Written Answers of 28 January 1988

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Heathrow Airport (Policing)
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made to meet the cost of policing Heathrow airport; and whether such police count towards the strength of the Metropolitan police.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The provisions of the Aviation Security Act 1982 require Heathrow Airport Limited to pay the Metropolitan police for policing Heathrow airport and to provide accommodation and facilities for this purpose. Metropolitan police officers stationed at Heathrow airport count towards the strength of the force.

  Michael Ryan
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the late Michael Ryan made an application for a firearms certificate, or a variation of a firearms certificate; and what was the nature of that application.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question from the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 22 January at columns 869–70.

  Prison Libraries
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the special prison library grant.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Each year, a payment is made to public library authorities for the provision of library services in prison establishments. The payment is based on a formula agreed with the local authority asssociations and takes account each year of current costs in the public library service. There are no plans to change the basis on which these payments are made.

  Abortion Lobby (Policing Costs)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many policemen were involved in policing the demonstration and abortion lobby on 21 January; what was the cost; and what was the police estimate for the number of demonstrators.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that 531 officers were rostered to police demonstrations and lobbies on 21 January at an additional cost (mainly overtime and catering) of £21,580. A further 248 officers were drafted in from other duties on the day. About 9,000 demonstrators are estimated to have been in attendance.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to prohibit all sight deprivation experiments on animals under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

  Royal United Services Institute (Publications)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list those publications by the Royal United Services Institute which he has approved for publication since 1979.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have authorised no such publications as far as I am aware. A comprehensive check of records since 1979 would involve disproportionate cost.

  Parole
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of prisoners in England and Wales who were eligible for parole were subsequently granted parole, under section 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982, in 1987;

  (2) how many prisoners in England and Wales were eligible for parole, under section 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982, in 1987.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This information is not yet available.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners in England and Wales in 1987, who were eligible for parole under section 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982, had not been notified of their release date by the time of their parole eligibility date during 1987;

  (2) how many parole applications, under section 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982, have passed their parole eligibility date and are currently outstanding.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The parole eligibility date is the date before which an inmate cannot be released on licence but must have his case for parole reviewed at the prison. The review arrangements a re designed to enable the inmate to be released on parole licence on the parole eligibility date if parole is granted. It is not always possible to meet that objective. Delays can occur for a number of reasons in individual cases. The increasing parole caseload has also led in recent months to a general increase in the number of cases in which prisoners are not informed of the decision in their case until after their parole eligibility date, but the cases which are most affected are those which have to be referred to the Parole Board. In the overwhelming majority of cases of prisoners' sentences of less than two years (known as section 33 cases) the prisoner is notified of the decision to grant parole sufficiently in advance of the parole eligibility date to make release on that date possible.

  Radio
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which frequencies he has in mind to withdraw from the BBC to enable national commercial radio stations to broadcast.
  307
  Mr. Hurd
  I have it in mind, after the enactment of the legislative proposals outlined in my reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) on 19 January at columns 647–649, to reassign the medium frequencies now used by BBC Radio 1 and Radio 3. A VHF network will also be available for use by a national commercial station.

  London City Airport
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of police services associated with the London City airport, and who pays.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 18 January 1988]: It is not possible to identify the total cost of police services which may be associated with the airport. Such costs are borne by the police.

DEFENCE

  Computers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the ICL series 39 computers used by his Department's auditors in connection with fraud cases with IDETOL software are capable of the fuzzy matching of data.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  ICL series 39 computers and INDEPOL software are not used by MOD auditors.

  Building Projects
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of any building projects which are planned by his Department in Angus, Scotland.

  Mr. Freeman
  The only building projects planned by my Department in Angus, Scotland are:

  1. A small new build of single living accommodation at Barry Buddon Training Camp.

  2. Some married quarters improvements and Stage 4 of a project to build single living accommodation and dining facilities at RM Condor, Arbroath.

  HMS Dreadnought
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on plans for the disposal of HMS Dreadnought, now sited at Rosyth.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No decisions have yet taken on the preferred disposal route for reactors from decommissioned nuclear submarines.

  Nuclear Waste (Rosyth and Fife)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has had any discussions with Nirex over the disposal of nuclear waste in the Rosyth and Fife areas.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No.

  Polaris
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for the siting of the four Polaris submarines once they are decommissioned.
  308
  Mr. Sainsbury
  No Polaris are planned to be decommissioned for several years. No decisions have been taken on how they should be dealt with when they do.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where he plans to store the nuclear waste that will arise from the decommissioning of the four Polaris submarines.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Decommissioning of the Polaris submarines will not begin until the first of the Trident submarines is ready to enter service in the mid-1990s. Nuclear waste disposal issues will only arise over the reactor compartment and associated components, and will therefore be identical to those raised by the decommissioning of nuclear attack submarines. The first of these HMS Dreadnought, has already been safely defuelled, de-equipped and laid up. Small items categorised as low-level or intermediate-level waste will be removed, suitably packaged and disposed of by routes currently under investigation by UK Nirex Ltd. The ultimate disposal of the reactor compartments themselves is still under study in my Department.

  Channel Islands
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost incurred in providing for the defence of the Channel Islands.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The cost of providing for the defence of the Channel Islands is not separately identifiable within the defence budget.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the costs to his Department of the recapture and occupation of the Falkland Islands for each year since 1982 inclusive.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Total defence expenditure, including campaign and garrison costs, relating to the Falkland Islands from 1 April 1982 to the end of the last financial year is as follows:

  £ million

  1982–83

  780

  1983–84

  637

  1984–85

  644

  1985–86

  572

  1986–87

  402

  BATES Software
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what difficulties arose over the contract let to subcontractors by Marconi for BATES software prior to 1985.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The management of sub-contractors is a commercial matter for the prime contractor and it would not be appropriate for MOD to comment.

  RUSI (Publications)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list those publications by the Royal United Services Institute which he has approved for publication since 1979.
  309
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Books and articles written by service personnel or Ministry of Defence civil servants should be cleared through the appropriate Ministry of Defence channels before publication by the Royal United Services Institute. A list of books and articles approved for publication since 1979 could only be made available at disproportionate cost.

  Nuclear Testing (Mortality and Cancer Incidence)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will respond to the report of the National Radiological Protection Board into mortality and cancer incidence among United Kingdom participants in United Kingdom atmospheric nuclear weapons tests and experimental programmes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The report by the National Radiological Protection Board on mortality and cancer incidence in United Kingdom participants in the United Kingdom atmospheric nuclear weapon tests and experimental programmes is being published today. A copy has been placed in the Library. The report compares the health of the participants (over 80 per cent. of whom were included) with that of a similar number of matched controls to show whether their health has been affected. The roughly equal number of deaths in both groups (1,600) shows that participation has not had a detectable effect on their expectation of life. Indeed, both groups appear to be somewhat healthier than would be expected from the national rates of mortality, possibly due to the social class distribution and to their having been to some extent selected for overseas duties. The expected number of deaths according to national rates would be about 2,000.

  Compared with the control group, more participants were found to have died from leukaemia and multiple myeloma. Although the excess was only marginally above national rates, because of the association of these diseases with exposure to ionising radiation, even a small increase merited detailed analysis. Investigation showed that it did not occur so strongly among those present at any nuclear detonation, nor among those known to have been exposed to measurable doses of radiation, nor among those for whom inhalation or ingestion of radioactive material was a remote possibility. Consequently, although no cause of the increased leukaemia was identified, this investigation as not proved that the cause was exposure to ionising radiation.

  The Government welcome, and will co-operate with the NRPB in implementing, the recommendation to continue to observe the mortality and cancer incidence of the participants over a further period of 10 years, as a means of testing the three hypotheses which have been formulated. Meantime, however, they regard the results of this study to date as fully vindicating their view that the radiological protection measures adopted were effective and that the chance of anyone suffering harm to health as a consequence of participation is extremely small.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the order under the Access to Personal Files Act currently under discussion will extend to universities, polytechnics and all schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No. The draft regulations issued by my right hon. Friend for consultation in October 1987, which would be made under section 27 of the Education Act, 1980, would allow parents access to records of pupils in maintained schoolss and non-maintained special schools. Universities are outside their scope, as will be the polytechnics when the Education Reform Bill is enacted and the polytechnics cease to be local authority-maintained.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has met vice-principals of the universities to discuss the implications of their code of practice and the right of subject access under the Data Protection Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  There has been no such meeting. This is a matter for universities, within the law. I understand that the code of practice was finalised in consultation with the Data Protection Registrar's office.

  City Technical College, Solihull
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of applications to the city technical college in Solihull were on behalf of female students; what proportion of female students have been accepted; and what is the total number of applications and acceptances.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Of the total 315 applications which were received for places at the Kingshurst city technology college, 43 per cent. were on behalf of female students. All but one of the places offered to students have been accepted and 47 per cent. have gone to female students.

  Geological Surveying
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date he received a copy of Sir Clifford Butler's report on geological surveying; when he received the comments of the Natural Environment Research Council and the British Geological Survey upon it; and if he will now announce his decision on the recommendation that the British Geological Survey should be separated from the Natural Environment Research Council.

  Mr. Jackson
  The report of the study group into geological surveying, chaired by Sir Clifford Butler, was addressed to the chairmen of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils and the Natural Environment Research Council, who submitted it to my right hon. Friend in June 1987 with a recommendation that it be published. The views of the BGS staff were sent to the chairmen of the ABRC and the NERC and copied to my Department on 10 August 1987.

  The recommendations of the report that fall to be considered by Government are being discussed with the Departments concerned and with the NERC. A decision

  311
  on the future status of the British Geological Survey will be reached in conjunction with decisions on other relevant recommendations in the report.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a list of local education authorities in England which provide nursery education for children aged three to five years.

  Mr. Dunn
  In January 1987 the local education authorities in England that provided nursery education for children under five in either nursery schools or nursery classes in primary schools were as follows.

  Local education authorities that provide nursery education January 1987

  Barking

  Barnet

  Bexley

  Brent

  Bromley

  Croydon

  Ealing

  Enfield

  Enfield

  Haringey

  Harrow

  Havering

  Hillingdon

  Hounslow

  Kingston upon Thames

  Merton

  Newham

  Redbridge

  Richmond upon Thames

  Sutton

  Waltham Forest

  Inner London

  Birmingham

  Coventry

  Dudley

  Sandwell

  Solihull

  Walsall

  Wolverhampton

  Knowsley

  Liverpool

  St. Helens

  Sefton

  Wirral

  Bolton

  Bury

  Manchester

  Oldham

  Rochdale

  Salford

  Stockport

  Tameside

  Trafford

  Wigan

  Barnsley

  Doncaster

  Rotherham

  Sheffield

  Bradford

  Calderdale

  Kirklees

  Leeds

  Wakefield

  312

  Gateshead

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  North Tyneside

  South Tyneside

  Sunderland

  Avon

  Bedfordshire

  Berkshire

  Buckinghamshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Cheshire

  Cleveland

  Cornwall

  Cumbria

  Derbyshire

  Devon

  Dorset

  Durham

  East Sussex

  Essex

  Hampshire

  Hereford and Worcester

  Hertfordshire

  Humberside

  Isle of Wight

  Kent

  Lancashire

  Leicestershire

  Lincolnshire

  Norfolk

  North Yorkshire

  Northamptonshire

  Northumberland

  Nottinghamshire

  Oxfordshire

  Shropshire

  Somerset

  Staffordshire

  Suffolk

  Surrey

  Warwickshire

  West Sussex

  Wiltshire

  Medical Schools (Recruitment)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report those medical schools which are currently recruiting approximately equal numbers of women and men students.

  Mr. Jackson
  In 1986–87 all medical schools in the United Kingdom, except for the medical schools at Cambridge, Manchester and Dundee universities and the London hospital medical school, recruited between 40 and 60 per cent. of women students. The average proportion of women entrants for all medical schools was 45 per cent. compared with 42 per cent. for all university entrants.

  Advanced Supplementary Level Courses
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools have mounted advanced supplementary level courses in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  A survey carried out by my Department last autumn shows that 407 maintained and independent schools in England have mounted GCE advanced supplementary level courses this year. This represents nearly 15 per cent. of schools with A-level pupils.
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  These schools have mounted nearly 1,000 AS-level courses, most frequently in mathematics, computing, French and English. This accords closely with the priorities expressed by higher education.

  In the schools offering AS-levels, 18 per cent. of the first year A-level pupils have also chosen at least one AS-level course. The five most popular subjects are those set out above, together with general studies. In total, over 6,000 pupils are on AS-level courses.

  More than three times as many schools intend to offer AS level courses from September 1988. The survey indicates that 1,300 schools, which represents 50 per cent. of those offering A-levels, will also offer AS-level courses next year.

  The full results of the survey will be published shortly.

PRIME MINISTER

  Gwent
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if she is planing to visit the county of Gwent in the near future.

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

  North Devon
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit north Devon.

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

  Official Secrets
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what evidence she has as to the extent of public support for more stringent protection of official secrets.

  The Prime Minister
  As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has said, we shall be bringing forward proposals for the reform of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 which are effective, enforceable and reasonable. I believe we have general public support for that objective.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what are the terms of reference for Her Majesty's Government's consideration of the National Health Service; and when she expects to bring forward proposals for consultation.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government are undertaking an internal review of the National Health Service, with special emphasis on the hospital service. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services will consider carefully any submissions put to him. We shall be bringing forward proposals in due course.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the programme of reviews of non-departmental public bodies, which she announced on 19 November 1984,Official Report, column 57–58, has now been completed; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes. I have now received a report on the review programme from the Minister of State, Privy Council Office and the Paymaster General. By April 1987,314
  reviews had been carried out in over 75 per cent. of executive non-departmental public bodies, 75 per cent. of advisory bodies and over 60 per cent. of tribunals. For the period under review, departments reported total savings from their funding of NDPBs of some £30 million and 1,830 staff, as a result of winding up some 150 bodies, rationalisation of others, financial management reviews and other initiatives. Further savings are planned of 290 posts leading in total to continuing savings of some £33 million per year. NDPBs also expect to achieve additional value-for-money improvements from better standards of financial management. In all, there were 524 fewer NDPBs on 1 April 1987 than in 1979.

  For the future, I have accepted the recommendations in the report that the main responsibility for maintaining this progress should be placed on senior management in the NDPBs and their sponsoring Departments. In addition, all NDPBs will be subject to a comprehensive review at least every five years, which will consider the continued need for each NDPB, its objectives and its financial and other management systems.

  For some particular tasks, non-departmental public bodies can be the most appropriate and cost-effective solution, but we shall continue to resist proposals for new bodies unless this can be clearly demonstrated, within a strict framework of financial and management controls. Legislation setting up new bodies should normally contain powers to permit winding up at a later date, if a fixed lifetime is not established at the outset.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 January.

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

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council last met; and what is Her Majesty's Government's future policy and programme for that body.
  315
  Mrs. Chalker
  The Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council last met in November 1985. It continues to provide a framework for a wide variety of meetings between the two Governments, including those of the Intergovernmental Conference established by the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985. This was explicitly set up within the framework of the AIIC. There will continue to be regular meetings, including those of the AIIC coordinating committee and its cultural and educational working group.

  Rare and Endangered Species
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Chinese Foreign Minister when he meets him in the spring the need to prevent the trade in rare and endangered species of wildlife between the Dongmen market in Shenzhen and Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have already drawn to the attention of the Chinese authorities the concern which is widely felt in this country about this matter. I understand that the Chinese authorities entirely share this concern.

  Kenya and Nigeria (Prime Minister's Visit)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the extra costs incurred by the high commissions in Kenya and Nigeria due to the recent visits by the Prime Minister.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 15 January at column 416.

  Royal United Services Institute (Publications)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list those publications by the Royal United Services Institute which he has approved for publication since 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  The following articles and volume written by present and former officials, have been approved. They are listed by date of publication.

  1981
  Adrian Hill—Whither Pegasus

  1983
  Sir Antony Acland—The Relationship between Foreign and Defence Policy

  1985
  Sir Clive Rose—Campaigns against Western Defence

  1987
  Pauline Neville-Jones —Foreign Policy Objectives and the parameters of military power
  Robert Cecil —The assessment and acceptance of intelligence: a case study.
  John Bruce Lockhart—What is intelligence

  Iran and Iraq (Arms Embargo)
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will support proposals to the United Nations Security Council for an arms embargo jointly on Iran and Iraq.
  316
  Mr. Mellor
  We remain committed to the twin-track approach agreed by the Foreign Ministers of the five permanent members of the Security Council on 25 September 1987. The Secretary-General has our full support as he continues his efforts to obtain compliance with Security Council resolution 598. In the meantime we have begun work with other members of the Security Council on the terms of an arms embargo. It is the responsibility of the Security Council as a whole to determine non-compliance.

  Iran-Iraq War
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will make it their policy to go further than the proposals in United Nations resolution 598 (1987), requesting the Secretary General to explore the possibility of appointing an impartial body to inquire into the responsibility for starting the Iran/Iraq war, and propose that such a body be now appointed.

  Mr. Mellor
  The establishment of an impartial body to investigate responsibility for the conflict is one of a number of elements of Security Council resolution 598 currently under discussion. We are anxious to see both parties comply with the resolution as a whole.

TRANSPORT

  London Coach Terminal
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when and under whose auspices he expects the proposed public inquiry into the proposed relocation of the main London coach terminal at Paddington to take place; when and by what means he expects to publish the detailed plans; and what range of time scale he envisages for the relocation.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The inquiry will be held only once a planning application for the proposed terminal is received. I understand that London Regional Transport intends to submit such an application later this year. The inspector would report to my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for the Environment jointly. The plans for all applications made would be available for inspection at the inquiry and at the office of the local planning authority. Decisions on the time scale for any relocation would be made in the light of the outcome of the inquiry.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many search-and-rescue incidents involving small boats and non-commercial small vessels have occurred in each of the past 10 years; and how many were concluded successfully.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Search-and-rescue incidents involving small boats and non-commercial small vessels from 1982 to 1986 inclusive are summarised in the table. Information so far available on 1987 incidents is also included.

  As the statistical records kept prior to 1982 were not specific with regard to vessel types, it is not possible to provide figures for the past ten years.
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  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  Number of incidents

  1,488

  1,873

  1,662

  2,108

  1,992

  1,680

  Persons assisted

  3,821

  5,095

  4,886

  5,792

  5,064

  4,256

  Lives lost

  41

  54

  42

  35

  45

  18

  Tractor Units (Gross Weight)
  Mr. Biffen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, having regard to safety factors, he will authorise the raising of the 16 tonne gross weight of a two-axle tractor unit in line with the gross weight now allowed for two-axle trucks.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Two-axle tractor units with a minimum axle spacing of 2·7 m have since May 1983 been permitted a gross weight of 17 tonnes provided the vehicle has a total train weight of more than 32·52 tonnes. Statutory Instrument 1987 No. 676 removes that proviso and fixes the maximum gross weight of two-axle rigid lorries also at 17 tonnes. The SI comes into effect on 1 April 1988.

  Traffic (Damage)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide details of recent assessments of the damage caused to the environment by the impact of various modes of transport, lorries, cars and other road users.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 January 1988, c. 702]: Information on some recently published reports on various effects of traffic on the environment is as follows. I have arranged for copies of those reports (shown with an asterisk) not already in the Library to be deposited there.

  (1) Traffic-induced ground-borne vibrations in dwellings. TRRL Research Report 102, 1987.

  *(2) The effects of a simulated traffic vibration on a dwelling house. TRRL Contractor Report 44, 1987.

  (3) Public attitudes to drawbar goods vehicles. TRRL Research Report 108, 1987.

  *(4) Pollution levels near a motorway in a cutting. TRRL Paper presented at the International Symposium on Environmental Meteorology in West Germany in 1987.

  (5) Digest of environmental protection and water statistics. No. 9 1986, HMSO.

  (6) The impact of the reduction in the lead content of petrol on airborne lead concentrations in the United Kingdom from January 1986. Warren Spring Laboratory Report No. LR 633 (AP)M, 1987.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Suspension (Pay forfeiture)
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will further consider seeking to introduce a system whereby an hon. Member suspended from the service of the House should forfeit his salary for a period of up to three months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  This is ultimately a matter for the House to decide. I would, however, refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton. North (Mr. Marlow) during the course of business questions on 14 January at column 460.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Food (Colouring Matter)
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce his response to the Food Advisory Committee final report on the Colouring Matter in Foods Regulations 1979.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  We received a large number of detailed representations on the recommendations in the report, and these need to be carefully evaluated before I can come to any conclusion on the issues. We are dealing with the matter as quickly as possible and I shall make an announcement just as soon as we have reached decisions.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Sir Michael Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress was made towards reforming the common agricultural policy at the meeting of Ministers in Brussels.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 25 January, at columns 52–53, to my hon. Friend the Member for Wansdyke (Mr. Aspinwall).

  Fishing Industry (Decommissioning Grants)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether Falkis Ltd. has received decommissioning grants for either freezer or fishing vessels.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  No decommissioning grants have been paid to Falkis Ltd.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether Berkeley Sound Shipping has received decommissioning grants for either freezer or fishing vessels.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  No decommissioning grants have been paid to Berkeley Sound Shipping.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether Thomas Hamling Ltd. has received decommissioning grants for either freezer or fishing vessels.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Under the Fishing Vessels (Financial Assistance) Scheme 1983 grants have been paid in respect of four freezer trawlers which were decommissioned by Thomas Hamling Ltd. The details are as follows:

  Vessel

  Grant £

  St. Jason

  537,200

  St. Jerome

  515,280

  St. Jasper

  514,484

  St. Benedict

  581,504

  2,148,468

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date information
  319
  relating to the awarding of decommissioning grants to Messrs. Putford Enterprise was provided to the National Audit Office by officials in his Department.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Information was available to the NAO on the awarding of decommissioning grants to Messrs. Putford Enterprises from the moment it commenced its examination in spring 1986.

  Pesticides
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action has been taken to ensure the safe use of pesticides on the farm.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Part III of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 gave wide powers which were implemented by the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 and its consents. When using pesticides operators have been obliged since 6 October 1986:

  (a) to use only products which have been approved under the regulations;

  (b) "to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health of human beings, creatures and plants, to safeguard the environment, and in particular to avoid the pollution of water"; (Consent No. 2, 2nd Condition).

  (c) to ensure that they are competent for the duties they are to perform.

  From 1 January 1988 they must observe certain conditions of use described on the pesticide label, including the target crop, maximum dose-rate and environmental and operator safeguards.

  The consents have also introduced a number of additional conditions upon use with which aerial operators must comply.

  To help farmers to fulfil these obligations we have:

  (i) issued and amended a booklet which lists all pesticides which have approved status;

  (ii) supplemented guidance booklets and leaflets with a first draft of a code of practice on agricultural and horticultural use; a revised text of which will be made available in the early spring;

  (iii) established training standards with the agricultural training board and certification arrangements with the National Proficiency Tests Council;

  (iv) arranged with the Civil Aviation Authority for the guidance booklet which it issues to aerial operators to contain details of the further rules now applicable to aerial operations.

  In order to avoid farmers being inspected by different bodies for different safety legislation, an agency agreement has been entered into with the Health and Safety Executive, and Her Majesty's agricultural inspectors are authorised to enforce the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986.

  Intervention Stocks
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount of intervention stocks in the United Kingdom at present in the following commodities: butter, beef, SMP, wheat, barley and rye; and what the figures represent in terms of days' supply.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  A note setting out the volume of United Kingdom intervention stocks of agricultural commodities, and the number of days' supply these stocks represent, is deposited in the Library of the House and updated monthly.

  Pigmeat
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to protect United Kingdom pigmeat producers from heavy losses due to the advantage to Dutch and Danish producers receiving monetary compensatory amounts for the export to the United Kingdom of bacon, fresh pork loins and middle bacon.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Improvements which we have secured in negotiations in the Community, together with the strengthening of sterling, have resulted in a fall of 16 points in our pigmeat MCAs over the past year. I shall continue to seek further improvements in the position at every opportunity. I must, however, stress that this is a highly controversial issue in the Community.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will strengthen the present arrangements for controlling pigmeat imports so as to assist in stopping the spread of classical swine fever.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Imports of pigmeat are already the subject of stringent veterinary conditions laid down by European Community directives. Following pressure from the Government, the rules on classical swine fever controls have been strengthened by a package of measures which had to be implemented by 1 January 1988.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce private storage aids to United Kingdom pigmeat producers.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  This is to be discussed at the Pigmeat Management Committee in Brussels on Friday 29 January.

  Intervention Grain Stocks
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will allow feed users to use intervention grain stocks at intervention prices.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Decisions on the sale of intervention grain stocks on to the domestic market are taken by the European Commission; in view of the current surplus of feed grain on the market both in the United Kingdom and in the rest of the Community sales from intervention for use as feed could not at present be justified.

  Windscale Fire
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department retains any unpublished files, information and reports in connection with the 1957 Windscale fire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Various papers held in my Department have some connection with the 1957 Windscale fire; these have been or will be made available for public inspection in strict conformity with the Public Records Acts.

  Surplus Food
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to
  321
  alter the agricultural support mechanisms of the European Economic Community so as to facilitate the release of surplus food for use overseas.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Community's existing commodity regulations contain appropriate provisions enabling food from intervention and from the market to be made available for export and for use as food aid.

  ADAS (Charges)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service charging for advice and services following an emergency; and how this operated the severe storm in south-east England in October 1987.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 27 January 1968]: I am always prepared to look at the case for making appropriate information and advice available without charge following an emergency; but each incident must be considered on its own merits.

  In the immediate aftermath of the October storm ADAS provided free general advice on such matters as emergency repairs, ways to preserve produce in cold stores and save damaged trees and glasshouse crops and the financial implications for growers. Advice notes covering the four main horticultural sectors were sent without charge to growers in the worst affected areas and growers in th south-east were also invited to "storm clinics" giving general advice on how to cope with the damage, including the financial implications. ADAS also provided some free help with particular livestock problems.

WALES

  Investigating Accountants (Regional Aid)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many investigating accountants he has within his Department to evaluate applications for regional selective assistance; how many cases on average each of them has prepared for the Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board to consider over the past two years; and how many cases each of them is on average expected to prepare over the next two years.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  There are currently four investigating accountants in my Department regularly engaged in evaluating applications for regional selective assistance. On average, each investigating accountant has prepared 47 cases over the last two years for consideration by the Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board. The number of cases that each will prepare in the future will depend on the volume of RSA applications received, the amount of the grant sought and the complexity of the cases, and I am unable to give a precise estimate. I am expecting an increase in demand for RSA and will keep the requirements for accountancy staff under review.

  Regional Development Grant
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his most up-to-date estimate of the expenditure on regional development grants in Wales in the next financial years, if there were no changes in the regional aid scheme to industry.
  322
  Mr. Peter Walker
  The 1988 public expenditure White Paper contained planned provision of £63·5 million (net of EC receipts) for regional development grants in Wales in 1988–89. Equivalent provision in the 1987 public expenditure White Paper was £26·7 million. The increase in provision results from a combination of several factors, including the need to provide resources for those RDG applicants who meet the deadline of 31 March 1988 and are thus subject to the transitional arrangements provided for the ending of the scheme. I am not able to make any precise estimate of the cost of such transitional arrangements at this stage.

  Industrial Assistance
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of industrial assistance the Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board has been considering each month on average in each of the past three years; and how many cases he expects it to be considering on average in each of the next three years.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  In the past three years, the Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board has considered the following number of cases on average per month:

  Cases

  1985

  8

  1986

  6

  1987

  7

  The number of cases to be considered by the board in future years will depend on the volume of regional selective assistance applications which will be received and the value of assistance sought. I am expecting the demand for RSA to increase in future years. I am unable at this stage to make a precise assessment of the effect of this on the caseload of the board but I am confident of the board's ability to cope with what I hope will be a substantial increase in applications.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his most up-to-date estimate of the increase in corporation tax receipts arising from the switch away from tax-free regional development grants to taxable selective assistance.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The tax position of regional selective assistance applicants is likely to vary widely depending on the circumstances of each company. It is not possible therefore to make any reliable estimate of the tax receipts which may arise from present or potential applicants for regional selective assistance.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the amount of regional selective assistance to be paid out in Wales for each year from 1988–89 to 1990–91.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The 1988 public expenditure White Paper contained planned provision for regional selective assistance in Wales of £45·9 million, £52 million and £61·2 million respectively in the three years 1988–89 to 1990–91. The increase in provision between the years reflects additional demand for RSA, which I envisage as a result of the ending of the regional development grant scheme. There will be a further substantial contribution to regional
  323
  assistance in Wales as a result of the substantial increase in the expenditure of the Welsh Development Agency and the new investment, innovation and business development grants scheme.

  National Museum of Wales
  Sir Raymond Gower
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the consultants appointed to carry out a financial management and policy review of the national museum of Wales have now submitted their report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I am publishing today the report prepared by P-E Inbucon. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and the executive summary is being made available to the press. It is a major document. The role, organisation and management of the museum have been critically examined. The Report identifies deficiencies and contains detailed and positive proposals for improvements which will have far-reaching implications for the future management of the national museum of Wales and for its relationship with the Welsh Office. I have had a preliminary discussion with the president of the museum and have asked for a considered response from the museum by 4 March 1988. This is a wide-ranging and penetrating analysis and the consultants' individual recommendations will need careful and thorough consideration. I intend to ensure that the recommendations are treated with urgency and determination. A major task confronts the museum and the Welsh Office. The museum will need additional administrative support and that will be provided. The museum has an important place in the life of the Principality and a major contribution to make to the culture and heritage of Wales and it is important that it should fulfil its role effectively and efficiently. I intend to see that it is able to do so.

  Circulars
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all circulars issued by his Department in 1985, 1986 and 1987, together with the corresponding numbers of those circulars.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of local education authorities in England which provide nursery education for children aged three to five years.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Nursery education is provided in each of the Welsh authorities. Seventy per cent. of the total three and four-year-old population in Wales was receiving nursery education last year.

  Radiation
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he expects that the bequerel counts in sheep in the Llyn Vyrnwy and Ysbyty Ifan areas will fall below(a) 1000bq. and (b) 600bq. within the next 30 years; and if he will make a statement.
  324
  Mr. Peter Walker
  Monitoring of sheep from the north Wales restricted areas during 1987 indicated that some 86 per cent. already had readings below 1,000 bq/kg which is the action level the Government have adopted. Research work is under way on the recycling of caesium from peat soils into different types of pasture and this should enable an estimate to be made of how long restrictions on the movement and slaughter of sheep will be necessary. It does not follow that because the half life of caesium 137 is 30 years, restrictions will be necessary for anything like that long.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest available figures for the number of patients waiting for hospital admission for(a) more than one month for urgent treatment and (b) more than one year for non-urgent treatment.

  Mr. Grist
  At 31 March 1987, 2,639 patients on waiting lists had waited more than one month for urgent hospital treatment; and 9,139 had waited more than a year for non-urgent treatment.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how the eradication of surplus school places will be affected by the parental choice provision of the Education Reform Bill, based on 1979 school rolls.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The continuing need for local education authorities to remove surplus school places is not affected by the provisions in the Education Reform Bill on admission to county and voluntary schools, which aim to give additional scope for parental choice.

SCOTLAND

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish in the Official Report the recent letter from the Data Protection Registrar concerning the community charge, together with his response; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have today placed in the Library copies of the registrar's letter of 17 November 1987 and my response of 18 January 1988.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list those organisations which will not be allowed to obtain copies of the community charge register; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Under section 20(2)(b) and (c) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, access to the full community charges register is restricted to local authorities for the purpose of determining levying and collecting the community charges, and to assessors and electoral registration officers.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether the community charge officer will be able to access sources of information other than those data held by a local authority; and if he will make a statement;
  325
  (2) whether the community charge officer will have access to non-clinical records held by health authorities when compiling the register; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) whether Scottish community charge officers will be able to use the data collected during the next census; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Under section 17(2) and (3) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, community charges registration officers will have access, for the purpose of discharging their functions, to information held by the assessor or registration officer for their area and, on request, to information held by local authorities or housing bodies in their area, or other registration officers. The Act gives registration officers no other general right of access to information.

  Under section 17(5) of the Act, registration officers are able to require responsible persons to give them information in respect of premises in their area. In certain circumstances, local authorities and health boards may be responsible persons for this purpose. The information which may be requested is limited to that prescribed for the purposes of section 17(5). Otherwise, registration officers will have no access to information held by health boards. Under no circumstances will they have access to census information.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what advice he will be giving to prisoners just before their release as to their responsibility to pay the community charge from their first day of freedom; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what advice he will be giving to homeless persons which describes their responsibility to pay the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has launched a public information campaign to help ensure that all future community charge payers are aware of their obligations under the new system.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to introduce regulations obliging the community charge officer to seek the consent of individuals as to whether they want their name and address on the community charge register to be sold; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer to the answer I gave on 3 November 1987 at columns 550–551. My right hon. and learned Friend is still considering whether any amendment to section 20(4) of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc (Scotland) Act 1987 is required to provide for any restriction on the parts of the public register which may be made available for sale.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what precautions he is taking to ensure that addresses of members of the armed forces, security services or other public figures who may be at risk do not appear on the community charge register; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend is considering this matter.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has given any instructions or advice to the Scottish new town development corporations on the implementation of the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.
  326
  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 26 January 1988]: My officials have had discussions in the last few months with representatives from Scottish new towns about the implementation of the community charge and in addition the new towns have received copies of the consultation drafts of regulations which have been issued. The role which new towns, as housing bodies, may play in implementing the community charge will depend on the nature of any agency agreement reached by them with the levying authority, the regional council.

  Mearnskirk Hospital (Staff Houses)
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects the sale of staff houses at Mearnskirk hospital to sitting tenants to be completed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I expect the Greater Glasgow health board to be in a position to make formal offers to the tenants concerned within a month, following the meeting of the board's property and land sub-committee on 27 January. The conveyancing procedures are normally completed within three months of offers being accepted.

  Housing
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of housing projects which are planned to take place in Angus, Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Angus district council's latest housing plan, published in January 1986, sets out its general strategy for housing provision in its area. it is, however, for the council to deploy resources available for capital expenditure according to the priorities it determines on a year-to-year basis, and details of council projects programmed are not held centrally.

  The Scottish Special Housing Association will shortly be starting work on 35 special needs houses in Arbroath. The Housing Corporation in Scotland has approved housing association projects of various kinds in the district. These projects, which are at different stages of development, will provide 300 units.

  No detailed information is available centrally on proposed private sector housing projects.

  Forestry
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of new forestry projects which are planned to take place in the current year in Angus, Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  On the basis of schemes approved to date, it is expected that between 700 and 800 hectares of new planting will take place in Angus in 1988 under the Forestry Commission's grant schemes. Some 60 hectares of new planting will be carried out by the Commission.

  Births
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average cost to the local health authority of each baby born; and what are the highest arid current costs of delivery for each health board;

  (2) what is the average cost to health boards of delivering babies born at home.
  327
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I regret that the information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of babies are born in units handling more than 1,500 deliveries a year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The proportion of babies born in units handling more than 1,500 deliveries a year is 79 per cent.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of babies in each local health authority area are born in maternity units which handle under 200 deliveries a year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The proportion of babies born in units handling fewer than 200 deliveries a year is 4·3 per cent.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of babies in each health authority are born at home.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Percentage of births (live and still) taking place at home in each health board area, Scotland, 1986

  Health Board Area

  Percentage

  Scotland

  0·5

  Borders

  0·9

  Forth Valley

  0·5

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0·8

  Fife

  0·4

  Grampian

  0·7

  Highland

  1·0

  Lothian

  0·5

  Argyll and Clyde

  0·5

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0·3

  Greater Glasgow

  0·5

  Lanarkshire

  0·5

  Tayside

  0·4

  Orkney

  0·4

  Shetland

  1·1

  Western Isles

  1·2

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of babies are born in units which handle fewer than 200 deliveries a year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  Health Board

  Percentage

  Argyll and Clyde

  5·3

  Ayrshire and Arran

  6·2

  Borders

  20·1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  7·5

  Fife

  —

  Forth Valley

  —

  Grampian

  13·8

  Greater Glasgow

  —

  Highland

  9·6

  Lanarkshire

  2·2

  Lothian

  —

  Orkney

  76·3

  Shetland

  —

  Tayside

  8·1

  Western Isles

  9·1

  Dinoseb
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consult the National Farmers Union and local industries in the Angus area, regarding the consequences of his decision to ban the use of Dinoseb.
  328
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We have been in regular contact with the National Farmers Union of Scotland over the last 18 months on the use of Dinoseb. These contacts will continue as necessary. It is not possible at this stage to make any assessment of the likely consequences on local industries of the decision to ban the use of Dinoseb.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research is being conducted in(a) alternatives to the Glencova variety of raspberry and (b) a replacement for Dinoseb; and if he will produce extra funds for such research.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Two new raspberry varieties bred with Government support at the Scottish Crop Research Institute are already available to growers. Both show considerable promise as replacements for Glen Clova. Work also funded by Government has been ongoing for some time to find alternative means of controlling cane vigour in Glen Clova. There are no signs of any early breakthrough and the grant-aided work is continuing.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has of the economic and employment effects on the raspberry and associated industries of his decision to prohibit the use of Dinoseb.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is not possible to estimate with any degree of accuracy the extent of the losses that will be caused by raspberry producers and associated industries as a result of the ban on the use of Dinoseb. Much will depend on how farmers and others react to the new situation.

  While we appreciate that the decision to ban the use of Dinoseb will have serious consequences for raspberry producers and associated industries, we had no option but to take this decision in the light of the conclusion by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides that Dinoseb and its related products could pose a health risk to people using them.

  Operations
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the arrangements he proposes with private sector hospitals to carry out National Health Service operations; and what money he has set aside in this and the next financial year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am encouraging health boards in Scotland to consider the extent to which Scotland's private health sector could help them to improve their services for National Health Service patients. I have not set aside money for this purpose in this or the next financial year, but as part of our initiative on waiting lists £300,000 of the additional resources for the current financial year announced by my right hon. and learned Friend on 16 December has been allocated to meet bids from boards to use private sector hospitals to carry out National Health Service operations.

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate available to him of the cost of the following operations in(a) National Health Service hospitals and (b) private hospitals in Scotland for (i) hysterectomy, (ii) tonsillectomy, (iii) hernia, (iv) hip replacement, (v) heart by-pass and (vi) varicose veins.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Comparative information on this basis is not available. Information on health service costs
  329
  is not generally held in a form which permits total costs of individual procedures to he identified; progress is, however, being made in improving cost information for resource management.

  Salmon
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of prosecutions which have occured in each of the past five years as a result of salmon proprietors(a) failing to provide his Department with statistical returns or (b) being found to have made fraudulent returns.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 14 January 1988]: There have been no such prosecutions.

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Statistical District

  Number of Forms

  Number of Forms

  Number of Forms

  Sent

  Returned

  Sent

  Returned

  Sent

  Returned

  Tweed

  138

  136

  136

  128

  135

  127

  Forth

  70

  61

  64

  50

  66

  58

  Tay

  150

  136

  149

  133

  151

  146

  South Esk

  26

  23

  24

  20

  24

  23

  North Esk and Bervie

  21

  20

  21

  20

  21

  21

  Dee (Aberdeen)

  73

  69

  70

  64

  68

  66

  Don

  49

  46

  46

  41

  48

  45

  Ythan

  21

  21

  20

  20

  21

  21

  Ugie

  13

  13

  12

  11

  12

  9

  Deveron

  53

  52

  50

  46

  49

  47

  Spey

  63

  61

  61

  55

  61

  60

  Lossie

  6

  6

  5

  4

  5

  4

  Findhorn

  22

  22

  21

  20

  21

  21

  Nairn

  28

  28

  28

  25

  28

  27

  Ness

  33

  32

  31

  29

  32

  32

  Beauly

  11

  11

  10

  10

  11

  11

  Conon and Alness

  31

  27

  30

  26

  32

  32

  Kyle of Sutherland

  29

  28

  26

  22

  25

  22

  Fleet and Brora

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Helmsdale

  6

  4

  6

  1

  1

  1

  Berriedale to Wick

  10

  10

  7

  5

  9

  6

  Thurso and Forss

  12

  9

  11

  9

  11

  10

  Halladale and Strathy

  7

  7

  7

  7

  6

  5

  Naver and Kinloch

  9

  8

  9

  9

  9

  8

  Hope and Grudie

  7

  7

  7

  7

  7

  6

  Inchard to Kirkaig

  12

  11

  12

  12

  11

  11

  Kennart to Gruinard

  16

  15

  15

  14

  14

  12

  Ewe

  8

  8

  8

  7

  8

  7

  Badachro to Applecross

  7

  6

  6

  4

  6

  5

  Kishorn and Carron

  8

  7

  7

  5

  8

  7

  Loch Long and Croe

  14

  12

  13

  11

  13

  13

  Glenelg to Kinchoan

  6

  6

  8

  6

  8

  8

  Morar to Shiel

  17

  15

  17

  15

  17

  15

  Skye and Small Isles

  25

  23

  25

  21

  24

  21

  Sunart and Aline

  8

  8

  5

  5

  6

  5

  Sanda to Creran

  38

  33

  36

  29

  35

  31

  Awe and Nell

  63

  58

  58

  48

  55

  50

  Add and Ormsary

  30

  28

  27

  25

  33

  30

  Island of Mull

  36

  34

  35

  28

  35

  31

  Islay and Jura

  9

  9

  10

  10

  11

  10

  Carradale and Iorsa

  14

  12

  14

  11

  14

  12

  Fyne

  20

  19

  16

  12

  17

  14

  Ruel and Drummachloy

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Echaig

  10

  9

  9

  7

  12

  12

  Clyde

  13

  12

  13

  11

  14

  12

  Irvine

  7

  7

  7

  7

  7

  7

  Ayr

  37

  31

  37

  33

  37

  37

  Doon

  30

  28

  29

  27

  29

  24

  Girvan

  24

  21

  24

  21

  24

  23

  Stinchar

  41

  37

  38

  33

  37

  32

  Luce

  5

  5

  5

  4

  6

  6

  Bladenoch

  19

  18

  18

  16

  19

  19

  Cree and Fleet

  30

  30

  30

  25

  30

  29

  Dee (Kirkcudbright)

  28

  25

  26

  23

  27

  24

  Urr

  24

  23

  24

  20

  28

  25

  Nith

  56

  47

  52

  42

  54

  48

  330
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, by district salmon board area, how many riparian proprietors, upper and lower, were required to complete returns for the compilation of Scottish salmon and sea trout statistics in each of the past five years; and how many have complied.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 14 January]: Information related to salmon catch statistics is published by region and statistical district. The number of proprietors and occupiers of salmon fisheries, upper and lower together, who were sent statistical forms and made returns for 1984, 1985 and 1986 are given by statistical district in the following table. Accurate information for earlier years is not available.
  331

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Statistical District

  Number of Forms

  Number of Forms

  Number of Forms

  Sent

  Returned

  Sent

  Returned

  Sent

  Returned

  Annan

  126

  120

  111

  87

  39

  36

  Isle of Lewis

  15

  13

  14

  13

  17

  14

  Harris

  9

  8

  9

  7

  9

  9

  The Uists

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Orkney

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Shetland

  —

  —

  10

  4

  10

  7

  Totals

  1,707

  1,589

  1,634

  1,420

  1,582

  1,469

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that future statistical bulletins on Scottish salmon and sea trout catches published by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, contains full information about the levels of non-reporting, and the identity of those responsible for it.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 14 January 1988]: Consideration is already being given to including some indication about levels of reporting in future statistical bulletins. It is not intended that the identity of those who have not made returns will be published.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the procedures used by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland to check the accuracy of catch returns provided by Scottish salmon proprietors, prior to the publication of total reported figures.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 14 January 1988]: The forms are checked to ensure that relevant parts have been completed and that there are no inconsistencies in the entries for example between numbers and weights of fish reported as caught. Any omissions or inconsistencies would be pursued with the proprietor or occupier of the fishery as would any large discrepancy noted between a return and returns for earlier years.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the salmon proprietors, upper and lower, who have failed to make returns of the numbers and weight of fish caught in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 14 January 1988]: No.

  Salmon (Illegal Netting)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many incidents of illegal netting for salmon in Scottish waters by fishermen from the Irish Republic were detected in each of the last five years to the end of 1987.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]: There have been no such incidents reported by enforcement officers of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland in the five years to the end of 1987.

  Laughing Goose
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to withhold grants for agricultural developments which might endanger the habit of the laughing goose; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]: Section 17 of the Agriculture Act, 1986 imposes on
  332
  Ministers charged with agricultural responsibilities, an obligation to have regard to the endeavour to achieve a reasonable balance between the interests of agriculture and a number of other considerations including flora and fauna. A blanket prohibition on grants as suggested would be at variance with that obligation: individual cases will be considered on their merits.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Barristers' Clerks
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General what consideration has been given to recommendation 34.1 of the 1979 Royal Commission on legal services that barristers should not be required to have a clerk; what representations have been received on the matter; and what proposals he has for implementing the recommendation.

  The Attorney-General
  In its response to the Royal Commission on legal services in a White Paper published in November 1983, Cmnd. 9077, the Government indicated that this recommendation among others was for consideration by the profession. The Government have received no representations on the matter and have no plans to implement the recommendation.

  Family Courts
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Attorney-General what further representations he has received on the time that has elapsed since proposals for a family court were first considered by the Lord Chancellor's Department; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  There is no record of further representations having been received, on the time that has elapsed since proposals for a family court were first considered by the Lord Chancellor's Department, since the hon. Member's question on 11 January 1988, at column 7. I have nothing to add to my answer on that date.

  Kent Police
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will take legal proceedings against Kent county constabulary requiring it to fulfil its statutory responsibility under section 228 of the Local Government Act 1972 and provide information on the precise nature of items purchased from Q.E.D., Parker Hale Ltd., Hull Cartridge Co. Ltd., royal small arms factory, royal ordnance factory and Longstaff (Rec) Ltd.

  The Attorney-General
  If the hon. Gentleman would care to furnish me with particulars of any case he has in mind, I shall consider the matter.

  Prosecutions
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Attorney-General how many decisions have been taken in each year since 1985 not to prosecute people against whom there was otherwise sufficient evidence to justify prosecution, on the grounds of public interest or the interests of national security.

  The Attorney-General
  In every case where the evidence is in law sufficient for criminal proceedings it is necessary to consider whether the public interest requires a prosecution. There are no records of how many decisions not to prosecute have been taken on the ground that the public interest did not require a prosecution.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Attorney-General in how many instances court proceedings have been instituted in each year since 1985, despite the evidence being otherwise regarded as insufficient to justify a prosecution, on the grounds of public interest or to protect national security.

  The Attorney-General
  No prosecution should in any circumstances be instituted if the evidence is regarded as insufficient to justify a prosecution, and none has been so instituted within my knowledge by any prosecuting authority.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions in each year since 1985(a) the Director of Public Prosecutions or (b) the Director of Public Prosecutions (NI) has concluded that, despite advice from the law officers that a prosecution would not be in the public interest, such a prosecution should be instituted.

  The Attorney-General
  None.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Service
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of the new employment service.

  Mr. Lee
  The employment service now provides under a single management the full range of services formerly provided by the separate unemployment benefit and jobcentre services.

  We are developing new approaches to helping unemployed people, and particularly long-term unemployed people, which take advantage of this single management. We are introducing a number of changes to ensure both that benefit claimants can be offered the most appropriate help available and to enable us to check more systematically that people claiming benefits continue to be available for work.

  We are looking at ways of helping with job-finding and making benefit payments simpler, more accessible and more effective. A current management priority is to test a range of models which will bring together services currently delivered from separate premises.

  Small Firms
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance is given to small firms on the opportunities to do business with the Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  This Department has made considerable efforts to open up Government contracts to small firms.334
  We publish a summary booklet, "Tendering for Government Contracts", which gives broad guidance on what the various Government Departments seek to buy and the names and addresses of the relevant contacts. This information is also on Prestel. Departments, including the Ministry of Defence and our Department, also publish booklets providing more specific information on the purchasing opportunities within their Departments. Fuller information can be obtained through the small firms service by telephoning Freefone Enterprise.

  "Building Businesses … Not Barriers"
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to implement the proposals in the White Paper, "Building Businesses … Not Barriers"; if he will estimate the numbers of part-time workers who currently qualify for employment rights but who would be excluded if those proposals were implemented; and what proportion of those excluded would be women.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The proposals and their implementation are still under consideration. As to the effect of the proposals on part-time workers I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. McKay) on Monday 7 December 1987 at column 31.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of the population nationally and in the Rotherham-Mexborough travel-to-work area which is in full-time employment.

  Mr. Lee
  The latest available local area information on persons in full-time employment comes from the 1981 census of population, which found that 43·5 per cent. of all persons aged 16 and over resident in the Rotherham and Mexborough travel-to-work area were in full-time employment. The comparable figure for Great Britain was 45·6 per cent. Later information for Great Britain is available from the labour force survey, which estimated that in spring 1986 43·2 per cent. of all persons aged 16 and over in Great Britain were in full-time employment.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage change in (i) employment and (ii) unemployment in each of the regions(a) from mid-1979 to mid-1986 and (b) since mid-1986.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 25 January 1988]: The figures are give in the following tables.

  Table 1 gives in percentage terms the net changes in the size of the civilian employed labour force (the sum of employees in employment and the self employed) in each region between June 1979 and June 1986 and between June 1986 and June 1987. The figures are not adjusted for the effects of seasonal variation.

  Table 2 gives in percentage terms the changes in the numbers of unemployed claimants in each region between June 1979 and June 1986 arid between December 1987. The figures are adjusted for discontinuity and for the effects of seasonal variation.
  335

  Table 1

  Civilian employed labour force in the regions of Great Britain

  Net changes

  June 1979 to June 1986

  June 1986 to June 1987

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  South East

  1·6

  1·9

  East Anglia

  11·1

  4·5

  South West

  4·6

  1·9

  West Midlands

  -7·4

  2·0

  East Midlands

  0·8

  1·2

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  -6·6

  1·4

  North West

  -12·5

  0·6

  North

  -10·1

  1·0

  Wales

  -12·2

  1·2

  Scotland

  -7·5

  0·7

  Table 2

  Unemployed claimants in the Regions of Great Britain

  Changes

  June 1979—June 1986 Per cent.

  June 1986—December 1987 Per cent.

  South East

  243·7

  -24·2

  East Anglia

  205·9

  -25·5

  South West

  160·4

  -23·1

  West Midlands

  220·3

  -20·4

  East Midlands

  225·7

  -17·5

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  209·7

  -17·1

  North West

  167·6

  -17·8

  1988 European social fund aid requested for Merseyside

  Applicant name

  Organisation

  Beneficiaries

  £ aid

  Article1

  Article1

  Acorn Venture Association

  PB1

  4

  12,451·00

  12a

  41-

  Acorn Venture Association

  PB1

  3

  9,338·00

  12a

  42c

  AP Precision Hydraulics Ltd.

  PB3E

  182

  55,906·00

  12a

  42a

  Beoco Ltd.

  PB3

  175

  120,000·00

  12a

  42a

  CDS Training Ltd.

  PB4

  24

  23,669·00

  12a

  41-

  CDS Training Ltd.

  PB4

  42

  34,020·00

  12b

  41-

  CDS Training Ltd.

  PB4

  16

  14,843·00

  12a

  41-

  CDS Training Ltd.

  PB4

  24

  22,627·00

  12a

  42a

  CDS Training Ltd.

  PB4

  18

  24,008·00

  12a

  42a

  CDS Training Ltd.

  PB4

  14

  14,492·00

  12a

  41-

  CDS Training Ltd.

  PB4

  21

  21,340·00

  12a

  42a

  Eldonian Community Association

  PB4

  4

  16,519·50

  12a

  41-

  Eldonian Community Association

  PB4

  6

  24,775·20

  12a

  42a

  Employment Resource Group (ERG) Ltd.

  PB1

  60

  44,900·00

  12a

  42a

  Fringe

  PB1

  3

  11,879·00

  12a

  41-

  Fringe

  PB1

  3

  11,879·00

  12a

  42a

  Fringe

  PB1

  6

  32,021·00

  12a

  41-

  Fringe

  PB1

  6

  32,021·00

  12a

  42a

  GEC Installation Equipment Ltd.

  PB3E

  26

  37,581·00

  12a

  41-

  GEC Installation Equipment Ltd.

  PB3E

  118

  50,255·00

  12a

  42a

  Greenbank Project

  PB1

  39

  142,726·00

  12a

  41-

  Into Business Project Ltd.

  PB4

  8

  19,785·00

  12a

  42a

  Into Business Project Ltd.

  PB4

  40

  89,060·00

  12a

  41-

  Keyes UK Ltd.

  PB3P

  58

  19,068·00

  12a

  42e

  Kirkby Challenge Community Newspaper

  PB4

  2

  6,800·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  90

  88,536·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  60

  87,118·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  26

  38,327·00

  12a

  42a

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  20,658·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  20,658·00

  12a

  42a

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  17,800·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  17,800·00

  12a

  42a

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  45

  64,990·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  43,382·00

  12a

  42a

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  41,643·00

  12a

  42e

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  13,473·00

  12a

  41-

  336

  Changes

  June 1979— June 1986 Per cent.

  June 1986— December 1987 Per cent.

  Northern

  130·3

  -15·5

  Wales

  148·9

  -19·8

  Scotland

  128·8

  -9·5

  Social Fund
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment ,pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford, (Ms. Ruddock)Official Report, 21 January, column 807, if he will give similar information on European social fund allocations to Merseyside in the current year.

  Mr. Cope
  The European Commission is not expected to announce its decision on the allocation of 1988 European social fund grants until April 1988 at the earliest. My Department will not be able to inform organisations of the result of their applications until then. The following list details social fund applications and aid applied for which have been submitted to the European Commission for schemes to operate in Merseyside during the calendar year 1988. The list does not, however, include national schemes run, for example, by the Manpower Services Commission, and industrial training boards from which those living in Merseyside will benefit. Separate figures for Merseyside for these national schemes are not readily available.
  337

  Applicant name

  Organisation

  Beneficiaries

  £ aid

  Article1

  Article1

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  105

  145,183·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  12

  12,057·00

  12a

  42a

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  24

  6,615·00

  12a

  42b

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  24

  6,615·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  190

  191,706·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  48

  36,666·00

  12a

  42a

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  250

  292,500·00

  12b

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  25

  25,471·00

  12a

  42a

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  10

  61,642·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  40

  12,260·00

  12a

  42a

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  40

  43,382·00

  12a

  42-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  75

  97,609·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  44,436·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  43,177·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  12

  8,130·00

  12a

  42a

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  17,820·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  17,820·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  17,820·00

  12a

  41-

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  40

  54,080·00

  12b

  41-

  Landlife

  PB1

  12

  43,105·00

  12a

  41-

  Liverpool Elfrida Rathbone Community Association

  PB1

  21

  68,250·00

  12a

  41-

  Liverpool Appropriate Technology Ltd

  PB1

  28

  107,262·00

  12a

  41-

  Liverpool Mencap

  PB1

  7

  23,674·00

  12a

  41-

  Liverpool Mencap

  PB1

  7

  22,036·00

  12a

  42c

  Liverpool City Council

  LA1

  864

  597,143·00

  12a

  41-

  Liverpool City Council

  LA1

  504

  321,237·00

  12a

  41-

  Liverpool City Council

  LA1

  600

  282,066·00

  12a

  41-

  Liverpool City Council

  LA1

  600

  282,066·00

  12a

  42a

  Liverpool City Council

  LA1

  120

  21,671·00

  12a

  41-

  Liverpool City Council

  LA1

  120

  21,671·00

  12a

  42b

  Liverpool City Council

  LA1

  300

  128,430·00

  12a

  41-

  Liverpool City Council

  LA1

  300

  128,430·00

  12a

  42c

  Lucas Aerospace Limited Power Systems Division

  PB3E

  50

  16,073·00

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Enterprise Board Ltd

  PB4

  100

  75,472·50

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Council for Voluntary Service

  PB1

  72

  27,937·00

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  300

  106,919·00

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  60

  25,974·00

  12a

  41-

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  60

  25,974·00

  12a

  41-

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  100

  95,970·00

  12a

  42e

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  8

  26,405·00

  12a

  41-

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  8

  26,405·00

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  8

  26,405·00

  12a

  41-

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  36

  12,220·00

  12a

  42b

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  72

  31,019·00

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  60

  20,169·00

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  60

  20,169·00

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  200

  73,116·00

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  48

  20,130·00

  12a

  41-

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  48

  20,250·00

  12a

  41-

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  72

  28,579·00

  12a

  41-

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  48

  21,340·00

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  25

  19,308·00

  12a

  41-

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  25

  22,918·00

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  25

  20,043·00

  12a

  42a

  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

  PB1

  25

  21,066·00

  12a

  42e

  Micro-craft Consultants Limited

  PB3

  5

  56,160·00

  12a

  42c

  NEO Industries Ltd

  PB4

  40

  83,000·00

  12a

  41-

  North Everton Technology Centre Ltd

  PB1

  25

  89,869·00

  12a

  41-

  Parents Apprenticeship Action Committee

  PB1

  35

  89,661·00

  12a

  41-

  Risdon Venesta International Ltd

  PB3P

  65

  11,377·00

  12a

  42e

  Suston Diesels Ltd.

  PB3E

  23

  22,296·00

  12a

  41-

  Suston Diesels Ltd.

  PB3E

  35

  18,360·00

  12a

  42a

  Sefton Community Resource Action Programme

  PB1

  80

  10,000·00

  12a

  42a

  Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  689

  249,650·00

  12a

  41-

  Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  15

  26,186·00

  12a

  41-

  Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  28

  9,341·00

  12a

  41-

  Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  60

  18,588·00

  12a

  42a

  Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  15,600·00

  12a

  41-

  Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  28

  9,341·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  36

  29,626·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  24,480·00

  12a

  42a

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  40

  14,948·00

  12a

  42b

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  235

  73,754·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  51

  44,169·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  40

  14,793·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  110

  82,357·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  14,679·00

  12a

  41-

  338 339

  Applicant name

  Organisation

  Beneficiaries

  £ aid

  Article1

  Article1

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  141,187·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  7,989·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  60

  19,101·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  13,317·00

  12a

  42a

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  150

  51,768·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  12,642·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  10,204·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  10,204·00

  12a

  42a

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  10,204·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  10,204·00

  12a

  42a

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  40

  16,889·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  185

  101,159·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  150

  114,942·00

  l2a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  25

  49,518·00

  12a

  42b

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  15

  38,238·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  40

  28,771·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  288

  207,281·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  50

  25,390·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  309

  254,375·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  17,841·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  25,185·00

  12a

  42a

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  40

  12,848·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  40

  12,848·00

  12a

  42d

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  60

  16,908·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  60

  16,908·00

  12a

  42c

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  22

  11,223·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  10,426·00

  12a

  42c

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  24

  12,481·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  24

  22,835·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  63

  27,502·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  60

  20,360·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  18

  5,976·00

  12a

  42a

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  60

  18,545·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  36

  30,272·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  18

  8,566·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  18

  14,640·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  18

  12,815·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  104

  102,500·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  169

  137,866·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  30

  25,114·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  402

  356,971·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  60

  31,687·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  12

  39,741·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  35

  17,178·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  200

  98,161·00

  12a

  42a

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  70

  78,711·00

  12a

  41-

  St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  LA1

  70

  74,861·00

  12a

  41-

  University of Liverpool

  LA3

  3

  6,815·00

  l2a

  41-

  Vauxhall Motors Ltd.

  PB3E

  518

  472,773·00

  12a

  42a

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  360

  430,346·00

  12a

  41-

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  120

  61,121·00

  12a

  41-

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  270

  68,976·00

  12a

  42e

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  120

  68,337·00

  12a

  41-

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  360

  196,001·00

  12a

  42a

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  72

  44,740·00

  12a

  41-

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  288

  140,581·00

  12a

  42b

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  40

  120,729·00

  12a

  41-

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  80

  196,128·00

  12a

  42c

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  60

  18,720·00

  12b

  41-

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  240

  260,874·00

  12a

  41-

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  10

  21,090·50

  12a

  41-

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  44,439·00

  12a

  42c

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  12

  40,693·50

  12a

  41-

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  59,308·00

  12a

  41-

  Wirral Borough Council

  LA1

  20

  30,915·50

  12a

  41-

  Women's Technology Training Ltd.

  PB1

  30

  170,148·00

  12a

  42b

  Social Fund

    COMPUTER CODINGS FOR APPLICATIONS
    Organisation Types

    PB1 = Registered charities and friendly societies

    PB2 = Industrial Training Boards

    PB3 = Private companies

    PB4 = Companies limited by guarantee

    LA1 = local authorities

    LA2 = Educational establishments (excluding universities)

    LA3 = Universities

    340

    LA4 = Health Authorities

    NATIND1 = Nationalised Industries

    NATIND2 = Public Corporations e.g. BBC

    MSC = Manpower Services Commission

    DE = Department of Employment

    OGD = Other Government schemes

    Article Numbers

    341

    12a = Vocational training

    12b = Recruitment & wage subsidies

    12c = resettlement & socio-vocational integration in connection with geographical mobility

    12d = services and technical advice concerned with job creation

    41- = Under-25 scheme

    42a = unemployed people over the age of 25

    42b = women over-25 who wish to return to work

    42c = handicapped (over 25)

    42d = migrant workers (over 25)

    42e = people over 25 employed in small or medium-sized enterprises

    Mr. Frank Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member

    1987 European Social Fund Allocations for Merseyside

    Applicant name

    Organisation

    Beneficiaries

    £ Aid

    Article*

    Article*

    Acorn Venture Association

    PB1

    10

    8,568·00

    12a

    41-

    Automotive products PLC

    PB3E

    161

    29,239·00

    12a

    42a

    Beoco Ltd

    PB3

    55

    60,241·00

    12a

    42a

    CDS Training Ltd

    PB4

    16

    14,826·00

    12a

    41-

    CDS Training Ltd

    PB4

    24

    19,516·00

    12a

    42a

    CDS Training Ltd

    PB4

    16

    16,053·00

    12a

    41-

    CDS Training Ltd

    PB4

    21

    14,841·00

    12a

    42a

    CDS Training Enterprise Ltd

    PB4

    30

    23,798·00

    12b

    41-

    CDS Training Enterprise Ltd

    PB4

    12

    15,734·00

    12a

    42a

    CDS Training Enterprise Ltd

    PB4

    12

    82,269·00

    12a

    41-

    Eldonian Community Association

    PB4

    7

    27,639·00

    12a

    41-

    Eldonian Community Association

    PB4

    8

    15,97·00

    12a

    42a

    Fringe

    PB1

    6

    29,426·00

    12a

    41-

    Fringe

    PB1

    6

    23,711·00

    12a

    42a

    Greenbank Project

    PB1

    33

    118,544·00

    12a

    42c

    Help the Aged

    PB1

    150

    104,098·00

    12a

    41-

    Into Business Project Ltd

    PB4

    50

    99,016·00

    12a

    41-

    James Halstead Ltd

    PB3P

    19

    5,490·00

    12a

    41-

    Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    20

    67,833·00

    12a

    41-

    Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    230

    267,175·00

    12b

    41-

    Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    120

    108,068·00

    12a

    41-

    Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    14

    9,381·00

    12a

    42a

    Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    120

    160,451·00

    12a

    41-

    Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    30

    21,194·00

    12a

    42a

    Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    20

    9,272·00

    12a

    42a

    Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    20

    8,117·00

    12a

    42a

    Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    12

    4,000·00

    12a

    42a

    Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    20

    12,080·00

    12a

    42a

    Landlife

    PB1

    12

    41,665·00

    12a

    41-

    Liverpool Elfrida Rathbone Community Association

    PB1

    21

    68,692·00

    12a

    41-

    Liverpool Appropriate Technology Ltd

    PB1

    29

    115,815·00

    12a

    41-

    Liverpool Mencap

    PB1

    10

    26,320·00

    12a

    41-

    Liverpool Mencap

    PB1

    5

    10,604·00

    12a

    42c

    Liverpool Education Authority

    LA1

    1,752

    1,257,606·00

    12a

    41-

    Liverpool Education Authority

    LA1

    1,104

    792,035·00

    12a

    41-

    Liverpool Education Authority

    LA1

    1,408

    282,079·00

    12a

    42a

    Liverpool Education Authority

    LA1

    552

    142,173·00

    12a

    41-

    Liverpool Education Authority

    LA1

    840

    107,884·00

    12a

    42b

    Liverpool Education Authority

    LA1

    420

    242,626·00

    12a

    41-

    Liverpool Education Authority

    LA1

    564

    154,668·00

    12a

    42c

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

    PB1

    8

    22,310·00

    12a

    42a

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

    PB1

    75

    23,765·00

    12a

    42e

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

    PB1

    144

    56,186·00

    12a

    41-

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

    PB1

    240

    54,722·00

    12a

    42a

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

    PB1

    48

    21,403·00

    12a

    42a

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

    PB1

    60

    23,327·00

    12a

    42b

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

    PB1

    18

    11,175·00

    12a

    41-

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd

    PB1

    8

    27,687·00

    12a

    41-

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd.

    PB1

    300

    64,732·00

    12a

    42a

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd.

    PB1

    60

    21,306·00

    12a

    41-

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd.

    PB1

    60

    21,306·00

    12a

    42b

    Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd.

    PB1

    200

    38,644·00

    12a

    42a

    Merseyside Skill Training Ltd.

    PB1

    30

    88,945·00

    12a

    41-

    Merseyside Enterprise BoardLtd.

    PB4

    100

    37,887·00

    12a

    42e

    NEO Industries Ltd.

    PB4

    40

    80,216·00

    12a

    41-

    NEO Industries Ltd.

    PB4

    40

    59,955·00

    12a

    42a

    North Everton Technology Centre Ltd.

    PB1

    25

    82,217·00

    12a

    41-

    342
    for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock), Official Report, 21 January, column 804, if he will give similar information on European social fund allocations to Merseyside in 1987.

    Mr. Cope
    The European Commission allocated the following amounts from the European social fund to projects based in Merseyside for the calendar year 1987. The list does not, however, include national schemes run, for example, by the Manpower Services Commission, and industrial training boards from which those living in Merseyside will have benefited. Separate figures for Merseyside for these national schemes are not readily available.
    343

    Applicant name

    Organisation

    Beneficiaries

    £ Aid

    Article*

    Article*

    Parents Apprenticeship Action Committee

    PB1

    35

    88,554·00

    12a

    41-

    Plessey Telecommunications Limited

    PB3E

    40

    9,367·00

    12a

    41-

    Plessey Telecommunications Limited

    PB3E

    86

    7,523·00

    12a

    41-

    Plessy Major Systems Ltd.

    PB3E

    168

    183,607·00

    12a

    41-

    Plessy Major Systems Ltd.

    PB3E

    463

    52,993·00

    12a

    42a

    Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    20

    15,488·00

    12b

    41-

    Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    12

    15,513·00

    12a

    41-

    Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    7

    7,709·00

    12a

    41-

    Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    14

    7,796·00

    12a

    42c

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    83

    68,754·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    15

    18,282·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    27

    4,083·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    21

    1,254·00

    12a

    42a

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    15

    27,255·00

    12a

    42a

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    20

    16,808·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    30

    11,199·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    150

    44,783·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    30

    7,641·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    30

    5,691·00

    12a

    42a

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    40

    6,383·00

    12a

    42a

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    40

    32,881·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    225

    52,268·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    30

    9,467·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    20

    7004·00

    12a

    42b

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    30

    42,336·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    153

    108,823·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    135

    109,770·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    30

    69,340·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    45

    37,172·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    25

    26,081·00

    12a

    42b

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    303

    218,509·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    30

    10,848·00

    12a

    42a

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    259

    175,709·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    22

    10,074·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    13

    2,770·00

    12a

    42c

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    50

    16,501·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    15

    21,368·00

    12a

    42a

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    80

    25,153·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    30

    4,592·00

    12a

    42a

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    30

    8,132·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    48

    22,412·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    30

    8,933·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    40

    6,023·00

    12a

    42d

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    105

    98,283·00

    12a

    41-

    St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

    LA1

    450

    337,655·00

    12a

    41-

    Venesta International Packaging Ltd.

    PB3P

    37

    5,076·00

    12a

    42a

    Wirral Borough Council

    LA1

    29

    28,954·00

    12a

    42c

    Wirral Borough Council

    LA1

    40

    33,269·00

    12a

    42c

    Wirral Borough Council

    LA1

    128

    67,971·00

    12a

    42c

    Wirral Borough Council

    LA1

    10

    48,551·00

    12a

    42c

    Wirral Borough Council

    LA1

    280

    192,470·00

    12a

    41-

    Wirral Borough Council

    LA1

    640

    451,590·00

    12a

    41-

    Wirral Borough Council

    LA1

    260

    79,492·00

    12a

    42a

    Wirral Borough Council

    LA1

    60

    45,638·00

    12a

    41-

    Wirral Borough Council

    LA1

    130

    56,338·00

    12a

    42b

    Wirral Borough Council

    LA1

    360

    70,364·00

    12a

    42e

    Women's Technology Training Ltd.

    PB1

    30

    126,435·00

    12a

    42b

    COMPUTER CODINGS FOR APPLICATIONS
    Organisation types

    PB1 = Registered charities and friendly societies

    PB2 = Industrial Training Boards

    PB3 = Private companies

    PB4 = Companies limited by guarantee

    LA1 = Local authorities

    LA2 = Educational establishments (excluding universities)

    LA3 = Universities

    LA4 = Health authorities

    NATIND1 = Nationalised Industries

    NATIND2 = Public Corporations eg BBC

    MSC = Manpower Services Commission

    DE = Department of Employment

    OGD = Other Government schemes

    Article numbers

    12a = Vocational training

    12b = Recruitment and wage subsidies

    12c = Resettlement and socio-vocational integration in connection with geographical mobility

    12d = Services and technical advice concerned with job creation

    41 = Under-25 scheme

    42a = Unemployed people over the age of 25

    42b = Women over-25 who wish to return to work

    42c = Handicapped (over 25)

    42d = Migrant workers (over 25)

    42e = People over 25 employed in small or medium-sized enterprises

    Labour Statistics
    Mr. Meacher
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the absolute total of, and the percentage change in the number of, persons unemployed(a) less than three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six months to 12 months, (d) one to two years, (e) two to three years, (f) three to five years, and (g) over five years during the periods (i ) each year since 1979,(ii) over the period since 1979 as a whole, (iii) from mid-1979 to mid-1986 and (iv) since mid-1986.

    Mr. Lee
    [holding answer 26 January 1988]: Direct comparison of unemployment by duration since 1979 are not possible because of the change to the method of compilation. The following is the available information, which is also in the library.

    Table A shows the average number of unemployed registrants in the United Kingdom for each year from 1979 to 1982, who had been unemployed for the durations requested, except of for those unemployed for three to five years and over five years, for which figures were not separately identified together with the percentage change over the previous year. It is not possible to give this change for 1979, as unemployment figures for Northern Ireland are not available by duration for 1987.

    Table B shows the average number of claimants who had been unemployed for each duration requested for each

    Table B

    Average number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom

    1983

    1984

    1985

    1986

    1987

    Unemployed under 3 months

    841,759

    828,089

    843,572

    849,769

    758,572

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    -1·6

    1·9

    0·7

    -10·7

    Unemployed 3–6 months

    506,929

    490,009

    498,309

    502,283

    447,671

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    -3·3

    1·7

    0·8

    -0·1

    Unemployed 6–12 months

    639,082

    610,779

    607,263

    606,079

    549,276

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    -4·4

    -0·6

    -0·2

    -9·4

    Unemployed 1–2 years

    589,339

    557,782

    538,746

    509,233

    463,082

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    -5·4

    -3·4

    -5·5

    -9·1

    Unemployed 2–3 years

    197,046

    302,447

    299,045

    274,969

    233,984

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    53·5

    -1·1

    -8·1

    -14·9

    Unemployed 3–5 years

    n/a

    279,052

    345,289

    342,394

    290,877

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    n/a

    23·7

    -0·8

    -15·0

    Unemployed over 5 years

    n/a

    90,096

    149,178

    227,653

    272,087

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    n/a

    65·6

    52·6

    19·5

    Table C

    Unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom

    October 1987

    Unemployed

    Percentage change on July 1986

    Under 3 months

    765,816

    -8·4

    3–6 months

    370,192

    -21·0

    6–12 months

    443,140

    -29·4

    1–2 years

    415,998

    -17·1

    2–3 years

    218,373

    -19·4

    3–5 years

    261,411

    -23·7

    over 5 years

    276,454

    18·8

    Dates

    Country visited

    19 July to 29 July 1983

    Netherlands

    23 September to 28 September 1983

    France

    346
    year from 1983 to 1987, together with the percentage change over the previous year. Comparisons are affected by changes in the method of compilation.

    Table C shows the numbers at 8 October 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, together with the percentage change since 10 July 1986. The change over this period is affected by seasonal factors.

    Table A

    Average number of unemployed registrants in the United Kingdom

    1979

    1980

    1981

    1982

    Unemployed under 3 months

    569,221

    753,776

    695,674

    885,109

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    32·4

    -7·7

    27·2

    Unemployed 3–6 months

    240,878

    331,588

    673,481

    539,324

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    37·7

    103·1

    -19·9

    Unemployed 6–12 months

    237,121

    284,233

    619,856

    681,917

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    19·9

    118·1

    10·0

    Unemployed 1–2 years

    n/a

    178,418

    360,744

    657,790

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    n/a

    102·2

    82·3

    Unemployed 2–3 years

    n/a

    74,056

    97,304

    203,637

    Percentage change over year

    n/a

    n/a

    31·4

    109·3

    Ministerial Visits
    Mr. Leighton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has anything to add to his reply of 18 January,Official Report, column 506, relating to overseas visits by Ministers in his Department.

    Mr. Fowler
    I regret that there was an omission in my earlier reply. The full test should read as follows:

    A total of 25 official overseas visits were made by Ministers in my Department during the period January 1983 to December 1987, excluding short-term visits made specifically to attend conferences held by international bodies, for example, EC, OECD, ILO.

    Details are as follows:

    347

    Dates

    Country visited

    1 October to 7 October 1983

    United States of America

    17 October to 20 October 1983

    Federal Republic of Germany and Belgium

    20 November to 22 November 1983

    Federal Republic of Germany

    25 September to 5 October 1984

    Hong Kong and Japan

    11 December to 8 February 1984

    France

    7 February to 8 February 1985

    Italy

    3 July to 5 July 1985

    Republic of Ireland

    25 August to 3 September 1985

    Federal Republic of Germany/Switzerland/Denmark

    15 November to 20 November 1985

    United States of America

    11 December to 15 December 1985

    Hong Kong and China

    26 January to 28 January 1986

    France

    30 March to 8 April 1986

    United States of America

    5 April to 8 April 1986

    Sweden

    23 May to 1 June 1986

    Japan

    13 July to 16 July 1986

    United States of America

    6 November to 17 November 1986

    Hong Kong and China

    17 November to 20 November 1986

    France

    5 January to 12 January 1987

    Israel

    8 January to 15 January 1987

    Japan

    5 March to 11 March 1987

    United States of America

    23 March to 25 March 1987

    Berlin

    13 September to 15 September 1987

    Federal Republic of Germany

    22 January to 24 November 1987

    Sweden

    Industrial Skills
    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is at present the average cost of training people in industrial skills.

    Mr. John Cope
    (holding answer 26 January 1988]: The most recent estimate of employer spending on training comes from a survey conducted on behalf of the Manpower Services Commission by IFF research in 1984. It estimated employers invest on average £200 per employee per head on all types of training. More up to date and more detailed information is expected to become available later this year as part of a study of funding of vocational education and training being carried out by the MSC.

    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total public investment in industrial skills, for each year since 1974, in 1986 values.

    Mr. Cope
    [holding answer 26 January 1988]: The information is not available in the form requested. However expenditure (at 1986 prices) by the Manpower Services Commission on vocational education and training each year since 1974 has been as follows:

    £ million

    1974–75

    262

    1975–76

    482

    1976–77

    635

    1977–78

    635

    1978–79

    738

    1979–80

    763

    1980–81

    798

    1981–82

    971

    1982–83

    1,070

    1983–84

    1,211

    1984–85

    1,263

    1985–86

    1,295

    1986–87

    1,447

    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are, for each year since 1974, the figures for people trained for industrial jobs.
    348
    Mr. Cope
    [holding answer 26 January 1988]: The information is not available in the form requested. Estimates are available from the labour force survey for the number of economically active people of working age receiving any job-related training during a four week reference period in the Spring of each year. Those estimates are as follows:

    million

    1984

    2·1

    1985

    2·5

    1986

    2·6

    Estimates are not available prior to 1984.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  COCOM
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by what percentage he intends to cut the COCOM international lists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The aim of the Department is to achieve maximum reduction of COCOM's international lists consistent with our national security interests. It is not practicable to express our objectives in percentage terms.

  Insider Dealing
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the investigation appointed on 18 December 1986 to look into the possibility of insider dealing by employees of his Department, the Office of Fair Trading and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission is due to report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  The inspectors recently submitted an interim report to the Secretary of State. This has been passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions for his consideration.

  Imports-Exports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give imports as a percentage of domestic sales of motor cars and exports as a percentage of domestic production for (i) United Kingdom, (ii) France, (iii) West Germany, (iv) Italy and (v) Japan for 1975 and each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Butcher
  So far as the United Kingdom, France and West Germany are concerned, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 26 January 1988,Official Report, columns 143–144.

  Information on Italy and Japan is shown in the tables.

  Trends in Italian car output Italy

  Imports as a percentage of sales

  Exports as a percentage of production

  1975

  n.a.

  49

  1979

  38

  44

  1980

  42

  35

  1981

  n.a.

  34

  1982

  n.a.

  34

  1983

  37

  35

  1984

  37

  33

  1985

  40

  32

  1986

  38

  37

  Trends in Japanese car output Japan

  Imports as a percentage of sales

  Exports as a percentage of production

  1975

  n.a.

  40

  1979

  2

  50

  1980

  2

  56

  1981

  1

  57

  1982

  1

  55

  1983

  1

  53

  1984

  1

  56

  1985

  2

  58

  1986

  2

  59

  Note: NA = Not available.

  Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.

  Business Consultancy Initiative
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate, in respect of each region separately, for the years 1988–89 to 1990–91, the amount of money to be spent on the Government's business consultancy initiative announced in the recent White Paper on the future of his Department.

  Mr. Butcher
  The Government expenditure plans 1988–89 to 1990–91, published earlier this month, set out planned DTI expenditure on support for consultancy services under the business development initiative as follows:

  Plans £ million

  1988–89

  74

  1989–90

  91

  1990–91

  109

  No regional breakdown is available. Consultancy support under the enterprise initiative is available to qualifying companies on a first come, first served basis.

  New Enterprise Initiative (Blackpool)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list in the Official Report the forms of help to all types of industry and commerce within the Blackpool travel-to-work area that will be available when his Department's new enterprise initiative is fully implemented.

  Mr. Butcher
  Under the Department's new enterprise initiative, which brings together both new and existing measures of support, industry and commerce within the Blackpool travel-to-work area may currently benefit from the marketing, design, quality and manufacturing initiative, the research and technology initiative, the export initiative and the business education initiative.

  In April 1988, three further initiatives will be available to industry and commerce within the Blackpool TTWA — the business planning initiative, the financial and information system initiative, and the small firms merit award for research and technology (SMART).

  A comprehensive range of further support services is available to all industry and commerce from the Department, either to complement action taken under the enterprise initiative or separately. These include overseas and United Kingdom market trade and business information, company registration advice and information, contract research, testing and analysis services through DTI's own research establishments, and advice and guidance on patent and trade mark issues.

  All the enterprise initiative services to industry and commerce within the Blackpool TTWA will be administered from the Department's enterprise initiative offices in Manchester (75 Mosley street, Manchester M2 3HR Tel: 061–838 5011), supported by a new satellite office at Preston.

  Royal United Services Institute
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will list those publications by the Royal United Services Institute which he has approved for publication since 1979.

  Mr. Butcher
  I have no such knowledge of approving things for this publication and to refer back to 1979 would incur disproportionate costs.

  Consumer Safety
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many prohibition orders and prohibition notices his Department has issued for each of the last five years, relating to consumer safety.

  Mr. Maude
  During the last five years, the following four prohibition orders and three prohibition notices have been made.

  Prohibition Orders

  The Toy Water Snakes (Safety) Order 19831

  The Gas Catalytic Heaters (Safety) Order 19832

  The Expanding Novelties (Safety) Order 19831

  The Scented Erasers (Safety) Order 19842

  Prohibition Notices

  Automatic Rice Cooker (1983)

  351

  Sprint 0·6 T A Scissor Jack (1984)

  Expanding Novelties known as New Grobots, New Grobugs and New Grobeasts (1985).

  Note:

  1 Lapsed, goods having been removed from the market.

  2 Now covered by regulations made under the Consumer Safety Act 1978.

  Consumer Protection
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has yet reached a decision on the concordat's proposals for regulations on misleading price indications under part III of the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

  Mr. Maude
  After careful consideration, in consultation with the concordat and others, and in the light of revision of the draft code of practice on price indications, I have concluded that there is no need at this stage for further regulation in three of the five areas proposed by the concordat.

  The issues of introductory offers, worth and value claims and substantiation of price indications are now adequately covered by part III of the Consumer Protection Act and the draft code of practice. I have, however, concluded that there is a good case for regulations on the 28-day rule for comparisons with previous prices and on recommended prices, although in different terms from those proposed by the concordat. As required by the Act, my Department is today issuing a consultation paper seeking views on draft regulations to remove any possible uncertainty about whether comparisons which comply with the 28-day "rule" meet the requirements of the Act and to define "recommended price" and similar terms so as to ensure that comparisons with articial recommended prices are caught by the general offence. At the same time, we are seeking views on a revised and I believe much improved version of the draft code. Subject to the outcome of this consultation, I aim to bring the new legislation on price indications into force on 1 September 1988. Copies of the consultation paper will be placed in the Library.

  Investments
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will clarify the definition of investments in schedule I to the Financial Services Act in respect of forward contracts and bank lending.

  Mr. Maude
  I have issued a statement giving the Government's view of the effect of certain of the definitions in schedule 1 to the Financial Services Act, defining investments and investment business. This covers the position of forward contracts and bank lending and certain other issues. I have placed a copy of my statement in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Unit Trusts
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has taken decisions on the regulations on pricing of authorised unit trusts to be made under the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Mr. Maude
  My Department has had useful discussions with a number of interested parties on this subject, taking forward the consultations started by the Securities and Investments Board. The Securities and Investments Board 352
  has been actively involved in our discussions on these issues and endorses the approach I have decided upon. Our aim has been to achieve a system which is fair to investors and provides as much flexibility for management groups as is consistent with this.

  It was suggested to us that conflicts of interest between the manager's role as market-maker in dealing in units and his role as investment manager for the fund could be resolved only by confining managers to acting as agent in unit dealings. Although I do not intend to require this in the regulations, it is clearly a matter which deserves further study, and I welcome the intention of the Securities and Investments Board to look at it fully, in the light of experience of the new regulations.

  I will shortly be laying regulations before the House, the main provisions of which will be as follows:

  (i) In their dealings with trustees, managers will have to inform the trustee within 2 hours of the valuation point of the number and/or value of units they wish to create or cancel at that valuation. They may not give creation or cancellation orders at any other time. They must request at least sufficient units to enable them to fulfil all purchase orders taken. They must tell the trustee straight away if they revalue the fund.

  (ii) In their dealings with unitholders, managers will be able to choose to deal with unit-holders on a forward basis only, at the price calculated following receipt of their order. If they wish to offer deals on the last valuation (backward basis) they must:

  — decide their spread at the beginning of the dealing period and inform the trustee (this spread must be the one used for forward deals in the previous period)

  — deal at this spread for all transactions except large ones unless they move to a forward basis for all deals

  — cease to deal on a backward basis if they know, or have reason to believe, that the fund value has moved by 2 per cent. or more

  — deal at a forward price if the unitholder requests it or if no price is agreed.

  (iii) For large deals managers will be able to deal outside the spread notified to the Trustee provided that the price used is still within permitted units or deal on a forward pricing basis (within permitted limits). (Large deals will be defined as £15,000 or such larger amount as is stated in the scheme particulars.)

  (iv) If the manager knows or has reason to believe that the fund value has moved by 2 per cent. or more he can as an alternative to complete revaluation, use a revaluation be reference to movements in an Index if the Trustee agrees and the composition of the Index reflects the composition of the fund.

  (v) The manager will be able to choose the regular time of valuation but this must be stated in the scheme particulars and must not be two hours or less before the opening of the main market in which the fund is invested.

  (vi) Unit prices will be calculated so as to reflect the net asset value of the fund on a buying or selling basis, and including any initial charge. Unit prices will have to be accurate to 4 significant figures both for transactions and publication in newspapers. For transactions rounding to the lowest unit of currency will also be permitted.

  (vii) On contract notes and in newspapers, the cancellation price will need to be shown in addition to the ruling bid/offer price as appropriate. In addition on contract notes and at least weekly in the newspaper the initial charge as a percentage will need to be shown. The prices shown in the newspapers will have to be the most recent valuation available with the actual spreads used for deals (other than large deals).

  (viii) Settlement within five days will be required for all trustee/manager dealings for all funds other than money market and gilts funds in which case the requirement will be to settle by the close of business on the next working day. In the case of manager — unitholder dealings the requirement will be to pay out on redemptions within five days of receipt of the relevant documents of title.

  353
  As the pricing regulations are likely to require changes in systems and working procedures, I intend to allow current lawful arrangements to continue until 1 July.

  I have also received representation about the position of offshore funds. Such funds cannot be certain, at this stage, whether their home territory will be able to obtain designation under section 87 of the Act by "A" day, or that applications for their individual recognition under section 88 will have been determined by then. I therefore intend to permit offshore funds which have a listing on the stock exchange to continue, until 1 July, to promote by means of a prospectus.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Economic Strategy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the trade unions in Northern Ireland on the Government's economic strategy.

  Mr. Viggers
  Since January 1986, Ministers have met trade union delegations on 12 occasions. A range of industrial and economic issues have been discussed.

  Teachers
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any proposals for changing the way teachers are trained in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I do not intend to change the requirement that all courses of initial teacher training in Northern Ireland should meet the criteria of the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education which also apply in England and Wales. In line with my strategy for the promotion of education for mutual understanding in all sectors of education, I have however make it clear that I wish student teachers in the segregated colleges of education to have increased opportunities to meet each other, to undertake joint project work and to spend part of their professional training in cross-community school experience.

  Lignite
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has completed his evaluation of proposals to develop a minemouth power station to utilise lignite resources in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  The evaluation of the proposals for provision of new generating capacity in Northern Ireland, including a possible minemouth lignite power station, has not yet been completed. We are currently awaiting revised bids from NIE and APCL which they have undertaken to submit by 31 January.

  International Fund for Ireland
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what projects in Northern Ireland are currently in receipt of financial support from the International Fund for Ireland.

  Mr. Stanley
  The International Fund for Ireland is administered by an independent board appointed by her 354
  Majesty's Government and the Government of the Irish Republic. Details of applications for assistance and awards made are a matter for the board. A copy of the fund's press notices of 27 August and 10 December 1987 detailing programme allocations of £47·9 million and particular projects it is supporting, together with a copy of the fund's annual report, are available in the Library.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial contributions have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the International Fund for Ireland since its inception.

  Mr. Stanley
  None, because Her Majesty's Government already contribute very large sums through public expenditure programmes to the economic and social development of Northern Ireland.

  The International Fund for Ireland is a vehicle for providing supportive Governments in other countries with the means of expressing their support in a practical way for a programme of economic and social development which was envisaged in article 10(a) of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  However, the cost of the accommodation and secretarial services necessary for the proper functioning of the fund, together with its general administrative and organisational expenses, are met jointly by the Governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Her Majesty's Government's contribution to these costs in the current financial year is estimated as £45,000.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next plans to meet the Tanaiste, Mr. Lenihan, to discuss the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Tom King
  I hope to do so very shortly.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Tom King
  Worthwhile progress continues under the agreement. In particular, priority is being given to enhancing security co-operation with the Republic of Ireland. This has obvious potential to benefit all sections of the community in Northern Ireland.

  Political Parties (Co-operation)
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received in the current year regarding co-operation between the constitutional parties in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  I have received a number of such representations from leading members of the community who share my concern that ways should be found to bring about constructive dialogue and co-operation. It was in that spirit that I held a further meeting with the right hon. Member for the Lagan Valley (Mr. Molyneaux) and the hon. Member for Antrim (Rev. I. Paisley) on 26 January.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from the constitutional parties in Northern Ireland regarding political progress.

  Mr. Tom King
  I have received a number of such representations, expressing a range of views. If political
  355
  progress is to be achieved, there will need to be a constructive exchange of views both between the constitutional parties themselves and with the Government.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to implement in Northern Ireland the recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council on conditions at horse markets and sales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Viggers
  I have no plans to implement the recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council on conditions at horse markets and sales in Great Britain. This is because the welfare of horses at any sale in Northern Ireland is already adequately controlled under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 1972.

  Unemployment
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the trends in unemployment in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  In recent months, there has been a firm downward trend in unemployment in Northern Ireland. During the first half of 1987, seasonally adjusted unemployment dropped by an average of 300 per month whereas in the last six months the decrease was 1,000 per month. This indicates that the downward trend has quickened.

  Air Travel (Belfast)
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the chairman of the British Airports Authority to discuss facilities for Belfast-bound air passengers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met the chairman of BAA, on 18 November 1987. The Secretary of State expressed his concern at the facilities at Heathrow for Belfast passengers. Further discussions at official level are continuing to explore ways of improving facilities.

  Education Department
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the Education Department's capital budget for 1988–89.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Almost £51 million.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expenditure is planned in 1988–89 for schools for children with special education needs; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Estimated expenditure by the education and library boards in the 1988/89 financial year in respect of special education for pupils other than the mentally handicapped, is not yet available. The sum planned for teaching costs paid by my Department, in respect of these pupils is, however, £6·5 million.
  356
  In addition a sum of £8·9 million is planned for all recurrent services required for the education of mentally handicapped pupils, including teaching costs and a sum of about £2 million for capital expenditure.

  Integrated Schools (Maintained Status)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if his Department has any plans to change the criteria for giving maintained status to integrated schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I am currently considering the matter and after deliberations hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which members of the ministerial team, and which officials from his Department, regularly attend the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meetings.

  Mr. Tom King
  I and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State usually attend meetings of the Intergovernmental Conference. The joint statement issued after each meeting sets out details of Ministerial attendance. Official attendance varies. It is not in any event the practice to give names of officials attending.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what subjects were discussed at his last meeting with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer the hon. Member to a reply I gave earlier to a question by the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen).

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Ireland; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer the hon. Member to a reply I gave earlier to a question by the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen).

  Stalker-Sampson Inquiry
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a further statement on his implementation of the Sampson report on matters connected with the administration of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had recently concerning those aspects of the reports by Mr. Colin Sampson and others on alleged misconduct by officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary which fall within his responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a further statement on his implementation of those parts of the Stalker-Sampson report on the Royal Ulster Constabulary which fall within his responsibility.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd).

  Wages Act
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the likely effect on employment levels of his plans to extend the Wages Act to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  The Draft Wages (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 which was laid on 10 December 1987 will introduce reforms similar to those already in place in Great Britain under the Wages Act 1986. Attempts to estimate the effect on employment levels in Northern Ireland of these reforms are unlikely to be productive. However, in my opinion the adverse effects of overregulation on business enterprise, which the order addresses, are such that the provisions of the proposed legislation can only assist employment.

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. Knowles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much he intends to spend on education in Northern Ireland in 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Almost £800 million. This represents an increase of £48 million or nearly 6·5 per cent. over the estimated expenditure for the current year. The major increase is yet further evidence of the Government's commitment to education services in the Province.

  Security
  Mr. Molyneaux
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the security situation.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East (Mr. Ross).

  Education Reform
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to issue his consultation paper on educational reform in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I plan to issue the paper next month.

  Health Services
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with liaison between the health authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, where patients are transferred between hospitals in the two territories.

  Mr. Needham
  Yes.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums have been paid to the health services of the Republic of Ireland as reimbursements for the treatment of patients from(a) Northern Ireland and (b) Great Britain; what are the numbers of people treated; and if he will give any corresponding information for Republic of Ireland citizens treated in Northern Ireland.
  358
  Mr. Needham
  Payments under EC regulation 1408/71 as reimbursement for the treatment of patients from Northern Ireland in the Republic of Ireland were IR£2,191,170 in the financial year 1986–87.

  Payments from the Republic of Ireland were £478,429 in 1986–87. The costs are estimated annually on an agreed formula and the numbers of people treated are not known. Information relating to Great Britain is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

  Equal Opportunities (Report)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish a response to the report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights on equality of opportunity in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Viggers
  The Government has welcomed the report of the Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights. The report is being taken fully into account in the formulation of our detailed legislative proposals, and I hope to give a further indication of our views shortly.

  Terrorism
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if there has been forthcoming any information which has led to the arrest and charging of the terrorists responsible for the massacre at Enniskillen or for any of the other 156 unsolved murders by terrorists in the constituency of the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

  Mr. Stanley
  The police have received a substantial amount of information from the public following the bombing at Enniskillen on 8 November 1987. A number of people have been interviewed but, as yet, no charges have been brought. RUC inquiries into this incident and other terrorist murders for which no-one has been charged, will continue.

  Administration of Justice
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives have been taken under the Anglo-Irish Agreement to increase confidence in the administration of justice in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  A number of measures have been introduced in the period since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement as part of the Government's continuing commitment to enhancing public confidence in the administration of justice in Northern Ireland.

  These measures include a reduction since 1985 of nearly 50 per cent. on average in the time between committal and trial; allowing more cases to be heard before a jury by extending the list of offences which the Attorney-General can certify out of the scheduled mode of trial; changes to the statutory guidelines on the admissibility of confession evidence; putting the onus on the prosecution in bail applications; and placing on a statutory basis the rights of a person detained under the emergency legislation to have someone informed of their arrest and to have access to a solicitor within 48 hours.

  In addition, the maximum period that police can hold suspected terrorists under the emergency legislation without further ministerial authority has been reduced

  359
  from 72 to 48 hours; arrest powers under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 are exerciseable only on the basis of reasonable suspicion and the Act itself must now be re-enacted from scratch every five years. There are now also annual reviews of the operation of the Act and the Government are committed to the publication of a code of practice in relation to the exercise of emergency powers.

  We continue to seek any ways in which we can increase still further public confidence in the administration of justice.

  Northern Ireland Police Authority
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Authority in the last month on operational police activities.

  Mr. Stanley
  None. Police operations are a matter for the Chief Constable of the RUC.

  Milk and Beef Production
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings he has had during 1987–88 with the leaders of the two main farmers unions in Northern Ireland to discuss the problems of milk and beef production.

  Mr. Viggers
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my noble Friend, Lord Lyell, have frequent meetings with farmers and representatives of the farming community at which all aspects of the industry are discussed, including milk and beef production.

  Victoria Primary School, Newtownards
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions since 1 August 1987 teachers at Victoria primary school, Newtownards, have had to accept additional pupils into their classes due to the new guidelines for the provision of substitute teachers.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information sought is not held centrally.

  New Power Station
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further discussions have been held with Northern Ireland Electricity and the Antrim Power Company Ltd. on the next power station for the Province; whether bids to build, own and operate it have been received from elsewhere; and when he expects to announce the result of the competition between the bidders.

  Mr. Viggers
  I met representatives of Northern Ireland Electricity and the Antrim Power Company Limited on 22 December 1987, when I invited them to review their proposals and submit revised bids by 31 January 1988. Decisions will be taken and announced as soon as possible after the revised bids have been received and evaluated. In addition to APCL, five other private sector submissions were received at the outset of the competition, but these are no longer in contention.

  Water Availability (Fermanagh Lakes)
  Sir John Biggs-Davison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the general findings of the latest studies available to the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland, of the quality of the water in the Fermanagh lakes; to what extent those studies have been carried out in co-operation with authorities and organisations across the border; and what are the present factors adverse to the health and quantity of fish and therefore to tourism.

  Mr. Needham
  The report "The Erne System: A Water Quality Study" which was published on 18 January 1988 was prepared by a working group drawn from the Departments of the Environment for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, An Foras Forbartha and Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim and Donegal county councils. The study found that most of the lakes in the catchment are moderately to highly eutrophic, it drew particular attention to the over-enrichment due to phosphorus from sewage, industrial and agricultural sources; and has recommended remedial action. The health and quantity of fish did not fall within the terms of reference of this study. A copy of the report is now available in the Library.

  Downe Hospital, Downpatrick
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has received from the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, with regard to provision for the replacement of the Downe hospital, Downpatrick; and if he will give top priority to approving and funding such a proposal.

  Mr. Needham
  None as yet, but the Eastern health and social services board has indicated that it foresees a need for the hospital's replacement at some stage after the end of the current planning period in 1992.

  It would be inappropriate for me to speculate at this stage what degree of priority any such proposal might attract.

  Roads (Skid Resistance)
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will introduce a similar programme to the Department of Transport's SCRIM project, to monitor the skid resistance of motorways and arterial routes; and what amount of extra cash he intends to make available for(a) the programme and (b) resultant remedial works during the next four years.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]: The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland already makes substantial use of the SCRIM process to monitor the condition of road surfaces. £25·55 million is available in the current financial year for the structural maintenance programme, which includes use of SCRIM. A similar sum is expected to be allocated in future years.

  Republic of Ireland (Car Exports)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the number of new cars which have been imported into the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland in each of
  361
  the last 12 months to the end of 1987; where the sales of these vehicles are concentrated in Northern Ireland; and what proportion of the market for new cars these imports represent in these areas.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]: The information is not available in the form requested. The number of new cars registered in Northern Ireland during each month of 1987, the number of such vehicles which originated in the Republic of Ireland and the percentage of the total which this latter figure represents are set out in the following table. No information is kept on the areas where vehicles are sold in Northern Ireland.

  1987

  New Vehicles Registered

  Rol Vehicles

  Per cent.

  January

  5,881

  9

  0·15

  February

  5·484

  11

  0·20

  March

  5,649

  14

  0·24

  April

  4,895

  22

  0·44

  May

  4,969

  18

  0·36

  June

  5,614

  38

  0 67

  July

  3,996

  18

  0·45

  August

  4,258

  16

  0·37

  September

  4,476

  21

  0·47

  October

  3,793

  17

  0·44

  November

  2,689

  27

  1·00

  December

  1,438

  10

  0·69

  Total

  53,142

  221

  0·46

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inspection of new cars and other new vehicles imported from the Republic of Ireland are carried out to ensure that each such vehicle meets the standards laid down.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]: None.

  District

  LG electors

  Domestic ratepayers

  Other ratepayers

  District rate P in the £

  Equivalent amount per elector £

  Product of domestic district rate £

  Product of non-domestic regional rate £

  Antirm

  27,572

  14,620

  1,600

  48·50

  39·33

  1,084,328

  4,359,057

  Ards

  45,266

  24,190

  2,598

  53·00

  44·65

  2,021,036

  3,134,828

  Armagh

  35,417

  16,876

  2,347

  38·00

  25,64

  908,066

  2,277,692

  Ballymena

  39,304

  19,736

  2,435

  39·85

  31·84

  1,251,524

  3,936,617

  Ballymoney

  16,685

  7,842

  1,024

  46·00

  32,36

  539,846

  1,155,942

  Banbridge

  23,600

  11,234

  1,416

  50·98

  36·32

  857,155

  1,600,058

  Belfast

  220,326

  116,480

  20,885

  80·03

  57·36

  12,638,575

  33·670,233

  Carrickfergus

  21,627

  12,012

  980

  59·41

  48·99

  1,059,578

  2,896,270

  Castlereagh

  46,005

  23,342

  1,088

  41·00

  33·10

  1,522,565

  3,555,151

  Coleraine

  34,623

  18,931

  2,526

  50·00

  47·04

  1,628,537

  3,992,904

  Cookstown

  20,551

  9,648

  1,360

  43·00

  27·88

  572,994

  1,358,516

  Craigavon

  51,716

  26,886

  4,092

  63·35

  47·77

  2,470,708

  5,182,400

  Derry

  58,310

  28,476

  3,061

  69·50

  50·36

  2,936,568

  6,260,355

  Down

  37,269

  18,480

  2,452

  60·00

  45·85

  1,708,762

  2·636,116

  Dungannon

  30,991

  14,660

  2,153

  44·00

  26·41

  818,430

  2,041,618

  Fermanagh

  37,868

  18,421

  2,391

  50·75

  30·23

  1,144,723

  2,505,848

  Larne

  21,295

  11,685

  1,203

  52·55

  39·04

  831,333

  1,843,049

  Limavady

  17,514

  8,433

  937

  40·95

  30·84

  540,046

  1,343,320

  Lisburn

  61,551

  32,404

  2,720

  49·75

  44·71

  2,751,956

  6,145,444

  Magherafelt

  24,378

  10,796

  1,504

  41·05

  26·00

  633,859

  1,388,224

  Moyle

  10,210

  5,323

  749

  65·75

  50·04

  510,938

  618,481

  Newry and Mourne

  54,709

  26,161

  3,616

  59·70

  38·65

  2,114,606

  3,722,467

  Newtownabbey

  52,718

  27,500

  2,035

  57·24

  47·17

  2,486,901

  5,436,749

  North Down

  50,089

  27,007

  1,998

  60·90

  64·70

  3,240,534

  3,730,825

  Omagh

  29,884

  13,806

  1,762

  51·65

  32·49

  970,832

  2,216,695

  Strabane

  24,023

  11,172

  1,361

  54·00

  31·76

  762,926

  1,331,844

  362
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he intends to take to ensure fair competition in the sale of new cars in Northern Ireland as between new cars imported into Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic and those which come into Northern Ireland via the manufacturers dealership.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]: I am satisfied with existing arrangements where all new cars on first registration in Northern Ireland with the exception of personal imports, must demonstrate that they meet prescribed standards. Pricing policy is a matter for the vehicle manufacturers, importers and dealers. I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show for 1987 (i) the number of (a) electors, (b) domestic ratepayers and (c) other ratepayers in each council district of Northern Ireland, (ii) the regional rate for Northern Ireland, (iii) the district rate for each council district in Northern Ireland, (iv) the sum needed per elector in each council district to raise a sum equal to the sums raised by the district rate from domestic hereditaments if such a district rate were replaced by a community charge, (v) the sums raised from domestic rates in each council district in Northern Ireland, in respect of the local rate, and (vi) the sums raised from non-domestic rates in each council district in Northern Ireland in respect of the regional rate.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]: The regional rate for Northern Ireland for 1987–88 is 113.53p in the pound. The other information requested is as follows.

  Salmon and Grilse
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what number of salmon and grilse have been taken by(a) rod anglers, (b) draft nets (c) drift nets and (d) other nets in Northern Ireland in each of the last 20 years to the end of 1987.

  Mr. Viggers
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]: No information is available for catches by rod anglers. The information requested for catches by commercial nets is shown below. This information relates to Northern Ireland other than the Foyle area:

  Year

  Draft nets

  Drift nets

  Other nets

  1968

  4,510

  2,489

  14,322

  1969

  3,113

  5,258

  8,556

  1970

  3,780

  6,786

  7,884

  1971

  3,258

  6,923

  6,617

  1972

  9,475

  n/a

  n/a

  1973

  4,375

  2,321

  n/a

  1974

  9,104

  n/a

  n/a

  1975

  4,743

  n/a

  n/a

  1976

  7,603

  1,010

  3,992

  1977

  7,623

  1,176

  5,796

  1978

  11,684

  1,980

  7,088

  1979

  6,878

  990

  5,886

  1980

  4,493

  1,179

  9,642

  1981

  2,738

  992

  4,916

  1982

  5,913

  1,041

  8,075

  1983

  5,780

  1,231

  8,106

  1984

  3,416

  662

  9,740

  1985

  1,896

  1,010

  6,448

  1986

  1,759

  479

  9,650

  11987

  1 Not yet available.

  Cars (Pricing Policy)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the pricing policy by the manufacturers of cars in respect of comparable models between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]:None.

  Vehicle Imports
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what regulatory restrictions apply to the importation of(a) new cars and (b) new vans and other commercial type vehicles from the Irish Republic into Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]: I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Unit Labour Costs
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give United Kingdom relative unit labour costs in normalised currencies, based on the International Monetary Fund spending for 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987.

  Mr. Lilley
  International Monetary Fund measures of actual and normalised relative unit labour costs are published in Economic Trends, page 46.

  Data Transfer
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what will be the purpose and nature of data to be transferred to Customs and Excise from the Department of Health and Social Security, the Inland Revenue, and the Home Department; and how many data records it is envisaged will be annually transferred from each of these three Departments to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, broken down by Department;

  (2) what will be the purpose and nature of data to be transferred to the Home Department from the Department of Health and Social Security, the Inland Revenue, and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; and how many data records it is envisaged will be annually transferred from each of these three Departments to the Home Department, broken down by Department.

  (3) what will be the purpose and nature of data to be transferred to the Inland Revenue from the Department of Health and Social Security, the Home Department and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; and how many data records it is envisaged will be annually transferred from each of these three Departments to the Inland Revenue, broken down by Department;

  (4) what will be the purpose and nature of data to be transferred to the Department of Health and Social Security from the Inland Revenue, the Home Department and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; and how many data records it is envisaged will be annually transferred from each of these three Departments to the Department of Health and Social Security, broken down by Department;

  Mr. Brooke
  The information is not held centrally. The proposed Government data network is intended primarily for intra-departmental data traffic. Where interdepartmental exchanges or accesses are intended, use of GDN would not alter the requirement for the Department owning the data to authorise transfer.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will constitute the transfer of data in an authorised manner on the Government data network; and how many individual civil servants in the Department of Health and Social Security, the Inland Revenue, the Home Department and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are likely to be able to carry out an authorised transfer of data.

  Mr. Brooke
  The majority of data transfers over the Government data network will occur within a Department, but whether a transfer is internal or interdepartmental, the data owner will still have to authorise it.

  The number of staff involved will vary according to the system or application concerned. Information will not be held centrally.

  Data Banks
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a list of all existing or planned computer data banks holding personal information in the Department of Health and Social Security, the Inland Revenue, the Home Department and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, including the number of records, number of terminals and the nature of the information stored.
  365
  Mr. Brooke
  The nature of the information stored is set out in the appropriate departmental entries in the Data Protection Register, a copy of which is in the Library. I regret that the other information requested is not available centrally.

  Privatisation (Accountancy Fees)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the aggregate of the fees paid to the largest eight accountancy firms in respect of all privatisation issues undertaken since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  For commercial reasons, it is not the practice to reveal the fees paid to particular advisers.

  Accountancy Firms (Tax Planning)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide an estimate of the tax lost to the Revenue in 1987 as a direct consequence of tax planning by accountancy firms.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

  Channel Islands
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual loss to the Exchequer in tax revenue resulting from the use of the Channel Islands as a tax haven for individuals and companies.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that it is not possible to provide such an estimate.

  BP Shares
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the BP underwriting agreements with overseas institutions allows the BP shares taken up by such entities to be held by United Kingdom affiliates or branches such that any losses on these shares would be deductible in computing United Kingdom corporation tax or capital gains tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Overseas underwriters acquiring shares in BP in their own name were not constrained by the underwriting agreement in the holding of those shares.

  Underwriting Commissions
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide an estimate of the revenue lost to the Exchequer in 1986–87 and 1987–88 through the exemption of pension funds from tax on underwriting commissions.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The taxation affairs of pension funds are dealt with by local tax offices. The information requested is not centrally available and to obtain it would involve disproportionate cost.

  Third World Debt
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has about the total holdings of Third world debt by United Kingdom clearing banks.

  Mr. Lilley
  The clearing banks identify their exposure to a number of developed and developing countries in their 366
  published reports and accounts. The latest such information was published last July by the main United Kingdom clearing bank groups in their 1987 interim results.

  Income Tax Exemptions
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the change in Treasury income during the 1988–89 financial year resulting from confining all income tax exemptions to an upper limit of 20 per cent.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: The yield in a full year, at 1988–89 levels of income, from restricting all income tax reliefs to 20 per cent. of income after deduction of personal allowances would be about £2¼ billion. This estimate assumes that the 1987–88 income tax regime is indexed to 1988–89 according to the statutory formula and that there is no change in taxpayers' behaviour.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an estimate of the change in Treasury income during the 1988–89 financial year resulting from setting income tax rates as follows: nil to £5,200 at 20 per cent., £5,201 to £9,500 at 25 per cent., £9,501 to £13,000 at 30 per cent., £13,001 to £18,000 at 35 per cent., £18,001 to £24,000 at 40 per cent., £24,001 to £30,000 at 50 per cent., £30,001 to £39,000 at 55 per cent., and £39,001 or more at 60 per cent.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: The direct revenue cost in a full year at 1988–89 levels of income of the proposed regime would be about £5·5 billion more than the cost of indexation of the current income tax regime, in accordance with the statutory formula. This estimate assumes that the regime would retain the indexed levels of personal allowances and that the wife's earnings election is made where it is beneficial. No other allowance is made for possible changes in taxpayers' behaviour.

  Personal Allowances
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an estimate of the change in Treasury income during the 1988–89 financial year resulting from setting income tax allowances at the following rates: single person £2,600, married male nil, partners income £2,600, children £1,560, blind £600, widower £1,560, single person aged 60 to 74 years £3,130, married person aged 60 to 74 years £4,950, maximum allowance for people aged 60 to 74 years £10,500, single person aged 75 years £3,350, married person aged 75 plus years £5,230, and maximum allowance for people aged 75 plus years £10,500.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: The direct revenue cost in a full year at 1988–89 levels of income of the proposed regime would be just over £1 billion more than the cost of indexation of the current tax regime in accordance with the statutory formula. The estimates assume that the wife's earninings election is made where it is beneficial, but no other allowance is made for posssible changes in taxpayers' behaviour.

  Taxpayers (Statistics)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table showing the number of(a) taxpayers and (b) taxpayers with children, in each of the following taxable income brackets: nil to £5,000, £5,001 to £7,500, £7,501 to £10,000, £10,001 to £12,500, £12,501 to £15.000, £15,001 to £17,500, £17,501 to £20,000, £20,001 to £22,500, £22,501 to £25,000, £25,001 to £30,000 and£30,000 and

  (a) Tax units1 with income tax liability in 1987–88

  Gross Income

  Single People

  Married Couples

  2Self-employed

  1All tax units

  £ per year

  '000s

  '000s

  '000s

  '000s

  under 5,000

  3,000

  260

  230

  3,260

  5,000–7,500

  2,640

  1,300

  370

  3,950

  7,500–10,000

  1,840

  1,880

  390

  3,720

  10,000–12,500

  950

  2,060

  320

  3,010

  12,500–15,000

  410

  1,800

  220

  2,210

  15,000–17,500

  230

  1,270

  170

  1,500

  17,500–20,000

  130

  900

  110

  1,030

  20,000–22,500

  90

  500

  80

  590

  22,500–25,000

  40

  400

  60

  440

  25,000–30,000

  50

  430

  90

  480

  over 30,000

  90

  610

  240

  700

  Total

  9,460

  11,430

  2,280

  20,900

  (b) Tax units1 with children with income tax liability in 1987–88

  Gross Income

  Single People

  Married Couples

  2Self-employed

  1All tax units

  £ per year

  '000s

  '000s

  '000s

  '000s

  under 5,000

  60

  100

  30

  150

  5,000–7,500

  110

  510

  120

  630

  7,500–10,000

  110

  930

  160

  1,040

  10,000–12,500

  50

  1,120

  150

  1,170

  12,500–15,000

  30

  1,000

  100

  1,030

  15,000–17,500

  10

  620

  70

  630

  17,500–20,000

  10

  500

  50

  500

  20,000–22,500

  10

  280

  40

  290

  22,500–25,000

  3—

  210

  30

  210

  25,000–30,000

  3

  210

  40

  210

  over 30,000

  10

  310

  110

  320

  Total

  400

  5,780

  890

  6,180

  1 Single people and married couples.

  2 Tax units in which at least one individual is assessed for tax on self-employment income; self-employed tax units are included in the figures for single and married couples tax units as appropriate.

  3 Negligible.

  Mortgage Interest Tax Relief
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will(a) publish a table on restructuring mortgage interest tax relief to different rates of taxation for 1987–88, (b) report how many mortgagors receive relief at rates in excess of the basic rates of income tax and (c) report how many persons currently paying tax only at standard rate would pay tax at a higher rate if mortgage tax relief were removed from higher rates of tax; and what would be the additional income to the Exchequer, in the manner of his answer of 8 April 1986, Official Report, column 100.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 26 January 1988]: The direct revenue yields in a full year, at 1987–88 levels, from restricting mortgage interest relief are as
  368
  £30,000 and over; and if he will further break down the information for each taxable income bracket into the categories: married, single and self-employed.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 20 January 1988]:]: The table gives estimates of tax units (ie single people or married couples) who have some income tax liability in 1987–88. Figures are given (a) for all tax units and (b) for tax units with children for each specified range of gross income assessed for income tax purposes.

  follows. The estimates make no allowance for the effect of any consequential changes to the distribution of outstanding mortgages.

  Rate of mortgage interest relief

  Direct revenue yield

  per cent.

  £ million

  15

  2,240

  20

  1,440

  25

  650

  27

  330

  It is estimated that, in 1987–88, about 930,000 mortgagors will have received relief at rates in excess of the basic rate of income tax. Of these, about 190,000 who are currently liable only at basic rate are kept out of higher rates by virtue of their mortgage interest relief.

  Taxes
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing total taxes as a proportion of gross domestic product in each year since 1978–79.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 26 January 1988]: Following is the information:

  Total Taxes and National Insurance Contributions as a Percentage of Money GDP

  Percentage

  1978–79

  33·8

  1979–80

  35·1

  1980–81

  36·3

  1981–82

  39·4

  1982–83

  38·9

  1983–84

  38·5

  1984–85

  39·1

  1985–86

  38·5

  1986–87

  37·9

  Northern Ireland (Vehicle Imports)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the time lapse between the importation of a new vehicle into Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland and the payment of value added tax on such a vehicle; and whether he has any plans to reduce that period.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]: Value added tax is payable at the time of importation or may be deferred, under guarantee arrangements, until the 15th day of the month following importation.

  There are no plans to reduce the period of payment by deferment.

  Undeclared Taxes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total value of undeclared taxes other than value added tax and income tax discovered and recouped by his Department in each year since 1979;

  (2) what was the total value of undeclared income tax discovered and recouped by his Department in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answers 20 January 1988]: Records are not kept of the amounts of individual taxes recouped as a result of investigations. However, the total amounts — including, where appropriate, interest and penalties — of income tax, corporation tax and capital gains tax are as follows:

  £ million

  Year to 31 October

  1979

  111·6

  1980

  137·9

  1981

  165·1

  1982

  265·6

  Year to 31 March

  1983

  304·8

  1984

  399·2

  1985

  594·4

  1986

  694·5

  1987

  741·3

  370
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the percentage change in the value of under-declarations of taxes other than value added tax and income tax discovered per tax control officer since(a) 1979 and (b) 1984;

  (2) what has been the percentage change in the value of under-declarations of income tax discovered per income tax control officer since (a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answers 20 January 1988]: For the reasons given in my earlier replies to the hon. Member, it is not possible to give this information. However the percentage increases in the average amounts of income tax, corporation lax and capital gains tax—including interest and penalties — recovered by each Inland Revenue investigator were as follows:

  Per cent.

  1980 to 1987

  172

  1984 to 1987

  61

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the average increase in the value of the under-declarations of taxes other than income tax and value added tax discovered per tax control officer in each year since 1979;

  (2) what has been the average increase in the value of under-declarations of income tax discovered per income tax control officer in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answers 20 January 1988]: For the reasons given in my earlier replies to the hon. Member, it is not possible to give this information. However, the estimated average increase in the amount of income tax, corporation tax and capital gains tax -including interest and penalties — recovered by each Inland Revenue investigator over each preceding year since 1979 is £20,451.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the ratio of current employment costs of the tax control officers to undeclared taxes, other than income tax and value added tax, discovered and recouped; and what are the figures for each year since 1979;

  (2) what is his estimate of the ratio of current employment costs of the income tax control officers to undeclared income tax discovered and recouped; and what are the figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answers 20 January 1988]: For the reasons given in my earlier replies to the hon. Member, it is not possible to give figures for individual taxes. Moreover cost-yield ratios for Inland Revenue investigators have only been produced for the years 1983–84 onwards, and figures for earlier years could not be produced except at disproportionate cost. Figures are kept separately for the Inland Revenue's main investigation sections and are as follows:

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Tax offices

  1:6

  1:6·8

  11:17

  11:13

  Inquiry branch

  1:12·5

  1:17·6

  1:17

  1:16

  Special offices

  1:17

  1:27

  1:25

  1:31

  PAYE audit

  1:4

  1:5·5

  1:5·7

  1:6

  1 An improved way of estimating the yield in Tax Districts from technical adjustments means that these figures are not wholly comparable with those for earlier years. There were also some exceptionally large settlements in 1985–86.

  371
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the value of under-declarations of income tax discovered per income tax control officer in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 20 January 1988]: For reasons given in my earlier replies to the hon. Member, it is not possible to give this information. However the increases in the estimated average amounts of income tax, corporation tax and capital gains tax—including interest and penalties — recovered by each Inland Revenue investigator over each preceding year are as follows:

  Average estimated yield per Investigator

  Estimated increase over previous year

  £

  £

  1980

  83,122

  —

  1981

  83,978

  856

  1982

  122,622

  38,644

  1983

  122,164

  (458)

  1984

  140,415

  18,251

  1985

  185,692

  45,277

  1986

  212,256

  26,564

  1987

  226,282

  14,026

  Tax Control Officers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many tax control officers, other than those dealing with value added tax and income tax, are at present employed in the United Kingdom; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979;

  (2) how many income tax control officers are at present employed in the United Kingdom and in Wales and England; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answers 20 January 1988]: Inland Revenue investigation officers do not, in general, deal exclusively in particular taxes and it is not possible to give separate figures for those engaged on imcome tax compliance and those engaged on other taxes. Moreover, for many staff, work on avoidance and evasion is only a part of their duties. However, the total number of staff units employed throughout the UK in dealing with avoidance and evasion of income tax, corporation tax and capital gains tax for each of the years 1980–87 (the figure for 1979 is not available) were as follows:

  Number

  1980

  1,659

  1981

  1,966

  1982

  2,166

  1983

  2,495

  1984

  2,843

  1985

  3,201

  1986

  3,272

  1987

  3,276

ENVIRONMENT

  Community Alarm Systems
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many local authorities maintain community alarm services for residents in their own homes.
  372
  Mrs. Roe
  The Department does not hold this information.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific provision is made in (1) grant related expenditure assessments and (2) Government spending plans for local authority housing or personal services for the maintenance of community alarm services.

  Mrs. Roe
  It is for local authorities to decide what resources to devote to alarm systems. Grant related expenditure assessments and capital allocations take account of authorities' needs to spend on the elderly and disabled.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to make any assessment of the number of residents covered by community alarm schemes, or to offer any guidance to local authorities on their provision.

  Mrs. Roe
  We have no plans to seek information on the numbers covered by alarm systems. Guidance on their provision has been give to local authorities.

  Fuller Peiser (Fees)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answers of 14 January,Official Report, column 358, and 19 January Official Report, column 603, he will give the fees earned by Fuller Peiser for (a) its commission for the Property Services Agency at Rosyth and Devonport dockyards and (b) its management of the sale of the assets of Aycliffe and Peterlee new town corporation; whether either of these commissions were gained as a result of competitive tendering; and what guidance has been given to the Property Services Agency on competitive tendering for property management, disposal, and consultancy.

  Mrs. Roe
  The commission at the Rosyth and Devonport Dockyards was let to Fuller Peiser in competition with several other firms of agents. The appointment of Fuller Peiser to market the industrial assets of Aycliffe and Peterlee was also subject to competition and my Department was involved in the development corporation's selection of agents. It is not the Department's practice to publish information about the fees paid. It is PSA's normal policy for all forms of agency and consultancy except for minor sales to invite competitive tenders from firms with the appropriate expertise for the task.

  Control of Pollution Act 1974
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to review the operation of section 27 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I see no reason to do so.

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate, on the basis of the 1987–88 budgets and consistent with figures published by his Department during 1987, the total fully-introduced community charge bills of households with one, two, three, four, five and six adults for each authority in Great Britain.
  373
  Mr. Ridley
  Yes. The answers are respectively one, two, three, four, five and six times the figures for illustrative community charges published on 29 June in respect of England, 3 July in respect of Wales and 10 July in respect of Scotland. For those on low incomes, assistance will be available through income support and community charge rebates.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate, on the basis of 1987–88 budgets, and consistent with figures published by his Department during 1987, the total fully-introduced community charge bills of households with one, two, three, four, five and six adults, where each of those adults is on maxim um benefit, for each authority in Great Britain.

  Mr. Ridley
  Yes. The answers are respectively 0·2, 0·4, 0·6, 0·8, one and 1·2 times the illustrated community charge figures published on 29 June in respect of England and 3 July in respect of Wales. For Scotland the answers are respectively one, two, three, four, five and six times the illustrative rebated community charge figures given to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) on 1 December at column 520, by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office.

  Local Authorities (Payment of Bills)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given, or will give, to local authorities on the payment of bills from suppliers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The payment of bills from suppliers is a matter for local authorities and on which they have received advice from the Audit Commission.

  My right hon. Friend has not given guidance; nor has he plans to do so.

  County Halls
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the current use of each of the county halls following the abolition of the metropolitan county councils.

  Mr. Chope
  All the county halls of the former metropolitan county councils are currently used for administrative purposes.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet in a position to give an analysis of the financial and staff savings in respect of each of the abolished metropolitan councils.

  Mr. Chope
  The functions which successor authorities have inherited from the former metropolitan county councils have, in large measure, been amalgamated with their pre-abolition functions. The data which the Secretary of State receives from those authorities does not therefore separately identify expenditure incurred on their inherited functions.

  The residuary bodies established to wind up the affairs of the abolished county councils estimate that some £114·85 million of MCC closing revenue balances and some £47·3 million capital receipts arising from their own
  374
  disposals of surplus capital assets will be available for distribution to all rating authorities in the MCC areas by 31 March 1989.

  We announced in February last year that some 6,300 posts had been saved immediately on abolition. These savings are not available by individual MCCs. However, we estimate that long term savings to ratepayers of some £100 million per annum will result from staff savings following abolition. About half these savings will be as a direct result of the abolition of the MCCs.

  Wildlife Division
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the responsibilities of the wildlife division in his Department.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The functions and duties of the wildlife division are listed in the Department's management information system for Ministers. A copy of MINIS 8 is available in the Library of the House.

  Vicuna
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Peruvian embassy in London in respect of vicuna stocks in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  In 1987, the Peruvian embassy sought details of the amounts and destinations of trade in vicuna, and stock levels of vicuna available in the United Kingdom market. It was not possible to provide a fall answer because there is a discrepancy between United Kingdom and Japanese statistics. This is being fully investigated and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised the embassy accordingly. No representations have been received from the embassy about vicuna stocks in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of all vicuna products exported to Japan in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Full details are not yet available. I will write to the hon. Member.

  Rhinoceros Products
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to implement the resolution agreed at the CITES conference in Ottawa in July 1987 on the trade in rhinoceros products; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The United Kingdom is pursuing a detailed response to this resolution with our European Community partners.

  In the meantime, however, EC regulation 3626/82 which has implemented the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora within the European Community since 1 January 1984, already bans international trade in rhinoceros products for commercial purposes and their sale within the United Kingdom. Only limited exceptions may be made to this ban under the provisions of the regulations and, in deciding whether to permit an exception, the United Kingdom now takes the rhinoceros resolution into account.

  Cumbria (RSG)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value in money terms of the domestic resource equalisation component in the rate support grant settlement to the county of Cumbria for each financial year since 1978–79.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is as follows:

  £ million

  1981–82

  11·2

  1982–83

  12·3

  1983–84

  14·0

  1984–85

  15·6

  1985–86

  17·6

  1986–87

  20·1

  1987–88

  21·0

  1988–89

  23·8

  Information is not available for years prior to the introduction of the present rate support grant arrangements in 1981–82.

  Rates (Summonses)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what figures he has on the numbers of the issue of summonses for the alleged non-payment of rates to households which have already paid their rates in London boroughs over the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Rate collection statistics produced by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy show that in 1986–87, 962 summonses for non-payment of rates were issued by Greater London boroughs. Information is not collected on how many of these summonses were issued to ratepayers who had already paid their rates, but I have no reason to believe the numbers involved are significant.

  Derelict Land
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources are being made available under the derelict land programme in 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley
  The resources available for derelict land reclamation under the derelict land grant programme will be about £76·2 million in 1988–89. In real terms, these resources are over 80 per cent. greater than those available in 1979–80 and will maintain the momentum of this programme which, since 1979, has funded the reclamation of nearly 11,000 hectares of derelict land. Additional resources for derelict land reclamation are provided through urban development corporations. As in previous years, more than 90 per cent. of derelict land grant will be spent in the areas of greatest need in the north and midlands.

  I am keen to encourage the growing participation of private firms in land reclamation and I have set aside an allocation of £7·66 million for this sector. But, outside UDC areas, local authorities will continue to play the major role in reclamation and the resources I have made available for these schemes total £68·27 million.
  376
  I have approved a new rolling programme for the reclamation of the extensive areas of dereliction in the Leeds-Liverpool canal corridor, while continuing existing rolling programmes outside UDC areas. Total expenditure on the 13 local authority rolling programmes approved for 1988–89 will be over £21 million.

  I have allocated a further £8·75 million to continue support for the reclamation of the former Consett and Corby steelworks (£3·75 million), and to investigative and remedial works on limestone workings in the black country (£5 million). The non-local authority allocation will allow further work to be carried out on major schemes such as the north Tees power station in Cleveland (£0·495 million) and the former Dunlop site at Speke, Merseyside (£0·4 million).

  My allocations include more than £8 million for the reclamation of coal-mining and related dereliction. This is larger even than year's record figure and shows the Government's continued support for good quality schemes in coalfield areas.

  Priorities for derelict land reclamation remain as set out in my Department's circular 28/85—"Reclamation and Re-use of Derelict Land". This stressed the importance of schemes designed to reclaim urban especially inner-city land for housing, and industrial and commercial end uses. These priorities will be reflected in the schemes which will be supported in 1988–89.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make an announcement on the future use of county hall.

  Mr. Chope
  I have nothing to add to my reply of 28 October 1987, at columns 275–76, to my hon. Friend for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway).

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Health Authority
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the current planned levels of establishment for medical staff in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale health authority; and what are the current levels of staff in post.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that the information is not held centrally in the form requested. The hon. Member may wish to take his query up with the chairman of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale health authority.

  Lancashire Ambulance Service
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the overall percentage change between 1979 and 1987 in(a) the number of patient miles for (i) emergency and (ii) non-emergency and (b) the number of patient journeys on the same basis, in the Lancashire ambulance area.

  Mrs. Currie
  The available information is given in the table.
  377

  AMBULANCE SERVICES 1979–1986

  Lancashire Ambulance Authority

  1979

  1986

  1979–86 percentage change

  Number of patient·journeys (thousands)

  Emergency

  53·8

  56·1

  4·3

  Non-emergency

  601·6

  539·3

  -10·4

  1979

  11985–86

  1979–85/86 percentage change

  Number of patient miles (thousands)

  Emergency

  479·1

  594·9

  24·2

  Non-emergency

  3,316·1

  3,593·7

  8·4

  1 Figures supplied by York health authority.

  Nurses
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many district nurses there were in(a) the Burnley constituency and (b) the Pendle constituency in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information for constituencies is not available centrally. Staff in post figures for the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale district health authority are shown in the table and have been obtained from the annual census of non-medical manpower.

  NHS District Nurses1 in post in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale DHAM

  30 September

  whole-time equivalents2

  1982

  99

  1983

  101

  1984

  98

  1985

  95

  1986

  94

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

  Notes:

  1 Includes district nurses, district nurse practical work teachers, registered and enrolled nurses assisting district nurses, holders of dual posts (district nurse/midwife) and bank district nurses.

  2 Figures independently rounded to nearest whole-time equivalent.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details for the last five years of average earnings of registered nurses showing what percentage is(a) basic weekly earnings and (b) additions to basic weekly earnings.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 16 December 1987]: Information for the years from 1983–84 to 1986–87 is set out in the table:

  Average gross weekly earnings

  Percentage basic pay

  Percentage addition

  £

  Per cent·

  Per cent·

  1983–84

  140·49

  85

  15

  1984–85

  149·59

  87

  13

  1985–86

  160·08

  88

  12

  1986–87

  183·34

  88

  12

  Information is not available for earlier years on a comparable basis.
  378
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the level of average earnings for registered nurses as a proportion of average earnings for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 16 December 1987]: Information for the years from 1983–84 to 1986–87 is set out in the table:

  Average earnings of registered nurses1

  Percentage of all average earnings2

  £pw

  1983–84

  140·49

  88

  1984–85

  149·59

  87

  1985–86

  160·08

  87

  1986–87

  182·34

  92

  Information for earlier years is not available on a comparable basis.

  Notes:

  1 Source: DHSS.

  2 Source: New Earnings Survey—All full-time adult employees.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses left the employment of each of the district health authorities in each year from 1979 to 1987.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 26 January 1988]: I regret that the information requested is not collected centrally. Some information will, however, become available later this year as a result of the introduction of improvements in National Health Service information systems.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of nurses up to and including senior nurse 7, in each of the health regions had(a) at least one overtime payment and (b) more than 12 overtime payments, during the year 1986–87, and at what estimated cost in each case.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 26 January 1988]: I regret that information in the form requested is not held centrally.

  Mentally Handicapped Persons
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of mentally handicapped people who have had their transfer facilitated from National Health Service hospitals to the community since 1978.
  379
  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that I am unable to give my hon. Friend the exact information requested. Information on numbers of mentally handicapped people settled in the community is not centrally collected.

  The table shows the number of people who have been discharged each year into the community after a stay of five years or more in hospital.

  Discharges1 from mental handicap hospitals and units in England after durations of stay of five years or more

  Year

  Discharges1

  1980

  657

  1981

  764

  1982

  764

  1983

  967

  1984

  1,375

  1985

  1,522

  1986

  1,951

  1 Excludes transfer to other NHS hospitals and special hospitals.

  Waiting Lists (North East Thames Region)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide a table of waiting lists in the North East Thames regional health authority area for each year since 1979.

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

  Patients on in-patient waiting in North East Thames region

  Month

  Year

  Total cases

  March

  1979

  57,180

  September

  1979

  53,146

  March

  1980

  52,205

  September

  1980

  49,032

  March

  1981

  47,950

  September

  1981

  48,515

  March

  1982

  48,447

  September

  1982

  58,207

  March

  1983

  60,381

  September

  1983

  58,911

  March

  1984

  63,497

  September

  1984

  63,563

  March

  1985

  66,705

  September

  1985

  66,406

  March

  1986

  71,934

  September

  1986

  74,926

  March

  1987

  76,019

  NHS (Special Duties Payments)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will make a statement on the decision by the National Health Service management to withdraw the proposal for flat rate payments for special duties;

  (2) what are the implications of the decision to withdraw the proposal for flat rate payment for special duties for the future of the current percentage payments to nursing staff;

  (3) what are his proposals for the future of special duty payments for nursing staff.

  Mr. Newton
  The management side of the Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council indicated that, since there was no realistic prospect of agreeing joint evidence on a new structure for special duty payments to put to the Nurses Pay Review Body for its current review, it felt the appropriate course was for the review body itself to be 380
  invited to consider the level of such payments as part of its work on nurses' pay issues as a whole. It will be for the review body to decide whether it wishes to make any recommendations.

  Benefits
  Miss Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how he intends to publicise the major benefit changes due to take place in April, including the replacement of supplementary benefit and family income supplement with income support and family credit; and whether such publicity will be made available in the major ethnic minority languages.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department is taking several measures to ensure that this April's social security reforms receive adequate publicity.

  A series of factsheets on the social security reforms have been produced and are available free of charge to members of the public from social security offices.

  Next month there will be an advertising campaign in the regional press on the new housing benefit scheme. Similar campaigns will follow in March to publicise the introduction of income support (national press), the new arrangements for widows (regional press), and the introduction of family credit (national press). The family credit campaign will also feature a TV commercial.

  Posters will publicise the changes in main post offices and social security offices, and copies of these will be sent to other agencies for display. Leaflets are being redesigned and rewritten in line with the Department's communications strategy of improving the quality of information on social security benefits. The leaflets will be available from the usual outlets.

  There are no plans at present to issue additional publicity in minority languages specifically on the reforms. However, there will be a new translation of the English-language leaflet FB 2 "Which benefit?", which will be published later this year in seven languages. This will provide a general overview of all social security benefits including the reformed ones.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which categories of recipients of benefits will gain a special payment following the discovery of the error in the retail prices index; and how many claimants of each benefit will so qualify.

  Mr. Scott
  The benefits which qualify a recipient for a special payment in the first week of February and the numbers of recipients of each are shown in the table. A recipient may qualify under more than one benefit.

  Qualifying benefits for February special payment and number of recipients of each (thousands)

  Number

  Attendance Allowance

  635

  Industrial Death Benefit

  30

  Industrial Disablement Benefit

  200

  Invalid Care Allowance

  105

  Invalidity Benefit

  995

  Mobility Allowance

  495

  Retirement Pension

  9,725

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  265

  Supplementary Pension

  1,875

  War Pensions

  265

  Widows' Benefits

  380

  381
  In addition, the few thousand people who receive child's special allowance, guardian's allowance, or benefit under the pneumoconiosis and byssinosis and workmen's compensation schemes will receive special payments.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which categories of recipients of benefits will not gain a special payment following the discovery of the error in the calculation of the retail prices index; and how many claimants are currently drawing these benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  Affected benefits for which no special payment will be made and the estimated number of recipients of each are shown in the table. Beneficiaries may be receiving more than one of these benefits or they may be receiving them in addition to a benefit which qualifies for the special payment.

  Benefits affected by the error in the retail price index for which no special payment will be made and the estimated number of recipients of each (thousands).

  Number

  Family Income Supplement

  210

  Housing Benefit

  7,000

  Maternity Allowance

  40

  Sickness Benefit

  90

  Supplementary Allowance

  3,285

  Unemployment Benefit

  845

  Thames Health Regions
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the total expenditure on laundry, cleaning and catering services for each of the four Thames health regions in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Currie
  Following in the information requested:

  Region

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  £000

  £000

  £000

  North West Thames

  Laundry

  4,638

  4,604

  4,465

  Domestic/Cleaning

  35,573

  35,557

  30,001

  Catering

  26,958

  26,852

  27,925

  North East Thames

  Laundry

  5,649

  5,709

  5,727

  Domestic/Cleaning

  45,158

  42,612

  41,337

  Catering

  30,991

  30,427

  30,464

  South East Thames

  Laundry

  5,737

  5,571

  5,612

  Domestic/Cleaning

  37,084

  35,087

  33,641

  Catering

  28,858

  29,048

  29,146

  South West Thames

  Laundry

  4,697

  4,361

  4,611

  Domestic/Cleaning

  28,453

  26,404

  24,004

  Catering

  24,256

  24,426

  24,890

  Source: Annual financial accounts of regional and district health authorities comprising the four Thames regions.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the annual per capita expenditure in terms of persons resident within the region for each of the four Thames health regions in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Currie
  Following is the information requested:382

  Hospital and Community Health Services

  Total per capita expenditure

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  Region

  £

  £

  £

  North West Thames

  218

  228

  242

  North East Thames

  254

  261

  280

  South East Thames

  229

  240

  258

  South West Thames

  213

  223

  238

  Sources:

  (a) Annual accounts of regional and district health authorities comprising the four Thames regions.

  (b) Mid-year estimates of population 1984, 1985 and 1986 (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys).

  Notes:

  1. Expenditure on family practitioner services is excluded: such expenditure is accounted for by family practitioner committees (FPCs) and cannot strictly be attributed to particular regions. However, prior to 1 April 1985 many of the health districts within each region had an associated FPC and those districts' total expenditure for 1984–85 included small, not separately identifiable elements relating to FPC administrative expenses.

  2. The population figures used make no allowance for people resident in one region who receive treatment in another or for differences in morbidity and age/sex structure of particular populations.

  Rental Purchase Schemes
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's policy on meeting the full cost of weekly payments for the purchase of housing under rental purchase schemes, including capital, assuming all other factors within the housing benefit scheme justify that level of payment.

  Mr. Portillo
  Payments under rental purchase schemes, including payments of capital, have been eligible for help through housing benefit since the introduction of the scheme in 1982. It is for local authorities to decide on the level of weekly rent (including payments under a rental purchase agreement) which should be taken into account in calculating entitlement to housing benefit but we expect local authorities to use their powers under the housing benefit regulations to restrict benefit if the level of the payment is unreasonable in a particular case. We understand that some local authorities have exercised these powers to restrict benefit to rental purchasers.

  The arrangements for helping rental purchasers with their housing costs differ from the arrangements for other people buying their home. Housing benefit is not available for owner-occupiers' mortgage payments. For people who are buying their home with a mortgage and who are not in full-time employment help with mortgage interest payments is available through supplementary benefit but capital repayments are not eligible for assistance. These arrangements will be carried forward in the income support scheme to be introduced in April 1988. In the light of concern about the level of some rental purchase payments and the need to ensure that help given to rental purchasers is fair in comparison with the assistance given to other people buying their homes we are currently reviewing the arrangements for providing help with rental purchase payments.

  Mersey RHA
  Mr. Butler
  to ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage change in the number of day cases in the Mersey regional health authority between 1978 and the latest available year.

  Mrs. Currie
  Between 1978 and 1986 the number of day cases treated in Mersey region increased by 89.3 per cent., from 41,787 to 79,098.

  Hospital Beds
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the recommended level of medical beds in the North Staffordshire district hospital authority hospital complex; and what the actual number was on 8 January.

  Mrs. Currie
  Decisions on the level of provision of medical beds, as for all specialties, are a matter for regional and district health authorities. For further information the

  NHS hospitals in England

  Year

  Average daily number of available beds

  Percentage change on previous year

  Discharges and deaths

  Percentage change on previous year

  Throughput1

  1979

  361,670

  -2·0

  5,400,120

  0·6

  14·9

  1980

  355,978

  -1·6

  5,670,001

  5·0

  15·9

  1981

  351,669

  -12

  5,759,877

  1·6

  16·4

  1982

  348,104

  -1·0

  5,719,634

  -0·7

  16·4

  1983

  343,091

  -1·4

  6,018,585

  5·2

  17·5

  1984

  334,513

  -2·5

  6,177,545

  2·6

  18·5

  1985

  325,487

  -2·7

  6,353,812

  2·9

  19·5

  1986

  315,714

  -3·0

  6,413,789

  0·9

  20·3

  1 Number of cases per available bed.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of National Health Service beds occupied and unoccupied by category in the Central Nottinghamshire health authority area for the years 1979 to 1987 inclusive.

  Number of National Health Service beds available and occupied by specialty in the Central Nottingham health authority1 for the years 1979 to 1982 (latest available)

  Specialty

  Average daily number of available beds

  Average daily bed occupation

  Average daily number of available beds

  Average daily bed occupation

  Average daily number of available beds

  Average daily bed occupation

  Average daily number of available beds

  Average daily bed occupation

  1979

  1979

  1980

  1980

  1981

  1981

  1982

  1982

  General medicine

  128·4

  90·7

  124·3

  86·1

  125·0

  84·6

  121·1

  85·9

  Paediatrics

  19·4

  12·5

  20·2

  13·8

  20·9

  14·3

  19·9

  12·4

  Thoracic medicine

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5·1

  1·4

  Dermatology

  16·8

  6·8

  17·0

  54

  16·0

  6·3

  15·9

  5·9

  Rehabilitation

  50·8

  32·3

  49·9

  31·7

  48·7

  29·9

  45·3

  19·8

  Rheumatology

  11·3

  10·3

  12·0

  10·1

  12·0

  9·2

  12·0

  9·0

  Geriatrics

  399·0

  340·9

  395·7

  338·6

  395·5

  345·1

  397·3

  336·0

  Younger disabled

  20·0

  16·6

  20·0

  16·5

  20·0

  17·0

  20·0

  16·0

  General surgery

  160·3

  117·9

  154·5

  115·0

  155·5

  106·5

  151·0

  101·6

  ENT

  26·2

  13·3

  26·1

  13·3

  25·6

  12·2

  26·2

  9·2

  Trauma and orthopaedic

  216·0

  148·6

  218·1

  142·1

  217·2

  156·2

  216·9

  139·6

  Ophthalmology

  19·7

  9·1

  19·9

  9·2

  20·0

  10·4

  20·0

  6·8

  Urology

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Oral surgery

  2·2

  0·6

  2·2

  0·6

  2·3

  0·7

  2·2

  0·4

  Gynaecology

  46·2

  31·5

  45·3

  32·8

  45·6

  32·2

  45·4

  25·2

  Obstetrics

  83·0

  51·7

  79·0

  53·5

  71·1

  51·5

  76·6

  49·3

  S.C.B.U.

  28·0

  14·3

  28·0

  14·0

  28·0

  12·3

  28·0

  12·2

  Mental handicap

  539·0

  470·9

  538·2

  464·0

  532·0

  448·2

  527·9

  422·8

  384
  hon. Member may therefore care to write to the chairman of North Staffordshire district health authority. The latest information held centrally on the average daily available beds in North Staffordshire health authority is given in the table.

  Average daily available beds in NHS hospitals, 1986, North Staffordshire district health authority

  Average daily available beds

  Medical

  442·7

  Total

  3,296·1

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

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is given in the table, together with in-patients treated over the period.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 15 January 1988]: The information requested is given in the table.
  385

  Specialty

  Average daily number of available beds

  Average daily bed occupation

  Average daily number of available beds

  Average daily bed occupation

  Average daily number of available beds

  Average daily bed occupation

  Average daily number of available beds

  Average daily bed occupation

  1979

  1979

  1980

  1980

  1981

  1981

  1982

  1982

  Mental illness

  84·9

  74·9

  85·0

  76·7

  85·0

  77·5

  85·0

  77·0

  G.P.Maternity

  42·0

  15·2

  29·6

  11·7

  26·3

  10·7

  20·4

  10·4

  Pre-convalescent

  62·5

  43·7

  62·0

  40·1

  25·0

  18·0

  57·9

  33·9

  Convalescent

  29·2

  16·6

  29·0

  18·5

  66·3

  37·7

  28·9

  19·3

  Staff Wards

  4·0

  —

  4·0

  —

  4·0

  —

  4·0

  —

  Unclassified

  2·3

  —

  0·9

  —

  1·1

  —

  1·3

  —

  I.C.U.

  6·0

  —

  5·9

  —

  6·0

  —

  6·0

  —

  TOTAL

  1,997·2

  1,518·4

  1,966·8

  1,493·7

  1,949·1

  1,480·5

  1,934·3

  1,394·1

  1Prior to National Health Service re-structuring in 1982 was Mansfield and Newark health district.

  Number of NHS beds available and occupied by specially in the Central Nottingham HA1 for the years 1979 to 1986 (latest available)

  Specialty

  Average daily no. of available beds 1983

  Average daily bed occupation 1983

  Average daily no. of available beds 1984

  Average daily bed occupation 1984

  Average daily no. of available beds 1985

  Average daily bed occupation 1985

  Average daily no. of available beds 1986

  Average daily bed occupation 1986

  General medicine

  121·4

  87·8

  125·6

  94·6

  124·3

  93·0

  125·8

  94·0

  Paediatrics

  19·5

  12·9

  28·4

  13·7

  26·8

  14·2

  24·0

  14·4

  Thoracic medicine

  5·1

  0·8

  5·1

  1·2

  5·0

  1·0

  4·8

  1·0

  Dermatology

  15·6

  7·9

  9·9

  6·5

  8·0

  5·6

  7·8

  5·3

  Rehabilitation

  56·0

  17·1

  46·5

  19·4

  45·5

  12·8

  36·3

  5·5

  Rheumatology

  12·0

  8·6

  12·0

  9·3

  13·0

  11·3

  12·4

  9·3

  Geriatrics

  399·1

  338·6

  384·1

  334·6

  383·9

  328·4

  382·6

  329·2

  Younger disabled

  20·0

  17·2

  20·0

  16·8

  20·0

  16·0

  20·0

  14·1

  General surgery

  154·7

  109·4

  154·6

  107·7

  145·0

  101·0

  137·6

  86·9

  ENT

  29·5

  14·0

  27·5

  15·7

  26·8

  16·6

  26·5

  15·9

  Trau and orth

  214·9

  148·9

  215·1

  139·4

  213·9

  140·5

  220·1

  144·5

  Ophthalmology

  19·9

  11·2

  19·9

  9·2

  18·8

  9·0

  18·3

  9·7

  Urology

  0·6

  0·6

  0·9

  0·9

  8·9

  6·2

  16·8

  11·3

  Oral surgery

  2·3

  0·6

  2·0

  0·5

  2·0

  0·5

  2·1

  0·5

  Gynaecology

  44·5

  31·1

  43·3

  30·3

  43·5

  30·2

  43·4

  29·1

  Obstetrics

  76·6

  43·1

  77·4

  40·3

  75·6

  43·2

  75·4

  42·3

  S.C.B.U.

  28·0

  8·3

  28·0

  9·2

  28·0

  9·3

  28·0

  10·2

  Mental handicap

  486·0

  414·9

  477·0

  396·0

  427·9

  378·2

  361·6

  311·2

  Mental illness

  85·0

  78·1

  100·8

  87·8

  104·0

  95·3

  104·0

  94·4

  G P.Maternity

  18·5

  10·9

  17·4

  9·6

  18·3

  10·1

  18·1

  10·1

  Pre-convalescent

  39·8

  27·8

  19·0

  12·3

  20·0

  11·3

  18·1

  6·4

  Convalescent

  28·8

  18·7

  29·7

  14·1

  28·9

  13·1

  28·5

  13·8

  Staff Wards

  4·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Unclassified

  0·4

  —

  0·3

  —

  0·3

  —

  0·2

  —

  I.C.U.

  6·0

  2·5

  6·0

  2·3

  5·9

  2·6

  6·0

  2·3

  Total

  1,888·2

  1,411·0

  1,850·5

  1,371·4

  1,794·3

  1,349·4

  1,718·4

  1,261·4

  1 Prior to NHS re-structuring in 1982 was Mansfield and Newark HD.

  Social Security Appeals
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time being taken for the hearing of appeals by social security appeal tribunals(a) nationally and (b) in Preston.

  Mr. Portillo
  The national administrative statistics for social security appeal tribunals, which are the source for average durations between the lodging of appeals and hearing, are not disaggregated for areas smaller than a social security region.

  In Great Britain for the quarter ending 31 March 1987 (the latest available figures), the average time taken between lodgement and hearing of an appeal was 18·2 weeks. In north western region for the same period, the average time taken between lodgement and hearing was 16·5 weeks.

  Hospital Travel Costs (Cornwall)
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of increased claims for his Department's assistance on travel to hospital in Cornwall since the Cornwall hospital car service was abolished at the end of November 1987.

  Mrs. Currie
  I regret that this information is not held centrally.

  Schoolchildren (Diet)
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has concerning the school campaign for reaction against meat; if the advice given to schoolchildren not to eat meat has been considered by his Department in relation to any advice he may give concerning the diet of schoolchildren; and if he will make a statement.
  387
  Mrs. Currie
  I understand that this is a Vegetarian Society campaign aimed at schoolchildren, but I am awaiting details from the society. The Department's medical advisers make no specific recommendation that schoolchildren should or should not eat meat. However, they advise that meat is an important source of many nutrients and that people who choose not to eat meat should take particular care that their diet compensates for any resultant imbalance.

  Infant Mortality
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the underlying causes of cot deaths in England and Wales in 1985 and 1986 where sudden infant death is not the underlying cause of death.

  Mrs. Currie
  The table shows the underlying cause of death (excluding sudden infant death syndrome) for deaths under one year of age where cot death or a similar term was mentioned on the death certificate for England and Wales for 1985 and 1986.

  Number of deaths under one year of age with any mention of cot death or similar term by underlying cause (excluding sudden infant death syndrome) England and Wales 1985–86

  ICD number

  Underlying cause of death

  Number of deaths

  1985

  007.1

  Giardiasis

  1

  008.6

  Enteritis due to specified virus

  1

  009.1

  Colitis, enteritis and gastroenteritis of presumed infectious origin

  2

  054.9

  Herpes simplex without mention of complication

  1

  055.9

  Measles without mention of complication

  1

  079

  Viral infection in conditions classified elsewhere and of unspecified site

  079.0

  Adenovirus

  1

  079.8

  Other

  1

  254.8

  Other disease of thymus gland

  2

  270.1

  Phenylketonuria

  1

  276.0

  Hyperosmolality and/or hypernatraemia

  1

  277.0

  Cystic fibrosis

  1

  331.8

  Other cerebral degeneration

  1

  343.9

  Infantile cerebral palsy, unspecified

  1

  348.1

  Anoxic brain damage

  1

  382.9

  Unspecified otitis media

  2

  427.5

  Cardiac arrest

  1

  428.0

  Congestive heart failure

  1

  428.9

  Heart failure, unspecified

  1

  429.0

  Myocarditis, unspecified

  1

  437.1

  Other generalized ischaemic cerebrovascular disease

  1

  464.0

  Acute laryngitis

  1

  464.2

  Acute laryngotracheitis

  1

  465.9

  Acute upper respiratory infection of unspecified site

  14

  466.0

  Acute bronchitis

  15

  466.1

  Acute bronchiolitis

  4

  472.0

  Chronic rhinitis

  1

  478.7

  Other diseases of larynx, not elsewhere classified

  1

  480.9

  Viral pneumonia, unspecified

  5

  481

  Pneumococcal pneumonia

  1

  482.3

  Pneumonia due to Streptococcus

  1

  485

  Bronchopneumonia, organism unspecified

  7

  486

  Pneumonia, organism unspecified

  5

  490

  Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic

  2

  491.1

  Mucopurulent chronic bronchitis

  1

  493.9

  Asthma, unspecified

  1

  514

  Pulmonary congestion and hypostasis

  4

  516.8

  Other alveolar and parietoalveolar pneumopathy, other

  3

  388

  ICD number

  Underlying cause of death

  Number of deaths

  518.4

  Acute oedema of lung, unspecified

  1

  519.8

  Other diseases of respiratory system, not elsewhere classified

  10

  742.1

  Microcephalus

  2

  742.4

  Other specified anomalies of brain

  1

  745.4

  Ventricular septal defect

  3

  745.6

  Endocardial cushion defects

  1

  746.3

  Congenital stenosis of aortic valve

  1

  746.9

  Unspecified anomalies of heart

  1

  747.0

  Patent ductus arteriosus

  1

  749.0

  Cleft palate

  1

  753.2

  Obstructive defects of renal pelvis and ureter

  1

  761.5

  Multiple pregnancy

  3

  762.3

  Placental transfusion syndromes

  1

  765

  Disorders relating to short gestation and unspecified low birthweight

  765.0

  Extreme immaturity

  1

  765.1

  Other preterm infants

  1

  770.8

  Other respiratory problems after birth

  3

  771.1

  Congenital cytomegalvirus infection

  1

  771.8

  Other infection specific to the perinatal period

  1

  799.1

  Respiratory failure

  6

  E911

  Inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of respiratory tract or suffocation

  10

  1986

  009.1

  Colitis, enteritis and gastroenteritis of presumed infectious origin

  2

  038.0

  Streptococcal septicaemia

  1

  041

  Bacterial infection in conditions classified elsewhere and of unspecified site

  041.0

  Streptococcus

  1

  041.5

  Haemophilus influenzae

  1

  049.0

  Lymphocytic choriomeningitis

  1

  136.9

  Unspecified infectious and parasitic diseases

  1

  276.5

  Volume depletion

  2

  286.6

  Defibrination syndrome

  1

  320.0

  Haemophilus meningitis

  1

  345.9

  Unspecified epilepsy

  1

  348.1

  Anoxic brain damage

  1

  348.5

  Cerebral oedema

  3

  382.9

  Unspecified otitis media

  8

  416.0

  Primary pulmonary hypertension

  1

  428.1

  Left heart failure

  1

  429.3

  Cardiomegaly

  1

  464.1

  Acute tracheitis

  1

  464.3

  Acute epiglottitis

  1

  465.9

  Acute upper respiratory infection of unspecified site

  17

  466.0

  Acute bronchitis

  9

  466.1

  Acute bronchiolitis

  7

  478.2

  Other diseases of pharynx, not elsewhere classified

  1

  480.9

  Viral pneumonia, unspecified

  4

  481

  Pneumococcal pneumonia

  1

  482.3

  Pneumonia due to Streptococcus

  2

  482.4

  Pneumonia due to Staphylococcus

  2

  485

  Bronchopneumonia, organism unspecified

  1

  486

  Pneumonia, organism unspecified

  11

  490

  Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic

  1

  514

  Pulmonary congestion and hypostasis

  3

  516.8

  Other alveolar and parietoalveolar pneumopathy, other

  3

  519.8

  Other diseases of respiratory system, not elsewhere classified

  7

  572.8

  Other sequelae of chronic liver disease

  1

  742.1

  Microcephalus

  2

  742.9

  Unspecified anomalies of brain, spinal cord and nervous system

  1

  745.5

  Ostium secundum type atrial septal defect

  2

  747.3

  Anomalies of pulmonary artery

  1

  747.5

  Absence of hypoplasia of umbilical artery

  1

  389

  ICD number

  Underlying cause of death

  Number of deaths

  748.4

  Congenital cystic lung

  1

  749.0

  Cleft palate

  1

  758.0

  Down's syndrome

  1

  765

  Disorders relating to short gestation and unspecified low birthweight

  765.1

  Other preterm infants

  3

  767.0

  Subdural and cerebral haemorrhage

  2

  799.1

  Respiratory failure

  4

  799.9

  Other ill-defined and unknown causes of morbidity and mortality

  1

  E911

  Inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of respiratory tract or suffocation

  9

  E967.9

  Child battering and other maltreatment by unspecified person

  1

  1 Excludes deaths under 28 days of age.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many housing benefit claimants have had their benefit reduced by non-dependant deductions over the past year; and what this represents as a percentage of the total of housing benefit claimants;

  (2) if he will estimate the total number of non-dependants in respect of whom reductions of housing benefit are currently being made.

  Mr. Portillo
  Figures are not available either for the total number of housing benefit claimants or for the number affected by the non-dependant deduction provisions. The available information shows that, as at autumn 1986, 710,000 housing benefit recipients had a non-dependant deduction made in respect of one or more non-dependants. This represents 10 per cent. of the total number of housing benefit recipients.

  Information on the number of non-dependants in respect of whom reductions of housing benefit are being made is not available in full. In 1986 the total number of non-dependants for whom reductions were made in certificated housing benefit cases was 370,000, but I regret that no information is available in this form for standard housing benefit.

  Income Support Scheme
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants, and what percentage of total claimants, will be eligible for transitional payments under the income support scheme at the Huyton and St. Helens offices of his Department.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Operations (Costs)
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate available to him of the cost of the following operations in(a) National Health Service hospitals and (b) private hospitals in England for (i) hysterectomy, (ii) tonsillectomy, (iii) hernia, (iv) hip replacement, (v) heart by-pass and (vi)
  390
  Mrs. Currie
  A study carried out by the Department in 1982 found that the average costs of a hysterectomy and herniotomy in a sample of NHS and private hospitals were approximately as follows (in current prices):

  NHS hospitals

  Private hospitals

  £

  £

  Hysterectomy

  1,200

  1,800

  Herniotomy

  650

  890

  The estimates we have for the other operations listed apply to NHS hospitals only and are as follows (in current prices):

  Cost per case

  £

  Hip replacement

  3,300

  based on estimate made in 1984

  Heart by pass

  3,300

  study by Trent Region 1987

  All these figures should be treated as broad approximations only. Clinical practices may have changed since the estimates were made. In particular, cost per case treated has been falling over recent years due to a steady fall in the average length of in-patients stay.

  National Health Service Management Board
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services on what dates during the last 12 months the National Health Service Management Board met; and on each occasion what were the principal items discussed.

  Mr. Newton
  Over the last 12 months the NHS Management Board has met on 16 occasions. Details of the board's agenda and deliberations are not made public.

  Dental and Ophthalmic Services
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what percentage of the total cost of general dental service treatment was derived from patient charges in each of the years 1978 to 1986 inclusive;

  (2) what percentage of the total cost of National Health Service ophthalmic services was derived from patient charges in each of the years 1978 to 1986 inclusive.

  Mrs. Currie
  The information requested is available only in relation to financial years and is set out in the table.

  Percentage of total cost of services met by patients charges, England1

  Year

  General Dental services

  General Optical services

  1978–79

  20

  34

  1979–80

  21

  31

  1980–81

  22

  28

  1981–82

  24

  26

  1982–83

  26

  219

  1983–84

  27

  27

  1984–85

  27

  25

  1985–86

  30

  38

  1986–87

  30

  —

  Notes

  1 Figures rounded to nearest whole number.

  2 Charges fell as percentage of cost on account of arrears payments of fees to opticians.

  3 The supply of NHS spectacles was discontinued from this year for those who paid charges.

  391
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the payment scale of National Health Service dentures to ensure that elderly people can be provided with well-fitting, good quality dentures.

  Mrs. Currie
  Under their NHS terms of service general dental practitioners must supply dentures which fit properly and which are made of first-class quality materials, fit for their purpose. The fees payable are reviewed regularly to ensure that dentists are remunerated sufficiently to meet these requirements for patients of any age.

  Number of notifications of acute and meningococcal meningitis England and Wales, Standard regions, 1984 to 1987

  Area

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  A

  M

  A

  M

  A

  M

  A

  M

  ENGLAND AND WALES

  1,230

  401

  1,531

  549

  2,172

  870

  2,567

  1,090

  North

  44

  17

  56

  20

  127

  59

  153

  73

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  208

  32

  242

  52

  368

  117

  376

  125

  East Midlands

  70

  25

  88

  37

  129

  53

  132

  64

  East Anglia

  38

  16

  61

  20

  49

  15

  58

  19

  South East

  379

  135

  453

  191

  576

  225

  846

  332

  South West

  92

  29

  137

  44

  169

  82

  191

  84

  West Midlands

  98

  37

  125

  49

  237

  93

  280

  105

  North West

  223

  76

  285

  97

  370

  159

  390

  215

  Wales

  78

  34

  84

  39

  147

  67

  139

  73

  1 Provisional.

  A = Acute meningitis (all forms).

  M = Meningococcal Meningitis.

  NHS (Patient Charges)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the percentage of the total cost of the National Health Service derived from patient charges in each of the years 1978 to 1986 inclusive.

  Mrs. Currie
  I refer the hon. Member to table 11.1 (National Health Service Sources of Finance) in "Public Expenditure on the Social Services", Social Services Committee 1986–87 (HC 413).

  Laxoberal
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost to the National Health Service of Laxoberal and its generic substitute separately in a full year.

  Mr. Newton
  The generic name for Laxoberal is sodium picosulphate elixir. Under the selected list scheme general practitioners are required to use this generic name on National Health Service prescriptions. In England in 1986, the latest year for which information is available, the net ingredient cost of prescriptions for sodium picosulphate elixir dispensed by retail pharmacists was some £55,000.

  Information about hospital prescribing of this drug is not available.

  Junior Hospital Doctors
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what regulations govern the maximum permitted working hours for junior hospital doctors; and if he has any plans to change these.

  Mr. Newton
  The terms and conditions of service of hospital medical and dental staff have been approved by

  Meningitis
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of meningitis were declared in each region during the years 1984 to 1987 inclusive.

  Mrs. Currie
  Meningitis may be caused by a number of different organisms. The hon. Member may be particularly interested in meningococcal meningitis: the table shows notifications of cases for this and for all forms of acute meningitis.

  the Secretary of State under the National Health Service (Remuneration and Conditions of Service) Regulations 1974. These prohibit regular rota commitments which require a junior doctor to be on duty on average for more than one night and one weekend in two. Health authorities have been asked to avoid, wherever possible, regular rota commitments more onerous than one in three. Officials are currently discussing with the profession's representatives the scope for further progress towards this objective.

  Artificial Limbs
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his answer of 21 January,Official Report, columns 847–8, he will describe how the Disablement Services Authority is strengthening controls on the quality of artificial limbs and their fitting; and if he will ensure that people attending at all limb fitting centres are told that complaints are welcome and that they will be pursued; and if he will give the number of complaints so far received by the authority.

  Mr. Scott
  These are matters for the Disablement Services Authority, to whom the right hon. Member should address his questions.

  Waiting Lists (Yorkshire)
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide a table of waiting lists in the Yorkshire regional health authority area for each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 19 January 1988]: The requested information is given in the table.
  393

  Patients on in-patient waiting in Yorkshire region

  Month and year

  Total cases

  March 1979

  53,540

  September 1979

  47,223

  March 1980

  42,490

  September 1980

  40,982

  March 1981

  41,101

  September 1981

  37,701

  March 1982

  37,764

  September 1982

  53,033

  March 1983

  53,236

  September 1983

  49,363

  March 1984

  48,387

  September 1984

  47,026

  March 1985

  47,211

  September 1985

  45,763

  March 1986

  45,440

  September 1986

  46,597

  March 1987

  47,643

  NHS Funding
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what increase in National Health Service funding would be necessary in the coming year to cover agreed pay rises and to allow over costs to rise by the national rate of inflation; and what additional amount would be needed to cover pay rises from the current year which were not fully funded.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 26 January 1988]: Health authorities plan on the assumption that pay and price increases must be met from within the total resources available to them. It is too early to predict the level of pay inflation in 1988–89. The Government will, however, continue to assess carefully the cost of NHS pay awards and their implications for health authorities.

  Pay awards in 1987–88 will add an estimated £620 million to health authority expenditure. Authorities have met these costs from allocations which have increased nationally by almost £980 million and from cash releasing cost improvements which this year are expected to yield £150 million.

  AIDS
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek powers to give directions to holiday tour operations to include within tour brochures advice in relation to protection against AIDS, including that relating to obtaining medical treatment involving the use of blood, blood products and hypodermic syringes.
  394
  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 26 January 1988]: The Department's health advice to those travelling overseas is at present being revised and will be issued in two new leaflets: "The Traveller's Guide to Health Before You Go" (SA40) and "The Traveller's Guide to Health — While You Are Away" (SA41). These leaflets include advice on taking precautions against AIDS and refer to the risk associated with medical treatment requiring surgery, injections or blood transfusions. We are receiving excellent co-operation from travel agents' representatives in the distribution of these leaflets to their member agencies and we see no need for further powers.

  NHS (Pay and Conditions)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all the agreements relating to pay and conditions in force in the National Health Service in(a) 1979 and (b) 1988, and if he will place copies, as well as a summary of each agreement's main terms and conditions, in the Library.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 26 January 1988]: I am arranging to place in the Library as much information as possible about current agreements on pay and terms and conditions of service of National Health Service staff, I regret that comparable information in respect of 1979 cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Accident and Emergency Services (Greenwich)
  Mrs. Rosie Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that there are sufficient beds and medical staff to enable accident and emergency cover at both Greenwich district hospital and the Brook hospital to be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 27 January 1988]: The services in question are the responsibility of Greenwich health authority. The authority has taken positive steps to ensure that accident and emergency cover at both the Brook and Greenwich district hospitals is provided round the clock. To that end it has, for example, stepped up specialist nurse recruitment. The health authority is confident that the two departments will be able to cope with all but major emergencies. In the event of a major emergency, contingency plans have been made for other local hospitals, for example, Lewisham and Bexley to provide the necessary cover.

  ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT: VERIFICATION
  ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT: VERIFICATION
  STRATEGIC DETERRENTS: COLLABORATION
  STRATEGIC DETERRENTS: COLLABORATION
  FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 25TH-26TH JANUARY
  FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 25TH-26TH JANUARY
  NORTHERN IRELAND: SERVICES FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL
  NORTHERN IRELAND: SERVICES FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL
  EC COMPETITION RULES: EXEMPTIONS
  EC COMPETITION RULES: EXEMPTIONS