Written Answers of 25 July 1988

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list(a) the number of families and (b) the number of children (i) eligible and (ii) claiming free school meals for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Dunn
  Data on the number of pupils receiving free school meals in England since 1979 are available in the Department's annual school meals census, copies of which are available in the Library.

  The number of children eligible to receive free meals was included in the October 1987 census, but this information for previous years and the number of families eligible has not been collected by the Department.

  Child Care
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to implement the recommendations within his area of responsibility of the European Commission's childcare network report "Caring for Children—Services and Policies for Childcare and Equal Opportunities in the United Kingdom."

  Mr. Dunn
  My right hon. Friend recently received and is considering this detailed report, which covers the areas of responsibility of a number of Government Departments.

  French
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to take steps to reverse the downward trend in the GCE French A-level percentage of total passes between 1965 and 1985.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government are concerned to increase the number of pupils continuing to study a foreign language until age 16 and beyond. Our proposals for a national curriculum include a modern foreign language as a foundation subject at secondary level to be studied by all pupils between the ages of 11 and 16. We expect the majority to want to offer it for public examination at age 16 and hope that the greater numbers studying a language up to that age will result in an increase in those continuing their studies to A or AS-level.

  School Leavers
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table in the Official Report, showing for each year from 1979 to the latest year for which figures are available, the number of school leavers with special education needs who left
  2
  school, broken down by type of institution, and the numbers who went into (a) employment, (b) education, (c) training, (d) care and (e) who cannot be traced.

  Mr. Dunn
  Only limited information is available. The estimated number of pupils aged 16 who left maintained and non-maintained special schools in England in each of the years 1981 to 1987 is as in the table. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available. Information for other types of institution attended aond on the destination of leavers from special schools is not collected centrally.

  (thousands)

  Number1

  1981

  12·5

  1982

  11·9

  1983

  11·2

  1984

  10·8

  1985

  10·7

  1986

  10·5

  1987

  10·0

  1 Leavers from special schools age 16.

  Workers Educational Association
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what level of grant has been allocated to the Workers Educational Association on an annual basis from 1979 to the present day; what the projected support for the Workers Educational Association will be to 1990–91; and what future role he sees the Workers Educational Association playing in adult education.

  Mr. Jackson
  Grants made by the Department to the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) districts in England in the academic years 1979–80 to date are set out in the table.

  Grants to Workers' Educational Association districts in academic years

  £ million

  1979–80

  1·129

  1980–81

  1·447

  1981–82

  1·970

  1982–83

  2·209

  1983–84

  2·405

  1984–85

  2·516

  1985–86

  2·437

  1986–87

  2·431

  1987–88

  12·497

  1 Allocation.

  Grants are also paid to the WEA national office to assist in the monitoring and promotion of WEA provision generally. Details of the amounts paid in the financial years 1979–80 to date are set out in the table.

  Grants to WEA National Office in financial years

  £ million

  1979–80

  0·038

  1980–81

  0·043

  1981–82

  0·043

  1982–83

  0·045

  1983–84

  0·045

  1984–85

  0·047

  1985–86

  0·056

  1986–87

  0·050

  1987–88

  0·081

  1988–89

  10·052

  1 Allocation.

  3
  Since 1985–86 the Department has in addition made grants to the WEA for the in-service training of staff, as follows:

  Financial year

  £ million

  1985–86

  0·050

  1986–87

  0·052

  1987–88

  0·054

  1988–89

  10·055

  1 Allocation.

  Grant allocations are made on an annual basis and my right hon. Friend is not therefore in a position to state what the support for the WEA will be for the years to 1990–91.

  The WEA has asked the Department to review the role and resourcing of the association. Officials are currently discussing with the WEA how this might best be done.

  Teachers (Negotiating Rights)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the declaration on teachers' negotiat-ing rights (document B2-1187/87) entered in the register of the European Parliament under rule 65 of its procedures, consequent on petition to the president of that body on 9 March by representatives of the National Association of Schoolmasters, Union of Women Teachers and others; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received a small number of letters from NASUWT members, both directly and through hon. Members, drawing his attention to this declaration.

  Education Reform
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he proposes to establish a special unit in his Department to deal with requests for guidance and assistance from governors of schools in maintained sector who are contemplating applying for grant maintained status for their schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunn
  A team of officials in my Department will continue to provide information and advice on request to all those interested in our proposals for grant-maintained schools. Copies of a draft document of guidance on our proposals have already gone to the governing bodies of all maintained schools.

  Retinitis Pigmentosa
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report in tabular form details of all scientific research being carried out with support from public funds into retinitis pigmentosa, giving for each project (i) its name, (ii) the name of the research worker concerned, (iii) the location, (iv) the amount being spent, (v) the duration and (vi) its expected completion date.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 4 July 1988]: The Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives a grant-in-aid from this Department, is the main agency through which
  4
  the Government fund medical research in the United Kingdom. I understand that the MRC provided support for the following projects during 1987–88:

  1. Project title:

  DNA sequence markers in single gene disorders (retinitis pigmentosum, chromosome x-linked mental retardation, etc.)

  Investigator:

  Professor H. J. Evans (Unit Director)

  Location:

  MRC Clinical and Population Cytogenetics Unit

  Duration:

  Commenced 1 April 1983 and ongoing

  2. Project title:

  Characterisation of antiretinal autoimmunity in retinal vasculitis

  Investigator:

  Professor D. C. Dumonde

  Location:

  Guy's and St. Thomas's Medical School, London

  Duration:

  1 March 1984 to 28 February 1987

  3. Project title:

  The physicochemical basis of light reception in vertebrates

  Investigator:

  Professor Sir Alan Hodgkin

  Location:

  Physiological Laboratory, Cambridge University

  Duration:

  1 October 1984 to 30 September 1987

  4. Project title:

  Dark-adaptation and light-adaptation of rod photoreceptors

  Investigator:

  Dr. T. D. Lamb

  Location:

  Physiological Laboratory, Cambridge University

  Duration:

  1 October 1984 to 30 September 1987

  5. Project title:

  Phototransduction in vertebrate rods and cones

  Investigator:

  Dr. D. I. Attwell

  Location:

  Department of Physiology, University College London, London

  Duration:

  1 October 1984 to 30 September 1987

  6. Project title:

  Receptoral and post-receptoral processes in colour vision

  Investigator:

  Dr. J. D. Mollon

  Location:

  Department of Experimental Psychology, Cambridge University

  Duration:

  4 February 1984 to 30 June 1988

  7. Project title:

  Molecular structure of the membrane-cytoskeleton network and of rhodopsin and squid photoreceptor microvilli

  Investigator:

  Dr. Helen R. Saibil

  Location:

  Department of Zoology, Oxford University

  Duration:

  1 July 1985 to 30 June 1988

  8. Project title:

  Clinical and functional studies of different genetic forms of retinitis pigmentosa

  Investigator:

  Professor A. C. Bird

  Location:

  Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, London

  Duration:

  1 May 1985 to 30 April 1988

  9. Project title:

  Synthesis and sorting of glycosaminoglycans in the retina; cone cells and interphotoreceptor matrix

  Investigator:

  Dr. Carolyn A. Converse

  Location:

  Department of Pharmacy, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

  Duration:

  14 June 1986 to 13 June 1987

  10. Project title:

  Temporal visual processing in amblyopia

  Investigator:

  Dr. R. F. Hess

  Location:

  Physiological Laboratory, Cambridge University

  Duration:

  October 1988 to September 1989

  These projects are not exclusively directed to research on retinitis pigmentosa. For example, the first project listed, at the MRC clinical and population cytogenetics unit, includes research on a range of single gene disorders. The council's estimate of total expenditure on research directly related to retinitis pigmentosa in 1987–88 is £134,000.
  5
  Some support for research on retinitis pigmentosa is also provided by this Department through UGC block grants to universities and medical schools.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which grades people from the ethnic minorities employed in the aid wing in grades 1 to 7 are employed.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Disclosure of this information would breach the code of practice agreed with the Council of Civil Service Unions about the confidentiality of ethnic origin information on staff in post, and would risk identifying individuals.

  Female Workers
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Overseas Development Administration monitors the effect of United Kingdom bilateral aid on the proportion of the female population who are economically active in recipient countries.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We evaluate the effects of our aid on women, but it would be impracticable to distinguish the effect of this aid from all other factors which determine the proportion of women who are economically active.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing, for all countries in Latin America, information available to him for the latest year for which figures are available on the proportions of the female population who were economically active, in ranked order and the percentage change since 1960.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Following is the information:

  Activity rate (1985) females (per cent.)

  Percentage change in female activity rate 1960–85

  Jamaica

  42·5

  + 39

  Haiti

  36·2

  -30

  Uruguay

  23·3

  +19

  Trinidad and Tobago

  22·6

  + 26

  Brazil

  19·9

  + 77

  Chile

  19·7

  + 39

  Argentina

  19·4

  + 15

  Panama

  19·0

  + 33

  Venezuala

  18·3

  + 58

  Mexico

  17·9

  + 96

  El Salvador

  16·6

  + 51

  Peru

  15·4

  + 14

  Costa Rica

  15·2

  + 56

  Bolivia

  14·8

  + 6

  Colombia

  14·3

  + 21

  Nicaragua

  14·2

  + 27

  Paraguay

  13·8

  - 1

  Ecuador

  11·7

  + 10

  Honduras

  10·3

  + 30

  Guatemala

  8·7

  + 11

  Dominican Republic

  8·2

  + 38

  Note: The activity rate is the ratio of the economically active population (all employed and unemployed persons including those
  6
  seeking work for the first time) aged 10 years and over to the population of all ages.

  Source: World Demographic Estimates and Projections 1950–2025, United Nations 1988

  OECD Countries
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish tables in the Official Report showing, in ranked order, per capita contributions by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Countries to (a) the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, (b) the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, (c) the World Health Organisation, and (d) the Food and Agriculture Organisation for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Available information is in the tables. Figures for the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation combine assessed and voluntary contributions. Figures for the World Health Organisation cover only assessed contributions to the budget; contributions to voluntarily funded programmes are not available for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Contributions to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund are all voluntary. 1986 figures are the latest available for UNESCO.

  Contributions from OECD Countries to UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO and FAO

  Recipient: UNICEF Year: 1987

  Rank and donor

  $US per capita contribution

  1 Sweden

  9·41

  2 Norway

  9·39

  3 Finland

  4·64

  4 Switzerland

  2·63

  5 Denmark

  2·26

  6 Canada

  1·31

  7 Netherlands

  1·15

  8 Italy

  1·12

  9 New Zealand

  0·39

  10 United Kingdom

  0·34

  11 Australia

  0·26

  12 United States

  0·25

  13 Germany (FRG)

  0·20

  14 Austria

  0·17

  15 Belgium

  0·17

  16 Japan

  0·16

  17 Luxembourg

  0·14

  18 Ireland

  0·13

  19 France

  0·11

  20 Iceland

  0·09

  21 Spain

  0·02

  22 Greece

  0·02

  23 Portugal

  Negligible

  24 Turkey

  Negligible

  Recipient: UNESCO Year: 1986

  Rank and donor

  $US per capita contribution

  1 Switzerland

  0·75

  2 Norway

  0·59

  3 Sweden

  0·40

  4 Denmark

  0·31

  5 Germany (FRG)

  0·31

  6 Luxembourg

  0·28

  7 Iceland

  0·25

  8 Canada

  0·24

  7

  Rank and donor

  $US per capita contribution

  9 Netherlands

  0·24

  10 France

  0·23

  11 Australia

  0·21

  12 Austria

  0·20

  13 Finland

  0·20

  14 Ireland

  0·19

  15 Japan

  0·18

  16 Italy

  0·15

  17 New Zealand

  0·15

  18 Spain

  0·12

  19 Belgium

  0·10

  20 Greece

  0·09

  21 Portugal

  0·07

  22 Turkey

  Negligible

  23 United States

  Negligible

  24 United Kingdom

  Nil

  Recipient: WHO Year: 1987

  Rank and donor

  $US per capita contribution

  1 Switzerland

  0·42

  2 Sweden

  0·36

  3 Denmark

  0·34

  4 Luxembourg

  0·34

  5 Germany (FRG)

  0·33

  6 Norway

  0·31

  7 Iceland

  0·30

  8 Belgium

  0·29

  9 Canada

  0·29

  10 Netherlands

  0·29

  11 France

  0·28

  12 Australia

  0·25

  13 Finland

  0·24

  14 Austria

  0·23

  15 Japan

  0·22

  16 United Kingdom

  0·21

  17 New Zealand

  0·17

  18 Italy

  0·16

  19 Spain

  0·13

  20 Ireland

  0·12

  21 Greece

  0·11

  22 United States

  0·10

  23 Portugal

  0·04

  24 Turkey

  Nil

  Net official development assistance as a percentage of gross national product

  Percentage change in ratio between 1979 and 1987

  1979

  1987

  1. Italy

  0·08

  0·32

  300

  2. Finland

  0·21

  0·50

  138

  3. Switzerland

  0·21

  0·30

  43

  4. France

  0·60

  0·75

  25

  5. Denmark

  0·71

  0·88

  24

  6. Norway

  0·95

  1·10

  16

  7. Japan

  0·27

  0·31

  15

  8. United States

  0·19

  0·20

  5

  9. Netherlands

  0·94

  0·98

  4

  10. Canada

  0·48

  0·46

  -4

  11. Sweden

  0·92

  0·85

  -8

  12. Austria

  0·19

  0·17

  -11

  13. Germany

  0·45

  0·39

  -13

  14. Belgium

  0·58

  0·49

  -16

  15. Australia

  0·53

  0·33

  -38

  16. New Zealand

  0·34

  0·21

  -38

  17. United Kingdom

  0·51

  0·28

  -45

  Source: DAC chairman's report 1985 and OECD press notice published on 22 June 1988.

  Ireland became a member of the DAC in 1985.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table in the Official Report, showing for each member of
  8

  Recipient: FAO Year: 1987

  Rank and donor

  $ US per capita contribution

  1 Denmark

  2·72

  2 Netherlands

  1·87

  3 Belgium

  1·60

  4 Norway

  1·53

  5 Sweden

  1·51

  6 Switzerland

  1·13

  7 Finland

  0·68

  8 France

  0·38

  9 Iceland

  0·38

  10 Luxembourg

  0·38

  11 Germany (FRG)

  0·36

  12 Canada

  0·30

  13 Australia

  0·28

  14 Austria

  0·28

  15 Japan

  0·26

  16 Italy

  0·25

  17 United Kingdom

  0·21

  18 New Zealand

  0·19

  19 Ireland

  0·16

  20 Spain

  0·14

  21 United States

  0·14

  22 Greece

  0·10

  23 Turkey

  0·09

  24 Portugal

  0·04

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table in the Official Report, showing for each member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in ranked order, the percentage change in proportion of gross national product given as overseas aid between 1979 and the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Comparative figures are available only for net official development assistance as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and not for the amounts actually spent on overseas aid as a proportion of gross national product.

  Exact figures are only available for those countries which are members of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee and have been so throughout the period in question. The information is as follows:

  the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Assitance Committee, for 1979 and 1987 (a) the per captia gross national product,(b)

  9
  proportion of gross national product constituted by bilateral aid, (c) per capita bilateral aid, (d) the percentage changes in gross national product on the previous year and (e) the percentage real change in bilateral aid on the previous year.

  DAC Country

  (a) GNP per capita in $

  (b) bilateral aid as percent of GNP

  (c) bilateral aid per capita in $

  (d) percentage change in GNP on previous year

  (e) percentage real change in bilateral aid on previous year

  Australia

  8,206

  0·39

  32

  11

  5

  Austria

  9,116

  0·09

  8

  18

  -51

  Belgium

  11,433

  0·39

  45

  15

  -28

  Canada

  9,375

  0·27

  25

  10

  -15

  Denmark

  11,706

  0·43

  51

  16

  6

  Finland

  8,583

  0·10

  9

  23

  63

  France

  10,707

  0·50

  54

  21

  5

  Germany

  12,406

  0·29

  36

  18

  24

  Ireland 1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Italy

  5,710

  0·01

  0

  24

  -15

  Japan

  8,637

  0·20

  17

  4

  31

  Netherlands

  10,735

  0·68

  73

  16

  16

  New Zealand

  6,434

  0·26

  17

  23

  1

  Norway

  11,294

  0·54

  61

  16

  18

  Sweden

  12,238

  0·64

  78

  16

  21

  Switzerland

  15,595

  0·12

  18

  13

  4

  United Kingdom

  7,371

  0·29

  22

  31

  12

  United States

  10,525

  0·17

  18

  11

  8

  Source: this information has been derived from various editions of the report of the Chairman of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC).

  1 Exactly comparable information is not available for Ireland which joined the DAC in 1985.

  The following figures for 1987 are provisional at this stage. No figures for population in 1987 are yet available. The information given in columns (a) and (c) is therefore based on population figures for 1986.

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  DAC country

  GNP per capita in $(using 1986 population)

  bilateral aid as percent of GNP

  bilateral aid per capita in 0$(using 1986 population)

  percentage change in GNP on previous year

  percentage real change in bilateral aid on previous year

  Australia

  11,750

  0·28

  33

  16

  -8

  Austria

  15,426

  0·13

  21

  25

  -11

  Belgium

  14,189

  0·30

  42

  22

  -6

  Canada

  15,778

  0·31

  49

  15

  9

  Denmark

  19,175

  0·47

  90

  25

  2

  Finland

  17,483

  0·31

  53

  25

  16

  France

  15,887

  0·61

  97

  21

  9

  Germany

  18,430

  0·28

  51

  25

  -5

  Ireland

  7,239

  0·11

  8

  17

  -6

  Italy

  13,098

  0·22

  29

  25

  8

  Japan

  19,634

  0·22

  43

  21

  17

  Netherlands

  14,729

  0·66

  97

  24

  0

  New Zealand

  8,753

  0·15

  13

  13

  -47

  Norway

  19,510

  0·65

  127

  19

  -6

  Sweden

  18,700

  0·54

  101

  22

  -7

  Switzerland

  27,226

  0·22

  59

  26

  -3

  United Kingdom

  11,805

  0·15

  18

  21

  -16

  United States

  18,580

  0·15

  28

  6

  -13

  Sources: DAC Chairman's Report for 1987, OECD Press Notice published on 22 June 1988 and the DAC Secretariat.

  External Debt
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing, for each of the years 1973 to 1987, as a total for all non-oil developing countries for (a) the current account balance, (b) the current account balance excluding interest payments on external debts and official transfers and (c) the interest payments on external debt.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The information is as follows:
  10
  Mr. Chris Patten
  The information for 1979 is as follows:

  US$ thousand million

  Non-oil developing countries

  Current account balance

  Current account balance1

  Interest payments on external debt

  1973

  -11·3

  -9·9

  6·9

  1974

  -37·0

  -36·4

  9·3

  1975

  -46·3

  -42·9

  10·5

  1976

  -32·6

  -29·2

  10·9

  1977

  -29·6

  -22·2

  15·6

  1978

  -33·2

  -19·6

  21·9

  1979

  -50·7

  -29·8

  32·2

  1980

  -73·4

  -36·4

  49·5

  1981

  -98·4

  -43·6

  68·3

  1982

  -77·4

  -12·1

  78·4

  1983

  -41·8

  15·4

  71·2

  1984

  -25·9

  38·5

  78·5

  11

  Non-oil developing countries

  Current account balance

  Current account balance1

  Interest payments on external debt

  1985

  -28·1

  31·9

  77·1

  1986

  -13·1

  43·8

  74·6

  1987

  6·6

  48·9

  73·9

  Source: World Economic Outlook, International Monetary Fund, 1983–1988.

  1 Excluding official transfers and interest payments on external debts.

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing, in ranked order, for 1986 and 1987, the bilateral aid earmarked for technical co-operation paid to Nicaragua for each reporting member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's development assistance committee.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Figures for 1987 are not yet available from the development assistance committee. Figures for technical co-operation provided to Nicaragua in 1986 are as follows:

  US$ millions

  Italy

  7·12

  Germany

  5·40

  Finland

  5·38

  Netherlands

  4·94

  Sweden

  3·54

  France

  2·07

  Norway

  0·62

  Switzerland

  10·30

  Denmark

  0·23

  Japan

  0·16

  Canada

  0·06

  Belgium

  0·02

  Australia

  —

  Austria

  —

  Ireland

  —

  New Zealand

  —

  United Kingdom

  —

  United States of America

  —

  1 Estimate.

  Note: "—" in the table signifies disbursements of less than $5,000. Figures compiled by the development assistance committee provide insufficient evidence to rank these countries; they are ordered here alphabetically.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing for each reporting member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee for 1987 the bilateral aid given to Nicaragua in ranked order.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Figures for 1987 are not yet available from the Development Assistance Committee.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the level of United Kingdom Government funding paid to development projects inside Nicaragua co-financed with British voluntary groups; and if he will list the voluntary groups, projects and individual sums awarded.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  During the last complete financial year—1987–88—grants totalling £47,065 were paid under 12
  the joint funding scheme to British voluntary agencies in order to co-fund 10 of their development projects in Nicaragua. The details are:

  Agency

  Project Name

  Grant in 1987–88 £

  CAFOD

  Agricultural Development

  3,117

  CAFOD

  Vocational Training and Workshops (in tailoring and embroidery skills) for women prisoners

  2,477

  Christian Aid

  Las Segovias; Mother and Child Health Programme

  8,403

  Christian Aid

  Production and Distribution of Medicinal Plants

  1,541

  OXFAM

  Technical Assistance for Project Evaluation/Implementation

  3,907

  OXFAM

  Training Programme for Health Promoters

  5,245

  OXFAM

  INPESCA: Food Production; Purchase of Generators

  3,079

  OXFAM

  Agricultural Development Programme

  10,280

  OXFAM

  Agricultural Development with Rama Indians

  6,516

  OXFAM

  Appropriate Technology Project: Building Techniques

  2,500

  Total

  £47,065

  UNICEF
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is now able to give finalised figures for per capita contributions to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Relief Fund from Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development member countries for 1987.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The preliminary figures I gave the hon. Member on 25 April, at column 167, are now final.

  Kampuchea
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Monklands West of 13 May,Official Report, column 249, what international efforts the United Kingdom Government has made to organise humanitarian assistance to Kampuchea in the context of international relief efforts.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We are considering what response, if any, we shall be making to the Food and Agriculture Organisation appeal for food aid for Cambodia.

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the specific projects in which the United Kingdom or the European Community are taking part in order to protect the rain forests in(a) Brazil, (b) Cameroon, (c) Ghana, (d) Ivory Coast, (e) Malaysia and (f) other Asian, African or Latin American countries.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Bilateral projects in the countries listed are:

  Brazil

  Rain forest regeneration study on Maraca Island.

  Cameroon

  Rehabilitation of Limbe botanical garden as a centre for conservation of rain forest species.

  13

  Support for Korup national rain forest park.

  Research into ectomycorrhizas in nutrient cycling and forest dynamics in lowland tropical rain forest

  Ghana

  Inventory of forest reserves and preparation of management plans.

  Ivory Coast

  Commonwealth Development Corporation loans for the establishment and replanting of tropical hardwood plantations which relieve pressure on natural forests.

  Malaysia

  No bilateral projects.

  Other Countries:

  Belize

  Technical assistance for the forestry sector review under the tropical forestry action plan.

  Costa Rica

  Tropical moist forest management research.

  Honduras

  Technical assistance in broadleaf forest management

  Nigeria

  Oban national park, assistance in tropical moist forest conservation

  Sierra Leone

  Research in the management of tropical moist forest conservation

  Information provided to us by the European

  Home helps (expressed as whole time equivalent) per thousand population (all ages), Wales 1979–87

  As at 30 September

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  11987

  Clwyd

  0·80

  0·77

  0·77

  0·77

  0·86

  0·88

  0·97

  0·99

  1·15

  Dyfed

  0·80

  0·94

  0·95

  1·00

  1·00

  1·00

  1·00

  1·03

  1·16

  Gwent

  1·14

  1·22

  1·25

  1·31

  1·20

  1·42

  1·44

  1·47

  1·53

  Gwynedd

  1·27

  1·08

  1·25

  1·19

  1·18

  1·16

  1·14

  1·18

  1·25

  Mid Glamorgan

  1·21

  1·21

  1·32

  1·33

  1·54

  1·59

  1·62

  1·76

  1·89

  Powys

  0·98

  0·97

  0·92

  0·74

  0·86

  1·03

  1·02

  1·10

  1·09

  South Glamorgan

  1·00

  1·00

  1·00

  0·89

  1·07

  1·07

  1·01

  1·01

  1·04

  West Glamorgan

  0·80

  0·81

  0·88

  1·07

  1·22

  1·38

  1·59

  1·50

  1·50

  Wales2

  1·00

  1·02

  1·06

  1·08

  1·16

  1·23

  1·27

  1·30

  1·39

  Note:

  1 Provisional.

  2 Figures exclude home help organisers and assistant and trainee home help organisers.

  Clinical Immunologists
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give(a) the number and (b) the locations of clinical immunologists in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is not available centrally. Clinical immunology is not classified as a separate specialty in the manpower returns collected by the Department. Doctors practising in this field are shown against their main specialty and are therefore not identified as such in central records.

  Advance Factories
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will increase the case allocation to the Welsh Development Agency for the construction of more advance factories throughout Wales and specifically at sites on Deeside, Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  In January this year I announced a 40 per cent. increase in the Welsh Development Agency's factory building budget for 1988–89 and a target for new industrial floor-space of 1½ million sq ft, nearly 75 per cent. higher than the area completed in 1987–88.

  In March, I agreed to the Welsh Development Agency making a start on an additional 200,000 sq ft of property in 1988–89, and to its planning and designing a further
  14
  Community on forestry does not indentify projects to protect rainforests. I indicated on 9 May in my reply to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes), at column 9, the level of forestry support under the European Development Fund. We are also aware of a project financed from the Community Budget to establish an Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional research centre in Malaysia to improve wood processing and thereby relieve pressures on forests.

WALES

  Home Helps
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Monklands, West from the Secretary of State for Social Services on 13 May,Official Report, columns 273–74, if he will supply similar information on the level of home help provision in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is as follows:

  800,000 sq ft of industrial floor space to form a reserve list for the current financial year and ensure a continuous flow of new projects into 1989–90. The total cost of these additional packages is £25 million.

  The geographical balance and overall level of the Welsh Development Agency's property development programme are reviewed regularly in the light of demand, and will be factors that I will bear in mind when considering the agency's budget for 1989–90 and later years.

  Cancers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the expected increase in cancers likely to result among infants, children and adults in(a) Wales and (b) north Wales as a result of exposure to Chernobyl fallout in (i) the next 10 years, (ii) the next 50 years and (iii) the next 250 years.

  Mr. Grist
  Such estimates are not available in the form requested.

  Howardian High School
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer of 27 June,Official Report, column 7, if he has now reached a decision on the South Glamorgan county council's proposal to close Howardian

  15
  high school and its implications of that county's ability to reorganise post-16 education in the east of Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Yes. Our decision to approve these proposals was conveyed to the authority on 21 July 1988.

  Welsh Language Board (Chairman)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the salary of the chairman of the Welsh Language Board; how many days a week the chairman will be employed; what support staff he will have; and what his annual budget will be.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  These and all other practical considerations necessary to ensure that the board is in a position to discharge its task effectively are under active consideration.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what he estimates the net effect in revenue would be for each Welsh council from the application of the uniform business rate.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  It is not meaningful to isolate the effects of the switch to a national non-domestic rate upon the revenue of local authorities, since it will be introduced together with a different grant system and a different basis of resource equalisation.

  Non-domestic rates based on provisional rating data

  Estimated proceeds from non-domestic rate pool 1988–89 £000 's

  Actual non-domestic rate poundage 1988–89 p

  Estimaled non-domestic rates collected 1988–89 £000's

  Alyn and Deeside

  1,538

  35·1

  1,527

  Colwyn

  1,161

  48·1

  977

  Delyn

  1,398

  37·0

  861

  Glyndwr

  893

  40·7

  622

  Rhuddlan

  1,238

  35·9

  991

  Wrexham Maelor

  2,457

  42·2

  2,468

  Carmarthen

  1,198

  34·8

  702

  Ceredigion

  1,415

  27·7

  644

  Dinefwr

  825

  25·8

  253

  Llanelli

  1,646

  53·4

  1,582

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  1,524

  24·9

  956

  South Pembrokeshire

  865

  31·2

  1,600

  Blaenau Gwent

  1,695

  50·4

  1,420

  Islwyn

  1,427

  43·5

  838

  Monmouth

  1,695

  46·4

  1,678

  Newport

  2,799

  42·5

  4,873

  Torfaen

  1,955

  52·1

  2,382

  Aberconwy

  1,184

  53·8

  1,331

  Arfon

  1,158

  46·9

  1,990

  Dwyfor

  596

  50·3

  609

  Meirionnydd

  713

  44·3

  1,030

  Ynys Môn

  1,489

  43·3

  1,765

  Cynon Valley

  1,407

  38·6

  882

  Merthyr Tydfil

  1,267

  46·7

  1,169

  Ogwr

  2,905

  49·9

  2,525

  Rhondda

  1,695

  50·4

  904

  Rhymney Valley

  2,188

  48·2

  1,611

  Taff Ely

  2,017

  45·1

  2,341

  Brecknock

  902

  43·0

  721

  Montgomeryshire

  1,101

  23·3

  495

  Radnor

  479

  30·9

  384

  Cardiff

  6,066

  20·7

  4,276

  Vale of Glamorgan

  2,502

  27·1

  1,960

  Port Talbot

  1,110

  39·3

  2,415

  Lliw Valley

  1,335

  41·3

  919

  Neath

  1,421

  43·4

  1,401

  Dust (Illness)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has received a copy of the medical surveys in West Glamorgan linking high levels of serious illness with dust from opencast coal mining; and if he will carry out similar surveys in other areas of Wales where there is opencast mining or other activities generating significant levels of dust.

  Mr. Grist
  Yes. It is too early to comment on whether further surveys might be appropriate or on who might carry them out since the material from West Glamorgan has yet to be independently assessed.

  Rating Reform
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each local authority in Wales what each would have received in 1988–89 from the national non-domestic rate pool the non-domestic rate poundage for 1988–89 and the amount to be received from non-domestic rates in 1988–89.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: The information requested is provided in the table. It has been calculated on the basis of a national non-domestic poundage for Wales. This has been set to provide an equivalent yield to that likely to be raised from non-domestic rates in 1988–89 and redistributed to local authorities on a per adult basis.
  17

  Estimated proceeds from non-domestic rate pool 1988–89 £000 's

  Actual non-domestic rate poundage 1988–89 p

  Estimated non-domestic rates collected 1988–89 £000 's

  Swansea

  4,092

  50·9

  4,764

  Clwyd

  45,630

  210·0

  39,591

  Dyfed

  39,259

  219·9

  37,928

  Gwent

  50,276

  208·0

  50,755

  Gwynedd

  27,012

  203·0

  29,088

  Mid Glamorgan

  60,305

  228·4

  46,086

  Powys

  13,041

  210·0

  10,136

  South Glamorgan

  45,015

  204·9

  57,255

  West Glamorgan

  41,807

  263·0

  55,101

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Personal Injury (Compensation)
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor now plans to implement the recommendations of the Pearson commission on civil liability and compensation for personal injury or to act on its conclusions; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  In its report in 1978 the Pearson commission made 188 specific recommendations, falling under 16 broad headings. Many recommendations which called for positive steps to be taken have already been implemented or are in the course of implementation. Certain others remain under review.

  Animal Beneficiaries
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations the Lord Chancellor has received regarding the administration of the laws relating to the protection of dogs and cats who are beneficiaries of a will.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor received last week a representation relating to a Yorkshire terrier for whose maintenance the owner had made provision by will.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will review the existing laws regarding protection for animal beneficiaries of a vvill.

  The Attorney-General
  Any questions of a reform of the law in this area is a matter for my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, who has no present proposals for such a reform.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Stanbrook
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received concerning the decision of the Tunbridge Wells borough council not to issue summonses for alleged Sunday trading offences pending the outcome of the deliberations of the European Court on two cases referred to the court; and what action he proposes to take to secure the enforcement of the law on this subject.

  The Solicitor-General
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General has received no representations concerning the present policy of the Tunbridge Wells borough council regarding the enforcement of the law on Sunday trading.
  18

PRIME MINISTER

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Prime Minister what is her policy on the way in which paid advertising is used by Government Departments and agencies.

  The Prime Minister
  This is a matter for departmental Ministers within the Government conventions on the use of paid publicity and advertising.

  Deputy Heads of Government (Meeting)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister what response she has made to the proposal of M. Delors, President of the Commission of the European Economic Community for a fortnightly meeting of deputy Heads of member Governments to reach decisions on outstanding matters arising from the Council of Ministers.

  The Prime Minister
  No such proposal has been made to the Council.

  Education (Funding)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she has discussed any plans for the removal of funding of education services from local government and replacing it with any form of central Government funding or control.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr. Miller) on 26 April, at column 199.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Timber Imports
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the nature, type and value of timber products imported into the United Kingdom in 1987.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  United Kingdom imports in 1987 were as follows:

  £ million

  Wood (SITC Division 24 [less cork])

  1,198·5

  Pulp and waste paper (SITC Division 25)

  657·2

  Wood manufactures (SITC Division 63 [less cork]) (excluding furniture)

  784·6

  Paper, paperboard and articles therefrom (SITC Division 64)

  3,238·2

  19
  Further detailed information is available from the December 1987 volume of the Overseas Trade Statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the ethnic classification and gender of the equal opportunity officer working in his Department.

  Mr. Butcher
  The equal opportunity officer is male. It is DTI policy not to reveal the ethnic classification of individual members of staff.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by whom information on equal opportunities has been and is being collected on behalf of his Department; when and by whom it will be analysed to see whether any further action is necessary; and when he expects that analysis to be completed.

  Mr. Butcher
  Information is collected by the DTI's equal opportunities officer. The information is or will be subject to various forms of analysis in agreement with the departmental trade union side by the equal opportunity officer, the personnel management division of DTI, and the office of the Minister for the Civil Service. The time scales will differ as I have indicated in replies to other questions from the hon. and learned Member.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the provision for monitoring ethnic origin in respect of recruitment, promotion, career development and training, respectively, are now in hand or proposed, respectively.

  Mr. Butcher
  As part of a review conducted by the office of the Minister for the Civil Service, ethnic origin information has been collected since 1 September 1987 at various stages of our recruitment process; arrangements are proposed to monitor a promotion board before April 1989; arrangements are in hand to monitor the postings aspect of career development in three divisions; and two training courses at executive officer level are being monitored for the calendar year 1988.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in what quasi-governmental bodies or other organisations under its aegis he has authority to request or require the carrying out of ethnic monitoring exercises in accordance with the code of the Commission for Racial Equality; and what ethnic monitoring and equal opportunities exercises have been carried out by each such Department.

  Mr. Butcher
  Non-departmental public bodies and other bodies sponsored by DTI are responsible for arrangements for recruitment and personnel management of staff they employ. Bodies are encouraged to be equal opportunities employers, and to pursue practices in the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission. No central records are held of ethnic monitoring and equal opportunities exercises carried out by these bodies.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many of the staff from ethnic minority 20
  groups known to be working in grades one to seven in his Department are in grades one, two, three, four, five, six and seven, respectively;

  (2) how many of the non-industrial staff as at 1 June from ethnic minority groups known to be working in grades one to seven in his Department are in grades one, two, three, four, five, six and seven, respectively.

  Mr. Butcher
  The figures, for those non-industrial staff who responded to the ethnic survey, and as at 1 June 1988 are as follows:

  Grade

  Number

  1–5

  nil

  6

  6

  7

  15

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for 1979, 1984 and the most recent year the numbers of staff by grade in the statistical divisions in the Duchy offices and the Department of Trade and Industry, respectively; if he will differentiate between staff in the statistical posts and staff in administrative posts; and if he will give separate figures for the Business Statistical Office and the Office of Telecommunications.

  Mr. Butcher
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: Direct comparisons with 1979 are not possible because of changes in the Departments internal structure, the introduction of unified grading, and machinery of Government changes. There are no statisticians in the office of the Duchy of Lancaster. The figures available are as follows:

  Business Statistics Office

  Grade

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1984

  1 April 1988

  Grade 3

  1

  1

  1

  Chief Statistician

  4

  4

  1—

  Grade 5

  1

  1

  5

  Grade 6

  1

  1

  1

  Grade 7

  13

  8

  19

  Statistician

  9

  11

  1—

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  2

  4

  3

  Assistant Statistician

  3

  1

  3

  SEO

  28

  22

  20

  HEO

  95

  80

  80½

  EO

  230

  180

  176½

  AO

  407

  277

  237

  AA

  161

  97

  59½

  PS

  7

  6

  6

  Librarian

  1

  1

  1

  Assistant Librarian

  1

  1

  1

  Typing Manager

  3

  3

  2

  Typist

  22

  19

  14

  Senior Messenger

  3

  3

  2

  Messenger

  17

  13

  8

  Chief Paper Keeper

  1

  —

  —

  Senior Paperkeeper

  4

  2

  —

  Paper Keeper

  13

  8

  3

  Office Keeper II

  1

  1

  —

  Repro Graphics Officer I

  1

  1

  1

  Repro Graphics Officer II

  1

  2

  2

  Teleprint Operator

  1

  1

  —

  Telephonist

  4

  3

  3

  Sub total—statistician grades

  18

  20

  6

  Sub total—other grades

  1,017

  731

  642½

  Total

  1,035

  751

  648½

  1 Following the introduction of unified grading, chief statistician and statistician grades were absorbed into Grades 5 and 7 respectively.

  21

  Statistics Division 1

  Grade

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1984

  1 April 1988

  Grade 3

  —

  1

  1

  Chief Statistician

  —

  3

  1—

  Grade 5

  —

  —

  3

  Grade 7

  —

  —

  11

  Statistician

  —

  12

  1—

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  —

  4

  1

  Assistant Statistician

  —

  3

  SEO

  —

  1

  1

  HEO

  —

  12

  8

  EO

  —

  19

  16

  AO

  —

  28

  18½

  AA

  —

  2

  3

  PS

  —

  4

  4

  Subtotal— Statistician Grades

  19

  4

  Subtotal— Other Grades

  67

  65½

  Total

  86

  69½

  1 Following the introduction of unified grading, chief statistician and statistician grades were absorbed into Grades 5 and 7 respectively.

  Statistics Division 2

  Grade

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1984

  1 April 1988

  Grade 3

  —

  1

  1

  Chief Statistician

  —

  3

  1—

  Grade 5

  —

  —

  3

  Grade 7

  —

  1

  8½

  Statistician

  —

  8

  1—

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  —

  2

  3

  Assistant Statistician

  —

  1

  1

  SEO

  —

  1

  1

  HEO

  —

  12

  10

  EO

  —

  24½

  16

  AO

  —

  42½

  43½

  AA

  —

  3

  7

  PS

  —

  4

  4

  Paperkeeper

  —

  1

  1

  Sub Total—Statistician Grades

  14

  4

  Sub Total—Other Grades

  90

  95

  Total

  104

  99

  1 Following the introduction of unified grading, chief statistician and statistician grades were absorbed into Grades 5 and 7 respectively.

  Summary Totals

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1984

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1988

  Economics and Statistics Divisions

  452

  Statistics Division 1

  86

  69½

  Statistics Division 2

  104

  99

  Business Statistics Office

  1,035

  751

  648½

  Office of Telecommunications

  69

  111½

  Ethnic Monitoring Survey
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the information obtained from the ethnic monitoring survey of his Department's staff completed in April to be analysed; and whether he will place a copy of that survey in the Library.
  22

  Economics and statistics division

  Grade

  1 April 1979

  G3

  5

  Chief Statistician

  10

  Statistician

  33

  Senior Assistant Statistician

  13

  Assistant Statistician

  4

  Senior Economic Adviser

  9

  Economic Adviser

  21

  Senior Economic Assistant

  8

  Economic Assistant

  4

  Grade 7

  2

  SEO

  4

  HEO

  45

  EO

  80

  AO

  173

  AA

  11

  SPS

  1

  Principal Research Officer

  5

  Senior Research Officer

  1

  Research Officer

  1

  PS

  20

  Paper Keeper

  1

  Higher Scientific Officer

  1

  Sub Total—Statistics Grades

  60

  Sub Total—Other Grades

  392

  Total

  452

  In 1979 the present statistical divisions of the Department formed part of the Economics and Statistics Division.

  Office of Telecommunications

  Grade

  1 April 1985

  1 April 1988

  Grade 2

  1

  —

  Grade 3

  1

  1

  Grade 4

  1

  —

  Grade 5

  3

  5

  Grade 6

  1

  —

  Grade 7

  7

  14·5

  SEO

  2

  4

  HEO

  7

  18

  EO

  9

  14

  AO

  11

  15

  AA

  11

  19

  Information Officer

  1

  1

  Librarian

  1

  1

  Assistant Librarian

  —

  1

  SPS

  1

  1

  PS

  5

  6

  Typing Manager

  —

  1

  Typist

  4

  5

  Messenger

  2

  3

  Reprographics Officer I

  1

  1

  Telephonist

  —

  1

  Total

  69

  111·5

  Mr. Butcher
  The form of the analysis is still under discussion by the office of the Minister for the Civil Service with the national trade union side. We will proceed with the analysis when the discussions are completed. A copy of the analysis will be placed in the Library.

  National Engineering Laboratory
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the organisations which have submitted a bid to take over the National Engineering Laboratory, East Kilbride; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received bids from a number of organisations interested in taking over the National Engineering Laboratory. Some of these organisations have asked not to be named, hence I do not propose to list them.

  Textile Imports
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing, in ranked order, the value and proportion of textile imports into the United Kingdom, on a country of consignment basis, for the latest year for which figures are available, indicating whether or not each country is a signatory to the multi-fibre arrangement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The top 22 countries, representing nearly 90 per cent. of the total imports, from which textiles were consigned are shown in the table. A full list including the remaining 125 countries has been placed in the Library.

  United Kingdom lmports of Textiles—December 1987

  Country of Consignment

  £000s

  Per cent.

  1 Federal Republic of Germany1

  581,599

  14·08

  2 Italy1

  437,328

  10·59

  3 Belgium/Luxembourg1

  402,205

  9·74

  4 France1

  275,118

  6·66

  5 Netherlands1

  248,220

  6·01

  6 Irish Republic1

  213,831

  5·18

  7 United States of America1

  172,455

  4·17

  8 Portugal1

  170,283

  4·12

  9 Japan1

  150,798

  3·65

  10 Switzerland1

  135,664

  3·28

  11 India1

  104,815

  2·54

  12 Pakistan1

  92,932

  2·25

  13 China1

  83,461

  2·02

  14 Hong Kong1

  79,887

  1·93

  15 Austria1

  78,084

  1·89

  16 Turkey1

  75,682

  1·83

  17 Denmark1

  64,541

  1·56

  18 Australia1

  61,445

  1·49

  19 Spain1

  60,882

  1·47

  20 New Zealand

  59,273

  1·43

  21 South Africa

  48,917

  1·18

  22 South Korea1

  44,102

  1·07

  1 Indicates a signatory to the multi-fibre arrangement.

  Note:

  Textiles are defined as Standard International Trade Classification Divisions 26 and 65.

  All figures are provisional.

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics December 1987.

  Commodity Prices
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing for each year from 1970 the average price index, taking 1970 as 100 of (a) cotton, (b) metals, (c) wool, (d) coffee and (e) all non-food agricultural products calculating all prices in constant 1987 United States dollars.
  24
  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer to my reply to the hon. Member on 17 May 1988 at column 384. Data for 1987 are in the table:

  World Export prices of selected primary commodities1

  1970=100

  1987

  Cotton

  242

  Non-ferrous Metals

  186

  Wool

  249

  Coffee

  216

  Non-food Agricultural Products

  266

  1 Based on prices in US dollars.

  Source: United Nations.

  Single European Market
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what sums have been paid to date for radio, television and newspaper advertising on the current single European market campaign.

  Mr. Maude
  The estimated costs to the end of July of radio, television and newspaper advertising in support of the single European market campaign are about £56,000, £5,602,000 and £609,000 respectively.

  Barlow Clowes
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the names and nationalities of the directors of the Barlow Clowes companies which have recently collapsed.

  Mr. Maude
  The names of the directors of Barlow Clowes Gilt Managers Ltd. recorded at the companies registration office in June of this year were as follows:

  P. Clowes

  Mrs. P. M. Clowes

  D. R. Tree

  C. F. Newman

  B. C. Osborn

  M. Tariq

  L. Hobbes

  All are believed to be of British nationality.

  Barlow Clowes International is registered in Gibraltar and information about it is not publicly available in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what information his Department has concerning the amount of income derived by the Barlow Clowes International operations from(a) the United Kingdom and (b) overseas sources;

  (2) what information his Department has concerning the amount of income invested by the Barlow Clowes International operations in United Kingdom companies.

  Mr. Maude
  None, at this stage. Barlow Clowes International is in liquidation in Gibraltar and my hon. Friend may wish to seek information from the joint liquidators.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of the investors in Barlow Clowes international operations whose cases have recently been referred to him are resident within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  The vast majority of letters received by my Department concerning investors who may have placed
  25
  money with Barlow Clowes International have involved persons resident in the United Kingdom. Less than 1 per cent. of cases put to the Department have involved persons resident overseas.

  Airport Delays
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received any representations seeking compensation by holiday tour operators for holiday-makers who have experienced airport delays; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  I have had no representations from either tour operators or holidaymakers concerning compensation for recent delays experienced at United Kingdom airports. Whether or not a holidaymaker is entitled to compensation in these circumstances will depend on the terms of his contract with the tour operator or on the terms of his holiday insurance policy. Arrangements for holiday makers in the event of airport delays was one of the matters considered by the Office of Fair Trading in its recent review of the operation of the ABTA codes. The office will be publishing its report in the very near future.

  Estate Agents
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received concerning unprofessional conduct amongst estate agents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Butcher
  My Department has received a number of representations alleging unprofessional conduct by estate agents. The main areas of concern have been failure to disclose a personal interest in a transaction, inadequate or misleading descriptions of property, and excessive commission rates. The Office of Fair Trading, which is responsible for administering the Estate Agents Act 1979, has also received a number of representations and issued 12 banning orders against estate agents guilty of serious misconduct during 1987.

  Steel industry1 employment in OECD countries

  (thousands)

  1979

  1982

  1985

  1986

  1987

  West Germany

  204·0

  181·3

  152·0

  147·9

  137·4

  Belgium

  49·0

  43·1

  35·6

  32·5

  28·9

  Denmark

  2·7

  1·7

  1·7

  1·8

  1·6

  France

  125·0

  96·8

  80·7

  71·9

  63·0

  Ireland

  0·7

  0·7

  0·6

  0·5

  0·6

  Italy

  98·0

  93·9

  71·1

  68·9

  65·1

  Luxembourg

  17·0

  13·4

  12·4

  12·5

  11·6

  Netherlands

  21·0

  20·5

  18·9

  18·9

  18·8

  United Kingdom

  162·0

  81·9

  60·7

  56·9

  55·0

  Austria

  39·4

  37·4

  34·0

  32·0

  ..

  Spain

  87·4

  76·5

  64·7

  52·2

  ..

  Finland

  10·2

  10·3

  8·3

  ..

  ..

  Greece

  8·5

  8·0

  4·2

  4·3

  ..

  Norway

  4·9

  4·5

  3·9

  3·8

  ..

  Portugal

  6·5

  7·1

  6·6

  5·9

  ..

  Sweden

  44·8

  33·6

  31·1

  29·9

  ..

  Switzerland

  3·9

  3·4

  2·6

  2·4

  ..

  Turkey

  ..

  21·6

  29·1

  32·0

  ..

  Canada

  53·0

  47·0

  42·5

  ..

  ..

  United States

  478·5

  323·6

  237·5

  220·8

  ..

  Japan

  281·5

  268·5

  259·4

  251·3

  ..

  Australia

  47·0

  41·2

  29·7

  30·1

  ..

  New Zealand

  1·7

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Total

  1,746·7

  1,416·0

  1,187·3

  ..

  ..

  26
  I have invited representatives of the main organisations with an interest in estate agency to meet me to discuss areas of current public concern.

  Steel
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table indicating the steel-making capacity of each EEC member state at(a) 1979, (b) 1983 and (c) the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is contained in the table:

  Effeclive Steel Making Capacily (Production Potential) of EC Member States

  Million Crude Tonnes

  1979

  1983

  1986

  1 1987

  Belgium

  19·7

  17·0

  13·6

  13·6

  Denmark

  1·2

  0·9

  0·9

  0·9

  France

  32·0

  28·8

  28·2

  27·0

  Greece

  —

  4·0

  4·4

  4·5

  Irish Republic

  0·1

  0·3

  0·3

  0·3

  Italy

  37·0

  39·6

  35·4

  35·5

  Luxembourg

  7·3

  6·4

  5·5

  5·5

  Netherlands

  8·4

  8·0

  8·0

  8·0

  United Kingdom

  28·9

  24·5

  22·6

  23·0

  West Germany

  68·8

  61·4

  47·2

  46·9

  Portugal

  —

  —

  0·8

  0·8

  Spain

  —

  —

  22·0

  22·7

  1Figures for 1987 are forecasts.

  Source: ECSC Investment Survey.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table showing the number of employees in the steel industries of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member states in(a) 1979, (b) 1982, (c) 1985 and (d) for the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information available is as follows:
  27
  1 Definition identical with that used in the treaty setting up the ECSC.

  .. Not available.

  Sources: OECD annual statistical reports on the iron and steel industry eurostat.

  Export Licences
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what number of applications for export licences were received by his Department during the following periods(a) April to June 1986, (b) April to June 1987, and (c) April to June 1988.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The figures were as follows:

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Total applications for export licences received by the DTI in the three months April–June

  23,358

  25,496

  26,211

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what targets he sets for the time, after which an applicant for an export licence should receive his licence.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Straightforward applications to export goods to non-sensitive destinations should be granted or refused a licence within seven working days. About two thirds of the applications received by the Department of Trade and Industry fall into this category. Other applications, which may involve extensive consultation with other Government Departments and with COCOM partners in the case of certain export to Eastern Europe or China, take considerably longer. Where practicable, targets are set for these applications according to the nature of the goods, the proposed destination and end-user and the extent of the consultation necessary.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the average length of time taken to process an export licence application, during the following periods(a) April to June 1986, (b) April to June 1987 and (c) April to June 1988.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In the three periods stated, some 75,000 applications were received. Applications are handled case by case and details are recorded manually. Information on average processing times could not be provided except at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff in his Department were engaged wholly or mainly on export licensing work on the following dates(a) 1 April 1986, (b) 1 April 1987 and (c) 1 April 1988.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The numbers of staff up to and including grade 7 (principal) engaged wholly or mainly on export licensing work were:

  April 1986

  April 1987

  April 1988

  52

  52

  56

  Notes:

  1. In May 1988 an additional seven staff were posted to export licensing.

  2. The figures do not include DTI technical staff who provide technical ratings and assessments of certain applications.

  Ranks Hovis McDougall
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will refer the current bid for 28
  Ranks Hovis McDougall to the Office of Fair Trading with a view to reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The proposed acquisition by Goodman Fielder of Ranks Hovis McDougall is being looked at by the Director General of Fair Trading under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973. He will advise my right hon. and noble Friend in the normal way on the question of reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in due course.

  HOTOL
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to come to a decision on prospects for HOTOL; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Government provided 50 per cent. funding to enable proof of concept studies of HOTOL to be carried out. These studies were completed earlier this year since when the two main companies involved. Rolls-Royce and British Aerospace, have been analysing the results. I have since held further talks with the companies. The scale of funding required to develop HOTOL or any similar concept to eventual production would be far too great for the United Kingdom to contemplate on a national basis, particularly since only a relatively small number of such launch vehicles are likely to be required. I have, therefore, concluded that any further development must take place on the basis of international collaboration. The Government will be supporting efforts by United Kingdom companies to find suitable collaborators, but will not be providing any further financial support for the foreseeable future. In the meantime I expect the United Kingdom, as an ESA member and a participant in earlier Ariane programmes, to have reliable access to ESA launchers which promise to be competitive throughout the 1990s.

  Alcoholic Beverages
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his Department's estimate of the anticipated size of the volume of the European market in alcoholic beverages, by major categories of beverage, following the introduction of the single market in 1992.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department does not have estimates of the anticipated size of the European market in alcoholic beverages in 1992. However, the figures in the table, which are based on industry estimates, provide an indication of the size of the market in 1986:

  Consumption in EC.12, 1986 million litres

  Beer

  25,000

  Wine

  14,000

  Spirits1

  600

  1 100 per cent. alcohol.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flights (i) by British military airplanes, (ii) with British military pilots and (iii) with British crew, would be affected in the event of the Parliament of the Rhineland palatinate state deciding to cancel all military low flights below 300 m.

  Mr. Freeman
  Low-flying training, other than that which is part of a major exercise, is not planned in advance but carried out on a day-to-day basis as weather and other considerations permit. An answer to this hypothetical question is therefore not possible.

  Ocean Surveillance
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the proposed joint ocean surveillance information centre is to be connected to the SSIXS communications system.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It would not be in the national interest for me to comment.

  Nuclear Materials (Movements)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the movement of nuclear materials by his Department is covered by the Department of Transport's code of practice for the carriage of radioactive materials by road; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The safety arrangements for the movement of defence nuclear materials are designed to be fully consistent with the relevant civil regulations.

  "British Defence Policy 1988–89"
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 26 May,Official Report, column 327, how many copies of the booklet "British Defence Policy 1988–89" had been distributed at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  Approximately 69,000.

  Historic Warship Wrecks
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he now intends to take to ensure that antiquities recovered from the site of the warship Invincible, sunk in the Solent in 1758, will be preserved in museums in accordance with the policy of Her Majesty's Government as outlined in the answer of the Secretary of State for Transport on 8 March,Official Report, column 155, instead of being offered for public sale; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what action he intends to take to provide for the proper management of the sites of historic warship wrecks in British waters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The interest of the Ministry of Defence in the excavation of shipwrecks is limited to wrecks of warships of which the Ministry of Defence is the legal owner.

  The Department of Transport gives licences under the 1973 Act to excavate all controlled sites such as Invincible
  30
  and other warship wrecks in this category. The Department of Transport oversees the conduct of the salvors. The Ministry of Defence has a right to reclaim all salvaged property from such controlled sites at a price agreed with the licensed salvors in the form of a salvage award.

  As a matter of current policy the Ministry of Defence does not pay such salvage awards as they are not an appropriate charge to Defence votes. The items salvaged are therefore the property of the licensed salvors to dispose of. I understand that the salvors of Invincible offered the items recovered to Chatham historical dockyard trust, which purchased a representative sample. The balance was sold by the salvors at auction.

  The law governing recovery of antiquities from wrecks is a matter for the Secretary of State for Transport and I will draw my right hon. Friend's attention to the concern of the right hon. Member over this matter.

  Royal Naval Armaments Depots
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has concluded his review of the work of the Royal Naval armaments depots at Trecwn and Milford Haven; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  As my hon. Friend will know, the MOD has for some time been studying the future of several defence activities in Wales. These studies have now been concluded.

  A study has recently been completed into the future roles and tasks of RNADs Milford Haven and Trecwn. I am releasing today a consultative document, which concludes that RNAD Milford Haven should be closed, because the task allotted to it has substantially declined in recent years. The work force, trades unions and local authorities will be given a full opportunity to comment on the document before I decide what the depofs future will be. The reduction of the task given to the Trecwn district will also affect RNAD Trecwn which is to be the subject of further study. Meanwhile, I am arranging for copies of the consultative document to be placed in the Library of the House.

  A review has also been completed recently on the scope for rationalisation of the various single service forms and publications stores. I have now decided, subject to consultation with the trades; unions, that all the stores will be transferred from their existing locations to form a centralised organisation at the former RNSD at Llangennech. The stores are currently located at the Central Ordnance depot, Donnington, Royal Arsenal west, Woolwich, and Her Majesty's Naval base, Portsmouth. The proposal is to colocate all activities at the former RNSD by early 1991, leading to a projected annual saving of about £1·2 million. The colocation of the forms and publication stores at Llangennech should provided around 250 new jobs in the area, most of which would be filled through local recruitment.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what radioactive waste is stored at RAF Fylingdales; and what steps are taken in relation to its safety.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The only radioactive waste stored at RAF Fylingdales consists of old radar system valves, which contain an extremely low level of radioactivity This
  31
  is regularly monitored, and results of this monitoring confirm that there is no hazard to station personnel or members of the public from that source.

  Western European Union
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defence ministers concerning the future role and possible expansion of the Western European Union.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has had a number of discussions with NATO colleagues on the WEU, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora. He attended a meeting of WEU Foreign and Defence Ministers in the Hague in October 1987 at which the platform on European security interests was approved, and a further WEU meeting in April this year at which it was agreed to issue an invitation to Spain and Portugal to begin discussions about possible accession to the organisation.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations office of his Department;

  (2) what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed in the press and public relations office of each of the armed forces.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: A total of 206 staff are currently employed in the defence public relations staff. These include staff in single service headquarters as well as in joint headquarters and in the central defence staffs of the Ministry of Defence.

  RAF Fleet Aircraft
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the problems which have been encountered recently with the turbines and compressor fans of RAF fleet aircraft.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 20 July 1988]: A wide range of technical problems can arise during the operation in service of aircraft engines. If the hon. Member wishes to specify any particular problems he has in mind I should be happy to consider a further reply.

  RAF Fleet (Resparring)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, why the entire RAF fleet was recently resparred; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  [holding answer 20 July 1988]: It was not.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Soviet Union (Cultural Exchanges)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cultural exchanges with the Soviet Union are expected to take place in the current year; in what areas of artistic activity; and if he will make a statement.
  32
  Mrs. Chalker
  The following major events have taken or are planned to take place in the current year:

  Event

  British events in the Soviet Union

  1988

  May

  Tour by the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra (Leningrad, Moscow, Novosibirsk)

  May–June

  Tour by the National Theatre Company

  August–October

  Exchange of Exhibitions between the National Gallery and the Pushkin and Hermitage Museums

  September–November

  Francis Bacon Exhibition

  October

  British Film Week

  Soviet events in the United Kingdom

  1988

  March–April

  Tour by the Novosibirsk Symphony Orchestra

  March–April

  Tour by the Red Army Ensemble

  May

  Maly Theatre of Leningrad (Riverside Studios)

  May

  Concert by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra (Barbican)

  Summer Season

  The Moscow State Circus

  July–August

  Tour by the Moscow Classical Ballet

  August

  The Kirov Ballet Company

  August–October

  Exchange of Exhibitions between the National Gallery and the Pushkin and Hermitage Museums

  October

  Soviet Week in Birmingham

  November

  Tour by the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra

  International Debt
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to meet other Foreign Ministers to discuss the problems of international debt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 May, at column 459.

  Commonwealth Secretary-General
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth; and what subjects he plans to discuss.

  Mrs. Chalker
  While my right hon. and learned Friend regularly meets the Secretary-General informally, he has at present no plans for a formal meeting.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to visit the Falklands.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no current plans to do so.

  Chile
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had recently with the Government of the United States regarding the current situation in Chile.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State's reply
  33
  of 6 July 1988 to the hon. Members for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Sedgemore), for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths), and for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman).

  Iran-Iraq War
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise at the Security Council the current situation in the Iran-Iraq conflict; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Following the Iranian acceptance of UNSC resolution 598, the UN Secretary-General has begun work with Iranian and Iraqi representatives aimed at the early and full implementation of the resolution, the first step of which is a ceasefire. The Secretary-General is dispatching a small technical team to discuss the modalities of implementing that ceasefire.

  We, as a permanent member of the Security Council, have pledged our utmost support for the Secretary-General in his efforts to bring an end to the conflict.

  Central America
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States of America regarding recent developments in the Central American peace process.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have regular discussions with the United States Government on a wide range of issues including developments in the Central American peace process.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the grade of the 2 per cent. of respondents in(a) the diplomatic wing and (b) the aid wing who classified themselves as coming from an ethnic minority.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary gave him on 22 June.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will place a copy of his updated ethnic monitoring programmes in the Library.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our ethnic monitoring programmes are updated regularly as new information is received. Up-to-date figures for the FCO will be included in a further Cabinet Office survey report covering the whole of the Civil Service, which will be published later this year.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects processing of applications from the advertisement in the Voice to be completed; whether he will then inform the House of the results thereof; and what other newspapers with a large ethnic minority readership he uses for the advertisement of vacancies in his Department.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The processing of these applications is unlikely to be completed before the end of the year. There are no plans to inform the House of the results.
  34
  Both the diplomatic and development wings have advertised in the "South London Press". The development wing has also used the North London Group of newspapers, which include the "Islington Gazette" "The Wood Green Journal", "The Hornsey Journal", and "The Tottenham Journal".

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what quasi-governmental bodies or other organisations under his aegis he has authority to request or require the carrying out of ethnic monitoring exercises in accordance with the code of the Commission for Racial Equality; and what ethnic monitoring and equal opportunities exercises have been carried out by each such department.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are responsible for arrangements for recruitment and personnel management of staff they employ. Bodies are encouraged to be equal opportunities employers, and to pursue practices in the code of racial equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission. No central records are held of ethnic monitoring and equal opportunities exercises carried out by these bodies.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealfh Affairs in which of the grades DS 6 to 7 each of the people from ethnic minorities are employed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  To provide this information would break the code of practice agreecl with the Council of Civil Service Unions about the confidentiality of ethnic origin information, as it might lead to indentification of individual officers.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which grade the person from ethnic minorities in grades DS 1 to 5 is employed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  To provide the information requested would normally breach the code of practice agreed with the Council of Civil Service Unions about the confidentiality of ethnic origin information on staff in post, as it could lead to identification of individual officers.

  I regret to add that in this case the officer in question has died since the compilation of the statistics included in the answer my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary gave the hon. and learned Gentleman on 22 June.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the ethnic classification and gender of the equal opportunity officer in the diplomatic wing appointed in June 1988.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The equal opportunity officer is white and female.

  Hong Kong Stock Exchange
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports have now been made to his Department over the events surrounding the Hong Kong stock exchange crash in October 1987; and if he will make a statement on any action to be taken by the Hong Kong Government.
  35
  Mrs. Chalker
  The Hong Kong Government have been in close and regular touch with us about developments since the events of October 1987. We welcome the recommendations for reform made by the Securities Review Committee, appointed by the Hong Kong Government, in its report published on 2 June. The Hong Kong Government, together with the industry itself, are acting as quickly as possible to implement the recommendations. An independent statutory regulatory body, the Securities and Futures Commission, is to be established as soon as the necessary legislation can be introduced. The Hong Kong stock exchange has just adopted important constitutional reforms which will make its governing body more broadly based and representative. We are confident that this prompt and decisive response will help to maintain and enhance Hong Kong's reputation as an international financial centre.

  Broadcasting Exhibition
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to broadcasting to the world to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for this exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall for a week from 7 November.

  Diplomatic Relations
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which member countries of the United Nations the United Kingdom does not have full and normal diplomatic relations.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We do not have full and normal diplomatic relations with the following member states of the United Nations:

  The People's Socialist Republic of Albania

  The Argentine Republic

  Cambodia

  Libya

  Syria

  We do not have diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Bhutan, but maintain friendly contacts and conduct official business with its embassy in New Delhi.

  Kampuchea
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received regarding the present situation in Kampuchea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have received a number of inquiries from Members of Parliament and the public about our policy on Cambodia. Our general policy was set out by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State in the Foreign Affairs debate on 30 June. We welcome the talks between the parties to the dispute that are due to take place in Indonesia on 25 July and hope that they will in due course lead to a peaceful settlement of the problem.

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's36
  Government will assign a full-time ambassador to Nicaragua, based in Managua; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have no plans to make further appointments to the embassy in Managua for the time being, but diplomatic staffing levels at all posts overseas are kept under review.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit Nicaragua; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to visit Nicaragua.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been(a) the staffing and (b) the running costs of Her Majesty's embassy in Nicaragua in each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Chalker
  (a) There was no resident diplomatic staff at Her Majesty's embassy, Managua from 1979 to 1984. A resident chargé d'affaires was appointed in mid-1984. A second secretary was appointed in late 1986, and a third secretary in February 1988. In addition, Her Majesty's ambassador at San Jose, and three/four members of his diplomatic staff have been and continue to be accredited to Managua. A defence attaché and a first secretary are accredited from Panama City.

  (b) Since the embassy at Managua is supervised by that in San Jose, the two posts are accounted for jointly. Because many members of the embassy at San Jose have dual accreditation, it is difficult to isolate those costs pertaining only to Managua. The total costs for San Jose since 1983 (the earliest year for which the figures are available) have ranged from around £300,000 to around £500,000 of which we estimate that about 25 per cent. is attributable to Managua.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits have been made to Nicaragua by Her Majesty's ambassador accredited to that country in each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Approximate figures since 1982, the earliest year for which figures are available, are as follows:

  Visits

  1982

  4

  1983

  7

  1984

  6

  1985

  9

  1986

  5

  1987

  16

  1988

  4

  1 And one by charge in San Jose.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealfh Affairs what has been the cost in each year for travel by Her Majesty's ambassador to Nicaragua from Costa Rica.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Estimated figures since 1982, the earliest year for which figures are available, are:

  £

  1982

  828·87

  1983

  2,523·94

  1984

  2,754·87

  37

  £

  1985

  2,576·04

  1986

  1,466·71

  1987

  1 1,622·14

  1988

  1,456·54

  1 Plus £400 for one visit by charge.

  Central American Parliament
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Governments of Costa Rica and El Salvador regarding the ratification of the Central American Parliament treaty.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We and our European partners have on a number of occasions called on all the signatories of the Esquipulas II peace agreement to fulfil their outstanding obligations under the agreement without delay. Ratification of the Central American Parliament treaty is, of course, a matter for the national Parliaments rather than Governments.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 July, if he will give details of the 143 seizures of endangered species made by the Hong Kong authorities in the first six months of 1988.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Details of the 143 seizures of endangered species made by the Hong Kong authorities in the first six months of 1988 are:

  Species

  Stuffed Sea Turtles

  21

  Parrots

  12 (live)

  Pangolin Meat

  40 Kg

  Birds of Prey and Owls

  18 (live); 20 (dead)

  Elephant

  28 tusks: 200 Kg cut pieces: 1 skin

  Deer Antler

  29 pieces

  Wild Cats

  2 carcases: 430 skins and 10 parts

  Alligator/Crocodile

  4 skins and 11 stuffed animals

  Asiatic Bony Tongue Fish

  14 (live)

  Giant Salamander

  1 (live)

  Lizard/Snake Skin

  3,767 pieces

  Otter Skin

  1,020 pieces

  Seal Skin

  1 piece

  Butterfly

  8

NORTHERN IRELAND

  64 Main Road, Cloughey
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a repair grant has now been approved for the dwelling at 64 Main road, Cloughey; and when this dwelling was constructed.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I am advised by the chairman of the executive that an application for repairs grant in respect of 64 Main road, Cloughey, was approved by the executive in March 1988. In the course of processing the application, the executive was led to believe that the dwelling was constructed before 1957 and, therefore, qualified for consideration for grant-aid. It subsequently transpired that the dwelling was constructed in 1964.

  Residential Care Homes
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the number of voluntary, private and local authority residential care homes for elderly people in Northern Ireland; and, in each case, what is the total number of places available.

  Mr. Needham
  At 31 December 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, the position was as follows:

  Type

  Number of homes

  Available places

  Voluntary

  46

  1,239

  Private

  39

  388

  Statutory1

  82

  3,506

  1 In Northern Ireland local aulhorities have no responsibility for statutory residential homes: these are provided and operated by the four Health and Social Services Boards.

  Secretary of State's Pleasure
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is now in a position to make a further statement about Secretary of State pleasure cases in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Tom King
  The highest total of persons detarined during the Secretary of State's pleasure for murder was reached in 1982, when for a time there were 66 such cases; at the beginning of 1986 there were 55. There are now 33, including one sentenced only on 1 July this year. Of these six have been given provisional release dates, and the judiciary are being consulted (as required by law) in another three cases about the possibility of fixing release dates.

  Of the remaining 17 prisoners who have served more than eight years and therefore meet the existing criterion for a first review, one has recently been sentenced to a fixed term of imprisonment for offences related to the Maze escape. Review dates have been fixed by the life sentence review board for all the remaining prisoners. Four of the cases are due for review before the end of this year, seven in February or April next year, four later in 1989 and one in April 1990. Two of the prisoners whose reviews are due in February and June 1989 will have them brought forward to the end of this year in consequence of the review of special category prisoners serving indeterminate sentences which I announced in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton) on 7 June at column 464.

  Having given very careful thought to the particular circumstances of this group of prisoners, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State and I have decided to bring forward the timetable of reviews so that all the prisoners who have served more than eight years will have their cases reviewed by the life sentence review board before the end of 1988.

  Rural Wales (NPCI Package)
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northem Ireland (1) what account he will take of the NPCI package for rural Wales under the regional fund in his considerations about an integrated rural development plan for Northern Ireland;

  (2) what consideration the Government have given to the Hume resolution in the European Parlianent on an

  39
  integrated rural development programme for Northern Ireland, the Maher report outlining and recommending such a programme and the European Commission's response to those proposals; and whether the Government have any plans to pursue such a programme.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 20 July 1988]: In considering ways in which to maximise the benefits to Northern Ireland of funds available from the European Community account is taken of the proposal supported by the European Parliament for an integrated rural development programme and of other relevant proposals.

  Housing
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the breakdown of housing stock by percentage and type in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: Details of housing stock by tenure type are given in table 1.2B of "Housing Statistics 87" published by the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland), a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the housing stock is terraced housing in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: Details of housing stock by type of building are given in tables 9.2 and 9.3 of "Housing Statistics 87" published by the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland), a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the population own their own home in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: The information is not available in the form requested. From reports of the Northern Ireland census 1981 there were 742,719 persons living in owner-occupied acommodation. This represents approximately 50 per cent. of the usually resident population as enumerated in the 1981 census.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours were spent by police officers on the care and custody of remand prisoners in the latest available year.

  Passports issued

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  January

  122,263

  119,037

  117,566

  132,122

  121,591

  141,213

  February

  181,634

  185,082

  145,259

  176,020

  192,834

  215,925

  March

  239,562

  235,821

  188,514

  186,379

  255,694

  270,641

  April

  228,472

  204,945

  191,373

  270,540

  205,582

  269,590

  May

  244,103

  222,498

  229,189

  270,304

  172,613

  300,501

  June

  239,578

  226,798

  194,712

  231,996

  212,832

  276,937

  July

  226,359

  217,231

  219,992

  257,450

  235,608

  —

  August

  172,536

  166,461

  157,494

  178,753

  211,763

  —

  September

  106,761

  102,644

  109,202

  128,267

  150,137

  —

  October

  83,213

  93,064

  101,594

  116,565

  98,602

  —

  November

  82,983

  83,116

  83,300

  91,782

  100,419

  —

  December

  52,280

  50,608

  60,848

  70,366

  83,545

  —

  1,979,744

  1,907,305

  1,799,043

  2,110,544

  2,041,220

  1,474,807

  40
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that a total of 1,240,721 man hours were spent by his officers on the care and custody of remand prisoners in the year ending 31 May 1988. Corresponding figures for other forces could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Passports
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department takes to ensure that British passports, reported lost by holidaymakers, are not subsequently used as the basis for forged passports to gain unlawful entry into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Renton
  Security features are incorporated in United Kingdom passports to ensure that any attempts to facilitate their use by another person, through alteration of personal details or substitution of photographs, will be readily apparent on examination of the document at United Kingdom ports of entry.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many European Community countries have chosen to adopt the common format passport; in how many variations of colour, by country, they will be printed; and when, by country, they will be issued.

  Mr. Renton
  The majority of the 12 EC member states are already issuing national passports in the EC common format. The United Kingdom will begin to do so next month, and the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal are expected to follow before the end of the year. I understand that, the passports yet to be introduced in common with those already in use, will all comply with the terms of the relevant EC resolution, which specifies that the covers shall be burgundy red.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will state the monthly demand for passports over each of the past five years;

  (2) what was the demand for British passports in 1979; and what is the current demand.

  Mr. Renton
  The monthly demand for passports 1983–88 is given in the table:
  41
  The annual demand for British passports in terms of the number of passports issued in 1979, 1987 and 1988 to the end of June, is as follows:

  Number

  1979

  1,809,091

  1987

  2,041,220

  1 1988

  1,474,807

  1 January to June.

  I regret that the annual figures for passports issued during 1979, 1983, 1985 and 1987 given in my reply to a question on 23 June at column 679 from my hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Franks) were incorrect. I shall write to the hon. Member when I have established how the errors arose.

  Home Defence
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used in determining the degree of protection provided to the general public in his home defence and civil protection policy.

  Mr. John Patten
  The level of civil defence protection must be proportionate to the risk of war in Europe, which is presently considered to be very low. Policy development in this area is based upon section 7 of the emergency planning guidance to local authorities, copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what provision he has made for the building, and conversion of existing buildings to offer shelter and protection to the general public in time of war;

  (2) what protection is available to the general public against (i) nuclear and (ii) chemical attack in time of war; and if these include the issue of respirators and protective clothing to all citizens.

  Mr. John Patten
  Public provision of purpose-built shelters cannot be justified because of the high cost. Successive Governments have concluded that people should stay in their homes, using and improving the available protection. Local authorities have a duty to plan for the use of existing structures as shelter for people who would be unable to achieve useful protection in their homes. In the event of a war crisis, advice would be given on expedient measures to improve protection in the home. The manual "Domestic Nuclear Shelters—Technical Guidance", copies of which are in the Library, gives details of designs for purpose-built and improvised shelters. In respect of chemical attack, studies into effects and protective measures are continuing.

  Immigration
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children(a) under the age of five years, (b) between the ages of five and 15 years, and (c) between the ages of 16 and 18 years, were detained under Immigration Act powers by individual Immigration Act detention centres in each of the years 1985, 1986 and 1987;

  (2) what was the average length of time spent in detention by the children detained under the Immigration Act powers (a) under the age of five years (b) between the ages of five and 15 years and (c) between the ages of 16 and 18 years in each of the years in 1985, 1986 and 1987;
  42
  (3) how many children (a) under the age of five years (b) between the ages of five and 15 years and (c) between the ages of 16 and 18 years were detained under the Immigration Act powers by nationality in each of the years 1985, 1986 and 1987.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is not centrally recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987.

  Mr. Renton
  None. The Act creates a liability which is pursuable in the civil courts: no such proceedings have yet been instituted.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for(a) single entry and (b) multiple entry visit visas were (i) received, (ii) granted and (iii) refused at each post in (x) the Indian subcontinent, (y) Ghana and (z) Nigeria in each quarter of 1987 and the first quarter of 1988; and what was the delay between application and interview of those whose applications were felt to need a second or long interview at each of the above posts in (1) January 1987, (2) June 1987, (3) January 1988 and (4) the nearest available date.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 20 July 1988]: The information available on applications for a visit visa is given in the following tables. Separate information on applications for single entry and multiple entry visas is not available.

  Table 1 Persons applying for a visit visa to the United Kingdom

  Number of persons

  Post

  Applications

  Newiy received1

  Granted2

  Refused initially

  Dhaka

  1987

  1st quarter

  1,600

  1,130

  370

  2nd quarter

  2,770

  2,070

  490

  3rd quarter

  2,700

  1,970

  480

  4th quarter

  1,710

  1,190

  320

  Year

  8,790

  6,360

  1,670

  1988

  1st quarter

  2,020

  1,410

  380

  New Delhi

  1987

  1st quarter

  6,680

  5,590

  590

  2nd quarter

  14,640

  13,490

  1,240

  3rd quarter

  11,000

  9,620

  1,050

  4th quarter

  6,380

  5,410

  750

  Year

  38,700

  34,100

  3,620

  1988

  1st quarter

  7,120

  5,740

  800

  Bombay

  1987

  1st quarter

  6,540

  5,910

  120

  2nd quarter

  17,820

  17,000

  360

  3rd quarter

  10,900

  10,120

  340

  4th quarter

  5,390

  4,980

  280

  Year

  40,660

  38,020

  1,100

  1988

  1st quarter

  6,650

  6,230

  260

  43

  Post

  Applications

  Newly received1

  Granted2

  Refused initially

  Calcutta

  1987

  1st quarter

  1,040

  1,010

  10

  2nd quarter

  3,000

  29,70

  10

  3rd quarter

  2,340

  2,300

  50

  4th quarter

  860

  820

  30

  Year

  7,240

  7,100

  90

  1988

  1st quarter

  880

  850

  20

  Madras

  1987

  1st quarter

  1,580

  1,490

  40

  2nd quarter

  3,390

  3,320

  50

  3rd quarter

  2,720

  2,640

  30

  4th quarter

  1,100

  1,060

  30

  Year

  8,800

  8,500

  150

  1988

  lst quarter

  1,300

  1,280

  10

  Islamabad

  1987

  1st quarter

  5,880

  4,510

  590

  2nd quarter

  11,680

  9,080

  1,530

  3rd quarter

  8,780

  6,350

  1,760

  4th quarter

  5,240

  3,330

  1,340

  Year

  31,590

  23,260

  5,230

  1988

  1st quarter

  5,650

  4,000

  1,480

  Karachi

  1987

  1st quarter

  4,330

  3,870

  400

  2nd quarter

  9,990

  9,170

  480

  3rd quarter

  7,340

  6,230

  710

  4th quarter

  3,700

  2,920

  540

  Year

  25,270

  22,200

  2,130

  1988

  1st quarter

  4,000

  3,310

  450

  Accra

  1987

  1st quarter

  2,620

  1,700

  740

  2nd quarter

  2,600

  1,990

  530

  3rd quarter

  3,540

  2,910

  650

  4th quarter

  1,490

  1,320

  180

  Year

  10,240

  7,920

  2,100

  1988

  1st quarter

  1,430

  1,180

  160

  Lagos

  1987

  1st quarter3

  3,310

  3,060

  170

  2nd quarter

  14,550

  12,300

  1,060

  3rd quarter

  14,500

  12,940

  970

  4th quarter

  10,490

  9,080

  900

  Year3

  42,850

  37,380

  3,100

  1988

  1st quarter

  9,430

  8,380

  710

  Kaduna

  1987

  1st quarter3

  2,620

  2,360

  70

  2nd quarter

  2,200

  1,870

  110

  3rd quarter

  2,530

  2,270

  160

  4th quarter

  1,690

  1,480

  190

  Year3

  9,040

  7,980

  530

  1988

  1st quarter

  1,470

  1,280

  120

  44
  1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn.

  2 Granted initially or on appeal.

  3 From 1 February 1987 when the visa requirement for Nigerians was introduced.

  Table 2 Wailing time for persons applying for a visit visa who required a lengthy interview

  Number of days

  Waiting time for persons interviewed at end of period

  Post

  Dec. 1986

  June 1987

  Dec. 1987

  May 1988

  Dhaka

  —

  —

  —

  —

  New Delhi

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Bombay

  5

  4

  1

  14

  Calcutta

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Madras

  3

  3

  2

  —

  Islamabad

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Karachi

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Accra

  14

  5

  2

  113

  Lagos

  2

  1

  1

  1

  Kaduna

  2

  —

  —

  —

  — Same day.

  1 Figure for end of April 1988.

  2 Visa requirement for Nigerians was not introduced until 1 February 1987.

  Rapists (AIDS)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the convicted rapists who have been paroled in the last four years were suffering from AIDS when paroled.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None to our knowledge.

  Police Helicopter Landing Pads (South Yorkshire)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many emergency police helicopter landing pads there are in south Yorkshire for use in emergencies; where they are sited; and if prior permission was sought from local authorities or private landowners.

  Mr. John Patten
  The following 23 locations have been identified by South Yorkshire police as sites which could be used in emergencies by helicopters hired by the force:

  Barnsley District General Hospital

  Rotherham District General Hospital

  Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield

  Northern General Hospital, Sheffield

  Lodge Moor Hospital, Sheffield

  Doncaster Airport

  Doncaster Racecourse

  RAF Finningley

  Adwick School, Doncaster

  Bentley High Street Middle School

  Queen's Ground, Barnsley

  Recreation Ground, Park Avenue, Panistone

  Dorothy Hyman Stadium, Cudworth

  Rockingham Sports Ground, Hoyland Common

  Herringthorpe Valley Playing Fields (rear of pavilion Boswell street side)

  Aven Tools, Maltby

  Thomas Rotherham College, Rotherham

  Phoenix Golf Club, Rotherham

  Tinsley Park Golf Club, Sheffield

  Balfour Darwin's Sports Ground, Hathersage road, Sheffield

  Laycock's, Archer road, Sheffield (access to site off Periwood Road)

  Niagara Sports Ground, Sheffield

  Shirecliffe Heliport

  I understand that the owners of these sites have agreed to them being used by helicopters operated by or for the police force.

  Discretionary Life Sentences
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking in response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on 2 March 1987 concerning discretionary life sentences.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The implications of the judgment are still under consideration. Further applications by life sentence prisoners are awaiting hearing by the European Commission of Human Rights and we shall take account of the progress of those applications in considering whether any amendments may be necessary to our law and practice.

  Prison Officers (Ethnic Background)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring of the ethnic background of prison officers takes place in prisons in England and Wales; and what information he has available on the ethnic backgrounds of prison officers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In a series of regional surveys all Home Office staff, including prison officers, were recently invited to complete a questionnaire. A total of 0·6 per cent. of those in prison service unified grades VI to VIII who responded stated that they were of ethnic minority origin. A further questionnaire is being sent to all those who did not respond.

  Citizenship
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current backlog of applications for British citizenship; and how many letters of application remain unopened.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Max Madden) on 20 July at column 650. The number of applications outstanding at 30 June was approximately 260,000.

  Political Asylum
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will show as a table in the Official Report, for each year from 1979 until the latest available year, the proportion of people seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom who were either granted full refugee status or exceptional leave to remain;

  (2) if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing, for each year since 1979 aggregated, the numbers of people seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom on a country of origin basis, showing the proportion each constitutes of the total number of people so applying;

  (3) if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing, for each year from 1979 until the latest year for which figures are available (a) the number of persons applying for political asylum in the United Kingdom and (b) the statistics in (a) expressed as an index with 1983=100.

  Mr. Renton
  Information for the years 1979 to 1987 on the numbers of applications for refugee status, grants of refugee status, and grants of exceptional leave to remain, analysed by nationality, is published in tables 1 to 3 of 46
  Home Office statistical bulletin "Refugee Statistics, United Kingdom, 1987" (issue 16/88), copies of which are in the Library. More detailed analyses by nationality are published in tables 6 and 7 of this bulletin and corresponding tables in the similar bulletins for 1985 and 1986 (issues 12/86 and 13/87 respectively).

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many representations by hon. Members regarding individual applications for political asylum have not been accepted as sufficient to obtain a stay of removal since 3 March 1987;

  (2) if he will show on a monthly basis from January 1986 the percentage of applications for political asylum which had been rejected which were then referred to the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service.

  Mr. Renton
  No central record is kept of cases in these categories.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who had been refused political asylum in the United Kingdom and decided to challenge the decision through the courts have been deported before all legal proceedings were completed, since 3 March 1987.

  Mr. Renton
  No central record is kept of legal proceedings following the refusal of asylum. There can be no guarantee that an applicant will be allowed to remain in this country whilst all possible proceedings are pursued.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table in the Official Report, showing, for the latest year for which comparable figures are available, in ranked order, on a per capita basis for each member country of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the number of applications received by each of those countries for political asylum.

  Mr. Renton
  Full information is not available in the form requested. Some information about asylum applications in Western European countries was given in response to a question from my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Mir. Lawrence) on 5 July at column 502. Information on the population of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries is available from a number of published sources including the "United Nations Demographic Yearbook", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effects of the operation of the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 on the ability of people who genuinely wish to seek political asylum in the United Kingdom to do so.

  Mr. Renton
  We do not believe that the Act will stop refugees finding safety and coming to this country when it is the most appropriate place of refuge. In the past the great majority of genuine asylum applications have arrived here without resorting to forged documents.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to the reply given on 4 July,Official Report, column 418, his Department has yet sent quarterly asylum statistics to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
  47
  Mr. Renton
  Officials have now written to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. I am placing a copy of the letter, with tables attached, in the Library.

  Refugees
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding "Charter 87: A Charter for Refugees"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Representatives of Charter 87 have corresponded extensively with me and officials. I met a delegation in March. A number of hon. Members have also written on their behalf. Many of the points in the charter are in line with the Governments present policy and practice. Our main disagreement is with the proposal of a full, in-country right of appeal for all asylum applicants at ports. We remain convinced that this would lead to increased abuse of the asylum process.

  Magistrates' Clerks
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the resignation of magistrates' court clerks and their subsequent employment by the Crown prosecution service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Representations have been received from justices' clerks and others about losses of court clerks, especially those qualified as solicitor or barrister, and some of these have made particular reference to staff leaving for employment in the Crown Prosecution Service. I understand that figures collected by the joint negotiating committee for magistrates' courts staff indicate that 19 court clerks left the magistrates courts service to take up posts in the Crown Prosecution Service in the year ending 31 March 1988. This represents 1·5 per cent. of the complement of approximately 1,250.

  Birds of Prey
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total amount of fines levied against persons found guilty of stealing the eggs and young of British birds of prey for the last year in which figures are available;

  (2) how many successful prosecutions were brought against persons wilfully stealing eggs or young and disturbing the nests of British birds of prey, during the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information available which may be incomplete and which does not distinguish between British birds of prey and other wild birds, show 89 convictions in 1986 under section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Of these, 79 resulted in fines totalling £6,217 being imposed.

  Court Adjournments
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to seek to amend section 48 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 so as to limit the scope for application for adjournments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  There are no plans at present to seek to amend section 48.
  48
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations regarding the working of section 48 of the Criminal Law Act 1977; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have not received any such representations.

  Drug Addiction
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the total of registered drug addicts for 1979 and each subsequent year and the estimated total of such addicts, respectively; and if he will give them also by the smallest geographical area by which they are broken down.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Information on the total number of addicts notified to the Home Office in the years 1979–86 is given in table 3.1 of the "Statistics of the Misuse of Drugs in the United Kingdom, 1986" (Home Office statistical bulletin 28/87). The same information is broken down by police force area and is given in tables A3.1, A3.2 and A3.3 of "Statistics of the Misuse of Drugs in the United Kingdom, 1986, Area Tables". Both publications are in the Library. It is hoped that figures for 1987 will be published in September.

  Because of the nature of the activity, it is not possible to make any reliable estimate of the total number of unregistered drug addicts in the United Kingdom.

  Passport Office (Staff)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many temporary and part-time staff have been employed by the Passport Office in each of the past five years at each of its local offices.

  Mr. Renton
  The information is as follows:

  Peak number of casual staff in post

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  11988

  London

  52

  35

  47

  50

  62

  Liverpool

  27

  14

  32

  49

  62

  Peterborough

  23

  28

  34

  43

  62

  Newport

  20

  24

  31

  51

  53

  Glasgow

  12

  13

  18

  26

  40

  Belfast

  6

  6

  6

  5

  6

  140

  120

  168

  224

  285

  1 January to June.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the bill for overtime payments for the passport department for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Renton
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Overtime expenditure £

  1984

  157,494

  1985

  394,309

  1986

  746,872

  1987

  872,015

  19881

  855,421

  1 January to June.

  Fines
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number and amount of fines imposed by magistrates' courts in England and Wales which remain unpaid to date.

  Mr. John Patten
  The total amount of fines and fees imposed by magistrates' courts in England and Wales which remained unpaid at 31 December 1987, the latest date for which complete information is available, was £84,660,000. Part of this sum consists of fines for which the time allowed for payment had not expired. The latest available information on numbers of unpaid fines is that at 31 December 1986 there were about 1,280,000.

  Lindholme Prison
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the governor of Her Majesty's prison Lindholme took up appointment; on what date the categorisation for Her Majesty's prison Lindholme was altered to enable it to house non-category C prisoners; and what other changes in(a) management and (b) population have occurred since November 1987.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The governor took up his appointment at Her Majesty's prison Lindholme on 20 June 1988. The establishment has never held inmates in security categories higher than category C, and no changes in the criteria under which prisoners are allocated there have been made since November 1987. Following the conversion of an existing building, an additional 250 places became available at Lindholme earlier this year. Inmates are being allocated to the new places according to existing criteria. Fresh Start working began at the establishment on 3 January this year.

  Public expenditure (Home Office): charges 1982–83 to 1990–911 (£ million)

  Description

  1982–83 outturn

  1983–84 outturn

  1984–85 outturn

  1985–86 outturn

  1986–87 outturn

  1987–88 estimated outturn

  1988–89 plans

  1989–90 plans

  1990–91 plans

  CIOB

  -0·7

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Court Services (including Magistrates Courts)

  -116·9

  -131·1

  -127·1

  -147·5

  -163·0

  -181·9

  -213·1

  -225·6

  -240·6

  Prisons

  -15·0

  -0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Probation Service

  -0·3

  -0·3

  -0·3

  -0·4

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Police

  -97·8

  -111·8

  -180·8

  -142·5

  -194·3

  -145·5

  -111·5

  -114·2

  -117·1

  Immigration and Citizenship

  -1·3

  -0·8

  -1·3

  -0·8

  -1·5

  -1·2

  -0·5

  -0·6

  -0·6

  Fire

  -7·5

  -8·1

  -10·1

  -7·6

  -8·1

  -8·9

  -10·8

  -11·1

  -11·5

  Central and Miscellaneous Services

  +2·4

  -4·2

  -2·3

  -5·4

  -5·8

  -3·8

  -4·5

  -11·8

  -5·7

  Registration of Electors

  -0·5

  -0·7

  -0·6

  -0·8

  -0·9

  -1·0

  -0·1

  -0·1

  -0·1

  Civil Defence

  -0·2

  -0·1

  -0·2

  -0·5

  -0·3

  -0·3

  -0·2

  -0·2

  -0·2

  Total

  -238·0

  -257·1

  -322·6

  -305·5

  -374·0

  -342·6

  -340·7

  -363·6

  -375·8

  1 Totals may not coincide with the sum of individual components due to roundings.

ENVIRONMENT

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give, for the latest convenient period, the figure for the percentage of planning appeals(a) that have been allowed unamended, (b) that have been allowed subject to restriction or amendment and (c) that have been disallowed.

  Remand System
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish his Green Paper on private sector involvement in the remand system.

  Mr. Hurd
  The Green Paper "Private Sector Involvement in the Remand System" (Command 434), published today, sets out and invites comment on the options for involving the private sector in the operation of new remand establishments and of associated escort and court duties. The Green Paper identifies the main issues of principle and practice which need to be taken into account. Management consultants, assisted by criminal justice system experts, will shortly begin a detailed examination of the practical implications of involving the private sector in the ways which the Green Paper envisages. The Government will take the responses to the Green Paper, and the report of the consultants, into account in deciding, towards the end of the year, which, if any, of the options to pursue.

  Public Expenditure Survey
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a detailed breakdown for the year 1982–83 to 1990–91, by nature of item and functional area of charge, of the receipts to his programme classified as charges for the purposes of the public expenditure survey.

  Mr. Hurd
  [holding answer 7 July 1988]: The following figures, which are consistent with those given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary of the Treasury on 27 May at columns 375–76 relate to receipts in respect of programme expenditure for which the Home Office is responsible. Receipts in respect of running cost expenditure are not included.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Of the 18,474 planning appeals decided between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988, 6,955 (37·6 per cent.) were allowed and 11,519 (62·4 per cent.) were refused. In all cases the grant of planning permission on appeal is subject to a condition that sets a time Iimit within which the development must commence.

  Information on the proportion of planning appeals allowed that were subject to further restriction or where the proposal in the original application was amended is not available.

  Housing Associations (Tower Hamlets)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) all applications for consents to dispose of properties and-or sites to or for the purpose of use by housing associations at outsanding loan debt or less than market value received by his Department from the London borough of Tower Hamlets between 8 May 1986 and 18 July 1988; (b) the date on which each submission was first received by his Department; (c) the date on which consent was granted in relation to each application so far decided, (d) the latest date by which consent will be given in relation to each application not yet decided and (e) the explanation for the delay between application and decision in each case.

  Mrs. Roe
  The information requested is not readily available in the form required. The Department has the following applications for consent outstanding:

  Monteith Estate, received 26 June 1987;

  Glenaffric Avenue, received 17 November 1987;

  Masthouse Terrace, received 7 December 1987;

  Ashfield Street, received 23 December 1987;

  Hadrian Estate, received 23 February 1988;

  Bishops Way, received 18 April 1988;

  Selby Street, received 3 May 1988;

  Buckfast Street and Barnet Grove, received 20 June 1988.

  Cases have been delayed because all the necessary information from Tower Hamlets London borough council and outside bodies has not been available to the Department. Consents, where appropriate, will be issued as soon as possible.

  Government Vehicles
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of motor vehicles supplied by his Department for use by each Government Department and the number that have been converted to run on unleaded petrol.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) on 25 May 1988. 17 vehicles have been converted so far to run on lead-free fuel.

  Wherever possible, vehicles are now being converted to run on lead-free fuel and as new models capable of running on both types of fuel without adjustment come into the fleet the need for conversion will progressively diminish.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what publicity he has given to the Government's policy statements on the subject of equal opportunities.

  Mr. Ridley
  My Department publicised the policy statement on equal opportunities in 1984 and 1985 by issuing establishments bulletins, which are seen by all members of staff.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and what percentage of women are employed by him in grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively, as at 31 May.

  Mr. Ridley
  The number of women employed at grades 1–4 in my Department as at 1 July were:52

  Grade

  Numbers

  per cent.

  1

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  3

  4

  9

  4

  1

  7

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and what percentage of ethnic minority staff are employed in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively, as at 31 March.

  Mr. Ridley
  The numbers of ethnic minority staff employed at grades 1–6 as at 31 March 1988 were:

  Grades

  Numbers

  Per cent.

  1

  0

  0·0

  2

  0

  0·0

  3

  1

  2·4

  4

  0

  0·0

  5

  2

  1·6

  6

  5

  1·5

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will place in the Library copies of the results of the ethnic monitoring exercises in the areas of part time working and job sharing, reinstatement, special leave, special training, recruitment and the ethnic origin of staff, carried out by his Department.

  Mr. Ridley
  I shall place results of the ethnic monitoring recruitment and staff in post surveys in the Library.

  Ethnic monitoring of part-time workers and job sharers, those reinstated and applicants for special leave and special training has not been carried out, although monitoring by gender has.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects that the analysis of the ethnic origins of his Department's staff in post in March 1988 will be completed; and whether he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Ridley
  Analysis of my Department's ethnic origin data is a continuous process. An initial analysis by grade, region and location will be completed by the end of October 1988, and I shall place a copy in the Library.

  Promotion Monitoring
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what participation there has been from his Department in the essential training review and promotion monitoring projects respectively.

  Mr. Ridley
  My officials have completed an OMCS questionnaire on equal opportunities training and have participated in the Cabinet Office-led review on training. My Department is also participating in the OMCS sponsored survey of promotion board monitoring.

  Sporting Events (Ministerial Visits)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the international sporting events attended by the Minister with responsibility for sport, the hon. Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) in the last 12 months and the cost to public funds in each case.
  53
  Mr. Moynihan
  The following are the principal international sporting events overseas which I have attended in the last 12 months and the costs to public funds in each case.

  Event

  26 July

  Final stage of the Tour de France, Paris. Cost to public funds, £221.

  28 August

  World Rowing Championships, Copenhagen. No cost to public funds.

  3–7 September

  World Athletics Championships, Rome. Cost to public funds, £717.

  9 September

  England v. West Germany, Dusseldorf. Cost to public funds, £229.

  7 November

  Final World Cup One Day Cricket, Calcutta. Cost to public funds, £1,905

  12–18 February

  Winter Olympics, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Cost to public funds, £2,308.

  1 April

  FC Berlin v. Erfurt, East Berlin.

  2 April

  Ice Show, East Berlin.

  3 April

  Ladies Handball International, East Berlin. Attended while on an official visit to look at the structure of sport in East Germany, at the invitation of the East German Government. Cost to public funds of entire visit, £690.

  12–13 April

  British National Skiing Championships, Alpe d'Huez, France Slalom challenge, part of ten events initiative for disabled sport. No cost to public funds

  12 June

  European Football Championships: Eire v. England, Stuttgart. Cost to public funds, £277.

  15–16 June

  European Football Championships: England v. Holland, Dusseldorf. Cost to public funds, £341.

  North West Water Authority
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether his Department has asked the North West water authority to explain why 54 of its effluent treatment plants were reported in 1987 as being non-compliant with the authority's own discharge consent conditions; and what estimate his Department has been given of the capital cost and time required to rectify these deficiencies;

  (2) whether his Department has asked the North West water authority why 15 of its effluent plants failed to meet the authority's discharge consent conditions in 1987 because of trade effluent; what types of trade effluent were involved in the cases concerned; and how long he expects this situation to continue.

  Mr. Moynihan
  North West water authority reports that where sewage treatment works failed its consents due to trade effluent this was caused by effluent from farming or agricultural related processes, food production, textile manufacture and chemical treatment.

  Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution is continuing to discuss with North West water authority the reasons for failure of their sewage treatment works. The Government have already announced that water authorities are taking steps to improve the performance of sewage treatment
  54
  works through major investment programmes to bring all works up to standard by 1991–92. North West water authority expects that of its 55 non-compliant works, 31 will report compliance in thdr returns relating to 1988. A further 12 are expected to be compliant by the end of this year. Another six works feature in the capital programme at a cost of some £1,400,000. Investigations at the remaining six works are expected to be completed later this year.

  Winget-type Houses
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the fiscal resources which would be required by local authorities in order that all Winget-type houses purchased from council stocks and presently in private ownership could be repurchased at current market prices under the Housing Defects Act 1984;

  (2) what information he has on the total current market value of Winget-type houses purchased from local authorities and currently privately owned.

  Mrs. Roe
  Local authorities in England have reported 175 Winget properties in private ownership. The current market values of these properties will depend, among other things, on their location and condition. It is not therefore possible to estimate reliably the total market value of these houses, nor the costs of their repurchase at 95 per cent. of defect free value, as the housing defects legislation provides.

  Defective Housing
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an estimate of the fiscal resources which would be required by local authorities in order for reinstatement grants to be issued for a satisfactory method of repair to be undertaken in respect of all council housing stock identified as defective in the Housing Defects Act 1984 which has a method of repair agreed by the Department of the Environment with the National House Building certificate.

  Mrs. Roe
  Under the housing defects legislation local authorities may pay grants to eligible owners of designated dwellings for reinstatement in accordance with the Act's provisions. Such grants are not available towards the cost of reinstatement works to properties in local authority ownership.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has of the total current market value of houses identified as defective under the Housing Defects Act 1984;

  (2) what is his estimate of the fiscal resources required by local authorities in order for all owner-occupied houses, designated as defective by the Housing Defects Act 1984 and which have no approved method of repair, to be repurchased by local authorities at current market prices.

  Mrs. Roe
  As market values of individual designated properties will vary, depending, among other things, on location and condition, it is not possible to make a meaningful estimate of the total current market value of all designated properties. Nor is it possible reliably to forecast the total number and cost of local authority repurchases under the housing defects legislation.
  55
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses defined as defective under the Housing Defects Act 1984 have been demolished since 1984; and if he will give a breakdown of houses demolished against housing type and year.

  Mrs. Roe
  I am aware that some local authorities have demolished certain designated properties in their areas, but detailed information on numbers and house types by year is not available.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which housing types have been designated as defective under the Housing Defects Act 1984; and how many dwellings of each type remain in council housing stock in the United Kingdom;

  (2) how many houses, and of what type, designated as defective under the Housing Defects Act 1984 have been purchased from local authorities in the United Kingdom since 1980; and how many remain in private ownership.

  Mrs Roe
  The house types designated nationally under the housing defects legislation in England are as follows. In addition, local designations have been made for certain properties in Dudley; and for Smith houses with additional foundation defects in Dudley, Birmingham, Sandwell and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

  Airey

  Boot

  Boswell

  Cornish

  Unit

  Dorran

  Dyke

  Gregory

  Myton

  Newland

  Orlit

  Parkinson

  Reema Hollow Panel

  Schindler and Hawksley SGS

  Smith

  Stent

  Stonecrete

  Tarran

  Underdown

  Unity and Butterley

  Waller

  Wates

  Wessex

  Winget

  Woolaway

  Information on the numbers, by type, of prefabricated reinforced concrete dwellings designed before 1960 in private and public ownership, was obtained in 1983, and updated in July 1986, to include Smith houses. Copies of this material are in the Library. We have been assembling updated information from local authorities on the numbers of designated types (including Boswell) and this should be available shortly. No information is available specifically on the numbers sold by local authorities since 1980.

  The library also contains local authorities' own HIP returns for 1987, giving total numbers of designated properties in local authority and private ownerships, though these figures are not broken down by type.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when figures for 1987 will be made available for the total amount of fines collected following 56
  prosecutions under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 in respect of water pollution due to the breach of water authority consents;

  (2) on how many occasions the maximum fine has been levied against an offender in breach of water authority consents following the implementation of the Control of Pollution Act 1974;

  (3) what was the total amount of fines collected in each year, following the implementation of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, in respect of successful prosecutions brought against polluters in breach of water authority consents;

  (4) when figures for 1987 will be made available on the number of occasions when water authority consents for the discharge of pollution into United Kingdom waterways were breached by polluters, the legal action taken by water authorities and the convictions achieved.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Information collected by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department shows that in 1986, the first year for which figures are readily available, fines imposed following prosecutions by water authorities specifically for breaches of discharge consents totalled approximately £20,000. Magistrates imposed the £2,000 maximum fine on one occasion. Data for 1987 are expected to be available in the autumn.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why, in view of the number of sewage treatment works breaching his consents, no prosecutions have thus far been taken out against water authorities for breach of consents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  As announced in our recent response to the Environment Committee, water authorities have major programmes of capital works to bring all sewage treatment works into compliance with their consent conditions by 1991–92. Clearly, where major investment is involved, it takes time to bring works up to standard and, in the Governments view, there is little to be gained by prosecution in these circumstances. However, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution has recently informed water authorities that it will consider prosecution in cases where works are persistently non-compliant, where discharges are significantly affecting water quality and where an authority has no plans for remedial action.

  Yorkshire Water Authority
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he will take to ensure that the Yorkshire water authority brings all its sewage works up to the legal minimum standard by 1991.

  Mr. Moynihan
  We have made it clear to Yorkshire water authority that effluent discharges from its sewage treatment works must comply with discharge consent conditions as soon as practicable. The authority is now preparing the necessary investment plans.

  House Condition Survey
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of the 1986 English house condition survey will be published.

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on Tuesday 5 July 1988, at column 545.

  Council Houses
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how calculations for national council house vacancies are made; what formula is used; and how the data are collated.

  Mrs. Roe
  The number of council house vacancies in England is simply the sum of the numbers reported by all the English local authorities for April of each year in their annual housing investment programme HIP1 returns. The number vacant can also be expressed as a percentage of the council housing stock reported in the same returns.

  Birds of Prey
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider seeking to increase penalties for the illegal theft and disturbance of British birds of prey; and what information he has on the prices commanded abroad for falcons, eagles and hawks.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I do not propose at present to seek an increase in the penalties for the illegal taking of birds of prey from the wild. I have no specific information on the prices which falcons, hawks and eagles may command abroad.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to reduce and prevent the theft of British birds of prey, including the peregrine falcon and goshawk, for the purposes of sale to falconers both in Britain and abroad.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence for any person to take a wild bird, unless he has a defence under any other provision of the Act. The enforcement of section 1 is a matter for the police.

  Pay awards in

  1986–87 from

  percentage

  1987–88

  percentage

  Teachers

  1 April 1986

  5·7

  1 October 1987

  8·2

  1 January 1987

  8·2

  Further education lecturers

  1 April 1986

  5·6

  1 April 1987

  5·0

  1 September 1987

  5·3

  Police

  1 September 1986

  7·5

  1 September 1987

  7·75

  Fire

  7 November 1986

  7·3

  7 November 1987

  7·3

  Manuals

  1 September 1986

  6·7

  1 July 1987

  10·6

  APT and C

  1 July 1986

  6·0

  1 July 1987

  5·0

  1 February 1988

  2·5

  Engineering craftsmen

  1 February 1987

  5·6

  1 February 1988

  4·0

  Electricians and Building trade operatives

  1 February 1987

  4·0

  1 September 1987

  6·8

  Chief officers and Chief executives

  1 July 1986

  5·5

  1 September 1987

  7·0

  Manpower in the 12 months to March 1987 and March 1988 increased by 0·7 per cent. and 0–9 per cent. respectively.

  The rate support grant settlements for 1986–87 and 1987–88 provided for local authority current expenditure of £22,253–5 million and £25,251 million respectively. In deciding the level of provision the Secretary of State took account of those factors which he is required to by statute. In addition, the first supplementary report for 1987–88

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of local government staffing and pay are anticipated in the Government's expenditure plans 1988–89 to 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Governmenfs expenditure plans for 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91 (Cm. 288 published in January) provided for local authority current expenditure in England of £27,538 million, £28,500 million and £29,360 million respectively. The plans for 1989–90 and 1990–91 were based on the figure for 1988–89 uprated by the GDP deflator then forecast in each year; they thus provided for spending to be broadly level in real terms. The 1988–89 figure is that provided for by the Secretary of State in the rate support grant settlement for that year. On 7 July the Secretary of State announced a proposal that provision for the 1989–90 settlement should be £29,140 million, an increase of about £1–4 billion over Cm. 288 after deducting the cost of polytechnics, which from April 1989 will be the responsibility of central Government. In making provision for a particular year the Secretary of State takes into account, as he is required to do by statute, the latest information about the rate of local authority relevant expenditure; possible fluctuations in demand for services which are not under local authority control; the need for developing those services and the extent to which, having regard to general economic conditions, he considers it reasonable to develop them; and the level of prices costs and remuneration.

  Local Authorities (Pay and Manpower)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of local authority pay awards and manpower increases in 1986–87 and 1987–88; what level was allowed for in the plans for those years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The main pay awards were as follows:

  took account of the estimated cost in that year of the new rates for school teachers' pay provided for in the "Teacher's Pay and Conditions Document 1987".

  Estuaries (Sewage)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why figures for the volume of raw human sewage allowed into British estuaries are not kept centrally; and if he will make a statement.
  59
  Mr. Moynihan
  The information asked for is not held centrally, because to do so would serve no useful purpose.

  The last surveys of discharges of foul sewage to estuaries and coastal waters were published in 1973, but they do not differentiate between the two types of receiving waters. Details of all discharges to rivers, estuaries and coastal waters are, however, available from water authorities' public registers. Since 1973 there have been major reductions in such discharges in most of the estuaries in the United Kingdom.

  NRA (Sport and Recreation)
  Mr. Denis Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which members of the National Rivers Authority advisory committee have been appointed to safeguard the interests of sport and recreation; what are their qualifications; and which organisations were consulted before these appointments were made.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Members of the National Rivers Authority advisory committee have been appointed for the contribution they can make in the preparations needed for the establishment of the National Rivers Authority, not to represent particular interests. There was no consultation outside Government before the appointments were made. Until the National Rivers Authority is established, it remains the statutory duty of the water authorities to encourage the use of water and land associated with it for recreation.

  Local Authorities (Finance)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total of debt charges charged to revenue account for local authorities in England and Wales for each year from 1980–81 to 1987–88; and what percentage this represents of gross revenue expenditure.

  Mr. Ridley
  The information for local authorities in England and Wales, is as follows:

  Rate Fund Revenue Account; debt charges and gross revenue expenditure

  Debt charges £1

  Gross revenue expenditure £ million

  Debt charges1 Per cent.

  1980–81

  2,134

  25,215

  8·5

  1981–82

  2,268

  27,810

  8·2

  1982–83

  2,162

  30,197

  7·2

  1983–84

  2,165

  32,366

  6·7

  1984–85

  2,443

  34,286

  7·1

  1985–86

  2,678

  35,105

  7·6

  21986–87

  2,373

  37,113

  6·4

  1 As percentage of gross revenue expenditure.

  2 Provisional.

  The information is not available for 1987–88.

  Debt charges are also incurred on housing revenue account and in respect of trading services.

  River Thames (Pollution)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the effect of pollution and the greenhouse effect on water levels in the Thames.
  60
  Mr. Moynihan
  The Thames water authority operates a network of eight tidal gauges to monitor the level of sea water in the Thames estuary. There is a chain of such gauges around the coast of the United Kingdom.

  The Department has initiated a research programme into the greenhouse effect which will consider, amongst other things, the impact of any rise in sea level.

  Lululla Arborea
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 26 May,Official Report, column 310, if he will give details of the consultations between representatives of the EEC member states concerning the proposal to include Lululla arborea in appendix II of the Berne convention; what objections were made to its inclusion and by which countries.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Department does not hold details of the objections made by other member states.

  Water Authorities Association
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how much money has been expended by the Water Authorities Association on the services of merchant bankers Kleinwort Benson, in their capacity as advisors to the Water Authorities Association on water privatisation.

  Mr. Moynihan
  None.

  Halton Moor Estate, Leeds
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether his Department will organise a ballot of tenants on Halton Moor estate, Leeds, as to whether they wish to become part of a housing action trust; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what weight he will give to the results of a ballot organised by tenants of Halton Moor estate, Leeds, as to whether they wish to become part of a housing action trust; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Roe
  My Department has no plans to ballot tenants. However, final decisions on the areas to be designated as housing action trusts will be taken in the light of local views. My right hon. Friend wrote on 11 July to all residents in the Halton Moor estate who might be affected by the establishment of a housing action trust, and I met representatives of tenants groups in Leeds on Friday.

  Imports and Exports (Sale Control)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures are being taken to monitor compliance with article 6 of EEC regulation 3626/82 in the United Kingdom, and to enforce the provisions of this article.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Department has issued advice on article 6 sale controls in its "Supplementary Notice to Importers and Exporters No. 6" and looks into any cases brought to its attention. Where appropriate the relevant enforcement agency will be advised.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many alleged infractions of article 6 of EEC Regulations 3626/82 have been drawn to the attention of his Department; and what were the results of investigations of these cases.
  61
  Mr. Moynihan
  This information is not readily available, as the Department has no central record of alleged infractions.

  Staffordshire County Council
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will adjust the rate support grant to pay additional moneys to Staffordshire county council equal to the amount of repayments made to the Severn-Trent authority as a result of the Cakebread decision on sewage hereditaments.

  Mr. Chope
  We are considering the representations which have been made about the implications of the Court of Appeal's judgment in the Cakebread case. Rate support grant can, however, be paid only in accordance with the latest rate support grant report for each year. We shall be issuing proposals for supplementary reports for 1985–86 to 1988–89 and consulting on them later this year.

  Block Grant
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his statement on 7 July,Official Report, columns 1199–1201, when he proposes to introduce legislation to modify the way in which block grant payments are to be calculated for the remaining years of the present rate support grant system.

  Mr. Ridley
  I plan to introduce a short Bill later this Session.

  Homes Insulation Scheme
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review the homes insulation scheme introduced on 1 February.

  Mrs. Roe
  An amendment to the homes insulation scheme has today been laid before Parliament which increases the maximum grant payable under the scheme. Householders in eligible dwellings in receipt of housing benefit, income support or family credit can thus qualify for grant towards the cost of loft insulation of 90 per cent. of the cost of works up to the new maximum amount of £144. The increase should enable those on lower incomes to continue to afford loft insulation and derive benefits in terms of energy savings or increased warmth. The amendment to the scheme, which includes a revised schedule of materials approved for grant purposes, applies to England, Scotland and Wales, and will come into effect on 15 August 1988.

  Poisoned Bait
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give by number and species wild birds known to have been killed by the use of poisoned bait between 1 January 1979 and 30 June 1988.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: This information is not available.

  Badgers
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has on the number of badgers that are killed each year.
  62
  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: No records are kept of badger deaths. However, the Nature Conservancy Council estimates that several thousand are killed annually on the roads. This is the major cause of human-induced mortality of badgers.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the operation of the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985 concerning the protection of badgers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: Yes. The amendment Act strengthened the protection of badgers by reversing the burden of proof upon a defendant, who will be presumed to have committed an offence unless he can show otherwise in cases of the alleged unlawful taking, injuring or killing a badger and in cases of alleged digging for a badger. This remedied a significant weakness in the Badgers Act 1973 and was an important step forward.

  Litter
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what research his Department has undertaken on the on-the-spot-fines for litter dropping: and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will introduce legislation to allow local authorities to levy on-the-spot fines for litter dropping; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations he has received concerning on-the-spot fines for litter dropping; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what powers local authorities have to impose on-the-spot fines for litter dropping; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) what is his Department's policy of on-the-spot fines for litter dropping; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: We have received a number of representations over the past 12 months about the desirability of on-the-spot fines, or, more accurately, fixed penalties for litter offences. Under the City of Westminster Act 1988, which came into force in March, the city council has; powers to operate such fixed penalty system. The council has established a monitoring group, on which the Department is represented, to assess the effectiveness of the system, which we regard as a valuable experiment. If successful, we would wish to consider whether the system should be extended more widely.

  Tyfoam
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on the safety implications of the contents of Tyfoam, certificated as a method of repair for wall tie failure.

  Mr. Trippier
  No representations have been made to the Department on this matter.

  Manchester-Salford-Trafford Scheme
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what details he has received of the Manchester-Salford-Trafford integrated development operation scheme; what is his policy on this scheme; if he
  63
  has sent the application to the European Community; if he will give details of the timetable for consideration of this scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  A revised application for an integrated development operation for Manchester-Salford-Trafford is currently being jointly considered by the Departments of Trade and Industry, Employment and this Department. Subject to Government approval of the application, it will shortly be forwarded to the United Kingdom permanent representative to the European Community, who will lodge it with the European Commission. Thereafter, the timetable for processing the application rests with the European Commission.

  Environmental Projects
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to ensure that an environmental statement is provided in respect of those projects listed in annex II of the European Community directive 85/337 on environmental assessment which are likely to have significant environmental effects; and what criteria will be applied in selecting projects which require such statements.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 (S.I. No. 1199) implement the EC directive for projects in England and Wales which require planning permission. DOE circular 15/88 (Welsh Office 23/88) gives advice to local planning authorities on the implementation of the regulations, including on those circumstances in which environmental assessment under annex II may be needed. Further instruments have been made and advice issued by Ministers concerned with other projects to which the directive applies.

  Dwellings sold by Local Authorities:

  DOE Administrative Regions, Wales and Scotland 1983–84 to 1987–88

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1 1987–88

  (a) Total number of dwellings sold

  North

  8,580

  5,170

  4,750

  4,860

  5,030

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  9,560

  7,170

  6,980

  7,190

  9,870

  East Midlands

  10,300

  6,920

  7,190

  7,850

  10,530

  Eastern

  15,800

  14,330

  12,400

  13,320

  15,200

  Greater London

  15,100

  14,660

  14,190

  13,800

  18,900

  South East

  18,140

  15,610

  12,980

  14,000

  15,420

  South West

  10,890

  8,850

  7,760

  8,180

  9,710

  West Midlands

  15,730

  10,030

  7,280

  8,520

  10,590

  North West

  17,940

  8,640

  8,790

  8,420

  9,600

  Wales

  7,420

  5,310

  4,980

  5,830

  5,750

  Scotland2

  13,010

  11,670

  10,450

  10,950

  14,010

  (b) Average value of dwellings sold: £'000

  North

  14·2

  15·1

  15·6

  16·4

  17·2

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  14·1

  14·7

  15·5

  17·0

  18·0

  East Midlands

  14·7

  15·9

  16·6

  18·8

  20·4

  Eastern

  21·9

  24·4

  26·9

  31·5

  37·8

  Greater London

  26·5

  30·1

  34·7

  40·8

  45·5

  South East

  23·8

  26·3

  29·5

  33·5

  39·4

  South West

  19·0

  20·9

  22·4

  25·2

  28·0

  West Midlands

  15·7

  16·1

  18·4

  17·7

  20·0

  North West

  12·3

  15·5

  15·8

  16·9

  18·3

  Wales

  ..

  15·4

  16·9

  17·8

  18·9

  Scotland2

  16·7

  18·3

  19·4

  20·8

  21·6

  64
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce measures to ensure that developments promoted under private legislation, including estuarine barrages, are subject to environmental assessment procedures; and if he will make it his policy that there be a requirement on the promoter to prepare an environmental statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is for Parliament to determine the procedures to be adopted for the approval of private legislation. I understand the Joint Committee on Private Bill Procedure is considering the question of environmental assessment. Where the Government themselves promote legislation to approve a project which would have required environmental assessment if the saving in article 1.5 of the EC directive did not apply, they will ensure that an environmental statement is prepared on the project.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for Scotland, Wales and each English region the number of council houses sold in the past five financial years and his estimate for 1988, together with the average valuation and the average price received.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The readily available information on sales by local authorities, new town and the Scottish Special Housing Association, excluding block sales, is given in the table. Corresponding estimates are not available for 1988–89, but forecasts for sales by English local authorities were included in the public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 288–II) published in January.
  65

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  11987–88

  (c) Average selling price of dwellings sold: £'000

  North

  8·1

  8·6

  8·6

  9·1

  8·9

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  8·1

  8·3

  8·3

  9·0

  9·4

  East Midlands

  8·5

  8·9

  9·1

  10·3

  10·8

  Eastern

  12·6

  13·6

  14·4

  17·0

  19·5

  Greater London

  16·1

  17·0

  19·4

  22·0

  23·7

  South East

  13·7

  14·6

  15·7

  18·0

  20·4

  South West

  11·1

  11·6

  12·2

  13·6

  14·8

  West Midlands

  9·1

  9·1

  9·7

  9·4

  10·7

  North West

  7·1

  8·9

  8·4

  9·0

  9·8

  Wales

  ..

  8·5

  8·7

  9·3

  9·6

  Scotland2

  9·3

  9·9

  10·0

  10·6

  10·1

  1 Provisional

  2 Scottish figures for sales to sitting tenants only

  .. Not available.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Administrative Trainees
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he is planning any change in the methods by which administration trainees are recruited.

  Mr. Luce
  The Government have no plans to change the basic principles of fair and open competition. Changes are made to procedures from time to time.

  Civil Service College
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many outside organisations use the facilities offered by the Civil Service college; and what was the financial contribution so gained over the last 12-month period for which records are available.

  Mr. Luce
  Twenty outside organisations used the college's facilities during the period 1 July 1987 to 30 June 1988 and the financial contribution gained was £125,000. The college earned a further £102,000 by letting its facilities to 11 Government Departments. I greatly welcome the use of college facilities by students from the private sector.

  Terms and Conditions of Service
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when he next proposes to meet the Civil Service trades unions to discuss terms and conditions of service.

  Mr. Luce
  I have informal meetings from time to time with representatives of the Civil Service trade unions.

  Official Secrets Act 1911
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the future role of the Civil Service discipline code in the light of the publication of the White Paper, Cm. 408, on the reform of Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911.

  Mr. Luce
  As the White Paper on reform of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 made clear, the disciplinary code will continue to be applied against unauthorised disclosure of information.

  Conduct and Discipline
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what steps are being taken to improve consultation on conduct and discipiinary issues with the Civil Service unions.

  Mr. Luce
  There are established procedures for discussing these matters with the Civil Service unions.

  Civil Servants (Previous Employment)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants have previously been employed as teachers or researchers in a full-time capacity in a higher education establishment.

  Mr. Luce
  This information is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Next Steps Initiative
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what progress is being made with the "next steps" initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  Following my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's announcement on 18 February, the project manager and his team have been working on the implementation of this initiative.

  The purpose of Next Steps is to improve management in the Civil Service. The main element is the establishment of individual executive agencies to carry out executive functions. Twelve initial candidates were listed in February and a further 17 candidates have since been announced, including the DHSS social security operations. In total these 29 activities1 cover over 170,000 people.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport is today announcing that he is establishing the vehicle inspectorate within his Department as the first executive agency, with effect from 1 August 1988. We expect that the next will be the companies registration office, DHSS resettlement units, and the employment service. Work on the other candidates is progressing well and at the same time Departments are considering with the project manager the rest of their operations in line with the Government's acceptance of the recommendation that on the greatest extent practicable the executive functions of Goverment should be carried out by agencies.
  67
  Establishing agencies is only part of the task. The project manager has drawn up an action plan in conjunction with Departments aimed at reorienting training and career management, so that staff are properly trained and experienced in the management of the delivery of services. At the same time, attention is being paid to the scope for giving greater personal responsibility to managers throughout the service, including the scope for increased financial flexibilities and more local responsibilities in pay and personnel matters.

  I shall make a further report to the House before the end of this calendar year.

  Business Statistics Office1

  Civil Service College

  Civil Service Occupational Health Service

  Companies Registration Office

  Defence non-nuclear research establishments

  Department of Registers for Scotland

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Directorate

  Driver Testing and Training

  Employment Service

  Export Services, DTI

  Historic Buildings and Monuments Directorate

  Historic Royal Palaces

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office

  Insolvency Service, DTI

  Laboratory of Government Chemist

  Meteorological Office

  National Physical Laboratory

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  Passport Department

  Patent Office

  QEII Conference Centre

  Radiocommunications Division, DTI

  Regional Offices, DTI

  Resettlement Units

  Royal Parks

  Social Security operations

  Vehicle Component Approval Division, DTp

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  Warren Springs Laboratory

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what is the latest figures for estimated spending in 1988–89 by his Office on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material;

  (2) what is the latest figure for the number of staff presently employed on press and public relations in his office;

  (3) what is the latest figure for the estimated expenditure by his office on press and public relations during 1988–89.

  Mr. Luce
  I refer to the answers given on Thursday 21 July by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to identical questions tabled by the hon. Member.

THE ARTS

  Northern England
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what percentage of the Arts Council budget is spent in the north of England.

  Mr. Luce
  In 1987–88, 5·8 per cent. of the budget was spent in the area covered by Northern Arts.

  Theatre Royal, Stratford, East
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will provide additional funds for the Theatre royal, Stratford, East.

  Mr. Luce
  I do not fund individual theatres direct. The level of funding is a matter for Greater London Arts.

  Student Exchange
  Mr Key
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on exchanges of drama and production students between the United Kingdom and overseas countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Luce
  No detailed information is available, but I welcome the fact that such exchanges will be facilitated by the International Foundation for Training in the Arts, launched earlier this month.

  Arts Support (Economic Benefits)
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how far Government provision for support of the arts takes into account the benefits to the national economy.

  Mr. Luce
  I am glad to acknowledge the importance of the performing and visual arts, and of the museums, galleries and libraries, to the nation's quality of life and to the education and economic opportunities and the environment of people in this country. The arts are a significant and expanding sector of the economy, a valuable stimulus to tourism, and a source of export earnings for Britain. This is a source both of congratulation and of opportunity to the arts and heritage sectors.

  Musical Instruments (Over-tuning)
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the destruction of instruments by publicly funded orchestras as a result of over-tuning.

  Mr. Luce
  None.

  Scottish Arts Council
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Scottish Arts Council; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Luce
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his earlier question on 4 July, at c. 466.

  East London
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will pay an official visit to the Hackney empire to discuss funding of the Arts in East London.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make an official visit to Hackney Arts organisations to discuss funding for the Arts in East London.

  Mr. Luce
  I have no plans to do so. Funding of the Arts in East London is a matter for the Arts Council and the Greater London Arts Association.

  Arts Council
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will undertake a review of the structure of the Arts Council.
  69
  Mr. Luce
  I have the structure and operations of the council, and of the other public bodies for which I am responsible, regularly in mind.

  Midlands Art (Funding)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will pay an official visit to Stoke to discuss funding for the arts in the midlands.

  Mr. Luce
  I have no immediate plans to visit Stoke-on-Trent. Funding for the arts in the midlands is the responsibility of the Arts Council and the West Midlands and East Midlands Arts Associations.

  New Businesses
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts to what extent those involved in the arts have benefited from Government schemes to encourage new businesses.

  Mr. Luce
  As at 11 April 1988, 8,646 people involved in the arts were supported through the enterprise allowance scheme, representing 9 per cent. of the total number of people on the scheme. The Small Firms Service provides business advice and guidance to artists in terms of local market research, sales strategy, export procedures and copyright, and training is available through the training for enterprise scheme.

  Management Skills
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Minister for the Arts to what extent arts bodies are able to acquire management skills either from the Arts Council or from his Department.

  Mr. Luce
  One of the objectives of the Arts Council is to improve business efficiency and management skills in the bodies it supports. I have also earmarked sums for similar purposes in the grants to the national museums and galleries.

  Modern Dance
  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what resources are made available by his Department for the encouragement of modern dance.

  Mr. Luce
  The Arts Council direct funding for dance in 1988–89 is £12–71 million; the regional arts associations also fund dance. The allocation to modern dance is not available as a separate figure.

  Community Theatres
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what funds were made available by his Department for community theatres for each year since 1983.

  Mr. Luce
  Funding of community theatres is, for the most part, the responsibility of regional arts associations. The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Museums
  Mr. Chapman
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the number, type and geographical spread of museums and Government financial support for them.
  70
  Mr. Luce
  The report on the museums database project indicates that in 1985 there were 2,131 museums and galleries in the United Kingdom. Of these, 7 per cent. were directly funded by central Government, 41 per cent. were local authority museums, and the remaining 52 per cent. were operated by companies, charitable institutions, voluntary associations, private individuals, nationalised industries, educational institutions or other bodies.

  The geographical spread was as follows:

  Per cent.

  Yorks/Humberside

  3·2

  South West

  11·2

  South East

  47·4

  Wales

  7·8

  East Midlands

  2·6

  North

  4·3

  North West

  6·0

  Scotland

  7·8

  West Midlands

  2·6

  Northern Ireland

  6·0

  Central Government expenditure on museums and galleries (including support for non-national institutions) borne on the votes of the Office of Arts and Libraries was £95·5 million in 1985–86 and is expected to be some £153·6 million this year.

  Library Services (Commercial Organisations)
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether any libraries currently provide free information services to commercial organisations.

  Mr. Luce
  Most library authorities provide some form of free information service to commercial organisations in their area. The range and extent of information provided, however, vary greatly.

  Museums and Galleries (Charges)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has about the number of national museums and art galleries operating admission charges.

  Mr. Luce
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 26 May this year, at columns 259–60.

  Tourism
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his estimate of the contribution to inward tourism made by the arts in Great Britain.

  Mr. Luce
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 4 July 1988, at column 465.

  Anglo-Chinese Cultural Exchange
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what encouragement is being given by his Department to further Anglo-Chinese cultural exchanges.

  Mr. Luce
  Mr. Wang Meng, the Chinese Minister for Culture, recently visited this country, and we had useful discussions. However, cultural exchanges with China are primarily a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and the British Council, who have negotiated a new cultural exchange programme for 1988–90, which was signed in Peking in April of this year.

  London Theatre Trust
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make additional resources available to the London Theatre Trust.

  Mr. Luce
  The Theatres Trust derives its income from the rent for the Garrick and Lyric theatres, and is likely to receive a rent for the Lyceum theatre in due course. I have no plans to make additional resources available.

  Public Lending Right Scheme
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many authors are now registered under the public lending right scheme; and what increased funding the Government have awarded the scheme in the last year.

  Mr. Luce
  New registrations have brought the number of authors registered with the public lending right scheme to over 16,200. I was pleased to be able to announce increased funding from 1988–89 bringing the fund to £3–5 million, an increase of 27 per cent.; and its highest level in real terms since the scheme was implemented.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number and proportion of people who have been out of work for over five years for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Lee
  Following is the available information. Claimants unemployed for over five years were not separately identified before April 1983. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants who have been unemployed for over five years in the United Kingdom expressed numerically and as a percentage of the total unemployed claimants for April of each year from 1983 to 1988.

  Unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom unemployed overfive years

  April

  Number

  Percentage of total claimants

  1983

  66,842

  2·1

  1984

  84,286

  2·7

  1985

  136,259

  4·2

  1986

  220,655

  6·6

  Table A

  Unemployed registrants April 1979

  Unemployed claimants April 1988

  Country

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  England

  739,806

  280,194

  1,360,569

  607,994

  Scotland

  117,693

  57,897

  218,158

  90,926

  Wales

  58,729

  25,489

  100,202

  39,871

  Northern Ireland

  43,002

  17,785

  86,782

  31,487

  72

  April

  Number

  Percentage of total claimants

  1987

  272,047

  8·8

  1988

  271,242

  10·7

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present rate of unemployment in the boroughs that make up inner London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The information requested is not available. Unemployment rates are not calculated for areas smaller than travel-to-work areas.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest total national unemployment figures; and how many of these people have been unemployed for more than five, six, seven, eight and nine years, respectively.

  Mr. Lee
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: Figures are not separately identified for all the durations requested. However the following is the available information. The table shows for 14 April 1988, the latest date for which analysis by duration is available, the number of unemployed claimants who had been unemployed for five years or more, together with the total number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom. United Kingdom.

  United Kingdom

  Total number of unemployed claimants

  2,535,989

  Number of claimants unemployed for five years or more

  271,242

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were(a) unemployed and (b) unemployed for 52 weeks or more in April 1979 and April 1988 in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland, broken down by sex.

  Mr. Lee
  Direct comparisons of unemployment by duration since 1979 are not possible because of changes in coverage of the count. Following is the available information which is also in the Library. Table A shows the number of male and female, unemployed registrants in April 1979 and unemployed claimants in April 1988, in each country. Table B shows corresponding figures according to the number of unemployed claimants and registrants who had been unemployed for one year or more.
  73

  Table B

  Registrants unemployed one year or more April 1979

  Claimants unemployed one year or more April 1988

  Country

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  223,622

  54,810

  604,205

  187,074

  Scotland

  35,213

  10,365

  95,910

  27,964

  Wales

  18,047

  4,738

  41,225

  10,830

  Northern Ireland

  16,654

  3,262

  50,841

  11,157

  Factory Inspectors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what regions each factory inspector covers; and how many are in post.

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

  Factory inspectors based in the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) area offices do not generally inspect by geographical region but work in industry groups and have a range of inspection responsibilities throughout the district covered by the area office. The following table shows the areas of the country covered by each of the 20 HSE area offices:

  Area office

  Area covered

  Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset,

  01

  South West

  Gloucester, Scilly Isle Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire,

  02

  South

  Dorset, Isle of Wight

  03

  South East London North and South

  East and West Sussex, Surrey, Kent

  05/06

  London

  07

  East Anglia

  Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk

  Northern Home

  Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire,

  08

  Counties

  Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire Leicestershire, Oxfordshire,

  09

  East Midlands

  Northamptonshire, Warwickshire

  10

  West Midlands

  West Midlands

  11

  Wales

  Wales Staffordshire, Shropshire,

  12

  Marches

  Herefordshire, Worcestershire Derbyshire, Lincolnshire,

  13

  North Midlands South Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire

  14

  and Humberside West and North

  South Yorkshire, Humberside

  15

  Yorkshire Greater

  West and North Yorkshire

  16

  Manchester

  Greater Manchester

  17

  Merseyside

  Merseyside, Cheshire

  18

  North West

  Lancashire, Cumbria Tyne and Wear, Cleveland,

  19

  North East

  Northumberland, Durham Borders, Lothian, Central Fife, Tayside, Grampian, Highland,

  20

  Scotland East

  Island Areas Dumfries and Galloway, Strathclyde,

  21

  Scotland West

  Western Isles

  On 1 July 1988, a total of 548 factory inspectors were in post in HSE's factory inspectorate and 48 were working elsewhere in HSE.

  Collective Agreements
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will update the answer given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead on the numbers of men and women covered by collective agreements for each year 74
  since 1982, and the proportion of men and women workers represented by these numbers at 27 July, Official Report, columns 320–21.

  Mr. Lee
  It is still the case that information is available on a regular basis only in respect of manual employees covered by national collective agreements and statutory wages orders. The information is readily available only for every second year and is as follows:

  Estimated numbers covered

  Million

  1983

  7·8

  1985

  7·3

  1987

  6·6

  Source: Time Rates of Wages and Hours of Work.

  Some figures on the relative numbers of employees covered by various types of collective agreement—national, district, company and so on—or by no collective agreement, covering both manual and non-manual employees and distinguishing males and females, were obtained in the new earnings survey for 1985 and were published in part F (tables 187 to 194) of the report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  YTS
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the London borough of Newham are available for the youth training scheme; and how many places there are in the borough.

  Mr. Cope
  Figures for the number of young people in Newham who are available for YTS are kept by the local authority careers service and are not available to the Department. However, based on entrants last year and taking into account extra entrants this September the Training Commission estimate that there will be some 320 entrants in 1988–89. There are currently 447 YTS places available in Newham.

  Child Care
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to implement those recommendations within his area of responsibility of the European Commission's childcare network report: "Caring for Children-Services and Policies for Childcare and Equal Opportunities in the United Kingdom".

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend received this report at the end of June. It is an interesting document and we are considering it.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many pilot schemes for the employment training initiative are in operation excluding lead development projects.

  Mr. Nicholls
  None. However, a wide range of development activities have been set up covering the issues and themes which will be addressed in employment training.

  Textile Industry
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing what information he has on the percentage change in the number of full-time equivalent workers in the textile industry, in each EEC member country since 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  Insufficient detail is available in the employment estimates for Community members to permit comparisons on a full-time equivalent basis. The available information relates to all employees and is as follows:

  Employees in the textile industries Percentage change between 1979 and 1986

  Per cent.

  Belgium

  -13·5

  Italy

  1-14·9

  France

  -23·7

  Germany

  -23·8

  Spain

  -30·0

  Netherlands

  -36·4

  United Kingdom

  -38·3

  Ireland

  -42·7

  1 Change up to 1985.

  Source: Employment and Unemployment 1988 (Eurostat).

  These percentages are based on statistics which have been harmonised to allow for methodological differences between countries, but, like all international comparisons of labour market statistics, they should be treated with caution as it is difficult to obtain data for different countries on a wholly consistent basis.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all the agencies currently operating Manpower Services Commission schemes, and name any agency which has intimated that it will not be taking part in the new adult training scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Details of organisations taking part in Training Commission schemes are not kept centrally and the cost of providing the list requested would be disproportionate.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action will be taken against training managers and training agents who fail to meet the performance requirements of the Manpower Services Commission; whether details of such failures will be made public together with the reasons for such a failure; what criteria will be set for the expulsion of agents and managers from the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Those training agents and training managers who fail to satisfy the criteria for approved 76
  status in employment training will not be allowed to continue to operate in the programme. In all cases where the Training Commission rejects an application for approved status, clear reasons will be given to the organisation concerned, stating which criteria the organisation has failed to satisfy. The Training Commission reserves the right to withdraw approved status from any organisation which fails to meet the criteria.

  The commission will keep a record of the number of contracts for employment training; the number of applications for approved status; the numbers of applications approved or rejected; and the number of organisations whose approved status is subsequently withdrawn.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether a full list of all training managers and training agents under the new adult training scheme will be made available together with total payments made to each manager or agent by the Manpower Services Commission; and if such figures will be published in the locality in which they operate.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A list of training managers and training agents in employment training will be drawn up for publication next year. The names of training managers and training agents operating in any Training Commission area will be available locally from the start of the programme in September. Details of payments made to particular organisations are commercially confidential and will not normally be available on an individual basis.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Manpower Services Commission review of approved training agents and approved training managers will include a report on trainers' adherence to the articles of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Race Relations Act 1976.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Each training agent and training manager contracting with the Training Commission to deliver employment training is required to apply for approved status. There are nine criteria on which the Training Commission will need to be satisfied before approved status is awarded. One of those criteria relates to the operation of our equal opportunities policy and includes reporting on adherence to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Race Relations Act 1976.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he established the balance as between the number of places for project-based training as against the number in the unified training programme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Employment training is planned to provide a total of some 300,000 training places of which 194,000 will offer practical training on projects. This is broadly the same number of project places currently available for participants on the community programme.

  Community Programme
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to protect the 12-month contracts of those employed on the community programme; if these contracts will be honoured at present levels of remuneration; and if he will make a statement.
  77
  Mr. Nicholls
  All participants who joined the community programme before 1 March 1988 are entitled to 12 months on community programme wages and conditions. Those participants who started after 1 March 1988 are entitled to six months on community programme wages and conditions, and this was made clear to them when they entered the programme.

  The community programme will be superseded by employment training in September. Participants will be able to complete their six or 12 months on community programme wages and conditions. However, they may choose at any time to become trainees and receive the weighted training allowance for the balance of their time on employment training.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment why supervisors and trainers within the present community programme are to lose their jobs with the introduction of the adult training scheme; and what level of job losses are expected from the introduction of the scheme in September.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Training Commission funds the cost of managers and supervisors separately from other costs on the community programme. Under employment training the commission will pay a single fee to cover all the costs of training, including management and supervisory costs. Training managers will then use these fees as they judge will most efficiently provide appropriate support for trainees on the new programme.

  It is expected that very many current community programme managers and supervisors will be offered employment by training managers who will contract with the Training Commission to provide training under employment training. In other cases, managers and supervisors may be offered employment by organisations subcontracting with training managers.

  Restart Scheme
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people who have attended a Restart interview since July 1986 have been placed directly into employment.

  Mr. Lee
  Between July 1986 and May 1988, some 345,000 people interviewed under the Restart programme were referred to job vacancies. We do not know how many Restart clients end up in a job or other opportunity after a Restart interview since we do not follow up referral.

  Adult Training
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now take steps to reimburse trainees in the adult training programme all their travel-to-work expenses.

  Mr. Nicholls
  For participants in employment training, necessary travel costs over £5 per week will be met by the Training Commission, as was recommended by the commission in its report to the Government. This follows practice on other Training Commission programmes where training allowances are paid, and where trainees are expected to meet costs up to a certain amount. However, training managers and their sub-contractors in employment training will be able to meet the first £5 of trainees' costs without any effect on trainees' allowance, or tax and benefit position.
  78
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether all participants in the new adult training scheme will be regarded as employees for the purposes of health and safety regulations; if he will outline the responsibility of employers to employees for the provision of safety equipment and clothing whether designated as essential by the Health and Safety at Work etc, Act or necessary under the employers' own regulations for employment; if such safety equipment and clothing will be made available to trainees without cost to them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State laid before Parliament on Friday 22 July regulations which give all participants on the new employment training scheme the same rights as employees for the purposes of health and safety legislation.

  Protective clothing and equipment is specifically required to be provided for certain types of work, under health and safety regulations. Section 9 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 prohibits employers from charging employees in these circumstances. Employers also have general duties under the Act to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees. These duties may include providing safety equipment and clothing to employees free of charge depending on the particular circumstances of the work.

  Mines and Quarries Inspectorate
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of persons employed as inspectors by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate and the average number of inspections made by each inspector per year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 July 1988, a total of 73 inspectors were employed in Her Majesty's mines and quarries inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive. During 1987–88 the inspectorate rnade over 15,000 visits to premises. This figure includes preventive inspections, investigations of accidents and dangerous occurrences, follow-up visits, meetings with management and safety representatives, and general advisory and edueational work; some visits combined more than one of these purposes. Consequently it would be misleading to refer to an average rate per inspector.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many mines and quarries are eligible for inspection by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate; and how many inspections are expected to be carried out in the present year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  All mines and quarries are eligible for inspections under the Mines and Quarries Act 1954 by the Health and Safety Executive's mines and quarries inspectorate. At present, there are 123 British Coal mines, 197 licensed coal mines and 77 miscellaneous mines which produce a variety of other minerals. There are also approximately 3,000 quarries, including 194 opencast sites. It is planned to carry out 15,000 visits to these premises during the 1988–89 year.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of inspections
  79
  made to mines and quarries within the United Kingdom by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholls
  During the year 1987–88, the Health and Safety Executive's mines and quarries inspectorate recorded 7,066 visits to mines, 4,438 visits to quarries and 745 visits to opencast coal sites. In addition, there were 72 visits to mines rescue stations and 199 to other premises. A further 2,442 visits were made to mines and quarries offices.

  Agricultural Inspectorate
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of establishments which require visits from the agricultural inspectorate; how many such visits were made in the last year for which figures are available; and how many inspections are expected to be made in the present year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive's agricultural inspectorate is the enforcing authority for 279,051 establishments. In the year ended 31 March 1988 a total of 33,408 visits were made to such premises, of which 1,865 were investigations of accidents or complaints. It is anticipated that 34,390 visits will be made in the current year of which 30,940 will be inspections.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are employed as agricultural inspectors; and on average how many inspections they each make a year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 July 1988, a total of 148 inspectors were employed in Her Majesty's agricultural inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive. During 1987–88, the inspectorate made over 39,000 visits to premises. This figure includes planned preventive inspections, follow-up visits, investigations of accidents and dangerous occurrences, meetings with management and safety representatives, and general advisory and educational work; some visits combined more than one of these purposes. Consequently, it would be misleading to refer to an average rate per inspector.

  Factory Inspectorate
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of establishments in the United Kingdom which are eligible for inspection by the factory inspectorate; how many such factory inspections took place in the last year for which figures are available; and how many inspections are expected to be made in the present year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available in the form requested. On 31 March 1988 in Great Britain there were 401,923 fixed premises registered with the factory inspectorate.

  Between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1988, factory inspectors made 69,437 preventive inspection visits to fixed premises and it is anticipated that 70,000 preventive inspections will be made in the present year. It is not possible to identify separately visits to factories.

  Figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of factory 80
  inspectors employed in the United Kingdom; and if he will give an average number of visits each individual factory inspector will make in a year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 July 1988, a total of 548 inspectors were employed in Her Majesty's factory inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive. During 1987–88, the inspectorate made over 173,000 visits to premises. This figure includes planned preventive inspections, follow-up visits, investigations of accidents and dangerous occurrences, meetings with management and safety representatives, and general advisory and educational work; some visits combined more than one of these purposes. Consequently, it would be misleading to refer to an average rate per inspector.

  The figures relate to Great Britain. Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Tourism
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment his Department has made of the likely impact on the tourist industry in East Anglia afforded by the opening of the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  None. However, the British Tourist Authority's Channel tunnel national tourism working party has produced a report, "The Channel Tunnel—An opportunity and a challenge for British Tourism", a summary of which has been sent to all Members of both Houses of Parliament. This report examines the potential for regions other than the south-east to benefit from the increase in tourists from the continent. A copy of the full report is available from the Library.

  Industrial Accidents
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of deaths resulting from all industrial accidents in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The available information is as follows:

  Reported occupational injuries in Great Britain, resulting in death to

  Year

  Employees only

  Employees and self employed

  Members of the public arising from work activity

  1977

  524

  —

  —

  11978

  —

  622

  —

  1979

  —

  615

  —

  1980

  —

  579

  —

  21981

  —

  3499

  75

  1982

  —

  517

  84

  1983

  —

  508

  88

  1984

  —

  496

  101

  1985

  —

  3473

  5159

  71986

  —

  108

  24

  61986–87

  —

  410

  91

  Notes:

  1 1978–80 fatalities include some involving non-employees voluntarily reported.

  2 1981–1985 and 1986 (Jan–March) fatalities to employees, the self-employed and the non-employed reported to the Health and Safety Executive or other appropriate enforcing authority under, and as defined in the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (NADOR).
  81
  3 Figures for 1981 and 1985 have been recently corrected and vary slightly from previously published figures.

  4 Year commencing 1 April 1986 when the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) came into force.

  5 Includes the 56 people killed in the Bradford Football Club disaster.

  6 Provisional.

  7 First quarter.

  Oil Industry (North Sea)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he proposes to take to prevent workers being blacklisted by the oil industry in the North sea; and what evidence is available to him on the extent of this practice.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I have no evidence of such blacklisting and no proposals for action. Employers are free to employ whoever they feel is best suited to the job, provided they do not discriminate unlawfully on grounds of race or sex.

  Opencast Coal Mining (Medical Surveys)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received a copy of the medical surveys in Kent linking high levels of serious illness with dust from opencast coal mining; and if he will carry out similar surveys in other areas of England where there is opencast coal mining and other activities generating significant levels of dust.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I am not aware of any authoritative medical surveys on this issue or of proposals for any to be carried out.

  Child Care
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment from what age, under the training for employment scheme, child care costs for sole parents up to £50 a week are available for children.

  Mr. Lee
  holding answer 22 July 1988]: Help with the costs of necessary child care of up to £50 per week per child is available to lone parents (or guardians) who are eligible to enter employment training. The payments can be made in respect of children of all ages up to 16 where arrangements for their care have been made with a child minder, day nursery or creche registered with the local authority.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will provide a breakdown of annual long-term unemployment rates for the United Kingdom, showing the number out of work for six months and over, in the years 1978 to 1988.

  Mr. Lee
  Direct comparisons of unemployment by duration since 1978 are not possible because of changes in the coverage of the count. Following is the available information which is also in the library. Table(a) shows the percentage of unemployed registrants in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed six months or more for each year from 1979 to 1982. Table (b) shows corresponding figures according to the percentage of unemployed claimants from 1983 to 1987.
  82

  Table (a)

  Percentage of unemployed registrants in the United Kingdom unemployed over six months

  Percentage of total registrants

  1979

  42·2

  1980

  35·1

  1981

  45·1

  1982

  54·6

  Table (b)

  Percentage of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom unemployed over six months

  Percentage of total claimants

  1983

  56·0

  1984

  58·3

  1985

  59·1

  1986

  59·2

  1987

  60·0

  Note: Figures based on the average for January, April, July and October of each year.

ENERGY

  North Sea Oil and Gas Rigs (Safety)
  Mr. Jessel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received about the safety of North sea oil rigs.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I have received a number of representations about the safety of offshore installations. The Government continue to attach paramount importance to all safety matters.

  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the trend in serious accidents and dangerous occurrences in the offshore oil and gas industry over the last five years; and if he has any plans to seek to improve the safety record of the industry.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The number of serious accidents and dangerous occurrences rose between 1983 and 1986, but fell between 1986 and 1987 to around 1984 levels. The upward trend between 1984 and 1986 partly reflects improved reporting procedures. The safety of offshore workers is of paramount importance and we are determined to continue to find ways to improve the industry's safety record.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many unpublished reports of investigations into explosions and fires on North sea installations his Department holds.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, in broad terms the Department carries out over 200 inspections and between 25 and 30 accident investigations annually.

  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has called for a safety report on all platforms operating in the British sector of the North sea.

  Mr. Parkinson
  All platforms operating in the British sector of the North sea are subject to regular and systematic safety assessments involving inspection by the appropriate certifying authority, the Department of Transport and my own Department.
  83
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what access offshore oil and gas workers have to(a) trades unions and (b) the safety inspectorate.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Offshore oil and gas workers have full access to both trade unions and the safety inspectorate.

  Under a memorandum of understanding between the unions and the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association there is free access by union officials to offshore installations, where they can talk freely and confidentially to the work force.

  The manager of an offshore installation is also under a duty to ensure that the telephone number of a representative of the safety inspectorate is posted in a conspicuous place on the installation so that people working on rigs can make direct contact with the inspectorate if they feel it necessary to do so.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many fires have been reported during each month in the current year on each of the North sea oil and gas rigs.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  In total 16 fires on offshore installations in the United Kingdom continental shelf have been reported to my Department so far this year. The number of fires for each month is as follows:

  1988

  Number

  January

  3

  April

  1

  May

  5

  June

  2

  July

  5

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply of 14 July,Official Report, column 367, if he will publish such information as is available to him on the number of inspectors employed by certifying authorities on safety inspection work in the North sea in each year since 1965.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The certifying authorities estimate that in aggregate 250 man years are currently devoted to the survey of offshore installations. Comparable information for earlier years is not available.

  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many full-time and part-time inspectors were employed by his Department in the offshore industry inspectorate; and how many vacancies there were for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The number of full-time inspectors employed and the number of vacancies since 1980 is set out in the table.

  Date

  Complement

  Staff in post

  Vacancies

  1980 (June)

  28

  25

  3

  1981 (July)

  33

  31

  2

  1982 (March)

  35

  32

  3

  1985 (October)

  33

  27

  6

  1987 (March)

  44

  36

  8

  1988 (July)

  46

  37

  9

  No part-time inspectors are employed. Figures are available only for the dates shown.

  The number of staff in post has risen significantly since 1980 but has not fully kept pace with increases in
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  complement. However, recruitment initiatives since the beginning of 1988 will substantially reduce the nine vacancies outstanding in the near future. Recruitment efforts will continue.

  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what evidence his Department has about the level of inspection, maintenance and repair work carried out on offshore installations for each year since 1979; and by how much it has increased or reduced over this period.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Operators are required under the Offshore Installations (Operational Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations 1976 (SI 1976/1019) to maintain the safety of installations and their equipment and to establish a scheme providing for their regular examination, maintenance and testing. My inspectors are responsible for checking that the regulations are complied with. Details of the level of maintenance and repair work can be gathered only at disproportionate cost.

  North Sea Oil and Gas
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next plans to meet the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association to discuss North sea oil developmemt.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My right hon. Friend and I meet the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  North Sea Installations
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy for how many oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea each inspector is responsible.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Inspectors are not allocated to particular installations. Each installation is subject to inspection by inspectors of different disciplines to ensure as wide a spread of expertise as possible.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those bodies and agencies which receive copies of the reports of his Department's inspections of oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Copies of my inspector's reports are not sent to outside agencies. Any lessons to be learnt are immediately communicated to the petroleum industry by means of safety notices. An inspector will ensure that any action required is carried out by the companies concerned.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) to which body the certifying authorities for oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea report; and what is the status of their reports;

  (2) what powers the certifying authorities have to enforce adequate safety standards; and on what occasions these powers have been used and in respect of which oil and gas installations;

  (3) what criteria his Department applies in its appointment of companies to act as certifying authorities for safety purposes of oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea;
  85
  (4) to whom copies of the reports of the inspections by certifying authorities of oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea are made available.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  There are six approved independent certifying authorities appointed under the Offshore Installations (Construction and Survey) Regulations 1974 (SI. 1974/289). These are:

  Lloyd's Register of Shipping;

  American Bureau of Shipping;

  Bureau Veritas;

  Det Norske Veritas;

  Germanisher Lloyd; and

  Offshore Certification Bureau.

  The first five listed were appointed in 1974 and are internationally respected ship classification societies. The sixth, formerly known as Halcrow, Ewbank Partnership, was appointed in 1976 and comprised a group of internationally respected British consultants. Each certifying authority was appointed only after an in-depth study by specialists in my Department. These studies involved analysis of each authority's management, structure, staff and methodology in applying their experience as ship classification societies to offshore installations.

  Whilst they are required to be independent, the authorities are subjected to continuous reassessment by my Department to ensure that their technical and managerial quality is maintained. These reassessments involve further detailed studies of the methodology applied by the authorities to ensure that they comply with the law; that the most up-to-date standards are being applied in certification procedures and that they are correctly interpreting design and construction guidance notes issued by my Department which document technology relevant to offshore installations which is not readily available already in published form.

  Before issuing a certificate of fitness, the certifying authorities are required to examine plans, drawings, specifications, reports and other documents submitted by the owners of offshore installations. The certifying authorities must also carry out, or ensure that there has already been carried out, an independent assessment of the design and method of construction of each installation. They also carry out an initial major survey of each installation.

  Only when satisfied that it is proper to do so can a certifying authority issue a certificate of fitness. This is valid for up to five years, after which a further major survey must be carried out before a subsequent certificate is issued. Annual surveys of installations are also required.

  Certifying authorities and owners can agree that offshore installations should be subject to continuous assessment instead of subsequent major surveys. Under this procedure annual surveys continue to take place but additionally the installation is continuously surveyed and the need for a separate major survey every fifth year is therefore removed.

  If a certifying authority considers that a particular installation is no longer fit for its intended purpose it is required to notify the owner and me so that I can take appropriate action including if necessary the withdrawal of a certificate of fitness. The certifying authorities may, as part of their powers, impose limitations on the location, operation and movement of offshore installations. They may also decline to issue a certificate of fitness.
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  While the certifying authorities are independent and liaise directly with offshore operators, the authorities are, under the terms and conditions of their appointment, required to send me an annual report of their activities together with any report that they have prepared or obtained in carrying out their duties which I may require. Certifying authorities are not required to copy these reports to any other organisations.

  The Certifying authority for Piper Alpha was Lloyd's Register of Shipping.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the occasions when his Department has issued a safety notice to an operator of an oil and gas installation in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea requiring the operator to improve safety standards on an installation; and to which operators and in respect of which installation they were issued.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  When an inspector of my safety directorate completes an inspection he records in the operator's logbook any matters he requires the owner or offshore installation manager to do or refrain from doing. If necessary, he also leaves a list of points for attention with the offshore installation manager, (which consists of points recorded in the logbook and minor points of detail), and sends a letter to company management at the shore base. Any safety recommendation which could be of general application is notified to all offshore operators. An inspector will ensure that companies perform the action required; time limits are specified by my inspectors when required.

  Piper Alpha Disaster
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the outcome of interviews with relatives of deceased crew members of Piper Alpha about alleged gas leaks reported in the period before the explosion.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The technical investigation team has already begun to interview relatives of deceased crew members. The investigation team is anxious to hear from anyone who has any information about events surrounding the explosion.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement regarding progress in the inquiry taking place into the accident that took place on the Piper Alpha oil platform.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) on 14 July 1988, at columns 365–66. The public inquiry, under the chairmanship of the hon. Lord Cullen, will take place as soon as practicable.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the results of the search for missing bodies of victims of the Piper Alpha disaster in the North sea.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Following the accident, Her Majesty's Coastguard conducted an intensive search and rescue operation until nightfall on 8 July. Sixty seven survivors were airlifted to safety. After 8 July Occidental assumed responsibility for search operations and it has informed me that 43 bodies have now been recovered. The
  87
  company is continuing to give the highest priority to recovering the remaining bodies, but the work has been made more difficult by the extent of the damage to the platform and the need not to put further lives at risk.

  Mr. Prescott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when his Department received the report of the 1984 explosion on the Piper Alpha installation; what are the reasons for not making the report publicly available; and whether any of its recommendations were made available to employers and employees in the North sea offshore industry.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My right hon. Friend has undertaken to give the 1984 report to the public inquiry. When my right hon. Friend met the offshore unions they asked for the report to be made public as early as possible. My right hon. Friend undertook to inform Lord Cullen of the unions' views, and has now done this. It is for Lord Cullen to decide whether or when to make evidence available but my right hon. Friend has indicated to him that he has no objection to the report being made public.

  As is normal in these circumstances the 1984 report was not published. However my inspector was satisfied that following the accident, Occidental took the appropriate action.

  Bradwell Hall Reactor
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has received further information on the restart date of Bradwell Hall reactor.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate gave consent to the CEGB on 12 July 1988 to start up reactor 1 at Bradwell nuclear power station in Essex. Reactor start up commenced on 14 July. Electricity has been delivered to the grid from 15 July.

  Toronto Conference (Atmosphere Pollution)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if his Department sent representatives to the Toronto conference on "The Changing Atmosphere: Implications For Global Security; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  As I stated in a written reply to the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) on 20 July, the United Kingdom delegation to the Toronto conference on the changing atmosphere was led by the chief scientist of the Department of the Environment and included a representative from my Department.

  China
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he had during his visit to the People's Republic of China with the new Energy Minister and officials of the various corporations concerned with the energy industry about prospects for British industry in China

  Mr. Parkinson
  The Chinese energy sector has just been reorganised. I met the new Energy Minister and the presidents of each of the energy corporations. I was accompanied by a group of senior British industrialists who attended all these meetings. The Chinese expressed 88
  their great satisfaction with the contribution which United Kingdom companies are already making to the development of China's energy resources and they looked forward to expanding co-operation in future.

  Hinkley Point C Inquiry
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has sent to the inspector of the Hinkley Point C inquiry regarding the guidelines for the inquiry.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The terms in which my right hon. Friend complied with the requirements of the inquiry rules to set out the matters which appeared to him to be relevant to his consideration of the CEGB's application for Hinkley Point C were reported in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wellks (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 21 March 1988, at columns 21–22.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress of increased access to the national grid by private generators of electricity 1983.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Although the Energy Act 1983 allowed private generators common carrier access to the electricity supply industry's transmisson and distribution system, it has not gone far enough in encouraging competition. After privatisation all generators will have fair and equal access to the transmission and distribution system.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, in the light of the National Consumer Council report about his privatisation plans for the electricity industry, he will make a statement on the likely prices of electricity.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action he proposes to take in relation to prices and consumer protection, following the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  In future, electricity prices and standards of service will reflect the benefits both of competition and of the regulation of any remaining monopolies.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if there are any plans to set up a regulatory body in advance of the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mr. Rost).

  South-Western Supergrid
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board, he will raise with him the extent of the shortfall of electricity supply on the south-western supergrid in the event that no further power stations are commissioned between now and 1995; and if he will make a statement.
  89
  Mr. Parkinson
  I meet the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board on a regular basis to discuss a number of subjects. The Central Electricity Generating Board sees a need for new generating capacity in the south-west to ensure the existing security of supply.

  Alternative Energy
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what recommendations for research into alter-native energy sources he is currently considering; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Energy paper No. 55 "Renewable Energy in the United Kingdom: The Way Forward",90
  which I announced in the House on 20 June, outlines our plans for the renewable energy development programme to the year 2000.

  Brindex
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of Brindex; and what issues were discussed.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My right hon. Friend met the chairman of Brindex on 17 May. They discussed a range of matters, including the role of independent exploration companies in the exploration and development of the United Kingdom's oil and gas reserves.

  Private Sector Coal Mining
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what recent representations he has received seeking the expansion of private sector coal mining.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The Government have received a number of representations seeking increases in the statutory limits on private sector mining operations, and are giving them careful consideration.

  Nuclear Power Generation
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has received for the building of additional nuclear-powered electricity generating plants; and if he will make a statement on the future of nuclear power generation.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The CEGB has applied for consent to build a PWR at Hinkley Point in Somerset. The public inquiry is expected to start on 4 October. I understand that the CEGB also intends to apply for consent for a PWR at Wylfa, on Anglesey.

  There is a vital strategic need for the significant non-fossil fuel contribution that can be made by nuclear power generation.

  Coal Reserves
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when his Department last made an estimate of coal reserves in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Coal reserves in the United Kingdom are substantial. Responsibility for quantifying reserves in place lies with British Coal.

  Electricity Supplies (Scottish Link)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how advanced are the plans to strengthen the inter-connector link in Scotland to supply the electricity market elsewhere.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The electricity supply industry is considering the scope for strengthening the link. The Government welcome this, since use of the link should facilitate greater competition in the supply of electricity.

  Electricity Supply Industry (Noxious Emissions)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps his Department is currently taking to reduce carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by the electricity supply industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  Reductions in nitrogen oxides will follow from our agreement to the European Communities large combustion plant directive. No specific steps have been taken, or are planned, to limit emissions of carbon dioxide from power stations. However, the Government's commitment to continued diversity of fuel supply, including a sizeable non fossil fuel component, will help to limit such emissions.
  92
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about progress towards the completion of the energy market in the European Community in 1992.

  Mr. Parkinson
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Energy, described in his reply of 20 June 1988, at column 411 to the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) the inability of the Energy Council to agree conclusions at its meeting on 9 June on the Commission's paper on obstacles to the completion of the internal energy market. Officials of member states are now examining the Commission's inventory of obstacles to verify that it is complete and accurate.

  The Commission intends to submit specific proposals to the Energy Council on transparency of energy prices, during the second half of 1988 and on energy infrastructures before the end of 1989.I understand that it also expects to submit proposals on the electricity market by the end of June next year. It will draw up by the end of next year a further report on developments in this field.

  Bradwell Nuclear Power Station
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what procedures the nuclear installations inspectorate have required from the Central Electricity Generating Board for checking the integrity of the welds in the coolant gas circuit and checking for fissures in the pressure vessel at Bradwell nuclear power station.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate has required the CEGB to carry out an inspection of welds in the reactor 1 coolant gas circuit. This has been completed satisfactorily and a similar inspection programme for reactor 2 will be undertaken next year. The CEGB is also required to complete a programme of high resolution photography of certain areas of the reactor pressure vessels by the spring of 1989, which will add further confidence to the reactor pressure vessel safety case.

  Fast Reactor Programme
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about future British participation in the European collaborative fast reactor programme.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in the House on 21 July 1988, at column 1288.

  Pressurised Fluidised Bed Combustion Project, Grimethorpe
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with British Coal on the funding of the second phase of the pressurised fluidised bed combustion project at Grimethorpe.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My officials have been kept informed of British Coal's proposals through discussions under the aegis of the International Energy Agency, and within ACORD.

  Coal Industry Dispute
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will obtain from the chairman of British Coal an up-to-date report of the number of miners sacked during the 1984–85 coal strike who have now been reinstated.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  No. The dismissal and re-employment of mineworkers is a matter for the management of the British Coal Corporation.

  Deep-mined Coal
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the production of deep-mined coal in Scotland and the amount expected to be burned in power stations in Scotland during the remainder of 1988.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Output forecasts are a matter for British Coal. The extent of Scottish power station coal burn is a commercial matter for the power station operators to determine.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy where when the nuclear-powered generating stations at Berkeley and Bradwell are closed down, the highly radioactive content will be disposed of; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Spent fuel from the reactors will be removed and sent to Sellafield for reprocessing. It is expected that accumulated operational wastes and other active wastes arising from decommissioning will in due course be consigned to the deep disposal facility which Nirex has been asked to investigate.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will provide further information to help managers and occupiers of commercial and public buildings to improve energy efficiency.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My Energy Efficiency Office is producing a series of booklets entitled "Energy Efficiency in Buildings". Each booklet helps managers and occupiers of a given type of building assess the scope for saving money through improved energy efficiency, and suggests an action plan. Booklets are now available on schools, catering establishments, shops, health care buildings, and further and higher education buildings. A further eight titles will be published shortly.

  Petroleum Coke Fuel
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to alert the public to the dangers of burning petroleum coke fuel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Government are considering what steps might be appropriate. I can confirm that all such coke manufactured in the United Kingdom is supplied solely to the metal refining industry.

  Departmental Inspectors
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his reply of 14 July,Official Report, column 367, how many inspectors were employed by his Department in each year since 1965.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, East (Mr. Prescott) today.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Food Standards
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the views of the London Food Commission on standards of food production in Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The Government's aim has always been that there should be a plentiful and varied supply of good quality, unadulterated, enjoyable food available to consumers at affordable prices. I do not see any case for a separate department to handle food issues. We already have a Minister for Food who combines those responsibilities with those for agriculture and for fisheries thus uniting the whole food chain from producer to consumer.

  It is an offence under the food Acts to render any food injurious to health. Comprehensive regulations existing under the Acts provide for proper hygiene in the preparation, handling or selling of food. In addition a number of cases of food poisoning arise from, lack of knowledge of appropriate handling procedures in domestic kitchens; the Government and others are in the process of developing publicity campaigns designed to provide advice in this area. Enforcement of food law is vigorously pursued by local authorities; each authority deploys its resources in this field to the extent and in the manner that best suits local circumstances. Ministers are also already required by the Acts to restrict as far as practicable the use in foods of substances of no nutritional value. We are however always prepared to examine ways of improving or simplifying the food laws when circumstances suggest it is necessary.

  The food Acts require that Ministers consult with representatives of interested parties on draft regulations before these are made and laid before Parliament. Where those proposed regulations arise from advice we have received from our independent expert committees, that advice is published and public comment invited on it before any regulations are drafted. The published advice carries references to the key information the experts have considered in assembling the advice and we endeavour to ensure as far as practicable that the data which is the subject of those references is available for consultation by interested members of the public. There is distinct practical advantage in continuing the present practice of the working sessions of these committees being private, with committees free to take advice from whatever sources they consider appropriate.

  The Government currently spend nearly £8 million per annum on research and monitoring of food safety and

  95
  quality. These resources are targeted at problem areas rather than being spread over areas where no difficulties are known to exist.

  We are required under the Agriculture Act 1986 to seek to achieve a reasonable balance between agriculture and conservation and a range of measures have been introduced to encourage farmers to protect and enhance the environment. This is another good reason why it is sensible to link ministerial responsibilities for agriculture and food.

  The harmonisation of food laws in the European Community (as part of the move to the single market by 1992) is to be done on the basis of the protection of public health, the maintenance of food safety, and the provision of adequate consumer information. Thus there will continue to be high standards of control whilst removing barriers to trade and avoiding undue burdens on business. On a world wide basis, the United Kingdom plays a prominent and active role in the development of the Codex Alimentarius (the FAO/WHO World Food standards programme) which is available to developing countries to form the basis of their own food law and consumer protection programmes.

  Dairy Farmers
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will detail the assistance given to dairy farmers since 1 January; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  The decision by the European Council in February to extend the operation of quotas until 1992 gives dairy farmers the assurances they need in order to be able to plan for the future. At the same time it was agreed that financial compensation for the suspension of quotas would be continued beyond 1989.

  The Government secured changes in Community regulations to improve the operation of the adjustment to milk quotas to take account of changes in butterfat levels, and clarified the operation of the national rules relating to quota transfers. Changes in the conversion rate for the green pound will also lead to some increase in the support levels for dairy farmers from 1 January 1989.

  ADAS continues to help farmers develop sound production and business strategies in times when output is limited by quotas and the Government are supporting a number of projects at research centres which are of relevance to dairy farmers. Dairy products are among those supported by Food from Britain and my Department is in the final stages of preparing, with the industry, a dairy product programme under EC regulation 355/77.

  Direct support in the dairy sector represented over £90 per cow in 1987–88 and this together with the industry's own skill in adapting to milk production under quotas, has led to a steady rise in average dairy farm incomes over the past three years.

  Green Pound
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the effect on(a) the beef sector, (b) the dairy sector, and (c) the sheep sector of revaluations of the green pound and interest rate changes since December 1987.
  96
  Mr. MacGregor
  No green pound changes have come into effect since December 1987 in the sectors concerned. I regret that information is not available on the level of farmers' borrowings in the particular commodity sectors referred to or, therefore, on the effect of interest rate changes on the beef, dairy and sheep sectors. Much will depend on the level and sources of individual farmers' borrowings.

  Farm Buildings
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice and assistance is given to farmers on improving the appearance of their farm and removing unsightly buildings and derelict equipment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Ministry technical staff will give specialist advice on the conservation aspects of estate management matters generally, including the appearance of farm buildings in the landscape. Grants are also available to eligible farmers for the provision, replacement, improvement or alteration of buildings for agricultural use or as part of a planned diversification into other forms of rural enterprise. Where such works involve the use of vernacular materials, to improve the appearance of the building, any extra costs will be eligible for grant aid.

  Agricultural Development and Advisory Service
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the efficiency scrutiny review of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  No such review is being undertaken but as explained in the reply of 26 May to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) at column 261 a review of the first year's experience of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service charging is currently being undertaken by senior officials.

  Scottish Fishermen's Federation
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation; and which subjects were discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I met representatives of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation on 8 July 1988, together with my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office, Lord Sanderson. We discussed a number of issues of importance to the United Kingdom fishing industry including the capacity of the fleet, the licensing system, rates of grant, the western mackerel fishery, North sea cod and mesh sizes.

  European Community Agricultural Commissioner
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the EC Agriculture Commissioner; and what was discussed.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I last met the EC Commissioner for Agriculture at the Agriculture Council on 18 and 19 July. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran) on Wednesday 20 July, at columns 633–34.

  Torry Research Station
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last visited the Torry research station, Aberdeen; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Buchan) on 7 July at column 745.

  Coast Protection
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being considered by his Department for the coastal protection of Spurn Point; what assessment he has made of the consequences for Humberside and Lincolnshire in the event of the peninsula being swept away; whether he is considering a long-term strategy for the defence of Spurn Point; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Ministry has agreed to grant aid a study of this area, which is currently under consideration by Holderness borough council (the coastal protection authority for Spurn peninsula). Any assessment of the consequences of a breach, and any long-term strategy, would be dependent upon the outcome of this study.

  White Fish
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has not published white fish sectoral allocations for individual producer groups for the current year.

  Mr. Gummer
  Each producer organisation has been notified of its sectoral allocation for 1988. On the question of making this information more widely available, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 12 July at column 136.

  Rhizomania
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action has been taken following the recent discovery of rhizomonia virus in soil attached to imported nursery stock.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Discussion have taken place between my Department and the plant health authorities in the Netherlands, and agreement has been rached that exports of nursery stock from the Netherlands to the United Kindom should come only from rhizomania-free areas. Measures have also been agreed which will reduce to a minimum the possibility of contamination of the soil in those areas by rhizomania virus originating elsewhere. My Department and the Dutch authorities will remain in close touch with each other. I am grateful to the Government of the Netherlands for the understanding they have shown of Her Majesty's Government's concern over this matter.

  Set-aside
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many set-aside applications have been received by his Department; and what is the acreage involved.

  Mr. MacGregor
  None as yet. Application forms have only just been made available, and applications are not being accepted until statutory instruments have completed their parliamentary processes.

  Environment
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he is having with the National Farmers Union about the effect of agriculture on the environment.

  Mr. Gummer
  I and my officials are in regular contact with the National Farmers Union on this subject.

  Afforestation
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library a copy of the operating instructions under which the Forestry Commission will carry out its procedures in respect of new planting in the light of the Environmental Assessment (Afforestation) Regulations; 1988.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The commission will shortly be publishing a leaflet on the procedures to be followed in respect of environmental assessment for afforestation projects. Copies of this leaflet will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as they are available.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his answer of 19 July, he will set out the ways in which the procedures to be adopted for new planting by the Forestry Commission will differ from those laid down in the Environmental Assessment (Afforestation) Regulations 1988 in respect of new planting by the private sector.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The procedures to be followed by the Forestry Commission in respect of its own new planting proposals differ from those set out in the regulations only in respect of those requirements which are clearly inappropriate. For example, the commission would not seek a direction from Ministers against its own decision to carry out an environmental assessment in any case.

  Farmers (Planning Permission)
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance he intends to give to farmers who experience difficulties in obtaining planning permission.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I am aware of concern in the farming community about the difficulties of getting planning permission, especially now that we are encouraging more diversification on farms.

  The Government have already made it clear that planning authorities should adjust their policies to the changes in the orientation of agriculture which are taking place as a result of reform of the common agricultural policy. However, farmers must also play their part by developing a proper understanding of the planning system and presenting their planning applications clearly and convincingly.

  To help farmers to develop their expertise. I have decided with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales to produce a farmers' guide to the planning system. This will encourage farmers:

  — to present their applications and plans effectively and with due regard for the character of their area;

  — to think about the impact of any development on others and to try and anticipate the planning

  99
  authority's concerns,

  — to emphasise the benefits, such as the number of jobs created; and

  — to discuss their ideas with planning officers, local councillors and their neighbours at an early stage and be ready to show some flexibility.

  I hope the guide will be available before the end of the year.

  Statistical Divisions
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for 1979, 1984 and the most recent year the numbers of staff by grade in the statistical divisions in his Department; and if he will differentiate between staff in the statistical posts and staff in administrative posts.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: The information requested is as follows:

  1 April 1979

  1 April 1984

  1 April 1988

  Chief statistician

  2

  2

  2

  Statistician

  8

  8

  10

  Senior assistant statistician

  6

  2

  6

  Assistant statistician

  2

  2

  3

  Support staff

  198½

  131

  114½

  These figures are prepared on a different basis from those in a White Paper "Government Statistical Services" Cmnd. 8236 of 1981 which covered staff outside statistics divisions engaged in statistical work.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Civil Servants (Dismissals)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants have been dismissed over the past five years.

  Mr. Brooke
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Langbaurgh (Mr. Holt) on 13 July 1988, at column 200.

  Civil Servants (Dispersal)
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the percentages of civil servants working outside London in the Departments of(a) Education, (b) Health and Social Security, (c) Defence, (d) Home Affairs, (e) Transport and (f) others; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  The percentages of civil servants working outside London are:

  Department

  1Percentage

  Education and Science

  43

  Health and Social Security

  83

  Defence

  87

  100

  Department

  1 Percentage

  Home Office

  74

  Transport

  85

  Others

  74

  1 The figures quoted are estimates relating to April 1988, based on returns made by Departments to the Treasury.

  National Income
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead detailing the share of national income going to different income groups of 4 November 1986,Official Report, columns 412–14.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Information for 1985–86, derived from the survey of personal incomes for that year, is as follows:

  Quantile group of tax units12

  Income before tax

  Income after tax

  £ billion

  per cent.1

  £ billion

  per cent.1

  Top 1 per cent.

  12·7

  6·1

  7·9

  4·7

  Top 2 per cent.

  20·4

  9·8

  13·3

  7·9

  Top 3 per cent.

  25·6

  12·3

  17·3

  10·3

  Top 4 per cent.

  30·8

  14·8

  21·3

  12·6

  Top 5 per cent.

  36·0

  17·3

  25·2

  15·0

  1 As in the previous answer, quantile groups of tax units and percentage shares of income are determined by reference to the population of tax units for which the Inland Revenue has records.

  2 Single people and married couples.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number and proportion of income tax payers in each of the following tax categories, the number and proportion claiming mortgage tax relief, the average value of relief per mortgagee, the total cost of the relief and the percentage of the total cost for each group(a) up to £5,000 per year; (b) £5,000 to £7,500 per year; (c) £7,500 to £10,000 per year; (d) £10,000 to £12,500 per year; (e) £12,500 to £15,000 per year; (f) £15,000 to £17,500 per year; (g) £17,500 to £20,000 per year; (h) £20,000 to £25,000 per year; (i) £25,000 to £30,000 per year; (j) £30,000 to £40,000 per year; (k) £40,000 to £50,000 per year and (l) over £50,000 per year.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Provisional estimates for 1988–89, based on projections of the 1985–86 survey of personal incomes and the 1985 family expenditure survey, are given in the table. The estimate of the cost of mortgage interest relief is based on the general level of mortgage interest rates in July 1988.
  101

  Number of tax units paying tax and number receiving mortgage interest relief by range of total income 1988–89

  Range of total income

  Number of tax units1 paying tax (thousands)

  Percentage

  Number of tax units1 with mortgage relief2 (thousands)

  Percentage

  Average value of relief per mortgagor (£)

  Cost of relief (£ million)

  Percentage

  Up to £5,000

  2,550

  12 per cent.

  690

  8

  300

  210

  5

  £5,001 to £7,500

  3,690

  18

  470

  5

  360

  170

  4

  £7,501 to £10,000

  3,320

  16

  830

  10

  400

  330

  8

  £10,001 to £12,500

  2,890

  14

  1,210

  14

  450

  550

  13

  £12,501 to £15,000

  2,280

  11

  1,230

  14

  480

  590

  14

  £15,001 to £17,500

  1,620

  8

  1,020

  12

  490

  510

  12

  £17,501 to £20,000

  1,260

  6

  870

  10

  490

  430

  10

  £20,001 to £25,000

  1,590

  7

  1,110

  13

  510

  570

  13

  £25,001 to £30,000

  690

  3

  470

  6

  630

  300

  7

  £30,001 to £40,000

  600

  3

  440

  5

  780

  340

  8

  £40,001 to £50,000

  180

  1

  120

  1

  900

  110

  3

  Over £50,000

  230

  1

  140

  2

  1,020

  140

  3

  Total

  20,900

  100

  8,600

  100

  490

  4,250

  100

  1 Single persons and married couples

  2 Including about ½ million non-taxpaying tax units

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rates of income tax for each year from 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  (holding answer 21 July 1988]: The information is in the following table:

  Rates of Income Tax 1978–79 to 1988–89

  Period

  Per cent.

  Reduced rate

  1978–79 to 1979–80

  25

  Basic rate

  1978–79

  33

  1979–80 to 1985–86

  30

  1986–87

  29

  1987–88

  27

  1988–89

  25

  Higher rate

  1978–79

  40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 83

  1979–80 to 1987–88

  40, 45, 50, 55, 60

  1988–89

  40

  Investment income surcharge

  1978–79

  10, 15

  1979–80 to 1983–84

  15

  Mortgage Fraud
  Mr. Heddle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Inland Revenue takes to identify the incidence of mortgage fraud through the operation of mortgage interest relief at source—MIRAS.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Inland Revenue carries out regular checks on borrowers' mortgage interest relief, and on the lenders to ensure that they are operating the MIRAS arrangements correctly. These compliance procedures are kept under regular review.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now carry out a monitoring exercise in accordance with the code of the Commission for Racial Equality, to ascertain how many and what percentage of people from ethnic minorities are employed in each grade in the Treasury; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave him on 29 June, at columns 255–58.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are the results of the ethnic monitoring of recruitment for the AO and AA grades in London; and whether he will place a copy of such results in the Library;

  (2) if he will identify those results of the ethnic monitoring of recruitment for the AO and AA grades in London in July 1987 which suggest that the number of appointments offered to ethnic minorities is broadly in proportion to the number of eligible candidates applying from each ethnic group;

  (3) how many appointments were offered to members of ethnic minorities as revealed by the survey of ethnic monitoring of recruitment for the AO and AA grades in London in July 1987; and how many such offers were accepted;

  (4) how many eligible candidates from each ethnic group applied for recruitment into the AO and AA grades in London in July 1987, according to the ethnic monitoring exercise then carried out by his Department.

  Mr. Brooke
  The information sought is given in the table. It covers a six-month period beginning 1 July 1987.
  103

  AOs

  AAs

  White

  Black

  Asian

  White

  Black

  Asian

  Total number of eligible applicants

  47

  14

  17

  107

  42

  43

  Number offered appointment

  6

  2

  2

  27

  9

  9

  Number appointed

  6

  2

  —

  13

  6

  3

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what quasi-governmental bodies or other organisations under his aegis he has authority to request or require the carrying out of ethnic monitoring exercises in accordance with the code of the Commission for Racial Equality; and what ethnic monitoring and equal opportunities exercises have been carried out by each such Department.

  Mr. Brooke
  Non-departmental public bodies and other bodies sponsored by the Chancellor's departments are responsible for making their own arrangements for the recruitment and personnel management of the staff they employ. Bodies are encouraged to be equal opportunities employers, and to pursue practices in the codes of the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission. No central records are held on ethnic monitoring and equal opportunities exercises carried out by these bodies.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the gross domestic product per head in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Scotland.

  Mr. Major
  I refer the hon. Member to the November 1987 issue of Economic Trends. The table on page 86 shows the latest estimates of regional gross domestic product per head in current prices and at factor costs. The provisional estimates for 1986 are (a) United Kingdom excluding the continental shelf region, £5,597; (b) England, £5,741; (c) Wales, £4,795; (d) Scotland, £5,234. Revised estimates for 1977–86 and provisional estimates for 1987 will be published in the November 1988 issue of Economic Trends.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the monthly figures for(a) United Kingdom interest rates and (b) the exchange rate for (i) sterling/deutschmark and (ii) sterling/ecu, together with the variation from the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system central rate of the pound sterling for each month over the last two years.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to tables 13.1 and 13.11 of "Financial Statistics" published monthly by the Central Statistical Office and the United Kingdom table of "International Financial Statistics" published monthly by the International Monetary Fund.

  Overseas Debt
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing for each developing country, for the latest year for which figures are available, the proportion of export earnings constituted by debt service charges.
  104
  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 7 June, at column 527. Similar information for 1987 is not yet available.

  Income Bonds
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to increase the interest rates paid on income bonds in line with interest rates in the private sector.

  Mr. Lilley
  The rate of interest on income bonds, like all national savings rates, is kept under review in the light of the Government's borrowing needs, as well as the trend in interest rates in the economy generally.

  Industrial Dredging
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his answer of 19 July, he will take steps to make available copies of the licences and guidelines issued to each industrial dredging operation by the Crown Estates Commission.

  Mr. Lawson
  The Crown Estate Commissioners regard dredging licences as commercial documents and as such confidential. I regret therefore that this information cannot be made available.

  Taxation
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total receipts from(a) value added tax, and (b) tax raised in Sunderland for each years from 1979 to 1988.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 21 July 1988]: The information is not available.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table in cash terms showing for each of the years 1979–80 to 1988–89 for each of the organisations which has been included in at least one year in the equivalent of table 4.1 of Cm. 288, those asset sales not included in Table 1.4's line for privatisation proceeds together with appropriate totals; whether these proceeds have directly accrued to the Exchequer or have remained in the relevant businesses; and, where these have been set, if he will publish the target proceeds from such asset sales which have been set in the appropriate investment and financing review.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 18 July 1988]: Actual or forecast receipts from asset sales included in the nationalised industries' internal resources figures shown in table 4.5 of Cm. 288 for 1979–80 to 1988–89 are shown in the table. The total amount in the 1988–89 plans is £303 million.

  Proceeds from the sale of assets are a source of internally generated funds for nationalised industries and

  105
  do not directly accrue to the Exchequer although they do reduce the industries' need for external finance. Expected asset sale receipts are always taken into account when

  1979–80 £ million

  1980–81 £ million

  1981–82 £ million

  1982–83 £ million

  1983–84 £ million

  1984–85 £ million

  1985–86 £ million

  1986–87 £ million

  1987–88 £ million

  1988–89 £ million

  British Coal

  28

  21

  24

  22

  24

  22

  28

  64

  61

  45

  Electricity (England and Wales)

  16

  10

  17

  21

  23

  27

  30

  23

  40

  —

  North of Scotland and Hydro-Electric Board

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  5

  1

  1

  3

  —

  South of Scotland Electricity Board

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  1

  2

  3

  —

  British Gas Corporation

  8

  7

  7

  7

  13

  95

  24

  20

  —

  —

  British Steel Corporation

  21

  59

  66

  68

  19

  98

  24

  29

  65

  —

  British Telecom

  77

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Post Office (Posts Businesses)

  19

  9

  7

  3

  6

  7

  62

  21

  24

  27

  Girobank

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  British Airways Board

  11

  15

  15

  77

  11

  31

  23

  4

  —

  —

  British Airports Authority

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  British Railways Board

  31

  48

  34

  99

  99

  160

  85

  95

  187

  213

  British Transport Docks Board

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Waterways Board

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  1

  6

  4

  National Freight Company Ltd.

  10

  17

  18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  National Bus Company

  4

  11

  6

  6

  7

  8

  11

  13

  46

  —

  Scottish Transport Group

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  British National Oil Corporation

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Aerospace

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  British Shipbuilders

  3

  2

  2

  2

  13

  5

  3

  4

  3

  —

  Civil Aviation Authority

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  Water (England and Wales)

  10

  13

  16

  11

  13

  21

  25

  27

  26

  —

  Enterprise Oil

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London Regional Transport

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  16

  24

  73

  50

  Notes:

  (1) Figures individually rounded to nearest £1 million. 1987–88 figures are provisional.

  (2) Where industries have been privatised, the figures given relate to the period up to privatisation.

  (3) 1988–89 figures relate to industries' present estimates; due to impending privatisation figures are not shown separately for Electricity (E & W), the Scottish Electricity Boards, British Steel Corporation, Girobank and Water (E & W).

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report those nationalised industries and public corporations with entries appearing in table 4.1 of Cm. 288 for which privatisation proposals have been announced, citing appropriate references to ministerial statements and placing copies in the Library.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 18 July 1988]: The following is a list of those nationalised industries and public corporations with entries appearing in table 4.1 of Cm. 288 for which privatisation proposals have been announced, citing appropriate references to ministerial statements.

  British Steel Corporation 3 December 1987. (OR, col. 1107).

  Electricity (England and Wales) 25 February 1988 (OR, col. 454).

  Girobank 7 June 1988 (OR, col. 713).

  North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and South of Scotland Electricity Board. 2 March 1988 (OR, col. 975).

  Scottish Transport Group 27 January 1988 (OR, col. 311).

  Water (England and Wales) 5 February 1986 (OR, col. 287).

  Crown Agents 23 February 1984 (OR, col. 991).

  Crown Suppliers 3 February 1988 (OR, col. 983).

  106
  setting an industry's external financing limits in the investment and financing review, but formal disposal targets are not set.

  General Practice Finance Corporation November 1987 announced in White Paper Cm. 249 (1987)

  The Government have also commissioned a feasibility study into privatising British Technology Group 13 April 1988 (OR, col. 163).

  The Government have also announced privatisation proposals for the following subsidiaries of nationalised industries and public corporations.

  British Rail: BREL 24 November 1987 (OR, col. 141).

  British Shipbuilders: Govan yard and other facilities 18 April 1988 (OR, col. 554).

  Political Parties
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the political parties are currently treated by the Inland Revenue as qualifying political parties for the purposes of section 24 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 April 1988]: For the purposes of clarification I should add that the Liberal party and the Social Democratic party, before

  107
  and after the establishment of the Social and Liberal Democratic party, also currently qualify for the purposes of section 24 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984.

SCOTLAND

  NHS Medical Staff (Pay)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each health board, their additional allocation to fund the nurses' pay award.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) of 5 July,Official Report, column 522, how much money each health board is being allocated specifically to meet the full cost of the pay awards to doctors, nurses and other professional staff.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The sum of £92 million is being made available in Scotland to finance the full additional costs of all review body pay awards, including those to nurses. £6 million is required to meet costs in the family practitioner service and a total of £2·567 million has been allocated to the common services agency, state hospital and the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland. £83·433 million has been added to the hospital and community health service allocations of health boards as follows:

  Health board

  £ thousands

  Argyll and Clyde

  5,981

  Ayrshire and Arran

  4,500

  Borders

  1,309

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,159

  Fife

  4,206

  Forth Valley

  3,942

  Grampian

  7,700

  Greater Glasgow

  21,595

  Highland

  3,148

  Lanarkshire

  6,924

  Lothian

  13,340

  Orkney

  237

  Shetland

  291

  Tayside

  7,668

  Western Isles

  433

  Total

  83,433

  Surplus NHS Property
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to change the current arrangements governing the sale of surplus National Health Service property; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish Home and Health Department is in the course of reviewing the present procedures for the sale of surplus health service property in Scotland. The intention is to streamline the current procedures, which date largely from 1984, building upon our experience since then and upon the increased expertise of health boards, while ensuring that the disposal of surplus property continues to be made on the most favourable terms available.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has recently received from the general managers of the Scottish health boards 108
  concerning the financial arrangements for the proceeds of sales of surplus National Health Service properties; and what response he has made.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The present arrangements envisage that the full amount of the proceeds is ploughed back into health service capital investment. As a result of representations from health board general managers and others, I am reviewing the limit on the amount of the proceeds of a single sale which may at present be retained by the particular health board responsible for the property. A health board selling property which realises more than the normal limit of £250,000 (which was set in April 1986) may, at the discretion of the Scottish Home and Health Department, retain a greater sum, as an alternative to its distribution to health boards more generally, in the light of their capital expenditure plans.

  Child Care
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to implement the recommendations within his area of responsibility of the European Commission's childcare network report "Caring for Children—Services and Policies for Childcare and Equal Opportunities in the United Kingdom".

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend received a copy of this detailed and wide-ranging report only recently. We are considering the report's recommendations with the other Government Departments concerned.

  Penal Establishments
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the governor of each Scottish penal establishment; and what matters were discussed in each case.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met the governors in charge of all Scottish penal establishments on 25 January 1988. He delivered an address setting out his policies on penal issues and the future of the Scottish Prison Service. This formed the basis for subsequent questions and discussion.

  Immigration
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table in the Official Report, showing for each Scottish penal establishment, the number of prisoners held under immigration legislation together with their average length of stay at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of prisoners held in Scottish penal establishments under immigration legislation on 5 July 1988 is given in the table.

  Prison

  Number of prisoners

  Barlinnie

  4

  Edinburgh

  1

  Perth

  1

  Inverness

  1

  Total

  7

  109
  Five of the above prisoners are no longer detained. They were held on average for 37·2 days. The other two prisoners have been held since 25 and 27 June 1988 respectively.

  Disabled People (Legislation)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met with representatives of COSLA to discuss the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My officials have had two meetings with representatives of the convention to discuss the implications of sections of the Act which have already been implemented: the second was on 31 August 1987 and was concerned with section 13 which was brought into operation on 1 February 1988.

  Prisons (Special Provisions)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are in force in Scottish prisons to provide(a) special diets, (b) religious worship facilities, (c) appropriate cultural facilities and (d) interpreter services, for ethnic minority prisoners or prisoners with special religious needs.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  An inmate's right to a wholesome and varied diet, and to adequate arrangements for religious observation, is protected by the Prison (Scotland) Rules 1952, which also encourage the provision

  Home help provision in Scotland number of home helps1 per 1.000 total population

  As at the first Monday in October

  Borders

  Central

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Fife

  Grampian

  Highland

  Lothian

  Strathclyde

  Tayside

  Orkney

  Shetland

  Western Isles

  Scotland

  1979

  1·19

  1·70

  2·20

  1·68

  1·17

  1·01

  2·28

  2·07

  1·30

  3·27

  1·81

  4·6.1

  1·88

  1980

  1·10

  1·65

  2·19

  1·49

  1·18

  1·09

  2·37

  1·93

  1·52

  3·10

  1·81

  4·47

  1·83

  1981

  1·10

  1·56

  2·23

  1·48

  1·15

  1·20

  1·88

  1·92

  1·38

  3·34

  1·94

  4·25

  1·74

  1982

  1·10

  1·55

  2·24

  1·78

  1·19

  1·30

  2·20

  1·95

  1·38

  3·18

  2·11

  4·50

  1·82

  1983

  1·10

  1·60

  2·00

  1·79

  1·33

  1·52

  2·02

  1·96

  1·46

  3·43

  2·17

  5·23

  1·83

  1984

  1·10

  1·62

  2·39

  2·00

  1·45

  1·59

  1·97

  1·96

  1·59

  3·26

  2·23

  4·90

  1·87

  1985

  1·06

  1·66

  2·01

  1·96

  1·47

  1·58

  1·99

  2·09

  1·60

  3·62

  2·05

  5·14

  1·93

  1986

  1·08

  1·70

  1·83

  2·59

  1·43

  1·26

  2·01

  2·17

  1·61

  3·53

  1·95

  5·11

  1·99

  1987

  1·09

  1·74

  1·66

  2·38

  1·52

  1·20

  2·19

  2·19

  1·62

  3·31

  2·27

  5·02

  2·02

  1 Expressed in Whole-time Equivalents

  Buses
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions of bus operators in respect of offences arising from, or in connection with, operation of buses in each year since 1980.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Comprehensive in-formation is not available centrally. The following information is given in the annual report of the traffic commissioner on summonses and convictions since 1980:

  Summonses

  Convictions

  1980–81

  395

  67

  1981–82

  127

  52

  1982–83

  121

  110

  1983–84

  201

  103

  1984–85

  358

  57

  1985–86

  103

  75

  1986–87

  43

  59

  110
  of appropriate education and social facilities. Locally, governors will, where practicable, make every effort to meet reasonable requests from ethnic minority inmates for special facilities including translation.

  I have recently asked Her Majesty's chief inspector of Prisons whether there are any general improvements which ought to be made to the arrangements for accommodating the small number of inmates from ethnic minorities.

  Muthill Old Church
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when work by the Scottish Development Department on the fabric of Muthill old church was begun; when it will end; and what is the estimated cost.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Repair work on the towerof Muthill old church began in August 1985, but due to unexpected structural problems will not be completed until March 1989. The total cost is expected to be £42,500.

  Home Helps
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Monklands, West from the Secretary of State for Social Services on 13 May,Official Report, columns 273–74, if he will supply similar information on the level of home help provision in Scotland by local authority area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:

  Stagecoach Limited
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of convictions of Stagecoach Limited of Perth arising from and in connection with their operation of buses, indicating the nature of the conviction in each case.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Details about in-dividual companies are not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate, by employee, of the proportion of Scottish manufacturing industry controlled(a) by overseas headquartered companies and (b) by companies headquartered outside Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The proportion of Scottish manufacturing industry controlled by overseas-owned companies in 1987 is estimated to be 18 per cent. (by employment).
  111
  Comparable information on the proportion of Scottish manufacturing industry controlled by companies with headquarters outside Scotland, is not available.

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing expenditure on

  Expenditure on regional preferential assistance to industry in Scotland Fiscal year (at constant 1987–88 prices)

  £ million

  1976–77

  1977–78

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Local Employment Act Grants

  1·8

  0·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scottish Development Agency Act

  Land and factory building

  24·6

  42·3

  57·1

  66·4

  70·1

  78·7

  58·4

  52·4

  26·8

  25·8

  21·2

  20·1

  Loans to small tourist enterprises

  —

  —

  0·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Industrial Development

  Regional Selective Assistance

  30·7

  43·2

  30·5

  31·3

  33·0

  26·4

  25·3

  29·6

  36·5

  52·2

  37·2

  37·6

  Regional Development Grants

  280·0

  238·6

  220·2

  123·3

  167·8

  192·3

  361·5

  171·8

  125·7

  116·7

  178·8

  78·0

  Highlands and Islands Development Board Grants

  6·5

  7·0

  8·4

  8·1

  9·5

  9·4

  10·9

  14·3

  13·8

  13·8

  14·3

  11·8

  Land and factory building

  n/a

  1·8

  4·1

  6·8

  7·3

  6·5

  8·7

  6·5

  12·5

  5·3

  3·2

  4·6

  Other Assistance

  Investment Grants

  1·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tourism (Development of Tourism Act 1969 Section 4)

  1·8

  2·3

  2·7

  2·8

  2·8

  2·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Regional Employment Premium

  203·9

  3·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Small Firms Employment Subsidy

  —

  1·6

  3·1

  13·0

  3·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total gross expenditure

  550·9

  340·4

  326·3

  251·7

  293·4

  316·1

  464·8

  274·7

  215·3

  213·9

  254·6

  152·1

  Notes:

  1. From 1982–83, expenditure outside Assisted Areas, on land and factory building under the Scottish Development Agency Act has been excluded. The 1987–88 figure for land and factory building is provisional.

  2. RSA is provided under the Industrial Development Act 1982 and its predecessors.

  3. HIDB loans and equity are classed as non-preferential as these are deemed to be similar to non-preferential assistance outside the HIDB area.

  4. HIDB expenditure on land and factory building prior to 1977–78 is not separately identifiable.

  5. Assistance under the Development of Tourism Act 1969, section 4 was extended to non-assisted areas in August 1982 and is therefore no longer regarded as part of RPA.

  6. Small Firms Employment Subsidy was ended in March 1980. The 1979–80 total for Small Firms Employment Subsidy excludes estimated non-regionally preferential payments.

  7. Totals may not equal the sum of constituent parts due to rounding.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's review of trunk roads south of Edinburgh.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The consulting engineers undertaking this study are continuing to gather information on traffic and routes to enable them to carry out an evaluation of route options, and are on target to complete their report by 31 December 1988.

  Cases disposed of and custodial sentences given in each Sheriff court, 1983–1987

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Sheriff court

  Called to trial

  Custodial sentence

  Called to trial

  Custodial sentence

  Called to trial

  Custodial sentence

  Called to trial

  Custodial sentence

  Called to trial

  Custodial sentence

  Aberdeen

  8,247

  745

  6,226

  619

  5,590

  575

  5,473

  500

  4,679

  468

  Airdrie

  3,821

  387

  2,802

  465

  2,981

  453

  3,502

  474

  3,040

  478

  Alloa

  1,251

  169

  820

  151

  1,083

  126

  1,001

  156

  1,106

  102

  Arbroath

  1,709

  82

  1,189

  83

  1,132

  102

  1,114

  65

  1,120

  84

  Ayr

  3,433

  475

  3,231

  408

  3,354

  362

  3,559

  326

  3,368

  372

  112
  regional preferential assistance to industry in Scotland for each year from 1976–77 to 1987–88, at constant 1987–88 prices.

  Mr. Lang
  Gross expenditure on regional preferential assistance in Scotland for each year since 1976–77 at constant 1987–88 prices is given in the table.

  Sheriff Courts
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the number of cases disposed of and (b) the number of custodial sentences imposed, by each sheriff court in Scotland, for each of the past five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is given in the table.
  113

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  Sheriff court

  Called to trial

  Custodial sentence

  Called to trial

  Custodial sentence

  Called to trial

  Custodial sentence

  Called to trial

  Custodial sentence

  Called to trial

  Custodial sentence

  Banff

  739

  67

  503

  27

  367

  39

  434

  30

  413

  32

  Campbeltown

  482

  26

  496

  37

  493

  44

  512

  64

  478

  40

  Cupar

  1,101

  56

  994

  54

  972

  55

  918

  68

  951

  34

  Dingwall

  941

  27

  611

  22

  552

  36

  650

  37

  654

  40

  Dornoch

  391

  12

  359

  15

  291

  14

  277

  8

  207

  3

  Dumbarton

  4,123

  421

  3,424

  489

  3,495

  501

  3,204

  436

  2,582

  296

  Dumfries

  5,980

  177

  5,038

  218

  5,103

  162

  5,734

  250

  4,765

  232

  Dundee

  6,088

  596

  4,731

  684

  4,786

  727

  4,951

  694

  5,457

  642

  Dunfermline

  3,884

  296

  2,529

  231

  2,979

  344

  2,901

  265

  2,821

  296

  Dunoon

  993

  39

  854

  42

  923

  85

  912

  72

  811

  34

  Duns

  518

  15

  190

  7

  228

  9

  167

  7

  183

  0

  Edinburgh

  21,361

  678

  13,317

  906

  11,985

  1,039

  11,892

  1,081

  11,924

  898

  Elgin

  1,772

  162

  1,141

  103

  1,179

  134

  1,246

  109

  1,266

  104

  Falkirk

  4,461

  285

  2,683

  241

  2,779

  213

  3,192

  303

  2,863

  346

  Forfar

  1,496

  64

  1,010

  64

  1,091

  68

  1,004

  40

  986

  48

  Fort William

  435

  40

  467

  42

  469

  45

  445

  27

  513

  48

  Glasgow

  16,552

  2,360

  16,073

  2,760

  16,219

  2,978

  11,309

  2,307

  10,491

  1,997

  Greenock

  2,974

  355

  2,147

  394

  2,141

  418

  2,149

  488

  1,993

  535

  Haddington

  1,555

  84

  1,279

  103

  1,133

  108

  1,291

  83

  957

  63

  Hamilton

  7,602

  695

  5,577

  648

  6,044

  756

  5,739

  821

  5,634

  611

  Inverness

  2,407

  95

  2,143

  119

  2,157

  146

  1,978

  131

  1,921

  119

  Jedburgh

  717

  45

  459

  54

  486

  85

  419

  59

  551

  39

  Kilmarnock

  6,746

  956

  5,265

  955

  5,182

  1,216

  5,458

  1,283

  4,964

  1,049

  Kirkcaldy

  3,984

  301

  3,351

  238

  3,186

  256

  3,182

  341

  3,813

  295

  Kirkcudbright

  336

  12

  254

  13

  342

  20

  360

  30

  397

  26

  Kirkwall

  414

  9

  475

  9

  541

  15

  582

  9

  562

  9

  Lanark

  1,401

  72

  869

  65

  1,015

  113

  991

  121

  1,035

  116

  Lerwick

  581

  11

  468

  11

  500

  20

  438

  7

  596

  8

  Linlithgow

  4,532

  314

  2,564

  288

  2,771

  365

  3,024

  227

  3,195

  224

  Lochmaddy

  163

  1

  158

  0

  130

  4

  222

  5

  156

  4

  Oban

  408

  50

  353

  27

  344

  46

  336

  32

  370

  47

  Paisley

  6,026

  613

  5,016

  519

  5,996

  508

  6,040

  573

  5,573

  606

  Peebles

  506

  4

  386

  37

  357

  14

  372

  14

  174

  13

  Perth

  5,469

  200

  3,208

  227

  3,622

  282

  3,422

  267

  3,449

  256

  Peterhead

  806

  91

  708

  97

  887

  94

  691

  61

  699

  64

  Portree

  104

  5

  151

  2

  180

  8

  193

  2

  155

  11

  Rothesay

  246

  30

  294

  57

  326

  38

  230

  37

  261

  33

  Selkirk

  916

  47

  567

  57

  418

  40

  423

  39

  398

  39

  Stirling

  3,305

  199

  2,154

  173

  2,533

  152

  3,119

  185

  3,214

  224

  Stonehaven

  1,638

  22

  901

  56

  932

  34

  896

  25

  843

  27

  Stornoway

  375

  12

  421

  9

  366

  8

  364

  6

  388

  8

  Stranraer

  1,258

  72

  1,093

  99

  1,099

  68

  986

  96

  1,037

  97

  Tain

  806

  25

  539

  14

  572

  24

  477

  14

  459

  24

  Wick

  569

  38

  521

  30

  580

  52

  654

  27

  585

  28

  Court unknown

  9

  1

  3

  I

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  TOTAL

  145,721

  11,538

  110,012

  11,970

  111,892

  13,001

  108,434

  12,302

  104,057

  11,139

  Interim Liberation Appeals
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of interim liberation appeals which have been(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful, by sheriff court in Scotland, for each of the past five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I regret that the information requested cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

  Local Authorities (Housing)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the provision he proposes to make in respect of the financial consequences for local housing authorities of transfers of housing stock to housing associations or co-operatives on the basis of valuations which are less than the outstanding debt attached to the property concerned.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Local authority borrowing for the purpose of capital investment in housing stock is not secured against the individual properties 114
  subject to, or resulting from, that investment. Debt redemption arising from transfers of housing stock would reduce the overall outstanding capital debt on the housing revenue account of the authority concerned. A reduction in overall outstanding capital debt would lead to a reduction in loans charges falling on the housing revenue account. Where such reductions in loans charges were insufficient to cover the assumed net loss in income arising from reduced rental income and reduced management and maintenance expenditure, the authority would receive increased housing support grant. In the case of those authorities which do not at present qualify for housing support grant, the effect might be to bring such authorities back into qualification.

  Geese
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what licensing arrangements are being made, with respect to Greenland white-fronted geese and barnacle geese, for the winter of 1988–89.
  115
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No decisions have as yet been taken as to licensing arrangements for shooting geese on Islay during the winter of 1988–89.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether, in respect of each licence granted to shoot barnacle geese on the island of Islay, he will provide estimates of yield loss and subsequent financial loss to the respective licensees as a result of damage caused by barnacle geese; and what estimates he made of the loss which would be incurred if no killing took place;

  (2) whether, in respect of each licence granted to shoot Greenland white-fronted geese on the island of Islay, he will provide estimates of yield loss and subsequent financial loss to the respective licensees as a result of damage caused by Greenland white-fronted geese; and what estimates he made of the loss which would occur if no killing took place.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No specific estimates were made of yield loss or subsequent financial loss against each of the licences issued. Nor were such estimates made against the losses which would have occurred if no killing had taken place. In the judgment of my professional staff uncontrolled grazing by both barnacle and white-fronted geese in significant numbers causes serious damage to improved grassland and crops, with consequent financial loss to the farmers involved. The licences were issued in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to prevent such damage.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will be supporting the use of a Manpower Services Commission goose-scaring team on Islay for the 1988–89 winter; and what other arrangements he will be supporting for that winter.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No support will be available from the Manpower Services Commission for goose scaring on Islay for the 1988–89 winter. Alternative arrangements are under consideration, but no decisions have as yet been taken.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his reply of 21 June,Official Report, column 512, he will list those areas on Islay that meet the criteria for classification as special protection areas under article 4 of EC directive 79/409 but which have not yet been designated; if he will indicate the number of Greenland white-fronted geese regularly using each area; what consultations have been held with landowners and occupiers concerning the designation of those international sites; when he intends to designate them as specially protected areas; and if such areas are notified as sites of special scientific interest.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Areas which are considered by the Nature Conservancy Council to meet the selection criteria for special protection areas under article 4 of the EC directive 79/409 were listed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in a parliamentary answer on 11 May 1987. Of the eight sites identified on Islay, four—Laggan, Bridgend Flats, Loch Gruinart and Eilean na Muice Duibhe—were classified as SPAs by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 14 July 1988. Two sites—Glac na Criche and Feur Lochain—have been notified as sites of special scientific interest, but have not yet been classified as 116
  SPAs. The council has consulted owners and occupiers over the proposed SPA status of these sites and have recommended them for consideration by my right hon. and learned Friend, who will announce his decision in due course.

  The Rinns of Islay has also been notified as an SSSI and owners and occupiers have been advised of the council's view that the site will qualify as an SPA in due course. The required consultations are still to be completed.

  The Oa has been identified by the council as meeting the selection criteria for designation as an SPA, but further survey work is required to define the boundary of the area that is of special interest. Consequently, the council is not yet in a position to propose the area as an SSSI.

  The NCC estimates that the Oa and the Rinns are regularly used annually by about 1,000 and about 1,800 Greenland white-fronted geese respectively. These are average figures for the years 1983–88 and relate to birds which both feed and roost within these areas. The figures for the Rinns include the areas of Glac na Criche and Feur Lochain SSSIs. These are roosting areas used annually by between 700 and 800 birds.

  Rating Reform
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet the principal of Glasgow university to discuss the effect of the poll tax on Scottish students.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has at present no plans to do so.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ask the Scottish agricultural wages board to take full account of the effects of the abolition of domestic rates and the introduction of the poll tax on employees living in tied housing in determining wage levels from 1 April 1989.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I understand that the board—which is an autonomous body not subject to ministerial direction—already has under consideration the possible implications for the remuneration of agricultural workers of the introduction of the community charge.

  Poisoned Bait
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Glandford and Scunthorpe of 15 July,Official Report, columns 396–99, what regulations govern the use of poisoned bait to control wildlife pests; and how he defines the meaning of the term wildlife pests.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The term wildlife pest is taken to mean species of wildlife which do damage to livestock and crops and which are not protected under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The use of poisonous chemicals for the purposes of controlling wildlife pests is governed by the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912, the Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act 1962, the Poisons Act 1972, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Food and Environmental Protection Act 1985.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of the gross national product has been spent in nursery education in Scotland for each year since 1974;

  (2) what was the total expenditure in nursery education in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde, (c) Greater Glasgow and (d) Glasgow, Provan for each year since 1974, in 1988 moneys.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Expenditure in Scotland and in Strathclyde region was as follows:

  Total current expenditure on nursery schools and classes (1988 prices)

  (a) Scotland £ million

  (b) Strathclyde £ million

  1976–77

  28·662

  17·462

  1977–78

  28·490

  16·517

  1978–79

  25·736

  12·855

  1979–80

  23·026

  13·220

  1980–81

  24·320

  13·668

  1981–82

  25·076

  14·231

  1982–83

  28·633

  14·522

  1983–84

  28·055

  14·866

  1984–85

  28·685

  14·590

  1985–86

  29·048

  15·172

  1986–87

  29·856

  15·563

  11987–88

  29·170

  14·356

  1 Provisional.

  Note: The percentage which column (a) represents of estimated Scottish GDP at factor cost is 0·1 for each year. Expenditure figures for (a) Scotland and Strathclyde region in 1974–75 and 1975–76 and (b) Greater Glasgow and Glasgow, Provan, are not available.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of Scottish under-fives who received nursery education for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on pupils under five attending education authority nursery schools in September of each year is as follows:

  Number

  1975

  22,240

  1976

  25,610

  1977

  29,300

  1978

  31,230

  1979

  31,620

  1980

  32,340

  1981

  33,050

  1982

  34,490

  1983

  36,460

  1984

  37,680

  1985

  not available

  1986

  not available

  1987

  38,980

  Information for 1974 is not readily available.

  Peterhead Prison (Siege)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the statutory authority for the deployment of forces in the breaking up of the gaol siege at Peterhead prison on 3 October 1987.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 30 June, at column 319, to a question from the hon. Member of Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington).

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will carry out surveys on the link between serious illness and dust in areas of Scotland where there is opencast coal mining or other activities generating significant levels of dust.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am not aware of any authoritative medical survey on this subject and there are no proposals for one to be carried out.

  Islands Agriculture Programme
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his assessment of the likely effect on wildlife habitats and the environment of the measures to be introduced under the agricultural development programme for the Scottish islands.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The land improvement measures under the agricultural development programme for Scottish islands will apply to inbye land only and will therefore have minimal effect on wildlife habitats and the environment. The programme allows for payments for the protection of sites of particular importance for the environment and was drawn up in consultation with the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission for Scotland.

  Houses in Multiple Occupation
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to conduct a consultation exercise on powers relating to houses in multiple occupation in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Development Department has published today a consultation paper on problems relating to houses in multiple occupation in Scotland. The paper is being sent to local authorities and other interested organisations in Scotland. I have also arranged for copies to be placed in the Library. The paper identifies the need to protect both the occupiers of HMOs themselves and the right to a peaceful environment of those living nearby. It also seeks views on a wide range of issues, including the possibility of establishing a licensing system for HMOs. The Government look forward to receiving comments on the proposals in the paper. This should allow the Government to tackle in a considered way the serious problems caused by HMOs in certain parts of Scotland.

  Forestry
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the percentage self-sufficiency which the United Kingdom enjoys in hard wood timber of a quality which can be grown domestically; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 May 1988]: The best estimate is in the region of 55–60 per cent.

  Conservation
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which organisations have been or will be consulted by the Forestry Commission in producing the
  119
  new conservation guidelines referred to in page 7 of the new Forestry Commission booklet "Woodland Grant Scheme."

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 May 1988]: The Forestry Commission is consulting the Nature Conservancy Council, Timber Growers UK, the Commission and the Countryside for Scotland in the preparation of these guidelines.

  Crafts
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the role of the Scottish Development Agency in promoting crafts in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 18 July 1988]: In the last two years 16 representations have been received on the funding and organisation of support for Scottish crafts. The Scottish Development Agency, which is responsible for several aspects of such support, is currently considering future arrangements and will be seeking ministerial approval for any changes in structure in due course. All those involved in the provision of support for Scottish crafts are aware of the importance of providing a viable long-term operating structure and are working towards that end.

  Student Awards
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give(a) the total number of mandatory student awards made by his Department in each academic year since 1979 and (b) the total value of those awards in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms in 1988 prices.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: The value of students' maintenance allowances and tuition fees paid under the students allowances scheme and the postgraduate students allowances scheme, in cash terms, and in real terms on a constant 1987–88 base (1988–89 figures are not yet available) was as follows:

  Academic year

  Number of students

  Value of awards (Maintenance etc plus tuition etc fees)

  Actual £ million

  At 1987–88 prices £ million

  1979–80

  53,600

  86·0

  142·9

  1980–81

  55,583

  106·8

  154·1

  1981–82

  57,542

  120·6

  160·5

  1982–83

  57,863

  99·1

  124·1

  1983–84

  58,301

  101·0

  121·3

  1984–85

  59,931

  99·4

  113·9

  1985–86

  58,384

  99·5

  108·4

  1986–87

  158,595

  1103·1

  108·4

  1987–88

  160,900

  1107–8

  107–8

  1 Provisional.

  Notes: (1) In session 1982–83 the rate of tuition fees was reduced.

  (2) 1987–88 price equivalents are based on the average GDP deflator for the first quarter of each year (mid-academic session).

  Water Charge
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the community water charge 120
  will be payable by (a) students, (b) student nurses, (c) families on income support and (d) senior citizens on retirement pensions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: Persons undertaking a full-time course of education, as defined in the Personal Community Charge (Students) (Scotland) Regulations 1988, will be liable to pay a prescribed percentage (set in those regulations as 20 per cent.) of the personal community charge and the personal community water charge. The Government are now considering, in the light of amendments made to the Local Government Finance Bill, whether student nurses should receive a similar concession.

  All other people liable to pay the personal community charge will be eligible for income related rebates or benefits, in the case of income support recipients amounting to 80 per cent. of their personal community charge liability. Community water charges will not come within the community charge rebate or benefit system. However, under the reformed social security system introduced on 1 April 1988 the minimum contribution towards rates payments, and the overall amount made available through supplementary benefit towards water charges, are taken into account in setting income support levels. Similar principles will apply from April 1989 in respect of the community charge system.

  Primary Health Care
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a further statement on how he plans to fund the changes in primary care in Scotland outlined in the White Paper "Promoting Good Health";

  (2) if he will make a further statement on his plans to impose charges for eye examination and dental checks in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: The discussions on the Health and Medicines Bill in another place have produced no new arguments in relation to our proposals on charging for sight tests and dental examinations. We remain of the view that it is right that those who can afford to should contribute towards the cost of these examinations. Our proposals rightly exempt those whose circumstances are such that they cannot afford to pay. We do not accept that those who are not exempt will be deterred from seeking treatment. These proposals were part of a package which will make a significant contribution to the improvement of primary health care in Scotland.

  Minor Operations
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the estimated comparative costs of a minor operative procedure performed by(a) a general practitioner and (b) a hospital registrar.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: Information is not collected centrally on which to base an estimate of these costs.

  Hernia Repairs and Hip Replacements
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of hernia repairs and hip
  121
  replacement operations performed in each area, in each year since 1974 to the latest date for which figures are available.

  Number of in-patients discharged in each health board in each year from 1974 to 1986 where the principle operation was hernioplasty (inguinal and femoral)

  Health board

  1974

  1975

  1976

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Argyll and Clyde

  1496

  474

  530

  467

  389

  406

  415

  482

  292

  449

  428

  351

  460

  Ayr and Arran

  1392

  376

  421

  401

  431

  474

  502

  478

  471

  553

  484

  507

  528

  Borders

  1111

  108

  145

  130

  138

  126

  120

  162

  141

  152

  146

  149

  149

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1192

  183

  217

  249

  218

  191

  215

  224

  157

  226

  244

  182

  226

  Fife

  1414

  391

  420

  374

  323

  417

  375

  428

  208

  376

  413

  429

  431

  Forth Valley

  1347

  332

  353

  344

  380

  351

  347

  336

  285

  434

  386

  441

  349

  Grampian

  1750

  707

  689

  750

  678

  629

  695

  677

  515

  775

  748

  746

  762

  Greater Glasgow

  11,915

  1,824

  1,855

  1,916

  1,752

  1,813

  1,860

  1,645

  931

  1,802

  1,731

  1,671

  1,688

  Highland

  1281

  267

  289

  290

  261

  306

  315

  294

  272

  306

  317

  284

  313

  Lanarkshire

  1399

  377

  483

  528

  436

  534

  515

  515

  365

  620

  619

  674

  587

  Lothian

  11,303

  1,241

  1,254

  1,295

  1,089

  1,175

  1,110

  1,127

  857

  1,285

  1,156

  1,121

  1,079

  Orkney

  130

  31

  35

  36

  21

  38

  27

  29

  29

  23

  28

  22

  28

  Shetland

  122

  23

  17

  24

  15

  27

  35

  45

  37

  39

  31

  28

  31

  Tayside

  1704

  669

  689

  765

  704

  701

  651

  591

  562

  833

  762

  783

  744

  Western Isles

  130

  30

  20

  30

  38

  36

  30

  34

  45

  48

  37

  34

  40

  Scotland

  7,386

  7,033

  7,417

  7,599

  6,873

  7,244

  7,212

  7,067

  5,167

  7,921

  7,530

  7,422

  7,415

  1 Estimated.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Act of Settlement 1688 (Ceremony)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what was the cost of the ceremony commemorating the Act of Settlement 1688; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Most of the costs of the ceremony on 20 July, when Addresses were presented to Her Majesty The Queen to mark the tercentenary of the revolutions of 1688–89 and of the Bill or Rights and Claim of Right, will be borne initially by the Property Services Agency. Final figures for the cost are not yet available, but provision has been included in class XX, vote 20 and class XX A, vote 1, of the Estimates for 1988–89 for the Houses of Parliament to repay approximately £40,000 to PSA for these services; this will be shared equally between the two Houses.

  Facilities (Hire)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Lord President of the Council whether the House of Commons Terrace is available for hire to outside organisations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  No. Only Members and Officers of the House may sponsor functions in the Terrace Pavilion.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the charges made for the hire of private dining rooms in the Palace at Westminster.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Minimum hire charges for private dining rooms are levied only when the total cost of food provided is less than the advance deposit required.

  The relevant deposits are set out in the information booklet "Banqueting Department" available from the Refreshment Department.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Lord President of the Council whether any charge is made to commercial organisations for displays in the Upper Waiting Hall; what rules govern advertising; who gives permission for displays; and if he will make a statement.
  122
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Wakeham
  No charge is made for the exhibitions in the Upper Waiting Hall, which can only be mounted by a right hon. or hon. Member.

  The rules governing the arrangements for these exhibitions are set out in the Serjeant At Arms' Department information leaflet "Exhibitions in the Upper Waiting Hall," which clearly states that exhibitions should not contain items of advertising or commercial interest nor material explicitly intended to further the aims of any political party or group. In accordance with the procedures approved by the Services Committee, an hon. Member wishing to book an exhibition space should submit his application to the relevant Government Department and also the Chairman of the A and A Sub-Committee for approval.

  Ten-minute Bills
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will move to refer to the Select Committee on Procedure the matter of the practice governing the giving of notice by Members of motions for leave to bring in Bills under Standing Order No. 19; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  This is a matter which is already within the terms of reference of the Procedure Committee. I am sure that it will have noted the representations made by my hon. Friend and other hon. Members.

TRANSPORT

  West London (Schemes)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assumption has been made in the west London assessment study about the proposed traffic capacity of the west London corridor;

  (2) what are the limits to the increase or decrease in traffic that are considered practical for testing in the west London assessment study; what level of relief in traffic levels is being sought; and what assumptions are being made about future car ownership.
  123
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The study consultants have made an initial assessment of the impact of each option on existing traffic movement patterns. Growth and capacity assumptions and forecasting techniques will be addressed in the detailed assessment and testing of the options in the rest of stage 2.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to compensate(a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) owner-occupiers if the western environmental improvement route is constructed.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The usual statutory compensation provisions would apply. Copies of booklets giving details of these provisions have been placed in the Library.

  Driving Licence (Welsh Language)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give consideration to the issue of a driving licence in the Welsh language.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The DVLC issues a bilingual driving licence to drivers with addresses in Wales. Licences are used throughout the United Kingdom and it is not practicable for them to be wholly in Welsh.

  London Underground (Fire Safety)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of the reports of London Fire Brigade inspections of London Underground deep underground stations carried out so far in the current year.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  No. Reports of such fire inspections are produced by London Underground's chief fire inspector who accompanies the London fire brigade for the information of and use by London Underground Limited. The hon. Member should apply to London Regional Transport for the information he requires.

  Bus Lanes (Westminster)
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish an inquiry into the continuing need for those bus lanes instituted by the former greater London Council in the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster on roads for which he is now responsible.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  No. The City of Westminster became responsible for this road on 1 April 1986. It commissioned studies into the effect of the then experimental bus lanes. It concluded that they were beneficial. After due consultation it decided that the bus lanes should be made permanent. It applied to the Secretary of State for approval under paragraph 5 of schedule 5 to the Local Government Act 1985 because the route is a designated road. The Secretary of State considered that there was no adverse effect on the movement of traffic on the designated road network and approved the proposal.

  Taxi and Car Hire Trades (Consulation Document)
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider increasing the time limit allowed for submissions on the consultation document on the taxi and car hire trades.
  124
  Mr. David Mitchell
  I have written in reply to my hon. Friend's letter on this subject giving an extension to the end of September.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on arrangements for monitoring the transport of nuclear waste material from Torness power station, and for regulating the frequency of consignments and the route to be taken.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  Spent nuclear fuel will be moved from Torness power station to Sellafield in strict accordance with national and international regulations which require the design of the flask to be able to withstand severe accident conditions without radiation risk. The Department is responsible for ensuring compliance with the regulations, but this does not involve controls over the routeing or frequency of consignments because safety is provided by the strength of the container.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Supplementary Benefits (Cleveland)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost of supplementary benefit single payments for each of his Department's local offices in the county of Cleveland in May 1985, May 1986 and May 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair) on 21 July. The additional figures requested for the month of May 1988 are given in the table. The local offices shown are those situated in Cleveland but office and county boundaries are not conterminous. The figures shown are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Single payment expenditure in May 1988

  Office

  £

  Eston

  6,115

  Hartlepool

  12,994

  Middlesbrough

  32,478

  Redcar

  6,420

  Stockton

  47,278

  Coronary Bypass Operations
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of people waiting for coronary artery bypass operations in each regional health authority in June.

  Mr. Newton
  Waiting list information is not collected centrally by type of operation.

  Pay Awards
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to bring pay awards forward to before the beginning of the financial year to enable regional health authorities and district health authorities to plan future annual budgets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We recognise the desirability of early settlements in the interests both of the staff concerned and
  125
  of bringing greater certainty into the health authority planning process. For doctors, dentists, nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and the professions allied to medicine, we expect this to be greatly assisted by the change from 1989 in the timetable for review body reports, which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked the review bodies to submit some three months earlier than hitherto. This change should also help in achieving earlier settlements for those groups whose pay and conditions of service are negotiated in the Whitley councils. The conduct of those negotiations is a matter for the respective management sides and the speed with which they can be concluded also depends on the response of the staff sides to the offers which are made.

  Voluntary Organisations (Funding)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the voluntary organisations who were previously receiving section 64 grants and whose applications for funding for general purposes in 1988–89 were rejected, stating in each case the number of years for which the organisation had been funded; and if he will give the reasons for the rejection in each case;

  Average daily number of available beds in the London post-graduate hospitals

  Change

  Name of hospital

  Address

  1982

  1986

  Number

  per cent.

  Hospital for Sick Children1

  London WC1

  307·5

  294·6

  -12·9

  -4·2

  Hospital for Sick Children4

  Tadworth, Surrey

  64·7

  0·0

  -64·7

  -100·0

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children1

  122·2

  107·6

  -14·6

  -11·9

  The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases1

  London WC1

  199·5

  193·8

  -5·7

  -2·9

  Maida Vale Hospital for Nervous Diseases1

  London W9

  81·9

  72·1

  -9·8

  -12·0

  The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases1

  London W2

  24·3

  27·0

  2·7

  11·1

  Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy

  Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks.

  50·0

  45·0

  -5·0

  -10·0

  The Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital2

  London WC1

  109·3

  54·3

  -55·0

  -50·3

  The Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital2

  London W1

  Moorfields Eye Hospital1

  London EC1

  207·8

  151·7

  -56·1

  -27·0

  Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospital1

  London SE5

  500·8

  511·3

  10·5

  2·1

  St. John's Hospital for Diseases of the Skin2

  London WC2

  54·1

  52·9

  -1·2

  -2·2

  Brompton Hospital1

  London SW3

  250·3

  227·2

  -23·1

  -9·2

  Brompton Hospital3

  Frialey, Surrey

  105·8

  0·0

  -105·8

  -100·0

  London Chest Hospital1

  London E2

  127·3

  120·6

  -6·7

  -5·3

  National Heart Hospital1

  London W1

  72·2

  75·4

  3·2

  4·4

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital2

  London W1

  85·4

  35·8

  -49·6

  -58·1

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital21

  Stanmore, Middlesex

  245·1

  202·7

  -42·4

  -17·3

  St. Peter's Hospital2

  London WC2

  37·5

  34·5

  -3·0

  -8·0

  St. Paul's Hospital2

  London WC2

  36·7

  31·5

  -5·2

  -14·2

  St. Phillip's Hospital2

  London WC2

  15·6

  10·8

  -4·8

  -30·8

  The Shaftesbury Hospital2

  London WC2

  36·4

  27·1

  -9·3

  -25·5

  The Royal Marsden Hospital1

  London SW3

  185·6

  193·4

  7·8

  4·2

  The Royal Marsden Hospital1

  Sutton, Surrey

  154·6

  160·8

  6·2

  4·0

  Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital1

  London W6

  165·1

  150·8

  -14·3

  -8·7

  Chelsea Hospital for Women1

  London SW3

  81·9

  66·7

  -15·2

  -18·6

  Queen Charlotte's Hospital Convalescent Home3

  St. Leonards on Sea, Sussex

  42·0

  0·0

  -42·0

  -100·0

  Hammersmith Hospital1

  London W12

  547·1

  555·1

  8·0

  1·5

  Acton Hospital1

  London W3

  55·3

  72·0

  16·7

  30·2

  Eastmans Dental Hospital1

  London WC1

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  1 Now a special health authority.

  2 Now administered by district health authorities.

  3 Hospital closed.

  4 Ceased to be a National Health Service hospital.

  Social Services Staff (Assaults)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will take to collect information centrally on assaults on social services staff in the course of their duties.
  126
  (2) what are the reasons for the decline in the total of grants made under section 64 procedure from £14,443, 694 in 1987–88 to £7,211,705 in 1988–89; and if there have been any changes in the criteria applied.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to him on 27 June at columns 124–29. The figure of £7,211,705 refers to grants awarded as at 22 June 1988. The total amount available for the 1988–89 financial year is £14,243,000. There have been no changes in the criteria for awarding grants.

  Funding applications are received and decisions on grants are made at varying times during the year. Full details of applications rejected for grant aid in 1988–89 will not therefore be available until after the end of the financial year.

  Postgraduate Hospitals (Beds)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the absolute and percentage change, since reorganisation, in the number of beds in each of the postgraduate hospitals, stating, in each case, whether the hospital is now a special health authority or a member of a district health authority.

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

  Mr. Newton
  The "Guidelines and Recommendations to Employers on Violence against Employees" published last year by the Association of Directors of Social Services recommended authorities to arrange for the recording and monitoring of incidents concerning the staff of social services departments. We have no plans for the national collation of such information.

  Long-term Institutional Care
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Monklands, West of 7 June,Official Report, column 564, if he intends to collect data centrally on the outcome of patients discharged from institutional care.

  Mrs. Currie
  The central collection of statistics on the outcome of patients discharged from institutional care will be reviewed with the proposals of the Government to the Griffiths report, "Community Care: Agenda for Action".

  Disabled People (Legislation)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Monklands, West of Tuesday 7 June,Official Report, column 573, whether he has yet arranged a meeting with local authority associations on the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Representation and Consultation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Officials met representatives of the local authority associations on 4 July to discuss the implementation of the remaining sections of the Act. We hope to implement section 11 soon. Of the other sections, representatives of the local authorities share our view that priority should be given to implementing section 7, and we have already started detailed work on this. The next priority is to implement sections 1, 2, and 3. The financial implications of each section must, of course, be agreed before implementation.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many applications for attendance allowance were(a) made and (b) granted in the last year for which figures are available;

  (2) how many applications for attendance were disallowed, not including those granted after appeal, in the last year for which figures are available;

  (3) how many claims for attendance allowance were disallowed following an initial medical report, by the attendance allowance board, but were granted attendance allowance after appeal, for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is in the table.

  Attendance Allowance 1987

  Number

  Claims Received

  319,667

  Claims Successful at initial stage

  208,693

  Claims Unsuccessful at initial stage

  91,888

  Claims Successful on review1

  44,104

  1 Claims successful on review include:

  (i) claims made before 1987.

  (ii) claims where the allowance is awarded for the first time.

  (iii) claims where the allowance awarded is increased from lower to higher rate.

  (iv) claims where the allowance is awarded for a longer period.

  Development Programme
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how he intends to monitor district health 128
  authorities' progress in implementing his Department's 2 per cent. development programme; and what action he will take to ensure that each district health authority achieves the 2 per cent. target.

  Mr. Newton
  No such target has been set. The provision and development of district health authority services are monitored by regions as part of a cyclical planning and review process. The Department similarly approves regional health authority plans and reviews performance annually, against the background of the broad policy aims set out in the annual planning guidelines. A copy of the latest guidelines, for 1989–90 and 1990–91 (circular HC (88) 43) is in the Library.

  NHS (Cost Improvements)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the financial value of non-cash releasing cost improvements made in the National Health Service identified by the Department in response to the Social Services Committee; what proportion of the underfunding of the Health Service identified by the Social Services Committee these non-cash releasing cost improvements constitute; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The Government's formal response to the Committee's first two reports on the resourcing of the National Health Service was published on 22 June (Cm. 405).

  The latest available information on movements in unit costs relates to 1986–87. Making no allowance for efficiency gains between 1986–87 and 1987–88 other than those attributable to cash releasing cost improvements, it can be shown that if unit costs had remained at their 1983–84 levels (apart from the effect of inflation) it would have cost nearly £900 million more to maintain 1987–88 service levels than was actually the case. About two thirds of this figure was attributable to cash releasing cost improvements.

  However any estimate of efficiency gains other than cash-releasing cost improvements will necessarily be a less precise and certain figure than that for cash-releasing cost improvements, for which the savings are specifically monitored.

  Health Authorities (Cuts and Closures)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he takes to collect information on cuts and closures in individual health authorities.

  Mrs. Currie
  Information on health authorities' plans to change the way in which services are delivered, which may involve closures, is received through formal and informal contacts with health authorities. Major changes are outlined in short term programmes. Closures which are opposed by the community health council come to Ministers for decisions. Details of hospitals and facilities approved for permanent closure following public consultation are routinely collected centrally. Returns of hospital activity, which is the final indicator of the level of services being provided for patients, are received quarterly.

  National Insurance Contributions (Refunds)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases are known to his Department
  129
  currently, or in the last year for which records are available, where a person has been unable to claim back excess payments of class 2 contributions, as in the case of Mr. W., a constituent of the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton, whose name is given in the letter of 7 June from Lord Skelmersdale to the hon. Member, reference PO(6) 2487/9; and whether he will seek powers to be able to make ex gratia refunds in similar cases in future.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department does not separately identify this type of case in its records.

  As my noble Friend explained in his letter, information on the small earnings exception is made avalable at the outset to those applying to pay national insurance contributions on a self-employed basis. I do not therefore consider that there are grounds for seeking powers to make refunds of contributions in cases where the opportunity to apply for small earnings exception is taken up later than it might have been.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements are presently in operation for public access to expenditure information on the social fund.

  Mr. Portillo
  Details of individual local office expenditure on the social fund are placed in the Library at monthly intervals. Copies of this information are held at the Department's libraries where they may be viewed by appointment. Two copies are deposited with the British Library, one of which may be borrowed by other libraries for inquirers; the other copy can be consulted at the British Library. Microfiche copies may be purchased from Messrs. Chadwyck-Healey of Cambridge. In addition we expect local office managers to respond to reasonable requests to provide expenditure information as at the end of the preceding month.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report the social fund expenditure of each local office in Great Britain for loans and grants, respectively, and the same figures expressed as percentages of monthly profiles, for each month from April to June 1988, on the same basis as the information for Northern Ireland offices given by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 13 July in his answer to the hon. Member for Redcar (Ms. Mowlam), Official Report, columns 249–52.

  Mr. Portillo
  Details of social fund expenditure to the end of June are in the Library. Information relating to expenditure as a percentage of monthly profile for over 450 local offices in Great Britain could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. C. H. Thomas
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish an internal inquiry into why Mr. C. H. Thomas, of West Cross, Swansea, who received confirmation on 29 February (Reference TX 3866481) that he satisfies the condition for the lower rate of attendance allowance, has not received payment.

  Mr. Scott
  Mr. Thomas' claim was finally decided on 5 May and payment was made on 11 July. I regret that processing of the claim took much longer than is usual and I am writing to the hon. Member.

  Peel Report
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the recommendations of the Peel report on the use of foetuses and foetal material have been enacted.

  Mr. Newton
  The code of practice recommended in the Peel report on the use of foetuses and foetal material for research has been commended to health authorities. In the private sector, places approved to carry out abortions may supply foetal material for research only in accordance with this code and with the specific approval of the Secretary of State. In view of the continued advance in medical techniques since the Peel report was published, my right hon. Friend has recently set up a committee to review its recommendations.

  Social Services (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing what information he has as to social services department budgets for 1987–88 and for 1988–89, for each local authority in London.

  Mr. Newton
  The table shows the latest available information on London local authorities social services department budgets for 1988–89 and the equivalent figure for 1987–88.

  1987–88 £ million

  1988–89 £ million

  City of London

  1·785

  1·940

  Camden

  39·146

  33·596

  Greenwich

  29·177

  29·577

  Hackney

  41·866

  42·884

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  25·545

  27·176

  Islington

  40·788

  39·977

  Kensington and Chelsea

  19·304

  22·373

  Lambeth

  43·843

  49·499

  Lewisham

  40·187

  42·098

  Southwark

  37·483

  43·271

  Tower Hamlets

  22·793

  24·046

  Wandsworth

  36·426

  40·862

  Westminster

  31·029

  33·625

  Barking and Dagenham

  11·192

  11·973

  Barnet

  19·718

  21·118

  Bexley

  11·833

  13·040

  Brent

  36·204

  N/A

  Bromley

  15·411

  16·929

  Croydon

  22·234

  24·883

  Ealing

  25·049

  28·391

  Enfield

  17·384

  21·003

  Haringey

  32·709

  N/A

  Harrow

  11·955

  13·793

  Havering

  14·316

  15·538

  Hillingdon

  19·651

  23·008

  Hounslow

  18·057

  20·299

  Kingston upon Thames

  9·748

  10·753

  Merton

  13·030

  14·323

  Newham

  22·777

  26·136

  Redbridge

  13·943

  16·013

  Richmond upon Thames

  10·224

  11·266

  Sutton

  9·916

  11·456

  Waltham Forest

  26·817

  27·703

  Source: LA Return of Expenditure and Rates returns 1987 and 1988.

  Dispensing Doctors
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the proportion of all National Health
  131
  Service prescriptions written by dispensing doctors; and what proportion of all National Health Service doctors' lists the patients on dispensing doctors' lists represent.

  Mr. Newton
  In 1986 a total of 6 per cent. of National Health Service prescriptions in England were written and dispensed by dispensing doctors for patients on their dispensing lists. In the same year 6 per cent. of all National Health Service patients in England were patients on dispensing doctors' lists for whom those doctors can dispense.

  Community Care
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what further representations he has received regarding the Griffiths report on community care; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  We have received 121 representations from interested individuals and organisations and will take account of them in framing our own proposals.

  Chiropody
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his answer of 22 April,Official Report, column 596, on the future of the chiropody service and profession, he is now able to make a further statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  There are a number of issues which need to be resolved and discussions on these are likely to take some time. We recognise the importance of foot care for large numbers of people, particularly the elderly, and our efforts are directed towards a better and more accessible service in future.

  NHS (Private Facilities)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the full gross annual cost to the National Health Service of administering the use of private beds and private facilities within the National Health Service for the latest available year.

  Mrs. Currie
  Charges for the use of private facilities within the National Health Service are calculated so as to recover the full gross cost of those facilities. In 1986–87, the latest year for which information is available, the full gross cost of providing private beds and facilities is reflected by the amount of total income for that year, which was £61 million. A list of the charges in force in 1986–87 is contained in circular HC(86)6, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Ward Sisters
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice his Department gives to local managers whose ward sisters meet seven of the 11 criteria for a grading of 'I' but do not qualify for the grading because they manage one ward only.

  Mr. Newton
  The guidance which the Department has issued makes clear that posts must meet the grading definitions as a whole.

  Clinical Regrading
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the money available to health authorities for clinical regrading is intended to cover the funded establishment.

  Mr. Newton
  The additional money we have provided is to meet the cost of all review body pay awards. Our estimate of the total cost was based on the number of staff in post at 31 March 1988 and took account of both directly employed and agency staff.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received from district health authorities regarding clarification of the guidance his Department has issued on clinical grading of nurses.

  Mr. Newton
  We have received a number of formal and informal representations as a result of which we issued supplementary guidance to health authorities earlier this month.

  National Health Service (Regional Funding)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement(a) on the way in which money is allocated between different National Health Service regions at present and (b) on the way in which money would be allocated between different regions under the formula being considered by the National Health Service Management Board giving details of gains and losses.

  Mr. Newton
  There are two stages to the resource allocation process. The resource allocation working party formula is used to determine each region's target "fair share" of the available resources; Ministers then decide on the pace at which regions' annual allocations are to be adjusted to bring them into line with these targets.

  The existing resource allocation working party formula measures the relative needs of each region by taking account of population (and the relative use made of health services by people of different age groups and sexes); morbidity as indicated by standardised mortality ratios; patient flows between regions; and higher staff costs in London and the south-east. A separate adjustment is made to account for the extra service costs associated with medical teaching.

  The National Health Service management board's review of the resource allocation working party formula examined each component of the formula and made recommendations aimed at improving its measurement of relative need. Full details of the recommendations, and of the effects they would have on regions' funding targets, are contained in the final report on the review, which was published on 19 July. A copy is in the Library. Decisions on annual allocations were outside the remit of the review, and the report recommends only that the effects of any changes should be carefully phased, to avoid major disruption to health authorities' existing plans. It is not therefore possible to estimate what would be the effects of the review recommendations on regions' annual allocations.

  As my right hon. Friend announced in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr.

  133
  McCrindle) on 19 July at column 559, the Government will consider this report in the wider context of the National Health Service review.

  Christies Hospital, Manchester
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what response he has given to the request by the North Western regional health authority for an extra allocation of £200,000 to fund Christies hospital in Manchester.

  Mr. Newton
  I hope to respond to the regional health authority's approach shortly.

  Immigrants (Pensions)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, whether arrangements have been made with the Governments of (i) India, (ii) Bangladesh and (iii) Pakistan for pensions to be updated for immigrants from those countries who return upon retirement to their countries of origin.

  Mr. Portillo
  No such arrangements have been made.

  Perfusionists
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services why the management side of the professional and technical staffs B of Whitley council have not so far conceded the regrading of perfusionists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I understand that the grading of this particular group of staff has not been raised in the Whitley council.

  Tranquillisers
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had for financial assistance to be granted to the Council for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction on Merseyside; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Section 64 grants are essentially for organisations providing a national resource, rather than for direct client services. The latter are generally best provided and funded locally. The Council for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction submitted an application for funding on 30 June. The Department is considering this application along with other candidates for grants, and we shall let the council have a decision as soon as possible.

  North Staffordshire Health Authority
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money was(a) expected to be allocated to North Staffordshire district health authority under the resources allocation working party formula and (b) was actually allocated, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Newton
  Allocations to individual district health authorities are a matter for regional health authorities. For information on North Staffordshire's allocations the hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the West Midlands regional health authority.
  134
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the effect on(a) the budget of and (b) the services provided by North Staffordshire district health authority were the review of the resources allocation working party formula final report to be implemented.

  Mr. Newton
  The review's remit was confined to the national resource allocation working party formula.

  Social Fund
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether a hospital patient whose invalidity benefit on discharge from hospital will be 20p per week above the level of income support can be awarded a social fund grant to enable discharge to take place.

  Mr. Portillo
  Community care grants are available only to people in receipt of income support at the date of application or who, up to within six weeks of discharge from institutional or residential care will, in the opinion of the social fund officer, be likely to receive income support on discharge.

  Higher Pensioner Premium
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of extending entitlement to the higher pensioner premium to those people aged 60 to 79 years who would have been entitled to it if the income support scheme had commenced before they were 60 years; and how many people would benefit from this change.

  Mr. Scott
  Information on which to base such estimates is not available for the whole of the period concerned.

  Income Support Disability Premium
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will extend entitlement to the income support disability premium to claimants who have, for 28 weeks, been treated as incapable of work for the purpose of exemption from the requirement to be available for employment and who do not qualify for the premium on other grounds.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to do so.

  Doctors (Disciplinary Proceedings)
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many doctors are currently suspended pending disciplinary hearings under(a) HM (61) 112 procedures, (b) 5HM/49/1968 procedures, (c) HC (82) 13 procedures and (d) section 40 of the Whitley council; and if he will break down these figures by sex, ethnic origin, country of qualification, regions in England and Wales;

  (2) how many doctors were suspended in each region in each year from 1979 to the present day;

  (3) what is the average time taken to deal with disciplinary cases under (a) HM (61) 112 procedures, (b) HC (82) 13 procedures, (c) 5HM/49/1968 procedures and (d) section 40 of the Whitley council; and if he will give detail of regional variations;

  (4) for how long doctors currently suspended have been suspended; and in how many of the cases there is a date set for the inquiry;
  135
  (5) what was the outcome of suspensions after the inquiry and how many doctors were dismissed, reprimanded or resigned in total and in each region for the last year for which figures are available;

  (6) how many dismissed doctors went to industrial tribunals in the last year for which figures are available; and what was the outcome as regards dismissal and reinstatement;

  (7) what is the estimated average annual cost to the health services of suspending doctors, taking into account salaries, legal costs, employing locums, negligence claims against authorities and doctors awarded costs for wrongful dismissal;

  (8) how many doctors are currently suspended for reasons of (a) mental health, (b) physical health, (c) misconduct, (d) incompetence and (e) fraud, where there are disciplinary procedures pending under: (i) HM (61) 112, (ii) HC (82) 13, (iii) SHM/49/1968 and (iv) section 40 of the Whitley council.

  Mr. Newton
  This information is not collected centrally. We understand however that there are relatively few cases at one time.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many dismissed doctors appealed under section 190 of the red book in the last year for which figures are available; what was the outcome of the appeals; and if he will break these figures down by sex and ethnic origin.

  Mr. Newton
  The number of doctors who appeal under paragraph 190 of the hospital medical and dental staff terms and conditions of service varies considerably from year to year. In 1986 there were four appeals: in two dismissal was confirmed and the other two the Secretary of State determined that he did not have jurisdiction. In 1987 a total of 11 appeals were made: in one case jurisdiction was declined, four others were withdrawn or settled locally, and the remaining six are still in progress. I regret that the information available centrally does not enable me to give the other breakdown.

  Health Authorities (Disciplinary Procedures)
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how his Department, regional health authorities or district health authorities monitor suspensions and disciplinary procedures.

  Mr. Newton
  The monitoring of suspensions and disciplinary procedures is the responsibility of the relevant health authority. Because of concern about the operation of disciplinary procedures for doctors, the then Secretary of State set up a joint working party with the profession last year to review hospital and Community doctors' and dentists' disciplinary procedures. The working party is expected to report this summer.

  Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the value of supplementary benefit for a couple with two children, aged six and eight years as a percentage of average net earnings for all men and all manual men for each year since 1978 to April 1987.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information is in the table.
  136
  It should be noted that these figures take no account of other benefits available to either families receiving supplementary benefit or families who are in full time work. In particular, the value of housing benefit and of child benefit is excluded.

  Supplementary benefit rate expressed as a percentage of average net weekly earnings

  Uprating dates

  All adult males Married couple with two children per cent.

  All male manuals Married couple with two children per cent.

  November 19781

  51·1

  55·1

  November 1979

  50·5

  54·8

  November 1980

  50·3

  56·3

  November 1981

  50·8

  57·6

  November 1982

  52·6

  59·9

  November 1983

  50·9

  58·2

  November 1984

  48·9

  56·1

  November 1985

  48·1

  55·4

  July 1986

  45·7

  53·1

  April 1987

  43·0

  50·7

  1 1978—Child benefit not included, but child tax allowance is included.

  Note: Net average earnings are the estimates of average gross weekly earnings less tax and national insurance contributions at the non-contracted out rate.

  Coventry Family Practitioner Committee
  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish his reply to the letters from the Association of National Health Service Officers dated 10 June and 20 April 1988;

  (2) what information he has as to breaches of the Data Protection Act by a lay menber of the Coventry family practitioner committee; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations he has received from the Association of National Health Service Officers concerning threats allegedly made against a senior officer, and threats of redundancies made to a trade union official pursuing a grievance; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  Officials replied to the association on 20 July 1988. Publication of the correspondence is a matter for the association.

  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish an internal inquiry into the allegations of misconduct by the Coventry family practitioner committee made by the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East on 10 June,Official Report, columns 1151–53.

  Mrs. Currie
  I wrote to the hon. Member about this matter on 5 July. I understand he has accepted an invitation to discuss with the FPC chairman the matters he raised during the debate and will be meeting her today.

  Unemployment and Redundancy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report, a table showing for 1987–88 and his forecast for 1988–89 of (a) the total cost of benefits paid to unemployed people and (b) the total expenditure from the redundancy fund.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information requested is set out in the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91",
  137
  volume II, a copy of which is in the Library. The figures for(a) are in table 15.8 on page 267, and for (b) in table 7.26 on page 115.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give figures showing a total

  Region

  NHS Directly employed staff in post1

  Salaries and wages expenditure2

  All other expenditure

  Total revenue and capital expenditure

  Whole-time equivalent

  £000

  £000

  £000

  Northern

  53,510

  497,185

  220,167

  717,352

  Yorkshire

  59,570

  556,112

  261,978

  818,090

  Trent

  74,310

  679,499

  312,467

  991,966

  East Anglian

  30,490

  288,879

  133,073

  421,952

  North-West Thames

  54,810

  556,905

  287,419

  844,324

  North-East Thames

  69,060

  704,648

  347,356

  1,052,004

  South-East Thames

  61,860

  620,021

  313,585

  933,606

  South-West Thames

  48,510

  502,226

  202,017

  :'04,243

  Wessex

  43,520

  410,178

  209,973

  620,151

  Oxford

  33,210

  322,302

  145,046

  467,348

  South-Western

  52,370

  485,733

  232,696

  718,429

  West Midlands

  84,230

  784,783

  380,210

  1,164,993

  Mersey

  42,870

  404,346

  186,917

  591,263

  North-Western

  74,080

  698,112

  289,913

  988;025

  All regions

  782,400

  7,510,929

  3,522,817

  11,033,746

  Special Health Authorities1

  10,990

  128,798

  90,913

  219,711

  Total

  793,390

  7,639,727

  3,613,730

  11,253,457

  Sources: Annual census of NHS medical and non medical manpower—as at 30 September 1986. 1986–87 annual accounts submitted to the Department by regional and district health authorities in England and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.

  Notes:

  1 Includes permanent paid, honorary and locum medical and dental staff; agency nursing and midwifery staff. (The figure for the South West Thames region includes London Ambulance Service staff—2,850 whole time equivalents).

  2 Excludes expenditure on categories of non-NHS staff outside the scope of the annual census of NHS medical and non-medical manpower. Such costs (totalling some £81,757,000) are however included in the figures for "all other" and "total revenue and capital expenditure".

  1 Special health authorities for the London post-graduate teaching hospitals.

  AIDS
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether, in relation to the possible involvement of immunisation procedures in the aetiology of AIDS, there has been any effort to identify SV40 genomes in people with AIDS;

  (2) what assessment he has made, in relation to the possible involvement of immunisation procedures in the aetiology of AIDS, as to whether polio vaccine used in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s or early 1960s was in part contaminated with simian virus 40; and what effects SV 40 is considered to have in its recipients.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 7 July 1988]: I am advised that some of the polio vaccine used in the United Kingdom at that time contained simian virus 40. However, I am also advised that there is no evidence of adverse effects on recipients. In particular, two large studies conducted in the United States have shown no evidence of adverse effects on people who were given polio vaccine containing simian virus 40 in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the percentage of people with AIDS who are antibody-positive to HIV;

  (2) what is the percentage of people with AIDS in whom HIV can be isolated.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 7 July 1988]: Virtually all people with AIDS in the United Kingdom are HIV
  138
  number of staff employed in each regional health authority as a total and an estimate of the costs incurred by each regional health authority, broken down into (a) staff salaries and (b) other costs; and if he will give a national total for both (a) and (b).

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 6 May 1988]: Such information as is available is shown in the table.

  antibody positive. Techniques for isolating the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) itself are still experimental and rates of isolation from people with AIDS vary from laboratory to laboratory. Some laboratories claim to have isolated the virus in more than 80 per cent. of patients with AIDS.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the percentage of people with AIDS in whom Epstein-Barr virus or antibodies to it can be isolated;

  (2) what is the percentage of people with AIDS in whom cytomegalo virus or antibodies to it can be isolated;

  (3) what is the percentage of people with AIDS in whom hepatitis B virus or antibodies to it can be isolated;

  (4) what is the percentage of people with AIDS in whom herpes simplex virus or antibodies to it can be isolated;

  (5) what is the percentage of people with AIDS in whom Epstein-Barr, cytomegalo, or herpes simplex-viral agents has been identified where no evidence of HIV has been found.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 7 July 1988]: This information is not available. Tests for these viruses and for antibodies to the viruses are not routinely performed.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many individuals who have been identified as HIV positive have subsequently been found not to be so.
  139
  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 7 July 1988]: I understand that in a very few cases, particularly in the early days of testing, individuals were identified as being HIV antibody positive but were subsequently found not to be so when improved assay systems were available.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what attempts have been made by his Department to investigate claims, or support research, of the health-enhancing benefits of nutritional support, non-toxic herbal anti-viral treatment and lipid therapy for AIDS/ARC patients;

  (2) whether, in relation to the alternative treatment of people with AIDS/ARC, there has been any trial of the formulation known as AL 721 (active lecithin);

  (3) what attempts have been made by his Department to investigate the holistic approaches to AIDS; and what specific therapies, trials and research have been supported.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 7 July 1988]: We are not aware of any research being funded in these areas. I am advised that in individual cases of ARC and AIDS there may be a need for specific nutritional supplementation, but for the generality of cases there is no evidence that anything other than a good balanced diet is required. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, I am unable to comment on whether any manufacturer has applied for a product licence or clinical trial certificate for lecithin or any other potential treatment for AIDS.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration his Department has given to suggestions that some of the symptoms of AIDS could be the result of tertiary or quarternary neurosyphilis, and to the possibility that AIDS is unrecognised, untreated and mistakenly identified syphilis.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 7 July 1988]: I am advised that there is no evidence to support this view although some patients with AIDS may also be infected with syphilis and the clinical manifestations of syphilis may be, in some cases, modified by immunodeficiency associated with HIV infection.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence is available to him on any correlation between protein patterns in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia, multiple myeloma and other immune and supposedly genetic disorders, and protein patterns in people with AIDS and ARC, and the association between these and those created by SV40 and PARA visuses in experimental studies.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 7 July 1988]: We are aware of no such evidence.

  District Nurses
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for each district health authority in England, the number of people nursed by the district nursing service per 1,000 of the population.

  Mr. Newton
  [holding answer 14 July 1988]: The information for 1986 is given in the table.

  It should be noted that part of the variation in the figures is due to differences in demand due for example to the proportion of elderly people in the population. (Around half of patients seen by district nurses are aged 65
  140
  or over). Also some health authorities use district nurses to provide a service in health centres and on GPs' premises, which of course produces a markedly higher contact rate than is possible if the same staff are used primarily for home visiting.

  Number of persons treated by district nurses during 1986

  Number of persons treated by district nurses Per 1,000 population

  England

  73

  1. Northern

  116

  1. Hartlepool

  131

  2. North Tees

  93

  3. South Tees

  181

  4. East Cumbria

  33

  5. South Cumbria

  80

  6. West Cumbria

  206

  7. Darlington

  104

  8. Durham

  72

  9. North West Durham

  83

  10. South West Durham

  98

  11. Northumberland

  163

  12. Gateshead

  46

  13. Newcastle

  63

  14. North Tyneside

  197

  15. South Tyneside

  36

  16. Sunderland

  195

  2. Yorkshire

  62

  1. Hull

  53

  2. East Yorkshire

  69

  3. Grimsby

  46

  4. Scunthorpe

  63

  5. Northallerton

  21

  6. York

  53

  7. Scarborough

  51

  8. Harrogate

  61

  9. Bradford

  90

  10. Airedale

  122

  11. Calderdale

  68

  12. Huddersfield

  58

  13. Dewsbury

  51

  14. Leeds Western

  27

  15. Leeds Eastern

  45

  16. Wakefield

  76

  17. Pontefract

  108

  3. Trent

  83

  1. North Derbyshire

  100

  2. South Derbyshire

  70

  3. Leicestershire

  76

  4. North Lincolnshire

  92

  5. South Lincolnshire

  83

  6. Bassetlaw

  61

  7. Central Nottinghamshire

  148

  8. Nottingham

  97

  9. Barnsley

  74

  10. Doncaster

  98

  11. Rotherham

  59

  12. Sheffield

  55

  4. East Anglia

  80

  1. Cambridge

  90

  2. Peterborough

  160

  3. West Suffolk

  102

  4. East Suffolk

  46

  5. Norwich

  67

  6. Great Yarmouth

  35

  7. West Norfolk and Wisbech

  39

  8. Huntingdon

  130

  5. North West Thames

  47

  1. North Bedfordshire

  51

  2. South Bedfordshire

  56

  3. North Hertfordshire

  59

  141

  Number of persons treated by district nurses Per 1,000 population

  4. East Hertfordshire

  29

  5. North West Hertfordshire

  24

  6. South West Hertfordshire

  42

  7. Barnet

  58

  8. Harrow

  61

  9. Hillingdon

  30

  10. Hounslow and Spelthorne

  127

  11. Ealing

  30

  12. Brent

  33

  13. Paddington

  26

  14. Riverside

  24

  6. North East Thames

  44

  1. Basildon and Thurrock

  60

  2. Mid Essex

  46

  3. North East Essex

  39

  4. West Essex

  44

  5. Southend

  52

  6. Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  26

  7. Hampstead

  38

  8. Bloomsbury

  79

  9. Islington

  26

  10. City and Hackney

  69

  11. Newham

  12

  12. Tower Hamlels

  51

  13. Enfield

  37

  14. Haringey

  25

  15. Redbridge

  63

  16. Waltham Forest

  51

  7. South East Thames

  74

  1. Brighton

  84

  2, Eastbourne

  148

  3. Hastings

  104

  4, South East Kent

  83

  5. Canterbury and Thanet

  45

  6. Dartford and Gravesham

  68

  7. Maidstone

  59

  8. Medway

  99

  9. Tunbridge Wells

  46

  10. Bexley

  91

  11. Greenwich

  41

  12. Bromley

  49

  13. West Lambeth

  17

  14. Camberwell N.

  110

  15. Lewisham and Southwark

  53

  8. South West Thames

  78

  1. North West Surrey

  34

  2. West Surrey and North East Hants

  61

  3. South West Surrey

  60

  4. Mid Surrey

  51

  5. East Surrey

  197

  6. Chichester

  123

  7. Mid Downs

  51

  8. Worthing

  160

  9. Croydon

  129

  10. Kingston and Esher

  53

  11. Richmond, Roehampton and Twickenham

  25

  12. Wandsworth

  21

  13. Sutton and Merton

  48

  9. Wessex

  55

  1. East Dorset

  42

  2. West Dorset

  27

  3. Portsmouth

  30

  4. S. W. Hants & Southampton

  69

  5. Winchester

  70

  6. Basingstoke

  51

  7. Salisbury

  68

  8. Swindon

  59

  9. West Wilts and Bath

  80

  10. Isle of Wight

  69

  10. Oxford

  125

  142

  Number of persons treated by district nurses Per 1,000 population

  1. East Berkshire

  85

  2. West Berkshire

  110

  3. Aylesbury

  243

  4. Wycombe

  69

  5. Milton Keynes

  132

  6. Kettering

  215

  7. Northampton

  213

  8. Oxford

  59

  11. Southwestern

  52

  1. Bristol and Weston

  42

  2. Frenchay

  25

  3. Southmead

  37

  4. Cornwall & Isle of Scilly

  41

  5. Exeter

  42

  6. North Devon

  35

  7. Plymouth

  51

  8. Torbay

  65

  9. Cheltenham

  40

  10. Gloucester

  65

  11. Somerset

  95

  12. West Midlands

  55

  1. Bromsgrove and Redditch

  37

  2. Herefordshire

  61

  3. Kidderminster

  141

  4. Worcester

  44

  5. Shropshire

  47

  6. Mid Staffordshire

  24

  7. North Staffordshire

  36

  8. South East Staffordshire

  34

  9. Rugby

  35

  10. North Warwickshire

  43

  11. South Warwickshire

  32

  12. Birmingham Central

  51

  13. Birmingham East

  80

  14. Birmingham North

  116

  15. Birmingham South

  57

  16. Birmingham West

  103

  17. Coventry

  39

  18. Dudley

  40

  19. Sandwell

  72

  20. Solihull

  53

  21. Walsall

  106

  22. Wolverhampton

  40

  13. Mersey

  75

  1. Chester

  60

  2. Crewe

  74

  3. Halton

  99

  4. Macclesfield

  116

  5. Warrington

  131

  6. Liverpool

  73

  7. St. Helens and Knowsley

  57

  8. Southport and Formby

  91

  9. South Sefton

  39

  10. Wirral

  58

  14. Northwestern

  100

  1. Lancaster

  103

  2. Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  111

  3. Preston

  118

  4. Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  295

  5. Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  154

  6. West Lancashire

  129

  7. Chorley and South Ribble

  69

  8. Bolton

  69

  9. Bury

  187

  10. Manchester North

  46

  11. Manchester Central

  37

  12. Manchester South

  52

  13. Oldham

  70

  14. Rochdale

  82

  15. Salford

  83

  16. Stockport

  69

  143

  Number of persons treated by district nurses Per 1,000 population

  17. Tameside and Glossop

  56

  18. Trafford

  61

  19. Wigan

  76

  Source: DHSS form LHS 27/3

  OPCS

  Benefit

  Date

  Recipients who are women

  Recipients who are lone parents

  Number

  Percentage of all recipients

  Number

  Percentage of all recipients

  Retirement Pension

  September 1987

  6,352,000

  65·3

  n/a

  n/a

  Widows' Benefits

  September 1987

  367,000

  100

  54,000

  14·7

  Maternity Allowance

  March 1987

  332,000

  100

  n/a

  n/a

  Invalidity Benefit

  April 1987

  214,000

  22·1

  n/a

  n/a

  Sickness Benefit

  April 1987

  26,000

  23·6

  n/a

  n/a

  Unemployment Benefit

  November 1987

  250,000

  370·

  n/a

  n/a

  Supplementary Benefit

  May 1987

  2,537,000

  51·8

  664,000

  13·6

  Family Income Supplement

  April 1987

  91,000

  41

  92,000

  42

  Housing Benefit

  Autumn 1985

  n/a

  n/a

  1630,000

  18·8

  n/a—not available.

  1 subject to revision.

  Perinatal Mortality
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the perinatal mortality rate for each year since 1968 by region.

  Perinatal mortality rates by hospital regions in England and Wales 1968–1973

  Year

  Hospital region

  1978

  1969

  1970

  1971

  1972

  1973

  England and Wales

  25

  23

  23

  22

  22

  21

  Newcastle

  25

  25

  24

  23

  23

  22

  Leeds

  26

  25

  25

  22

  24

  23

  Sheffield

  25

  24

  24

  23

  23

  21

  East Anglian

  21

  20

  21

  20

  19

  17

  North West Metropolitan

  24

  21

  22

  20

  19

  19

  North East Metropolitan

  24

  22

  22

  22

  21

  20

  South East Metropolitan

  23

  21

  21

  20

  19

  20

  South West Metropolitan

  23

  21

  22

  20

  20

  19

  Wessex

  23

  21

  21

  21

  19

  21

  Oxford

  21

  19

  20

  20

  18

  17

  South Western

  22

  21

  21

  20

  20

  19

  Welsh

  28

  27

  25

  24

  22

  21

  Birmingham

  25

  24

  26

  24

  24

  24

  Manchester

  28

  27

  27

  25

  25

  23

  Liverpool

  28

  27

  27

  26

  24

  25

  Perinatal mortality rates1 by Regional Health Authorities in England and Wales 1974–1987

  Regional Health Authority

  1974

  1975

  1976

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  21987

  England and Wales

  20·4

  19·3

  17·7

  17·0

  15·5

  14·7

  13·3

  11·8

  11·3

  10·4

  10·1

  9·8

  9·6

  8·9

  England

  20·3

  19·3

  17·6

  16·9

  15·4

  14·6

  13·4

  11·7

  11·2

  10·3

  10·0

  9·8

  9·5

  8·9

  Northern

  22·5

  19·9

  19·1

  19·1

  17·6

  16·4

  15·0

  13·2

  11·8

  10·8

  11·0

  9·8

  10·1

  8·5

  Yorkshire

  22·2

  21·6

  18·4

  18·1

  16·3

  16·6

  14·9

  13·9

  12·5

  11·8

  11·6

  10·6

  10·3

  9·5

  Trent

  21·0

  18·6

  19·2

  16·7

  15·3

  14·6

  13·0

  11·2

  11·2

  10·7

  9·8

  9·5

  10·2

  9·3

  East Anglian

  16·6

  15·8

  13·9

  13·0

  13·3

  13·0

  11·3

  10·2

  10·4

  9·3

  8·9

  9·8

  7·7

  7·9

  North West Thames

  17·5

  18·4

  16·9

  14·8

  14·1

  13·2

  11·0

  10·7

  9·7

  8·6

  9·0

  9·1

  8·6

  8·6

  North East Thames

  19·2

  18·0

  16·6

  16·1

  15·1

  13·5

  13·8

  11·0

  11·6

  9·9

  9·7

  9·3

  9·6

  9·4

  South East Thames

  19·5

  19·2

  17·4

  16·8

  15·0

  14·1

  12·9

  12·0

  10·0

  10·2

  10·5

  9·5

  8·5

  8·5

  South West Thames

  18·1

  18·0

  14·8

  14·6

  13·5

  13·3

  10·8

  10·9

  10·6

  9·4

  8·6

  9·3

  8·2

  7·5

  Wessex

  17·8

  17·1

  15·1

  15·5

  13·2

  12·8

  11·7

  9·7

  10·0

  9·4

  8·6

  9·2

  8·8

  8·9

  Oxford

  15·7

  15·6

  13·8

  15·0

  13·4

  11·6

  12·6

  9·4

  9·9

  8·9

  8·7

  8·5

  8·9

  8·0

  South Western

  19·0

  16·9

  16·1

  16·2

  15·1

  13·3

  12·6

  11·5

  9·1

  9·4

  9·3

  9·1

  9·5

  7·5

  West Midlands

  22·5

  21·8

  21·1

  19·4

  17·2

  16·8

  15·1

  12·9

  13·8

  12·3

  12·3

  11·7

  11·0

  9·9

  Mersey

  23·6

  22·1

  19·5

  18·8

  15·2

  15·6

  13·7

  12·4

  10·9

  9·3

  9·0

  10·2

  9·2

  9·0

  North Western

  23·1

  21·9

  18·7

  18·5

  18·1

  15·9

  15·3

  12·5

  12·5

  11·3

  10·3

  9·9

  10·4

  9·6

  Wales

  21·2

  19·7

  19·0

  17·9

  16·8

  15·6

  12·8

  14·1

  11·1

  11·3

  10·5

  10·2

  10·3

  9·2

  Note: Perinatal mortality = stillbirths + deaths 0–6 days.

  1 Rate per 1,000 total births.

  2 Provisional.

  Benefits
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures showing, for each class A national insurance benefit and for each means-tested social security benefit, the numbers and proportions of claimants who are(a) women and (b) lone parents, giving the most recent figures.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 18 July 1988]: The figures, in so far as they are available, are as follows:

  Mrs. Currie
  [holding answer 22 July 1988]: The information is shown in the tables. Health authority areas were changed in 1974: the data prior to 1974 are not threefore directly comparable with those for 1974 onwards.

TRANSPORT

  Crash Barriers
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to measure the effectiveness of the current design of crash barriers on Britain's roads; and whether he has any plans to improve that design.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The effectiveness of existing safety fence designs has been measured in research and monitoring actual performance for over 20 years.

  New designs of safety fences have been developed. The case for their deployment is now being assessed.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of central reservation crash barriers on Britain's dual carriageways;

  (2) what recent steps his Department has taken to improve the effectiveness of crash barriers on roads.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Existing safety fencing is designed to contain a 1·5 tonne vehicle travelling at 70 mph striking the fence at an angle of 20 degrees, and to redirect it safely. Extensive research and long experience have consistently shown that it performs at least as well as, and sometimes better than, this.

  Inspection and maintenance regimes are in force during the installation and throughout the useful life of each safety fence. They will shortly be supplemented with mandatory quality assurance standards for contractors engaged in supplying and erecting fences. Such measures ensure that fences perform, and continue to perform, as effectively as they are designed to do.

  The Department has developed a range of higher containment safety fences. We are currently looking at the costs and benefits of deploying them. The Department continues to keep all aspects of safety fence performance under close scrutiny. We will introduce further improvements whenever they can be justified.

  Whatever their effectiveness, safety fences are not a substitute for safe driving.

  Felixstowe Dock (Deposit of Material)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in respect of the application he has received, from the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company, for consents under section 7 of the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Act 1988, he will state (i) the date of the application, (ii) its nature, and (iii) whether it was accompanied by appropriate information as required under article 5 of European Community Directive 85/337 on environmental assessment.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received the company's application for consent to the first stage of reclamation for the extension of the port on 3 June 1988. This gave particulars about the matters set out in section 7(2) of the Act. He gave his consent on 12 July. The directive on environmental assessment does not apply to projects which have been specifically approved by Parliament.

  Management in Government
  Mr. Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made towards the implementation in 146
  his Department of the recommendations in the efficiency unit's report entitled "Improving Management in Government: The Next Steps"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Channon
  I am establishing the vehicle inspectorate as an executive agency with effect from 1 August. Copies of the policy and resources framework document, setting out the inspectorate's aims, objectives and responsibilities, have been laid in the libraries in this House and in the other place.

  I am appointing Mr. Ron Oliver, a qualified mechanical engineer, who is the present head of the vehicle inspectorate, to be its first chief executive. I am delegating clear responsibility for day-to-day management of the inspectorate to him and his management team. Under the policy and resources framework, local management will have enhanced responsibilities in the areas of finance, contracts and personnel management and more scope to develop new business initiatives. It intends to introduce performance incentives and other necessary changes designed to encourage staff to increase efficiency to make more productive use of public assets and thereby improve services to the public. I expect that the scope of local management freedom and responsibilities will grow over time and I shall be ready to consider modifications to this policy and resources framework to reflect and encourage that process. In particular, we shall be reviewing the inspectorate's financial regime, in order to find ways of mirroring as closely as possible the financial disciplines of a private sector business.

  Publication of the framework document itself represents an enhancement of accountability to Parliament and the inspectorate will in future publish an annual business plan, as well as its annual report and accounts. In order to ensure that letters to hon. Members are dealt with as quickly and effectively as possible, I have asked hon. Members to write direct to the chief executive in the first instance on questions which concern the inspectorate's handling of constituency cases concerning operational matters. I and my hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic will continue to deal with questions of policy or with any cases where hon. Members are dissatisfied with the inspectorate's reply.

  The inspectorate is already working to specific unit cost targets agreed with the Treasury for 1988–89. I have now set the chief executive a further target to improve the cost efficiency of the inspectorate's main activities by 3·7 per cent. over the two-year period from 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1991. These savings will come both from specific efficiency measures and from the development of new initiatives and performance incentives within the executive agency framework.

  I am pleased that the vehicle inspectorate is the first executive agency to be established, and I wish the chief executive and his staff every success in achieving their objectives and targets.

  My Department continues to work towards establish-ing the driver and vehicle licensing directorate as an executive agency. In addition, I have commissioned a feasibility study of establishing the transport and road research laboratory as an executive agency and have asked my Department to develop executive agency proposals for the driver testing and training organisation (which conducts driving tests) and the vehicle and component approvals division (which carries out type approval tests).

  West London (Schemes)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Lwhich houses would need to be demolished under each of the different schemes described in the Husband report on the west London environmental improvement route; and how many blight notices(a) have been accepted and (b) are under consideration.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  At this early stage I cannot add to the estimates set out in Husband's report.

  To date 11 blight notices have been accepted and a further one is under consideration.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if any of the options proposed in stage 2 of the west London assessment study will be subject to the European Economic Community directive on environmental impact assessment.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The European Community's directive on environmental impact assessment applies to the assessment of the environmental effects of those public and private projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment. Any projects which are taken forward for more detailed consideration from stage 2 of the west London assessment study and which are likely to have significant effects on the environment will be subject to the directive. The assessment of options within stage 2 of the study will include consideration of their environmental effects.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which houses along the proposed western environmental improvement route are affected by the safeguarding line.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The scope of a safeguarding line is defined by the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977. Planning applications relating to properties within 67 m of the safeguarded line must be referred to the Secretary of State for direction. Only a small proportion of these properties is likely to be affected by the proposals for WEIR.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest timetable for the western environmental improvement route from timing of studies to completion of proposed project; what public consultations are proposed and at what points; and what public information exercises are envisaged.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The study into a western environmental improvement route started in 1984. The project is unlikely to be completed before the late 1990s. We hope to hold public consultations around the end of the year. I shall make an announcement nearer the time. We shall also be consulting widely on the west London assessment study next year.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if a public inquiry will be held should his Department decide to build the western environmental improvement route.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The statutory highway procedures include provision for public inquiries to be held if there are unresolved objections.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications of the 148
  re-routing proposals in the west London assessment study for the local provision of public bus services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  It has been made clear that the preliminary set of options, including those with bus service improvements, will be assessed in detail by the consultants during the rest of stage 2. Their conclusions will be considered when stage 2 has been completed.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the options being considered in the west London assessment study as part of the western environmental improvement route.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  All the preliminary options examined in the west London assessment study are described in the working paper produced by Sir William Halcrow and Partners. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the western environmental improvement route is being considered for a tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Most of the proposed route is in cutting. The consultants have been asked to explore the practicablity, costs and benefits of covering sections of the route.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many residents of the Kensington constituency, selected by whom, are responsible for the comments in the public consultation document (Husband's study; technical note 1, App. 1B, group discussions with residents, vol. 1B, Holland Park/north Kensington); if there are plans for further consultations; what plans there are for ensuring that the public receives further information; how many copies of the full Husband's report have been printed; and who received these copies.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The appendix referred to was not produced by Husband and Co. It is one of the technical appendices produced by Sir William Halcrow and Partners as part of their report on problems in stage 1 of the west London assessment study. Full details of the coverage of public consultation and the methodology adopted are set out in technical note 1, copies of which have been sent to borough councis and placed in the main libraries in the study area.

  Husband and Co. published in September 1987 a report on the appraisal of options for the proposed western environmental improvement route, of which 200 copies were printed. Copies were distributed as follows:

  Local public libraries in the area

  Local authorities in the area

  Members of Parliament in the area

  House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries

  Executive authorities such as BR and LUL Ltd

  Select Committee on Transport

  London Research Library

  Consultants for the West London Assessment study.

  About 60 copies have been sold to individuals or groups interested in the scheme.

  Additionally, 1,500 copies of a summary were produced and have been distributed to individuals and groups interested in the scheme.

  I have said there will be further consultation with the public about the scheme.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he intends to take to improve transport services for disabled persons.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department of Transport has a firm and continuing commitment to a programme of research, technical and policy development, education and information dissemination to improve transport services for people with disabilities. In all these areas we work in close association with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee.

  New Roads (Housing Proximities)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figure his Department uses as the minimum desirable distance between houses and a new major road; and what guidance or regulations have been issued on this subject.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In planning roads the distance from houses is determined on the basis of careful assessment of all the relevant safety and environmental factors.

  In practice, people object if a road comes within half a mile and apply for permission to build up to the highway boundary.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has carried out into likely road usage in Suffolk and Norfolk after the opening of the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The effects on road usage in Suffolk and Norfolk after the opening of the Channel tunnel are not likely to be significant.

  London (Traffic Congestion)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from motoring organisations about ways of reducing traffic congestion in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  None recently. We work to reduce traffic congestion in London by progressing the trunk road programme, supporting the boroughs with their transport policies and programmes, promoting better traffic management, encouraging better parking controls and working with BR and LRT to improve the quality of their services.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission a study into the provision of underground tunnels in London to reduce traffic congestion.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I have no plans to commission a special study. In addition to the measures already in hand to reduce traffic congestion in London, consultants for the London assessment studies are developing a range of options for relieving problems in the four study areas. Some of these options could include proposals for tunnels to relieve traffic congestion.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the incorporation of a Docklands light railway extension to Thamesmead into the proposed east London river crossing scheme; and if he is considering such a proposal.

  Mr. Channon
  Such proposals were put forward during and after the public inquiries into the east London river crossing scheme. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I are considering all these proposals. We hope to announce our decisions very shortly.

  M1 Traffic Flows
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current average hourly flow at junction 12 of the M1 in both directions; and what estimate he has of these flows immediately subsequent to the completion of the M40.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The latest information available, for 1987, shows an average hourly two-way flow immediately north of junction 12 of 4,040 vehicles.

  After completion of the M40 extension, expected in 1992, it is estimated that the hourly flow will be in the range 3,730 to 3,910 vehicles. This represents a reduction of between 540 and 630 vehicles per hour.

  A6 Disley Bypass
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what circumstances he will(a) publish or (b) make available to Derbyshire county council the reports by the landscape advisory committee and the report of the consulting engineers on the A6 Disley bypass.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  In accordance with the policy set out in the "Report on the Review of Highway Inquiry Procedures 1978" (Cmnd. 7133), the Department will make the reports available for inspection by objectors to any orders published under the Highways Acts.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with Derbyshire county council to discuss the A6 Disley bypass.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  It explained its reservations about the "brown route"—in particular its opinion of effects on the landscape; the severance problems and the difficulties for Swizzells Matlow in New Mills; and the likely high cost of the scheme due to unusual geological features in the area. I explained the environmental reasons for putting forward the brown route. I undertook to consider all the county council's comments and suggestions for alternatives before making decisions on whether a scheme should be added to the roads programme and on choice of route. I explained that if the scheme were added to the programme the standard procedure would be for all objections and representations to be aired before an independent inspector, who would make recommendations to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment.

  P and O Ferries
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement of the condition of the P andO ferry European Clearway;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the recent fire on board the ferry European Clearway.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  One of my Department's marine surveyors is investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire on the European Clearway and he will be completing his report as soon as possible.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for an independent inquiry into operational safety aboard P and O cross-Channel ferries.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  No. My marine surveyors are monitoring safety standards on all cross-Channel ferries.

  North Sea Oil and Gas (Safety)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many safety inspectors were employed by his Department on the inspection of North sea oil and gas installations and related equipment in each year since 1965.
  152
  Mr. David Mitchell
  The figures are not available in the form requested. However, since 1976 an average of around 12 to 15 surveyor years per annum have been devoted to the survey of fire-fighting equipment and life-saving appliances on those installations.

  M4 (Traffic)
  Dr. Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the increased traffic on the M4 as a result of the authorisation to use Heathrow for charter flights.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State does not expect road traffic volumes to be significantly affected. The concession allowing the use of Heathrow airport by whole plane charter services is designed to apply only in exceptional circumstances, where holidaymakers would otherwise face unacceptable delay. The concession will end on 30 September. This relaxation in our air traffic distribution policy for the London airports will offer a useful measure of flexibility in dealing with the difficult travel circumstances such as we have seen over recent weekends.

  REMAND SYSTEM: PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT
  REMAND SYSTEM: PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT
  AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES: RESIDUES IN FOOD
  AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES: RESIDUES IN FOOD
  NEXT STEPS INITIATIVE
  NEXT STEPS INITIATIVE
  NORTHERN IRELAND: COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT AID
  NORTHERN IRELAND: COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT AID
  ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT REPORT: UK RESPONSE
  ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT REPORT: UK RESPONSE
  VEHICLE INSPECTORATE: EXECUTIVE AGENCY STATUS
  VEHICLE INSPECTORATE: EXECUTIVE AGENCY STATUS