Written Answers of 12 January 1988

WALES

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many miles of hedgerows have been lost in Wales during the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Information is not available over this time scale. Results from the monitoring landscape change survey conducted by Huntings Technical Services and published in 1986 indicated that hedgerow length in Wales fell from approximately 77,688 miles in 1969 to approximately 70,850 miles in 1985.

  Bistre Nursery School, Buckley
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what extra funds he will make available to the Clwyd local eduction authority in order that Bistre nursery school, Buckley, Clwyd, neither suffers cuts in its provision to the Buckley community nor faces the prospect of closure.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  It is for the Clwyd local education authority to determine its own priorities within the resources available to it. No statutory proposals for the future of the Bistre nursery school have been published by the authority.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit the Bistre nursery school, to meet members of staff, county councillors and parent governors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  We have no plans to visit Bistre nursery school.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if poll tax will be levied against the sisters of the Poor Clare's monastery, Ty Mam Duw, Aston Hall lane, Hawarden, Deeside, Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The position of members of religious communities in relation to their liability for the community charge is under consideration. A decision will be announced in due course.

  Assistance to Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his plans for financial assistance to industry in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I shall publish tomorrow a statement entitled "Enterprise Wales"/"Menter Cymru" and will place copies in the Library of the House. This will describe my plans for increasing expenditure by the Welsh Office on industry in Wales in the next financial year. It will set out changes to the industrial grant regime, including the ending of regional development grant and the introduction of a number of new grant schemes. I have no plans to change the geographical coverage of assisted areas and regional selective assistance will continue to be available in these areas. I shall also be making increased resources available for development agency work. I am confident that the new programme will foster the enterprise spirit and achieve significant improvements in the competitiveness of Welsh industry.

PRIME MINISTER

  Polish Foreign Minister
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Prime Minister what matters she discussed with the Polish Foreign Minister on 8 December; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  My meeting with the Polish Foreign Minister on 8 December was friendly and constructive. We discussed bilateral and international matters, and the internal situation in Poland following the recent referendum. As the House knows, Professor Orzechowski renewed his authorities' invitation to me to visit Poland, which I accepted. I hope the visit will take place during the first half of this year.

  RAF Greenham Common
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to RAF Greenham Common.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Yorkshire
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Yorkshire.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Registration of Deaths
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister why the system for registration of deaths in England differs from that in Scotland.

  The Prime Minister
  The death registration systems in England and Scotland are governed by separate statutory provisions which arise from differences in the legal systems of the two countries and from the different functions of the office of coroner and procurator fiscal.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Prime Minister what information she has about regional variations in retail and
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  wholesale prices charged by major companies, with particular reference to Northern Ireland; what is her estimate of the effect of higher prices in Northern Ireland on the level of public expenditure there; what account is taken of these factors in determining social, employment and other policies in the Province; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Price indices are not compiled on a regional basis. The level of public expenditure in Northern Ireland is determined by a wide range of factors which take into account the Province's particular circumstances including, where appropriate, prices and also wider national policies. The needs of Northern Ireland are reflected in the fact that public expenditure per capita on comparable programmes is substantially higher than elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Social, employment and other policies are similarly framed to take all relevant factors into account, including prices where appropriate, within the framework of national policy.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by her who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  The Prime Minister
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent visit to Nigeria.

  The Prime Minister
  I paid a visit to Nigeria on 7 and 8 January at the invitation of President Babangida. In the course of this I had a long and very useful talk with the President, which covered all aspects of our bilateral relations as well as regional and international questions. I took the opportunity to express our strong support for Nigeria's economic recovery programme. I also put on record publicly the very positive practical contribution which Britain is making in southern Africa. I believe that the visit has contributed to strengthening our relations. I am particularly grateful for the very warm and friendly welcome which I received from many thousands of ordinary people.

  Engagements
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 January.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 January.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 January.
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  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 January.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what special features and factors are taken into account by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis in the staffing allocation formula referred to in the annual report for 1986;

  (2) what criteria are used by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as the basis for the formula for the allocation of police amongst the Metropolitan police areas referred to in his annual report for 1986.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the manpower allocation formula is used as a means of allocating the number of uniformed police constables available between the eight areas of the Metropolitan police district on an equitable basis. The formula takes account of the general demands on divisions including calls for police assistance, the level of crime, the demands of crime prevention and traffic control, and the number of traffic accidents. It covers also commitments not directly related to local demand such as the need to provide area and divisional support staff, mounted officers, dog handlers, courts' staff and coroners' officers, and special factors such as airports, the Palace of Westminster and major housing estates.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what indicators are used by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to assess the demand for police staffing levels other than the formula referred to in his annual report for 1986.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis takes account of a number of factors in assessing the manpower requirements of the force. These include specific demands such as reported crime, traffic accidents, public order and requests by the public for police assistance; and the extent to which the commissioner considers it necessary to undertake a variety of policing activities including the provision of a visible presence on the streets, involvement in community projects and measures against, for example, street robberies and organised crime. Within the framework of the programme of annual manpower increases which my right hon. Friend announced in May 1986, manpower requirements are assessed in an annual manpower review which examines the use being made of existing manpower and future manpower needs.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Hurd
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Party Conferences (Policing Costs)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to make any changes in Government funding for the policing cost of annual party political conferences in 1988.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no plans to do so.

  Police Manpower (Leicester)
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representation he has received requesting additional police for Leicester.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have not recently received an application by the police authority for an increase in the authorised police establishment of the Leicestershire constabulary. My right hon. Friend will be prepared to consider any such application that may be put to him, in the light of advice from Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary.

  Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there are any plans to extend further the number of neighbourhood watch schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  There are already over 42,000 neighbourhood watch schemes in England and Wales. They provide clear and welcome evidence of the public's willingness to help the police to prevent crime. We are sure that there is scope for the further development of the neighbourhood watch concept and for the establishment of new schemes. The Home Office is therefore preparing a further guidance note on neighbourhood watch which will draw examples of good practice from across the country to help and encourage those who are thinking of setting up new schemes or of expanding the range of activity within existing ones.

  Charities
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many charities have been investigated by the Charities Commission in each of the past three years on the issue of whether the charities concerned were incurring expenditure on non-charitable purposes; and what was the outcome of these inquiries.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information in the form requested is not available. However, I understand from the Charity Commission that of 1,000 complaints received by the 194
  charity commissioners in the 12 months to 31 July 1987 180 arose from allegations of dishonesty or fraud on the part of trustees, their agents or employees, or of trustees benefitting improperly from their trust. A further 80 complaints alleged inadvertant or deliberately improper political activities including the expenditure of charitable monies on such activities. In nine of these latter cases action was taken following investigations. In eight cases advice was given to trustees about campaigning. In the remaining case the commission required the cost of advertisements judged to be political in nature to be repaid to the charity. Similar information is not available for previous years.

  Ministerial Visit (North Africa)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his recent visit to North Africa.

  Mr. Hurd
  I visited Tunisia from 3–6 January arid Morocco from 6–10 January at the invitation of the Ministers of the Interior in both countries. With the object of further strengthening bilateral cooperation, our discussion centred upon combating international terrorism, organised crime and drug trafficking.

  A joint communiqué on these matters was issued on 6 January on behalf of the British and Tunisian Governments. The Minister of the Interior of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and I signed a memorandum of understanding between our two Governments on 7 January. Texts of both documents will be placed in the Library. During my visit I had the honour to be received by His Majesty King Hassan II of Morocco and by President Zine el Abidene Ben Ali of Tunisia.

  I believe that these visits illustrated the increased arid specific openings which now exist for reinforcing in practical ways our traditional friendships with Tunisia arid Morocco.

  Local Radio
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about split frequency broadcasting on local radio.

  Mr. Hurd
  As noted in our Green Paper "Radio: Choices and Opportunities", published in February 1987, local radio services normally broadcast the same programme on medium wave and VHF/FM frequencies. Approval has, however, been given from time to time to the broadcasting of separate programmes on the two frequencies for a limited period to meet local needs, and in 1985 the Government approved an experiment in which selected BBC and independent local radio (ILR) stations undertook split frequency broadcasting for up to 10 hours a week. The experiment enabled the stations to address specialist or majority audiences, to provide alternative speech or music services and to offer a different emphasis in their programmes.

  The experiment has been successful in achieving these aims, and listeners have welcomed the enhanced range of choice that it allowed. In the light of the experiment, the BBC and IBA have suggested that local radio stations should be able to split frequencies at any time at the discretion of the broadcasting authorities. This approach would be consistent with the proposals in our Green Paper, which were that simulcasting — the automatic

  195
  broadcasting of the same programme on two frequencies — should be phased out. I have therefore given my approval to the proposals from the BBC and IBA, and invited them to proceed with split frequency broadcasting.

ENVIRONMENT

  Land Disposal
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on tendering to get the best price when disposing of land assets.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None. Except where special provisions apply, as in the case of disposals pursuant to the right to buy, a local authority may dispose of land held by it in any manner it wishes, but it must obtain the Secretary of State's consent for any disposal for a consideration less than the best that can reasonably be obtained. It is for the local authority to consider what professional advice it should receive when it contemplates the sale of a particular site.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times in the last 12 months he has used his powers to direct councils to dispose of any land held by them.

  Mr. Chope
  Under section 98 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, the Secretary of State may direct certain public bodies to dispose of the interest held by them in any land entered on the register, compiled by him under section 95 of that Act. He has used that power 25 times in the past 12 months in respect of land owned by local authorities.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Ridley
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the undertakings given by the deputy chairman of the London Docklands Development Corporation in his letter to the Docklands Forum of 24 September 1987 still apply, following his removal from office.

  Mr. Trippier
  Yes.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the name of the new deputy chairman of the London Docklands Development Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Soon.

  London City Airport
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if any discussions have taken place 196
  between his Department and the London Docklands Development Corporation on the use of London City airport by jet aircraft; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if any consideration is being given by the Civil Aviation Authority or his Department to the use of BAe 146–200 aircraft at London City airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  No proposals have been put to the Department about the use of jets at London City airport. The Department has, however, on a contingency basis sought and received assurances from LDDC that any planning applications concerning future uses of the airport will be drawn to the Department's attention. The only discussions which have taken place have concerned safeguarding arrangements.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make available his Department's publications "Grant-Related Expenditure 1988–89" and "The Technical Handbook of Grant-Related Expenditure 1988–89".

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has today placed copies of these documents in the Library of the House. Copies have also been sent to every local authority in England, and to the local authority associations.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer of 15 December,Official Report, column 458, and 16 December, Official Report, columns 521–22, he will give details of the calculations used to assess the contribution to local services via the grant system from national taxation of the 10 per cent. of households with the highest incomes compared to that of the 10 per cent. with lowest incomes.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: Using a sample of households grouped into deciles of gross income, the calculations involved the following stages:

  (i) Calculate the amount of local spending funded by national taxation as a multiple of income from domestic rates (less rebates).

  (ii) Taking the figure produced by (i), calculate the amount of national taxation accounted for by centrally funded contributions to local taxation.

  (iii) Calculate the amount produced by (ii) as a proportion of total national taxation.

  (iv) Assuming that the proportion at (iii) applied equally to all households, estimate the amount of national taxation paid as a contribution to local authority spending by the top and bottom deciles of households by income.

  Water Industry
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he intends to take to enable consumers in the water industry to charge suppliers in the event of unsatisfactory service;

  (2) what arrangements will be taken to ensure that water public limited companies replace and update mains in order to minimise flooding, interruptions of supply and the potential for pollution;
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  (3) what powers he plans to seek to ensure that necessary levels of capital expenditure are spent on water and sewage infrastructure in the final years of a water public limited company's licence period;

  (4) what legal sanctions will be available against those water public limited companies which fail to provide a wholesome or adequate water supply; who will be able to employ such sanctions; and who will define whether or not a supply is adequate;

  (5) what duties there will be on water public limited companies to make interim arrangements for alternative supplies and to provide appropriate information to consumers in the event of mains repairs, bursts or other interruptions of normal supply;

  (6) what arrangements will be made to provide compensation for householders for damage arising from faulty or leaking mains in the event of water privatisation;

  (7) whether, in the event of privatisation of the water industry, water public limited companies will have a similar duty to that now exercised by the water undertakers to provide, wherever possible, supplies of water for fire-fighting purposes; and whether the existing mains in tall buildings such as tower blocks will he fitted with water meters to assist in fire fighting;

  (8) how the privatisation of the water industry will affect the maintaining and regulatory functions of local authorities with regard to water and sewage in pipes and drains, ponds, cesspools, and so on;

  (9) what arrangements are being made for the control of rats in sewers and the proper maintenance and repair of sewers in the event of water privatisation.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: The privatised water utility companies will have obligations towards their customers identical in most respects to those of the water authorities at present. However, consultation papers issued in 1986 proposed changes in water and sewerage law and in the law relating to drinking water quality. The legislation to privatise the authorities will take those changes into consideration. Local authority responsibilities in respect of non-mains drainage and drinking water quality will be unchanged. The legislation and the system of regulation will ensure that water utility companies provide an effective service to customers

  Country

  1982 tonnes

  1983 tonnes

  1984 tonnes

  1985 tonnes

  1986 tonnes

  Scotland

  498,187

  499,121

  543,312

  592,570

  551,290

  England

  237,130

  220,676

  163,940

  137,891

  136,332

  Wales

  14,040

  9,819

  7,851

  9,005

  9,603

  Northern Ireland

  25,278

  18,806

  18,549

  22,587

  20,481

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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  throughout the period of their appointments. The legislation to privatise the water authorities, which will be introduced as soon as possible, will take those changes into consideration.

  Housing White Paper
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will put copies of the responses to the consultation exercise on the housing White Paper in the Library.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [pursuant to his reply, 16 November 1987, c. 419]; I have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of responses we have so far received to the housing White Paper and related consultation documents from those respondents who have indicated that they are content for their views to be made public.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply of 4 November,Official Report, column 723, if he has any proposals to make the 60 per cent. grant for the provision, replacement or improvement of hedgerows available to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have no powers to pay grant to local authorities.

  Fish
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total tonnage of fish landed in(a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The following shows the total tonnage of fish caught by British vessels and landed in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland over the years 1982 to 1986 (information for 1987 is not yet available).

  EC (Free Food)
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet. completed his consideration of the implications of the European Community free food scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The scheme provides for member states to make available to designated organisations food from intervention stores for distribution to the most needy. The Government continue to believe that such a scheme is an inappropriate way of dealing with the
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  surpluses, but do not wish to deprive these United Kingdom citizens of having the possibility of arrangements available to consumers in the Community as a whole.

  The Government have therefore considered how the scheme could be applied in this country. We have decided to make butter and beef available, subject to Commission authorisation, in response to specific applications received from charitable or non-profit-making organisations which meet appropriate conditions. Quantities made available would be limited to amounts specifically authorised by the European Commission within the finance available. The Commission has said that up to about £10 million worth of product could be authorised for distribution in the United Kingdom in 1988. I am arranging for further details of the arrangements to be sent today to the relevant representative bodies, and I am placing a copy of this information in the Library.

DEFENCE

  Geo-magnetism
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use his Department makes of research conducted in the United Kingdom into problems of geo-magnetism; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The sea and air charts and land maps produced by MOD show magnetic declination and its annual change. These values come from five-yearly epoch global data sets produced in part by British Geological Survey and part by the United States Naval Oceanographic Office as a joint project. The basic data come from magnetic observations worldwide.

  In 1986 MOD commissioned British Geological Survey to produce a regional magnetic model for Europe.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Air/Sea Rescue Services
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report those organisations his Department has consulted in the evaluation of air/sea rescue services; and if he is yet in a position to make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The study into proposals put forward by Bristow Helicopters Ltd., suggesting that the search and rescue helicopter service currently provided by the RAF and RN should be put to commercial contract, has been conducted within the Ministry of Defence. A number of external organisations have made representations to my Department, and these are being fully taken into account in our consideration, which is continuing.

  International Military Supplies Office, Tehran
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 16 December,Official
  200
  Report, column 536, regarding the International Military Supplies Office in Tehran; what is the purpose of this office; how many people are employed in Tehran; if any Iranian citizens; and what is the address.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  IMS (Iran) Ltd. was set up in 1973. It has its office in Tehran (PO Box 19395/1695). Its activities before the revolution were limited to making administrative arrangements in Iran in support of the various contracts between International Military Services Ltd. and the Iranian Government. Following the revolution the office was kept open with a skeleton staff to assist in processing the negotiation and settlement of previous contracts. This office remains open, although for the present it is on a care-and-maintenance basis, with only one member of staff, an Iranian citizen. The position of the office is reviewed by IMS regularly.

  Defence Contracts
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 26 November 1987,Official Report, column 281, if he will give details of (a) the eight companies prosecuted since 1979 over defence contracts and (b) names of the companies still under investigation.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The eight prosecutions were against individual directors or employees of defence contractors, not the companies.

  Chieftain Tank
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his Department's plans for the replacement of the Chieftain tank.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Following a re-examination of likely developments in future tank technology the Ministry of Defence has been considering the time scale in which it might need to replace the Chieftain tanks which entered service in BAOR in the middle and late 1960s. As well as reviewing possible overseas options the Ministry is discussing with Vickers Defence Systems Ltd. the possibility of adopting an improved version of the Challenger tank. This would be attractive in terms of commonality and interoperability within the British tank fleet. No decisions have, however, yet been taken on the timing of a Chieftain replacement and the Ministry is continuing seriously to examine both the improved Challenger and other possible options.

  Service Hospitals
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide in the Official Report full lists of (a) all Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force hospitals and (b) all service establishments which contain in-patient hospital facilities, listing in each case the number of beds established, the number of beds occupied on any recent convenient date, the nursing establishment and the relative number of nurses currently employed.

  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1987, c. 655]: The additional information for Military hospitals in the United Kingdom is as follows, reflecting the position at 1200 on 6 January 1988:

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  RNH

  RNH

  BMH

  BMH

  BMH

  RAF(H)

  RAF(H)

  RAF(H)

  Total

  Haslar

  Plymouth

  Aldershot

  Catterick

  Woolwich

  Ely

  Halton

  Wroughton

  Number of Beds

  Complemented

  (1)

  305

  133

  309

  150

  482

  170

  170

  280

  1,999

  Available

  (2)

  228

  98

  261

  130

  427

  170

  170

  238

  1,722

  Occupied

  (3)

  194

  84

  146

  67

  292

  149

  116

  179

  1,2.27

  Nurses

  Complement

  (4)

  338 (156)

  172 (52)

  240 (21)

  114 (21)

  382 (60)

  170 (28)

  149 (0)

  226 (25)

  1,791 (363)

  Available for wards

  (5)

  185

  92

  255

  64

  309

  136

  127

  167

  1,335

  On duty on day or wards

  (6)

  143

  62

  131

  26

  160

  68

  79

  93

  762

  Notes:

  1. The figures in brackets at line 4 show the number of trainee posts included in the establishment.

  2. Line 5 includes 42 agency staff working 1 shift on the day.

  3. Line 6 shows the total nursing staff on the wards in three shifts.

  4. At the stated time there were 34 trainees temporarily attached to RNH Haslar and 67 trainees temporarily attached to BMH Aldershot from overseas hospitals which were additional to the United Kingdom establishments. This is partly reflected in the imbalance of figures for the BMH Aldershot in lines 4 and 5.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by the Law Officers' Departments who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  The Attorney-General
  I make no appointments to public bodies. A list of the names of those appointed by the Lord Chancellor and his Department could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Secondary Schools—England 1985–86

  Expenditure1

  Examination results2

  Per pupil £

  Percentage of leavers achieving defined results

  Ranking

  1 ILEA

  2,085

  16·2

  86

  2 Haringey

  1,710

  21·3

  61

  3 Brent

  1,590

  178

  78

  4 Waltham Forest

  1,540

  12·2

  95

  5 Ealing

  1,460

  15·9

  87

  6 Manchester

  1,425

  17·6

  80

  7 Croydon

  1,355

  24·4

  39

  8 Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1,345

  15·4

  88

  9 Harrow

  1,340

  43·1

  1

  10 Barnet

  1,330

  40·1

  3

  11 Havering

  1,325

  24·9

  37

  12 Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,325

  41·3

  2

  13 Knowsley

  1,320

  12·3

  94

  14 Hillingdon

  1,315

  20·7

  64

  15 Coventry

  1,310

  21·1

  62

  16 North Tyneside

  1,295

  19·4

  70

  17 Hounslow

  1,290

  20·7

  65

  18 Redbridge

  1,290

  27·3

  18

  19 Rochdale

  1,275

  18·2

  76

  20 Barking

  1,260

  10·0

  96

  21 Sheffield

  1,260

  18·1

  77

  22 Bromley

  1,255

  29·8

  10

  23 South Tyneside

  1,255

  19·7

  68

  24 Liverpool

  1,250

  16·3

  85

  25 Enfield

  1,245

  24·0

  44

  26 Sandwell

  1,230

  14·5

  90

  27 Wigan

  1,230

  29·9

  9

  28 Wolverhampton

  1,225

  13·9

  92

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all local education authorities in England in rank order of expenditure per secondary pupil per year, starting with the highest spending authority, together with their position in the table of examination results for school leavers achieving five or more O-levels at grades A to C or CSE grade 1, in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is as follows:
  203

  Expenditure1

  Examination results2

  Per pupil £

  Percentage of leavers achieving defined results

  Ranking

  29 Nottinghamshire

  1,220

  18·4

  72

  30 Leicestershire

  1,205

  21·6

  59

  31 Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,200

  25·2

  34

  32 Salford

  1,200

  21·6

  60

  33 Bexley

  1,195

  25·5

  30

  34 Oxfordshire

  1,190

  23·5

  48

  35 Walsall

  1185

  18·3

  73

  36 Gateshead

  1,185

  20·1

  66

  37 Hertfordshire

  1,180

  29·2

  12

  38 Birmingham

  1,175

  17·5

  81

  39 Bury

  1,175

  26·6

  24

  40 Cleveland

  1,175

  28·1

  13

  41 Barnsley

  1,165

  15·0

  89

  42 Tameside

  1,160

  24·3

  40

  43 Avon

  1,160

  25·5

  31

  44 St. Helens

  1,150

  22·0

  56

  45 Sunderland

  1,150

  18·3

  75

  46 Berkshire

  1,150

  27·3

  17

  47 Doncaster

  1,145

  17·2

  82

  48 Trafford

  1,140

  32·2

  6

  49 Bedfordshire

  1,140

  25·4

  32

  50 Buckinghamshire

  1,140

  30·9

  8

  51 Sutton

  1,135

  27·7

  16

  52 Dudley

  1,125

  20·1

  67

  53 Sefton

  1,125

  25·7

  29

  54 Wirral

  1,125

  22·0

  57

  55 Derbyshire

  1,125

  22·5

  58

  56 Humberside

  1,125

  19·4

  69

  57 Shropshire

  1,125

  24·3

  42

  58 Staffordshire

  1,125

  24·6

  38

  59 Solihull

  1,115

  27·2

  20

  60 Bolton

  1,115

  23·7

  45

  61 Stockport

  1,115

  22·7

  53

  62 Essex

  1,115

  26·0

  27

  63 Calderdale

  1,110

  22·6

  54

  64 North Yorkshire

  1,110

  32·9

  5

  65 Northamptonshire

  1,110

  20·9

  63

  66 Surrey

  1,110

  34·1

  4

  67 Oldham

  1,095

  13·9

  91

  68 Cumbria

  1,095

  25·1

  35

  69 Devon

  1,095

  23·5

  47

  70 Durham

  1,095

  18·9

  71

  71 Gloucestershire

  1,095

  28·1

  14

  72 Lancashire

  1,095

  25·0

  36

  73 Norfolk

  1,095

  23·0

  50

  74 Wakefield

  1,090

  17·8

  79

  75 Cheshire

  1,090

  27·2

  19

  76 Bradford

  1,085

  16·5

  84

  77 East Sussex

  1,085

  25·9

  28

  78 Warwickshire

  1,085

  27·8

  15

  79 Northumberland

  1,075

  29·5

  11

  80 Rotherham

  1,070

  18·3

  74

  81 Hampshire

  1,065

  26·3

  26

  82 Leeds

  1,060

  21·9

  58

  83 Hereford and Worcester

  1,060

  26·8

  23

  84 West Sussex

  1,060

  31·3

  7

  85 Kirklees

  1,055

  25·3

  33

  86 Wiltshire

  1,055

  24·3

  41

  87 Cornwall

  1,045

  26·4

  25

  88 Cambridgeshire

  1,040

  22·9

  51

  89 Somerset

  1,040

  23·2

  49

  90 Dorset

  1,030

  27·1

  21

  91 Isle of Wight

  1,030

  16·7

  83

  92 Suffolk

  1,030

  22·9

  52

  93 Lincolnshire

  1,025

  24·2

  43

  94 Kent

  1,015

  26·9

  22

  Notes:

  1 The recurrent institutional expenditure per secondary school pupil (1985–86 cash) is based on LEA returns of expenditure to DOE and of pupil numbers to DES.

  2 The examination results ranking is based on a departmental survey sample of 10 per cent. of all school leavers in each LEA (excluding special school pupils) who have attained the minimum school leaving age. The percentages quoted do not reflect pupils who achieved CSE/ GCE qualifications after leaving school, or those who achieved vocational or other qualifications either at school or elsewhere. The rankings make no allowance for differing socio-economic factors (see DES statistical bulletin 13/84).

  3 Expenditure figures are not available for Merton and Newham, which rank 46th and 93rd respectively on examination results as defined.

  204

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Assessment and Testing (Report)
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the report of the task group on assessment and testing.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are publishing today the report of the task group on assessment and testing. Copies are being placed in the Library of the House, made available to members of the Committee on the Education Reform Bill, and are available on request from my Department. A shorter version is being prepared for distribution to schools within the next few weeks. I am very grateful to the task group's chairman, Professor Paul Black, and his fellow members for the speed and thoroughness with which they have discharged their task. Their report will make an important contribution to the development of arrangements to underpin the national curriculum in schools, provided for in the Education Reform Bill now before Parliament.

  The report recommends a national assessment system, including testing, which incorporates the main features of the Government's proposals. It provides for assessment related to clear objectives at ages 7, 11, 14 and 16 which takes account of differences in ability and maturity; for a balanced mixture of national testing and other assessment by teachers during the course of their work, and for reporting on pupils' attainments in ways which are comprehensible and helpful and which recognise the sensitivities of publishing information about the results of assessment. It lays emphasis on formative assessment of a child's positive achievements in order to help further learning as the basis of a national assessment system. It makes clear that a system along these lines could play a substantial part in the professional development of teachers, in raising standards of teaching and learning, and in improving parental and public confidence in our education system.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I welcome the broad framework proposed in the report and will be considering its detailed recommendations. We shall be happy to receive comments on those recommendations. I am asking the mathematics and science working groups, and the Kingman committee on English, to take this broad framework into account in their work on attainment targets and related assessment arrangements in their subjects. My right hon. Friend and I will be giving similar guidance, subject to refinements which may be needed in the light of comments on the recommendations, to other subject working groups which may be set up.

  I am inviting the task group to continue in being for a further period, in order to undertake more detailed study of arrangements for implementing and administering the national assessment system; to discuss, with working
  206
  groups and others, more specific criteria for assessment arrangements in different subjects; and to offer further advice as necessary in the light of the public reaction to its report.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I regret that this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The usual forecast was deposited in the House last week. At present, only two meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for January.

  The Agriculture Council meets on 18/19 January and is expected to discuss preparations for the European Council, beef balance sheets and quotas, and the extension of Greek national measures for table olives.

  The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 25/26 January. Discussion will cover the Community's financial situation and progress made in negotiations with Hungary on a trade and co-operation agreement.

  Iran (Exports)
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any proposals for changes in the guidelines issued to British manufacturers to further limit exports to Iran so as to include non-lethal equipment ancillary to lethal military equipment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Subject to any United Nations arms embargo resolution to enforce SCR 598, we have no plans to change the guidelines on the sale of military equipment to Iran and Iraq. These already prohibit the export of all defence-related equipment that could significantly enhance the capability of either side to prolong or exacerbate the conflict. We continue to urge other countries to adopt similar stringent measures.

  Iranian Arms Procurement Agency
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of staff formerly employed by the Iranian Arms Procurement Agency at 4 Victoria street, London, have left the United Kingdom since his Department announced that it was to be closed.

  Mr. Mellor
  Following our decision to close the Iranian Military Procurement Offices, all 34 Iranian staff previously employed there have left the United Kingdom.

SCOTLAND

  Abortions
  Mr. Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what proportion of late abortions carried out in Scotland are to women aged under 20 years.

  Mr. Rifkind
  There is no universally accepted definition of late abortion. The number of notifications of abortions performed under the Abortion Act 1967 on women aged under 20 years resident in Scotland in 1986 carried out at 21 completed weeks gestation and over is five, which represents 20 per cent. of all abortions at this gestational age carried out in Scotland.

  Nursery Education
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, by sex, the number of children in each local education authority in Scotland who receive nursery education.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provisional number of children in education authority nursey schools at September 1987 is as follows:

  Authority

  Boys

  Girls

  Total

  Borders

  202

  195

  397

  Central

  1,255

  1,250

  2,505

  Dumfries/Galloway

  227

  208

  435

  Fife

  2,242

  2,037

  4,279

  Grampian

  1,445

  1,256

  2,701

  Highland

  348

  276

  624

  Lothian

  4,157

  3,860

  8,017

  Strathclyde

  9,019

  8,711

  17,730

  Tayside

  1,253

  1,149

  2,402

  Orkney

  43

  42

  85

  Shetland

  54

  56

  110

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  All Scotland

  20,245

  19,040

  39,285

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  A74

  Total

  215

  185

  163

  164

  169

  180

  198

  196

  Fatal

  15

  6

  13

  13

  12

  10

  14

  17

  Serious

  67

  70

  54

  70

  60

  56

  55

  64

  A75

  Total

  129

  136

  135

  110

  106

  103

  112

  120

  Fatal

  14

  13

  9

  4

  8

  7

  8

  9

  Serious

  26

  25

  37

  31

  40

  36

  37

  46

  A76

  Total

  93

  87

  88

  95

  78

  73

  78

  95

  Fatal

  6

  5

  6

  4

  9

  1

  2

  2

  Serious

  36

  30

  33

  25

  25

  18

  20

  17

  A77

  Total

  300

  299

  302

  262

  254

  288

  299

  280

  Fatal

  9

  15

  13

  14

  15

  8

  13

  14

  Serious

  80

  80

  90

  87

  76

  85

  78

  64

  M8

  Total

  182

  158

  147

  158

  146

  126

  151

  152

  Fatal

  5

  9

  5

  9

  8

  7

  4

  6

  Serious

  53

  51

  49

  51

  37

  38

  49

  31

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I have today placed in the Library a copy of the letter I have sent to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Traffic Statistics
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest traffic figures recorded for any stretches of the following roads: (i) A74, (ii) A75, (iii) A76, (iv) A77 and (v) M8.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Traffic volumes on these roads vary at different locations. The following are illustrative annual daily averages for different stretches for 1986:

  A74 (south) 14,000–20,000

  (central) 15,000–30,000

  A75 (Dumfries-A74) 8,000–12,000

  A76 (Dumfries-New Cumnock) 3,000–5,000

  (New Cumnock-Kilmarnock) 5,000–7,000

  A77 (Girvan-Maybole) 5,000–7,000

  (Maybole-South Ayr) 5,000–10,000

  (South Ayr-A78) 10,000–20,000

  M8 (Newbridge-Newhouse) 25,000–30,000

  Road Accident Statistics
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the figures for all road accidents, those involving serious injury and those involving fatalities for (i) A74, (ii) A75, (iii) A76, (iv) A77 and (v) M8 for each year from 1979 to 1986; and what are the monthly figures up to the latest available month for 1987.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:
  209

  1987 (provisional)

  January

  February

  March

  April

  May

  June

  A74

  Total

  8

  16

  9

  9

  25

  12

  Fatal

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Serious

  4

  4

  3

  3

  8

  2

  A75

  Total

  5

  9

  7

  2

  7

  10

  Fatal

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Serious

  3

  1

  2

  1

  4

  4

  A76

  Total

  11

  3

  5

  8

  8

  7

  Fatal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Serious

  4

  1

  1

  2

  2

  4

  A77

  Total

  14

  19

  15

  18

  14

  19

  Fatal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Serious

  3

  7

  7

  2

  6

  7

  M8

  Total

  8

  9

  11

  11

  8

  8

  Fatal

  1

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1

  Serious

  1

  2

  4

  3

  2

  1

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much he has paid out in the current year in(a) regional development grant and (b) regional selective assistance; and how much he expects to pay in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Gross expenditures on regional development grant (RDG) and regional selective assistance (RSA) under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 in the period April to November 1987 were £40 million and £19 million respectively. As my right hon. and learned Friend has announced, net provision for his industry, energy, trade and employment programme, which includes regional assistance, for 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91 is £266 million, £260 million and £260 million respectively. Further detail will, as usual, be published in the annual "Scottish Commentary" on public expenditure. In addition full details of my right hon. and learned Friend's proposals for 1988–89 will appear in the Supply Estimates.

  Cunninghame, North (Grants)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give total amounts paid in Cunninghame, North constituency by the Scottish Development Agency and the Highlands and Islands Development Board since 1979 in cash terms and also at 1987 prices.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 30 October 1987]: As a result of changes in constituency boundaries the information in respect of the Scottish Development Agency is available only from 1983–84 and relates to all recognised schemes of agency financial assistance. The information is set out in the table.
  210

  Scottish Development Agency Expenditure

  Cash Terms £000

  Percentage Change

  1986–87 Prices £000

  Percentage Change

  1983–84

  475

  —

  542

  —

  1984–85

  394

  -17·1

  430

  -20·7

  1985–86

  438

  +11·2

  451

  +4·9

  1986–87

  333

  -24·0

  333

  -26·2

  Highlands and Islands Development Board Expenditure

  Cash Terms £000

  Percentage Change

  1986–87 Prices £000

  Percentage Change

  1979

  154

  —

  256

  —

  1980

  193

  +25·3

  271

  +5·9

  1981

  233

  +20·7

  298

  +10·0

  1982

  374

  +60·5

  446

  +49·7

  1983

  443

  +18·4

  505

  +13·2

  1984

  385

  -13·1

  421

  -16·6

  1985

  672

  +74·5

  692

  +64·4

  1986

  326

  -51·5

  326

  -52·9

  Note: The HIDB operates only in the Arran and Cumbrae areas of the constituency. The figures, which are only available from 1979, include approved expenditure by HIDB (net of known withdrawals) on grants, loans and shares for economic projects and social grants and board project expenditure. Board expenditure on research, surveys and publicity is riot allocated to geographical areas.

  Aberdeen (Grants)
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount of grant to industrial projects in(a) the constituency of Aberdeen, North and (b) Aberdeen by the Scottish Development Agency or the Department of Trade and Industry for each year since 1979 in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in 1986–87 prices, showing the percentage changes in payments between years.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 26 October 1987]: As a result of changes in constituency boundaries the information in respect of the Scottish Development Agency is available

  211
  only from 1983–84 and relates to all recognised schemes of agency financial assistance. The information is set out in the table below:

  Scottish Development Agency Expenditure

  Cash terms £ thousand

  Percentage change

  Real terms £ thousand

  Percentage change

  Aberdeen North

  1983–84

  53

  —

  60

  —

  1984–85

  261

  +392·5

  285

  +375·0

  1985–86

  59

  -77·4

  61

  -78·6

  1986–87

  64

  +8·5

  64

  +4·9

  Aberdeen City

  1983–84

  146

  —

  167

  —

  1984–85

  405

  +177·4

  442

  +164·7

  1985–86

  1,332

  +228·9

  1,372

  +210·4

  1986–87

  198

  -85·1

  198

  -85·6

  Overseas Development Administration

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  (i) Joint Funding Scheme

  OXFAM

  1,200

  1,200

  1,450

  1,650

  1,894

  Christian Aid

  330

  330

  700

  900

  940

  Save the Children Fund

  —

  —

  —

  675

  905

  CAFOD

  100

  100

  300

  375

  350

  Other1

  760

  885

  1,379

  1,281

  1,823

  (ii) Volunteers

  British Volunteer Programme

  4,027

  5,071

  6,045

  7,049

  7,758

  British Executive Service Overseas

  283

  284

  259

  246

  290

  (iii) Other grants to specified charities2

  British Red Cross

  15

  15

  20

  19

  12

  League of Red Cross Societies

  50

  1,070

  2,945

  1,707

  520

  International Red Cross

  1,150

  4,225

  3,295

  5,220

  5,215

  Disasters Emergency Committee

  —

  —

  1,000

  —

  —

  Christians Abroad

  5

  6

  10

  7

  9

  Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind

  13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Women's Corona Society

  32

  49

  29

  27

  40

  Plunkett Foundation

  6

  7

  7

  7

  8

  Co-operative Union Ltd.

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other grants for refugee relief and development projects

  167

  374

  231

  810

  592

  Diplomatic Wing

  British Atlantic Council3

  44

  45

  47

  49

  51

  British Youth Council4

  42

  44

  44

  43

  44

  United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service (Bangladesh)

  12

  13

  13

  14

  14

  1 Includes Save the Children Fund figures for 1982–83 to 1984–85.

  2 Excludes disaster relief and food aid channelled through charities.

  3 To assist in the promotion of and knowledge and understanding of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

  4 Support for the council's international activities and to enable it to carry out a programme of activities in pursuance of the provisions of the final act (Helsinki 1975) of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Stanley
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  212
  Information on expenditure by the Department of Trade and Industry is not available in the form requested.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Charitable Bodies
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the charitable bodies which his Department supports and provide tables showing the amounts devoted in the most recent five years for which figures are available and the general purposes for which the grants were given.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The information is as follows:

  Standard Capital Grants Scheme
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the standard capital grants scheme.

  Mr. Viggers
  This scheme, which is unique to Northern Ireland, provides automatic grant assistance at a current rate of 12·5 per cent. on capital expenditure in qualifying manufacturing sectors of industry. It is not related to job creation criteria or conditions.
  213
  Recent reviews of the scheme, including a major survey of firms claiming standard capital grant, have shown that it contains substantial deadweight—in most cases the investment would have proceeded without Government financial assistance—and has the effect of distorting competition within Northern Ireland. These and other shortcomings have led me to conclude that the scheme no longer constitutes an effective means of stimulating economic activity in Northern Ireland, nor does it provide good value for public money.

  For these reasons the Government have decided to abolish the standard capital grant scheme and to concentrate the industrial development effort on the wide range of selective assistance available from the Industrial Development Board and the local enterprise development unit. I am convinced that available resources should be targeted much more selectively if they are to have the maximum beneficial effect in strengthening the economy. this underlines the Government's policy to encourage enterprising firms in developing quality products, seeking out new markets and improving their competitiveness.

  I shall shortly be publishing a proposal for an Order in Council to terminate the scheme in respect of expenditure incurred after 31 March 1988. Applications for such assistance will, however, continue to be accepted by the Department of Economic Development until 31 March 1990.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Steel Corporation (Rates)
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are(a) the rateable values and (b) the rates payable for the British Steel Corporation's integrated steelworks; and on what basis they are levied.

  Mr. Atkins
  The rateable values and rates payable for the British Steel Corporation's integrated steel works are as follows:

  Integrated works

  Rateable values

  Rates payable

  £

  £

  England

  Teeside

  4,600,000

  14,091,640

  Scunthorpe

  4,078,000

  10,884,998

  Wales

  Llanwern

  3,552,120

  8,227,588

  Port Talbot

  3,292,000

  8,757,707

  Scotland

  Ravenscraig

  7,320,000

  5,892,600

  These figures relate to the 1987–88 rate year which ends on 31 March 1988. The rates are levied on the rate in the pound adopted for other non-domestic properties in the particular area of the rating authority. The works are assessed in accordance with general rating law and not under any special statutory formula.

  Acrylic Yarn
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the import in tonnes of acrylic yarn from Turkey in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  United Kingdom imports of acrylic yarns from Turkey were: 1984—44·7 metric tonnes; 1985 — 611·0 metric tonnes; and 1986 (provisional)—3,227·4 metric tones.

  Military Equipment (Exports to Iran)
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what exports for non-lethal military equipment have been authorised for export to Iran since 1 September 1987.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to make public information of this kind.

  Imports
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the value(a) by cash and (b) by tonnage of imports for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Information on imports by tonnage and so on is not available. For information on the value of imports I refer the hon. Member to the "Annual Abstract of Statistics 1986 edition" and "Overseas Trade Statistics Annual 1985" and December 1986 editions, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the value of imports of cars from(a) the EEC, (b) Japan, and (c) other world sources into the United Kingdom annually since 1980 giving (i) the cash value and (ii) number of units.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is given in the following table:

  United Kingdom imports of cars 1980 to 1986

  Value £ million

  EEC

  Japan

  Rest of the world

  Year

  Value

  Number

  Value

  Number

  Value

  Number

  1980

  1,647·7

  626,785

  308·4

  187,833

  155·7

  57,893

  1981

  1,717·3

  597,638

  343·2

  164,403

  160·6

  54,568

  1982

  2,328·9

  706,544

  401·8

  173,655

  151·2

  61,850

  1983

  2,968·6

  825,669

  515·6

  186,176

  174·6

  69,697

  1984

  2,876·7

  763,618

  619·3

  198,904

  173·8

  62,074

  1985

  3,362·9

  813,456

  569·6

  191,496

  205·8

  70,635

  1986

  3,765·5

  718,780

  818·3

  214,452

  225·4

  78,436

  Notes:

  1. Cars defined as Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 2), sub-group 781.0

  2. EEC includes all Member States as at 1 January 1988 throughout.

  3. 1986 figures provisional.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the amount by cash, for each year since 1980, annually of imports of textiles into the United Kingdom from(a) the EEC and (b) from the rest of the world.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is given in the following table:

  United Kingdom imports of textiles 1980–1986

  £ million

  EEC

  Rest of World

  1980

  891·8

  651·9

  1981

  1,072·6

  689·0

  1982

  1,248·8

  678·8

  1983

  1,523·5

  796·8

  1984

  1,797·0

  908·4

  1985

  2,033·1

  998·9

  1986

  2,122·5

  1,040·1

  215
  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Textiles defined as Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 2) Division 65: Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles nes and related products.

  2. EEC includes all Member States as at 1 January 1988 throughout.

  3. 1986 figures provisonal.

  United Kingdom imports of aeroplanes 1980–1986

  Value: £ million

  EEC

  USA

  Rest of World

  Value

  Number

  Value

  Number

  Value

  Number

  1980

  279·3

  491

  633·4

  324

  470·8

  385

  1981

  49·0

  183

  121·9

  333

  15·8

  81

  1982

  44·5

  140

  124·1

  202

  79·2

  77

  1983

  12·8

  96

  290·5

  44

  68·1

  55

  1984

  106·3

  95

  378·1

  173

  101·4

  95

  1985

  19·2

  110

  701·6

  106

  146·8

  58

  1986

  50·7

  73

  166·9

  165

  145·3

  141

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Aeroplanes are defined as Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 2) sub-groups 792.2, 3 and 4.

  2. The EEC includes all Member States as at 1 January 1988 throughout.

  3. 1986 figures provisional.

  Council of Industry Ministers
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a report on the outcome of the Council of Industry Ministers' meeting on 22 December 1987.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Following the meeting of the Council of Industry Ministers on 8 December, on which I reported to the House in my reply on 9 December, at column 163, I attended a further meeting of the Council in Brussels on 22 December. The Council determined arrangements to apply to the steel market following the end of the previous quota arrangements on 31 December 1987. The House of Commons Select Committee on European Legislation recommended these arrangements for debate, but regrettably it was not possible to arrange for parliamentary debate prior to their agreement of the 22 December Council. I shall, of course, make efforts to arrange a debate as soon as practicable.

  The Commission reported on the consultations it had undertaken with member states, at the request of the 8 December Council, concerning the reduction of excess capacity in each of the product categories Ia and Ib (hot rolled strip and cold reduced sheet), II (plate) and III (heavy sections). In respect of categories II and III the Commission judged that sufficient indications of willingness to reduce capacity had been obtained for it to seek guaranteed undertakings to reduce capacity in these categories. The Commission proposed that if such undertakings were secured by 10 June 1988, quotas for those categories should continue until the end of 1990. In respect of category I, however, the Commission considered that insufficient indications of willingness to reduce capacity had been received, and accordingly proposed the continuation of quotas in that category only until 30 June 1988.

  As at the previous Council considerable discussion took place, particularly concerning the timetable over which
  216
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is(a) the cash value and (b) the numbers of, aeroplane imports into the United Kingdom from (i) the EEC (ii) the United States of America and, (iii) other world sources, (c) annually since 1980.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The information is given in the following table:

  quotas for category I products should be removed. Eventually, the following conclusions relating to quotas were agreed unanimously:

  "The Council gave its assent, in accordance with Article 58 ECSC, to the Commission proposals relating to the extension of the steel regime beyond 1 January 1988, as follows:
  With regard to categories I (a) and (b), the production quota regime will come to an end on 30 June 1988.
  With regard to categories II and III, the production quota regime will continue up to 30 June 1988, and should be extended until the end of 1990 if, by 10 June 1988, the Commission has received guaranteed undertakings to reduce production capacity by means of closure by at least 75 per cent. of the surplus the Commission deems to exist. In the case of these conditions not being fulfilled for one of these categories, quotas will end for that category on 30 June 1988.
  The Commission will allocate to firms quotas for the second quarter of 1988 some 2·0 per cent. higher than would correspond to a market assessment to prepare for the return to the free market.
  The Council notes that there is agreement in the Council to accept a Commission proposal extending the quotas for category I products beyond 30 June 1988 on condition that guaranteed undertakings on reduction of capacity of at least 7·5 million tonnes by means of closure in category Ia are obtained before 10 June 1988.
  The Council notes that the Commission is ready to reconsider its present position on category I products provided the conditions of the treaty are fulfilled and the commitments set out above are obtained."

  The Commission made no proposals for the continuation of quotas on categories IV and VI (wire rod and merchant bar), so quotas on these categories lapsed on 31 December. Quotas on other categories had been removed previously. The Commission has also raised the production reference levels which determine whether individual producers are subject to quotas. The effect of these changes is that the British Steel Corporation is now the only United Kingdom steel producer subject to production quotas.

  The conclusions of the Council provide a clear framework for a steady return to free market conditions. Specific and demanding targets have been set for closure commitments to be obtained by 10 June, and the Council has concluded unanimously that quotas should end on 30 June if such commitments are not forthcoming. I believe these conclusions represent a good outcome for steel

  217
  producers and consumers in the United Kingdom, and for the preparations for the privatisation of the British Steel Corporation which I announced on 3 December.

  Major Projects
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement about support for major projects.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I presented to the House today the White Paper "DTI—the Department for Enterprise". The White Paper announced substantial changes in DTI's role and its policies and programmes. A number of major new initiatives to encourage enterprise are being launched. My statement to the House today outlined these, together with those existing schemes which we believe are less effective and are being closed. The details of the latter are as follows.

  From today, a limited number of both research and development projects and investment projects likely to yield exceptional national benefits will be eligible for support under a unified facility — assistance for exceptional projects.

  Support for major projects, under which investment projects likely to yield exceptional national benefits have been eligible for assistance, has been closed from 6 pm today (12 January) to further applications as a separate facility.

  The automatic regional development grant (RDG) scheme, which currently operates in the development areas, is to be terminated and no new applications will be accepted after 31 March 1988. Legislation is being introduced into the House today to terminate the scheme. New applications for project approval will be considered provided they are received on or before 31 March 1988. The transitional arrangements proposed in the Bill reflect the fact that RDG may be applied for before a project is started, while it is in progress or after it has been completed. Applications for project approval received on or before today, and applications received on or before 31 March in relation to projects started on or before today, will not be affected by the legislation. Applications received after today in relation to projects not yet started will be considered for grant only to the extent that relevant jobs or assets are provided (or, in the case of assets, expenditure is defrayed) within two years of the project application being approved by the Department. Grants will not be payable in relation to such projects unless a claim is received within three years of the project approval, or such shorter period as may be prescribed in an individual case. Further details of the transitional arrangements are available to companies from DTI regional offices and from the Industry Department for Scotland and the Welsh Office Industry Department.

  Requests for single company support for innovation and for projects under the microelectronics industry support programme, support for software products and the fibreoptics optoelectronics scheme will be considered against the existing criteria for these schemes provided that formal applications are received by DTI before 6 pm today (12 January).

  The major expansion of support for the use of DTI consultancy services by small and medium-sized firms incorporates many existing DTI consultancy services. Except for those business improvement services schemes
  218
  which still have allocated unused funds, all existing consultancy services will be ended from noon on 14 January 1988. These include the advanced manufacturing technology consultancy scheme, the microelectronics applications consultancy scheme and business and technical advisory services.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations office of his Department; and what is the number planned to be employed at this point in 1988.

  Mr. Butcher
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The latest figures for the number of staff posts in the press and public relations office of my Department are:

  at present in 1987–88

  1988–89

  151

  151

  1Including 17 on clerical and other support duties.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the latest figure for the estimated spending in 1987–88 by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material; and what are the estimated expenditures in each area for 1988–89.

  Mr. Butcher
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Information is not readily available to distinguish between advertising in newspapers and in the press generally, nor for expenditure other than centrally by my Department.

  The estimated media expenditure for 1987–88 by my Department is as follows:

  £

  Television advertising

  5,342,000

  Radio advertising

  20,000

  Press advertising

  2,985,000

  Other promotional publicity

  3,869,000

  Total

  12,216,000

  Detailed decisions on expenditure by media have not yet been taken for 1988–89.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by his Department on press and public relations for(a) 1987–88 and (b) 1988–89.

  Mr. Butcher
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The latest estimated expenditure by my Department on press and public relations is as follows:

  £

  1987–88

  1,123,000

  1988–89

  1,508,000

EMPLOYMENT

  Open Tech
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the principal achievements of the Open Tech project since its inception;
  219
  what is the current operating status of the project; and what are (a) the total costs to date, (b) the total contributions by employers, (c) the total contributions by other organisations, (d) the total contributions by local authorities and (e) the number of students and trainees enrolled per year, by region, employer, local authority, other organisation, employment status, gender, whether disabled, racial origin and by subject studied.

  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission's Open Tech programme was a four-year developmental programme which concluded on 31 March 1987. An evaluation by the Tavistock Institute will be available shortly and its report will be placed in the Library.

  The aims of the programme were to extend the training opportunities available to adults, mainly employed, at technician, supervisory and management levels, to improve access to that training, and to provide an exemplar structure of open learning materials and services. Employers, local authorities, colleges and other training providers, trade unions, industry training boards, and others participated through 140 projects. These were required by their contracts to become self-sustaining.

  The principal achievements of the programme include the creation of about 35,000 learning hours of self-study packages and the establishment of a range of producers and suppliers of open learning materials and trainee support services. The packages continue to be available for sale on a commercial basis and almost all the projects are continuing to deliver open learning materials.

  Total costs of the programme to the MSC were some £51 million. Additional resources contributed by sponsors during the life of the programme are estimated at £8·8 million in cash and in kind. I regret that it is not possible to allocate this between types of sponsor.

  The Open Tech programme did not enrol students directly, but made open learning materials available to organisations and individuals alike. Packages purchased by employers, colleges and others will generally have been made available to several students. An accurate breakdown of the beneficiaries of Open Tech materials and the subjects they studied has not been possible therefore. The MSC's best estimate of the trainees known to have received help from the programme is as follows:

  Number

  1983–84

  6,000

  1984–85

  12,000

  1985–86

  32,000

  1986–87

  65,000

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Lee
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  British Nuclear Fuels, Sellafield
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make a statement on the report published by the Health and Safety Executive on 14 December on the implementation of safety changes at 220
  British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., Sellafield, arising from the Health and Safety Executive safety audit Sellafield, published in December 1986;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the implementation of the report of the Health and Safety Executive, published on 14 December, arising from the Health and Safety Executive safety audit on Sellafield published in December 1986; and if he will make a statement on the present state of containment of nuclear wastes at Sellafield and on levels of radiation exposure to workers at the Sellafield site.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I have been asked to reply.

  I welcome the HSE's recent report which acknowledges the good progress made by British Nuclear Fuels plc in meeting the requirements specified in the HSE's initial audit report. The company's plans for dealing with waste on site are well advanced and it aims to keep worker dose as low as reasonablly achievable consistent with practice throughout the nuclear industry.

TRANSPORT

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Channon
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Chauffeurplan Limited
  Mr. John
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for his campaigns against drinking and driving of the advertising material from Chauffeurplan Ltd. which offers to provide a chauffeur service for disqualified drivers.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We view with distaste insurance schemes which provide alternative road transport for those disqualified from driving following conviction for road traffic offences, even though such schemes cannot adequately compensate for loss of entitlement to drive. We shall look again at such insurance schemes in the light of the report of the review of road traffic law, which we expect very shortly.

  Companies or department stores considering circulating details of such schemes, may wish to consider carefully the number of complaints which we have received about such proposals.

  London Underground (Escalators)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many escalators were, at the latest available date, out of service and undergoing repairs on the London underground system.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I understand that on 4 January 1988, 37 of the Underground's 276 escalators were out of service either for repair or planned replacement, including those damaged in the King's Cross fire.

  London Couriers (Accidents)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give for each year since 1979 the number of accidents in London involving bicycle and motor cycle couriers.

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

  Horne Committee
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he is planning to implement the recommendations of the Horne committee following its review of the Public Utilities and Street Works Act 1950.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We recognise the importance of the Horne report particularly for securing better quality reinstatements. The Government's response to the report, published in July 1986, accepted the great majority of its recommendations. The Department is pressing ahead with implementation. We shall continue to look for a suitable opportunity to introduce the necessary primary legislation.

  London City Airport
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total cost to the Civil Aviation Authority associated with the operation of the London City airport.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Air traffic approach control is provided under contract by the Civil Aviation Authority to London City airport. The cost is a commercial matter which is confidential to the airport and the authority. The costs for the provision of en route air traffic services are recovered from aircraft operators through charges. The proportion of these costs attributed to flights using a particular airport are not readily available.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what charges were made on, or contributed from, public funds for the planning, construction and operation of London City airport.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  London City Airport is owned and financed by the private sector. No contribution has been made from public funds to its planning, construction and operation. Some costs fell on public funds in respect of the planning inquiry and in providing services such as customs and immigration facilities. It is not possible to estimate such costs without disproportionate expenditure.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes are being considered to the height of the east London river crossing bridge towers; and what is the reasoning behind the considered change.

  JET income from Euratom and participating countries in European currency units

  Draft budgets for

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1968

  Euratom

  9,600,000

  32,000,000

  40,712,751

  43,464,000

  80,993,900

  95,000,000

  84,505,600

  52,500,000

  68,250,200

  79,859,700

  83,201,500

  Belgium

  21,960

  72,160

  96,413

  105,910

  204,990

  274,685

  295,400

  132,800

  135,500

  139,800

  234,000

  Denmark

  8,640

  28,280

  37,537

  39,100

  70,200

  75,600

  77,000

  72,600

  93,800

  83,300

  78,730

  222
  Mr. Channon
  Representations about the design of the proposed bridge were made at the public inquiry into the east London river crossing. These will be taken into account by myself and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment, in considering the inspector's report on the inquiry which has just been received.

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report the names of his advisory committees, together with an indication of those whose members are required to sign a declaration under, or who have otherwise had drawn to their attention, the provisions of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act.

  Mr. Channon
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 December 1987, c. 776]: The list of advisory committees for which I am responsible should also have included the recently formed Street Works Advisory Committee. Its members have their attention drawn to the Official Secrets Act.

ENERGY

  British Nuclear Fuels, Sellafield
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the future of Magnox reprocessing at British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., Sellafield, following the publication on 14 December by the Health and Safety Executive of the report on safety revision at Sellafield arising from the Health and Safety Executive safety audit at Sellafield, issued in December 1986.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Reprocessing is a proven and safe technology which keeps open the possibility for recycling valuable uranium and plutonium as fuel.

  BNF plc, of course, like any other licensed nuclear operator, must continue to meet the requirements of the independent Health and Safety Executive.

  Nuclear Fusion
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the total annual expenditure on the Joint European Torus fusion project by all contributing partners since its inception up to 1987–88, broken down into contributions by individual countries.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The table gives full details of the annual contributions for Euratom and each member country of the JET (Joint European Torus) joint undertaking from its inception in June 1978. There are no figures yet available for the contributions from Spain and Portugal which became members of the undertaking in June 1987.
  223

  Draft budgets for

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  France

  247,320

  814,520

  912,161

  1,040,400

  1,935,500

  2,168,566

  2,107,300

  1,846,325

  2,095,500

  2,297,000

  2,649,200

  Germany

  558,600

  1,839,640

  2,074,192

  2,370,700

  4,363,800

  4,570,441

  3,699,200

  2,444,175

  3,298,200

  3,963,300

  3,845,700

  Greece

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ireland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Italy

  95,760

  315,560

  573,881

  500,200

  844,400

  853,211

  963,800

  770,675

  872,900

  1,028,000

  1,195,600

  Luxembourg

  —

  —

  —

  4,890

  6,910

  2,300

  5,100

  4,625

  5,600

  3,900

  2,200

  Netherlands

  69,360

  228,080

  215,202

  254,800

  499,800

  702,242

  545,600

  365,550

  426,400

  438,200

  428,200

  Sweden

  23,760

  78,160

  48,728

  77,100

  134,100

  151,185

  173,600

  98,500

  119,600

  157,500

  172,000

  Switzerland

  —

  48,360

  337,468

  181,400

  311,000

  352,528

  396,400

  343,800

  407,900

  422,900

  428,700

  United Kingdom

  1,374,600

  4,575,240

  5,882,605

  6,291,500

  11,877,700

  14,599,242

  12,863,000

  7,045,950

  9,607,200

  11,431,000

  11,766,000

  Total

  12,000,000

  40,000,000

  50,890,938

  54,330,000

  101,242,300

  118,750,000

  105,632,000

  65,625,000

  85,312,800

  99,824,600

  104,001,800

  Notes:

  1. United Kingdom contribution includes 10 per cent. as host.

  2. Estimated income from Spain and Portugal is not available.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the current range of estimates assumed by his Department for(a) the likely achievement of a sustained fusion reaction and (b) the economic viability of nuclear fusion reactors;

  (2) what specific criteria his Department uses to assess the economic viability of nuclear fusion and in particular the Joint European Torus programme; and if he will name any consultants, other than those associated with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority/Joint European Torus programme who have provided advice to his Department on the economic viability of nuclear fusion.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The JET (Joint European Torus) project at Culham is the centrepiece of European investigations into the potential of harnessing the energy released by nuclear fusion. The immediate aim of the programme is to establish the scientific feasibility of fusion power. If successful, this could lead to the demonstration of sustained, controlled fusion reactions in a follow-on NET (Next European Torus) project. The economic viability of fusion power could only be confirmed thereafter by experience with a power generating demonstration reactor. A report by the energy technology support unit (Report R-43 published in February 1987) concluded that extremely demanding materials, engineering, irradiation, fuel injection and waste treatment requirements would need to be satisfied before reaching the point, perhaps by 2050, where commercial power reactors would be a realistic proposition. The economic viability of nuclear fusion is therefore extremely uncertain.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the proposed annual budget for the research and development of nuclear fusion for the period 1987–88 to 1990–91;

  (2) what was the annual expenditure for the research and development of nuclear fusion in the years 1970–71 to 1986–87.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  With the exception of the JET project and some minor research in universities, United Kingdom fusion research is carried out entirely by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Its expenditure is funded partly by the Department of Energy Vote and, since 1973, partly by Euratom under a contract of association. The cost of fusion research by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is set out with the contribution from Euratom shown in brackets. United 224
  Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority expenditure funded by the Department on the Joint European Torus project (JET), is given separately in my reply today to the hon. Member for Truro.

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority fusion research

  Total

  of which Euratom

  £ million

  £ million

  1970–71

  4·1

  —

  1971–72

  4·4

  —

  1972–73

  4·0

  —

  1973–74

  4·3

  (1·3)

  1974–75

  5·8

  (1·5)

  1975–76

  7·7

  (2·0)

  1976–77

  8·5

  (1·9)

  1977–78

  9·6

  (2·3)

  1978–79

  11·5

  (3·2)

  1979–80

  14·6

  (4·1)

  1980–81

  17·9

  (6·5)

  1981–82

  21·5

  (4·2)

  1982–83

  17·8

  (5·3)

  1983–84

  18·9

  (4·8)

  1984–85

  23·2

  (4·3)

  1985–86

  21·7

  (5·0)

  1986–87

  19·6

  (5·5)

  1987–88

  19·5

  1(5·2)

  1 Provisional.

  Departmental funding for the years 1988–89 and 1989–90 has yet to be agreed. Provisional figures, which include funding for JET, of £21·45 million and £21·75 million respectively, are published in the "Cabinet Office 1987 Annual Review of Government-funded R&D." Figures for 1990–91 are not available.

  Electricity Disconnections
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has recently received relating to violations of the code of practice relating to disconnections by area electricity boards.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Monitoring of the code of practice on paying electricity bills is a matter for the Electricity Consumers' Council. I believe that generally the code is operating satisfactorily.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the actual and projectd research and
  225
  development expenditure from public funds under the heading nuclear in each of the years from 1979–80 to 1989–90, at 1986–87 prices.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The following table gives the Department's expenditure with the UKAEA on nuclear R and D and related programmes (including the decommissioning of old plant and radioactive waste management) during the period 1979–80 to 1989–90. The figures in brackets represent estimated expenditure on nuclear R and D alone. Figures on the same basis for the earlier years are not available.

  £ million (1986–87 prices)

  1979–80

  242·2

  1980–81

  261·4

  1981–82

  262·7

  1982–83

  256·2

  1983–84

  232·4

  1984–85

  214·3

  1985–86

  195·3

  1986–871

  183·9 (158)

  1987–882 3

  165·3 (134)

  1988–894 5

  165·2(131)

  1989–904 5

  159·6 (130)

  1 This figure represents roughly eleven twelfths of the Department's expenditure under the programme letters for 1986–87 following the change to payment monthly in arrears from 1 April 1986. Figures for later years are based on 12 monthly payments.

  2 Estimate.

  3 "Supply Estimates 1987–88", March 1987.

  4 Projected.

  5 "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1987–88 to 1989–90", January 1987. "Cabinet Office Annual Review of Government-funded R and D 1987".

  The above figures do not include expenditure on nuclear R and D by other Government departments, the electricity supply industry and BNF plc either within the organisations themselves or with other organisations, including the AEA.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the actual and projected research and development expenditure from public funds on energy efficiency in each of the years 1979–80 to 1989–90, at 1986–87 prices.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Research and development expenditure figures for 1979–80 are not readily available, since expenditure in that year was not allocated in a comparable way with subsequent years. Figures for expenditure by my Department on energy efficiency research and development (including Demonstration) for the other years, in pounds million at 1986–87 prices, are as follows:

  £ million

  1980–81

  1·97

  1981–82

  5·24

  1982–83

  8·11

  1983–84

  7·98

  1984–85

  7·21

  1985–86

  8·55

  1986–87

  9·00

  11987–88

  11·6

  21988–89

  12·2

  21989–90

  11·7

  226

  1 Provision.

  2 Figures for 1988–89 and 1989–90 are taken from the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1987–88 to 1989–90". January 1987.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the actual and projected research and development expenditure from public funds on coal technology in each of the years from 1979–80 to 1989–90, at 1986–87 prices.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Research and developrnenl expenditure figures for 1979–80 are not readily available, since expenditure in that year was differently categorised. Figures for expenditure by my Department on coal technology for the other years, in pounds million at 1986–87 prices, are as follows:

  £ million

  1980–81

  3·79

  1981–82

  5·88

  1982–83

  3·58

  1983–84

  3·42

  1984–85

  0·76

  1985–86

  0·62

  1986–87

  1·60

  11987–88

  1·20

  21988–89

  1·30

  21989–90

  1·40

  1 Provision

  2 Figures for 1988–89 and Plans are taken from the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1987–88 to 1989–90", January 1987.

  In addition, British Coal also has a substantial research and development programme. In 1986–87 this programme cost over £24 million.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the actual and projected research and development expenditure from public funds on renewable energy sources in each of the years 1979–80 to 1989–90, at 1986–87 prices.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Research and development expenditure figures for 1979–80 are not readily available, since expenditure in that year was differently categorised. Figures for expenditure by my Department on renewable energy sources for the other years, in pounds million at 1986–87 prices, are as follows:

  £ million

  1980–81

  15·73

  1981–82

  22·12

  1982–83

  16·94

  1983–84

  12·89

  1984–85

  15·29

  1985–86

  13·08

  1986–87

  11·60

  11987–88

  13·10

  21988–89

  12·60

  21989–90

  12·10

  1 Provision.

  2 Figures for 1988–89 and 1989–90 are taken from the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1987/88–1989/90". —[January 1987.] The provision for these years has been revised upwards and will be published in the 1988 public expenditure White Paper.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the names of all the people appointed to
  227
  public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The information is as follows:

  British Coal Corporation

  Sir Robert Haslam—Chairman—September 1986

  Sir Kenneth Couzens, KCB—Deputy Chairman—October 1985

  Mr. M. H. Butler—Full-time Member—April 1986

  Mr. M. J. Edwards, CBE—Full-time Member—April 1986

  Mr. K. Moses—Full-time Member—April 1986

  Mr. J. H. Northard, CBE—Full-time Member—April 1986

  Sir Melvyn Rosser—Non-Executive Member—July 1983

  Mr. C. Barker—Non-Executive Member—February 1984

  Dr. D. V. Atterton, CBE—Non-Executive Member—September 1986

  Dr. T. J. Parker—Non-Executive Member—September 1986

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

  Mr. J. G. Collier—Chairman—January 1987

  Dr. B. L. Eyre—Full-time Member—August 1987

  Dr. G. G. E. Low—Full-time Member—April 1986

  Mr. R. N. Simeone, CBE—Full-time Member—April 1987

  Mr. J Bullock—Non-Executive Member—November 1981

  Professor Sir P. Hirsch—Non-Executive Member—April 1982

  Mr. M. J. B. Parker—Non-Executive Member—April 1985

  Mr. R. E. J. Roberts, CBE—Non-Executive Member—September 1981

  Mr. R. Sanderson, OBE—Non-Executive Member—January 1987

  Electricity Council

  Sir Philip Jones, CB—Chairman—April 1983

  Mr. D. G. Jefferies—Deputy Chairman—February 1986

  Mr. R. W. Orson, CBE—Full-time Member—January 1976

  Mr. R. A. Farrance, CBE—Full-time Member—November 1979

  Dr. D. G. C. Gronow—Full-time Member—October 1985

  Central Electricity Generating Board

  Lord Marshall of Goring, Kt, CBE—Chairman—July 1982

  Mr. G. A. W. Blackman, CBE—Deputy Chairman—April 1986

  Mr. J. W. Baker—Full-time Member—September 1980

  Mr. D. A. Davis—Full-time Member—June 1984

  Mr. F. Ledger, OBE—Full-time Member—April 1986

  Mr. R. V. Giordano—Non-Executive Member—July 1982

  Mr. W. H. N. Wilkinson—Non-Executive Member—November 1986

  Sir Terence Beckett, KBE—Non-Executive Member—January 1987

  Mr. D. A. Walker—Non-Executive Member—May 1987

  London Electricity Board

  Mr. J. J. Wilson—Chairman—March 1986

  Mr. K. G. Harvey—Deputy Chairman—May 1984

  Mr. C. A. Prendergast, CBE—Non-Executive Member—August 1983

  Baroness Garner of Parkes, JP—Non-Executive Member—November 1984

  Mr. L. W. G. Priestley—Non-Executive Member—October 1983

  Mr. R. J. Home—Non-Executive Member—May 1980

  Mr. M. Young—Non-Executive Member—January 1987

  Mr. R. B. Yearsley—Non-Executive Member September 1984

  South Eastern Electricity Board

  Mr. G. A. Squair—Chairman—June 1983

  Mr. D. A. Lovesey—Deputy Chairman—April 1987

  Sir Ian G. McLeod, JP—Non-Executive Member—August 1983

  Mr. R. A. Cox, CBE—Non-Executive Member—June 1983

  Mr. A. Ferry, MBE—Non-Executive Member—April 1987

  Mr. N. J. Hawkins—Non-Executive Member—September
  228
  1980

  Dame Margaret Weston, DBE—Non-Executive Member— February 1981

  Mr. M. J. Calvert, JP—Non-Executive Member—January 1985

  South Western Electricity Board

  Mr. A. W. Nicol—Chairman—April 1987

  Mr. J. J. Seed—Deputy Chairman—June 1986

  Mr. M. E. Kelsey—Non-Executive Member—September 1983

  Mr. M. J. L. Sayers—Non-Executive Member—August 1978

  Mr. J. 0. Gough, MBE—Non-Executive Member—October 1980

  Mr. J. R. W. R. Carew-Pole—Non-Executive Member—June 1981

  Mr. P. W. Gregory—Non-Executive Member—April 1986

  Miss V. E. Arrowsmith-Brown—Non-Executive Member—May 1986

  Eastern Electricity Board

  Mr. J. C. Smith—Chairman—October 1982

  Mr. W. Waring—Deputy Chairman—July 1983

  Mr. C. T. Muddiman—Non-Executive Member—January 1980

  Dr. K. W. Humphreys—Non-Executive Member—May 1982

  Mr. I. D. Coutts, CBE—Non-Executive Member—May 1982

  Mr. R. C. G. Chesterman, OBE—Non-Executive Member—September 1984

  Professor R. J. Eden, OBE—Non-Executive Member—June 1985

  Mr. B. C. Stanley—Non-Executive Member—September 1986

  East Midlands Electricity Board

  Mr. J. F. Harris—Chairman—October 1982

  Mr. D. W. Cowe—Deputy Chairman—November 1985

  Mrs. A. Noskwith—Non-Executive Member—July 1983

  Mrs. D. J. Parker—Non-Executive Member—July 1983

  Mr. W. B. Morgan—Non-Executive Member—July 1983

  Mr. G. H. Boyle—Non-Executive Member—June 1981

  Mr. G. N. Corah—Non-Executive Member—March 1984

  Mr. A. G. Schroeder—Non-Executive Member—March 1986

  Midlands Electricity Board

  Mr. B. S. Townsend—Chairman—April 1986

  Mr. R. K. Young—Deputy Chairman—July 1987

  Mr. P. B. G. Williams—Non-Executive Member—January 1984

  Dr. Barbara E. Marsh—Non-Executive Member—January 1984

  Mr. D. F. Harper—Non-Executive Member—June 1980

  Mr. F. C. Graves, OBE—Non-Executive Member—October 1980

  Dr. M. D. Skillicorn —Non-Executive Member—March 1981

  South Wales Electricity Board

  Mr. J. W. Evans—Chairman—April 1984

  Mr. W. Kerss—Deputy Chairman—August 1983

  Mr. C. J. Beynon—Non-Executive Member—September 1983

  Mr. E. Rea, OBE—Non-Executive Member—January 1978

  Dr. B. K. Davison, OBE—Non-Executive Member—July 1980

  Mr. J. Foley, MBE—Non-Executive Member—January 1984

  Mr. P. J. Phillips, OBE—Non-Executive Member—June 1984

  Mr. T. C. A. Horn—Non-Executive Member—April 1985

  Mrs. V. Pollard—Non-Executive Member—January 1988

  Merseyside and North Wales Electricity Board

  Mr. B. H. Weston—Chairman—September 1985

  Mr. R. T. Gales—Deputy Chairman—March 1978

  Mr. D. L. Boult—Non-Executive Member—August 1983

  Mr. R. B. de Zouche, OBE—Non-Executive Member—

  229

  April 1984

  Dr. R. H. Cummings, OBE—Non-Executive Member—January 1980

  Mr. J. M. Griffiths, OBE, JP—Non-Executive Member—January 1981

  Mrs. S. M. N. Garston—Non-Executive Member—March 1981

  Mr. J. A. Hooson—Non-Executive Member—August 1984

  Southern Electricity Board

  Mr. D. A. Ross—Chairman—April 1984

  Mr. H. R. Casley—Deputy Chairman—October 1986

  Mr. R. W. Gurney—Non-Executive Member—November 1978

  Mr. M. H. Vogel—Non-Executive Member—July 1980

  Mr. A. G. Stoughton-Harris—Non-Executive Member—February 1981

  Mr. R. J. Cowley—Non-Executive Member— December 1986

  Mr. R. D. Margesson, JP—Non-Executive Member—May 1986

  Mr. N. G. L. Timpson—Non-Executive Member—January 1987

  Yorkshire Electricity Board

  Mr. J. Porteous—Chairman—November 1984

  Mr. J. S. Tysoe—Deputy Chairman—September 1985

  Mrs. M. E. L. Wood — Non-Executive Member —September 1983

  Mr. J. M. T. Ross—Non-Executive Member—May 1983

  Mr. D. B. Clark, CBE — Non-Executive Member —November 1980

  Mr. P. A. Smith—Non-Executive Member—June 1981

  Mr. J. P. M. Denny — Non-Executive Member— March 1984

  North Eastern Electricity Board

  Mr. T. Rutherford, CBE—Chairman—May 1977

  Mr. J. A. Harmsworth—Deputy Chairman—January 1978

  Mr. M. Dumbrell — Non-Executive Member — September 1983

  Mrs. A. Matthews — Non-Executive Member — October 1980

  Mr. J. R. Holdsworth — Non-Executive Member — April 1981

  Mr. R. C. Spoor, RD — Non-Executive Member—April 1981

  Professor J. L. J. Machin—Non-Executive Member—June 1984

  Mr. P. D. Nicholson—Non-Executive Member—December 1985

  North Western Electricity Board

  Mr. B. R. Hastings—Chairman—September 1985

  Mr. A. Crowder—Deputy Chairman—January 1983

  Mr. J. C. Seddon—Non-Executive Member—August 1983

  Mr. J. Brown, MBE, JP — Non-Executive Member — February 1984

  Mr. J. V. Parsons—Non-Executive Member—January 1984

  Mr. N. D. Root—Non-Executive Member—April 1984

  Professor G. W. Ashworth, CBE — Non-Executive Member—November 1985

  Oil and Pipelines Agency

  Mr. G. W. Dunkerley—Chairman (part-time)—December 1985

  Mr. K. J. Vaughan—Chief Executive—December 1985

  Mr. C. G. Finch — Non-Executive Member — December 1985

  Mr. O. H. Heald — Non-Executive Member — December 1985

  British Nuclear Fuels plc2

  Mr. C. G. F. Harding—Chairman (part-time)—April 1986

  Mr. L. N. Chamberlain—Chief Executive—April 1986

  Dr. W. L. Wilkinson, CBE—Deputy Chief Executive — March 1981

  Mr. A. Johnson—Full-time Member—September 1979

  Mr. H. E. Bolter—Full-time Member—June 1984

  Mr. J. M. Ilayles—Full-time Member—September 1981

  230

  Mr. R. L. Pilling—Full-time Member—March 1981

  Dr. T. N. Marsham, CBE — Non-Executive Member — September 1979

  Mr. J. R. Wills, OBE — Non-Executive Member — September 1984

  Mr. R. M. Dantzic—Non-Executive Member—April 1987

  Mrs. J. Denton—Non-Executive Member—May 1987

  Dr. N. S. Wooding, CBE — Non-Executive Member — September 1987

  Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power (ACORD)3

  Mr. M. A. W. Baker4—Member—January 1988

  Professor J. I. G. Cadogan—Member—February 1987

  Mr. G. Clerehugh4—Member—April 1983

  Mr. D. A. Davis5—Member—July 1986

  Dr. B. L. Eyre—Member—September 1987

  Dr. A. Fish4—Member—July 1986

  Dr. C. Gronow4—Member—October 1985

  Mr. J. Houlder—Member—October 1987

  Dr. D. Lindley—Member—November 1986

  Prof. S. C. Littlechild—Member—October 1987

  Mr. R. J. Margetts—Member—October 1987

  Prof. L. Maunder, OBE—Member—May 1981

  Prof. E. W. J. Mitchell, CBE4—Member—October 1985

  Mr. K. Moses4—Member—May 1986

  Dr. H. Rose, CBE—Member—March 1975

  Prof. J. Swithenbank—Member—October 1987

  Dr. R. D. Tyler—Member—October 1987

  Dr. W. L. Wilkinson4—Member—October 1985

  Offshore Energy Technology Board (OETB)3

  Mr. G. C. Band—Member—March 1985

  Mr. W. E. Bell—Member—March 1985

  Mr. K. A. Bray OBE—Member—September 1986

  Mr. C. J. Burnett Jnr.—Member—September 1986

  Mr. B. Butler—Member—February 1985

  Mr. R. H. Campbell—Member—February 1985

  Mr. P. Everett—Member—December 1986

  Mr. A. Gormly —Member—February 1985

  Mr. J. M. Houlder, CBE—Member—March 1985

  Dr. H. W. D. Hughes—Member—March 1985

  Mr. R. Kingdon—Member—July 1987

  Mr. D. Morris—Member—July 1987

  Professor T. Patten, CBE—Member—March 1985

  Mr. K. H. Taylor—Member—September 1986

  Mr. D. B. Walker—Member—March 1985

  Mr. I. C. Wood, CBE—Member—February 1985

  Offshore Safety and Technology Board (OSTB)3

  Mr. D. Lennard—Member—January 1988

  Mr. S. Clinton—Member—September 1985

  Mr. P. S. Godfrey—Member—September 1985

  Professor P. Holmes—Member—September 1985

  Mr. D. C. Hurden—Member—September 1985

  Mr. P. D. Irwin—Member—September 1985

  Dr. C. Jones—Member—September 1985

  Mr. N. A. Rendall—Member—September 1985

  Mr. A. G. Senior—Member—September 1985

  Mr. N. A. Townsend—Member—September 1985

  Mr. W. J. Winkworth—Member—September 1985

  Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (REAC)3

  Mr. G. Leach—Member—January 1985

  Mr. A. Pearson—Member—January 1985

  Dr. P. Surman—Member—December 1986

  Mr. A. Tweedale—Member—January 1985

  Dr. T. G. Walker—Member—January 1985

  Mr. S. Woolley—Member—August 1987

  Dr. J. K. Dawson—Member—January 1985

  1 The chairmen of the Electricity Consultative Councils, who are appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry after consulting my Department, are also ex-officio members of the area electricity boards.

  2 I approve these appointments which are made by BNF plc.
  231
  3 The Minister of State chairs OETB. The chairmen of ACORD, OSTB and REAC are members of my Department: these and other Civil Service participants are not included in the above lists.

  4 These members of ACORD sit as representatives of their respective organisations and not in their personal capacities.

  Note: In addition to the bodies shown above I invite some 18 organisations, covering a wide variety of oil industry interests, to participate in meetings of the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Trusts
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the first year and full year cost of abolishing the additional rate of income tax on trusts.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The direct revenue cost of abolishing the additional rate of income tax on trusts is estimated to be about £10 million in the first year and about £50 million in a full year at forecast 1988–89 levels of income. These estimates do not allow for any possible behavioural effects nor any consequential change in the liability of beneficiaries to tax on distributed income.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional yield of class 1 national insurance contributions in 1988–89 if the upper earnings limit on employees' contributions were(a) abolished or (b) increased to the earnings level at which a single-earner married couple would start to pay income tax at 40 per cent. on the assumptions that the couple had the average amount of investment income, taxable benefits in kind and mortgage interest relief for a single-earner couple at that income level and that there was statutory indexation of the 40 per cent. tax threshold in the 1988 Budget.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The direct revenue yield in a full year at 1988–89 levels of income of(a) abolishing the upper earnings limit on employees' national insurance contributions and (b) increasing the upper earnings limit to £410 per week is estimated to be about £1,400 million and £500 million respectively. The estimates otherwise assume the national insurance rate structure for 1988–89 set out in chapter 3 of the 1987 Autumn Statement and indexation of the current income tax bands and allowances to 1988–89 levels as in table 4£1 of the Autumn Statement. They make no allowance for possible changes in taxpayers' behaviour.

  Earnings
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of real take-home pay for a married man on male average earnings since 1978–79.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley), on 18 December 1987, at column 843.

  Private Health Insurance
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to make all contributions to private health insurance allowable against income tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have no plans to do so.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Brooke
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Trade Balance
  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish estimates of the effect on the trade balance of(a) a reduction in the standard rate of income tax to 25 per cent. and (b) an uprating of child benefit requiring the same increase in purchasing power;

  (2) if he will publish an estimate of the effect on the trade balance in a full year of the reduction in the standard rate of income tax to 27 per cent. in 1987–88.

  Mr. Major
  It has not been the practice to publish estimates of the economic effects of changes in tax or benefit rates.

  EC (Budgetary Regime)
  Sir Michael Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline the arrangements which will apply in respect of the European Community revenue and expenditure under the provisional twelfths budgetary regime.

  Mr. Brooke
  In the absence of an agreed budget for 1988, the Community has, since 1 January, been operating under a provisional twelfths budgetary regime in accordance with article 204 of the treaty.

  This means that expenditure in each month is limited to one-twelfth of the total appropriations available, chapter by chapter, in the previous year's budget, or the Council's draft budget, or, in the absence of a draft budget—as is currently the case—the preliminary draft budget, whichever is lower. The Council may, acting by qualified majority, authorise expenditure of additional funds, provided that the 12-month totals are not exceeded.

  As regards revenue, traditional own resources — agricultural levies and customs duties—are paid to the Community in the normal way. But member states' VAT contributions are limited to the amounts paid under the previous year's budget. In accordance with this, the United Kingdom's monthly VAT payment, after abatement, is 259 million ecu. The corresponding sterling figure for this month's payment, made on 4 January was £179·05 million.

  Withheld Tax (Conscientious Objection)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with whom during the last 18 months the Inland Revenue has discussed the issue of individuals and groups who withhold or divert tax on the grounds of conscientious objection to paying for military expenditure through their taxes; and if he will make a statement.
  233
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: There has been correspondence between the Inland Revenue and such individuals and groups.

  No part of any individual's taxes can be said to fund a particular item of public expenditure. Thus, the general obligation to pay taxes should not involve an issue of conscience for the individual taxpayer. In any event, parliamentary sovereignty would be undermined if individuals were able to choose whether or not to accept Parliament's decision on the overall public expenditure programme.

  Subsidised Meals
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated amount of money lost to the Exchequer each year by tax allowances available to the private and public sectors subsidising meals at staff canteens and restaurants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: Costs incurred by employers in running staff canteens and restaurants are allowable in the usual way in computing business profits. Information on which to base an estimate of the effect of this on tax revenue is not available.

  Value Added Tax
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the supply of water, the provision of ancillary equipment such as valve gear and meters, and the maintenance and repair of equipment, machinery and mains will continue to be zero-rated for value added tax purposes.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: The zero rating by the United Kingdom of water supplied to industry has been challenged by the Commission of the European Communities before the European Court of Justice. Until the court's judgment is delivered the consequences cannot be assessed.

  The provision on their own of the other items referred to, and the repair of equipment, machinery and mains is currently subject to tax at the standard rate.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average value added tax paid per household on all goods and services in 1979 and in 1986–87, at(a) current prices, (b) 1979 prices and (c) 1987 prices.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 18 December 1987]: The latest year for which information is available is 1985.

  Average value added tax paid per household (£ per year)

  1979

  1985

  £

  £

  (a) Current prices

  304

  651

  (b) 1979 prices

  304

  390

  (c) 1987 prices1

  547

  701

  1 June.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the impact on the retail prices index of imposing value added tax at 15 per cent. on(a) rail and bus fares and (b) all travel fares including air, bus, coach and rail.
  234
  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 18 December 1987]: The impact effect on the retail prices index of imposing value added tax at 15 per cent. on rail and bus fares would be to increase the index by 0·2 per cent. Imposing value added tax at 15 per cent. on all travel fares including air, bus coach and rail would also raise the index by 0·2 per cent.

  714 Tax Exemption Certificates
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the difficulties encountered by participants in the enterprise allowance scheme in obtaining 714 tax exemption certificates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: The subcontractors scheme was designed to tackle widespread tax evasion in the industry. Its rules have been relaxed over the years to make it easier for those with a history of unemployment to obtain a certificate. Participants in the enterprise allowance scheme who do not meet the criteria for a full certificate may be eligible for a limited certificate, or many work under deduction.

  11 Downing Street (Rates)
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if domestic rates are payable in respect of any part of 11 Downing street.

  Mr. Major
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Monday 11 January 1988 at column 1.

  Uncertified Subcontractors
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of payments to uncertified subcontractors before deducations on account of tax in the lastest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: No record is kept of the total payments by contractors to uncertificated subcontractors in respect of which deductions have to be made, but it is estimated that it amounted to about £1,350 million in the year ended 31 March 1987.

  BP Shares
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the total number of partly paid BP shares sold back to the Bank of England; and what the cost of the purchase has been to the bank.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the number of British Petroleum shares purchased by the Bank of England as at 6 January 1988 under the special arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: Approximately 39 million shares, at a cost of about £27 million.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated full-year revenue effect of applying
  235
  mortgage interest tax relief to the residence rather than the individual; and what is the estimated effect on the mortgage interest tax relief ceiling if the change is revenue-neutral.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The direct revenue yield, in 1987–88, of a restriction in mortgage interest relief to a loan of up to £30,000 per residence is estimated to be about £25 million. If this were combined with an increase of £1,000 in the ceiling for mortgage interest relief, the change would be approximately revenue-neutral. These estimates make no allowance for any consequential changes to the distribution of outstanding mortgages.

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Replacement of married man's allowance with:

  Cost1 £ billion

  Level of allowance £ per annum

  Cost1 £ billion

  Level of allowance £ per annum

  Fully transferable personal allowance

  6·0

  3,110

  6·5

  3,240

  Half-transferable personal allowance

  3·5

  3,110

  4·0

  3,240

  1 Full year cost measured on a no-loser basis.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Nurses
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to review the current level of nurse staffing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to review the current level of nurse staffing; and if he will make a statement.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to review the current level of nurse staffing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moore
  Health authority plans for levels of nurse staffing are constantly under review. Nationally the number of nursing and midwifery staff continues to increase. Action is being taken centrally where appropriate to improve the recruitment and retention of such staff.

  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the current and planned levels of nurses' pay.

  Mr. Newton
  The pay of nurses, midwives and health visitors is determined in the light of recommendations of the independent Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives and Health Visitors. The review body is currently taking evidence from the Health Departments, trades unions and professional associations with a view to reporting to the Prime Minister in the spring of this year.

  The Government have implemented all four reports of the independent review body since it was established in 1984. As a result, nurses' pay has risen by some 16 per cent. in real terms during this period and by nearly 30 per cent in real terms since 1979.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received concerning nursing staff levels in the South East Thames health region.

  Mrs. Currie
  Concerns about the effects of nursing sraff shortages, particularly in specialist areas and in inner

  Personal Allowances
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated full year cost in 1987–88 and in 1988–89 of replacing the married man's tax allowance on a no-loser basis with(a) a fully transferable personal allowance and (b) a half-transferable allowance, specifying in each case the level of the allowances.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: The information given in the table is based on projections from the 1984–85 survey of personal income and is therefore provisional.

  London, are reflected in letters received from hon. Members and members of the public. In September the chief executive of the NHS Management Board met representatives of the three inner London health districts in South-East Thames region to discuss a report they had produced on recruitment and retention of nursing staff. In December, at the ministerial review of South-East Thames region, the availability of nursing and midwifery staff to enable services to be sustained and developed, and the region's proposals to maintain recruitment and improve retention, were key issues during the discussion.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to review the scheme for severe weather payments when sufficient experience of its operation during the current winter is available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to review the operation of the scheme for severe weather payments in the light of the current winter's experience; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to review the operation of the scheme for severe weather payments in the light of experience of its operation during the winter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the operation so far during the current winter of the system of cold weather payments.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Social Security Bill contains a provision for help to continue to be given towards the cost of heating in cold weather from next winter. The precise details of the new arrangemens will be decided in the light of experience this winter.

  Care in the Community
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about his policy on care in the community.

  Mr. Newton
  We continue to receive a considerable number of representations from time to time. Those received recently include one from the Herefordshire Society for the Mentally Handicapped. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has written to my hon. Friend today.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the policy of his Department on the carrying out by police, at the request of local authority social services departments, of checks on owners and managers seeking the registration of residential homes, in the light of the vulnerability of residents of such homes.

  Mrs. Currie
  We share the hon. Gentleman's concern at possibly unsuitable persons running homes. Arrangements to enable local authorities to obtain information from police about any criminal record of people they propose to employ are being assessed by the Home Office, and we understand consultations are in progress about the possibility of extending the existing arrangements.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when the results of the study of local authorities' costs on registering and inspecting private residential homes will be announced; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  It is important that the local authorities' duties of monitoring and inspecting private and voluntary residential care homes are properly carried out to ensure that these homes have acceptable standards. When the new arrangements for registering and inspecting residential care homes were introduced in 1985, we made it clear that the fees should cover local authorities' costs on this work. A report by the Department's social services inspectorate and the Welsh Office's social work service shows that fees are not doing this.

  The report of the study has been issued today with a covering letter to interested bodies inviting views on proposals for increases in the level of fees for 1988–89 and on certain other proposed changes in the regulations. The study found that significant increases would be required to enable local authorities to meet the full cost of an adequate registration and inspection service from fees, as intended. It suggests various options for achieving this.

  The Government's preference is for an increase in the initial registration fee from £550 to £1,000 to cover full costs to the authority, including the cost of dealing with the numerous inquiries which do not result in an application for registration and accompanying fee, and an increase in the annual inspection fee from £15 to £26 per place to meet the cost of adequate inspection arrangements. It is also proposed that the registration fee for a change of owner should in all cases be £500 and the registration fee for a manager should increase from £100 to £150. It is intended that any fee increases decided following consultation should be introduced from 1 April 1988.

  Consultation is also taking place on other amendments to the regulations including an increase in the minimum
  238
  number of times a home must be inspected from once to twice every 12 months and that at least one inspection a year is to be without notice. It is proposed to ban corporal punishment for children and young people in these homes, in line with the Government's commitment to prohibit the use of that form of punishment in residential establishments where children and young people are accommodated. In this context we propose also to consult shortly on draft "Children's Homes (Control and Discipline) Regulations."

  Resource Allocation Working Party Formula
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to revise the resource allocation working party formula.

  Mr. Newton
  The National Health Service Management Board has been undertaking a review of the resource allocation working party formula to explore the scope for improving the way in which the formula measures relative need for health care across the country. The review's programme of analysis and research is now almost complete, and any recommendations which may emerge will then be carefully considered.

  Hospital Closures
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of beds in National Health Service hospitals closed on a permanent or temporary basis since January 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  Figures for 1987 are not yet available. Information on urgent temporary closures is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of beds in National Health Service hospitals closed on a permanent or temporary basis since January 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that information on temporary bed closures is not collected centrally.

  Figures for permanent bed closures in 1987 are not yet available.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if there has been any increase in the numbers of his Department's staff involved in processing applications for invalid care allowance as a result of the European Court judgment against the United Kingdom which extended the eligibility of invalid care allowance to married women; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The number of staff processing invalid care allowance claims was increased when the allowance was extended to married women.

  In mid-1986, 34 staff were employed in the invalid care allowance unit but during the second half of that year numbers were built up rapidly so that throughout 1987 400 staff or more were in post. The new permanent complement for the unit is 304 posts.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what support he proposes will be available for those caring for sick dependants at home following the passage of the Social Security Bill.
  239
  Mr. Scott
  The existing provisions for carers within the social security system are not affected by passage of the current Bill. Invalid care allowance, supplementary benefit (income support from April 1988), and home responsibilities protection will continue to be available as at present to those who satisfy the qualifying rules.

  Nurses and Midwives
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses and midwives were working in Wessex(a) in May 1979 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses and midwives were working in Wessex(a) in 1979 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Newton
  The number of nurses and midwives working in Wessex was 19,660 at 30 September 1979, and 23,060 at 30 September 1986.

  Leicestershire
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he next plans to pay an official visit to Leicestershire to examine National Health Service hospital provision there.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have no plans to do so in the near future.

  Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors in the children's cancer unit at the Royal Victoria infirmary, Newcastle, are paid from funds provided by charities.

  Mrs. Currie
  I understand that medical charities provide funding for three of the junior doctors who work in this unit. Such co-operation between certain charities and the National Health Service works to their mutual benefit, as the NHS provides opportunities for research which, in turn, brings benefits to patients.

  "Child Care and Family Services"
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be in a position to announce a decision on legislation to give effect to the proposals in the White Paper on "Child Care and Family Services."

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be in a position to announce a decision as to whether he intends to introduce legislation on the proposals in the White Paper on "Child Care and Family Services."

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Members to my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) on 28 October at columns 307–8. I said then that we would review the proposals in the White Paper in the light of recommendations in Mrs. Justice Butler-Sloss's report of the Cleveland inquiry when this is received. Subject to that, we intend to introduce a Bill as soon as parliamentary time is available.

  Income-related Benefits
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services in what respects he expects the new system of income-related benefits to differ from the present system.

  Mr. Scott
  The main changes are the replacement of supplementary benefit and family income supplement with income support and family credit and the restructuring of housing benefit. The new system will be simpler, will improve work incentives and will enable help to be better focused on those in greatest need.

  Privatisation
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of laundry, domestic and catering services in the northern region has been subject to competitive tendering.

  Mr. Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of laundry, domestic and catering services in the East Anglian region has been subject to competitive tendering.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of laundry, domestic and catering services in the South Western region has been subject to competitive tendering.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of laundry, domestic and catering services in North East Thames region has been subject to competitive tendering.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of laundry, domestic and catering services in the Yorkshire region has been subject to competitive tendering.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of laundry, domestic and catering services in the South West Thames region has been subject to competitive tendering.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of laundry, domestic and catering services in the Trent region has been subject to competitive tendering.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of laundry, domestic and catering services in the North West Thames region has been subject to competitive tendering.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of laundry, domestic and catering services in the Wessex region has been subject to competitive tendering.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of laundry, domestic and catering services in the West Midlands region has been subject to competitive tendering.

  Mr. Newton
  The most recent information held centrally is for the quarter ended 30 September 1987. Services put out to tender, as a percentage of cost, are given in the table.

  Region

  Laundry

  Domestic

  Catering

  Total

  Northern

  100

  100

  87

  94

  Yorkshire

  81

  86

  69

  78

  241

  Region

  Laundry

  Domestic

  Catering

  Total

  Trent

  63

  99

  83

  90

  East Anglian

  100

  100

  75

  89

  North West Thames

  91

  93

  63

  81

  North East Thames

  91

  78

  37

  63

  South West Thames

  93

  93

  70

  84

  Wessex

  100

  100

  100

  100

  South Western

  100

  94

  62

  80

  West Midlands

  90

  98

  87

  92

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the amount of provision for community charge that it is intended to include in income support payments.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will take to ensure that claimants in receipt of income support and family credit will have access to funds to make their liability to pay a community charge when it becomes eligible.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Members to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Day) and the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 16 December at columns 599–601.

  North-West Region
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last met the chairman of the North Western regional health authority to discuss present and future funding of health services in the north-west.

  Mr. Moore
  This subject arose as part of general discussions with Sir John Page during my visit to the regional health authority headquarters on 30 October 1987.

  Handicapped Children
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received about provisions for caring for handicapped children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Representations have been received recently on a range of subjects relating to the care of handicapped children of which the major issues raised concern the provision of conductive education and implementation of sections 5 and 6 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Our position on conductive education was set out in the reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 24 November 1987 at columns 180–81 and I announced that implementation of sections 5 and 6 of the 1986 Act would take effect on 1 February 1988 in my reply to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 4 November 1987 at column 783.

  Pensioners (Incomes)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of those persons retiring now have a second or third income.

  Mr. Scott
  The latest figures available are for 1985. At that time, over 85 per cent. of recently-retired pensioner 242
  households had income from sources other than state benefits—such as occupational pensions, investments or earnings.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what increase there has been in average pensioner incomes since 1979.

  Mr. Scott
  The average net income of a pensioner income unit (a single person over pension age or a couple where the husband is 65 or more) rose by 18 per cent., or 2·7 per cent. per year, in real terms between 1979 and 1985, twice as fast as that of the population as a whole.

  (Source: Family Expenditure Survey.)

  Maternity Allowances
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to amend current regulations in respect of maternity allowances.

  Mr. Portillo
  We have no immediate plans to amend these regulations.

  Electricity, Gas and Water (Disconnections)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he takes to ensure that(a) electricity, (b) gas and (c) water are not cut off from people in receipt of supplementary benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  People on supplementary benefit who are threatened with disconnection of mains gas or electricity may have their fuel paid directly if the adjudication officer considers it is in the interests of the family to do so. The scheme is the product of an agreement (known as the joint statement of intent on direct payment for fuel) between the DHSS and the fuel industry. Provided that the supplier agrees, deductions are made from the claimant's supplementary benefit and paid directly to the supplier to cover both current consumption and to reduce the debt.

  Similar direct payment arrangements may be made for water rates to prevent disconnection of mains water. In addition, the fuel industries' code of practice provides that the supply of gas and electricity to pensioner households should not be disconnected between 1 October and 31 March.

  Family Credit Scheme
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many more low-income families he expects to benefit when the new family credit scheme is introduced.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that about 270,000 more families will receive family credit than would have received family income supplement had that scheme continued.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much more will be spent on the new family credit scheme than is currently spent on family income supplement and associated benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  On the basis of a case load estimate of 470,000, spending on family credit from April 1988 will be over £200 million more than is currently being spent on family income supplement and free school meals and free welfare foods for family income supplement families.

  Community Care (Physical Abuse)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the physical abuse of persons in community care over the last four weeks.

  Mrs. Currie
  None that we are aware of. If the hon. Member has a particular representation in mind, I should welcome his assistance.

  Hospital Building
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many major hospital building schemes have been started and completed since 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information held centrally shows that in England some 250 hospital building schemes, each costing over £1 million, have been started and completed since 1979.

  Health Authorities (Income Generation)
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates his Department has prepared of the amounts which health authorities could raise over the next few years as a result of income generation schemes.

  Mr. Newton
  Until health authorities have fully evaluated the possibilities for generating income and have drawn up plans, it is difficult to forecast with any precision what amounts they will raise. However, we believe that health authorities should be capable of generating net additional income of £10 million to £20 million in 1988–89, £40 million to £50 million in 1989–90, and £60 million to £70 million in 1990–91.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the numbers of under-twos otherwise eligible for attendance allowance but currently excluded by virtue of their age.

  Mr. Scott
  We estimate that there may be up to 3,000 children under the age of two years who might satisfy the medical criteria for an attendance allowance at either the lower or higher rate.

  Missing Girocheques
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants in 1986 reported to his Department that they did not receive their Girocheques; and how many received payment to cover their loss.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Deaf People (Specialised Telephone Exchange)
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent discussions he has had with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf on the subject of financial support for the institute's specialised telephone exchange; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Discussions have been held involving representatives of the RNID and British Telecom, and officials of the Government Departments concerned. Following these discussions RNID has made a formal 244
  application for help, including revised costings, under the Government's concerned technology programme. This application is receiving urgent consideration.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of beds in National Health Services hospitals closed on a permanent or temporary basis since January 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that information for 1987 is not yet available.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings have been made to the most recent available date through the implementation of the competitive tendering initiative.

  Mr. Newton
  As at the end of September 1987 estimated annual savings of some £103 million had been generated. For further information I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 8 December 1987 at column 141.

  Elderly and Disabled Persons (Alarm Systems)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the community care budget will cover the costs of dispersed alarm systems for the elderly and disabled who live in their own homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Decisions about the priorities for social services and housing provision, including dispersed alarm systems, are for the local authorities concerned to take in the light of local needs, circumstances and plans. The funding of alarm systems is certainly part of the wider question of funding community care. We have drawn this to the attention of Sir Roy Griffiths, who is reviewing the way public funds are used to support community care policy, and we will give further consideration to this issue in the light of his report.

  Shropshire District Health Authority
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Shropshire district health authority to discuss the state of the authority's finances.

  Mr. Newton
  I recently met the chairman of Shropshire health authority. No further meetings are currently planned.

  Housing Benefit (War Widows)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to make special arrangements to enable local authorities to continue to disregard war widow's income in assessing housing benefit entitlement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 increase the amount of war widows' pensions that all local authorities are required to disregard from £4 to £5. In addition, under the Social Security Act 1986 individual local authorities continue to have
  245
  discretion to disregard for housing benefit purposes up to the full amount of any war widow's pension. Any other income which war widows may have is treated in the same way as the income of other claimants.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of gross domestic product National Health Service expenditure currently represents; and what comparable information he has for France, West Germany and Italy.

  Mr. Newton
  In 1984 (the latest year for which comparable figures are available), public spending on health care as a percentage of gross domestic product was as follows:

  Percentage

  United Kingdom

  5·3

  France

  6·5

  Germany

  6·4

  Italy

  6·1

  These figures relate to financial inputs. It is more difficult to compare outputs, but, as medical costs are known to vary greatly between different countries, it is likely that the value obtained from public spending on health care also varies. Medical costs are relatively low in the United Kingdom.

  AIDS
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice and assistance his Department has given to the Haemophilia Society in administering the special trust fund for haemophiliacs with the AIDS virus.

  Mr. Newton
  Officials are working closely with officers of the Haemophilia Society on the arrangements to establish a special trust fund from which financial assistance can be given to those haemophiliacs infected with HIV and to their dependants.

  I hope that this work will be completed shortly and so enable the Government to pay to the trust fund the £10 million I announced in my statement to the House on 16 November.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will meet the president of the Royal College of Physicians for the purpose of discussing measurement of the prevalence of HIV infection.

  Mr. Newton
  We have no plans to do so at the moment.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest figures for the number of AIDS cases in(a) the North West regional health authority and (b) the Mersey regional health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  The number of AIDS cases reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre at the end of December 1987 was published by the Department yesterday. A copy of the figures is in the Library.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what incentives will be provided for people to join a personal pension scheme as a result of the Social Security Act 1986.
  246
  Mr. Portillo
  From 1 July 1988 it will be possible to contract out of the state earnings-related pension scheme through a personal pension from a scheme approved by the Occupational Pensions Board. Personal pensions will attract minimum contributions paid by the Department. These will be made up of a partial rebate of national insurance contributions and, until April 1993, a special incentive payment. In most cases the payments by the Department will include tax relief on the employee's share of the minimum contribution. People taking out a personal pension before 6 April 1989 will be able to backdate membership to 6 April 1987 and claim an extra year's minimum contributions, including the incentive.

  NHS (Revenue)
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate for 1988–89 of the total revenue of the National Health Service which will come from the various charges for services; and how this figure compares with five and 10 years before.

  Mrs. Currie
  Estimated revenue from charges for National Health Service services in England is as follows:

  £ million

  Cash

  At 1987–88 prices

  1978–79

  144

  292

  1983–84

  394

  468

  1988–89

  1520

  498

  1 As estimated in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1987–88 to 1989–90" January 1987 (Cm. 56-II).

  Unemployment and Poverty Traps
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he intends to take to reduce the effect of the unemployment and poverty traps.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 30 June 1987 at column 76.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he plans to combat child abuse.

  Mr. Newton
  In my reply to my hon. Friend on 27 October, at columns 243–44, I referred to the programme of work that the Government had in hand. This includes the new guidance and circular on multi-agency working which was issued in draft last year; the special training initiative for professional staff, of which two stages have already begun and plans for a third stage are in hand; and the preparation of practice guidelines for social workers and for nurses and of guidance for doctors on the clinical diagnosis of sexual abuse. All this work will be published when we have considered the report from Mrs. Justice Butler-Sloss on Cleveland.

  Paediatric Nursing
  Mr. Budgen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses are trained in paediatric intensive care now; and how many were so trained in 1979.
  247
  Mr. Newton
  A post-basic course for paediatric intensive care nursing was introduced in England in the year ended March 1987. Prior to that there was a post-basic course for special and intensive care of the newborn which was introduced in 1983. The numbers entering that training during the years ended March 1985, 1986 and 1987 were:

  Number

  1985

  287

  1986

  278

  1987

  393

  Blood Glucose Testing Strips
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to be able to make blood glucose testing strips available on prescription to diabetics.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 24 November 1987 at column 174. Discussions with manufacturers about supply arrangements and price will take place during January and February.

  Community Care Services
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional resources he proposes to make available to enable the care in the community strategy to work effectively.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) and for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) on 24 November 1987 at columns 160–61.

  Royal College of Nursing
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last met representatives of the Royal College of Nursing.

  Mrs. Currie
  My right hon. Friend met the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing on 21 July.

  Family Doctors
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he intends to take to increase competition between family doctors.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what effect the proposals in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" will have on competition in the family practitioner services.

  Mr. Newton
  The proposals in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" (Cm. 249) will stimulate competition within the family practitioner services in a number of ways. These include plans to increase the proportion of a doctor's income which is derived from capitation fees in order to encourage doctors to practise in ways which meet patients' needs. We will seek to relate doctors' pay more closely to individual performance and to the range of services they provide to patients, for example through incentive payments for reaching targets in preventive medicine. Procedures for changing doctor 248
  will be simplified. The Government will also be discussing with the dental profession the possibilities for change in the general dental practitioners' remuneration system with a view to introducing new incentives both for high efficiency and high standards of care.

  The White Paper set out measures to improve information to patients so that they are able to make an informed choice of family doctor and dentists. Family practitioner committees will be required to improve information about local practitioners on their lists and to make the lists more widely available. Practices will be encouraged to provide informative leaflets to their patients. Among the proposals for a revised contract for general dental practitioners recently put to the profession was a requirement for dentists to explain proposed treatment plans and their probable cost to patients.

  The Government will be discussing the reduction of restraints on advertising by doctors with the General Medical Council and welcome the steps taken by the Director General of Fair Trading to consult interested organisations on the terms of a proposal to refer the restrictions on dental advertising to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  In respect of opticians, the principle of greater competition which already applies for the sale of spectacles will be extended to the provision of sight tests.

  Family Practitioner Services
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has to make family practitioner services more responsive to the consumer.

  Mr. Newton
  The proposals in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" (Cm. 249) to extend and increase competition in the family practitioner services, to provide more information about services and to simplify the complaints procedures will make services more responsive to the needs and wishes of consumers. Tighter qualifications for the receipt of basic practice allowance will encourage a greater basic commitment from family doctors to work in general practice. An increase in the proportion of their income which is derived from capitation fees will encourage doctors to practise in ways which meet patients' needs.

  A number of further measures, for example incentives to reach targets in preventive medicine, seek to relate doctors' pay more closely to their performance. Proposals for a revised contract intended to improve the quality and availability of NHS dental services and to secure a greater contractual commitment have also recently been put to the dental profession.

  The Government will further be discussing with the medical and dental professions amendment to their contracts to clarify the role of general medical and dental practitioners in prevention and health promotion, thus helping to meet the growing demand from consumers for advice and information on this important aspect of health care. Some of the additional resources released by the changes proposed in the White Paper will be devoted to training dentists in ways of making their practices more attractive to those who do not attend the dentist regularly. We will also make available funds to assist in the provision of health promotion material for display in pharmacies and will encourage an extended use of pharmacists' skills.

  In order that consumers should become better informed about services in their areas the Government will require

  249
  family practitioner committees to provide more information on their lists published of local practitioners, and will encourage the wide dissemination of practice leaflets. The Government will be discussing the reduction of restraints on advertising by doctors with the General Medical Council and welcome the steps taken by the Director General of Fair Trading to consult interested organisations on the terms of a proposal to refer the restrictions on dental advertising to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. As further steps to improving standards and consumer choice in the general medical services, we shall be making it easier for patients to change doctor and will be requiring family practitioner committees to carry out consumer surveys in their areas and to act on the results.

  With regard to the general ophthalmic services the Government have already taken a number of steps to increase competition while retaining adequate safeguards to protect consumers. We are now seeking powers through the Health and Medicines Bill to extend the principle of increased competition to sight testing while protecting the consumer's freedom to purchase spectacles where they choose.

  Benefits (Disabled Claimants)
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what further protection he proposes for disabled claimants who will have a reduced entitlement in April.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce the provision of a further top-up benefit for those severely disabled after April 1988 when the new income support system comes into effect.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what further protection he proposes for disabled claimants who will have a reduced entitlement in April.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what further protection he proposes for disabled claimants who will have a reduced entitlement in April.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) earlier today.

  Drugs (Research)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the annual cost to the National Health Service of the additional investigations and extra time spent by patients in hospitals for research carried out on behalf of drug companies.

  Mr. Newton
  The level of research activity varies widely between health authorities and it is not possible to estimate the overall cost to the National Health Service.

  NHS Patients (Private Care)
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in the area of the Sheffield district health authority have had operations in private hospitals under the scheme to cut down waiting lists for operations in National Health Service hospitals since the scheme's inception.
  250
  Mr. Newton
  As at 31 December 1987, 20 patients from NHS waiting lists had had operations in private hospitals as part of the waiting list initiative, at a cost of £20,000. It is likely that this number will increase by some 100 by the end of the financial year. The Sheffield health district's initial waiting list fund allocation of £411,700 is planned to treat over 1,900 additional in-patients and some 2,660 extra out-patients in 1987–88.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average annual increase in the number of general practitioners between(a) 1973 and 1978 and (b)

  Mr. Newton
  The average annual increase in the number of general medical practitioners (unrestricted principals) in England between 1973 and 1978 was 209 compared with 428 between 1978 and 1986.

  NHS (Charges)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received on the proposals for additional charges for National Health Service patients.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received in support of his proposals to introduce charges for eye tests and dental examinations; and how many he has received expressing opposition.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received in support of his proposals to introduce charges for eye tests and dental examinations; and how many he has received expressing opposition.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received in support of his proposals to introduce charges for eye tests and dental examinations; and how many he has received expressing opposition.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 11 January.

  Regional Health Authorities (Staff)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the change in the number of administrative staff employed by regional health authorities since 1979 by region.

  Mr. Newton
  The numbers of whole-time equivalent administrative and clerical staff employed by regional health authorities in September 1979 and September 1986 were as follows:

  Regional Health Authorities

  1979

  1986

  Northern

  510

  450

  Yorkshire

  630

  510

  Trent

  720

  940

  East Anglian

  300

  330

  North West Thames

  370

  290

  North East Thames

  430

  540

  South East Thames

  450

  590

  251

  Regional Health Authorities

  1979

  1986

  South West Thames

  450

  550

  Wessex

  460

  310

  Oxford

  370

  530

  South Western

  520

  430

  West Midlands

  1,050

  1,060

  Mersey

  510

  490

  North Western

  830

  790

  Total

  7,610

  7,820

  The figures given for each RHA are not necessarily comparable, since the effects of developments since 1979, including the NHS reorganisation of 1982 and centralisation in such areas as supplies and stores, have varied between regions. The figures are rounded to the nearest 10 whole-time equivalents.

  Reform
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much extra will be spent on low-income families as a result of the changes to income-related benefits in April 1988.

  Mr. Scott
  Comparisons between the new income-related benefit schemes and what might have happened under the old schemes must be hypothetical. However, on an annual basis, and using the assumptions underlying the structural tables in "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income Related Benefits" (published at the time of the uprating statement on 27 October), the disposable incomes of all those receiving income-related benefits and caring for dependent children will be some £200 million higher once housing costs have been met.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of claimants, together with the number of dependants, who will not receive any increase in benefit when income support comes into effect; and if he will subdivided these data according to whether the claimant is(a) a pensioner, (b) sick or disabled, (c) unemployed, and (d) a single parent.

  Mr. Scott
  Using the assumptions underlying table 1A of the "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income-Related Benefits" (published at the time of the uprating statement on 27 October) the information is as follows:

  Number of claimants (thousands)

  Number of dependants (thousands)

  a. Pensioners

  820

  185

  b. Sick or disabled

  80

  30

  c. Unemployed and others

  790

  325

  d. Single parents

  230

  390

  Total

  1,920

  930

  General Practitioners (New Technology)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will further review his policies with regard to the use of new technology by general practitioners.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government continue to support such developments in general practice and recently announced in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" that they will encourage the continued development of 252
  information and communication technology and computerisation in primary care, especially with regard to health promotion and prevention of ill health.

  Mobility and Attendance Allowances
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time that passes between an application for mobility or attendance allowance, and its final decision by him after all other appeal procedures have been exhausted.

  Mr. Scott
  Decisions, including the final decisions, on claims for attendance allowance and mobility allowance are made by independent adjudicating authorities. I regret that information is not kept in a form from which the average time for claims to go fully through the appeals procedures can be calculated.

  Information Technology Staff
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the professional information technology staff in his Department, including programmers, systems analysts and managers, is based in London and the south-east.

  Mr. Portillo
  Of those civil servants in DHSS wholly employed on information technology tasks (as specified in Treasury—Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency guidelines) in grades from executive officer to unified grade 7, 26 per cent. work in London and the south-east.

  Mr. Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many professional level information technology staff are employed by his Department, including programmers, systems analysts and managers; and how many trainees there are for such posts.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that information is not available in the form requested. The Department does not maintain separate statistics for programmers, systems analysts, managers or trainees and such detailed information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the total number of civil servants in the DHSS, wholly employed on information technology tasks (as specified in Treasury — Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency guidelines) in grades from executive officer to unified grade 7 is 1,494.

  Hospices
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what support his Department gives to the hospice movement; in what form it is given; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The level and form of support for individual hospices is a matter for local health authorities who were given detailed guidance on this earlier in the year in circular HC(87)4, a copy of which is in the Library. This stated:"Where a voluntary group provides a service that represents an essential element in a health authority's overall plans for terminal care, the health authority should agree with them a contribution to the costs of that service".

  Patients in independent hospices may be eligible for supplementary benefit to help with charges up to £230 per

  253
  week. Specialist in-patient, home care and hospital support services for the terminally ill are also provided directly by a number of health authorities.

  The Department has approved direct grants of £600,000 to the London Lighthouse which is building the first hospice specifically for people with AIDS, and £200,000 to the Mildmay Mission hospital towards the cost of adapting one ward into a unit to provide hospice care for people terminally ill with AIDS.

  Operations (Costs)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the relative costs of operations and other treatments in different district health authorities; and if he will make a statement on any research currently being undertaken.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information on the costs of specific operations and other treatments in district health authorities is not routinely collected. The Department is not currently funding research as such on this subject. However, as part of the resource management initiative, information systems are being developed which, used in conjunction with patient classification systems, will enable comparisons to be made of resources used to treat patients suffering from similar types of illness or requiring similar treatment procedures. We hope to have the first results of the new system available in April.

  Young Claimants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about his policy towards 17-year-olds who are not still in education and also choose to remain on social security rather than take a job, or accept a training place.

  Mr. Scott
  Up to 8 January we have received a total of 53 letters concerning the Government's proposal to withdraw the general entitlement to income support from 16 and 17-year-olds. Most of these expressed concern about particular groups such as the disabled and the homeless and the representations made will be fully considered when the regulations exempting certain groups from the general provision are framed.

  Cancer Screening
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether all district health authorities are still expected to meet the target of 31 March 1988 for the introduction of cervical cancer screening; and whether this screening will cover all women at risk.

  Mrs. Currie
  The team led by Sir Roy Griffiths is monitoring progress and present indications are that all district health authorities should meet the target date for the introduction of computerised call and recall systems for cervical cancer screening.

  All women aged 20–64 will be invited for screening within five years of implementation of the system, unless their general practitioners have indicated that they should be excluded.

  Revised guidance to health authorities and family practitioner committees on the organisation of cervical cancer screening services has been issued today and copies placed in the Library.

  Health Education Authority (Publicity)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the advertising, marketing and public relations consultants currently retained by the Health Education Authority and the criteria by which these consultants are chosen and their performance assessed.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Health Education Authority currently retains two advertising agencies—Abbott Mead Vickers and TBWA. In appointing and assessing the performance of such agencies, the authority employs the criteria normally used by public and commercial bodies.

  Fish Oils
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make it his policy to promote the consumption of the fish oils containing docosohexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids in the prevention of coronary disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  We have no plans to do so. The Government are concerned that people should eat healthy, balanced diets, which can be done without promoting the consumption of any particular food or food component.

  Maxepa capsules and liquid, which contain eicosopentaenoic acid and docosohexaenoic acid, are available for prescription under the National Health Service, but their licensed indication is
  "the reduction of plasma triglycerides in patients with severe hypertriglyceridaemia, and who are judged to be at special risk of ischaemic heart disease and/or pancreatis".

  They are not licensed for general use in the prevention of coronary heart disease.

  Perinatal Mortality
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage change in perinatal mortality between 1978 and the latest available year in(a) the north-west region and (b) England as a whole.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information is given in the table.

  Perinatal mortality rates for England and North West Standard Region 1978 and 1986: percentage decrease from 1978 to 1986

  1Perinatal mortality rates

  Percentage decrease

  Area of usual residence

  1978

  1986

  1978–86

  England

  15·45

  9·53

  38·3

  North West Standard Region

  17·00

  9·95

  41·5

  1 Still births and deaths under one week per 1,000 total live and still births.

  Dentists (Compensation)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his reply of 7 December,Official Report, column 34, he will make a statement on his discussions with the British Dental Association, on compensation for dentists who may be obliged to sell their businesses at depressed prices as a result of proposals in the Health and Medicines Bill.

  Mr. Newton
  Officials of the Department held the first of a series of meetings with the British Dental Association
  255
  on 8 January, to discuss the proposals in the Bill relating to the retirement of dentists. No conclusions have yet been reached.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the names of all the people appointed to public bodies by his Department who are currently in office, giving for each the office concerned and the date of appointment.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost, since the Department is responsible for 133 public bodies with appointments totalling over 10,000.

  Social Work Diploma
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department is yet in a position to make a statement on funding for the proposed diploma of qualification in social work, in the light of the training recommendations of the recent Blom-Cooper report.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government are currently considering the proposals for the qualifying diploma in social work and hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Drug Damage Compensation
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will start preparing legislation to establish a no-fault scheme for drug damage compensation which would provide for appropriate and prompt payments to be made by the pharmaceutical industry to established victims;

  (2) what estimates are known to his Department of the cost of providing a no-fault compensation scheme for drug-damaged victims.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government have no plans to introduce legislation to establish a no-fault scheme of this kind and have no reliable estimates of the costs involved. From 1 March 1988 when the relevant provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 come into force, people who can establish that they have suffered damage from using a defective medicinal product will no longer have also to prove negligence before they can establish liability.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about establishing a no-fault compensation payment scheme for victims of drug damage; and what was the thrust of the views expressed.

  Mr. Newton
  None, other than those put forward in the House by the right hon. Member himself.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has of the amount pharmaceutical companies now pay for insurance cover against drug damage compensation payments.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that information of the kind referred to is not held by the Department.

  Broadmoor (Outside Visits)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any proposals to alter the procedures operating over the past 12 months at 256
  Broadmoor relating to outside visits for shopping or social purposes for convicted prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Officials from the Department and the Home Office are currently reviewing the arrangements under which special hospital patients, including those transferred to the hospitals from prisons, are allowed to go on outings into the community. It is our intention to issue updated guidance to all the special hospitals.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many convicted persons have escaped from Broadmoor whilst taking part in shopping expeditions or public house visits during the past 12 months; what criteria are applied to permission for such visits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  One patient absconded during an outing from the hospital during the 12-month period up to 30 November 1987. He had not been transferred to the hospital from prison. Before a special hospital patient is allowed to go on an outing, approval must be given by his or her responsible medical officer, the clinical team and the medical director. In the case of patients subject to restrictions under sections 41 or 49 of the Mental Health Act 1983 the consent of the Home Secretary is also required. The arrangements in relation to the accompanying staff must be approved by a senior nurse manager at the hospital.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions during the last 12 months inmates of Broadmoor have been allowed to visit public houses; and of these how many were convicted prisoners.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that such records are not kept.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions during the last 12 months inmates of Broadmoor have been allowed to take part in shopping expeditions; and of these how many were convicted prisoners.

  Mrs. Currie
  During the 12-month period up to 30 November 1987, 26 male patients and 14 female patients took part in 40 and 30 shopping expeditions respectively; some patients were involved in more than one excursion. Two of the male patients had been transferred to the hospital from prison.

  Worth House Children's Home
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of the social services inspector into allegations of further neglect and poor supervision at the Worth house children's home, Herne Bay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  I have now received from the social services inspectorate a report on Worth House private children's home, Herne Bay. The inspection found that standards of care at Worth House were more than adequate. The Department will continue to discuss with the London boroughs' children's regional planning committee the wider issue of the placement of children in accommodation which is, as far as practicable, near to their home area.

  London Couriers (Accidents)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each year since 1979 the cost to the National Health Service in London of treatment to victims of accidents involving bicycle and motor cycle couriers.

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

  Recovery of Benefits
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to pursue the recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee in its report of 19 November 1987 that the Department should recover social security benefits when awards of damages in tort are made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Following consideration of the report, we have appointed management consultants Touche Ross to establish how much would be recoverable to DHSS if 100 per cent. of social security benefits were recovered from awards paid in consequence of an injury. The consultants will also assess the administrative implications of an effective recovery scheme for insurance companies and DHSS. We expect a report in April 1988 and will consider its findings before deciding whether and, if so, how to proceed with a recovery scheme.

  Public Health Laboratory Service
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the revenue cost of the public health laboratory service in each of the last five years.
  258
  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: The revenue expenditure of the public health laboratory service in each of the last five years was:

  million

  1982–83

  28·6

  1983–84

  30·8

  1984–85

  32·3

  1985–86

  35·9

  1986–87

  38·7

  These figures are taken from the board's annual accounts.

  NHS (Youth Training Scheme)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the organisations he intends to consult about the proposal to employ young people on YTS schemes within the National Health Service.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: The recently published feasibility study on the extended use of youth training schemes in the National Health Service is currently being considered by the four bodies which sponsored it—the Department, the Manpower Services Commission, the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting and the NHS Training Authority. If certain ideas in the study were to be pursued—such as a national framework for training outcomes from YTS—there will need to be consultations with the staff side (to which copies of the report have already been sent) and others. The many health authorities which already run YTS programmes are subject to the normal YTS rules regarding consultation; local consultation will continue to be required for any new programmes in line with MSC requirements.

  DTI: CLOSURE OF SCHEMES
  DTI: CLOSURE OF SCHEMES
  KIMBERLEY CARLILE
  KIMBERLEY CARLILE
  SOCIAL FUND INSPECTORS
  SOCIAL FUND INSPECTORS
  BLOOD GLUCOSE TESTING
  BLOOD GLUCOSE TESTING
  GRANT RELATED EXPENDITURE: DoE PUBLICATIONS
  GRANT RELATED EXPENDITURE: DoE PUBLICATIONS
  BUSES: ACCIDENTS TO PASSENGERS
  BUSES: ACCIDENTS TO PASSENGERS
  AIR TRANSPORT IN EUROPE
  AIR TRANSPORT IN EUROPE
  NORTHERN IRELAND FORESTRY: PLANTING
  NORTHERN IRELAND FORESTRY: PLANTING
  NORTHERN IRELAND: DoE STAFF LEVELS
  NORTHERN IRELAND: DoE STAFF LEVELS
  NORTHERN IRELAND AREAS OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST
  NORTHERN IRELAND AREAS OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST
  NORTHERN IRELAND: PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS
  NORTHERN IRELAND: PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS
  CHIEFTAIN TANK REPLACEMENT
  CHIEFTAIN TANK REPLACEMENT