Written Answers of 14 January 1988

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Diplomatic Passports
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will introduce diplomatic passports for United Kingdom diplomats; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  There are no immediate plans to introduce diplomatic passports but a joint Home Office/Foreign and Commonwealth Office working group is at present studying the question.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to which nations do and which do not issue diplomatic passports to their diplomatic staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I am not aware of any country, other than the United Kingdom, which does not issue diplomatic passports to its diplomatic staff overseas.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what payments have been made to the Government of Cyprus in each of the last three years(a) in total, (b) as aid and (c) in respect of the use of the sovereign bases.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The information is as follows:

  Financial Year 1984–85

  Financial Year 1985–86

  Financial Year 1986–87

  (a)

  1,578,143

  1,568,326

  1,377,547

  (b)

  1,578,143

  1,568,326

  1,377,547

  (c)

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Publication dale

  Total print run

  Number of Her Majesty's Stationery Office sale copies

  COI copies

  Britain 1979

  23 January 1979

  21,000

  10,250

  10,750

  Britain 1980

  29 February 1980

  18,370

  9,750

  8,620

  Britain 1981

  6 March 1981

  17,500

  7,645

  9,855

  Britain 1982

  23 February 1982

  17,500

  7,880

  9,620

  Britain 1983

  14 February 1983

  18,400

  7,580

  10,820

  Britain 1984

  29 May 1984

  23,000

  6,980

  116,020

  Britain 1985

  6 February 1985

  17,600

  7,480

  10,120

  Britain 1986

  2 January 1986

  17,750

  7,188

  10,562

  Britain 1987

  2 January 1987

  17,750

  7,348

  10,402

  Britain 1988

  6 January 1988

  17,500

  6,721

  10,779

  1 Includes 5,000 copies of a special edition prepared for distribution at the London Economic Summit.

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  The sovereign base areas are sovereign British territory and no payment is made in respect of their use. The figures given for aid include aid provided by the Overseas Development Administration and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. They also include payments made to individuals under Government arrangements for training and scholarships.

  Falkland Islands
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wrexham on 11 January, if he will give the reasons as to why the terms of the contract under which the renewable resources assessment group at Imperial college, London provides scientific advice to the Falkland Islands Government are commercially confidential; and at whose suggestion they were made confidential.

  Mr. Eggar
  The terms of the contract have been negotiated between the Falkland Islands Government and the renewable resources assessment group and are subject to the approval of the Islands' Executive Council. It is normal commercial practice for details of contracts to remain confidential to the parties concerned.

  "Britain—An Official Handbook"
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of preparing "Britain 1988—An Official Handbook"; and how many copies have been printed.

  Mr. Eggar
  17,500 copies of the handbook have been printed by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 10,779 for the Central Office of Information on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and 6,721 sale copies. Preparation and production costs are estimated to total £145,200; Her Majesty's Stationery Office's production costs are recovered from sales.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the publication date of "Britain—An Official Handbook" in 1979 and each succeeding year; and how many copies were printed in each year.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is given in the table:

ENERGY

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the estimated volumes of radioactive waste likely to be produced by a commercial fusion reactor in terms of cubic metres per gigawatt (e) year.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I am advised by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority that a commercial fusion power reactor of the type now envisaged might produce 10–100 cu m of radioactive waste per gigawatt (e) year. This volume is similar to that produced by a fission reactor of similar volume, but its radioactivity reduces more quickly with time.

  Fast Breeder Reactor Programme
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when national representatives of the European fast reactor collaboration programme last met; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Representatives of the utilities, the design companies and the R and D organisations involved in the European fast reactor collaboration meet frequently and discuss a wide range of fast reactor issues.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of past and current spending proposals for renewable energy research and development supported by his Department over the last five years.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My Department's expenditure on renewable energy research and development over the last five years is as follows:

  £ million

  1982–83

  14·7

  1983–84

  11·7

  1984–85

  14·9

  1985–86

  13·2

  1986–87

  12·0

  1987–88

  114·4

  1 Estimated.

  Note: These figures include expenditure on "waste as a fuel" projects under the Energy Efficiency Office demonstration scheme.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  County Courts
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Attorney-General what changes in staffing there have been since 1983 in the county courts of(a) Bristol, (b) Exeter, (c) Yeovil and (d) Taunton.

  The Attorney-General
  Since 1983 the number of staff at the county courts at Bristol, Yeovil and Taunton have increased from 81 to 82, 19 to 20½ and 13½ to 14 respectively. The number of staff at Exeter remains unchanged. It is intended by the end of January 1988 to increase the staffing levels at Bristol, Exeter and Yeovil by two additional members of staff and at Taunton by one additional member of staff.
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  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received regarding the backlog of cases before the county courts of(a) Bristol, (b) Exeter, (c) Yeovil and (d) Taunton.

  The Attorney-General
  During the last six months the Lord Chancellor's Department has received 16 representations concerning delays in listing cases at Bristol county court and one concerning delays in listing at Exeter county court. None was received in relation to Yeovil or Taunton.

  Divorce
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Attorney-General in how many defended divorce proceedings in each of the last three years for which figures are available legal aid was granted to(a) male defendants and (b) female defendants.

  The Attorney-General
  The information requested is as follows:

  Male Respondents

  Female Respondents

  1984–85

  1,815

  859

  1985–86

  1,797

  844

  1986–87

  1,442

  796

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Attorney-General how many divorce proceedings in each of the last three years for which figures are available were(a) contested and (b) uncontested.

  The Attorney-General
  Figures for the latest three years for which full data are available (1983 to 1985) are shown in the table.

  England and Wales

  1983

  1984

  1985

  Uncontested decrees nisi granted

  149,189

  147,136

  161,409

  High Court defended divorce cases disposed of by trial

  500

  489

  464

  Land Registry
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the cost of the Land Registry services for each of the last five years in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) by county.

  The Attorney-General
  The following table shows, for England and Wales, the expenditure involved in providing Land Registry services; and for Scotland, the expenditure involved in providing the services of the Department of the Registers (about 97 per cent. of which is attributable to the Register of Sasines and the Land Register of Scotland). Figures are not kept for England and Wales separately, nor for individual counties in England, Wales and Scotland. Such figures could be provided only at inordinate expense.

  England and Wales£ million

  Scotland Wales£ million

  1982–83

  66·8

  8·2

  1983–84

  75·6

  9·9

  1984–85

  82·4

  10·9

  1985–86

  91·0

  12·2

  1986–87

  102·2

  12·4

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  Both the Land Registry and the Department of the Registers are self-financing, expenditure being fully offset by income from fees.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Companies Act Investigations
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many investigations have been made under section 444 of the Companies Act 1985 and its predecessor, section 173 of the Companies Act 1948, in each of the last five years;

  (2) how many civil servants at the Department of Trade and Industry, and how many others, are currently concerned in carrying out investigations under section 444 of the Companies Act 1985;

  (3) what criteria he uses in deciding whether to hold an investigation under section 444 of the Companies Act 1985 into the ownership of shares in or debentures of a company.

  Mr. Maude
  The criteria for an investigation under section 444 of the Companies Act 1985 is that it appears to the Secretary of State there is good reason to investigate the ownership of any shares or debentures of a company, and that it is unnecessary to appoint inspectors for the purpose. The section empowers the Secretary of State or his officers to make the investigations; it does not empower him to appoint outsiders for this purpose. No investigations are currently in progress. Information sought about previous investigations cannot be provided without undue expense.

  Sumrie Clothes plc
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry received the report of his inspectors into the affairs of Mr. Michael Hepker, Sumrie Clothes plc and related matters; if he will make the report public; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The inspectors' report on Sumrie Clothes plc has not been received. When it is, a decision on publication will he taken.

  Furniture Foam
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the statement by his Under-Secretary of State on 11 January, why he requires to seek the prior approval of the EEC Commission before implementing his proposals to restrict the use of foams in furniture in the interests of safety.

  Mr. Maude
  In accordance with directive EC 83/189 on the provision of information on technical standards and regulations, member states of the European Community submit new proposals to the Commission of the European Community in draft. This provides other member states and the Commission with an opportunity to comment on the proposals from the point of view of any possible conflict with proposals for EC legislation, and in case the proposed measure could constitute a new barrier to trade which could not be justified by reference to the need for protection of health and safety of consumers or workers. These established procedures will be followed in the case 350
  of the proposed regulations for improved fire resistance of domestic upholstered furniture. Although the Commission has the power to prohibit the United Kingdom making any regulations which it believes would be a barrier to trade and can use the European Court to enforce its ruling, it would be unlikely to do so in any case where the regulations would affect United Kingdom and other EC manufacturers alike, as these would.

  Peckham Task Force
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many jobs have been created by the Peckham task force in(a) its first 12 months of operation and (b) its second 12 months of operation; and how many of those jobs have been filled by (i) young people and (ii) local people.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Many north Peckham task force projects create new jobs directly. Other jobs are created indirectly by businesses helped by task force work:— jobs in firms assisted by the task force development fund;
  — jobs created in voluntary or statutory agencies as a result of task force assistance;
  — jobs gained for residents as a result of training courses facilitated by the task force.

  In addition, the broad range of work being encouraged by the task force to increase skills and enterprise amongst north Peckham residents feeds through into more confident and employable people who can compete for and hold down jobs in the wider London economy.

  It would involve disproportionate cost to estimate the jobs resulting directly and indirectly from the whole of the task force's work, and be misleading to include only those that can be readily counted.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent by the Peckham task force; and in relation to any expenditure on estates, which estates have been the recipients of work paid for through the task force.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Since the Government's north Peckham task force was set up in 1986, some £2·3 million of Government funds have been committed for task force projects benefitting the residents of the area. Of this, about £1 million has come from funds available to task forces and £1·3 million from other Government programmes. In addition, some £250,000 has been committed by the private sector and £130,000 by the local authority. Estates which have benefited from task force funds are north Peckham estate, where the task force contributed to improved lighting and the refurbishment of premises for Southwark adult education institute, and Gloucester Grove estate, on which projects to establish shopping facilities and to convert unused garages to workshops for small firms are in hand.

  Support for Innovation
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the future of support for innovation schemes for single company projects.

  Mr. Butcher
  As my right hon. and learned Friend told the House during his statement on 12 January, we have decided that research and development which is at the
  351
  stage of commercial exploitation should be the responsibility of the private sector. Therefore, the general schemes of single company support for innovation were closed to new applications at 18.00 hours on 12 January. Formal applications received before then will be appraised under the schemes as they existed previously. The schemes covered are support for innovation, the microelectronics industry support programme, support for software products support, and the fibre-optics and optoelectronics scheme.

  Departmental Press and Public Relations
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of his Department's 1987–88 expenditure on press and public relations will be devoted to the production of a video to promote a new corporate image of his Department.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: In the context of the new measures recently announced to the House, we have produced a short video to help with staff communications, as is now common in many organisations in both the public and private sectors. This video is mainly concerned with the Department's new policies and services although it does also mention the importance of the Department's image with the business community. The production cost of this video is approximately £17,000. The Department's expenditure on press and public relations in 1987–88 is expected to be £1,123,000.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to change the corporate image of his Department; and what costs will be involved on(a) new stationery, (b) uniforms and badges and (c) the change of vehicle logos.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: We have introduced new letterheads in the Department to replace a wider range of diverse styles which were previously in use. An expensive survey would be needed to identify the exact costs of redundant stationery including those held locally by secretaries and typing pools. We estimate the purchase cost of redundant stationery held in the central stationery stores to be approximately £5,000. However, this will be offset to a significant extent by using this stationery internally or in scrap pads. It is our intention that in due course the new style will be reflected in other areas such as uniform badges and on vehicles. Planning is still in hand for this process but in many cases we will phase in the changes as part of normal renewal and maintenance programmes.

PRIME MINISTER

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

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

  Winterbourne Houghton
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Winterbourne Houghton.

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

  Taxation and Family Policy (Departmental Co-ordination)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on co-ordination between the relevant Departments responsible for taxation and family policy, with particular reference to eligibility for mortgage interest tax relief as it applies to married couples, unmarried couples cohabiting and groups of individuals buying the same house together.

  The Prime Minister
  All Government Departments take account of the effects of legislation on the family and there is proper co-ordination of their work on policy changes. Mortgage interest tax relief is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer; the aspect to which my hon. Friend refers was discussed in the Chancellor's Green Paper "The Reform of Personal Taxation" published in March 1986 (Cmnd. 9756).

  Tayside
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Tayside.

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

  Firearms Certificates
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the proposals by the Commission for the mutual recognition of firearms certificates; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  My hon. Friend is no doubt referring to the proposal for a Council directive on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons. Member states must be free to carry out the checks necessary to preserve security and maintain law and order. We shall continue to make clear to other member states our belief that the proposal in its present form does not contain adequate safeguards to combat terrorism and limit the ability of criminals to acquire firearms illegally. As the proposal has yet to be formally discussed, it would not be appropriate to raise it at the next European Council.

  Civil Service (Report)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what consultation has taken place between Her Majesty's Government, the First Division Association, and the permanent secretaries, in their capacity as affected employees, over Sir Robin Ibbs's report on the Civil Service.

  The Prime Minister
  The report to which the hon. Gentleman refers is still under consideration. The unions will be consulted if any change in terms and conditions of service is contemplated.

  Africa (Visit)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list all those who accompanied her on her recent visit to Africa; and what their duties were.

  The Prime Minister
  On my visit to Africa I was accompanied by four officials and 11 support staff. It would not be appropriate to list the names and duties of those who accompanied me.
  353
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost of her recent visit to Africa; and if it was all met from public funds.

  The Prime Minister
  It is too soon to give precise information on the cost of this visit. A provisional estimate is £80,000. The cost was met from public funds.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for ensuring that the conventions governing the content of Government advertising and promotional materials are complied with.

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers in charge of Departments are responsible for ensuring that Government conventions on publicity and advertising are complied with.

  Windscale Fire
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her reply of 11 January,Official Report, column 2, she will list all those papers about the 1957 Windscale lire withheld from release under the terms of the Public Records Act.

  The Prime Minister
  It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to disclose the contents of closed records. The limited number of records concerned have been retained under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958 or closed for longer than 30 years under section 5(1) of the Act in accordance with the established criteria.

  Engagements
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 14 January.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 14 January.

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

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Third World (Education Campaign)
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to provide more funding for a public education campaign on Third world issues.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I have decided to increase the Overseas Development Administration's annual grant to the Centre for World Development Education from £100,000 to £125,000 for the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90. The Scottish Education and Action for Development also receives an annual grant of £6,000, and recently I agreed a contribution of £70,000 to the Council of Europe's public awareness campaign on north/south interdependence.

  The widespread distribution to schools last year of our booklet "British Aid" is to be followed this year with the ODA's first video for schools on the aid programme.

ENVIRONMENT

  Property Repossession
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide the latest figures for property repossessions arising from mortgage default in 1987.

  Mrs. Roe
  The Building Societies Association has estimated that 21,950 properties in the United Kingdom were taken into possession by building societies in the year ending June 1987, 0·3 per cent. of the number of loans which were outstanding to the societies at the end of that period. It is estimated that 630 dwellings were taken into possession by English local authorities during the financial year 1985–86, the latest period for which an estimate is available. Corresponding information is not available from other lending institutions.

  Severe Weather
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to make special financial arrangements to assist district councils in the county of Durham in the event of severe weather conditions during the winter.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 17 December 1987 at column 617, and to my right hon. Friend's reply on 13 January 1988 to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold).

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the proportion of households in England which will be liable to pay above average community charge which are households with below average incomes.

  Mr. Howard
  In order for a community charge to be larger than the average of £224, local authorities in that area would have to be spending at least £47 per adult more than the estimated cost of a standard level of service. I estimate that in England 16 per cent. of households have below average incomes and live in such areas. Many of that 16 per cent. may be entitled to a rebate. This estimate is necessarily subject to a margin of error.

  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications of the proposed community charge for premises in enterprise zones.

  Mr. Howard
  Non-domestic property in enterprise zones will continue to be exempt from rates during the life of the zone. We propose to provide for a special method of valuing properties in enterprise zones, so that, when the zone comes to an end, rateable values will discount any element of rent payments which reflect the benefit of the rates holiday.

  Individuals living in enterprise zones presently pay domestic rates and will be liable for the community charge in the same way as everyone else.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the detailed calculations for each local authority showing the assumptions about
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  numbers of poll tax payers whose incomes will lead to payment of rebates, which led him to give a figure of £1,500 million for payment of rebates in his speech of 16 December 1987, Official Report, column 1117.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison) on 8 December at columns 98–99, for the basis on which my right hon. Friend made his estimate of a total rebate cost of £1,500 million.

  It is not possible to make such estimates for individual local authorities since information about incomes at this level is available on a sample basis which is not adequate to make estimates at local level.

  Supermarket Development (Nottingham)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the sale of land belonging to Nottingham city council for supermarket development without competing tenders being received; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None. One letter of objection about a proposed superstore development at Hyson Green, Nottingham, addressed to the leader of the city council and signed by 10 persons has been copied to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce proposals to abolish the cash-flow provisions affecting the right to buy council homes.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The White Paper "Housing: The Government's Proposals" proposed that the cost floor rule under the right to buy should be abolished. The responses are still under consideration.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether local authorities will still be able to utilise the priority suppliers scheme under the arrangements for competitive tendering proposed in the Local Government Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 11 January.

  Acid Rain
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information about the deterioration of forests due to acid rain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 18 December 1987, at column 795, to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams).

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of the percentage of the United Kingdom native tree species showing signs of acid rain die-back.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have asked to reply.
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  The survey of forest health carried out by the Forestry Commission in 1987 included observations of oak, beech and Scots pine. The results are being analysed in relation to levels and types of air pollution at each of the sites; no information is yet available to provide guidelines on the relationship between crown thinning and acid rain and other pollutants.

  Treasure Trove
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to review the law on treasure trove; and if he intends to issue a consultation paper.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend has been reviewing the arrangements for reporting and recording of archeological finds generally. We plan to issue a consultation paper shortly.

  Tree Survey
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the desirability of a nationwide tree survey; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have not received any such representations. However, annual surveys of forest health are carried out by the Forestry Commission. Various surveys have been carried out, or are being carried out, into the effects of the great storm on 16 October 1987, but these are confined to the affected area in the south-east of England.

  Car Exhaust Emissions
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals are being considered by his Department for the reduction of emission of hydrocarbons and nitrous oxide from car exhausts.

  Mr. Moynihan
  As to standards which are already permitted within the European Community, I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 7 December, at column 20, to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington). We expect proposals from the Commission shortly to allow tighter standards of controls over small cars.

  Residuary Bodies
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the current emoluments to the chairmen and members of the residuary bodies for the five former metropolitan county residuary bodies.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is as follows:

  Current remuneration (from 1 October 1987)

  £

  Chairmen

  Greater Manchester

  19,064

  Merseyside

  West Midlands

  South Yorkshire

  17,330

  Tyne and Wear

  West Yorkshire

  357

  £

  Members

  All members

  6,107

  Notes:

  (i) One member of West Yorkshire residuary body receives a daily attendance allowance (currently 1755) as an alternative to an annual salary.

  (ii) Remuneration is subject to abatement, if applicable, in respect of public sector pension received.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the numbers of meetings of each residuary body since 1 April 1987.

  Mr. Chope
  The number of full residuary body board meetings held during the period 1 April 1987 to 13 January 1988 was as follows:

  Residuary body

  Number of full Board meetings

  London

  34

  Greater Manchester

  9

  Merseyside

  18

  South Yorkshire

  9

  Tyne and Wear

  10

  West Midlands

  18

  West Yorkshire

  10

  Local Income Tax
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Envoronment (1) if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) of 16 November 1987,Official Report, columns 183–185, he will publish in the Official Report (a) the number of income tax payers he has assumed were resident in each rating authority, (b) the average level of income he assumed each income tax payer was earning and (c) the total number of income tax payers in England, the average level of income they were earning and the source of his information;

  (2) if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) of 16 November 1987, Official Report, columns 183–185, he will give the exact relationship he assumed between changes in expenditure by a local authority and changes in grant when producing exemplifications of local income tax rates for each authority.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 13 January 1988]: The assumption about the relationship between expenditure and grant was described in the note covering the exemplifications placed in the Library on 12 November. Full equalisation of taxable resources was assumed. To calculate exemplifications on this basis it is unnecessary to make assumptions about the number of income tax payers or the average income, either for England as a whole or for each district and borough.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) of 16 November 1987,Official Report, columns 183–85, on local income tax, he will publish the figures he assumed for England for (a) the total amount of Government grant, (b) what part of Government grant was equivalent to the total paid in rate rebates and (c) the level of the national non-domestic rate in pence to two decimal places.
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  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 13 January 1988]: A number of assumptions were made about such matters as the total amount to be raised from LIT, rebates, balances and the yield of an extra 1p income tax. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 November to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes). It was unnecessary to make any additional assumptions about the total amount of Government grant The Government's assumption about the level of the NNDR has been that, on the basis of actual poundages in 1987–88, it would be 224·11p.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the transport by air of plutonium, plutonium oxide or plutonium nitrate produced at the Sellafield reprocessing plant; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The transport of all radioactive materials by air must comply fully with the national and international regulations governing this type of transport The International Atomic Energy Agency is about to undertake a review of this particular issue, to decide whether any regulatory changes are required.

  Fuller Peiser
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all consultancies carried out by the London-based agents Fuller Peiser since 1983 on behalf of his Department.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department is currently using Fuller Peiser as agents for the disposal of some of its property m London. I am not aware that the Department has placed other work with the firm since 1983.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all asset sales by the Department or its agencies managed by the London-based agents Fuller Peiser since 1983.

  Mr. Chope
  The Property Services Agency is currently using Fuller Peiser as agents for the disposal of some of its property in London. No central record is kept of commissions by the Department's agencies, but we are aware that the firm was also retained as agents by Aycliffe and Peterlee new town development corporation to carry out the marketing for the disposal of the industrial assets of the Corporation.

TRANSPORT

  Lenton Triangle Junction, Nottingham
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the closure by British Rail of a part of the Lenton Triangle junction, Nottingham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  My right hon. Friend has received representations from the hon. Members for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) and for Nottingham, North. It would not be appropriate to comment on these in view of his quasi-judicial position.

  Nottingham-Bulwell-Mansfield Railway
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the opening of a railway line from Nottingham through Bulwell to Mansfield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  My right hon. Friend has received representations from the hon. Members for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) and for Nottingham, North. As this possibility of reopening a passenger service between Nottingham and Mansfield through Bulwell is relevant to British Rail's proposal to close part of the Lenton Triangle junction, it would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to comment in view of his quasi-judicial position.

  M1 (Traffic Flow)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to improve the speed of traffic flow along the M1 during carriageway repairs.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are always looking for ways of improving traffic flow, consistent with safety of road users and the work force at roadwork sites. We aim to minimise delays by careful programming, improved traffic management and greater use of lane rental contracts which give an incentive for early completion.

  Settle to Carlisle Railway
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the financial contribution to the running costs and maintenance of the Settle to Carlisle railway service which has been provided by North Yorkshire county council in 1987 and proposed for subsequent years.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I understand that North Yorkshire county council is making no financial contribution to the maintenance and running costs of the Settle to Carlisle railway service in the financial year 1987–88, but is contributing £750 for publicity. I am awaiting confirmation of the council's position.

  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the financial contribution to the running costs and maintenance of the Settle to Carlisle railway provided by Cumbria county council in 1987 and as to what contribution is envisaged by Cumbria county council over the next two years.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I understand that Cumbria county council is presently contributing £27,000 to support services on the Settle to Carlisle railway, and that that level is unlikely to change in the next two years, provided the line stays open for British Rail services. I also understand that the county council is contributing £2,000 for publicity in 1987–88. I am awaiting confirmation of the council's position.

  Coach Drivers
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to change the conditions regarding the health of a coach driver before he obtains a public service vehicle licence.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The conditions, which are set out in "Medical Aspects of Fitness to Drive" (published by the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention), are kept under regular review by the Secretary of State's honorary medical advisory panels. Compliance is monitored through an initial medical examination and regular mandatory checks for all PSV drivers from the age of 46.

  Pedal Cyclists
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many persons have been killed or injured by pedal cyclists in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Statistics are available only for pedestrians injured by pedal cyclists. They are as follows:

  Pedestrians injured by pedal cyclists: Great Britain: 1982–86

  Killed

  Seriously injured

  Slightly injured

  Total

  1982

  11

  231

  565

  807

  1983

  8

  220

  570

  798

  1984

  8

  239

  556

  803

  1985

  10

  168

  423

  601

  1986

  8

  155

  419

  582

  Motorways (Hunting)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he gives concerning hunting adjacent to motorways; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are not aware of any special safety problems that this is posing or of ignorance on the part of hunting interests about the dangers and need for vigilance. The attention of the Fox Hounds Association has been drawn to this in the past.

  A30 (Honiton to Exeter)
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why his decision on the route of any A30 improvement between Honiton and Exeter has not yet been announced; and what decision he has now reached.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are considering the response to the public consultation held last year and other relevant factors. We shall announce our preferred route as soon as we have completed this.

  Travel Statistics
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will show the most recent information on the percentage of passenger journeys made by transport mode for each region in Great Britain.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The following information is available from the 1985–86 national travel survey:
  361

  Percentage of journeys (all journeys over 1 mile)

  Region

  Car or Van

  Bus or coach

  Rail

  Other public public modes

  Other public private modes

  All modes

  Northern

  63

  20

  1

  2

  14

  100

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  62

  20

  1

  1

  16

  100

  East Midlands

  72

  12

  —

  1

  15

  100

  East Anglia

  75

  7

  —

  1

  17

  100

  South East excluding London

  77

  6

  3

  1

  13

  100

  London

  60

  15

  11

  1

  13

  100

  South West

  76

  7

  —

  1

  16

  100

  West Midlands

  72

  12

  1

  1

  14

  100

  North West

  66

  16

  1

  2

  14

  100

  Wales

  71

  13

  1

  1

  14

  100

  Scotland

  59

  21

  1

  2

  17

  100

  Great Britain

  69

  13

  3

  1

  14

  100

  Other public modes include coach tours and excursions, taxis and minicabs, air journeys (within Great Britain), and other public modes.

  Other private modes include motor cycles, scooters and mopeds, bicycles, other private modes and walking (over 1 mile).

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, ignoring journeys to and from work of under

  Percentage of journeys

  Length of Journey

  25 to 50 miles

  50 to 100 miles

  100 to 150 miles

  150 to 200 miles

  200 to 250 miles

  Over 250 miles

  Car or van

  82

  80

  81

  75

  61

  48

  Bus or coach

  5

  7

  9

  9

  12

  19

  Rail

  11

  10

  7

  10

  21

  20

  Other Public Modes

  1

  2

  2

  3

  4

  12

  Other Private Modes

  1

  1

  1

  3

  2

  1

  All Modes of Transport

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Other public modes include coach tours and excursions, taxis and minicabs, air journeys (within Great Britain) and other public modes. It is not possible separately to identify air journeys.

  Other private modes include motor cycles, scooters and mopeds, bicycles and other private modes.

  Motor Cycles (Eye Protectors) Regulations
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the availability of eye protectors prescribed in the Motor Cycles (Eye Protectors) Regulations 1985.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The supply of visors has improved through new manufacturers' products significantly increasing the numbers available. A drop in demand was reported in December but not all motor cyclists may yet have approved eye protectors. I urge all those riders who are in such a position to obtain them well before 1 April 1988.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Association of Chief Police Officers concerning possible difficulties in enforcing the Motor Cycles (Eye Protectors) Regulations at the present time.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Association of Chief Police Officers expressed concern about the availability of 362
  25 miles, he will show the most recent information available on the percentage of journeys made by (i) car-van, (ii) bus-coach, (iii) rail, (iv) aircraft and (v) other over distances of 25 to 50 miles, 50 to 100 miles, 100 to 150 miles, 150 to 200 miles, 200 to 250 miles and over 250 miles, respectively.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The following information is available from the 1985–86 national travel survey:

  approved eye protectors. This has led it to recommend that riders should for the time being be warned rather than prosecuted for not having approved eye protectors.

  King's Cross Fire
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, following the preliminary hearing of 2 December 1987, he is in a position to announce where and when the formal investigation into the King's Cross underground lire will be held.

  Mr. Channon
  The formal investigation into the King's Cross underground fire will be held before Mr. Desmond Fennell OBE QC and will begin on Monday, 1 February 1988 at 10.30 am in Westminster Central hall, Storey's gate, London SW1H 9NU.

  A second one-day preliminary meeting devoted to technical matters concerning the King's Cross underground fire, will be held before Mr. Desmond Fennell OBE QC, at 10.30 am on Monday, 25 January 1988 in Church house, Great Smith street, London SW1.

  Both meetings will be held in public. Advertisements will be placed in the press.

  Dock Labour Scheme
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will detail the current administrative costs
  363
  of the dock labour scheme and the individual administrative costs of each local board in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Patrick Nicholls
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the income and expenditure account which is published in the annual report and accounts for the National Dock Labour Board and in the notes to the accounts which follow. The latest published figures, for the year ended 27 December, 1986, show that the board's management levy was maintained at 2¾ per cent. of the total leviable wage bill, and amounted to £4·3 million. Administrative costs for individual local boards are not made public.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Medomsley Prison
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether work on the new kitchen block at the premises of the former Her Majesty's prison at Medomsley, Derwentshire, has been completed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. The building element of this work is nearing completion, but the kitchen equipment will not be installed pending a decision on the future role of this establishment.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the recently closed prison at Medomsley; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Her Majesty's prison Medomsley, originally a detention centre, was temporarily brought into use as a category C training prison in June last year. The establishment was closed in October and the staff deployed to areas of pressing need in other prisons. The establishment is presently being surveyed with a view to assessing whether, and how, it should be redeveloped. A decision on Medomsley's future will be made when the results of the survey have been evaluated.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate a review of the administration of drugs in Her Majesty's penal establishments.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. This was one of the matters reviewed by the Social Services Committee in its Third Report in the 1985–86 Session. The use of medicines at all establishments continues to be monitored by the Director of Prison Medical Services.

  Video Recordings Act 1984
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of convictions obtained for offences under the Video Recordings Act 1984 in respect of each year during which the Act has been in force.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 27 November at columns 365–66.

  Arson (Wales)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alleged and actual incidents of arson at holiday and second homes have been dealt with by police forces in Wales since 1979.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information in the form requested is not collected centrally.

  Drug Addiction (Report)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place a copy of the drug addiction research initiative report, complemented by Dr. Virginia Berridge, in the Library.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. It is open to Dr. Berridge to publish the report or make it otherwise available as she wishes. The public bodies (including the Home Office) which jointly funded the report have no plans for its publication.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's policy on the refund of unexpired television licences of deceased holders to their next of kin.

  Mr. Renton
  Refunds are available when two licences are held of which one was obtained in error; when a unexpired monochrome licence is surrendered for a colour licence; and when a licence is surrendered within 28 days of its issue (or due date of issue in cases of renewal). We have no plans to extend these arrangements.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the prison population for England and Wales on the latest date available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 8 January the prison population in England and Wales was 47,271, excluding 557 prisoners held in police cells.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average prison population in England and Wales for 1987.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The provisional average population of prison department establishments in 1987 was about 48,400. The provisional average population held in police cells was about 530.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the prison remand population for England and Wales for the latest date available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 30 November 1987, the latest date for which reliable information is available, about 10,890 untried or convicted unsentenced prisoners were held in prison department establishments in England and Wales. A further 912 prisoners, many of whom were on remand, were held in police cells. By 11 January, the latest date for which information on prisoners in police cells is available, the number was 676.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average prison remand population during 1987.
  365
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested will not be available for another month.

  The average population of untried or convicted unsentenced prisoners in prison department establishments in England and Wales for the first 11 months of 1987 was about 10,640. Over the same period an average of 535 prisoners, many of whom would have been on remand, were held in police cells.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the certified normal accommodation and the actual population on the latest date available for (1) Her Majesty's prison, Bedford, (2) Her Majesty's prison, Birmingham, (3) Her Majesty's prison, Cardiff, (4) Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster, (5) Her Majesty's prison, Exeter, (6) Her Majesty's prison, Leeds, (7) Her Majesty's prison, Leicester, (8) Her Majesty's prison, Lewes, (9) Her Majesty's prison, Lincoln, (10) Her Majesty's prison, Liverpool, (11) Her Majesty's prison, Manchester and (12) Her Majesty's prison, Reading.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 8 January the certified normal accommodation and populations of the prison service establishments listed were as follows:

  Establishment

  Certified normal accommodation

  Population

  Bedford

  176

  346

  Birmingham

  592

  1,135

  Cardiff

  340

  424

  Doncaster1

  720

  —

  Exeter

  310

  428

  Leeds

  642

  1,381

  Leicester

  200

  435

  Lewes

  364

  551

  Lincoln

  359

  678

  Liverpool

  968

  1,236

  Manchester

  969

  1,565

  Reading

  178

  323

  1 Planned to open in 1993.

  Probation and Community Service
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the weekly cost of supervising a person on probation and community service in England and Wales for the latest date available.

  Mr. John Patten
  In the financial year 1985–86 the weekly cost of supervision by the probation service in England and Wales was about £15 for a person on a probation order and about £13 for a person serving a community service order. These are estimates which depend on assumptions about the allocation of the time of probation officers and are approximate. The figures are derived from those published in "Probation Statistics, England and Wales" (table 12.3 of the latest issue, 1986), copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the weekly cost of supervising a person in a probation hostel in England and Wales for the latest date available.

  Mr. John Patten
  The estimated weekly cost of accommodating a person net of residents' contributions in a probation/bail hostel in England and Wales in 1986–87, was £155·25.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons convicted of an indictable offence in England and Wales in 1986 by a magistrates' court had committed an offence which involved violence;

  (2) what percentage of persons sentenced to a period of immediate imprisonment in 1986 in England and Wales had been sentenced to a period of six months or less.

  Mr. John Patten
  In 1986, there were 34,647 persons found guilty of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery. There were 42,743 persons sentenced at all courts to immediate imprisonment, of whom 49 per cent. rceived sentences of six months or less. This information can be found in table S1.1(A) of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables 1986, volume 1" and in table 7.28 and 7.29 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1986", (Cm. 233), respectively, copies of which are in the Library.

  Fine Defaulters
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in 1986 were committed to prison in lieu of default in payment of a fine.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information available centrally is that in 1986 about 19,200 persons were received into prison department establishments in England and Wales following committal in default of payment of a fine. The figures appear in the annual publication "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (table 7.3, of the 1986 issue. Cm. 210), copies of which are in the Library.

  Prisoners (Cost)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the weekly cost of keeping a person in prison in England and Wales for the latest date available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information on the costs of running the prison service is published in the annual reports on the work of the prison department, copies of which are in the Library. The report for 1986–87 (Cm. 246) shows that the average weekly cost of keeping a person in a penal establishment in England and Wales in that year was £252 (see appendix 6, table D).

  Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Malik
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has been able to return to Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Malik the Indian passport which was deposited with the Department in September and acknowledged on 21 October under the reference M565200, to enable him to return to his homeland after receiving private medical treatment, details of which have been sent to the Under-Secretary of State by Dr. S. A. Malik of Southend on Sea.

  Mr. Renton
  I regret that we have not been able to do so. As Mr. Malik was told in the immigration department's letter to him on 6 January, an exhaustive search has not traced his passport. I acknowledge that this has caused Mr. Malik considerable inconvenience and extend the Department's apologies to him. The letter
  367
  recently sent him may, as it indicated, assist him in obtaining an emergency travel document from the Indian high commission. If the high commission is unable to issue a travel document we will consider what further action we are able to take.

  I can assure my hon. Friend that strenuous efforts to locate the missing passport will continue. Staff are trained to treat passports and other documents with care and the incidence of loss of passports within the immigration department, which receives some 500,000 items of correspondence each year, many of which contain passports, is very small.

  Remand
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what had been the longest time a person had been held in prison awaiting trial as of 31 October.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: According to such information as is held centrally, the longest period a person has been held in custody on 31 October awaiting or during his trial was just over 15 months. The trial was completed on 10 December 1987.

SCOTLAND

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to introduce a unified business rate in Scotland.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the proposed business rate will take effect in Scotland; and when the Scottish business rate will be brought to the same level as in England.

  Mr. Lang
  The introduction of a uniform business rate applying throughout Great Britain cannot be considered until non-domestic property north and south of the border is valued for rating purposes on a comparable basis. The process of harmonising valuation practice is under way but is unlikely to be completed until after the 1990 revaluation. On the question of a separate uniform business rate for Scotland, I refer the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) to my reply to his question on 17 December at column 643.

  Video Recordings Act 1984
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of convictions obtained for offences under the Video Recordings Act 1984 in respect of each year during which the Act has been in force.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The table gives the number of persons against whom a charge was proved of an offence under the Video Recordings Act 1984, excluding offences under section 14 (which cannot be identified separately from other offences of forgery).
  368

  Scotland

  Year

  Persons against whom charge was proved under the Video Recordings Act 1984 (excluding section 14)

  1984

  —

  1985

  —

  1986

  —

  1987 (January to September)

  9

  Roads
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what schemes within the trunk road network started construction in each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The relevant information, by financial year, is as follows:

  Trunk Road Schemes (over £1 million) which started construction since 1978–79

  Road and date

  Scheme

  1978–79

  A92

  Bourtreebush—Aberdeen City Boundary

  A929

  Powrie Brae Improvement

  A94

  Park ford Improvement

  A1

  Broxbum—Skateraw Diversion

  A9

  Blackford Bypass

  A9

  Tore—Maryburgh

  A9

  Pitlochry Bypass Phase I

  1979–80

  A9

  Aviemore—Granish

  A9

  Charleston—Tore

  A96

  Auchmill Road Bucksburn Phase II

  A96

  Elgin Relief Road

  A1

  Ayton Bypass

  A9

  Ardullie—Foulis

  A952

  Invernettie Diversion

  A92

  Thornton Bypass—Northern Section

  A9

  Pitlochry Bypass Phase II

  A9

  North of Kingussie—South of Aviemore

  1980–81

  A9

  Improvement at Syde and Pert

  1981–82

  A82

  Reconstruction of Eas Eonan and Derrydarroch Bridges

  A74

  Improvement at Johnstone Bridge

  A94

  Balnabreich—St. Ann's

  A742

  Improvement from Greenock—Inverkip

  A835

  Silverbridge—Gorston Diversion

  A9

  Evanton Bypass

  A9

  Regional boundary—Drumochter Lodge

  A96

  West Adamston Improvement

  A92

  Thornton Bypass Phase II

  A1

  Penmanshiel Diversion Contract No. 4

  A78

  Dundonald Camp—Monkton Diversion

  A75

  Carsluith Diversion

  A9

  Killiecrankie—North of Calvine State I

  A9

  North of Guay—Tynreich

  A82

  Carnoch—Craigrannoch Stage I

  A82

  Strathfillan Manse

  A94

  Improvement at Stracathro

  A9

  Auchterarder and Aberuthven Bypass

  A77

  Bridgemill Diversion

  1982–83

  A7

  Canonbie Diversion

  A92/A94

  Stonehaven Bypass

  A972

  Kingsway Stage II

  369

  Road and date

  Scheme

  A74

  Improvement northbound Kirkton—Glengonner—Abington

  A82

  Carnoch—Craigrannoch Stage II

  A76

  Bargower Diversion

  1983–84

  A94

  Scotston—Candy

  A74

  Abington—Glengonner—Kirkton Farm Improvement southbound

  A92

  East Fife Regional Road (EFRR) Phase I

  A929

  Tealing—Tarbrax

  A9

  Perth Western Bypass

  M74

  Wellburn—Poniel

  A835

  Maryburgh—Moy

  A9

  Killiecrankie—North of Calvine Stage 2

  A95

  Reconstruction of new U/bridge at Loch Vara

  A94

  Laurencekirk Bypass

  A75

  Collin Diversion

  A1

  Tranent Bypass

  A75

  Gatehouse of Fleet Bypass

  1984–85

  A9

  Dalreoch—Burnside

  A74

  Perchall—Woodend

  A85/A972

  Kingsway Improvement Stage III

  M74

  Draffan—Wellburn

  A1

  Musselburgh Bypass

  A75

  Creetown Bypass

  A92

  East Fife Regional Road (EFRR) Phase II

  A82

  Camus Nan Clais—Hollybank

  A75

  Bridge of Dee Diversion

  1985–86

  M74

  Poniel—Millbank

  A94

  Forfar Bypass

  A82

  Dubh Eas Stage II

  A7

  Synton—Mossend Diversion

  A82

  Auchentullich—Polnaberoch

  A9

  Alness Bypass

  A835

  Contin Diversion

  1986–87

  A96

  Auldearn Bypass

  A82

  Polnaberoch— Arnburn

  A75

  Annan Bypass

  A96

  Bucksburn—Tyrebagger Hill Stage I

  A82

  Arden—Auchentullich

  A75

  Ringford Bypass

  A830

  Mallaig—Kinsadel Stage I

  A929

  Kingsway—Powrie Improvement

  A92

  Murcar— Balmedie

  A9

  Mound, Sutherland Diversion

  1987–881

  A96

  Forres Bypass

  A9

  Dornoch Firth Crossing south approach road

  A75

  Castle Douglas Bypass

  A9

  Dornoch Firth Crossing north approach road

  A74

  Northbound Strengthening from A72 Junction to A723 Junction

  A830

  Lochailort—Polnish Bridge Improvement

  A82

  Auchendennan—Arden Improvement

  A75

  Glenluce Bypass

  M80

  Stepps Bypass advance works contract No. 1

  A82

  Luss—Camus Nan Clais

  A9

  Dunbeath Diversion

  1 11 January 1988.

  In addition, 195 schemes costing between £100,000 and £1 million started over the period.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the actual expenditure on the trunk road network in each year since 1978–79; what is the projected outturn expenditure for the current financial year; and what is the budgeted expenditure for 1988–89.
  370
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:

  Expenditure (£ million net)1

  Financial year

  Capital

  Current

  Total

  1978–79

  65

  8

  73

  1979–80

  74

  9

  83

  1980–81

  81

  10

  91

  1981–82

  88

  16

  104

  1982–83

  96

  14

  110

  1983–84

  87

  20

  106

  1984–85

  97

  17

  115

  1985–86

  101

  19

  119

  1986–87

  95

  20

  115

  1987–88 projected

  110

  19

  129

  1988–89 budget

  To he announced later this year

  1 Figures rounded to nearest £ million. Rounded figures may not necessarily sum to the totals.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current position of the Dumfries bypass in relation to projected expenditure and planned date of start of construction, and what were the original budget and original planned start date.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Dumfries bypass has been under construction for many years. Throughout that period estimates of costs and planned start dates have varied as the results of detailed studies became known. The current cost is estimated at £15·10 million and it is planned to start construction in the late summer of this year.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current state of planning for the A74 upgrading announced during the general election campaign; what is the budgeted cost; and what alterations in priorities in the trunk road network will be necessary to accommodate it.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As recently announced, feasibility studies are under way to consider the best way of implementing the upgrading. Until these studies have been completed, around the end of this year, it will not be possible to assess priorities in the trunk road programme, and how the A74 project will fit in. The estimated cost of the project is at least £200 million.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report all correspondence between Ministers and the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley on the Auchinlech/Cuinnock, New Cumnock, Maybole and Girvan bypasses.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since 1980 Scottish Office Ministers have corresponded with the hon. Member about the four bypasses mentioned on 13 occasions and I have arranged for copies of these letters to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Scottish National Meat Centre
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what participation the Scottish Development Agency will have in the activities and formation of the Scottish national meat centre and food park.

  Mr. Lang
  The Scottish Development Agency is discussing with Edinburgh district council the possible development of a Scottish national meat centre in Edinburgh. The nature and extent of the agency's participation in the centre is still under consideration.

  Regional Aid
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total value of regional aid grants paid to companies in respect of activities in Badenoch and Lochaber, respectively, in each of the last eight years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lang
  Information on payments of grant by the Highlands and Islands Development Board under section 8 of the Highlands and Islands Development (Scotland) Act 1965 is not available in the form requested. Approvals of grants under this Act to firms in the Badenoch and Strathspey and Lochaber local authority districts in the period 1980 to 1987 are as follows.

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Local Authority District

  Section 8 Approvals (£ thousands)

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  648

  239

  402

  651

  807

  1,028

  729

  588

  Lochaber

  355

  408

  459

  647

  551

  918

  1,486

  677

  EOA

  RDG payments ( £ thousand)

  Fort William

  30

  2,247

  3,226

  275

  402

  136

  902

  534

  Inverness

  849

  428

  4,193

  321

  162

  623

  1,542

  —

  Nature Reserves
  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has plans to dispose of any nature reserves or parts of nature reserves in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) by my hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for home affairs and the environment on 13 January; and to the answer given on the same day to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  European Demonstration Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the final report by Mr. Alexander Bell on the public inquiry into the proposed siting of the European demonstration reprocessing plant at Dounreay; and when he expects to make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet received the report. When he does he will consider it carefully before coming to a decision, but I cannot say when that will be.

DEFENCE

  BP Flotation
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his reply of 2 November 1987,Official Report, column 600, to the hon. Members for Glasgow, Provan and Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks), the costs to the public funds for the use of the Royal Marines and Commandos in the British Petroleum share launch have now been assessed; and how much of them has been recovered.
  372
  A small number of payments of regional selective assistance have also been made to companies in the Lochaber district in the period 1980 to 1987 but details on these cannot be given as to do so would disclose information on individual businesses. No such payments were made to firms in the Badenoch and Strathspey district.

  Details of payments under the old regional development grant scheme are available only for payments of over £25,000 to firms in the Fort William and Inverness local employment office areas (EOA) which subsume Lochaber and Badenoch respectively. These are set out as follows.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 12 November 1987, at column 306, and my reply of 13 January 1988.

  Tanks
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations he has received from the Army about the purchase of Challenger tanks; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he expects to announce a decision about future orders of tanks for the Army; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 January to my hon. Friend the Member for Bridlington (Mr. Townend) at column 200.

  UK Air Defence Region (Incursions)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1979 have two or more Soviet aircraft entered the United Kingdom air defence region at the same time.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 11 January 1988, at column 67.

  Nuclear Installations (Military Aircraft)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn of 16 November 1987,Official Report, column 452, he will clarify how close to nuclear installations military aircraft are permitted to fly.

  Mr. Freeman
  The instructions governing the distances at which low-flying military aircraft may pass by a nuclear installation vary according to the type of installation. Details are classified.

  Expenditure
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the Government's level of spending on defence, expressed per household, for 1979 and for each year since then (i) current prices, (ii) 1979 prices and (iii) 1987 prices.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is shown:

  Defence expenditure per household

  Current prices £s

  1987–88 prices £s

  1979–80 prices £s

  1979–80

  456

  792

  456

  1980–81

  550

  805

  464

  1981–82

  614

  819

  472

  1982–83

  699

  869

  501

  1983–84

  744

  884

  510

  1984–85

  818

  932

  537

  1985–86

  849

  912

  526

  1986–87

  853

  889

  512

  1987–88

  877

  877

  505

  Unit Costs
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he last published in a written answer the unit cost of a particular system;

  (2) when it became his practice not to publish project unit costs.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 11 January 1988]: The unit cost of a particular system was last published in a written answer on 6 July 1987, at columns 61–2. Information of a similar character was given on 2 November 1987, at column 609.

  Last year the practice of publishing unit costs of selected equipments in the annual "Statement on the Defence Estimates" was reviewed. It had long been recognised that publication of prices paid for equipment by my Department could be inimical to the commercial interests of manufacturers in other markets, and representations from the manufacturers themselves confirmed that this was the case. My right hon. Friend accordingly decided to discontinue the publication of such figures. They will, however, be made available to the Defence Committee of the House each year on a classified basis.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Ordnance Survey and Admiralty Publications
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Lord President of the Council (1) when hon. Members will be able to receive Ordnance Survey publications from the Vote Office;

  (2) when hon. Members will be able to receive Admiralty publications from the Vote Office.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee will shortly be considering the question whether the Vote Office should provide Ordnance Survey and Admiralty publications to Members on request. I shall ensure that my hon. Friend is informed of its decision.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Assessment and Testing (Report)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects the task group on assessment and testing to report; and what action he anticipates taking following the publication of such a report.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Summerson) on 12 January, at column 205.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, by sex, the number of children in each local education authority who receive nursery education.

  Mr. Dunn
  The number of boys and girls under live in January 1987 attending maintained nursery schools or nursery classes in primary schools in each local education authority in England is as follows:

  Boys and girls in nursery schools and classes in England— January 19871

  Boys

  Girls

  Barking

  512

  444

  Barnet

  1,196

  1,111

  Bexley

  307

  305

  Brent

  1,133

  1,077

  Bromley

  60

  62

  Croydon

  315

  293

  Ealing

  1,381

  1,290

  Enfield

  719

  696

  Haringey

  1,064

  1,007

  Harrow

  410

  379

  Havering

  121

  105

  Hillingdon

  1,329

  1,288

  Hounslow

  1,892

  1,784

  Kingston Upon Thames

  515

  441

  Merton

  800

  760

  Newham

  1,921

  1,972

  Redbridge

  249

  231

  Richmond Upon Thames

  327

  279

  Sutton

  327

  356

  Waltham Forest

  1,158

  1,110

  Inner London

  11,113

  10,766

  Birmingham

  4,545

  4,416

  Coventry

  978

  890

  Dudley

  1,154

  1,139

  Sandwell

  1,862

  1,689

  Solihull

  702

  688

  Walsall

  1,991

  1,380

  Wolverhampton

  1,941

  1,865

  Knowsley

  980

  940

  Liverpool

  3,156

  2,988

  St. Helens

  695

  678

  Sefton

  1,044

  990

  Wirral

  836

  778

  Bolton

  1,446

  1,334

  Bury

  398

  403

  Manchester

  3,464

  3,351

  Oldham

  993

  936

  Rochdale

  910

  870

  Salford

  1,582

  1,491

  Stockport

  548

  530

  Tameside

  1,139

  1,153

  Trafford

  312

  293

  375

  Boys

  Girls

  Wigan

  1,043

  989

  Barnsley

  1,425

  1,358

  Doncaster

  1,557

  1,518

  Rotherham

  1,380

  1,329

  Sheffield

  2,445

  2,282

  Bradford

  2,450

  2,286

  Calderdale

  667

  624

  Kirklees

  2,038

  1,841

  Leeds

  2,830

  2,753

  Wakefield

  1,916

  1,853

  Gateshead

  830

  815

  Newcastle Upon Tyne

  1,421

  1,416

  North Tyneside

  1,197

  1,217

  South Tyneside

  927

  925

  Sunderland

  1,528

  1,431

  Isles of Scilly2

  0

  0

  Avon

  1,687

  1,591

  Bedfordshire

  2,371

  2,211

  Berkshire

  2,549

  2,352

  Buckinghamshire

  1,130

  1,013

  Cambridgeshire

  997

  955

  Cheshire

  2,370

  2,413

  Cleveland

  4,195

  3,941

  Cornwall

  775

  629

  Cumbria

  1,176

  1,084

  Derbyshire

  3,115

  2,815

  Devon

  1,065

  998

  Dorset

  387

  367

  Durham

  2,949

  2,709

  East Sussex

  543

  453

  Essex

  1,105

  1,072

  Gloucestershire2

  0

  0

  Hampshire

  972

  832

  Hereford and Worcester

  460

  449

  Hertfordshire

  3,834

  3,668

  Humberside

  3,510

  3,310

  Isle of Wight

  72

  56

  Kent

  993

  919

  Lancashire

  3,049

  2,903

  Leicestershire

  2,650

  2,552

  Lincolnshire

  491

  476

  Norfolk

  448

  422

  North Yorkshire

  1,389

  1,305

  Northamptonshire

  1,252

  1,181

  Northumberland

  917

  899

  Nottinghamshire

  5,604

  5,484

  Oxfordshire

  915

  832

  Salop

  565

  557

  Somerset

  57

  27

  Staffordshire

  2,925

  2,887

  Suffolk

  1,077

  982

  Surrey

  1,330

  1,292

  Warwickshire

  1,035

  918

  West Sussex

  300

  246

  Wiltshire

  114

  127

  Total

  141,552

  134,622

  1 Full and part-time pupils.

  2 These authorities have no nursery schools or classes.

  Education Reform
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received seeking the extension, by law, of the national curriculum to those children who are supported by public funds through the assisted places scheme; and if he will make a statement.
  376
  Mrs. Rumbold
  Only a very small proportion of the responses from individuals and organisations on the consultation document made points about pupils on the assisted places scheme.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fatstock Certification
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of fatstock certification.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Fatstock certification is an integral part of the beef and sheep variable premium schemes. Its future will depend upon progress in the current review of the Community's sheepmeat regime; and on future arrangements for beef support in 1989 on which discussions have yet to start.

  Variable Premium Payments
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether the weekly guide prices published on 13 July 1987 are the prices on which the variable premium payments are being calculated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Yes. Variable premium rates for the 1988 sheepmeat marketing year are being calculated on the basis of the decisions on guide price levels reached at the 1987 price-fixing, the details of which were announced by my Department on 13 July 1987.

  Milk Quota
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on milk quota leasing.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Quota leasing gives milk producers a valuable element of flexibility and I welcome the Commission's intention, expressed in its report on the quota system published last October, to propose that it should be maintained.

  Radiation
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sheep in the restricted area of Cumbria which had died from natural causes were monitored for radioactivity in each month from June to December 1986.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  None.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library any literature relating to the disposal of dead sheep circulated to farmers in the restricted area of Cumbria following the Chernobyl accident in 1986.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  In addition to the information I gave to the hon. Member on 10 December 1987 Ministry officials wrote — on 8 April 1987, at the start of the lambing season — to farmers in the restricted area outlining "mark and release" arrangements for the new lamb crop. This letter included a passage on the disposal of casualties. A copy of the letter is being placed in the Library of the House.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of land within each environmentally sensitive area is currently being farmed under the restrictive rules in return for payment.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  It will not be possible to provide a definitive estimate of the percentage of land covered by ESA arrangements until we have completed our detailed land cover survey of each ESA. Our provisional estimate of the area of land being farmed under ESA agreements in England is shown below.

  ESA Area covered by agreements (ha)

  The Broads

  16,749

  Pennine Dales

  8,403

  Somerset Levels and Moors

  8,181

  South Downs

  3,104

  West Penwith

  5,646

  1 This does not include land farmed under the Broads grazing marsh conservation scheme in 1987.

  Meat and Livestock Commission
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he hopes to publish his response to the Purdom report on the Meat and Livestock Commission.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Ministry's efficiency scrutiny of the Meat and Livestock Commission, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House, has been discussed with the MLC which is taking action on a number of the recommendations it contains.

WALES

  Public Inquiry (Swansea)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, in the light of the existence of circular 44/87, he will undertake to review any findings of the inspector for the public inquiry into the application for executive houses at Murton lane, Newton, Swansea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  This appeal is one of those transferred by regulations to a planning inspector and my right hon. Friend has no power to intervene in the decision-making process other than by formally recovering jurisdiction. On present information, he does not believe that there is a case for taking such action. The guidelines on housing for senior management remain as set out in Welsh Office circular 30/86.

  Agriculture Department, Ruthin
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will take steps to ensure that the Welsh Office Agriculture Department, Ruthin, will remain open for the foreseeable future;

  (2) if he will meet staff unions from the Agriculture Department office in Ruthin to discuss the prospects for closure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  We have no plans to close the Ruthin divisional office.
  378
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff are employed at the Agriculture Department office in Ruthin; how many cases this office handles annually; and how many farms in north Wales this office is expected to service annually.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The divisional office at Ruthin employs about 77 people (including 26 ADAS staff). Claims and grant applications in 1987 totalled 5,709. The number of holdings recorded in 1987 was 6,366.

  Gobowen Orthopaedic Hospital
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the effect of the closure of beds at Oswestry (Gobowen) orthopaedic hospital upon the expectations of patients in Clwyd for joint replacement operations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  I understand that the closures are temporary measures and as such consideration of their effects is for the health authorities concerned. Officials of the Welsh Office are, however, keeping in touch with both Clwyd and Shropshire health authorities.

  Cancer Treatment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take urgent steps to enable patients in Clwyd suffering from cancer to receive treatment in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The Welsh Office is already exploring with health authorities in Clwyd and Merseyside how treatment services for patients in Clwyd can be improved.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients suffering from cancer, living in Clwyd and Gwynedd, receive treatment in the Wirral; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is not held centrally. The cancer treatment services at Clatterbridge hospital, Wirral, are the responsibility of the Mersey regional health authority to which the request for information should be directed.

  Flooding
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce a system of higher-rate grants or cheap loans to farmers in Wales for the construction of works and buildings to alleviate the effect on their enterprises of persistent flooding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Grants of 30 per cent. in the less-favoured areas and 15 per cent. outside the less-favoured areas are currently available to farmers for works and facilities to prevent the flooding of agricultural land by watercourses if such works form part of an approved plan under the agriculture improvement scheme. In addition, water authorities have permissive powers under the Land Drainage Act 1976 to undertake land drainage and flood protection works. I said in the House on 21 October last, at column 752, during the debate on the effects of flooding in Wales, that I would look into any problems that were drawn to my attention. I am still happy to do so.
  379
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any proposals for works to alleviate persistent flooding on major roads in mid-Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  In consultation with the county council and the water authority we are continuing to investigate the causes of persistent flooding of the A483 and A487 trunk roads in North Powys and to seek to identify cost-effective remedies where needed. Non-trunk roads are the responsibility of the county highway authorities.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any proposals to alleviate farm losses caused by flooding in the Severn valley; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Flood protection works are the responsibility of the Severn Trent water authority which, I understand, has a flood alleviation scheme for the confluence of the rivers Vyrnwy and Severn under initial consideration. Any works may be eligible for Government grant under the Land Drainage Act 1976. Otherwise farming is a commercial operation which should reasonably be expected to allow for the consequences of bad weather.

  Milk
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh farmers are at present engaged in milk production; and what were the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The number of registered milk producers in Wales in December for each year since 1979 is shown in the table:

  Registered milk producers in Wales in December

  Number

  1979

  7,939

  1980

  7,617

  1981

  7,375

  1982

  7,283

  1983

  7,253

  1984

  7,046

  1985

  6,850

  1986

  6,769

  1987

  1

  1 The December 1987 figure is not yet available. The figure for November 1987 was 6,484.

  Farm Diversification Grants
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what funds have been made available for grants for farm diversification in Wales during 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  It is not anticipated that claims for grant will be made during the financial year.

  Local Authorities (Vacant Land)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the amount of vacant land held by each Welsh local authority in 1974, 1979, 1983 and for each subsequent year; what percentage of the 380
  total land in each authority area and of the local authority's total land holding this represents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Grist
  This information is not held centrally.

EMPLOYMENT

  Community Programme
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the relative percentages of training and work experience for participants on the community programme.

  Mr. Lee
  Agents and sponsors are responsible for designing their own programmes of work experience and training, and detailed information is not held centrally. However, the following information is provided from the latest (4th) community programme participants survey:66 per cent. of participants were receiving on-the-job training at the time of the survey.
  20 per cent. were receiving formal training at their place of work.
  12 per cent. were receiving training away from their place of work but during work hours.
  12 per cent. had received, or were receiving, training in their own time, of whom 60 per cent. were attending one day a week for an average 26 weeks.

  There is some overlap in the figures, with many of those receiving on-the-job training receiving one of the other types of training.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of participants on the community programme is women(a) nationally, (b) in the county of Durham and (c) in Durham, North-West constituency.

  Mr. Lee
  It is not possible to give the information in the precise form requested. During the 12 months ended 30 November 1987, the latest date for which statistics are available, the total number of entrants to the community programme was 272,697, of whom 70,356, or 25·8 per cent. were female. The corresponding figures for the county of Durham were 6,551, 1,670 and 25·5 per cent. Figures for the Durham, North-West constituency are not available.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an estimate of how the change in the community programme from part time to full time is likely to affect the numbers of women applying for places.

  Mr. Lee
  The planned change in the community programme from part time to full time has been overtaken by the Government's decision that the community programme and a number of training programmes should be replaced by a new comprehensive training programme for unemployed adults. No detailed assumptions about the breakdown of those applying for places on the new programme have been made.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) why the Manpower Services Commission has declined to provide authorisation and funding for community programmes after 26 August; if he will provide guidance to the management of such schemes on the longer term arrangements they may make for recruitment and programmes; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a further statement on the future of the community programme.
  381
  Mr. Cope
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in the House on 18 November that the community programme is to be replaced by a new adult training programme from September. I hope that most existing community programme managing agents will decide to take part in the new programme, which will offer, for the first time, a comprehensive package of assessment and training for long-term unemployed people. We are currently considering the Manpower Services Commission report on the new programme and my right hon. Friend expects to respond shortly to the chairman of the commission.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were employed in connection with community programmes sponsored and financed by the Manpower Services Commission at the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lee
  On 30 November 1987, the latest date for which statistics are available, there were 221,348 persons employed on community programmes.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the operation of the community programme in the Southend-on-Sea area.

  Mr. Lee
  The community programme is operating successfully in the Southend-on-Sea area, as it is elsewhere in the country.

  Age Discrimination
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to prevent age discrimination in employment.

  Mr. Lee
  The Government do not believe that legislation of this nature would be beneficial or practical.

  Restart Scheme
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what percentage of those invited to attend restart interviews are women since the beginning of the scheme; and what is the total number of women approached;

  (2) if he will publish up-to-date figures showing the outcome of interviews conducted under the restart scheme, classified by sex, covering the period from the introduction of the scheme in the same format used in the reply given on 10 December 1987, Official Report, columns 231–32, giving a breakdown of these figures to show outcomes for each three month or similar time period.

  Mr. Lee
  The information requested is not available.

  MSC (Press Releases)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of press releases issued by the Manpower Services Commission in each month since August 1985.

  Mr. Lee
  The total number of press releases issued in each month includes those prepared and issued by the MSC press office and COI regional offices on MSC's behalf.
  382

  1985

  1986

  1987

  January

  —

  169

  143

  February

  —

  144

  178

  March

  —

  153

  284

  April

  —

  159

  198

  May

  —

  138

  64

  June

  —

  147

  110

  July

  —

  186

  147

  August

  116

  120

  149

  September

  159

  150

  209

  October

  190

  183

  169

  November

  148

  142

  140

  December

  134

  110

  89

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the trend of public expenditure as a proportion of national income.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the trend of public expenditure as a proportion of national income.

  Mr. Major
  Public spending as a proportion of national income has been falling since 1982–83. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced plans in his Autumn Statement which will ensure that this trend continues.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the White Paper on public expenditure.

  Mr. Major
  The 1988 public expenditure White Paper will be published at 11 am on Wednesday 20 January and copies will be available in the Vote Office.

  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will describe the procedure and criteria used in determining the relative priorities accorded to the different programmes within the annual public expenditure planning total for 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  The public expenditure plans for 1988–89 announced in my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement were determined by the Government in the 1987 public expenditure survey, in addition to the specific policy reviews which go on throughout the year. Briefly, the survey process involved a review by each departmental Minister of his spending programme. In the light of these reviews there was a discussion in Cabinet in July which determined the framework for bilateral discussions between departmental Ministers and myself in the autumn. The plans agreed at these bilaterals were endorsed by Cabinet in October.

  Decisions on priorities are based on detailed analysis and assessment of programmes, particularly in the area of efficiency and value for money, but ultimately such decisions must be a matter of political judgment. In the 1987 survey the Government's policies set out in our general election manifesto were reflected in expenditure decisions — for example, the increases in planned spending on education, health and inner cities.

  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the trend of public expenditure as a proportion of national income.
  383
  Mr. Major
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton).

  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the outturn for public expenditure in 1987–88; and what is his latest estimate of revenue.

  Mr. Major
  The Autumn Statement forecast for 1987–88 was for general Government expenditure of £172·8 billion and general Government receipts of £171·1 billion. More details are available in the 1987 Autumn Statement.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the likely savings in public expenditure as a result of the recent proposals of the efficiency unit.

  Mr. Brooke
  The efficiency unit proposals to which my hon. Friend refers are still under consideration.

  Luncheon Vouchers
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to increase the level of tax exemption for luncheon vouchers.

  Mr. Brooke
  I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the public sector borrowing requirement outturn in 1987–88.

  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the public sector borrowing requirement outturn in 1987–88.

  Mr. Major
  The Autumn Statement forecast was for a PSBR in 1987–88 of £1 billion.

  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the public sector borrowing requirement's outturn in 1987–88.

  Mr. Major
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall).

  North Sea Oil
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate expected North sea oil revenue from all sources for each year up to 1991.

  Mr. Lilley
  Projections of Government revenues from the North sea for 1987–88 were published in the Autumn Statement 1987 and, for later years, in the 1987–88 Financial Statement and Budget Report. Revised projections will be published at the time of the next Budget.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the current taxation regime governing North sea oil activity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  We have received representations from a number of representative bodies and companies. We have taken careful note of these representations, and keep the North sea fiscal regime under constant review.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the rate of growth in the United Kingdom economy since 1980; and how this compares with the figures for other major European Community countries.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the rate of growth in the United Kingdom economy since 1980; and what are the comparable figures for other major European Community countries.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the rate of growth in the United Kingdom economy since 1980; and what has been the comparable figure for other major European Community countries.

  Mr. Lilley
  Since 1980 the United Kingdom economy has grown at a rate of over 2½ per cent. a year, which is substantially faster than any other major European country.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast for the rate of economic growth in the United Kingdom over the coming year.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast for the rate of economic growth in the United Kingdom over the coming year.

  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast for the rate of economic growth in the United Kingdom over the coming year.

  Mr. Major
  In the Autumn Statement my right hon. Friend the Chancellor forecast that the economy would grow by 21/2 per cent. in 1988. The non-oil economy is expected to grow by 3 per cent. This will take us into the eighth successive year of steady growth.

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effects on employment of economic growth in the United Kingdom since 1983.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effects on employment of economic growth in the United Kingdom since 1983.

  Mr. Major
  The steady growth of the United Kingdom economy since 1983 has contributed to a rise of over 1¼ million in the number of jobs.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the director general of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the prospects for the British economy.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the state of the economy.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the director general of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the current performance of British industry.

  Mr. Major
  My right hon. Friend meets the director general of the CBI from time to time and a wide range of issues are discussed.

  Take-home Pay
  Mr. McLoughlin
  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. Lilley
  Since 1978–79, real take home pay has risen by almost 24 per cent. for a married man on average male earnings.

  British Petroleum plc
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many shares the Bank of England now holds in British Petroleum.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of the shares which the Bank of England now holds in BP.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the number of British Petroleum shares that have been purchased by the Bank of England under the special arrangements to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  Approximately 39 million.

  Miss Mowlam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy towards future sales of shares in British Petroleum plc in the light of the outcome of the recent sale of shares in the company.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The shares in British Petroleum which were purchased by the Bank of England under the buyback scheme will be disposed of I n due course as part of the wider privatisation programme. The Bank has undertaken not to dispose of any shares acquired under these arrangements up to 29 April 1988 except at a price in excess of 120p.

  International Debt
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what initiatives he is taking with Finance Ministers of creditor countries to address the rescheduling of a share of the debt of Latin American countries.

  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what initiatives he is taking with Finance Ministers of creditor countries to address the rescheduling of a share of the debt of Latin American countries.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what initiatives he is taking with Finance Ministers of creditor countries to address the rescheduling of a share of the debt of Latin American countries.

  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what initiatives he is taking with Finance Ministers of creditor countries to address the rescheduling of a share of the debt of Latin American countries.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours).

  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what responses he has received to his 1987 initiative to deal with the problem of developing countries' debt.
  386
  Mr. David Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what responses he has received to his 1987 initiative to deal with the problem of developing countries' debt.

  Mr. Lilley
  Good progress has been made on two of the three specific proposals that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor made at the April meeting of the development committee. The United Kingdom has converted aid loans into grants for 14 African countries; other creditor countries are following suit. To date, seven countries have had their official debts rescheduled over longer than usual periods in the Paris Club. We are continuing to press for international action to reduce interest rates on rescheduled officially guaranteed debts.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent meetings he has had with other Finance Ministers regarding world debt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  Last September my right hon. Friend attended the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' meeting and the meetings of the IMF and World Bank where the debt problems of some of the developing countries, especially those of the poorest in sub-Saharan Africa, were discussed.

  Taxation
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to reduce capital taxation.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion but cannot, of course, anticipate the Budget judgment.

  Hospital Radio Broadcasting Equipment (VAT)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about value added tax on hospital radio broadcasting equipment.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 27 November at column 129.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on present levels of interest rates.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current level of interest rates.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on interest rates.

  Mr. Lilley
  Bank base rates are 811/2 per cent.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the trend in interest rates during the Christmas adjournment.

  Mr. Lilley
  Bank base rates have remained at 81/2 per cent. throughout the Christmas adjournment.

  Credit Card Companies
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to provide for closer regulation of the operation of credit card companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend has no present plans to alter the regulatory framework for credit card operations.

  Drug Trafficking
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the liaison arrangements between Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the police and other enforcement agencies in connection with the investigation of drug trafficking.

  Mr. Lilley
  Yes.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will quantify the extent to which growth in the economy has been reflected in an increase in self-employment over the period since 1979.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will quantify the extent to which growth in the economy has been reflected in an increase in self-employment over the period since 1979.

  Mr. Major
  Self-employment in the United Kingdom in June 1987 was over three-quarters of a million higher than in 1979, an increase five times as great as in the previous 30 years. Self-employment has been encouraged by the combination of steady, sustained growth in the economy and the success of supply side policies in stimulating enterprise.

  Capital Investment
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take to stimulate capital investment.

  Mr. Major
  The Government's economic policies will continue to encourage capital investment by promoting an environment in which business can prosper.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from value added tax(a) in 1979 and (b) in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information is as follows:

  (£ million)

  1979

  6,360

  1986

  21,094

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress on his negotiations within the European Economic Community regarding the raising of the value added tax threshold.

  Mr. Lilley
  The European Parliament has given general support for the Commission's draft directive concerning 388
  VAT and small and medium-sized enterprises. This proposes, amongst other things, a higher optional registration threshold of 35,000 ecu (about £25,000).

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next intends to meet the finance Ministers of the European Economic Community to discuss the possible harmonisation of value added tax within the Community.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Community's economic policy committee is examining the Commission's proposals on the abolition of fiscal frontiers and is expected to report in March. The timetable for subsequent discussion in the Finance Ministers' Council has not yet been decided.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the costs sustained by the EEC Commission and the United Kingdom Government in pursuing the infraction proceedings at the European Court of Justice on the United Kingdom's value added tax zero rates; and who will be responsible for paying the costs.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 13 January 1988]: It is for the European Court to decide on the basis and responsibility for costs. Neither the costs incurred by the Commission in bringing the case nor the Government's in defending it at the European Court are at present known.

  Buildings (VAT)
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about value added tax on buildings.

  Mr. Lilley
  Budget representations from several trade bodies have included references to VAT on buildings.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the income to the Exchequer from privatisation in the present year, and in the next two years.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of income to the Treasury from privatisation measures in 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the income to the Exchequer from privatisation in the present year, and in the next two years.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The latest estimate of income from privatisation in the present year and in the next two years is contained in the Autumn Statement.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to make any changes to the Government's privatisation programme as a result of the BP flotation.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conclusions he has drawn from the BP flotation; and what measures he intends to take in dealing with any further privatisation proposals.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's latest plans for further privatisation measures.
  389
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  No.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the light of recent events, he has revised his estimates of privatisation proceeds to the Exchequer over the next few years.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The latest estimate of proceeds for the next three years remains as given in the Autumn Statement.

  Industry (Costs)
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the relative benefit to British industry of 1 per cent. off interest rates as compared with 1 per cent. off pay rises.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor).

  Excise Duties
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding negotiations within the EEC about harmonisation of excise duties.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Berkshire, East (Mr. MacKay) on 20 November at column 704, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham (Mr. Walden) on 11 December at column 288.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to undertake a study of the subject of the income tax burden on retirement pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion and will bear it in mind, although the income tax burden on pensioners is something we keep continually under review.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the proportion of income tax revenue paid by the highest 5 per cent. of earners currently; what was the figure in 1979; and what are the absolute figures for these two fiscal years.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  It is estimated that the top 5 per cent. of tax-paying tax units (married couples and single people) have income tax liabilities of £12·5 billion in 1987–88. This represents 29 per cent. of total income tax liabilities of about £43·1 billion. In 1978–79, the liability of the top 5 per cent. was £4·9 billion which was 24 per cent. of the total liability of £20·3 billion.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average annual gain in each year since 1979 to those earning over £50,000 as a result of changes in taxation.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much, on average, those earning over £50,000 a year have gained in changes in taxation since 1979.
  390
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average individual cumulative gain to those earning over £50,000 a year as a result of changes in taxation since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The table shows the average reduction in income tax liability of taxpayers who in 1987–88 had incomes over £50,000. The figures in the first column are the reduction in liability under the tax regime for the year in question, compared with the liability under the tax regime of the previous year. The second column cumulates the changes and therefore compares each year with 1978–79. All tax regimes have been indexed to 1987–88 levels by reference to the statutory formula and applied to incomes at 1987–88 levels, projected from the 1984–85 survey of personal incomes. Estimates are provisonal.

  Average reduction in income tax liability of those with income over £50,0001

  Average annual gain per tax unit

  Average cumulative gain per tax unit

  £

  £

  1979–80

  9,750

  9,750

  1980–81

  -500

  9,250

  1981–82

  -1,450

  7,800

  1982–83

  150

  7,950

  1983–84

  800

  8,750

  1984–85

  1,600

  10,350

  1985–86

  150

  10,500

  1986–87

  100

  10,600

  1987–88

  200

  10,800

  1 Based on 150,000 single people and married couples with income over £50,000 expected to pay tax in 1987–88. All information is in terms of tax units, i.e. married couples are counted as one and their incomes combined.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what figures he has showing the major beneficiaries of changes in direct taxation since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  All 24·7 million taxpayers will pay less in income tax in 1987–88 than they would under the 1978–79 income tax regime, indexed to allow for movements in prices; and, compared with that indexed regime, 1·4 million people have been taken out of income tax altogether.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what income tax relief has been received by a taxpayer earning £50,000 each year since 1979, at 1987 prices.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The income tax relief received in each financial year from his main personal allowance by a married man with earned income of £50,000 and no other reliefs or allowances is as follows (amounts have been revalued at 1987–88 prices):

  £

  1978–79

  2,660

  1979–80

  2,097

  1980–81

  2,115

  1981–82

  1,839

  1982–83

  1,869

  1983–84

  2,025

  1984–85

  2,175

  1985–86

  2,277

  1986–87

  2,277

  1987–88

  2,277

  Credit Growth
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide figures for the rate of credit growth over the last four years.

  Mr. Lilley
  The growth in consumer credit over the last four financial years is as follows:

  Rate of growth (per cent.)

  1983–84

  20

  1984–85

  16

  1985–86

  17

  1986–87

  17

  Source: CSO Financial Statistics table 9.3.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of outstanding consumer credit is accounted for by credit card lending by banks.

  Mr. Lilley
  Credit on bank credit cards including its interest-free component accounts for 15 per cent. of all consumer credit outstanding and about 3 per cent. of personal sector debt.

  Pay
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of pay rise for the average employee would be compatible with full compensation for price increases over the last year.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of pay rise for the average employee would be compatible with full compensation for price increases over the last year.

  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of pay rise for the average employee would be compatible with full compensation for price increases over the last year.

  Mr. Brooke
  The pay rise that would compensate fully for price increases over the last year would be about 4 per cent. However, when changes in income tax are taken into account, the pay rise needed would be only about 21/2 per cent.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to review the systems of mortgage interest tax relief; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The level of mortgage interest relief has to be fixed each year and will be considered in framing the Budget proposals.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to the answer of 26 November,Official Report, column 373, he will analyse the weight of responses for and against the Green Paper proposals on personal taxation which led him to conclude that there was insufficient support for the approach advocated in the Green Paper on the treatment of mortgage interest tax relief for married and unmarried couples; what other proposals in this regard have been put to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I think my hon. Friend's question arises from a misunderstanding. A proposal to link 392
  mortgage interest tax relief to the residence instead of the borrower(s) was made in the context of the system of independent taxation with transferable allowances outlined in the Green Paper. My answer of 26 November referred to overall support for the Green Paper approach to the tax treatment of married couples as a whole, not specifically to mortgage interest relief. The Government have made it clear that we consider it important that the tax penalties on marriage should be removed.

  Private Borrowing
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor to the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of private borrowing over the last year.

  Mr. Lilley
  In the financial year 1986–87, borrowing by the private sector amounted to £43 billion.

  OECD Countries (Expansion)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Finance Ministers abroad concerning expansion targets for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development economies.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with other Finance Ministers on recovery targets for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development economies.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Finance Ministers abroad concerning expansion targets for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development economies.

  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Finance Ministers abroad concerning expension targets for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development economies.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien).

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the effects of capital gains tax on the economy.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  A number of representations have been received and these will be borne in mind in the run-up to the Budget.

  Forestry
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer in the current financial year of the tax concessions offered to investors in forestry.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The income tax forgone is currently estimated at some £10 million. No information on which to base an estimate of the cost of capital tax reliefs is available.

  Inflation
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest outlook for inflation.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest outlook for inflation.

  Mr. Lilley
  As forecast in the Autumn Statement the RPI is expected to increase by 41/2 per cent. over the year to the fourth quarter of 1988.

  International Finance Ministers
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he is next due to meet the Finance Ministers of the other major industrialised countries.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith).

  European Monetary System
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent review he has undertaken of the Government's policy towards membership of the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  The matter is kept under review.

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast for the United Kingdom balance of payments figure for 1987 and 1988.

  Mr. Major
  The Autumn Statement forecast was for a current deficit of £21/2 billion in 1987 and £31/2 billion in 1988.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the implications for the management of the economy of the current balance of payments.

  Mr. Major
  Present and prospective United Kingdom current account deficits are relatively small as a percentage of GDP and reflect the fast growth of the United Kingdom economy relative to other major countries. The United Kingdom also has a very strong net overseas assets position. As such, the current account position should not pose any major problems. Policy will continue to safeguard against any unsustainable developments.

  Money Supply
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for M3, calculated on a yearly basis.

  Mr. Lilley
  The annual growth rate of M3 to November 1987 was 21·3 per cent.

  Unemployment Costs
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research into the total cost of unemployment in the north; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Major
  No.

  Tobacco Tax
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield from tobacco tax in each of the last five years; and what is the estimated yield for the current year.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information is as follows:

  Excise duty (£ million)

  VAT (£ million)

  Total tax (£ million)

  1982–83

  3,446

  770

  4,216

  1983–84

  3,806

  810

  4,616

  1984–85

  4,140

  860

  5,000

  1985–86

  4,459

  910

  5,369

  1986–87

  4,768

  970

  5,738

  11987–88

  4,850

  2

  2

  1 Estimate.

  2 Not available.

  Note: VAT receipts on tobacco products arc calculated using estimates of consumers' expenditure, forecasts of which are not available in sufficient detail to enable an estimate for 1987–88 to be made.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms other than market forces exist for the medium-term alteration of the exchange rate.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 November 1987 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton).

  Confederation of British Industry
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the director general of the Confederation of British Industry; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Major
  My right hon. Friend last met the director general of the Confederation of British Industry at the meeting of the National Economic Development Council on Wednesday 13 January. The council discussed the outlook for the economy; a report on the knitting industry and international competitiveness, research and development and action by economic development committees.

  Tax Revenues
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what areas he is presently looking for new tax revenues: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  No. Decisions concerning taxation are, as my hon. Friend is aware, matters for the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget Statement.

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total staff of the Central Office of Information; and what it was in 1978–79 and 1982–83.

  Mr. Brooke
  The information requested is as follows:

  1 January

  Permanent staff in post1

  1979

  1,163

  1983

  969

  1987

  804

  1 Including part-timers.

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the conventions governing the content of Government advertising and promotional materials; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The conventions on central Government publicity and advertising are set out in the Government's evidence submitted to the Widdicombe inquiry in 1985 and deposited in the Library of the House (published as annex D to "Local Authority Publicity: interim report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Conduct of Local Authority Business, chaired by Mr. David Widdicombe QC").

SOCIAL SERVICES

  NHS (Staff Accommodation)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest available figures for(a)

  1. Nursing staff—annual board and lodging charges

  (I)

  (II)

  (III)

  Grade of accommodation

  Standard board and lodging charges

  Amount payable with 40 per cent, abatement

  Students-pupil nurses and others under age 22

  Other1nurses

  £

  £

  £

  Bed-sit rooms:

  4–6 sharing common facilities

  854

  512 (2307)

  512

  3–4 sharing common facilities

  1,018

  610

  1 bedroom and 1 living room

  1,507

  904–20

  Self-contained flat

  2,161

  1,296–60

  1 The charges to nurses other than students may be reduced by up to 40 per cent. where the accommodation provided is sub-standard.

  2 A further reduction of 40 per cent. is appropriate where a nurse shares accommodation at the request of her employing authority.

  2. medical staff—board and lodging charges

  (I)

  (II)

  (III)

  Category of accommodation

  Lodging charge per annum

  Amount payable if doctor is required to stay overnight in hospital

  1 night in 3 or more

  1 night in 4

  1 night in 5

  1 night in 6 or 7

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Single bed-sitting room

  1,051

  0

  368

  578

  788

  Separate bed and living room

  1,554

  0

  543

  855

  1,166

  In addition, the maximum charge may be abated by:

  (i) half the proportion by which the accommodation fails to reach 120 sq ft per room (ie a single room of 60 sq ft would attract a discount of 25 per cent.).

  (ii) up to 20 per cent. in respect of unsatisfactory standards of the accommodation or its furnishings.

  Consultants
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the annual cost of consultants' contracts for each district health authority in Nottinghamshire in 1979–80, and what increase there has been in real terms by 1986–87 both in total expenditure and per head.

  Mrs. Currie
  Prior to 1 April 1982 health services in Nottinghamshire were administered by the Nottinghamshire area health authority and expenditure figures on a district basis were not collected centrally.

  The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the Trent regional health authority who may be able to assist with the information he seeks.
  396
  the numbers of units of staff accommodation owned and rented to staff in the National Health Service and (b) the average weekly rent for such accommodation for each of the district health authorities in Greater London.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information in the form requested is not collected centrally. However, an inquiry of health authorities in 1985 indicated that in total the National Health Service in England had around 120,000 units of accommodation for staff. Since 1977 health authorities have been required to fix annual rentals broadly in line with those charged by local housing authorities for similar properties in their areas.

  In practice, most junior doctors and nurses do not pay rent but, depending on the type of accommodation they occupy, a lodging charge determined by agreement between NHS management and staff organisations. For nurses these charges were last increased on 1 July 1986.

  The following tables provide examples of what student/pupil nurses and junior doctors might pay after the various forms of discount:

  Traffic Accidents
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the estimated cost of road traffic accidents to the National Health Service in 1986.

  Mrs. Currie
  The estimated cost to the National Health Service of treating road accident victims in 1986 is not yet available. However, the figure for the previous year, 1985, has been estimated at £124 million in England.

  NHS (Administrative Staff)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the percentage change in the number of administrative staff in the National Health Service in England since 1979.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out in the Official Report in tabular form the number of managers and administrators employed in the National Health Service since 1979; and if he will indicate the percentage increase or decrease each year.

  Mr. Newton
  The number of whole-time equivalent administrative and clerical staff, including general managers, employed in England in the September of each year between 1979 and 1986 was as follows:

  Year

  Staff in post

  Percentage increase over previous year

  1979

  103,000

  —

  1980

  105,400

  2·4

  1981

  108,800

  3·2

  1982

  108,800

  less than 0·1

  1983

  110,000

  1·1

  1984

  110,300

  0·3

  1985

  111,000

  0·7

  1986

  111,400

  0·3

  The percentage increase over the period was 8·1.

  The numbers are independently rounded to the nearest 100, but the percentages have been calculated on the basis of unrounded figures.

  Health Care (North West)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his priorities for health care in the area covered by the North Western regional health authority.

  Mr. Newton
  Health care priorities are set by individual health authorities in the light of national and regional policies taking into account local circumstances.

  Priorities for the North Western region are outlined in the region's short-term programme for 1987–88, a copy of which is in the Library.

  AIDS
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what, pursuant to his answer of 17 December,Official Report, column 688, is the exact number of patients in the United Kingdom, who received blood infected with AIDS virus, if these patients got the virus from one or more batches of contaminated blood; if they were told the result of the infection; over what period of time were these people infected; when was the last indication of an infected blood transfusion; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The very small chance of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection arising from a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom was further reduced from August 1983 when potential donors in high-risk groups were asked not to give blood. Screening of all donations for antibodies to HIV began in October 1985; there have been no reports of HIV infection arising from transfusions given in England and Wales after that date.
  398
  The exact number of patients in the United Kingdom who have received blood infected with HIV is unknown. In general, infected patients would be identified only if they became ill later. At the end of 1987, 41 cases of HIV infection associated with blood transfusions given in the United Kingdom before October 1985 had been reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre. This figure includes the eight cases of AIDS to which I referred in my reply on 17 December 1987 at column 688.

  Because blood from different donors is not pooled into batches, an infected donation would have affected only one recipient.

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

  Mrs. Currie
  The Department's review of its guidance to health authorities on the organisation of radiotherapy services is nearing completion.

  Oswestry (Gobowen) Orthopaedic Hospital
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds are to be closed by Shropshire health authority at Oswestry (Gobowen) orthopaedic hospital, and for what period of time; if he will make extra cash grants to the Shropshire health authority to enable it to keep the beds in use; how many orthopaedic surgery wards will shut and what service will be available, when beds are closed for paediatrics, rheumatology and spinal injuries; how many nursing posts are frozen; what is his estimate of the number of people from(a) Wales and (b) Clwyd treated at the hospital in Oswestry annually; what is his estimate of the impact of bed closures upon potential patients from Clwyd; how many Clwyd patients attended Oswestry hospital in 1986 and 1987; and if he will make a statement concerning bed closures as they affect patients from Clwyd seeking joint replacements.

  Mrs. Currie
  The Shropshire health authority is responsible for the services provided at Oswestry hospital. The hon. Member may therefore wish to write to the chairman of the Shropshire district health authority for the information he is seeking.

  Hannah Pickard Ward (Clayton Hospital)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the full cost of the recent upgrading of the Hannah Pickard ward, Clayton hospital, Wakefield: why the ward has not been re-opened; when it will be reopened; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Wakefield health authority is responsible for the services at Clayton hospital. The hon. Member therefore may wish to approach the chairman of Wakefield health authority for the details he is seeking.

  NHS (Savings)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much general managers in the National Health Service in England have been requested to revise
  399
  their short-term programmes to achieve a saving on their previously submitted programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Regional health authorities have not yet submitted their short-term programmes for 1988–89. We have given them more time in which to do so, so that they can take account of both the extra resources for that year which my right hon. Friend announced on 3 November and the implications for their 1988–89 plans of the additional resources for 1987–88 which I announced in my statement to the House on 16 December.

  Social Security Reform
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimate of the first three years' savings resulting from the April changes in housing benefits in Scotland.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that the information for Scotland alone is not available.

  NHS (Expenditure)
  Mrs. Clywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the level of Government spending on the National Health Service, expressed per household, in 1979 and in each year since then at (i) current prices, (ii) 1979 prices and (iii) 1987 prices.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is as follows:

  Government spending on the NHS expressed per household (Great Britain)

  £ Cash

  at 1978–79 prices

  at 1986–87 prices

  1978–79

  384·85

  384·85

  748·74

  1979–80

  454·31

  388·72

  756·27

  1980–81

  583·32

  420·97

  819·02

  1981–82

  648·31

  426·11

  829·03

  1982–83

  702·38

  430·65

  837·86

  1983–84

  739·51

  433·48

  843·37

  1984–85

  785·66

  441·11

  858·21

  1985–86

  823·09

  435·81

  847·89

  1986–87

  876·01

  450·26

  876·01

  These figures are affected by changes in the number and composition of households. Over the same period per capita expenditure has increased from £268·23 to £329·39 at 1986–87 prices.

  Richmond House
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what expenditure was incurred on furniture and office equipment, including floor coverings, as a result of the move(a) of his private office and (b) of his Department to Richmond house from previous furnished accommodation at Alexander Fleming house.

  Mr. Moore
  Expenditure incurred to date on furniture and office equipment, including floor coverings, as a result of the move of DHSS staff over the Christmas recess from Alexander Fleming house to Richmond house was as follows:

  (a) Secretary of State and his private office—£17,000

  (b) The remaining staff (including five other Ministers and their private offices)—£450,000

  400
  The vast majority of staff were able to utilise their furniture and equipment from the previous accommodation. The costs at (b) include floor coverings for the whole of the Richmond house complex; provision of additional machines for facsimile and telex; together with equipment for audio conferences.

  Widows' Pensions
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what rights of appeal are available to a widow whose pension is withdrawn on the grounds that she is living with a man as his wife(a) if the pension is an ordinary widow's pension and (b) if it is a war widow's pension.

  Mr. Portillo
  Decisions on entitlement to national insurance widows' benefits, supplementary benefit or family income supplement, including decisions as to whether a widow is living with a man as his wife, are made by independent adjudication officers. There is a right of appeal against decisions of adjudication officers to an independent social security appeal tribunal. There is also a right of appeal on a point of law against a decision of a social security appeal tribunal to a social security comissioner.

  There is no right of appeal open to a widow in receipt of a war widow's pension when the Secretary of State decides that the pension should be withdrawn because she is living with a man as his wife. Instead, she can ask the Secretary of State to review the decision and ask her local war pensions committee to make representations on her behalf.

  Social Fund
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the offices of his Department which to date have raised operational difficulties with their social fund budgets; and what difficulties each office envisages with their budget.

  Mr. Scott
  The questions which a few local offices have raised about their budget allocations concerned management matters which are normally treated as confidential.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services why, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) of 18 December,Official Report, column 938, information is only currently held to December 1986 about the referral of proposals for the closures of hospitals.

  Mrs. Currie
  Statistics about permanent closure proposals are routinely collected from regional health authorities; those for 1987 are not yet available.

  NHS (Pay Awards)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing for each health authority in England the estimated cumulative under funding of pay awards over the last two years.

  Mr. Newton
  Authorities are expected to meet the cost of pay awards from within the total resources available to
  401
  them, including savings achieved through cost improvement programmes. Allocations to regions do not include any specific "earmarked" provision for pay costs; decisions on the allocation of funds between manpower costs and other expenditure are a matter for health authorities. However, the Government, in considering reports from the review bodies, take account of their financial effects. Additional funds were provided in both 1986–87 and 1987–88.

  In 1987–88, the additional £262 million provided for health authorities in England covered 95 per cent. of the cost of the review body awards over and above general inflation; in 1986–87 92 per cent. of that cost was covered in this way.

  Mr. J. F. Yeatman
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he hopes to send the decision on war disability pension to Mr. J. F. Yeatman of Wembury, Plymouth, reference M1/824D0, following his application for a medical re-examination in January 1987 and his medical re-examination on 29 July 1987, the findings of which examination have still not been communicated to Mr. Yeatman; and if he will make a statement as to the reasons for the delay in this matter.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret the delay in this case. It is mainly due to a backlog in dealing with claims to war pension because of a significant increase in the number of claims in 1986 and 1987, coupled with the need to obtain further evidence about Mr. Yeatman's medical history following his medical examination in July 1987. A decision will be sent to Mr. Yeatman within the next few days.

  Census
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what consultations he will be holding on the nature of the questions to be contained in the 1991 census of population; and when he expects this consultation to take place;

  (2) whether he will consider including a question in the 1991 census of population in order to ascertain the number of Welsh-speakers living outside Wales.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton) on 2 November 1987, at column 573. Consultations on the content of the 1991 census are taking place currently. The arrangements are described in "Census Newsletter No. 2", a copy of which is in the Library.

  A question in order to ascertain the number of Welsh-speakers living outside Wales is being considered, as are many other suggestions.

  However, no decisions have yet been taken on the content of the census. Proposals will be published as a White Paper later this year.

  Community Medicine
  Mr. Wolfson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish the report of the committee of inquiry into the future development of the public health function and community medicine; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moore
  I have today published the report of the inquiry set up by my predecessor to consider the future 402
  development of the public health function in England. As required by its terms of reference, the report concentrates on the control of communicable disease and the role of public health doctors within the framework of general management in the NHS and also examines the wider issues of the public health function. It suggests ways in which surveillance of the health of the population might be improved, a greater emphasis on the prevention of illness and premature death achieved, and the effectiveness of health services better evaluated. The Government are grateful for the work of the chairman and members of the inquiry. We shall be studying their recommendations in detail as a matter of urgency and hope to make a further statement on implementation in the near future.

  Publicity
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services 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. Moore
  [holding answer 17 December 1987]: Figures for total spending by my Department on television radio and newspaper advertising and other promotional literature in 1987–88 are as follows:

  £

  Television

  7,668,000

  Radio

  1,420,000

  Newspapers

  8,232,000

  Other promotional literature

  6,720,000

  Total

  24,040,000

  For 1988–89 detailed decisions on expenditure by media have not yet been taken, but the overall publicity figure is expected to be £18 million.

  Press and Public Relations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services 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. Moore
  [holding answer 17 December 1987] My Department has no section which can be separately identified as public relations. Functions which are commonly associated with public relations are carried out by the Department's information division.

  Estimates for the year 1987–88 are as follows:

  £

  Advertising and other paid publicity activities

  28,800,000

  Manpower

  994,000

  Estimates for the year 1988–89 are as follows:

  Advertising and other paid publicity activities

  18,000,000

  Manpower

  1,133,696

  Cancer Screening
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the cost of expanding the cervical smear test programme to ensure that all results are available within one week for all women over 16 years of age at least once every three years.
  403
  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 18 December 1987]: The Department's cancer screening evaluation unit has estimated that the additional cost in England and Wales of a change from five-yearly to three-yearly screening for all women aged 20 to 64 would, assuming 100 per cent. acceptance of screening, be somewhat over £22 million per annum.

  The additional cost of a change from three-yearly screening beginning at age 20 to three-yearly screening beginning at age 17 would, assuming 100 per cent. acceptance of screening, be about £4 million per annum.

  Ensuring that all results were available within one week would require considerable over-capacity in laboratories in order that they could cope with fluctuations in demand. The further cost that would be required has not been calculated, since maintaining such over-capacity would not seem to be the best use of resources.

  The national policy is to screen women aged 20 to 64 ever five years. Epidemiological studies indicate that
  404
  women screened in line with this policy are 84 per cent. less likely than unscreened women to develop invasive cervical cancer. I am advised that our efforts should be directed at increasing uptake, since increasing the proportion of women being screened in line with this policy will have a greater impact on death rates than increasing the frequency of screening.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for 1983 and for the latest year available the total number of hospital beds for each of the following services, broken down by district health authorities(a) general medical, (b) general surgical, (c) non-psychiatric acute, (d) geriatric, (e) maternity, (f) mental illness, (g) mentally handicapped and (h) total.

  Mrs. Currie [holding answer 7 December 1987]: The information the hon. Member seeks has now been placed in the Library.

  UKCC ELECTION
  UKCC ELECTION
  HEALTH VISITOR POSTS
  HEALTH VISITOR POSTS
  NHS PAY: COMPARISONS
  NHS PAY: COMPARISONS