  Shetland

  12·04

  18·18

  57·43

  Western Isles

  4·33

  67·87

  24·98

  1 Figures for 1978–79 relate only to expenditure on text and library books.

  Hospitals (Competitive Tendering)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all individuals and organisations he has met since June 1987 in order to discuss competitive tendering in hospital services, together with the date of those meetings.
  366
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  On 13 August 1987 I met Mr. Murray and Mr. Howell of the British Hostels, Restaurants and Caterers Association and Mr. Hall, Mr. Bisley and Mrs. McVee of the Contract Cleaning and Maintenance Association. On 15 September 1987 I had discussions with Mr. Rawlings, Mr. Colling and Mr. Slark of the Association of British Laundry, Cleaning and Rental Services. I have also discussed competitive tendering with health board chairmen. As a result of these exchanges I asked the Scottish Home and Health Department to arrange the seminar on competitive tendering held on 2 October 1987.

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the number of admissions to mental health hospitals, (b) this figure expressed as a rate for the health board catchment population and (c) the amount spent on community care projects for mentally ill people, for each health board and for each year from 1980 to 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The requested information on admissions to mental illness and mental handicap hospitals is published annually in "Scottish Health Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library. The latest year for which information is available is 1985. Information on the costs of community care projects is not held centrally.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Spandau Prison
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to complete negotiations on the future of the site of Spandau prison, Berlin; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In accordance with a prior agreement, the site is now under British control.

  Malaysia
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Malaysian Government; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the Malaysian high commissioner on 17 January when they discussed a number of bilateral and regional matters.

  Guatemala
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Guatemala.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have normal diplomatic relations with Guatemala, whose return to democracy in late 1985 we warmly welcomed.

  Mr. Vassiliou
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has sent a message to Mr. Vassiliou on his election victory in Cyprus.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent a message of congratulations to Mr. Vassiliou immediately after his election. The message was delivered to him on 23 February.

  Mr. J. A. Smith
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the British high commissioner in Harare in the case of Mr. J. A. Smith of 195 New Cheveley road, Newmarket, on whose behalf the Zimbabwe social welfare pensions office convened a medical board on 9 November 1987.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Zimbabwe social welfare pensions office has informed our high commission in Harare that "their convening a medical board on 9 November 1987" means that Mr. Smith's medical papers have been sent to the DHSS asking for a British medical board to be convened on its behalf. This board is asked to assess the degree of Mr. Smith's disability and to determine whether or not the disability is in a final and stationary condition. The papers reached the appropriate DHSS section on 24 February where the request is under urgent consideration. Meanwhile, since Mr. Smith has already provided a private medical report to the Zimbabwe authorities, the high commission in Harare has asked the Zimbabwe social welfare pensions office whether a medical board in the United Kingdom is still necessary. As I said in my letter of 16 February to my hon. Friend, I will let him know when we have clarified the position.

PRIME MINISTER

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer of 16 February,Official Report, column 821, if, in the light of the decision of the European Court of Justice on 23 February on the zero rating of spectacles and hearing aids, it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government that it will insist on the United Kingdom's rights to determine zero rating.

  The Prime Minister
  This particular European Court decision concerns the interpretation of the exemption provision of the EC sixth directive on value added tax, which was agreed by all member states, including the United Kingdom, in 1977, and is consequently binding. The Commission proposals advanced by Lord Cockfield are proposals only, and cannot be adopted without the unanimous agreement of all member states. We shall continue to insist on our right to retain zero rating.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Cannon Row Buildings
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans exist to convert the former Cannon row police station into parliamentary offices; when those plans are now likely to be put into effect; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Services Committee recommended that the building should be refurbished for short-term occupation pending redevelopment under phase II of the Bridge street development scheme. The proposed occupants are listed in the Committee's Second Report 1986–87, paragraph 5 (HC 378).

  The report quoted a mid-1988 completion date, but I understand from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Chope) that completion should not now be expected before spring 1989.

  Rail Warrants
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the current annual cost of administering the rail warrant scheme for right hon. and hon. Members.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested for the current year could not he obtained in the time available and, given that, even then only at disproportionate cost.

  Comparative figures, as at 11 November 1986, for 11 member states of the Council of Europe at appendix F (pages 93–99) of "Volume 2: Surveys and Studies of the Review Body on Top Salaries 24th Report: Review of Parliamentary Allowances, April 1987" (Cm. 131-II).

  Parliaments (Travel Concessions)
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list, on the information available to him, the public travel concessions available to members of the domestic parliaments of member states of the Council of Europe.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The current annual cost of administering the rail warrant scheme is not identifiable. However,
  369
  the total charge to the Parliamentary and Privy Council: House of Commons Vote (Class 20 Vote 8) for the year 1986–87, in respect of rail travel by right hon. and hon. Members, their spouses, children and staff, amounted to £819,933·87.

  Rooms and Facilities (Booking)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if rooms and facilities provided in the House can be booked for use other than in the name of an Officer or hon. Member of the House.

  Mr. Wakeham
  No.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Surplus Products
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the cost of disposing of surplus agricultural products in the United Kingdom for the current year.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The cost of disposing of surplus commodities (beef, cereals, milk and milk products, olive oil, sugar and wine) in the United Kingdom in 1987–88 is estimated to be £603 million. This covers export refunds (net of MCAs), subsidies for internal disposals, losses on sale out of intervention, and depreciation of beef on entry to intervention.

  Co-responsibility Levies
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries how the agreement of co-responsibility levies will affect British producers and producers in each other EEC country.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 25 February 1988]: The agreement reached by the European Council on the cereals co-responsibility levy will reduce returns to all Community cereal producers by the equivalent of up to 3 per cent. of the intervention price for common wheat if the Community cereals harvest exceeds the production thresholds of 160 million tonnes.

  The Council also agreed that the levy should be collected at the point of first sale and not as at present when the grain is processed, sold into intervention or exported from the Community. The detailed ruls for implementing this are under discussion, but the cost of he levy will continue to be borne by the producer. Small cereals producers will be relieved of the burden of both the basic and supplementary co-responsibility levy; again, the detailed rules on this provision are still under discussion.

  Medical consultants by speciality in each Health and Social Services Board at 30 September 19

  Eastern Board

  Northern Board

  Southern Board

  Western Board

  Specialty

  1F/T

  2P/T

  3J/A

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  Accident and Emergency

  5

  1

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Anaesthetics

  36

  8

  3

  47

  7

  3

  10

  10

  —

  10

  7

  1

  8

  Cardiology

  10

  2

  —

  12

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Chest Medicine

  4

  1

  1

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dermatology

  2

  2

  1

  5

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  1

  —

  1

  ENT

  4

  5

  —

  9

  2

  1

  3

  1

  2

  3

  1

  3

  4

  General Medicine

  19

  4

  8

  31

  8

  3

  11

  4

  2

  6

  8

  —

  8

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to tackle promotion disparities favouring non-Catholics among educationally qualified entrants to the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

  Mr. Stanley
  As indicated in the reports produced by the equal opportunities unit of the Department of Finance and Personnel, monitoring of the outcome of promotion procedures forms part of the comprehensive monitoring arrangements introduced in respect of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. If this monitoring should indicate that there are promotion disparities attributable to religious affiliation, appropriate remedial action will be instituted.

  Housing Executive Tenants
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the rate of financial assistance given to new Housing Executive tenants who are in receipt of supplementary benefit.

  Mr. Needham
  Tenants on supplementary benefit would generally be entitled to housing benefit, the amount being related to their rent arid rates. Like other claimants on supplementary benefit they would also have access to single payment provided that the prescribed conditions were satisfied.

  Consultants
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of consultants by specialty in each health board in Northern Ireland in 1979, 1983 and 1987, showing in each case how many consultants were on full-time National Health Service contracts in these years.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is given in the following tables. It should be noted that (i) consultants whose sessions are split between different boards are shown under the board with which their major involvement lies; (ii) the vast majority of part-time consultants have a maximum part-time contract which is equivalent to 10 sessions per week commitment to the Health and Personal Social Services; for example, in 1987 there were only seven consultants with contracts less than the maximum part-time; (iii) joint appointments are those where consultants are appointed jointly by Queen's University, Belfast, and the Eastern health and social services board and time is divided between teaching medical students and clinical work.
  371

  Eastern Board

  Northern Board

  Southern Board

  Western Board

  Specialty

  1F/T

  2P/T

  3J/A

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  General Surgery

  10

  14

  4

  28

  8

  5

  13

  4

  4

  8

  6

  2

  8

  Geriatrics

  3

  3

  1

  7

  2

  —

  2

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  Nephrology

  2

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Neurology

  2

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Neuro-surgery

  2

  1

  1

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Obstetrics and Gynaecology

  3

  12

  5

  20

  1

  6

  7

  1

  4

  5

  2

  3

  5

  Ophthalmology

  5

  2

  3

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  3

  Orthopaedic Surgery

  2

  13

  2

  17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Paediatrics

  6

  1

  6

  13

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  2

  —

  2

  Paediatric Surgery

  3

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Pathology

  18

  1

  12

  31

  2

  —

  2

  3

  1

  4

  2

  —

  2

  Plastic Surgery

  1

  5

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Psychiatry

  15

  1

  6

  22

  7

  —

  7

  5

  —

  5

  7

  —

  7

  Radiology

  16

  1

  1

  18

  3

  —

  3

  2

  —

  2

  4

  —

  4

  Radio Therapy

  3

  —

  1

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

  2

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Special Care

  2

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  3

  1

  —

  1

  Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

  4

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Venereology

  1

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  180

  80

  55

  315

  41

  18

  59

  40

  13

  53

  44

  12

  56

  1 F/T = Full Time

  2 P/T = Part Time

  3 J/A = Joint Appointments

  Medical consultants by speciality in each Health and Social Services Board at 30 September 1983

  Eastern Board

  Northern Board

  Southern Board

  Western Board

  Specialty

  1F/T

  2P/T

  3J/A

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  Accident and Emergency

  6

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Anaesthetics

  45

  6

  3

  54

  10

  1

  11

  10

  —

  10

  8

  1

  9

  Anatomy

  —

  2

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cardiology

  9

  2

  —

  11

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Chemical Pathology

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Child Psychiatry

  2

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clinical Electrophysiology

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clinical Neurological Physiology

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

  —

  —

  4

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dermatology

  2

  2

  1

  5

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  2

  1

  —

  1

  ENT

  4

  5

  2

  11

  3

  —

  3

  2

  2

  4

  1

  2

  3

  General Medicine

  20

  9

  5

  34

  10

  —

  10

  7

  —

  7

  8

  —

  8

  General Pathology

  2

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  2

  General Surgery

  11

  14

  4

  29

  10

  2

  12

  7

  2

  9

  7

  1

  8

  Geriatrics

  5

  1

  3

  9

  3

  —

  3

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  2

  Gynaecology and Obstetrics

  7

  9

  6

  22

  4

  2

  6

  4

  3

  7

  4

  2

  6

  Haematology/Blood Transfusion

  4

  —

  2

  6

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Histology

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Histopathology/Neuropathology

  4

  —

  6

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Immunopathology

  —

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Infectious Diseases

  2

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Medical Genetics

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Medical Microbiology

  4

  —

  1

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Mental Handicap

  3

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  1

  —

  1

  Nephrology

  3

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Neurology

  3

  —

  1

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Neuro-surgery

  2

  1

  1

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ophthalmic Surgery

  6

  2

  3

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  3

  Orthopaedic Surgery

  1

  14

  2

  17

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Other Departments

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Paediatric Surgery

  3

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Paediatrics

  6

  1

  6

  13

  2

  —

  2

  1

  —

  1

  4

  —

  4

  Physiology

  —

  4

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Plastic Surgery

  —

  5

  —

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Psychiatry

  12

  —

  4

  16

  8

  —

  8

  10

  —

  10

  7

  —

  7

  Radiology

  16

  1

  1

  18

  2

  —

  2

  2

  —

  2

  4

  1

  5

  Radiotherapy and Medical Oncology

  4

  —

  1

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rhuematology and Rehabilitation

  2

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

  4

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Venereology

  2

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  197

  83

  59

  339

  56

  5

  61

  51

  7

  58

  52

  9

  61

  1 F/T = Full Time.

  2 P/T = Part Time.

  3 J/A = Joint Appointments.

  372 373

  Medical consultants by speciality in each Health and Social Services Board at 30 September 1987

  Eastern Board

  Northern Board

  Southern Board

  Western Board

  Specialty

  1F/T

  2P/T

  3J/A

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  1F/T

  2P/T

  Total

  Accident and emergency

  6

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Anaesthetics

  42

  13

  3

  58

  10

  1

  11

  11

  —

  11

  8

  1

  9

  Anatomy

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cardiology

  11

  2

  —

  13

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Cardiothoracic surgery

  4

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Chemical pathology

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Child and adolescent psychiatry

  2

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clinical genetics

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clinical neuro-physiology

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clinical pharmacology

  —

  —

  4

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dermatology

  3

  2

  1

  6

  2

  —

  2

  2

  —

  2

  2

  —

  2

  ENT

  4

  5

  2

  11

  3

  —

  3

  3

  1

  4

  2

  2

  4

  General medicine

  24

  4

  6

  34

  10

  —

  10

  6

  —

  6

  9

  —

  9

  General medicine/special interest geriatrics

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  General pathology

  2

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  General surgery

  10

  11

  3

  24

  10

  2

  12

  8

  1

  9

  8

  —

  8

  Genito-urinary medicine

  2

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Geriatric medicine

  6

  1

  3

  10

  3

  —

  3

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  2

  Haematology

  4

  —

  2

  6

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Histology

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Histopathology

  7

  —

  7

  14

  2

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Immuno-pathology

  —

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Infectious diseases

  2

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Medical microbiology

  5

  —

  2

  7

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Medical oncology

  —

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Mental handicap

  4

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  Mental illness

  17

  1

  6

  24

  8

  —

  8

  5

  —

  5

  9

  —

  9

  Nephrology

  4

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Neurology

  3

  —

  1

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Neuro-surgery

  2

  1

  1

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Obstetrics and Gynaecology

  7

  9

  4

  20

  5

  2

  7

  4

  4

  8

  3

  3

  6

  Ophthalmology

  7

  1

  3

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  3

  Orthopaedics

  2

  14

  2

  18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  3

  Other departments

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Paediatric surgery

  2

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Paediatrics

  7

  1

  5

  13

  2

  —

  2

  3

  —

  3

  2

  —

  2

  Physiology

  —

  4

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Plastic surgery

  —

  5

  —

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Radiology

  20

  4

  —

  24

  5

  —

  5

  4

  —

  4

  4

  —

  4

  Radiotherapy

  5

  —

  —

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rheumatology and rehabilitation

  3

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Urology

  4

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  224

  82

  60

  366

  64

  5

  69

  55

  6

  61

  56

  8

  64

  1 F/T—Full time.

  2 P/T—Part time.

  3 J/A—Joint appointments.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing for each district of the Northern, Western and Southern health and social services boards, the number of people on waiting lists for each specialty for the last five years for which figures are available, giving a breakdown of the total waiting list by time spent on list.

  Mr. Needham
  I am sending to the hon. Gentleman and arranging for copies to be made available in the Library of tables showing, for each district unit of management of the Northern, Western and Southern health and social services boards, the number of in-patients on waiting lists at 31 December by specialty and by time spent on list for 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986. As a result of industrial action, information is not available for 1982.

  Information on out-patient waiting lists could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.

  Sheep Monitoring
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many scintillators were available to and used by his Department for the live monitoring of sheep in the restricted areas of Northern Ireland in each month from May 1986 to May 1987.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The use of scintillators for the live monitoring of sheep commenced with the use of one scintillator in June 1986. This number was increased by three in October 1986 and to five in February 1987.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Northern Ireland when live monitoring of sheep on a general basis was introduced in the restricted areas of Northern Ireland following the Chernobyl accident.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: Live monitoring of sheep in Northern Ireland commenced in June 1986 across the Province including those areas which later became subject to restrictions.
  375
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when restrictions were first placed on the movement of sheep in Northern Ireland following the Chernobyl nuclear accident; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: 15 September 1987; until that date, using the United Kingdom action level of 1,000 bq/kg, monitoring since the Chernobyl accident showed no need to introduce restrictions.

  Irish Citizens
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Irish citizens are estimated to be resident in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Renton
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Londonderry, East (Mr. Ross) on 27 January 1988 at columns 255–6.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of the rise in United States' domestic demand for prospects for the restoration of stability of the dollar exchange rate with the pound sterling.

  Mr. Lilley
  Exchange rate stability requires progress in eliminating excessive imbalances, in particular the United States budget and current account deficies as well as corresponding surpluses in Asia and Europe. Encouraging progress has been made, with legislation passed just before Christmas to reduce the United States budget deficit in 1988 and in 1989.

  Customs
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of international collaboration has taken place to monitor the transition to the new system at customs posts throughout the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The European Commission is responsible for monitoring the transition to the new system and is consulting member states. Early indications are that the changes have been introduced successfully throughout the Community.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reduction is anticipated in the customs officers required by Her Majesty's Government at internal borders as a result of the reforms made by the single administrative document under the Customs '88 project.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The single administrative document is a measure for facilitating trade by rationalising official documentation. Once the new system has settled in, it should reduce both delays at Customs and the incidence of error, but the improvement is not quantifiable.

  Road Transport (Small Businesses)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals exist for helping small road transport companies meet the additional costs of adapting existing computing systems to handle the new single administrative document under the Customs '88 project.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: The introduction of the single administrative document has given firms the opportunity to simplify their procedures and review their arrangements for producing Customs declarations. There are no plans to meet any transitional costs incurred from public funds.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what special provisions have been made to help small businesses engaged in road transport since the adoption of the single administrative document under the Customs '88 project.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding reply 22 February 1988]: The launch of Customs '88 was preceded by a two-year publicity campaign which provided the information necessary for all businesses to prepare themselves. It has not been necessary to make special arrangements to help small businesses engaged in road transport.

DEFENCE

  Weapons Systems
  Mr Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 January,Official Report, column 156, to which particular weapons systems the Montebello requirement (a) applies and(b) does not apply.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The report considered at Montebello in 1983, when NATO Defence Ministers agreed both to a reduction in the Alliance's land-based nuclear stockpile in Europe and on the need for possible improvements to ensure the effectiveness, responsiveness and survivability of remaining forces, examined the question of the future size and composition of NATO's theatre nuclear stockpile as a whole.

  NATO Meeting (Denmark)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is to be discussed at the NATO planning meeting at Kolding, Denmark, on 26 and 27 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) on 22 January at column 899.

  Ships (Lost Components)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answers of 15 February,Official Report, columns 448–50, what screening is operated by contractors employed by his Department in relation to crew members on board ships transporting sensitive military components; what precautions his Department requires contractors to take; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The level of sensitivity of military components determines the extent of screening required
  377
  for crew members. The security aspects are defined in each contract and it is the contractor's responsibility to meet these. Particular items of structure lost in this incident were not of a highly sensitive nature.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answers of 15 February,Official Report, columns 448–50, if he will give the dimensions, approximate weight and function of each of the Vanguard submarine sections lost on 5 and 6 February.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The dimensions, approximate weight and function of the sections are as follows:

  (a) 9m diameter × 2·4m × 57 tonnes—forward dome.

  (b) 12m × 9m × 1·6m × 2·5 tonnes — deck/tank structure.

  (c) 14m × 9m × 0·2m × 15 tonnes—deck structures.

  (d) 14m × 8m × 0·2m × 12 tonnes—deck structures.

  (e) 5m × 3m × 0·2m × 1 tonne—deck structures.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answers of 15 February,Official Report, columns 448–50, when he expects the inquiries into the loss of Vanguard submarine sections to report; what resources are being directed to these inquiries; at what level his Department is represented; what interim measures have been taken, pending the outcome of the inquiries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  An investigation has been mounted by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd under the terms of its contract. The committee of inquiry includes an officer from the staff of the principal naval overseer at VSEL. The VSEL report will be issued to MOD early March, and will be considered at high level within the Department. As an interim measure taken pending the outcome of the inquiry, VSEL has informed its subcontractors that careful attention must be given to future transportation arrangements by sea.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 15 February,Official Report, columns 448–50, what were the weather conditions at the time of the loss of Vanguard class submarine sections on 5 and 6 February.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The weather conditions generally prevailing in the Mallin and Irish sea areas for the periods in question were:

  5 February

  Surface wind from a south westerly direction force 6 to 7

  Weather: Occasional showers

  Visibility: Good

  Sea: Moderate to rough

  6 February

  Surface wind west to north-west force 7 to gale force 8

  Weather: Occasional showers

  Visibility: Good

  Sea: Moderate to rough

  However conditions in these areas are known to be locally variable.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answers of 15 February,Official Report, columns 448–50, if he will give further details of the numbers and types of picket boats exercising surveillance over the Vanguard submarine forward dome structure; whether any armed Royal Navy vessels are in the vicinity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The MOD initially requested that a picket boat he stationed in the vicinity of the position 378
  where the dome was reported to be lost. Subsequent search operations in the area to ascertain the exact location make this unnecessary. This arrangement will be reviewed if there is any time gap between the search and the salvage operations. No special deployment of Royal Naval vessels has been considered necessary as a result of this incident.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answers of 15 February,Official Report, columns 448–50, what assessment he has made of the metallurgical suitability of the lost Vanguard submarine sections for further use; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No assessment of the metallurgical suitability for further use of the submarine sections can be made until they have been recovered.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answers of 15 February,Official Report, columns 448–50, when his Department first announced publicly that more Vanguard class submarine sections have been lost off Walney island on 6 February; if he will describe the nature of these sections; what precautions were taken following the loss of the forward dome structure on 5 February to avoid losses of further sections; why these precautions were not effective; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The secondary structure lost near Walney island was internal deck and tank units. The precise precautions taken following the loss of the forward dome structure and why these precautions were not effective has yet to he established and is a matter for the committee of inquiry.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answers of 15 February,Official Report, columns 448–50, if he will now answer the question from the hon. Member for Linlithgow as to his assessment of the risk of the lost Vanguard class submarine forward dome structure falling into the hands of a foreign power; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The forward dome structure, which is not of a highly technical or sophisticated nature nor highly classified, is of such a size that it could only fall into the hands of a foreign power of an overt salvage operation were to be mounted. The risk of this in the close vicinity of the Scottish coastline and within United Kindom territorial waters is negligible.

  Defence Research
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps in the Council of Ministers of the Western European Union to bring about a major effort to harmonise national operational requirements for military computer systems and initiate a joint European defence research programme between Western European Union member countries and other Western European countries wishing to take part; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  WEU Ministers are agreed that the appropriate forum for the pursuit of collaboration in defence equipment is the Independent European Programme Group, which comprises all the European members of NATO with the exception of Iceland. The IEPG has active programmes of work on increasing collaboration in defence research, including a number of computer-related programmes; and on the harmonisation
  379
  of operational requirements, where computers are considered in the context of the weapons systems employing them.

  Smoke Hoods
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans for the equipping of military transport aircraft with passenger protection smoke hoods.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We at present have no plans to fit smoke hoods to transport aircraft, although we are examining them and there is a continuing programme of flight safety improvements designed to maintain the excellent safety record of the RAF air transport fleet.

  Anglo-American Defence Agreement
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department are currently deployed on the administration of the 1958 Anglo-American mutual defence agreement in the atomic control office.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Currently two persons are employed on atomic control office business concerned with the administration of the 1958 United States/United Kingdom agreement for co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes.

  Electroconvulsive Therapy
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 15 February,Official Report, column 446, how many soldiers have been treated with electroconvulsive therapy over the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not readily available and cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

  Service Men (Depression)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 15 February,Official Report, column 446, how many soldiers who applied to leave Her Majesty's forces during the last 12 months gave depression as the reason, or otherwise complained of that condition; and what treatment was given to the 13 service men diagnosed as suffering from depression.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested on the reasons given for applying to leave the services cannot be ascertained without disproportionate effort. It is not my Department's policy to discuss the medical treatment of individual cases, details of which are held in confidence.

  MOD Houses
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence houses there are in (i) Wales and (ii) Alyn and Deeside; how many such houses are currently empty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  As at the latest dates for which the information is available, the numbers of MOD houses and flats were:380

  Married quarters1

  Civilian houses2

  (i) In Wales

  Total

  2,577

  132

  Empty

  379

  59

  (ii) In Alyn and Deeside

  Total

  300

  Nil

  Empty

  29

  Nil

  1 As at 30 November 1987.

  2 As at 31 March 1987.

  Many of the empty properties are either undergoing or awaiting works services, temporarily empty pending the arrival of new occupants or in process of disposal.

  Sergeant Jarvie
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will pay compensation to Sergeant Jarvie of the King's Own Scottish Borderers following his reinstatement after his retrial for alleged misconduct; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Radar Stations
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he expects the three weather radar stations in Scotland to become operational; and to what extent the stations will adequately cover all of Scotland, including the Shetland Islands.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 22 February 1988]: Discussions are proceeding between officials of the Scottish Office and the Ministry of Defence and, as indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) on 8 December 1987, at column 153, the Hebrides, the Highlands north-west of Aberdeen and the Edinburgh or Glasgow areas are likely to prove the most suitable sites. Data from stations placed in these areas, when taken with other information available to the Meteorological Office, are expected to lead to improved short-period weather forecasts and provide timely estimates of precipitation at the surface throughout Scotland. Radar coverage will not extend north of about 59 deg. north. However, alternative methods of measuring precipitation falling on the Shetland and Orkney islands are available. Present plans are that installation would take place in the early 1990s.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoners (Visits)
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct prison administrators to send out visiting orders to relatives of prisoners at least two weeks prior to any visit.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Establishments in England and Wales have been encouraged to issue visiting orders up to a fortnight before the 28-day period of validity begins, if this is administratively feasible and if they are aware that otherwise a planned assisted visit would have to be postponed.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct prison administrators to
  381
  send copies of endorsed visiting orders to the new unit dealing with assisted prison visits to promote better coordination of services.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We intend to study this idea in the light of experience of the operation of the new unit.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will specify the meaning of the term "substantial period", in prison department forms F2022AS and F2022S, with respect to assisted prison visits.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand that it has been the normal practice of DHSS local offices, in administering the assisted prison visits scheme, to regard four months' cohabitation as a sufficiently substantial period to entitle an applicant to assistance, provided that the other conditions of the scheme are met. We see no reason to alter this guideline, which will continue to be applied flexibly.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the subsistence expenses and childminding costs of persons visiting prisoners referred to in paragraph 10 of form F2022AS, are discretionary where proof of claim is provided.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Yes. Payment of subsistence or childminding expenses may be withheld if the assisted prison visits unit is not satisfied that they were necessarily incurred in the course of visiting an inmate; or they may be met only in part if the amounts specified are excessive.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will be assuming the responsibility for the statutory obligation previously discharged by the Department of Health and Social

  Prosecutions for Television Licence Evasion in the United Kingdom

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  England and Wales

  80,029

  89,747

  102,154

  115,559

  165,385

  Scotland

  5,063

  7,058

  7,542

  7,121

  9,004

  Northern Ireland

  341

  575

  645

  782

  838

  United Kingdom

  85,433

  97,380

  110,341

  123,462

  175,227

  Irish Citizens
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many Irish citizens are estimated to be resident in England;

  (2) how many Irish citizens are estimated to be resident in Wales;

  (3) how many Irish citizens are estimated to be resident in Scotland.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Londonderry, East (Mr. Ross) on 27 January 1988 at columns 255–56.

  Prison Officers (Accommodation)
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list Her Majesty's prisons which provide living accommodation for prison officers, and their families; if he will identify the number of units 382
  Security, of informing claimants about specific benefits consequent upon the establishing of the new unit dealing with assisted prison visits.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No such statutory obligation applies, or has ever applied, to the assisted prison visits scheme. None the less, we shall be considering the adequacy of present information about the Scheme.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances individual prison officers are asked to give an opinion as to whether or riot an assisted visit expenses claim is justified; and if he will make it his policy to discontinue this practice.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Under present arrangements prison officers may be asked to confirm or clarify from their records details which are supplied by applicants for assisted visits. We have no plans to discontinue this practice.

  Television Licences
  Mr. McTaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted in each of the last five years for non-payment of television licences; and what percentage of those were pensioners.

  Mr. Renton
  Figures are given in the table. These have been supplied by the national television licence records office, which instigates all prosecutions for television licence evasion.

  No information is held by that office about the ages of those prosecuted. However, Home Office records show that in 1985 and 1986 fewer than 20 defendants proceeded against in England and Wales for offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts were of pensionable age.

  at each such prison for the years 1985, 1986 and 1987; and if he has any plans to increase prison officer family accommodation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not readily available for 1985 and 1986 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. For 1987, the information, as at 30 September, is as follows. There are no plans to increase prison officer family accommodation.

  Her Majesty's Prison Service establishments which provide living accommodation for prison officers and their families (Number of units at 30 September 1987)

  Number

  Acklington

  104

  Albany

  120

  Aldington

  29

  Ashford

  172

  Ashwell

  22

  Ask ham Grange

  14

  Aylesbury

  85

  Bedford

  60

  383

  Number

  Birmingham

  63

  Blantyre House

  22

  Blundeston

  46

  Bristol

  77

  Brixton

  366

  Brockhill

  35

  Buckley Hall

  16

  Bullwood Hall

  19

  Camp Hill

  59

  Campsfield House

  33

  Canterbury

  60

  Cardiff

  49

  Channings Wood

  37

  Chelmsford

  81

  Coldingley

  127

  Cookham Wood

  27

  Dartmoor

  85

  Deerbolt

  81

  Dorchester

  44

  Dover

  49

  Drake Hall

  36

  Durham

  99

  East Sutton Park

  13

  Eastwood Park

  23

  Erlestoke House

  36

  Everthorpe

  33

  Exeter

  73

  Featherstone

  54

  Feltham

  127

  Ford

  22

  Foston Hall

  13

  Frankland

  85

  Gartree

  118

  Glen Parva

  114

  Gloucester

  40

  Grendon/Spring Hill

  88

  Gringley

  10

  Guys Marsh

  32

  Haslar

  15

  Hatfield

  38

  Haverigg

  83

  Hewell Grange

  25

  Highpoint

  87

  Hindley

  46

  Hollesley Bay

  103

  Holloway

  181

  Hull

  72

  Huntercombe/Finnamore Wood Camp

  87

  Kingston (Portsmouth)

  27

  Kirkham

  34

  Kirklevington Grange

  14

  Lancaster

  21

  Latchmere House

  59

  Leeds

  58

  Leicester

  58

  Lewes

  75

  Leyhill

  38

  Lincoln

  67

  Lindholme

  172

  Liverpool

  124

  Long Lartin

  130

  Lowdham Grange

  36

  Low Newton

  31

  Maidstone

  93

  Manchester

  119

  Medomsley

  9

  Morton Hall

  39

  New Hall

  26

  Northallerton

  18

  Northeye

  32

  North Sea Camp

  30

  Norwich

  74

  Nottingham

  31

  Onley

  61

  Oxford

  31

  Parkhurst

  170

  Pentonville

  214

  384

  Number

  Portland

  97

  Preston

  36

  Pucklechurch

  42

  Ranby

  50

  Reading

  75

  Risley

  179

  Rochester

  55

  Rudgate/Thorpe Arch

  61

  Send

  34

  Shepton Mallet

  22

  Shrewsbury

  12

  Stafford

  56

  Standford Hill

  73

  Stocken

  46

  Stoke Heath

  20

  Styal

  37

  Sudbury

  15

  Swansea

  23

  Swinfen Hall

  51

  Thorn Cross

  19

  Usk

  37

  The Verne

  67

  Wakefield

  99

  Wandsworth

  257

  Wayland

  60

  Wellingborough

  40

  Werrington

  10

  Wetherby

  22

  Whatton

  46

  Winchester

  128

  Wormwood Scrubs

  375

  Wymott

  108

  Remand Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were held on remand on 22 February in police cells in the Metropolitan police area, the Greater Manchester police area, the Merseyside police area, Lancashire, the West Midlands, West Mercia, South Wales and Devon and Cornwall, respectively.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 22 February there were 360 remand prisoners in police cells in the Metropolitan police area, 42 in the Greater Manchester police area, 20 in the Merseyside police area, 27 in Lancashire, 73 in the West Midlands, 18 in the West Mercia, 22 in South Wales and 17 in Devon and Cornwall.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish an independent inquiry into the extent of the influence exerted by the Masonic order within the Metropolitan police; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware of the allegations which have been made about Masonic influence in the Metropolitan police, and the concern to which these have given rise. We are also aware of the need to respect the freedom of choice of the individual police officer where this does not affect his impartiality. My right hon. Friend will be discussing the matter with the Commissioner.

  Miss Jurdotic Ladlina
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department's office in Croydon received a letter and passport which was sent by
  385
  registered post on 6 January by Miss Jurdotic Ladlina, a Yugoslav national, residing with Mr. and Mrs. Whiteley of 161 Church road, Southend-on-Sea; and if he will take steps to ensure that Miss Ladlina has her passport returned to her before her departure on 20 March.

  Mr. Renton
  Severe delays in dealing with correspondence in Lunar house have arisen because of the huge intake of correspondence and applications for citizenship which arrived in the last weeks of 1987. I recently announced the introduction of emergency measures to deal with the arrears of work on 16 February, at columns 862–63. It has not been possible to identify Miss Ladlina's letter from the information given, but the immigration and nationality department would normally expect to establish its receipt if full postal details, including the recorded delivery or registered postal packet number, the date of posting, and the purpose of the application can be provided. If the hon. Member will arrange for these details 386
  to be sent to me I will ensure that further inquiries are made and every effort made to return the passport as quickly as possible.

  "Gun Sense is Good Sense"
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the initial print order for the publication "Gun Sense is Good Sense"; when it was first printed and subsequently reprinted; and when he now proposes to make further supplies available to the public.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Some 750,000 copies of the leaflet "Gun Sense is Good Sense" were printed as part of the campaign in 1983 against the misuse of air weapons. A further 50,000 copies were printed in both 1985 and 1986. A new leaflet to promote the safe use of air weapons was produced as part of the regional air weapon campaigns held at the end of 1986 in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester police force areas and we are evaluating what form future publicity material should take.

  EUROPEAN FOUNDATION TREATY PROPOSAL: FUNDING
  EUROPEAN FOUNDATION TREATY PROPOSAL: FUNDING
  EUROPEAN FOUNDATION TREATY PROPOSAL: TAX CONCESSIONS
  EUROPEAN FOUNDATION TREATY PROPOSAL: TAX CONCESSIONS
  GUILDFORD AND WOOLWICH BOMBINGS: REPORT
  GUILDFORD AND WOOLWICH BOMBINGS: REPORT