Written Answers of 26 January 1988

WALES

  Battery Hens
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has given, or intends to give, to egg producers in Wales as to the time at which they should comply with the provisions of the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987, in the light of the further review to be undertaken in 1993.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The regulations came into force on 1 January 1988. As from that date all new cages must conform: for existing cages the space allowance must be achieved by 1 January 1995. Within the seven-year lead-in period for existing cages, the timing of any change will largely be a matter for the individual producer. The Government will maintain close links with the industry on both their ongoing review and the scientific report due from the Commission by 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make representations to the European Communities Council of Ministers to ensure full compliance within Europe with the provisions of European directive 86/113 on the welfare of battery hens.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Compliance with EEC directives is a matter for individual member states and for the European Commission. In this instance, article 7 requires the Commission to undertake inspection programmes within member states to ensure that the directive is complied with and uniform standards applied. The Commission is also required to produce reports on those inspections.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that cage sizes for battery hens should be increased by 1993 to allow greater space and height for the welfare of the birds.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The Government believe that a European standard of about 600 sq cm per bird would be more appropriate in welfare terms and will be seeking improvements when the review of the directive, due in 1993, takes place.

  Cardiology Service (North Wales)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will increase the finance available to the cardiology service provided by Liverpool health authority for north Wales patients.

  Mr. Grist
  The Mersey RHA is historically funded to provide cardiac services for patients in north Wales. A review of cardiac services provided by Liverpool RHA is currently under way and its outcome will be discussed with the Welsh Office in due course. In the meantime, in an effort to increase the number of cardiac patients in north Wales being treated, arrangements have been made by 128
  Clwyd DHA, with funding from the Welsh Office, for individuals to be referred to a private hospital in Manchester. The need for this arrangement will be reviewed regularly.

  Surgery
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in order of frequency the 10 most common forms of surgery for which patients are admitted to hospitals in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Ten Most Common Forms of Surgical Operation in National Health Service Hospitals in Wales in 1986

  OPCS Operation Codes

  Type of operation

  Number

  703-706

  Dilation, curettage, biopsy and excision of lesion of cervix

  9,384

  770-779

  Post-Natal or post-abortion operations

  8,866

  607,608

  Cystoscopy (with destruction of lesion)

  8,027

  752,753,758-762

  Other delivery operations

  7,347

  780-789

  Treatment of fracture by operations

  7,160

  230-239

  Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

  4,636

  742

  Termination of pregnancy

  4,592

  400-409

  Operations on abdominal wall, peritoneum and mesentary

  4,311

  764-769

  Caesarean Section

  4,107

  170-179

  Operations on lens

  4,094

  Hospital and Health Services
  Sir Raymond Gower
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any change to announce in the cash limit for class XVII vote 8.

  Mr. Grist
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class XVII, vote 8 (Hospital and Community Health Services, etc, Wales) will be increased by £3,800,000 from £716,836,000 to £720,636,000. My right hon. Friend announced this increase in his written answer of 16 December 1987, at columns 512 and 513, which should ensure that current levels of patient services are maintained without carrying forward a large burden of expenditure liabilities to 1988–89.

  This increase will be charged to the reserve and therefore does not add to the public expenditure planning total.

  Infants (Spinal Curvature)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures have been taken by his Department to ensure that all children born with spinal curvature are screened for non-spontaneously resolving scoliosis within two to three months of birth in all Welsh health authority areas.
  129
  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 15 January 1988]: Guidance on the medical examination of the new born baby and the care of babies born with a malformation or risk of handicap, and their subsequent follow-up, has been published in the third report of the maternity services advisory committee to the Secretaries of State for Social Services and for Wales.

  The report, published in 1985, was endorsed by the perinatal mortality initiative survey group in its report to the Secretary of State for Wales in 1986. Both reports were distributed to general managers of district health authorities, administrators of family practitioner committees, secretaries of community health councils and health professionals working in the maternity and neonatal services. The Department issued a circular, WHC(86)69, in December 1986 to all health authorities in Wales asking them to review their service provision and examine their performance in the light of the guidance in these two reports. Copies of the two reports are available in the Library. A copy of the circular will be placed in the Library of the House.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Social Security Commission (Cardiff Office)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the bodies with which consultations took place, and over what period, prior to the decision being made by Her Majesty's Government to close the Cardiff office of the social security commissioners.

  The Attorney-General
  Consultations on the proposal to close the Cardiff office of the Social Security Commissioners took place between 4 December 1985 and 31 January 1986.

  The following individuals and organisations were invited to comment:

  The Welsh Office.

  The Department of Health and Social Security.

  National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau (South Wales Regional Office).

  Child Poverty Action Group.

  Council on Tribunals.

  Chief Social Security Commissioner.

  Mr. Roderic Bowen QC (the former Resident Welsh Social Security Commissioner).

  Lord Chancellor's Department Trade Union Side.

  The Staff of the Cardiff Office.

  In addition, representations were received from the following:

  Mr. Griffith Owen George (Resident Welsh National Insurance Commissioner 1950–1967).

  Institute of Directors (Wales Division).

  Wales Trade Union Congress.

  Bail
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Attorney-General how the Northern Ireland Court Service ensures that the minimum amount of time elapses between bail requirements being completed and the papers being returned to the prison in order to ensure the speedy release of the person to whom bail was granted.

  The Attorney-General
  In almost all cases, completed documents are given to the police for delivery to the prison.
  130
  Occasionally, if prison warders are in the courts, they effect delivery. Court staff have also delivered documents and, in the provincial areas, recourse has been made to the first-class postal system.

  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Attorney-General what has been the maximum length of time which has elapsed in any individual case relating to a male held on remand in Her Majesty's prison, Crumlin road, between bail requirements being completed and the actual release of the person who was granted bail.

  The Attorney-General
  This information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, I would be happy to look into it.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Population Component
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list in the Official Report the eight requests for assistance for projects with a population component on which preparatory work was in hand at 31 December 1987.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information is as follows:

  India:
  Orissa Family Welfare Project Phase II.
  Gujarat Integrated Rural Development and Family Welfare project; possible extension of population component.
  Population components in three slum improvement projects.

  Kenya:
  World Bank Third Population Project; proposed ODA co-financing.

  Tanzania
  Technical co-operation input to 1988 Population Census.

  Pakistan:
  Possible new phase of support for population activities.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Murderers and Rapists
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murderers and rapists have been released over the last 10 years and have committed the same crime again.

  Mr. John Patten
  In the period 1977 to 1986 four offenders originally convicted of murder and later released on licence from prisons in England and Wales have subsequently been reconvicted of murder.

  The only information readily available on rape relates to a sample of adult males discharged from prison department establishments in 1981 and is for those discharged from a sentence for any sexual offence. About 3 per cent. of those so discharged were convicted of another sexual offence within two years. Results of this study were published in tables 8(h) and 8(i) "Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1984" (Cmnd. 9622), copies of which are in the Library.

  Horses and Ponies
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Home Department if he proposes to take any action in the light of the report on stray , tethered and abandoned horses and ponies in England and Wales, issued by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is already an offence under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960 to cause unnecessary suffering to domestic or captive animals, or to abandon them without reasonable excuse in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering. The maximum penalty for such offences has recently been substantially increased, and proposals to extend the power of disqualification from keeping an animal have been introduced. We believe that with these changes the existing legislation provides adequate remedies for offences of cruelty.

  Firearms
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to reduce the costs incurred by the Metropolitan police in the administration of the issuing of firearms and shotgun certificates, down to a level comparable with other police forces.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No sample survey of costs incurred by police forces in issuing firearm and shotgun certificates has been undertaken since 1981. A comparison of costs on the basis of the most recent Metropolitan police assessment of costs for the period 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1986 is not therefore possible. This assessment was accepted for consideration by the working party on the review of fees which we intend should resume its work in the light of the proposed new firearms legislation.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken by police officers to locate, document or seize the 45 calibre Thompson and 9 mm Bergann pistol held by the late Michael Ryan without a firearms certificate.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the chief constable that extensive investigations carried out by the Thames Valley police since the Hungerford shootings into the weapons held by Michael Ryan have not disclosed any substantive evidence that Ryan was ever in possession of the firearms indicated.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of firearms in circulation in each category have been reported as stolen in each of the past 10 years or for any lesser period for which records are readily available.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is not available. The number of burglaries and thefts recorded by the police in which firearms were reported to have been stolen, by principal weapons, is published in table 3.12 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1986" (Cm. 233). The number of firearms and shotgun certificates on issue at the end of each year is published in tables 1 and 3 of Home Office statistical bulletin issue 2/88. Copies of both publications are in the Library. Information is not collected centrally at present on the number of firearms 132
  stolen in each offence nor of the numbers of weapons held on certificates. The information collected on these subjects is under review.

  Community Radio
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he will be giving to community radio stations in Wales when granting their licences with regard to the proportion of time they will broadcast in Welsh and English; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Under the legislative proposals that my right hon. Friend will bring before Parliament it will be for the radio authority and not the Home Secretary to award radio broadcasting licences, having regard to criteria which will reflect paragraph 7.23 of our Green Paper.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by species, the number of animals involved in experiments at Porton Down, in universities and other establishments of higher education, for each year 1979 to 1987; and how many of each were killed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The number of experiments which were started on animals, in each year from 1977 to 1986, at universities and polytechnics in Great Britain is given in table 20 of "Statistics of Experiments on Living Animals 1986" (Cm. 187), copies of which are in the Library. The records are kept in terms of experiments begun each year on animals and do not show how many of these died as a result or were subsequently killed. A breakdown by species is not readily available; I will write to the hon. Member with this information.

  It is not our practice to make available detailed information on the usage of particular species in animal experiments at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down.

  B2 Division, Lunar House
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is(a) the average, (b) the median and (c) the maximum casework backlog in B2 division at Lunar house; what are the causes of such backlogs; and what measures are being taken to reduce them.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: On 18 January there were 269 cases which had been in B2 division for at least a month without initial action being taken. This largely reflects staff absences for a number of reasons, including leave over the Christmas period. The highest number on any one case-working officer's desk was 68, the average 7·5 and the median 0.

PRIME MINISTER

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

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

  St. Philip's Marsh, Bristol
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she plans to visit the St. Philip's Marsh area of Bristol.

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

  Engagements
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the time, duration and nature of her engagements on Monday 18 January.

  The Prime Minister
  During the morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I gave a lunch at 10 Downing Street for the United Kingdom/ Japan 2000 Group. In the afternoon I had further meetings, and in the evening I attended a dinner at the Guildhall.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 January.

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

  Cabinet Committees
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on her practice in answering questions on the numbers and names of the Cabinet Committees and Sub-Committees.

  The Prime Minister
  There continue to be four Standing Committees of the Cabinet: a Defence and Overseas Policy Committee and an Economic Strategy Committee under my chairmanship; and a Home and Social Affairs Committee and a Legislation Committee under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council. Attendance at these Committees will vary according to the subject under discussion. Sub-Committees of the Standing Committees will be continued or established as appropriate. Membership and terms of reference of the Standing Committees and their Sub-Committees will remain confidential.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teacher Training (Report)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will identify those institutions included in Her Majesty's inspectorate's report "Quality in Schools: The Initial Training of Teachers" of which the inspectors reported that teaching accommodation showed serious deficiencies;

  (2) if he will identify those few institutions described in Her Majesty's inspectors' report "Quality in Schools: The Initial Training of Teachers" as ones in which the British
  134
  education degree course contained a method course designed for students to consider the application of their specialist subject to childrens' learning;

  (3) if he will identify those institutions described in her Majesty's inspectors' report "Quality in Schools: The Initial Training of Teachers" of which the inspectors reported that they gave considerable time and emphasis to preparing students for work in a multi-ethnic society;

  (4) if he will identify those institutions described in Her Majesty's inspectors' report "Quality in Schools: The Initial Training of Teachers" of which the inspectors reported that attention was given to preparing students for work in a multi-ethnic society;

  (5) if he will identify those institutions and courses included in Her Majesty's inspectors' report "Quality in Schools: The Initial Training of Teachers" where the inspectors reported that specialist subject method courses in the British education and the post graduate certificate in education had serious difficulties;

  (6) if he will identify the small number of institutions included in Her Majesty's inspectors' report "Quality in Schools: The Initial Training of Teachers" of which the inspectors reported that there was some imaginative coverage of the world of work and the industrial and commercial relevance of the school curriculum;

  (7) if he will specify the number of instances covered by the reference in Her Majesty's inspectors' report "Quality in Schools: The Initial Training of Teachers" to cases where students were exposed to poor practice during their time in schools;

  (8) how many of the institutions surveyed in Her Majesty's inspectors' report "Quality in Schools: The Initial Training of Teachers" had libraries which contained a minimum of 90,000 volumes in the main collection, together with subscriptions to 400 or more periodicals.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  It is not the practice to identify the individual institutions concerned as regards references made to particular aspects of their provision in reports of general surveys by HMI. Individuals HMI reports on each of the institutions have been published over the last three years.

  Students
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest available figures for numbers of students for every university and polytechnic by(a) full-time and (b) part-time status.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is shown in the following tables:

  University student number in 1986

  Thousands

  Universities (Great Britain)

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Aston

  3·6

  0·4

  Bath

  3·7

  0·3

  Birmingham

  9·3

  1·0

  Bradford

  4·4

  0·6

  Bristol

  7·1

  0·5

  Brunel

  2·9

  2·1

  Cambridge

  12·2

  1·1

  City

  3·2

  1·0

  Durham

  5·1

  0·4

  East Anglia

  4·2

  0·6

  Essex

  3·1

  0·2

  135

  Universities (Great Britain)

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Exeter

  5·0

  0·4

  Hull

  4·8

  0·7

  Keele

  2·8

  0·2

  Kent

  4·2

  0·5

  Lancaster

  4·6

  0·4

  Leeds

  10·3

  0·7

  Leicester

  4·9

  0·5

  Liverpool

  7·7

  0·8

  London Business School

  0·3

  0·2

  London

  40·1

  8·4

  Loughborough

  5·2

  0·5

  Manchester Business School

  0·2

  0·1

  Manchester

  11·3

  1·4

  Manchester Institute of Science and Technology

  4·1

  0·3

  Newcastle

  7·8

  0·6

  Nottingham

  7·3

  0·9

  Oxford

  12·2

  1·9

  Reading

  5·8

  0·5

  Salford

  3·7

  1·0

  Sheffield

  8·2

  0·5

  Southampton

  6·5

  0·6

  Surrey

  3·4

  0·7

  Sussex

  4·5

  0·3

  Warwick

  5·9

  0·7

  York

  3·7

  0·2

  Aberystwyth University College

  3·2

  0·3

  Bangor University College

  2·8

  0·3

  Cardiff University College

  5·7

  1·0

  St. David's Lampeter

  0·7

  0·0

  Swansea University College

  4·5

  0·3

  University of Wales College of Medicine

  0·8

  0·1

  UWIST

  2·9

  0·2

  Aberdeen

  5·6

  0·5

  Dundee

  3·3

  0·2

  Edinburgh

  10·1

  0·8

  Glasgow

  10·5

  2·6

  Heriot-Watt

  3·5

  0·5

  St. Andrews

  3·6

  0·1

  Stirling

  2·9

  0·4

  Strathclyde

  7·6

  1·3

  TOTAL GREAT BRITAIN

  301·3

  39·4

  Polytechnic students in 1986

  Thousands

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Polytechnics (England)1

  AFE

  NAFE

  AFE

  NAFE

  North-East London

  5·0

  —

  2·7

  0·0

  Middlesex

  7·0

  0·2

  1·7

  0·2

  Kingston

  5·6

  0·1

  1·4

  —

  Birmingham

  5·0

  0·1

  4·7

  0·6

  Lanchester

  5·8

  0·1

  1·3

  0·0

  Wolverhampton

  4·8

  0·0

  3·0

  0·1

  Liverpool

  7·1

  0·1

  3·2

  0·1

  Manchester

  9·7

  0·3

  5·1

  0·4

  Full-time

  Part-time

  AFE

  NAFE

  AFE

  NAFE

  Polytechnics (Eng)(1)

  Aged under 21

  Men

  46·5

  0·6

  6·5

  1·0

  Women

  36·3

  0·8

  3·0

  0·7

  Total

  82·8

  1·5

  9·5

  1·7

  Aged 21 and over

  Men

  45·0

  0·5

  40·1

  4·7

  Women

  31·9

  0·7

  24·2

  5·3

  Total

  76·8

  1·2

  64·3

  9·9

  136

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Polytechnics (England)1

  AFE

  NAFE

  AFE

  NAFE

  Sheffield

  7·9

  0·1

  3·8

  0·3

  Huddersfield

  4·7

  0·1

  2·1

  0·2

  Leeds

  5·9

  0·1

  3·8

  1·5

  Newcastle

  6·9

  0·0

  3·3

  0·3

  Sunderland

  4·2

  0·0

  1·6

  0·1

  North London

  4·8

  0·0

  2·0

  0·2

  South Bank

  5·0

  0·3

  3·6

  0·3

  City of London

  3·2

  0·2

  5·0

  2·4

  Central London

  4·3

  0·1

  3·6

  2·0

  Thames

  4·8

  0·0

  1·9

  0·6

  Bristol

  5·5

  0·1

  3·9

  0·4

  Teesside

  3·5

  0·1

  1·8

  0·0

  Plymouth

  4·7

  0·2

  0·6

  0·1

  Brighton

  5·7

  0·1

  1·2

  0·8

  Portsmouth

  6·4

  —

  0·7

  —

  Hatfield

  4·1

  0·0

  1·5

  0·0

  Preston

  4·1

  0·1

  2·3

  0·4

  Leicester

  6·4

  0·1

  2·0

  0·1

  Trent

  7·9

  0·0

  3·1

  0·1

  Oxford

  4·5

  0·0

  1·3

  —

  North Staffordshire

  5·0

  0·1

  1·8

  0·4

  Total Polytechnics

  159·6

  2·6

  73·8

  11·7

  1 AFE (Advanced Further Education) courses are courses of higher education. NAFE (Non-advanced Further Education) courses are lower level courses. Some students may be enrolled on both a full-time and a part-time (evening) course or on more than one part-time course. In the figures shown they are counted once for each course on which they are enrolled.

  Figures may not sum due to rounding

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest available figures on the number of students by age, over 21 years and under 21 years, and by gender in(a) universities and (b) polytechnics.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is as follows:

  Student numbers in 1986

  thousands

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Universities (GB)

  Aged under 21

  Men

  97·5

  0·5

  Women

  73·0

  0·9

  Total

  170·4

  1·4

  Aged 21 and over

  Men

  82·1

  23·8

  Women

  48·8

  14·2

  Total

  130·9

  38·0

  137
  (1)—AFE (Advanced Further Education) courses are courses of higher education. NAFE (Non-advanced Further Education) courses are lower level courses. Some students may be enrolled on both a full-time and a part-time (evening) course or on more than one part-time course. In the figures shown they are counted once for each course on which they are enrolled.

  (2)—Ages as at 31 August.

  (3)—Figures may not sum due to rounding.

  Persian Studies
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the future funding and future location of Persian studies in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  My hon. Friend wrote to me on 18 January on this subject, and I am making inquiries. I have received only one other recent representation. Persian studies fell within the scope of the review of Asian and African languages and area studies conducted by Sir Peter Parker for the University Grants Committee, which has accepted and is now implementing his recommendations.

  Achievement Profiling
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether the commitment to the target of 1992 for the completion of achievement profiling for all pupils in maintained schools still stands;

  (2) how many pupils in maintained schools at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools are currently thought to be covered by achievement profiling;

  (3) what records his Department keeps of progress on achievement profiling; and what information it requires on profiling from local education authorities;

  (4) what study his Department has made, or proposes to make, of additional resources whether human or material, required in the introduction of achievement profiling.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government's objective is to agree and establish by 1990 national arrangements under which all young people in secondary schools will have a record of achievement. Education support grants are being used to support development work in nine pilot schemes in England and Wales, to cast light on the best ways to record pupils' achievement, including consideration of the resource implications.

  A national steering committee has been set up to oversee the work of the pilot schemes and to report this autumn on experience gained and the implications for introducing records of achievement nationally. The schemes have made annual reports on progress to the committee and will make their final reports in March. A national evaluation team is evaluating progress for the committee.

  Information about the number of pupils involved in records of achievement schemes throughout the country is not collected centrally. The pilot schemes receiving education support grant funding involve 22 local education authorities in England and Wales and some 250 secondary schools. Records of achievement are also being developed in many schools and local education authorities outside these areas.

  Universities
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will provide for each of the eight Scottish universities a table showing, for all academic 138
  staff, the location of their first degrees as between Scottish universities, other United Kingdom universities and foreign universities, only the totals being required in each case;

  (2) if he will provide a table showing for all academic staff at each of Oxford and Cambridge universities the location of their first degrees, as between Oxford and Cambridge, Scottish universities, other United Kingdom universities and foreign universities, only the totals being required in each case.

  Mr. Jackson
  The "Commonwealth Universities Yearbook", a copy of which is in the Library, lists staff, by name, at each university and includes information on the university at which first degrees were obtained.

  Modern Languages
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the final version of the policy statement on modern languages in the school curriculum will be published.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today published the policy statement "Modern Languages in the School Curriculum". Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and are being sent to all local education authorities and secondary schools, and to other interested bodies within and beyond the education service.

  The main messages of the policy statement are that pupils should study a modern foreign language throughout compulsory secondary education, and more should continue with a language into the sixth form; there should be a greater diversification of first foreign language provision into languages such as German, Italian, Spanish or Russian; and more emphasis should be placed on communication skills.

  The policy statement complements our proposals for a national curriculum, which include a modern foreign language as a foundation subject for all secondary school pupils.

TRANSPORT

  Night Flying
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning his review of night flying restrictions at London's airports.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department is considering the many helpful responses to the recent consultation. My right hon. Friend expects to be able to announce new night restrictions for Heathrow and Gatwick in the next few weeks.

  London Dial-a-Ride
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about funding levels for London Dial-a-Ride in 1988–89.
  139
  Mr. David Mitchell
  I have received a number of letters from Members of Parliament, private individuals and others concerning Dial-a-Ride. I have made it clear that as there is evidence that current resources are not in all cases being used cost-effectively, decisions on future levels of funding must depend on further efficiency improvements by some Dial-a-Ride organisations.

  Roads
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reappraise future road requirements.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We shall continue to develop the trunk road network to meet future traffic needs in a timely fashion. We have a large new construction and improvement programme which is regularly reviewed and to which further schemes are added as required. Each scheme within the programme undergoes continuous assessment to ensure that, when constructed, it will meet its required objectives. Responsibility for local roads rests with local highway authorities.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of London Regional Transport to discuss problems facing London Regional Transport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  My right hon. Friend next expects to meet the chairman of London Regional Transport on 4 February 1988.

  London Underground
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of stations covered by the station modernisation of London Underground Limited as described in paragraph 15 of the annual business plan of London Regional Transport, together with(a) expenditure already incurred (b) expenditure already committed and (c) the total sums paid to each to the five contractors, respectively, receiving the highest global sums together with the number of stations contracts awarded to each.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The latest reported information shows that expenditure to date on the station modernisation programme, begun in 1981, is £73 million, with a further £32 million committed (1987 prices). The figures include additional maintenance and repair work undertaken during modernisation. The programme affects 138 stations in whole or in part. Information on the value of contracts placed respectively with individual contractors since 1981 is not readily available.

  Lorry Drivers (Refreshment Facilities)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to encourage the provision of adequate resting and refreshment facilities for commercial lorry drivers on Britain's roads, in the light of the decline in such provision;

  (2) what steps are being taken to encourage the building of refreshment establishments on Britain's trunk roads that cater for the drivers of heavy goods vehicles.
  140
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We are shortly to have meetings with representatives of the local authority associations arid the private sector about steps to stimulate further provision of facilities.

  Our general policy on provision of service areas on English trunk roads was set out in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Forth) on 1 July 1987 at column 88.

  On motorways, our aim is to provide service areas at approximately 30-mile intervals. They are required to provide, for 24 hours of the day, toilets, refreshments, telephones and fuel for all motorway travellers, including drivers of heavy goods vehicles. Operators are free to agree parking stays of over two hours and may charge a fee. HGV drivers frequently rest overnight in their sleeper cabs. Operators are providing overnight accommodation blocks on many of the sites.

  On all-purpose trunk roads, the provision of services, including those for heavy goods vehicles, is primarily for the private sector within the framework of local planning policies. We want to see the needs of HGV drivers met.

  Responsibility for roads other than trunk roads lies with the local highway authority.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to outlaw the display of signs at refreshment establishments which refuse admittance to drivers of heavy goods vehicles.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  We could not reasonably ban display of any road traffic sign which indicates that a particular service area is not for heavy goods vehicles. Some service areas off motorways do not have the capacity to take such vehicles. We have no jurisdiction over signs displayed by proprietors on their own property.

  Cattle Creep (A52 Bypass)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the cost of providing a cattle creep under the A52 bypass at Bottesford, Leicestershire.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The cost would be £260,000 at Barkestone lane and £220,000 at Easthorpe/Muston lane had they been included in the design. Work on the bypass has started and it would cost considerably more to incorporate them now.

  Underpasses
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list the bypasses of trunk roads constructed by his Department over the last three years which have(a) cattle creeps, (b) pedestrian under-passes and (c) pedestrian bridges provided as part of the construction work; and what was the cost of the provision in each case.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the approximate cost of constructing underpasses under the new A52 by-pass at Bottesford, Leicestershire, at Easthorpe/Muston lane and Barkestone lane; and how that would compare with the construction cost of the by-pass itself.
  141
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  If they had been included in the design, the cost of constructing the two underpasses would have been £480,000. Construction of the bypass is estimated to cost £2·76 million.

  Provision of a cattle creep or underpasses was ruled out because of the costs involved. They would necessitate raising the level of the bypass over a distance of 1 km to achieve the required height.

  At the public inquiry in April 1986, the Department gave evidence to show that, over a 10-hour period, between 8 am and 6 pm in September 1983, only 15 cyclists and 12 pedestrians used Easthorpe/Muston lane. Numbers may have increased slightly, but it is not considered that they warrant the provision of an underpass. Barkestone lane has become a dead end. No counts were taken, but we would expect the number here to be even less. Very few residents are served by it.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations have taken place on the creation of new port facilities, or the expansion of existing port facilities, to land imported coal; and with whom.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The provision of port facilities for unloading coal is a matter for users and port operators.

  Landing

  Take offs

  Total

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Winter 1986–87

  2,256

  82

  490

  18

  2,746

  100

  Summer 1987

  1,348

  67

  654

  33

  2,002

  100

  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ascertain from the airlines concerned the justification for the night movements in and out of Heathrow attributable to these airlines, and the extent to which such flights could be made in daytime; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: The Department consulted airlines about night restrictions at Heathrow in 1986. We consulted again in November on our proposals for future night restrictions. It is clear from their replies that the effectiveness of Heathrow as a major international airport would be seriously impaired if flights now operated at night were required to be by day.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Financial Services Act 1986
  Dr. Blackburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he intends to make an order under section 191(3) of the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Mr. Maude
  I have today laid before Parliament an order exempting trustees who are members of certain small self-administered pension schemes and the members of certain other small schemes in certain circumstances for the requirement in section 191(1) to obtain authorisation because of their investment management activity.
  142
  The Central Electricity Generating Board has recently asked officials in my Department about the statutory procedure for seeking powers to construct a jetty for seaborne coal for its proposed new power station at Fawley.

  London Hackney Cabs
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many personal accidents to passengers in the new London hackney cabs have been reported, with injuries arising from contact with the metal frame of the occasional seat; and if he will ask the Public Carriage Office to investigate and to make recommendations on necessary modifications.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I have received no reports of accidents of this kind. The Department would be prepared to investigate any complaints and consider whether any design modifications are desirable.

  Heathrow (Night Movements)
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the scheduled night movements from and to Heathrow are(a) landings and (b) take-offs.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: The figures provided by Heathrow Airport Limited are:

  Steel
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total output of steel, the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in 1958, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Butcher
  The figures are as follows:

  Year

  UK Crude Steel Production '000 tonnes

  Per cent, of Production Exported1

  Imports as per cent, of Total Deliveries to Home Market2

  19583

  19,880

  16·0

  3·5

  1960

  24,695

  16·0

  7·7

  1965

  27,421

  17·7

  3·0

  19703

  28,291

  18·5

  5·5

  19753

  20,098

  20·6

  20·6

  1979

  21,464

  27·0

  20·6

  1980

  11,277

  29·4

  32·6

  19813

  15,573

  31·0

  23·0

  1982

  13,704

  31·2

  26·6

  1983

  14,986

  33·2

  24·7

  1984

  15,121

  33·3

  24·3

  1985

  15,722

  37·8

  26·2

  1986

  14,726

  44·6

  30·2

  198734

  17,420

  na

  na

  1 Calculated on a "crude steel equivalent" basis.

  2 Imports exclude conversion materials, except in the years 1958 and 1960 for which only total imports are available. Total deliveries

  143

  are net deliveries by UK producers to home market plus imports.

  353-week period.

  4 Provisional.

  Ships
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the number and total deadweight of(a) vessels completed and (b) vessels in construction in British shipyards in 1958, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Atkins
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Merchant vessels completed and under construction in United Kingdom shipyards

  Completed

  1Under construction

  Numbers

  2Gross tonnage: 000's

  Numbers

  2Gross tonnage: 000's

  1958

  270

  1,464

  310

  2,234

  1960

  263

  1,298

  258

  1,694

  1965

  176

  1,282

  184

  1,388

  1970

  139

  1,327

  146

  1,649

  1975

  114

  1,170

  145

  1,880

  1979

  86

  691

  79

  514

  1980

  68

  427

  58

  644

  1981

  46

  213

  67

  815

  1982

  59

  435

  71

  793

  1983

  60

  497

  52

  567

  1984

  46

  445

  40

  236

  1985

  35

  172

  40

  337

  1986

  37

  101

  31

  255

  1 Figures are at the end of the year.

  2 Figures in deadweight are not available.

  Source: Lloyd's Register of Shipping.

  Cars
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total output of cars in(a) Britain, (b) West Germany and (c) France, the percentage exported and the share of the domestic market taken by imports in 1958, 1960, 1970, 1975 and in each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Atkins
  The available information is shown in the tables.

  Trends in United Kingdom Car Output United Kingdom

  Production of Cars (units: thousands)

  Exports as Percentage of Total

  Importers share of United Kingdom Market Percentage

  1958

  1,052

  50

  n/a

  1960

  1,353

  57

  n/a

  1970

  1,641

  44

  14·3

  1975

  1,268

  42

  33·2

  1979

  1,070

  37

  56·3

  1980

  924

  38

  56·7

  1981

  955

  32

  55·7

  1982

  888

  25

  57·7

  1983

  1,045

  23

  56·9

  1984

  909

  21

  57·5

  1985

  1,048

  20

  58·1

  1986

  1,019

  18

  56·0

  1987

  11,143

  225

  51·7

  n/a = Not Available.

  1 =Provisional.

  2 = Estimated.

  Source: DTI and Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.

  144

  Trends in West German Car Output West Germany

  Production of Cars (units: thousands)

  Exports as Percentage of Total

  Importers share of United Kingdom Market Percentage

  1958

  1,307

  48

  n/a

  1960

  1,817

  48

  n/a

  1970

  3,528

  55

  n/a

  1975

  2,908

  52

  n/a

  1979

  3,933

  58

  24

  1980

  3,521

  60

  28

  1981

  3,578

  61

  27

  1982

  3,761

  67

  26

  1983

  3,878

  65

  27

  1984

  3,790

  68

  30

  1985

  4,167

  67

  31

  1986

  4,311

  66

  32

  n/a =Not Available.

  Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.

  Trends in French Car Output France

  Production of Cars (units: thousands)

  Exports as Percentage of Total

  Importers share of United Kingdom Market Percentage

  1958

  969

  33

  n/a

  1960

  1,175

  42

  n/a

  1970

  2,458

  43

  n/a

  1975

  2,546

  48

  n/a

  1979

  3,220

  48

  22

  1980

  2,939

  47

  23

  1981

  2,611

  48

  28

  1982

  2,777

  43

  31

  1983

  2,961

  40

  32

  1984

  2,713

  41

  36

  1985

  2,632

  49

  37

  1986

  2,773

  47

  36

  n/a = Not Available.

  Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.

  Imports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the percentage of home demand taken by imports in the latest available year and in 1987 for(a) metal manufacturing, (b) chemicals, (c) man-made fibres, (d) mechanical engineering (e) electrical and electronic engineering, (f) motor vehicles and parts, (g) other transport equipment, (h) instrument engineering, (i) footwear and clothing, (j) other manufacturing and (k) manufacturing (revised definition).

  Mr. Atkins
  The most recent information, relating I o the year ended September 1987, was published in " British Business" on 15 January 1988, page 20.

  Iran
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what percentage of EEC exports to Iran, by value was accounted for by exports from the United Kingdom in 1977, 1978, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987;

  (2) what rank, among the current members of the EEC, the United Kingdom held in value of exports to Iran in 1977, 1978, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Figures for the whole of 1987 are not yet available.
  145

  United Kingdom exports to Iran

  Percentage of EC exports

  Rank as EC exporter

  1977

  18·2

  2

  1978

  18·4

  2

  1984

  16·9

  3

  1985

  16·7

  2

  1986

  16·0

  3

  19871

  13·0

  3

  1 January to May.

  Source: OECD Series 'A'.

  Sheffield
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Government initiatives have been taken since 1979 to deal with urban dereliction and inner-city decay in Sheffield, by means of encouraging development and raising business confidence; if he will list them, indicating the amounts expended under each heading; if he will also indicate any grants available which were not taken up; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Since 1979, the Government have developed a range of initiatives to deal with urban dereliction and inner-city decay by encouraging development and raising business confidence, as I outlined in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Staffordshire (Mr. Heddle) on 19 January 1988,Official Report, columns 598–600.

  The following table gives details of the initiatives which have been undertaken in Sheffield since 1979 and the level of Government support:

  £ million

  Urban Programme

  38·0

  Urban Development Grant

  0·9

  Derelict Land Grant

  1·3

  Estate Action

  1·1

  European Regional Development Fund

  23·1

  Regional Selective Assistance

  9·2

  Business Improvement Scheme

  1·7

  Industrial Development Act

  3·0

  In addition, the Government have given support under various schemes to assist local enterprise and innovation through the Sheffield enterprise agency and joint ventures with the private sector.

  We have directed over £75 million towards these initiatives in Sheffield since 1979, which represents a substantial commitment to the area. There has been an increasing level of interest and take-up across the range of initiatives available to encourage development and raise business confidence.

  High Technology Audits
  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many visits he has authorised, to United Kingdom companies by United States of America officials, pursuant to his agreement with the United States of America relating to high technology audits; when these visits took place; which companies were visited; and what reasons were given.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  None

  Trade Mission (South Africa)
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his policy on the forthcoming United Kingdom South Africa Trade Association trade mission to South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Officials both in the United Kingdom and overseas provide information and advice on the market to business visitors to South Africa, whether they travel there as individuals or as members of a trade mission. Such assistance is not contrary to any of our undertakings on South Africa.

  Textile Industry (False Labelling)
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in the light of the report by the trading standards sub-committee of Nottinghamshire county council, dated 16 November 1987, submitted to his office on 13 January, if he will indicate what steps his Department will take to protect the textile trade from unfair competition and loss of value to consumers by false labelling of goods, with particular reference to garments labelled as wool, and found to be either deficient or containing no wool at all.

  Mr. Maude
  I have noted the recent report of the trading standards sub-committee of the Nottinghamshire county council. Enforcement of United Kingdom legislation governing fibre content labelling of textile products rests, as does much other consumer protection legislation, with individual local authorities. I know, however that the EC Commission has been investigating whether there are particular problems concerning the importation of fabric with overstated wool content. It has not yet announced the outcome.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give details of the progress made by his Department in implementing the policy of deregulation in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Maude
  Deregulation is one of the DTI's prime objectives and central to the enterprise initiative we launched earlier this month. In the last 12 months, substantial progress has been made in the areas listed in the report "Encouraging Enterprise" published last May, particularly in relation to reducing burdens imposed by company law, the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and the Weights and Measures Act 1985. Legislation to amend those Acts and implement the proposed changes in company law will be introduced at the first opportunity.

  My hon. Friend can be assured that we will continue to devote every effort to simplifying those regulations which are necessary and removing those which are not.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish in the Official Report the names of all those companies which have received moneys from the regional development grant and regional selective assistance in excess of £25,000 since 1978–79 in the borough of Sunderland.

  Mr. Kenneth Clark
  The information requested is only available at disproportionate cost. However, details of
  147
  grant recipients above certain thresholds are published in British Business. The dates of publication of regional development grant payments were as follows:

  Publication date

  1978–79

  11 August 1978

  Q1

  3 November 1978

  Q2

  16 February 1979

  Q3

  18 May 1979

  Q4

  1979–80

  19 October 1979

  Q1

  7 December 1979

  Q2

  22 February 1980

  Q3

  6 June 1980

  Q4

  1980–81

  29 August 1980

  Q1

  28 November 1980

  Q2

  13 February 1981

  Q3

  15 May 1981

  Q4

  1981–82

  7 August 1981

  Q1

  6 November 1981

  Q2

  12 February 1982

  Q3

  7 May 1982

  Q4

  1982–83

  13 August 1982

  Q1

  29 October 1982

  Q2

  4 February 1983

  Q3

  6 May 1983

  Q4

  1983–84

  29 July 1983

  Q1

  4 November 1983

  Q2

  3 February 1984

  Q3

  25 May 1984

  Q4

  1984–85

  31 August 1984

  Q1

  9 November 1984

  Q2

  15 February 1985

  Q3

  10 May 1985

  Q4

  1985–86

  16 August 1985

  Q1

  17 January 1986

  Q2

  11 April 1986

  Q3

  20 June 1986

  Q4

  1986–87

  19 September 1986

  Q1

  5 December 1986

  Q2

  10 April 1987

  Q3

  10 July 1987

  Q4

  1987–88

  4 September 1987

  Q1

  18 December 1987

  Q2

  Notes: Details published are:

  (i) original RDG scheme: individual payments which exceed £25,000;

  (ii) revised RDG scheme: payments to individual undertakings in a Travel-to-Work-Area which cumulatively exceed £25,000 in any one quarter.

  Offers of Regional Selective Assistance were published in the following editions of British Business:

  Date

  1978–79

  18 August 1978

  Q1

  148

  Date

  24 November 1978

  Q2

  9 March 1979

  Q3

  15 June 1979

  Q4

  1979–80

  14 September 1979

  Q1

  21 December 1979

  Q2

  29 February 1980

  Q3

  11 June 1980

  Q4

  1980–81

  15 August 1980

  Q1

  5 December 1980

  Q2

  6 March 1981

  Q3

  24 July 1981

  Q4

  1981–82

  25 September 1981

  Q1

  4 December 1981

  Q2

  26 March 1982

  Q3

  28 May 1982

  Q4

  1982–83

  24 September 1982

  Q1

  17 December 1982

  Q2

  15 April 1983

  Q3

  24 June 1983

  Q4

  1983–84

  18 November 1983

  Q1

  17 February 1984

  Q2

  6 July 1984

  Q3

  13 July 1984

  Q4

  1984–85

  14 September 1984

  Q1

  23 November 1984

  Q2

  22 February 1985

  Q3

  28 June 1985

  Q4

  1985–86

  30 August 1985

  Q1

  29 November 1985

  Q2

  28 February 1986

  Q3

  6 June 1986

  Q4

  1986–87

  26 September 1986

  Q1

  28 November 1986

  Q2

  27 March 1987

  Q3

  19 June 1987

  Q4

  1987–88

  28 August 1987

  Q1

  22 November 1987

  Q2

  Note: Details show offers of £5,000 or more and are published after a first payment has been made.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the amount of regional development grant and regional selective assistance grants made in(a) county of Tyne and Wear (b) new town industrial estate of Washington and (c) Sunderland borough council area for each year 1978–79 to the latest date available.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The information is not available in the form requested but the following data can be provided:
  149

  £ million

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  11987–88

  Regional development grants

  Tyne and Wear County

  8·6

  8·2

  12·6

  18·0

  23·4

  16·5

  13·1

  13·6

  27·7

  21·2

  Houghton/Washington2

  0·8

  0·9

  0·6

  0·9

  0·8

  1·3

  8·7

  3·3

  7·2

  2·5

  Sunderland3

  2·1

  2·4

  2·2

  3·6

  3·7

  3·9

  3·3

  4·5

  9·8

  4·3

  Regional selective assistance

  Tyne and Wear County

  3·6

  3·3

  5·3

  8·2

  10·6

  5·5

  4·0

  4·7

  5·3

  5·9

  Houghton/Washington2

  0·4

  0·3

  0·2

  0·6

  0·5

  0·6

  0·9

  0·9

  1·5

  0 7

  Sunderland3

  1·2

  0·7

  0·6

  1·1

  1·0

  0·8

  1·4

  1·4

  1·7

  1·4

  1 Provisional to end-December 1987.

  2 Defined as the Parliamentary Constituencies of Houghton and Washington, except in respect of the original regional development grants scheme for which constituency level data are not available. Instead data have been given for the employment office areas of Houghton and Washington for this scheme.

  3 Defined as the Local Authority District of Sunderland, except in respect of the original regional development grant scheme for which district level data are not available. Instead data have been given for the employment office areas of Houghton, Southwich, Sunderland and Washington for this scheme.

  Planning and Expenditure
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the implications for his Department's(a) planning and (b) spending on job reinforcement of recent projections published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys that East Anglia will have in the next 13 years the greatest proportionate population increase of both people moving in and of new births of any English region.

  Mr. Butcher
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: The high population growth forecast for East Anglia reflects the economic buoyancy of the region. It is to the credit of East Anglian enterprise that GDP per head in East Anglia grew from being the eighth highest in the United Kingdom in 1975 to second highest in 1985. My Department wishes to encourage wealth creation in East Anglia, as elsewhere, and is ready to work with the private sector, local authorities, and the standing conference of East Anglia local authorities to achieve this end. In particular, the enterprise initiative, soon to operate in East Anglia from a DTI office in Cambridge, will be a vital factor in encouraging the growth of real jobs throughout the region.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if there are any proposals to change the criteria for granting regional selective assistance or the ceilings of such aid as a result of the ending of automatic grants.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said in the House on 12 January 1988 at column 160, there are no proposals to change the essential criteria for granting regional selective assistance. We shall ensure that the criteria—particularly additionalityy, ie whether assistance is necessary to enable a project to proceed—are applied rigorously in the interests of securing maximum value from the resources devoted to the scheme.

  The present ceilings on regional assistance are expressed in terms of the total amount of assistance which can be provided for a project. With the ending of regional development grant it will be possible in development areas for the same amount to be provided in RSA as could previously be provided in RDG and RSA combined. The amount actually offered in individual cases is the minimum needed for the project to proceed.
  150
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many successful applications for regional selective assistance are forecast for 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: The number of successful applications for regional selective assistance will depend on the number and quality of applications which come forward. It is estimated that in England there will be approximately 1,600 applications during 1987-88 resulting in RSA offers. It is not possible to provide a forecast for future years with any degree of confidence, but the number is likely to increase.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will forecast the level of regional selective assistance for 1990–91.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: The planned level of provision for expenditure on regional selective assistance in England in 1990–91 is approximately £150 million, of which some £130 million is for industrial and training grants. Residual commitments under the business improvement services scheme, and expenditure under the exchange risk guarantee scheme account for the remainder. These amounts are net of recoveries and other domestic receipts, but gross of receipts from the European regional development fund.

  Associated British Foods
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list any Government assistance which has been given to Associated British Foods, specifically in relation to its Pendleton's factory in Kirkby.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: The Department of Trade and Industry has no record of an application from Associated British Foods for assistance for the Pendleton's factory in Kirkby.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will meet a deputation from the work force of Associated British Foods to discuss the proposed closure of the Pendleton's factory in Kirkby with the consequent loss of 185 permanent jobs and a further 200 seasonal jobs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: I see no point in meeting a deputation from the work force of

  151
  Associated British Foods at this time. The company has taken a commercial decision to close Pendleton's factory at Kirkby. This decision was taken on the basis of substantial losses incurred at the plant over the last four years.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the latest forecast outturn for 1987–88 in respect of money obtained for the United Kingdom from the European regional development fund.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: United Kingdom receipts from the European regional development fund in the nine months to December 1987 were £255 million. The total for the current financial year should be about £340 million.

  BP Shares
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to the latest level of shareholding in BP by Kuwaiti interests.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: The level of shareholding stood at 18.88 per cent. as at close of trading on 22 January.

ENERGY

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list the opencast coal workings currently operating in the United Kingdom, by region, and(a) the annual output in each site and (b) the expected life and total output of each site;

  (2) if he will list all proposed new developments of opencast coal workings for each part of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The British Coal Corporation is responsible for both its own opencast mining operations and the issue of licences to private opencast operators. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list(a) the amount of coal imports into the United Kingdom by country of origin, for the latest year for which figures are available, (b) the ports in which they are being landed and the amounts each year and (c) the names of the companies which are registered to import coal.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Details of imports of coal into the United Kingdom by country of origin in 1986 (the latest year available) are in table 20 of the "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics" published by HMSO. A copy is in the Library of the House.

  In 1986 the ports into which coal was being imported and the amounts landed were as follows:

  Port

  Quantity thousand tones

  Middlesbrough

  2,610

  Port Talbot

  1,558

  Immingham

  1,349

  152

  Port

  Quantity thousand tonnes

  Greenock

  1,301

  Trent

  778

  Medway

  661

  London (including Tilbury)

  404

  Hartlepool

  295

  Cardiff

  247

  Sunderland

  243

  Colchester

  196

  Belfast

  176

  Liverpool

  143

  Avonmouth

  96

  Newport (Gwent)

  83

  Others (38 ports)

  413

  10,554

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Details about coal importing companies are commercially confidential.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions there have been with importers of coal on the future levels of imported coal; and what was the outcome.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  None.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Savings
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the latest figures for savings on both a per capita basis and as a percentage of gross national product; and what comparable figures he has for other members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

  Mr. Lilley
  The latest annual figures are for 1986, when, according to the United Kingdom national accounts, total saving (by persons, companies and Government) in the United Kingdom (after providing for stock appreciation but before providing for depreciation) amounted to £70·8 billion, or £1,247 per head of the population, or 18·7 per cent. of the gross national product.

  International comparisons in money terms are difficult because of the difficulties in measuring according to some common standard, the different purchasing powers of different currencies. (Current exchange rates are not always a good guide.) The following table gives 1985 figures compiled by the OECD for gross saving as percentages of gross domestic product for each OECD country.

  Gross saving as a percentage of GDP in 19851

  Percentage

  United States

  16·5

  Japan

  31·7

  Germany

  22·2

  France

  18·0

  United Kingdom

  19·2

  Italy

  17·7

  Canada

  19·0

  Australia

  19·3

  Austria

  24·4

  Belgium

  15·9

  Denmark

  14·9

  Finland

  23·8

  Greece

  12·2

  153

  Percentage

  Iceland

  16·3

  Ireland

  18·1

  Luxembourg

  65·3

  Netherlands

  24·1

  Norway

  30·0

  Portugal

  23·1

  Spain

  21·0

  Sweden

  17·8

  Switzerland

  30·0

  Turkey

  18·7

  New Zealand

  20·9

  Source: OECD Historical Abstracts (1987).

  1 Gross saving by persons, companies and government before providing for depreciation but after providing for stock appreciation.

  Publicity
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on Government publicity in free newspapers in the last three available years; and if he will make it his policy to increase the proportion of Government publicity expenditure through this medium.

  Mr. Brooke
  Information is not readily available in the form requested. The criterion used by the Central Office of Information in the selection of publicity media is, and must remain, cost-effectiveness in reaching the audience required to meet the specific objectives of each campaign.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in tabular form the relationship between the three-monthly change for the period 1975 to 1987 in the real exchange rate and the three-monthly change in(a) exports (volume), (b) imports (volume), (c) profits, (d) the retail prices index, (e) gross national product growth, (f) the level of domestic economic industry and (g) unemployment, all one year later.

  Mr. Major
  The figures requested are all readily available from published sources. The volume of exports and imports, industrial and commercial company gross trading profits, the retail prices index, industrial production and the level of unemployment may all be found in Economic Trends. Figures for the gross national product may be found in the monthly digest of statistics. There is no unique measure of the real exchange rate. Figures for the sterling exchange rate index and various measures of United Kingdom competitiveness are published in Economic Trends.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the correlation between interest rates and the public sector borrowing requirement from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Major
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has made no estimate. United Kingdom interest rates are influenced by numerous factors including interest rates abroad, inflationary expectations, financial innovation and private sector borrowing, in addition to public sector borrowing. Consequently, simple correlations between interest rates and the public sector borrowing requirement are uninformative.

  Customs Clearance Station (Armagh)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the existing customs clearance station near Armagh city has facilities to handle(a) the importation of live cattle from the Republic of Ireland and (b) the importation of live cattle from the United Kingdom into the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Lawson
  The existing customs clearance station near Armagh city does not have facilities to handle the regular importation and exportation of live cattle between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It does have a limited facility for the temporary holding of cattle which on occasion may have been detained for customs purposes. The facility is only very occasionally used as the Armagh customs station is not linked to a Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland cattle pen. There are no proposals for such a link.

  Industrial Building Allowances
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now take steps to remove the restrictions imposed on the use of industrial building allowances which distinguish between manufacturing and service industries and limit their utilisation to buildings in the former category.

  Mr. Lawson
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: I have noted my right hon. Friend's suggestion.

THE ARTS

  Business Sponsorship
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he has plans to continue the business sponsorship incentive scheme for 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  The business sponsorship incentive scheme continues to be highly successful. Since it began in 1984 it has raised £16·4 million of new money for the arts and has attracted over 600 first time sponsors. Seventy per cent. of the awards have gone to arts groups outside London.

  I believe that the scheme should be strengthened and extended in 1988–89. I am therefore making provision to increase the amount available from £1·75 million to £3 million per annum, an increase of 70 per cent., to reflect the existing and anticipated growth in sponsorship. I am also restoring the maximum limit of £25,000 which was temporarily reduced following an exceptional run of awards in 1987–88. In addition, so as to safeguard the interests for arts organisations obtaining sponsorship for winter events, the budget will be operated in two six-monthly periods, on the basis of allocations reflecting the take-up pattern of previous years.

  I believe that this increase in funding and the change to six-monthly operation will provide adequate resources for the scheme to operate throughout the financial year. However, the scheme is cash-limited and may be exhausted by exceptional demand in either six-month period. In such unlikely circumstances I shall not introduce reduced awards.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Conventional Stability
  Mr. Allen Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on her Majesty's Government's latest position in the talks on conventional stability in Europe.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's latest position in the talks on conventional stability in Europe.

  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's latest position in the talks on conventional stability in Europe.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's latest position in the talks on conventional stability in Europe.

  Mr. Mellor
  The position was set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett) and others on 8 December. I repeat it here: the Government fully support the launching of conventional stability talks covering the Atlantic to the Urals, first called for in the NATO Brussels declaration of December 1986. To this end, the Government are playing an active part in the informal discussions taking place in Vienna between NATO and Warsaw pact representatives to find a mandate for formal conventional stability negotiations. We hope these can begin in the course of this year. The Government's — and NATO's —primary objectives in these talks will be the establishment of a stable and secure balance of forces in Europe at lower levels together with the elimination of disparities in force levels and of the Warsaw pact's capability for surprise attack and offensive action.

  Arms Verification
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in arms verification negotiations with the Soviet Union which have implications for the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Significant progress in the area of verification was made at the Stockholm conference on confidence-building which concluded in September 1986 with agreement on a substantial package of measures including provision for verification of compliance through on-site "challenge" inspection. The INF treaty signed on 8 December between the United States and Soviet Union also contains stringent verification provisions, including provisions for on-site inspections. The United Kingdom signed an exchange of notes with the Soviet Union on 21 December which granted the Soviet Union the right to conduct inspections at RAF Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth, the only United Kingdom bases covered by the INF agreement. In return, the Soviet Union agreed to comply with British laws and procedures.

  The negotiations for a comprehensive ban on chemical weapons will contain extensive verification arrangements, including the need to monitor certain activities of the civil chemical industry. Good progress has recently been made. However, many important details remain to be settled and early agreement is unlikely.

  COCOM
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has decided to join the internal COCOM trading community.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The United Kingdom is a member of COCOM (the Co-ordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls) at which the 16 member countries meet to co-ordinate the export of strategic equipment to Warsaw pact countries and China. COCOM is not a trading community.

  Mr. Douglas Forsyth
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the Egyptian Government have made to diplomatic representations with regard to Mr. Douglas Forsyth's property in Cairo; and whether, having regard to the low level of the compensation payment mentioned in his reply of 18 November 1987,Official Report, column 598, he is satisfied that the requirement for Mr. Forsyth, in common with other British subjects, to sell his property under duress of enforced Egyptian occupation is consistent with the letter and spirit of the 1959 United Kingdom Egyptian agreement.

  Mr. Mellor
  No formal reply to our representations have yet been received but further hearings have taken place of both Mr. Forsyth's appeals with one being found in his favour. With regard to the compensation accepted by Mr. Forsyth's late fater, this was judicially determined by the Foreign Compensation Commission. There is no requirement under the 1959 agreement for Mr. Forsyth to sell his property, but this remains an option open to him.

  Middle East
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the peace progress in the middle east and any current Government initiatives in that regard.

  Mr. Mellor
  We shall continue to work for an international conference under United Nations auspicies as the framework for negotiations between the parties directly concerned.

  European Commission
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the President of the European Commission; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend's most recent meeting with the President of the European Commission was in Brussels on 25 January when they discussed a number of issues, notably the negotiations on the control of Community spending.

  Central America
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards central America, in the light of the recent meeting of Presidents of the five central American countries.
  157
  Mr. Eggar
  We note that at their summit on 15–16 January, the Presidents of central America declared that they were not entirely satisfied with the implementation thus far of the Esquipulas II undertakings, and that they agreed to fulfil these unconditionally and unilaterally. We have consistently supported efforts to restore peace and promote democracy in the region and appeal to all the central American countries, and especially Nicaragua, to comply with their obligations under the agreement, especially those relating to democratisation.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sri Lanka concerning human rights violations in the Jaffna peninsula.

  Mr. Eggar
  None. We deplore terrorist violations of human rights in the Jaffna peninsula and elsewhere.

  Ireland
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Ireland; and what matters were discussed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met the acting Foreign Minister of the Republic of Ireland on 25 November at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. Their discussion was confidential. My right hon. and learned Friend was to have met the Foreign Minister on 18 January in London but, he is at present indisposed.

  United Nations
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the impact the current financial situation of the United Nations is having on its policies.

  Mr. Eggar
  While individual programmes are kept under constant review and the Secretary-General has instituted some cost-saving measures, including a recruitment freeze, reductions in staffing and savings in travel expenses, the current financial difficulties being experienced by the United Nations have not so far had any major impact on United Nations policies.

  Contra Rebels (Funding)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the State Department of the United States concerning the continued funding of the Contra rebels in Nicaragua; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  We regularly discuss central America with the United States Administration, and they are well aware of our support for a peaceful rather than a military solution to the problems of that region.

  Cultural Diplomacy
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking in order to consolidate and expand the work of United Kingdom cultural diplomacy.
  158
  Mr. Eggar
  The needs of cultural diplomacy, like all aspects of diplomacy, are subject to continuous review. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council are working closely together to agree the range of global priorities and objectives and the most efficient means of achieving these. The importance that we attach to cultural diplomacy was made clear in our reply to the Foreign Affairs Committee's report, and was reaffirmed by my noble Friend the Minister of State in another place on 20 January.

  Youth Exchange Schemes
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total budget for youth exchanges between Britain and Europe; and if he will make a statement on the effect on this total of contributing to the Youth for Europe scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1988, c. 498]: The total amount spent by us on youth exchanges with western Europe for 1986–87 was £387,198. Of this £365,233 was spent on exchanges with our EC partners. The Community's Youth for Europe programme is not yet ready for adoption. It will not be possible to estimate its effect, if any, on the United Kingdom's youth exchange programme until a budget for it has been agreed.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people are covered by youth exchange programmes between Britain and Europe; how many schemes there are; how many of these are administered by the British Council; within the total how many places relate to each of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England; and how many places relate to each of(a) the disabled and (b) ethnic minorities.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1988, c. 498.]: In 1986/87, 12,604 young people were funded by the Government to participate in 692 youth exchanges with our west Europen neighbours. The funding of such schemes was administered by the British Council. Out of this total, 1,100 young people were funded from Scotland, 554 from Northern Ireland, 1,468 from the North of England (ie from the Scottish border to south Yorkshire). A total of 822 disabled young people were also funded from the United Kingdom and Western Europe. Statistics for ethnic minorities are not available for 1986–87. They will be available for 1987–88.

EMPLOYMENT

  Small Firms
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what advice his Department gives to small firms which are owed money by overseas suppliers or contractors and which are unable to secure payment; what representations he has received on this subject from LAMDEC of Frodham, Warrington, Cheshire,; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  The booklet "Payment on Time" issued by my Department in conjunction with the CBI and other organisations gives general advice on payment problems. Where small firms cannot resolve payment disputes with customers they should seek legal advice, whether the customer is in the United Kingdom or overseas.
  159
  A letter from LAMDEC outlining its payment problems was received on 19 January, in addition to representations recently made by my hon. Friend. The specific points raised in these representations are involved in a current High Court action and I cannot comment on them. I will reply to the representations to comment on the general issue of late payment in industry shortly.

  Benefits (Adjudication Officers)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply of 10 December,Official Report, column 230, in which offices the additional 90 staff in support of adjudication officers have been located; what is the number of adjudication officers in each unemployment benefit office; what is the number of new unemployment benefit claims at each office in the last financial year; and what is the current number of unemployment benefit claimants at each office.

  Mr. Lee
  Adjudication officers are not attached to individual unemployment benefit offices. They work in groups which cover a number of offices. The additional 90 support posts were allocated in the two years to August 1987, on the basis of regional assessments of need. Since the creation of the employment service, adjudication officers have been reorganised into new regional groups and the additional 90 posts cannot be specifically identified.

  The number of adjudication officers and their support staff in post on 21 January 1988 in each employment service region was as follows:

  Employment Service Region

  Adjudication Officers

  Support Staff

  Northern

  32

  20

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  50

  44

  East Midlands

  48

  42

  London and South-East

  133

  91

  South-West

  53

  43

  Wales

  34

  21

  West Midlands

  51

  37

  North-West

  72

  62

  Scotland

  51

  40

  Total

  524

  400

  Regional statistics on new claims to unemployment benefit are collected by the Department of Health and Social Security. These could only be disaggregated by local benefit office at disproportionate cost. The regional totals are as follows:

  DHSS Region

  New Claims to Unemployment Benefit 1986–87

  South-East

  1,495,823

  East Anglia

  166,936

  South-West

  399,868

  West Midlands

  458,209

  East Midlands

  331,212

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  500,444

  North-West

  670,064

  Northern

  347,324

  Wales

  277,672

  Scotland

  613,181

  Total

  5,260,733

  160
  DHSS and Employment Service regions are not conterminous. Details of the number of people claiming unemployment benefit at each office are also collected by DHSS and published in "Unemployment Benefit Statistics— Quarterly Analysis of Unemployment Claimants" a copy of which is in the Library.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of persons in employment and the number unemployed in Derbyshire in each year from 1983.

  Mr. Lee
  Unemployment figures can be given but information about employment in counties and smaller areas is available only for years when censuses of employment are conducted. The available information is given in the table.

  County of Derbyshire1

  Number of:

  Year

  unemployed claimants2 (annual average)

  Employees in employment3

  1983

  45,604

  4

  1984

  47,208

  330,200

  1985

  48,936

  4

  1986

  49,799

  4

  1987

  46,911

  4

  1 The county is defined in terms of ward boundaries as at 1981.

  2 The numbers are affected by changes in the coverage of the count.

  3 The figure relates to a September date and excludes the self-employed and members of Her Majesty's forces.

  4 Not available.

  Trade Union Elections
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the conduct of ballots for union elections.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In addition to comments on the proposals contained in chapter 5 of the Green Paper "Trade Unions and Their Members", my Department continues to receive letters and requests for meetings about the conduct of ballots for union elections.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the progress made by his Department in implementing the policy of deregulation over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Cope
  The Department of Employment group has continued in the last 12 months to review existing regulations and seek new opportunities for deregulation, including further reductions in burdens on small firms. The progress report on deregulation, "Encouraging Enterprise", which the then Secretary of State for Employment made to Parliament in May 1987, described action being taken on a number of proposals for reducing the burden of employment protection and health and safety legislation on employers, while maintaining necessary protections. Since then the Department has issued a consultative document on the restrictions on the employment of young people and the removal of sex
  161
  discrimination in legislation. The Health and Safety Commission has issued a consultative document with proposals to replace the existing requirements to post up abstracts of the Factories Act and Office, Shops and Railways Premises Act with a simpler and more effective requirement to provide information to employees by means of a poster or leaflet. Work has also continued on simplifying and speeding up administrative procedures which affect business and on improving means of communicating information and advice to employers about the DE group's services, programmes and responsibilities. Since "Encouraging Enterprise" we have, for example, speeded up the process of making decisions on loans to small firms under the loan guarantee scheme. The group has won two Plain English awards—one for DE's series of fact-sheets explaining employment law in clear and simple language; the other for ACAS's handbook for small firms, "Employing People". We have issued staff with guidelines on good buying practice and introduced training to help ensure that contacts with firms are dealt with efficiently.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the measures introduced by the Government to encourage small firms since 1979.

  Mr. Cope
  [pursuant to his reply, 18 December 1987, c. 830]: In my earlier reply at the above reference I promised to write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Official Report. The full text of that letter is as follows:
  On 18 December you asked for a list of the measures introduced by the Government since 1979 to encourage small firms. I am now able to let you have the information you requested. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report.
  In 1979 responsibility for the small firms sector resided with the Department of Industry. Responsibility was transferred from the amalgamated Department of Trade and Industry to the Department of Employment on 3 September 1985 to give a sharper focus to the promotion of enterprise and its potential for job creation. Government policy throughout has been to concentrate on tackling the particular disadvantages faced by people setting up a new business or wishing to expand an existing small firm.

  Finance
  The availability of finance to small firms has been improved by:
  The Loan Guarantee Scheme, introduced in 1981 to facilitate the supply of finance to viable small firms where conventional loans are not available, possibly due to lack of security or track record. The Scheme was extended for a further 3 years in the 1986 Budget. The premium paid by borrowers was reduced from 5 per cent. to 2·5 per cent. of the guaranteed proportion of the loan, which remains at 70 per cent. To date 18,741 guarantees have been issued with a total loan value of £627·42 million.
  The Business Expansion Scheme, introduced in 1983, provides income tax relief on new equity investment in unquoted trading companies. The life of the scheme was extended indefinitely in the 1986 Budget. In the first two years of the scheme's operation some 1,500 companies raised £252 million, half of which were small enterprises seeking to raise amounts below £50,000. The figures include 88 companies which raised finance in both years.
  The Venture Capital Scheme encourages the provision of
  162
  finance by enabling individuals and investment companies to set capital losses on disposal of shares in unquoted trading companies against income.
  The Enterprise Allowance Scheme was inroduced on a pilot basis in 1982 and nationally from 1983 to assist people who have been unemployed and in receipt of benefit to start their own business. Over 300,000 unemployed people have been helped by the Scheme. Provision for 102,500 entrants has been made for 1987–88 and 110,000 places in 1988–89. Greater emphasis is now being placed on counselling and training for applicants.

  Premises
  The Small Workshops Scheme stimulated private sector investment in small industrial premises. From March 1980 to March 1985, a 100 per cent. initial building allowance was given for capital expenditure on the contruction of small workshops.
  English Industrial Estates Corporation (EIEC) has concentrated on providing premises for small businesses (up to 2,500 sq. ft.). Special rental and tenancy agreements have been devised to meet the needs of small businesses and entrepreneurs. EIEC works with a number of public sector agencies—the Department of Trade and Industry, the Development Commission and universities. Similar programmes are undertaken by the Scottish and Welsh Development Agencies. The Department of Trade and Industry announced on 12 January 1988 that they will be paying special attention to increasing managed workspaces in inner city areas.

  Training
  The Manpower Services Commission has developed a range of training programmes and has particularly refocussed its adult training provision to take greater account of small firms' training needs.
  The Training For Enterprise programme (TFE) aims to equip potential and existing entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge required to successfully launch, manage and develop a small business. The TFE budget has increased greatly since 1979/80; in that year 120 people were helped by the programme at a cost of £0·42 million, in 1986/87 67,000 people benefitted at an expenditure of £18·6 million. Estimates for the current financial year are for £19·3 million and 68,000 people.

  Government Purchasing
  The Government has improved small firms' access to information about purchasing departments, their procedures, requirements and points of contact. A Department of Employment booklet on "Tendering for Government Contracts" has been supplemented by some individual departments' own publications and information published on Prestel. Tendering and approval procedures have been simplified by exempting suppliers to most Government departments from normal approval procedures for contracts under £10,000, by allowing non approved firms to tender for non-urgent contracts subject to subsequent approval and by encouraging Departments to make regular reviews of tender lists to encourage new suppliers.
  The Ministry of Defence launched a small firms' initiative at the end of 1986 to increase competitive opportunities for small firms. This included the creation of the Small Firms Advice Division within the Procurement Executive to supervise the initiative, to advise on the development of MOD policy towards small firms and to offer a variety of advice and information to small firms wishing to obtain contracts. Another part of the initiative is aimed at enabling innovative small firms to obtain a greater share of MOD's research funds.

  Innovation
  The Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology (SMART) was run for the first time in 1986 to encourage small firms and potential entrepreneurs to put forward innovative ideas that cannot attract existing sources of funding. The scheme is to be expanded.
  The Support for Innovation Scheme was introduced in 1981 by the then Department of Industry to offer firms

  163
  assistance with Research and Development projects. The programme was reviewed in 1985 and the emphasis shifted towards collaborative research, advisory services and improving skills. Small firms are subject to a simplified appraisal process and so far 50 per cent. of participants in the scheme have been small firms. A change in emphasis was announced by DTI on 12 January 1988 to switch support from single companies to support for collaborative research and technology transfer particularly between industry and higher education institutions.
  The Teaching Company Scheme was set up by the Science and Engineering Research Council and the Department of Trade and Industry in the mid-70s. The Scheme promotes close active partnership between Higher Educational Institutions and companies to work on major industrial problems such as the application of new technology. There are currently about 275 programmes and in 1986–87 total funding for the Scheme was £10 million split between DTI, the Research Councils and Industry. United Kingdom industry has a high regard for the scheme and it had led to the recruitment and satisfactory integration of high quality graduates into small companies, especially those with no graduate employees. On 12 January 1988 the Department of Trade and Industry announced that the scheme is being substantially increased and that it will put greater emphasis on the projects of small and medium sized firms.

  Taxation
  Both small companies and unicorporated businesses are benefiting from tax reductions. The basic rate of income tax and the "small companies" rate of corporation tax have been reduced to 27 per cent. The highest rates of income tax have been substantially reduced.
  The capital gains tax exemption limits have been increased to £6,600. Retirement reliefs have been extended to cover retirement at 60, retirement through ill health and disposal of shares in family holding companies of trading groups. In 1987 the ceiling for retirement relief was raised to £125,000. Indexation has been improved and extended as have rollover reliefs. Reliefs have also been introduced to facilitate the incorporation of businesses, and losses on loans made for business purposes can now be offset against capital gains tax.
  Significant changes to capital transfer tax were introduced between 1979 and 1985 to increase thresholds from £25,000 to £67,000 and increase rate bands. From 1981, only transfers within the preceding ten years were taken into account in assessing cumulative total CTT liability. In 1986, the charge on lifetime gifts was abolished and the tax renamed inheritance tax with the threshold increased to £71,000 with further increases in rate bands. In 1987 business relief was increased from 30 per cent. to 50 per cent. for minority holdings over 25 per cent. in unquoted companies, the threshold was increased to £90,000 and the rate bands reduced from seven to four. These changes will further facilitate the transfer of business from one generation to the next without the need to dilute assets to meet the consequent tax liability.
  Income tax relief is available on personal borrowings raised to make investments in partnerships, close companies, co-operatives and employee buy-outs. Relief is also available for interest on loans to partners buying plant and machinery for use in their partnership business.
  Losses incurred in any of the first four years of trading by a new business carried on by an individual can qualify for special income tax relief. This can be obtained against earnings during a three-year period before the new trade started.
  Expenses incurred in the process of setting up a new business are now deductible from subsequent trading profits so long as the expenditure is undertaken in the three years prior to start-up.
  In 1987 a package of measures was introduced to lighten the VAT burden on small businesses including the option of cash and annual accounting for businesses with turnover up to £250,000, the registration threshold has been increased to £21,300, the period in which businesses are obliged to register extended to 30 days and simpler schemes have been introduced for small and medium-sized retailers.
  164
  Deregulation
  Over the past three years, reducing the burden of administrative and legislative burdens on business —particularly on small businesses—has been established as a major part of the Government's efforts to promote enterprise.
  Although prime responsibility for deregulation lies with the individual departments, work is co-ordinated centrally by the Enterprise and Deregulation Unit (EDU), which is now located in the Department of Trade and Industry. The EDU also helps with the development of policies across Whitehall to encourage enterprise more generally.
  Achievements to date are set out in the White papers "Lifting the Burden" (July 1985 Cmnd. 9571) and "Building Businesses … Not Barriers" (May 1986 Cmnd. 9794) and the report to Parliament "Encouraging Enterprise" (May 1987).
  This Department has produced a simplified guide to employment legislation for small firms' advisors, along with a model employment form and notice board kit aimed to help small firms in particular. In March the Department published a cartoon leaflet and series of fact sheets on employment law, designed to help those employing people for the first time. In addition, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has published a booklet for small firms with information on various aspects of employing people.

  Advice
  A major priority has been to make information and advice more accessible to small businesses and the self-employed through the Small Firms Service, Local Enterprise Agencies (LEAs), the Employment Service's Jobcentres and the publications "Action for Jobs' and "Guide to Enterprise".
  The Small Firms Service is a nationwide service which offers free information and impartial and confidential counselling on all aspects of starting running and developing a small business. During the 1986–87 financial year the Small Firms Service dealt with 310,000 enquiries in Great Britain and over 38,000 counselling sessions in England alone. The first three counselling sessions for a business are free, a modest charge of £30 (including VAT) is made for any subsequent sessions.
  To encourage the development of LEAs the Local Enterprise Agency Grant Scheme (LEAGS), a five year scheme of financial assistance designed to establish a network of viable self-supporting enterprise agencies, was introduced on 1 April 1986. LEAGs aims to encourage greater private sector support for the agencies (by being prepared to match it, up to a limit, with Government support). Approximately £2·4 million in grants was made available in the first year to about 170 agencies. A further £2·75 million is being made available in 1987–88. To encourage private sector support for LEAs, the government made provision in the 1982 Finance Act (Part III section 48) for tax relief on contributions to approved agencies by a company or unincorporated business.
  The Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas provides rural small businesses with advice through 33 offices on local opportunities and conditions, business management, marketing and technical advice, skills training and financial service.
  Until recently outside consultancy advice was subsidised through the Business and Technical Advisory Services (BTAS) run by the Department of Trade and Industry BTAS provided subsidised consultancy to small and medium sized firms on design, marketing and quality management. Advice on advanced manufacturing technology was also available.
  The Business Improvement Services package of schemes run by the Department of Trade and Industry, aimed to help small firms in areas affected by job losses in particular industries—steel, textiles, ship building, deep sea fisheries and tin-mining areas. Grants were available for consultancy advice on marketing, financial management, the application of computers arid licensing in of products and processes, as well as for common services for groups of small firms and investment projects. Comparable schemes were operated by the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  On 13 January 1988 the Department of Trade arid Industry launched the "Enterprise Initiative", which offers access to and financial support towards the cost of specialised consultancy in a number of key management functions. This is targeted at firms with fewer than 500 employees.
  165
  Marketing
  Throughout 1987, this Department, together with the Manpower Services Commission, Lloyds Bank and the Institute of Marketing sponsored a series of workshops designed to show managers of small firms how to improve their competitiveness by the implementation of practical marketing techniques. In addition, with funds provided by the Department of Employment, CoSIRA is currently offering grants to assist small rural businesses to improve their marketing and sales to trade buyers.

  Health and Safety
  The Health and Safety Commission's Small Firms Working Group, chaired by a CBI nominated Commissioner, has special responsibility for the interests of small firms. A number of publications aimed specifically at small firms, have been produced and distributed — for example, the leaflet "500 dead" and a model guidance document designed to help small firms prepare their policy on identifying and controlling the risks within their businesses. The Health and Safety Executive is also preparing a general guidance handbook on health and safety aimed particularly at small businesses, which will be available shortly.

  Support in particular sectors
  The Government sponsors the Co-operative Development Agency. The Co-operative Development Agency and Industrial Development Act 1984 provided additional funding, effectively extending the Agency's mandate for a further six years, and gave it limited additional powers.
  The Small Engineering Firms Investment Scheme (SEFIS) was a short term scheme set up by the Department of Industry which closed for applications in September 1983. It operated in two phases to help small engineering firms to invest in particular types of advanced capital equipment.

ENVIRONMENT

  Ordnance Survey
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications for the Government's policy on fair competition of the lack of a direct or notional payment to the Exchequer by the co-publisher of a joint Ordnance Survey venture for the use of the Ordnance Survey logo and the goodwill associated with the name of the Ordnance Survey.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The value of the Ordnance Survey's name and logo is recognised in any negotiation with a publishing house on a joint-venture proposal. When considering partnership, Ordnance Survey is looking not only at the financial soundness of the project but also at the benefits in editorial design, marketing and selling skills that the proposed partner will bring to the venture. These internal skills, which play a major part in the success of any co-publication, will not be charged as a cost to the product by the commercial partner but have a value against which Ordnance Survey sets the value of its name and logo.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 17 November 1987,Official Report, column 569, whether the Ordnance Survey commercial interest guidelines require the cost of drawing the maps used in the production of joint commercial ventures to be taken into account in the pricing of such publications.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The commercial interest guidelines as they apply to co-publishing require Ordnance Survey to 166
  act fairly and follow normal commercial practices in respect of setting prices and sharing all relevant production costs, along with the charging of royalty as a contribution to the use and maintenance of the mapping archive in line with that applied to other publishers. Relevant costs include those incurred by Ordnance Survey to produce the specific map components incorporated in co-publication.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 20 November 1987,Official Report, columns 681–82, whether the confidential information, concerning their future plans, which the private map-maker is required to provide to the Ordnance Survey, is seen by the publication division.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The information on map content and print run required from publishers by the copyright branch of Ordnance Survey to provide for prior permission to be given for the use of Ordnance Survey material and for the correct assessment of the royalty rate due, is not seen by Ordnance Survey's publication division.

  Pollution
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many reportings were made, and by whom, of the chemical smell which affected a wide area of the north of England on Friday 3 April 1987; what subsequent reports have been compiled; what caused the smell; which body within the area of responsibility of his Department had responsibility for dealing with it; whether there was any evidence to connect it with the dumping of chemical waste in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Local authorities, the gas board, the emergency services, the Health and Safety Executive, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the media all received telephone inquiries about the smell from members of the public. Her Majesty's district inspector of pollution reported on the incident. I am also aware of a report in June 1987 by the chief environmental health officer of Leeds city council to the council's health committee. No action was required of this Department, other than the monitoring of the incident undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. It has not been possible to identify the origin of the smell, but given the prevailing wind at the time and the extent of the area affected, it has been concluded that it may have been caused by illegal tank washing by a ship in the North Sea or an offshore chemical spillage.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions since 1974 he has overruled his inspector's advice on planning appeals.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The information requested is available on an annual basis. The table shows the number of occasions on which the Secretary of State made decisions on planning appeals contrary to the inspectors' recommendation, following a public inquiry.
  167

  Year

  Total number of appeals decided

  Appeals recovered for decision by the Secretary of State

  Number decided after inquiry

  Number of decisions contrary to inspectors' recommendation

  1974

  12,198

  1,216

  71

  1975

  11,486

  1,397

  57

  1976

  9,253

  1,263

  52

  1977

  8,366

  953

  36

  1978

  8,952

  882

  41

  1979

  8,933

  861

  17

  1980

  13,130

  845

  15

  1981

  14,451

  919

  34

  1982

  12,915

  596

  20

  1983

  11,221

  370

  13

  1984

  11,643

  253

  16

  1985

  14,639

  289

  23

  1986

  14,823

  383

  23

  1987 (January to September)

  12,614

  329

  17

  Official Posts
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the official posts, paid and unpaid, that are in his gift; and for each post, if he will state the level of remuneration where appropriate.

  Mr. Ridley
  The appointments to public bodies for which my Department is responsible are shown in the HMSO publication "Public Bodies 1987", which gives information on the numbers of posts and the levels of remuneration. These appointments are made under a variety of arrangements, and I and my Department are involved in the appointments to varying extents.

  In addition I make appointments to the following other bodies:

  Architectural Heritage Fund:
  Five members—Unpaid

  National House Building Council:
  Chairman—Unpaid

  National Park Planning Boards and Committee:
  One third of the Members—Unpaid

  Sutton Housing Trust:
  Four Trustees—Honorarium, £1,575

  Dartmoor Steering Group:
  Chairman (appointed jointly with Secretary of State for Defence)—Unpaid

  Parliamentary Boundary Commission:
  One Member—Unpaid

  Building Research Establishment Panel of Visitors:
  Up to 15 members—Honorarium, £1,000

  The Chequers Trust:
  One Trustee—Unpaid

  Environmental Assessment
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures Her Majesty's Government propose to take to comply with European Economic Commission directive 85/337 on the assessment of the affects of certain public and private projects on the environment.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A consultation paper on the implementation of the European Community's directive 168
  on environmental assessment was issued by my Department in April 1986. In the light of the responses received to that paper, we are today issuing a further consultation document about the detailed legal and other mechanisms by which the directive will be implemented. Copies are being placed in the Library.

  A further paper includes a draft departmental circular which sets out proposed procedures for projects subject to planning control, including procedures for determining whether individual projects of the types listed in annex II to the directive should be subject to environmental assessment. The draft circular gives guidance on the scale and character of projects which might require assessment under the directive.

  The consultation document also includes proposals for applying the requirements of the directive to types of project listed in annexes I and II to the directive for which planning permission is not required, including certain agriculture fisheries and forestry projects, highways and other transport projects, and power stations and overhead electricity lines.

  I believe that our proposals will make a positive contribution to the effectiveness of our environmental decision making, but the proposals have been designed to ensure that the requirements of the directive are met without placing unnecessary burdens on developers or unnecessarily complicating the planning process. The planning systems in Great Britain already ensure that the environmental implications of new development are considered before permission is granted. For major projects likely to have significant environmental effects, environmental assessment can be a valuable technique for drawing together information so that those effects are taken fully into account in planning the project and deciding whether it should proceed.

  Member states are required to take the measures necessary to comply with the directive before 3 July 1988.

  Similar consultation papers will be issued by the Scottish the Welsh Office and by (DOE) Northern Ireland office.

  Sport (Drugs Testing)
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will make funds available to support the Sport Council's new drugs testing regime.
  169
  Mr. Moynihan
  The Department has decided to make an additional allocation of £180,000 to the Sports Council to complete the total financial package required to fund the new testing regime in its first year–1988–89. The council and the Government expect that private sector sponsorship will make a substantial contribution to funding the scheme in future years.

  Region/Islands area

  Local government electorate 1982

  1987

  Increase

  Percentage increase

  Grampian region

  365,445

  391,115

  25,670

  7·0

  Highland region

  142,964

  151,641

  8,677

  6·1

  Orkney Islands area

  14,310

  14,975

  665

  4·6

  Dumfries and Galloway region

  109,534

  113,970

  4,436

  4·0

  Western Isles Islands area

  22,830

  23,685

  855

  3·7

  Fife region

  257,088

  266,585

  9,497

  3·7

  Shetland Islands area

  15,835

  16,357

  522

  3·3

  Border region

  79,456

  81,963

  2,507

  3·2

  Central region

  206,392

  211,944

  5,552

  2·7

  Lothian region

  586,116

  599,036

  12,920

  2·2

  Tayside region

  299,708

  303,808

  4,100

  1·4

  Strathclyde region

  1,813,832

  1,819,132

  5,300

  0·3

  Mentally Disordered Prisoners
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration his Department has given to the problems presented by mentally disordered prisoners in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) of 11 January at column 150–151.

  School Management
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, under the Government's school management proposals whether school boards will be responsible for issues of non-attendance at school.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government have concluded that it should not be one of the basic duties of a school board to be responsible for attendance issues. It will be possible for functions related to school attendance to be delegated subsequently by the education authority.

  Education Reform
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total cost incurred by his Department in carrying out the consultative process on school management and the role of parents, showing how these were accrued in (a) printing, (b) distribution, (c) general administration costs, (d) circulation of material to the press and media, (e) foreign and domestic travel by the Minister responsible for education and (f) any other costs.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is given in the table. Where actual costs have not yet been received, or

SCOTLAND

  Electorate
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the Scottish regions in order of percentage growth in electorate since 1982; and what has been the percentage growth and the actual figures in each case.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information for the Scottish regions and islands areas for the period 1982–87 is set out in the table.

  cannot be calculated, best estimates have been used. Distribution costs relate to bulk contracted distribution and exclude postage charges for copies issued in response to individual requests received by the Department; these charges cannot be estimated with sufficient accuracy.

  Printing and Distribution

  £

  £

  Consultation Document:

  School Management and the Role of Parents

  Printing

  8,314

  —

  Booklets

  Parents, Teachers and School Boards

  Printing

  15,762

  —

  Distribution

  7,879

  —

  School Management—the Government's Conclusions

  Printing

  9,650

  —

  Distribution

  978

  —

  Miscellaneous Printing

  179

  —

  42,762

  42,762

  Publicity

  Paid Publicity

  17,708

  —

  Circulation of media releases

  702

  —

  17,780

  17,780

  General Administration

  Stationery

  731

  —

  Photocopying of submissions for libraries

  1,000

  Casual Staff and Overtime

  1,150

  —

  2,881

  2,881

  Travelling (Minister and Officials)

  2,386

  171

  £

  £

  Total

  65,809

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out a list of the powers of the school boards under the Government's new proposals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We propose that all school boards should have common basic functions, the main features of which are set out in "School Management: The Government's conclusions" which was published on 18 January. A Bill to give effect to these proposals will be published shortly.

  We propose that all school boards should have common basic functions, including: a right to seek information and initiate discussion on any matter to do with the running of the school; a right to approve the headteacher's plans for spending on books and materials; involvement in the appointment committees for assistant head teacher, deputy head teacher and head teacher; a

  Expenditure within the Secretary of State's responsibility in real terms (1986–87 base year)1

  £ million

  1979–80 Outturn

  1980–81 Outturn

  1981–82 Outturn

  1982–83 Outturn

  1983–84 Outturn

  1984–85 Outturn

  1985–86 Outturn

  1986–87 Outturn

  1987–88 Estimated Outturn

  1988–89 Plans

  1989–90 Plans

  1990–91 Plans

  Agriculture, fisheries and food

  201

  216

  193

  181

  187

  199

  209

  177

  187

  183

  190

  180

  Industry, energy, trade and employment

  166

  170

  160

  524

  337

  290

  299

  336

  247

  244

  230

  230

  Other services:

  Tourism

  12

  11

  12

  13

  13

  14

  13

  13

  13

  13

  10

  10

  Transport

  578

  546

  574

  573

  563

  549

  555

  575

  591

  563

  590

  580

  Housing

  1,222

  1,097

  918

  820

  817

  717

  634

  637

  670

  586

  620

  620

  Other environmental services

  656

  619

  597

  582

  600

  578

  545

  575

  630

  636

  630

  630

  Law, order and protective services

  408

  431

  458

  475

  509

  530

  522

  553

  595

  624

  610

  610

  Education

  1,886

  1,946

  1,990

  1,995

  1,957

  1,918

  1,844

  1,994

  2,044

  2,006

  1,970

  1,970

  Arts and libraries

  62

  77

  79

  76

  73

  75

  77

  82

  81

  81

  80

  80

  Health and social work

  2,053

  2,188

  2,266

  2,282

  2,322

  2,384

  2,387

  2,444

  2,577

  2,597

  2,610

  2,640

  Other public services

  100

  104

  102

  93

  109

  108

  107

  110

  113

  115

  110

  120

  Local authority current expenditure not allocated to services

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  37

  40

  40

  Total Other Services

  6,975

  7,020

  6,995

  6,869

  6,964

  6,872

  6,685

  6,983

  7,314

  7,258

  7,280

  7,310

  Nationalised industries external financing

  235

  153

  121

  190

  316

  410

  240

  235

  130

  123

  -70

  -160

  Total expenditure within the Secretary of Slate's responsibility

  7,577

  7,558

  7,469

  7,764

  7,803

  7,771

  7,432

  7,732

  7,877

  7,808

  7,640

  7,560

  1 Cash figures adjusted for general inflation as measured by the GDP deflator at market prices.

  Source: 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 Public Expenditure White Papers (Cmnd. 9428, Cmnd. 9702, Cm. 56 and Cm. 288).

  Museums and Galleries Commission (Report)
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to announce his response to the Museums and Galleries Commission's report on museums in Scotland published in September 1986.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  An announcement will be made shortly.

  Scottish Museums Council
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to announce the level of the 1988–89 grant to the Scottish Museums Council.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish Museums Council will receive notification of a provisional grant allocation for 1988–89 in the next week or so, pending the announcement of the Government's response to the Miles report.
  172
  right to add or delete names from the shortlist for the head teacher appointment; power to raise funds for the benefit of the school; control of out of hours use of school premises (but excluding power to set charges); power to set occasional holidays for the school within statutory limits; responsibility for encouraging liaison between parents and school; a duty to report to parents on the board's own activities.

  Boards would be able to request that further powers were delegated to them by the education authority. If the authority was unwilling to grant the power request, the board is able to seek parental support in a ballot and if got that support to appeal to the Secretary of State.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table similar to that on page 285 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91", volume II (Cm. 288-11) for each year since 1979–80, at constant 1986–87 prices.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information is as follows:

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of single parents who will pay the poll tax; and, of those, how many will be subject to full rebate.

  Mr. Lang
  The Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" estimated that there are about 100,000 one-parent family tax units in Scotland; the number receiving community charge rebates will depend on personal circumstances. Details of the community charge rebate scheme are now the subject of consultation with the local authority associations and are a matter for my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has made of how many people will receive poll tax rebates; and at what level.
  173
  Mr. Lang
  The details of the community charge rebate scheme are now the subject of consultation with the local authority associations, and are a matter for my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average expenditure per pupil in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in Scotland; and what information he has on comparable expenditures in(a) Belgium, (b) Denmark, (c) France, (d) the Federal Republic of Germany, (e) Holland and (f) Sweden.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In 1985-86, the latest year for which information is available, net expenditure per pupil in Scotland, at outturn prices, was £961 for primary and £1,567 for secondary. Comparable expenditure figures are not readily available for the other countries listed.

  Vacant Dwellings
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest figures for vacant dwellings in Scotland owned(a) by Government Departments or agencies, (1)) local authorities and (c) private owners.

  Donations Collected

  Donors Bled

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  (a) Scotland

  January-March

  69,594

  73,392

  74,441

  79,074

  75,931

  April-June

  72,450

  73,881

  76,183

  76,097

  72,066

  July-September

  71,795

  72,102

  75,269

  74,274

  69,315

  October-December

  72,155

  73,987

  73,355

  74,959

  70,902

  Total

  285,994

  293,362

  299,248

  304,404

  288,214

  (b) West of Scotland Region

  January-March

  37,713

  39,357

  39,171

  39,577

  38,585

  April-June

  36,814

  37,011

  38,016

  37,564

  35,490

  July-September

  35,392

  35,180

  37,382

  37,921

  33,074

  October-December

  36,025

  37,361

  36,067

  37,167

  32,015

  Total

  145,944

  148,909

  150,636

  152,229

  139,164

  Notes:

  1. One donation is equivalent to 200 ml (approximately) of plasma.

  2. The basis of recording changed (from 1985) from "donations collected" to "donors bled". The two figures are not totally comparable as some donors may not be able to complete the donation.

  Illegal Drugs
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to how many vessels were seached for illegal drugs in the Firth of Forth area during 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987, respectively; and what were the numbers of convictions.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have been asked to reply.

  Vessels are not searched by Customs specifically for illegal drugs, but for smuggled goods in general (although the detection of drugs is, of course, a top priority). The numbers of vessels searched, drugs and other smuggled goods found, and convictions are as follows:
  174
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  At 31 March 1987, approximately 21,300 dwellings owned by local authorities were vacant. Up-to-date figures for the other groupings requested are not available.

  Blood Donations
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much blood was donated in(a) Scotland and (b) Greater Glasgow health board area in each month in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987; and in each year for both areas, by how much the amount donated was above or below self-sufficiency for those areas.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer, Monday 2 January 1988]: Greater Glasgow health board is one of six boards covered by the West of Scotland region of the Scottish national blood transfusion service and statistics relating to that board could be separately identified only at disporportionate cost. The following table shows the requested information for the West of Scotland region as a whole, and for Scotland. The information is aggregated quarterly: a monthly breakdown is not readily available.

  Blood collected in Scotland is for use wherever it is needed, shortages where they arise in a particular area being met from surpluses in other areas. Scotland has been self-sufficient in blood and all normally requires blood products since the end of 1983.

  Discovering of smuggled goods

  Convictions

  Year

  Vessels

  Drugs

  Other goods

  Drugs

  Other goods

  1984

  378

  1

  48

  1

  —

  1985

  520

  —

  92

  —

  1

  1986

  547

  8

  106

  —

  —

  1987

  612

  3

  77

  —

  —

  Totals

  2,057

  12

  323

  1

  1

  In 10 of the 12 drugs cases the person smuggling the drug could not be traced. The non-drugs cases concerned mainly goods subject to excise duties, where smuggling offences are generally dealt with by payment of a compounded penalty rather than court proceedings.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  ADAS (Charges)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received concerning charges made by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service for routine visits to farms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have received representations from individual farmers, from their Members of Parliament and from organisations such as the National Farmers' Union and Milk Marketing Board about the introduction of charges for work in connection with the milk and dairies regulations.

  The decision to introduce charges reflects the need to reduce public expenditure and our view that the industry benefits from the strict enforcement of hygiene standards. I have no plans to review our policy on this point of principle, but the search for economies is continuing and any reduction in costs will be passed on to producers. In this connection my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have decided, with the agreement of the Prime Minister's adviser on efficiency, that there should be a formal efficiency scrutiny to review the scope for further economies in the enforcement of the milk and dairies regulations. A member of the state veterinary service has been appointed as the examining officer responsible for undertaking the scrutiny. He will be consulting widely in the course of the study and is required to report by the end of May 1988.

  Annual Review
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the 1988 Annual Review of Agriculture.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 25 January to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. MacLennan).

  Sheep (Radioactivity)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sheep in the restricted area of Cumbria which had died from natural causes were monitored for radioactivity in each month from January 1987 to date.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: The information requested is as follows:

  Number

  February 1987

  5

  March 1987

  5

  Farm Woodland Scheme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what extra provision, in terms of staff and resources, he is making for the Agricultural Development Advisory Service in order to meet the demands of the proposed farm woodland grant scheme.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: The demand for advice is hard to predict with a
  176
  new scheme of this sort, since it will depend upon the regional spread, the pattern of uptake during the year, the number of farmers who may wish to explore possibilities without necessarily joining the scheme, and the number who require more detailed advice. However, we shall be making available a number of ADAS advisers to deal with this work on a full or part-time basis and we shall be keeping the position under review in the light of demand for advice. The Forestry Commission is also allocating additional staff to the scheme.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what training is being given to Agricultural Development Advisory Service employees to deal with the proposed farm woodland grant scheme.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: ADAS employs more than 100 chartered surveyors who have a sound basic training in forestry and the related questions of conservation and amenity in woodlands. Of these, 24 have already received further specialist training in these subject areas. Beyond this, ADAS's policy of continuing professional development will help to ensure that the proficiency of these officers is subject to continued improvement.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food what consultation procedures will precede the payment of grants under the proposed farm woodland grant scheme; whether they will apply to all applications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: Applications to join the farm woodland scheme will be subject to the prevailing consultation procedures operated by the Forestry Commission, for its forestry grant schemes. In drawing up the proposals for this scheme we have been concerned to try and simplify it as far as possible and to keep administrative costs to the minimum. To this end, we have decided to reduce the amount of consultation with local authorities on planting of small areas. However, in areas such as sites of special scientific interest, environmentally sensitive areas and national parks existing arrangements would continue to apply.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food how many Agricultural Development Advisory Service staff are presently employment to give specialist advice on the planting and management of farm woodland.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: None are employed purely for this purpose. In practice, ADAS staff who give advice on woodlands have a wide range of qualifications and spend differing proportions of their time on this work.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food what special consideration will be given to applications for grants under the proposed farm woodland grant scheme to farmers in environmentally sensitive areas, sites of special scientific interest, areas of outstanding natural beauty and national parks, respectively.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: In drawing up their applications for grant, farmers will be reminded of the need to take account of any such designations in the type of scheme they put forward.

  177
  Proposals in the above areas will then be scrutinised to ensure that they are compatible with the designation. They will also be subject to the Forestry Commission's consultation procedures where applicable.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the reply of 12 January, if he will introduce legislation to make possible the allocation of grants to local authorities for the provision, replacement or improvement of hedgerows; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have been asked to reply.

  Grants from the Countryside Commission are already available to local authorities and others towards the costs of replanting, reinstating or improving hedgerows, where these contribute to the landscape. The Nature Conservancy Council has power to pay grants to local authorities and others on expenditure relating to hedgerows which are an integral part of a site of nature conservation importance.

  Irradiated Foodstuffs
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many instances there have been in each year since 1980 of irradiated foodstuffs imported into the United kingdom being returned;

  (2) how many instances there have been in each year since 1980 of irradiated foodstuffs being imported into the United Kingdom for domestic consumption;

  (3) if his Department has developed any method of testing imported foodstuffs in order to determine whether they have been subjected to irradiation for the purpose of preservation;

  (4) how many prosecutions there have been in each year since 1980 for the importation of irradiated foodstuffs into the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Currie
  I have been asked to reply.

  Under the Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1967, it is illegal to import irradiated food. Port health authorities are watchful for any indication of irradiation as evidenced by accompanying documentation or markings on the packaging. Only one well publicised, illegal, importation is on record. In the current financial year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is providing 150,000 for research towards the development of detection tests.

DEFENCE

  Royal Ordnance Factories
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken in respect of the criticisms made by the Comptroller and Auditor General of his Department in relation to the privatisation of Royal Ordnance factories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There is nothing in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report which is a criticism of the Department of a sort which requires any action. Therefore, no action has been taken.

  Persian Gulf (Service Personnel)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-Royal Navy forces personnel are currently engaged in operations in the Gulf.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It is not our general practice to give details of numbers of service personnel operationally deployed.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of commitment of(a) operational units and (b) personnel to operations in the Gulf.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of commitment of(a) operational units and (b) personnel to operations in the Gulf.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of commitment of(a) operational units and (b) personnel to operations in the Gulf.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of commitment of(a) operational units and (b) personnel to operations in the Gulf.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It is not our practice to comment on details of operational matters. However, I can say that there are currently three vessels of destroyer or frigate size, four mine counter-measure vessels, and associated afloat support in the Gulf area.

  Nuclear Artillery
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's latest plans for battlefield nuclear artillery systems.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's latest plans for battlefield nuclear artillery systems.

  Mr. Allan McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's latest plans for battlefield nuclear artillery systems.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith) on 23 July 1987, at column 390, it has been decided to rationalise United Kingdom-operated battlefield nuclear weapon systems in BAOR by withdrawing from the 8 in. nuclear artillery role and concentrating resources on the 155 mm dual-capable gun which is already in service. This rationalisation process is now under way.

  No decisions on modernisation as it affects British forces have yet been taken. A report on this aspect will be made to the House when the appropriate moment comes.

  Dartmoor National Park
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what weight he gives when making decisions on future military activity on Dartmoor to the implications for public enjoyment of the Dartmoor national park of the continuing firing of live ammunition.
  179
  Mr. Freeman
  The range danger areas cover only 10 per cent. of the Dartmoor national park. Moreover, there is no live firing on Dartmoor during August, on all public holidays or, so far as possible, at weekends, which are the times when most visitors would wish to enjoy the use of the national park. I shall naturally continue to give the fullest consideration to the question of public access to Dartmoor when making decisions about military activity commensurate with the overriding need to ensure the maintenance of training standards and operational effectiveness in the services.

  French Defence Minister
  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his French counterpart; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his French counterpart; and what matters were discussed.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his French counterpart; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his French counterpart; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Younger
  I last met M. Giraud in mid-December. We discussed a range of subjects of mutual defence interest.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans in the current year for closer co-operation on defence matters with his opposite number, the French Minister of National Defence.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  We will continue to seek opportunities for extending Anglo-French co-operation across a wide range of defence business with a view to developing further the close relationship that already exists between us.

  Nuclear Tests (Radiation Victims)
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects he receive the report of the National Radiological Protection Board on nuclear test veterans; when he will respond; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive the report of the National Radiological Protection Board on nuclear test veterans; when he will respond; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Knowsley, North (Mr. Howarth) earlier today.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next proposes to meet representatives of the Nuclear Test Veterans Association to discuss their claim for damages to soldiers caused by British nuclear tests.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement, who is responsible for these matters, offered to meet members of the BNTV as early as March 1987. This offer has been reiterated several times, but has as yet to be taken up. The offer still stands.

  Schoolchildren (Germany)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to review the school psychological service and pre-school facilities available to the children of service men serving in Germany.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Service Children's Education Authority (SCEA) conducted a review of its special needs provision including that for pre-school children during 1987. Policy changes are currently under discussion within the Ministry of Defence.

  The subject of pre-school facilities is kept under continous review. The Pre-School Playgroups Association in Germany was first established in 1980 and has proved most successful — the salary and expenses of the co-ordinator and full-time organisers, one for each division headquarters, are now met from public funds.

  Low-flying Aircraft
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consultations his Department has had with the National Farmers Union, the Scottish National Farmers Union and the Farmers Union of Wales concerning compensation for the effects of low-flying aircraft.

  Mr. Freeman
  Officials met representatives of the National Farmers Union, the Scottish National Farmers Union and the Farmers Union of Wales during 1987 as part of my Department's review of procedures for dealing with compensation claims from farmers whose livestock may have been affected by low-flying military aircraft. Discussions have continued since then, and regular contact is also maintained between my Department's officials and the farmers' unions on a case-by-case basis.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about low-flying aircraft over East Anglia.

  Mr. Freeman
  As my hon. Friend will be aware, training in the crucial techniques of row flying is vital if we are to maintain an effective modern air force capable of maintaining our security by deterring any potential aggressor. None the less, we are acutely aware of the disturbance this essential activity may cause on the ground and will continue to do all we can to keep this to an absolute minimum. In fact, low-flying aircraft activity during 1987 was marginally lower than during 1986, a trend particularly marked in the low-flying administrative area which comprises most of East Anglia and parts of Lincolnshire, which experienced approximately 24,000 movements compared with just over 32,000 the previous year.

  Nuclear Modernisation (Montebello Decisions)
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Dutch counterpart regarding interpretation of the nature of the recommendation and decisions on nuclear modernisation reached at Montebello in 1983.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Dutch counterpart regarding interpretation of the nature of the recommendations and decisions on nuclear modernisation reached at Montebello in 1983.
  181
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Dutch counterpart regarding interpretation of the nature of the recommendations and decisions on nuclear modernisation reached at Montebello in 1983.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Dutch counterpart regarding interpretation of the nature of the recommendations and decisions on nuclear modernisation reached at Montebello in 1983.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend and his predecessors have discussed the 1983 Montebello decision with their Dutch colleagues on numerous occasions over the last five years, both bilaterally and in NATO fora.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to reduce the Royal Air Force's current requirement for the European fighter aircraft.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross).

  Royal Navy
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Government remain committed to a modern, effective and well-balanced Royal Navy. Since 1979 we have ordered no fewer than 61 ships and submarines worth over £6 billion at 1986–87 prices; these include seven new and highly capable classes of vessel. We also continue to pursue a substantial programme of enhancements to existing weapons and sensor systems and purchases of new ones to update our capabilities and to ensure that the effectiveness of the Royal Navy is maintained.

  Frigates
  Mr. Rees
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for frigate construction over the next 12 months.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the frigate and destroyer building programme.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for frigate construction over the next 12 months.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The frigate-building programme is proceeding well with 10 frigates currently under 182
  construction, four of which are expected to enter service this year. In addition, on 6 October last year, my right hon. Friend announced that we were to seek tenders for up to four more type 23 frigates. We have received tenders and their evaluation has now begun.

  Cruise Missiles
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the numbers of United States nuclear sea-launched cruise missiles(a) currently based in the Atlantic and (b) to be based there by 1995.

  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the numbers of United States nuclear sea-launched cruise missiles(a) currently based in the Atlantic and (b) to be based there by 1995.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the numbers of United States nuclear sea-launched cruise missiles(a) currently based in the Atlantic, (b) to be based there by 1995.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the numbers of United States nuclear sea-launched cruise missiles(a) currently based in the Atlantic and (b) to be based there by 1995.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Nuclear sea-launched cruise missiles (SLCM) were introduced into service with US naval forces in 1984. These forces are deployed worldwide, including the Atlantic. The number of nuclear SLCM deployed in the Atlantic is classified United States Government information.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of United States nuclear air-launched cruise missiles(a) currently based in Europe and (b) to be based there by 1995.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of United States nuclear air-launched cruise missiles(a) currently based in Europe and (b) to be based there by 1995.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of United States nuclear air-launched cruise missiles(a) currently based in Europe and (b) to be based there by 1995.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo).

  Uniforms and Equipment
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis it is decided when to update military uniform and equipment.

  Mr. Freeman
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to items of combat clothing and personal equipment. As a general principle, any necessary improvements to items already in service are proceeded with as and when they can be accommodated in the defence programme according to their relative priority. If my hon. Friend could specify the items of clothing or equipment which he is concerned about. I would be glad to reply in detail.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress made and current plans for the improvement and increase in size of the infantry units within the Territorial Army.

  Mr. Freeman
  Phase II of the Territorial Army expansion programme set out in "Defence Open Government Document 84/02" began formally in April 1986. The majority of planned new infantry units and sub-units have been formed and are recruiting.

  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the manpower contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation of the British Territorial Army; and what percentage of the defence estimates expenditure on the British Territorial Army this represents.

  Mr. Freeman
  On current plans some 55,000 Territorial Army soldiers would be assigned to NATO tasks in the event of war. The balance would he deployed on defence tasks in the United Kingdom, which also form a contribution to NATO's military strategy. The cost of NATO-assigned forces represents approximately 65 per cent. of defence estimates expenditure on the Territorial Army.

  RAF Air/Sea Rescue Services
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received in favour of maintaining Air/Sea rescue services as a function of the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Ministry of Defence has received a considerable number of inquiries concerning the future of the United Kingdom SAR service, of which about 45 have expressed support for the continuation of search and rescue helicopter services as a military function.

  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the future of the Royal Air Force air/sea rescue services.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the future of the Royal Air Force air/sea rescue services.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) earlier today.

  F-15E Strike Eagle
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any plans to base the F-15E Strike Eagle equipped with(a) the joint tactical missile system or (b) nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Mr. Stanley) on 23 February 1987, at column 141, to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strange).

  South Rona
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his long-term plans for his Department's site at South Rona.

  Mr. Freeman
  The shore facilities for the Royal Navy's Minches trial range are based on Rona. There are no longterm plans to change this use.

  USSR Nuclear Forces
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what implications the modernisation of the Soviet Union's nuclear forces has for the United Kingdom's defence policy.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The Soviet Union is continually updating and improving the capabilities of both its conventional and nuclear forces. This is a major consideration in determining our own defence priorities.

  Defence Programmes (Employment Implications)
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he makes of the employment implications in the defence industries after considering reductions in defence expenditure programmes.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he makes of the employment implications in the defence industries when considering reductions in defence expenditure programmes.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he makes of the employment implications in the defence industries when considering reductions in defence expenditure programmes.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) earlier today.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's latest plans to modernise their nuclear weaponry.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's latest plans to modernise their nuclear weaponry.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery).

  YTS
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many young people are now enrolled in YTS placements in each of the three services.

  Mr. Freeman
  In November 1987 a total of 543 trainees were serving on the armed services YTS. The numbers are broken down as shown in the table.

  Number

  Royal Navy

  6

  Army

  63

  Royal Air Force

  474

  German Defence Minister
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his German counterpart; and what matters were discussed.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his German counterpart; and what matters were discussed.

  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his German counterpart; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets his German counterpart to discuss a wide range of subjects of mutual interest. The last such meeting was on 20 January.

  Falklands Campaign Widows (Assistance)
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial assistance is currently provided by his Department for Falklands war widows.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial assistance is currently provided by his Department for Falklands war widows.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial assistance is currently provided by his Department for Falklands war widows.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial assistance is currently provided by his Department for Falklands war widows.

  Mr. Freeman
  All Falklands war widows would receive benefits, as appropriate, from my Department under the terms of the armed forces pension scheme. For examples of the benefits payable I refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 13 January 1988 at columns 323–24.

  In addition, my Department also meets the travel costs for the next-of-kin to make one visit to the graves of service men who are killed while serving overseas, and are buried there, within two years of burial. This provision applied to the next-of-kin of those killed in the Falklands.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom defence policy of the resumption by the United States of America of a chemical weapons production.
  186
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom defence policy of the resumption by the United States of America of chemical weapons production.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom defence policy of the resumption by the United States of America of chemical weapons production.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for United Kingdom defence policy of the resumption by the United States of chemical weapons production.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The modernisation of the United States' limited retaliatory chemical weapons capability with binary munitions will underline to the Soviet Union the benefits of reaching early agreement in the negotiations in Geneva for a comprehensive and verifiable global ban on chemical weapons, which remains the Government's primary aim. In the absence of such an agreement, the production of binary munitions will contribute to the maintenance of NATO's deterrent strategy in the face of the massive Soviet chemical warfare capability.

  Operational Requirements (Harmonisation)
  Sir Antony Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made towards harmonising operational requirements.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Good progress has been made. Over the past three years the United Kingdom has subscribed to 18 staff requirements agreed in NATO's conference of national armaments directors (CNAD) and nine of the 13 agreed in the Independent European Programme Group (IEPG).

  Strait of Hormuz (Armilla Patrol)
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many merchant ships the Armilla patrol accompanied through the Strait of Hormuz during 1987.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  During 1987, the Armilla patrol accompanied 405 British merchant ships through the Straits of Hormuz.

  Persian Gulf (Mines)
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many mines have been located and destroyed by Royal Navy minesweepers in the Gulf.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Since they commenced operations, the Royal Navy's mine counter-measures vessels in the Gulf have detected and destroyed a total of 10 mines.

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to assist United Kingdom defence exports.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Through the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) the Ministry of Defence helps British firms to market and sell their defence products and
  187
  services overseas. It does this mainly by advising firms on defence market prospects on a worldwide, regional or country basis. Our defence representatives overseas also provide companies with a wide range of follow-up support and assistance.

  Gartree Prison (Escape)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests were made by prison officers at Her Majesty's prison Gartree to Royal Air Force flight controllers at the time of the helicopter escape of John Kendall and Sydney Draper; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests were made by prison officers at Her Majesty's prison Gartree to Royal Air Force flight controllers at the time of the helicopter escape of John Kendall and Sydney Draper; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  On the afternoon of 10 December 1987, the Leicestershire police telephoned the London air traffic control centre at RAF West Drayton to inform it that a helicopter-assisted escape from Gartree prison had taken place and to ask for assistance. Under standing instructions, immediate steps were taken to provide all possible assistance to the police in apprehending the fugitives. Subsequently, a member of the staff at Gartree prison telephoned the control centre, making a similar request. By then action was already in hand, although the helicopter was airborne for too short a period for it to be tracked successfully.

  Thames House, Millbank (Centralisation)
  Mr. Sedgemore
  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. Stuart Holland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of his Department of the proposal to locate parts of his Department at Thames House, Millbank.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 20 January 1988, at column 764.

  Small Firms (Contracts)
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further steps he plans to take to assist small firms in tendering for defence contracts.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Ministry of Defence procurement policy is based on securing value for money through greater competition. Small firms especially are encouraged to become defence contractors through the promotion of competition at the sub-contract level and by advertising contract opportunities more widely. The launch of the MOD small firms initiative in November 1986 gave impetus to these policies, through the creation of a new division specifically to advise small firms wishing to enter the defence market. Small firms have welcomed this new 188
  service and over 1,300 contacted the division directly in its first year. Some 1,100 firms have attended regional seminars conducted by the division and many have made contact at business exhibitions.

  The division will continue to offer advice and assistance to small firms individually, to give presentations and to be represented at appropriate exhibitions. In addition, a new edition of the booklet "Selling to the MOD" will be published this year with information helpful to small firms. Finally, a further £1 million is being made available during 1988–89 to enable those small firms with the ability to generate new and innovative products and processes in a cost-effective manner to obtain a larger share of defence research funds.

  DROPS
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the tenders for the demountable rack offloading pickup system project were fairly assessed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Ministry's assessments of the original DROPS competition have been exhaustively examined by Ministers and senior officials over more than four years. No evidence of bias or impropriety has been revealed. Additionally, as my hon. Friend will be aware, the Department has co-operated fully in the Comptroller and Auditor General's review of DROPS procurement which is now the subject of consideration by the Public Accounts Committee.

  Trident
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of the cost of the Trident programme.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the total cost of Trident.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend on 21 January at column 775.

  United States Bases
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the number of United States bases(a) operational, (b) part operational and (c) available for use in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Sixty-six bases and facilities are currently made available for use by United States forces in the United Kingdom. There are also two armament depots run by United Kingdom civilians on behalf of NATO which provide a service for United States forces.

  The 66 bases and facilities comprise seven main operating bases, two GLCM bases, 26 storage/support facilities and 22 communications facilities, all of which are fully operational, as well as two standby deployment bases and seven contingency wartime hospitals.

  National Trust Land (Installations)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response he has received from the National
  189
  Trust to his request for permission to erect military installations on National Trust land in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 22 January 1988, at column 897.

  SP-70 Programme (Replacement)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the costs of the artillery programme intended to replace the cancelled SP-70 programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  A competition is currently in progress for 155mm self-propelled Howitzers for the British Army but no decisions have yet been taken and it would not be appropriate to disclose an estimated programme cost at this stage.

  Contracts (Police Inquiries)
  Mr. Campbell Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which defence contracts have been the subject of his Department's police inquiries over the last two years.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The MOD police have dealt with 32 cases of alleged contractual fraud, each involving different numbers of contracts, since January 1986. It would be inappropriate to specify the actual contracts involved.

  Frigates and Destroyers
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of frigates and destroyers which are currently operational and available for duties within the area of operations of NATO.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  There are currently 48 destroyers and frigates in service with the Fleet, of which 41 are operational or engaged in preparing for service or trials or training. A number of these ships are at present deployed outside the NATO area but could be recalled for operations in support of NATO in the event of an emergency.

  "Blundering Into Disaster"
  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has obtained a copy of the book Blundering Into Disaster, by Robert McNamara.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes.

  Contracts
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards extending the range of companies competing for his Department's contracts.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Department's policy of seeking competition at all levels wherever it is reasonable and practicable is bringing significantly better value for money for defence and for the taxpayer, and offers excellent opportunities for companies to compete for MOD business.

  The number of companies seeking registration on the defence contractors list continues to increase significantly.
  190
  About 38 per cent. more applications from companies wishing to join the list were received during the period October 1986 to September 1987, the last period for which figures are available, than in the preceding 12 months, and about 45 per cent. more were accepted. There are now just under 9,000 companies on the defence contractors list which are eligible to compete for direct MOD headquarters contracts. They cover a vast range of products and services.

  In addition, our policy of requiring prime contractors to place subcontracts by competition wherever possible will have increased the range of companies competing at this level, although the Ministry compiles no statistics on this.

  INF Treaty
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the implications for the United Kingdom of the intermediate nuclear forces treaty.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received some 58 representations from hon. Members and members of the public since 1 July 1987 concerning the INF treaty.

  Blue Vixen Radar Programme
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to authorise the Blue Vixen radar programme into full development and production.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The contract for development and producion of the Blue Vixen radar was signed in October 1984.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what slippages have occured in the Blue Vixen radar development programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Nineteen months from the schedule established at the start of the project in June 1983.

  Research Projects
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report all research projects funded by his Department currently under way in universities and other institutions including Ministry of Defence establishments; showing the cost of each and indicating which were experiments on animals.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The defence research programme is made up of 1,200 work items covering the major fields described on pages 57 and 58 of the "Annual Review of Government-funded R&D 1987". The aggregate cost is £400 million a year. It is not our policy to describe in detail the content and methods of the work.

  Anti-Air Warfare Missile System
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in the development of a new naval anti-air warfare missile system.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Development of the next generation AAW system is being pursued through two separate parallel international collaborative programmes; one led by the United States, the other being a European
  191
  programme with equal participation by four nations including the United Kingdom. The United States-led programme commenced in October 1987 with participants' signatures of the memorandum of understanding. We hope very shortly to be in a position to sign the MOU for the European programme.

  Both collaborative programmes will commence with a feasibility study phase at the end of which a further decision will need to be made on the way forward.

  The purpose of these programmes is to provide an AAW capability effective against the evolving air threat (including anti-ship missiles) for service in the late 1990s.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Health Authorities (Money Raising)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of Government proposals to encourage health authorities to raise money for themselves, he will make it his policy that any money so raised will not be deducted from present or future revenue or capital allocations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The overall planning of health services must, of course, take account of all resources available, including those from charges and land sales. We are however emphasising to regional health authorities the need for allocation arrangements which ensure that districts see clear benefit from successful income generation schemes.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to co-ordinate reports of illness in high intensity farming areas which may have been caused by pesticide or environmental illnesses.

  Mrs. Currie
  No arrangements exist to co-ordinate reports of illness specifically in high-intensity farming areas. Where ill health due to specific exposure to pesticides is suspected, the details can be reported to the Health and Safety Executive. All such cases are investigated, and a report which is seen by the statutory Advisory Committee on Pesticides is made to the Government. Similarly, all cases of acute poisoning from pesticides which involve hospital treatment, or a request to a poisons centre for advice, are recorded. The Government are considering how all this available though separate information can be co-ordinated.

  There would be very great difficulties in studying populations in areas of high intensity farming so as to obtain general information on possible untoward effects from long-term exposure to pesticides. However, we will be discussing with the Medical Research Council, which is the main Government funded body supporting medical research from its grant-in-aid under the Science Vote of the Department of Education and Science, whether it would be possible to investigate the feasibility of such studies in order to increase public reassurance as to the safety of approved pesticides.

  The Government have established a small area health statistics unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine under the direction of Professor
  192
  Geoffrey Rose, to develop methods and undertake studies of illnesses which might be associated with local sources of environmental pollution.

  Obstetric Units
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a list of each obstetric unit for each health authority showing for each year since 1979 the number of deliveries.

  Mrs. Currie
  I have arranged for the information requested to be placed in the Library.

  Incontinence Advisers
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to increase the number of incontinence advisers in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  It is for individual health authorities to decide for themselves both the level of provision, and the pace and direction of further developments in their services, in the light of their local needs and circumstances.

  We do, however, expect health authorities to provide appropriate services for incontinent people, and in 1977 the Department's chief nursing officer wrote to all health authorities advising them that the management of incontinence should he clearly identified as the responsibility of a designated special nurse, who should act as a "resource person" for nurses working in hospitals and the community services. Since then, most district health authorities have appointed at least one in continence adviser. Community nurses also provide advice and assessment as part of their nursing duties.

  Blood Glucose Monitoring Strips
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to make available the free blood glucose monitoring strips.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies to my hon. Friends the Members for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) and for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 24 November 1987 at column 174 and on 12 January 1988 at column 247 respectively.

  Surgery Statistics
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of frequency the 12 most common forms of surgery for which patients are admitted to hospitals in the South East Thames regional health authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table

  Estimated number of the 12 most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-phychiatric and non-maternity hospitals,

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority, 1985

  Condensed1 list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  1. 080

  Dilatation, Curettage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  8,400

  2. 093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  7,550

  193

  Condensed1 list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  3. 061

  Cystoscopy (With Destruction of Lesion)

  7,320

  4. 023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  5,720

  5. 032

  Operations on Heart and Intrathoracic Vessels

  5,260

  6. 039

  Inguinal Hernia Operations

  5,260

  7. 092

  Post-Natal or Post-Abortion Operations

  5,260

  8. 078

  Hysterectomy

  4,870

  9. 038

  Operations on Abdominal wall, Peritoneum and Mesentery

  4,760

  10. 100

  Arthroplasty

  3,870

  11. 014

  Operations on Lens

  3,850

  12. 044

  Operations on Appendix

  3,640

  Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)

  1 OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of frequency the 12 most common forms of surgery for which patients are admitted to hospitals in the Brighton health authority area.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table

  Estimated number of the 12 most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-phychiatric and non-maternity hospitals,

  Brighton District Health Authority, 1985

  Condensed1 list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  1. 061

  Cystoscopy (With Destruction of Lesion)

  1,030

  2. 023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  940

  3. 080

  Delatation, Curettage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  730

  4. 093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  710

  5. 038

  Operations on Abdominal Wall, Peritoneum and Mesentery

  590

  6. 078

  Hysterectomy

  440

  7. 014

  Operations on Lens

  400

  8. 109

  Operations on Veins

  390

  9. 100

  Arthroplasty

  370

  10. 092

  Post-Natal or Post-Abortion Operations

  350

  11. 044

  Operations on Appendix

  340

  12. 087

  Other Termination of Pregnancy

  320

  Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)

  1 OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of frequency the 10 most common forms of surgery for which patients are admitted to hospitals in the Wessex regional health authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table.
  194

  Estimated number of the 10 most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-phychiatric and non-maternity hospitals,

  Wessex Regional Health Authority, 1985

  Condensed1 list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  1. 080

  Dilatation. Curettage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  7,350

  2. 093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  6,480

  3. 061

  Cystoscopy (With Destruction of Lesion)

  5,420

  4. 023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  4,750

  5. 039

  Inguinal Hernia Operations

  4,330

  6. 078

  Hysterectomy

  4,070

  7. 038

  Operations on Abdominal Wall, Peritoneum and Mesentery

  3,930

  8. 100

  Arthroplasty

  3,930

  9. 092

  Post-Natal or Post-Abortion Operations

  3,910

  10. 014

  Operations on Lens

  3,860

  Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)

  1 OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of frequency the 10 most common forms of surgery for which patients are admitted to hospitals in the South West Thames regional health authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table

  Estimated number of the 10 most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-phychiatric and non-maternity hospitals,

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority, 1985

  Condensed1 list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  1. 080

  Dilatation, Curettage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  6,150

  2. 093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  5,500

  3. 061

  Cystoscopy (With Destruction of Lesion)

  5,460

  4. 023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  3,910

  5. 039

  Inguinal Hernia Operations

  3,750

  6. 078

  Hysterectomy

  3,750

  7. 092

  Post-Natal or Post-Abortion Operations

  3,670

  8. 014

  Operations on Lens

  3,530

  9. 038

  Operations on Abdominal Wall, Peritoneum and Mesentery

  3,460

  10. 100

  Arthroplasty

  3,270

  Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)

  1 OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of frequency the 10 most common forms of surgery for which patients are currently admitted to hospitals in the North West Thames regional health authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table.
  195

  Estimated number of the 10 most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-psychiatric and non-maternity hospitals,

  North West Thames regional health authority, 1985

  Condensed1 list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  1. 080

  Dilatation, Curettage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  8,270

  2. 093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  7,010

  3. 061

  Cystoscopy (With Destruction of Lesion)

  5,970

  4. 023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  5,800

  5. 039

  Inguinal Hernia Operations

  4,670

  6. 092

  Post-Natal or Post-Abortion Operations

  4,550

  7. 078

  Hysterectomy

  3,900

  8. 032

  Operations on Heart and Intrathoracic Vessels

  3,730

  9. 014

  Operations on Lens

  3,600

  10. 038

  Operations on Abdominal Wall, Peritoneum and Mesentery

  3,540

  Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)

  1 OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of frequency the 10 most common surgical procedures for which patients are admitted to hospitals in the Yorkshire regional health authority area.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of frequency the 10 most common forms of surgery for which patients are admitted to hospitals in the Mersey regional health authority.

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

  Estimated number of the 10 most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-psychiatric and non-maternity hospitals,

  Yorkshire Health Authority, 1985

  Condensed1 list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  1. 080

  Dilatation, Curettage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  10,630

  2. 093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  8,770

  3. 061

  Cystoscopy (With Destruction of Lesion)

  8,180

  4. 023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  7,750

  5. 078

  Hysterectomy

  6,090

  6. 039

  Inguinal Hernia Operations

  5,470

  7. 092

  Post-Natal or Post-Abortion Operations

  5,400

  8. 038

  Operations on Adominal wall, Peritoneum and Mesentery

  5,070

  9. 014

  Operations on Lens

  5,630

  10. 044

  Operations on Appendix

  4,630

  Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)

  1 OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  196

  Estimated number of the 10 most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-psychiatric maternity hospitals,

  Mersey Regional Health Authority 1985

  Condensed1list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  1. 080

  Dilatation, Curettage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  6,090

  2. 093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  5,600

  3. 092

  Post-Natal or Post-Abortion Operations

  3,550

  4. 078

  Hysterectomy

  3,370

  5. 023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  2,980

  6. 039

  Inguinal Hernia Operations

  2,890

  7. 044

  Operations on Appendix

  2,870

  8. 014

  Operations on Lens

  2,790

  9. 061

  Cystoscopy (With Destruction of Lesion)

  2,700

  10. 100

  Arthroplasty

  2,600

  Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)

  1 OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of frequency the 10 most common forms of surgery for which patients are admitted to hospitals in the Oxford regional health authority.

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

  Estimated number of the 10 most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-psychiatric maternity hospitals,

  Oxford Regional Health Authority 1985

  Condensed1list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  1. 080

  Dilatation, Curettage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  5,850

  2. 093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  5,270

  3. 023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  4,390

  4. 061

  Cystoscopy (With Destruction of Lesion)

  3,990

  5. 078

  Hysterectomy

  3,820

  6. 039

  Inguinal Hernia Operations

  3,430

  7. 092

  Post-Natal or Post-Abortion Operations

  3,220

  8. 038

  Operations on Abdominal Wall, Peritoneum and Mesentery

  3,150

  9. 100

  Arthroplasty

  3,120

  10. 044

  Operations on Appendix

  2,970

  1 OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in order of frequency the 10 most common forms of surgery for which patients are admitted to hospitals in the North Western regional health authority.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table.
  197

  Estimated number of the 10 most common forms of surgery (in order of frequency) performed in NHS non-psychiatric and non-maternity hospitals,

  North Western Regional Health Authority, 1985

  Condensed1 list operation number

  Operation

  Estimated number of operations

  1. 080

  Dilatation, Curettage, Biopsy and Excision of Lesion of Cervix

  14,510

  2. 023

  Tonsils and Adenoids

  10,290

  3. 093

  Treatment of Fracture by Operations

  10,150

  4. 061

  Cystoscopy (With Destruction of Lesion)

  8,340

  5. 038

  Operations on Abdominal Wall, Peritoneum and Mesentery

  6,980

  6. 078

  Hysterectomy

  6,170

  7. 092

  Post-Natal or Post-Abortion Operations

  6,160

  8. 014

  Operations on Lens

  5,540

  9. 044

  Operations on Appendix

  5,460

  10. 039

  Inguinal Hernia Operations

  5,450

  Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)

  1OPCS condensed list of surgical operations.

  Midwives
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff midwives were in post on 30 September in each region, listed separately, in England and Wales in 1985, 1986 and 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  The information for each region in England for September 1985 and September 1986 is shown in the table.

  Similar information for 1987 is not yet available.

  The information for Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  NHS staff midwives in post1: England at 30 September Whole-time Equivalents2

  Regional health authority

  1985

  1986

  Northern

  520

  550

  Yorkshire

  510

  560

  Trent

  590

  620

  East Anglian

  290

  320

  NW Thames

  450

  450

  NE Thames

  620

  640

  SE Thames

  530

  600

  SW Thames

  440

  420

  Wessex

  430

  440

  Oxford

  330

  350

  South Western

  410

  440

  West Midlands

  650

  640

  Mersey

  280

  330

  North Western

  640

  680

  London post-graduate special health authorities

  110

  110

  England

  6,820

  7,150

  Source: DHSS annual census of NHS non-medical manpower.

  1 Excludes agency staff midwives.

  2 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 10 whole time equivalents.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current level of midwife staff vacancies within the National Health Service and the trend of such vacancies on previous years; whether Her Majesty's Government has any plans to procure a reduction of these vacancies, by the recruitment and retention of more midwives; and if he will make a statement.
  198
  Mr. Newton
  I regret that information on vacancies is not collected centrally and no current information on vacancies is available. The results of the 1987 regional health authority chairmen's survey undertaken for the Nurses' Pay Review Body are expected shortly. However, the results of the previous surveys show that at 31 March 1986 2·7 per cent. of midwives' posts had been vacant for at least three months compared to about 3·0 per cent. a year earlier.

  Nationally the number of midwives has increased by 16·0 per cent. since 1981. Action is being taken centrally where appropriate to improve recruitment and retention of such staff. For example, the new grading definitions recently agreed by the Nurses and Midwives' Negotiating Council will provide better career opportunities for those who develop their clinical skills and will improve incentives to remain in the Health Service.

  Midwifery Students
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many intakes of midwifery students were cancelled in 1985, 1986 and 1987 in each year ended 30 September; and what are the most recently available staffing figures.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that information on the numbers of intakes cancelled is not collected centrally.

  The latest available detailed staffing information is September 1986 and this shows:

  National Health Service midwifery staff excluding agency staff at 30 September 1986: England

  Wholetime equivalents1

  Qualified midwives

  18,670

  Student midwives

  4,180

  1 Figures are independently rounded to nearest ten (10) wholetime equivalents.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of AIDS tests undertaken by the public health laboratory service to the latest available date.

  Mr. Newton
  The public health laboratory service has carried out a total of 289,221 AIDS tests as at 30 November 1987.

  Medicines Act 1968
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the independent study carried out by Dr. John Evans and Mr. Peter Cunliffe into the operations of the Medicines Act 1968 to report; when he expects to make his decision on their recommendations; and when the results will be made publicly known to the interested parties.

  Mr. Newton
  The study, which I announced on 11 March last year, has been completed. Dr. Evans and Mr. Cunliffe submitted their report just before Christmas and I am placing a copy in the Library. Copies will also be generally available, price £4·75 from the DHSS leaflets unit, PO Box 21, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 1AY. We are consulting the Medicines Commission on certain issues as
  199
  appropriate. In the light of its advice, we will take decisions and where necessary will enter into discussions with the bodies concerned.

  Wessex RHA (Overspending)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will indicate the extent and the reasons for the overspend by the Wessex regional health authority on its computer system; whether there are any plans for his Department to attempt to resolve the problems; whether there are any implications for his Department's own central computerisation project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been assured by officers of Wessex regional health authority that their computer programme is not overspent; that current expenditure on computer systems continues to be within the capital allocation approved by the regional health authority for computing up to 31 March 1989; and that the computer programme continues to be under regular review by the regional health authority.

  Officials are monitoring the progress of this project as part of the normal accountability procedures. There are at present no known implications for any existing departmental central computerisation projects.

  For further information the hon. Member may like to consult the Wessex regional health authority.

  Family Planning Clinics
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in tabular form the proportion of funds directed to family planning clinics by each of the health authorities in England and Wales for each year for which figures are available since 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  I regret that this information is not collected centrally.

  Professional and Linguistic Assessment
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the following information concerning the tests held under the auspices of the Professional and Linguistics Assessment Board:(a) how many/often the tests are held, (b) what is the average time taken from application for a test until the results are made available to districts health authorities and (c) how many places are available for each test; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Information obtained from the General Medical Council, which is the independent statutory body responsible for controlling the tests, shows that in 1987 there were 11 test sessions involving 1,734 candidates. Test sessions are held at approximately monthly intervals at different locations. No figures are available regarding the average time taken from application for a test to the results being made available, although because of the demand for places candidates are advised to apply six months in advance. The availability of places for each test is limited by the seating accommodation at each test location which 1 understand varies from about 110 to 200 places.

  Free Milk
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children under five years of age 200
  and cared for by registered childminders are currently in receipt of free milk; and how many childminders this involves.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information is not available in the form requested. It is estimated that some 200,000 children in England are receiving free milk at day nurseries, playgroups or childminders at any one time.

  Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Social Services how many medical laboratory scientific officers have been newly appointed by each health authority in England in each year since 1982.

  Mr. Newton
  Information in the form requested is not held centrally. The total number of qualified medical laboratory scientific officers in post rose by 14 per cent. between 1982 and 1986.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many medical laboratory scientific officers were newly appointed by the Sunderland, Durham and Hartlepool district health authorities in 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987 to date.

  Mr. Newton
  Information in the form requested is not held centrally. The latest available staff in post figures are shown in the table.

  Medical laboratory scientific officers in post at 30 September 1986

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Sunderland District Health Authority

  77

  Durham District Health Authority

  35

  Hartlepool District Health Authority

  31

  Source: Department of Health and Social Services annual census of National Health Service non-medical manpower.

  1 Figures rounded to nearest whole-time equivalent.

  For further information the hon. Member may wish to write to the chairmen of the health authorities concerned.

  Departmental Local Offices
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the establishment figures of each local benefit office, distinguishing between short-term and permanent posts, and between contributory and noncontributory benefits sections, and showing the current case load per head at each office.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that information cannot be provided as requested. The table shows the current complement of each local social security office with the latest supplementary benefit caseload, which is based on a 100 per cent. count of liver cases. Although staff are designated as employed on either contributory benefits or supplementary benefits the totals will include staff employed on common services such as finance work. No figure comparable to supplementary benefit caseload exists for the range of contributory benefits.

  The size of caseload is only one factor which determines complement. Other factors, such as activity on the caseload, play a more prominent role.

  To provide a fuller answer would be disproportionately costly.
  201

  Integrated local offices

  Contributory benefits complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit caseload

  North Eastern Region

  Ashington

  43

  69

  7,097

  Barnsley East

  46

  115

  10,752

  Barnsley West

  39

  81

  7,939

  Berwick

  10

  22

  1,887

  Bishop Auckland

  62

  130

  14,762

  Blyth

  41

  86

  8,872

  Bradford East

  38

  136

  14,944

  Bradford South

  43

  130

  13,730

  Bradford West

  50

  146

  13,235

  Bridlington

  28

  54

  5,914

  Chester-le-Street

  31

  68

  6,794

  Darlington

  57

  139

  13,905

  Dewsbury

  54

  143

  14,973

  Doncaster East

  48

  127

  11,712

  Doncaster West

  65

  144

  14,559

  Durham

  42

  60

  6,174

  Eston

  26

  86

  8,445

  Gateshead

  80

  206

  23,898

  Goole

  19

  46

  4,833

  Grimsby

  74

  210

  21,856

  Halifax

  72

  163

  16,172

  Harrogate

  46

  70

  7,414

  Hartlepool

  46

  130

  12,365

  Hemsworth

  28

  47

  4,818

  Hexham

  21

  26

  2,865

  Houghton le Spring

  24

  44

  4,541

  Huddersfield

  69

  164

  16,567

  Hull East

  67

  233

  24,681

  Hull West

  71

  203

  23,084

  Keighley

  40

  93

  9,249

  Leeds East

  62

  173

  17,857

  Leeds North

  61

  171

  16,353

  Leeds North West

  58

  164

  14,999

  Leeds South

  41

  98

  9,248

  Leeds West

  48

  117

  12,361

  Middlesbrough

  73

  253

  23,121

  Newcastle East

  51

  144

  17,170

  Newcastle St. James

  58

  162

  17,303

  Newcastle West

  33

  102

  11,836

  North Shields

  42

  109

  11,462

  Northallerton

  36

  51

  5,362

  Peterlee

  62

  71

  7,396

  Pontefract

  31

  61

  6,413

  Redcar

  33

  92

  9,492

  Rotherham North

  27

  54

  5,671

  Rotherham South

  71

  170

  19,452

  Scarborough

  41

  95

  9,696

  Scunthorpe

  41

  120

  12,676

  Seaham

  19

  31

  3,154

  Sheffield North East

  54

  185

  20,970

  Sheffield North West

  55

  188

  19,353

  Sheffield South East

  43

  129

  14,057

  Sheffield South West

  51

  156

  17,738

  South Shields

  41

  120

  14,040

  Stanley

  47

  93

  10,502

  Stockton

  74

  204

  20,321

  Sunderland North

  67

  206

  20,612

  Sunderland South

  58

  149

  16,131

  Wakefield

  50

  114

  12,006

  Wallsend

  26

  80

  9,202

  York

  75

  153

  14,705

  Midland Region

  Birmingham Edgbaston

  45

  165

  18,573

  Birmingham Erdington

  47

  141

  16,331

  Birmingham Handsworth

  45

  195

  19,551

  Birmingham Ladywood

  55

  123

  12,470

  Birmingham Northfield

  41

  145

  16,818

  Birmingham Perry Barr

  41

  109

  15,467

  Birmingham Ravernhurst

  39

  109

  11,021

  Birmingham South Yardley

  78

  176

  23,828

  Birmingham Sparkhill

  31

  69

  8,414

  Birmingham Washwood Heath

  37

  136

  14,819

  202 203

  Integrated local offices

  Contributory benefits complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit caseload

  Boston

  46

  73

  8,282

  Burton-on-Trent

  30

  60

  6,346

  Cannock

  44

  93

  9,520

  Chesterfield

  103

  146

  19,271

  Corby

  25

  67

  5,461

  Coventry East

  63

  195

  22,352

  Coventry West

  51

  151

  17,619

  Derby (Beckett Street)

  50

  124

  13,120

  Derby Heritage Gate

  36

  56

  7,283

  Derby London Road

  58

  134

  14,824

  Dudley North

  69

  150

  20,249

  Dudley South

  43

  84

  10,070

  Grantham

  31

  65

  6,507

  Hereford

  54

  98

  10,195

  Ilkeston

  39

  75

  7,660

  Kidderminster

  36

  87

  9,839

  Leamington

  57

  94

  11,713

  Leicester Burley's Way

  40

  77

  8,199

  Leicester Lower Hill Street

  58

  111

  12,544

  Leicester Norton Street

  65

  164

  15,204

  Leicester Yeoman Street

  66

  150

  15,825

  Lichfield

  43

  102

  11,925

  Lincoln Newland

  37

  90

  10,455

  Lincoln Orchard Street

  57

  128

  13,526

  Loughborough

  55

  93

  9,288

  Mansfield

  85

  124

  13,419

  Nottingham Castle Gate

  48

  137

  13,676

  Nottingham David Lane

  49

  118

  12,543

  Nottingham Shakespeare Street

  53

  146

  15,420

  Nottingham Station Street

  71

  150

  17,353

  Newcastle

  51

  79

  9,036

  Nuneaton

  58

  117

  13,464

  Redditch

  48

  101

  11,015

  Rugby

  24

  47

  5,493

  Shrewsbury

  79

  118

  14,575

  Skegness

  25

  58

  5,335

  Smethwick

  62

  155

  19,762

  Stafford

  33

  62

  6,618

  Stoke North

  87

  158

  17,887

  Stoke South

  61

  100

  10,572

  Sutton-in-Ashfield

  47

  77

  8,755

  Telford

  53

  149

  16,375

  Walsall East

  59

  117

  13,567

  Walsall West

  51

  126

  15,747

  Wellingborough

  65

  131

  13,385

  West Bromwich

  56

  162

  21,149

  Wolverhampton North

  50

  169

  19,328

  Wolverhampton South

  63

  157

  19,679

  Worcester

  70

  139

  16,180

  Worksop

  48

  90

  9,888

  London North Region

  Acton

  56

  134

  15,258

  Aylesbury

  60

  83

  8,979

  Banbury

  34

  63

  5,919

  Barking

  56

  137

  17,333

  Barnet

  45

  61

  7,457

  Basildon

  95

  194

  23,447

  Bedford

  70

  127

  13,996

  Braintree

  40

  79

  9,154

  Bury St. Edmunds

  61

  99

  10,234

  Cambridge

  84

  179

  15,141

  Canning Town

  16

  65

  5,362

  Chelmsford

  53

  74

  9,452

  Clacton-on-Sea

  28

  55·5

  7,271

  Colchester

  73

  121

  11,711

  Cricklewood

  28

  88

  9,621

  Dunstable

  31

  57

  5,876

  Ealing

  63

  141·5

  16,073

  Edgware

  42

  69

  8,228

  Edmonton

  76

  136

  17,646

  Euston

  64

  133

  12,517

  Finsbury Park

  53

  171

  21,457

  Grays

  42

  103

  11,369

  204 205

  Integrated local offices

  Contributory benefits complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit caseload

  Great Yarmouth

  38

  87

  10,828

  Hackney

  51

  159·5

  17,550

  Harlesden

  43·5

  127

  12,450

  Harlow

  40

  79

  8,165

  Harrow

  62·5

  96

  11,247

  Hemel Hempstead

  41

  62

  6,298

  Hendon

  50·5

  96

  10,299

  Hertford

  32

  69

  8,195

  High Wycombe

  57

  77

  9,066

  Highgate

  68

  181

  19,598

  Hoxton

  41

  122

  13,129

  Ilford

  85

  148

  17,319

  Ipswich

  81·5

  150

  18,604

  Kings Lynn

  79

  164

  17,023

  Leytonstone

  40·5

  100

  11,292

  Lowestoft

  39

  84

  9,089

  Luton

  55

  148

  15,723

  Milton Keynes

  46·5

  125

  12,981

  Neasden

  58

  134

  13,393

  Norwich Chantry

  68

  136

  15,350

  Norwich Mountergate

  67

  158

  17,684

  Notting Hill

  26

  99

  10,608

  Paddington

  47·5

  172

  15,537

  Peterborough

  92

  218

  20,794

  Plaistow

  35

  95·5

  11,338

  Poplar

  41

  143·5

  16,499

  Romford

  42·5

  122

  13,517

  Southall

  58

  106

  11,383

  Southend

  75

  161

  19,741

  St· Albans

  41

  71

  6,930

  Stevenage

  55·5

  108

  12,455

  Stoke Newington

  46·5

  95

  10·264

  Tottenham

  45

  167

  17,235

  Uxbridge

  48·5

  74

  8,156

  Walthamstow

  50

  121

  13,987

  Watford

  65

  82

  8,958

  Wood Green

  50

  84

  9,240

  Woodgrange Park

  48·5

  147

  14,934

  London South Region

  Aldershot

  77

  104

  8,886

  Andover

  25

  51

  4,512

  Ashford

  27

  54

  5,808

  Balham

  38

  167

  15,322

  Basingstoke

  32

  62

  5,730

  Battersea

  28

  139

  14,018

  Bexley

  59

  119

  12,179

  Bognor Regis

  24

  69

  8,012

  Bracknell

  55

  77

  7,903

  Brighton

  64

  168

  17,447

  Brixton

  50

  138

  11,363

  Bromley

  50

  81

  8,895

  Chatham

  70

  117

  10,732

  Chelsea

  48

  154

  13,493

  Chichester

  30

  49

  5,134

  Crawley

  43

  77

  8,120

  Croydon

  62

  167

  18,602

  Crystal Palace

  39

  117

  12,077

  Dartford

  36

  65

  6,207

  Dover

  33

  66

  6,896

  Eastbourne

  61

  104

  11,188

  Epsom

  54

  56

  4,927

  Fareham

  52

  107

  10,263

  Folkestone

  29

  72

  7,878

  Gravesend

  28

  67

  6,817

  Greenwich Park

  38

  160

  14,671

  Guildford

  70

  91

  8,772

  Hastings

  102

  116

  14,262

  Hounslow

  80

  148

  16,297

  Hove

  36

  88

  9,593

  Isle of Wight

  47

  106

  11,651

  Kennington Park

  25

  108

  11,964

  Kensington

  34

  139

  10,540

  Kingston Upon Thames

  68

  91

  8,907

  206 207

  Integrated local offices

  Contributory benefits complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit caseload

  Lewes

  27

  64

  6,945

  Lewisham

  51

  149

  14,718

  Maidstone

  46

  91

  9,455

  New Forest

  46

  81

  8,112

  Newbury

  32

  69

  5,897

  Orpington

  38

  59

  5,790

  Peckham

  58

  109

  9,826

  Portsmouth North

  47

  113

  12,725

  Portsmouth South

  30

  109

  10,676

  Reading

  75

  171

  12,503

  Redhill

  49

  78

  7,352

  Sittingbourne

  32

  79

  8,600

  Slough

  85

  141

  12,179

  Southampton

  84

  247

  24,583

  Southwark

  44

  129

  12,108

  Streatham

  44

  105

  10,505

  Thanet

  43

  131

  14,533

  Tunbridge Wells

  55

  77

  9,603

  Twickenham

  40

  59

  5,801

  Wandsworth

  43

  93

  10,893

  Westminster

  42

  113

  5,518

  Winchester

  40

  61

  5,527

  Woking

  65

  84

  9,109

  Woolwich

  52

  225

  19,028

  Worthing

  66

  103

  11,729

  Wales and South Western Region

  Aberdare

  41

  62

  6,475

  Abertillery

  18

  35

  3,213

  Aberystwyth

  27

  46

  4,705

  Ammanford

  33

  30

  3,331

  Anglesey

  26

  58

  7,323

  Bargoed

  35

  56

  5,627

  Barnstable

  46

  84

  9,539

  Barry

  32

  76

  7,412

  Bath

  55

  110

  12,104

  Blackwood

  32

  41

  4,102

  Bournemouth

  79

  186

  18418

  Bridgend

  80

  108

  11,208

  Bridgwater

  42

  70

  7,389

  Bristol Central

  44

  134

  11,284

  Bristol East

  72

  145

  16,848

  Bristol Horfield

  26

  72

  7,337

  Bristol South

  52

  155

  14,830

  Bristol West

  49

  78

  8,179

  Caernarfon

  19

  52

  5,993

  Caerphilly

  32

  58

  6,758

  Cardiff Central

  58

  101

  11,300

  Cardiff East

  47

  131

  14,663

  Cardiff West

  40

  108

  12,428

  Carmarthen

  26

  37

  4,041

  Cheltenham

  51

  96

  10,234

  Chippenham

  33

  55

  5,998

  Colwyn Bay

  39

  74

  8,164

  Cwmbran

  59

  118

  13,157

  Devonport

  44

  105

  12,149

  Ebbw Vale

  42

  74

  7,145

  Exeter

  107

  181

  19,997

  Gloucester

  66

  131

  13,470

  Haverfordwest

  29

  54

  6,574

  Launceston

  31

  55

  5,854

  Llanelli

  57

  84

  8,657

  Merthyr Tydfil

  52

  65

  7,623

  Morriston

  44

  80

  8,721

  Neath

  39

  62

  6,252

  Newport

  78

  176

  20,680

  Newtown

  32

  47

  4,695

  Pembroke Dock

  17

  41

  4,252

  Penzance

  38

  70

  7,940

  Plymouth

  81

  179

  18,556

  Pontypridd

  47

  62

  7,690

  Poole

  77

  118

  14,674

  Port Talbot

  41

  60

  5,846

  Porth

  31

  35

  5,224

  208 209

  Integrated local offices

  Contributory benefits complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit caseload

  Porthmadog

  31

  37

  4,933

  Rhonnda West

  57

  65

  6,069

  Rhyl

  70

  129

  15,157

  Salisbury

  41

  70

  6,935

  St. Austell

  45

  93

  10,638

  Stroud

  43

  67

  7,852

  Swansea

  82

  167

  19,610

  Swindon

  60

  99

  13,871

  Taunton

  57

  138

  10,315

  Torbay

  88

  205

  22,467

  Trowbridge

  31

  51

  4,954

  Truro

  54

  117

  13,431

  Weston-super-Mare

  41

  86

  8,822

  Weymouth

  52

  86

  9,349

  Wrexham

  91

  183

  18,950

  Yeovil

  41

  66

  7,267

  North Western Region

  Accrington

  45

  77

  7,380

  Ashton under Lyne

  50

  112

  12,434

  Barrow

  44

  76

  8,116

  Birkenhead North

  63

  168

  17,562

  Birkenhead South

  45

  102

  11,313

  Blackburn

  70

  148

  14,783

  Blackpool North

  89

  156

  19,785

  Blackpool South

  49

  76

  9,734

  Bolton

  92

  195

  23,405

  Burnley

  83

  153

  15,701

  Bury

  73

  146

  13,879

  Buxton

  16

  23

  2,092

  Carlisle

  43

  79

  8,430

  Chester

  48

  92

  10,864

  Crewe

  53

  91

  11,232

  Ellesmere Port

  29

  75

  7,138

  Farnworth

  41

  88

  9,882

  Hyde

  45

  96

  11,251

  Kendal

  23

  28

  2,732

  Lancaster

  54

  115

  11,514

  Leigh

  57

  100

  10,206

  Liverpool Belle Vale

  37

  98

  10,987

  Liverpool Bootle

  50

  116

  14,125

  Liverpool Breckfield

  49

  127

  16,818

  Liverpool City

  34

  89

  8,840

  Liverpool Crosby

  33

  94

  11,360

  Liverpool Edgehill

  26

  93

  9,857

  Liverpool Garston

  29

  84

  9,400

  Liverpool Huyton

  45

  144

  16,458

  Liverpool Kirkby

  57

  165

  17,773

  Liverpool Toxteth

  38

  158

  16,734

  Macclesfield

  27

  45

  4,438

  Manchester Central

  39

  68

  5,767

  Manchester Cheetham

  43

  122

  13,539

  Manchester Chorlton

  30

  97

  10,736

  Manchester Failsworth

  53

  130

  13,226

  Manchester Longsight

  35

  127

  12,051

  Manchester Middleton

  34

  90

  8,985

  Manchester Openshaw

  32

  85

  11,133

  Manchester Rusholme

  40

  142

  13,719

  Manchester Sale

  67

  130

  14,917

  Manchester Wythenshawe

  48

  144

  13,843

  Northwich

  34

  69

  6,579

  Oldham

  80

  168

  17,561

  Penrith

  15

  22

  2,043

  Preston North

  56

  110

  13,757

  Preston South

  64

  93

  11,137

  Rochdale

  58

  125

  12,501

  Rossendale

  27

  51

  5,000

  Salford North

  60

  148

  16,627

  Salford South

  45

  107

  11,897

  Skelmersdale

  42

  99

  10,283

  Southport

  46

  82

  10,173

  St. Helens

  99

  166

  19,056

  Stockport North

  56

  107

  12,204

  Stockport South

  51

  93

  11,291

  210 211

  Integrated local offices

  Contributory benefits complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit caseload

  Wallasey

  42

  109

  12,627

  Warrington

  87

  139

  17,786

  Whitehaven

  28

  48

  4,617

  Widnes

  53

  141

  15,727

  Wigan

  102

  170

  20,148

  Wilmslow

  20

  31

  3,424

  Workington

  28

  56

  5,755

  Scotland

  Aberdeen North

  54

  105

  9,638

  Aberdeen South

  54

  110

  9,925

  Airdrie

  27

  95

  8,305

  Arbroath

  26

  70

  6,694

  Ayr

  46

  177

  15,333

  Bathgate

  52

  180

  14,209

  Campbeltown

  7

  19

  1,630

  Clydebank

  22

  75

  7,716

  Cowdenbeath

  24

  60

  4,422

  Cumbernauld

  48

  113

  10,427

  Dumbarton

  25

  86

  8,229

  Dumfries

  40

  88

  8,011

  Dundee East

  47

  152

  11,613

  Dundee West

  38

  112

  10,979

  Dunfermline

  32

  69

  5,832

  East Kilbride

  29

  70

  6,506

  Edinburgh City

  56

  132

  12,071

  Edinburgh East

  38

  128

  11,695

  Edinburgh North

  31

  137

  11,047

  Edinburgh South

  49

  133

  11,265

  Edinburgh West

  49

  120

  11,207

  Elgin

  30

  73

  5,986

  Falkirk

  58

  178

  13,812

  Fort William

  11

  30

  2,619

  Galashiels

  34

  68

  6,374

  Glasgow Anniesland

  59

  138

  11,872

  Glasgow Bridgeton

  24

  102

  8,657

  Glasgow City

  49

  115

  9,335

  Glasgow Craighton

  33

  134

  12,646

  Glasgow Laurieston

  53

  153

  15,912

  Glasgow Maryhill

  36

  115

  10,488

  Glasgow Parkhead

  41

  122

  12,026

  Glasgow Provan

  32

  198

  14,513

  Glasgow Rutherglen

  42

  181

  14,762

  Glasgow South Side

  45

  158

  13,505

  Glasgow Springburn

  42

  169

  13,955

  Greenock

  49

  126

  12,338

  Hamilton

  68

  161

  16,338

  Inverness

  38

  104

  11,207

  Irvine

  39

  147

  12,974

  Johnstone

  29

  84

  7,899

  Kilmarnock

  33

  108

  9,246

  Kirkcaldy

  45

  125

  11,696

  Lerwick

  8

  12

  1,080

  Leven

  22

  58

  5,393

  Motherwell

  41

  119

  11,527

  Oban

  11

  21

  2,112

  Paisley

  67

  185

  16,726

  Perth

  39

  89

  8,323

  Peterhead

  24

  56

  4,348

  Port Glasgow

  19

  62

  5,369

  Stirling

  52

  124

  11,289

  Stornoway

  14

  32

  4,574

  Stranraer

  11

  30

  3,026

  Wick

  22

  42

  4,202

  Area Offices

  Supplementary benefit complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit caseload

  North Eastern

  Castleford

  56

  5,594

  Jarrow

  75

  8,693

  212

  Area Offices

  Supplementary benefit complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit caseload

  Skipton

  26

  2,426

  Wath-on-Dearne

  85

  7,879

  213

  Area Offices

  Supplementary benefit complement 1987–88

  Supplementary benefit caseload

  London North

  Diss

  29

  3,221

  Oxford

  180

  16,884

  Shoreditch

  95·5

  10,737

  Stepney

  100

  10,291

  Thames North

  40

  1,884

  Midlands

  Birmingham Bradford st.

  83

  11,709

  Northampton

  181

  19,531

  North Western

  Morris Green

  73

  8,345

  West Derby

  94

  10,525

  Scotland

  Bellshill

  77

  6,874

  Coatbridge

  77

  7,186

  Glasgow Cranstonhill

  43

  2,082

  Glasgow Partick

  85

  9,247

  London South

  Bloomsbury

  154

  8,634

  Camberwell

  142

  11,749

  Canterbury

  87

  9,564

  Eltham

  34

  2,988

  Havant

  84

  8,393

  Hither Green

  46

  4,464

  Mitcham

  74

  7,768

  Oval

  134

  11,976

  Rochester

  64

  5,391

  Surbiton

  54

  4,769

  Sutton

  60

  5,238

  Thames South

  74

  1,115

  Wimbledon

  77

  8,245

  National Insurance Offices

  Contributory Benefits complement 1987-88

  North Eastern

  Castleford

  31

  Goldthorpe

  21

  Jarrow

  25

  Mexborough

  21

  Skipton

  18

  London North

  Abingdon

  18

  Bishops Stortford

  16

  Diss

  11

  Hatfield

  27

  Hornchurch

  38

  Oxford

  73

  Stepney

  38

  Wantage

  11

  Midlands

  Northampton

  96

  North Western

  West Derby

  50

  Scotland

  Coatbridge

  37

  Cumnock

  15

  Lanark

  12

  Shotts

  13

  Wishaw

  35

  London South

  214

  Contributory Benefits complement 1987–88

  Aldershot Benefits

  74

  Broadstairs Benefits

  83

  Canterbury

  43

  City

  70

  Eltham

  29

  Havant

  38

  Haywards Heath

  32

  Littlehampton

  21

  Portsmouth Conts

  67

  Richmond

  24

  Sutton

  77

  West End

  58

  Wimbledon

  38

  Hospital Waiting Lists (Derbyshire)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current hospital waiting list in Derbyshire, North-East for(a) urgent cases, (b) urgent cases which have been waiting for more than one month, (c) non-urgent cases and (d) non-urgent cases which have been waiting for more than one year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Due to the introduction of a new computer system on 31 March 1987, the data supplied by district health authorities in Trent region did not distinguish between in-patient waiting list cases classified by consultants as urgent or non-urgent. The available information for North Derbyshire health authority is that on 31 March 1987 there were 2,520 patients on the inpatient waiting list, 684 of whom had been waiting for more than one year. This is an improvement over the position at 31 March 1986 when the in-patient waiting list stood at 2,633 of whom 883 had been waiting over a year.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the extent to which, in order to remain within cash limits, district health authorities may be obliged to implement decisions that impose a real reduction in services on the population which they serve.

  Mr. Newton
  I announced on 16 December, an increase in health authority allocations across the United Kingdom of over £100 million in this financial year. This step was taken because our assessment of the financial pressures facing authorities showed that they would otherwise be required to take short-term measures that would not improve health care or efficiency.

  General Practices (Inner Cities)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to encourage the establishment of general practices in the inner cities.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government encourage the development of general practice in the inner cities mainly through payment of enhanced rates of improvement grant for practice premises and through the medical practices committee which takes into account the special needs of the inner cities in its control of the distribution of general
  215
  practitioners throughout the country. In addition, resources have been made available to encourage GPs to form group practices.

  Proposals in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" (Cm. 249), published last November, are designed to further improve general practice in the inner cities. These include relating the distribution of doctors more closely to medical and social needs; the introduction of new allowances especially related to working in areas of deprivation; increasing the assistance available to doctors in improvement grants and under the cost rent scheme; and strengthening the role of family practitioner committees generally.

  Resources (Allocation)
  Mr. Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria have been taken into account by the National Health Service resource allocation working party in assessing regional and district health needs; and if any changes are contemplated in future assessments.

  Mr. Newton
  The resource allocation working party formula measures the relative needs of each region by taking account of: population (and the use made of health services by people of different age groups and sexes); morbidity as indicated by standardised mortality ratios; patient flows between regions; and higher staff costs in London and the south-east. Separate allocations are made to take account of the costs associated with medical teaching. The assessment of the relative needs of health districts is a matter for regions, who are expected to follow the same principles as the national formula, but to have regard also to local needs and circumstances.

  The NHS management board's review of the national RAWP formula is exploring the scope for improving the way in which the formula measures relative need. The review's programme of analysis and research is now almost complete, and any recommendations which may emerge will then be carefully considered

  Social Security

  Table 15.1 (1) (in constant 1986–87 prices)

  £ million

  1982–83 outturn

  1983–84 outturn

  1984–85 outturn

  1985–86 outturn

  1986–87 outturn

  1987–88 estimated outturn

  1988–89 plans

  1989–90 plans

  1990–91 plans

  Contributory benefits (ie those paid from the National Insurance Fund)

  Pension benefits

  Retirement pension basic element

  16,115

  16,597

  16,583

  16,938

  17,552

  17,683

  17,381(2)

  17,700

  18,000

  earnings-related component

  48

  68

  95

  145

  219

  278

  346

  400

  500

  Christmas bonus

  122

  117

  115

  108

  107

  103

  99

  100

  100

  Widows' benefits, etc basic element

  854

  862

  829

  790

  785

  751

  735

  700

  700

  earnings-related component

  11

  17

  28

  34

  40

  49

  62

  100

  100

  Unemployment, incapacity and other benefits

  Unemployment benefit

  1,789

  1,707

  1,724

  1,637

  1,734

  1,480

  1,359

  1,200

  1,200

  Sickness benefit

  661

  302

  305

  284

  179

  159

  153

  100

  100

  Invalidity benefit basic element

  1,837

  2,059

  2,231

  2,289

  2,480

  2,616

  2,649

  2,800

  2,900

  earnings—related component

  63

  76

  109

  131

  193

  248

  298

  400

  400

  Death grant

  20

  19

  19

  19

  18

  0

  0

  —

  —

  Industrial injuries benefit

  1991 Census
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what assumptions he makes as to the percentage of misleading answers given during the next census which will result in the census being of little use for planning purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  No such assumptions are made. Tests are being conducted to ensure that proposed census questions are as clear and acceptable to the public as possible.

  Mersey RHA
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage increase in medical and dental staff whole-time equivalents, in the Mersey region between 1978 and the latest available year.

  Mrs. Currie
  The percentage increase in hospital and community health services (HCHS) staff between 1978 and 1986 is 14 per cent. This is based on the information, as set out in the table.

  HCHS medical and dental staff' at 30 September each year

  whole-time equivalents

  Mersey RHA

  1978

  1986

  Percentage change

  All Staff

  1,956

  2,231

  +14

  1 Includes permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the information in table 15.1 of Cm. 288-II, expressed in constant 1986–87 prices.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is set out in the table. The figures for the last two years are, as in Cm, 288, rounded to the nearest £100 million.
  217

  1982–83 outturn

  1983–84 outturn

  1984–85 outturn

  1985–86 outturn

  1986–87 outturn

  1987–88 estimated outturn

  1988–89 plans

  1989–90 plans

  1990–91 plans

  Industrial disablement benefit

  409

  421

  416

  419

  440

  428

  403

  400

  400

  Industrial death benefit

  61

  62

  60

  60

  61

  58

  55

  100

  100

  Other industrial injuries benefits

  6

  6

  5

  5

  4

  3

  3

  —

  —

  Family benefits

  Maternity allowance

  181

  161

  176

  169

  168

  64

  39

  —

  —

  Guardian's allowance and child's special allowance

  2

  2

  2

  1

  2

  2

  1

  —

  —

  Total contributory benefit expenditure

  22,179

  22,477

  22,696

  23,029

  23,983

  23,922

  23,584

  24,000

  24,000

  Non-contributory benefits (i.e. those met from voted expenditure or paid by local authorities etc.)

  Pension benefits

  Non-contributory retirement pension

  48

  47

  43

  42

  45

  42

  40

  —

  —

  Christmas bonus

  7

  7

  7

  7

  8

  8

  6

  —

  —

  War pension

  601

  598

  594

  599

  589

  565

  543

  500

  500

  Disability benefits Attendance allowance

  481

  565

  629

  707

  779

  814

  835

  900

  900

  Invalid care allowance

  10

  11

  12

  13

  104

  157

  142

  100

  200

  Non-contributory invalidity pension/severe disablement allowance

  184

  208

  258

  274

  285

  294

  282

  300

  300

  Mobility allowance

  282

  347

  389

  435

  514

  572

  609

  700

  700

  Supplementary benefit/income support/social fund

  Supplementary pension

  1,726

  810

  972

  1,039

  1,178

  1,209

  —

  —

  —

  Supplementary allowance

  5,743

  5,567

  6,096

  6,631

  6,789

  6,551

  —

  —

  —

  Income support

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7,879

  8,100

  8,300

  Social Fund

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  32

  151

  100

  100

  Family benefits

  Child benefit

  4,366

  4,548

  4,671

  4,603

  4,513

  4,420

  4,156

  4,200

  4,200

  One parent benefit

  109

  122

  131

  138

  148

  153

  155

  200

  200

  Family income supplement/family credit

  112

  140

  138

  134

  161

  158

  375

  400

  400

  Maternity grant

  19

  19

  20

  18

  14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Housing benefit

  Rent rebate

  1,108

  2,258

  2,343

  2,363

  2,421

  2,459

  2,497

  2,500

  2,600

  Rent allowance

  88

  611

  752

  860

  947

  1,014

  1,059

  1,100

  1,200

  Total non-contributory benefit expenditure

  14,883

  15,854

  17,055

  17,862

  18,496

  18,477

  18,730

  19,200

  19,500

  Total benefit expenditure

  37,063

  38,332

  39,751

  40,892

  42,479

  42,369

  42,315

  43,200

  44,000

  Administration and miscellaneous services

  National Insurance Fund administration (collection of contributions and payment of contributory benefits)

  874

  791

  883

  821

  727

  765

  823

  820

  820

  Non-contributory benefit administration (payment of non-contributory benefits)

  689

  854

  849

  856

  1,037

  1,165

  1,154

  1,170

  1,160

  Housing benefit Local authority etc. administration

  82

  121

  152

  160

  174

  210

  191

  190

  190

  Total administration

  1,646

  1,765

  1,883

  1,837

  1,937

  2,140

  2,168

  2,180

  2,180

  Total Department of Health and Social Security—Social Security

  38,710

  40,097

  41,634

  42,728

  44,416

  44,509

  44,483

  45,300

  46,100

  1 Footnotes to Table 15.1 of Cm. 288-II apply.

  2 Fall between 1987–88 and 1988–89 caused by their being one fewer encashment week in the latter year.

  NHS (Trade Unions)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the trade unions and professional organisations operating within 218
  the National Health Service and their membership numbers amongst doctors, nurses, administrative, ancillary and other staff.
  219
  Mrs. Currie
  The trade unions and professional organisations recognised for the purpose of negotiating pay and conditions for staff in the NHS are as follows:

  Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers (Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section)

  Association of Clinical Biochemists

  Association of Dispensing Opticians

  Association of NHS Officers

  Association of Optical Practitioners

  Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs

  Association of Supervisors of Midwives

  British Association of Occupational Therapists

  British Dental Association

  British Dietetic Association

  British Medical Association

  British Orthoptic Society

  Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

  Company Chemists Association Ltd

  Confederation of Health Service Employees

  Co-operative Union Ltd

  Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunication and Plumbing Trades Union

  General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union

  Health Visitors Association

  Hospital Physicists Association

  National and Local Government Officers Association

  National Pharmaceutical Union

  National Union of Public Employees

  Pharmaceutical Standing Committee (Scotland)

  Royal College of Midwives

  Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom

  Scottish Association of Nurse Administrators

  Scottish Health Visitors Association

  Scottish Committee of Ophthalmic Opticians

  Socialist Health Association

  Society of Administrators of Family Practitioners Services

  Society of Chiropodists

  Society of Opticians

  Society of Radiographers

  Society of Remedial Gymnasts

  Transport and General Workers Union

  Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians

  Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers

  Information about membership numbers is not held by the Department.

  Infant Mortality
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the six health authorities with the highest percentage of post-neonatal deaths for each year since 1975.

  Mrs. Currie
  I shall let the hon. Member have such information as is available without incurring disproportionate costs as soon as possible.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will order an urgent inquiry into the causes of the increase of post-neonatal deaths.

  Mrs. Currie
  The increase in the infant mortality rate in the latest figures (1986), produced by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, is small and may not be sustained. None the less, I have arranged for the matter to be further examined with the help of medical experts.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of post-neonatal deaths for each year since 1975 as a percentage figure for each socio-economic group.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 25 January 1988.]: The exact information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the tables show the numbers and rates for post-neonatal deaths, and
  220
  percentage distribution by social class for legitimate births for 1975 to 1985, and for jointly registered illegitimate births for 1975 and 1985 only. These statistics are from data which link the infant death records to their corresponding birth records. Information on social class for illegitimate births as a whole is not shown as this is not collected on a comparable basis to that for legitimate births.

  Post-neonatal mortality by social class (legitimate births only)

  England and Wales 1975–1985

  Social class

  Number

  Per cent. of total

  Rate

  1975

  Total

  2,500

  100·0

  4·6

  I

  127

  5·1

  3·0

  II

  324

  13·0

  3·3

  IIIN

  200

  8·0

  3·5

  IIIM

  949

  38·0

  4·4

  IV

  485

  19·4

  5·7

  V

  237

  9·5

  3·7

  Other

  178

  7·1

  7·5

  1976

  Total

  2,198

  100·0

  4·1

  I

  107

  4·9

  2·6

  II

  280

  12·7

  2·8

  IIIN

  171

  7·8

  3·1

  IIIM

  827

  37·6

  4·0

  IV

  431

  19·6

  5·1

  V

  211

  9·6

  8·4

  Other

  171

  7·8

  8·8

  1977

  Total

  2,079

  100·0

  4·0

  I

  120

  5·8

  2·9

  II

  305

  14·7

  3·0

  IIIN

  172

  8·3

  3·2

  IIIM

  712

  34·2

  3·7

  IV

  408

  19·6

  5·0

  V

  202

  9·7

  8·0

  Other

  160

  7·7

  8·7

  1978

  Total

  2,200

  100·0

  4·1

  I

  135

  6·1

  3·0

  II

  326

  14·8

  3·1

  IIIN

  177

  8·0

  3·2

  IIIM

  855

  38·9

  4·2

  IV

  374

  17·0

  4·3

  V

  181

  8·2

  7·1

  Other

  152

  6·9

  8·9

  1979

  Total

  2,326

  100·0

  4·1

  I

  129

  5·5

  3·3

  II

  341

  14·7

  2·8

  IIIN

  157

  6·7

  2·6

  IIIM

  813

  35·0

  3·9

  IV

  464

  19·9

  5·2

  V

  263

  11·3

  8·1

  Other

  159

  6·8

  9·0

  1980

  Total

  2,266

  100·0

  3·9

  I

  132

  5·8

  3·2

  II

  384

  16·9

  3·1

  IIIN

  212

  9·4

  3·4

  IIIM

  748

  33·0

  3·5

  IV

  424

  18·7

  4·8

  V

  204

  9·0

  6·2

  Other

  162

  7·1

  8·1

  1981

  Total

  2,167

  100·0

  3·9

  I

  128

  5·9

  3·1

  221

  Social class

  Number

  Per cent. of total

  Rate

  II

  329

  15·2

  2·7

  IIIN

  181

  8·4

  3·0

  IIIM

  777

  35·9

  3·9

  IV

  384

  17·7

  4·8

  V

  223

  10·3

  7·1

  Other

  145

  6·7

  7·7

  1982

  Total

  2,131

  100·0

  4·0

  107

  5·0

  2·6

  II

  390

  18·3

  3·3

  IIIN

  193

  9·1

  3·3

  IIIM

  734

  34·4

  3·9

  IV

  363

  17·0

  4·6

  V

  201

  9·4

  6·5

  Other

  143

  6·7

  7·1

  1983

  Total

  2,045

  100·0

  3·9

  I

  96

  4·7

  2·5

  II

  353

  17·3

  3·0

  IIIN

  166

  8·1

  2·9

  IIIM

  694

  33·9

  3·7

  IV

  393

  19·2

  5·1

  V

  182

  8·9

  5·8

  Other

  161

  7·9

  7·7

  1984

  Total

  1,793

  100·0

  3·4

  I

  88

  4·9

  2·2

  II

  305

  17·0

  2·6

  IIIN

  180

  10·0

  3·1

  IIIM

  593

  33·1

  3·2

  IV

  308

  17·2

  4·0

  V

  170

  9·5

  5·7

  Other

  149

  8·3

  6·7

  1985

  Total

  1,781

  100·0

  3·4

  I

  95

  5·3

  2·4

  II

  335

  18·8

  2·8

  IIIN

  144

  8·1

  2·6

  IIIM

  592

  33·2

  3·2

  IV

  301

  16·9

  4·0

  V

  158

  8·9

  5·2

  Other

  156

  8·8

  6·2

  Note: Post neonatal mortality rate: deaths at age 28 days and over but under 1 year per 1,000 live births.

  General Practice Finance Corporation
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date the annual report of the General Practice Finance Corporation was(a) received by his Department and (b) made public, in each of the financial years 1966–67 to 1985–86.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information about the date that the corporation's report was sent to the Department is readily available only for the last two years, but I am able to supply the publication date in each of the years in question.

  Financial Year

  Date Annual Report sent to the Department

  Date Annual Report published

  1966–67

  —

  23 October 1967

  1967–68

  —

  3 December 1968

  1968–69

  —

  13 October 1969

  1969–70

  —

  21 July 1970

  1970–71

  —

  26 July 1971

  1971–72

  —

  31 July 1972

  222

  Financial Year

  Date Annual Report sent to the Department

  Date Annual Report published

  1972–73

  —

  25 July 1973

  1973–74

  —

  19 November 1974

  1974–75

  —

  28 July 1975

  1975–76

  —

  5 August 1976

  1976–77

  —

  28 July 1977

  1977–78

  —

  20 July 1978

  1978–79

  —

  23 July 1979

  1979–80

  —

  29 July 1980

  1980–81

  —

  28 July 1981

  1981–82

  —

  26 July 1982

  1982–83

  —

  26 July 1983

  1983–84

  —

  25 July 1984

  1984–85

  17 June 1985

  22 July 1985

  1985–86

  20 June 1986

  22 July 1986

  Private Patients and Clinics
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish for each district health authority the net income from private patients and clinics in 1986 under sections 65, 66 and 58 of the National Health Service Act 1977; if he will publish, for each district health authority, the amounts written off as bad debts under sections 65, 66 and 58 of the National Health Service Act 1977; and if he will give the regional totals for 1985.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 18 January 1988]: A table giving the information requested has now been placed in the Library.

  Income Support
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many gainers and losers he assesses there will be from the introduction of income support in April for(a) single pensioners under 80 years, (b) single pensioners over 80 years, (c) pensioner couples under 80 years, (d) pensioner couples over 80 years, (e) single unemployed under 25 years, (f) single unemployed over 25 years, (g) unemployed couples with children and (h) single parent families.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 18 January 1988]: The information is in the table. It is comparable with tables 1A and 2A of the "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income-Related Benefits", a copy of which is in the Library. The explanatory notes to those tables apply equally to this.

  People on Income Support: Change in disposable income after meeting housing costs. Cash position at point of change.

  Increased

  No change

  Decreased

  Single pensioners under 80 years

  570,000

  360,000

  1—

  Single pensioners under 80 years

  210,000

  190,000

  1—

  Pensioner couples over 80 years

  140,000

  130,000

  1—

  Pensioner couples over 80 years

  20,000

  20,000

  1—

  Single unemployed under 25 years

  540,000

  160,000

  10,000

  Single unemployed over 25 years

  310,000

  280,000

  1—

  Unemployed couples with children

  460,000

  40,000

  1—

  Single Parent families

  380,000

  220,000

  1—

  223

  1 Denotes figures of less than 5,000

  Note: Boarders are not included: they cannot be categorised in this way.

  Windscale (1957 Fire)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department retains any unpublished files, information and reports in connection with the 1957 Windscale fire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 18 January 1988]: National arrangements for dealing with the fire at Windscale and for subsequent action did not directly involve the then Ministry of Health; radiation protection advice at that time came from the Medical Research Council and the Department is in possession of no original papers on the subject.

  Neighbourhood Nursing Schemes
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those district health authorities which operate neighbourhood nursing schemes.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 18 January 1988]: I regret that the information is not held centrally.

  Infertility
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the names of(a) organisations and (b) individuals who responded to his Department's consultation document, Cm. 46, "Legislation on Human Infertility Services and Embryo Research", published in December 1986.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 20 January 1988]: Detailed responses were sent to the Department by the 158 organisations listed as follows and by 40 individuals. The other health departments also received comments. The list indicates those organisations whose submissions have been placed in the Library. Clearance is being sought to make similar arrangements for the remaining organisations.

  LIST OF ORGANISATIONS RESPONDING TO THE CONSULTATION PAPER: "LEGISLATION ON HUMAN FERTILITY SERVICES AND EMBRYO RESEARCH" (CM 46)
  (The responses of organisations marked with an asterisk have been placed in the Library of the House)

  Medical

  Association of Clinical Cytogeneticists

  Birmingham University, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology*

  Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridge*

  British Fertility Society

  British Medical Association*

  British Medical Association, General Medical Services Committee*

  British Pregnancy Advisory Service*

  British Psychological Society

  British Society for Developmental Biology

  Brook Advisory Centres*

  Committee of Directors of Polytechnics*

  Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals*

  Doctors who respect Human Life*

  Family Planning Association*

  General Medical Council"

  Guild of Catholic Doctors*

  Hallam Medical Centre*

  Hammersmith Hospital Infertility Clinic*

  Humana Hospital Wellington, IVF Unit*

  224

  Joint Coordinating Committee Medical Defence Unions*

  Leeds University, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology*

  Leicester University, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology*

  London Independent Hospital*

  Medical Research Council*

  Medical Women's Federation*

  National Association of Family Planning Doctors*

  National Perinatal Epipemiology Unit

  Oxford University, Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology*

  Paediatric Research Unit

  Park Hospital, Nottingham*

  Royal College of General Practitioners*

  Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists*

  Royal College of Physicians*

  Royal College of Surgeons*

  Royal Society*

  Sandwell DGH, Obstetrics & Gynaecology Division

  Sheffield University, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology*

  University Grants Committee"

  Voluntary Licensing Authority*

  Wessex Regional Medical Advisory Committee (O&G)

  York University, Dept. of Biology*

  Nursing

  Central Birmingham Health Authority (Nursing Staff)

  Health Visitors Association*

  Health Visitors Association (Thames Valley Branch)

  Mid-Downs DHA (Nursing Staff)

  Mid-Staffordshire Health Authority (Nursing Staff)

  Royal College of Midwives*

  Royal College of Nursing*

  Southmead Hospital (Senior Midwives)

  South West Surrey DHA (Nursing Staff)

  South West Thames Regional Professional Advisory Committee for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  Social Work

  Association of Child Psychotherapists

  British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering*

  British Association for Social Work (BASW)

  CHILD*

  Child Care and Development Group (University of Cambridge)

  Childcare*

  Childrens Legal Centre*

  Childrens Society

  East Anglia Adoption and Family Care Association

  Institute of Population Studies, Exeter*

  Maternity Alliance*

  MENCAP*

  National Association for Maternal and Child Welfare*

  National Association for the Childless*

  National Association for the Childless (Norfolk Branch)

  National Childrens Bureau

  National Organisation for Counselling of Adoptees and Parents (NORC)*

  Nottinghamshire County Council, Social Services Department

  One Parent Families*

  Parent to Parent Information on Adoption Services

  Suffolk County Council, Social Services Department

  Legal

  Association of Lawyers for the Defence of the Unborn*

  Council on Tribunals*

  Family Division of the High Court of Justice*

  Family Law Bar Association*

  Solicitors Family Law Association*

  Religious

  Baptist Union*

  Brownhill United Reform Church

  CARE Campaigns

  Catholic Bishops Joint Committee on Bio-Ethical Issues*

  Catholic Womens League*

  Christian Action Group, Leicestershire

  Christian Concern for Plymouth/Peverell Community Church

  225

  Christian Medical Fellowship*

  Church of England, Board for Social Responsibility*

  Clinical Theology Association

  Diocese of Chichester, Board for Social Responsibility

  Diocese of Oxford, Board for Social Responsibility

  Fellowship of Independant Evangelical Churches

  Free Church Federal Council*

  Ivy Cottage Evangelical Church

  League of Jewish Women*

  Methodist Church, Division of Social Responsibility*

  Mothers Union*

  National Board of Catholic Women

  Order of Christian Unity*

  Renewal Christian Centre

  Saffron Walden Constituency Prayer Group

  Salvation Army*

  St. Boniface Church Parish Council, Southampton

  St. Michaels RC Church Care Committee

  St. Peters Parochial Church Council, Bucks

  Stafford and District Council of Churches

  Sunderland South Constituency Prayer Group

  Surbiton Christian Response

  NHS

  Burnley Pendle and Rossendale CHC

  Central Manchester Health Authority

  Central Nottinghamshire CHC

  Coventry CHC

  East Anglian RHA*

  Hammersmith SHA

  Lancaster Health Authority

  Mersey RHA*

  Newcastle CHC

  North Tyneside CHC

  North Warwickshire Health Authority

  North West Thames RHA*

  North Western RHA*

  Northern RHA*

  Peterborough CHC

  Preston CHC

  Rochdale CHC

  Sandwell DGH (Ethics Committee)

  Solihull DGH

  South East Thames RHA*

  South Manchester Health Authority

  South Western RHA*

  Trent RHA*

  Wessex RHA*

  West Midlands RHA*

  West Norfolk and Wisbech CHC

  Other bodies

  All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group*

  Association of Genealogists and Record Agents

  Birmingham Reproductive Rights and Abortion Group

  British Federation of University Women

  British Federation of University Women (N.E. Association)

  British Housewive's League

  British Humanist Association

  Type of hospital: Geriatric

  Health district

  1982–83 (£s)

  1983–84 (£s)

  1984–85 (£s)

  1985–86 (£s)

  1986–87 (£s)

  North Derbyshire

  1,938,369

  1,891,141

  2,060,668

  2,110,109

  2,162,757

  South Derbyshire

  4,227,006

  4,491,060

  4,594,986

  4,791,763

  4,973,201

  Leicestershire

  4,305,544

  4,565,233

  4,756,529

  5,092,452

  5,573,483

  North Lincolnshire

  179,473

  50,482

  —

  —

  —

  South Lincolnshire

  1,322,352

  1,320,771

  1,341,036

  1,413,469

  1,563,875

  Bassetlaw

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Central Nottingham

  1,365,941

  1,350,439

  1,405,112

  1,537,890

  1,674,045

  Nottingham

  5,797,026

  5,584,392

  5,309,095

  5,334,949

  11,433,782

  Barnsley

  1,728,603

  1,894,737

  2,002,620

  2,017,793

  2,219,033

  Doncaster

  1,228,744

  1,313,241

  1,378,398

  1,410,566

  1,506,579

  Rotherham

  1,814,795

  1,959,563

  2,186,568

  2,360,767

  2,508,066

  Sheffield

  1,045,420

  1,300,031

  1,441,894

  1,540,155

  1,659,115

  1 Expenditure reduced due to closure of hospital

  226

  Campaign for Homosexual Equality*

  Conservative Family Campaign

  FINRRAGE

  Lewisham Green Party

  LIFE*

  LIFE (N.E. Surrey Branch)

  National Federation of Women's Institutes*

  National Union of Townswomen's Guilds*

  PROGRESS*

  Sheffield Family Concern

  Society of Genealogists

  Soroptimist International (Hastings and Bexhill)

  SPUC*

  SPUC (Bradford Branch)

  Tuberous Sclerosis Association of Great Britain

  United Kingdom Federation of Business and Professional Women

  Womens Health Information Centre

  Womens Reproductive Rights Information Centre*

  York Womens Reproductive Rights Campaign

  Psychogeriatric Patients
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give the levels of spending on psychogeriatric patients, of all the area health authorities in the Trent region for each year from 1979 to 1987, inclusive;

  (2) if he will give the levels of spending on geriatric patients for all the area health authorities in the Trent region for each year from 1979 to 1987, inclusive;

  (3) if he will give the levels of spending on the mentally handicapped of all the area health authorities in the Trent region for each year from 1979 to 1987, inclusive;

  (4) if he will give the levels of spending on the mentally ill of all the area health authorities in the Trent Region for each year from 1979 to 1987, inclusive.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 15 January 1988]: Information on health authority expenditure by type of patient is not collected centrally. Hospital cost returns submitted to the Department show expenditure on hospitals of different types and cost returns in respect of community health services show expenditure relating to the major areas of activity.

  Hospital cost returns submitted by district health authorities in the Trent region, since their inception on 1 April 1982, show total current expenditure on hospitals categorised as geriatric, mental handicap and mental illness as follows (nil expenditure indicates that a district had no hospitals in that particular category during the year).
  227

  Type of hospital: mental handicap

  Health district

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  11985–86

  11986–87

  North Derbyshire

  3,760,460

  3,854,884

  3,978,758

  4,128 160

  4,681,143

  South Derbyshire

  4,202,289

  4,225,978

  4,626,664

  4,690 461

  4,937,146

  Leicestershire

  6,496,328

  6,947,855

  7,285,903

  7,554 433

  8,185,386

  North Lincolnshire

  4,650,608

  4,765,020

  5,111,489

  23,836,817

  3,682,726

  South Lincolnshire

  2,292,253

  2,820,998

  3,034,981

  3,239 575

  3,787,246

  Bassetlaw

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Central Notts

  4,506,470

  4,740,308

  4,850,758

  9,682,446

  10,428,017

  Nottingham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Barnsley

  —

  —

  594,870

  1,066,991

  1,314,513

  Doncaster

  3,542,812

  3,551,173

  3,728,446

  3,756,358

  3,610,210

  Rotherham

  818,942

  886,983

  794,973

  790,732

  875,333

  Sheffield

  5,219,160

  5,183,987

  5,603,047

  7,186,103

  7,383,766

  1 Includes expenditure on National Health Service Community Units for the mentally handicapped.

  2 Expenditure reduced due to transfer of a hospital to Grimsby Health Authority.

  Type of hospital: mental Illness

  Expenditure (£s)

  Health district

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  North Derbyshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Derbyshire

  12,777,177

  13,285,772

  13,788,416

  14,377,703

  14,966,212

  Leicestershire

  13,174,162

  14,320,593

  13,823,662

  13,633,952

  15,026,698

  North Lincolnshire

  7,643,349

  7,652,187

  8,110,451

  8,138,261

  8,585,737

  South Lincolnshire

  4,510,549

  4,262,967

  5,830,970

  5,024,503

  5,199,335

  Bassetlaw

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Central Notts

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nottingham

  14,674,232

  14,957,211

  14,615,781

  14,561,423

  15,232,277

  Barnsley

  1,230,817

  1,221,006

  1,456,774

  1,775,115

  1,894,087

  Doncaster

  1,186,001

  1,274,749

  1,338,424

  1,679,227

  1,734,360

  Rotherham

  485,542

  505,659

  1—

  1,454,723

  1,734,831

  Sheffield

  9,965,152

  10,355,025

  10,676,196

  13,726,853

  14,417,279

  1 Nil expenditure in 1984-85 due to closure of one hospital in 1983–84 and opening of new hospital in 1985–86.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to the Government of Gibraltar on behalf of Northern Ireland investors with International Investments Limited, Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  My right hon. Friend has made no representations. This matter is essentially one for the Government of Gibraltar. Certain aspects are the subject of inquiries by the RUC.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many district councils have been requested by the Department of the Environment to remove signs which express opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement; why this form of expression is being denied; what has been the cost of this work by the Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  Ten district councils have been requested to remove advertisements being displayed in contravention of the Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1973. In exercising its powers under these regulations the Department has regard solely to the suitability of the locations for the display of advertisements and does not take into account the content of the advertisements. It is 228
  not possible to identify the costs of dealing with particular unauthorised advertisements within the Department's overall action on such advertisements.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations he has had or proposes to have with Nirex regarding nuclear waste disposal into or under the Irish sea.

  Mr. Needham
  UK Nirex Ltd. recently published a discussion document "The Way Forward" a copy of which is available in the Library, which sets out the options for future disposal of nuclear waste. Following receipt of comments it expects to be in a position in about a year's time to recommend to Government one or more sites worthy of further investigation. Consultations with UK Nirex Ltd. before it has made a recommendation would not be productive.

  Amusement Machines
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the regulations relating to the establishment of amusement arcades in Northern Ireland containing fruit machines, slot machines and video machines, with a view to restricting their proliferation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  These regulations, which are contained in the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, have been in operation only since 1986. I have no
  229
  plans to review them until there has been adequate experience of their operation, and there is a clear indication of a need to do so.

  Domestic Assistance
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were receiving domestic assistance additional requirements as part of their supplementary benefit in each year from 1981–82 to 1986–87.

  Mr. Needham
  Actual numbers are not known but, based on a 5 per cent. sample, it is estimated that some 213 people were receiving an addition for this purpose in May 1987. Reliable estimates are not available for earlier years.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a breakdown of the number of domestic assistance additional requirements paid by each social security office in Northern Ireland for each year from 1981–82 to 1986–87.

  Mr. Needham
  I regret that a reliable breakdown is not available.

  Free Milk
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children under five years of age and cared for by registered childminders are currently in receipt of free milk; and how many childminders are involved.

  Mr. Needham
  A total of 371 children and 148 childminders.

  Single Payments (Abolition)
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the effect on the average income of pensioners in Northern Ireland in 1988–89 of the abolition of single payments.

  Mr. Needham
  Pensioners on income support will have access to the social fund when single payments are abolished in April 1988. As it is not known how many pensioners are likely to claim and receive social fund grants it is not possible to predict the effect on average income in 1988–89.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the total savings he expects to make in benefit payments in 1988–89 from the abolition of single payments and the introduction of the social fund.

  Mr. Needham
  It is estimated that savings will amount to some £7·45 millions after taking account of partial recovery of loans.

  Security
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the current security position.

  Mr. Tom King
  During 1987 a total of 468 people were charged with serious offences including 28 with murder. In the same period 267 weapons, almost 20,000 rounds of ammunition and about 13,000 lbs of explosives were 230
  recovered. Six hundred and seventy-nine people were convicted during 1987 of offences related to terrorism. Security policy is continually kept under review but the threat remains high. On 21 January I announced new arrangements for the deployment of security forces in border areas. The courageous and determined efforts of the security forces are continuing to yield results.

  Lignite
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what studies have been made or commissioned by his Department on the pollution caused by the burning of lignite coal.

  Mr. Needham
  There is ample precedent in West Germany and elsewhere for burning lignite as fuel in power stations. Any new power stations in Northern Ireland would be required to meet the emission standards for sulphur dioxide nitrogen oxides and particulates specified by the Northern Ireland alkali and radiochemical inspectorate. These standards would reflect the latest abatement technology, national policy, and the need for compliance with EC directives.

  Security (Belfast)
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in central Belfast.

  Mr. Tom King
  Security policy in Northern Ireland is continually kept under review and the security forces are determined to prevent the terrorists from carrying out their campaign to disrupt life and destroy property in central Belfast and other major towns. The Provisional IRA carried out a bomb attack at the magistrates' court near the city centre on 9 January. The area had been cleared, damage to property was largely superficial and there were no injuries. The court resumed sitting as usual the following Monday morning.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the present supplementary benefit residence test.

  Mr. Needham
  From April 1988 the residence test will not feature in the income support scheme as it would not be fully consistent with EC law and with the European social charter. However, adequate measures will continue to be taken to safeguard against abuse of public funds.

  Cross-border Co-operation
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in obtaining cross-border co-operation with the Irish Army and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stanley
  Both the RUC and the Garda make use of the respective armed forces supporting them in working co-operatively to improve security across the border. A notable example of this occurred during the major search operation that was conducted in the Republic with support in the Province last December. Procedures also exist wherby in the course of clearing suspected or actual
  231
  explosive devices on or near the border ammunition technical officers from the British and Irish armies may by invitation cross the border to facilitate their duties.

  Trawsfynydd Power Station, North Wales
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he was first advised of the proposed experimental shutdown on 12 February at Trawsfynydd power station in north Wales; what precautions are being taken in Northern Ireland; what are the implications of this experiment for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 22 January 1988]: This is a matter for which Northern Ireland Government
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  Departments have no direct responsibility. I understand that a proposal has been submitted to the nuclear installations inspectorate by the Central Electricity Generating Board to carry out a test at Trawsfynydd power station.

  In Northern Ireland there is continuous monitoring to identify potential radiological hazards, to determine appropriate remedial measures, and to provide advice and information to the public. The proposed test is not expected to have any particular implications for Northern Ireland.

  As the Prime Minister indicated during Question Time in the House on 19 January the CEGB proposal would not involve the suspension of any safety mechanisms at the Trawsfynydd plant.

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