Written Answers of 20 January 1988

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  "British and American Approaches to Intelligence"
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) whether he intends to seek an injunction against Macmillans to prevent the distribution of the book "British and American Approaches to Intelligence";

  (2) why he has failed to prosecute under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act Mr. Robert Cecil for providing information for inclusion in the book published by Macmillans, "British and American Approaches to Intelligence";

  (3) why he has failed to prosecute under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act Mr. John Bruce Lockhart for providing information for inclusion in the book published by Macmillans, "British and American Approaches to Intelligence";

  (4) whether the Government have approved for publication the book "British and American Approaches to Intelligence";

  (5) whether he intends to prosecute Mr. Ken Robertson, editor of the book "British and American Approaches to Intelligence", under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act for securing the publication of information, knowing it to have been provided by persons subject to a duty of confidentiality to the Crown.

  The Attorney-General
  The contributions of Mr. Robert Cecil and Mr. John Bruce Lockhart were published with authority.

  RUSI Publications
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will list those publications by the Royal United Services Institute which have been approved for publication by Her Majesty's Government since 1979.

  The Attorney-General
  This matter is not for me but for my ministerial colleagues in those fields for which they have responsibility.

  Deputy Judges
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what steps he takes to ensure that deputy judges appointed to hear cases in the High Court do not have, or may not shortly have, direct financial or pecuniary interests in companies with cases which the said deputy judge is appointed to hear in the High Court;

  (2) what steps he takes to ensure that deputy judges appointed to handle individual cases are not in any way connected financially with companies, organisations or individuals who are parties in such cases;

  (3) if he will take steps to change the rules to ensure that Queen's counsel appointed to act as deputy judges divest themselves of all pecuniary interests which could in any way he connected with any cases on which they may adjudicate.
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  The Attorney-General
  It is not necessary for the Lord Chancellor to take any such steps. It is a fundamental principle of English law that no man can be a judge in his own cause. It is well established that any judge who finds that he has a financial or other personal interest in the case which he is to try shall declare it forthwith and shall take no further part in the proceedings without the express agreement of all parties. If a judge acts as such in a case in which he has a financial interest, his judgment can be set aside unless the parties knew of his interest and accepted him as judge in that knowledge.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list those Queen's counsel who are eligible for appointment as deputy judges.

  The Attorney-General
  By virtue of section 9(4) of the Supreme Court Act 1981 all barristers of 10 years' standing or more are eligible to sit as deputy judges of the High Court, whether or not they are Queen's counsel.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will institute measures to ensure that all Queen's Counsel eligible to act as deputy judges declare all their existing financial interests and such interests as they may shortly be in a position to declare.

  The Attorney-General
  No; it would be neither appropriate nor practical for the Lord Chancellor to seek such a declaration.

PRIME MINISTER

  AIDS
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she is yet in a position to nominate a successor for Lord Whitelaw as chairman of the Interdepartmental Committee on AIDS.

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 9 July 1987, at column 207.

ENERGY

  Radioactive Material (Sellafield)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will explain the circumstances in which a canister of radioactive material was removed from Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria; what security measures exist to stop the removal from the plant of such material; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The security measures in force at nuclear installations are the responsibility of the operators concerned. I understand from BNFL that the substance which was removed was a very small amount of liquid of low radioactivity which is freely available from laboratory suppliers.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his policy on the siting of nuclear power stations in or near large metropolitan areas.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The siting of each nuclear power station is considered by the Health and Safety Executive's
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  Nuclear Installations Inspectorate against the background which is set out in chapter 5 of the booklet titled "The Work of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many nuclear reactors will be in operation or under construction in Avon, Somerset and Dorset by 1995 under the Central Electricity Generating Board's proposals for the next power station development.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  This is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I have asked the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

  Fuel Disconnections
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has received any report of the Gas Consumers Council on disconnection.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I understand that the Gas Consumers' Council is preparing for publication a report on disconnections, but that it is not yet finalised.

  Energy Saving
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what energy savings have been achieved by Government programmes in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  It is estimated that gross annual energy savings of about £700 million can be attributed to the Government's programmes covering the industrial, commercial and domestic sectors.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Universities (Computer Contracts)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply of 14 December 1987,Official Report, column 341, on what occasions in the last two years his Department has allowed a single tender to be submitted for the supply of computers or communications equipment to a British university; what were the names of tenderers involved; and which of them was foreign owned.

  Mr. Jackson
  In the last two years single tender action has been agreed for the following university computer procurements involving capital grants of £100,000 or more:

  Birmingham University

  DEC VAX 8700

  Edinburgh University

  Meiko

  Glasgow University

  ICL 3980

  Kent University

  Meiko

  Nottingham University

  ICL 3980

  Open University

  SUN workstations

  Queen Mary College, London

  AMT DAP

  South West Universities Regional Centre

  ICL 3980

  Strathclyde University

  DEC VAX 8600

  University College Cardiff

  DEC VAX 8530

  Two single tender orders costing £100,000 or more have been agreed in the last two years for communications equipment. One was placed with GEC Computers Ltd for enhancement of packet-switching exchanges and the other was placed with CAMTEC Electronics Ltd for upgrading packet assemblers/disassemblers and gateways for the joint academic network (JANET).
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  In addition, IBM donated computer systems to the University of Glasgow and the Manchester business school. No DES capital grants were involved in these procurements.

  Of the suppliers of equipment listed below, the parent companies of Digital Equipment Company Ltd (DEC), SUN Microsystems (UK) Ltd, and IBM United Kingdom Ltd (IBM) are based in the United States; in the case of Active Memory Technology (AMT), International Computers Ltd (ICL), Meiko Ltd, GEC Computers Ltd and CAMTEC Electronics Ltd, central control and management are exercised in the United Kingdom.

  Goldsmiths' College
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the funding of Goldsmiths' college in the light of the resolution passed by the senate of London university to admit the college as a school of the university from 1 August.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Goldsmiths' college is currently funded direct by the Department. In the light of its new status from 1 August, I have today written to the vice-chancellor of London University, the chairman of the University Grants Committee and the warden of Goldsmiths' college agreeing that, from that date, funding for Goldsmiths' should be added to the funding for London university which is paid from the universities vote on the advice of the UGC. Subject to parliamentary approval, the appropriate transfer will be made to the universities vote. This includes an addition of £800,000 for 1988–89 to meet the necessary transitional costs of Goldsmiths' new status.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Political Asylum
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for political asylum were received during 1987; and if he will list the countries of origin of the applicants.

  Mr. Renton
  Information for 1987 is not yet fully available. It is hoped to publish the figures, by nationality, in a Home Office statistical bulletin by the end of May. Figures for 1986 were published in table 7 of Home Office statistical bulletin "Refugee Statistics, United Kingdom, 1986" (issue 13/87), copies of which are in the Library.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will construct a table showing the average number of doses of drugs administered per inmate in each of Her Majesty's penal establishments in the latest available year;

  (2) what were (a) the categories and (b) the numbers of individual doses of drugs administered to inmates at (i) Her Majesty's prison, Liverpool and (ii) Her Majesty's prison, Manchester.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The following table provides the available information in respect of the financial year 1986–87 for establishments served by more than one medical officer. Establishments in which medical services
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  were largely provided by a single doctor are omitted in keeping with the long established policy of not publishing information relating to the prescribing practice of individual doctors.

  Number of Doses of Medicine Administered to Inmates in Prison Service Establishments in England and Wales 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1987

  Prescription only Medicines

  Establishment

  Medicines available without prescription in the community

  Psychotropic drugs (ie antidepressants, sedatives and tranquillisers)

  Hypnotic drugs

  Drugs acting on the central nervous system other than those shown in cols. (2) and (3)

  Other drugs and medicines

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  HMP Birmingham

  153,859

  23,051

  3,830

  25,715

  96,048

  HMP Bristol

  84,805

  15,900

  690

  8,702

  57,465

  HMP Brixton

  208,806

  64,118

  12,312

  41,576

  179,814

  HMP Canterbury

  16,986

  11,329

  5,484

  13,313

  24,783

  HMP Cardiff

  73,504

  7,031

  1,040

  7,031

  58,118

  HMP Dartmoor

  99,262

  25,792

  3,501

  33,621

  37,734

  HMP Durham

  90,120

  13,308

  2,471

  25,386

  61,269

  HMP Gartree

  53,393

  16,396

  9,880

  3,813

  30,813

  HMYCC Glen Parva

  33,486

  10,272

  3,603

  13,206

  74,974

  HMP Grendon

  96,237

  17,954

  3,090

  18,009

  40,718

  HMP Holloway

  120,884

  77,841

  21,911

  28,237

  132,079

  HMP Hull

  61,705

  6,728

  820

  6,655

  45,006

  HMP Leeds

  139,070

  20,629

  655

  68,628

  79,843

  HMP Leicester

  57,556

  18,638

  1,694

  6,828

  27,658

  HMP Lincoln

  41,456

  13,162

  700

  11,906

  30,795

  HMP Liverpool

  100,419

  23,951

  2,624

  39,767

  78,557

  HMP Maidstone

  99,680

  16,220

  3,200

  44,080

  49,580

  HMP Manchester

  109,087

  19,023

  1,858

  30,409

  60,317

  HMP Norwich1

  100,564

  20,540

  3,268

  21,320

  68,608

  HMP Parkhurst

  76,846

  44,974

  6,258

  33,994

  37,107

  HMP Pentonville

  112,801

  20,863

  1,504

  20,185

  90,583

  HMRC Risley

  162,100

  24,814

  9,223

  22,667

  68,345

  HMP Wakefield

  304,861

  72,897

  18,379

  82,566

  478,876

  HMP Wandsworth

  248,160

  39,364

  3,324

  30,504

  110,899

  HMP Winchester

  112,587

  22,410

  2,798

  44,206

  55,351

  1 Footnote: The figures for HMP Norwich are estimated as the returns from this establishment are incomplete. No information is available for HM Remand Centre Ashford, HM Youth Custody Centre Feltham, or HM Prisons Long Lartin and Wormwood Scrubs.

  Magistrates' Courts (Press Information)
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue fresh guidance to magistrates' courts on the provision of information to the press.

  Mr. John Patten
  Individual clerks to justices are responsible for the day-to-day running of courts and it is open to newspaper editors to seek to make suitable local arrangements with them.

  DNA Tests
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the Government's trial to test the acceptability and feasibility of the DNA technique for immigration work has been completed; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is his provisional timetable for DNA tests to be available for all seeking right of entry to Britain at United Kingdom embassies and commissions on the Indian subcontinent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  The Government's pilot trial is in its final stages. A report is being prepared, and a copy will be placed in the Library. No decisions have been taken yet on the policy arising out of DNA testing, but meanwhile facilities are available at British diplomatic posts in Dhaka 708
  and Islamabad for blood samples to be taken and transported to the United Kingdom in connection with commercial DNA tests in immigration cases.

  Firearms
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what arrangements are in force to require each police force to keep a detailed inventory of its firearms; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what arrangements are in force to require each police force to ensure that, following operations involving firearms, the same number of weapons are returned as were issued; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what arrangements are in force to require each police force to ensure that its supply of firearms does not fall into non-authorised hands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Every police force armoury is required to keep a detailed inventory of all weapons held within that force. When firearms are issued for police operations, they are issued only to those officers who produce a current authorisation certificate.

  All forces maintain a separate record which details the type of weapon issued, its serial number, the name of the officer to whom it is issued and the number of rounds of ammunition issued. Each entry is signed and counter-signed. Upon return of the weapon, the issuing entry is

  709
  checked and a separate entry is made showing the number of rounds returned or used. If any rounds are used a report is completed by the firearms officer. Again, each entry is signed
  and counter-signed.

  As part of its annual inspection of police forces, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary examines closely both force policy and the administrative arrangements relating to the storage, issue and use of police firearms.

  Immigration
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now arrange for the reasons, in summarised form, for refusal of entry to those in possession of valid entry clearance to be kept centrally; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  No. It would not be right to increase the amount of centrally collected information for this or any other group without a strong, continuing purpose.

  Central Mobilising Project
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated date by which the central mobilising project being produced by Marconi will be operating on behalf of the London fire and civil defence authority; on what date it was initially planned to be introduced; whether the authority will insist upon the fixed price; at what cost other United Kingdom fire brigades have purchased other systems because of the delay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are informed by the authority that it is hoped that the new central mobilising system will be operational by the end of 1988. The contractual date for completion was 1985 which would have led to an in-service date of late 1985 to early 1986.

  We are informed that the question of the price of the system is a matter of contract between Marconi and the authority, and the contract is not for a fixed price.

  Neither we nor the authority are aware of any impact on other United Kingdom fire brigades resulting directly or indirectly from the delay in this case.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases there have been, of which he is aware, over the past two years involving abuse of the police national computer; what was the nature of the abuse in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have not been informed of any such cases.

  Video Films
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a detailed list in the Library of all video films which the British Board of Film Classification has so far refused to classify or has censored in some way, together with a summary of the reason for so doing in each case.

  Mr. Renton
  Arrangements have been made to have placed in the Library a consolidated list published last year by the board of decisions made under the Video Recordings Act in 1985 and 1986. The board is at present 710
  preparing a further consolidated list which will, in addition, record decisions made in 1987, and a copy of this will be placed in the Library when it is available. The list shows those works in respect of which the board decided not to issue a classification certificate and those which were given a certificate only after cuts had been made. It does not record the reasons in each case, but the board's annual report for 1986, copies of which are in the Library, explains the main grounds on which the board refuses a classification certificate or cuts works before classification. If the hon. Member wishes to know the reasons in any particular instance, I am sure the board would be glad to explain them to him.

  Citizenship
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of the Republic of Ireland applied for British citizenship in 1987.

  Mr. Renton
  This information is not yet available.

  Night Patrols (Prisons)
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given to civilianised night patrol guards before they first go on duty in Her Majesty's prisons.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Night patrol officers receive their induction training at the prison to which they are recruited. It includes security, the purpose of the regime, statutory obligations and emergency arrangements.

  Dangerous Driving Offences
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward legislation to enable a charge of manslaughter to be brought against persons alleged to have caused death by dangerous driving or other motoring offences.

  Mr. John Patten
  The law already permits a person who kills another when driving recklessly to be charged with manslaughter. It is for the prosecution to decide on which charge to proceed in any particular case. This area of the criminal law is being examined by the road traffic law review, and we shall consider any proposals for change which may be made in its report.

  Law and Order (Grants)
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes in the arrangements for the payment of grants made by his Department to support law and order services.

  Mr. Hurd
  As part of the preparation for the new local government finance arrangements proposed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, I have been reviewing the role of specific grants paid to local authorities to support the law and order services. We intend to retain the grants paid in respect of the police service, the civil defence service, the magistrates' courts service and the probation service. Such grants will continue to be paid to the authorities responsible for meeting the expenditure, not into the proposed community charge fund.

  I shall, however, consult the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the local authority organisations

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  concerned about changes to the present arrangements for the imperial and national services grant and other minor direct payments presently made to the Metropolitan police fund, including their possible integration into the main police grant.

  I also intend to consult the local authorities and the services concerned about the scope for modifying the magistrates' courts and probation service grant arrangements so that the amount paid out by central Government to support these services is known before the beginning of the financial year, and is distributed on an equitable basis to local authorities.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, as a rural development area, the Isle of Wight will qualify for the new incentives to be introduced in April in development areas announced in the White Paper entitled "DTI — the department for Enterprise"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The investment and innovation grants to be introduced from April 1988 will be available only in the development areas as designated in the Assisted Areas Order 1984. The Isle of Wight travel-to-work area (TTWA) is not so designated and the new incentives will not, therefore, be available in the TTWA.

  Exports
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate what proportion of British goods has an export value tied to the United States dollar, what to the pound sterling and what to the deutschmark.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The percentage of United Kingdom exports tied to the United States dollar, pound sterling and deutschmark in 1986 was 18, 56 and 4, respectively. These percentages are based on results of surveys to identify currencies used for invoicing.

  Arbitration Law
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the conclusions of his Department's Advisory Committee on Arbitration Law on the issues raised by the Consumer Arbitration Agreements Bill, introduced by the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth.

  Mr. Maude
  I have placed a copy of the committee's report in the Library today. Copies may be obtained from the secretary of the committee on (01) 215 3481.

  Trade Barriers
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his reply of 16 December 1987,Official Report, column 540, how many staff are employed by the overseas trade divisions to examine and advise on hidden trade barriers; how many cases they have investigated in the last 12 months; and what has been the result of these investigations.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In my Department's overseas trade divisions some 57 staff years were spent dealing with trade 712
  relations, including examining and giving advice on barriers to United Kingdom exports, during 1987. A considerable number of cases were the subject of representations to overseas Governments either bilaterally or through the European Commission, who have competence for external trade issues, and progress has been made in some areas.

WALES

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met officers of the Welsh health authorities to discuss proposed hospital closures.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend has not met officers of all Welsh health authorities to discuss proposed hospital closures. Officials of the NHS directorate are in regular contact with health authority officers and keep my right hon. Friend and me informed of developments, including both the many new capital programmes as well as closures.

  NHS (Theft and Malicious Damage)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the value of items stolen or maliciously destroyed in the National Health Service in Wales in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  The following table shows the value of losses of equipment, property and cash in the NHS in Wales due to theft, fraud or arson, neglect of duty or gross carelessness. The figures also include losses due to malicious damage.

  £

  1982–83

  26,743

  1983–84

  35,039

  1984–85

  39,207

  1985–86

  57,606

  1986–87

  90,292

  Source: White Paper Accounts.

  Battery Hens
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his estimate of, and basis of calculation for, the cost to the Welsh egg industry of adapting to EEC legislation on battery cages;

  (2) what is his estimate of, and basis of calculation for, the recurring costs of compliance with the additional requirements for three, two and one birds under the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987 for egg producers in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  EC directive 86/113 places inescapable obligations on all member states. The cost of compliance will vary from producer to producer according to the type of cage in use, its age, and how the space allowance and other requirements contained in the directive are to be met. No estimate of the aggregate cost to Welsh producers is available.

  The same consideration will largely apply in the context of the allowances for three, two and one birds specified in the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the effect on the numbers
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  of Welsh egg producers of compliance with the additional requirements for three, two and one birds contained in the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  No information is available on the numbers of egg producers who may cease production, if any.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he proposes to take to ensure that Welsh egg farmers are not put at a competitive disadvantage with their European counterparts in the implementation of the provisions of EEC directive 86/113.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  EEC directive 86/113 lays down minimum standards. Other than in situations where fewer than four birds are housed in a cage, these minimum standards will apply in the United Kingdom. In the majority of cases, therefore, Welsh farmers will be in an identical situation to most of their European counterparts, though it is worth pointing out that in Denmark and in West Germany national rules will be somewhat stricter than the directive. We shall be keeping the matter under review.

  Agency Staff
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) of 7 December 1987,Official Report, columns 25–28, he will give the actual costs to each district health authority of employing agency staff after taking account of the rates of pay which would have been expended had the posts for which agency staff were used been filled.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested cannot be provided as the Department does not receive details of all posts filled by agency staff in the respective authorities.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his responsibilities in respect of the Nature Conservancy Council in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Nature Conservancy Council is my right hon. Friend's statutory adviser on nature conservation in Wales. His main responsibilities include confirming appointments to the council's advisory committee for Wales, making nature conservation orders and designating marine nature reserves. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment consults the Department in exercising his responsibilities in respect of Nature Conservancy Council matters which affect Wales.

  Departmental Costs
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether there is to be any change in his Department's provision for running costs in this current financial year.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  My Department's running costs limit is to be increased by £750,000 to £38,516,000. The increase is to be fully offset through reductions in capital expenditure within my Department's Central Administration Vote (class XVII, vote 9).

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he will introduce legislation to allow his Department to purchase milk quota which comes on the market for redistribution to new milk producers and young farmers in Wales; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he will introduce legislation to prevent loss of milk production to Wales through sales of milk quota.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answers 19 January 1988]: No.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the implementation in Wales of the European Commission's 435 million ecu scheme to meet management costs of dealing with extra beef during the two years following the implementation of further milk quota cuts, agreed by the Council of Agriculture Ministers in December 1986.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: The Commission recognised that measures taken in the milk sector would have an impact on beef producers. 435 million ecu was its estimate of extra expenditure on aids for private storage and export refunds which would arise in 1987 and 1988 as a result of the extra cow beef coming onto the market. The level of refund and the introduction of private storage schemes are decided by management committee, but we are ready to press the Commission to ensure that the market is supported if there is any undue weakness.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the percentage change in farm incomes in Wales for the most recent 12-month period for which information is available; and what were the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: Based on the aggregate income calculation for Welsh agriculture, farm incomes in Wales rose by 57 per cent. in 1986. In each of the preceding seven years to 1979 the percentage change in incomes was as follows:

  Year

  Percentage change

  1985

  -49

  1984

  45

  1983

  -49

  1982

  31

  1981

  41

  1980

  8

  1979

  -50

  River Teifi
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total expenditure on clearing debris from the River Teifi between Cardigan and Llechryd, during the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: This is a matter for the Welsh water authority.

  Labour Statistics
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are at present employed in agriculture in Wales; and what are the corresponding figures for 1978, 1968 and 1958

  1958

  1968

  21978

  11987

  Agricultural workers

  39,323

  23,124

  23,026

  19,965

  Farmers, partners and directors and their spouses

  1—

  1—

  45,687

  45,666

  Total labour force

  —

  —

  68,713

  65,631

  1 Not collected until 1970.

  2 Figures include estimates for minor holdings.

  Patients (Conveyance)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales under what circumstances each of the Welsh health authorities expect patients to attend hospital by public transport rather than ambulance.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: All health authorities in Wales apply the guidance issued in Welsh health circular (77)4. Ambulance transport is provided for patients medically unfit to travel by other means. Patients not in medical need are expected to travel by private or public transport. Individual cases of difficulty are treated sympathetically.

SCOTLAND

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Forestry Commission is presently taking to review its broadleaves policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A review of the Government's broadleaves policy will be put in hand this autumn.

  Meningitis
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to prevent, contain and treat outbreaks of meningitis in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The evidence at present is that meningitis in Scotland is confined to sporadic cases with no significant upsurge in numbers beyond anticipated variation. We are, however, keeping the situation under close review.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research is being undertaken to deal with outbreaks of meningitis in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish Home and Health Department is not at present funding any research project

  Reserve

  Region

  Hectares

  Tenure

  New reserves

  Mealdarroch, Strathclyde region

  South-West

  205

  Owned by Nature Conservancy Council

  716
  Mr. Peter Walker
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: The numbers employed in agriculture in Wales are given in the following table:

  relating to meningitis but assistance has been offered by the Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust for one such project.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultation has taken place with health authorities south of the border to learn lessons from recent meningitis outbreaks in England.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in England and are being kept fully informed on the recent outbreaks of meningtis there.

  Battered Wives
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research is being undertaken into the incidence of battered wives in Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the problems.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Recently completed research commissioned by the Scottish Home and Health Department into the working of the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981 examined, among other matters, the influence of the Act on the incidence of domestic violence. I hope soon to publish the report of this research.

  The provision of services for the victims of domestic violence is the responsibility of local authorities, which are assisted by Scottish Women's Aid, a voluntary organisation which receives grant assistance from my right hon. and learned Friend.

  Nature Reserves
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report those nature reserves situated in Scotland presently in public ownership.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  National nature reserves as at 31 March 1987 are listed, with details of the type of tenure in each case, in the Nature Conservancy Council's annual report 1986–87, a copy of which has been laid before Parliament. Since that date the following national reserves have been declared in Scotland:
  717

  Reserve

  Region

  Hectares

  Tenure

  Moine Mhor, Strathclyde region

  South-West

  493

  Owned by Nature Conservancy Council

  Adjustments to existing reserves

  Clyde Valley Woodlands (extension)

  South-West

  128

  Owned by Nature Conservancy Council

  Loch Lomond (extension)

  South-West

  112

  Owned by Nature Conservancy Council/Nature reserve agreement

  Kirkconnel Flow (adjustment of boundaries)

  South-West

  143

  Leased to Nature Conservancy Council

  Ben Wyvis (extension)

  North-West

  12,339

  Owned by Nature Conservancy Council

  1 Area of extension only.

  One national nature reserve, Haaf Gruney, Shetland, has been de-declared since 31 March 1987.

  Comprehensive information on the ownership of local nature reserves, which are declared by local authorities, is not readily available.

  Roxburgh District Council (Computer System)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the findings of the Scottish Audit Commission's special investigation into Roxburgh district council's decision to replace its computer system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The Secretary of State has not received any report on this matter from the Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland.

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the measures taken since 1979 to improve energy conservation in commercial and industrial undertakings, local authorities and domestic households in Scotland and indicate how much was spent promoting the schemes and the estimated benefits in energy conservation which accrued.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government have achieved considerable success in encouraging the efficient use of energy in all sectors in Scotland through their ongoing energy efficiency campaign.

  I regret that I am unable to provide a detailed breakdown of Government measures, expenditure and estimated benefits in the way suggested by the hon. Member, but I can say that there are now over 1,000 energy managers in Scotland. Commercial and industrial organisations and local authorities have, since the inception of the energy efficiency survey scheme in 1984, received Government grants amounting to £600,000 for energy surveys. These have identified potential estimated savings of £18 million per annum. In addition, since 1979, through the energy efficiency demonstration scheme £1·9 million has been provided to test new energy-saving technologies in working situations; and in the domestic sector almost 140,000 grants totalling £9·1 million have been provided through the homes insulation scheme to improve home comfort levels and provide lower fuel bills.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much capital spending on trunk roads in Scotland has increased since 1978–79.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Net capital expenditure on trunk roads in Scotland has increased by £30 million:718
  from £65 million in 1987–79 to £95 million in 1986–87, the latest year for which final figures are available. Net outturn expenditure in 1987–88 is expected to be of the order of £110 million—a further increase of £15 million.

  Local Authorities (Archeological Advice)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration has been given to the importance of local authorities having advice from expert archaeologists.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Local authorities can play an important part in heritage conservation, and to this end may wish to have professional advice. It is, however, for authorities themselves to decide whether or not to employ archaeologists.

  Local Government Archaeological Services
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to improve local government archaeological services in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is for local authorities themselves to determine, in the light of their local circumstances and priorities, the nature and extent of their archaeological services.

  Sites of Archaeological Interest
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to extend the number of sites preserved under the terms of the Archaeological Areas and Ancient Monuments Act 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Increased effort is now being directed to the scheduling of sites, and the annual rate is between 150 and 200.

  School Computers
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice is being provided by the Scottish Education Department to local education authorities on the characteristics of school computers to be purchased when they come to replace the current BBC models.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We have no plans to issue advice direct to education authorities in Scotland. One of the functions of the Scottish Council for Educational Technology is to advise on computers in schools. In discharge of that it is in regular and continuing discussion with education authorities about the specification and the facilities which are desirable in school computer hardware.

  Councillors (Remunerated)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to implement the Widdicombe committee recommendation on reform of the way local authority councillors are remunerated.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government are giving careful consideration to all the recommendations made by the Widdicombe committee and the many comments made by all those who responded to consultation. Conclusions will be announced as soon as this consideration has been completed.

  Public Inquiries
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time taken to reach a decision on public inquiry reports submitted to him.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There were 38 decisions made in 1987 following public inquiries into town and country planning matters. The average time taken was 23 weeks.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many public inquiry decisions are outstanding in Angus district; what were the dates of conclusion of the public hearings; and when the final decision will be announced in each case.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I assume that the hon. Member has planning decisions in mind. The only outstanding decision is in relation to planning proposals for housing development at Small Glebe, Newtyle, which were the subject of a public local inquiry in March 1987. My right hon. and learned Friend will issue his decision on this case shortly.

  Maternity Units
  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many small maternity units, particularly in rural areas, have been closed in each of the past five years; if he will list these by health board area; and what was the total number of maternity beds, affected in each year, also by health hoard area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Only one maternity hospital has been closed in the past five years, Buckreddan maternity hospital, Kilwinning. The 26 beds were transferred to the Ayrshire central hospital when accommodation became available there, on transfer of services to the New Crosshouse hospital.

  Details are held centrally only for complete hospital closures. Records on partial closures of hospitals, or where there has been a change of use, are not available.

  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many small maternity units, particularly in rural areas, are currently subject to formal health board proposals for closure; and if he will list these numbers by health board area and indicate the number of maternity beds involved in each area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend is involved in hospital closures or major changes of use only when health boards submit formal applications to him. At present no such applications are outstanding.

  Housing (Basic Facilities)
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses in Scotland lack at present basic facilities such as hot water, electricity and inside lavatories; and how many of these are in rural areas.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The available information is set out in the following table, which gives the numbers of dwellings below the statutory tolerable standard and, of those, the numbers lacking one or more of the standard amenities (sink, hot water and inside WC). It also shows the numbers lacking a fixed bath or shower.

  Dwellings below tolerable standard at 31 March 19871

  Number of dwellings below tolerable standard

  Lacking one or more standard amenity2 3

  Lacking a fixed bath or shower2 3

  Scotland of which in districts classified as

  54,791

  31,389

  29,406

  Rural4

  24,786

  10,994

  9,125

  1 Including most recent years' figures for those local authorities which have not submitted returns for 1987.

  2 Some local authorities were unable to provide information on dwellings in this category.

  3 A dwelling may be recorded in both of these columns and there is therefore an element of double counting.

  4 As defined in table 16 of Scottish Office central research unit paper "A Study of Multiply Deprived Households in Scotland", comprising Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Grampian (excluding Aberdeen district), Highland and Tayside (excluding Dundee district) regions; Islands areas; and north-east Fife, East Lothian, Argyll and Bute, Clydesdale and Cumnock and Doon Valley districts.

  Greenland White-fronted Geese (Islay)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has issued licences to permit the shooting of Greenland white-fronted geese on Islay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reason permission was given to allow the shooting of white-fronted geese on Islay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Licences have been granted under powers contained in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to two farmers on Islay to shoot white-fronted geese. This step has had to be taken because substantial increases in the numbers of such geese on the island have led to serious damage being caused to grassland. The very limited issue of licences is intended to enhance the effectiveness of the scaring programme recently introduced with the aim of restricting the geese to the sanctuary areas. The effects will be closely monitored.

  Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd.
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to privatise Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) on 3 December 1987 at column 669.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sudan (Plutonium)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his reply,Official Report, 30 November 1987, column 372, to the hon. Member for Meirionydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on alleged black market sales of plutonium in Sudan, this issue has been raised elsewhere within the structures of the EEC.

  Mr. Mellor
  The matter has been discussed in political co-operation but these discussions produced no evidence of a black market in nuclear weapons material in Khartoum.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received representations and a transcript from the "20–20 Vision" television programme regarding allegations of a black market in plutonium in the Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from "20–20 Vision" television, which he is considering. We have a transcript of the programme in question, but no evidence to support allegations that weapons-grade nuclear material has been on sale in Sudan.

  International Atomic Energy Agency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response has been made by Her Majesty's Government to the recent suggestion by Dr. Blix, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, that the agency's expertise in safeguarding nuclear materials should be used in future verification of nuclear disarmament treaties.

  Mr. Mellor
  Dr. Blix has made no approach to us. In our view, treaty verification is a matter for the parties to each treaty. But if they needed to seek assistance from an international organisation to enhance verification the International Atomic Energy Agency's experience could be valuable.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives he intends to take to encourage the nuclear weapons threshold nuclear states such as India, Pakistan, Israel, South Africa, Argentina and Brazil to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Mellor
  We take every opportunity to impress upon the threshold states the importance we attach to their signature of the non-proliferation treaty.

  Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had any recent opportunity with(a) NATO allies and (b) officials from the Soviet Foreign Ministry to discuss progress in technical verification towards the completion of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

  Mr. Mellor
  The technical aspects of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty are regularly discussed in the 722
  conference on disarmament's ad hoc group of scientific experts to consider international measures to detect and identify seismic events. Its next meeting is planned for 7 to 18 March. Representatives of the Soviet Union and some NATO allies participate.

  Sophie Desta
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the living condition of Sophie Desta and her sisters, of the family of the late Emperor of Ethiopia; what representations have been made to the Ethiopian Government regarding the imprisonment of these women; and what response was obtained.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We understand that the seven female prisoners belonging to the family of the former Ethiopian royal family are held in a cell approximately 20 ft by 12 ft in an Addis Ababa prison. We have made numerous representations to the Ethiopian authorities on behalf of these and the many other political prisoners in Ethiopia. My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development took the matter up during a visit to Ethiopia earlier this month. The Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister responded that the release of the prisoners was being considered in the context of the new Ethiopian constitution.

TRANSPORT

  British Rail (Trespass)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many legal actions for trespass were initiated by British Transport police during 1986 and 1987; and what were the results of the actions;

  (2) what are the criteria employed in deciding whether or not legal action is initiated for trespass on British Rail property;

  (3) who makes the decision whether or not to initiate legal proceedings for trespass on British Rail property.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I understand that the British Transport police initiated legal action for trespass as follows:

  Year

  Number of offences

  1986

  2,353

  11987

  1,363

  1 First nine months.

  Details of the results of the actions are not readily available. The Railways Board has also considered civil proceedings in a relatively small number of cases.

  Decisions on offences investigated by the British Transport police are made by BTP senior officers, who take into account the Attorney-General's guidelines and other relevant factors as set out in Home Office circulars. For civil cases involving British Rail operational land, I understand that decisions are normally taken at area manager level; for non-operational land, decisions are taken by the British Rail Property Board. They take into account whether BR's operational activities and other local landowners or residents are adversely affected.

  BR (Public Holiday Services)
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will discuss with the chairman of British Rail the case for providing at least some Sunday services on Network South East serving the Portsmouth area on Boxing day 1988;

  (2) if he will raise with the chairman of British Rail the case for providing some rail services on Boxing day 1988.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  This is entirely a matter for British Rail, who are responsible for the detailed management of the railway system.

  Departmental Responsibilities
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report those areas of his departmental responsibility which extend to Scotland.

  Mr. Channon
  [holding answer 18 December 1987]: The Secretary of State has the following responsibilities in Scotland:

  Railways
  Overall policy towards the railway network, statutory case work, and railway safety.

  Ports
  All ports matters, other than marine works.

  Marine
  The safety of merchant ships and fishing vessels; the prevention of marine pollution by ships and arrangements for cleaning up in the event of a serious pollution incident; the work of Her Majesty's Coastguard; marine pilotage; civil hydrography; oversight of the Northern Lighthouse Board.

  Shipping
  Most aspects of shipping policy, including sponsorship of the shipping industry and defence and emergencies planning.

  Aviation
  Policy towards the civil aviation industry; airports policy; sponsorship of the Civil Aviation Authority; policy on aircraft noise and security; accident investigations.

  Road traffic and licensing
  Road traffic law and the Highway Code. The registration, licensing, construction, safety and testing of road vehicles; the licensing and testing of drivers; and related enforcement, including vehicle excise duty.

  Road haulage and bus services
  The licensing of goods and PSV vehicle operators; the issue of international permits to road haulage operators; the registration of local bus services; fuel duty rebate; and the carriage of radioactive materials and dangerous goods.

  Research
  Government-sponsored transport research (the Scottish Office undertakes additional research for local purposes).

  International
  The conduct of transport international relations and negotiations, including aviation, shipping and road freight, either bilaterally or in international organisations such as the EC and ECMT.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations have taken place between his Department and British Nuclear Fuels plc concerning the transport of plutonium by aircraft; and what were the results.
  724
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  There is no need for consultations between this Department and British Nuclear Fuels on this issue until it submits a package design for competent authority approval.

  Manchester Airport
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to consider and take any action in regard to the Civil Aviation Authority's draft charging proposals for Manchester airport and their implications for the gateway international airport status of Manchester, for the Government's national aviation policy objectives and for the future economic progress of the north-west region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Under the provisions of part IV of the Airports Act 1986, the charging proposals are now a matter for the CAA alone. The authority is fully aware of the Government's published aviation policy, including its policy on the gateway status and development of Manchester airport.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  BP Shares
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ordinary shares in BP plc are held by the Bank of England on account of Her Majesty's Government following the recent buy-back offer; what proportion of the total they represent; and what plans he has for their disposal.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answers of 14 January at columns 384–5 to the hon. Members for Redcar (Miss Mowlam) and for Easington (Mr. Cummings).

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial consequences there have been for the Exchequer as a result of the rights issue of 459 million BP shares occurring simultaneously with the sale of the Treasury's holding.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Goverment agreed to subscribe for the issue of BP shares on a fully-paid basis and immediately to sell the shares together with the Government's existing shares. The cost of this subscription (£1·5 billion) was more than offset by the proceeds of the first of three instalments from the combined offer (£2·5 billion).

  Personal Borrowing
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the source and the breakdown of the figures he gave to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee on 9 December 1987, HC 197, Q.152, for the levels of personal sector borrowing other than mortgage borrowing in 1979–80 and 1986–87.

  Mr. Lilley
  The figures quoted to the Committee were for borrowing by the private, not the personal, sector. The same definition was used for chart 2·4 of the 1987 Financial Statement and Budget Report and the supplementary note by the Treasury published as an appendix in the Select Committee's report on the 1987 Budget, although there have been some subsequent minor
  725
  revisions to the figures. The latter gives the sources of the figures quoted. The private sector includes both the personal sector and industrial and commercial companies. The most recent figures for consumer credit and other personal sector borrowing are contained in table 9·3 of the December 1987 edition of "Financial Statistics". The figures were correctly ascribed to the private sector in the oral evidence. Unfortunately, the reference to the personal sector arose as the result of a later transcription error, of which the Committee has now been informed.

  Tax Fraud
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for 1979 and 1986–87 the number of cases of tax fraud detected for which the amount recovered exceeded(a) £100,000, (b) £500,000 and (c) £1 million.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Inland Revenue do not keep records of the number of investigations opened in any particular year, but the information for the number of investigations settled is as follows:

  Year ended 31 March

  1979

  1987

  £100,000 to £499,999

  53

  229

  £500,000 to £999,999

  —

  13

  Over £1,000,000

  —

  6

  The amounts shown are total amounts recovered including, where appropriate, interest and penalties as well as tax.

  Unpaid Tax
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was remitted or written off as irrecoverable in 1979 and 1986 and what was the number of tax payers for whom the ground for non-payment was(a) that they had gone abroad or were untraceable, (b) insolvency and (c) hardship.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The tax remitted or written off as irrecoverable amounted to £60·3 million in 1979 and £299·8 million in 1986. The number of taxpayers for whom the ground for non-payment was(a) that they had gone abroad or were untraceable, (b) insolvency and (c) hardship is as follows:

  1979

  1986

  (a)

  26,171

  51,304

  (b)

  23,032

  56,693

  (c)

  7,988

  5,349

  Tax Investigations
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax office and inquiry branch investigations there have been where additional tax has become due in 1987, broken down by those paying tax at a top rate of(a) 60 per cent., (b) 55 per cent., (c) 50 per cent., (d) 45 per cent., (e) 40 per cent. and (f) 27 per cent.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In the year to 31 March 1987, a total of 61,656 tax office and inquiry branch investigations were settled in which additional tax became due. I regret that this total cannot be broken down in the way requested except at disproportionate cost.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of undeclared value added tax discovered and recouped by his Department in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lilley
  The total value of underdeclared value added tax discovered each year since 1979 is as follows (figures relate to the financial year ending 31 March):

  £ million

  1979

  61

  1980

  84

  1981

  146

  1982

  169

  1983

  290

  1984

  320

  1985

  392

  1986

  496

  1987

  597

  Information on the amount of underdeclared tax actually recouped is not available. However, approximately 99 percent. of all declared and assessed tax is collected.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage rise in the value of under declarations of value added tax discovered per value added tax control officer since(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Lilley
  The figures are as follows:

  (a) The percentage rise since 1 April 1979 after allowing for inflation is 368 per cent.

  (b) The percentage rise since 1 April 1984 after allowing for inflation is 37 per cent.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many value added tax control officers are at present employed in the United Kingdom; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lilley
  The number of value added tax control officers employed in the United Kingdom for the financial year ending 31 March 1987 was 4,330. The figures for each year since 1979 are as follows:

  Number

  1979

  4,000

  1980

  3,700

  1981

  3,600

  1982

  3,800

  1983

  3,550

  1984

  3,650

  1985

  3,900

  1986

  4,040

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average increase in the value of under declarations of value added tax discovered per value added tax control officer in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lilley
  The increases year by year in the average value of underdeclarations discovered by each value added tax control officer are as follows (figures relate to the financial year ending 31 March):

  £

  1980

  +7,450

  1981

  +17,850

  1982

  +3,950

  1983

  +38,350

  727

  £

  1984

  +4,850

  1985

  +12,800

  1986

  +22,300

  1987

  +15,100

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the ratio of current employment costs of the value added tax control officers to undeclared value added tax discovered and recouped; and what are the figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lilley
  The ratio of current employment costs of value added tax control officers to underdeclared value added tax discovered is 1:7·5. The figure is for the financial year ending 31 March 1987. The corresponding figures for each financial year ending 31 March since 1979 are as follows:

  Ratio

  1979

  1:1·4

  1980

  1:1·7

  1981

  1:2·8

  1982

  1:2·9

  1983

  1:5·1

  1984

  1:5·4

  1985

  1:6·0

  1986

  1:6·9

  Information on the amount of underdeclared tax actually recouped is not available. However, approximately 99 per cent. of all declared and assessed tax is collected.

  Relocation
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list in the Official Report those members of staff or Departments which are currently under consideration for relocation to sites outside London;

  (2) whether there are any plans to relocate civil service staff or Departments to Scotland;

  (3) whether he will now consider sites in Scotland for dispersal of civil servants or Departments being moved out of London;

  (4) if he will list all examples of decentralisation of civil service staff which moved staff or Departments to offices in Scotland since 1979.

  Mr. Brooke
  Since 1979, some 5,560 Civil Service posts have been dispersed from London under the Government's dispersal programme including 1,930 posts to Scotland. The Scottish posts were in the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Overseas Development Administration. Further moves to Scotland of at least 125 posts are planned under this programme.

  For the future, Departments will be encouraged to consider all suitable locations, including those in Scotland, on the basis mentioned in my answer of 18 January to the hon. Member for East Kilbride (Mr. Ingram) at columns 475–6. Any specific plans will be announced as and when they are prepared.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of the Inland Revenue as regards the treatment of regional selective assistance for the purpose of assessment of pre-tax profits.
  728
  Mr. Lamont
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: The precise tax treatment will depend on the facts of each case, but, in general, regional selective assistance is taken into account in determining the taxable profits of a business.

  EC Budget
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in resolving the budgetary crisis of the EEC; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards approving in principle the creation of a fourth resource for the EEC based on national gross national products.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: The Budget Council has met four times in an effort to establish a draft budget for 1988, but has failed on each occasion to reach agreement. It will renew its discussions in the light of the outcome of the European Council on 11–12 February.

  The fourth resource proposed by the Commission would link budget contribution shares more closely to shares in Community GNP, and hence to relative prosperity. It is worthy of further consideration.

EMPLOYMENT

  Benefits
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total value of unentitled benefits claims discovered and recouped by his Department in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department's fraud investigation work was reorganised in 1984 and comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

  The estimated value of benefit saved by fraud investigation work in the Department for each year is as follows:

  £ million gross

  1984–85

  19·2

  1985–86

  33·8

  1986–87

  54·9

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage change in the value of unentitled benefits recouped per Department of Employment investigating officer since(a) 1979 and (b) since 1984.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department's fraud investigation work was recognised in 1984 and comparable figures for earlier years are not available. There has been a 67·5 per cent. increase in the estimated value of benefit saved per fraud investigator between 1984 and 1987.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average change in the value of unentitled benefits recouped per Department of Employment investigating officer in each year since 1984.

  Mr. Lee
  The estimated value of benefit saved per fraud investigator in each year since 1984–85 is as follows:
  729

  Year

  £

  1984–85

  49,450

  1985–86

  73,015

  1986–87

  82,860

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the ratio of current costs of his Department's investigation into fraud to the benefits recouped; and what are the figures for each year since 1984.

  Mr. Lee
  The ratios between costs and estimated benefit saved are as follows:

  ratio

  1984–85

  1:2·4

  1985–86

  1:2·9

  1986–87

  1:3·7

  11987–88

  1:4·4

  1 First half year.

  Benefits (Fraud Investigating Officers)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many officers are employed in England and Wales by his Department in investigating fraud; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  My Department's fraud investigation work was reorganised in 1984 and comparable figures for earlier years are not available. The number of fraud investigators employed by my Department in each year since 1984 (excluding those employed in Scotland) is as follows:

  Number

  1984–85

  396

  1985–86

  590

  1986–87

  651

  In addition a number of other staff are engaged, on either a part or full-time basis, as support staff to these investigators.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the reply of 11 January, what plans he has to change the nature of the community programme so that it qualifies as suitable employment within the meaning of section 20(1)(b) of the Social Security Act 1975.

  Mr. Cope
  None. The community programme is already covered by section 20(1)(b) of the Social Security Act 1975.

  Restart Programme
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each month the spending on advertising for the restart programme since the inception of the scheme; and if he will give the reasons for the trend shown by the figures.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: Expenditure on advertising the restart programme and the programmes included in the range of opportunities are shown below:
  730

  £

  1986

  August

  1,004,493

  September

  1,987.858

  October

  991,159

  November

  1,920,104

  December

  489,621

  1987

  January

  1,029,574

  February

  1,302,849

  March

  367,568

  TOTAL

  9,093,226

  (April to date)

  Nil

  Advertising expenditure was heavy during the launch period to establish an initial awareness of the new programme. A lower weight was then possible and television commercials could concentrate on promoting the individual programmes under restart eg — EAS, jobclub, community programme and the restart course.

  Advertising was stopped during the Christmas period when air time is at a premium and experience shows it to be less effective. It was resumed again at a slightly heavier weight to regain awareness.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Youth Training Programme
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many young people participated in the youth training programme schemes in the districts of Castlereagh and Ards during the past 12 months; how many of these persons subsequently gained apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the youth training programme scheme in the constituency of Strangford.

  Mr. Viggers
  The total number of young people participating in all full-time training schemes in the 12 months ending 31 December 1987 in the districts of Castlereagh and Ards was 902 and 631 respectively. In addition, a number of 17-year-olds were in employment with training under YTP work scheme.

  Figures relating specifically to apprenticeship training within the Castlereagh and Ards districts are not available.

  I am satisfied that the effectiveness of this programme is as positive in the Strangford constituency as it is in the remainder of Northern Ireland.

  Radioactivity
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why there is radioactivity monitoring in Northern Ireland; why it is only applied to lambs; and what are the sources which have contributed to the existence of radioactivity in livestock in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  Radioactive monitoring of the air and waters around the Northern Ireland coastline is carried out to assess the possible effect of radioactive discharges from nuclear energy installations.

  Following the accident at Chernobyl, radioactive monitoring of agriculture products was introduced to ensure that foodstuffs were safe. As a result it has been found that only in sheep have radiation levels remained high enough to warrant continued monitoring. Three

  731
  small hill areas were identified where some young lambs not yet ready for market had levels of radioactivity above the United Kingdom trigger level of 1,000 bq/kg. As a precaution the Department introduced controls on the movement and slaughter of sheep from these areas. Continued monitoring of sheepmeat indicates that Northern Ireland lamb products in the shops are safe.

  The radioactivity found in livestock is characteristic of the Chernobyl fall out.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what systems of checks for the level of radioactive radiation are presently carried out on(a) sheep, (b) cattle, (c) pigs and (d) poultry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  The Department of Agriculture monitors (at slaughterhouses) the radioactivity levels in marketable lamb. All sheep leaving three designated areas are subject to movement controls and monitoring of radioactivity levels to ensure that these animals are not slaughtered unless cleared by the Department. Monitoring during 1986 and 1987 has shown other agricultural products to be safe so checks on cattle, pigs and poultry are not currently being carried out.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for checking the level of radioactive radiation in Angora goats; whether their wool presents any risk to human beings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  I have no plans to check Angora goats for radioactivity, as there is no evidence of Angora goats being kept in any of three designated areas; nor is there evidence that the wool from Angora goats presents any risk to human beings.

  Sexual Harassment
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his Department's policy on sexual harassment at work; whether guidance on reporting complaints has been issued to all members of staff; how many complaints have been reported in the past five years; and what disciplinary action has been taken.

  Mr. Stanley
  The Civil Service policy on sexual harassment is set out in the programme of action to achieve equal opportunities for women in the civil service, which was published by the Cabinet Office (MPO) in 1984. Sexual harassment at work is not tolerated and is dealt with as a disciplinary matter through the usual Civil Service complaints procedures.

  Action is in hand to issue guidance to all members of staff in the near future.

  In the past five years eight complaints have been reported. All have been resolved without recourse to disciplinary action.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pesticides
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to publicise the new pesticides laws due to come into force in 1989; and if he will make a statement.
  732
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray) on 15 January, at column 438.

  Agricultural Support
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to the European Community Commission regarding the need to establish a rural development agency to offset the reductions in agricultural support which are currently proposed by the European Community Commission.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  There is already an agency, the Development Commission, to promote rural development in England; and there are similar agencies in Scotland and Wales. I am well aware of the challenge posed to farmers by the need to adjust their businesses to a reduced level of agricultural support. My Department has announced a range of policies which can help on this, including

  incentives for the planting of woodlands on farms;

  grants to encourage the diversification of farm businesses;

  the designation of environmentally sensitive areas;

  proposals for implementing a Community set-aside policy.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of state support for agriculture as a percentage of the value of production in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the EEC as a whole and what equivalent information he has about the United States of America.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  It is difficult to make comparisons of national spending on agriculture between different countries as definitions of support vary and information on agricultural expenditure in other regions is incomplete. The most reliable statistics cover direct support for prices and incomes, although these understate the true amount of aid. In the United Kingdom and the Community direct support equates to spending under the guarantee section of the common agricultural policy, and in the United States of America to equivalent expenditure by the Federal Government. For 1986—the latest year for which comparative figures are available — the percentages requested are as follows:

  per cent.

  (a) United Kingdom

  11·4

  (b) EC (12)

  12·2

  (c) United States of America

  17·6

  Food Labelling
  Sir Bernard Braine
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the light of the known connection between diet and health and its particular relevance to coronary heart disease, the Government will invoke their right under the relevant provisions for safeguarding public health, as laid down in article 36 of the treaty of Rome, to introduce mandatory labelling of foodstuffs to show the saturated fat, sugar, fibre and salt content, as recommended by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The EC food labelling directive (79/112) has harmonised within the Community the information that may be required to appear on food labels and to that extent therefore article 36 of the treaty of Rome is not available to member states to act unilaterally.
  733
  We are discussing with the EC Commission a way forward within the framework of the Community rules for the introduction of fat labelling regulations only, which follows the recommendations of the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy. Meanwhile, guidelines published in July 1987 by me provide a standard format for nutrition labelling of foods. This format is intended to be the basis for legislation when we have experience of its uptake by industry and EC intentions in the area of nutrition labelling are clearer.

  Soil Erosion
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he proposes to continue in the current year the Agricultural Development Advisory Service scheme to monitor water erosion of arable land in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will establish a body to investigate soil erosion; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what plans his Department has to monitor soil erosion in upland areas of England and Wales.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The results of a five-year collaborative project which studied soil erosion on arable land are now being assessed by a small working group comprising representatives of the main interested organisations. This group will draw up proposals for further work covering soil erosion on lowland arable land and in the uplands.

  Free Food
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he is proposing to deal with the distribution of free EEC foods to those in need in the Easington area during 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 January to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) at columns 198–9.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Adoption
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was, for 1984 and each subsequent year(a) the number of children placed for adoption, (b) the number of those children who were placed for adoption while in local authority care, (c) the number of children on whom adoption orders were made, including the number made on children in local authority care, (d) the number of adoption orders made in cases where the court dispensed with parental consent, (e) the number of children freed for adoption and (f) the breakdown of age of children for each of the above categories.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that not all the figures requested are available. The available figures are set out in the tables:

  Children and young people adopted from local authority care in England and Wales 1984–86

  Age group

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Total

  2008

  2001

  1987

  Under one

  588

  569

  581

  734

  Age group

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1–4

  646

  602

  603

  5–9

  516

  538

  482

  10–15

  202

  231

  266

  16 and over

  56

  61

  55

  Table 2

  Total numbers of adoption orders granted in England and Wales 1984–86

  (including adoption orders made in respect of children in care)

  Age Group

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Total

  8,648

  7,615

  7,892

  Under 1 year

  1,843

  1,605

  1,572

  1–4 years

  1,935

  1,645

  1,748

  5–9 years

  2,613

  2,261

  2,349

  10–14 years

  1,730

  1,625

  1,652

  15–17 years

  527

  454

  495

  Not stated age

  —

  25

  76

  Figures for the year 1984 incorporate a distribution of 11 children whose exact age was not stated.

  Table 3

  Freeing orders became notifiable on 27 May 1984, the date on which freeing for adoption was first introduced. Freeing orders made in England and Wales which were notified 1984–86

  Age Group

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Total

  16

  235

  244

  Under 1 year

  10

  66

  50

  1–4 years

  3

  86

  90

  5–9 years

  2

  52

  60

  10–14 years

  —

  15

  26

  15–17 years

  —

  4

  1

  Not stated age

  1

  12

  17

  Further information on adoptions in 1985 and 1986 is contained in OPCS Monitor (Reference FM3 87/1) published on 11 August 1987, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of hospital beds were on average unoccupied in the Mersey regional health authority in(a) 1981 and (b) the latest available year.

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

  All National Health Service hospitals in Mersey region

  1981

  1986

  Average daily number:

  Available beds

  21,025

  17,959

  Occupied beds1

  17,290

  14,880

  Percentage occupied beds

  82·2

  82·9

  Percentage unoccupied beds

  17·8

  17·1

  1 Bed occupancy figures are based on a midnight count and do not therefore reflect the use of beds by patients who do not stay overnight.

  The health services information steering group (chaired by Mrs. Körner) recommended in its first report that bed use data should include all patients using a ward in a 24-hour period and that aggregated bed occupancy statistics should not be used as an indicator of efficient bed use. A more useful measure of bed utilisation is patient throughput per available bed. For Mersey region this increased from 14·2 to 18·8 between 1981 and 1986.

  Heating Additions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services w hat was the total cost of heating additions paid by benefit offices in the Nottingham, North constituency in 1986–87; if he will break down this figure by week of payment; and if he will estimate the total number of claimants involved.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that this information is not available. Statistics on the number of people who receive heating additions and the costs involved are collected on a national basis and we are unable to supply information for individual areas.

  Newcastle East (Saxon House) Amount (£)

  North Shields (Unicorn House) Amount (£)

  Wallsend (The Green) Amount (£)

  8 April-5 May 1987

  35,076

  29,829

  17,916

  6 May-2 June 1987

  28,430

  35,260

  28,381

  3 June-30 June 1987

  27,263

  29,702

  29,967

  1 July-28 July 1987

  49,201

  32,862

  31,937

  29 July-25 August 1987

  35,996

  40,227

  31,452

  26 August-22 September 1987

  34,550

  41,878

  18,238

  Totals for each office

  210,516

  209,758

  157,891

  Combined Total for 8 April 1987 to 22 September 1987 £578,165

  Notes:

  1. The figures given are provisional and subject to amendment.

  2. The boundaries of Newcastle (East), North Shields and Wallsend local offices are not exactly conterminous with those of North Tyneside local authority.

  Heating Bills (Seaham and Peterlee)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many households within the Seaham and Peterlee area of his Department he estimates will lose help they at present receive for heating bills, with the implementation of the Social Security Act 1986;

  (2) how many households in the Seaham and Peterlee area of his Department are in receipt of social security payments to help towards heating bills.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that no information is available concerning the number of households in the Seaham and Peterlee area which are in receipt of supplementary benefit heating additions.

  The amount of money spent on heating additions has been included in the resources for the new income support scheme. Extra help will be directed more effectively through the premiums at those in greatest need—pensioners, sick and disabled people and families. Under the arrangements we have made for transitional protection, claimants whose benefit entitlement on the introduction of the income support scheme would be less than their existing benefit entitlement will have their benefit level maintained.

  Severe Disability Premium
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants of income support aged 60 years or over will be entitled to the severe disability premium.

  Single Payments (North Tyneside)
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the expenditure on single payments benefits for the months of April to September 1987 from the offices at Saxon house, Newcastle, Unicorn house, North Shields and The Green, Wallsend to claimants residing in North Tyneside; and what is the total sum for this period.

  Mr. Portillo
  The expenditure on single payments from 8 April 1987 to 22 September 1987 by the local offices in question is given in the table.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that about 4,400 income support claimants aged 60 or over will be entitled to the severe disability premium.

  Widows (Death Benefit)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures for weekly industrial death benefit paid to widows for each of the last 20 years.

  Mr. Scott
  The weekly rates of industrial death benefit since 1948 are shown in table 22.01 in Social Security Statistics 1987, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 12 January, what account he proposes to take in deciding the details of new arrangements for severe weather payments of the unusually mild conditions so far in the current winter.

  Mr. Portillo
  The details of the new arrangements will be considered in the light of the whole of this winter's experience.

  Departmental Local Offices
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the grants, loans, and combined grants and loans budgets of each local benefit office expressed as a sum per head of the supplementary benefit claimant case load of each office.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is available in the Library.

  Benefits
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what has been the percentage rise in the value of unentitled benefits recouped per fraud detection officer of his Department since(a) 1979 and (b) 1984;

  (2) what was the total value of unentitled benefits claims discovered and recouped by his Department in each year since 1979;

  (3) what has been the average change in the value of unentitled benefits recouped per fraud detection officer of his Department in each year since (a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that the information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Fraud
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many officers are employed in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) England and Wales by his Department in investigating fraud; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am able to provide information only in respect of Great Britain. The information relating to Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Precise figures for staff investigating fraud are not available but it is possible to calculate the amount of staff time expended in the Department on fraud-related work. On that basis the equivalent full-time staff employed on fraud work have been as follows:

  England and Wales

  Great Britain

  1979–80

  2,026

  2,311

  1980–81

  2,092

  2,336

  1981–82

  2,086

  2,346

  1982–83

  1,933

  2,185

  1983–84

  1,975

  2,211

  1984–85

  1,946

  2,204

  1985–86

  2,029

  2,285

  1986–87

  2,152

  2,390

  1987–88

  2,314

  2,607

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the ratio of the current cost of his Department's investigation into fraud to the benefits recouped; and what are the figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Portillo
  Information on which to base a reliable estimate is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Social Security Reform
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement, in the light of the proposed revised social security system, of the position of 16 to 18-year-olds who(a) are single parents and (b) who are unable to secure work in suitable YTS placements, with regard to their entitlement to benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  Sixteen and 17-year-olds who are single parents are currently entitled to supplementary benefit if they are not in full-time work and if their income does not meet their requirements. Their position from September,738
  when the Government's proposals for this age group are planned to take effect, will be unchanged, and they will be able to receive income support without time limit.

  Under the Government's proposals other 16 and 17-year-olds, with certain exceptions, such as the severely disabled, will normally have no entitlement to benefit. Instead, if they are registering for work or a YTS place their parents will be entitled to claim an extension of child benefit in respect of them. Child benefit will run up to the end of the calendar year for summer school leavers and for up to three months for others. Our intention is that certain young people for whom child benefit is not relevant (eg. orphans and those living away from home because they would be at risk of physical or sexual abuse) will be entitled to income support, but only during the extended child benefit period.

  During this period all these young people will have the opportunity of considering the job and YTS opportunities that are available to them. The YTS guarantee applies to all in the age group. After the termination of the extended child benefit period no further child benefit will be paid in respect of them, nor will income support be available.

  Pension Age
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive a report on the cost and other implications of either a change in the pension age for men or a more flexible retirement age to apply to men and women.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir David Price) on 24 November 1987 at column 181–82.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's intentions in regard to the resolution on implementation of the world programme of action concerning disabled persons adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its 1987 session.

  Mr. Scott
  The Government are considering the recommendations of the 42nd session of the United Nations General Assembly on implementation of the world programme of action concerning disabled persons. We have made it clear that we support the overall objectives of the programme.

  Welfare Rights
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has yet replied to the letter sent to him on 9 November 1987 by the welfare rights team of Newham borough council.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that the Department has no trace of the correspondence from the welfare rights team of Newham borough council.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department has stopped sending press releases to welfare rights organisations; on whose authority the decision was taken; and when it was taken.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department's press office has not stopped sending press notices to any one group of
  739
  recipients. It does, however, review its long press lists from time to time. It works on the principle that press notices are designed and intended for the press and this is where they are mainly sent. Organisations, companies and individuals write in from time to time asking for press notices and these requests are considered on their merits.

  The headquarters of voluntary and other charitable organisations who receive calls from the press or the public about health or social security are among those added to our press lists on request. If the hon. Member knows of any organisation which has a particular need for the Department's press releases and has recently been unable to get them I would be grateful if he would write to me.

  Therapists and Midwives (Training)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the number of (i) trainee physiotherapists, (ii) trainee speech therapists, (iii) trainee occupational therapists and (iv) trainee midwives (Royal College of Midwives) entering courses in England during each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 15 January 1988]: Information for (i) and (iii) is not available on an England-only basis. However, the number of trainee physiotherapists and occupational therapists entering courses in Great Britain over the past 10 years is as follows:

  Trainee physiotherapists and occupational therapists entering courses 1978 to 1987 (Great Britain)

  Academic year commencing

  Physiotherapy trainees

  Occupational therapy trainees

  1978

  960

  634

  1979

  988

  658

  1980

  996

  695

  1981

  991

  714

  1982

  977

  766

  1983

  954

  751

  1984

  960

  747

  1985

  967

  760

  1986

  962

  754

  1987

  969

  814

  For (ii) information on the numbers commencing degree courses related to speech therapy is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science since all courses are run by universities and polytechnics.

  The information requested for (iv) is as follows:

  Student midwives—England—1978 to 1987

  Year

  Total numbers in training at 31 March12

  Numbers entering training during year ended 31 March2

  1978

  4,230

  3—

  1979

  4,230

  3—

  1980

  3,870

  3—

  1981

  3,910

  3—

  1982

  3,910

  3—

  1983

  4,190

  3—

  1984

  3—

  3—

  1985

  4,363

  2,916

  1986

  4,227

  2,961

  1987

  4,487

  2,759

  Source: English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting and predecessor.

  1 Figures prior to 1985 have been estimated as 95 per cent. of the

  740

  England and Wales totals.

  2 The length of midwifery training was extended to 18 months on 1 September 1981.

  3 Not available.

  It is important to note that the numbers of midwives intending to practise on qualifying have increased from 52 per cent. in 1978–79 to over 70 per cent. in 1985–86.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Scottish Standing Committee
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what information he has as to the number of occasions since 1958 on which right hon. and hon. Members representing constituencies outside Scotland have been nominated to serve on the First or Second Scottish Standing Committee.

  Mr. Wakeham
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1988, c. 486]: No Members representing constituencies outside Scotland were nominated to the First or Second Scottish Standing Committee in the 1980–81 Session and not one Member, as indicated previously.

ENVIRONMENT

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to respond to the consultations on his proposals for a National Rivers Authority.

  Mr. Ridley
  A memorandum setting out the Government's policy on the National Rivers Authority was placed in the Library on 17 December, in reply to a written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry).

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairmen of the water authorities to discuss his proposals for a National Rivers Authority.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's last formal meeting with the water authority chairmen was on 25 June 1987. He proposes to meet them again on 19 January. My right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal, when Minister for the Environment, Countryside and Water, and I, met them on 16 December.

  Schindler Homes
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take to relieve the hardship suffered by residents who purchased Schindler homes from the former NCB, which were defective under the housing defects legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  Owners are entitled to assistance from their local housing authority under the housing defects legislation, provided they meet the conditions for eligibility. Those owners who do not qualify for HDA assistance but consider they face hardship should seek their own provisional advice on the courses open to them. I have recently invited the hon. Member to a meeting about this, together with other interested Members and local authority representatives.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to revise planning procedures to be used in dealing with applications for approval of sites for the disposal of radioactive waste.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to increase the commercial efficiency of the Property Services Agency.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what future role he sees for the Property Services Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  Deloitte Haskins and Sells have reported to me proposing adoption in PSA of commercial accounts as a prelude to establishing a trading fund. I hope to reach decisions on these proposals before long in the light of consultations with my colleagues.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to increase the level of funding of the Property Services Agency.

  Mr. Chope
  PSA's expenditure on civil accommodation is planned to increase by £60 million in 1988–89 and £74 million in 1989–90 above the levels in last year's public expenditure White Paper.

  Local Authority Services
  Mr. Sackville
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the effects of competitive tendering on local authority services.

  Mr. Howard
  We have received a large number of representations, the most significant of which make it clear that exposing services to competition brings real and substantial benefits to ratepayers and service customers.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to bring forward proposals to oblige local authorities to charge for the services they provide, such as planning permissions and fines for overdue return of library books on the basis of the income of the payer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  No, it is entirely appropriate that local authorities should levy a flat rate charge for services of the kind mentioned by my hon. Friend.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has had any representations from Dulwich regarding the proposed poll tax legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  Since the publication of the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" I have received six such representations, and one from someone with a second home there.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he will be taking on the petition against the poll tax from the people of Nottingham presented to the House on 16 December 1987.
  742
  Mr. Howard
  My right hon. Friend will be making his observations on the petition from residents of Nottingham shortly.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the additional costs to hostels for homeless people resulting from the proposed community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  There is no need for hostels to incur additional costs under the new system. Hostel residents will pay the community charge either direct, or via their landlord in the form of collective community charge contribution. Landlords of properties designated for the collective community charge will be able to keep five per cent. of the conributions to cover administrative costs.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the population of Lambeth which is likely to be unable to pay the community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  I hope that Lambeth borough council and ILEA will ensure by their spending behaviour that the community charge in Lambeth will never exceed a modest and affordable level. People on low incomes will, of course, be eligible for rebates of up to 80 per cent. to help them pay the charge.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many derogations are currently in force to permit water authorities to have public water supplies with nitrate levels in excess of 50mg; and what estimate he has made of the size of the population receiving public water supplies in the areas concerned.

  Mr. Moynihan
  There are currently 48 supplies with nitrate derogations, serving some 900,000 people. These derogations were granted because the concentrations in the supplies are not a health risk. However, in the light of recent legal advice I have decided that these derogations should be withdrawn. The Government will in due course publish their proposals for limiting nitrate concentrations in water. In the meantime studies are proceeding into solutions to the problem, including water de-nitrification processes and the feasibility of protection zones.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, following the review of the investment programmes of water authorities to meet the European Economic Community quality of drinking water directive and the discussions being undertaken with them over meeting the standards of the bathing water directive, he will announce a date by which both directives will be fully implemented.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have nothing further to add to my answers to the hon. Member's questions of 2 and 15 December about the EC directive on the quality of drinking water.

  The bathing water directive is being implemented. We have identified 391 bathing waters which fall within its scope. These waters are kept under surveillance and reports on quality are made annually to the Commission. Some 60 per cent. of waters so far meet the directive's quality standards and some £70 million a year is now being spent on improvement schemes to bring the remainder up to standard.

  Rented Housing
  Mr. Bevan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will meet the Building Societies Association to discuss the role of building societies in investing in rented housing.

  Mrs. Roe
  I have already discussed this topic with the Building Societies Association. I am pleased to see that a major building society has announced a significant initiative in rented housing, and I hope that others will also wish to involve themselves in this area.

  Leigh Environmentals
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on which dates since 1 January 1980 inspectors from his Department have visited the works of Leigh Environmentals and its predecessors at Killarmarsh, Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement based upon his inspectors' reports.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Since 1981 air pollution control inspectors have made over 100 visits to the site or its immediate vicinity, and hazardous waste inspectors have made nine visits. The purpose of these visits has been to ensure that the operator uses best practicable means to minimise emissions to air from registered processes, and to help the local authority to secure proper control over other processes.

  European Year of the Environment
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many environmental projects have been undertaken as a result of the European Year of the Environment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  Our national committee for European Year of the Environment has been notified of more than 3,000 events and projects taking place in the United Kingdom under the EYE banner. I warmly welcome this excellent British contribution to the year and I pay tribute to the committee for its successful campaign to increase public involvement in caring for the environment.

  Cricket World Cup Final
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the decision by the Minister with responsibility for sport to attend the cricket world cup final in Calcutta in November 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have received one letter from a member of the public asking for information about my attendance at the Cricket world cup final (and a letter of thanks from the chairman of the TCCB). In addition, I have answered written questions from the hon. Members for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short) and for West Bromwich, East (Mr Snape).

  Teesside
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairman of Teesside urban development corporation to discuss progress in attracting private investment into the area.
  744
  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend last met the chairman of the Teesside development corporation on 8 December 1987.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the Housing Corporation's funds are earmarked for spending in rural areas in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  Information is not readily available on Housing Corporation allocations to rural housing associations other than in the 14 rural stress areas designated by the corporation. For 1987–88 the amount allocated to these associations to cover the cost of new rented and low-cost home ownership schemes approved during the year was some £9 million or 1·5 per cent. of the total for England. Forecast expenditure on these schemes, and other projects approved in the designated rural areas in prior years, is not separately available. The Housing Corporation has been reviewing the definition of, and allocation of funds to, rural areas with a view to implementing new arrangements in time for the allocations to be made within its 1988–89 programme, on which decisions will be made shortly.

  Basildon
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses and new town commission houses have been sold in Basildon in each of the last four years.

  Mrs. Roe
  Figures reported by Basildon district council and by the Commission for New Towns are published in "Local Housing Statistics", copies of which are held in the Library. The relevant issues are:

  Number

  1983–84

  75

  1984–85

  79

  1985–86

  83

  1986–87

  83

  Housing Land
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for increasing the amount of land available for housing in the south of England; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Responsibility for the provision of land for housing, in so far as that can be secured through the planning system, rests with county planning authorities in preparing structure plan proposals and with district planning authorities in making local plans arid considering planning applications. In approving structure plans and alterations, my right hon. Friend takes into account the likely overall need for housing and the suitability of the proposed ways of meeting those needs.

  Tree Planting
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on his Department's initiatives to encourage tree planting.
  745
  Mr. Moynihan
  A number of representations have been received about various aspects. My right hon. Friend is considering the arrangements which should apply in 1988–89 and subsequent years.

  Lambeth Council (Direct Labour Organisation)
  Mr. William Shelton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about his decision to limit work undertaken by Lambeth council's direct labour organisation to contracts worth £50,000 or less; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has received one representation from Lambeth council. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of that, together with the Department's response.

  Protected Buildings
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any representations from local authorities concerning their existing powers of enforcement against developers who threaten to demolish protected buildings.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Not currently. If my hon. Friend is concerned about a particular property I would be happy to investigate the problem if he would send me written details.

  Planning Policy
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce a new planning circular; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be publishing his conclusions on the draft statement of planning policy on large out-of-town shopping centres.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend is publishing today two new series of guidance notes. Planning policy guidance notes (PPG) will provide guidance on general and specific aspects of planning policy, and minerals planning guidance notes (MPG) will give advice on the control of minerals development.

  PPGs and MPGs aim to provide concise and practical guidance on planning policies, in a clearer and more accessible form than in departmental circulars, the earlier series of development control policy notes (DCPNs), and other statements. In future, advice on legislation and procedures will be given in departmental circulars, while PPGs and MPGs will be the main source of policy guidance on planning matters.

  In most cases the content of the new notes will be based on extant circulars and DCPNs. An index of all the relevant circulars is also being published today — in fulfilment of an undertaking in response to the fifth report, Session 1985–86, of the Environment Committee in the last Parliament. Unless otherwise stated in the PPGs and MPGs, those circulars remain extant for the time being, but the need to retain them will be reviewed in the light of experience with PPGs and MPGs. DCPNs are now being withdrawn to the extent indicated in the relevant PPGs.

  The PPG and MPG notes published today are:

  PPG1—General policy and principles

  PPG2—Green belts

  746

  PPG3—Land for housing

  PPG4—Industrial and commercial development and small firms

  PPG5—Simplified planning zones

  PPG6—Major retail development

  PPG7—Rural enterprise and development

  PPG8—Telecommunications

  PPG9—Regional guidance for the south east

  MPG1—General considerations and the development plan system

  MPG2—Applications, permissions and conditions

  Except for PPG2, 3 and 9, these notes are being issued jointly by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Further titles will be published in due course.

  Copies of the PPG, MPG, and the index of extant circulars, are being placed in the Library.

  Empty Council Houses
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest available figure for the number of council houses which have been empty for more than six months.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  English local authorities provided information on the number of their dwellings vacant for more than six months, for the first time in their housing investment programme returns for April 1987. It is estimated that there were then about 44,000 such dwellings.

  Peak Park Planning Board
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to pay a visit to the area covered by the Peak Park planning board.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a visit at present.

  Berkshire Structure Plan
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now intends to make a statement on the Berkshire structure plan.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend expects to publish his modifications to Berkshire county council's submitted replacement structure plan very soon.

  Housing (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what he is doing to encourage the provision of low cost housing to rent and for sale in rural areas.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The White Paper published last September "Housing: The Government's Proposals", Cm. 214 set out the Government's proposals for housing generally including proposals to expand the housing association programme which provides low-cost homes for rent and other tenures in rural and urban areas.

  I am currently considering whether any further measures, designed specifically to help rural areas, are needed.

  PRC Houses
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department has spent on assistance under the Housing Defects Act for people living in PRC houses.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Under the housing defects legislation central government contributes towards the costs local authorities incur in assisting eligible owners of designated dwellings with reinstatement grants or repurchase. Authorities claim Exchequer contribution a year in arrears, and the payments take the form of annuities, payable over 20 years. The total contribution claimed by authorities for each financial year following the introduction of the HDA scheme, and the Exchequer payments made on those claims, are as follows:—

  Claims made £

  Claims paid £

  1984–85

  21,963

  21,963

  1985–86

  2,250,297

  2,200,659

  1986–87

  4,836,225

  12,079,997

  1 Including payments made in January 1988.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the level of prior consultation taking place with landowners, farmers and those with sporting rights before a site of special scientific interest is designated.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Yes. I am generally content with the present consultation arrangements, but I am reviewing the matter with the chairman of the NCC to see whether improvements can be made.

  Pollution (North Sea)
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will be taking, following the recent conference on North sea pollution, to monitor the reductions in pollution in the North sea agreed at that conference.

  Approved Estate Action Homelessness Schemes: as at 19 January 1988

  Local Authority

  Estate

  Number of units brought back into use

  £ Allocation 1986–87

  £ Allocation 1987–88

  Birmingham

  Various

  209

  370,306

  —

  Bolton

  Various

  13

  23,000

  —

  Bradford

  Woodside

  14

  37,200

  39,839

  Bristol

  Various

  80

  207,918

  —

  Bury

  Springs

  25

  145,000

  —

  Greenwich

  Lolland House

  40

  325,000

  —

  Guildford

  Guildford Park and Westborough

  17

  312,500

  57,500

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  White City

  69

  147,000

  349,000

  Hyndburn

  Woodnook

  36

  158,000

  —

  Islington

  Grimaldi House

  15

  130,817

  —

  Leeds

  Cripton and Seacroft

  10

  20,000

  200,000

  Manchester

  Various

  261

  351,000

  —

  Mansfield

  Oak Tree Lane/Bellamy Road

  10

  60,282

  —

  Milton Keynes

  New Bradwell

  4

  29,631

  —

  Newham

  Hameway 3A

  8

  177,017

  —

  748
  Mr. Ridley
  I propose shortly to issue a guidance note concerning the implementation of the agreements to reduce pollution reached at the second international conference on the protection of the North sea.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he proposes to reduce levels of homelessness.

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 2 December last, at column 927.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list each scheme selected for an additional allocation of housing investment programme funds, under the homelessness initiative promoted by his Department's Estate Action team(a) during 1986–87 and (b) during 1987–88; how many units of accommodation each scheme will bring into use for homeless households; when these units will be available for letting; and whether they will provide permanent, or temporary accommodation for homeless households;

  (2) if he will list each scheme submitted for additional housing investment programme resources, under the homelessness initiative promoted by his Department's Estate Action team (a) during 1986–87 and (b) during 1987–88; and if he will list the criteria used by his Estate Action team in selecting (i) which schemes should receive additional resources, (ii) which authorities should receive additional resources and (iii) what additional resources each authority should receive.

  Mrs. Roe
  The local authorities which have so far received additional allocations under the Estate Action homelessness initiative, the amount of their allocations and the numbers of dwellings brought into use for the homeless are as follows.

  The criteria used in assessing the bids submitted by some 40 local authorities are based on the initiative's stated objective of bringing vacant council dwellings back into use at reasonable cost.
  749

  Local Authority

  Estate

  Number of units brought back into use

  £ Allocation 1986–87

  £ Allocation 1987–88

  Gooseley Lane

  23

  250,000

  —

  Rushmoor

  Maitland Road

  23

  165,000

  —

  Sheffield

  Various

  37

  110,000

  180,000

  Slough

  Manor Park

  1

  9,100

  —

  South Tyneside

  Tyne Dock

  16

  167,000

  55,000

  Stockport

  Adswood and Gorsey Bank

  25

  87,500

  —

  Thamesdown

  Latton Close

  14

  67,425

  —

  Tower Hamlets

  Ocean

  40

  —

  314,000

  Wakefield

  Airedale

  16

  60,000

  90,000

  Walsall

  Various

  101

  314,000

  —

  Westminster

  Queens Park

  241

  515,000

  —

  Beachcroft House

  29

  Woodspring

  Several

  14

  18,982

  —

  York

  Several

  12

  77,000

  62,700

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list each scheme selected for additional housing investment programme resources in 1987–88 under the initiative announced by this Department on 30 November 1987, to enable local authorities to provide additional accommodation to meet the needs of the homeless; how many units of accommodation each scheme will provide; when these units are likely to be available for letting; and whether they will provide temporary or permanent accommodation for the homeless;

  (2) if he will list each scheme submitted for additional housing investment programme resources in 1987–88, to enable local authorities to provide additional accommodation to meet the needs of the homeless, under the initiative announced on 30 November 1987; and if he will list the criteria which his Department used in selecting (a) which schemes should receive additional resources, (b) which authorities should receive additional resources and (c) what additional resources each authority should receive.

  Mrs. Roe
  In making these allocations through the Department's regional offices account was taken of proposals put forward by authorities. The objective was to enable schemes to go ahead this year which would reduce reliance on bed-and-breakfast accommodation or would otherwise benefit the homeless. Preference was given to those authorities with the most serious homelessness problems as indicated by the number of households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, the number for which authorities had accepted responsibility, and the proportion of council lettings taken up by the homeless.

  It is for authorities to decide how to use their allocations. However, the proposals put forward mainly related to bringing empty council dwellings back into use or to the acquisition of properties for use as hostels for the homeless.

  Table 1 lists the authorities given allocations and their estimates of the extra dwellings or hostel places that would result. In total these estimates amount to nearly 2,800 extra dwellings/places.

  Table 2 lists the authorities which applied but did not receive allocations.
  750

  Table 1

  Authorities given additional allocations

  Region and Local Authority

  Allocation £ '000

  Dwellings/Places

  Northern

  Durham

  60

  5

  Gateshead

  40

  2

  Hartlepool

  300

  15

  Langbaurgh

  90

  5

  Middlesbrough

  84

  10

  Newcastle

  300

  15

  North Tyneside

  74

  4

  South Tyneside

  51

  14

  Yorks and Humberside

  Barnsley

  280

  40

  Bradford

  80

  20

  Kirklees

  200

  20

  Sheffield

  400

  32

  Wakefield

  100

  8

  York

  40

  2

  East Midlands

  Ashfield

  50

  6

  Derby

  267

  12

  East Lindsey

  40

  4

  Leicester

  295

  38

  Nottingham

  150

  45

  Northampton

  198

  13

  Eastern

  Aylesbury

  55

  33

  Colchester

  190

  6

  Ipswich

  30

  6

  Luton

  111

  10

  Milton Keynes

  159

  10

  Peterborough

  165

  5

  St. Albans

  150

  8

  Southend

  400

  18

  Thurrock

  40

  3

  South West

  Bath

  150

  6

  Bristol

  200

  40

  Isles of Scilly

  160

  2

  Kennet

  115

  8

  North Dorset

  210

  7

  Poole

  100

  8

  Purbeck

  125

  9

  South Somerset

  80

  6

  Weymouth and Portland

  160

  10

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  325

  71

  Cannock Chase

  18

  4

  Dudley

  40

  3

  751

  Region and Local Authority

  Allocation £'000

  Dwellings/Places

  North Shropshire

  10

  8

  Redditch

  22

  9

  Sandwell

  100

  26

  South Herefordshire

  55

  6

  South Shropshire

  50

  6

  South Staffordshire

  50

  6

  Stoke-on-Trent

  50

  4

  Walsall

  130

  22

  Wolverhampton

  200

  40

  Wrekin

  50

  8

  North West

  Blackburn

  180

  90

  Blackpool

  100

  10

  Bolton

  40

  20

  Bury

  70

  5

  Carlisle

  100

  8

  Chester

  80

  5

  Chorley

  70

  6

  Congleton

  40

  5

  Hyndburn

  50

  10

  Manchester

  1,000

  400

  Rochdale

  160

  18

  Stock port

  50

  10

  Tameside

  100

  6

  Wigan

  60

  60

  Greater London

  Brent

  1,300

  52

  Camden

  960

  118

  Greenwich

  1,275

  81

  Hackney

  1,300

  145

  Hammersmith

  800

  75

  Haringey

  910

  137

  Islington

  800

  129

  Lambeth

  900

  83

  Lewisham

  900

  88

  Newham

  1,255

  141

  Tower Hamlets

  1,150

  110

  Wandsworth

  750

  32

  Westminster

  1,300

  50

  South East

  Brighton

  300

  6

  Canterbury

  240

  18

  Crawley

  150

  14

  Dover

  200

  6

  Gillingham

  275

  14

  Gravesham

  70

  7

  Guildford

  200

  6

  Hastings

  113

  10

  Lewes

  15

  3

  Medina

  250

  8

  Newbury

  150

  6

  New Forest

  400

  20

  Reading

  235

  13

  Slough

  330

  8

  South Oxford

  25

  2

  Wealdon

  200

  5

  Woking

  47

  3

  Table 2

  Authorities who applied but did not receive additional allocations:

  Region and Local Authority

  Northern

  Alnwick

  Derwentside

  Easington

  Stockton

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Beverley

  Calderdale

  Craven

  Doncaster

  Harrogate

  752

  Leeds

  Ryedale

  East Midlands

  Lincoln

  Mansfield

  Oadby/Wigston

  Eastern

  Braintree

  Cambridge

  Chelmsford

  Hertsmere

  Maldon

  North Bedfordsh

  Norwich

  South Norfolk

  Stevenage

  Waveney

  Greater London

  Barking

  Barnet

  Bromley

  Ealing

  Harrow

  Hillingdon

  Hounslow

  Kensington

  Merton

  Redbridge

  Richmond

  Southwark

  Sutton

  Waltham Forest

  South East

  Adur

  Cherwell

  Fareham

  Horsham

  Oxford

  Portsmouth

  Rochester

  Southampton

  South Wight

  Tunbridge Wells

  Winchester

  Worthing

  South West

  Bournemouth

  Caradon

  Carrick

  Cheltenham

  Exeter

  Gloucester

  Kerrier

  Mendip

  North Wilts

  Penwith

  Restormel

  Sedgemoor

  South Hams

  Stroud

  Taunton Deane

  Teignbridge

  Torridge

  West Dorset

  Wimborne

  Woodspring

  West Wiltshire

  West Midlands

  Malvern Hills

  Nuneaton

  Worcester

  North West

  Nil

  753
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department has taken to assist young homeless people during the United Nations International Year of Shelter for the Homeless.

  Mrs. Roe
  Young people like others stand to benefit from the proposals in the current Housing Bill for increasing the supply of rented accommodation. Further specific steps taken during 1987 include the funding of the Housing Corporation's investment in hostels and other shared housing; the introduction of a new mixed-funding programme for housing association schemes for young job-movers; leaflets produced to encourage householders to take in lodgers and grants given to CHAR, First Key and other voluntary bodies for advice and assistance to the homeless. My Department has also been helping fund the

  Outcome of planning appeals: Buckinghamshire district councils

  Local authority

  Appeals received

  Appeals decided

  Appeals allowed

  Appeals dismissed

  Appeals withdrawn

  Aylesbury vale

  1984

  62

  42

  11

  31

  8

  1985

  72

  57

  25

  32

  10

  1986

  84

  69

  28

  41

  13

  Q1, 2 and 3 1987

  76

  48

  17

  31

  7

  South Bucks

  1984

  69

  50

  12

  38

  6

  1985

  79

  62

  25

  37

  6

  1986

  80

  63

  24

  39

  12

  Ql, 2 and 3 1987

  77

  57

  25

  32

  20

  Chiltern

  1984

  81

  47

  19

  28

  13

  1985

  70

  76

  35

  41

  9

  1986

  97

  69

  34

  35

  13

  Ql, 2 and 3 1987

  101

  65

  29

  36

  11

  Milton Keynes

  1984

  25

  21

  5

  16

  4

  1985

  25

  24

  15

  9

  2

  1986

  31

  25

  8

  17

  1

  Ql, 2 and 3 1987

  33

  12

  6

  6

  8

  Wycombe

  1984

  91

  52

  21

  31

  16

  1985

  105

  79

  21

  58

  25

  1986

  177

  119

  50

  69

  30

  Ql, 2 and 3 1987

  117

  97

  37

  60

  20

  Note: Milton Keynes Development Corporation—No record of appeals during 1984, 1985, 1986 or 1987.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Allan Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the total annual emissions of(a) nitrogen oxides, (b) hydrocarbons and (c) carbon monoxide from all petrol-engined vehicles registered in the United Kingdom for each of the following categories (i) over 2 litres cubic capacity, (ii) 1·4 to 2 litres cubic capacity and (iii) under 1·4 litres cubic capacity in each of the years between 1970 and the present day; and what was the number of vehicles in each of the categories for each of the specified years.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I regret that the information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  754
  IYSH trust's booklet "Moving Out" which aims to prevent homelessness among young people by informing them about housing options before they decide to leave home.

  Planning Appeals (Buckinghamshire)
  Mr. Raison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of planning appeals made to him in each of the last five years for each district council in Buckinghamshire; and how many such appeals have been upheld, and how many rejected, in each year.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The following table shows the number of planning appeals received, decided, allowed, dismissed and withdrawn in each district council area in the county of Buckinghamshire between 1 January 1984, the earliest date from which information on an individual planning authority basis is available, and 30 September 1987.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. K. Adams of his home at 66 Tayside Court, Denmark Hill, London SE5, from Southwark council;

  (2) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. J. R. Young of his home at 20 Bromleigh Court, Sydenham Hill, London SE23, from Southwark council;

  (3) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mrs. E. Kirkby of her home at 9 Hazel Close, Copeland Road, London SE15. from Southwark council;
  755
  (4) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. R. E. Crawford of his home at 101 Scylla Road, London SE15, from Southwark council;

  (5) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. D. J. Vince of his home at 160B Friern Road, London SE22, from Southwark council;

  (6) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mrs. G. Mells of her home at 6 Steen Way, London SE22, from Southwark council;

  (7) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. and Mrs. I. Whitton of their home at 37 Attie Borough Court, Sydenham Hill, London SE23, from Southwark council;

  (8) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. and Mrs B. Tripp of their home at 181 Crystal Palace Road, London SE22, from Southwark council;

  (9) what information he has as to the reasons for the continued delay in the purchase by Mr. Andrew Jamieson of his home at 8 Spring Hill Close, Champion Hill, London SE5, from Southwark council;

  (10) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. W. B. Hammond of his home at 12B Mount Adon Park, London SE22 0DT, from Southwark council;

  (11) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mrs. R. Newton of her home at 10 Denesmead, Herne Hill, London SE24, from Southwark council;

  (12) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mrs. M. A. Brewster of her home at 49 Casino Avenue, London SE24, from Southwark council.

  Mrs. Roe
  The Department has taken up with the council the cases mentioned. The council says that it is now clearing the backlog and that it has issued approximately 1000 section 125 offer notices in recent weeks.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by his Department with its inquiries into the cases of the Southwark council tenants mentioned in his answer to the hon. Member for Dulwich on Tuesday 3 November 1987.

  Mrs. Roe
  The Department wrote to Southwark about these cases on 3 November 1987 but, despite reminders, the council has so far failed to reply fully. It says that it is giving priority to clearing the backlog of outstanding section 125 offer notices. The Department is continuing to press the council, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the information requested is available.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report in rank order, starting with the local authority with the highest proportion of rent arrears, the total arrears of rent outstanding for domestic properties owned by each local authority in the county of Essex for the latest available date and for 1982–83.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The cumulative rent arrears owed to each local authority in Essex as at 1 April 1983 and 1 April 756
  1987, together with the percentage those arrears represent of the rent collectable, are listed as follows. The authorities are ranked according to the percentage figure.

  Rent arrears (£)

  Rent arrears as percentage of rent collectable

  i. at 1 April 1983:

  Thurrock

  859,775

  6·08

  Basildon

  197,000

  4·26

  Castle Point

  69,468

  3·13

  Uttlesford

  74,000

  2·26

  Brentwood

  62,000

  2·21

  Epping Forest

  178,237

  2·18

  Harlow

  258,500

  2·17

  Chelmsford

  122,721

  1·89

  Colchester

  123,489

  1·81

  Braintree

  135,702

  1·59

  Maldon

  30,453

  133

  Southend on Sea

  102,794

  1·32

  Tendring

  43,769

  1·31

  Rochford

  10,965

  0·52

  ii. at 1 April 1987:

  Thurrock

  1,010,011

  7·5

  Colchester

  236,634

  2·8

  Basildon

  148,195

  2·55

  Uttlesford

  92,000

  2·47

  Castle Point

  46,719

  1·99

  Harlow

  244,391

  1·83

  Chelmsford

  125,672

  1·64

  Southend on Sea

  133,150

  1·44

  Epping Forest

  116,667

  1·42

  Maldon

  32,053

  1·42

  Tendring

  55,095

  1·41

  Brentwood

  40,000

  1·15

  Braintree

  81,485

  0·83

  Rochford

  13,328

  0·53

  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest available figures on the arrears of rent outstanding to each local authority in England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have today arranged for this information to be placed in the Library. All but 26 authorities provided figures on their subsidy claim forms, and figures for the missing 26 were provided to my Department over the telephone.

  The figures show that, at 1 April 1987, rent arrears owing to all English local authorities amounted to almost £196 million, or 5·1 per cent. of the rent collectable. The total is some £15 million less than at 1 April 1986, when arrears stood at £211 million (5·7 per cent. of rent roll). However, we know that, in the past, some authorities provided figures for all arrears outstanding—rents, rates and service charges—while for 1987 some of these have made an estimate of rent arrears alone. These reporting changes could account for the whole of the apparent improvement, and we believe that there has been little change in the total level of rent arrears between April 1986 and April 1987.

  Over 150 authorities have reported arrears of less than 2 per cent., and some of these are below 1 per cent. Once again it is the few poorly-performing authorities which are mainly responsible for the enormous sums due. The 20 worst authorities—17 of which were on the 1986 list of poor performers — have reported arrears of rent collectable ranging from nearly 8 per cent. to 38 per cent., and together were carrying a debt burden of £92 million in uncollected rent.
  757
  In May 1987, my Department issued a circular to all local authorities, drawing their attention to Ministers' increasing concern about the high level of arrears owed by their tenants. The circular was based on best practice observed in those authorities where rent collection methods had proved effective, and recommended steps which all authorities might take to improve their performance. It is too early to say whether this advice has been heeded: we will be better able to judge when the figures for 1 April 1988 are available.

  Postal Services (Stray Dogs)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the London borough of Ealing about the suspension of postal services on the Hanwell estate, Hanwell, as a result of the dangers to postmen caused by the failure of Ealing council to control the incidence of stray dogs in the area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  None. I understand that the police, who are primarily responsible for the control of stray dogs, have not been informed of any particular problem with stray dogs on the estate and that postal deliveries have now been resumed.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications for the reform of the law relating to dog licences of the suspension of postal deliveries to the Hanwell estate, Hanwell, W7, as a result of the danger to postmen of uncontrolled dogs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The law relating to dog licences is quite distinct from the legislation governing dog control, which will be unaffected by the abolition of licensing.

  Floating Jetty, Coulport
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the companies which have been invited by the Property Services Agency to submit tenders for the construction of a floating jetty at Coulport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  On commercial grounds it is not the Property Services Agency's policy to publish the names of tenderers until after the award of a contract.

  Rate Support Grant (Oxfordshire)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much Oxfordshire county council has lost in grant for the next financial year as a consequence of the rate support formula for redistribution from areas of high rateable value to areas of low rateable value.

  Mr. Howard
  Under the present system the domestic ratepayers of Oxfordshire will pay £9·2 million more in 1988–89 than they would in the absence of resource equalisation.

  Carroll Group (Appeal)
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the reason for the delay in the appeal in the High Court by the Carroll Group against his decision on a major development at Hurn, Christchurch, Dorset.
  758
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The judge who was to hear this case has stepped down, necessitating the appointment of a replacement.

  GLC (Seaside and Country Homes)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current situation in respect of the disposal of the Greater London council's seaside and country homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The London residuary body expects to complete arrangements for the disposal of the portfolio to North British Housing Association by the end of March.

  Hampstead Heath
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current situation in respect of Hampstead Heath; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The London residuary body issued, on 11 January, a further consultation paper inviting views on whether the London borough of Camden, the corporation of the City of London, or a local trust should become responsible for the ownership and management of the heath. Comments are sought by 19 February. The LRB expects to make its recommendations to the Secretary of State thereafter with a view to a formal transfer of the heath as from 1 April 1989.

  London Residuary Body
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will itemise the services transferred to the London residuary body which are currently the subject of negotiation with potential successor bodies.

  Mr. Chope
  The following services, which were transferred to the London residuary body, are currently the subject of negotiations with potential successors:

  London Scientific Services

  Computing Services

  Hampstead Heath

  Home Loans

  Superannuation Fund

  Industrial Mortgages

  Housing Association Loans.

  Estate Action (Walsall)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when Walsall metropolitan borough council will be notified of the outcome of the applications for estate action allocation for several estates in the borough.

  Mrs. Roe
  We have already approved £2.72 million of additional resources this financial year for Walsall's estate action schemes at the Rose Hill and Delves estates. The borough council's outline bids for new EA schemes in 1988–89 are being assessed alongside schemes submitted by other local authorities and we will be inviting authorities to work up successful bids in February. Schemes will then be approved as soon as satisfactory detailed submissions are received.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names, professions and salaries of the members of the board of each water authority.
  759
  Mr. Moynihan
  Information about board members, their occupations, and emoluments is included in the regional water authorities' 1986–87 annual reports and accounts. These were presented to Parliament on 15 July 1987.

  Expenditure Plans
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his Department's public expenditure plans, following publication of the White Paper setting out the Government's expenditure plans for 1988–89 to 1990–91 (Cm. 288).

  Mr. Ridley
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has today laid before Parliament "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91" (Cm. 288).

  The White Paper explains in more detail my Department's plans for expenditure for 1988–89 to 1990–91, announced in summary at the time of the Autumn Statement, and gives comprehensive information about what we have achieved through our programmes in past years, and about our targets for the future.

  HOUSING

  Substantially higher levels of planned gross expenditure on housing were announced in the Autumn Statement. Gross provision for housing capital expenditure in 1988–89 is now 11 per cent. higher than previous plans and £158 million higher than estimated outturn for 1987–88. In 1989–90 expenditure will be £284 million higher than previous plans. Increases on this scale have been made possible by the continuing success of the right to buy, and by the disposal of new towns land for housing, which is generating higher levels of capital receipts than previously forecast.

  This year's White Paper provides more information about the housing programme than has been previously published. There is a more detailed breakdown into components of the programme and, for the first time, this detailed breakdown is extended to future years' plans. Information on the outputs achieved by the expenditure is continued from previous years and developed. The balance of planned spending between components of the programme reflects the policies set out in the White Paper "Housing: the Government's Proposals", published in 1987 (Cm. 214).

  Housing Associations

  Housing associations are playing an increasing role in the provision of new social housing for rent. This will be further encouraged by the increase of some £50 million in planned gross provision for the Housing Corporation in 1988–89. The Government expect some of this money to be used to attract additional investment from the private sector, thereby increasing the amount of housing which can be built for the available public resources. Details of the corporation's development programme will be announced shortly.

  Local Authority Programmes

  Planned local authority gross capital expenditure is £313 million higher in 1988–89 than in previous plans. After taking account of the increased spending power available to local authorities from higher levels of receipts, this leaves housing investment programme capital
  760
  allocations at £1,150 million. Individual local authority allocations were announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 18 December 1987. As the figures show, local authorities are spending a growing proportion of their resources on the renovation of the existing housing stock. The plans published today reflect the Government's intention that this trend should continue and it will he encouraged. There is also a very substantial increase in the size of the estate action programme, to allow £140 million of targeted allocations. This should permit work to begin on a further 70,000 or so rundown local authority dwellings, to add to the almost 100,000 included in schemes so far. Disposals to private sector owners and managers are running at the rate of about 8,000 units a year, the target for 1988–89 has been set at 15,000 disposals.

  Housing Action Trusts

  A new component of the housing programme is expenditure on housing action trusts (HATs). Proposals for the establishment of these trusts are currently before the House. The Government intend to launch a pilot programme of HATs in the first instance to tackle the problems of some of the worst areas of public housing. In designated areas they will take over the ownership and management of local authority housing, implement a programme of renovation and repair and pass the property on to different forms of ownership and management. HATs will also have a role in encouraging local enterprise and employment in their areas. £125 million has been earmarked for HATs in their first three years of operation.

  OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

  Urban Development Corporations

  Urban development corporations (UDCs) are planned to spend over £200 million in each of the next three years. There are now six UDCs in England. I intend to set up three more during 1988, in Bristol, Leeds and Manchester. This reflects the high priority I give to regenerating the inner cities, and the effectiveness of the UDCs in London Docklands and Merseyside in regenerating their areas. For example, three quarters of Merseyside development corporation's area was derelict initially—more than 70 per cent. of that derelict land has already been reclaimed. In London Docklands, 1987 saw the opening of the Stolport and Docklands light railway, and the signing of an agreement to develop Canary wharf.

  Urban Programme and Derelict Land Grant

  Despite the increased emphasis on UDCs, planned expenditure by DOE on the urban programme (including urban development grant and urban regeneration grant) and derelict land grant amounts to nearly £300 million a year. In 1987–88 local authorities' inner area programmes, supported by Government grant, are forcast to create or preserve about 31,000 jobs and support about 60,000 training places. Urban development grant projects approved since 1982 will generate over £500 million of private sector investment a gearing ratio of 4:1.During the same period over 6,000 hectares of derelict land have been reclaimed with the aid of derelict land grant.

  New Towns

  The new towns programme of disposals of commercial and industrial property continues successfully as the

  761
  private sector takes an increasingly prominent role in the future of the towns. This is reflected in the high level of forecast receipts — £311 million in 1988–89. Capital expenditure—planned at £81 million in 1988–89—is now aimed at rounding off development in the remaining new towns and bringing forward asserts for disposal. Throughout the plan period capital receipts continue significantly to exceed gross capital expenditure.

  Countryside

  I have increased resources for the countryside agencies and the Sports Council. Next year's increase for the Nature Conservancy Council will finance the designation of 500 sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) and several new nature reserves. It will also cover the cost of 500 new management agreements with farmers and landowners to protect SSSIs, and 600 grants for voluntary conservation work. The Countryside Commission, is aiming to plant 2·25 million trees in 1988–89, in addition to those planted in the aftermath of the 15·16 October storm. Their increase in funding will allow the commission to make a start on a major programme to upgrade the nation's footpaths by the end of the century. Next year's increase for the Development Commission will enable it to continue to develop its successful job creation programmes in support of the rural economy. The increases for the Sports Council will enable it to undertake more work in areas of high priority need in the inner cities, and in particular to increase participation among young people. The council's expenditure is "pump priming" and so will help to stimulate additional private sector involvement.

  Local Environmental Services Capital

  Gross provision is £627 million per annum for 1988–89 to 1990–91. Capital receipts generated by local authorities on LES have risen sharply in recent years and forecast receipts have accordingly been revised upwards to £542 million per annum.

  British Waterways Board

  The British Waterways Board external financing limit (EFL) is increased by £1·6 million. This is intended to preserve the real value of the grant for 1988–89. Efficiency savings are expected to flow from the preparation of the waterway plans for the board's network, and the implementation of the MMC report.

  Water Authorities

  Water authorities continue to reduce real operating costs and this, taken with increased profitability, will enable them to finance large increases in investment proposed in their 1987 corporate plans, with a slight reduction in borrowing. Capital expenditure has already grown in real terms by 40 per cent. since 1980–81 and is currently running at about £1 billion. Further major growth is now assured in programmes to improve water and sewage treatment and to renew underground assets.

  Property Services Agency

  On PSA's civil accommodation programme, disposal and property repayment services (PRS) receipts are planned to increase by £86 million in 1988–89 and £136 million in 1989–90, enough to allow expenditure increase of £60 million and £74 million and net reductions of £26 million and £62 million in these years. Some of the increase in expenditure is needed to meet unavoidable demands,
  762
  such as higher rents to be paid to landlords. But enough will remain to carry out priority major new works and to halt the deterioration in the condition of the civil estate in 1988–89 and start making inroads on the backlog of maintenance work in 1989–90.

  Local Authority Capital Expenditure, England

  Gross provision for capital expenditure by local authorities under the main local authority capital cash limit, DOE/LA1, is £5,173 million, £246 million higher than the equivalent provision for 1987–88. Under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act local authorities have two main sources of capital spending power: capital allocations issued by the Government and a prescribed proportion of their capital receipts. Capital allocations on DOE/LA1 in 1988–89 will total £2,625 million, broadly similar to this year. Because local authorities are continuing to generate more capital receipts, particularly under right to buy, their potential spending power from capital receipts will be £300 million higher than in 1987–88, at about £3·6 billion. The Government's plans take account of the fact that in aggregate local authorities do not make full use of their potential spending power.

DEFENCE

  Irish Sea (Incidents)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents involving fishing boats and submarines were reported in the Irish sea in 1987.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The only incident involving a Royal Navy submarine and a fishing vessel occurred in the Irish sea on 6 December 1987.

  Sexual Harassment
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on sexual harassment at work; whether guidance on reporting complaints has been issued to all staff; how many complaints have been reported in the past five years; and what disciplinary action has been taken.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Civil Service policy on sexual harassment is set out in the programme of action to achieve equal opportunities for women in the Civil Service which was published by the Cabinet Office (Management and Personnel Office) in 1984. Sexual harassment at work is not tolerated and is dealt with as a disciplinary matter through the usual Civil Service complaints procedures.

  The MOD is in the process of discussing and agreeing departmental guidelines, on policy and procedures to be followed in cases of sexual harassment, with the MOD trades unions.

  Cases of sexual harassment are recorded centrally in MOD only if they result in a disciplinary penalty. Statistics are available for the past four years; there have been four such cases and the penalties ranged from dismissal to suspension from duty without pay.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any agreements exist for military nuclear waste to be(a) taken into the United Kingdom from other

  763
  countries and (b) taken to other countries from the United Kingdom; and whether any such waste has been moved under either of these two categories.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are no formal agreements involving acceptance overseas of nuclear wastes from British defence operations in the United Kingdom, and none has been sent.

  Nor are there formal agreements for acceptance into the United Kingdom of nuclear wastes from British defence operations overseas, but small quantities have been returned to the United Kingdom on an ad hoc basis.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many plutonium and radioactive waste related projects at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston, have been agreed by Ministers in each year since 1979; what have been the costs of each project(a) at the time agreed and (b) currently; and if he will make a statement about the reasons for changes.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Information on past and current estimates of the capital works programme at AWE Aldermaston, together with the progression of costs were contained in the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the "Control and Management of the Trident Programme" (HC 27). I have nothing to add to this information.

  Trident
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which private contractor has been chosen to oversee and complete nuclear work for the Trident missile programme at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston; and what is the exact nature of the contractor's responsibilities.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Tenders for the role of facilities project management contractor for the capital programme at AWE Aldermaston were received from five firms on 18 December 1987. The proposals are still under consideration. Tenderers will be advised of their success or otherwise in accordance with normal MOD practice.

  Harrier GR5
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is proposed that the Harrier GR5 will replace Jaguars in the ground attack role; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Mr. Sainsbury) on 11 December at column 307.

  Military Bases and Facilities
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total number of(a) United States and (b) United Kingdom military bases and facilities in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  There are approximately 700 principal military bases and facilities in the United Kingdom wholly under United Kingdom command. There are a further 66 military bases and facilities in the United Kingdom made available for use by United States forces under United States national command. In addition, there are two 764
  armament depots run by United Kingdom civilians on behalf of NATO which provide a service for United States forces.

  Service Establishments, Nottinghamshire
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the medical facilities at all service establishments in Nottinghamshire, along with the number of beds available and average number occupied for which suitable figures are available.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is no military hospital facility in Nottinghamshire. The only service medical bed facility is eight beds at the station medical centre RAF Newton. Bed occupancy statistics are not kept for this unit which is provided only as a recovery facility for sick single personnel.

  RAF Molesworth
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time he expects to make a decision about the future use of RAF Molesworth after the implementation of the intermediate nuclear forces treaty.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  No decision on this is expected for some time.

  Departmental Offices
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the efficiency and effectiveness of his Department of the proposal to centralise parts of his Department at Thames house, Millbank.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are no plans to centralise parts of the Ministry of Defence in Thames house, Millbank.

  Low-flying Aircraft
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints were received about low-flying aircraft in 1987 from England, Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Freeman
  During 1987 the Ministry of Defence received 4,053 inquiries and complaints about military low flying in relation to England, 729 in relation to Scotland and 913 in relation to Wales.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of aircraft movements authorised for flying below 250 ft over the United Kingdom in 1987; on how many days such low flying took place; and if he will provide a breakdown of these figures for(a) the northern Scotland tactical training area, (b) the central Wales tactical training area, (c) the Borders tactical training area and (d) other areas.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested regarding aircraft movements authorised for flying below 250 ft within the tactical training area is given in the table. The number of days on which such flying actually took place is not however available, and could not be provided without disproportionate effort. Figures in the table relate to the number of days on which flying was authorised to take place. We would expect actual figures to be significantly lower because alternative dates are often prebooked for use in case of bad weather. Operational low flying only takes place in the United Kingdom in the three tactical training areas.
  765

  Tactical training area

  Northern Scotland

  Central Wales

  Borders

  Total

  Operational low flying movements

  518

  242

  626

  1,386

  Number of days on which operational low-flying was authorised

  133

  101

  110

  145

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of low-flying sorties carried out over the United Kingdom in 1987, calculated by(a) counting the number of sorties directly and (b) the pre-1985 method of logging movements between low-flying areas.

  Mr. Freeman
  The total number of sorties flown during 1987 was 147,661. The approximate total number of sorties flown, as recalculated from movements by the pre-1985 method, was 133,213.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total number of low-flying sorties flown over the United Kingdom in 1987 was accounted for by(a) fast jets, (b) light jet trainers, (c) heavy propeller-driven aircraft, (d) light propeller-driven aircraft and (e) helicopters.

  Mr. Freeman
  The proportion of military low-level training sorties flown over the United Kingdom during 1987 for each of the categories stated is as follows:

  per cent.

  Fast Jets

  60

  Light Jet Trainers

  10

  Heavy propeller-driven aircraft

  2

  Light propeller-driven aircraft

  1

  Helicopters

  27

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total number of low-flying sorties flown over the United Kingdom in 1987 was represented by(a) British military aircraft, (b) United States air force aircraft, (c) other NATO air forces aircraft and (d) aircraft from non-NATO countries.

  Mr. Freeman
  Central statistics do not distinguish between categories(c) and (d) in the question. Otherwise available information for 1987 is as follows:

  Operating authority

  Proportion of sorties flown per cent.

  British Military

  84

  USAF

  15

  Others

  1

  Research Projects
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report research projects currently under way in Welsh university colleges that are funded by his Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Yes. The list is as follows:

  Serial

  Title

  1.

  Synthesis and reactions of boron alkyls.

  2.

  Fundamental studies into the influence of rotation on heat transfer in flow geometries appropriate to the coding of gas turbine rotor blades.

  3.

  Prediction of stress corrosion crack propagation in welded aluminium alloys.

  4.

  Mixed layer dynamics at ocean weather ship Lima.

  5.

  Short fatigue cracks in near-alpha-titanium.

  6.

  Creep strain and creep life prediction for commercial aluminium alloys.

  7.

  A novel numerical technique for the calculation on electromagnetic coupling to structures at high frequencies.

  8.

  Review of elastic-plastic finite element analysis of welds.

  9.

  Mathematical modelling of the circulation in the Tamar.

  10.

  Numerical modelling of shallow oceans and supporting measurements.

  11.

  Improved/novel techniques for atmospheric ion production—Phase II.

  12.

  Special resource requirements of a fielded network.

  13.

  IR emission from combustion products of pyrotechnic propellants.

  14.

  Improved digitial terrain models.

  15.

  Practicality of tool support interfaces for the APSE.

  16.

  Electromagnetic energy coupling into gaseous detonation waves.

  17.

  Provision of ophthalmological services.

  18.

  Human information processing under high work load.

  19.

  Confidence band estimation for distributions used in probabilistic design.

  20.

  The prediction of percutaneous absorption.

  21.

  Automatic natural language generation.

  22.

  Vicon/Pasco "development".

  23.

  Thermo-dynamic equilibria for metal complex reactions.

  24.

  Flow cytometry and cell sorting of micro-organisms.

  25.

  Investigation into ferrite loaded lines for sub-nanosecond pulse sharpening application.

  26.

  Invitro assessment of toxicity.

  27.

  Surface examination of fine metal powders and alloys.

  28.

  Verification of computer code grult.

  29.

  Micro structural characterisation of commercial aluminium lithium alloys.

  30.

  Ultimate load of aluminium alloys.

  31.

  Protease mutants in yeast cloning systems.

  32.

  Semiconductor-semiconductor interfaces.

  33.

  Cytotoxicity of alkylating agents.

  34.

  Catalysis of co-oxidisation reactions on platinum.

  MALAYSIA: DETAINEES
  MALAYSIA: DETAINEES
  ETHIOPIA
  ETHIOPIA
  MOZAMBIQUE, ZIMBABWE AND ANGOLA: AID
  MOZAMBIQUE, ZIMBABWE AND ANGOLA: AID
  LAW AND ORDER SERVICES: FUNDING
  LAW AND ORDER SERVICES: FUNDING
  ALCOHOL MISUSE: MINISTERIAL GROUP'S PROPOSALS
  ALCOHOL MISUSE: MINISTERIAL GROUP'S PROPOSALS